Monday 30 November 2020

Bollywood Films on Farmers and their Struggle

 




The current Farmer's agitation in the capitol gave me a topic for this blog. It is unfortunate that we, living in urban areas, do not bother about the farmer's issues, so do our films. But there was a period when our filmmakers were making films on farmers and their struggle.

Recall, films like 'Do Bigha Zameen', ' Mother India' how impressively they depicted the problems of farmers and rural life. In the 50s and 60s Bollywood films reflected the nation’s conflict, difficulties and struggle of a common man in a true manner. However over the year’s Hindi cinema has changed in terms of film making, content, representation of issues and technological changes. But during the transition of modern Cinema the rural-based subjects and social issues have completely vanished.  In the era of core commercialization, no filmmaker is concerned about making cinema on rural subjects.


Kisan Kanya (1937) based on a novel by Saadat Hasan Manto and focussed on the plight of poor farmers was the first on this subject. The film was directed by Moti B. Gidwani and produced by Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Pictures. It is largely remembered by the Indian public on account of it being India's first indigenously made colour film


Aurat (1940) directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Sardar AkhtarSurendraYakubKanhaiyalal and Arun Kumar Ahuja. This film was based on the rural subject. The film's music is by Anil Biswas and dialogue is by Wajahat Mirza. Mehboob Khan later remade this film as Mother India 


Dharti Ke Lal
 (1946), the first directorial venture of the noted film director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. It was one of the first films in Indian cinema's social-realist movement. The film was about the 1943 Bengal famine and the plight of a farmer-family caught in this famine and tells the story of human devastation, and the loss of humanity during the struggle to survive.


Hindustan Hamara (1950) a forgotten film. In this film, a social worker comes to help the farmers who shows them new ways of farming A film about agriculture reforms and cooperative farming. The film had Prithviraj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Nalini Jaywant


Do Bigha Zameen (1953)  directed by Bimal Roy. Based on Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali poem "Dui Bigha Jomi", the film stars Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in lead roles. Known for its socialist theme, it is considered an important film in the early parallel cinema of India, and a trend setter. he story revolves around a farmer, Shambu Mahato (Balraj Sahni), who lives with his wife Parvati ("Paro" (Nirupa Roy)) and son Kanhaiya (Ratan Kumar) in a small village that is hit by drought. After years of drought and famine, the region finally gets rain, leading the farmers to rejoice.


Mother India (1957), 
directed by Mehboob Khan and starring NargisSunil DuttRajendra Kumar, and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film Aurat (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village woman named Radha (Nargis), who in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survive against a cunning money-lender amidst many troubles.


Heera Moti (1959), this film was based on a novel of Munshi Premchand "Do Bailon ki Jodi'.The story is of a small farmer who owns a pair of Oxen. . He lends his oxen to Roopnandan who enters them in a race and they win much to the chagrin of the Zamindar who sends his agent, Bansilal Mehta with Rs.100/- to acquire the oxen. When Razia refuses to sell, an enraged Zamindar sets the entire community against Dhuri and his family The hero was Balraj Sahini and the heroine was Nirupa Roy.


Godaan (1963) was again based on Munshi Premchand's novel. Once again based on the farmers, villages, landlords and the socio-economic deprivation . Raaj Kumar was the hero.


Upkar 1967, 
directed by Manoj Kumar. He played a village man 'Bharat', who sacrifices everything to get his brother educated. His brother Puran (Prem Chopra) goes abroad and comes back a selfish man wanting his share of the property. Bharat transfers land properties to Puran's son in order to prevent Puran from selling the land.


