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
Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar was the first Indian film that was selected in any International film festival.Neecha Nagar had to compete with many amazing films that year(1946) like Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City (Italy), David Lean’s Brief Encounter (UK), and Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend (USA). It won the hearts of critics and viewers alike and emerged as a winner for the category.Despite of Producing and Directing many great films like Taxi Driver,Haqeekat,Heer Ranjha,Akhri Khat,Hanste Zakhm he remained the most underrated Director Chetan Anand was Born on 3 Jan, 1921 in Gurdaspur, Punjab, Chetan’s formative years were nourished by the teachings of the Vedanta in a Gurukul before he went to Government College, Lahore, and then onwards to Cambridge.In 1944, he shrugged off a motionless stability and plunged into the chaotic ecstasy of motion pictures. In 1946, Chetan Anand became a big name with Neecha Nagar He was a progressive thinker,he kept company with literary and political radicals such as Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Sahir, Kaifi Azmi Bhishm Sahni and Sardar Jaffri.He along with his younger brother Dev Anand started Navketan in 1949. After the success of Taxi Driver (1955) , Chetan moved away from Navketan to establish his own banner Himalay Films and make his own kind of films.In 1957 he directed two movies Arpan and Anjali, in which he played lead roles too. He went on to act in Kala Bazar, Kinare-Kinare, Aman, Kanch Aur Heera and Hindustan Ki Kasam, which he directed too. In 1964 he emerged as a great Director, it was to a standing ovation for, depicting the Chinese invasion of 1962, in one of the best war films ever made – Haqeeqat (1964). In 1966 he came out with another memorable film Aakhri Khat,This film was about a 15-month-old child without any star cast,though Rajesh Khanna was in it but that time he was a strugler.The film was very well apreciated by the critics,His another masterpiece was Heer Ranjha in 1970.first and onlly movie in verses with no dilogues,it was the poetic imagination of Kaifi Azmi and Chetan Anand’s skill as a director After separating from his wife, Uma Anand, whom he married in 1943,he had a long-term relationship with the actress Priya Rajvansh.who was his heroine in almost all the films he directed after starting his own film company..He had a relationship with her till his death On 6th July 1997. Today on his 20th death anniversary I present few of his films immortal songs. Pt Ravi Shankar was introduced in films as Music Composer in Neecha Nagar,this song was picturised on Kamini Kaushal
Lesser Known Facts About Dev Anand Born Dharam Dev Anand, the actor was fondly addressed as DD, an abbreviated version of his first name by his peers in school Dev Anand's first role model was his elder brother Chetan Anand Chetan had studied in London and was a man of intellect and refined tastes. While Dev Anand eventually grew out of his shadow, his early acting efforts were inspired by his elder brother's mannerisms. Dev Anand's first trip was to Venice when he accompanied elder brother Chetan Anand for the screening of their film Aandhiyan The late star played tennis for his college and participated in inter-college tournaments but was, by his own admission, awful at it.
Apart from Chetan and Vijay Anand, Dev Anand had an elder brother Manmohan Anand, who was an advocate at the Gurdaspur District Court. The first girl he was ever attracted to was Usha Chopra, an Anglo-Indian girl who was an undergraduate student in the same Lahore college Dev Anand was studying in. He worked in the postal department of armed forces for a while.The actor was paid Rs 165 a month. His work was to read the letters that came for soldiers and censor any unwarranted information. Dev Anand’s first acting job was at the Prabhat Film Company, where he was paid 400 rupees per month Guru Dutt, first met at the Prabhat Film Company in 1946. After they exchanged polite hellos, Dev Anand noticed that Guru Dutt was staring at his shirt. It turned out that the washerman had mixed up their shirts and Dev Anand was wearing Guru Dutt’s shirt. Dev Anand said: “we had a hearty laugh and embraced each other. We were to be friends for all times.
