Wednesday 31 May 2017

Remembering RAJ KHOSLA on his 92nd Birth Anniversary


Raj Khosla was born on 31 May 1925,he was one of the top directors in Hindi films of the Golden Era.He was known for his excellent song picturizations, probably stemming from his musical background.He was spotted by Dev anand  and advised him to take up direction. On his advice he became Guru Dutt's assistant. His directorial debut Milap (starring Dev Anand and Geeta Bali) in 1954 didn't click at the box office. But his second film, C.I.D., released in 1956 set the ball rolling and the young director never looked back.
In 1958 his 2 films  Kala Pani and Solva Saal were released both were hits and were critically acclaimed.In 1960 his next film as director was  Bambai Ka Babu another hit.
Raj Khosla explored a variety of styles be it crime thrillers (C.I.D.Kala Pani (1958)), musicals (Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) – whose starting point was seven songs composed by O. P. Nayyar), suspense thrillers (Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Mera Saaya (1966), Anita (1967) – his mystery trilogy with actress Sadhana), melodramas (Do Badan (1966), Do Raaste (1969)) or dacoit dramas (Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) 
After  Mera Gaon Mera Desh and had hits like Prem Kahani (1975) starring the then hottest pair of the day Rajesh Khanna and MumtazNehle Pe Dehla (1976) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978),the last hit he gave was  Dostana (1980) with Amitabh BachchanZeenat Aman and Shatrughan Sinha.
Beside Director he produced 7 films only 2 films Do Raaste 1969 and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) were Super hits,his last film Naqab (1989) with Rishi kapoor was a flop.He  died in Mumbai on 9 June 1991, totally disillusioned with the film industry.
Song from Milap 1954


Song from C I D 1956


Song from Kala Pani 1958


Song from Solva Saal 1958


Song from Bombai Ka Baboo (1960)


Song from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962)


Song from Woh Kaun Thi? (1964)


Song from Mera Saaya (1966)


Song from Do Badan (1966)


Song from Do Raaste (1969)


Song from Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)


Song from Prem Kahani (1975)


Song from Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978)

Saturday 27 May 2017

Bollywood Songs having Dialogues In between


There have been many songs in Bollywood which are not mere songs but they are also decorated either with a dialogue or a monologue.Remember the song from Silsila "Ye kahan aa gaye hum" in which Amitabh Bachchan  in his own voice renders  Main aur meri tanhaai……This trend is not new,since 50s there have been many songs where voice of Film Actors were used to enhance the beauty of the song.Here are some of my favorite such songs.
Dil ki umangein hai jawan – A fun song picturised on Nalini Jaywant, Dev Anand and Pran.in the 1955 film Munimji. It becomes hilarious when Pran is urged to sing – Gaaiye na kya mushkil hai said by Nalini Jaywant
Song from Munimji 1955

Zara nazron se kehdo ji- This song from Bees Saal Baad has Biswajeet following his ladylove Waheeda Rehman.He becomes poetic in between the song.
Song from Bees Saal Baad 1962

Bol Radha Bol Sangam Hoga  Ki Nahi-This super hit song of Sangam has the voice of Vyaijayantimala in between the song sung by Mukesh

Song from Sangam 1964


Duniya bananewaale kya tere -This song from Teesri Kasam has Raj Kapoor narrating the love story of Mahua – a beautiful girl. Raj Kapoor mesmerises you with his narration

Song from Teesri Kasam 1965

Naino waali ne haaye mera dil- This song from Mera Saaya has the voice of Sunil Dutt in between the song.

Song from  Mera Saaya 1966

Aaj ki raat ye kaisi raat-This is a sensuous song from Aman (1967) rendered so effectively by Mohammed Rafi, while Saira Banu is whispering the sweet nothings in Rajendra Kumar’s ears.


Aaiye Aapka Tha Humen Intezar-Remember this hit song of 1969 Mahal sung by Asha Bhonsle and Shayari in between by Dev anand

Song from Mahal 1969

Nafrat karnewaalon ke seene mein- Another song from a Dev Anand film Johny Mera Naam. Its a monologue/ shayari by Kishore Kumar himself.

Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970

Are rafta rafta dekho aankh meri ladi hai-This song by Kishore kumar brilliantly composed by Kalyanji Anandji and picturesed on Dhermendra and Rekha is one of the high lights of the song.

Song from Kahani Kismat ki 1973

Tere bina zindagi se koi-This song is a background song but your heart just melts when you hear this famous dialogue between Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar. Along with the music, these lines form the soul of the song, taking the song to some another level.

