Essay on Devsaab Dev Anand capturing his contribution to Bollywood, 65 years of entertainment!

1. Romance With Life - Dev Saab
We are very happy to celebrate 100th
Dev saab’s birthday on 26th September 2023!
Dev saab has created a very deep impact in our lives!
देवसाब माने तेज, देवसाब माने तारुण्य, देवसाब माने ऊजाा, देवसाब माने ववशेष व्यक्तित्व
देवसाब जैसे न कोई हुवा और न कोई होगा ।
Here I am going to discuss some numbers, important milestones, various decisions and his personality.
1. Born on 26 September 1923, Dev saab obtained BA degree in English Literature from Government
College, Lahore. Usha Chopra was his first love during college days. Dev saab's personality was so
pleasant and handsome, she wanted to kiss him in the classroom. This was a turning point, as Dev saab
thought that he could play a good role as an actor in Bollywood.
2. It was July 1943, Dev saab arrived in Mumbai by Frontier Mail from Lahore. He had many dreams in
his eyes and only 30 rupees in his pocket. He lived in difficult circumstances by selling his stamp
collection, but later he became so popular that the postal department published his stamps. He did
some work during the struggle but did not let the dream vanish from his eyes.
3. Dev saab got his first break in 1945, in the film Hum Ek Hai, produced by Prabhat Film Studio, which
was released in 1946. He was contracted for three years at Rs.400 per month.
4. He had his first love with Suraiya in 1948 during the film Vidya. It was not successful. Elder brother
Chetan explained to him that this would make him strong. Dev saab has become really strong. Later,
Dev saab made this as a way of his life. Mai jindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, har fikr ko duve me
udata chala gaya!
5. One of the most difficult, appropriate, and best decisions of Dev saab's life was to form Navketan in
1949. It was just 3 years before he got his break; He was only 26 years old and was struggling. He didn't
had enough money. His first film Afsar, directed by Chetan Anand, released in 1950. The music was by
SD Burman, the lyrics were penned by Sahir, the cinematography was by V Ratra. Thus, the team of
Navketan was being formed.
6. Those were the days when promises were kept. It was 1951, Dev saab entrusted the direction of the
film Baazi to Guru Dutt to fulfil his promise. After the success of Baazi, Dev saab never looked back till
2011, 60 years of dedication, passion for acting and making films.
7. In 1954, Navketan made a taxi driver. Its story and dialogues were written by his younger brother
Vijay Anand (Goldy) and sister-in-law Umaji. He took a short break on the sets, and secretly married to
Kalpanaji.
8. Dev saab provided opportunities to the talented people around. In 1957, he agreed to give direction
to a very talented Goldie for Nau do Gyarah. Goldie was only 23 years old at that time. Dev saab used
to trust people after doing the right assessment and assess based on their merit. Goldie became an
integral part of Navketan. They both became complementary and started liking each other.
9. Then came 1965! Meanwhile Navketan and Dev saab were producing successful films. House No.
44, Funtoosh, Nau Do Gyarah, Kala Pani, Kala Bazar, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Hum Dono etc. were released
with success. Dev saab made a difficult and important decision of his life to produce the film The Guide.
While making the guide, people were heavily criticizing him. His role was opposite to his image. It was
way ahead of its time. Dev saab did not agree. As a result of this, Bollywood got one of the top three
films. Goldie and Navketan have given us a wonderful and immortal film. This movie guides you in life.

