The earlier Years of Mehmood

Mehmood, son of character actor Mumtaz Ali, who was having a dance troupe "Mumtaz Ali Nites" performed all over India. His career slumped due to his alcoholism, leading Mehmood to work as a child artist and daughter Meenu Mumtaz to work as a dancer in his stage shows and later movies. He had a tough time when starting out in the Hindi film industry.
He did every kind of odd job from becoming a driver for director PL Santoshi.He also assisted him on the sets. If Santoshi sent him out to buy cigarettes or other small things, he would invariably keep the change.  He also got the job of teaching Table Tennis to Meena Kumari.
He also worked as assistant cameraman with Arjun Desai, as an assistant set designer with Kamleshwar Sehgal, as an assistant editor with DN Desai.He also worked with Hemant kumar as office assistant for some time.Hemant Kumar who knew the hardship he was facing once even let him sing in the chorus so that he could make some money.
It was in 1954 when Hemant Kumar was giving music for Nagin,in a song  ‘O Zindagi Ke Denewale’ he took Mehmood as a chorus singer but he was singing so badly that Hemant Kumar’s assistant Ravi asked him to leave. Mehmood begged Ravi to let him stay, but Ravi was adamant. However, Hemant Kumar knew of Mehmood’s dire straits, so he asked to remain and merely lip-sync the song without any sound.
In his childhood Mehmood worked in few films of Bomay Talkies as a child artist(Kismet of Bombay Talkies was his first film as child artist) so he thought of to switch to acting and started going to one producer to another to beg for work.
He was first offered a small role as a murder victim in CID and then acted in films like “Do Bigha Zameen” and “Pyaasa”. He got his first major break in the film Parvarish in 1958. After Paravrish, Mehmood’s comic talent was recognized in the industry.

Song from Parvarish (1958)

His first breakthrough film as a comedian was Chhoti Behen in 1959. The movie also created one of the most successful comedy pairings of the sixties – Mehmood and Shubha Khote.Their next film was Sasural in 1961 which was hit and thus Jodi became super hit for years to come.
Here are some of the great songs of Mehmood and Shubha Khote

Song from Chhoti Bahen (1959).

Song from Sasural 1961

Song from Sasural 1961

Song from Grahasti (1963)

Song from Hamraahi 1963

Song from Ziddi (1964)

Song from Saanjh aur Sawera (1964),

Song from Beti Bete.1964

Song from Love In Tokyo (1966)

Song from Tumse Achha Kaun Hai (1969)

Mukesh-who wanted to be like K L Saigal

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 Similar to the story of Eklavya, Mukesh initiated in music.He started learning music indirectly  from his sister’s Guruji . He would listen from the next room and keep practicing until the day.Those days K L Saigal was the star singer actor.Like every body
KL Saigal was Mukesh’s idol.He wanted to be like him. Mukesh had good looks and his nature was very industrious, thus trying his luck at acting was natural for him.It was the actor Motilal who was his relative attended the marriage of Mukesh's sister at Delhi where he heard Mukesh singing a song.He liked his singing and advised him to come to Bombay and try his luck in films.
After few months Mukesh saw an advertisement in a News Paper from Ranjit Movitone for requirement of Actor cum Singer.He applied for this and was called to Bombay for an interview.It was Chandulal Shah of Ranjit Movietone who selected him and gave him the job.
He got his first project as an actor-singer in a film named Nirdosh in 1941 which has his first song ‘Dil hi ho bujha hua to’.His second film was Adab Arz in 1943.He acted as a hero in the film Mashooka in 1953, opposite Suraiya. During these period he sang and acted in few films but his career was not rising.It was in 1945 when Moti Lal asked Anil Biswas to take Mukesh as his playback singer for the film Pehli Nazar.The song he sang for the film was "Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De".This song became so popular which opened the door of success for Mukesh.
Mukesh was such a fan of singer K. L. Saigal that in his early years of playback singing he used to imitate his idol. In fact, it is said that when K. L. Saigal first heard the song "Dil Jalta Hai...", he remarked, "That's strange, I don't recall singing that song"
It was  music director Naushad Ali, who helped Mukesh to come out of his Saigal style and create his own style. Naushad gave him songs for the film Andaz. Initially Mukesh was the ghost voice of Dilip Kumar in this movie and Mohammed Rafi sang for Raj Kapoor. He delivered many Hits for Naushad in films like: Anokhi Ada (1948), Mela (1948), Andaz (1949). Other composers who used Mukesh voice for great Dilip Kumar in hit songs like "Jeevan Sapna toot gaya" were Anil Biswas in Anokha Pyar, Ye Mera Diwanapan hai, Shankar-Jaikishan in Yahudi and Suhana Safar and Dil Tadap Tadap ke, Salil Choudhary in Madhumati. However, later Dilip Kumar choose Rafi as his ghost voice and Mukesh became the ghost voice of Raj Kapoor. Mukesh recorded highest number of songs for Shankar Jaikishan ie 133 songs followed by kalyanji Anandji ie 99 songs. Out of 4 Filmfare awards, Mukesh won 3 awards for Shankar Jaikishan songs.

