Friday 29 January 2021

50 Years of Kati Patang

 


Kati Patang was released on 29th Jan 1951.By that time Rajesh Khanna was the Super Star of Bollywood. All of his films were making Jubilees  The Rajesh Khanna phenomenon was at its peak. This was the third picture of Shakti Samanta and Rajesh Khanna together and the second film of the trio of Shakti Samanta, Rajesh Khanna and R D Burman.

The film was tragic in nature with a non-glamorous heroine role but became hit because of its music. The film gave us evergreen hits like Yeh Shaam Mastani, Pyar Diwana Hota Hai and Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai. all sung by Kishore Kumar. One song 'Jis Gali Me Tera Ghar Na Ho Sajna' was sung by Mukesh.

The film was based on the novel by Gulshan Nanda, the 1971 film features the story of the double life of Madhavi, played by Asha Parekh, who got her first Filmfare Award of the Best Heroine for this role.

Sharmila Tagore who was a favourite heroine of Shakti Samanta did not get this role because she was pregnant at that time. Asha Parekh who had earlier worked with Samanta was the natural choice for this film.  He had cast her in his earlier film,  Pagla Kahin Ka.

Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh had already been paired in a few films like Aan Milo Sajna,  their pairing was also acceptable to the audience.  This film too was a hit and was  the sixth highest-earning Bollywood film of 1971

TrackSongSinger(s)Picturized onDuration
1"Yeh Shaam Mastani"Kishore KumarRajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh4:07
2"Pyar Deewana Hota Hai"Kishore KumarRajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh4:30
3"Mera Naam Hai Shabnam"Asha BhosleR. D. BurmanBindu3:05
4"Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai"Kishore KumarRajesh Khanna3:36
5"Jis Gali Mein Tera Ghar"MukeshRajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh3:40
6"Na Koi Umang Hai"Lata MangeshkarAsha Parekh3:07
7"Aaj Na Chodenge"Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore KumarAsha Parekh and Rajesh Khanna4:


Song of Kati Patang 1971
Song of Kati Patang 1971
Song of Kati Patang 1971
Song of Kati Patang 1971
Song of Kati Patang 1971
Song of Kati Patang 1971
Song of Kati Patang 1971













Thursday 28 January 2021

O P Nayyar- The Creator of Timeless Classics

 


OP Nayyar was among the Top 5 Composers of the Golden Era. Some of the great musical films were Aar Paar(1954), Mr & Mrs 55(1955) ,  CID(1956), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Howrah Bridge (1958), Jaali Note (1960), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Mere Sanam (1965), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayegi (1966), Kismat (1968) and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1973)

His songs had a unique freshness, a rare robust beat, a flowing style similar to what you feel when you dip your hand in a running stream, blending Punjabi folk music with a rare Western-style orchestration, never heard before or since. His variety of rhythm patterns baffles the film industry, even today.

 He was not only a great Composer but also singer-songwriter, music producer, and musician. He wrote, "Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanonkaa" (featuring Dilip Kumar and Ajit) for Naya Daur (1957). 
 He won the 1958 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director(for Naya Daur). Nayyar worked extensively with singers Geeta DuttAsha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi later Mahendra Kapoor gave us many memorable songs.

O. P. Nayyar (16 January 1926 – 28 January 2007  ) started his career as a movie music composer by composing the background score for the movies, Kaneez (1949) and made debut as an independent composer from Aasmaan (1952). He became famous with the music of Aar Paar released in 1954 and CID released in 1956. All the songs of CID were super hit especially "Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar" and "Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan"

In the late 1960s, Nayyar fell out with his favourite Mohammad Rafi but managed to conjure memorable songs even with Mukesh (Chal akela), Mahendra Kapoor (Lakhon hai yahan dilwale) and Kishore Kumar (Tu auron ki kyon ho gayee).

A major blow was Nayyar's split with Asha Bhosle after the pair had reached a crescendo with the Filmfare Award  winning Chein se humko kabhie in Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye (1974). Nayyar tried recreating the magic with new singers but musical trends had bypassed him by then He worked till the 1990s but his music was not appealing to the young generation.
On the later stage of his life, he was living with his friend. He left his family members even asked none of his family to be present on his funeral. He died on 28 January 2007.

Song of Aar Paar 1954

Song of Mr & Mrs 55  1955



Song of CID 1956


Song from Naya Daur 1957

Song of Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957)



Song from Howrah Bridge (1958)

Song from Phagun (1958)

Song of Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963)



Song from Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)

Song of Mere Sanam (1965)

Song of Baharen Phir Bhi Ayengi (1966)
















Tuesday 26 January 2021

Conversation Songs of Dev Anand

 




Dev Anand had the image of the evergreen, romantic hero. There was a time when his flirtatious, boyish charm and songs set to the mood of the nation. His eyes and Body language brought life to the songs he sang on screen are still fresh on our mind.

