Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 22, 2015)

When Vijay Anand was studying at St. Xavier's College, he often passed Metro Cinema and caught black-marketeers in action as they peddled tickets of blockbuster movies with the oft-repeated, "Dedh ka do..." The words stuck in his head and in 1960, inspired Navketan's Kala Bazar.

The film revolved around a black-marketeer, Raghuvir, transformed by the love of a woman who is pledged to another. Both the Anand brothers, Dev and Goldie, were vying for Alka, played by Waheeda Rehman, but never come face-to-face on screen.

However, Dev had many scenes with his elder brother, Chetan, who played an advocate whose money finances Raghu's black-marketing business. Once the money starts rolling in, the thief with a conscience returns to confess to his crime and repay his debt. This inspires the lawyer to defend him in court later, arguing that circumstances led him astray and he should be given the opportunity to repent.

"The film's message was that crime doesn't pay and makes a strong case for education which can change one's life. All three Anand brothers were well educated and Kala Bazar was the only film to bring them together," says Mohan Churiwala, a close associate of Dev.

One of the film's highlights was Mother India's grand premiere at Liberty Cinema, which its filmmaker, Mehboob Khan gave Dev permission to shoot live and incorporate it in his film. It was a star studded affair with a host of big Bollywood names, from Sohrab Modi, Nargis, Dilip Kumar and Nimmi to Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Nadira, walking the red carpet. There were also 'cameos' by the star singers, from Geeta Dutt and husband Guru Dutt to Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeskhar and Mohd. Rafi. Churiwala points out that Raghu sells tickets priced at Rs 2 for Rs 100. "This was happening outside Liberty too. Goldie saab mixed shots of real black-marketeers with Devsaab's play acting. Later, everyone went inside to watch the movie," he says.

For the first time SD Burman was collaborating with a lyricist new to Navketan, Shailendra, and the result is pure magic. Churiwala recalls the Rafi gem, Khoya khoya chand, which was filmed in Ooty. Shailendra hadn't delivered the song despite repeated reminders so Goldie sent his assistant to his house with strict instructions not to return without the lyrics. Shailendra confessed that he hadn't written it yet and suggested that they go for a drive.

"At Juhu Beach he went for a stroll in the moonlight, returned to the car with the words, 'Khoya khoya chand,' on his mind. Back home, he penned the song which the assistant took back to Goldie saab," says Churiwala.

He also remembers that while filming Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle's romantic Saanjh dhali dil ki lagi in Ooty, Dev tripped and fell, hurting his hand. It was a hairline fracture and he must have been in pain, but since the camera was still whirring, he picked himself up and continued with the shot till Goldie saab shouted, 'Cut'.

Geeta Dutt and Sudha Malhotra's bhajan, Na main dhan chahoon, crooned by Leela Chitnis and Nanda who play Raghu's mother and sister in the film, is also sublime. "Nandaji was overwhelmed when Dev saab approached her but disappointed when she heard that it was another 'chhoti bahen's role," says Churiwala. Her uncle, V Shantaram's Toofan Aur Deeya in '56, followed by Bhabhi, had slotted her as the long-suffering, deglamorised sister and almost triggered a nervous breakdown.

Dev assured her he'd cast her as his heroine in his next film, wowed when an emotional Nanda continued to shed real tears 10 minutes after a rona-dhona scene in Kala Bazar. "She was the leading lady of Teen Devian," adds Churiwala. "And even though the writer of Hum Dono was pushing for Meena Kumari, he signed Nanda as the Major's ailing wife."