{"id":4355,"date":"2018-07-07T05:48:21","date_gmt":"2018-07-07T00:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=4355"},"modified":"2020-07-05T11:52:01","modified_gmt":"2020-07-05T06:22:01","slug":"chetan-anand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/chetan-anand\/","title":{"rendered":"Chetan Anand: Exploring the Unconventional to Make Landmark Films"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chetan Anand will forever be remembered as a film maker who plunged into unconventional difficult subjects with a rare confidence. He brought in delicate art, poetry, music, color and vivacity into his films, sketched detailed, complex action on large canvases and explored raw human struggle for existence with sensitivity. A rare and unique repertoire that was unlike any other.<\/p>\n

In writing this tribute, I must acknowledge gratitude to the book\u00a0Chetan Anand – The Poetics of Film<\/i>\u00a0written by Chetan Anand’s wife Uma Anand and elder son Ketan Anand (Published by Himalaya Films – Media Entertainment 2007), which has been the primary source of information. Chetan Anand’s banner is Himalaya Films.<\/p>\n

Early years<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Chetan

Chetan Anand (Pic: Google)<\/p><\/div>\n

Born 3rd<\/sup> January 1915, in Gurdaspur, Punjab, to Peshauri Mal and Indravati (as the second eldest of 9 children), Chetan was sent to Gurukul Kangri, near Haridwar, for early education. This laid the strong foundation of Vedic values along with those of purity in languages, particularly Sanskrit and Hindi.<\/p>\n

In the Government College, Lahore, Chetan was actively involved in writing, dramatics, tennis, debates, poetry and in editing the college magazine. His father sent him to London\u2019s City University to appear for the prestigious Indian Civil Services, but following his heart, Chetan studied theatre and cinema and did programmes for the Indian service of the BBC.<\/p>\n

On his return to India, he joined the All India Radio in Delhi and picked up a teaching job as assistant Hindi master in the prestigious Doon School, Dehradun in 1940 for a monthly salary of Rs.180. He, with some others, laid the foundations of the Dramatics Society in the school.<\/p>\n

In 1943, Chetan married Uma Chatterji, daughter of Prof. G.C. Chatterji, his philosophy and psychology professor in Government College, Lahore.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Dev Anand, Uma Chatterji and Chetan Anand (Pic: Twitter<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

During his leisure time he wrote stories and scripts. In December 1943, during a trip to Bombay, he sold a story titled Kunal<\/em> to Kishore Sahu and met the famed director, Phani Mazumdar who cast him as the leading man opposite Nargis for a film named Rajkumar<\/em> (1944). Mazumdar was impressed by Chetan\u2019s good looks, extremely polished demeanour and charm. He was paid a salary of Rs. 800\/- per month but unfortunately, the film was never released.<\/p>\n

The city’s elite embraced the creative couple with enthusiasm. Balraj and Damyanti Sahani were friends since college days. Uzra and Hamid Butt, Uzra\u2019s sister Zohra and her husband, Kameshwar Sehgal were people who made the Anands feel at home. Soon, their friends\u2019 circle expanded to include KA Abbas, Safdar Mir, Guru Dutt, Geeta Roy, family friend\/relative Binder Ratra (who became known cinematographer, V. Ratra) and then Raj Khosla, Hayatullah Ansari, Ali Sardar Zafri, SD Burman, Ravi Shankar, Sahir Ludhianvi and others.<\/p>\n

The Award Winning Debut<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chetan’s very first venture, Neecha Nagar<\/em>, won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 1946. A master was born.<\/p>\n

Those days, just after the Second World War, raw film was given out in licenced quotas. KA Abbas got one to make his Dharti Ke Laal<\/em>. Uday Shankar made Kalpana<\/em> and the London-based Kathak dancer Rafiq Anwar and his brother Rashid formed India Films with one such licence. On a story by Hayatullah Ansari, they approached Chetan to script and direct Neecha Nagar<\/em>. With music by Ravi Shankar, the film was appreciated around the world for its\u2019 elegance, refined direction, performances and cinematography. Uma Kashyap was introduced as Kamini Kaushal to become one of the leading stars of Hindi cinema.<\/p>\n

\"Neecha

Neecha Nagar<\/em>, winner of the Grand Prix at the Festival de Cannes 1946<\/p><\/div>\n

Afsar<\/em><\/strong> (1950)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chetan next made Afsar<\/em> with his younger brother, Dev Anand, now an established actor producing the film. Afsar<\/em> failed at the box-office but the songs composed by SD Burman became a rage and are popular even to date. The film was based on the 1836 Ukrainian play ‘Inspector General’ written by Nikolai Gogol and starred Dev with Suraiya, Ruma Devi and Manmohan Krishan.<\/p>\n

Man mor huwa matwala, kisne jaadu dala re<\/strong><\/em> (Afsar<\/em>, 1950) SD Burman \/ Pt. Narendra Sharma \/ Suraiya<\/span><\/p>\n