Sunday, 13 May 2018

The most Popular Mothers Of Bollywood


Mother's Day  is a day dedicated to the most selfless beings in our lives - our moms. For all the selfless love and care your mom showered upon you, Mother's Day is the perfect occasion to make her feel special and give her a break from mommy duties.
 Cinema plays an important role in our lives, even more than we notice. Since the beginning most of the films had an important character of Mother in the story,some roles became immortal and some filmy mothers became very popular.
In this blog I pay a tribute to the most famous Mothers of Bollywood

Durga Khote


Scene from Mughal e Azam

Durga Khote marks the pioneering phase for women in Indian Cinema as she was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry, thus breaking a social taboo.She also ranks among the top ten actresses in mother roles in Hindi cinema,most notable among them were as Jodhabai in K. Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (1960); as Kaikeyi in Vijay Bhatt's classic Bharat Milap (1942); her other memorable roles as mother were in Charnon Ki Dasi (1941); Mirza GhalibBobby (1973) and Bidaai (1974). She has received the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1983), for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
Sulochana


                                            JOHNY MERA NAAM - Just One Scene


Sulochana made her debut in films in 1946. She was often paired opposite Nazir Hussain and Ashok Kumar throughout her career in Hindi films.
Popularly known as Dev Anands Film mother, She was a regular in films with Dev Anand in the lead roles, where either Dev Anand was her son or relative and some of their films together were Jab Pyar Kisise Hota HaiPyar MohabbatDuniya (1968), Jhonny Mera NaamAmir GaribWarrant and Joshila.She also played mother or as close relative in Hindi films with Sunil Dutt as the leading man such as in HeeraJhoolaEk Phool Char KanteSujathaMehrbaan (1967), ChiragBhai Bahen (1969), Reshma Aur SheraUmar QaidMuqablaJaani Dushman and Badle Ki Aag
Since 1969, she often played an on-screen close relative to the character played by Rajesh Khanna and some of their famous films included Bahraon Ke SapneDoliKati PatangMere Jeevan SaathiDil Daulat DuniyaPrem NagarAakramanBhola BhalaTyaagAashiq Hoon Baharaon Ka and Adhikar(1986). Her other best known films include Nai Roshni (1967), Aaye Din Bahar KeAaye Milan Ki BelaAb Dilli Dur NahinMajboorGora Aur KalaDevarBandiniKahani Kismat KiTalaash (1969) and Azaad (1978).
Lalita Pawar

She was a prolific Indian actress, who later became famous as a character actress, appearing in over 700 films in HindiMarathi and Gujarati cinema,She was known particularly for playing maternal figures, especially wicked matriarchs or mothers-in-law
She started as a child artiste at the age of 12 in the silent era in 1928. In 1938 she became the Leading lady but hercareer as a leading lady came to an abrupt end, due to an unfortunate incident during the shooting of Jung-E-Azadi. As per the scene, Master Bhagwan had to deliver a slap on her face and when he did so, it was so hard that she suffered facial paralysis as a result. Her left eye was permanently damaged. 
After that, she was out of work for almost three years and when she did return at work, she had no other choice but to accept character roles, even though she was just 25 years old! she had to play mother to heroes who were as old as her! Would you believe, she was younger than Ashok Kumar? Raj, Dilip and Dev are also younger to her by just a few years…and I had to play mother to each of them! Anyway,
In 1952 film Daag she became the mother of Dilip Kumar,In Junglee 1961 she became shammi Kapoor's mother. She also notably played the role of the strict but kind Mrs. L. D'Sa in Anari (1959) with Raj Kapoor. Under Hrishikesh Mukherjee's direction, she gave the performance of a lifetime
Kamini Kaushal

She played lead heroine in films from 1946 to 1963, wherein her roles in Do Bhai (1947), Shaheed (1948 film)Ziddi (1948 film)Shabnam (1949 film)Nadiya Ke Paar (1948 film)Arzoo (1950 film)Paras (1949), Namoona (1949), Jhanjar (1953), Aabroo (1956 film)Night Club (1958 film)Jailor (1958 film)Bade Sarkar and Godaan (1963) are considered her career's best performances. She played character roles since 1963, and was critically acclaimed for her performances in Shaheed (1965), in three films of Rajesh Khanna, She played mother to Rajesh Khanna in Prem Nagar in 1974, and in Maha Chor in 1976, and as sister in law to Khanna in Do Raaste.  and with Sanjeev Kumar - Anhonee and eight films with Manoj Kumar.
Nargis


