Showing posts with label baazi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baazi. Show all posts

Tuesday 21 July 2020

The Story Behind the Song'Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le'


This super hit song from the Navketan's Baazi(1951) was written by Sahir Ludhianvi was a Ghazal to be picturized as per the situation but Dada Burman felt that in this situation Ghazal will not suit so he effortlessly turned it into a club song and changed the situation. 
This song was sung by Geeta Roy(Dutt) You would be surprised to note that Guru Dutt who was the director of the film fell in love with Geeta Roy during the recording of this song.
The mahurat of Baazi took place in 1950, the mahurat shot was taken on the sequence of this song. Everybody present there appreciated the song and its picturization. When the film was released, it became a super-duper hit, this song became so popular that audiences came repeatedly to watch just this song. 
This was the first shot of the career as a director for Guru Dutt obviously wanted to use his skills as a choreographer, learned at no less an institution than Uday Shankar’ for the mahurat shot. It was a delicately balanced scene. A long shot on the gangster’s moll, who was to seduce the hero. Yet she was obviously half in love with the debonair, dashingly handsome young man, and even as she sang to him to lure him along, she wished to warn him of the dangers lurking around.
An NRI musician Sadanand Warrier says that it was surprising that Dada who had no affection and knowledge of western music could use chromatic notes in the interlude of the song. Even the 'Hey Hey Hey Hey' is essentially chromatic movement.
In an interview, Dada Burman said that he deliberately used the phrase 'Hey Hey Hey Hey' to capture the feelings of being truly liberated as portrayed by the young woman. This song became a rage, it is said the people liked this song so much that cine-goers used to see the movie only for this song, many would walk out after the song ends.
S D Burman once said in Filmfare that.once he was fishing in Calcutta and was not able to catch a single fish, he set patiently for the whole day but couldn't catch any. Thoroughly disappointedly he was calling it a bad day, suddenly a boy of 10 years jumped into the pond and started singing his this Baazi song not knowing the composer of the song sitting there. That made his day It was the biggest catch of his life.
Song of Baazi 1951



Thursday 15 November 2018

Baazi- The Film that was a trendsetter and gave Bollywood many Legends


There are some films which are iconic, Navketan's Baazi released in 1951 is also such film which gave the Hindi Film Industry many legends. The film is notable for two reasons: first, being the directorial debut of Guru Dutt and second, it was the film which inspired many urban crime thrillers in the fifties. This was the second film of Dev Anand's production house Navketan Films, and as per a commitment was given by Dev Anand to Guru Dutt in their days of struggle, the movie was directed by Guru Dutt.

The movie begins with hands being shown gambling, just in case if we viewers missed the point. A look at the credits makes you feel that the ‘who is who’ of the remaining years of the 50s are represented there. First of all this film gave us the Star Dev Anand who in the years to come to become the Style Icon of Bollywood. The second person to become Legendary Director of Bollywood was Guru Dutt.the third legend in making was S D Burman the great composer of Golden Era of Bollywood. Next legendary personality was Kalpna Kartik who later married Dev Anand made her debut with this film.
Kalpana Kartik in Baazi


S D Burman


 Balraj Sahni, who had just returned after a stint with the BBC was entrusted with the story, screenplay and dialogues. Zohra Sehgal was brought in to choreograph the dance sequences. A young poet named Sahir Ludhianvi was given a chance to pen lyrics for the songs who later became a Legendary Lyricist and poet. 
Sahir

Raj Khosla served as an assistant director who became a legendary Director. A bus conductor who Sahni had seen entertaining passengers was called in for a cameo, to play a drunkard, and while the film credits him by his real name Badruddin, after Baazi, the world knew him as Johnny Walker.

The other Legendary personalities were the Cinematographers V Ratra and his assistant V K Murthy who gave memorable cinematography of all Guru Dutt’s films, (including PyaasaSahib Bibi aur Ghulamand Kagaz ke Phool) has earned Murthy a place in the history of Hindi cinema. He was awarded a ‘lifetime achievement award’ by the Indian International Film Academy in 2008. This came as belated recognition by the Bombay film industry for the contribution made to its evolution by technicians such as V.K. Murthy.  
V K Murthy

 In his autobiography Romancing with Life, Devsaab reminisces: “Baazi gave me an image that stayed in the minds of people, and made a genuine star out of me. For the first time, I felt and saw what stardom was in terms of adulation and fan following. I became a phenomenon after the release of Baazi.”
Songs of Baazi 1951













