Popular Songs in Hindi Cinema about the Ganga.

 

The Ganga (Ganges) flows for a distance of 2,525 km, all the way from the Himalayas, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the holiest river for the people of India.  Hindi cinema has embraced it wholeheartedly, Many film titles and songs have been written on this river.

Raj Kapoor had a great fascination for Ganga, he made two films with Ganga in the title Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai(1960) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili(1985) and recall the song 'Bol Radha Bol' from the 1964 film Sangam. Since the beginning of sound cinema, many songs have been written praising Ganga by almost all lyricists. The first song on Ganga as per my research was written by  Pt. Niranjan Sharma ‘Ajit’, for the 1939 film 'Sach Hai'.

Song of Sach Hai 1939

Gori Mose Ganga Ke Paar Milna

Song of Basant 1942

Mirza Ghalib, the great 19th-century poet, also wrote in praise of Ganga and Banaras when he visited Varanasi.  It all comes out in ‘Chiragh-e-Dair’ (Temple Lamp), a masnavi in Persian which Ghalib wrote on Banaras. Shakeel Badayuni wrote a song in the 1954 film Mirza Ghalib inspired by Ghalib

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Shakeel Badayuni also wrote about Ganga in 1952 film  Baiju Bawra 

Song of  Baiju Bawra 1952

Song of Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai(1960)

This song was written by Gulzar for Kabuliwala

Song of Kabuliwala 1961

                      Machalti huyi hawaa mein chham chham

Song of Ganga Ki Lehren1964

Song of Sangam, 1964

Prem Ki Ganga Bahate Chalo

Song of Sant Gyaneshwar 1964

           Ganga mayya mein jabtak ke paani rahe

Song of Suhaagraat (1968)

                Ganga meri maan kaa naam baap ka naam Himalaya

Song of Tumse Achha Kaun Hai 1969

Song of Ganga Tera Paani Amrit 1971

Song of Ganga Ki Saugandh 1978

Song of Don 1978

DAVID- The 'John Chacha' of Bollywood

 

David Abraham Cheulkar (21 June1908– 02 January 1982), popularly known as David, was a character actor of Bollywood. His real birth date is not available on Wikipedia and other websites but I got this date from a photograph of his grave. He was a well-educated person. He was a graduate in 1930 and did LLB during that period. 

He was interested in acting, he made his debut in the 1937 film Zambo as a character artist. In this film, he played the role of a clean-shaven professor. Since then he always remained clean-shaven. He appeared in many films in the early 40s. He got fame as 'John Chacha' from the 1854 film 'Boot Polish'.for which he was awarded the 1955 Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

 In a career spanning four decades, he played mostly character roles, starting with the 1941 film Naya Sansar, and went on to act in over 110 films, including memorable films such as Gol Maal (1979), Baton Baton Mein (1979),Chupke Chupke (1975),Satyakam(1969), Shehar Aur Sapna(1963), and Boot Polish (1954), 

In his prime, in the period 1959-1975, David was one of the best and the well-known anchors, compere and the host of the prominent award shows and other functions. In one of the speeches Jawaharlal Nehru, the prime minister, told any of the events will surely be incomplete without David’s speech.

He died on 02 January 1982 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada of a heart attack at the age of 73..He is buried in the Beth Jacob synagogue cemetery. His headstone reads: Here's a man who smiled through his tears and laughed in the midst of a sigh. He mingled his youth with advancing years and was happy to live or die.

Songs of David

Song of Boot Polish 1954

Song of Boot Polish 1954

Song of Pyar Mohabbat 1966

Clever Wordplay in Bollywood Songs

 

Hindi film songs have been an integral part of Hindi films. A song is appreciated or become immortal not only by its tune but also by its orchestration, vocals, audiovisual aspect and its lyrics. Flashy, peppy songs may become an instant hit, but do not have shelf value.

Lyrics of a song play a major role in a song to become immortal. Unfortunately, the songs of this generation lack the lyrical value. Today most of us do not know the lyricist of the currently most popular song. We may not be interested to know the name of the writer of the song. There was a time when the words of the songs were so beautiful that you would like to know the writer of the song.

Clever wordplay has become a thing of past, Almost almost all the lyricist of the Golden Era played with words, I have selected a few of these songs in this blog.

Recall the song 'Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin Iss Ambar Ke Neeche/Aage Hai Qatil Mera Aur Mein Peechhe Peechhe'. Majrooh Sultanpuri played on the word Qatil. Qatil signifying here the sweetheart to whom he can lay down his life.

Hasrat Jaipuri wrote these lines for the song from 'Rajkumar'(1964),' Tumne Kisi Ki Jaan Ko Jaate Hue Dekha Hai/ Woh Dekho Mujh Se Rooth Kar Meri Jaan Ja Rahi Hai'.The play on Jaan as both 'Beloved' and 'Life'. was unique.

