Dev Anand: From Tourist to Spiritual Guide

Letter from New Delhi

By Kul Bhushan

The cinema was packed full. After the first song of the movie, the audience clapped, went on clapping for every song and clapped heartily when it ended. The excited cine fans had watched their cherished film ‘Guide’ with the eternal hero Dev Anand after it was first released in 1965.

Yes, even after 58 years, the charisma and the glamour of the two stars, Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman, has not diminished. About half the audience was white haired who were capturing their youth again, but the other half was young who were discovering the enigmatic star.

Dev Anand’s leading lady Waheeda Rehman, launches the film festival in Mumbai marking his 100th birthday. A couple of days later, she was honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the ultimate accolade of Indian cinema, for her lifetime contribution to movies. Pic – Times of India

This film festival was a celebration to mark the hundredth birthday of Dev Anand by screening his top hits in major Indian cities. The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) restored Dev Anand’s popular movies such as “Hum Dono”, “Tere Ghar Ke Samne”, “CID”, and “Guide” to mark his hundredth birthday and honoured birthday on 26 September 2023 with a gala titled ‘Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young’.

Each one of these films is a firm favourite but Guide remains the hallmark of Dev’s élan and genius. Based on the novel of the same name by RK Narayan, it relates the story of Raju the tourist guide who becomes a manager for a dancing star, a criminal prisoner and finally a spiritual guide by accident. The screenplay before the climax when the ego personified by the tourist guide questions the consciousness in the form of the spiritual guide is unmatched in Indian movies.

Happy-go-lucky Raju meets the subdued wife Rosie of Marco, the archaeologist who bullies her as she yearns to be free and to dance. After a heated argument, she leaves with Raju to start a new life as an accomplished dancer. The dance sequences, the costumes and the music provide an enchanting experience while the crisp dialogues bind in rapt attention. It all adds up to sublime entertainment. 

The film ventured into new vistas as the leading couple never married but lived in a relationship. Thus, the distributors were wary of releasing it as this was not socially acceptable in the sixties. And it ends on a sad note.

Producer Dev persisted and it was not a big hit but later caught momentum to become a blockbuster.

Director Vijay Anand, Dev’s brother, made some changes to the location from South India to Udaipur, amended the script/screenplay to highlight the compulsions and longings of the characters and, above all, the spiritual dimension which sinks in long after the film is over.

Thus, its theme and message remain valid after so many decades. No wonder the clapping in the theatres during the current re-release. Yes, Dev has shown his class in more than a hundred films, but Guide tops the top hits like Jewel Thief, Johnny Mera Naam, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Hum Dono, Kala Bazaar, Tere Mere Sapne, CID, Kala Paani….and the list goes on and on.

At the launch of his biography, ‘Romancing with Life’, at a five-star hotel in New Delhi, I had the privilege of meeting him and presenting him with a book by Osho. His instant response was, “Yes, I know Osho, my brother Vijay was his disciple.” Of course, I knew Vijay well but was impressed with Dev’s eclectic energy and dynamism which came across more powerfully than any words.

He lives in his films and our hearts. He has scored a century but not out.

Kul Bhushan worked as a newspaper Editor in Nairobi for over three decades and now lives in New Delhi

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 6 October 2023