In this evocative reflection, Prof. Dr. Avinash Kolhe revisits IPTA's Anand Hi Anand, celebrating the remarkable legacy of Chetan, Dev, and Vijay Anand, whose films, vision, and artistry continue to shape Indian cinema generations later.

The IPTA presentation Anand Hi Anand celebrated the extraordinary legacy of the Anand brothers—Chetan Anand, Dev Anand, and Vijay Anand—whose contributions helped shape modern Indian cinema. Through music, storytelling, rare photographs, and historical anecdotes, the event revisited their artistic journey, highlighting their association with IPTA, their groundbreaking films, and their enduring influence on generations of filmmakers and cinephiles.

My generation, which stepped into its teens in the late 1960s, idolized the trio of Raj–Dilip–Dev. Then, in 1969, came Aaradhana, which announced the arrival of the only superstar, Rajesh Khanna. The trio faded into the background, but not into oblivion. They still retained their fan bases, and that remains true even today.
Proof? I witnessed the enthusiastic crowd at the program Aanand Hi Aanand, which was part of IPTA's celebrations held at Mysore Association, Mumbai. The hall was overflowing with diehard fans of Dev Saab, yours truly included.

IPTA Celebrates the Anand Brothers

On 25th May 2026, IPTA organized two programs on Bollywood legends who were deeply associated with the organization in its early years. One presentation was on Balraj Sahni, while the other was on the Anand brothers, aptly titled Anand Hi Anand. Both were performed back-to-back. I very much wanted to sit through both, but could not. Somehow, I managed to make it for the latter.

The show is produced by Anuradha Dar under the banner of the legendary Three Arts Club, Delhi (established in 1943), and Katyayani Productions. It is written, narrated, and directed by Sohaila Kapoor and translated into Hindi by Nidhikant Pandey.
The Anand brothers—Chetan Anand (1921–1997), Dev Anand (1923–2011), and Vijay Anand (1934–2004)—were smitten by cinema and migrated to Mumbai in the early 1940s. Sohaila's presentation traces the journey of the Anands poetically, weaving it together with songs from their films.

Initially, the Anand brothers lived in rented accommodation at Malabar Hill, where their neighbours included Baburao Patel, the legendary and controversial editor of Filmindia magazine.
The Anands later shifted to Bandra and rented a bungalow at 41, Pali Hill. Soon, it became a vibrant cultural hub where luminaries such as Ravi Shankar, Guru Dutt, Zohra Sehgal, Geeta Roy (later Geeta Dutt), and K. A. Abbas would gather almost every evening.
Dev Saab worked as a clerk in the Censor Department to keep the kitchen fires burning. During the presentation, a rare and iconic photograph was shown, one that brought tears to my eyes.

Neecha Nagar and a Historic Cannes Victory

The year 1946 brought a stroke of luck when Neecha Nagar, directed by Chetan Anand and written by Hayatullah Ansari, was released. While it was lauded by critics, it failed to make an impact at the box office. Yet, it made history by winning the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (now known as the Palme d'Or) at the inaugural Cannes Film Festival in 1946.

I believe it remains one of the most significant achievements in Indian cinema on the global stage.
For me, the high point of Sohaila's presentation came when she mentioned that after watching Neecha Nagar, a Calcutta-based advertising executive wrote a letter expressing his desire to devote his life to making such films. The letter was signed by none other than Satyajit Ray.

Dev Anand: The Urban Hero of Indian Cinema

Among the trio of Raj–Dilip–Dev, the first two could effortlessly slip into the roles of a villager, farmer, or bullock-cart driver. Dev Saab, however, possessed distinctly urban looks.

Many of his films explored the underbelly of the big, bad, ruthless metropolis called Bombay then and Mumbai now. It is no surprise that his films carried titles such as Kala Bazaar, CID, and Jewel Thief, exposing audiences to the shadowy worlds of black marketeers, gangsters, and criminals.

This was at a time when urban India constituted barely 15 percent of the nation's population. Yet, like all great artists, Dev Saab could convincingly portray any character he believed in.

A Fitting Tribute to a Timeless Legacy

Sohaila Kapoor's presentation and Anuradha Dar's production paid fitting tribute to the unique legacy of the Anand brothers and reminded us why their contribution to Indian cinema continues to inspire generations.
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