50 Years of RAM AUR SHYAM

Exactly today Ram Aur Shyam turns 50.the film was released on 15th Dec 1967.Ram Aur Shyam was the remake of the popular Telugu film Ramudu Bheemudu, which in turn was loosely based on Alexander Dumas’s The Corsican Brothers. The film was a super hit.
The success of Ram aur Shyam, directed by Tapi Chanakya, must be credited to two great actors – Dilip Kumar and Pran. The music by Naushad, with lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni, adds to the movie’s charm. One of the best songs is Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salaami Le Le, in which Shyam bids farewell to Rehman before abandoning his fake identity as Ram. 
Dilip Kumar played Double Role in this film.He got Best Actor award by Filmfare for this film.
He is both Ram, the timid and seemingly mentally-retarded son of a millionaire industrialist, and Shyam, a sturdy yeoman brawler with an appetite like that of the legendary Bhima of the Mahabharata. 

 Ram isn’t really retarded, just terrorized by his sadistic, whip-wielding brother-in-law, Gajendra (Pran, of course), who, goaded by an evil mother, keeps Ram, along with his own wife and daughter, virtual prisoners in their palatial mansion.
 Shyam is strong, brave and mischievous,he is  Ram's long lost twin brother Shyam (Dilip Kumar) lives in a village with his adopted mother Ganga whom he believes to be his birth mother. No one other than Ganga knows the truth about the twin brothers. He escapes to the city, after a mischievous conflict with Ganga, and meets Anjana, who is impressed by his personality. Anjana and her father confuse Shyam with Ram. Ram meets Shanta who thinks he is Shyam and takes him forcefully to his mother. Ram and Shanta develop feelings for each other. Meanwhile, Shyam decides to take the place of Ram to face Gajendra.
The scenes of Dilip Kumar as the flamboyant Shyam are in sharp contrast to those of the timid Ram, who is so terrified of Gajendra that he dare not look him in the eye. The thespian’s bonhomie with his co-stars Waheeda Rehman and Mumtaz is apparent, leading to relaxed and memorable performances from all concerned.
Only a truly fine actor like Dilip Kumar could have done pulled off the double act so convincingly, making Ram Aur Shyam a lasting treat for Hindi film buffs.

Songs of Ram Aur Shyam

Aayee Hai Bahar Mite Zulmo" - Mohammad Rafi & Chorus

Aaj Ki Raat Mere" - Mohammad Rafi

Main Hoon Saqi Tu Hai Sharabi" - Lata, Mohammad Rafi

Khemchand Prakash-The Composer who gave us Immortal Songs

A Tribute To Khemchand Prakash on his 110th Birth Anniversary

Born on 12 Dec 1907 was one of the giants of the Hindi film industry. He shaped and defined Hindi film music when it was still in its nascent stages. In a short career spanning just about a decade, he left behind a legacy that exceeded his output as a music director.
Aayega Ane Wala (Mahal, 1949)  from Lata and Sapt Suran Teen Graam (Tansen, 1943) by K L Saigal are few of them.
Khemcand Prakash's father, Pandit Govardhan Prasad, was a musician in the royal court of Jaipur and also taught him music. He worked as a court singer and then tried his hand at acting in films before found his true calling in film music. After assisting composer Timir Baran in a few films, Khemchand Prakash debuted as a music director for the film Meri Aankhen (1939).
Early on in his career Khemchand Prakash showed glimpses of his ability to set trends and his penchant to handle the female voice. 'Pehle Jo Mohabbat…' catapulted singer-actress Khursheed from relative obscurity to becoming one of the leading female artists of the time.
His genius was visible in Tansen a 1943 film.Tansen was possibly the first film to embrace classical music with gusto. Backed by excellent subject matter and KL Saigal’s glorious voice, Khemchand Prakash composed songs that became immortal while retaining their authentic Hindustani classical base. The music of Tansen set the stage for a phase in Hindi films that borrowed heavily from classical music. 
Khemchand Prakash was among the few composers who heard the tremendous potential in Lata’s voice, when most of Bollywood was unsure if the thin voice of young Lata would appeal to the masses. Earlier he gave Lata a song "Chanda re Ja Re" in 1948 film Ziddi which became hit.He gave Lata Mangeshkar the song Aayega Aanewala despite Raaj kumari and Zorabai Ambalewali who were big names.
This was the song that made Lata Mangeshkar a household name, a name that would be at the forefront of Hindi film music for the next 60 years or so.
Very few know that K L Saigal's Devdas(1935) songs were also composed by him but the credit was not given to him.One of his assistant Daan Singh in an interview said that the two main songs of the film weren’t Baran’s compositions but Khemchand’s ‘Balam Aan Baso Mere Mann Mein’ and ‘Dukh Ke Din Ab Bitat Nahin.’ But as he was an assistant composer, the credit went to Baran.”
Unfortunately, Khemchand Prakash did not survive long enough to see the success of Mahal or the shaping of the golden era of the Hindi film music of the 50s. He passed away on August 10, 1950 at the relatively young age of 42. 

