Remembering SUNIL DUTT on his 12th Death Anniversary

Born on June 6, 1929, Sunil Dutt died of a heart attack on 25th May 2005 in Mumbai.He was Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and Member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West at the time of his death.
He started his career with Radio Announcer in the 50s. His involvement in dramatics got him his first job with Keymers, a British advertising agency that hired him for radio programmes. "Lipton ki Mehfil", anchored by Mr. Dutt and broadcast on Radio Ceylon, at that time the only commercial radio station in the region, became extremely popular. Mr. Dutt interviewed many famous film personalities like Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar.
He was introduced to Bollywood by Ramesh Sehgal in 1955 with the film Railway Platform starring Nalini Jaywant and Sheila Ramani.This film had many hit songs but could not not put him on the fast track to success. His first hit, Ek Hi Raasta (1956), marked the start of a seven-film long association with B R Chopra.His collaboration with B.R. Chopra proved to be successful in films such as Gumraah (1963), Waqt (1965) and Hamraaz (1967)
His real breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan's magnum opus, Mother India (1957). His portrayal of Birju, Nargis' rebellious younger son .He had to face tough competition with the Raj Kapoor-Dilip Kumar-Dev Anand trio and Rajendra Kumar,Shammi Kapoor who were giving hits one after another in the 60s.
He was giving hit films but those were women-oriented films like Sadhna (1958), Sujata (1959) and Main Chup Rahungi (1962) so all the credit of success went to Heroines of those films.
Sunil Dutt turned producer in the early sixties with a couple of offbeat movies - 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke' (1963), where heroine Leela Naidu has an adulterous relationship and 'Mujhe Jeene Do' (1963) where he played a dacoit. This film brought him fame and success,he latter made  Yaadein (1964), where he was the only character in the film, however, was found to be too esoteric by most.
Sunil Dutt's sartorial style was markedly different in both these genres of films, but they were all successful. In fact in 1967, he had a hat-trick of hits with Milan, Meherban and Humraaz.The very next year Padosan released which was a hit but once again the credit of success gone to Mehmood  and Kishore Kumar.
In 1968 he produced Man Ka Meet which introduced his brother Som Dutt who was unsuccessful in films.Vinod Khanna was also intoduced by this film. In 1971, he produced, directed and starred in Reshma Aur Shera (1971) which was a huge failure at the box office.After Padosan in 1968 none of his film were hit till 1973,Heera released in 1973 was successful but not a great hit.Another breakthrough came to him after the release of Geeta Mera Naam in 1974.After that he gave many hits like Zakhmee (1975), Nagin (1976),Paapi (1977),Jaani Dushman (1979) and many more.
He launched his son Sanjay's career with Rocky in 1981 which was a success. Shortly before the film's release, Dutt's wife Nargis died of pancreatic cancer. He founded the Nargis Dutt Foundation in her memory for the cure of cancer patients.
Sunil Dutt's life was not smooth he faced many ups and down in his life.He overcame all his problems.
In 1982 he was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai, an apolitical titular position bestowed on him by the Maharashtra government for a year.He retired from the film industry in the early 1990s to turn to politics.
 In 1984 he joined the Indian National Congress party at the behest of the late Rajiv Gandhi and was elected to Parliament of India for five terms from the constituency of Mumbai North West.During his short tenure as minister, Dutt was known to take up the cause of sportsperson. He is credited with several programmes to improve the standard of Indian athletes.
Just about a year before his death, Dutt returned to the silver screen for a cameo in last year’s superhit ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ starring his son Sanjay in the lead role. It was his last appearance on screen in a long time ever since he featured in his own ‘Dard Ka Rishta’ in 1983 to highlight the plight of cancer victims.
Sunil Dutt was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Padmashree in 1968, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award for National Integration and Communal Harmony in 1997, the Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Award for International Peace, Communal Harmony, Unity and National Integration in 1997 and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1998.
He won Filmfare Award as best Hero twice in Mujhe Jeene Do 1963 and Khandan in 1965,Latter in 1995 he got Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
He also got National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Yaadein in 1965
Sunil Dutt was undoubtedly a great actor — he was much more than that — a compassionate human being, a spirited minister, a magnanimous performer,My Tribute to him on his 12th Death Anniversary

