ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

I am at a loss for words...really...
I simply cannot assimilate the fact that Dev Saab (Dev Anand) is no more...
He passed away yesterday in London succumbing to a cardiac arrest at the age of 88.
Right from Baat Ek Raat ki, Tere Ghar ke Saamne, Guide to Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Johny Mera Naam, Jewel Thief, Heera Panna, Des Pardes and many many other super duper hit films, Dev Saab simply entertained, enthralled and mesmerised me with his magic in screen. This year - 2011, since the 03rd of January with the demise of Rabindrasangeet Icon Suchitra Mitra, has been slowly, but steadily and deliberately served up heart-breaking news about the 'rukhsat' of legends like Pintu Bhattacharya, Gita De, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Utpalendu Chowdhury, Shammi Kapoor, Jagjit Singh, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Sarangi Maestro Ustad Sultan Khan,  Noted Author Mamoni Raisom Goswami, and Dev Anand from the world of Music, Films and Literature...what a year this is..."jaise janaaze ka koi juloos ja raha ho door wadiyon ko chhodkar...manzil se bhi door kahi aur...

The world of Movies without the silent presence of Dev Saab, an octogenarian, will not be the same, ever again...

As director Mahesh Bhatt said today, remembering Dev Saab, that we should mourn his loss by listening to his songs, and watching his movies....

His songs...
Composers like Sachin Deb Burman, his son Rahul Deb Burman, Jaidev, Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Rajesh Roshan, have given their best compositions for films of Dev Saab...the songs are still (and will reamin forever) the most loved and the most melodious Bollywood Songs ever to hit the silver screen. Songs from - Jewel Thief, Johny Mera Naam, Amir Garib, Warrant, Heera Panna, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Darling Darling, Ishq Ishq Ishq, Bullet, Jaaneman, Gambler, Guide and even more dated ones like Tere Ghar ke Saamne, Baat Ek Raat Ki, Jaal, Kala Paani, Guide, Funtoosh, Hum Dono, Paying Guest, Maya, Taxi Driver, Asli Naqli etc.are simply beyond excellence.

Dev Saab was born on the 26th of September, 1923 in Gurdasspur, Punjab.
Born as Devdutt on September 26, 1923, in the Punjabi-speaking Anand family, son to Advocate Pishorimal, younger and older brother to Chetan and Vijay respectively and one sister, who was subsequently married in the Kapur family, and gave birth to actor/film-maker, Shekhar Kapur, two daughters, Neelu, who was married to actor Navin Nischol, and Aruna who was the wife of Ajay/Parikshat Sahni, son of renowned Balraj Sahni. Both Neelu and Aruna have since been divorced. Dev graduated from Government College, Lahore, British India, left his hometown to work in the Military Censor Office at Churchgate, Bombay. He was offered a role in the 1946 flick 'Hum Ek Hain'. This is where he stuck a friendship with Bollywood legend Guru Dutt.

Ashok Kumar introduced Dev as a leading man opposite Kamini Kaushal in 'Ziddi'. Thereafter there has been no looking back for the 'Evegreen' Dev Anand, who went on to star in over 110 movies, spanning from 1946 through to 2005.

He is perhaps one of the few who dreamed of starlet Snehprabha Pradhan and had his dream come true when he got to not only meet her but also act with her. His other dream was of owning a car, a Hillman, was also fulfilled.

While filming opposite Singer-actress Suraiya, the boat capsized, Dev rescued her and in true Bollywood style both fell in love and wanted to get married. This did not happen as Suraiya's grandma strongly opposed this alliance. Suraiya, who acted with Dev in half a dozen movies, remained unmarried all her life.

In 1954 Dev met Mona, whose screen name is Kalpana Kartik, and married her in 1954 in a quiet ceremony in Russia where they were on a tour to screen 'Rahee' and 'Aandhiyan'. Mona was a college beauty queen from Simla, and she starred opposite her to-be-husband in all her movies. Both became parents in 1956 when Suneil was born.

