Happy MAKAR SANKRANTI

Makar Sankranti marks the onset of summer and the six months auspicious period for Hindus known as Uttaarayan. Dedicated to the sun God, the harvest festival celebrates the beginning of long days. Many take a holy dip in the water to wash away their sins on this auspicious day. In some parts of India Kites Flying is the main celebration of this day.With colourful kites flying in the sky and the aroma of delicious delicacies brewing in the air, Makar Sakranti is filled with fun and frolic.
The age-old tradition of kite flying is always remained the part of Hindi Film Industry.Directors of films find kites to be as attractive as the plot of their films.Many songs were written on Kites,these were beautiful picturised.I am presenting some of these songs to refresh your memories and entertain you to celbrate this festival.

The First song comes in my mind is from the 1946 film HUM EK HAIN in which Dev Anand made his debute.This song is picturised on kids playing the young kids (real as well as adopted) namely Shankar, Yusuf, John and Durga who would grow up to become Dev Anand, Rehman, Rane and Kamla Kotnis respectively. In the picturisation, The kids are flying a kite having pooled their resources to buy the kite 

Charkhi waale o (Ham Ek Hain)(1946) 

This “patang” song is from “Dillagi” (1949). It is sung by Shamshad Begam and Uma Devi (Tuntun). Shakeel Badayuni is the lyricist and music is composed by Naushad.

Meri pyaari patang chali baadal ke sang(Dillagi) (1949)

This song, written by Rajinder Krishan and sung by Hemant Kumar and Lata. The song was picturised on Pradeep Kumar and Vyjyanti Mala.

Chhod de patang meri chhod de (Nagin) (1954)

This extremely popular song of its time was sung by Rafi and Lata. The song is picturised on a very young Jagdeep,Sung by Rafi and Lata,music was given by Chitragupt

Chali chali re patang (Bhaabhi) (1957)

This is a philosophical song, sung by Rafi and picturised on Om Prakash from the 1960 film Patang,music is by Chitragupt,This song has a sad vesion also in the film.

Ye duniya patang (Patang) (1960)

This song is from the film Earth 1947 sung by Sukhvinder,music by A R Rehman,picturised on Aamir Khan and Nandita Das.

This song that is from “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”a 1999 hit film.It is sung by Shankar Mahadevan, KK, Jyotsana Hardikar, Damayanti Bardai and Dominique Cerejo.picturised on Salman Khan.

Dheel de dheel de de re bhaiyya (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam)(1999) 

This song is from the 2013 film Fukrey.This  is an impeccable song in voice of astonishing singer Sona Mohapatra. Overall, the music is plain and simple and leaves an lasting impression. The lyrics have been adapted by Munna Dhiman from a old punjabi folk song while Ram Sampath has reinvented the song in his inimitable musical style

Ambarsariya  from Fukrey 2013

This song is from flim Kite starring Hritik Roshan ,the song is about kite but no flying is shown in this song.

