Thursday 31 August 2017

Changing Trend Of Indian Cinema


 Hindi film industry  is the world’s largest film industry. This industry has a remarkably rich history of producing a variety of movies, showcasing different spheres of Indian life.There has been a changing trend in the representation of Indian films through the years. The way movies were made in the 1950s is completely different from the way it is done in the twenty first century.
Today I read somewhere that the film  Dangal released in Dec 2016 has crossed 1000 crores only in China.Our films are being watched not only by NRIs but also by the natives of other countries. The changing patterns in movies are basically a result of the changing mindsets of the audience as well the bid to attract international audience who have different perspective than the ones for whom movies were made in the 1950s.

The 1950s and 1960s are considered to be the golden age in the history of the Indian cinema and saw the rise of some memorable actors like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nargis, Nutan, Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, among others.It was Raj Kapoor who introduced Bollywood cinema to international audience.
The 1970s and 80s saw the advent of Masala movies in Bollywood. The audiences were captivated and mesmerised by the aura of actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, and many others.

2000s saw new genre of actors( 3 Khans) used new techniques to enhance their performances which further elevated and upgraded the Indian Film Industry. Lagaan (2001) received critical acclaim and awards at international film festivals, as well as many Indian film awards. It became the third Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film after Mother India (1957) and Salaam Bombay!(1988).
2008 was a notable year for the Indian film industry as A.R. Rahman received two academy awards for best soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire.This film popularized Bollywood Songs and Dances.In many countries youth started learning Bollywood style of Dancing.
Indian cinema is no longer restricted to India and is now being well appreciated by international audiences. The contribution of the overseas market in Bollywood box office collections is quite remarkable. Around 30 film production companies were listed in National Stock Exchange of India in 2013.

INDIAN FILMS have gone beyond the geographical boundaries.Hindi films are shown in more than 70 countries, including the Arab nations.The very recent entry of Dangal in China has well proven to be a game changer.The film reportedly raked in over Rs 1,500 crore from that country, almost 50% more than what all overseas theatricals from India collected in 2016 – and nearly two and a half times the business (about Rs 600 crore) done in India. 
Probably now Bollywood will make films keeping China in mind. Bollywood has  come out of the epoch of love and fantasy and learnt to work on experimental plots.As per Vijay Singh, CEO at Fox Star Studios. “We have to do a separate edit of the film, to make it more appropriate for foreign viewers… We tightened the script a bit and clipped the song sequences short,” 

 The effect of globalization of Indian cinema is applicable not only to the Bollywood, but also to the regional film industries of the country. Many Indian films are not only making more money outside the home market  but also attracting foreign producers and directors and actors to the industry. Bollywood movies include western actors like Rachel Shelley in Lagaan, Giselli Monteiro in Love kaj Kal, Barbari Mori in Kite and Chris Patten in Rang De Basanti.
In November 2010 a pact was signed in the Paramount Pictures Studio between the Hollywood and the Bollywood.The pact mainly aims to strengthen the motion picture production, distribution, technology, content protection and commercial cooperation. Many companies from Motion Picture association India had signed the pact including UTV Motions Pictures and Reliance BIG Pictures.

 A major studio that contributed and is still contributing to international films is the Ramoji film city in Hyderabad, India. It is in fact the world’s largest integrated film studio complex. It provides locations, lights, grip equipment, camera, production crew, set designs, props & costumes and post production (Processing, editing, mixing, printing & duplicating). More than 15 international projects have been worked in Ramoji Film city so far.
 It’s important that we make consistent efforts to expand our film markets internationally, both in traditional diaspora regions like the US and UK and non-diaspora markets like China, where UTV and Aamir Khan have shown the way.”




Wednesday 30 August 2017

SHAILENDRA-His Life Was a Song


Remembering SHAILENDRA(30th Aug 1923) the Lyricist on his 94th Birth Anniversary.
Poetry was his first love but family situation forced him to take up a job of a railway mechanic.His job in Indian Railways brought him to the city of Bombay.Here in a Kavi Sammelan Raj Kapoor heard him reciting his poems,Raj Kapoor got impressed with his poetry and offered him to write songs for him.Which he initially refused but due to some domestic reasons and responsibilities,  need of money he aproached Raj Kapoor after 6 months and agreed to his terms. His first project was 'Barsaat'. Shailendra wrote his first song 'Barsat Mein Tum Se Mile Hum Sajan..' for Raj Kapoor.His poetic genius was in his ability to convey deepest of thoughts in simplest of words. 
 Eventually, Barsat was also the first film for the emerging music director duo Shankar-Jaikishan. The film proved very successful and after the success of Barsaat Raj Kapoor, Shankar-Jaikishan and Shailendra always worked together.

