(From top) A piper outside the Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London, a garlanded portrait of Dev Anand, mourners inside the chapel and a fan at the funeral. Pictures by Amit Roy

London, Dec. 10: Dev Anand would have enthused that it was a perfect day for a shoot. A bitterly cold December day in London but bright and sunny with not a fleck of a cloud in the sky.

On such a day then, his family and friends gathered at the Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium to hold a “Ceremony of Remembrance and Thanksgiving” for the “evergreen, romantic superstar”, who passed away in London a week ago, aged 88.

The chapel, where his cremation service was held, can accommodate only 80. But this was an Indian occasion so more than a hundred managed to squeeze in, including members of his family — his sister, Bonnie Sarin, his nephews, Tony Sarin and Vibhu Anand — and a 300-strong gathering of friends and fans.

In the cold outside, a Sikh waited with a banner which summed up what he wanted to say: “Evergreen. Raju Guide.” The funeral, though sombre and dignified, was also by way of celebrating Dev Anand’s life.

A young singer, Raja Kaasheff, who worked on his last movie, Chargesheet, sang a few evocative songs, with a packed chapel joining in. There was Din Dhal Jai from Guide, R.D. Burman’s Phoolan ka taron ka from Hare Rama Hare Krishna and, perhaps most appropriately, Abhi Na Jao Chor Kar from Hum Dono.

Despite heavy traffic, the cortege bearing Dev Anand’s casket arrived on time at 11.40am and was borne into the chapel to the chanting of Om Nama Shiva and Ram Nam Satya Hai.

His son Suneil had earlier said that although his father was not overly religious, he did believe in God. “The spirit of Dev Anand will live on for ever,” his son today. It is not very often that applause greets speeches at funerals. But it happened several times today.

Tony Sarin reminded family and friends that “great triumvirate of the three brothers” — Chetan, Dev and Vijay Anand — had set up Navketan Studios way back in 1949.

“They helped Zeenat Aman, Tina Munim, Jackie Shroff and Shatrughan Sinha, to mention but a few.”

During the shooting of Des Pardes in 1978, his uncle had scouted out a pub in the East End of London, the Prospect of Whitby, where Dev Anand enjoyed a pint of Guinness. Later, he faithfully reproduced the pub in studios back in Bombay, giving great attention to detail. Perhaps only the Guinness was missing, said Sarin to laughter.

Pandit Tanaji Acharya was the officiating Hindu chaplain who said: “Today is a vey sad occasion for all of us but whoever has life has to go and come back in rebirth. And so the cycle of life and death goes on.” This is a Hindu view but today there was a much appreciated Christian aspect to the service, too. There was a prayer of intercession from the Rev. Lis Goddard, while Dev Anand’s friend, Kenny Muir, read a passage from the Gospel of StJohn.

Adding a Scottish touch was a medley of bagpipe tunes led by piper Andrew Miller. Dev Anand, who saw the world as one, would have enjoyed Bays of Harris, Mist Covered Mountains, Dark Island, Skye Boat Song and Oft in the Stilly Night.

There was a musical flavour to the whole ceremony which began with Main zindagi ka saath by Jai Dev from Hum Dono. The proceedings would not have been complete without S.D. Burman’s Gata rahe mera dil from Guide.

The acting High Commissioner Rajesh Prasad laid a wreath, while there were short eulogies offered by Suneil Anand, Tony Sarin, and businessmen Lord (Karan) Bilimoria and Kartar Lalvani. Suneil will fly back to Mumbai within a couple of days after collecting his father’s ashes. At the front of the chapel was a large, garlanded portrait of the actor. It is not very often that cameras are allowed inside a chapel but everyone recognised this was a special occasion.

After the service, Subroto Roy of Sahara, dressed in white, related find memories of a modest man. Lady Shreela Flather turned up today, as did Lord Meghad Desai, a lover of Indian cinema. “I don’t like going to funerals,” admitted Desai, “but I wanted to come today.”