Scene From Mother India

The mother of all Bollywood mothers was Nargis in Mother India,that one role made her immortal.This remains the top most performance till date.The film was released in 1957,she became a mother in only one film but that became the Top mother Performance.
Nirupa Roy


Scene from Deewar

 She played leading roles in her early films and started playing mother roles during the 1970s and 1980s. Her acting career spanned more than 50 years, and she acted in more than 275 films. In the 1970s, her role as mother to the characters played by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor made her name synonymous to the impoverished suffering mother. Her role in Deewaar (1975) and its dialogues with reference to a mother and son are used as clichés.In the 70s and 80s she was known as Filmy mother of Amitabh Bachchan,some of her popular films as Amitabh's mother were Amar Akbar Anthony,Mukkadar Ka Sikandar,Suhaag,Mard,inquilaab and Lal Badshah
Nutan

 Nutan started her career at the age of 14 in the 1950 film Hamari Beti, directed by her mother. She subsequently starred in such films as Nagina and Humlog (both 1951). Her role in Seema (1955) garnered her wider recognition and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She continued playing leading roles through the 1960s until the late 1970s and went on to win the award on four other occasions for her roles in Sujata (1959), Bandini (1963), Milan (1967) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).
Nutan started playing character roles and continued working until shortly before her death. She portrayed mostly motherly roles in such films as Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Meri Jung(1985) and Naam (1986). Her performance in Meri Jung earned her a sixth and last Filmfare Award, this time in the Best Supporting Actress category.
Dina Pathak

Dina Pathak acted in over 120 films in a career spanning over six decades.She is best known for her memorable roles in the Hindi films Gol Maal and Khubsoorat. She was a favourite of the Art Cinema in India where she played powerful roles in films like KoshishUmrao JaanMirch Masala and Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!.
Rakhee Gulzar

In 1970 she made her debut with Jeevan Mrityu as heroine opposite Dharmendra  In 1971, Rakhee played a double role opposite Shashi Kapoor in Sharmilee, and in the same year she also acted in Lal Patthar and Paras; all three films were popular and she therefore became one of the leading actress of Hindi Cinema in the 1970s. The films Shehzada (1972) and Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972) - both showcased her comic abilities. She displayed versatility with Heera Panna (1973), Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), Hamare Tumhare (1979), Aanchal (1980), Shriman Shrimati (1982) and Taaqat (1982). She regards her performances in Blackmail (1973), Tapasya (1976) and Aanchal to be her best performances. She acted with Dev Anand in Heera Panna, Banarasi Babu (1973), Joshila (1973) and Lootmaar (1980).
Rakhee worked with Shashi Kapoor in 10 released films, including Sharmelee (1971), Jaanwar Aur Insaan (1972), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Doosra Aadmi (1977), the critically acclaimed Trishna (1978), Baseraa (1981),[3] Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983), Zameen Aasmaan (1984), and Pighalta Aasman (1985). She also acted opposite Kapoor in the film Ek Do Teen Chaar, which was produced in 1980 but never released.[4] Her other unreleased film is Majnoon (1979) though the songs were released. Her films with Amitabh Bachchan include Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979), Jurmana (1979), Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981), and Bemisal (1982). 
Towards the late 1980s and 1990s she played strong character roles as the elderly mother—usually a bereaved and bitter widow whose husband died at the hands of ruthless villains—or a woman of principles in commercially successful films such as Ram Lakhan (1989), Anari (1993), Baazigar (1993), Khalnayak (1993), Karan Arjun (1995), Border (1997), Soldier (1998), Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love(2001) and Dil Ka Rishta (2002).
Farida Jalal

She started her career with Taqdeer (1967). She went on to play leading and supporting roles in numerous motion pictures through the 1970s and early 80s. She is widely remembered for her roles in Paras (1971), Henna (1991) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), all of which garnered the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.She played the mother of Kajol in many films.She also became Shahrukh.s mother in couple of films.
Rima Lagoo

