Story Behind the song Hotho Mein Aisi Baat

"Hotho Mein Aisi Baat, Mein Dabaa Ke Chali Ayee" is one of the best dance sequences in Indian Cinema. This is from Dev Anand's classic Jewel Thief(1967). That was the time when actresses were actually trained (long term!) in dance. Vyjantimala, of course, was the best of the best. But others like Waheeda Rehman, Hema Malini and others have also given some great dance sequences.
Vijay Anand was the director of this film, we all know that he was the master of picturising a song. This movie started a trend where directors began putting a song before the climax. Before that, he tried a song before the climax in Nau Do Gyaraha(1957) but this song remains one of the best Dance Songs of Bollywood.

Vijay Anand worked with Vyjantimala for the first time. She was a Super Star at that time. There were some date problems and many distractions but Vyjayantimala being the professional that she was, still came up with a polished performance. Goldie's only grievance was that she could have done better with Hoton Pe Aisi Baat. He wanted her to rehearse the number before we went for a final take. But she told me airily that she didn't need any rehearsals. he insisted she did, but she still didn't report for rehearsals and came straight to the set. he called for "pack-up" and told her firmly that she had to stay back in the studio and practise with the assistants. She did practise, for 15 minutes. Then she got into her car and drove off saying that Saroj Khan would be coming to her place later and they'd go over the steps together. The rehearsal never happened but Vyjayantimala being a good actress and an excellent dancer didn't find it too difficult to pick up the steps and the shots were okayed quickly. So if you see a single camera capture of Vyjantimala’s magic, it was ACTUALLY done in a single shot

The song is from those days where technology was so much poorer compared to today, the editing of that song was marvellous. Which means that they didn’t have sharp edits that could get stitched together, and look like one single camera sequence, Think of the choreography with the support dance troupe, and other stars like Dev Anand, floating in between the long sequence otherwise focused on Vyjantimala.
Honthon Mein Aisi Baat” (brilliantly choreographed by Master Sohanlal), as the camera follows Vyjayanthimala, he uses the circular tracks, dynamic angles and cuts to build up the tension to a crescendo. Here is an example of how Western technique could merge with Indian art. Even as you enjoy the aesthetics of dance.
As we all know that the music was given by S D Burman and he was assisted by his son R D Burman who by that time had become an independent Music Director and was giving the music of Teesri Manzil side by side. The song was sung by Lata Mangeshkar but you will be surprised to know that Bhupinder also participated in that song. Bhupinder sings the opening
refrain Hooooo for Dev and in the middle of the song he says " O Shalu". That was his total contribution to the song.

Song of Jewel Thief 1967

 

Songs were the Integral Part of Dev Anand Personality

Can you imagine a film with Dev Anand without singing a song in that film? Songs were always an integral part of his personality. Could you believe that he got to sing very few songs in his early films? Maybe it was a trend in those days but the heroines got all the songs. Between 1946 to 1952 he had 28 films but there were hardly a few noteworthy songs for him. Even in his debut production’Afsar’ he had no song. A film like ‘Aaram’ which had such good songs, one song -Shukriya ai pyar tera shukriya’ was filmed on Talat Mehmood himself and another great song ‘Ai jaane jigar’ sung by Mukesh was lip synced by Prem Nath. In another film, Manmohan Krishna playing a sidekick of Dev Anand had two good songs while Dev had none. Even in ‘Milap’ directed by his close friend Raj Khosla the Hemant Kumar song Yeh baharon ka samaan filmed on Dev Anand is edited out in the film while the female version is there. It was only, later on, say after 1955 that he got to sing many songs and he developed his signature style in song picturisations.

It is also seen that the majority of the songs from his movies are lip-synced by him. A solo or a duet – but Dev Anand got to lip sync even if it was a word or 2.He even appear in the frame whether he has no line to lip sync.

In this Blog I have selected those songs where Dev Anand is in the same frame with his co-actor but not lip syncing.

