Ask any director who he’s been influenced by and Vijay Anand’s name will feature notably in that list. Because the filmmaker was not just a textbook of cinema. He was an entire curriculum. Not limited by any genre or stymied by his own sensibilities he could flit through comedy, thriller, drama, musical and even masala fare with ease. His directorial excellence was as much about his deft camera work as it was about his nuanced characters. Waheeda Rehman in Guide, despite playing an adulteress, went on to become an iconic symbol of rebellion. Vyjayanthimala went notches further as a dancer after she kept pace with his trailing camera in Jewel Thief. Shammi Kapoor became India’s answer to Elvis Presley as he matched Anand’s vision of a rockstar in Teesri Manzil. So did Mumtaz drape her sexuality in homely cotton sarees to give her best performance in Tere Mere Sapne...
Anand’s songs too outlived his times, most being the pride of satellite TV. Love awakening against a rising sun in Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hai. Dreams lettered in Pal pal dil ke paas... Love scaling heights in Dil ka bhanwar... Vijay Anand’s creative picturisations took the story forward. “My camera listens to the song and moves with it,” he once said. Long shots, lush backdrops and sharp intercutting brought out the poetry in the prose.
Yet Anand’s life was not confined to the boundaries of fame. He was essentially a seeker, his quest leading him to somewhere finding the ultimate answers with guru UG Krishnamurthy. It was also this philosophical side that helped him tide an ebbing career and health. For someone who could almost predict the period of his death, the shenanigans of fate were no threats. Today, Anand’s genius lives on in the cinematic jargon. In fact, Sriram Raghavan’s Johnny Gaddar, a noir thriller, paid a subtle tribute to the master in a scene where his blockbuster Johny Mera Naam played... Memories of an unforgettable man and an extraordinary filmmaker in the words of wife Sushma Anand...
(clockwise) Dharmendra, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Amitabh Bachchan and Vijay Anand during Ram Balram. Mumtaz and Dev Anand in Tere Mere Sapne. With older brother Dev Anand.
THE MAKER
Goldie’s (Vijay Anand’s pet name) childhood was spent in Gurdaspur in Punjab. A fair child with blonde curls, he was naughty. Hence, his father called him ‘Goldilocks’. With time, locks nikalgaye, ‘Goldie’ rehgaya! Goldie lost his mother when he was seven. He, along with his two older sisters (they were a family of nine siblings), came to live with Chetan saab (Anand, filmmaker) and Uma bhabhi (Anand) at their ‘shack’ in Juhu. Chetan saab was older to Dev saab (Anand, actor/filmmaker) by 10 years, who in turn was older to Goldie by 10. Uma bhabhi was like a mother to Goldie and had a great influence on him. She urged him to write, given his sharp imagination. Goldie often said, “I owe everything to Bhabhi.”
While Goldie was studying in St Xaviers College in Mumbai, he directed several plays, including the play Rehearsal. It was a takeoff on Hamlet and the catch phrase ‘to be or not to be’. Just out of college, Goldie wrote the script of Navketan’s Taxi Driver (1954), with Uma bhabhi, which Chetan saab directed. He had also written the script of Nau Do Gyarah (1957) and wanted to direct it but didn’t have the courage to tell Dev saab about it. Once when Dev saab was going to Mahableshwar, he asked Goldie for the script to read it on the way. Goldie refused saying he’d narrate it himself. He hopped in the car and narrated the story through the journey. On reaching Mahableshwar, Dev saab called his office and said, “Navektan’s next production will be directed by Vijay Anand. Make an announcement!” From then Goldie’s career as a director took off.
Kala Bazaar (1960) was one film where all the three brothers worked together. Dev saab produced it. Goldie wrote and directed it. Chetan saab acted in it. During his college days, Goldie would see tickets being sold in black at theatres including Metro, Liberty and Empire... That gave birth to this concept. He even included real shots of the premiere of Mehboob Khan’s Mother India with actors including Dilip Kumar, Nargis Geeta Dutt, Guru Dutt, Raaj Kumar and Rajendra Kumar.
Amarjeet, who was a publicist and Goldie’s friend, lived in Chetan saab’s shack with Goldie. Once, Goldie fell sick. Amarjeet nursed him with affection. He’d serve him soup, press his legs, check the temperature... Goldie promised him a directorial assignment. Goldie wrote a detailed script of Hum Dono (1961, had Dev Anand in a double role) with everything marked.... entry, exit, camera placement... so that Amarjeet wouldn’t face difficulty while directing. But yet Amarjeet couldn’t do it. Finally, Goldie directed the film but gave Amarjeet the credit that he’d promised him.