Dev is also known for introducing two of the most beautiful actresses to Bollywood, namely Zeenat Aman in 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' and Tina Munim in 'Des Pardes.

Not easily intimidated, Dev Anand, Shatrughan Sinha, I. S. Johar, Kishore Kumar were amongst the few that actually stood up against the authoritarian regime of Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, while many in the opposition preferred to flee India to escape Mrs. Gandhi's wrath.

The Anand family founded Navketan Films which is active and being administered by Dev's son, Suneil, who made his debut appearance in a film directed by Dev Saab titled "Anand aur Anand", though some of the songs form this movie were hits, the film didn't do very well at the box office.

After having played the Lead Actor for more than five decades in over 110 motion pictures, Dev Anand will continue to bestride Indian Cinema. He has given a new dimension to that magical state known as Stardom. And for his exemplary work he was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan - a title awarded to a person of extraordinary talent, in his discipline, for his outstanding contribution and/or achievements by the President of India. From the time he embarked on his career as a Film Actor in the mid-forties till now, his movies has been a journey filled with enriching experiences for the 'Evergreen Living Legend' of Indian Cinema. And he has always remained eternally youthful by his remarkable ability to live always in the present and the future--never in the past.

Also, as head of his film production company Navketan International Films, which was founded in 1949, Anand has introduced a multitude of talent (Jackie Shroff, Zeenat Aman, Tina Munim, Richa Sharma, Tabu, Gautam Sareen etc.to name a few) to the Indian Film Industry by way of actors, directors, music composers and cinematographers. He also led one of the finest Film Sound Post-Production facilities in India - Anand Recording Studios - which has to its credit more than 3,000 Indian feature films that have been mixed/ surround mixed for worldwide releases.

Dev Saab has won two "Filmfare Awards" - India's equivalent of the Oscars - in 1958 for his performance in the film "Kala Paani" and in 1966 for his performance in Navketan International Films' "Guide"(released in 1965).
"Guide" went on to win Filmfare Awards in five other categories including 'Best Film' and 'Best Director' and was sent as India's entry for the Oscars in the foreign film category that year. He co-produced the English Version of "Guide" with the Nobel Laureate Pearl S. Buck ("The Good Earth"). Eventually, his creative sensibilities got the better of him and he started writing and directing his own movies.

In 1993, he received a Filmfare 'Lifetime Achievement Award' and in 1996 he received a Screen Videocon 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. Then in 1997 he was given the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images Award for his Outstanding Services to the Indian Film Industry. In 1998, he was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Ujala Anandlok Film Awards Committee in Calcutta. In 1999, he received the Sansui 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his 'Immense Contribution to Indian Cinema' in New Delhi. In the year 2000, he was awarded the Film Goers' 'Mega Movie Maestro of the Millennium' Award in Mumbai. And then in July 2000, in New York City, he was honored by an Award at the hands of the then First Lady of the United States of America - Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton - for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema'. And again Anand was awarded the Indo-American Association 'Star of the Millennium' Award in the Silicon Valley, California. The President of India honored Anand with the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award on India's Republic Day - August 15, 2001. And yet again, Donna Ferrar, Member New York State Assembly, honored him with a New York State Assembly Citation for his 'Outstanding Contribution to the Cinematic Arts Worthy of the Esteem and Gratitude of the Great State of New York' on May 1, 2001.
Dev Saab was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the F.I.F.A. Committee in Johannesburg, South Africa. For an Indian Movie Icon who has hobnobbed with royalty, heads of State and celebrities, he has done it all. Dev Saab was setting his foot to forge ahead with his new All American Film Project "Song Of Life" - a musical love story would have been entirely shot in the United States, where he was supposed to play the central character  which was supposed to have a predominantly American star cast and for which the Music would have been composed by American composers and sung by American singers. "Song Of Life" was planned to be made entirely on English with Dev Saab manning the captain's wheel (The Director).