A Tribute to M S Subbulakshmi on her 101st Birth Anniversary

M S Subbulakshmi  was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.She  was born on September 16, 1916 in Madurai, Born into a community of devadasis (women who danced and sang with devotion in temples), she was surrounded by music, from her violinist grandmother to her veena playing mother She started learning Carnatic music at an early age and trained in Carnatic music under the tutelage of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and subsequently in Hindustani music under Pandit Narayanrao Vyas.
Apart from her mother tongue Kannada, M.S Subbulakshmi sang in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Gujarati, etc.She also did her stint as an actress and one of the most memorable films was Bhakta Meera (1945). The Hindi version of Meera was released in 1947. The versatile singer sang all famous Meera bhajans in her melodious voice and these bhajans are enjoyed by people even today. She attained much acclaim and success in films, but that did not appeal to her. She quit films after some time and continued to give public performances and concerts.  

She was applauded by not just Indians, but foreigners as well. The way she sang, her devotion, her tone, her pitch, her perfect pronunciation is inimitable and flawless.People who did not even understand the language she was singing in said that she is a divine manifestation. Her fan list included Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, among other elite people. Mahatma Gandhi commented that he would rather hear Subbulakshmi speak the songs rather than hear someone else sing it. 

The decade of 1960 was important to Subbulakshmi in terms of her career in Carnatic music. She not just took the music overseas but performed at significant musical festivals including Edinburg International Festival of Music and Drama in 1963 and at the Carnegie Hall in New York at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. She ended the decade by singing several songs in front of each idol in the Rameshwaram temple in 1969,
In the decade of 1980s, Subbulakshmi carried the legacy of Carnatic music forward by performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1982 and Festival of India in Moscow in 1987.After her husband’s death in 1997, she stopped giving public performances.
Subbalakshmi died on 11th December 2004, leaving behind her large repertoire of classical, bhajan and film recordings.

Ganesha Pancharatnam

The first Song Recorded

Bollywood Connection with Japan

 The 2 days visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in India suddenly stirred my mind of Japanese connection with Bollywood .Let me recollect the FIRST word in Japanese language that I have learnt in my life was Sayonara…. Well, I clearly remember that I was around 12 years old  when the 1966 hit, bollywood movie LOVE IN TOKYO released. The song SAYONARA SAYONARA introduced the first word for me, “Sayonara” which is the Japanese word for farewell. After that not more than 3-4 films were shot in Japan,In this blog I am trying to explore the Bollywood Connection with Japan in these 50 years.

Song from Love In Tokyo 1966

Song from Love In Tokyo 1966

In the last 10 years there were few films that had Japan connection.Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Tamasha have a Japan connection, and both films end in Japan.In Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Surinder fights with a Sumo wrestler, and wins tickets to visit Japan. In the end, they visit Japan, and we witness one of the best ending credits in a film, when Surinder describes his pictures from Japan. In Tamasha, Ved and Tara went on their first date to a Japanese restaurant. The waitress had offered them different varieties of water. "What a brand, Japan. Companies are the latest countries, and countries hare the latest companies," said Ved. In the end, Ved and Tara meet in Japan at a tea conference where the building's board says Oracle. Japan—a place known for its robotic mechanization, and efficiency. Perhaps, that has something to do with it. While Surinder fights a Japanese wrestler to prove his love, Ved fights his inner demons. In both cases, they are at peace in Japan and have found love in Tokyo. 

Song from Youngistan  2014

In 2014 released film Youngistan the song ‘Tanki hai Hum’ from was shot in Japan. It was shot on the streets of Japan in a guerilla fashion, with no formal equipment setting, lights, sets or locations. as you can see from the video, not many Japanese were really aware whether a shoot was actually happening on their streets.  

In January 2017 an Indo-Japan collaborative film project Love in Tokyo launched, a cross-culture romance, themed on relationship transcending linguistic barrier, will have an Indian male protagonist and a Japanese heroine. The movie, to be shot almost entirely in Japan, will be co-produced by filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s Window Seat Films and Japan’s entertainment conglomerate Shochiku with the director’s brother Arif Ali at the helm.

Lets come back to the Bollywood's first Japan connection,The 1966 film Love In Tokyo which was great hit starring Joy Mukharji and Asha Parekh.The film was shot primarily in Japan at locations including Tokyo, Ueno, Ginza, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo International Airport and Hiroshima.