Song from Railway Platform 1955

Song from Ek Hi Raasta (1956)

Song from Mother India (1957)

Song from Sadhna (1958)

Song from Sujata (1959)

Song from Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)

Song from Ek Phool Char Kaante (1960)

Song from Hum Hindustani (1960)

Song from Gumraah (1963)

Song from Waqt (1965)

Song from Hamraaz (1967)

Song from Milan (1967)

Song from Padosan (1968)

Song from Zakhmee (1975)

Remembering Homi Wadia -The Original Stunt Film Maker on his 106th Birth Anniversary

Homi Wadia was a filmmaker of 30s and continued to make films upto 80s . He was the founder of Wadia Movietone and Basant Pictures. In a career spanning 5 decades, Wadia started as a cinematographer in Lal-e-Yaman (1933) and subsequently produced and directed around 40 films including adventurous flicks like Hunterwali, Miss Frontier Mail, Diamond Queen and fantasy films like Hatim Tai

In 1981, he got into a labour dispute with union leader Datta Samant, unable to take on the dispute, he decided to quit film making and closed down Basant Studios.
He was born on May 18, 1911, in Surat, Gujarat, was married to actress and stunt woman Fearless Nadia. Nadia was undoubtedly Wadia's most brilliant discovery and creation.Both of them together gave many memorable films.Nadia quit films in 50s.

 He was also a founding member of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, established in 1954. He remained active, and even after his wife Nadia died in 1996, he regularly visited Basant theatre in Chembur. He died at the age of 93, in Mumbai in 2004.
Director Homi Wadia and the stunt film icon, who is one of the inspirations for Kangana Ranaut's Julia in 'Rangoon', rewind to the terrific '30s
List of films 

• Hunterwali (1935)
• Hind Kesari (1935)
• Miss Frontier Mail (1936)
• Toofani Tarzan (1937)
• Lutaru Lalna (1938)
• Punjab Mail (1939)
• Diamond Queen (1940)
• Bambaiwali (1941)
• Jungle Princess (1942)
• Ekta (1942)^[8]
• Bachpan (1945)
• Flying Prince (1946)
• Amar Raj (1946)
• Shri Ram Bhakta Hanuman (1948)
• 11 O'Clock (1948)
• Balam (1949)
• Dhoomketu (1949)
• Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950)
• Hanuman Patal Vijay (1951)
• Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952)
• Jungle Ka Jawahar (1953)
• Alibaba and 40 Thieves (1954)
• Hatim Tai (1956)
• Zimbo (1958)
• Zabak (1961)
• Char Dervesh (1964)
• Alibaba and 40 Thieves (1966)
• Khiladi (1968)
• Shri Krishna Leela (1971)
• Toofan Aur Bijlee (1975)
• Adventures of Aladdin (1978)

Songs from Wadia's Films

Song from Hunterwali Ki Beti

Song from Hatim Tai (1956)

Song from Zabak (1961)

Song from Char Dervesh (1964)

PICNIC Songs of Bollywood

Bollywood finds every situation to create songs,Picnic is one such situation where many hit songs were created.i am posting some of the rare and popular such songs.The first song in my mind comes 
from the film ‘ Adaalat ‘ (1958)  The song is picturized as a picnic song on Nargis and Pradip Kumar, who are with a group of friends riding bicycles and enjoying themselves. 

Jab din haseen dil ho jawaan (Adaalat)(1958) 

Yaar Chulbula Hai There could not be a picnic list without Shammi Kapoor,this song is from Dil Deke Dekho 1959

 Unse rippi-tippi ho gayi Here’s another forgotten song which occurred to me. Not a great film, though it’s not terrible – and I did love the chemistry between the Vijay Anand and Shakila characters: they were delightful. 

