SONGS WHICH MADE DEV ANAND

He was a star and acted in more than 100 movies in a career spanning more than 60 years , but when we think of great Dev Anand, his smiling, charming demeanour appears before us, nodding his head in his signature style - singing!

- HIMANSHU DHULIYA

Dev in Nau Do Gyarah, Kala Bazaar & Hum -Dono

Dev Anand makes us sing. He makes us smile, He makes us recollect sweet memories.

What made Dev what he was? He was so many things, giving hope and energy to us all who came in contact with him through cinema. He was a star and acted in more than 100 movies in a career spanning more than 60 years, but when we think of him, his smiling, charming demeanour appears before us, nodding his head in his signature style - singing!

Yes; he was an excellent actor also, who delivered memorable performances in “Taxi Driver’, ‘Kala Pani’, ‘Hum Dono’, ‘Guide’ and ‘Johny Mera Naam, and we also repeat and recollect the dialogues of these films, but he was essentially a singing star! Dev Anand was songs! He was into music! Lyrical!

On 26th Sep this year, Dev Anand, the evergreen star of Hindi cinema, would have been 102 years. This year I shall discuss the ‘Songs’ which made Dev Anand!

The songs of Dev Anand could be placed in three broad categories ~ the sad and serious, joyful/happy/ peppy, and the romantic duets! Among these, the most popular are duets he has sung with numerous heroines. However, his solo renditions are also not far behind, Dev sang about 400 songs. It is extremely difficult to select a few representative songs which make his personality and character on screen. However, it is my personal selection and I stand by it. Another author and admirer may have a completely different song list, as the range and depth of his collection was such.

I therefore explore the 'songs’ which made the great legend and his story. Most of the serious and sad songs were sung by Dev during the initial period of his career. Maybe the subject of his films was such songs. The new nation had emerged from the shackles of slavery. Poverty and unemployment was rampant.