Remembering KAIFI AZAMI on his 98th Birth Anniversary

 Kaifi Azmi (14thJanuary 1919 – 10 May 2002) was an Indian Urdu poet. He will always be remembered who brought Urdu literature to Indian motion pictures.At the age eleven, Azmi wrote his first ghazal Itna To Zindagi Mein Kisi Ki Khalal Pade.Most of the people, including his father, thought he recited his elder brother's ghazal. When his elder brother denied it, his father and his clerk decided to test his poetic talent. They gave him one of the lines of a couplet and asked him to write a ghazal in the same meter and rhyme. Azmi accepted the challenge and completed a ghazal. This particular ghazal was to become a rage in undivided India and it was immortalised as it was sung by legendary ghazal singer, Begum Akhtar. 
Kaifi Azmi wrote his first lyrics for the film Buzdil, directed by Shaheed Latif and music by SD Burman, released in 1951.As a lyricist and songwriter, though he wrote for numerous films, he will always be remembered for Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) and Chetan Anand's Haqeeqat (1964), India's greatest war film. Some notables films for which he wrote lyrics include Kohra(1964), Anupama (1966), Uski Kahani (1966), Saat Hindustani (1969), Shola Aur Shabnam, Parwana (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Pakeezah (1972), Hanste Zakhm (1973), Arth (1982) and Razia Sultan (1983). For Naunihal (1967), he wrote the song "Meri Aawaz Suno Pyar ka Raaz Suno" (Hear my voice, hear the secret of love) sung by Mohammad Rafi. The song is picturised over the funeral procession of Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru.
He was the winner of SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARD for Urdu in 1975.He was the recipient of Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award. In 1998, Government of Maharashtra conferred the Jyaneshwara Award on him. He was also honoured with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement
In 2000, he was conferred the first Millennium Award by the Government of Delhi and the Delhi Urdu Academy. He has also been honoured with a doctorate from Vishva Bharati University, Santiniketan.
Kaifi Azmi was married to Shaukhat Azmi. They have a daughter, Shabana Azmi (An Indian Actress of film, television and theatre) and a son, Baba Azmi (Indian Cinematographer).

He was a man deeply connected to his grassroots, not just in Mumbai but also in his hometown Azamgarh. Shabana Azmi, the beloved daughter of Kaifi, says, “The tireless and painstaking efforts of Kaifi during the last two decades have brought home road, electricity, a small hospital, a school and a post office in Mijwan, his birth place in Azamgarh District. To bring all these facilities to a small village was almost a distant dream because obstacles befell at every step (due to unscrupulous government officers). Indomitable will and an extraordinary skill to organize people kept him dynamic throughout his life”.
 His major poetic works include Jhankar (1943), Aakhri Shab (1947), Aawara Sajde (1973), Meri Aawaz Suno (1974). He was an active member of IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association) and later its president.
 Azmi died on 10 May 2002 at around the age of eighty three. A play based on his life, his works and the memoir of his wife, Shaukat Azmi – Yadon Ki Rahguzar (Down Memory Lane), was written and performed by Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, and performed in India as well as abroad in 2006.
Kaifi, with all his poetic-legacy, will always be remembered.On his 98th Birth Anniversary here are some beautiful songs written by him.

Bichhde Sabhi Baari Bari from Kaagaz Ke Phool 1959

Jeet Hi Lenge Baazi  from Shola Aur Shabnam 1961

Jaane Kya Dhoondti  from Shola Aur Shabnam 1961

Yeh Nayan Dare Dare  from Kohra 1964

 Parbaton Ke pedon par from Shagun 1964

Do Dil Toote from Heer Ranjha

Ho ke Majboor from Haqeekat 1964

Dheere Dheere Machal  from Anupama 1966

Mile Na Phool To Kanto Se from Anokhi Raat 1968

Chalte Chalte  from Pakezah 1972

Betab Dil Ki Tamanna from Hanste Zakham 1973

Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein  from Kabhi Kabhi1976

Ae Dile E Naadan  from Razia Sultan (1983)

