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Inder Raj Anand

Director
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Film dialogue and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, Inder Raj Anand was born in Miani, now Pakistan. He was educated in Lahore and Hyderabad, and went on to be closely associated with the IPTA’s Bombay branch. He started off as a playwright for Prithviraj Kapoor’s Prithvi Theatres, writing landmark plays like Deewar and Ghaddar. He was also a close friend of writer-director K.A. Abbas through IPTA. He was a publicist for Minerva when he was hired by Raj Kapoor to write Aag (1948). This led to further collaborations, as he went on to work on several Raj Kapoor films such as Aah (1953), Anari (1959), Chhalia (1960), Sangam (1964), Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968). Among his standout films are Mohan Segal’s New Delhi (1956) as well as the Dev Anand thriller, CID (1956).

The 60s saw him working primarily for South Indian producers wishing to enter the Bombay-based mainstream cinema. He wrote dialogues extensively for the Hindi films of South makers such as L.V. Prasad, K. Balachander, Adurthi Subba Rao and Bharathirajaa. He was also the regular scenarist for 80s director Rajkumar Kohli.

His script and/or dialogue credits include Phool Aur Kaante (1948),Birha Ki Raat (1950), Anari (1959), Chhoti Bahen (1959), Sasural (1961), Dil Tera Diwana (1962), Bahurani (1963), Hamrahi (1963), Beti Bete (1964), Dulha Dulhan (1964), Aasmaan Mahal (1965), Chhota Bhai (1966), Vaasna (1968), Bhai Bahen (1969), Nannha Farishta (1969), Devi (1970), Safar (1970), Jawani Diwani (1972), Anokhan Daan (1972), Gaai Aur Gori (1973), Samjhauta (1973), Insaaf (1973), Prem Nagar (1974), Shubh Din (1974), Faasla (1974), Aaina (1974), Julie (1975), Raja (1975), Sunehra Sansar (1975), Maa (1976), Nagin (1976), Yahi Hai Zindagi (1977), Lovers (1983), Yeh Ishq Nahin Asaan (1983), Ek Nai Paheli (1984), Jeene Nahin Doonga (1984) and Raj Tilak (1984). He wrote and directed only one film Phoolon Ki Sej (1964) which was influenced by James Jones’s novel From Here To Eternity

Essentially an Urdu writer, Anand wrote his scripts and dialogues in Urdu.In the course of his career, Inder Anand wrote approximately 120 films such as Safar (1970), Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Jaani Dushman (1979), and Shahenshah (1988). Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shahenshah was Inder's last film as a writer. Produced by his son, Bittu, and directed by his son Tinnu, the film released after Inder'sdemise, going on to become one of the biggest hits of that year.

Inder Raj Anand was the father of actor-director Tinnu Anand and producer Bittu Anand, and the grandfather of director Siddharth Anand known for Salaam Namaste (2005) and Anjaana Anjaani (2010)), as well as the uncle of director Mukul Anand

Inder Raj Anand passed away on 6 March, 1987.