The first time Dev Anand played a leading man was in Ziddi, opposite Kamini Kaushal. The actor got his big break as a hero when introduced thus by Ashok Kumar, already a major star. He may have drawn comparisons with Gregory Peck but it is Ashok Kumar he truly admired.Dev Anand aspired to become a performer in Dadamoni's class, awed by his work in films like Achhut Kanya and Kismat.
When the love story between Dev Anand and the actress widely known as Suraiya was at its peak, Suraiya’s grandmother started monitoring their movements to ensure that the Hindu hero didn’t get too close to her Muslim granddaughter. A scene in “Afsar” (1950) required him to kiss her on the eyes but grandmother, who was on the set, wouldn’t allow it. she stood on the spot where the scene was to be enacted and wouldn’t budge. Ultimately a member of the crew whisked away the grandmother on a pretext and they quickly shot the scene. The late actor was known for his flambouyant personality that reflected in his outfits. He owned 800 jackets and his favourite colours were yellow, brown and black. He wore red once in a while.
Dev Anand, who is best remembered for his romantic roles and style statements left an impressive impact on the generations to come. The legendary actor’s iconic, checkered print cap worn in the film Jewel Thief was reportedly purchased from a shop in Copenhagen, Denmark. One of the most handsome actors of his times, Dev Anand was asked not to wear black suit in public apparently because women would go crazy seeing him dressed in black and would jump from buildings.
Dev Anand never wanted to die in films, he didjust one death scene in his entire film career,it was in Guide It is said that Dev Anand had refused to star in Zanjeer,because there was no song situations for him, which turned out to be Amitabh Bachchan's big break. Earlier also he refused Tumsa Nahi Dekha and Teesri Manzil both the films went to Shammi Kapoor.
Dev Anand took keen interest in politics. He formed a party called National Party of India which he later disbanded.He stood up to the Internal emergency imposed by then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.In 1977, he actively campaigned against her with his supporters in the Lok Sabha. Great Hits Of Dev Anand's Songs
Sachin Dev Burman(1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was one of the greatest Bollywood music directors in the early days of India's film industry. He was a much sought after composer from the 1940's up until his death in 1975.
S D Burman as a child
SD Burman started working as a radio singer on Calcutta Radio Station in the late '20s, when his work as a singer composer was based on Bengali folk and light Hindustani classical music. Consequently, his compositions were mainly influenced by his huge repertoire of folk-tunes from present Bangladesh and later other parts of India and around the world. His first record was also released in 1932
As a music composer, he started with Bengali plays, Sati Tirtha and Janani, and eventually gave his first score in film, Rajgee in 1937, his second film Rajkumarer Nirbashan(1940) became a hit. He gave music in Bengali films like, Protishodh (1941), Abhoyer Biye (1942), and Chaddobeshi (1944) and only one Bengali film in 1969/70 after he permanently moved to Mumbai in 1946. He composed for over 20 Bengali films and 89 Hindi films in all.[6]
He made his film debut singing in Yahudi ki Ladki (1933) but the songs were scrapped and re-sung by Pahari Sanyal. His first film as a singer was finally Sanjher Pidim(1935).It was during this period this his personal life was developing as well. He constructed a residence in Calcutta. Probably the most significant event of his personal life was when he started teaching a young music student by the name of Meera Dasgupta. In the course of events they became romantically involved. However there was the problem; although she was well educated and from a very respectable family, she did not represent nobility. This created quite a stir in the family, and when S.D. Burman refused to leave her, he was forced to sever his ties with his family and forfeit his inheritance. They married and from their union RD Burman was born in 1939.