Song from Devdas 1935

Song from Shaadi 1941

Song from Tansen 1943

Song from Tansen 1943

Song from Sindoor 1947 

Song from Ziddi 1948

Song from Mahal 1949

Song from Mahal 1949

Dilip Kumar-The Ultimate Method Actor

In India, when we think of method acting, the name that pops up first is Dilip Kumar. He remains the inspiration of countless actors in Indian cinema. From Amitabh Bachchan to Naseeruddin Shah, Shah Rukh Khan to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, every actor of Hindi cinema carries the grain from the sand dunes that Dilip Kumar created with his acting.
He brought a sense of naturalism to his characters that was unthinkable for his age. He was the first one to debunk the myth that actors on screen hardly carry any insight into human behavior

.Dilip Kumar went out of his way to get into the skin of the character. He got so consumed by the sadness of a string of characters he played, he had to visit a psychiatrist who advised him to do comedies to get rid of the gloom that had seeped into his bone marrow.
For the song  ‘Madhuban mein Radhika nache re ’from Kohinoor he actually took lessons in sitar for almost a year. For Gunga Jamuna, he drew from his gardener in Deolali, where he spent a considerable time while growing up, and spoke Bhojpuri like a pro.
It was Dilip Kumar’s natural way of inhabiting roles that brought directors like Bimal Roy to the forefront. Roy’s cinema influenced by Italian neo-realism had to rely on actors who never went for manners, but a way of playing characters that draws you in slowly in their environment.

Still from Jwar Bhata 1944

 His first film was Jwar Bhata (1944). He had to learn everything from scratch and how he had to develop his own distinct histrionics and style, which would set him apart from his contemporaries.
He soon soared to great heights with movies such as Jugnu, Shaheed, Mela, Andaz, Deedar, Daag and Devdas. He switched to play lighter roles as suggested by his  British psychiatrist, who advised him to switch over to comedy.Remember his performance in Naya Daur,Ram Aur Shyam.

Dilip Kumar in Ram Aur Shyam

His career has spanned over six decades and with over 60 films.The period of 1949-1961 is considered the peak period of Dilip Kumar's career as a hero. From late 1960s roles dried up for Kumar as films starring Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor were more successful from 1961-1969 and also Dilip's films from 1966 to 1976 were box office flops like Dil Diya Dard Liya, Sunghursh, Aadmi, Dastaan, Gopi, Sagina and Bairaag and after 1976 he left films for a five year break.
After a five-year break he started his ‘second innings’ with Kranti (1981), after which he appeared in a series of hits such as Vidhaata, Shakti, Mashaal, Karma and Saudagar 
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions towards Indian cinema and nominated him to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament for a term.
On his 95th birthday I wish him Long Life and Good Health

My Favourite Dilip kumar's Songs

Song  from Andaz 1949

Song  from Daag 1952

Song  from Aan 1952

Song  from Sangdil 1952

Song  from  Footpath 1953

Song  from  Madhumati 1958

Song  from  Ganga Jamuna 1961

Song  from Leader 1964

Song  from Sangharsh 1968

A Tribute to Dada Muni on his 16th Death Anniversary

An actor who could capture all your attention in a single shot, a man who added glamour to Hindi film fraternity and promoted talents from all corners of the country, Ashok Kumar has ruled the silver screen and melted millions of hearts with his charismatic screen appearance and personality.He was the first superstar of Hindi cinema as well as the first lead actor to play an anti-hero. He also became the first star to reinvent himself, enjoying a long and hugely successful career as a character actor.