In this blog, I have selected a few conversational songs of Dev Anand starting from his first hit film Ziddi(1948), 'Yeh Kaun Aaya Re' sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, picturized on him and Kamini Kaushal.

Song of Ziddi 1946

The next song in my list is from the 1951 film 'Sanam' starring Dev Anand and Suraiya
Song of Sanam 1951

Another hit conversation song is from the 1952 film 'Jaal', this is a duet of Kishore with Geeta Dutt, picturized on Dev and Geeta Bali
Song of Jaal 1952

This song is from 1956 film 'Funtoosh', sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle
Song of Funtoosh 1956

The next two songs are from Nau Do Gyarah 1957, picturized on Dev and Kalpna Kartik
Song of Nau Do Gyarah 1957

Song of Nau Do Gyarah 1957

Song of Paying Guest 1957

Song Kala Pani 1958

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Song of Teen Deviyan 1965

Song of Mahal 1969

Song of Mahal 1969



Song of Johny Mera Naam 1970

Song of Ameer Garib 1974

Song of Jaaneman 1976
































Saturday 23 January 2021

Streets Named after Bollywood Celebrities

 


There was a news that a road in Andrews Ganj in south Delhi will soon be named after the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput . Naming the streets after Bollywood Celebrities is not new, this is being done from decades. A  few years back a Flyover in Mumbai was named after actress Sridevi.

Very recently the Pakistan Govt is thinking of acquiring the ancestral houses of Bollywood heroes Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor to be made as museums. The museum will feature biographies, photographs and their affiliation with Peshawar, as well as other records of the two artists and their families.



 A street in Pakistan, where the poet and lyricist Gulzar lived with his family, was renamed ‘Gulzar Street’.

 Mumbai is the city where Bollywood is situated, many streets or crossings are named after many Bollywood celebrities. There is a crossing at Napean Sea Road named after the great singer Mukesh,



Mohammed Rafi Chowk, SV Road, Bandra, Mumbai Named after the late singer, this chowk is near his bungalow Rafi Mansion, at Bandra.

Another chowk named after music director Kalyanji as Kalyanji Virji Shah chowk, Pedder Road, Mumbai has a granite plaque embellished with musical notes and piano keys to his name.


A chowk named after music director R D Burman in Santacruz (West), Mumbai In 2009, 15 years post the demise of the music composer, this chowk was built near the Burman residence.

Sachin Dev Burman Chowk at the junction of Khar Pali Road (PD Hinduja Marg) and 14th Road in Khar (W). The music maestro’s bungalow was located a few blocks away at Linking Road.

Ismail Merchant Chowk, Byculla, Mumbai With an installation of ink pen, this chowk has been named after Indian born writer, filmmaker Ismail Merchant

 A street in Bandra was renamed as Nargis Dutt Road in her memory at  Pali Hill, Bandra (West), Mumbai After the demise of the actress. Sunil Dutt mentioned in his will that he did not want anyone to dedicate any building, road or award in his name.

In May 2008, Carter Road was renamed as Sangeet Samrat Naushad Ali Marg, in the memory of Naushad Ali, the veteran music director from the Hindi film industry. 

Joy Mukerji Marg, Yari Road, Versova, Mumbai was named after one of the popular Heroes of the sixties.  Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Banu inaugurated the street, rechristened ‘Joy Mukerji Lane’.

 As a gesture to honour Manoj Kumar, the Pimpalwadi Road leading to Shirdi was renamed to Manojkumar Goswami road in 2006.

A statue of Bollywood's original superstar Rajesh Khanna was unveiled in Carter Road where he lived, Dimple Kapadia wanted this road to be renamed after him.   

A road in Mathura was named after the famous lyricist Shailendra.



The iconic actor-filmmaker has a street named after him in Brampton, Canada. It is called the ‘Raj Kapoor Crescent’.



Similarly, in a street in Markham, Ontario, Canada, was named after the music composer A R Rahman and called the ‘Allah-Rakha Rahman St’.



A garden renamed in the memory of Dev Anand in Pune, called  Sadabhaar Dev Anand Udyan. Similarly, a park at Khar in Mumbai which was inaugurated by Rajesh Khanna in the 70s was renamed  'Rajesh Khanna Garden'

We all know that Kishore Kumar spent his childhood in Khandwa MP, a Smarak in his name was made there after his death.
There was a place at  Bandra‘s Bandstand  where existed UTV Walk of stars The statue of Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor were placed. 





One of the picturesque valleys in Sikkim has a waterfall named Amitabh Bachchan falls and the reason believed to be is the height of the falls. Big B even has a temple in Kolkata christened after him.



A lake in Switzerland called the 'Chopra Lake' named after Yash Chopra. Not only this but also a bronze statue, a special train, and a deluxe suite have been named in honour of the man who gave Bollywood the lush greens and snowy mountains of Switzerland.