Remembering Ghulam Haider on his Death anniversary

Ghulam Haider the Great Composer is remembered the Music Director who gave this world the Bharat Ratna LATA MANGESHKAR. He also introduced Sudha Malhotra to the Hindi films. Ghulam Haider also introduced the Punjabi folk music and instruments like Dholak in the film music. Today he is no more, but his music inspired the later Punjabi music directors to take music career confidently. His work inspired many Punjabi music directors like Hansraj Behl, Husnlal Bhagatram, Shyam Sunder and Feroz Nizami.
His first big hit song came with Khazanchi in 1941, which caused a revolution in the music industry.The music of the film Khazanchi (1941), in particular, the song Sawan Ke Nazare Hain sung by Shamshad Begum and himself caused a revolution in music composing. Khandan (1942), the first film of Noor Jehan as lead actress, was also a big hit and established him as a top film composer. 
Ghulam Haider was born in 1908 in Narowal now in Pakistan.Being curious about music he started learning music from Babu Ganesh Lal. His love for music made him leave his career as a dentist.he got a job with Alfred Theatrical Company and Alexander Theatrical Company as a piano player in Calcutta,He got his first break with D.M. Pancholi's Punjabi film, Gul-E-Bakavali (1939) starring Noor Jehan.^[1][2] This was followed by film Yamla Jat (1940).
Haider moved to Bombay and composed music for many films including Humayun (1945) and Majboor (1948 film), the first major break for Lata Mangeshkar in Hindi films.Shaheed (1948) and Kaneez (1949 film) are his other big hits. Shamshad Begum had sung many of the popular compositions of Haider. Along with music composing
After independence, he returned to Lahore and his first Pakistani film was Shahida (film) (1949). He composed music for many other Pakistani films like Beqarar (1950), Akeli (1951) and Bheegi Palken (1952) but the films flopped. He died just a few days after the release of film Gulnar (1953)

Song from Khazanchi 1941

Song from Khandan (1942)

Song from Khandan (1942)

Song from Humayun 1945

Song from Shaheed 1948

Song from  Majboor (1948)

Song from Gulnar 1953 

Noor Jehan-The Malika-e-Tarannum

Remembering Noor Jehan today on her 92nd Birth Anniversary in my this Blog I bring some memorable moments of her life. She was renowned as one of the greatest and most influential singers of all time especially throughout South Asia and was given the honorific title of Malika-e-Tarannum (the queen of melody) in Pakistan.

Pran and Noorjehan

Noor Jehan was first cast as a heroine in Khandan (1942) opposite Pran as the hero.The songs of Khandan (1942) compsed by Ghulam Haider became instant hits and established her as the leading singer of films in India. Its success saw her immigrating to Bombay where she shared melodies with the singing star Shanta Apte in Duhai (1943). After that she gave 3 hits in a row.She became the darling of the masses.

The year 1945 was a turning point for Noor Jehan. The year brought Noor Jehan her first superhit in Bombay, Zeenat (1945). It was her inimitable rendition of "Bulbulo Mat Ro Yahan" that gained her the title Malka-e-Tarranum, Queen of Melody. In Master Vinayak's Badi Maa (1945) she played lead with "Baby Lata Mangeshkar" and "Baby Asha Mangeshkar" in supporting roles.
In 1946 Noor Jehan acted in the enduring classic Anmol Ghadi (1946) The superhit songs like 'Awaz De Kahan Hai', 'Jawan Hai Mohabbat', 'Mere Bachpan Ke Saathi', 'Aaja Meri Barbad Mohabbat' and 'Kya Mil Gaya Bhagwan' composed by Naushad to make her the undisputed queen of films.

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.

Noor Jehan's second film in Pakistan was Dupetta (1952) which turned out to be an even bigger success than Chanwey (1951). Such was the popularity of the musical score that no song based programme on Radio Pakistan, All India Radio or the newly introduced Hindi Service of Radio Ceylon, seemed complete without one or two of the film's numbers, which included songs such as 'Chandni Raatein', 'Tum Zindagi Ko Gham Ka' and 'Sanwariya Tohe Koi Pukare'. Dupetta (1952) was also actress Yasmin's first Pakistani movie. Yasmin later became Shaukat Hussain Rizvi's second wife.
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 hospitalised 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 

Song from Khandan (1942) 

Song from Zeenat (1945)

Song from  Anmol Ghadi (1946) 

Song from  Anmol Ghadi (1946) 

Song from  Anmol Ghadi (1946) 

Song from Jugnu (1947) 

Song from Mirza Sahiban (1947)

Song from Mirza Sahiban (1947)

A Tribute to JOHNY WALKER-The man who brought smiles to many faces in the Golden Era of Bollywood

Today on the 14th Death Anniversary of the Star comedian Johny Walker I pay my Tribute to him with the 15 Rare songs picturised on him.Johnny Walker was a man of many talents. He could play all kinds of roles but people wanted to watch him as a funny man always.His real name was Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi. He worked as an extra in films on Sundays and was spotted by the great Balraj Sahni entertaining the crowd actors Guru Dutt gave him a break with Baazi in 1950 and changed his name to Johny Walker,a popular brand of whiskey.It was Navketan and Guru Dutt who gave him roles, His Aye dil hain mushkil jeena yahan picturised on Johnny Walker became a rage and distributors insisted that a song be picturised on him in every film.

