Few Songs Which Have Dev Anand On Screen But Not Lip Synced By Him

“Dev saab’s songs have a haunting appeal, and they strike an instant chord with listeners. Dev saab had an excellent sense of rhythm and sur. Also, he had a fairly good knowledge of Indian classical music.” – Lata Mangeshkar.

Aren’t the above words true? His songs make instant appeal to the listeners. Strike an instant chord. Be it a mere music lover or a music expert. How much music meant to Dev Anand can be seen by the quality of music his films churned out. Be it Talat Mahmood, Hemant Kumar, Rafi or Kishore as his playback, the quality of music was always nonpareil. He brought in loads of romance, style, grace and sophistication. A style and fashion icon, Dev Anand, was at ease lip syncing for all these singers effortlessly. He charmed his audience with his stylish mannerisms, puffed hair, stylish clothes, those loose limbed runs and that inimitable sweet smile with a missing tooth. Those who follow Dev Anand closely would know, how much the camera loved this elegant man, his suave, handsome face. His films had him in almost all the scenes, including all the songs. Be it a jail scene from Johny Mera Naam with Jeevan or sweet nothings exchanged with Nutan in Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Dev Anand made an appearance in almost every frame.

Some of the best songs of the golden era are picturised on him. He entered the film world in mid 1940s. The era which was beginning to set the right foot in all the categories from technical to musical. We had trendsetters like S D Burman, Khemchand Prakash, Shankar Jaikishen, C Ramchandra and many more, giving out song after song and mesmerising the listeners with their creativity. It was just the beginning of a good harvest for the music industry. Dev Anand’s love and affection for Dada Burman is already known to the music aficionados. To the extent that Dev Anand waited for Dada Burman to get well and compose remaining music for his numero uno Guide. But he has equally good numbers with the other music directors like Khemchand Prakash, Salil Chowdhury, Shankar Jaikishen, Jaidev, O P Nayyar or even R D Burman.

Imbued with enthusiasm, passion and optimism, his songs became a part of every man’s romantic yearning. With a rich musical legacy, it is also seen that majority of the songs from his movies are lip synced by him. A solo or a duet – but Dev Anand got to lip sync even if it was a word or 2. Like Honthon pe aisi baat is an all Vyjayantimala song, but there too he gets to sing that inimitable call O Shalooooo. Or even if it is just a repetition of same lines again and again like in Aankhon hi aankhon mein ishara ho gaya….he sings just those 2 lines all over the song while rest of it is all Shakila. He is a part of the song even if he is just humming. Like in Peechhe peechhe aakar all he does is just hmm hmm hmm hmm. He doesn’t miss an opportunity to give his vocals even while Bindu is seducing him in Sharma na yun ghabra na yun. But each of these songs has his presence or should I essence too. Yet there are a few songs having same special Dev Anand essence where he is not even lip syncing. He is just in the frame with his co-actor. Those might be few if we exclude the stage performances, background numbers or tandem songs. But the very essence of his mere on screen appearance brightens up the song.

Enlisting few such songs which –
1. Have Dev Anand in the same frame with his co-actor
2. Is not a background number
3. Is not a performance number on stage or nightclubs or mujra or even streets
4. Is not a tandem song

1. CID (1956) – A beautiful combination of Shamshad Begum – OPN. Dev Anand shares the screen presence with the very beautiful Shakila and the innocent Minoo Mumtaz. It is a complete village belle song but wouldn’t be complete without Dev Anand. He just smiles throughout the song and that makes the song so much more charming!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gss5sIpouJg

2. Love Marriage (1959) – Mala Sinha is all delighted to tease Dev Anand. Insisting that he’s in love and Dev Anand like an innocent boy keeps denying. Doesn’t he raise the cuteness quotient by his mere gestures?!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Aj8EILvCjM

3. Kala Bazaar (1960) – A delightful Asha Bhonsle number with Waheeda Rehman again teasing Dev Anand while he is sulking. But we’re treated with a charming Dev smile by the end of the song.

4. Bambai Ka Babu (1960) – Another beautiful diva this time from Bengal, going ga ga over the innocent looking Dev Anand. Isn’t he an epitome of naughtiness in this song? Have a look at his eyes!!

5. Guide (1965) – An exclusive Waheeda Rehman song. Her ode to freedom!! But it will be incomplete without the caring and charming yet a silent guide beside her.

6. Tere Mere Sapne (1971) – Mumtaz expressing her love for Dev Anand while they are soon to be tied into a knot for rest of their lives. Dev Anand, the handsome doctor impresses everyone.

7. Jewel Thief (1967) – We cannot just miss out on this song when it comes to a topic like this. What a song!! Tanuja is all after Dev Anand and he is not complaining.