Song from Agra Road 1957

Ban ke panchchi gaye pyar ka tarana  Nutan, Shubha Khote and their friends are all out, happy and chirpy,Lata Mangeshkar sings for the film Anari released in 1959

Song from Anari 1959

Lehron mein jhool ke This is a rare song sung by Asha Bhonsle, Rafi and chorus. The song is picturised as a picnic song. The picturisation shows college students coming out after appearing in their last examination, hop on their bicycles and procced to a place to have their picnic.

Song from Do Gunde (1959)

Dil ka bhanwar kare pukaar Tere ghar ke saamne had this beautiful song when  Harindranath Chattopadhyaya and Prathima devi with Nutan and Dev Anand went for a Picnic at Qutub minar in Delhi

Song from Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Kitni jawaan hai zindagi
This song is sung by Rafi. The picturisation shows that Biswajeet, Johny Walker and a few ladies, including Rajshree are on a picnic on a beach of Bombay.

Song from Shehnai(1964)

Din hain bahaar ke tere mere iqraar ke

Here is this super hit song from “Waqt” (1965). This song is a duet that is sung by Asha Bhonsle and Mahendra Kapoor. It is picturised as a picnic song on Sharmila Tagore, Shashi Kapoor and others.

Song from Waqt 1965

Sunday ko pyaar huaa monday iqraar hua Here is a lovely song from “Kanyadaan”(1968). This song is sung by Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhonsle and chorus. The song is picturised as a picnic song o Dilip Raaj, Saeeda Khan and many actors playing their friends

Song from Kanyadaan)(1968) 

Kal ki na karo baat This song has Kiran Kumar (son of Jeewan) lip syncing in Kishore Kumar’s voice,The movie is called “Jungle Mein Mangal” (1972).

Song from Jungle Mein Mangal” (1972).

Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai Another Shammi Kapoor song from Jaanwar 1964. Shammi wrapped in a blanket, belting out the song in a cold river—having crashed her outing with friends to further his wooing of the reluctant Rajshree—is so quintessentially him.

Song from Jaanwar 1964

Ae Jaaneman Le Gaya Dil Ko  This song from Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyaan (1967) (sung by Rafi; music by Shankar Jaikishan; lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri).

Song from Hare Kanch Ki Chooriyaan (1967)

Anchal Ko udne Do 

This song is from the film Picnic released in 1966,the song is sung by Asha Bhonsle

Song from Picnic 1966

Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara Dev Anand’s classic strut and you can’t help but tap your feet to tunes of S.D. Burman’s music while taking in the scenic beauty of a long drive Song from Jewel Thief.

Song from Jewel Thief 1967

Samaa hai suhaana suhaana  It is a picnic song, therefore apparently joyful. The youths are dancing too. But the moonlit night, guitar’s poignant music and Kishore Kumar’s singing 

Song from Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani

Mein Chali Mein Chali from Padosan ,Saira Bano with her friends went for a picnic and singing this beautiful song

Song from Padosan 1968

Ye shaam mastaani, madhosh kiye jaay This song from “Kati Patang” is a picnic song. People, mostly friends and family members go out on a picturesque location where they ply games, eat out and in general enjoy themselves. Asha Parekh, who is supposed to be a widow, is obviously unable to enjoy herself in the picnic.

Song from Kati Patang 1970

Simti si sharmaayi si This song is from the movie “Parwaana” released in 1971 which had Navin Nischol playing hero and Amitabh Bachchan playing the villain.In this song many boys and girls are seen at the camp fire

Song from Parwana 1971

Mausam Mastana Raasta Anjana  This song is from the film Satte Pe Satta

10 Bollywood songs to dedicate to your mom

There’s nothing quite as ubiquitous in Bollywood as a mother. In the 50s and  60s Mother had a larger part to play in most films made at the time and so, there were several songs created on mother.Nowadays family oriented movies are not beeing made so the songs on mother are not created.
On the occasion of Mother's Day I dedicate few songs on Mother. 
The first song in my list is Ae Ma Teri Surat Se Alag Bhagwan Ki Surat Sung by Mahendra Kapoor, and composed by Rajesh Roshan, it is from the 1966 film Daadi Maa.

