On this day: Indian Cinema lost a gem with veteran filmmaker Chetan Anand’s demise

It has almost been two weeks since the release of superstar Salman Khan’s ‘Tubelight’, a film that was based on the backdrop of Sino-Indian War that occurred in 1962. In fact, it may sound strange, but before ‘Tubelight’, Bollywood hasn’t made many movies on this theme of war between India and China, though many movies have been made on Indo-Pak relations. But, it was much before this Salman Khan-starrer that Indian Cinema had witnessed an masterpiece made about this war and the movie was late filmmaker Chetan Anand’s ‘Haqeeqat’ (1964). And today, we are remembering this remarkable writer and director on his 20^th death anniversary.

Filmmaker Chetan Anand was the eldest of the three Anand brothers, the other two being the late veteran actor-filmmakers Dev Anand and Vijay Anand who also had immensely contributed with their work in the Hindi film industry. His younger sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is popular for his films not only in Bollywood but in Hollywood as well. The talented director had made his debut in films with ‘Neecha Nagar’ (1946). The film had went on to win the prestigious Palme d’Or (Best Film) award (then known as ‘Grand Prix’) at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946, the first Indian film to gain international recognition. Further, he teamed up with his younger brother Dev Anand and made films ‘Afsar’, ‘Aandhiyan’, ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Funtoosh’. (Also Read: Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman: A one-sided love story that never materialised)

Later, the talented filmmaker went on to start his own production banner called Himalaya films and made some of the most memorable films like ‘Heer Raanjha’, ‘Hanste Zakhm’, ‘Hindustan Ki Kasam’ and of course his most notable work ‘Haqeeqat’, which remains to be the best war film India has ever made. This was the film that carried the song ‘Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyon’ which was yet another highlight whose impact still remains intact.

Chetan Anand was the director under whom the first superstar of Indian Cinema, late actor Rajesh Khanna had made his debut with film ‘Aakhri Khat’ (1966). Both of them had also worked together in ‘Kudrat’ (1981), which was based on the theme of reincarnation.

He even ventured into TV with ‘Param Vir Chakra’ (1988), which turned out to be his last work. He breathed his last in 1997.

This day in the history of Indian Cinema will be remembered for the loss of this talented filmmaker.

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.