The first song in my list is from CID (1956), the song is Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re

It is a complete village belle song but wouldn’t be complete without Dev Anand. He just smiles throughout the song and that makes the song so much more charming!!

Song of  CID (1956)

In this song from House No 44 released in 1955,Dev Anand  is a part of the song even if he is just humming. Like in Peechhe peechhe aakar all he does is just hmm hmm hmm hmm.

Song of House No 44 (1955)

The next song is Hum Jaan Gaye Sarkar Tum Lakh Karo Inkaar from the film Love Marriage (1959), here Mala Sinha is all delighted to tease Dev Anand. Insisting that he’s in love and Dev Anand like an innocent boy keeps denying.

Song of Love Marriage (1959)

Another song in my list is from Bombai Ka Babu 1960, in this song Suchitra Sen is singing and dancing with her friends but Dev Anand appears on full frame.

Song of Bombai Ka Babu 1960,

Sach Hue Sapne Tere-Kala Bazaar 1960

In this song, Waheeda Rehman teasing Dev Anand while he is sulking. But we’re treated with a charming Dev smile by the end of the song.

Song of Kala Bazar 1960,

In the song, Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai from Guide Waheeda Rehman sings a solo but it will be incomplete without the caring and charming yet a silent guide beside her.

Song of Guide 1965

Honthon pe aisi baat is an all Vyjayantimala song, but here too Dev Anand gets to sing that inimitable call O Shalooooo. 

Song of Jewel Thief 1967

JAISE RADHA NE MALA JAPI SHYAM from Tere Mere Sapne 1971 is one such song ia a heroine song but Dev Annand in full frame

Song of  Tere Mere Sapne 1971

Koi Koi Raat Aisi Hoti Hai from the film is one such song where heroine Rakhi is singing a solo song but Dev Anand is shown in full frame even his photograph is shown in full frame.

                                                             Song of Banarsi Babu 1973

Lootmar, the 1980 film where a cabaret was picturised on Simple Kapadia, the song 

Jab Chaye Mera Jadoo-Koi Bach Na Paye here also Dev Anand appears on full frame

Song of Lootmar 1980

Bhagwan Dada- The Original Dancing Star of Bollywood

When we talk of male dancing stars the name of Hrithik Roshan, Govinda and Shammi Kapoor comes to our mind but the original dancing star was Bhagwan Dada.
He was perhaps the first to introduce Ramba, Samba, Disco, rock-n-roll and other dance forms to Hindi cinema, the first male star to do so in the industry ruled by female dancers. Bhagwan Dada as he was popularly called, created a new grammar of comedy, through the unique style of acting and dancing, which inspired a whole generation of comedians in Hindi cinema.
Bhagwan Abhaji Palav popularly known as Bhagwan Dada was born on 1st Aug 1913 and died on 4th February 2002 was a popular comedian of Bollywood of the Golden Era. He is best known for his social film Albela (1951) and the song "Shola Jo Bhadke".A veteran actor of about 600 films in the course of more than five decades, 
 He was a wide-eyed admirer of the silent cinema and worshipped Master Vithal who was the star of the day. He used to dream of emulating his stunt and fight scenes.
He started his Film Career in the Silent Film Era, in 1930, he got a break. Producer Siraj Ali Hakim gave him a comedian’s role in the silent film "Bewafa Aashiq," based on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". The film was a hit, but he was without offers for eight months because it was believed that he was really a hunchback!
In 1934 he made his first talkie "Himmat-e-Mardan". After that, he joined another company and directed a film called "Bahadur Kisan", with Hansa Wadkar as the heroine. The movie again was a big hit. During the shooting of the film, he had taken a lanky young man, Chitilkar Ramachandra, as his assistant. He gave him a break as a music director in the three. Tamil films he directed in Madras. He used to call him Anna and there began their long association during which C. Ramachandra, out of gratitude, gave him Hindi film industry’s all-time favourite songs for "Albela," including one of the loveliest loris Dhire se aaja ri, ankhiyan mein.
He produced many films after ALBELA but most of his films flopped, His film "Sahme Hue Sapney" didn’t survive beyond the first show. Then he suffered a heavy loss while making "Hanste Rehna" with Kishore Kumar. He had invested his own money, pawned his wife’s jewellery and withdrawn all his life’s savings. But halfway through, Kishore started dilly-dallying and "behaving crazily" and the project had to be shelved.

