To commemorate the 100th birthday of the legendary screen idol Dev Anand on September 26, 2023, Film Heritage Foundation and NFDC-National Film Archive of India in association with PVR Inox present “Dev Anand@100 – Forever Young” – a weekend festival of four Dev Anand milestone films in cinemas in 30 cities and 58 cinemas across India on September 23 & 24, 2023
Audiences in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Chennai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kolkata, Guwahati, Indore, Jaipur, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Delhi amongst others will have the unmissable opportunity to watch these landmark films of the debonair leading man restored by NFDC – National Film Archive of India on the big screen: C. I. D. (1956), Guide (1965), Jewel Thief (1967) and Johny Mera Naam (1970). The 4K restorations have been done under the ambit of the National Film Heritage Mission funded by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Film Heritage Foundation has curated a superb selection of films where audiences can spend the weekend with Dev Anand in his different memorable avatars as the romantic hero, the dashing spy and fun-loving rogue – the suave Inspector Shekhar in the timeless thriller “C.I.D.”, as Raju, the tour guide in the cult classic “Guide”, as Vinay/Amar in the spy thriller “Jewel Thief” and as the eponymous Johny in the blockbuster “Johny Mera Naam”.
SHIVENDRA SINGH DUNGARPUR, (FILMMAKER, ARCHIVIST AND FOUNDER DIRECTOR OF FILM HERITAGE FOUNDATION):
“After the success of Film Heritage Foundation’s mega festivals “Bachchan Back to the Beginning” and “Dilip Kumar – Hero of Heroes” to commemorate Amitabh Bachchan’s 80th birthday and Dilip Kumar’s birth centenary with screenings across the country, we knew that there was no way that we could allow the birth centenary of Dev Anand to go uncelebrated. We wanted to honour his legacy by screening four milestone films “CID”, “Guide”, “Jewel Thief” and “Johny Mera Naam”, in 30 cities across India. The films are among my personal favourites as I consider Goldie Anand one of the most stylish directors of Indian cinema.
The festival also marks an important collaboration between Film Heritage Foundation and NFDC-NFAI who have restored the four films and partnered with us to enable us to showcase these films. The Gregory Peck of India, as Dev Anand was often called, continues to be a beloved star, and we are thrilled that contemporary audiences will have the opportunity to watch some of the films that made him an enduring legend of Indian cinema.
This is another milestone in Film Heritage Foundation’s journey to bring classics of Indian cinema to modern viewers because after all these films are a part of our history and culture and if we don’t know where we came from, we won’t know where we are going.”
POSTER LAUNCH:
WORD OF APPRECIATION:
AMITABH BACHCHAN:
“After seeing the success of Film Heritage Foundation’s retrospective “Dilip Kumar – Hero of Heroes” on the occasion of his birth centenary last year, I am so pleased that they have planned a festival of four iconic Dev Anand films to be released in cinemas across the country in a manner that befits a legend of Indian cinema. He signified something that was endless, a continuity which we all took as a given. The fact that we can watch these films almost 70 years after the first one was released, is because they have been preserved and restored. This only reaffirms the importance of saving our films for future generations to enjoy.
As Devsaab turns 100 this year, I still remember how his attitude and singular style in his performances, would get us out of our hostel beds in the middle of the night, jump the boundary walls of the college to the nearest film theatre repeatedly, just to witness the magic of his charm and energy. And on our way back we would sing along with his songs, his deliveries of dialogue and create this wonderful world he had structured for us to be remembered forever.”
SUNEIL ANAND:
I’m pleased to hear that Film Heritage Foundation is planning a film festival, on large scale across India, to commemorate my Father, The Legendary Dev Anand’s 100th birthday. I am aware of the work they do, and I would like to congratulate them on their endeavor. I personally like my Dad’s work, as the leading man, in Johny Mera Naam. I think this is because the character he played closely resembled his true personality. It was an ideal vehicle for him to showcase his histrionics, mannerisms, and his suave dressing sense. Jewel Thief was another such film – it had the trappings and the look of slick Western and European Cinema. Dad set fashion trends in many of his films – with his cap, high collars, scarves, jackets, and colorful attire. Even his hairstyles were being copied by his fans.
Dad could have easily gone Hollywood. In fact, an established Hollywood Casting Agency had even offered to represent him and had lined up several projects for him. But being a true Indian at heart, he decided to remain in his Motherland India. Time marches on, mindsets change, and trends evolve, however, with each new generation of movie goers and aficionados, Dev Anand continues to remain an inspiration to the youth of India and the rest of the World. He was unanimously given – and continues to hold – the title of “Evergreen Romantic Superstar”. Not one to rest on his laurels, Dad continued to make exciting movies under his Navketan banner.
As we celebrate Dad’s Centennial, I’d like to say that Dad’s movies were decades ahead of their time. I sometimes feel we still haven’t caught up with them. I am sure the festival will be a big success and that contemporary audiences will rediscover the youthful magic of my Father – who will stay forever young on the silver screen. In the continuing legacy of Dev Anand and Navketan, I am currently making a Hollywood based film, dedicated to my Dad, called Vagator Mixer which will release shortly Worldwide.
The Show Goes On.
HEMA MALINI:
I am delighted to hear that Film Heritage Foundation is releasing four milestone films of Dev saheb in cinemas to celebrate his 100th birthday and that they will open with Johny Mera Naam, the first film that I worked with him. I have very fond memories of Dev saheb. We had worked in such wonderful films. He was a megastar when I was cast with him in Johny Mera Naam, but he never made me feel uncomfortable or that I was a newcomer. Thereafter we worked on several films which were big hits. His unique and inimitable style was a delight to watch not only for the audience but also for me. There can never be another Dev Anand ever.
JACKIE SHROFF:
I was so happy to hear that Film Heritage Foundation is doing a big film festival that will bring four of the best of Dev Saab’s films back to the theatres across India to remember him on his 100th birthday. CID, Guide, Jewel Thief and Johny Mera Naam are films that I grew up watching and they are an important part of the heritage of Indian cinema. I loved Dev Saab since I was a child and he was my hero and mentor. He gave me my first break with Swami Dada. I was lucky to have worked with him on a few films. He would never sit down. He was always on his feet, directing and acting. He had more energy than the youngest person on the set. I learned so much from him and I am glad that his films are preserved and restored so that young actors today can continue to learn and appreciate the work of a legend.
PRITHUL KUMAR, MD NFDC & JOINT SECRETARY (FILMS):
“It is important for the public to witness Dev Anand on the big screen once again, and in a manner how he was viewed during his heyday decades ago. NFDC-NFAI is sparing no efforts to ensure these films are presented in the best way possible, as hundreds of restoration artists, technicians, graders, DOPs, sound engineers and archivists, spread across multiple cities, are hard at work to once again bring these films to life.
Showcasing the restoration of Dev Anand’s films on the occasion of his centenary, as a joint endeavour between both film archives, NFDC-National Film Archive of India and Film Heritage Foundation, along with our esteemed partners, INOX and PVR, is a testament to our shared commitment to preserving India’s cinematic heritage. We aspire to sustain these collaborative efforts, to provide broader public access to the gems of Indian Cinema, in the quality they are meant to be seen.”
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