She started her acting career on Marathi stage. However, she received wider recognition with roles in television serials, Hindi and Marathi films. She debuted in films in 1979 with the Marathi film Sinhasan.
 She first rose to prominence with the Hindi film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) where she played Juhi Chawla's mother. She was seen in a controversial role in Aruna Raje's Rihaee (1988). She then starred in the blockbuster film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) as Salman Khan's mother and then in Saajan (1991), also a superhit success at the box office. She starred in action drama and crime thriller Gumrah (1993) as Sridevi's mother, Jai Kishen (1994) as Akshay Kumar's mother and Rangeela(1995) as Urmila Matondkar's mother. Her Gumrah (1993) was seventh-highest grosser of the year at the box office, Jai Kishen (1994) was a commercial success (declared 'semihit'). Rangeela (1995) was highest grosser of the year at the box office.
She played mother to gangster Sanjay Dutt.in Vaastav She has been credited in the media as a coming of a "new-age mother" in Hindi cinema.After that she played mother's role of Sanjay dutt in many films.
Dimple Kapadia

The ever-graceful Dimple Kapadia is the most stylish mother or grandmother in Bollywood right now.Started her career with Bobby in 1973 left films soon after marrying Rajesh Khanna,came back with Sagar in 1985.For the next decade, she would go on to become one of top five commercial actresses in Bollywood along with Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Meenakshi Sheshadri and Jaya Prada.
She played the role of Tara Jaiswal, a middle-aged alcoholic woman, an interior designer by profession, and a divorcee who is not allowed to meet with her daughter in 2001 film Dil Chahta Hai,In 2005  Dimple and Rishi Kapoor reunited as a lead couple for the third time after Bobby(1973) and Saagar (1985) in Pyaar Mein Twist. They starred as two middle-aged single parents who fall in love and later have to deal with the reaction of their children. Dimple Kapadia had perfected the way she played roles of the quintessential Indian mother, but she played each role in her own style. Her rendition of a Punjabi mother in Homi Adajania's Cocktail was funny and entertaining. In Homi Adajania's next venture. She played Deepika's mother-in-law in this comic caper.

Some of Mother-Child Relationship Song
                                                             Song from Sahaara 1958

Song from  Gharana (1961)


Song from Bandhini 1963


Song from Daadi Maa 1966


Song from  CHHOTA BHAI 1966


Song from Majhli Didi” (1967)


Song from  Mastana 1970


Song from Karan Arjun  (1995)


Song from  Tare Zameen Par 


Saturday, 12 May 2018

The Swan Song of R D BURMAN


The swan song is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement Thenmavin Kombath, a Malayalam film by Priyadarshan was the last film R D Burman signed, but he died before he could score for the film.It was the song Ek Ladki Ko Dekha from 1942 A Love Story was the last song recorded before his death.But the real Swan Song is ‘Kuchh na kaho’.
R d Burman’s last recorded song is ‘Kuchh na kaho’ in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice. It was recorded soon after RD’s death in January 1994.
The late 80s and early 90s were not good for Pancham. The general perception was that he had lost his touch.  The songs that he did, generally failed to make a major impact on the public.  Where R.D. Burman had made a career from Western "inspired" songs, he found that he was repeatedly being outdone by Bappi Lahiri's Western "inspired" disco.  In 1988 at the age of 49, he suffered a heart attack.  He underwent surgery and continued to make music.  But his career limped into the 1990's with very lackluster commercial success.  
Many Producers and Directors who were working with Pancham earlier have now dropped Pancham from their future projects. Anand-Milind were picked over Pancham da for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT), Subhash Ghai who signed Pancham earlier for his upcoming film Ram Lakhan also dropped him by replacing Laxmikant Pyare Lal.
It was Vidhu Vinod Chopra who worked with him in Parinda had faith on him repeated him in 1942 Love Story despite suggestions from his well wishers not to take him. 1942- A Love Story was one of Rahul Dev Burman’s last soundtracks and indeed he left the industry with a lot to remember.
Every song of this movie is a master piece Kuch Na Kaho”, is featured twice, once by Kumar Sanu and the other by the illustrious Lata Mangeshkar. The slow tune is once again delightfully intertwined with the R.D. Burman touch in a violin.The teaser number, “Rooth Na Jana” brings us back to the golden era with its backdrop consisting essentially of the flute areas. The song is at times upbeat, sweet and Kumar Sanu once again emotes excellently.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha” the song sung by Kumar Sanu  was as whimsical and breezy as it is picturized. The light soft tune has a backdrop of a soft drum backdrop, which is complimented superbly by the sitar. The song being on of Sanu’s biggest hits cannot only be identified by the classes but the masses as well.
The film got all the 4  musical Awards,Best Music Director for R D Burman,Best Lyricist for Javed Akhtar,Best male Play back Singer for Kumar sanu and the Best female Singer to Kavita Krishnamurti.
Song from 1942 Love Story (1994)