The duo of Raj Kapoor and Mukesh had hell lots of songs among which the most remembered and played is ‘Awara Hoon’. This song has lived almost 65 years yet kids know this song and the song is so stuck in everyone’s mind. Other famous songs were Mera Joota hai Japani, Jeena yahan marna yahan, Dost dost na raha, Jaane kaha gaye vo din, Kisiki muskurahaton pe, Ichak Daana beechak Daana, Sajan re jhoot mat bolo, Ramaiya vastavaiya, Dum Dum Diga Diga, Vo subah kabhi to aayegi, Kehta hai Joker saara jamana, Begaani shaadi me Abdullah deewana.The first song Mukesh sang for Raj kapoor was ‘Zinda hoon is tarah’ in 1948 film Aag, the lifelong partnership started from this song.
Like Talat, Mukesh also had an inherent sadness in his voice. So songs like ‘Woh tere pyar ka gham’, ‘Saranga teri yaad mein’ or ‘Baharon ne mera chaman lootkar’ sounded even more soulful in his voice. But unlike Talat, he could even belt out light numbers with gay abandon. Songs like ‘Ruk jaa o jaanewali ruk jaa’, ‘Aasman pe hai khuda aur zameen pe hum’ or ‘Bina badra ke bijuriya kaise chamke’ confirmed this time and again.
Many critics derided him as an imperfect singer who had a nasal twang and who would often miss a note or a beat and many a time they had a valid point. His limited vocal range also made high-pitched songs difficult for him. Mukesh proved them wrong 
After Shankar Jaikishan Mukesh sang lot of songs for Kalyanji Anandji  "Naina hai jadoo bhare..." Bedard Zamana Kya Jane (1958) composed by Kalyanji alone as Kalyanji Virji Shah, and "Main hoon mast madari..." Madari (1959) as the first Kalyanji-Anandji-Mukesh combo, to "Chahe aaj mujhe napasand karo" Darinda/ 1977, the K-A, Mukesh combination gave numerous popular songs like "Chhalia mera naam...", "Mere toote hue dil se...", "Dum dum diga diga" Chalia(1959), "Mujhko iss raat ki tanhai mein..." Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere(1960), "Hum chhod chale hain mehfil ko..." (Ji Chahta Hai), "Humne tumko pyar kiya hai jitna..." (Dulha Dulhan), "Chal mere dil lehraake chal..." Ishara and "Dheere se chalo..." Johar Mehmood in Goa,"Main to ek khwab hoon..." and "Chand si mehbooba ho..." Himalay Ki Godmein(1965), "Waqt kartaa jo wafaa..." Dil Ne Pukara,"Deewanon se yeh mat poocho..." Upkar, "Khush raho har khushi hai..." Suhaag Raat and "Humsafar ab yeh safar kat jaayega..." Juari, "Chandi ki deewaar..." and "Le chal le chal mere jeevan saathi..." Vishwas (1969), "Koi jab tumhara hriday tod de..." Purab Aur Paschim, "Darpan ko dekha..." Upaasna, "Jo tumko ho pasand..." Safar and "Mujhe nahin poochni tumse beeti baatein..." Anjaan Raahein (1970).
Mukesh died of a heart attack on 27 August 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, US, where he had gone to perform in a concert. That morning, he got up early and went to take a shower. He came out panting and complaining of chest pains. He was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead. The rest of the concert was completed by Lata Mangeshkar and surprisingly his son Nitin Mukesh . His body was flown to India by Lata Mangeshkar, where a grand funeral ceremony was held in the presence of several actors, with personalities of the Indian film industry and fans paying tribute. 
Mukesh had the voice that could paint a thousand shades of melancholy. The way he sang, with the perfect tone and diction, he was considered as second to none. The pain that he had in his voice could not be imitated by anyone else.

