Rajesh KhannaThe Hysteria he whipped up during his heyday.

 Born as Jatin Khanna on 29th Dec 1942, was India's first superstar, a heart-throb who had women trying to commit suicide when he tied the knot with Dimple Kapadia in 1973.The nation sat up and took notice of this unknown actor with a charming smile and a twinkle in his eye.

His smile in his heydays made millions of his female fans' hearts skip a beat. There are various stories of his besotted female fans marrying themselves to his photographs. Such was his craze for this Amar Prem lover boy that his fans wrote letters to him in their blood.During the peak of his career he would be mobbed during public appearances. Fans kissed his car, which would be covered with lipstick marks, and lined the road, cheering and chanting his name.Rajesh Khanna was God, there has never been such hysteria.

He made his film debut in the 1966 film Aakhri Khat, directed by Chetan Anand, followed by Raaz, directed by Ravindra Dave, both of which were a part of his predetermined prize for winning the All-India United Producers’ Talent Competition. G.P. Sippy and Nasir Hussain were the first to sign Rajesh Khanna after he won the contest.
From  Aradhana(1969) he rose to "instant national fame" and film critics referred to him as the first superstar of India. He starred in 15 consecutive solo hit films from 1969 to 1971, still an unbroken record.
Sharmila Tagore  in an interview to The Indian Express said  that "women came out in droves to see Kaka. They would stand in queues outside the studios to catch a glimpse, they would marry his photographs, they would pull at his clothes. Delhi girls were crazier for him than Mumbai girls. He needed police protection when he was in public. I have never seen anything like this before or since.
During the filming of Amar Prem there was a scene that needed to be shot at Howrah Bridge with a boat carrying Khanna and Sharmila under the bridge. The authorities ruled this scene out as they realised that if the public found out that the star would be there, it may create problems on the bridge and that it might collapse due to the amount of people trying to get a glimpse of their favorite actor.
Several songs sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1970s were based on Rajesh Khanna. During the filming of the song 'Mere Sapnon Ki Rani' in Aradhana, Sharmila Tagore was shooting for a Satyajit Ray film and director Shakti Samanta had to shoot their scenes separately and then join the scenes together. In the 1970s, his chemistry with Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Asha Parekh, Zeenat Aman, Tanuja and Hema Malini were also popular with audiences.

He died on 18 July 2012, at his bungalow, Aashirwad, in Mumbai.His funeral was attended by nearly 9 lakh people and his fans had come from places like Surat, Ahmedabad, California, Singapore and from other foreign countries.Police had to resort to lathi-charge to control the crowd of fans who had gathered for the procession from Khanna's Bandra house to the crematorium.
 His name will be written in golden words." Amitabh Bachchan was quoted as saying: "The word 'superstar' was invented for him, and for me it shall ever remain his, and no others .. !! His generation and the generations that follow, shall never be able to describe, or understand his phenomena .. !!"
A Tribute to Rajesh Khanna With Some of My Favorite Songs

Song from Aradhana 1969

Song from Khamoshi 1969

Song from Safar 1970

Song from Kati Patang 1971

Song from Amar Prem1972

Song from Mere Jeevan Saathi 1972

Song from Daag 1973

Song from Prem Nagar 1974

Song from Mehbooba 1976

Song from Thodisi Bewafaii 1980

Song from Agar Tum Na Hote 1983

NAUSHAD-Once All of India was crazy about his Melodies.

Naushad(26 December 1919 – 5 May 2006 )began his career in 1940 with Prem Nagar, but took off in 1944 with Ratan, where he created his own style. All of India was crazy about him. His music had that simplicity. Songs like Jab dil hi toot gaya and Gham diye mustaqil from Shahjehan touch you.
He was one of the first to introduce sound mixing and the separate recording of voice and music tracks in playback singing. He was the first to combine the flute and the clarinet, the sitar and mandolin. He also introduced the accordion to Hindi film music and was among the first to concentrate on background music to extend characters' moods and dialogue through music. 
He was the first composer to have developed the system of western notation in India. The notation for the music of the film 'Aan' was published in book form in London.He was the first to use a 100-piece orchestra.for Aan in 1952.