No doubt, Shailendra gave his best with Shankar-Jaikishan, but he shared equally pleasant rapport with musical giants of those days, like Salil ChowdharyS. N. Tripathi and S.D. Burman.
Here are my favorite songs of Shailendra
Song from Awara 1951



Song from Awara 1951



Song from Seema (1955)



Song from Jaagte Raho (1956)



Song from Madhumati 1958



Song from Anari 1959



Song from Kala Bazaar, 1960



Song from Bandini, 1963



Song from Guide, 1965



Song from Raat Aur Din.1966


Song from Teesri Kasam 1966







Tuesday 29 August 2017

String Instruments Playing songs in Bollywood Films


Few months back I posted a blog on  the songs in which Piano being played by the hero or heroine in the song.In this blog I have selected those songs where Hero or Heroine playing String Instrument like Guitar, Sitar or Mandolin.There was a song in Uran Khatola (1955) "Hamare Dil Se Na Jana"here Nimmi is playing a string instrument HARP which was new to Indian public.Before that  Acoustic Guitar was introduced in 1952 hit film Baazi in the famous song" Tadbeer se bidgi hui taqdeer bana le ".I would also like to mention another Indian String Instrument of Rajasthan the Ravanhattha,This was first seen in a hindi film Do Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957 in the song Saiyyaan jhoothon ka bada sartaaj niklaa.. Here are few songs on unusual and exotic string instruments.
GuitarThe curious thing about guitar in the Hindi movies is that the guitar is a fashion statement; the hero or the heroine swings it any which way – across the shoulder, left and right like a man gone berserk with his carbine, or even to rotate it around on the floor.One Music Director who really mastered the acoustic guitar in his songs was Sachin Dev Burman. As soon as you think of the acoustic guitar on the Indian scene, you think of Goa and that’s where Guru Dutt’s 1952 movie Jaal 
Song from Jaal 1952




Song from Baazi 1952

After the success of 1952 movie Jaal’s guitar based song Ye raat ye chandini phir kahan, Sahir Ludhianvi, SD Burman and Hemant Kumar did it again, in another Dev Anand movie, the 1955 film Munimji in which Dev Anand acted with Nalini Jaywant and Pran.

Song from Munimji 1955

Dev Anand in 50s had popularized Guitar in films He appeared in many songs playing Guitar,in this song from Manzil 1960 he sings along with Guitar



Song from Manzil 1960

The next song on guitar was a peppy classic black and white bollywood song "Baar Baar Dekho" from the superhit bollywood blockbuster China Town. Starring Shammi Kapoor , Shakila , Helen . Film directed and produced by Shakti Samanta. Music composed by Ravi.

Song from China Town 1962

The Guitar also has a strong role in sad songs. Shanker-Jaikishen’s Ajeeb dastan hai yeh (Dil apna aur preet parai) appears lively but also has a hidden sadness. 

Song from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1960

This is a rare song from the film Aakhri Khat 1966 in which Rajesh Khanna made his debut and also singer Bhupendra also made his debut as a singer Interestringly this song is picturised on him he is playing guitar



Song from Aakhri Khat 1966




Song from Kismat 1968

Guitar became popular among common people after the release of Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971 the song Dum Maro Dum became the craze



Song from Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971

Another film that popularized Guitar songs was Yaadon Ki Baarat. One song that was extremely popular among teens  was the song where the boy invites a girl to come to the stage. A dream situation for desi teens those days.

Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat 1973




Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat 1973




Song from Zameer 1975




Song from Khel Khel Mein 1975

By the late 70s the Guitar changed to Electric Guitar,in 1977 film Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin in the Song Kya Hua Tera Vaada electric guitar being played by the hero Tariq



Song from Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin 1977

This beautiful Guitar  song is picturised on Rakesh Roshan in PRIYATMA 1978. He and friends have thrown a party for Jeetendra and Neetu Singh, who have recently got married.

