Chetan Anand (director) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chetan Anand
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Anand on a 2013 stamp of India
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| Born | 3 January 1921 Lahore, Punjab, British India
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| Died | 6 July 1997 (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Producer, director, actor, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1944–1994 |
| Spouse(s) |
Uma Anand
(m. 1943) |
| Partner(s) | Priya Rajvansh |
| Children | 2; Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand |
| Relatives | See Anand-Sahni family |
| Awards | Cannes Film Festival: Palme d'Or (Best Film): Neecha Nagar (1946) |
Chetan Anand (born January 3, 1921 – died July 6, 1997) was a famous Hindi film producer, writer, and director from India. His first movie, Neecha Nagar, won a big award called the Grand Prix Prize (now the Golden Palm) at the very first Cannes Film Festival in 1946. Later, in 1949, he helped start a film company called Navketan Films with his younger brother, Dev Anand.
Contents
About Chetan Anand's Life
Early Years and Education
Chetan Anand was born on January 3, 1921, in Lahore, which was part of British India at the time. His father, Pishori Lal Anand, was a successful lawyer.
Chetan studied Hindu scriptures at Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya. He later earned a degree in English from Government College Lahore. In the 1930s, he was part of the Indian National Congress. He also worked for the BBC and taught at The Doon School in Dehradun for a while.
Starting a Film Career
In the early 1940s, Chetan Anand taught history. He wrote a film script about the ancient king Ashoka the Great. He took his script to director Phani Majumdar in Bombay.
Chetan also tried to join the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in London but did not pass the exams. Luckily, Phani Majumdar chose him to act as the main character in his Hindi film, Rajkumar, which came out in 1944. Chetan also joined the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in Bombay.
Directing Award-Winning Films
Chetan Anand soon became a film director. His movie Neecha Nagar was highly praised. It won the Palme d'Or (Best Film) award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946. This was the first film for actress Kamini Kaushal. It was also the first Indian film to get international recognition. The famous musician Pandit Ravi Shankar also made his debut in this film.
By the early 1950s, Chetan and his younger brother Dev Anand started their own film company, Navketan Productions, in Bombay. Their first film was Afsar, starring Dev Anand and Suraiya. It was a moderate success. Chetan also directed Taxi Driver and Aandhiyan for Navketan.
Acting and New Productions
While directing, Chetan Anand also acted in movies sometimes. He appeared in Humsafar in 1957. In the same year, he directed and acted in two movies, Arpan and Anjali. He also acted in films like Kala Bazar, Kinare-Kinare, and Hindustan Ki Kasam, which he also directed.
Later, Chetan Anand started his own production company called Himalaya films. He worked with talented people like photographer Jal Mistry, music director Madan Mohan, writer Kaifi Azmi, and actress Priya Rajvansh. Together, they created memorable films such as Haqeeqat, Heer Raanjha, Hanste Zakhm, and Hindustan Ki Kasam.
Chetan Anand is known for discovering the famous actor Rajesh Khanna. He cast Khanna in his first film, Aakhri Khat. This movie is remembered for its beautiful locations, songs, and the child star 'Bunty'. Chetan later directed Rajesh Khanna again in the film Kudrat, which was about reincarnation.
Besides his 17 feature films, Chetan Anand also created a well-known television series. This was Param Vir Chakra, which was shown on Doordarshan in 1988.
Family Life
In 1943, Chetan Anand married Uma Chatterji. They had two sons, Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand. After some years, Chetan and Uma separated.
Many years later, Chetan Anand formed a close partnership with Priya Rajvansh. She was the lead actress in his film Haqeeqat. Their relationship lasted for the rest of their lives. Priya Rajvansh acted in every film Chetan Anand made after Haqeeqat. She did not work in any other films.
Chetan Anand passed away on July 6, 1997, in Mumbai, at the age of 76. He left a part of his wealth to Priya Rajvansh. This included the right for her to live in his large beachfront house in Juhu, Mumbai, for her entire life. This arrangement ensured she could live in the home they shared, while the property would go to his sons after her passing.
Chetan Anand's Legacy
Chetan Anand: The Poetics of Film is a book about him. It was written by his wife Uma Anand and son Ketan Anand. The book was released in 2006. A documentary with the same name, made by Ketan Anand, came out in 2008.
A special showing of his films was held at the Stuttgart Film Festival. Another one took place at the India International Centre in New Delhi in 2007.
Filmography
Director
- Films
- Neecha Nagar (1946)
- Afsar (1950)
- Aandhiyan (1952)
- Taxi Driver (1954)
- Funtoosh (1956)
- Arpan (1957)
- Kinare Kinare (1963)
- Haqeeqat (1964)
- Aakhri Khat (1966)
- Heer Raanjha (1970)
- Hanste Zakhm (1973)
- Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973)
- Jaaneman (1976)
- Saheb Bahadur (1977)
- Kudrat (1981)
- Haathon Ki Lakeeren (1986)
- TV series
- Param Veer Chakra (1988)
Producer
- Saheb Bahadur (1977)
- Haathon Ki Lakeeren (1986)
Actor
- Kala Bazar (1960)
- Arpan (1957)
- Kinare Kinare (1963)
Awards and Recognition
- 1946: Palme d'Or (Best Film), Cannes Film Festival: Neecha Nagar
- 1965: National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film: Haqeeqat
- 1982: Filmfare Best Story Award: Kudrat
See also
In Spanish: Chetan Anand para niños