 His greatest contribution was to bring Indian classical music into the film medium. Many of his compositions were inspired by ragas and he even used distinguished classical artistes like Amir Khan and D.V. Paluskar in Baiju Bawra (1952) and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Mughal-e-Azam (1960). Baiju Bawra (1952) demonstrated Naushad's grasp of classical music and his ability to bring it to the masses, for which he won the first Filmfare Best Music Director Award in 1954.

He was very innovative,in Uran Khatola (1955), he recorded an entire song without the use of orchestra, having replaced the sound of musical instruments with choral sound of humming..For Mughal-e-Azam (1960) song Ae Mohabbat Zindabad, he used a chorus of 100 persons. He asked Lata Mangeshkar to render a part of the song "Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya" in a bathroom that had glazed tiles and then recorded the music to get the echo effect.
Naushad made Suraiya stand on a stool for the 12-year-old schoolgirl's voice to be able to reach the microphone on her debut, Boot karoon main paalish baaboo (from A R Kardar's Nai Duniya in 1942). It was under him, likewise, in another A R Kardar songathon, Dastan (1950), that Suraiya vocally peaked with Mohabbat badhakar jooda ho gaye.
 This master composer first made both Mukesh (Andaz) and Talat Mahmood (Babul) sound surpassingly individualistic on Dilip Kumar He was, near clandestinely, getting Mohammed Rafi ready for the big leap. From his first Anmol Ghadi solo, Tera khilauna toota baalak (1946), to O door ke musafir on Dilip Kumar in Uran Khatola (1955), Rafi came a long, long way, once the Baiju Bawra (above) miracle happened in 1952..

His association with Mohammad Rafi had marked the most golden combination which galvanized the outstanding music composed during the golden age in Indian music, the 50s and 60s. His composition in the film Dulari, 1947, for Mohammad Rafi titled “suhani raat dhal chuki” makes a music lover addicted and it has an appeal even after 60 years of its composition.
 Naushad’s composition in Son of India, “dil torneewale”, duet for Rafi and Lata, shows the effective use of instruments in that age when recording was not developed to that extent. In Dilip Kumar’s Kohinoor, 1960, Rafi’s songs “madhuban me radhika nachere”, “do sitaron ka zamee par hai Milan aaj ki raat” marks Naushad’s control over bhajans and songs with chorus effects. In Rajender Kumar’s Mere Mehboob, 1963, Naushad had explained the transformation of nasams into ghazals. His songs “mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam”, “tumse izhaar-e-haal kar baithe”, “ai husn zara jag tujhe isq dikhaye” enchanted the listeners. Naushad’s compositions were as outstanding as Shakeel Badayani’s lyrics and Rafi’s golden voice.
 Naushad had used folk songs to a great extent where the subjects in the films required them. For example in the film Ganga Jumna, 1961, his composition for Rafi including “nain lar jaihe” was created with bhojpuri effect, and Rafi had succeeded in pronouncing it in the manner expected from him. Rafi’s songs in Rajender Kumar’s Palki, Ganwar, composed by Naushad were also outstanding.
It is tragic that the film industry, could not utilise Naushad’s talent in 1970s and 80s, 
He gave  35 silver jubilee hits, 12 golden jubilee and 3 diamond jubilee mega successes. Naushad was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Bhushan in 1982 and 1992 respectively for his contribution to the Bollywood film industry.
Some of the Immortal songs of Naushad

Song from Rattan 1944

Song from Anmol Ghadi 1946

Song from Shahjehan 1946

Song from Shahjehan 1946

Song from Dard 1947

Song from Mela 1948

Song from Andaz 1949

Song from Babul 1950

Song from Deedar 1951

Song from Baiju Bawra 1952

Song from  Uran Khatola 1955

Song from  Mughal-e-Azam 1960

Song from Gunga Jumna 1961

Song from Mere Mehboob 1963

The Christmas Celebration in Hindi Films

Merry Christmas to All

I Pick Those Rare Delightful Christian Characters, Which Brought A Smile To Our Lips.It is really very strange that the Christian Community Is Generally Depicted As The One High On Drinks And Parties. In contrast to that one character of kind-hearted but talkative landlady, Mrs. D'sa played by Lalita Pawar  from the 1959 film Anari comes to our mind.

Anthony Gonsalves of Amar Akbar Anthony played by Amitabh Bachchan The character became so popular that men began sporting the colourful vests and the metal cross worn by Bachchan in the film, irrespective of their religion.