His sea-facing Juhu bungalow with 25 rooms along with his fleet of seven cars (one for each day of the week) had to be sold. The family moved to a two-room set in a chawl at Dadar. In his last days, he was being looked after by his unmarried daughter and the family of his youngest son, who is a sound recordist. Bhagwan died of a massive heart attack at his residence in Dadar on 4 February 2002

Song from Albela 1951

Song from Albela 1951

Song of  Bhagam Bhag  1956.

Comedy Clip from Mein Bhi Ek Ladki Hoon 1964

Song from Badlaa 1974

Waheeda Rehman- A Journey from Kamini(C I D) to Nurse Radha of Khamoshi

Her first appearance in a Hindi film was in CID (1956) as Kamini then came Gulabo of Pyaasa, Shanti of Kagaz Ke Phool, Rosie of Guide, Hira Bai of Teesri Kasam to Nurse Radha of Khamoshi gave Hindi Film Industry many immortal characters.
In her acting journey, Waheeda Rehman established a great working relationship with Dev Anand, and together as a pair had a number of successful films to their credit. The box office hits of the pair include CID (1956), Solva Saal (1958), Kala Bazar (1960), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) and Guide (1965); box office duds were Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1961) and Prem Pujari (1970). She reached her peak with Guide (1965) and was much in demand. Rehman was cast as Gulabi in Satyajit Ray's Bengali film Abhijan in 1962.
She has played all type of characters in her journey. She worked in the comedy film Girl Friend in 1960 with Kishore Kumar. She worked in two psychological thriller films Bees Saal Baad and Kohra opposite Biswajeet.

Her career continued throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her roles in Guide (1965), where she hit the peak of her career, and Neel Kamal (1968), but despite excellent offbeat roles in subsequent films, including a National Award winning performance in Reshma Aur Shera (1971), some of the films failed at the box office. Seeing her films being successful, Waheeda decided to experiment with roles at this stage of career. She accepted Reshma Aur Shera, opposite her old co-star Sunil Dutt, with whom she had previously in the sixties had hits such as Ek Phool Char Kaante, Mujhe Jeene Do, Meri Bhabhi and Darpan. Her performance was appreciated by critics, but the film failed at the box office. But Waheeda continued to experiment with roles and accepted the offer to play a mother to Jaya Bhaduri in Phagun (1973). 
She played pivotal roles include Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Jwalamukhi (1980), Namkeen and Namak Halaal (1982), Mashaal(1984), Chandni(1989) and Rang De Basanti(2006). She played the central character in the Mahesh Bhatt directed film Swayam that starred Akash Khurana and Anupam Kher. She also appeared in a tele-series being directed by Gulzar.
In recent years she made a comeback playing elderly mother and grandmother roles in Om Jai Jagadish (2002), Water (2005), Rang De Basanti (2006), 15, Park Avenue and Delhi 6 (2009) which were all critically acclaimed.

Song of C I D (1956)

Song of Pyasa (1957)

Song of Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam 1962

Song of Bees Saal Baad  1962

Song of Mujhe Jeene Do  1963

Song of Guide  1965

Song of  Teesri Kasam 1966

Helen - The Original Dancing Diva of Bollywood

Started her career as a Chorus Dancer Helen became the first Dancing Diva of Bollywood. It was the dance song Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu from the film Howrah Bridge in 1958 made her the Cabaret Queen of Bollywood. She changed the entire scenario of dance in Hindi cinema from the early 50s to the late 70s to emerge many years later as a character actress in a few chosen films. 
She was born in Burma (21 Nov), now Myanmar, to a Burmese mother and Anglo-Indian father. The famous dancing star Cuckoo was a family friend. She introduced her as a dancer in the chorus in Shabista in 1951.  She got  her first hit song-and-dance number in Baarish (1957), Mr John, Baba Khan ya Lala Roshandaan Jo Bhi Dekhe Mera Jalwa Ho Jaaye Qurbaan. 