SONGS THAT WON HIM FILMFARE

• Sab Kuch Seekha Humne(Anari)
• Sabse Bada Naadan(Pehchan)
• Jai Bolo Beimaan Ki(Be-imaan)
• Kabhie kabhie mere dil me(Kabhie Kabhie)
• .SONG THAT WON HIM NATIONAL FILM AWARD
• Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai(Rajnigandha)

Song from Pehli Nazar 1945

Song from Anokha Pyar, 1948

Song from Aag 1948

Song from Mela 1948

Song from Andaz 1949

Song from Awaara 1951

Song from Parvarish 1958

Song from Anari 1959

Song from Kala Aadmi, 1960

Song from Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere(1960)

Song from Bandini, 1963

Song from Sangam (1964)

Song from Himalay Ki Godmein(1965)

Song from Teesri Kasam 1965

Song from Milan 1967

ong from Mera Naam Joker 1970

Song from Safar, 1970

Song from Kabhie Kabhie 1976

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Anand Bakshi - The Juggler of Words

Over 3500 songs in  638 films in his career over five decades, he was the most vibrant lyricist that the industry has witnessed. The beauty of Bakshi’s mesmerising lyrics was that it retained its currency till he lived in the first decade of the new millennium.He was a master wordsmith.His contribution to the rhythmic songs of the golden era of Hindi cinema, which began in the 1950s and lasted till the mid-1970s will be noticed among the dozen odd top lyricists.
He 6.was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930 He  was fond of writing poetry since his youth, but he did this mostly as a private hobby. He worked in the Army for many years and simultaneously tried to market his songs in the Mumbai film world.Took voluntary discharge from the Army, E.M.E.  on 27-8-1956, at Lucknow.Arrived in Bombay to find work in films as a singer and or lyricist in Oct. 1956.
He got his break writing songs in a Brij Mohan film titled Bhalaa Aadmi (1958), acted by Bhagwan Dada. He wrote four songs in this film. His first song in this film was "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal" which was recorded on 9 Nov 1956.he first found success in 1962 with Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, which was produced by (LimeLight), Music by Kalyanji & Anandji,  He got his real big breakthroughs in 1965 with Himalay Ki God Mein, and a huge breakthrough again in 1965 with the super-hit film Jab Jab Phool Khile, starring Shashi Kapoor;and in 1967 film Milan
He found great popularity with films like Amar Prem, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Ek Duuje Ke Liye and many more through the ’70s. He went on to work with renowned directors like Dev Anand,Raj Kapoor, Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra and wrote the lyrics for Hare Rama Hare Krishna,Bobby, Taal, Yaadein and Dil Toh Paagal Hai among others. Mention must be made about Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ, 1995).
Sahir Ludhianvi taught him how to weave poetry into lyrics. He even introduced him to producers. Once he even asked Yashji (Chopra) to try him as a lyricist. But he wrote for Yashji’s Chandni (1989) only after Sahir saab passed away. 
He was associated with music composers such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, R D Burman, Kalyanji Anandji, SD Burman, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan and Anand-Milind, and his songs have been sung by all the top singers as well as other singers such as Shamshad Begum, Ila Arun, Khursheed Bawra, Amirbai Karnataki, Sudha Malhotra and more. He is known to have worked with more than one generation of music composers.He wrote the first recorded songs of many first time male and female leads who went on to become stars, and also of singers such as Shailendra Singh, Kumar Sanu, Kavita Krishnamurthy etc
His jodi with Laxmikant Pyarelal was very popular They worked together in more than 220 films.First time he was associated with L P was in 1964 film Mr X In Bombay,the song Mere Mehboob Qyamat Hogi sung by Kishore kumar became very popular.The next film worked together was Lootera in 1965.

