Golden Era of Bollywood: kalyanji anandji

Showing posts with label kalyanji anandji. Show all posts

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Kalyanji Bhai- The Musician behind the Immortal Been Tune of 'Nagin'

Kalyanji Bhai of the Kalyanji Anandji music duo started his career as a musician. He was very good at Harmonium, violin, guitar, and drums. He played these instruments under many music directors.

Kalyanji, who introduced a new electronic instrument called the clavioline. With this instrument, he played the been for a snake sequence in the film Nag Panchami (1953), the music of which was scored by Chitragupt. People came to watch the film just to listen to this music . Hemant Kumar heard this tune and decided to use this in the song "Man Dole Mera Tan Dole" of Nagin(1954). The song and this tune became immortal.

He was soon the most sought-after musician in Bollywood. Kalyanji then, with his brother Anandji, started an orchestral group called Kalyanji Virji and Party which organized musical shows in Mumbai and outside. This was the first attempt made for holding live musical shows in India.

In 1957 Subhash Desai, the elder brother of the great filmmaker Manmohan Desai signed him as an independent music director. He signed him not for one film but for 11 films in one stretch. The first film was 'Samrat Chandragupt' released in 1958. The film was a hit and the music was also a hit. Recall the most popular song 'Chahe Paas Ho, Chahe Door' by Lata Mangeshkar.

This was followed by his composing music scores for more films like Post Box 999 before Anandji who was assisting him, joined him officially to form the Kalyanji Anandji duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959). Chalia (1961) was their earliest major hit. It was in 1965 his 2 films Himalaya Ki God Mei and Jab Jab Phool Khile made him a great music director.

He not only mastered in many musical instruments but also be known for introducing Jaz in Hindi films. He used to do mimicry of many artists of his time. He also knew astrology and face reading.
It was the music of Saraswatichandra (1968) that endorsed the genius of the brothers, more so because the classical tunes came soon after their modern Rhapsody in Haseena Man Jayegi.The songs "Chandan sa badan, Phool tumhe bheja hai, Chod de sari duniya, Hamne apna sab kuch khoya... were instant hits.

Both Kalyanji and Anandji worked as music composers for over 250 films, 17 of which were golden jubilees and 39 silver."Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar" from Don (1978), "Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The" from Aamne Saamne (1967), "Yeh Saman" from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), "Humare Siva Tumhare Aur Kitne deewane" from Apradh (1978), "Main Pyaasa Tum saawan' from Faraar (1975), "Jeevan se bhari teri aankhe", "Zindagi ka safar hai ye kaisa Safar", "Pal Pal dilke paas", "Neele Neele Ambar Par" are some of their notable songs.

Song of Samrat Chandragupt 1958

Song of Chhalia (1960)

Song of Bluff Master, 1963

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile, 1965

Song of Himalay Ki God Mein, 1965

Song of Upkar 1966

Song of Saraswatichandra, 1968

Song of Purab Aur Paschim, 1970

Song of Sachaa Jhutha, 1970

Song of Safar 1970

Song of Johny Mera Naam, 1970

Song of Kora Kagaz 1974

Song of Dharmatma, 1975

Friday, 28 August 2020

50 Years of Gopi

Recall the song 'Gentleman Gentleman Gentleman' sung by Mahendra Kapoor. Yes, this was a very popular song of 1970, picturized on Dilip Kumar in the film Gopi. This film was released on 28th Aug 1970. It stars Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Pran, Om Prakash, Durga Khote, Farida Jalal, Johnny Walker, Lalita Pawar, and Aruna Irani. The film was a Jubilee Hit with hit music by Kalyanji Anandji. The film had 5 songs, all the songs were very popular. "Ramchandra Keh Gaye Siya Se" and "Ek Padosan Peechhe Pad Gayi" were very popular.

According to film expert Rajesh Subramanian, Rajendra Kumar was first signed for the film. The producers felt Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar would make a perfect pair and requested Rajendra Kumar to return the signing amount and quit the film.

Dilip Kumar plays Gopi, who is a simpleton of a village. He lives with his elder stepbrother played by Om Prakash, bhabhi played by Nirupa Roy and younger sister played by Farida Jalal. Om Prakash works for a local Lala played by Pran. Om Prakash keeps all his savings with Pran so that in future he needs for the marriage for Farida Jalal.