Song from (Dadi Maa) (1966)

 Meri duniyaa hai maan tere aanchal mein  from Talaash 1969 sang by S D Burman, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD- S D Burman

Song from Talaash 1969

Tu kitni achhi hai  from Raja aur Rank 1968 it was written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Lata Mangeshkar went behind the music for this song.

Song from Raja aur Rank 1968 

Maa hai muhabbat ka naam ,this song is from the film Maa Ka Aanchal” (1970) It is sung by Rafi. The song plays on the background while titles roll on the screen.Kaifi Azmi is the lyricist. Madan Mohan

Song from Maa Ka Aanchal” (1970)

Maa mujhe apne aanchal mein chhupaa le,this song is written by  Anand Bakshi music is by  Laxmikant Pyarelal sung by Lata ji from (Chhotaa Bhai) in1966

Song from (Chhotaa Bhai) 1966

Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi  This song in fact is so moving that one can be pardoned for getting a bit moist eyed on listening to this song.This song is sung beautifully by Mahendra Kapoor and Manna Dey and it is picturised on Maa, her son and servant going to temple on a Tonga. The two men sing this song on the tonga.

Song from (Dadi Maa) (1966)

Meri Maa from TAARE ZAMEEN PAR  is possibly one of the most famous songs on mother for today’s generation which can almost choke you in the throat because of its highly emotional lyrics,written by Prasoon Joshi sung by Shankar Mahadevan

Song from TAARE ZAMEEN PAR 2009

Luka Chuppi from Rang De Basanti

Song from  Rang De Basanti

Khushiyo Kaa Din Aaya Hai from Beta 

Song from Beta 1992

“Maa Ne Kaha”this song is from the movie Zakhm released in 1998 is a heart-breaking song which is picturized on Kunal Khemu in a thoughtful mood and is sung by M.M. Kreem.

Song from Zakhm 1998

PANKAJ MULLICK-The Composer, musician, singer, music director, teacher and a part-time actor

He was born on 10th May, 1905 in Bengal.He came in contact with Dinendranath Tagore, Tagore’s grand-nephew and the composer, music arranger for many of the Gurudev’s songs and thus developed a lifelong passion for Rabindrasangeet. 
In 1927, when India Broadcasting Corporation, the forerunner of All India Radio (AIR) was launched, Pankaj Mullick along with Rai Chand Boral joined in as one of its earliest employees.
Pankaj Mullick’s association with the cinema began as a conductor and music arranger for the orchestra at the Chitra cinema hall that played live ‘mood’ music during the screening of two silent films Chashar Meye (he also had a walk-in part in this film) and Chorkanta. Both films released in 1931.
In 1933, he made his debut as an independent music director for a Hindi/Urdu film Yahudi Ka Ladki, The imaginative use of background music to emphasise the mood, action and tempo of the film scenes is one of Pankaj Mullick’s great contributions to music in Indian cinema.
PC Barua’s Mukti/Mukti (1937) saw Pankaj Mullick make his debut not only as an independent music-director but also as an actor.He composed and sang the unforgettable Piya Milan Ko Jaana, undoubtedly his most well-known song in Hindi. In Nartaki (1940)  he sang the evergreen hits Ye Kaun Aaj Aaya Swerai, Madbhari Rut Jawan Hai and Prem Ka Nata Chhuta in his rich, sonorous vibrato. 1941 saw Pankaj Mullick reaching the zenith of his career as an actor-singer with the film Daktar/Doctor. 
 In 1944, he composed music for Meri Bahen and this film he had K L Sehgal singing some of his ebst ever songs Ae Qatib-e-Taqdir Mujhe Itnaa Bata De, Do Naina Matware and Chhupo Na Chhupo Na,though he introduced Sehgal earlier in 1935.He was successful in persuading  Sehgal to bring down his high pitch in order to control his nasal twang and the result was evergreen songs like the lullaby So Ja Rajkumari So Ja in PC Barua’s Hindi film, Zindagi (1940).
He also worked for some Mumbai productions among which were the Dev Anand-Geeta Bali starrer Zalzala (1952), an adaptation of Tagore’s novel Char Adhaya 
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1970, followed by the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (India's highest award in cinema, given by the Government of India) in 1972 for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.The Indian Postal Service released a postage stamp on his birth centenary in 2006 on 4 August
Here are some of his Immortal Songs