Song from PRIYATAMA 1978




Song from Karz 1980




Song from Qyamat Se Qyamat Tak 1988

 Mandolin -The mandolin originated in Italy, and is a typically hollow-bodied instrument made of wood, with either a round, a flat, or a carved top. For a string instrument that hails from lands far removed from India, the mandolin makes surprisingly frequent appearances in Hindi cinema. First time it was seen in Hindi song Suhani Raat Dhal huki from Dulari 1949 then  in Tera dil kahaan hai (Chandni Chowk, 1954) 

Song from Dulari 1949

Song from Chandni Chowk, 1954

Waheeda Rehman plays mandolin  in the song Kaheen pe nigaahein kaheen pe nishaana;in CID 1956

Song from CID 1956



Song from Pyar Ka Mausam 1969

Sitar-A purely Indian instrument  used mainly in Hindustani music and Indian classical music. The sitar became popularly known in the wider world through the works of Ravi Shankar, beginning in the late 1950s and early 1960s..Used often in Hindi films to denote the gentle falling of rain (a famous Ravi Shankar composition in Satyajit Ray’s Pathar Panchali captures this brilliantly), sitar music is a classic Bollywood backbone.Some popular songs in 50s and 60s show the hero or heroine playing this instrument

Song from Baiju Bawra 1952

In the 1960 film Kohinoor Dilip Kumar is shown playing Sitar the most popular song Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re


Song from Kohinoor 1960




Song from Meri Soorat Teri Aankhein 1963



Song from Dil Ek Mandir 1963




Song from Hamrahi 1963

Tanpura: A 4-string instrument to accompany a Hindustani classical vocalist that does not play a melody, but rather provides a harmonic drone throughout the piece.

Song from Basant Bahar 1956

Ektara-As the name suggest it is one string instrument  held in one hand and with the string plucked with the index finger.The Baul singers of Bengal use this instrument.The popular song from Devdas 1955 Aan milo aan milo Shyaam saanwre, this instrument is being played.Another famous song Ek Tara Bole Tun Tun where this instrument shown from Yaadgaar 

Song from Devdas 1955




Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970


Veena.In Dekh Kabira Roya, Ameeta plays a girl  who is devoted to her music.she plays veena in this lovely song Meri Veena Tum Bin Roye.A masterpiece composed by Madan Mohan and sang by the great sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle 



Song from Dekh Kabira Roya, 1957

Sarangi: A bowed short-neck stringed instrument famed in Hindustani classical music for its close imitation of the human voice.this instrument can be seen in ths song Aansu Bhari Hain Yeh Jeevan Ki Rahe from Parvarish 1958

Song from Parvarish 1958




Song from Umrao Jaan 1981

Ravanahatha-the Rajasthani Folk instrument was first shown in the song  Saiyyaan jhoothon ka bada sartaaj niklaa (Do Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957):

Song from Do Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957

Banjo: A plucked 4-5 string instrument with origins in Africa that traveled to America around the 18th century with African-American traditional music and became a staple of country and folk genres.In hindi film Azad 1955 in the song Kitna Haseen hai Mausam this instrument is seen.

Song from Azaad 1955

Recently released movie an Electric Benzo is shown in this song being played by Ritesh Deshmukh in the film Benzo


Song from Benzo 2017

VIOLIN -

A highly popular bowed 4-string instrument with roots in 16th century Italy that has had global impact, including in orchestral performances of Hindi film music.It was first shown in hindi film Barsat 1949 in the song "Muje Kisi se Pyar Ho Gaya Hai"sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Raj Kapoor is seen here playing violin.

Song from Barsaat 1949

Another famous song is from 1972 film Shor,Manoj Kumar is playing violin in this song



Song from Shor (1972)




