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

 

The Iconic Cinema Halls of India

Gone are the days of Talkies and Bioscope. Amidst the bubbling Multiplexes and multi-screen movie viewing experience, we might have forgotten about the old and rustic cinema halls that used to be most visited places.
 Today's generation living in metro cities may have even not seen a single screen cinema hall. In many cities the old cinema theatres are demolished, on that land commercial complexes are built. In this blog I look into the journey of cinema halls in India.

Elphinstone Picture Palace, and later called Chaplin Cinema, this is the first ever Cinema Hall in India. Founded by Jamshedji Framji Madan in 1907, Elphinstone was one of the most sought after place. Later when it became a full-fledged movie theatre as Chaplin, the popularity rose to ten-fold. The site is now demolished and used by Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Royal Talkies, Grant Road Bombay started in 1911, Royal theatre was known to show small documentaries shot and stage plays during Old Mumbai days. With a seating capacity of 600 people, hardly any heads are seen now. Located at Royal Cinematography, M Shaukat Ali Road, Mumbai Central, this is one of those beautiful memories of old talkies still in shape to be watched when along the way. 

Gaiety Cinema Madras Raghupathy Venkiah Naidu, a successful photographer of the south, took over the equipment after the exhibition and set up a tent cinema near the Madras High Court. R. Venkiah, flush with funds, built in 1912 a permanent cinema in the Mount Road area named Gaiety Theatre. It was the first in Madras to screen films on a full-time basis. The theatre later closed for commercial developments
Mr Raghupathy Venkatesh set up a chain of theatres across South India. After Gaiety, he constructed Crown Theatre on Mint Street followed by Globe on Purasawalkam High Road and then the Imperial Theatre in Madurai
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Caapitol Cinema, CST : Exactly opposite our Monument CST station is this old small white looking theatre called ‘Capitol’ since 1879, Once the Gothic movie playhouse of residents around fort area which played some British dramas is now the B Grade Hindi movie show theatre. The very first show at Capitol cinema was attended by Governor and his wife, which features a premiere of ‘The Flag Lieutenant’ which was a British film.

Alfred Cinema Hall, Grant Road  Alfred is one of those oldest talkies started in 1880 with name ‘Rippon’ then renamed to ‘Alfred’ in 1932

Minerva Cinema Calcutta The Minerva Theatre was a theatre in Calcutta, built in 1893. It was erected at the site on Beadon Street where the Great National Theatre stood before. The maiden play held on this stage was 'Macbeth'.  It was initially owned by Nagendra Bhusan Mukhopaddhaya. In course of time, it witnessed several transfers of ownership."Minerva" was burnt down in a fire in 1922. However, it was renovated and in 1925, it regained its old status and play acting was resumed. The Minerva, along with the Star and The Classic Theatre, was also one of the places where the first motion pictures in Bengal, made by Hiralal Sen, were screened.

.Regal Cinema, Delhi: It was the first cinema hall to be constructed in Connaught Place. It was constructed in 1932 and has a seating capacity of 694. Now this cinema theatre is closed and converted into Madam Tussaud Museum

Plaza Cinema Delhi The Plaza Cinema opened in 1933 and was designed by architect Robert Tor Russell as part of the Connaught Place development. The facade had a classical style with columns that matched adjoining buildings.
The facade was covered over in 1967 by a plain stone slab, while the inside the auditorium has been modernised by a covering of pegboard sound insulation tiles which give a bland appearance. Seating is provided in stalls and balcony levels. The cinema was equipped to screen 70mm film and underwent a renovation, re-opening in May 2004 by the popular multiplex chain PVR Cinemas. T

.Everest Talkies, Bangalore This is one of the standalone single screen theatres which plays potboilers to documentaries. The theatre was constructed by Maistry Chowriappa in the 1930s and has been in operation since then. For a while, for revamping purposes the place remained closed for a year but has opened up with a bang.
By the year 1921, there were 150 cinema halls in India. Bombay and Calcutta had the maximum.

Rajmandir Cinema Jaipur  Raj Mandir Cinema holds a unique position in the heart of all visitors and locals of Jaipur. Though it's not that old it is iconic because it is the best cinema hall in Asia.
In 1966, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Mohanlal Sukhadia, laid the foundation stone for this amazing theatre. RajMandir was more of a dream Project. It was his dream to build a grand beautiful entertainment spot which can be the best example of Modern and Stylish Jaipur. It took around ten years to construct this grand piece of entertainment. 

ANAND BAKSHI - Kuch To Log Kahenge

He got his break writing songs in a Brij Mohan's film titled, "Bhalaa Aadmi", 1958, acted by Bhagwan Dada. He wrote 4 songs in this film. His first song in this film was "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal" which was recorded on 9 Nov 1956. In his own voice.
He first found success in 1962, with Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, which was produced by (LimeLight), Music Kalyanji & Anandji,In the same year he wrote a quawali for the film "Kaala Samundar" which became hit.the song was "Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tum".
1965 was a great year for him as a lyricist.His all the songs of the film "Himalaya ki God Mein' became very popular.Another film 'Jab Jab Phool Khile"was a musical hit.Next year the music of "Aye Din Bahar Ke" became popular,his association LP was to make magic in 1967 with the super hit film MILAN and the song "Sawan ka Mahina,Pavan Kare Shor' became the song of the year.By this time he became a lyrics writer of immense caliber. He went on to work as a lyricist of over 3500 songs and 638 films in his career.
Anand Bakshi’s was widely associated with music Composers such as Laxmikant Pyarelal, R D Burman, Kalyanji Anandji, SD Burman, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan and Anand-Milind and his songs have been sung by all the top singers .
Wit R D Burman he did 99 movies together and gave memorable songs."Dum Maro Dum" in the movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna(1972).Amar Prem Apna desh,Jawani Diwani,Sita Aur Gita.Heera Panna.Namak Haraam,Aap Ki Kasam,Sholay,Mehbooba,Shaan.Love Storyand many more.
Here are some of the songs with R D Burman

