Young at 60? It’s possible—if driven by undying youthful energy and optimism. Since its co-founder Dev Anand radiates both, small wonder that Navketan Films has retained its enduring appeal even after six decades of highs and lows in the industry.

Fresh from attending a festival of Navketan (which means ‘newness’ in Sanskrit) productions in Delhi, the 86-year-old actor-director is all sprightly at the prospect of the banner’s 36th movie Chargesheet. Still, nostalgia seeps in. “We had a dream to make films no one has made. As an actor, I was on my way up when my brother Chetan suggested we launch a production house,” he recalls.

Chetan directed Navketan’s first venture Afsar (1949), based on Nikolai Gogol’s The Inspector General, and Dev was cast opposite his then love interest Suraiya. The film flopped. Their next venture, Aandhiyan, too met with similar fate. But ironically it’s with Taxi Driver (1954), which was made on a shoe-string budget, that the banner struck gold.

After Taxi Driver’s success, Chetan moved on. And Dev’s younger brother Vijay, popularly known as Goldie, took up the director’s mantle in Navketan. By then, it had become a regular company—with an office, manager and other employees. “Navketan was the most professional production house. They always made payments on time,” says musician Kersi Lord, who has worked under SD Burman.

The aging company is also one of the richest in the industry. Dev says, “We are a rich company with 36 films.” And like the aging wine, the value of some of Navketan’s oldies has only risen, though most of the recent ventures have been box-office duds. “Our films haven’t done well because they were not promoted and marketed properly. For Chargesheet, we won’t leave anything to chance. Who knows it can be a surprise hit, just like Taxi Driver,” says the legendary actor with such child-like glee that one almost agrees with him. Before this suspense movie releases, Navketan office is agog with plans of Hum Dono’s re-release in colour.

... contd.