Dharti Kahe Pukarke
 (1969) a film directed by Dulal Guha. Starring JeetendraNandaSanjeev Kumar in the lead roles It is a story of three brothers; Kanhaiyalal, Moti and Shiv. Moti studies law supported by his brothers, while Shiv helps Kanhaiyalal in cultivating the piece of land they own. Kanhaiyalal borrows some amount from the local moneylender against this piece of land for Moti's law studies. Shiv is in love with this moneylender's daughter, Radha. Moti, after learning about the amount borrowed by his brother, decides to come back only after he has a sufficient amount to repay the loan. On the other hand, Shiv moves to the city as a driver to earn his livelihood.


Lagaan (2001) was an important film on farmers. Produced and acted by Aamir Khan and directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar. The story revolves around a small village in Central India, whose inhabitants, burdened by high taxes, and several years of drought, find themselves in an extraordinary situation as an arrogant British army officer challenges them to a game of cricket, as a wager to avoid paying the taxes they owe.


Peepli Live (2010), 
written and directed by Anusha Rizvi in her directorial debut, and produced by Aamir Khan Productions. It was a satirical comedy film that explores the topic of farmer suicides and the subsequent media and political response.


Song of Do Bigha Zameen 1953

Song of Mother India 1957

Song of Godaan 1963



Song of Upkar 1967

Song of Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke 1969

Song of Lagaan 2001













Sunday 29 November 2020

'Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aayein'- The Tune Clicked in a Restaurant

 


This immortal song from 'Naujawan' film created waves in 1951 continued to mesmerize music lovers and creators for decades. Music Director Roshan used the same tune in the song Rahein Na Rahe Hum from Mamta (1966). R D Burman used the same tune in the song 'Saagar Kinare Dil Yeh Pukare' from Ramesh Sippy's Saagar (1985).

The birth of this song is quite interesting. Sachin Dev Burman, the composer of this film made one tune which was not liked by Director Mahesh Kaul, Sachin Da made one tune after another but none of the tunes clicked to the director. Dada got irritated and moved out of that place and went for a walk at Juhu Beach. He kept humming one tune after another but was not getting satisfaction.

After walking for a bit, he decided to have a break, he went to a restaurant for a cup of tea. When he was sipping the tea, he suddenly heard a tune on a Piano,' Sa-Re-Sa-Sa-Pa'. it clicked to him, he immediately went to the Piano to see who is playing. He saw a waiter at that Restaurant was playing the Piano and keeping on repeating the same keys. 

He immediately went to his home and improvised the tune. Next day he called the director of the film to his workplace and presented the new tune. Mahesh Kaul liked and approved the song. This is how an immortal tune was created. 

The song became a great hit and remains one of Lata’s and S D Burman's career bests. This song is picturized on Nalini Jaywant.

Song of Naujawan' 1951

Over the years, many composers used the first few notes and made minor changes to them to compose many more mellifluous songs each of which was popular in its own right.

 Roshan (father of Rajesh & Rakesh Roshan) who was so inspired by the music of the song that he formally requested S D Burman’s permission to recreate the tune and use it for the initial part of his composition Tera Dil Kahaan Hai which was sung by Asha Bhosle for the movie “Chandni Chowk” in 1954 with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Song of Chandni Chowk 1954

 Roshan used it again in 1966 for the movie “Mamta”. Picturised on the beautiful Suchitra Sen and penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Rahe Na Rahe Hum had two versions. The more popular version was sung by Lata Mangeshkar
Song of Mamta 1966



Ten years later in 1964, legendary Madan Mohan used the same few notes for the initial lines of the composition Yehi Hai Tamanna Tere Dar Ke Saamne sung by Mohammed Rafi and penned by Raja Mehndi Ali Khan for the Dharmendra-starrer “Aap Ki Parchchaiyan”.
Song of Aap Ki Parchchaiyan 1964

 In 1983 R D Burman used this tune for Hame Aur Jeene Ki Chaahat with lyrics by Gulshan Bawra in the Rajesh Khanna, Raj Babbar and Rekha-starrer “Agar Tum Na Hote”. 
Song of Agar Tum Na Hote 1983

Two years later Pancham used the same tune for Saagar(1985) song
Song of Saagar  1985








Saturday 28 November 2020

Rare Funny Songs of Bollywood

 


The comedy songs are liked in every generation starting from the 30s till now. The way these songs have been sung with spunk, the hilarious lyrics and the comic timing of the characters who have sung these on the screen combined with the liveliness of the supporting cast makes these classics in their own right. There’s always some truth to parodies. These Bollywood songs are honest and funny at the same time.

