{"id":2597,"date":"2016-01-22T00:00:59","date_gmt":"2016-01-21T18:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=2597"},"modified":"2018-05-29T20:08:14","modified_gmt":"2018-05-29T14:38:14","slug":"vijay-anand-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/vijay-anand-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Gata Rahe Mera Dil was Patchwork’: In Conversation With Vijay Anand"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vijay

Vijay Anand and Dev Anand with Amit Khanna (Pic: SMM Ausaja)<\/p><\/div>\n

It was 1990. The International Film Festival of India (non-competitive) was being held in Calcutta in the Nandan film centre, which had been established by the state government. It has a decent library containing film related material. I was a regular there and very regularly my opinion and information was invited on cinema, particularly, the Hindi cinema. As such I had developed a friendly relationship with the librarian. For that entire film festival, I was<\/em> an invitee of the librarian as a delegate. It helped me to access the film screenings, meetings and discussions and the social functions.<\/p>\n

I had also met many other film personalities at that time and spoke to them as well. Among them were Shakti Samanta, Basu Bhattacharya, Gulzar, Mrinal Sen, actors Revathy, Supriya Devi, Soumitra Chatterji, and Samit Bhanja.<\/p>\n

Vijay Anand was attending the IFFI as a speaker on Censor Board. His speech drew a very good response from the audience including luminaries like Mrinal Sen and Basu Bhattacharya who came up to the dais to speak on the subject. Later, during the evening snacks and cocktails, I saw Vijay Anand being approached by a few people about his lecture earlier in the day. He was a very accommodating, respectful and decent person.<\/p>\n

\"Vijay

Vijay Anand and Jaya Bhaduri in Kora Kagaz<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

As soon as I got a moment when he was alone, I went up to him and introduced myself as one of his fans. He smiled and quipped, \u201cYou mean, you are a fan of Censor Board?\u201d and laughed at his own joke.<\/p>\n

Then he immediately said,\u00a0\u201cI saw you at my discussion earlier in the day. Are you involved in some way with serious cinema?\u201d<\/p>\n

I told him I was a part time contributor to some magazines and newspapers and had also conducted some talks on film personalities.\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s great. On whom did you give your last talk?\u201d he asked me. I informed him that it was on RD Burman at Nandan for a group consisting of some 65-70 people and a few months ago I had given a talk on Kanan Devi, where Kanan Devi herself was present.\u00a0\u201cOh ho, you have quite a vast spectrum,\u201d he commented.<\/p>\n

I asked if I could talk to him about a few things that had been on my mind for few years. He agreed readily, saying,\u00a0\u201cGo ahead. Ask me whatever you want to know.\u201d He almost was ready to answer any thing. He had a drink in his hand and waved at the waiter signalling to get him one more. He next offered me one but I asked for a soft drink for myself. We sat down at a table and started talking.<\/p>\n

Excerpts from what we spoke about that evening. To read this conversation in its original Hindi language, please click here<\/span>.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Vijay

Vijay Anand and Dev Anand in Tere Mere Sapne<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Unique and unparalleled films of Vijay Anand<\/h2>\n

Peeyush Sharma:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I believe you are one of the finest directors of Hindi cinema.<\/em><\/p>\n

Vijay Anand:<\/strong> (chuckling lightly)\u00a0Arrey, there are many highly reputed, internationally recognised people here. Please take my name a little softly.<\/p>\n

Peeyush Sharma:<\/strong>\u00a0Let them be. For me you are superior to all others.<\/em><\/p>\n

Vijay Anand:\u00a0<\/strong>In which aspect do you admire my work so much?<\/p>\n

Peeyush Sharma:\u00a0<\/strong>Outstanding direction, script writing, dialogue writing and the way you conceive the shots. The way you design the set and handle the entire film and then edit the film. I believe there is no one even close to you in this respect.<\/em><\/p>\n

Vijay Anand:\u00a0<\/strong>Ok. Which film of mine did you like so much?<\/p>\n

Peeyush Sharma:\u00a0<\/strong>All your films. Each and every one of them has something outstanding. Especially, the song picturisation is absolutely marvellous.<\/em><\/p>\n

Vijay Anand:\u00a0<\/strong>But people talk about Guru Dutt and after him Raj Khosla.<\/p>\n

Peeyush Sharma:\u00a0<\/strong>Guru Dutt yes, he was unique and best in his time. But Raj Khosla does not come anywhere near you. You are the best in this respect, be it the songs of Nau Do Gyaarah, or of Kala Bazar or Tere Ghar ke Saamne, Guide, Teesri Manzil, Jewel Thief, Johny Mera Naam, Blackmail, Bullet, Chhupa Rustam and Tere Mere Sapne\u2026 the list is exhaustive. Every film you handled was unique and unparalleled. Any other director cannot be compared with you.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tumne mujhe dekha<\/strong><\/em> (Teesri Manzil<\/em>, 1966) – RD Burman \/ Majrooh Sultanpuri \/ Mohd Rafi<\/span><\/p>\n