MaryjoM897: brief adjust references as per guidelines and cleaned formatting to improve readability

2026-02-04T20:52:31Z

brief adjust references as per guidelines and cleaned formatting to improve readability

imported>Ssg1475: updated incorrectly calculated age at the time of his death.

2021-08-25T20:01:58Z

updated incorrectly calculated age at the time of his death.

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{{short description|Hindi film producer, screenwriter and director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chetan Anand
| image = Chetan Anand 2013 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size =255px
| caption =Anand on a 2013 stamp of India
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1915|1|3}}
| birth_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]<ref>Page 1, ''Romancing with Life — an autobiography'' by Dev Anand, Penguin books India 2007</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1997|7|6|1915|1|3}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Film producer|producer]], [[film director|director]], [[Actor]], [[Screenwriter]]
| salary =
| networth =
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Uma Anand]]|1943}}
| partner = [[Priya Rajvansh]]
| children = 2; [[Ketan Anand]] and Vivek Anand
| relatives = See [[List of Hindi film clans#Anand-Sahni family|Anand-Sahni family]]
| website =
| yearsactive = 1944–1994
| awards= [[Cannes Film Festival]]: [[Palme d'Or]] (Best Film): '''[[Neecha Nagar]]''' (1946)
}}
'''Chetan Anand''' (3 January 1915 – 6 July 1997) was a [[Bollywood|Hindi]] film producer, [[screenwriter]] and [[film director|director]] from India, whose debut film, ''[[Neecha Nagar]]'', was awarded the Grand Prix Prize (Now Golden Palm) at the first ever [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 1946. Later he co-founded [[Navketan Films]] with his younger brother [[Dev Anand]] in 1949.<ref>{{cite news |title=With Navketan Films, Anand brothers among Bollywood’s first families|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-12-05/news/30477546_1_dev-anand-anand-brothers-navketan-films |publisher=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]] |date=5 December 2011 }}</ref>

He was the eldest brother of [[List of Hindi film clans#Anand-Sahni family|the Anand family]] as he was the older brother of Hindi film actor-directors, [[Dev Anand]] and [[Vijay Anand (filmmaker)|Vijay Anand]]. His younger sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of Hindi and English film director [[Shekhar Kapur]].

==Biography==

===Early life===
Anand was born on 3 January 1915, in [[Lahore]], [[British India]], to well-to-do advocate Pishori Lal Anand. He went to [[Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya]] to study Hindu scriptures and graduated in English from [[Government College Lahore]].<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-interview-with-sidharth-bhatia/20111212.htm How Dev Anand's Navketan changed Indian cinema]. Rediff.com (12 December 2011). Retrieved on 2018-11-08.</ref> He remained a member of [[Indian National Congress]] in the 1930s, subsequently worked for the [[BBC]] and taught at the [[Doon School]], [[Dehradun]] for a while, before coming down to Bombay to sell a film script.<ref>{{cite book|author=Encyclopedia Britannica |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&pg=PT89 |year=2003 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |pages=89–}}</ref>

===Career===
In the early 1940s, while he was teaching History, he wrote a film script on king [[Ashoka]], which he went on to show to director [[Phani Majumdar]] in [[Bombay]]. Anand failed to qualify for the [[Indian Civil Service]] (ICS) exams in [[London]]. As luck would have it, Phani Majumdar cast him as a lead in his [[Hindi]] film, ''Rajkumar'', released in 1944. He also became associated with [[Indian People's Theatre Association]] ([[Indian People's Theatre Association|IPTA]]) in Bombay present day Mumbai.

