He directed more than 30 Hindi films in the 1950s and 1960s including several hits like Nagina (1951), Agra Road (1957), Post Box 999 (1958), Satta Bazaar (1959), Dulha Dulhan (1964) and Raaz (1967).
Ravindra Dave was born on 16 April 1919 in Karachi, British India (modern day Pakistan) in a Brahmin family.
Post Box 999, starring Sunil Dutt and Shakila, was inspired by the Hollywood film Call Northside 777.
[1][3] He worked with some of the leading composers of the time, including: Ghulam Haider, Husnlal Bhagatram, Vijaysinghraje Patwardhan, Shankar Jaikishan, C. Ramchandra, Chitragupta, O. P. Nayyar, Manna Dey, S. D. Burman, Roshan, Kalyanji-Anandji and Ravi.
[1] Dave had planned to remake his blockbuster Nagina with Leena Chandavarkar and Sanjay Khan, but the project was delayed.
[1] He directed Jesal Toral based on the local legend of Gujarat launching the careers of Upendra Trivedi and Ramesh Mehta.
[1][2][4] His other blockbuster Gujarati films include: Raja Bharathari, Hothal Padmani, Kunwarbai nu Mameru, Shetal Ne Kanthe, Malavpati Munj, Bhadar Tara Vehta Pani, Son Kansari, and Patali Parmar.
His last Gujarati film was Malo Nagde starring Upendra Trivedi, Aruna Irani and Mulraj Rajda.
[1] Years later, Rakesh Roshan produced Khoon Bhari Maang with a similar plot which was declared a hit.
[1] Film historian Subhash Chheda said, "Dave brought the diminishing Gujarati culture in front of the people.