Dev Anand: The actor who brought a Nobel laureate and a famous Indian author together 

It is meaningless to talk about Indian cinema without mentioning the ‘golden age’ of Hindi cinema and the golden period of Hindi cinema is incomplete without Dev Anand. Considered the most handsome actor of his time, Dev Anand was instructed never to wear a black suit in public because women would go crazy seeing him dressed in black and would jump from buildings. That’s why the handsome actor was called ‘lady killer’.

Dev Anand completed his graduation in English literature in Lahore and got a job of a clerk there. Famous actor Ashok Kumar encouraged and helped Dev Anand to join the film industry and thus his journey as an actor started with the film ‘Zidddi’. Rest is, as they say, history. Dev Anand not only gave one hit after another, he also established an image of a liberal, romantic hero who despite being a gentle and mild person, stands up and fights against social evils. He also started a production house with the name of Navketan Films which produced many quality and meaningful films.

The love story of Dev Anand and one of the most beautiful and popular heroines of the time, Suraiya still attracts the attention of movie buffs and fans alike. But unfortunately, religion came in the way of this love story of a charming, educated and liberal Dev Anand. Suraiya was so deeply heart broken that she did not marry at all.

Dev Anand too swore that he will never marry but finally succumbed to the charms of Kalpana Kartik, his heroine in four consecutive hits (Baazi, Aandhiyan, House No 44 and Nau Do Gyarah). During the lunch break of their fifth film together (Taxi Driver), they both got married.

In America, the Nobel Prize winner writer Pear S Buck had started a production house with an upcoming director Tad Danielewski and she had expressed a desire to make a film with the Indian Collaboration. Dev Anand at once got in touch with Pear S Buck and told her about this novel. Pearl had already read the novel and she agreed. So, it was decided that the film will be made in both English and Hindi. The English version will be directed by Tad and the Hindi by Dev Saheb’s elder brother Chetan Anand, who was a director of repute. Then Dev Anand met the reclusive Indian writer RK Narayan. He was so enthusiastic about the entire project that RK Narayan agreed.

RKN explains the conversation between Dev Anand and him in his own words in an article- Misguided Guide.

‘After a breakfast of Idlis and dosas, the talk was all about The Guide and its cinematic merits. Within an hour we had become so friendly that he could ask without embarrassment “what price do you demand for your story? The checkbook was out and the pen poised over it. I had the impression that if I had suggested that the entire face of the check could be covered with closely knit figures, he would have obliged me. But I hemmed and hawed, suggesting a slight advance, and told him to go ahead. I was sure that if the picture turned out to be a success; he would share with me the glory and the profits. Oh! Certainly, he affirmed, if the picture, by god’s grace, turns out to be a success, we would be on top of the world and the SKY WILL BE THE LIMIT!!!’

When the production started, Chetan Anand felt that there could be serious differences between him and Tad. Because a lot of scenes of the English and Hindi version were scheduled to be shot together, Chetan Anand decided to leave the film before some serious tension could arise. Finally, Dev Anand’s younger brother Vijay Anand came on board as the director of the film.

It was already decided that the protagonist Raju will be played by none other than Dev Anand, Chetan Anand wanted to cast his muse Priya Rajvansh as the female lead ‘Rosy’ but Dev Anand rejected the idea. Vyjayanthimala and Padmini were too buxom for the western audience. Dev Anand was in favour of casting Waheeda Rehman right from the beginning and finally it was she who landed the role of that complex character.

RK Narayan was also invited to be present during the shooting because it was very important that the writer be there. He remained there but soon realised that the film may not really ‘connect with the book. “"I began to realize that monologue is the privilege of the filmmaker, and that it was futile to try butting in with my own observations. But for some obscure reason, they seemed to need my presence, though not my voice. I must be seen and not heard.” RK Narayan later wrote in his article-Misguided Guide.

However, braving all the differences and difficulties, Guide was completed. In English it sank without a trace. The reason was clear—the audience’ interest was given more importance than the story itself. But in Hindi, Guide was not only a commercial success, it also was lauded by the reviewers and critics alike.

The most important characteristic of the film was that it showed an extramarital relationship sensitively and beautifully without passing any moral judgment. Ace music composer SD Burman too created the music that was at once melodious and experimental too. He based one cheerful song and another sad song on one raga and they were picturised one after another.

Although RK Narayan was not happy with the film, especially with the end of the film, but the fact remains that the film Guide occupies as significant a place in the world of cinema as The Guide has in the world of Indian fiction.

And for this, Dev Anand’s zeal, commitment and energy will always be remembered.