Song of Katie Patang 1970

Song of The Train 1970

Song of Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971

Song of Amar Prem 1971

Song of Jawani Diwani 1972

Song of Namak Haraam 1973

Song of  Aap Ki Kasam 1974

Song of  Sholay 1975

Song of  Mehbooba 1976

Song of  Love Story1981

Jagdeep - When Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Appreciated his Performance

Jagdeep born on 29th March 1939 started as a child artist from B R Chopra's Afsana in 1951. As a child artist h appeared in films like Ab Dilli Door Nahin, K. A. Abbas's Munna, Guru Dutt's Aar Paar, Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin and AVM's Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke. After Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, he received various accolades and high praise for his roles. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru has gifted his personal scarf to Jagdeep for his stellar performance in Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke.
He was launched as a leading man by AVM in the films Bhabhi, Barkha and Bindaya, and went on to do a few more films as a leading man. Many hit songs were picturisation on him as a leading actor.Later he switched to comedy and established himself a com median in many films.Today's generation remembers him as Soon a Bhopal of Sholay and Salman Khan's dad in Andaz Apna Apna (1994). 
He is also known for his appearances in many horror movies, especially in projects of the Ramsay Brothers. He appeared in famous hits like Purana Mandir and Saamri.
In this blog I am posting some of the hit songs picturised on him

Song of Bhabhi 1957

Song of Bhabhi 1957

Song of Punarmilan 1964

Song of Punarmilan 1964

Song of  Phir Wohi Raat.

Song of  Baap Bete 1959

Song of  Insaf Ki Awaz 1986

S N TripathI - A Forgotten Music Director

Shri Nath Tripathi (14 December 1912 – 28 March 1988) was an Indian composer, whose active years were from the 1930s to the 1980s. Tripathi's multi-faceted work range included being a composer, writer, actor, and director of films. 
His first film as a composer was Chandan (1942). He continued to compose for films like Janam Janam Ke Phere (1957), where the song "Zara Saamne Toh Aao Chhaliye" became the top Binaca Geetmala song. The famous song "Na Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon" was also composed by him.
Tripathi turned to direction in 1957 starting with Rani Roopmati. Two of his films with 7Nirupa Roy and Bharat Bhushan, Rani Roopmati (1959) and Kavi Kalidas (1959), are cited as having "cinematic merit" and "unforgettable music"
Here are some of the great songs by this forgotten composer

Song of Janam Janam Ke Phere (1957)

Song of Rani Roopmati (1957)

Song of Chandra Mukhi (1960)

Song of Lal Quila (1961)

Song of Lal Quila (1961)

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Song of Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962)

Actor Singer Songs of Bollywood

Before the playback singing started in Bolywood ,all most all the hero and heroines used to sing their songs,in fact they were taken on the basis of their singing talent.K L SAIGAL,Noor Jeahan,Ashok Kumar,Devika Rani,Kanan Devi and Suraiya were singing sensation of their time.
The great singers of Golden Era of Hindi Cinema like Mohammad Rafi,Kishorn Kumar,Mukesh and TalatMahmood also acted in many films.There are many playback singers who turned to acting but could not succeed,similarly there were many actors who tried their talent in singing. In this blog I have taken some of these great actors who sang in the films.

The first song on my list is from the 1947 film  Dil Ki Rani sung by Raj Kapoor

Song of Dil Ki Rani 1947

Here is a rare song sung by Dilip Kumar,a duet with Lata Mangeshkar in 1957 film Musafir

Song of Musafir 1957

We all know that Mena Kumari was a poet but beside this she was a good singer also,she sang many songs in her films like Duniya Ek Sarai 

                         Piya Ghar Aaja, Bichhade Bala and Pinjre Ke Panchhi

Song Duniya Ek Sarai

Amitabh  Bachchan is another actor who sang many songs in his films.The first time he sang in Mr Natwar Lal and later in many films like Lawaris ,Silsila and many more.

Song of Lawaris

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Nutan was also a good singer, she sang in the 1960 film Chhabili

Song of Chhabili 1960

Amir Khan

Amir Khan sang Aati Kya Khandala in Ghulam^,,Bum Bum Bole in Taare Zameen Par, I Hate You in Delhi Belly and Dhaakad in Dangal.

Song of Ghulam 1998

Farhan Akhtar sang all the songs of movie Rock on, one song in movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, "Dil Dhadakne Do" title song and many more.

Song of Rock On 2008

Salmon Khan though not a good singer sang in few films like Bodyguard, Kick and Hero

Song of Bodyguard 

Shraddha Kapoor sang "Galliyan Unplugged" in Ek Villain, "Do Jahaan" in Haider, "Bezubaan Phir Se" in ABCD 2 and "Sab Tera" in Baaghi.

Song of Ek Villain 

Shahrukh Khan sang "Apun Bola" in Josh, "Jab Tak Hai Jaan Poem" in Jab Tak Hai Jaan and "Happy New Year".

Song of Josh