Cabaret in Bollywood

1960s was the era when cabaret songs were the real life of the movies. It was so much popular that they pulled the audience towards the theatres.These Cabaret were the part of the story unlike today's Item Numbers.Cuckko was the first Cabaret Dancer of bollywood,then came Helen.
In the Late 60s and early part of the 1970s actresses Fariyal,Aruna Irani, Bindu, Jayshree T and Padma Khanna entered into what was Helen's monopoly. In fact there is a cabaret in Dharma 1973 movie where the Top 5 Cabaret Dancers of Bollywood appeared in one song.
 The range extended from the likes of the  sexy Asha Sachdev and Prema Narayan, to out-and-out garish Kalpana Iyer and Jayshree T. Between them, these beauties had the item song market cornered, and many a famous tracks were picturized on them. If Jayshree T had songs like ‘Naach Meri Jaan’ with Mehmood from Main Sunder Hoon, then Asha Sachdev had the suggestive ‘Jis Kaam Ko Dono Aaye Hain’, from the Jitendra-starrer ‘Ek Hi Rasta’, while Kalpana Iyer had the disco genre cornered through the ‘80s and Prema Narayan sizzled her swimming costume with a host of other beauties in ‘Mausam Mastana’ from Satte Pe Satta… 
 Cuckoo, was the first major dancing star  who ruled the cabaret scene in the Forties and Fifties.Her talent made cabaret a must in the Bollywood films. Her dance numbers in the film Anokhi Ada established her as the lead dancer of that era.She introduced a 13-year-old Helen into films as a chorus dancer in the films like Shabistan and Awaara(1951).Cukoo and Helen most notably appeared in song and dance sequences together like in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi(1958) and Yahudi (1958). Her last film appearance was in Mujhe Jeene Do in 1963 after which she had disappeared from the film industry.

Song from Anokhi Ada 1948

Song from Awara 1951

Song from Aan 1952

Helen-Known as "Queen Of Cabaret",who started as a chorus dancer in films like Shabistan and Awaara (1951) later became the queen of cabaret.Her seductive dancing made her a star and is still respected today for her contribution to cinema. She remained for more than three decades an essential part of almost all first-rate movies, with at least one hot dance and song scene,  that was invariably the star attraction of the movie.

Song from Howrah Bridge 1958

Song from Intaquam (1969)

Song from Caravan (1971)

Bindu-her success story started with Shakti Samanta's Kati Patang (1970), where she had a sizzling cabaret dance, "Mera Naam Shabnam" to her credit; a number which is even today remembered as one of the highlights of the film.She  gave tough competition to the Queen of Cabaret, Helen. She was definitely the strongest contender for this particular crown.Her mesmerising performances in 1974 as a seductress in Imtihan, and as a nymphomaniac in Hawas, left audiences asking for more. 

Song from Kati Patang (1970)

Song from Zanjeer (1973)

Song from Anhonee 1973

Faryal-was born in the Damascus area of Syria to an Indian father and a Syrian mother.She  worked for a while as an air hostess in Air India before joining films.She was noted for her role as a cabaret dancer in the movie Jewel Thief released in 1967. One of her very popular cabaret number is Yeh Duniya To Hai Bas Paise Ki from the movie Do Thug.

Dance from Jewel Thief 1967

Dance from Puruskaar 1970

Dance from Insaan Aur Shaitan 1970

Aruna Irani-she made her debut in the movie Ganga Jamuna (1961) playing childhood Azra's character.She did small roles,comic roles and character roles also.She was heroine with Amitabh Bachchan in Bombay to Goa.Besides excellent acting she has is par excellent when it comes to dancing. She had many hit item numbers in many movies to her credit and one amongst them is the Cabaret song – Sapna Mera Tut Gaya from the movie Khel khel mein. 

Dance from Humshakal 1974

Dance from Fakira 1976

Song from Khel Khel Mein 1975

Jayshree T-trained as Kathak.Dancer but  gained popularity when she started performing item dances in films,She has done few very successful Cabaret dances in the Bollywood films. She had an oomph factor and her dancing was full of energy. One of her very popular cabaret song is Reshmi Ujala hai from the movie Sharmillee in 1971.

Song from Sharmillee 1971

Song from Anokhi Pehchaan 1972

Song from Rani Mera Naam 1972

Padma Khanna-Like JayshreeT she was also a trained Kathak Dancer under Pt Birju Maharaj. She came into limelight with Johny Mera Naam dance "Husn Ke Lakhon Rang"She is most remembered for her role in the film Saudagar with Amitabh Bachchan

Dance from Johny Mere Naam 1970

Dance from Paise Ki Gudiya 1974

Song from Jaandar 1979

Kalpana Iyer-She is best known for the song from Disco Dancer, 'Koi Yahan Nache Nache'.She was the Dancing Queen of 80s.She was a former Miss India.Some of her famous dance numbers were to the songs "Hari om Hari" in Pyaara Dushman (1980), "Tu Mujhe Jaan" in Wardaat (1981) and "Rambha Ho" in Armaan (1982 film).