He soon took to film direction with the well-acclaimed movie ''[[Neecha Nagar]]'' which won the [[Palme d'Or]] (Best Film) award (then known as 'Grand Prix') at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 1946.<ref>[[Palme d'Or#Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (1939-54)|Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (1939–54)]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081016143853/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/06/15/stories/2007061551020100.htm Maker of innovative, meaningful movies], ''[[The Hindu]]'', 15 June 2007.</ref> It was the debut film for [[Kamini Kaushal]] and became the first Indian film to gain international recognition<ref>[http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/chetan-anand-140607.html History will never forget Chetan Anand] 13 June 2007.</ref> and was the debut of [[Pandit Ravi Shankar]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article818170.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=My First Break: Pandit Ravi Shankar | date=7 October 2010}}</ref>

By the early 1950s, he and his younger brother [[Dev Anand]] had set up Navketan Productions in Bombay present day Mumbai. ''Afsar'', starring Dev Anand and [[Suraiya]], was the first film made by Navketan, which turned out to be a moderate success. It was followed by ''[[Taxi Driver (1954 film)|Taxi Driver]]'' and ''[[Andhiyan]]'', both of which he directed for the [[Navketan Films|Navketan]] banner.

While he made his reputation as a director, Anand kept on acting too occasionally. He appeared in ''Humsafar'' made in 1957. In 1957 he directed two movies ''Arpan'' and ''Anjali'', in which he played lead roles too. He went on to act in ''Kala Bazar'', ''Kinare-Kinare'', ''Aman'', ''Kanch Aur Heera'' and ''Hindustan Ki Kasam'', which he directed too.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0025608/?ref_=tt_ov_st | work=IMDB | title=Filmography-Actor}}</ref>

Later on Anand started his own production banner called [[Himalaya films]] and teamed up with photographer [[Jal Mistry]], music director [[Madan Mohan]], lyrics writer [[Kaifi Azmi]] and actress [[Priya Rajvansh]]. Together they gave some of most memorable and unique films in Hindi cinema like ''[[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]]'', ''[[Heer Raanjha]]'', ''[[Hanste Zakhm]]'', and ''[[Hindustan Ki Kasam]]''.

Anand is known to be the film-maker who 'discovered' [[Rajesh Khanna]] from an acting competition. Khanna as a result got his first break and was cast by Anand in the film ''[[Aakhri Khat]]'', although G.P.Sippy's 'Raaz' introducing Rajesh Khanna and Babita was the first 'released' film for Rajesh Khanna. ''Aakhari Khat'' is known for its beautiful locations, songs penned by Kaifi Aazmi, composed by Khayyam, the beautiful lady Indrani Mukherjee and the child star 'Bunty'. Actually Bunty and the music were the main attractions of this film. Anand later directed [[Rajesh Khanna]] in the film ''[[Kudrat]]'', based on the theme of reincarnation, which helped the latter arrest a slide in popularity, allowing [[Rajesh Khanna]] make a temporary comeback with this hit film.

Apart from 17 feature films he is also known for the acclaimed television serial, ''[[Param Vir Chakra (TV series)|Param Vir Chakra]]'', which was aired [[Doordarshan]] in 1988.

===Personal===
In 1943, Anand married Uma Anand.<ref>[http://www.filmkailm.com/chetan-anand-the-dynasty-founder/ Chetan Anand – The Dynasty Founder]. film ka ilm (3 January 2015). Retrieved on 2018-11-08.</ref> The couple became the parents of two sons, Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand. However, they separated within a few years of marriage because of incompatibility. Divorce remains a very great taboo in India, for religious and cultural reasons, and until 1976, the law did not even permit divorce by mutual consent. Therefore the couple never got divorced.

In the 1960s, well after being estranged from his wife, Anand fell in love with [[Priya Rajvansh]], who had made her debut as heroine of his film ''[[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]].'' The two fell in love during the making of this film and their relationship lasted all their lives. Priya Rajvansh worked in every single film made by Anand beginning with ''[[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]],'' and more surprisingly, she did not work in a single film made by anyone else. Anand remained married to Uma, who refused to grant him a divorce because of the taboo and opprobrium attached to it and because divorce is utterly antithetical to the Hindu religion. Therefore Anand was unable to formalize his relationship with Priya Rajvansh even to his death, and they had no children together.

Anand died on 6 July 1997, at the age of 82 in [[Mumbai]].<ref name=express>[http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970707/18850733.html Haqeeqat director Chetan Anand] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307080024/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970707/18850733.html |date=7 March 2008 }}, ''[[The Indian Express]]'', 7 July 1997.</ref> He bequeathed a very sizable portion of his wealth to Priya Rajvansh. This included the right of lifelong residence in his sprawling beachfront bungalow in [[Juhu]], [[Mumbai]], where real estate is among the most expensive in India. She was given no right to sell the property, which would revert to Anand's sons upon her death; the arrangement was made because Priya Rajvansh and Anand had had no children together, and this would enable her to live her whole life in the house that she had shared with him for two decades, while not depriving his sons of this valuable piece of real estate.

