S D Burman - A glimpse of his singing career

SD Burman started working as a radio singer on Calcutta Radio Station in the late '20s when his work as a singer-composer was based on Bengali folk and light Hindustani classical music. Consequently, his compositions were mainly influenced by his huge repertoire of folk-tunes from present Bangladesh and later other parts of India and around the world. His first record was also released in 1932
Not many of us know that he sang for other music directors also. He made his film debut singing in Yahudi ki Ladki (1933) but the songs were scrapped and re-sung by Pahari Sanyal. Then in 1934, he recorded some songs for the film ‘Seeta’ produced by the East India Film Co., under the music direction of KC Dey but the recording is not available. As early as 1941, he had rendered a song for a Hindi film under the music direction of Madhulal Damodar Master. This song happened to be his debut song for Hindi films.
The song is ‘Prem ki pyaari nishaani’ from TAJ MAHAL (1941). The film was produced under the banner of Mohan Pictures and directed by Nanabhai Vakil. S D Burman has rendered this song in slow tempo emphasising on phonetics of some words in keeping with the mood of the song. The song does not have any musical interlude.

Song of TAJ MAHAL (1941)

                               Dakley Kokil Roj Bihaney--Sachin Dev Burman (1932)

In 1944, Burman moved to Mumbai, at the request of Sasadhar Mukherjee of Filmistan, who asked him to give a score for two Ashok Kumar starrers, Shikari (1946) and Aath Din. Staying close to KL Saigal, KN Singh and Manna Dey in Bombay, he would sing at private get-togethers with friends. And then on their suggestion, the song “Dheere Se Jaana Bagiyan Mein” was recorded and found immense success with the listening public.

Dheere Se jaana bagiyan mein by S D Burman

                             Jhan Jhan Jhan Manjira - Classical Song by SD Burman

                                             S.D.Burman sings for Anil Biswas

                                 S D Burman-Ummeed Bhara Panchi(Aath Din)-1946

                                  SD Burman Bengali Folk Song - Bandar Chharo 1943

                                                     Biroho Boro Bhalo Lage

                                             Zindagi aye zindagi tere hain do roop

The Original of Hum Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare from Kala Pani

                      Ghum Bhulechhi Nijhum Nishithe Jege Thaki -S.D.Burman

The Great Car Songs of Golden Era of Bollywood

A few weeks ago I posted a blog on Bicycle songs of Bollywood, that post had 4000 views in a day. Looking at the popularity of the theme songs, I am posting today another theme, the Car songs of Bollywood.
Like bicycles, cars have featured in many songs. All the songs would have to take place for at least 50% in a moving car. You would be surprised to note that Dev Anand did many Car songs in Bollywood films. Next to Dev Anand was Shammi Kapoor and Guru Dutt.
When I started researching the earliest car song I got a song of the film "Grahsthi released in 1948 the song was " O Motor Waali Chhori, Dil Le Ja Chori Chori " The song was sung by Shamshad Begum and Hamida Bano,  the male voice is not identified. It's a fun song, it's a song about motor cars and their owners. And how the other people react to them in the 40s. Not only that it is a very interesting give and take, but also captures the arrogance of the motor car owners. And mind you, we are being presented these thoughts from an era when owning a motor car itself was a rare thing.

Song of Grahsthi) (1948) Audio only

Taxi Driver was released in 1954 and the car song Chahe Koi Khush Ho Chahe Koi Gaaliyan De was very popular

 

Song of Taxi Driver 1954

Yeh lo main haari piya (Aar Paar, 1954) In this song Guru Dutt is driving a car and Shyama the heroine is singing the song It was a super hit song worth mentioning

Song of Aar Paar, 1954

Recall the immortal song of Kishore Kumar "Jeevan ke safar mein rahi milte hain bichhad jaane ko" (Munimji, 1955)

Song of Munimji 1955

One of the best car songs with such classic music instruments is Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke from Nau Do Gyarha, though there is another car song from this film Kali Ke Roop Mein Chali ho Dhoop Mei Kahan only one song from a film is sufficient.