He never ever wanted to become an actor. He came to Bombay to become a director. Those days, actors were really looked down upon. They were believed to come from the lowest strata of society. So he joined Bombay Talkies as a technician. he worked in the camera department. Later, he was made a lab assistant." It was sheer fluke that he became an actor. 
 He got the lead role in Jeevan Naiya (1936), a Bombay Talkies production. His first big hit was Achhut Kanya (1936), where he again paired with Devika Rani. The film was about a Brahmin boy falling in love with a girl from the 'untouchable' class. 
He  was the first anti-hero of Indian cinema. Gyan Mukherjee's Kismet (1943) presented Ashok as a pickpocket who falls in love. This was the first film in Indian cinema that grossed at one crore rupees. So technically, Ashok Kumar was the one to set up the 'crore club'.

His rise to fame however rattled his parents. In an interview he said "My mother was certain that since I'd joined films, I would fall into bad ways. So without letting me know, she arranged my marriage. I didn't even see my wife before the wedding. Meeting your bride before marriage wasn't the done thing then".

Post Kismet, Ashok Kumar became the most bankable star of the era, delivering a succession of box office successes with movies like Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944), Shikari (1946), Sajan (1947), Mahal (1949), Sangram (1950) and Samadhi (1950).
He produced several films for Bombay Talkies during the final years of the company including Ziddi (1948), which established the careers of Dev Anand and Pran,Later on he quit the Bombay Talkies and started Filmistan Studio with Shashdhar Mukharjee ,his desire to return to Bomaby Talkies was always there." He re bought Bombay Talkies in 1947. "Devika Rani had left by then. But the Talkies had fallen on bad days. The debts amounted to Rs 28 lakhs. We made movies like Majboor, Ziddi, Mahal and Mashal to repay the debts."

With the advent of the 1950s Ashok Kumar switched over to more mature roles, with the exception of the 1958 classic Howrah Bridge. Despite the arrival of a younger crop of stars like Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar remained one of the stars of the era with hits like Afsana (1951), Nau Bahar (1952), Parineeta (1953), Bandish (1955) and EK Hi Raasta (1956). His most successful film of that era was Deedar (1951), in which he played second fiddle to Dilip Kumar.

Ashok Kumar played an important role in several landmark movies in the 1960s and 1970s, including Jewel Thief (1967), Aashirwad (1968) (for which he won a Filmfare Award as well as National Award in 1969), Purab aur Pashchim (1970), Pakeezah (1972), Mili (1975), Chhoti Si Baat (1975) and Khoobsurat (1980).

Ashok Kumar's last film role was in the 1997 movie Aankhon Mein Tum Ho.

. Altogether, he starred in over 275 films. He has done more than 30 Bengali dramas in Dhakuria.He was honored in 1988 with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest national award for cinema artists, by the Government of India and also received the Padma Bhushan in 1999 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

He died at the age of 90 in Mumbai on 10 December 2001 of heart failure at his residence in Chembur. The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee described him as "an inspiration... for many generations of aspiring actors.

Songs from Ashok Kumar's Films

Koi Hamdam Na Raha from Jeewan Naiya 1936

Song from Achhut Kanya 1936

Original Ek Chatur Naar from Jhula 1941

Song from Kismet 1943

Naani ki naao chali  from Aashirwad

Song from Aashirwad 1968

Dharmendra-The Original He Man of Bollywood

Happy 82nd Birthday DHARMENDRA
Dharmendra was born in Punjab on December 8, 1935, and spent most of his childhood in Sahnewal village.Came to Bombay in 1958 and won the ‘New Talent’ contest conducted by Filmfare magazine.Got his first break in the 1960 film ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere’, Got the real star status after giving the biggest hit of the year 1966 Phool Aur Patthar’

He became the first He Man of the Industry.Dharmendra blended machismo with marshmallow tenderness and won a major female following.

