By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Very few may be knowing that Bollywood Evergreen Star Dev Anand’s who passed away on Sunday at the age of 88 has a close connection with the State.
During 1972, late Dev Anand had came to Shillong to shoot for his movie ‘Yeh Gulistan Hamara’ with his co-star Sharmila Tagore.
The film was shoot extensively in places like Lyngkyrdem, famous Ryngngaiñ gorge and Wahrumben which is very near to Pynursla.
A die-hard far of Dev Anand Pickless Khongdup who hails from Pynursla recalls how he used to bunk his school to watch the shoot of the Dev Anand movie.
Khongdup said that the evergreen Bollywood star was a very down to earth person.
“He (Dev Anand) would freely mingle with the villagers. We also managed to take a photograph with the Bollywood Icon,” a die-hard Dev Anand recalled.
He however said that Sharmila Tagore was a bit reserve as she would immediately go to her make-up van as soon as she would complete the shoot.
Meanwhile, another die-hard fan of Dev Anand A Khongstiah also from Pynursla however recalls how people all the way from Shillong would come to see the shooting of the movie.
“I was really touched when I saw Dev Anand having food with the villagers during the shooting. I could not believe such a big star can steep so down,” Khongstiah said.
He however recalled that there was a huge problem in Anjalee Cinema Hall when the movie (Yeh Gulistan Hamara) was screened due to opposition of the Naga.
“The Naga people who resided in Shillong at that time were angry as the movie had wrongly projected about their king. With two days of the screening, the cinema owners were force to withdraw the movie from screening,” Khongstiah said. The die-hard Dev Anand further said that he finally saw the movie after it was release in the video cassette during the 1990’s.
Meanwhile, the demise Dev Anand has also been condoled by his fans here in the city, too along with the rest of the country. Mr Anand who is known in the film industry for his handsome looks, a unique style of acting and movement in the silver screen, is followed by many here in the city.
Tarun Bhartiya, a city based film maker said that Mr Anand modeled acting and brought a kind of modern ‘westernized’ acting in the post independence era. “I have seen his movies like CID, Hare Rama Hare Krishna and others. His contribution is immense but his biggest contribution in the film industry was when he started his own production company Navketan along with his brothers,” said Mr Bhartiya. He also said that Mr Anand’s company produced famous classical Bollywood songs along with his brother Chetan and Vijay.
Commander Shangpliang, President, Meghalaya Film Makers Association said that he was a legend in terms of acting. Mr Shangpliang whose latest comedy movie Sanlak was released recently said that there numerous actors and actresses coming up from the region now and there might be many who have been encouraged by the acting skills of Mr Anand.
BM Lanong, Deputy Chief Minister, Art and Culture enjoyed his movies, too and said that his passing away is a great loss. “Dev Anand was an actor with a lot of commitment for his profession. Out and out he was a gentleman, especially very youthful the way he maintained himself as we have never heard about him anything questionable and therefore fans and other artists should emulate his examples,’ said Mr Lanong adding we will remember him forever.
Uma Purkayastha, former Principal, Government Girls’ HS School said that he was one of her favorite actor and was shocked to learn about his demise. “Whenever his movies were released, I don’t like to leave them. He was a true hero,” she said. Pankaj Agarwal, Owner, Gold Cinema said that he was one of the style icon of Bollywood alongside superstars like Amitabh Bachchan. “He had his own style which he carried on till date. He has given a lot of super hits movies and even at this age he was keen to make movies,” he said adding people still follows him.
Meanwhile, college student Shanborlang Khatoon a big fan of Mr Anand said, “In every feature films that he has acted, all his songs were super hit which is still playing in the houses of all Indians.”
W Mawrie, around 50, is a big time fan of Mr Anand. Since his youth days in school, college and even at this age he is copying the dress sense of the superstar saying that his physique and style which is similar to Mr Anand. Mr Mawrie is often seen sporting a cap with a scarf which Mr Anand used to wear in most of his movies.