Wednesday 8 August 2018

Baazi 1951 Songs Were Banned by All India Radio



You would be surprised to note that the popular songs like Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le and many more songs were not allowed to air from All India Radio. It was in 1952 that the minister of information and broadcasting (I&B) of newly independent India, B.V. Keskar, decided that All India Radio (AIR)—the information and entertainment lifeline of the nation—would not air film songs as they were degenerate and far too “Westernized”. He believed they would hinder the cultural growth of a young nation on the cusp of a bright future. 
Mr Keskar who was a staunch supporter of Indian Classical music. To his mind, Indian film songs were straying from their responsibility of instilling national pride in people.
The influence of western music and instruments would keep the Indians away from their culture. 
In an article in The Hindu (19 July 1953), Keskar argued that the country’s appreciation for classical music had “fallen” and was “on the point of extinction” particularly in north India.
To begin with, he mandated that all songs aired on AIR would be screened, he imposed “a quota of 10 percent of all program time”. In addition, Keskar ensured that if a film song was played, the film’s title would not be announced, since he considered that advertising. Only the singer’s name would be mentioned.
As a result, Radio Ceylon got popularity. It created the legendary musical countdown Binaca Geetmala—a show entirely dedicated to Indian film songs. Every Wednesday, Indian listeners would tune into Radio Ceylon and listen to their favourite songs with their favourite show host—the iconic and charming Ameen Sayani, who would engage them with complimentary film trivia.
Song of Baazi 1951



Friday 29 July 2016

Remembering JOHNNY WALKER on his 13th Death Anniversary

Johnny Walker (11 Nov 1920 – 29 July 2003)

He was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi in Indore,the son of a mill worker. Looking after his 15-member family was tough; five of the family died young. Johnny Walker tried his hand at almost everything, including working in the Bombay Electric Supply Transport buses as a conductor. He was posted at the Dadar bus depot but worked on several routes.

Comedians like Noor Mohammad and Charlie were his idols. Johnnysaab had always wanted to be a comedian; he believed it was his God-given duty to make people laugh.



Scene from Baazi(1951)
Scene from Taxi Driver

scene from Pyaasa


song from Taxi Driver


song from CID
He did his first bit role in the early 1950s and had enacted similar snippets in about 20 films but the real break was given by Guru Dutt in Baazi(1951),his new screen name Johnny Walker was given by Guru Dutt.Thereafter he was doing all the films of Guru Dutt.Films like Taxi Driver(1954) CID,Pyaasa,Madhumati,Naya Daur and Mere Mehboob made him a star.He was sought by the best banners and the best directors and was equal to the task of acting with the best of the stars. 
Comedy Scene from Mere Mehboob


Comedy Scene from CID


Comedy Scene from Aar Paar
He was offered many films(around 12) as a hero such as JOHNNY WALKER ,Mr Cartoon, These, of course, had comic themes but were embellished with wonderful music and did well at the box office. 
His Golden Period was 50s and 60s when he gave memorable and great performances.
He was a natural comedian, his comedy was never crude or vulgar. But, 1970 onwards, comedy began to change. Some of the comedians indulged in lewd gestures and relied on double-entendre.Johnny Walker never tried that type of comedy,In an interview he said that though he acted more than 300 films and the Censor Board never cut even one line of his character.

He was the comedian for whom famous music directors like S D Burman and O P Nayyar tuned some of their most memorable hits. Remember Tael maalish, champee or Yeh hain Bombay meri jaan? His drawing power at the box office was such that Distributors insisted the Producers and Directors to have atleast one song to be done with him.His song sequences in Doordarshan'sChitrahaar or cable television are highly appreciated. 



song from Mr & Mrs 55

song from Khota Paisa


song from Chaudhavin Ka Chaand


                                                                                      song from Chori Chori


song from Mere Mehboob


song from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi



During the mid-eighties, Johnny Walker tried to produce a film but was quickly disillusioned by the attitude of the industry people, particularly the stars.His last movie was Chachi 420(1997) did after the gap of 14 years.

He was given his first Filmfare award as the Best Supporting Actor in Madhumati(1958) and later the best Comedian award for Shikar(1968)
Comedy scene from SHIKAR(1968)

Johny Walker died at the age of 79 on 29th July 2003.He is survived by his wife,3 sons and 3 daughters.His actor son Nasir was on his side when he breathed his last at 1.10 P M

To Give Him Tribute,I am posting here some of his best comedy scenes from his movies
Comedy scene from Mr & Mrs 55


Comedy scene from Paigham(1959)





Comedy scene from Anand



Comedy scene from Baat Ek Raat Ki



Comedy scene from Kaagaz Ke Phool(1959)


Comedy scene from Chupke Chupke


Comedy scene from Chori Chori



Comedy scene from Sanjog(1971)

comedy scene from Chaudhavin Ka Chaand


comedy scene from Barati

comedy scene from Mr Cartoon M A