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Reviews
Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971)
Dev Anand's call to the nation to keep up their values
The story for Hare Rama Hare Krishna actually came to Dev Anand's mind when he saw hippies and their fallen values in Kathmandu where he was on a visit after the protests against his previous Prem Pujari in Calcutta. He was low in spirits because his film had been opposed and some had burnt Prem Pujari's posters. But the life of hippies re ignited a story in Dev's mind to be made into a film.
This was Dev Anand's perhaps best directorial effort. The film was a blockbuster super hit at the box office and Zeenat Aman as Dev's sister made a tremendous impact.
This film was Dev Anand's call to the nation to keep up their moral values.
It is about a Montereal based Indian family and the brother's role is a very affectionate one for his sister. But the parents quarrel and separate leaving Prashant(Dev) with mother and Jasbir(Zeenat) with father. She is repeatedly told that her mother and brother are dead and she eventually believes that she will never see Prashant again.
She is ill treated by her step mother and she runs away from home. Dev grows up to be a pilot and he learns that Jasbir is in Kathmandu with certain hippies.
To reunite with his sister, Dev travels to Kathmandu and meets Shanti(Mumtaz) who was to later marry him and also Janice who in reality is Jasbir with a new name and new identity. She has forgotten her childhood and Dev too.
Dev has to get his sister back amongst all other happenings which include his being suspected as a thief in Kathmandu and the people are after his life.
This was a story well directed and acted-both by Dev Anand. We see more of Zeenat Aman than of Mumtaz. But the music by Rahul Dev Burman was well composed. Dev had first offered the music to be composed by Sachin Dev Burman but Burman Da did not want Dev to do the film. He was very close to Dev and his earlier film Prem Pujari, though was good, but had been opposed in Calcutta. Burman Da wanted Dev to try a lighter subject as he thought hippie cultist film might reignite people's anger against Dev. But Dev continued with the film reassuring Burman Da and the film was indeed a success.
R D Burman had Asha Bhosle sing the award winning Dum Maro Dum. Kanchi re Kanchi re was another good number.
Overall it is a good film.
Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963)
Musical and Comical Love Story
Not much of a plot here but it is still an enjoyable movie. Dev Anand's and Nutan's father's are enemies and when they think of making their own houses, both end up purchasing a plot of land in front of each other's. And they also end up with the same architect Rakesh (Dev Anand). Dev's father insists to his son that his house should be better than the others' not knowing that the others' architect was Dev only. And Nutan on her father's behalf says the same thing. How Dev manages all this is what the story is about. He fools Nutan, her father and his own father with lies and he still has time to romance with Nutan.
The songs are unforgettable with "Dil Ka Bhawar Kare Pukar" being my favorite. Actually this song is well shot. They could not shoot the song in real Qutb Minar because it is a narrow staircase and it would be impossible to shoot the song with all the cameras rolling. And the actor's movements could not be restricted as well. So they had to build a "Qutb Minar like" structure on the sets and the cameras are cleverly concealed.
Another song "Ek Ghar Banaounga" is wonderfully pictured. Dev imagines Nutan in his glass of wine and sings to her promising that he will build a house for both of their parents even though they might be enemies.
Other melodies include "Dekho Rootha Na Karo", "Ye Tanhai", "Pyar Ki Saza" and "Tu Kahan"
Dev Anand and Nutan give a wonderful performance and Vijay Anand directs the film well. This is a film that is enjoyable for its music and above all Dev Anand's debonair ways which makes him look very comical but adorable.
Guide (1965)
Philosophical, meaningful and perfect entertainer
Raju Guide (Dev Anand) is a guide in Udaipur and he earns a modest living, living in a small house with his mother. And a day comes when an ambitious archaeologist, Marco (Kishore Sahu) arrives in the town with his wife, the lovely Rosie (Waheeda Rehman). She is the daughter of a "devdasi" and the mother wanting to save her daughter from the terrible fate of becoming a "devdasi" marries her off to a rich and honorable but neglecting Marco. Rosie is interested in dancing and Marco has no respect for her art. When the unhappy couple reaches Udaipur (Marco is here to excavate in some caves and has brought Rosie along), Raju senses the disturbances between the couple. For he saves Rosie not once, twice but thrice from suicide. He realizes that Marco has ignored her, treated her badly and she needed solace in a friend. Raju is just the man. While Marco is at work, Raju accompanies Rosie to a shop and she buys a pair of "Ghughroo". Raju sees her dance and appreciates it and Rosie is overjoyed. Then one day she goes to visit her husband unexpectedly and she realizes that Marco was having a merry time with another woman. She is distressed and Raju persuades her to leave her husband and chase her dreams. She does so but the society does not allow her to live happily. A married woman with another man was not acceptable in the 1960's but the audiences did appreciate this film as it was a blockbuster and remains a classic.