Song from Disco Dancer 1982

Dance from Pyara Dushman

Dance from Armaan 1981

Beside these specialized Dancers many Heroines have also given Cabaret songs in Bollywood Rekha,Mumtaz,Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi are few such Heroines.

Mumtaz in a Song from Humjoli 1970

Rekha in a song from Parineeta 2005

Zeenat Amaan in Qurbani 1980

Parveen Babi in Namak Halal 1982

Here is a Rare Song From DHARMA 1973 in which 5 famous Cabaret Dancer Of Bollywood(HELEN,FARIYAL,Sonia Sahni,JayshreeT and Bindu) are dancing in one Song

Song from Dharma 1973

Disco Gripped bollywood in 80s

 Bollywood music is ever-evolving and cannot be restricted to one or two genres. 
Directors are constantly experimenting in incorporating popular genres in their films, as songs are perhaps the most important selling point of Bollywood movies.
Disco’s prominence in the 1970s in west started gaining ground in Bollywood in 80s.It was Indian music director Biddu Appaiah, known mononymously as Biddu, saw success in the West composing and producing Carl Douglas’ mega hit "Kung Fu Fighting".Biddu found a muse in Pakistani songstress Nazia Hassan, for whom he wrote and produced. Perhaps their most standout hit was the rather light and bouncy "Disco Deewane".Actor,Director Feroz Khan was so impressed with Biddu and asked him one song for his forthcoming film Qurbani ,the song was  "Aap Jaisa Koi"picturised on Zeenat Aman opened the way for Desi Disco.
With trend changing from Melody to Beats emerged Bhappi Lahri who became Desi Disco King who remained on Top for 3-4 years giving Hit after hit disco songs.As Lahiri’s reign of the disco period crept in, we saw Burmans and Laxmikant Pyarelal  acclimatize to this phenomenon. Burman tried to find a middle ground between Indianized psychedelia and disco, Laxmikant Pyarelal  played with traditional Hindu and Sufi religious motifs for the film Karz and infused them with disco in an effort to keep up. 
This period of Bollywood music saw an interesting variation in styles as many music directors tried to process and incorporate disco without losing what made them famous in the first place. Disco became important genre for contemporary, current and future Bollywood. Being a hardcore Bollywood movies and music fan. I take this rare opportunity to list down the Top 20 Bollywood Songs of the 80s and 90s

Disco diwane

Boom Boom by Nazia Hassan from Star

Song from Qurbani

Song from Suraksha (1979)

Song from Suraksha (1979)

Song from Pyaara Dushman (1980)

Song from Karz 1980

Song from Shaan 1980

Song from Aap Ke Deewane 1980

Song from Armaan (1981)

Song from Haathkadi (1982)

Song from Disco Dancer 1983

Song from Namak Halaal (1982)

Song from Khuddar 1982

Song from Vidhata 1982

Song from Disco Dancer 1982

Song from Justice Chaudhary(1983)

Song from Locket 1986

Song from Love Love Love 1989

Song from Thanedar 1990

A Tribute to MEENA KUMARI-The Greatest Actress

Today on 45th death Anniversary we remember Meena Kumari.She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi cinema,Meena Kumari (1 August 1932 – 31 March 1972)-The Tragedy Queen of Bollywood.
Meena Kumari was born with the birth name Mahjabeen into the family of Ali Bux and Iqbal Begum on 1 August 1932/33.Little mehjabeen embarked on her acting career at the age of six, she was immersed in work over next four years, as child artist mostly in Vijay Bhatt productions Leatherface (1939), Pooja (1940), Nai Roshni (1941), Bahen (1941), Kasauti (1941) and Garib (1942).Vijay Bhatt became her mentor and, on the sets of Ek Hi Bhool (1940), rechristened Mahjabeen as Baby Meena
She became heroine at the age of 14,Bachhon Ka Khel(1946) was his first film as heroine.Same year her another film  Duniya Ek Sarai (1946), Piya Ghar Aaja (1947) and Bichchade Balam (1948) performing with credit and winning recognition from all in the industry. 
On 14 February 1952 Meena Kumari age 19 and Kamal Amrohi age 34 secretly married in a simple 'Nikah' Cermoney, in the presence of a Qadi and Kumari's younger sister Mahaleka(madhu). The marriage was kept secret from family and media.Though Kamal Amrohi was already married and had three childrens.

