Two exclusive articles on the evergreen Dev Anand’s English films have already been posted at the site with some ‘not widely known’ details about the 20th Century Fox production THE EVIL WITHIN (1970) and the initially released English version of the classic gem GUIDE (1965).
Unfortunately both these films couldn’t reach the Indian viewers due to their own individual reasons and the same was the case with this third English film of Dev Anand too which was produced by his close friend Amarjeet, who was also the known publicist of Dev’s production company Navketan.
The film was titled OH BOY, THREE GIRLS which was actually the English version of TEEN DEVIAN released in 1965. Though the Hindi version couldn’t perform as per the expectations raised, still it is fondly remembered till date for its fabulous soundtrack with all hit songs such as Aise To Na Dekho, Arey Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Ghazab, Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat, Likha Hai Teri Aankhon Mein and more.
However along with these melodious songs penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by S. D. Burman, TEEN DEVIAN was actually an ahead of its times bold film with a more western kind of a theme revolving around a carefree boy having affairs with three beautiful girls one after the another. The film’s script couldn’t explain his dilemma felt in this so called journey of love quite clearly, hence failed to impress the Indian audiences in majority. Moreover probably it was the much advanced subject of the film, which actually inspired the makers to go for its English version in all possibilities.
Adding to the unique points of the project, the censor certificate of TEEN DEVIAN says “Partly In Colour” as a very small portion of the film was shot in colour (towards the end of the movie). But sadly the presently available video versions of the film, do not have those scenes in colour. May be because the editors at the mastering studios of its home video company probably transferred the film completely in Black & White only, ignoring the rare feature of it being party in colour.
Anyway coming back to its English version, it was reportedly shot in English with Harindranath Chattopadhyay’s poetry (composed by R. D Burman) used in its narration instead of all the memorable songs. But the print could never release, reaching the theaters due to some unknown reasons. Further, though the Hindi film’s credits say, Produced and Directed by Amarjeet, TEEN DEVIAN was in reality a ghost-written and ghost-directed film by Dev Anand himself, as his first ever attempt in direction. And the veteran has openly admitted the same in his autobiography “Romancing With Life”.
Cheers!
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DEV ANAND and his English flick OH BOY, THREE GIRLS also known as TEEN DEVIAN (1965), Did You Know Facts about Hindi Cinema at bobbytalkscinema.com, Dev Anand in English films, Unknown Rare Facts about Hindi Cinema by Bobby Sing, Teen Devian made in English.
