Chetan Anand (producer & director)
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| Chetan Anand | |||||||
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| Born | January 3, 1915 Gurdaspur, British India |
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| Died | July 6, 1997 (aged 82) Mumbai, Maharastra  India |
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| Occupation | producer,director, Actor, Screenwriter | ||||||
| Years active | 1944-1994 | ||||||
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Chetan Anand (Hindi: चेतन आनंद) (January 3, 1915 - July 6, 1997), was an acclaimed Hindi film producer, screenwriter and director from India, whose debut film, Neecha Nagar, bagged the Palme d'Or (Best Film) award, at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946.
He was the elder brother to Hindi film actor-directors, Dev Anand and Vijay Anand.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Chetan Anand was born on January 3, 1915, in Gurdaspur in Punjab. After graduating from Government College Lahore, he also remained a member of Indian National Congress in the 1930s [1]
[edit] Career
In the early 1940s, while he was teaching History, he wrote a film script on king Ashoka, which he went on to show to director, Phani Majumdar in Bombay, but not before his failed attempt to qualify, the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exams, in London. As luck would have it, Phani Majumdar, instead casted him, as a lead in his Hindi film, Rajkumar, released in 1944. He also became associated with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in Bombay.
He soon took to film direction with the well-acclaimed movie, Neecha Nagar which bagged the Palme d'Or (Best Film) award, then known as 'Grand Prix', at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946 [2][3]. This film was also the debut film for Kamini Kaushal, and became the first Indian film to gain international recognition [4].
By early 50s, he and his younger brother Dev Anand had set up `Navketan Productions' in Mumbai, and Afsar, starring Dev Anand and Suraiya, was the first film made by Navketan, which turned out to be a moderate success, it was followed by Taxi Driver and Andhiyan, both of which he directed for Navketan banner.
Later on Chetan Anand started his own production banner called Himalaya films and teamed up with photographer Jal Mistry, music director Madan Mohan, lyrics writer, Kaifi Azmi and actress, Priya Rajvansh. Together they gave some of most memorable and unique films in Hindi cinema like Haqeeqat, Heer Raanjha, Hanste Zakhm, Kudrat and Hindustan Ki Kasam.
Apart from 17 feature films he is also known for the acclaimed television serial, Param Vir Chakra, which was aired Doordarshan in 1988.
After separation from his wife he had a long time relationship with the actress Priya Rajvansh, she was the heroine of his film Haqeeqat and all films after that. He had a relationship with her till his death.
He died on July 6, 1997, at the age of 82 in Mumbai [1].
[edit] Legacy
'Chetan Anand: The Poetics of Film', a book written by Chetan Anand's wife Uma Anand and son Ketan Anand (Himalaya Films Media Entertainment) was released in 2006 [5]
A restrospective of his film was held at Struttgart Film Festival, and at India International Centre, New Delhi in 2007 [6].
[edit] Filmography
- Neecha Nagar (1946) - Director
- Afsar (1950) - Director, Screenwriter
- Aandhiyan (1952) - Director
- Taxi Driver (1954)- Director, Screenwriter
- Funtoosh - (1956) - Director
- Kala Bazar -(1960) - Actor
- Kinare Kinare (1963) - Director, Screenwriter
- Haqeeqat (1964) - Director, Screenwriter
- Aakhri Khat (1966) - Director, Screenwriter
- Heer Raanjha (1970) - Director, Screenwriter
- Hanste Zakhm (1973) - Director, Producer
- Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973) - Director
- Kudrat (1981) - Director, Screenwriter
- Hathon Ki Lakeerein (1986) - Director, Producer
- Param Veer Chakra (1988, TV Series) - Director
[edit] Awards
- 1946: Palme d'Or (Best Film), Cannes Film Festival: Neecha Nagar
- 1965: National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film: Haqeeqat
[edit] References
- ^ a b Haqeeqat director Chetan Anand The Indian Express, July 7, 1997.
- ^ Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (1939-54)
- ^ Maker of innovative, meaningful movies The Hindu, June 15, 2007.
- ^ History will never forget Chetan Anand June 13, 2007.
- ^ Remembering Chetan Anand and Neecha Nagar Hindustan Times, September 29, 2007.
- ^ An enigma resolved The Hindu, September 14, 2007.
[edit] External links
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