Back to the story, Raju and Rosie defy the world even Raju's uncle who comes to take his sister (Raju's mother) away from him. Raju is tormented but by now he is in love with Rosie. He transforms her into a celebrity and their love life flourishes. But as humans have their weaknesses, Raju takes to drinking, smoking and gambling (his relationship with Rosie also deteriorates) and in a moment of weakness, (when Marco tries to get back Rosie and Raju wanting to keep Rosie away from Marco) he forges Rosie's signature on some documents and lands himself in a cell in prison. Rosie does not understand the reason why he committed this mistake. She thinks it was for her money and allows him to serve his sentence of two years refusing to grant bail. She however promises to wait for him.
But Raju was freed after only one and half year in prison because of his good behavior. He decides to just leave his past and goes in search of unknown. Through a series of hilarious circumstances he becomes famous as one of the holy men of India. Then drought strikes in a nearby village and he is forced to fast for twelve days to appease the rain God. The story takes a dramatic turn. The attention loving and materialistic Raju turns to spiritualism so well shown in the film that it is the best part of it (Not even R K Narayan's novel on which the film is based had this part). Rosie and Raju's mother learn about his fast and the three are united here. But Raju is weak from his fast. Reporters from all over the world come to interview him and at last after some twelve days it rains and rains. Raju's fast comes in fruitful but at the cost of his life. Raju dies in the end and Rosie is left lamenting over him.
It is a beautiful story well directed by Vijay Anand and powerful lead performances by Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman adds to the magic. Music by S.D. Burman is simply mesmerizing and the songs are all well sung and meaningful in each context.
There are everlasting melodious numbers in Gaata Rehein Mera Dil(Kishore,Lata) Kato Se Kheechke Ye Aanchal (Lata) Din Dhal Jaye (Rafi) Piya Tose Naina Lage Re (Lata) Kya Se Kya (Rafi) Mose Chal Ke Ye Jaay (Lata) TereMere Sapnein (Rafi) Wahan Kaun Hai Tera (S.D. Burman)
What is the definition of being a perfect entertainer? One word - GUIDE
Jewel Thief (1967)
An exciting crime thriller which keeps you guessing about the villain till the end
Jewel Thief is one of those suspense thrillers in which the viewers are left guessing till the end who the villain is. Suspense builds from the very first scene when the jewel thief becomes a national problem and there are cleverly concealed clues in the film so that you can guess who is the jewel thief. The story portrays that Dev Anand (Vinay in the film) and the jewel thief have identical faces. But you get a 1000 watt shock when you finally come to know the villain. There are many surprises and a lot of fishy stuff going on but there is time for romance and six melodious ever lasting songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar and Mohmmad Rafi.
This film was also talked about for its song's videos. Consider the teasing and counter teasing in Asman Ke Neeche. Or the blocking of road by Dev Anand when Tanuja was going out with her friends in Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara. Or the romantic Dil Pukare Are Are in the beautiful Sikkim. Or the wonderful dance by Vyjantimala in Hotho Pe Aisi Baat. Add to it Rulake Gaya Sapna Mera and Raat Akeli Hain and you will never forget this film for any reason.
Able acting by Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar, Tanuja and Vyjantimala and direction by Vijay Anand (Dev Anand's younger brother) makes this one of the best loved Hindi films of all times even today.
Asli-Naqli (1962)
About a rich and cynical person
Dev Anand plays Anand who is rich and pampered by the people. He wastes his grandfather's money on gambling until a wise man brings to light his wasted life. Dev's grandfather wants him to marry a rich girl whom Dev despises and quarrels with his grandfather. He leaves his home and travels into the wide wild world f which he is inexperienced. He is used to sleeping on soft beds and served around the clock by his servants but he is not used to sleeping on a hard mattress, cooking his food, washing his clothes etc. Worse, he has to work for his own living. But he does work with the help of Sadhana, who single handedly supports her own family comprising a mother and sister. Dev falls in love with Sadhana and wants to marry her but Dev's grandfather intervenes but eventually gives up when he notices the change in his grandson.
The name Asli Naqli is justified because Dev experiences the world of money where love, the most important thing for a man's survival is missing and thus this world is termed as Naqli. On the contrary, the world of poor people is full of love and friendship and they value people and their feelings more than materialistic things. Thus this world is termed Asli. The title song of the film "Asli kya hai Naqli kya hai poocho dil se mere" justifies the title of the film. This film has mesmerizing songs like "Tera Mrea Pyar Amar" sung by Lata Mangeshkar and the film is directed well by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.