Song from Aandhi 1975

Ye kahan aa gaye hum-This beautifully picturized song has Amitabh Bachchan's monologue in this song in his rich baritone is as famous or even more as the song itself. Main aur meri tanhaai……

Song from Silsila 1981

Thursday 25 May 2017

Remembering SUNIL DUTT on his 12th Death Anniversary


Born on June 6, 1929, Sunil Dutt died of a heart attack on 25th May 2005 in Mumbai.He was Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and Member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West at the time of his death.
He started his career with Radio Announcer in the 50s. His involvement in dramatics got him his first job with Keymers, a British advertising agency that hired him for radio programmes. "Lipton ki Mehfil", anchored by Mr. Dutt and broadcast on Radio Ceylon, at that time the only commercial radio station in the region, became extremely popular. Mr. Dutt interviewed many famous film personalities like Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar.
He was introduced to Bollywood by Ramesh Sehgal in 1955 with the film Railway Platform starring Nalini Jaywant and Sheila Ramani.This film had many hit songs but could not not put him on the fast track to success. His first hit, Ek Hi Raasta (1956), marked the start of a seven-film long association with B R Chopra.His collaboration with B.R. Chopra proved to be successful in films such as Gumraah (1963), Waqt (1965) and Hamraaz (1967)
His real breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan's magnum opus, Mother India (1957). His portrayal of Birju, Nargis' rebellious younger son .He had to face tough competition with the Raj Kapoor-Dilip Kumar-Dev Anand trio and Rajendra Kumar,Shammi Kapoor who were giving hits one after another in the 60s.
He was giving hit films but those were women-oriented films like Sadhna (1958), Sujata (1959) and Main Chup Rahungi (1962) so all the credit of success went to Heroines of those films.
Sunil Dutt turned producer in the early sixties with a couple of offbeat movies - 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke' (1963), where heroine Leela Naidu has an adulterous relationship and 'Mujhe Jeene Do' (1963) where he played a dacoit. This film brought him fame and success,he latter made  Yaadein (1964), where he was the only character in the film, however, was found to be too esoteric by most.
Sunil Dutt's sartorial style was markedly different in both these genres of films, but they were all successful. In fact in 1967, he had a hat-trick of hits with MilanMeherban and Humraaz.The very next year Padosan released which was a hit but once again the credit of success gone to Mehmood  and Kishore Kumar.
In 1968 he produced Man Ka Meet which introduced his brother Som Dutt who was unsuccessful in films.Vinod Khanna was also intoduced by this film. In 1971, he produced, directed and starred in Reshma Aur Shera (1971) which was a huge failure at the box office.After Padosan in 1968 none of his film were hit till 1973,Heera released in 1973 was successful but not a great hit.Another breakthrough came to him after the release of Geeta Mera Naam in 1974.After that he gave many hits like Zakhmee (1975), Nagin (1976),Paapi (1977),Jaani Dushman (1979) and many more.
He launched his son Sanjay's career with Rocky in 1981 which was a success. Shortly before the film's release, Dutt's wife Nargis died of pancreatic cancer. He founded the Nargis Dutt Foundation in her memory for the cure of cancer patients.
Sunil Dutt's life was not smooth he faced many ups and down in his life.He overcame all his problems.
In 1982 he was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai, an apolitical titular position bestowed on him by the Maharashtra government for a year.He retired from the film industry in the early 1990s to turn to politics.
 In 1984 he joined the Indian National Congress party at the behest of the late Rajiv Gandhi and was elected to Parliament of India for five terms from the constituency of Mumbai North West.During his short tenure as minister, Dutt was known to take up the cause of sportsperson. He is credited with several programmes to improve the standard of Indian athletes.
Just about a year before his death, Dutt returned to the silver screen for a cameo in last year’s superhit ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ starring his son Sanjay in the lead role. It was his last appearance on screen in a long time ever since he featured in his own ‘Dard Ka Rishta’ in 1983 to highlight the plight of cancer victims.
Sunil Dutt was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Padmashree in 1968, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award for National Integration and Communal Harmony in 1997, the Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Award for International Peace, Communal Harmony, Unity and National Integration in 1997 and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1998.
He won Filmfare Award as best Hero twice in Mujhe Jeene Do 1963 and Khandan in 1965,Latter in 1995 he got Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
He also got National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Yaadein in 1965
Sunil Dutt was undoubtedly a great actor — he was much more than that — a compassionate human being, a spirited minister, a magnanimous performer,My Tribute to him on his 12th Death Anniversary
Song from Railway Platform 1955


Song from Ek Hi Raasta (1956)


Song from Mother India (1957)


Song from Sadhna (1958)


Song from Sujata (1959)


Song from Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)


Song from Ek Phool Char Kaante (1960)


Song from Hum Hindustani (1960)


Song from Gumraah (1963)


Song from Waqt (1965)


Song from Hamraaz (1967)


Song from Milan (1967)


Song from Padosan (1968)


Song from Zakhmee (1975)




Monday 22 May 2017

Remembering Homi Wadia -The Original Stunt Film Maker on his 106th Birth Anniversary


Homi Wadia was a filmmaker of 30s and continued to make films upto 80s . He was the founder of Wadia Movietone and Basant Pictures. In a career spanning 5 decades, Wadia started as a cinematographer in Lal-e-Yaman (1933) and subsequently produced and directed around 40 films including adventurous flicks like Hunterwali, Miss Frontier Mail, Diamond Queen and fantasy films like Hatim Tai

In 1981, he got into a labour dispute with union leader Datta Samant, unable to take on the dispute, he decided to quit film making and closed down Basant Studios.
He was born on May 18, 1911, in Surat, Gujarat, was married to actress and stunt woman Fearless NadiaNadia was undoubtedly Wadia's most brilliant discovery and creation.Both of them together gave many memorable films.Nadia quit films in 50s.