She was initially trained in the Manipuri style. Then she learnt Bharat Natyam from P.L. Raj, one of the leading choreographers of the time. Kathak followed this. She was the one who introduced the cabaret and the belly dance in Indian films.  
Helen vamped three generations of men, Prithviraj Kapoor (Harishchandra Taramati), Raj Kapoor (Anari (1959)) and Rishi Kapoor (Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (1977)).
Hindi cinema found many uses for Helen. Since she was an outsider in almost every sense – by name, by national origin, by heredity – she could be anyone. And so a million fantasies were pinned on to one single form. She could be an Italian countess (Prince (1969)) or a German one (Ek Se Badhkar Ek (1976)) or an Anglo-Indian gold-digger (Gumnaam (1965)) or a tribal (Baadal) or an aboriginal Maharashtrian Koli fisherwoman (Inkaar (1977)) or a Chinese woman (Howrah Bridge (1958)) or a Roman Catholic Jenny (Imaan Dharam (1977)).

 She was nominated for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award in 1965 for her role in Gumnaam. She played dramatic roles such as the rape victim in Shakti Samanta's Pagla Kahin Ka (1970).It was  a role in Mahesh Bhatt's film Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979), for which she won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. In 1999 Helen was given India's Filmfare lifetime achievement award.
Helen officially retired from movies in 1983, but she has since then appeared in a few guest roles such as Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Mohabbatein (2000). She also made a special appearance as the mother of real-life step-son Salman Khan's character in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.. She also appeared in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye in 2006.

Helen was selected for the Padma Shri awards of 2009 along with Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar.

Song of Baarish 1957

Song of Howrah Bridge 1958

Song of China Town (1962)

Song of Gumnaam (1965)

Song of Teesri Manzil (1966)

Song of Talaash (1969)

Song of Intaquam (1969)

Song of The Train (1970)

Song of Caravan (1970)

Song of Sholay (1975)

Song of Don 1978

Madhuri Dixit-Who Entertained us with Iconic Songs & Dance

Madhuri Dixit is one of those few actresses who is aging so gracefully that with every passing year, she only ends up looking even more beautiful. She has given us some iconic songs like , Ek Do Teen, Tamma Tamma Loge,Choli Ke Peeche Kya hai, Kay Sera Sera that are definitely going to stay with us forever. she is blessed by the Gods of dance and in the industry that heavily relies on its culture of song and dance, she became a goddess.
She was born on 15th May 1967,she was a born dancer,started dancing at the age of 3.She  went on to practice the art of Kathak and later on to become a trained professional Kathak dancer.Pandit Birju Maharaj, a Kathak dancer, who choreographed Dixit in the film Devdas for the song "Kaahe Chhed", calls her "the best Bollywood dancer due to her versatility.
She made her acting debut in Rajshri Productions' movie Abodh in 1984 but got real success with Tejab released in 1988.The dance song Ek Do Teen made her famous throughout India.With the success of this film she became the favourite of the masses.n 1989 Subhash Ghai's drama Ram Lakhan was released, in which she was paired once again with Anil Kapoor. This film also became a super-hit,Thereafter Dixit got success in Rajiv Rai's multi-starrer action thriller Tridev, Now she was among the top 3 heroines of Bollywood.
In the early nineties she gave many hit films like Dil opposite Aamir Khan, Saajan opposite Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, Beta opposite Anil Kapoor,Dixit's performance of Saraswati earned her critical acclaim.the highlight of the film was undoubtedly Dhak Dhak Karne Laga – probably the sexiest and most popular dance of Madhuri's career.
In 1993, Dixit starred in the controversial super-hit Khalnayak opposite Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff. The audiences ran in droves to witness the Madhuri Dixit magic. In every scene, she holds you captive with her stunning beauty, demanding screen presence, expressive acting and excellent dancing skills. Saroj Khan’s dance choreography is entertaining to watch, particularly in "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai".
Then came  Hum Aapke Hain Koun.in 1994 opposite Salman Khan. The film became one of the biggest hits in the history of Hindi cinema.1995 saw Dixit star in the hit Raja opposite Sanjay Kapoor.Her next release was David Dhawan's Yaraana opposite Rishi Kapoor, in which she played a dancer on the run from her abusive lover.She starred in Yash Chopra's musical romance Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), opposite Shahrukh Khan and Karisma Kapoor. Her role of a woman faced with a moral dilemma in a love triangle fetched her the fourth Filmfare Best Actress Award.
Her one of the memorable films was  Devdas, co-starring Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. She portrayed Chandramukhi, a courtesan who is in love with the title character.It turned out to be her last film for a while as she shifted to Denver with her family.
In 2006, Dixit returned to India with her family, and acted in cinematographer Anil Mehta's dance film Aaja Nachle (2007) after that she appeared in  Dedh Ishqiya (2014).She also appears as Judge in many dance competitions show on TV.
In this blog I have selected the Iconic Dance numbers of Madhuri Dixit.

