Journalism of Courage
Dev Anand believes that six generations later he is still competing with the best in the business
Old timers from the good ol days of Indian black and white cinema might remember him for his classics like CID and Nau Do Gyarah,youngsters might definitely remember him for his stuttered walk and his famous style of delivering dialogues something akin to the style popularised by Cary Grant,and yet when one meets legendary actor,director,producer,writer Dev Anand,up close in person,all opinions formed go for a toss and all that one can see is his child-like enthusiasm to make films and keep going on.
I began acting in films in the year 1944,and then opened my own company Navketan Films in the year 1949,and ever since then I have been involved in acting,directing,and producing,films and I can say this with a lot of conviction that this is the best profession to have been in. Anything that allows a person to reinvent himself on a daily basis,is ,according to me the best job, says the swashbuckling actor as he speaks about his long standing tryst with the film industry.
In the city on Saturday to be the chief guest at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII),he says that the return to FTII is a second homecoming of sorts. I began my career at the erstwhile Prabhat Studios which later on went to become the corner stone of this institute and laid the foundation for FTII. So in many ways this is like re-entering the hallowed portals of the same place from where I began my long standing association with films.
Anand who was at his candid best,personally felicitated the ex-students,staff members,and also the old employees of the institute with a trademark comment or a joke to share with them,whilst giving candid poses for the photographers assembled,much to the delight of the audience present there. He says that the best part about being in this profession is the fact that it inspires a person to be creative and create something that will entertain the masses. It goes this way,a writer gets a great idea,which he then discusses with a director friend who believes in it,and decides to take the plunge and make the film. Eventually the film sees the light of the day,and the writer,the director and the whole ensemble cast become famous. That is the beauty of filmmaking. People out here give a chance to bribe themselves into becoming the greatest, he says philosophically.
Speaking about his latest film- Chargesheet that is slated to hit theatres later this year,Anand feels that filmmaking has changed a lot over the last six generations. Not just technology wise but in all aspects. It would be incorrect on my part if I do not reinvent myself and continue making films that are six generations old. To keep making movies like the way we used to do earlier on,I need to compete with the best in the business on the terms that the industry demands today. And while to most people it might be a lot of work,for me it is just another reason to keep finding happiness in this profession.
FTII celebrations – Day II
* The celebrations at FTII saw the screening of diploma films of the first batch of FTII namely: Imtihan,Khilone,Masoom,Anjan,and Chandani Raat Ki Umar
* A seminar was held on the topic of FTII and the Ethos of Cinema in India that had Mani Kaul,Kundan Shah,Resul Pookutty,Amrit Gangar,Anurag Kashyap and others on the panel.
* A film made by the erstwhile Prabhat Film Studio- Sant Tukaram (1936) was screened,which was later on followed by a cultural programme that featured a classical recital by Rajan and Sajan Mishra.