1952 was a milestone in the life of meena Kumari,she not only married that year but also she got stardom with the release of Baiju Bawra. Meena Kumari won the first ever Filmfare Best Actress Award for Baiju Bawra on 21 March 1954 at the Metro Theatre in Bombay.The film celebrated diamond jubilee. The film was a musical, set up in Mughal India of 16th Century, with classical Hindustani melodies set by Naushad Ali.
Some of her best known films were  Parineeta, Baadbaan,Sharada ,Sahara ,Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan ,Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi.,Dil Ek Mandir,Kaajal and Pakeezah

Meena Kumari  became addicted to alcohol. Her life and prosperous career were marred by heavy drinking, troubled relationships, an ensuing deteriorating health, and her death from liver cirrhosis in 1972.
She got burried at Shia Cemetry Mazgaon Mumbai.Her real name is carved in Urdu on the marble, her assumed name in English and Hindi is written in black paint.

Some of the Hit Songs of Meena Kumari

Mohe Bhool Gaye  from Baiju Bawra

Kitna Haseen Mausam from Azad

do sitaron ka milan hai aaj ki raat from kohinoor

Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh

jyoti kalash chhalke

Na Jao Saiyan  from Saheb Biwi Aur Gulam

Ruk Ja Raat  from Dil Ek Mandir

Hum Intezaar Karenge Tera Qayamat Tak from Bahu Begum

Duniya Kare Sawal To Hum from Bahu Begum

Mausam Hai Aashikana  from Pakeezah

Bollywood's Love for Switzerland

Today's generation think that it was Yash Chopra who introduced Switzerland to Hindi Cinema goers which is not true.It was Raj Kapoor who introduced Switzerland to Hindi Cinema goers.The first Indian movie shot in Switzerland was Raj Kapoor’s Sangam in 1964.This was at a time when nobody anticipated that this tiny country would soon become the most frequented destination for film shooting.

India's first movie shot in Switzerland: Sangam (1964)

Then came Shammi Kapoor's thriller, An Evening in Paris (1967). It was shot entirely abroad. Paris being the focal point, the movie also had some significant part shot in Switzerland

Akele Akele Kahan Ja Rahe Ho shot in Switzerland 

Dev Anand was next who explored Switzerland. In his directorial debut Prem Pujari (1970), Dev Anand followed the trend. He shot several scenes and a famous song inside Switzerland.

Song from Prem Pujari 1970 shot in Switzerland

In 1970 Yash Chopra came to Switzerland for his honeymoon .He was so  mesmerised by the landscape, he turned to Switzerland regularly for his movies which he produced under his banner Yash Raj Films.First time it was in Silsila he picturised a song on Amitabh Bachchan with Rekha beside Amsterdam 

Song from Silsila 1981

The 1989 blockbuster Chandni had made headlines because of Sri Devi’s costumes. But the scenic beauty of Switzerland in the scenes can not be missed. The iconic lake Alpenrausch was one of the few locations of the shoot 

Song from  Chandni 1989

Hundreds of Indian movies have been shot to this date, but the 1995 hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (produced by Yash Chopra) happens to be the today's generation most famous movie shot in Switzerland.Part of the song "Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main" was shot in the main promenade of Gstaad, a tiny-yet-charming village in western Switzerland

Song from Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge 1995

1999 film Biwi No 1 starring Anil Kapoor,Karishma kapoor ,Salman Khan and Sushmita Sen had a song picturised in Lurecne Switzerland.

Song from Biwi No 1 

Same year in 1999 ,Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar starring Khoobsurat was also shot in Switzerland. the song Badi Taza Khabar Hai was shot at Main street of  Gruyeres Switzerland

Song from Khoobsurat 1999

Lake Thun,in Switzerland is more popular with movie lovers, given the fact that the famous Humko Humise Chura Lo song from a Bollywood classic Mohabbatein was shot here.

Song from Mohabbatein 2000

2001 film Jodi No 1 starring Govinda was also shot here,Govinda danced to woo in Jodi No. 1 at Rougemont Castle  the song Meri Mehbooba was picturised here

Song from Jodi No. 1

Gstaad is renowned as the ‘romantic haven’ for globe trotters across the world; a town where many a sweet verses have been sung and re-lived for decades.After DDLJ ,in 2008 film Bachna ae Haseeno the same town was selected for the song Aahista Aahista that was  featured in  Bachna ae Haseeno, another romantic movie with heart throb Ranbir Kapoor and three leading Bollywood actresses

Song from Bachna ae Haseeno 2008

Relax & Enjoy your SUNDAY with These BOLLYWOOD FUN SONGS

Sunday,A day to refuel your soul and be greatful for your blessings.Take a deep breath and relax.Enjoy your family,your friends,a cup of coffee with these 7 Bollywood  FUN Songs
Part-8      5-2-2017
Mein Banoongee Filmstar by Shamshad Begum 
A rare song from the film ,Ajeeb Ladki released in 1952  with Naseem and Rehman .the music director Ghulam Mohammad and Lyricist was Shakeel Badayuni.Only Audio is available.

Song from Chhalia 1960

Song from Humjoli 1970

Song from Aap Ke Deewane 1980

Songs from Appu Raja 1990

Songs from Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain  2000

Songs from Befikre  2016