Pran- Started his Second Inning from the film Ziddi(1948)

 

Ziddi(1948) was the first hit film of Dev Anand and was also the first Bombay film of Pran. Before this film, Pran was working in Lahore Film Industry. His first film was Yamla Jatt, a Punjabi film released in 1940. His first Hindi film was Khandan made in Lahore was released in 1942, he was the hero of this film and Noorjehan was his heroine.

He had acted in 22 films from 1942 to 1946 in Lahore; 18 were released by 1947. After the partition of India, he moved to Bombay and had to struggle for livelihood.  For a few months, he looked for acting opportunities while doing other jobs. He worked in Delmar Hotel, Marine Drive for eight months, after which he got a chance to act in 1948. He got this opportunity because  of his friendship with  writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam, 

Within a week of Ziddi's success, he had signed three more films – S M Yusuf's Grihasti (1948), which became a diamond jubilee hit, Prabhat Films' Apradhi (1949) and Wali Mohammad's Putli (1949). By then, Wali Mohammad, who was responsible for Pran's first role, had come to Bombay and became a producer, setting up an office at Famous Studios, near Mahalaxmi Racecourse.

As a villain, Pran's initial successful films were Ziddi and Bari Behan (1949).  He became the favourite of the directors like M. V. Raman, Nanabhai Bhatt, Kalidas, Ravindra Dave, I. S. Johar and Bimal Roy repeatedly cast him in the 50s. He was now regularly offered the role of the main villain or of a negative character in films with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor as the lead hero in the 1950s and 60s. Some of his memorable films with  Dilip Kumar in the 50s  Pran's trademark blowing of smoke rings first appeared in the latter film. were Aan (1952), Azaad (1955), Devdas (1955), Madhumati (1958), with Dev Anand were Munimji (1955), Amar Deep (1958), and with Raj Kapoor were  Aah (1953), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956), 

In the 50s he was also offered many films as hero,  Pilpili Saheb (1954) and then Halaku in 1956, were his hit films as a hero. . He had roles in several genres, like as a pirate in Sindbad the Sailor (1952) and Daughter of Sindbad (1958); He played comic roles with Kishore Kumar in Chham Chhama Chham (1952), Aasha (1957), Bewaqoof (1960), Half Ticket (1962) and Man-Mauji (1962).

In the late 1960s, Pran played Malang Chacha, a veteran war hero, in Manoj Kumar's film Upkar (1967). The Kalyanji Anandji song "Kasme Waade Pyaar Wafaa" was picturised on him. In this film, Pran played a more sympathetic role. He received his first Filmfare Award for Upkar. Kumar continued to cast him in pivotal roles in films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Be-Imaan (1972), Sanyasi (1975) and Dus Numbri (1976).

From 1969 to 1982, Pran was one of the highest-paid actors of Bollywood. He played the lead role in the film Aurat, (1967) paired opposite Padmini, with Rajesh Khanna in a supporting role. He was paid more amount than Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer(1973). Later he acted with Bachchan in about 14 films with notable ones being Zanjeer, Don (1978), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Dostana (1980), Naseeb (1981) and Sharaabi (1984).

Pran had a six-decade career in Hindi cinema and is one of the most celebrated actors of the industry.r He appeared in over 350 films. At the age of 78, Pran suffered a heart attack in 1998,after which he started rejecting film offers due to age-related problems.

Pran has received many awards and honours in his career. He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award in 1967, 1969 and 1972 and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He was awarded as the 'Villain of the Millennium' by Stardust in 2000.The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001 for his contributions to the arts. He was honoured in 2013 with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for cinema artists, by the Government of India.
.He died on 12 July 2013 at the age of 93 of pneumonia after suffering from a prolonged illness in Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital

Song of Munimji 1955

Song from Half Ticket 1962

Song of Upkar 1967

Song of Nanha Farishta 1969

Song of Adhikar 1971

Song of Victoria No 203 (1972)

Song of Zanjeer 1973

Song of  Dharma 1973

Song from Kasauti 1974

Clever Wordplay in Bollywood Songs

 

Hindi film songs have been an integral part of Hindi films. A song is appreciated or become immortal not only by its tune but also by its orchestration, vocals, audiovisual aspect and its lyrics. Flashy, peppy songs may become an instant hit, but do not have shelf value.