Another example is 'Ke Jaan Chali Jaye, Jiya Nahin Jaye/ Jiya Jaye Toh Phir Jiya Nahin Jaye' here Anand Bakshi play Jiya as heart and life. This he wrote for the 1969 film Anjaana.

There is another song from the film 'Saudagar'(1973), ' Sajna Hai Mujhe Sajna Ke Liye' This song was written by Ravindra Jain, here Sajna means to get 'make up' and her beloved.

Song of Teesri Manzil 1967

Song of Rajkumar 1964

Song of Anjaana 1969

Song of Saudagar 1973

Song of Teen Deviyan 1966

Song of Himalya Ki God Mein 1965

Bollywood Songs on Money

 

Yesterday the annual budget for the country was presented in the Parliament. this inspired me to write a blog on how the Hindi cinema’s lyricists see the power of money and its importance. P L Santoshi in the 1950 film 'Sargam' wrote ' Baap Bada Na Bhaiya, Sabse Bada Rupaiya' which 25 years later Mehmood  sang the same Mukhda in the 1976 film 'Sab Se Bada Rupaiya'

In 1951 film 'Hamari Shaan', the lyricist Anjum Jaipuri wrote' Damdi Damdi Paisa Paisa Jod Mar Jaate Hain Kanjooson Ka Maal Aakhir Mein Doctor Hi Khate Hain'. In 1957 the lyricist Rajendra Krishan wrote 'Pehle Paisa Phir Bhagwan' in 'Miss Marry' In 1960 film Kala Bazar lyricist Shailendra writes 'Teri Dhum Har Kahin, Tujh Sa Yaar Koi Nahin' picturized on Dev Anand.

Here are a few songs from Hindi films that speak of money and its various hues since the 40s.

Song of Jailer 1938

Song of Sargam 1950

Song of Hamari Shaan 1951

Song of Laadla 1954

Song of Chaar Minar1956

Song of Miss Mary 1957

Song of Chalti Ka naam Gaadi 1958

Song of Kala Bazar 1960

Song of Dus Lakh 1966

Song of Dushman  1971

Song of Bidai  1974

Song of Sab Se Bada Rupaiya 1976

Song of Chhaila Babu 1977

Song of Karz 1980

Song of Apna Sapna Money Money (2006)

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.

Javed Akhtar- Guru Dutt was his Inspiration

 

Javed Akhtar (born on 17th Jan 1945) arrived in Mumbai on 4 October 1964 to become a filmmaker. His dream was to make a film with Guru Dutt as Director with Akhtar Ul Imaan as the writer, who wrote films like Kanoon(1960), Dharamputra(1961), Waqt(1965) and many more.

His dream of meeting Guru Dutt and working with him shattered only in 6 days of his arriving in Bombay. His idol Guru Dutt committed suicide on 10th Oct 1964. So his dream could not be fulfilled working as his assistant and learn filmmaking. In a TV show, he said that Jaal(1951), the second film of Guru Dutt was his inspiration, even the character of the angry young man in his films was inspired by this film.

He was born as Jadoo Akhtar in Gwalior, (Madhya Pradesh) to Jan Nisar Akhtar, a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and singer Safia Akhtar, a teacher and writer. Akhtar's early years were spent in Lucknow, Aligarh and Mumbai, mostly with relatives. He was a gifted debater in college, he won the Rotary Club Prize frequently.

Poetry was in his genes but he didn't want to be a poet. He even didn't want to be a writer but circumstances made him scriptwriter. Within six days of his arrival, he had to leave his father's home. He had 27 paise in his pockets. He had no certainty of either food or shelter.

To start earning money, he started doing an odd job as a clapper boy with Kamal Amrohi in a salary of Rs 50 per month. He had a struggle of 5 years. During his struggle, he even Ghost wrote many stories and dialogues for established writers.

. He got a job as a scriptwriter on Yakeen(1969) which flopped. Akhtar then joined with his friend Salim Khan to develop the story for Adhikar(1971). Their first film as a scriptwriter was Andaz(1971) followed by Haathi Mere Saathi and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). After that he along with Salim became the topmost scriptwriter of Bollywood,

They have worked together in 24 films including two Kannada films – Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja. Of the 24 films they wrote, 20 were hits.
Javed is a Urdu poet before writing songs for films he was writing poetry.It was Yash Chopra who insiisted him to write songs for his film Silsila(1981). After that he gave us many memorable songs He won 5 National Awards for his songs and also 5 Filmfare Awards for lyrics. In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second-highest literary honour, for his poetry collection Lava.
He was also nominated a Rajya Sabha MP.from Nov 2009 to Nov 2015.
He married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both film directors and actors. The father-and-son duo has worked together in films such as Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Rock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with Zoya. He divorced Irani and later married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of eminent Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi.
Some of his Award-Winning Songs

Song from 1942: A Love Story (1994)

Song from  Papa Kehte Hai 1996

Song from Border 1997

Song from Refugee 2000

Song from Lagaan 2001