In 1944, Burman moved to Mumbai, at the request of Sasadhar Mukherjee of Filmistan, who asked him to give score for two Ashok Kumar starrers, Shikari (1946) and Aath Din,[13] but his first major breakthrough came the following year with the company's Do Bhai (1947). The song Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya sung by Geeta Dutt was his breakthrough song into the film industry. In 1949, came Shabnam, his biggest hit yet with Filmistan, especially noticeable for its multi-lingual hit song Yeh Duniya Roop ki Chor, by Shamshad Begum, which became a rage in those days
In 1950s, Burman teamed up with Dev Anand's Nav Ketan Productions to create musical hits like Taxi Driver, Nau do Gyarah (1957) and Kala Paani(1958). In addition, he gave music for Munimji (1955) and Paying Guest (1957). The songs sung by Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar became popular. Burman da composed the music for Dev Anand's production company Navketan's first film Afsar (1950). With the success of their second film, Baazi (1951) he made it to the top and a long association with Navketan and Dev Anand was on its way. "Baazi"'s jazzy musical score revealed a new facet of singer Geeta Dutt, who was mainly known for melancholy songs and bhajans. While every song in the film was a hit, one stood out for special appeal – "Tadbir se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer", a ghazal that was occidentalised into a seductive song.The 'jaal' song 'Yeh raat Yeh chandni' by Hemant Kumar is an all-time great classic
S D Burman was the backbone of Hindi Film Music of Golden Era.Some of the greatest hits were from the filmsPyasa, Sujata, Kaagaj Ke Phool, Bandini, Meri Surat Teri Ankhen,Ziddi,Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi,Talash and Sharmilee other than Dev Anand's films.
Aradhana (1969) is considered another landmark score in the Bollywood history. The music of the movie shaped the careers of singer Kishore Kumar, lyricist Anand Bakshiand filmmaker Shakti Samanta. For the song "Mere Sapno ki raani", Sachin Dev made R.D play the mouth organ.
Sachin Da was the only composer who had used both Kishore and Rafi in almost equal number of songs. He regarded Kishore as his second son. Kishore confessed that it was Sachin Da, who had given him the first chance. Even after the rehearsal of Badi Sooni Sooni from Milli, when Sachin Da had a stroke, Kishore went up to the hospital and said to him "Dada, Please don't worry, your recording is after three days, you just see how well it goes." The song is considered one of the best of Kishore Kumar. Sachin Da also used to telephone Kishore in the dead of night and on the telephone, he would start to sing the new tunes which he composed and ask Kishore to sing with him.
S D Burman was a very good singer,early on in his career, Burman refused to allow his voice be lip-synced on film by actors, as a result, even later on, in Hindi cinema, his thin yet powerful voice was often used as bardic commentary to haunting results, as in Ore Majhi Mere Sajan Hai Us PaarBandini (1963), Wahaan Kaun hai Tera from "Guide" (1965) and finally Safal Hogi Teri Aradhana from Aradhana (1969),for which he received the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the year, 1970 and in 1974 he was given National Film Award for Best Music Direction: Zindagi Zindagi
S D Burman went into a coma soon after rehearsing the song Badi sooni sooni (sung by Kishore Kumar) for the film Mili. Sadly, He died on 31 October 1975 in Mumbai.
He brought in folk in film songs, and simplified classical to fit in films. He changed with times so that his music didn’t become outdated. Dada’s music was so refreshing, if you have listened to it once, you have listened to it always.Here I am presenting some of his Immortal Songs
First Hindi Song Of S D BURMAN from Aath Din 1946
Audio from Aath Din
A RARE SONG by S D Burman in Classical
Jhan Jhan Manjira Baje
A Non Filmy Song by S D Burman of 40s
Kaun Aaya Sapnon Me
A Rare collection ONE TUNE with Two Voices
,Hindi Version by Mohammad Rafi and Bengali verion by Burman Da
Original Song by SD Burman .Dheere Se Jaana Bagiyan Me
One of the most influential actors in the history of Indian Cinema,Dev Anand had graced silver screen for over six decades. He had acted in 114 Hindi films, out of which 104 had him as the solo lead hero.An actor, writer, director and producer; he had proved his versatility in every field. In his acting career of 65 years he played many characters,here i am presenting some of his most memorable roles in hindi films.