Lyrics of a song play a major role in a song to become immortal. Unfortunately, the songs of this generation lack the lyrical value. Today most of us do not know the lyricist of the currently most popular song. We may not be interested to know the name of the writer of the song. There was a time when the words of the songs were so beautiful that you would like to know the writer of the song.

Clever wordplay has become a thing of past, Almost almost all the lyricist of the Golden Era played with words, I have selected a few of these songs in this blog.

Recall the song 'Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin Iss Ambar Ke Neeche/Aage Hai Qatil Mera Aur Mein Peechhe Peechhe'. Majrooh Sultanpuri played on the word Qatil. Qatil signifying here the sweetheart to whom he can lay down his life.

Hasrat Jaipuri wrote these lines for the song from 'Rajkumar'(1964),' Tumne Kisi Ki Jaan Ko Jaate Hue Dekha Hai/ Woh Dekho Mujh Se Rooth Kar Meri Jaan Ja Rahi Hai'.The play on Jaan as both 'Beloved' and 'Life'. was unique.

Another example is 'Ke Jaan Chali Jaye, Jiya Nahin Jaye/ Jiya Jaye Toh Phir Jiya Nahin Jaye' here Anand Bakshi play Jiya as heart and life. This he wrote for the 1969 film Anjaana.

There is another song from the film 'Saudagar'(1973), ' Sajna Hai Mujhe Sajna Ke Liye' This song was written by Ravindra Jain, here Sajna means to get 'make up' and her beloved.

Song of Teesri Manzil 1967

Song of Rajkumar 1964

Song of Anjaana 1969

Song of Saudagar 1973

Song of Teen Deviyan 1966

Song of Himalya Ki God Mein 1965

"The Unforgettable Film Songs" of Jagjit Singh

It is believed that Jagjit Singh was the singer, who popularized ghazal, an Indian classical art among masses. He is considered to be the most successful ghazal singer and composer of all time in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success. 

Jagjit Singh came to Mumbai in 1965 to become a playback singer in Hindi films. Those days Mohammad Rafi was in his peak, there was Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh already established singers, there was no chance for him at that point of time. He had to struggle for a song in films. He obtained work initially as a singer of advertising jingles. He got the first break in the 1973 film Avishkar when music director Kanu Roy asked him and Chitra Singh to sing 'Babul Mora Naihar Chhoto Jaye' 

His first album "The Unforgettable" in 1976 made him and Chitra Singh star. The album is notable for one exceptional ghazal, Raat Bhi Neend Bhi, based on a Firaq Gorakhpuri poem. Another Ghazal by Kafeel Aazar ' Baat Niklegi To Bahut Door Tak Jayegi' was sung by him. The album was released by The Gramophone Company of India Ltd.

The popularity of the couple attracted the Hindi film Industry. He was offered to compose music for the film 'Premgeet' released in 1981, he sang a ghazal"Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum" in this film which was a hit among masses. After the success of this film, he got   2 films, Saath Saath and Arth. The song "Tum Ko Dekha To Yeh Khayal Aaya" and"Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho" were very popular. His compositions for the TV serial Mirza Ghalib (based on the life of the poet Mirza Ghalib), remain extremely popular among ghazal aficionados. 

In this blog, I have selected a few of his songs from Hindi films

Song of Avishkar 1973

Song of Premgeet 1981

 Song of Saath Saath 1982

Song of Arth 1983

Song of Arth 1983

Song of Dushman 1998

Song of Sarfarosh1999

Song of Tum Bin 2001

Song of Joggers Park 2003

Kavi Pradeep- His Songs Ignite Patriotism

 

Songs have always played an undisputed role in inciting the spirit of nationalism in the hearts of millions of people. Many patriotic songs, written by the literary stalwarts like Tagore or Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. 