 Song from Aman  1967

In Aman starring Rajendra Kumar and Saira Banu the 1957 film had Japan Connection.Meloda (Saira Banu) who was educated in India, speaks Hindi; though she is Japanese. Dr. Gautamdas (Rajendra Kumar) is a UK trained doctor who volunteers to go to Japan to help deal with the horror of the radiation aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They meet in Japan and the inevitable happens when hero meets heroine.A majority of the shoot sequences are in Japan

Glory of R K Films and Studio

The golden era of Bollywood starts from this studio, though its first film Aag that couldn’t do well at the box office. Many super hit films were made by R.K. Films including,Awaara, Boot Polish, Shree 420 and Bobby. Raj Kapoor, the show man of Indian cinema was behind this time initiative ahead of its time. 
 The studio complex still stands as a proud symbol in Chembur, a suburb in eastern Mumbai.

Raj Kapoor established RK Films in 1948. The first film under the banner 'Aag' was a failure. In 1949, Raj Kapoor's first commercial success came with 'Barsaat', starring Nargis. One of the posters of Barsaat showed Raj Kapoor holding Nargis in one arm and a violin in another. The poster itself became iconic.

The studio started in 1950.As per Raj Kapoor“Once when I was shooting for Awara, I had completed 13 days of shooting in a studio when on the 14th day I was asked to dismantle my sets because the studio had been hired to someone else. I was very upset and that day I decided to make my own studio. I put together all the money I had and laid the foundation of RK Studio.” 

After the success Awara 1951 Aah was released in 1953 The film was produced by Raj Kapoor and directed by Raja Nawathe. The film was rated "Below Average" at the box office but has various hit songs like "Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat", "Aaja Re Ab Mera Dil Pukara" and "Jaane Na Nazar".By this time Nargis became the in house heroine of R K Films.  Boot Polish, Jagte Raho and Shri 420 followed. 

Shri 420 was the third film directed by Raj Kapoor,it  was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1955, and the song "Mera Joota Hai Japani", sung by Mukesh, became popular and a patriotic symbol of the newly independent India.In 1960 Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai released.The film was directed by Radhu Karmakar and produced by Raj Kapoor. The film stars Kapoor, Pran and Padmini in lead roles. This was the first directorial venture of Karmakar who had previously been cinematographer for many of Kapoor's films. The film was declared "Hit" at the box office.

Another Gem from R K Films came in 1964,Sangam a Bollywood Romance film written by Inder Raj Anand, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. The film stars Vyjayanthimala in the lead role opposite Raj Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar.It was Raj Kapoor's first colour film, distinguished by its technicolor and epic length (even by Bollywood standards). It is also considered the Magnum Opus or best work of Raj Kapoor.One of the features of the film that became widely used later on in Bollywood is the use of foreign locales for on-location shooting, such as Venice, Paris, and Switzerland.   

After Sangam became a blockbuster, Mera Naam Joker was highly anticipated as it was under production for six years and was heavily publicized to be loosely based on Raj Kapoor's own life. Upon release the film turned out to be a critical and commercial disaster putting Kapoor into a financial crisis.In1971 Kal Aaj aur Kal produced by Raj Kapoor and directed by his son Randhir Kapoor released. The film's USP is the appearance of three generations of the famous Kapoor Family starring Prithviraj Kapoor, his son Raj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor's son Randhir Kapoor (in his acting debut) and Randhir's real-life wife-to-be Babita. It was a a moderate success at the box office.

After the debacle of Mera Naam Joker the financiers and distributors were dictating terms to RK so Bobby a teenage love story was planned.Bobby released in 1973 The film became a blockbuster, the top-grossing Indian hit of 1973,
R K Films were now making films under the direction of Randhir Kapoor also, Dharam Karam is a 1975 Hindi film produced by Raj Kapoor and directed by Randhir Kapoor, who also star as father and son in the film, respectively. The film performed "below average" at the box office.