Raju in GUIDE (1965)-This role took Anand to the Zenith of his eventful career. He played a role of a Tourist Guide,never before in hindi films this character was played.Dev Anand in his style of acting and manerism made this role an immortal.His portrayal of a silver-tongued tourist guide who defied all traditions for his relationship with Rosie (Waheeda Rehman), and groomed her for a successful career as a dancer, takes the most unpredictable U-turn in the mid course of the movie.He was awarded the Best Hero Award by Filmfare.
Karan in KALA PANI (1958)-This role of a man on a mission to prove his incarcerated father’s innocence was a perfect show down answer. From a drunkard to a mischievous & playful boy, As a son who discovers by sheer chance that his father is not dead but imprisoned, he turns in a restrained performance without much of the mannerisms that became a part of his repertoire later.this challenging role got him his first Best Actor award..
Hum Bekhudi Mei Tumko
C.I.D. (1956)-Dev Anand plays Inspector Shekhar in this film.Dev's performance in this film is one of his most restrained. Dev Anand. What can one say? Gorgeous to look at, dashing, debonair... one can keep adding adjectives. As a man on the trail of an enemy who is lurking in the shadows, Dev keeps his Shekhar keen and focused, to the extent that he antagonises his girl friend; when asked to choose between his duty and her, he unapologetically chooses the former.
Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar from CID
Mangal in TAXI DRIVER (1954)-Mangal, who is called "Hero" by his friends. A driver who drives a cab by day, then drinks at night, listens to the seductive club dancer Sylvie, and then goes into a drunken stupor - and wakes up with a hangover. One day, while assisting another taxi driver, Mangal comes to the assistance of a damsel in distress Mala, who is being molested by two thugs. Mangal gallantly rescues her, and attempts to take her to her destination,The film got Filmfare Award for Best Music.Dev Anand's taxi in the movie was the British made Hillman Minx black car with number 1111. Such became the popularity following the film that the British made Hillman Minx became a vehicle of choice as a taxi in Bombay until the 1970s.
Jaye to Jaye Kahan
Madan in BAAZI (1951)-The role of Madan, a minor gambler who unintentionally gets involved in a murder mystery, made Dev Anand one of the most popular stars of his generation.After Ziddi in 1948 this was a super hit of Dev Anand which established him Super Star.He ruled bollywood for the next 3 decades.
Scene from Baazi
Major Verma & Capt. Anand in HUM DONO (1961)-Double Role played by Dev Anand made this movie a classic.The song "Abhi Na Jao Chodh Kar Ki Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi"is an immortal song.Dev Anand played the roles of Major Verma and Captain Anand.Capt. Anand goes to deliver the sad news of Major Verma’s demise to his family, but is mistaken as his lookalike and is forced to take his place.
Scene from Hum Dono
Architect Rakesh Anand Kumar in TERE GHAR KE SAMNE (1963)- Dev Anand Plays an Architect Design Houses for his father and the Heroine's father simultaneously.But their fathers are rivals, and the two of them must convince their parents to live in harmony. Dev Anand’s nonchalantly clumsy mannerisms and a suave urbane personality is to die for.
Scene from Tere Ghar Ke Samne
Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar
Johny in JOHNY MERA NAAM (1970)-A story of two brothers (Mohan & Sohan) who excel in boxing. Their father, a police inspector gets killed by a goon. While Mohan (Pran) avenges his father, Sohan (Dev Anand) goes on to becoming a CID officer, who solves his cases taking up different guises. He takes the identity of Johny, a petty thief and gets himself in jail to solve another case. It is considered a Dev Anand classic.This Golden Jubilee thriller was the first Indian film to cross a commercial milestone—it did Rs. 50 lakh business per territory when tickets were priced at a maximum Rs 2.50Paisa.
Pal Bhar ke Liye
Prince Amar in JEWEL THIEF (1967)-Vinay (Dev Anand), is an ordinary young man who finds himself constantly mistaken for a look-alike jewel thief named Amar. Vinay works with the police to impersonate Amar and crack his crime ring, but it seems that Amar has decided to impersonate Vinay, as well, and soon their true identities are thoroughly muddled.The film became a box office hit.The song "Hothon Mein Aisi Baat"became immortal.
