India Abroad - December 16, 2011

A life in classics
Dev Anand’s best movies Johny Mera Naam
Ziddi (1948)
Handpicked by Ashok Kumar, an actor he hugely
admired, Dev Anand’s career got a much-needed
breakthrough when he was signed up
for Ziddi opposite Kamini Kaushal. The breezy
romance, based on a story by Ismat Chugtai, turned
out to be a hit and Dev embarked on the path of star-
dom in a way he had only imagined and we can only
be thankful for.
Baazi (1951)
When good friend Guru Dutt decided to turn
director, Dev Anand stepped in to produce and play
the lead in this noir classic about a gambler caught in
a web of deceit and murder. Other than introducing
him to future wife, Kalpana Kartik, Baazi proved to
be a game changer, encouraging writers to craft
bolder shades of human characters.
CID (1956)
With CID, it was Dutt’s turn to produce even as Dev
Anand delivered a nuanced performance of a cop
trying to uncover the true face behind the under-
world nexus. It also marked the beginning of
Waheeda Rehman’s journey into films.
Paying Guest (1957)
A series of comic events ensue after a handsome
young man is forced to dress up as an elderly guy to
rent accommodation in a bachelor-wary househ-
old. Dev Anand’s impeccable timing and sparkling
chemistry with co-star Nutan makes this Subodh
Mukerjee rom-com an enduring classic.
Nau Do Gyarah (1957)
What happens when a potential heir and a run-
away bride bump into each other in the middle of the
road? It is around this fun premise, director Vijay
Anand demonstrates his skills behind the camera
while his star brother Dev Anand romances wife
Kalpana Kartik to provide some frothy entertain-
ment.
Kala Pani (1958)
A single man’s quest to release his father from an
unfair sentence with some help from a conscientious
journalist forms the crux of Kala Pani’s plot. What
makes it all the more appealing is it stars two of
Hindi cinema’s most gorgeous and grand stars —
Dev Anand and Madhubala — opposite each other.
Kala Baazar (1960)
The one where all Anand brothers — Dev, Chetan,
Vijay — come together while Waheeda Rehman por-
trays the ethereal bone of contention. But it’s Dev
Anand’s turn as a flourishing black marketer trying
to turn new leaf to win Rehman’s affections that
catch our eye most. Not to forget a star-studded spe-
cial appearance sequence marked by the presence of
heavyweights like Dilip Kumar, Raaj Kumar,
Rajendra Kumar, Kishore Kumar and Nargis.
Hum Dono (1963)
Dev Anand’s most memorable double role was so
good, it was re-released in color earlier this year. His
crisp performance and furious dialogue delivery won
him awards and accolades. As a man caught in a
strange dilemma because of his resemblance to
another — physical and professional — leads to awk-
wardness and upheavals between the woman he
respects and the woman he loves.
; M4

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