Saira Banu along with her aunt comes to their home for a few days, Saira Banu fell in love with Dilip Kumar. There are a few songs picturized on them'

Farida Jalal's marriage got fixed so Om Prakash goes to the landlord Lala (Pran) to take back money, which he had saved for Nandini's wedding but gets thrown out of the house. Gopi forcibly gets the money but is accused by the landlord of stealing. Sent out of the house by Girdhari, Gopi leaves for the city and vows to come back only after making enough money for Nandini's wedding.

The highlight of the film was the acting of Dilip Kumar and Om Prakash. It is said that when Dilip Kumar heard the script of gopi he felt only Om Prakash could play his older brother. When Om Prakash was offered this movie as Dilip Kumar wanted only him to play this role Om Ji agreed on one condition that he would be paid 1 rupee more than Dilip Kumar. Dilip Kumar gladly accepted his condition. And what a performance by both actors.

The film's music is by Kalyanji Anandji and the lyrics were penned by Rajinder Krishan.

Song	Singer
"Akele Hi Akele Chala Hai Kahan"	Lata Mangeshkar
"Ramchandra Keh Gaye Siya Se"	Mahendra Kapoor
"Gentlemen Gentlemen"	Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor
"Ek Padosan Peechhe Pad Gayi"	Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor
"Sukh Ke Sab Saathi, Dukh Mein Na Koi"	Mohammed Rafi

Song of Gopi 1970

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Dev Anand starrer Mahal completes 50 years

This Dev Anand film was released in 1969 on the first day of that year. It is a fast-paced thriller with very good music. Almost all the songs were very popular 50 years ago and still liked by Dev's fans.
The music by Kalyanji Anandji had some brilliant and soulful compositions like – “Ankhon Ankhon Mein Hum Tum”, “Yeh Duniyawala Poochenge” and “ Aiyee, Aap Ka Tha Hamein Intezaar”(This was one of the earliest films of Farida Jalal and she has performed a sexy dance number along with Dev Anand. )

Dev Anand who plays a simple and poor driver cum assistant to a rich boss (Abhi Bhattacharya) in Kolkata. He needed money for his sister's wedding, when out of the blue a stranger offers him money in return for playing an imposter of a brother in law for a dying old man in Darjeeling who owns a palace and of course millions worth of property.

He falls in love with a rich girl (Asha Parekh) In the middle of the film he falls into a vicious trap where he is caught red-handed in front of a dead man, who is actually the owner of the palace but not the one Dev had been meeting there till now. Farida Jalal as the seductive nurse complicates the matters.

Dev Anand now on the run from the law to prove his innocence. The identity of the real villain remains a mystery and the climax comes as a surprise.
The first half of this film is solid entertainment, pretty songs, beautiful Darjeeling, and plenty of sparks between Dev Anand and Asha Parekh. Mahal is a lot of fun and I’d recommend to watch it again.
Songs of Mahal

Song of Mahal 1969

Monday, 9 September 2019

The Story Behind the song "Khaike Paan Banaras Wala"

Very few of us know that the famous Amitabh Bachchan's film song "Khaike Paan Banaras Wala"was not originally created for the film "Don" but it was composed for Dev Anand for the film Banarsi Babu released in 1973.
The music directors for both the films were Kalyanji Anandji. The song was written by Anjaan and composed by Kalyanji Anandji. When this song was discussed with Dev Anand, he disliked it saying that this will not go with his image, so the song was not included in that film.The song remained in the collection of Kalyanji-Anandji.
The song was not even kept in Don earlier originally. The film shooting was completed and the film was under post production. It so happened that when the Director of the film Chandra Barot showed the film to his mentor Manoj Kumar to gather his advice. Manoj Kumar advised him that the film is going too fast, it needs some space to breathe, a song should be placed after the interval.
The music director Kalyanji-Anandji were called and were asked to compose one more song for the film urgently , they already had this song in their collection so they suggested this song to the Director. It was agreed by the producer and the director to get it recorded immediately.
When Kishore Kumar was contacted for singing this song he initially refused to sing Khaike Paan Banarasiwala. The legendary singer said. 'I don't think I can sing this, please find another singer.'

"We pleaded with him. We said he was the best singer to sing it. Finally, he relented on one condition: He would sing it only once."