Song from Tezaab 1988

Song from Sailab 1990

Song from Thanedar 1990

Song from Beta (1992)

Song from Khalnayak (1993)

Song from Anjaam (1994)

Song from Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994)

Song from Raja (1995)

Song from Yaraana (1995)

Song from Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)

Song from Pukar (2000)

Song from Devdas (2002)

Song from Aaja Nachle (2007)

50 Years of BRAHMACHARI

Super Hit film Brahmachari completes 50 Years today. It was released on 27th April 1968.The film became a box office hit and won several awards, including Filmfare Best Movie Award.The film stars Shammi Kapoor, Rajshree, Pran, Mumtaz, Jagdeep, Sachin and Asit Sen. The music was by Shankar Jaikishan.They got theFilmfare Award for this film.In fact the best Lyricist gone to Shailendra and Mohammad Rafi got the Best Male Singer for the song."Dil Ke Jharoke Mein"Brahmachari” won six Filmfare awards out of the eight categories it was nominated for. 

Music scholar and film expert Rajesh Subramanian  wrote an interesting incident that the song "Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche" was a rejected tune, which a depressed Jaikishan played to Shammi Kapoor at Hotel Gaylord. Kapoor found the tune very catchy and suggested to director Bhappi Sonie to include the song in Brahmachari. The song became one of the highlights of the film. 
“Brahmachari”  is perhaps one of the few films where Shammi Kapoor gives a restrained and sombre performance, in contrast to his usually exuberant and boisterous “Yahoo” persona that he created for the Bollywood screen.

The film is about an enterprising photographer Brahmachari (Shammi Kapoor) who looks after a dozen orphan children in a rented accommodation as he himself had been abandoned on streets and has no clue about his parentage. One day, looking for an exclusive picture, he saves beautiful Sheetal (Rajshri) from near suicide which she wishes to undertake since she has been spurned by her fiancée Ravi (Pran). He not only saves her but also employs her as a maid for his “foster children” and their kinship soon evolves into deep bonds of affection.
The find of this film was Jr Mehmood.Remember the hilarious dance act on 'Hum kaale hain toh kya hua dilwale hain...' from the movie 'Brahmachari'? The little naughty boy who imitated comic style of the great comedian Mehmood Ali is still fresh in everyone's mind. 

Yet in the ultimate analysis, the film belongs to Shammi's ‘voice', Rafi, who along with S-J's music and Shailendra-Hasrat lyrics, brings forth some unforgettable melodies that helped shape Brahmachari into a cult figure for eternity.

Songs from Brahmachari