On 27 March 2000, three years after his death, There was mysterious death of Priya Rajvansh at same beachfront bungalow .<ref>[https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/anand-brothers-granted-bail-in-priya-rajvansh-case_64872.html] [[Zee_News]], Nov 01, 2002.</ref> There were many fake news published till now in press social media regarding murder of Priya Rajvansh by Chetan Anand Sons.

==Legacy==
''Chetan Anand: The Poetics of Film'', a book written by his wife [[Uma Anand]] and son Ketan Anand (Himalaya Films Media Entertainment), was released in 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090527040054/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=c3a2b8c4-3287-4ce1-ae20-705e339d4636&MatchID1=4577&TeamID1=7&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1148&PrimaryID=4577&Headline=Remembering+Chetan+Anand+and+EMNeecha+Nagar%2FEM Remembering Chetan Anand and Neecha Nagar] [[Hindustan Times]], 29 September 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/03/11/3661/index.html Book Review] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725121525/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/03/11/3661/index.html |date=25 July 2008 }} [[Bollywood Hungama]]</ref> A documentary by the same name made by Ketan Anand was released in 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081021034759/http://www.iaac.us/MIAAC2008/film_details.htm Chetan Anand: The Poetics of Film – Ketan Anand. India, 2007, 95 min; US Premiere] Indo-American Arts Council Inc., New York. 2008.</ref>

A retrospective of his films was held at the Stuttgart Film Festival and at the [[India International Centre]], [[New Delhi]] in 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080212030014/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/09/14/stories/2007091450010100.htm An enigma resolved], ''[[The Hindu]]'', 14 September 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_chetan-anand-at-stuttgart-film-fest_1103115 Chetan Anand at Stuttgart film fest] [[DNA]], 13 June 2007.</ref>

==Filmography==
===Director===
;Films
* ''[[Neecha Nagar]]'' (1946)
* ''[[Afsar (1950 film)|Afsar]]'' (1950)
* ''[[Aandhiyan (1952 film)|Aandhiyan]]'' (1952)
* ''[[Taxi Driver (1954 film)|Taxi Driver]]'' (1954)
* ''[[Funtoosh]]'' (1956)
* ''Arpan'' (1957)
* ''Kinare Kinare'' (1963)
* ''[[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]]'' (1964)
* ''[[Aakhri Khat]]'' (1966)
* ''[[Heer Raanjha]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Hanste Zakhm]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Hindustan Ki Kasam]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Jaaneman (1976 film)|Jaaneman]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Saheb Bahadur]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Kudrat]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Haathon Ki Lakeeren]]'' (1986)

;TV series
* ''[[Param Vir Chakra (TV series)|Param Veer Chakra]]'' (1988)

===Producer===
* [[Saheb Bahadur]] (1977)
* [[Haathon Ki Lakeeren]] (1986)

===Actor===
* [[Kala Bazar]] (1960)
* Arpan 1957
* Kinare kinare ( 1964 )

==Awards==
* 1946: [[Palme d'Or]] (Best Film), [[Cannes Film Festival]]: [[Neecha Nagar]]
* 1965: [[National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film]]: [[Haqeeqat (1964 film)|Haqeeqat]]
* 1982: [[Filmfare Best Story Award]]: [[Kudrat]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0025608|name=Chetan Anand}}
* [http://aboutfilm.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/heer-ranjha-%E2%80%93-the-cinema-of-chetan-anand/ Heer Ranjha – The Cinema of Chetan Anand]

{{FilmfareAwardBestStory}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anand, Chetan}}
[[Category:Film producers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni]]
[[Category:The Doon School faculty]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Directors of Palme d'Or winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Chetan Anand (director) - Revision history

MaryjoM897: brief adjust references as per guidelines and cleaned formatting to improve readability

imported>Ssg1475: updated incorrectly calculated age at the time of his death.