Dev Anand - The Evergreen Hero!

“Be free of mind and thought and be in love of happiness .. and smiles and laughter .. let them that deprive you of that live their lives in devising and planning to be such .. our lives should be in avoidance of theirs that follow the path of deviousness ..” (Big B Blog DAY 2982)

What an inspiring post, particularly the lines quoted above that are like a lesson to lead a happy life. Reading the lines, I was instantly reminded of the evergreen hero of Hindi cinema, Dev Anand, or better known as Dev Saab in later years, who remained ‘evergreen’ and in high spirits till the last day of his life. Evergreen promises something eternally fresh, something that doesn't seem to age or change. Dev saab, debonair, dapper and dashing as he was till the end, couldn't quite trick Father Time entirely.

But even when Dev Saab started to feel a little antiquated, and long after most people stopped watching his films, he kept going: introducing new actresses, taking on issues that intrigued him – hippies and drugs (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), godmen (Swami Dada), censorship (Censor), the Indian immigrant in the USA (Love at Times Square). He remained personally untouched by his success and his numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke award. Nor did he take his romantic image too seriously. His heroines often talked of feeling ‘safe' with him. But really off and on screen, he was a youth icon who spoke their language, used their music, chose their subjects.  His disarming and infectiously charming smile and dashing personality used to be a topic of discussion in the Bollywood circles and filmy parties.  His fans enjoyed his never say die attitude and his romance with Hindi films. When asked what was the secret of his happiness and high spirits, in spite of the back to back failures of his films at the box-office lately, he laughed at the question and answered smiling all the way:

“I  brushed off flops as if they were specks of dust on my pristine pastel sweaters. I moved on and didn’t stop to look back and get sad over films that did not succeed. And most importantly, I didn’t care  how the critics commented on my movies or my colleagues in the industry criticised for my failures. That may be their business, but I do mine, move on to my next project. Neither I sermonise anyone nor take it from anyone. This is what keeps me happy and in high spirits.”

And this, indeed, is the true understanding of the quoted message - “Be free of mind and thought and be in love of happiness .. and smiles and laughter ..”

Dev Saab’s thoughts on happiness are well supplemented in this beautiful song from film “Hum Dono”:

Mai zindagi ka sath

Nibhata chala gaya

Har fikr ko dhuen mein

Udata chala gaya

Barabadiyo ka sog

Manana fizul tha

Barabadiyo ka jashn

Manata chala gaya

Gam aur khushi me fark

Na mahasus ho jahan

Mai dil ko us muqam

Pe lata chala gaya

Mai zindagi ka sath

Nibhata chala gaya

Har fikr ko dhune

Me udata chala gaya.