In the ’60s, Dharmendra represented moral seriousness in Hindi cinema; in film after film, the characters he played tried to reconcile the conflicting demands of love, advancement and integrity. He specialised in playing the respectable professional. He was a jail doctor in ‘Bandini’, a barrister in ‘Mamta’, an engineer in ‘Satyakam’ and ‘Aadmi aur Insaan’ Dharmendra played himself in the 1971 comedy ‘Guddi’, which did reasonably well at the box office.

After the success of Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) the image  of an action hero.got confirmed.Dharmendra acted in several action films such as ‘Dharam Veer’,Sholay ‘Charas’, ‘Ghazab’ Jugnu,Azaad, Katilon Ke Kaatil, , Bhagawat, Jaani Dost, Dharm Aur Qanoon, Main Intequam Loonga, Jeene Nahi Doonga, Hukumat, and ‘Rajput’. In his long career consisting of some 300 films.

In 1983 Deol set up a production company known as Vijayta Films. Its first film was Betaab, released in 1983, starring his son Sunny Deol as the lead actor in his debut movie. The film was a blockbuster. In 1990 he produced the action flick Ghayal, also starring Sunny. Dharmendra launched the career of his younger son, Bobby, in 1995 in Barsaat.He also launched his nephew Abhay Deol in Socha Na Tha (2005).

Dharmendra never got Filmfare award for acting but I consider he gave excellent performance in films like Phool aur Patthar’, ‘Satyakam’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Pratigya’, ‘Sholay’ and ‘Naya Zamana’

Dharmendra is a gentleman he had no dispute with anyone personally,perhaps this is the secret behind his evergreen popularity.He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2012.

Dharmendra married Hema Malini who was his heroine in many films.It was his second marriage.His first marriage was to Parkash Kaur at the age of 19 in 1954. From his first marriage, he has two sons, Sunny and Bobby, successful actors, and two daughters, Vijeeta and Ajeeta.

On his birthday I present some of his hit songs

         Song from Shola Aur Shabnam (1961)

Song from Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) 

Song from Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966) 

Song from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)

Song from Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) 

Song from Jeevan Mrityu (1970)

Song from Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) 

Song from Kahani Kismat Ki (1973) 

Song from Black Mail (1973) 

Song from Pratigya (1975)

Song from Sholay (1975)

Song from Dharam Veer (1977) 

RARE PHOTOES OF DHARMENDRA

Dharmendra with his family members in Punjab

dharmendra-wife-daughter.

Enjoying the Birthday party

Hema and Dharmendra Marriage

Dharmendra with Sunny and Bobby

The Shirtless Heroes of Bollywood

Dara Singh, the first He-Man of Hindi cinema who had the distinction of going shirtless for nearly all his films. It was mandatory for Dara Singh to expose in every film poster as he was the undisputed wrestling champ of India. Those days Bollywood actors were not always known for their bodies, the primary focus was on their acting skills which dominated the screen.
When we look back to see the old heroes shown shirtless the first film comes in my mind is Mr & Mrs 55 in which Guru Dutt actually makes his first cameo–as a shirtless fisherman.The most famous Shirtless was Dharmendra in Phool Aur Pathar.

Dharmendra

The first time that showed a popular hero going shirtless on a movie poster was none other than Dharmendra in OP Ralhan’s ‘Patthar Ke Phool’ in 1966 and in Anil Sharma’s ‘Elaan-E-Jung’ in 1989. He was considered the most handsome looking he-man hero who could make his female fans swoon over him.The poster of ‘Patthar Ke Phool’ raked up a storm among the crowd as it was for the first time that an ‘A’ grade movie playing a common man went shirtless standing near a heroine.
Sanjay Dutt

