Remembering Vijay Anand, on his 83rd birth anniversary.
Remembering Vijay anand, on his 83rd birth anniversary.
Vijay Anand (22 January 1934–23 February 2004), also known as Goldie Anand, was a filmmaker, producer, screen writer, editor, and actor, who is known for acclaimed films like Guide (1965) and Johny Mera Naam (1970). He made most of his films for the in-house banner Navketan Films and was part of the Anand family.
Vijay Anand was born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, British India to well-to-do advocate Pishori Lal Anand. He was the youngest of the four Anand siblings, including producer and director Chetan Anand and Dev Anand, one of the greatest and most beloved of Hindi film stars, his sister is Sheel Kanta Kapur, who is the mother of acclaimed Indian film director Shekhar Kapur. His first marriage was with Loveleen, a marriage which took place when Vijay Anand was influenced by Rajneesh,and Lovleen had come to interview him for Russian Times, and wanted to marry him. This marriage was later dissolved by Rajneesh himself, when the couple could not go together. His second marriage was with Sushma Kohli, his sister’s daughter. They have a son, Vaibhav.
Though Vijay Anand has had a career as an actor, screenwriter, editor, and producer, he will primarily be remembered as a director. In 1957, he made his directorial debut with Nau Do Gyarah, which he shot in 40 days.
Some of his successful movies as director are Johny Mera Naam (1970), Jewel Thief (1967), Teesri Manzil (1966), Kala Bazar (1960), Ram Balram, Rajput. Teesri Manzil, which he made for producer Nasir Hussain, was his first non-Navketan film as a director. Some of his major films are Tere Mere Sapne (1971) and Guide (1965). Guide, starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman is Vijay Anand’s most critically acclaimed movie. It is based on R.K. Narayan’s novel The Guide. Navketan attempted an international release of a remake of Guide without much success.
Vijay Anand is known for his stylish song picturization, like “O Haseena” (Teesri Manzil ), “Kaaton Se Kheech” (Guide ) and “Honthon Mein Aisi Baat” (Jewel Thief ) numbers.
As an actor, his most memorable roles were in films Haqeeqat (1964), Kora Kagaz (1974), in which he starred opposite Jaya Bachchan, and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). ‘Chor Chor’ was a song-less thriller where Leena Chandavarkar was his heroine. He acted in ‘Ghoonghroo Ki Aawaz’, ‘Double Cross’ and ‘Chhupa Rustam.’
To the younger generation of the 1990s he is also known for playing detective Sam in the television series Tehkikaat (1994).
He served a short stint as the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, India’s censor board, a position from which he resigned, in 2002, after he ran into ideological differences with the government over introduction of ratings for adult movies.
He caused a major controversy by marrying his much younger niece. He was in the inner circle of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.
Goldie, as he was affectionately called, died on 23 February 2004 due to a heart attack. He was aged 70.