Song from Arth 1983

Remembering C RAMCHANDRA on his 99th Birth Anniversary

C Ramchandra was born on 12th Jan 1918  in Puntamba, a small town in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra.His real name was Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar ,he was also known as Annasaheb and Ram CHITALKAR. Although he’d studied music, it was as an actor that C Ramachandra joined the film industry—he debuted in a lead role in a film called Nagananda. This didn’t continue for long, though; he eventually shifted to composing songs, For his career as an occasional playback singer he used only his surname Chitalkar. Chitalkar sang some renowned and unforgettable duets with Lata such as Kitna haseen hai mausam in film Azad or Shola Jo bhadke in Albela.
 He debuted as music director in Tamil movies with Jayakkodi and Vana Mohini. He received public notice as a good composer in Bhagwan Dada's "Sukhi Jeevan", and established a long association that culminated with the musical box office hit "Albela".
He came like a breath of fresh air to Hindi film music: in a period dominated by classical tunes composed by the likes of Naushad, Anil Biswas and Pankaj Mullick.
 C. Ramachandra's biggest success as a music composer was the 1953 movie Anarkali starring Beena Roy in the title role and Pradeep Kumar. The songs that he composed for this movie are today legendary. Songs of this movie like "Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai", "Mujhse Mat Poochh Mere Ishq Main Kya Rakha Hai", "Mohabbat Aisi Dhadkan Hai", "Jaag Dard-e-Ishq Jaag" etc. went on to become huge hits and were also highly acclaimed as masterpieces. Anarkali also perhaps saw the famed composer-singer combine of Ramachandra and Lata Mangeshkar at their best ever together.
Who can forget the songs of V shantaram's NAVRANG released in 1958,the extremely popular Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi, the defiant Toh maati sabhi ki kahaani kahegi, and the Holi song Arre jaa re hatt natkhat.
The highly popular patriotic song "Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo", which was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and penned by poet Pradeep, was a composition of Ramachandra, it was later performed live, by Lata Mangeshkar, in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru at the Ramlila grounds, in New Delhi on Republic Day, 26 January 1963. 
In the late 1960s, Ramachandra produced two Marathi movies, "Dhananjay" and "Gharkul". He also acted in them and composed music for them. C. Ramchandra died on 5 January 1982 in Mumbai.
My TRIBUTE TO C RAMCHANDRA

Great compilation of songs of one of the most underrated music directors of Hindi cinema. C Ramchandra’s range and versatility was amazing. He was also good at semi-classical type of songs

Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon  from Patanga 1949

Gore Gore O Banke Chhore  from Samaadhi 1950

Mehfil Mein Jal Uthi from Nirala 1950

Song from Albela 1951

Song from Albela 1951

Song from Anarkali 1953

Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Haalat  from Nastik 1954

Kitna Haseen Hai Mausam from Azad 1955

Eena Meena Deeka from Aasha 1957

Aadha Hai Chandrama  from Navrang 1958

Dekh Hame Aawaz Na Dena from Amardeep 1958

Mere mann ka baanwara panchhi  from Amardeep 1958

Mein Jagoo Sari Rein  from Bahurani 1963

 Dil lagaakar hum yeh samjhe from Zindagi Aur Maut, 1965

Happy Birthday Hritik Roshan

Born on 10th Jan 1974 in Mumbai,his father Rakesh Roshan was a film actor later turned to Producer ,Director,his Grand Father ROSHAN was a well known Music Director during the Golden Era of Bollywood.

He made his acting debut as a child artist at the age of 6, in 1980, in a dance sequence for the film Aasha. Before making his Bollywood debut, he used to work as an assistant to his father Rakesh Roshan in films like Karan Arjun and Koyla, and even used to serve tea to the actors and swept the floors on the sets.

His first film as a Hero was Kaho Na Pyar Hai released in 2000 which made him a Super Star.Though Kaho Na Pyar Hai released first but he was signed earlier for FIZA and MISSION KASHMIR as a hero.
The 2003 science fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya marked a significant turning point in his career, earning him two Filmfare Awards—Best Actor and Best Actor (Critics), and he later appeared in its highly successful sequels: Krrish (2006) and Krrish 3 (2013). He went on to receive wide critical praise for his portrayal of a thief in the 2006 adventure film Dhoom 2, a Muslim Mughal emperor in the 2008 historical romance Jodhaa Akbar

.Hritik's greatest commercial success came with the 2011 drama Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, the 2012 revenge film Agneepath, the 2013 superhero film Krrish 3, 
Hritik Roshan has become one of India's most high-profile celebrities, winning six Filmfare Awards and  has established himself as one of the highest-paid actors in India.His last film  Mohenjo-daro  was a flop.