Song from Mohabbatein 2000




Song from Sur 2002

























Monday 28 August 2017

The role of the Director in Song Composition


Songs are integral part of a Bollywood film.Generally a song is ready before a film being shot.It is the Director who has seen the film in his imagination.The Music director and Lyricist fully depend on the Director to tell them about the film and the situation of the song.what kind of music and lyrics he wants for the situation.This process has a lot of discussion with the Director,Composer and lyricist to prepare a song.This planning is called in film term"sitting".There may be many sittings between the director and composer,some Producers also take part in these sittings.
These sittings may continue for as long a year.It depends on the Director.Director Yash Chopra took one year to finalize the songs of Dil To Pagal Hai.For Mohabattein (2000) Aditya Chopra took 6 to 8 months for the songs composed by Jatin Lalit.In an interview somewhere the Producer Director Prakash Jha said for him it usually take 5 to 6 sittings for a song.
For the composer to create a song he and his Lyricist need Complete information from the Director about the situation and the character.The amount of details vary from Composer to composer.The great Music composer S D Burman used to get minor to minor details from the director of the film,once he understood the situation and prepared the song he will not allow the director for any change.It is said that his knowledge of the cinema was such that he used to advise the Producer and Director about the filming of the song.
As per Jatin Lalit the present day Directors Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar give immense detail for their song situation.After viewing the situation as per their director they start working on the song.There are many Directors who do not give sufficient information even they do not imagine about the song,director just relies on the composer and choreographers.As per Shravan of Nadeem Sharvan composer duo,being music composer,they have some visuals in their mind,so according the situation they create the music,.the director and producer shoot the song with slight modification.This is evident from Producer Director Anil Sharma,the Gadar  film fame said that he tells the story to his Music Composer tells about the situation,what he wants in the song.give him the example of certain songs,similar to that song you make for me.
I think the film music depends on the Director's attitude towards the music.There were many great  Directors who along with his Music composers gave us great music,many immortal songs.Many music directors admit that they were able to give better  work working with the particular director.Take the case of RK Banner,Navketan or Guru Dutt,they gave us many immortal songs.As far as picurisation of a song no one can beat Dev Anand or Raj Kapoor.Both of them had a knack of good music.
On the one hand the director inspires the music composer for great music,on the other hand many composers did not like interference by their Director.The great composers Naushad and S D Burman didn't want any interference once they heard the story and understood the situation.There used to be a rapport  with the Director or a banner with the composer resulted to hit music one after another.Most of the big Directors or banners had a fixed team of Music Directors and Singer.
In  the end I would  say that everything depends on the Director.That's the how good directors have extracted a good music even out of the less talented music composers.
Here is my list of Best Picturised Songs of Golden Era
Song from Shree 420 (1955)

Song from Pyaasa 1957


Song from Navrang 1959


Song from Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai 1960


Song from Mughal e Azam 1960


Song from Asli Naqli.1962


Song from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam 1962


Song from Tere Ghar Ke Saamne 1963


Song from Sangam 1964


Song from Guide1965


Song from Upkar 1967


Song from Araadhana 1969



Song from Tere Mere Sapne 1971


Song from Pakeezah 1972






Sunday 27 August 2017

The Trio of Mukesh,Shankar-Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor


On the 41st Death Anniversary of Mukesh I look back at the Magical Combination of this legendary singer with SJ and Raj Kapoor. Mukesh debuted as (actor-)singer in 1941 with Nirdosh,his association with Raj Kapoor took place in 1949 when he sang for RK in Aag,the song was “Zinda Huwe, Is Tarah Ke Hamen” composed by Ram Ganguli. Raj Kapoor realized that now he found his soul in the voice of Mukesh. In the very next film Barsaat 1950,Shankar Jaikishan made their debut as music director,from this film the trio of Mukesh,SJ and Raj Kapoor formed.After that they gave many immortal songs to Bollywood
.
 Barsaat’s music was dominated by Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh getting two duets with her. But their next venture, Awara (1951), had the title track which became a global sensation making Raj Kapoor-Nargis one of the most recognizable faces abroad, and India’s cultural ambassador. 
In the same year, in a non-RK film Baadal, too, SJ created an outstanding solo, Main raahi bhatakane wala hun, and an equally good duet with Lata Mangeshkar, Ae dil na mujhse chhupa. RK-SJ’s next film Aah (1953) didn’t fire up the box-office, but what great songs Mukesh sang! The two solos, Raat andheri door kinara, Chhoti si ye zindagani, and the two duets with Lata Mangeshkar, Jaane na jigar pahchaane nazar, Aa ja re ab mera dil pukara are among the most loved songs for Mukesh fans.
With Mukesh becoming identified as Raj Kapoor’s voice, in almost all the films of Raj Kapoor whether under RK banner or outside, if SJ were the music director Mukesh was almost invariably the voice for him. And every film had great songs remembered till today:Here are some of the immortal songs of this Trio.


