Dev Anand bags Phalke Award, Source : IANS. Image Source: NDTV Options

[Pradeep]

New Delhi, Dec 9: Evergreen Hindi film hero Dev Anand has been awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2002 for his outstanding contributions to the Indian film industry, it was announced here on Tuesday.

The 80-year-old legend will be the 34th recipient of the country's highest cinematic honour. He will receive the award at a ceremony December 29.

The Dada Saheb Phalke award, which carries a cash prize of Rs.200,000, a shawl and a "swarna kamal" or gold lotus, was instituted in 1969.
Born Devdutt Pishorimal on September 26, 1923, at Gurdaspur in Punjab, Anand was an arts graduate from Punjab University when the acting bug bit him and spurred him to join elder brother Chetan in Mumbai.

His first screen appearance was in "Prabhat" (1945), during the filming of which he met Guru Dutt, a gifted director who would later give him many plum roles.

After "Ziddi", his first hit, the lean and handsome Anand became a sensation across the country.

Many believed he styled his casual screen appearance and trademark swagger on Hollywood star Gregory Peck after his one-time sweetheart and fellow actress Suraiya appeared to be charmed by the latter.

Anand, with contemporaries Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, ushered in an unforgettable era in Hindi films in the 1950s.

Breaking away from the method acting style of the previous batch of Indian stars, Anand evolved a unique and expansive style that set him apart.

Brothers Chetan and Vijay Anand, directors Guru Dutt and Subodh Mukherjee and playback singer Kishore Kumar completed the team that went into making the phenomenon called Dev Anand.

Film buffs relish his movies as visual treats replete with some of the most timelessly popular songs ever.

His most memorable films include "Baazi", "Taxi Driver", "CID", "Paying Guest", "Kala Pani", "Hum Dono", "Tere Ghar Ke Saamne", "Guide", "Jewel Thief", "Johnny Mera Naam", "Here Rama Hare Krishna" and "Des Pardes".

Anand's films have won five national awards and various other honours. He has received recognition and honour both in India and abroad for his contributions to cinema.

Though Anand's movies have not set the box office on fire in over a decade, he refuses to give up churning out films almost every year.

[Pradeep]

Dev Anand se ek Special Mulaqat