In October 2000, Roshan married Sussanne Khan in a private ceremony in Bangalore.The couple has two sons, Hrehaan (born in 2006) and Hridhaan (born in 2008).^[125][126] They separated in December 2013 and their divorce was finalised in November 2014,
 His looks and figure have established him as a sex symbol and a style icon in India.He ranked fourth in Filmfare Power List in 2007.In a 2009 poll conducted by Daily News and Analysis Roshan was voted one of India's most popular icons.He topped The Times of India's listing of "50 Most Desirable Men" in 2010 and ranked among the top five for the following five years.

A life-size wax figure of him was installed at London's Madame Tussauds museum in January 2011, making him the fifth Indian actor to have been replicated as a wax statue in the museum. Additional versions of the statue were installed at Madame Tussauds' museums in New York, Washington and other cities in the world. Roshan regularly features in the magazine Eastern Eye's listing of the "50 Sexiest Asian Men".
His signature dance moves in KHNP’s Ek pal ka jeena became a nationwide craze but the first song he shot for the film was Pyaar Ki Kashti, again, choreographed by Farah Khan.

Song from Aasha 1980 Hritik as little boy dancing

Song from Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai 2000

Song from Mission Kashmir 2000

Song from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham 2001

Song from Koi... Mil Gaya 2003

Song from Lakshya  2004

Song from Krishh  2006

Song from Dhoom2  2006

Song from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara  2011

Song from Krishh 3  2013

Song from Kaabil  2017

Remembering MAHENDRA KAPOOR on his 83rd Birth Anniversary

Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indian playback singer.Best known for the song MERE DESH KI DHARTI from Upkar.He started his career  as a playback singer in V. Shantaram's Navrang in 1958, singing Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi, under the musical direction of C. Ramchandra.
 At an early age he was inspired by singer Mohammed Rafi but he started learning classical music under classical singers like Pt. Hussanlal, Pt. Jagannath Bua, Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan, Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan and Pt.Tulsidaas Sharma.
 He is perhaps most notable for lending his voice to actor Manoj Kumar in most of his films, mainly in patriotic genre of music.He was a favourite singer for B R Chopra's films.Some of the films of BR Chopra camp were Dhool Ka Phool, Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaz, Dhund and Nikaah
He sung in a large number of Indian languages, and was the playback singer who has performed in the largest number of in Gujarati, Punjabi, Bhojpuri and Marathi movies.He also performed the title song for the TV series Mahabharat. In Marathi he was very popular for being the voice of Dada Kondke in all his movies. In spite of being associated with Dada Kondke's colloquial style his singing for Marathi movies was not limited to Dada Kondke's movies only.

Mahendra Kapoor with his son Rohan in a stage show

He was one of the pillars of Golden Era of Hindi Music,he had his own style of singing and was different from other singers of his time.He  remained a respected and popular figure across his five-decade cinema career.During his singing career he sang more than 2500 songs in various languages.In 1972, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
On 27 September 2008, Kapoor died following a cardiac failure. He was survived by his wife, children, children-in-law and grandchildren.
Mahendra Kapoor had a very large vocal range, and he is sometimes known as The Vibrant Voice of India.He was the first Indian playback singer to record music in English. He was asked by the group Boney M to sing their songs in Hindi with Musarat from Pakistan, which resulted in the Pop Album M-3.

Song from Album M-3

Some of Hit Songs of Mahendra Kapoor

Aadha Hai Chandrama from Navrang 1958

Song from  Dhool Ka Phool (1959)

Song from Ghunghat 1960

Song from Gumrah (1963)

Song from Woh Kaun Thi 1963

Song from Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi (1965)

Song from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)

Song from AAYE DIN BAHAAR KE (1966)

Song from Bharosa 1966

Song from Upkar (1967)

Song from Hamraaz (1967)

Song from Kismat (1968)

Song from Sambandh 1969

Song from Gopi (1970)

Song from  Purab Aur Paschim (1970)

Song from Yaadgar (1970)

Song from GEET (1970)

Song from Fakira (1975)

Song from Kranti (1981)

Maat Ang Chola Saaje