Song of Nau Do Gyarha, 1957

Next in the list with the quintessential ‘car’ song featuring the Ganguly brothers. A paean to their khatara car, this madcap song has the brothers traversing through the streets of Bombay.

Song of Chalti Ka Naam Gadi, 1958

This song from Kaagaz ke Phool , 1959 has a whole bunch of people off on a picnic. The entire song is in transit, and the singers themselves are in some sort of a vehicle (a truck? tempo? van?) while there are two people in a car, listening to this song of love. 

Song of Kaagaz ke Phool , 1959 

One of my all-time favourite songs extremely melodiously rendered by Mohd Rafi from Dil Deke Dekho

Song of  Dil Deke Dekho 1959

This song starts with a car and ends in the car not fully car song

Song of Dhool Ka Phool 1959

This song is my favourite song since my childhood days.  It has lot of energy and freshness and a positive approach. Mohd. Rafi sab and Dev Anand sab have mesmerised us for decades. Its the first song picturised in Darjeeling Here Dev Anand is not driving the car but on the top of a car.

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Song of jab pyaar kisise hota hai 1961

 This particular song has Shammi Kapoor in a car, driving, singing, dancing through the pretty landscape of Kashmir, looking for true love. 

Song of  Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964

A typical Shammi Kapoor type song but in this song Vishwajeet is singing this car song

Song of  Mere Sanam 1965

This is a typical Dev Anand song with his style In this song he is not driving but he is always in front of a moving car 

Song of Jewel Thief 1967

Watch this classic romantic Hindi song "Hum Tum Yug Yug Se" from the Bollywood classic romantic drama old Hindi movie Milan (1967) starring Sunil Dutt, Nutan & Pran. Half of this song was picturised in a car and remaining on a boat

Song of Milan 1967

One of the most evergreen and intoxicating car songs of the Indian cinema voice of the legend Mohammad Rafi Saab and performed by the legend Mr Rajinder Kumar and great music too.

Song of  Jhuk Gaya Aasman  1968

Another Shammi Kapoor car song from 1968 film Brahmchari

Song of Brahamchari 1968

This song became a craze in the 70s Rajesh Khanna became a superstar with this song

Song of Aradhana 1969

Another beautiful romantic but a car song from 1970 film Safar

Song of  Safar  1970

Watch & enjoy Hum To Hain Rahi Dil Ke Full Video Song from the movie Caravan starring Jeetendra, Asha Parekh,

Song of Caravan 1971

Another masterpiece car song by Dev Anand from the film Gambler, our ageless Dev Saab singing this song “choodi nahin mera dil hai dekho toote naa” while driving a car

Song of Gambler 1971

Kishore da, Pancham da and Rajesh Khanna the best of the best in their field, this is pure magic and timeless

Song of  Mere Jeevan Saathi 1972

Song of Hanste Zakhm 1973

Song of Janeman 1976

Dev Anand's First Film was the Amar Akbar Anthony of Pre Independence Bollywood

Hum Ek Hain was the first film of Dev Anand released in 1946. A Prabhat Film directed by P L Santoshi and Music by Husnlal Bhagatram.The story of unity in the face of religious and class differences, Dev Anand shared equal screen space with a host of others, including debutants Rehman, Rehana, and Kamala Kotnis, all saplings in the shade of a banyan tree-like figure that is Durga Khote.

Dev Anand plays Shankar who is the son of Durga Khote the three adopted children are Yusuf played by Rehman, John played by Rane and Durga played by Ranjit Kumari. The children, although encouraged to practice their separate religions, are taught to remain united at all times. 

On an outing, Vidya (Kamla Kotnis) witnesses Chhotebabu’s haughty behavior and is not impressed. She instantly falls in love with the upright Shankar who puts his foot down at Chhotebabu’s domineering ways. Shankar reciprocates Vidya’s feelings. In the meantime, other two brothers also find their ladyloves—Nargis (Rehana) and Dolly (? actor), respectively, and both alliances are fixed.

