Dev Anand… FOREVER!

Jaise Radha ne mala japi … croons the beautiful schoolteacher Mumtaz to show her refusal of marriage to the young idealistic doctor Dev Anand is actually a ‘yes’! Tere Mere Sapne is a movie which is still relevant in India as the few young and idealistic doctors who complete their studies with dreams of serving the nation and the Hippocratic Oath ringing in their ears and hearts finally give up ideals and seva to shake hands with the system. Tere Mere Sapne is for every young couple who comes to the city even today from small towns and fights to belong, where belongingness may mean putting aside family values and vows taken and given. Sometimes they walk together on this path and sometimes a chasm develops leaving one behind… as do Dev Anand and Mumtaz. Tere Mere Sapne is for every young aspiring celebrity like Hema Malini’s character who climbs higher and higher leaving behind floors strewn with personal peace, hobbies, friends and more and realizes at one time that the top of the ladder is lonely and precarious and one can’t climb down wilfully, nobody will let you.

VijayAnand, the despairing alcoholic doctor who cannot cope with reality anymore and one who finally once again finds meaning is a character who stays with you. Each character of Tere Mere Sapne are all too human and you cannot but feel for them and feel like them. The shades of grey abound but for me, it was the marriage – a marriage based on trust, love and strength – of Dev and Mumtaz which forms the pillar of the idealism and then its loss for the young doctor, which makes this movie worth a watch. Mumtaz is a strong woman, an equal partner to her husband supporting him when he needs her most but also standing strong and showing him the right path as he flounders. Dev Anand woos you with his idealism and then with his broken-hearted despair. As he flounders and fumbles, we sway with him, wanting to support him and understand him. Haan maine kasam li among the sunflowers is pure romance and the chemistry between the two is vibrant. Jeevan ki bagiya mehkegi is poignant with dreams. The other songs frankly did not make much of an impact on me and these are the two songs I remember till date.