Ek Ladki Ko Dekha


Rim Jhim Rim Jhim




Thursday, 10 May 2018

Pankaj Mullick- The Man Who Popularized Rabindra Sangeet To The Masses


Rabindranath Tagore was a prolific composer with around 2,230 songs to his credit.The songs have distinctive characteristics in the music of Bengal, popular in India and Bangladesh.He was was very stringent about the fact that his poetry should be sung with purity. The aspiring singers were asked to sing in his presence and only after seeking his approval they could sing in public. 
Pankaj Mallick started singing Tagore's song very early in his life.One day he came across a poem by his favourite poet Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. 'Jokhon porbe na mor payer chinho' enchanted him to the extent that he composed a musical version of this poem and started singing it. Later on, when Pankaj got to know that this very poem had been composed and sung by Gurudev himself, he also listened to the record, and naturally felt ecstatic that his composition was identical to that of Gurudev. This was his incipient introduction to Rabindra Sangeet. 
He started musically tuning and rendering Gurudev's poems by singing in public functions as well. One such composition, 'Diner sheshe, ghoomer sheshe,' he sang very frequently.
When Tagore came to know that some one is composing and singing his poems in public and being appreciated by the people,he was summoned before Tagore and asked to sing in his presence. Pankaj was naturally quite nervous when he sang 'Diner sheshe' in the courtyard of Gurudev's mansion. Just as the song was over, Pankaj ran away. Tagore was amazed by his singing prowess and didn't object to his singing and composing his poems. When Pankaj came to know about Gurudev's reaction he felt exhorted and inspired to sing Rabindra Sangeet as his life's sole mission.
Dinendranath Tagore was the grandson of Gurudev's elder brother Dwijendranath Tagore and son of Dwijendranath Tagore. After listening to Pankaj he gladly accepted him as his disciple. Under his tutelage young Pankaj learnt the finer nuances of Rabindra Sangeet. He taught him the first song from Gurudev's most celebrated work, 'Gitanjali'. He taught Pankaj the importance of verbal sequence and stressed that verses should never be overtaken by music. And that the spirit of lyrics was of supreme importance.He started singing in Radio Station Calcutta which was started on 26th August 1927 In September  1927 Dr Iyengar took Pankaj to the radio station and introduced him to the Programme Director Nripen Majumdar. Quite impressed with his voice, he asked Pankaj to sing for them. And Pankaj sang two songs penned by Gurudev. This historic stint with radio lasted for more than five decades.
The production of the first radio play on Calcutta Radio is also credited to him. Pankaj was equally responsible for popularising Rabindra Sangeet on radio. During his radio days, he came into close contact with Rai Chand Boral.With him he started giving music in films.In 1929 this duo was approached by BN Sircar to compose for his silent films, Chor Kanta and Chasher Meye. During the era of silent films, music was given live from the pit dug near the screen. Later in 1931 Sircar founded his New Theatres Studio and asked Boral and Pankaj to join its music department. Pankaj was co-composer of Boral in Dena Paona, the first talkie in Bangla that year. Pankaj had assisted Boral in most of the films and some of the credited compositions of Boral in Puran Bhagat and Chandidas were actually composed by Pankaj.
Pankaj Mullick was given a chance to compose the songs of the film Mukti independently by P C Barua.There is an interesting story about this film. When Barua was narrating the story of this yet to be titled film to Pankaj Babu, he started humming 'Diner sheshe, ghoomer deshe'. Barua heard this and asked Pankaj Babu that he would like to use this rendition in his film. Pankaj Babu told Barua, "Though I have composed this poem and sung it in concerts, we would require the permission of Gurudev to use it in the film."
Tagore not only gave permission for 'Diner sheshe', but even two more songs for the film. He also suggested the title Mukti for the film. It was the very first time that Rabindra Sangeet was used in a feature film. These three songs of Gurudev became instant hits after the film was released in 1935
Following the success of Mukti/Mukti, Pankaj Babu’s screen appearances became more frequent. He appeared as an elderly singer in the Hindi version of Kapal Kundala (1939), an adaptation of the bestselling novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, directed by Phani Majumdar. He composed and sang the unforgettable Piya Milan Ko Jaana, undoubtedly his most well-known song in Hindi. The next highlight of Pankajbabu’s career was Debaki Bose’s musical extravaganza Nartaki (1940) where 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
During the Second World War and its aftermath, New Theatres went into decline and many of its luminaries went to Mumbai but  Pankaj Mullick preferred to stay at Calcutta. In 1944, he composed music for Meri Bahen and this film he had Saigal singing some of his best ever songs Ae Qatib-e-Taqdir Mujhe Itnaa Bata De, Do Naina Matware and Chhupo Na Chhupo Na. Pankajbabu also worked for some Mumbai productions among which were the Dev Anand-Geeta Bali starrer Zalzala (1952),
Pankaj Mullick was also a music scholar and theoretician and he wrote several books on Indian classical music. He also recorded the definitive version of the Indian national anthem Jana Gana Mana in deference to Premier Jawaharlal Nehru’s wishes.
Yatrik (1952) and Raikamal (1955) won Pankaj Mullick the President’s Award for the best film music. He was honoured with the Padmashree in 1970 and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for his ground-breaking contributions in Indian cinema in 1973. A commemorative postage stamp honouring Pankaj Mullick was issued by the Department of Posts, Govt. of India on the occasion of his birth centenary.He died on 19th Feb 1978.
 It is a matter of special pleasure for me to present a compilation of my favourite Pankaj Mullick songs as my tribute on his birthday May 10.