There was a song in the 1940 film Punarmilan, written by Pt Anand Kumar, composed by Ramchandra Pal and sung and acted by Snehaprabha. The song ( Hans le jee bhar bhar kar Hans le) was a rage at that time.

Song of Punarmilan 1940

Song of Kaneez 1949 

Song of Muqaddar 1950 



Song of Sansar 1951 

Song from Albela 1951

Song of Chham Chhama Chham 1952 

Song of Ladki 1953

Song of Lehren 1953


Song of Bhagambhag 1956 


Song of Parivaar 1956 


Song of film Paisa Hi Paisa 1956 

Song of Mai Baap 1957 


Song of Bandi 1957


Song of Kathputli  1957

Song Shadi 1962 

Song of Purnima  1965






























Friday 27 November 2020

BAPPI LAHIRI- The Gold Man of Bollywood

 



Bappi has his own unmatched personal style. He is the perfect blend of East and West, and his wardrobe ranges from the traditional Indian kurta and sherwani to the western sweatshirts and blazers. He is fond of wearing pieces of jewellery that represent significant symbols in his life. Bappi is famous throughout India for his trademark gold ornaments and sunglasses.

Talking about his love for the yellow metal, Bappi Da said in an interview, “I have everything in gold, right from my glasses, rings to my watches and all my ornaments. Mere jaisa ornaments aaj tak koi bhi nahin pehenta hai. Main gold ko lucky manta hoon. I believe that whatever work I have done in the last 50 years and I am still doing, is because of the grace of the Goddess Lakshmi.”

Bappi Lahiri was born in Calcutta, West Bengal on 27th Nov1952 into a family with a rich tradition in classical music. He began to play the tabla at the tender age of three. Even at that tender age, Bappi showed signs of greatness as he played the tabla with the proficiency of an experienced professional.

His father, Aparesh Lahiri was a famous Bengali singer and his mother, Bansari Lahiri was a musician and a singer who was well-versed in classical music and Shyama Sangeet. His parents trained him in every aspect of music. Kishore Kumar was his maternal uncle.


Bappi as Child

Bappi as Teenager

At the age of 19, he became an independent composer in a Bengali film. His first Hindi film as a composer was 'Nanna Shikari' released in 1973 but  the film which established him in Bollywood was Tahir Husain's Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975),

He shot to fame in the 80s and 90s with foot-tapping disco numbers. He introduced Vijay Benedict and Sharon Prabhakar to the Bollywood and paved the path to fame for Alisha Chinai and Usha Uthup through his compositions.He is also known for soundtracks like WardatDisco DancerNamak HalaalDance DanceCommandoGang LeaderSailaab and Sharaabi 



Along with Biddu, Bappi popularized the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema with an Indian flavour. Most of his songs werer rendered by singers such as Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle  In 2011, he sang the song Ooo la la Ooo la lain the movie The Dirty Picture for Vishal-ShekharIn late 2016, Bappi Lahiri lent his voice to the character of Tamatoa in the Hindi-dubbed version of Disney's 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film Moana; he himself also composed and sang a song in the film 

Song of Zakhmee 1975

Song of Chalte Chalte 1976

Song of Aap Ke Khatir (1977)

Song of Suraksha 1979

Song of Pyaara Dushman (1980)

Song of Wardaat (1981)

Song of Namak Halaal (1982)

Song of Disco Dancer (1983)


ong of Sharaabi (1984)

Song of Thanedaar (1990)

Song of Dirty Picture 2011