Satyam Shivam Sundaram was the next R K Film released in 1978,starring Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman, directed by Raj Kapoor and written by Jainendra Jain.After this Raj Kapoor directed 2 films Prem Rog(1982)  and Ram Teri Ganga Maili(1985). It was Raj Kapoor's last film. The film became a "Blockbuster" at the box office and went on to be the highest grossing Hindi film of 1985. 
When Raj Kapoor died in 1988 in the middle of shooting 'Henna', Randhir took over the studio. His younger brother Rajiv Kapoor directed PremGranth in 1996; Rishi Kapoor directed Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999). Hereafter the Kapoors have produced no  film under the R.K. Films banner. 
TOP 10 HIT SONGS OF R K FILMS

Song from Aag 1948

Song from Barsat 1949

Song from Awara 1951

Song from Aah 1953

Song from Boot Polish 1954

Song from Shree 420 1955

Song from Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai 1960

Song from Sangam  1964

Song from Mera Naam Joker 1970

Song from Bobby 1973

Chorus Songs in Bollywood Part -1

 In 1934 Hindi film songs began to be recorded on gramophones and later, played on radio channels, These songs can be classified in three catagories Solo,Duet or Chorus.A chorus song is basically a song sung by more than 2 singers, A Full Chorus is sung by the main singers along with many singers.The first Chorus was in the 1936 movie  ‘Kaarwaan e Hayaat’.It was sung by KL Saigal, Pahadi Sanyal and Molina.The first Full Chorus was introduced by Anil Biswas in 1943 film Kismet,the song was Aaj Himalay Ki Choti Se – Door Hato Ai Duniya Walo,After the success of this song Chorus songs became the part of Bollywood films.
There are many Chorus songs which became popular All of them can not included in this Blog,I will try to include few most popular songs in 2 parts.
                                                                     Part-1

This is primarily the first chorus song, within which we can surmise certain individual voices (of KL Saigal, Pahadi Sanyal and Molina) as they sing some individual lines, while the chorus of other singers continues.The music is credited to Mihir Bhattacharjee.

Song from ‘Kaarwaan e Hayaat 1936

Here is the  song from “Prem Nagar”(1940). This song is a group song with identifiable lead voice of Bimla Rani and Ramanand, D N Madhok is the lyricist. Music is composed by Naushad, who was making his debut as a music director with this song.

Song-Mat Bolo Bahar Ki Batiyan (Prem Nagar)(1940) Lyrics-D N Madhok, MD-Naushad

Song from Prem Nagar 1940

Song from Sikandar 1941 (Audio )

Song from  Kismet 1943

Song from Barsaat 1949

Song from Baazi 1950

Song from Awara 1951

Song from Albela1951

Song from Aan 1952

Song from Taxi Driver (1954)

Song from Jagriti 1955

Song from Shree 420 (1955)

Song from Naya Daur1957)

Song from Madhumati (1958)

Song from Mother India (1957)

Song from Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1957)

Song from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1959)

Song from Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

Song from Bombai Ka Babu (1960)

Song from Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1961)

Song from Bluffmaster(1963)

Song from Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964)

Song from Door ki Awaaz (1964)

Song from Haqeeqat (1964)

Song from Teesri Kasam (1966)

Song from Upkar (1967)

A Tribute To Jaikishan on his 46th Death anniversary

Jaikishan was the flamboyant, man-about-town who loved to dress in the best suits. He was the soul of the party and loved his scotch.On September 12, 1971, Jaikishan passed away due to cirrhosis of liver.He was only 42 years of age.In a short span of life he along with shankar was among the top Music Directors of Golden Era.The debonair musician actually wanted to be an actor, which was his prime motivation for moving to Mumbai. He started learning music under Vinayak Tambe and became a trained harmonium player.
Prithvi Theatre was searching for a harmonium player and Shankar took Jaikishan under his wings.Soon, both friends were providing music and even acting in plays produced by Prithvi. He along with Shankar started as Music Director with Raj Kapoor's Barsaat (1949)
Raj Kapoor may have introduced them but it’s wrong to credit him only for all their success. They shone even in non RK films like Daag, Basant Bahar,  Amrapali, Asli Naqli, Arzoo, Dil Ek Mandir, Junglee, Love in Tokyo, An Evening in Paris. 
They didn’t just stick to established singers but made sure they found the right voice for the mood. For instance, they used an unknown Subir Sen for Dil mera ek aas ka panchi from Aas Ka Panchi (1960), Suman Kalyanpur for Dil ek mandir hai from Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Manna Dey for Yeh raat bheegi bheegi,  Chori Chori (1956), Asha Bhosle for Mud mudke na dekh from Shri 420 (1955), Mukesh (for Dilip Kumar) in Yeh mera diwanapan hai, Yahudi (1958) and made many more such off kilter choices. 
Shankar-Jaikishan’s popular hits