The villain Chhote Babu, who wants to marry the girl who is engaged to the eldest of the three boys Shankar but couldn't marry her. All the three sons got married and were living a happy life. One day Shankar leaves for a town with his new wife to visit his ailing father-in-law, Chhote babu visits John at the clinic and tells him that the place is too run-down for practice and that he needs to build a bigger hospital. He instigates John to write to Shankar for money, and introduces him to an engineer who will head the construction work., he sows discord and hatred, causing great enmity between the trio until reason prevails and they reunite.
 It was a movie with a strong matriarch, which may have inspired other movie makers of the future to come up with movies of this theme. The movie clearly paves way for future movies with the theme of unity in diversity. “Amar Akbar Anthony” is an example that readily comes to mind.

Song of Hum Ek Hain 1946

Song of Hum Ek Hain 1946

Song of Hum Ek Hain 1946

Song of Hum Ek Hain 1946

Song of Hum Ek Hain 1946

Shammi Kapoor - The hero who never needed a choreographer.

When you think of Shammi Kapoor, immediately an image of jumping and dancing Shammi Kapoor emerge in our mind. He created his own space in an era dominated by Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar. The hands-out, flamboyant, westernised Shammi Kapoor was created by Naseer Hussain from the film Tumsa Nahin Dekha in 1957
On screen, he would hang from a helicopter with one hand, romp in the snow and yodel a 'yahoo', make a Shikara look like a love boat, sing a song about a "Lal Chhadi", and serenade his leading ladies — all very convincingly, such was his inherent style. He danced his way into the hearts of millions and broke several stereotypes along the way.
There used to be many more songs in the early films and hardly any dancing. Songs had a bit of dancing: the heroine moved her hands around a little, but the actresses as such were not required to be dancers. A hero dancing was very rare. Shammi Kapoor changed the image of the Hindi film hero from sad and brooding into one who revelled in singing and dancing
Though there were Choreographers in the 50s, the arrival of the choreographers Hiralal and Sohanlal brought about a very big change, and by the 1960s they had become firmly established. They were extremely good dancers themselves because they were trained in classical dancing. Most directors depended on them to picturise the songs and dances.
Shammi Kapoor was not a trained dancer.  In his teens, he had enrolled for Tango classes, but in a week's time, he realised that dance was not something anyone could teach him. Dancing was natural to him. He was a great fan of Elvis Presley he was inspired by him and made his own steps and style.
 Vijay Anand who directed him in Teesri Manzil once told that Shammi did not regard himself as a dancer, nor had he ever learnt dancing. But you played a song to him and tell him: “Go wild!” He would because he had such a tremendous sense of rhythm. He just got into the music and every fibre of his body would dance. The only thing you had to make sure was that he did not overdo it. 
Music fired his personal life, too. It helped him woo his wife Geeta Bali, who was a bigger star than him. Geeta Bali and Kapoor were shooting for Rangeen Ratein (1956) in Ranikhet, a hill station in North India, when they fell in love.
Composers who worked with him have said that Kapoor took his music very seriously. His songs were – and still are – a rage. Stories abound of how he would attend all his song recordings. Mohammed Rafi adjusted his voice to match the Shammi Kapoor persona – a more youthful, delinquent and livelier voice that would complement the energetic dance style of the Junglee star.
 In later years, the legend declared, “My whole career has been (about) singing. I have no pretensions of being a great actor. I have sung my songs from my heart. I do not know how to dance but I have given expressions to my songs.”
Shammi Kapoor who was born on 21st Oct 19 1931, passed away on August 14, 2011, his work remained as entertaining as ever.

Song of Tumsa Nahin Dekha 1957

Song of Dil Deke Dekho 1958

Song of Ujala 1959

Song of Junglee 1961

Song of  Dil Tera Diwana 1962

Song of Bluff Master1963

Song of Kashmir Ki Kali 1964

Song of Janwar 1965

Song of Teesri Manzil 1966

Song of Teesri Manzil 1966

Song of An Evening in Paris 1967

Song of Brahmachari 1968

Song of Jawan Mohabbat 1971

The Top Sad Songs of Dev Anand

We all know Dev Anand for his light-hearted songs, especially his being totally at home with his heroines in duets, but, he was also outstanding in melancholic roles. In this blog, my effort is to give you not just the best sad songs of Dev Anand but also some philosophical songs also. In 1956 his film Funtoosh was released. the film had many funny songs in it but the most popular song was Dukhi Mun Mere,Sun Mera Kehna sung by Kishore Kumar was a sad song.
The first sad song of Dev Anand was Marne Ki Duwayen Kyun Mangu from 1948 film Ziddi which was Kishore Kumar,s First film song.Another sad song was sung by Mukesh for him in the 1948 film Vidya "Bahe Na Kabhi Nain Se Nir " I am posting this song especially for Dev Anand's fans who have not heard Mukesh singing for him.
In the 1963 movie Sharabi (Drunkard), Dev Anand excelled himself in a melancholic role.The movie had some of the saddest songs of Dev Anand; eg, ‘Mujhe le chalo phir aaj us gali mein’, ‘sawan ke mahine mein’ and this number: Kabhi Na Kabhi, Kahin Na Kahin, Koi Na Koi To Aayega’. Lyrics are by Rajinder Krishan who wrote the maximum lyrics for Madan Mohan and music is by the latter. 

Song of  Sharabi 1963

Song of  Sharabi 1963

The first sad song of Dev Anand was Marne Ki Duwayen Kyun Mangu from 1948 film Ziddi which was Kishore Kumar,s First film song.

Song of Ziddi 1948

Another sad song was sung by Mukesh for him in the 1948 film Vidya "Bahe Na Kabhi Nain Se Nir " I am posting this song especially for Dev Anand's fans who have not heard Mukesh singing for him.

Song of Vidya 1948

The great sad song was sung by Talat Mahmood for Dev Anand in Taxi Driver 1954.Jaayen to Jaayen Kahan Kis ko Kahen Apna Yahan.This song brought first Filmfare Award to S D Burman

Song of Taxi Driver 1954

The next year in 1955 another sad song became popular from House No 44, the song was sung by Hemant Kumar. When you are a fan of senior Burman dada, Hemant da and Dev saab then this song is pure heaven.

Song of  House No 44 1955

This song from 1956 film Funtoosh was talked earlier. It is one of the best sad songs of Kishore Kumar The  song is  ‘Dard hamara koi na jaane, Apni garaj ke sab hai deevaane, Kisake aage rona roye, des praaya log baigaane Dukhi man mere sun mera kehana 

Song of  Funtoosh 1956

Kala Paani was released in 1958, it gave Dev Anand the first Filmfare Award for Best Actor Its  song Hum Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare sung by Rafi is a great song.

Song of  Kala Paani 1958

Bombai Ka Babu was released in 1960 the song Chal Ri Sajni Ab Kya Soche sung by Mukesh is one of the best sad songs of Mukesh but this song was played in the background so I am not including this The other sad song of this film is Saathi Na Koi Manzil sung by Rafi. A master voice and what a beautiful composition by SD Burman....hats off.

Song of  Bambai ka Babu 1960

. Here is one with my favourite singer Hemant Kumar in Manzil (1960).  One cannot but mention the classic song ‘Yaad aa gayin woh nashili nigahen’, sung by Hemant Kumar, composed by maestro S D Burman and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. "Main in zakhmon ko seeke, Kya karun hosh mein jeeke: Yaaro tham lena tham lena meri baahen Yaad aa gayin vo nasheeli nigaahen." 

Song of Manzil 1960

Hum Dono has released in 1961 It had the music of Jaidev all the songs of this film were super hit but this sad song is worth mentioning

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Watch this hindi sad song Aye Dil Kaha Teri Manzil from the superhit bollywood classic movie Maya (1961) starring Mala Sinha, Dev Anand, Lalita Pawar & Amjad Khan. Directed by D.D Kashyap. Music by Salil Choudhury. This song is sung by Dwijen Mukherjee.

Song of Maya 1961

I shall do grave injustice if I don’t choose this number in the top sad songs of Dev Anand from 1963 movie Kinare Kinare in which Dev Anand acted opposite Meena Kumari.   This song is sung by Manna De. Though there is a very beautiful song .jab gam-e ishq satata hai to has leta hoon’. sung by Mukesh. This song was not picturised on Dev Anand instead Chetan Anand lip-synched this song

Song of Kinare Kinare 1963

The 1965 movie Guide is regarded as a classic, the best of Dev Anand. It was directed by Vijay Anand and starred Waheeda Rehman opposite Dev Anand. Din Dhal Jaye and  Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya are two beautiful songs by Rafi I am including Din Dhal Jaye

Song of Guide 1965

What a mesmerising lyrics by Neeraj,. What a touchy voice of Kishore Kumar and above all Music Composer by S D Burman Ji This song of Gambler 1971 is a sad song of Dev Saab

Song of Gambler 1971

As late as in 1973, Dev Anand sang on the same theme in Joshila. The movie was directed by Yash Chopra. In this film Dev Anand is imprisoned for a murder that he didn’t commit but it was pinned on him by the evidence of the same witness whose life and honour he had tried to save. The movie, therefore, opens with this song by Dev Anand in the prison. The combination of Sahir, SD Burman and Kishore was the most abiding combination for Dev Anand. Enjoy the song: Kiska rasta dekhe ai dil ai saudaayi, Meelon hai khaamoshi, barson hai tanhaayi…

Song of Joshila 1973

 

The Great Composer Duo of the Golden Era of Bollywood

The duo of Shanker and Jaikishan ruled the Golden Era of Indian Film Music industry with an array of compositions which were remarkable for their unusual concepts and immensely successful. The duo was considered even more important and sellable than the stars of the movies for which they wrote music- their compositions were popular even if the movie itself failed on the box office.
Their association with Lyricist Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri was a golden page in annals of Hindi film music, the songs from movies like Barsaat, Awara, Anaari, Chori Chori, Daag, Patita, Kathputli, Yahudi, Dil Ek Mandir, Dil Apna Preet Paraye, Teesri Kasam, Mera Naam Joker, Junglee, Professor, An Evening in Paris, Brahmachari, Aarzoo, Sangam, Andaz and Mera Naam Joker are still fresh in our mind.
‘Barsaat’ ((1949) was the starting point for this foursome. How they met to form the most enduring musical partnership was an accident of fate and that accident was in a way masterminded by another artist called Raj Kapoor, a man with amazing creative talent and vision. 
There were very few occasions when this two lyricist not writing for Shankar Jaikishan. Except for ‘Aarzoo’ and College Girl, the two lyricists found themselves out of S-J favour. The superb chemistry between these four was not merely because they were great artists all. It was more because they were all great friends and great companions who enjoyed each other’s company to the fullest.
Unfortunately, the seeds of dissent and doubt were sown after the release of Sangam between the duo. All the songs were hit but when ‘Binaca Geet Mala’- then a litmus test for popularity- selected Rafi’s ‘Yeh mera prem patra padhkar’  from ‘Sangam’ for the top spot over Mukesh’s ‘Dost dost na raha’ from the same film, Rafi’s song was the creation of Jaikishan- Hasrat team whereas the Mukesh-song was conceived by Shankar-Shailendra combo.
Shankar had this misunderstanding that his song was purposely put down to promote Jaikishan’s song  Due to the intervention of the two lyricists that kept the working relationship intact. This jodi was broken only in 1971 when Jaikishan died. Even after the death of Jaikishan Shankar gave music in many films as Shankar Jaikishan.
Shankar was 7 years elder to Jaikishan. He was born on 15 October 1922. He started his career with a theater group run by Satyanarayan and Hemawati, before shifting to Prithvi Theatre where he played tabla and performed some minor roles in plays. Later he started working as an assistant to the leading composer duo of Husnlal Bhagatram and nurtured the ambition of becoming an independent music director.

Song of Barsaat 1949

Song of Awara 1951

Song of Daag 1952

Song of Patita 1953

Song of Chori Chori 1956

Song of Anari 1959

Song of Dil Apna Preet Paraye 1960

Song of Dil Ek Mandir 1963

Song of Sangam 1964