Indians, South Asians pay glowing tributes to Dev Anand
The Indian and South Asian community here paid glowing tributes to Dev Anand today by playing his songs and called for efforts to preserve for future generation the works of the 'evergreen' actor whom they described as a living institution who promoted culture, art, drama and film.
Songs like 'Mai zindagi ka saath', 'Panna kee Tammanna', 'Gata rahe mera dil' and 'Phulon ka taron ka' reverberated the Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan hall as they were played by Bollywood Pandits.
Son Suneil Anand thanked the entire Indian and South Asian community for the "outpouring sympathy and tribute" to his father.
"He was my dad, my best friend and the family will be missing him a lot. He is up there, looking at all of us and smiling."
Bibhu Anand, son of Dev Anand's brother Vijay Anand, said "It is strange but sad that he is no more but I'm proud of Dev uncle's legacy. He was much of poetic personality. He was romantic. He was a child who never aged."
Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan chairman Joginder Sanger described Dev Anand as a living institution who promoted Indian culture, art, drama and film.
"His contribution to Indian cinema was unmatched. He was a great believer in democracy and he had the vision and courage to stand up to principles. He opposed Emergency and personally he will always be remembered for the work he has done.
Raj and Pablo of BBC Asian programme played some of the interviews they conducted with the Indian actresses like Nanda, Padmini Kolhapure and Vyjantimala and their tributes to Dev Anand.
Lord Karan Bilimoria unveiled a photograph taken from Dev Anand's film "Chargesheet".
"Dev Anand was a legend in his lifetime and the legend will live on," he said.
"The biggest tribute would be to make efforts to preserve his films for posterity. He lived his life to the full," Lord Meghnad Desai said.
Dev Anand's nephew Tony Sarin described him as one of the greatest showman and one of the greatest human being.
"He always believed that there is nothing which cannot be achieved through hard work, devotion and determination."