Song from Taxi Driver 1954

Song from Chandan (1958)

Song from Khota Paisa (1958)

Song from  Marine Drive 1955

Song from  Railway Platform 1955

Song from  Naya Andaz 1956

Song from Choo Mantar  1956

Song from Johnny Walker  1957

Song from  Mr. X 1957 Audio only

Song from Gateway of India 1957

Song from Amar Deep 1958

Song from Mr. Qartoon M.A. 1958

Song from Paigham. 1959

Song from Ek Phool Chaar Kaante. 1960

Song from Ghar Basake Dekho 1963

Multiple Version Songs in Bollywood (Part 2)

In this Blog I am taking up the songs that have been used either in different films, or has other version.This practice is being done from the start of hindi cinema till date.Yesterday on (Part 1) I included new songs.In this blog (Part 2) I am taking the songs which were repeated in the black & white Era.The first song in my list is from the film Pakeezah (1971).Viewers will be surprised to find some of the hit versions those were tried in earlier films.

Inhin logon ne le lina dupatta mora
 Most of us are familiar with this song from Pakeeza,composed by Ghulam Mohammad and rendered by Lata Mangeshkar .The original  version was sung by Shamshad Begum fromHimmat (1941), lyrics Aziz Kashmiri, music Pt. Govind Ram.

INHEN LOGO NE LE LENA DUPTTA MORA- FILM -HIMMAT-1941 SHAMSHAD BEGUM

INHEN LOGO NE LE LENA DUPTTA MORA- FILM -Pakeeza 1971

Jhumka gira re

We all know about this hit song from Mera Saya (1966) sung by Asha Bhonsle,music by Madan Mohan,The original version was sung by Shamshad Begum from Dekhoji (1947)), lyrics Wali Saheb, music Tufal Farooqi

Jhumka gira re by Shamshad Begum from Dekhoji (1947))

Jhumka gira re from Mera Saya 1966

Ek chatur naar kar kar shringar

We all have heard this song from Padosan sung by Kishore Kumar, Manna De and Mehmood,the original version was sung by Ashok Kumar in Jhoola (1941)

Ek chatur naar kar kar shringar from Joola 1941

Ek chatur naar kar kar shringar from Padosan 1968

Dheere se jaan khatiyan mein

Remember this Kishore Kumar hit song acted by Dev anand in Chhupa Rustam,the original hindi version was S D Burman's Dheere Se Jaana Bagiyan Mei which also has a bengali version.

Dheere Se Jaana Bagiyan Mein - S. D. Burman

Song from Chhupa Rustam 1973

Jaane Kya Tune Kahi from Pyaasa 1957

S D Burman was famous for making hindi songs from Folk tunes or Bengali versions of his music,this video has both versions

KOI HUMDUM NA RAHA, KOI SAHARA NA RAHA

This song originally sung by Ashok Kumar  for the film JEEVAN NAIYA (1931).The film was produced by Himanshu Rai for his production house Bombay Talkies. Much later in 60s Kishore Kumar sang this song in his film Jhumroo,Watc the video below with an interesting story by Ashok Kumar

 

Song from JEEVAN NAIYA (1931)

Song from Jhumroo 1961

Piya milan ko jana

The original version sung by Lata Mangeshkar from Malhar (1951), lyrics traditional, music Roshan.  Few words of the mukhda of the earlier version and come up with one of the very famous Female-Female Duet  in Barsat Ki Raat (1960),sung by Suman Kalyanpur and Kamal Barot

Song from Malhar (1951)

Song from Barsat Ki Raat (1960)

Phool gendava na maaro

This original version was sung by Asha Bhonsle in  Funtoosh (1956), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi, music S D Burman.Later on in Dooj Ka Chand (1964) – Manna Dey sang this song which is still in our hearts

Song from Funtoosh (1956)

Phool Gendwa Na Maaro  from Dooj Ka Chand (1964)

Nigahen Milane Ko Ji Chahata hai

Remember the famous Qawwali from Dil Hi To Hai sung by Asha Bhonsle,The same Mukhda was used in a film Parai Aag sung by Mohammad Rafi a Rare song

Nigahen Milane Ko Ji Chahata hai-from Parai Aag (1948)

Song from Dil Hi To Hai 1963

10 Rare & Forgotten Songs of JOHNY WALKER

In an era when star billing in song picturisations was reservedonly  for the hero and heroine, Johnny Walker had a special song in every film. The popular Sar Jo Tera Chakraye from Pyaasa, Yeh hai Bombay Meri Jaan from C I D .and many songs were attraction of the films produced in 50s and 60s.I am posting those songs which were hit but now forgotten.These are rarely seen & listened.