2. Similarly Dev saab’s life also guides you. When I am in a difficult, stressful, confused, or relaxed
situation, or I need to make some important decision, I watch the movie Guide. I discover a new aspect
every time. In such a situation, I probe Dev saab's life as to what he would have done, how he would
have done it and what decision he would have taken, and try to be similar.
10. In 1971, Dev saab took the bold decision of directing Prem Pujari himself. It was a unique story of
great love, fight, war, and patriotism! It has very popular songs of SD and Neeraj. Dev saab next
directed Heera Panna, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Des-Pardes. Every time he made films with new
subject. In all he directed a total of 19 films during the 40 years from 1971 to 2011.
11. In the 66 years from 1945 to 2011, he acted in films non-stop, tireless. Dev saab did 114 films. Of
these, 20 are super hits and 20-22 are in the hit/success range. List Mein Guide, Jewel Thief, Johnny
Mera Naam, Nau Do Gyarah, Paying Guest, Kala Pani, Hum Dono, Tere Ghar Ka Samne, Baazi, Taxi
Driver, House No. 44, CID, Kala Bazar, Fake Note, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Asli Nakali, Ziddi, Jaal, Patita,
Munimji, Funtoosh, Solva Saal, Love Marriage, Maya, Teen Deviyan, Tere Mere Sapne, Hare Rama Hare
Krishna, Des-Pardes, Ameer Garib, Warrant etc. I have compiled various data of all movies like
producer, director, heroines, supporting actors, music, lyricist, story, dialogues, singers, box office
success, ratings, etc. I have watched most of 114 movies in theatre, YouTube, DVD, & other media.
12. He worked with 53 directors other than himself. He was a director's hero, worked with complete
dedication, learned like a student, and followed instructions faithfully. He did all the roles without any
hesitation. He played clown, ice cream seller, sardar, jester, police and detective, soldier, Christ, doctor,
writer, singer, black-mailer, smuggler, pickpocket, etc. He also sat on an elephant or a donkey to sing
the song.
13. Dev saab had respectable relations with everyone. He worked with around 1300 personalities from
Bollywood. From Durga Khote and Kamala Kotnis to Divya Dutta and Tara Sharma, P.L. Worked from
Santoshi to Ashok Tyagi, SD Burman to Darshan Dave.
14. She worked with 88 heroines, 23 supporting heroines, and 26 respected senior actors. He had an
excellent respectful relationship with everyone. He acted in Hemaji - 9, Madhubala - 8, Waheedaji - 8,
Suraiya - 7, Zeenat Aman - 8, Geeta Bali - 7, Kalpana Karthik - 6, Rakhee - 5, and Nutan - 4.
15. This was the specialty of Dev saab. He earned money by working in films and spent only in making
films. He produced 38 films under the Navketan banner. Since 1971, he directed 19 films. After 1979
till 2011 only Des Pardes was successful, in these 33 years he produced and directed 14 films tirelessly.
16. He has given opportunities to many artistes and worked with them for a long period. There was an
amazing and long lasting teamwork within Navketan. He discovered 55 artists, including directors like
Goldie, Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, music directors like Jaidev, 9 actors like Jackie and Shatrughan Sinha, 20
heroines like Zeenat and Tina, lyricists like Sahir Neeraj Shailendra, and Amit Khanna, and many more
singers, cinematographers, cameramen, Art director, etc. were given a chance to enhance their talent.
Navketan was progressing since 1950 with the formation of the team of Chetan - Dev - Vijay Anand,
SD and RD Burman, Kishore, Lataji, Ashaji, cinematographer Fali Mistry, dance director Hiralal. Editors
Dharamvir and Babu Sheikh, Cameraman V Ratra, Lyricists Sahir, Neeraj, Shailendra, Art Director T.K.
Desai, story writer K.A. Narayan etc. All these talented contributors have been associated with
Navketan for a long time and enjoyed working with Dev saab. This wonderful teamwork in Navketan
under the leadership of Dev saab was very admirable and long lasting.
17. There are many attributes to learn from Dev saab.

3. 18. He had no regrets and stood up immediately after failure: After the failure of Ishq Ishq Ishq, he said
he learned a lot from the film, and kept moving forward. Who can stand up after such a big disaster,
that too in few minutes! He immediately started with Des Pardes. Who has the guts to make a movie
guide? Who has the guts to choose a lady from a foreign land to learn Hindi for Swami Dada?
19. Dev saab's Hindi or English dialogue style was unique. His first director P.L. Santoshi appreciated
his English. Honesty and spontaneity are also observed in his autobiography. His energetic style is
reflected in each chapter. He has written thinking so fast; While reading the book, you also catch the
movement and pace of his thoughts.
20. Dev saab loved and respected everyone from Rashid khan, Sudhir to Ranbir; He worked with
Prithviraj Kapoor, friendly with Raj Kapoor without complexity, befriended Shammi Kapoor, Dilip
Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, and Rajesh Khanna, and was at ease with all four generations, right
up to Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Ranbir. He was young at heart. He got along very well with
Aamir, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor and made them feel young. He used to spread
happiness and love whenever and whosever he met. He used to meet with the same enthusiasm,
affection, and happiness, he was never partial. He did not discriminate among artists, their status,
gender, caste, religion, region, etc.
21. He was like Karna of Mahabharata, no one returned empty handed from his door. Everyone got a
chance. Treated everyone with respect and dignity. He never abused any women. He was supportive,
encouraging and offering to improve their performance without shouting and despite many retakes.
He used to advise his colleagues not to shout at the youngsters and encourage them to learn. He did
not forget he was also a new comer some day. He used to build confidence in them. Their relations
were excellent without any arrogance and ego. He had great relations with politicians Indiraji, Panditji,
Atalji, Pranav da, Balasaheb Thackeray, etc. From new comers to the Prime Minister of India, he used
to talk at eaze, spontaneously and comfortably.
22. Navketan and Dev saab is an institution. Lucky are those who have worked with Dev saab, lucky
are the fans and viewers, and those who have studied Dev saab closely. He is always around for us. You
will always be in the hearts of millions of people. We love you He is eternal for us. Salute to your kind
nature and greatness.
मैं लिख दू तुम्हारी उम्र चााँद लितार ों िे…
मैं मनाऊ जन्मलदन तुम्हारा फ
ू ि बहार ों िे ।
ऐिी खूबिूरती दुलनयािे िेकर आऊ मैं
क
े िारी महल़िि िज जाए हिीों नजार िे ।
वे कहते थे, जज जजजजज जजज जजजज जज जजजज जजजज जज, जज जजजजज जजजजज
जज जजजजज जज
आप को जन्मवदन मुबारक हो!
Happy Birthday to You Dev saab! Thank you for making our lives easier to live and happier!
- By Rajendra Rakhecha, Pune Email : rrakhecha@hotmail.com