"If we liked it, good, otherwise, we would have to find another singer. It was agreed on Kishore Kumar's terrms. Kishore Kumar demanded paan while recording the song in the studio. He chewed the paan and spat it on the sheet spread on the floor. All the spitting and chewing that is heard in the song is all real.

We all know that this song became the USP of the film.

Song of Don 1978

Saturday, 2 March 2019

Kalyanji Anandji- From the Folk Music to Funky Music

Anandji the younger brother of Kalyanji grew up in an atmosphere rich in culture, stalwarts like V Shantaram and Durga Khote being their neighbours. His introduction to the world of music happened when an 11-year-old Anandji and his classmates were taken to be part of the chorus in Devika Rani’s Meghdoot (1944).
He along with his elder brother Kalyanji started an orchestral group called Kalyanji Virji and Party and held musical shows. They participated in the Sarvajanik Utsav, Navratri and Ganpati celebrations. he’d play the tabla. Kalyanji, who introduced a new electronic instrument called the clavioline. With this instrument, they played the been (the music to entice snakes) for a snake sequence in Nag Panchami (1953), the music of which was scored by Chitragupt. People came to watch the film just to listen to this music,” they earmark their debut in film music.
Hemant Kumar heard their tune and decided to use this in the most popular song "Man Dole Mera Tan Dole" Soon their Nagin tune was being played in Mandirs, Navratri and even Shaadis.
Samrat Chandragupta (1959) was their first film as Kalyanji Virji Shah. Songs like "Chahe Paas Ho" (Lata–Rafi) that are remembered to this day were what made the movie a commercial success. This was followed by his composing music scores for more films like Post Box 999 before Anandji who was assisting him, joined him officially to form the Kalyanji Anandji duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959). Chalia (1961) was their earliest major hit. In 1965, two decisive scores, Himalaya Ki God Mein and Jab Jab Phool Khile, established them as composers to reckon with.
Anandji is a multitalented personality. He not only mastered in many musical instruments but also be known for introducing Jaz in Hindi films. He used to do mimicry of many artists of his time. He also knows astrology and face reading.
It was the music of Saraswatichandra (1968) that endorsed the genius of the brothers, more so because the classical tunes came soon after their modern Rhapsody in Haseena Man Jayegi.The songs "Chandan sa badan, Phool tumhe bheja hai, Chod de sari duniya, Hamne apna sab kuch khoya... were instant hits.
Kalyanji-Anandji were dubbed ‘lucky’ for first-timers. They worked with debutant directors including Manmohan Desai (Chalia), Prakash Mehra (Hasina Maan Jayegi), Manoj Kumar (Upkar), Sultan Ahmed (Heera,), Feroz Khan (Apradh), Subhash Ghai (Kalicharan) and Chandra Barot (Don, 1978). They also played mentors to singers like Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Sadhna Sargam, Sapna Mukherjee and Sunidhi Chauhan. “They gave the name Kumar Sanu to Kedranath Bhattachraya and Sadhana Sargam to Sadhna Ganekar.
Both Kalyanji and Anandji worked as music composers for over 250 films, 17 of which were golden jubilees and 39 silver. They organised many charitable concerts for NGOs and several charitable institutions in India and abroad with some of the biggest names in Bollywood, like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Rekha and Sridevi.
From composing desi beats for Manoj Kumar the duo hit a contrasting octave when they composed for the ‘Texas cowboy’ Feroz Khan in films right from Apradh, Dharmatma, Qurbani and Jaanbaz till the ’80s. “Ferozji liked a Western and Arabian touch in his songs.
The composers composed some popular songs rendered by Kishore Kumar such as "Jeevan se bhari teri aankhe", "Zindagi ka safar hai ye kaisa Safar", "Pal Pal dilke paas", "Neele Neele Ambar Par" "Zindagi ka safar" from Safar (1970), "O Saathi Re" from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), "mera jeevan kora kagaz" from Kora Kagaz (1974), Jeevan se bhari teri aankhe " from Safar (1970), "pal pal dil ke paas" from Blackmail (1974), "neele neele ambar par " from Kalakaar(1985), "samzauta gamon se kar lo" from Samjhauta (1973), "apne jeevan ki ulzan ko" from Ulzan (1975).. Their composition called "Pal bharke liye" was used in an episode of The Simpsons. Remixed version of the song "Apni Toh Jaise Taise," originally from the 1981 film Laawaris was used in 2010 Bollywood film Housefull.
They got the following Awards