‘Kaanton se kheench ke yeh aanchal, tod ke bandhan bandhi payal…’ No words can better describe Vijay Anand than this philosophical lyric from his own masterpiece Guide. Much like Rosie—the bold, unconventional heroine of the film—Vijay Anand was a rebellious director far ahead of his time. He broke norms, set trends, and reshaped the very language of Hindi cinema. From tight, inventive screenplays to imaginative song picturizations and the novel use of flashbacks, Vijay Anand changed the way stories were told on the Indian screen. On his birth anniversary, January 22, Glamsham.com pays tribute to the genius who gave us one of cinema’s most celebrated classics.
Few people know that Guide, which immortalized Vijay Anand and inscribed its name in golden letters in Indian film history, almost never got made in Hindi. The project was nearly shelved after its English version, directed by Tad Danielewski, failed both critically and commercially in the U.S.
Dev Anand, who had secured the rights to R.K. Narayan’s novel, was initially hesitant to go ahead with a Hindi adaptation. Unlike the typical “happily ever after” stories of the 1960s, Guide explored the complexities of love, infidelity, and redemption—a theme Dev feared might be too bold for Indian audiences.
At first, Dev entrusted the project to his elder brother Chetan Anand, but distributors backed out, wary of Chetan’s recent box-office failures. Left stranded, Dev then turned to the talented Raj Khosla, who had earlier delivered a superhit for Navketan with C.I.D.. However, due to personal differences between Waheeda Rehman and Raj Khosla during the making of Solva Saal, Khosla opted out of Guide.
Disheartened, Dev Anand was on the verge of shelving the Hindi version altogether. That’s when his younger brother, Vijay Anand—affectionately called Goldie—requested a chance to direct. Dev had never considered Goldie for the project, feeling that the young filmmaker might be too inexperienced to handle such a mature theme of marital discord and spiritual awakening.
But Goldie persisted. On his insistence, Dev finally relented. Once on board, Vijay Anand rewrote and restructured the screenplay, simplifying R.K. Narayan’s philosophical narrative while weaving in music, dance, and vibrant visuals that connected with the Indian psyche. Goldie tied up the loose ends of the novel’s “dreary” and contemplative tone, transforming it into a perfect blend of art and commerce.
The result? Guide not only broke box-office records upon its release in 1965 but also set new benchmarks in Indian filmmaking. It remains an enduring classic—celebrated for its narrative depth, brilliant music by S.D. Burman, Waheeda Rehman’s iconic performance, and Vijay Anand’s visionary direction.
Vijay Anand didn’t just save Guide—he elevated it into legend.