                                       Main Hoon Mister Johny

Song from Mai Baap 1957

Suno Suno Miss Chatterjee

Song from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)

Badla Sara Zamana

Song from Paigham (1959)

Jungle Mai Mor Naachaa

Song from  Madhumati 1958

                                              Bach Ke Balam

Song from  Johny Walker 1957

Maine Kahan Tha Aana Sunday Ko

Song from Ustadon Ke Ustad 1963

Ek musafir ko duniya mein kya chahiye

Song from Door ki awaaz.1964

FOTO KHINCHA LE BABU

Song from PEHLI RAAT ( 1959)

Dekhta Chala Gaya Mein

Song from GATEWAY OF INDIA 1957

Ek Do Teen Chaar 

Romantic Songs of DEV ANAND-The First Choclate Hero of Bollywood (PART 1)

Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand; they who ruled the Indian Cinema in the Golden Era of 50s & 60s.There was no doubt that Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand were all very handsome, good-looking men but Dev Anand  was the Choclate Hero. Dev Anand fitted the bill of the romantic hero to perfection So he was the first romantic hero of Indian cinema.He epitomized Romance in Silver Screen. films like Solvaa Saal, Asli Nakli, Maaya, Paying Guest,Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai and Tere Ghar Ke Saamne gave ample proof of his hold over that genre. His mischievous smile, his twinkling eyes, his puff of hair –  how could you not love him?
 He brought alive the voices of Rafi and Kishore on screen. He probably got their best songs and he did great justice to them.According to Lata Mangeshkar, "Dev saab's songs had a haunting appeal, and they strike an instant chord with listeners.
          Here I am posting some of his Immortal Romantic songs of 50s

Song from Jaal (1952)

Song from Patita (1953)

Song from Munimji (1955)

Song from C. I. D. (1956)

Song from Paying Guest  (1957)

Song from Nau Do Gyarah (1957)

Song from Solva Saal (1958)

Song from Amar Deep (1958)

Song from Kala Pani (1958)

Song from Love Marriage (1959)

Remembering IFTEKHAR on his 97th Birth Anniversary

For cinema lovers this name is synonymous with Police Officer, a role he often played on the silver screen. In fact the movie “Ittefaaq” changed his life completely. The cop’s uniform suited his personality so well, that he instantly became a very busy man. He soon bought his own flat in Khar. 

He was born on 26^th February 1922 in Jalandhar and brought up in Kanpur. After completing his matriculation he did a diploma course in painting from Lucknow College Of Arts. 
Iftekhar’s debut film was 1944 release “Taqraar” which was made under the banner of “Art Films-Kolkata”. Heroine of this film was that time star actress Jamuna.
Iftekhar acted in over 400 films in a career that spanned from the 1940s through to the early 1990s.He  had been a lead actor in his youth during the Black & White era of Bollywood in the 1940s and 1950s.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Iftekhar graduated to playing uncle, father, and what came to be his speciality: police inspector roles, doctor or senior advocate. Generally he played 'sympathetic' characters but, on occasion, he played the heavy. One of his most memorable roles as a heavy was as Amitabh Bachchan's corrupt industrialist mentor in Yash Chopra's classic Deewaar (1975).

Besides Deewaar and Zanjeer Iftekar had character roles in many of the classics of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Bollywood cinema: Bimal Roy's Bandini, Raj Kapoor's Sangam, Manoj Kumar's Shaheed, Teesri Manzil, Teesri Kasam, Johny Mera Naam, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Don, The Gambler and Sholay to name but a few.
70s and 80s were busiest days for Iftekhar During this period he acted in hundreds of movies like “Sharmili”, “Mehboob Ki Mehndi”, “Gambler”, “Kal Aaj Aur Kal”, “Hare Rama Hare Krishna”, “Jawani Deewani”, “Achanak”, “Zanjeer”, “Majboor”, “Deewar”, “Dharmatma”, “Sholey”, “Kabhi Kabhi”, “Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Mann Bhaaye”, “Don”, “Trishool”, “Noorie”, “Kaala Patthar”, “Karz”, “Dostana”, “Rocky”, “Saath Saath”, “Rajpoot”, “Sadma”, “Inqalaab”, “Jageer”, “Tawaif”, “Angaare” and “Awaam”, “Bekhudi” (1992) and “Kaala Coat” (1993) are among the last films.

Iftekhar with his wife

Iftekhar married Hannah Joseph, a Jewish girl from Calcutta,he had 2 daughters.His elder daughter, Salma was born in 1946 and the younger one, Sayeeda, was born 1946.Sadly his younger daughter died in 1995 which completely broken him and he died  on 1st March 1995, a few days after his younger daughter's passing away.

Song(Audio) from Ghar 1945

Song from Rajlaxmi 1945 Audio only 

Song from Aisa Kyon 1947