 Who can forget the Goan Christian fisherman father, Jack Braganza (Prem Nath) of Bobby 1973. His loud and affectionate nature and his joie-di-vivre made him an instant hit. 

How can we forget the film Julie released in 1975.Based around an Anglo-Indian family, the film even had a full-fledged English song My heart is beating sung by Preeti Sagar. The film also dealt with religious prejudices that exist between communities..

There was a film Baaton baaton mein (1979) the film had the backdrop of a Christian home.Rosie Perreira (Pearl Padamsee)) is an anxious widow who wants her daughter Nancy (Tina Munium) to marry at the earliest. Tony Braganza (Amol Palekar) is introduced to her on the train as they commute to work.

 

Based on Erich Segal’s Love Story, ‘Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se’ had Sachin and Ranjeeta playing college students who fall in love but the latter succumbs to cancer in the end. Ranjeeta played a devoted Catholic girl, Lily Fernandes who stays with her mother and reforms Sachin. A film that became one of the sleeper hits of 1978.

Saeed Mirza’s ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai?’ revolved around Albert played brilliantly by Naseeruddin Shah who is a car mechanic and loses his temper now and then. Naseer’s portrayal as Albert, the typical Anglo Indian Christian got a lot of critical acclaim and is counted as one of his most memorable roles to date.

Remember the Commissioner D’Mello of Jane Bhi Do Yaron.Satish Shah played a corrupt commissioner who receives bribes to pass projects by builders. He happens to get murdered as he is towed and chased by all the characters in the film. Every scene is a treat.

Jennifer Pinto aka Jenny played by Katrina Kaif  in Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani is considered as one of her most memorable roles in her decade long career.  Ranbir Kapoor playing Prem who falls in love with a Christian girl - Jenny, but she loves someone else.

Song from Julie 1975

Song from Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Song from Baton Baton Mein 1979

Song from Shandaar1974

Mohammad Rafi-The Voice That Swayed Millions

Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) had an immortal, melodious voice. He was trained in classical music and had an unparalleled range. Rafi conveyed different shades of emotions through his songs whether romantic, sad, classical, devotional, ghazals or bhajans. He could sing every kind of song with an ease and perfection that made him the uncrowned king of Indian playback singing. 

He was born on December 24, 1924, and was fond of singing from childhood. As singing was not considered respectful in those days, he ran away from home to Lahore, where he got training under maestros such as Bade Gulam Ali Khan and Ustaad Abdul Waheed Khan. Rafi sang on All-India Radio before he entered the cinema. Sham Sunder was the first music director who recognized the artiste in Rafi and gave him a break in a Punjabi movie, Gulbloch, in which Rafi sang Soniye, Hiriye nee.

 Mohammad Rafi's first big break came late in 1946. Shooting for a Dilip Kumar, Noorjehan starred blockbuster film Jugnu which was started in 1946.He sang a duet with Noorjehan"Yahan badla wafa ka be wafayi ke siwa kya hai"When the film was released in 1947, this very duet became the best selling song. This gave the necessary break to Mohammad Rafi and from then on he never looked back and went from strength to strength. He also acted in this film.

By the middle of 1947, Mohamad Rafi had become a household name in Hindi speaking North India. His flexible, sweet, and velvety voice suited most young actors including the brilliant rising star Dilip Kumar. Most of the finest music directors, spearheaded by the duo of Pandit Husnalal Bhagatram, were showing interest in grooming his raw talent further into the art of film playback singing.
Pandit Husnalal Bhagatram gave Mohammad Rafi an immortal song "Is Dil Ke Tukde Hazar Huye, Koi Yahan Gira koi Wahan Gira, Behte Huye Aansoo Ruk Na Sake koi Yahan Gira koi Wahan girl".Mohammad Rafi gave his emotion-filled voice to this song. This song became an instant hit.
In 1948 another song by Rafi "Watan ki raah mein watan ke naujwan shaheed ho" from Shaheed, which became the signature tune for the movie, became overnight a nationwide hit.
The music director Shyam Sunder's tunes rendered by Mohammad Rafi for film Bazaar(1949) including a duet with Lata Mangeshkar entitled "Apni nazar se door voh, unki nazar se door hum, tum hi batao kya Karen, majboor tum majboor hum" caught the imagination of entire Hindi knowing India.