After many years a hero appeared as He Man was Sanjay Dutt.In his debut film Rocky he was shown shirtless but shirtless body was displayed in Feroz Khan’s ‘Yalgaar’ poster. Salman khan in an interview said that he was inspired by Sanjay Dutt's body and started making under his guidance. 
Sunny Deol

.Contemporary to Sanjay Dutt was another hero Sunny Deol,the son of the original He Man
Dharmendra.Like his father Dharmendra was a fitness freak who played strong men characters in action films. He did strip in a couple of scenes in his debut movie ‘Betaab’ and Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Ghayal’ and ‘Ghatak’ but never on a poster. JP Dutta’s ‘Kshatriya’ was probably the first poster where he went shirtless along with Sanjay Dutt.
Salman Khan

It is Salman Khan who started the Trend of shirtless in bollywood. Though he was shown shirtless in Maine Pyar Kiya but the real trend started after the song "O O Jane Jana" from 1998 film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. After that  every movie of this super star doesn’t get full stop without the insertion of any shirtless scene.
Ajay Devgan

Ajay Devgan made his acting debut with ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ in 1991 and has come a long since then. He too had a lean physique until he went shirtless for ‘Omkara’ where he pumped iron. The poster of Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham’ made him strip for the movie poster which was followed up by ‘Action Jackson’
Hritik Roshan

One of the fittest and most handsome hunks in contemporary Bollywood.His first film was Kaho Na Pyaar Hai was released in 2000 but It took almost a decade for Hrithik to go topless in Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ in 2011
John Abraham

John is famous for going shirtless in almost every movie of his. His debut movie ‘Jism’ followed by ‘Paap’ set the trend for all his movies. One of the best bodies in the business, his notable films where he stripped for scenes were in ‘Dostana’, ‘Dhoom’, ‘Race 2’ and ‘Shoot Out At Wadala’, etc

 Now, however, with increasing pressure on looks, actors have to work hard to achieve a chiseled look in order to ‘stay in the game.In today's generation of Heroes Tiger Shroff  and Varun Dhawan are two heroes having good physique.

Tiger Shroff

Varun Dhawan

SONGS

Song from Yalgaar 1992

Song from Bang Bang 2014

Song from Desi Boyz

Song from Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-leela

Today Western music rules youngsters' playlists but there are many youngsters who like to listen Ghazals. When we talk of Ghazals in today's scenario only one name appears in our mind that is the Legendary  Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali.
On his 77th Birthday I write this blog about his association with Bollywood.Though, he has hardly lent his voice to Bollywood, the few of his Ghazals that made it to the big screen have remained Indian audiences’ all time favorite. 
Ghulam Ali was born on 5th Dec 1940 , at village Kaleke, district Sialkot, which is now a part of Pakistan.He belongs to a musical family, his father was vocalist and sarangi player who trained him earlier, he also learnt from Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's brother Ustad Barkat Ali Khan who is another great singer.
Owing to his immense popularity, some of his ghazals have been used in the Indian Hindi movies. His popular ghazal "Chupke chupke raat din.." has been used in the movie Nikaah featuring Raj Babbar and Salma Aghaa. Moreover, many of the Hindi film songs have been "inspired" from some of his ghazals. "Thodi si jo pi li hain, chori to nahi ki hain" from Namak Halal (Ghazal - Hungama hain kyon barpa) as you would recognize, is one them.
The first time his Ghazal(a small part in the background ) was taken in Hindi film Chhoti Si Baat in 1975,but his ghazals became popular among Hindi film goers from 1982 film Nikaah.In 1984 again in Maati Mange khoon his Ghazal was being played in background.He was associated with Aawargi(1990),Beti No 1 (2000),Bewafaa (2005) and very recently with Ghar Wapsi.
In Ghar Wapsi, he has also contributed to song Apni Mitti Ki Khushboo Hain Rago Mein Yeh Basi Hai…Choomenge Isko Shaan Se. Humko Toh Pyaara Hain Yeh Watan, Apni Jaan Se.

Song from Nikaah (1982)

Song from Maati Maange Khoon (1984)

Song from Aawargi 1990

Song from Bewafaa (2005)