                                            Ye Ratein Ye Mousam - Pankaj Mullick.


Song from Manzil (1936)


Song from Mukti (1937)


Song from  Adhikaar (1938)


Song from Kapalkundala (1939)



                                    ye kaun aaj aaya savere savere Song from Nartaki 1939  




Song from Doctor (1941)


                      Guzar Gaya Woh Zamana (Pankaj Mullick) Song from Doctor 1941



Song from My Sister


       Tere Mandir Ka Hoon Deepak Jal Raha 


















Wednesday, 9 May 2018

The Great Ghazals Of TALAT MAHMOOD


Talat Mahmood is known as The King Of Ghazal a title  he consolidated over the period of years to become the greatest name in ghazals He began his music career at the young age of 16 when he began singing the ghazals of Ghalib, Dagh, Mir and Jigar on All India Radio, Lucknow. His  first disc was released in 1941, "Sab din ek samaan nahin tha, ban jaoonga kya se kya main, iska to kuch dhyan nahin tha"
In 1944 came the smash hit "Tasveer teri dil mera behela na sakegi". It took the country by storm. It's popularity was so phenomenal and unrivalled that even today it remains one of the biggest non-film hits! This disc brought Talat fame throughout India and soon he was beckoned by the Calcutta Film Industry, which was then the premiere hub of film production in the 40's. 
He came to Bombay in 1949,His name and fame had already preceded him and people in the Mumbai Film Industry were already aware of this handsome and talented young singer and soon he was offered the song "Ae dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal jahan koi na ho" composed by the then reigning music director Anil Biswas and picturised  on the great Dilip Kumar. The song was a great hit,it layed the fpoundation of a new trend of Ghazal in Bollywood.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"
Towards the late 60's the filmi ghazals and good romantic songs gave way to the electronic rhythms of the disco generation. Disliking the new trend towards loud meaningless music, Talat decided to cut down his film singing assignments but continued his non-film ghazal recordings. 
 His last soundtrack recording, in 1985, is the song "Mere Shareek-e-Safar", a duet sung with Miss Hemlata, from the movie "Wali-e-Azam" composed by Chitragupt and written by Ahmed Wasi.He  influenced a whole generation of young singers who succeeded him; including legendary ghazal singers Jagjit Singh and Pankaj Udhas (who always honors him with the title of Shahenshah-E-Ghazal), singer Sajjad Ali and playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya.
My Favourite Ghazals Of TALAT

Song from Aarzoo (1949) Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jaga Le Chal


Song from Baabul (1950) Milte Hi AAnkhen Dil Hua Deewana


Song from Madhosh (1951) Meri yaad me tum na


Song from Daag (1952) Aye mere dil kahin aur chal 


Song from Foothpath (1953) Sham-E-Gham ki qassam


Song from Dil-e-Nadaan (1953) Zindagi dene wale sun


Song from Taxi Driver (1954) Jayen to jayen kahan 


Song from  Mirza Ghalib (1955) Dil-E-Nadaan tujhe hua kya hai


Song from  Sujata (1959) Jalte hain jiske liye