This BLOG is about the Past of Hindi Films Specially Black and White Cinema We will refresh your memories by bringing out forgotten or unseen songs and clippings of film scenes We will try to give you as much information as we gather from our research.
This Blog was started as a one-man’s passion for film history but has now become an addiction for many music lovers who are equally passionate about Hindi films
In the 50s and 60s, much of the romance in Bollywood bloomed on bicycles. There are many great romantic songs bloomed on bicycles. When we think of the Golden Era immediately the song Mana janab ne pukara nahin from Paying Guest comes into our mind.
The earliest cycle song was 'Sawan Ke Nazare Hain' of 1941 film 'Khajanchi'. The film starts with this song picturized on S D Narang, Ramola, and their friends who are cycling on the road. Since then The cycle romance kept blooming and almost all heroes and heroines had a cycling song in their career. In this blog, I have selected a few cycling songs picturized on various heroes.
Saira Banu in an interview once said" I was all in love with Dilip Kumar right from the age of 12 after watching 'Aan' I was not just another girl smitten by Dilip Kumar. For me, it was no castle in the air because I had given my dream the strong foundation of faith- faith in myself and faith in God.”
She was only 16, had gone for the show, hoping to get a glimpse of her favorite hero in person. But she was heartbroken as Dilip Kumar was unable to come to the premiere. She still remembers her first encounter with Dilip Kumar “When he smiled at me and remarked that I was a pretty girl, I could feel my whole being taking wing and flying rapturously. I knew somewhere deep within me that I was going to be his wife.”
After the release of Junglee, her first film in 1961, she became a big star, she was offered heroine roles with all the big stars of that time. Dilip Kumar in his biography told that a few films were offered to him with Saira but he refused because he felt to be her too young as his heroine.
It is said that it was Naseem Banu, her mother played the role of the cupid between Dilip and Saira. She got them closer, thanks to which love blossomed between the two.Dilip Kumar mentioned in his biography that when he fell in love with Saira. It was during a party thrown to celebrate her birthday. The actor revealed, "When I alighted from my car and entered the beautiful garden that leads to the house, I can still recall my eyes falling on Saira standing in the foyer of her new house looking breathtakingly beautiful in a brocade sari. I was taken aback because she was no longer the young girl She had indeed grown to full womanhood and was, in reality, more beautiful than I thought she was.
It was one day when Saira Banu was shooting for the film'Jhuk Gaya Aasman' Dilip Kumar proposed Saira. He simply stepped forward and shook her hand and proposed. Dilip Saab said, "Saira, you are not the kind of girl I want to drive around with or be seen around with... I would like to marry you... Will you be my wife?" Promptly came the response from Saira, "And how many girls have you said this to?" She, however, said yes.
They married on 12th Oct 1966 and celebrated the Golden Jubilee of their marriage in 2016. She remained her pillar of strength throughout all these years. There was a time when Dilip Kumar married another lady but Saira continued to look after him. The second marriage lasted for two years since then the two have stood beside each other like a rock, considering one another to be the greatest gift of God.
Saira Banu continued to work in films after the marriage, in fact, Dilip Kumar encouraged her to do films but she restrained herself to one or two films a year. Aman (1967), opposite Rajendra Kumar, was her first release after marriage to the thespian. She acted in three films with Manoj Kumar, Shaadi, Purab Aur Paschim, and Balidan. Cult film Padosan, in 1968, opposite Sunil Dutt, catapulted her to the top league and she continued to play the heroine for several years after that. Victoria No. 203 with Navin Nischol is her biggest hit. She acted in three films with her husband: Gopi. Sagina and Bairaag. Only Gopi was successful at the box office. She acted in three films with Manoj Kumar, Shaadi, Purab Aur Paschim, and Balidan and six with Dharmendra: Jwar Bhata, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Resham Ki Dori, Pocket Maar, International Crook and Chaitali.
She worked with Amitabh Bachchan inAmitabh Bachchan in Zameer and Hera Pheri. Nehle Pe Dehla. She never worked with Rajesh Khanna though once she was offered the role in Chhoti Bahu in 1971 but couldn't do it due to illness.
Dilip Kumar told in an interview that she was signed for the role that Mumtaz did in Ram Aur Shyam but he himself asked her not to do that role. She appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in Duniya (1984), wherein the song "Teri meri Zindagi" became very popular. Faisla which was eventually released in 1988 and is officially her last film.
Two days back I heard the news that one of the oldest bicycle manufacturers(Atlas cycle) of India closes its factory. This made me upset, I started to think, how useful is a bicycle to us. Riding your bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Bicycle remained an important part of our life, many films or scenes were created in this mode of transport. Cycle scenes or songs have been picturized on a variety of actors from the Black &White era to the recent films. The first Hindi film on this subject was Khajanchi released in 1942. In this film a cycling chase was picturized on character actor Janki Das, who was introduced in this film, he was a ‘World Cycling Champion’The highlight of the film was the cycling feat of Janki Dass through the lanes and bylanes of Lahore. Jankidas served as the only Indian member of the International Olympic Committee at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and was the only Indian to have broken the world record in cycling between 1934 and 1942. He broke eight cycling world records between 1934 to 1942.
Actress Shubha Khote was a National Cycling Champion and was given a special chase scene on cycle in her debut film Seema in 1955. In 1959 film a love story started with a cycling accident. Incidentally, Shubha Khote was also in this scene among the girls singing and cycling. Another film Shor 1972 the hero of the film enters into a cycling competition to win the prize money for treating his son.
Jo Jeeta Woh Sikander, the 1992 film was based on cycling. The film story revolves around cycle races. First in a school competition.Aamir Khan trumped over the conniving Deepak Tijori.
Dil Dhadkne Do
Piku
Barfi
For the last 10 years, many films had cycle scenes, there was a cycle chase in Burfi, Amitabh Bachchan cycling on the street of Kolkata in Piku, paddling away in the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in the world along with your new-found love. Anushka and Ranveer show us exactly what to do after you fall for each other in Dil Dhadkne Do
Salman Khan who is an avid cycle enthusiast in real life asked director Kabir Khan to keep a cycling scene in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Salman Khan gave a lift to his ladylove Kareena on his cycle.
Bollywood and bicycle move together like the wheel and the spokes. From the Black & White era till know many romantic songs have been picturized. When we think of the Golden Era immediately the song Mana janab ne pukara nahin from Paying Guest comes in our mind.Dev Anand showed us how a cycle helps you to chase your playfully-angry girl, the song Ae maine kasam li from 1971 film Tere Mere Sapne, Dev Anand and his ladylove Mumtaz riding through the sunflower dotted streets and singing. The earliest cycle song was Sawan Ke Nazare Hain of 1941 film Khajanchi.The film starts with this song picturised on S D Narang, Ramola and their friends who are cycling on the road. It is said that there were some uncredited actors in this song who later became well known actors. I could only identify Madan Puri ( on the cycle next to S D Narang playing mouth organ) though Pran was in the film as a friend of S D Narang. The film ends with a part of this song being replayed while S D Narang and Ramola are on their cycle rides after their marriage.
Song of Khajanchi 1941
In the 50s many films have Bicycle songs One of the greatest hit was Maana Janaab Ne Pukara from Paying Guest