Song from Awara 1951

Song from Daag -1952

Song from Patita - 1953

Song from Shri 420-1955

Song from Yahudi -1958

Song from Anari-1959

Song from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi -1960

Song from Junglee 1961

Song from Dil Ek Mandir -1963

Song from Sangam 1964

Body Double and Duplicates of Bollywood Actors

In Hindi cinema, the job of a lookalike is not just to look like the original,but also copy their mannerism and be experts at mimicry.They single- handedly fight lions, jump from one skyscraper to the other with ease or fight with the villain.These stunt doubles live in anonymity for years, while the stars garner all the praise. Similarly Body doubles are used for Heroines in case of Bold Scenes.In the film "7 Khoon Maaf"A particular scene required Priyanka to drop her top and expose her back. The audience was made to believe that they were ogling at PeeCee's bare back while in reality it was somebody else's.

In 1974 a film 5 Rifles produced and directed by I. S. Johar was released,the USP of that film was that the film stars Rajesh Khanna's look-alike Rakesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor's look-alike Shahi Kapoor to encash the popularity of those stars that time,These duplicates were the lead actors of that film. 

Another duplicate Kishore Bhanushali, who played Junior Dev Anand in Dil worked in many films because he did the mimicry of Dev Anand.

We all know that Pakeezah took over 14 years to complete, mainly because of the famously tumultuous relationship between Kamal and Meena Kumari.Her health was not well during the completion of the film.Her condition became so bad that during the filming of the grueling emotional mujraa “Teer-e Nazar,” Meena Kumari collapsed. A body double, none other than filmi vamp Padma Khanna, was recruited to replace her! Meena Kumari personally trained her for the scene, and the song was filmed with the majority of the dancing done with an opaque chunni hiding Padma’s face!

Wahid Lala who was a son of stone quarry labourer He was the first in his family to make a career off daredevilry. He started in 1951, worked in seven Bimal Roy and nine Jugal Kishore productions, was Pran’s body double, and loved smashing cars more than Rohit Shetty does,” he grins. “My most dangerous stunt was in Chakkar Pe Chakkar [1977] — a two-minute chase ending with my car flipping over 10 times.”

Wahid Lala

Manjit Singh-Over three decades ago, Manjit Singh, who worked with action director Veeru Devgan father of Ajay Devgan, found himself at a unique advantage. He bore resemblance to Bollywood's biggest icon Amitabh Bachchan. And simply by virtue of this fact alone, Manjit become hot property in Hindi cinema.Manjit also did stunts for many other actors between 1975 to 2000 but his entire identity came from the fact that he was Amitabh's double. One interesting fact that his son Amrit now works as Abhishek Bachchan's double

Manjit Singh -the body Double of Amitabh Bachchan

Afzal Khan- a third generation stuntie, who has been a double for Salman Khan (Ek Tha Tiger, Jai Ho, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and  Prem Ratan Dhan Payo) and Aamir Khan (PK). His grandfather, the late Fazal Khan, was a tall, strapping Pathan employed as a watchman at a south Bombay theatre in the 1950s, when he was cast opposite Dara Singh and Dharmendra in fight sequences. Later,his eldest brother Usman  did stunts and acted as a double for Raj Kapoor in Dharam Karam (1975) and Mera Naam Joker (1970).He was also Rishi’s regular double — from Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (1977) till 2015 film All is well.Usman performed stunts in women’s clothing. For Mere Apne (1971), Usman, as Meena Kumari, was hit by a car. He also performed stunts for Sadhana and Reena Roy, in female dress.

Fazal and Usman

Mansoor Khan-started his career when he was only 17 in 2007.With the support of his maternal uncles Nishant Khan and Sattar Ahmad, both veterans in this field, Mansoor began to train as a stunt.He received the MSAA card after a year and today, the 27-year-old is recognised as one of the best in the industry. With his gym-toned body and curly hair, he has boeen a double for Hrithik Rshan in Agneepath (2012), Bang Bang! (2014) and  Mohenjo Daro.

Mansoor Khan with Hritik

Geeta Tandon -This 31 years old claims to be the only stuntwoman to have successfully attempted car chases.Most women don’t like to perform stunts that involve long hours in the sun or getting dirty in the mud,” she says. “But I did it all. Recently, I did a car chase scene for Aishwarya Rai’s 'Jazbaa'. She has worked as a stunt double for many, including Parineeti Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Deepika Padukone

Geeta Tandon with her children

 Sanobar Pardiwala is Another Stuntwoman who has done some brilliant stunts for top actresses like Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif.