The Dancing Dev Anand

In the 40s and 50s, the Hindi film hero seldom danced. On the rare occasion that he did, like Raj Kapoor in ‘Mud mud ke na dekh’ or in ‘Dil ka haal suney dilwaala’ in Shree 420, Dilip Kumar in Naya Daur. 
Dev Anand though not a good dancer tried dancing in many songs. He relied solely on his facial expressions and the inimitable way in which he moved his head to enact most of these songs. The first time we can see him dancing a few steps in the song ‘Mere Labon Pe Dekho Aaj Bhi Taraaney Hain’ (Baazi), ‘Chaahey koi Khush Ho Chaahey Gaaliyaan Hazaar De’ (Taxi Driver) or ‘Oonche Sur Mein Gaaye Ja’ (House No.44), Ladhi Aankh Se Aankh - Pocket Maar(1956), Ae Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa from Funtoosh(1956) in most of the films he danced in his own style.

In the early 60s, Dev Anand was seen in many films, singing, and dancing such as Sarhad. Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Love Marriage were a few of these. He had some surprisingly awkward moments when called upon to dance. Tasveer Teri Dil Mein from the 1961 Maya is a lovely song, but watch the scene: Anand is passable when he is just bobbing his head and clasping his hands while Mala Sinha does most of the work.

I have selected such songs in which we can see Dev Anand dancing maybe not as a perfect dancer but he had his own steps, own style.

Click to the link below 

https://youtu.be/dbXhA0iZrlw

Song of Baazi 1951

Song of Taxi Driver 1954

Song of House No.44  1955

Song of Paying Guest 1957

Song of  Baarish 1957

Song of Dushman 1957

Song of Kala Pani 1958

Song of Bombai Ka Babu 1960

Song of Sarhad 1960

Song of Sarhad 1960

Song of Manzil 1960

Song of Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja 1961

Song of Bullet 1976

Noorjehan- The First Female Singing Superstar of Hindi Films

 

Noorjehan ( 21 September 1926 – 23 December 2000  ),  was renowned as one of the greatest and most influential singers of all time, especially throughout South Asia. . American Queen of Pop Madonna once said that "I can copy every singer but not Noor Jehan".

She made her debut as a heroine in Khandan (1942) opposite Pran as the hero. The songs of Khandan (1942) composed by Ghulam Haider became instant hits and established her as the leading singer of films in India. Its success saw her immigrating to Bombay. At that time Shanta Apte was ruling the Hindi Films as a singing heroine.

Noorjehan got her first film in Mumbai as the second lead to Sharda Apte in the 1943 film Duhai, where she shared melodies with the singing star Shanta Apte. She had 2 solos in that film. After that, she gave 3 hits in a row. She became the darling of the masses. In 1945, she became the first Asian woman to sing Qawali in the film Zeenat. This film made her the Singing Superstar. In 1946 her film Anmol Ghadi was a super hit. The film was a musical hit and is still remembered for its music by Naushad, with hits like "Aawaaz De Kahaan Hai", "Jawaan Hai Mohabbat Haseen Hai Zamana" and "Mere Bachpan Ke Saathi Mujhe Bhool Na Jaana". The film also featured playback singer, Mohammed Rafi's first notable song, "Tera Khilauna Toota Balak"

In Jugnu (1947) she starred with Dilip Kumar, then a rising star. The duet 'Yahan Badla Wafa Ka Bewafai Ke Siva Kya Hai' catapulted the then struggling Mohammed Rafi, who also made a special guest appearance in the song 'Woh Apne Yaad Dilane Ko'. 

Noor Jehan's last film in India was Mirza Sahiban (1947) which starred Prithviraj Kapoor's (Father of Raj, Shashi and Shammi Kapoor, Grandfather of Rishi and Randhir Kapoor, Great-Grandfather of Karisma Kapoor) brother Trilok Kapoor. Many of the songs were hits like 'Aaja Tujhe Afsana Judaai Ka Sunaye' and the duet with G M Durrani 'Haath Seene Pe Jo Rakh Do To Qarar Aaye'.
During partition in 1947, Noor Jehan decided to migrate to Lahore in the newly created Pakistan.After the holocaust of partition as things settled down, the film industry in Pakistan picked up the pieces and made a beginning with whatever was available. Three years after settling in Pakistan, Noor Jehan starred in her first film in Pakistan, Chanwey (1951) opposite Santosh, which was also her first Punjabi film as a heroine. Shaukat Hussain and Noor Jehan directed this film together making Noor Jehan Pakistan's first lady director. The film was a runaway hit. Most of the songs rendered by Noor Jehan in the film became instant hits, not only in Pakistan but also in India, songs like 'Tere Mukhde Tey Kala Kala Til Ve' composed by Feroze Nizami.

Jehan bade farewell to film acting in 1963 after a career of 33 years (1930–1963),she  made 14 films in Pakistan, ten in Urdu and four in Punjabi as a film actress.
After quitting acting she took up playback singing. She made her debut exclusively as a playback singer in 1960 with the film Salma. Her first initial playback singing for a Pakistani film was for the 1951 film Chann Wey, for which she was the film director herself. She received many awards, including the Pride of Performance in 1965 by the Pakistani Government. She sang a large number of duets with Ahmed Rushdi, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mujeeb Aalam.
Jehan suffered from chest pains in 1986 on a tour of North America and was diagnosed with angina pectoris after which she underwent bypass surgery. In 2000, Jehan was hospitalized in Karachi and suffered a heart attack. On 23 December 2000 She died as a result of heart failure. Her funeral took place at Jamia Masjid Sultan, Karachi 

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Song from Khandan (1942) 

Song from Zeenat (1945)

Song from  Anmol Ghadi (1946) 

Song from Jugnu (1947) 

The Rare & Popular Songs of Talat Mahmood

                                                              Part 1

 Talat Mahmood began his singing career at the age of 16 in 1939, when he began singing the Ghazals of Daag, Mir, Jigar etc. on All India Radio, Lucknow. His voice had a quality distinct from all the other singers. HMV was quick to notice this and offered Talat his first disc in 1941 Sab din ek samaan nahin tha, Bun jaoon ga kya se kya main, Iska to kuch dhyan nahin tha. 

His reputation as a ghazal singer was not limited to his hometown of Lucknow, but it reached the city that proved to shape his destiny – Calcutta. He acted in 3 Bengali films before coming to Bombay in 1949. His big break came with the song Ae dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal jahan koi na ho composed by music director Anil Biswas, his mentor in Bombay, for the soundtrack of the film Arzoo (1950 film).

In this blog, I have selected a few unheard and rare songs of Talat Mahmood of the 40s

                                                Talat's first-ever recording of 1941

               TALAT MAHMOOD - Sab din ek samaan nahin tha NON FILM GHAZAL

                                                          Talat Mahmood (1944)

                              Tasveer Teri Dil Mera Behla Na Sakegi

Song of Rajlaxmi 1945

Song of Rajlaxmi 1945

A Rare Non-Film Song Talat

Bengali Song as Tapan Kimar

                Tumi Bojhonato Keno Kandi Talat Mahmood Tapan Kumar

Haay Bhalobasa · Tapan Kumar

Non Film Song

                        Kaabe Se Butkadey Se Kabhi Bazm e Jaam Se 

Song of Sampati 1949

                                   Yash Hey Amrit PUTRA WAHWAH ASA Marathi film

A Marathi Song by Talat Mahmood

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Qawwali Songs were once an Important Ingrediant for the Success of a Film

 

Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing Originally performed at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia, It became popular among the masses when these were introduced in films. Qawwali has apparently found in films since it became Talking. The earliest evidence was a Qawwali 'Allah Hu ' in the 1935 film Talash-e-Haque. Another very popular Qawwali was 'Aahen Na Bhari' from the 1945 movie 'Zeenat' sung by Noor Jehan.Phir Aah Dil Se Nikli Tapka Lahu Jigar Se composed by Naushad and sung again by Zohrabai Ambalewalli in Mela (1949) also became a craze.