Kavi Pradeep was the first songwriter to write patriotic songs for Bollywood. His song ' Chal Chal Re Naujawan", for the 1940 film Bandhan, made waves since the Indian freedom movement was at a crucial juncture.
The impact and popularity of the song can be gauged by the fact that the song used to be sung at these assemblies by patriotic INC activists. INC also formed a children corp known as “Vanar Sena” under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. Vanar Sena adopted the song as its marching song and Indira herself used to sing it at the meetings. She later admitted that this song had a lifelong impact on her.

His next song , “Aaj Himalaya ki choti se phir humne lalkara hai”  for the 1942 film 'Kismet' was very popular in the Quit India Movement. It is said that he had to go underground to avoid the arrest from the British Government.

Even after independence, he wrote many such songs. Recall the songs of Jagriti (1954)  'Aao Bachcho Tumhein Dikhayen Jhanki Hindustan Ki, Is Mitti Se Tilak Karo, Yeh Dharti Hai Balidan Ki" (sung by himself), "Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se Kishti Nikal Ke, Is Desh Ko Rakhna Mere Bachcho Sambhal Ke" and "De Dee Humein Azadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal, Sabarmati Ke Sant Tu Ne Kar Diya Kamaal".

He always believed in writing songs in simple words portraying a meaning fitting into the situation. The popularity of his songs was due to his down-to-earth lyrics and simple language that was well understood by everyone.

He was the writer of Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, that become one of the greatest patriotic songs of the country. It was while Lata Mangeshkar was rendering the song that the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was moved to tears. For writing the song Kavi Pradeep was conferred the honour of "Rashtriya Kavi" (National Poet) by the government of India.

Beside writing patriotic songs he wrote all type of songs for Bollywood,In a career span of five decades, Kavi Pradeep wrote about 1,700 songs.

Kavi Pradeep received numerous awards throughout his life. Some of which are:Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 1961 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1997.

He died of old age at his bungalow, 'Panchamrita', at Vile Parle in north-west Bombay on 11th Dec 1998. He was 84 

Song of Bandhan 1940

Song of Kismet 1942

Song of  Mashal 1950

Song of Jagriti (1954)

Song of Nastik (1954)

Song of Naag Mani (1957)

Song of  Paigham 1959

Song of  Sambandh  1969

Bhagwan Dada- His Signature Dance Steps became a Sensation.

 

Bhagwan Dada was the first dancing superstar of Indian cinema. He had rhythm and music embedded deep within him. He originated a particular style of dancing. That tender sway of the hip, the naughty look of an infant, and the candor of a star – he possessed it all. He had swag before swag got swag! His signature dance moves soon became a sensation. He was among the few male stars to break into an inner elite circle of actors/dancers, which was dominated by women. Many actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Mithun Chakraborty, and Rishi Kapoor are known to have drawn inspiration from him.

 He entered the world of cinema through silent films. His first film of notable significance was called Criminal. He steadily infused himself into the art of directing and made his directorial debut with the film Bahadur Kisan. He co-directed it with Chandrarao in 1938.

One of Bhagwan Dada’s greatest works was a social film called Albela. The film featured Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali and the music was composed by C. Ramchandra. It is said that C. Ramachandra and Bhagwan Dada were discussing the film at a Churchgate restaurant in Mumbai and C. Ramachandra promised Bhagwan Dada to compose the music for the film, “for the love of it.”

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 the 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 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.

. He later took up small roles in multiple films, some of which were lost in obscurity. Unfortunately, his quest for success in films took a toll on his life and he lost all his wealth and ended up living in a chawl in Dadar, Mumbai.

He died of a heart attack on 4th Feb 2002. He was 89 years old. 

Song from Albela 1951

Song of  Bhagam Bhag  1956.