Nutan was one of Goldie’s favourite actresses and suited perfectly in the comedy Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (1963). Dil ka bhanwar had a beautifully filmed song. It was shot in the Qutub Minar to get the feel of Delhi. The duo (Dev-Nutan) climbs up as friends but when they come down, they’re lovers. The song Ek ghar banaaonga had camera tricks - Nutan is seen in the glass of whiskey.
(clockwise) Dev Anand in Hum Dono. Vijay Anand in a debonair avatar. Sushma Anand with son Vaibhav Anand
Guide (1965) was Navketan’s first film in colour. Based on RK Narayan’s novel The Guide, Tad Danielewski was directing the English version for writer Pearl S Buck. Chetan saab was to shoot the same scenes for the Hindi version He found it frustrating. So when he got a financier for Haqeeqat (1964) he quit. Goldie accepted it on the condition that he’d rewrite the script as a subject like blatant adultery would not be accepted by Indian audiences. Guide became a classic because it excelled in photography (Fali Mistry), acting (Dev Anand-Waheeda Rehman), music (SD Burman), editing (Vijay Anand and Babu Shiekh)... The song Tere Mere Sapne was shot in the early light in Udapiur. It was an emotional mood where Dev saab builds hope in a dejected Waheeda Rehman. Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai was filmed in the Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan. Her playing with the straw showed her light-heartedness. When she throws the matki singing dil woh chala it spoke of shedding the past and new beginnings. The finest compliment for Goldie came from RK Narayan who said, “The film is more beautiful than my book.”
Goldie went on to direct the spy thriller Jewel Thief (1967). For the legendary Hothon pe aisi baat filmed on Vyjayanthimala, three to four cameras were put up including a trolley camera. Later, Dev saab was to do Nasir Hussain’s thriller Teesri Manzil (1966). When he couldn’t, Shammi Kapoor was roped in. Initially, Shammiji came at his own time. But he realised that this man comes at 9 am with a ready script and his cameras are placed beforehand. He too began coming on time. Shammiji and Goldie struck a great rapport. Aaja aaja and Oh haseena zulfonwali will always be remembered for their energy, Shammiji playing a musician in the film. O mere sona re is my favourite because through the song Goldie played interestingly with Shammiji’s briefcase. Later, Johny Mera Naam (1970), an entertainer, further proved Goldie’s versatility. In Pal bhar ke liye... Goldie played with the windows, where the persistent lover (Dev saab) finally woos the heroine (Hema Malini).
A film that remained close to Goldie’s heart was Tere Mere Sapne (1971, based on AJ Cronin’s The Citadel). He was hurt that the ‘sensitive’ film was not a commercial success. It was the story of human relationships amidst materialism. Goldie met doctors to understand the authentic body language for his doctor protagonist (Dev Anand). The songs were unique too. Mumtaz sings Radha ne maala japi when she accepts the hero’s marriage proposal. Hey maine kasam li was filmed on Dev saab and Mumtaz on a bicycle. Jeevan ki bagiya was shot in close-ups and established their intimacy. But the less heard Mera antar ek mandir, a song, which hinted at conceiving a baby, was Goldie favourite. Goldie liked Nutan and Waheeda for their expressive eyes. He found Nanda to be a fine artiste as much as he liked Asha Parekh for her naughtiness. But in Mumtaz, he saw a great dancer and actress. Basically, he liked simplicity in a woman.
My favourite in Blackmail (1973) is Mile mile do badan. It’s the first time that the couple (Dharmendra-Raakhee) have come together. They’re hiding among the wood pile in the jungle even as dogs are sent to hunt them. The danger and intimacy makes the song beautiful. Pal pal dil ke saath is romantic because of the dreamy picturistaion.
He directed some more films like Chhupa Rustom (1973), Ram Balram (1980) and Rajput (1982) but didn’t meet with much success. He also happened to act Kora Kagaz(1974) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan ki (1978), which were huge hits. Goldie was proud of his later films Hum Rahe Na Hum (1984), a relationship saga that featured him with Rehana Sultan and Shabana Azmi and Jaana Na Dil Se Door with newcomers. Sadly, he couldn’t release them and that left him dejected. He’d say, “Perhaps, my time is over.”