Mohammad Rafi's utmost devotion to his profession and hard work under the music direction of Pandit Husnalal Bhagatram paid great dividends and he became India 's leading duet singer in the company of Lata Mangeshkar. Some of his pre-1950 duets with Lata Mangeshkar are acclaimed as some of the finest in the history of film singing.
After 1950 most of the great music directors of India considered Mohammad Rafi a force in film music. When Naushad composed his masterly tunes for films like Dulari (1949) and Deedar (1951), Mohammad Rafi became the star that no one could afford to ignore. Film Deedar song "Huye hum jin ke liye barbad became an all-time hit. Later on, his high pitched numbers sung for films, Amar and Baiju Bawra put him up at a very high pedestal. Mohammad Rafi was honest to the core, never greedy and success did not make him arrogant.

S D Burman also used Rafi's voice for Dev Anand and Guru Dutt beautifully.Rafi worked with Burman in 37 movies, including Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Kala Bazar, Nau Do Gyaran, Kala Pani , Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Guide (1965), Aradhana (1969), and Abhimaan (1973).

Rafi's partnership with Shankar Jaikishan was among the most famous and successful in the Hindi film industry. Under Shankar-Jaikishan, Rafi produced some of his songs for actors like Shammi Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar. Out of six Filmfare awards, Rafi won three for S-J songs – "Teri Pyari Pyari Surat Ko", "Baharon Phool Barsao" and "Dil Ke Jharokhe Mein". The song "Yahoo! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe" was sung by Rafi, only to be matched a fast-paced orchestra and a composition by Shankar Jaikishan. S-J had Rafi give playback for Kishore Kumar in the film Shararat ("Ajab hai daastan teri yeh zindagi"). Rafi sang a total of 341 numbers (216 solo) for Shankar-Jaikishan. Among the films of this combination are Basant Bahar, Professor, Junglee, Suraj, Brahmachari, An Evening in Paris, Dil Tera Deewana, Yakeen, Prince, Love in Tokyo, Beti Bete, Dil Ek Mandir, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Gaban and Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai.
The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal (L-P) patronized Rafi as one of their singers, right from their very first song by him from the film Parasmani (1963). Rafi and L-P won the Filmfare Awards for the song "Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanjh Savere" from Dosti (1964). Rafi rendered the highest number of songs for the music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal: 369 numbers (186 solo) for L-P.
Rafi sang for many famous music directors during the 50s and 60s. He sang Naushadâ's composition Man tarpat Hari darshan ko, with the same perfection he sang O.P. Nayyar's light composition Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan. He also sang S.D. Burman's Khoya-khoya chand – Kala Bazar, Shankar Jai Kishan's Ehsaan tera hoga mujhpar – Junglee, Roshan's Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi – Barsaat ki Raat, Madan Mohan's Main nigahen tere chehre se – Aap ki Parchhaiyan, Salil Chowdury's Koi sone ke dilwala – Maya and Ravi's Sau baar janam lenge – Ustaadon ke Ustaad.
Rafi was truly a singer for the masses and not for any particular class. His voice appealed to all, the old, young, rich, poor, men and women.
Rafi brought cheers and smiles to millions of his fans through his songs. In his songs like Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, Rafi tried to inspire the dejected and give hope to those who had lost faith in life and God. On July 31, 1980, a massive heart attack silenced this peerless singer forever. But his songs keep him alive.
The First Song of Mohammad Rafi

                                            Rafi Sahab's first Hindi Film Song

Song from Pehle Aap 1944

The Song that gave fame to Mohammad Rafi-first duet with Noorjehan

Song from Jugnu 1947

First On screen appearance 

First Solo Hit

Song from PYAR KI JEET 1948

The First Duet of Mohammad Rafi & Lata

Song from Shadi Se Pehle 1947

First Filmfare Award Song

Song from Chaudhvin Ka Chand 1960

Second Filmfare Award

Song from Sasural 1961

Third Filmfare Award Song

Song from Dosti 1964

Fourth Filmfare Award Song

Song from Suraj 1966

Fifth Filmfare Award Song

Song from Brahmachari 1968

Sixth Filmfare Award Song

Song from Hum Kisise Kum Naheen 1977

English Song By Mohammad Rafi

The Last Song of Mohammad Rafi

Song from Aas Pass

The journey of singing great Noor Jehan in Bollywood

Noor Jehan began to sing at the age of five and showed a keen interest in a range of styles, including traditional folk and popular theatre. Realising her potential for singing, her mother sent her to receive early training in classical singing under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. He instructed her in the traditions of the Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music and the classical forms of thumri, dhrupad, and khayal.
At the age of nine, Noor Jehan drew the attention of Punjabi musician Ghulam Ahmed Chishti, who would later introduce her to the stage in Lahore.She had a desire to act in films at that age.Theatre owner Diwan Sardari Lal took the small girl to Calcutta in early 1930s and the entire family moved to Calcutta.Here in Calcutta she got her new stage name Baby Noor Jehan. 