Raja As Gambler in GAMBLER 1971-Raja (Dev Anand) has been abandoned by his biological mother at a very young age, and grows up with Master (Jeevan), a criminal don and card-sharp, who would like Raja to continue working with him on a commission basis.Raja meets Chanda Gangaram (Zaheeda) daughter of a wealthy industrialist and her uncle (Ifthekar)is also the city's police commissioner.Raja takes a liking to her at the very instant though she does not reciprocate, her uncle notices Raja's face to be familiar but ignores the suspicion.
Mera man Tera Pyasa
Prashant Jaiswal in HARE RAM HARE KRISHNA (1971) This is a Montreal-based family of the Jaiswals, consisting of mom, dad, son, Prashant, and daughter, Jasbir. Due to differences, Mr and Mrs Jaiswal separate, leaving Jasbir with dad, and Prashant with his mom. Eventually Prashant and his mom travel to India, leaving father and daughter behind in Montreal.Years later, Prashant has grown up to be a pilot. He has received a letter from his dad that Jasbir, who had rebelled and left home, is now located in Kathmandu, Nepal, with a group of hippies. Prashant decides to find his sister and hopefully get her back to the family. When Prashant lands in Kathmandu he does not find Jasbir, but instead finds Janice, who is indeed his sister with a new name. Janice lives with the hippies in the property rented out by local landlord Drona.Prashant tryed to convince her that he is her brother, who she had been told dead long back.The music of the film was composed by Rahul Dev Burman and the lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. The songs, "Dum Maro Dum" and “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” were instant hits with the youth
Scene from Hare Rama Hare Krishna
Ramesh as paying guest in PAYING GUEST 1957
Ramesh who has been thrown out of his room by his exasperated landlord. (He hasn't paid the rent for six months; one can't really blame the poor guy.) He meets his friend and ask him to help.Ramesh goes off to see if he can get other accommodation. He is in luck; there's a room available, but the landlord wants a character certificate from Ramesh's previous landlord.When he takes up residence, he is disturbed by noises from the room above. When he tries to stop it by tapping on his ceiling from below (ending by poking a hole in it), he is faced with a beautiful virago (Nutan) who warns him that this is a 'shareefon ka mohalla' (respectable locality).Here also he had to vacate the room.Now once again he was lookout for accomodation. He takes another accomodation in disguise of an old man because the owner that house was not willing to give rooms to young people.Dev Anand plays Ramesh with an innocent goodness – with his gap-toothed grin and laid back charm, he was the perfect lover.
Chodd do yeh Aanchal
Tony in JAAL (1952)-The story moves around Carlos & Maria’s family, and the two strangers who enter their lives, Lisa and Tony. Maria falls in love with Tony, and is warned constantly about his wrongdoings and the disaster she is embracing. But, that doesn’t effect her love for Tony.This movie was another Successful movie of Dev Anand and Guru Dutt. After Baazi, this was the second film in which Dev Anand also came through as an actor with a unique style of his own.
Scene from Jaal
Gora a Revolutionist in Faraar (1955)-For some obscure reason it was subtitled “Dev Anand in Goa” for the reissue, ostensibly because in the interregnum three more films with the same title had hit the market at regular intervals. Another plausible reason could be this was the evergreen star's second and last visit to Goa for shooting.Gora (Dev Anand) is part of a group of revolutionaries who set the bomb the previous night. The police are searching for him, but Gora manages to reach the headquarters.
Har Ek Nazar
Prannath Kashyap (Dev Anand), a press reporter in Solva Saal 1958
Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman bring a lot to this film, not least their very comfortable equation with each other. Waheeda makes her Laaj believable, being neither too 'innocent' nor too much of a smart-mouth. Dev is Dev, young and handsome, and very comfortable in his own skin. Together, they provide us with two characters whom we are willing to invest in, and whose romance is something we root for.