Piya Milan Ko Jaana from Kapaal Kundla 1939

Song from Nartaki 1940

Non Film Song with Lata Mangeshkar

Song from Doctor 1941

Song from Doctor 1941

Remembering TALAT MAHMOOD-The King of Ghazal on his 19th Death Anniversary

TALAT MAHMOOD WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGING STARS OF ALL TIMES.The mellowness, sweetness and pathos in his voice set him apart from all the other singers. Here was a voice that was fresh !  The style absolutely new !!  He was unanimously hailed as "The King Of Ghazals", a title  he consolidated over the period of years to become the greatest name in ghazals.
He was very handsome so he was offered the hero roles by many producersThe producer -director of the film  'Dil-e-Nadaan', A.R. Kardar, launched an 'All India Beauty Contest' to hunt for a beautiful girl who would play the heroine opposite the young and immensely talented superstar Talat Mahmood.Latter he worked in 13 films with top heroines of that time like Nutan, Mala Sinha, Suraiya, Shyama, Nadira and others.The first film he did as hero was Rajlakshmi in 1945 opposite Kananbala.In 1951 he did Araam with Dev Anand and Madhubala.The last time he apeared in Sone Ki Chidiya opposite Nutan in 1958.
His reputation as a ghazal singer was not limited to his hometown of Lucknow, but it reached the city that proved to shape his destiny – Calcutta. In 1944 came the hit Tasveer teri dil mera behela nah sake gi. Its popularity was so phenomenal and unrivaled that even today it remains one of the top selling non-film discs.
In 1949 Talat moved to Bombay, to sing for the Hindi film industry. His name and fame had already preceded him and soon he was flooded with offers. His big break came with the song Ae dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal jahan koi na ho composed by music director Anil Biswas for the soundtrack of the movie Arzoo.
In the 50s Talat Mahmood with Muhammad Rafi and Mukesh.were the leading Male Singers,all three of them gave many immortal songs in that Golden Era of Hindi film music.Talat exerted a profound influence upon the ghazal singing of his time with his immensely melodious voice and artistic craftsmanship, particularly suitable for typically semi-classical ghazal singing.

Here I am posting some of my favorite songs.

Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jaga Le Chal - Aarzoo (1949)

Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua Deewana - Baabul (1950)

Main dil hoon ek armaan bhara – Anhonee (1952)

Aye mere dil kahin aur chal – Daag (1952)

Sham-E-Gham ki qassam – Foothpath (1953)

Jayen to jayen kahan – Taxi Driver (1954)

Dil-E-Nadaan tujhe hua kya hai – Mirza Ghalib

Tasveer banata hoon – Baradari (1955)

ye nai nai preet hai from Pocket Maar 1956

Humse aaya na gaya – Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)

Pyar par bas to nahin hai from SONE KI CHIDIYA 1958

Jalte hain jiske liye – Sujata (1959)

Aha rim jhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye – Usne kaha tha 1960

 Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha – Chhaya 1961

Sab Kuch Loota Ke Hosh Mein Aaye