Song from Barsaat 1949



Song from Awaara 1951



Song from Aah 1953



Song from Shree 420 (1955)



Song from  Main Nashe Mein Hoon 1959



Song from  Kanhaiya 1959



Song from Anari 1959



Song from Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai 1960



Song from Aashiq 1962



Song from Sangam 1964



Song from Teesri Kasam 1966



Song from Diwana 1967








Saturday 26 August 2017

15 Seduction Songs of Golden Era of Bollywood


It is said that music brings heart together ,Bollywood is one place where you can get major inspiration in almost everything.Seducing the Hero by the heroine or a vamp is always been there in hindi films start from 1940s till now.There are many songs for such situation.Here are 20 such Bollywood Songs  


Hamen ho gaya tumse pyaar bedardi baalmaa

 Usha Kiran is seen here singing a seductive song for Manhar. This song was sung by Lata. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan wrote the lyrics,music composer is Madan Mohan.for the film Madhosh 1951
Song from Madhosh 1951




Taare chaandni afsaane

This song is a seduction song which is sung by Geeta Dutt.Majrooh Sultanpuri is the lyricist. Music is composed by O P Nayyarfor the film Baaz 1953
Song from Baaz 1953

Kisi ke thukraakar armaan

This song sung by Lata which is picturised on Nadira and Dev Anand. In this song, Nadira seeks to seduce Dev Anand from Pocketmar 1956
                                                           Song from Pocketmar 1956

Kahin pe nigaahen kahin pe nishaana

The song is from “C I D” and picturised on Waheeda Rehman. Shamshad Begum is the singer who sings this seductive song in 1950s style. Music is given by O P Nayyar
Song from C I D 1956



Aiye Meharbaan
This song from Howrah Bridge 1958 is a great hit,sung by Asha Bhosle picturised on Madhubala
Song from Howrah Bridge 1958


Qareeb aao na tadpaao

This song is sung by Geeta Dutt. It is picturised on Helen who is seen lip syncing this song in a bid to seduce Dev Anand.The film was Love marriage 1959,Shailendra is the lyricist. Music is composed by Shankar Jaikishan.
                                             Song from  Love marriage 1959

Yeh Hai Reshmi Julfon Ka andhera
This song is from Mere Sanam 1965,picturised on Mumtaz seducing Viswajeet,sung by Asha Bhosle
Song from Mere Sanam 1965


Aa baahon mein aa jaa

This song is sung by Asha Bhonsle. It is picturised as a seduction song.Gulshan Bawra is the lyricist. Music is composed by Usha Khanna for the film “Laal Bangla” (1966)
Song from “Laal Bangla” (1966)

Raat Akeli Hai ,Bujh Gaye Diye
This song was picturised on Tanuja who is seducing Dev anand for Jewel Thief 1967,sung by Asha Bhosle 

Song from Jewel Thief 1967

Ae dushman e jaan chal diya kahaan

This song is performed on screen by Mumtaz. Manoj Kumar is the recipient of Mumtaz’s attentions.sung by Asha Bhosle for Patthar Ke Sanam” (1967) 
Song from Patthar Ke Sanam” (1967) 


Sajna o sajna

This seduction song from “Do Kaliyan”1968 sung by Asha Bhonsle, Lyrics-Sahir Ludhianvi, MD-Ravi
Song from Do Kaliyaan 1968


 This song is sung by Asha Bhonsle. It is picturised as a suduction song on Farida Jalal and Dev Anand for Mahal 1969, Lyrics-Anand Bakshi, MD-Kalyanji Anandji
Song from Mahal 1969,

Husn Ke Lakhon Rang
This song is picturised on Padma Khanna for Johny Mera Naam 1970 sung by Asha Bhosle music was given by Kalyan ji Anand ji
Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970

Aao na gale lagaa lo naa
The song is sung by Asha Bhonsle. It is picturised on Helen trying to seduce a visually impaired Rajesh Khanna. The film is Mere Jiwan Sathi 1972.Asha Bhonsle is at her seductive best in this song
Song from Mere Jiwan Sathi 1972



Suniye zara dekhiye na

In this song Sadhna is seducing Feroz Khan in the film Geeta Mera Naam 1974, Singer is Lata, Lyrics-Rajinder Krishan, MD-Laxmikant Pyarelal

Song from Geeta Mera Naam 1974