After  L P,the other composer was R D Burman with whom he did maximum films.Their first film was Teesra Kaun in 1965.
Anand Bakshi wrote for five decades, watching the windmill of time roll over and over. New actors replaced old ones, his close buddies like Kishore Kumar, Pancham and Laxmikant left for the heavens even as he watched helplessly. But Anand Bakshi’s gallery of fame kept gathering up successes like Hum, Darr, Lamhe, Mohra, DDLJ and Dil to Pagal Hai, as he kept adjusting his stance with the changing time.He stayed young and kept his screen heroes and heroines even younger. 
Late in his life, he suffered from heart and lung disease as a consequence of lifelong smoking. In March 2002, he caught a bacterial infection at Nanavati hospital during a minor heart surgery. He finally died of multiple organ failure on 30 March 2002, 8:00 PM at Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital, at the age of 72. The last released movie with lyrics by Anand Bakshi (after his death) was Mehbooba.

Song from Phool Bane Angaare (1963)

Song from Mr. X in Bombay (1964)

Song from Himalay Ki God Mein (1965)

Song from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)

Song from Milan (1966)

Song from Taqdeer (1967)

Song from Raja Aur Rank (1968)

Song from Aradhana (1969)

Song from Jeene Ki Raah (1969)

Song from Do Raaste (1970)

Song from Kati Patang (1971)

Song from Amar Prem (1972)

Song from Bobby (1973)

Song from Sholay (1975)

Song from Julie (1975)

Song from Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981)

Song from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Neeraj-The great Poet and Lyricist

Gopal Das Saxena"Neeraj "(4 January 1925 – 19 July 2018 )was introduced to the film industry by producer R. Chandra when he turned director with “Nayi Umar Ki Nayi Fasal”. The film was inspired by Neeraj’s poem “Karwaan Guzar Gaya Ghubar Dekhte Rahe”. After that he wrote songs for Cha Cha Cha which released earlier in 1964 with the songs SUBAH NA AAYI SHAM NA AAYI,Ek Chameli Ke Mandve Tale and Wo hum Na The Wo Tum Na
It was Dev Anand  who introduced him to S.D. Burman for “Prem Pujari”. Neeraj took a leave of six days from Dharam Samaj College in Aligarh where he was teaching Hindi and reached Bombay at the invitation of Anand. In an interview he said “He put me in luxurious hotel in Santa Cruz and paid me Rs.1000 even before signing me. Next day he took me to S.D. Burman, who showed apprehensions about a poet’s ability to write to tunes and a given situation. Dev Anand said that he should not worry. He should give the tune and if Neeraj failed he would remain his guest for six days and enjoy Bombay. Burman da gave me a tune and said the song should start with ‘Rangeela Re’ and it is about a girl who sees her beloved coming to a party with another girl. It should have elements of frustration in love, jealousy and satire. I worked the whole night and came up with “Rangeela Re Tere Rang Main Yun Ranga Hai Mera Mann, Chhaliya Re…” Next day he went to Dev Anand’s office and showed what he had written. After reading it, he embraced Neeraj and exclaimed how he could do it in one night. “He immediately took me to Burman da’s home and proudly presented me to him and said: See, I told you, Neeraj has done it. When Burman da listened to it he said ‘Dev you go, now we will sit together.’ After he left, Burman da admitted that he gave me this complex situation to make me give up.
After that S D Burman recommended him to Sharmeeli producer to sign him the lyricist for the film.When he was writing for Prem Pujari he was contacted by Raj kapoor to write a song for Mera Naam Joker.Neeraj wrote A e Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo and even set it to a wonderful tune. "The song is a philosophy of life, which is a circus and we are all jokers,'' 
Neeraj worked with S D Burman in many films like Tere Mere Sapne and Gambler.
Gopaldas Neeraj called himself an unfortunate poet which led to his stopping himself from writing film songs and restricting himself to just writing and getting his poems published. The reason that he gave for this was that at least two or three prominent music directors of the Hindi Film Industry for whom he wrote very successful and popular songs, had expired. He mentioned the death of Jaikishan of the Music Duo Shankar-Jaikishan as well as of Sachin Dev Burman, for both of whom he had penned highly popular film songs. The deaths of these Music Directors when they, along with Gopaldas Neeraj were at the peak of their fame left him very dejected and he made a decision to quit the film industry.
His friendship with Dev Anand continued he wrote songs for the last film of Dev Anand "Charge sheet"
 Gopal Das Neeraj passed away on Thursday 19 th July 2018 evening at the AIIMS trauma centre, his family said. He was 93.
Neeraj used to say" People talk of my five years in film industry. They tend to forget my 65 years of contribution to literature".