Still from Heer-Sayyal 

In 1935, K.D. Mehra directed the Punjabi movie Pind di Kuri in which Noor Jehan acted along with her sisters and sang the Punjabi song "Langh aja patan chanaan da o yaar", which became her earliest hit. She then acted in a film called Missar Ka Sitara (1936) by the same company and sang in it for music composer Damodar Sharma. Jehan also played the child role of Heer in the film Heer-Sayyal (1937). One of her popular songs from that period "Shala jawaniyan maney" is from Dalsukh Pancholi's Punjabi film Gul Bakawli (1939). All these Punjabi movies were made in Calcutta.

She  returned to Lahore in 1938. In 1939, renowned music director Ghulam Haider composed songs for Jehan which led to her early popularity, and he thus became her early mentor.It was in 1942 she got a film Khandan as an adult heroine role,in this film Pran the legendary villain was her hero. The success of Khandaan saw her shifting to Bombay, with director Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi. She shared melodies with Shanta Apte in Duhai(1943). It was in this film that Jehan lent her voice for the second time, to another actress named Husn Bano. She married Rizvi later the same year.
After taking the role of leading lady in Nadan (1943), she was presented with second lead in Naukar (1943) while Shobana Samarth (Indian film actress Nutan's mother) played the heroine opposite Chandramohan. Dost (1944), directedby Rizvi, had the extremely gifted Motilal as the leading man opposite Noor Jehan, with Rizvi (who was now her husband) playing her brother in the film. It was in this film that Noor Jehan lent her voice for the first time to another actress, Husn Bano. It was in Lal Haveli (1944) that Noor Jehan starred opposite singing star Surendra Nath for the first time (they later made the all time classic Anmol Ghadi (1946)). Lal Haveli (1944) was also notable for the fact that Meena Kumari, then a child star, acted as the young Noor Jehan.

The year 1945 was a turning point for Noor Jehan. In Master Vinayak's Badi Maa (1945) she played lead with "Baby Lata Mangeshkar" and "Baby Asha Mangeshkar" in supporting roles. 
The year 1945 also brought Noor Jehan her first superhit in Bombay, Zeenat (1945). It was her inimitable rendition of "Bulbulo Mat Ro Yahan" that gained her the title Malka-e-Tarranum, Queen of Melody. 
In 1946 Noor Jehan acted in the enduring classic Anmol Ghadi (1946).The songs like 'Awaz De Kahan Hai', 'Jawan Hai Mohabbat', 'Mere Bachpan Ke Saathi', 'Aaja Meri Barbad Mohabbat' and 'Kya Mil Gaya Bhagwan' composed by Naushad to make her the undisputed queen of films.

Noorjehan in Jugnu

The year 1947 saw the release of Jugnu.She starred with Dilip Kumar in this film that time Dilip Kumar was an upcoming star.In this film Mohammad Rafi sang his first duet with Noorjehan "Yahan Badla Wafa Ka Bewafai Ke Siva Kya Hai".This song gave popularity to Mohammad Rafi.
Unfotunately the year also saw the partition of the country,Noorjehan opted to leave the country. 
Noor Jehan's last film in India was Mirza Sahiban (1947) which starred Prithviraj Kapoor's brother Trilok Kapoor. Many of the songs were hits like 'Aaja Tujhe Afsana Judaai Ka Sunaye' and the duet with G M Durrani 'Haath Seene Pe Jo Rakh Do To Qarar Aaye'.

Song from Khandaan 1942

Song from Zeenat 1945

Song from  Badi Maa 1945

Song from Anmol Ghadi 1946

Song from Anmol Ghadi 1946

Song from  Jugnu 1947

Song from Mirza Sahiban (1947)

Song from Mirza Sahiban (1947)