During the Golden Era, Qwawali was in its peek, almost every film used to have at least one Qwwali, The success of the qawwali 'Hame to Loot Liya Milke Husn Walon Ne' from the 1958 film Al Hilal sung by the professional  Azad Qawwal, opened the gate for other Qawwals like Shakeela Bano Bhopali, , Jaani BQawwal Ismailabu Qawwal, Aziz Nazan, Nusrat Fateh Ali and Altaf Raja

Shakeela Bano Bhopali was India's first female Qawwal. She came to Bombay in the late 50s on the invitation of BR Chopra and Dilip Kumar. She was offered many films, Jagir(1959) was the first film 

Rare Qawwali of Shakeela Bano Bhopali

A Qawwali group consists of eight or nine men including a lead singer, one or two side singers, one or two harmoniums, and percussion. There is also a chorus of four or five men who repeat key verses, and who aid and back up percussion by hand-clapping.

The performers generally sit in two rows with the lead singer, side singers, and harmonium players in the front row, and the chorus and percussionists in the back row. The harmonium got preferred in Qawwalis as the earlier used sarangi needed to be retuned between songs.

There have been many changes in Bollywood Qawwali, some composers have infused it with modern and western musical instruments and with techno beats and are called Techno-qawwali.  Techno qawwalis with dance-oriented tracks are also in vogue nowadays and are called Club qawwali. The most popular Qawwali was Na Toh Karwan Ki Talash Hai was from the 1960 film Barsat Ki Raat composed by Roshan. After the popularity of this Qawwali Roshan became the Qawwali king who gave many more popular Qawwalis to Bollywood

Here are a few Bollywood Qawwali

Song of Talash-e-Haque. 1935 Audio only

Song of Zeenat. 1945

Song of Mela 1949

Song of Al Hilal  1958

https://youtu.be/5k6vC-ewQOc

Song of Sadhana (1958).

Song of Barsat Ki Ek Raat 1960

Song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand 1960

Song of Mughal-e-Azam 1960

Song of Dharamputra 1962

Song of Kala Samundar 1962

Song of Dil Hi To Hai (1963)

Song of Aaj Aur Kal,1963

Song of Mere Mehboob  (1963)

Song of Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963),

Song of Badshah 1964

Song of Fauladi Mukka 1965

https://youtu.be/Zm7vxgjrRAU

Song of Waqt  (1965)

Song of Aarzoo 1965

Song of Mere Humdam Mere Dost 1968

Song of Reshma Aur Shera 1971

Song of Dushman 1972

Song of Ameer Garib 1974

Song of Hamrahi 1974

Song of 5 Rifles 1974

Song of Dharma 1975

Song of Laila Majnu 1976

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

https://youtu.be/4dsFQFCvVGU

Song of Bunty Aur Babli 

50 Years of Mere Apne - Simple but Impactful,

 

The first film of Gulzar as a director. This movie covers the topic of unemployment, anger, the rivalry between two groups, social problems, still relevant after 50 years. A remake of the 1968 Bengali Movie 'Apanjan'.  Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha, both were new at that time, in fact, it was the first film of Vinod Khanna as a hero, it was also the first film of Danny

 The story revolves around an old lady (Meena Kumari) who is trying to make peace between two gangs. Vinod Khanna is the leader of one gang, but a very kindhearted person. The flashback story of his and his lost love Yogita Bali was the best thing in the whole movie, that turns his life upside down. Shatrughan Sinha is the leader of another gang. The movie shows lots of street wars between these gangs. Meena Kumari cares for all of them, and teaches them to stop fighting,

The character of Shyam and Chhenu so well played that you will remember after so many years. A great movie and on par with Anand. Awesome songs 'Haal chaal theek thaak hai" and one sad song "koi apna hota".

The film was an average in Box Office but was critically acclaimed If you have not seen, its a must-watch.

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Soundtrack[edit]

All lyrics are written by Gulzar; all music is composed by Salil Choudhary.

Songs

No.	Title	Playback	Length
1.	"Haal Chal Theek Thak Hai"	Kishore Kumar, Mukesh	3:26
2.	"Koi Hota Jisko Apna"	Kishore Kumar	3:27
3.	"Roz Akeli Aayi"	Lata Mangeshkar	3:20
4.	"Ganga,Ganga Ki Bhari God Mein"	Manna Dey	3:08

Song of Mere Apne 1971