Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: A director who gifted many great films to Hindi cinema made history at the Cannes Film Festival with his very first movie. His story is truly fascinating. Entertainment Desk, New Delhi: Everyone knows the name of the legendary Hindi cinema actor Dev Anand, but few realize that it was his own brother who played a pivotal role in turning him into a true star. This is the filmmaker whose movie made history by being the first to reach the Cannes Film Festival—a record that remains unbroken to this day. He is the filmmaker behind countless memorable movies, ranging from *Heer Raanjha* to many others; today, we tell his story.
Who was Chetan Anand?
Although Chetan Anand may not be discussed as frequently today, the fact remains that he delivered many memorable films throughout his career. In reality, Chetan Anand was the elder brother of superstar Dev Anand. Born on January 3, 1915, in Lahore (or Punjab, according to some accounts) to Pishori Lal Anand, he was academically brilliant from childhood. It was during his student years that his interest in Hindi cinema began to grow. Eventually, in 1940, he began working on a film—a movie that would later make history: *Neecha Nagar*. History was made with the very first film.
When Chetan Anand first entered the film industry, he tried his hand at acting, but it didn't quite work out. He realized that since he was already writing film scripts, he might as well earn money by selling them. Amidst this journey, he got the opportunity to make the film *Neecha Nagar*. The story, penned by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, was unique. It was an era when the age of silent cinema had ended and "talkies" (films with sound) were emerging; new and innovative film projects were being created. Eventually, he produced and directed *Neecha Nagar*. The film won the Best Film award—the *Palme d'Or* (formerly known as the *Grand Prix*)—at the Cannes Film Festival, making history in the process.
Significantly, *Neecha Nagar* remains the only Indian film to date to have received this honor; a record that stands unbroken. Following this film, Chetan Anand joined the ranks of highly successful directors.
**Delivering Memorable Films to Cinema**
After this film, he established a production house in collaboration with his brother. Their first venture under this banner was the film *Afsar*. Starring Dev Anand in the lead role, the film was a hit and gave a major boost to Dev Anand's career. In 1970, Chetan Anand undertook a bold experiment—and it proved to be a resounding success. He made the film *Heer Ranjha*, which was written entirely in verse; all the dialogues were delivered in a rhythmic, poetic style. He cast Raj Kumar in the lead role, with Priya Rajvansh starring opposite him. to be Continued.