Before the phrase Bollywood was ever uttered, there was the golden era of the Indian film industry.
And before media-dubbed King Khans and itty bitty Kapoors, there were the true giants of the big screen in Bombay.
One such gentleman was Dev Anand.
Sadly, I say it in the past tense, as he passed away earlier this evening in London, at the age of 88.
He was lauded for his vast contribution to cinema – as an actor, producer and director.
He was applauded for his style – which remained constant both on screen and off.
Think of how modern this is – the mix of patterns, the layering of textures and the corduroy jacket against the tweed. Tom Ford would approve of that velvet ascot, “asserted by a simple pin”, as per Mr. Eliot, I presume.
So where shall I begin?
One could write a thesis on his scarves, another on his collars – and an entire book on his choice chapeaux!
Then there is the khaki and pink – to think! Anand to be had, indeed.
I still remember seeing his films in the Naaz Theatre in Toronto in the ’70s. There will always be the hillside songs, and the yodeling will forever, live on. The yodeling, incidentally, was actually Kishore Kumar, the playback singer who became known as the singing voice of Dev Anand – the two creative spirits would play off of each other and became great friends.
Hats off to you, sir.
You wore it all so well – fame and fashion, alike.
Translations: anand – joy/enjoyment; Joney Jeene May Kya Hai – Joney, what is there to living?; Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar – don’t go just yet and leave us; Khoya Khoya Chaand – lost, lost moon.
Images: NDTV, IBN, Wikimedia, IMDB.