THE MAN
Goldie and I got married in 1978 during the shoot of Ram Balram. We cared for each other to the extent that we wanted to get married. He liked my simplicity. I understood his temperament. He rarely lost his cool. I was the one who’d lose my temper. I was crazier. I’d deliberately do things to annoy him. Sometimes, he manaoed (cajoled) me, sometimes I manoed him. Yes, women did throw themselves at him. But I never felt jealous or insecure. Rather, I’d tease him, “Main dekh rahi hoon! Maze karo! Enjoy yourself.” He rarely complimented me but when he did it made me happy. He liked me in sarees and sometimes picked up sarees and pieces of jewellery for me.
We loved to travel. Our best holiday was in Hampstead in London just after our marriage. There were theatres across the road. We shopped a lot. Once when we were in Europe, he quietly slipped out. “Yeh lene gaya tha,” he said later showing me a sweater he had bought for me.
He had a passion for ballroom dancing, waltz and fox trot. As a youngster, he’d travel from Chetan saab’s shack to a school in Colaba to learn waltz. He did a dance with Bindu in Chupa Rustom. The song Joh main hota ek toota tara was filmed on the bonnet of a car. He also loved shirts. He’d pick a dozen at a time. He was fond of watches and cologne and had grown fond of horses when he was working with Kalyanji Anandji.
Chetan saab’s shot division was superb. But Chetan saab changed things on the set, he was spontaneous. While Goldie went fully prepared. That’s why actors understood they couldn’t fool with him. They understood he meant business.
Goldie liked Guru Dutt’s realism, Raj Kapoor’s glamour and the existentialism in the works of Satyajit Ray. Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960) by Ritwik Ghatak was his favourite. But as a filmmaker he didn’t want to make realistic movies. He’d say, “This is a media for entertainment!” Goldie was not fond of drinks and nursed a peg throughout the evening. Rather, he was interested in spirituality and astronomy. He had read all religious books – the Gita, the Bible, the Upanishads, the Koran... He became a disciple of Osho Rajneesh but reached a dead end when he couldn’t find answers. Then he met UG Krishnamurthy (spiritual guru) in whom he found solace. UG once said, “If anyone, anywhere has understood me, it’s Goldie.” Instead of revolting, he accepted life as it came. He was against pretence. He never missed his past glory. He’d say it was a closed chapter. He didn’t want to write his biography. He believed, “Joh hoga so hogaya. My work will speak for itself.”
Towards the end he had developed a heart problem. Vaibhav had assisted him in Jaana Na Hum Se Door and then went off to attend a filmmaking course at the Lee Strasburg Institute in New York. Vaibhav returned in January 2004. Goldie passed away in February 2004. In fact, having some knowledge of astrology Goldie had predicted that February 2004 was a bad month for him. His only regret was that he couldn’t do much for our son Vaibhav, who’s inherited his sensibilities. After he passed away you do tend to get isolated. But it’s fine. I’ve taken to singing – something I was always interested in. And in my circle of friends I often sing Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hai...
YOU MUST KNOW...
Taxi Driver was inspired by Hollywood’s noir movement
Nau Do Gyarah was an urban thriller/road film with elements borrowed from Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night (1934).
Vijay Anand filmed Aaja panchi akela hai in a constricted space (a room and a toilet!) in Nau Do Gyarah. The film’s other hits were Hum hain rahi pyar ke and Aankhon mein kya ji.
Rhim jhim ke tarane (Kala Bazar) is remembered for Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman under an umbrella!
In Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Anand used camera tricks where Dev Anand imagines Nutan inside his drink! Then Dev’s aide puts an ice cube into the glass causing Nutan to shiver!
Hum Dono with Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics and Jaidev’s music gave the immortal gems Allah tero naam and Abhi na jaao choddh kar.
Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai (Guide) had Waheeda dancing along the ledge of the temple while Tere mere sapne was canned in just three shots.
RD Burman’s rock n roll inspired score in Teesri Manzil gave Shammi Kapoor his rockstar image.
Jewel Thief’s Hothon pe aisi baat had Vyjayanthimala gliding through an entire stanza in one take.
Johny Mera Naam had Hema Malini riding on a cable T-bar on Dev Aand’s lap
The great music and picturisation of Anand’s films can largely be credited to composer SD Burman, lyricist Shailendra and cinematographer Fali Mistry who translated his vision.