On the birth anniversary of cinematic genius Vijay Anand, we revisit ‘Guide,’ the iconic film that has transcended time to remain a masterpiece. Starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman, this classic not only became a milestone for all involved but also touched spiritual heights absent even in R.K. Narayan’s original novel.
In the golden era of Bollywood where the film industry was still dominated by men, refusing the director’s demand was nothing less than a career suicide. Saying no to the director could not only potentially create career repercussions but it could also jeopardize it. Maintaining a boundary or staying firm on their ground was a risk that required courage and determination that not every actress possessed.
The tribute was well deserved for the singer-composer for his prowess spanned Bengali and Hindi films and whose well-modulated baritone was the voice of superstars of both industries, especially Uttam Kumar and Dev Anand. And then, he became the first Indian invited to compose for a Hollywood film – Conrad Rook’s ‘Siddharta’ (1972), based on Herman Hesse’s novel, and also used two of his Bengali songs in it.