 He was also a founding member of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, established in 1954. He remained active, and even after his wife Nadia died in 1996, he regularly visited Basant theatre in Chembur. He died at the age of 93, in Mumbai in 2004.
Director Homi Wadia and the stunt film icon, who is one of the inspirations for Kangana Ranaut's Julia in 'Rangoon', rewind to the terrific '30s
List of films 

Songs from Wadia's Films




Song from Hunterwali Ki Beti


Song from Hatim Tai (1956)


Song from Zabak (1961)


Song from Char Dervesh (1964)






Saturday 20 May 2017

PICNIC Songs of Bollywood


Bollywood finds every situation to create songs,Picnic is one such situation where many hit songs were created.i am posting some of the rare and popular such songs.The first song in my mind comes 
from the film ‘ Adaalat ‘ (1958)  The song is picturized as a picnic song on Nargis and Pradip Kumar, who are with a group of friends riding bicycles and enjoying themselves. 
Jab din haseen dil ho jawaan (Adaalat)(1958) 


Yaar Chulbula Hai There could not be a picnic list without Shammi Kapoor,this song is from Dil Deke Dekho 1959


 Unse rippi-tippi ho gayi Here’s another forgotten song which occurred to me. Not a great film, though it’s not terrible – and I did love the chemistry between the Vijay Anand and Shakila characters: they were delightful. 

Song from Agra Road 1957

Ban ke panchchi gaye pyar ka tarana  Nutan, Shubha Khote and their friends are all out, happy and chirpy,Lata Mangeshkar sings for the film Anari released in 1959

Song from Anari 1959

Lehron mein jhool ke This is a rare song sung by Asha Bhonsle, Rafi and chorus. The song is picturised as a picnic song. The picturisation shows college students coming out after appearing in their last examination, hop on their bicycles and procced to a place to have their picnic.

Song from Do Gunde (1959)

Dil ka bhanwar kare pukaar Tere ghar ke saamne had this beautiful song when  Harindranath Chattopadhyaya and Prathima devi with Nutan and Dev Anand went for a Picnic at Qutub minar in Delhi

Song from Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963
Kitni jawaan hai zindagi
This song is sung by Rafi. The picturisation shows that Biswajeet, Johny Walker and a few ladies, including Rajshree are on a picnic on a beach of Bombay.
Song from Shehnai(1964)

Din hain bahaar ke tere mere iqraar ke

Here is this super hit song from “Waqt” (1965). This song is a duet that is sung by Asha Bhonsle and Mahendra Kapoor. It is picturised as a picnic song on Sharmila Tagore, Shashi Kapoor and others.
Song from Waqt 1965

Sunday ko pyaar huaa monday iqraar hua Here is a lovely song from “Kanyadaan”(1968). This song is sung by Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhonsle and chorus. The song is picturised as a picnic song o Dilip Raaj, Saeeda Khan and many actors playing their friends

Song from Kanyadaan)(1968) 

Kal ki na karo baat This song has Kiran Kumar (son of Jeewan) lip syncing in Kishore Kumar’s voice,The movie is called “Jungle Mein Mangal” (1972).

Song from Jungle Mein Mangal” (1972).

Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai Another Shammi Kapoor song from Jaanwar 1964. Shammi wrapped in a blanket, belting out the song in a cold river—having crashed her outing with friends to further his wooing of the reluctant Rajshree—is so quintessentially him.

Song from Jaanwar 1964


Ae Jaaneman Le Gaya Dil Ko  This song from Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyaan (1967) (sung by Rafi; music by Shankar Jaikishan; lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri).

Song from Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyaan (1967)

Anchal Ko udne Do 
This song is from the film Picnic released in 1966,the song is sung by Asha Bhonsle
Song from Picnic 1966

Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara Dev Anand’s classic strut and you can’t help but tap your feet to tunes of S.D. Burman’s music while taking in the scenic beauty of a long drive Song from Jewel Thief.



Song from Jewel Thief 1967

Samaa hai suhaana suhaana  It is a picnic song, therefore apparently joyful. The youths are dancing too. But the moonlit night, guitar’s poignant music and Kishore Kumar’s singing 


Song from Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani

Mein Chali Mein Chali from Padosan ,Saira Bano with her friends went for a picnic and singing this beautiful song


Song from Padosan 1968

Ye shaam mastaani, madhosh kiye jaay This song from “Kati Patang” is a picnic song. People, mostly friends and family members go out on a picturesque location where they ply games, eat out and in general enjoy themselves. Asha Parekh, who is supposed to be a widow, is obviously unable to enjoy herself in the picnic.

Song from Kati Patang 1970

Simti si sharmaayi si This song is from the movie “Parwaana” released in 1971 which had Navin Nischol playing hero and Amitabh Bachchan playing the villain.In this song many boys and girls are seen at the camp fire

Song from Parwana 1971


Mausam Mastana Raasta Anjana  This song is from the film Satte Pe Satta