Song from Cha Cha Cha (1964)

Song from Nayi Umar Ki Nayi Fasal 1965

Song from Kanyadan (1969)

Song from Chanda aur Bijli (1969)

Song from Prem Pujari (1970)

Song from Prem Pujari (1970)

Song from Pehchan (1970)

Song from Sharmilee (1971)

Song from Tere Mere Sapne (1971)

Song from Mera Naam Joker (1970)

Song from Gambler (1971)

Song from Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)

Song from Chhupa Rustam (1973)

75 Years(19th July 1943) ago Dev Anand landed Bombay to become Hero in Bollywood

Dev Anand was only eighteen and half years old when he left from Lahore to Bombay to become an actor in Hindi films.He landed at Bombay Central station by frontier mail with 30 rupees in his pocket.In an interview he said that he came to Bombay either to become a journalist or an actor. 
He didn't get the role immediately,he did insignificant  roles in theatre He was noticed by a person who was in Prabhat studio who told Dev that Prabhat Studio is looking for a new hero in their upcoming film. Prabhat studio was in Pune. It was in 1945 he got the role in the film Hum Ek Hain which was made in 1946 but released in 1947 after independence. 
During his struggling days in Mumbai, Dev Anand worked as a clerk in an accountancy firm for a meager salary of Rs 85 to make ends meet. He also worked at the Military Censor Office and earned Rs. 160 before becoming an actor.In the struggling days once he had no money,he had to sell his stamp collection the only possession he had for meager 30 Rs  to a pavement dweller. 
After he got Hum Ek Hain a few other indifferent films ( Mohan and Aage Badho in 1947) followed and it was not until Ziddi in 1948 that he got success.A year later Dev Anand launched his production company Navketan the first film was Afsar directed by Chetan Anand which was average at Box Office and its second film Baazi (The Gamble), directed by newcomer Guru Dutt, became a huge success

Scene from Hum Ek Hain 1946 

from Hum Ek Hain 1946

Song from Aage Badho 1947

Song from Ziddi 1948 First Song of Kishore Kumar of Bollywood

Song from Ziddi 1948 The First Duet of Kishore and Lata

Rajesh Khanna-The heartthrob of the young generation of 1970s,

Rajesh Khanna (29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was the first Super Star of Bollywood.He was a craze among women.Women  would wait for hours to have a glimpse of him, marry his photographs and even name their sons after him.Sharmila Tagore said in interview to Indian Express, “Women came out in droves to see Kaka (Khanna). 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. Fans kissed his car, which would be covered with lipstick marks, and lined the road, cheering and chanting his name.
 The hysteria he generated was unlike anything seen before and after. As hit followed hit, and women all over the country swooned over him, Rajesh Khanna admitted feeling “next to god”He was the Box Office Badshah at one point of time.He had 15 consecutive super hits between 1969 to 1971, which is still an unbroken record in Indian film history.His greatest acting glory could be marked in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Anand”, in which Rajesh Khanna enacts the role of a cancer-patient who knows that his days are being numbered.
He shared a close relationship with R.D. Burman and Kishore Kumar. The trio of Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar and R.D. Burman went on to make a number of popular films, including Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Shehzada, Apna Desh, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Aap Ki Kasam, Ajnabee, Namak Haraam, Maha Chor, Karm, Phir Wohi Raat, Aanchal, Kudrat, Ashanti, Agar Tum Na Hote, Awaaz, Hum Dono and Alag Alag

He made his debut in 1966 with Aakhri Khat.but became Super Star only after the release of Aradhna in 1969.He received the Filmfare Best Actor Award three times and the BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) four times.He was also a Lok Sabha member of the Indian National Congress from New Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency) from 1992 to 1996
During his career, Khanna played the lead in 74 films that were shown in cinemas for more than 50 continuous weeks (Golden Jubilee Hits) which includes 48 films which ran for 75 weeks (Platinum Jubilee hits) and 22 films that were shown for more than 25(Silver Jubilee hits), but less than 50 weeks.

Khanna died on 18 July 2012, after a period of illness. Khanna has been posthumously awarded India's third highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan.He has also been honored with a stamp and statue in his likeness, and a road being renamed after him.

Song from Aradhana 1969

Song from  Khamoshi 1969

Song from  Kati Patang (1970)

Song from  Andaz (1971)

Song from  Amar Prem (1972) 

Song from  Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972).

Song from Dushman 1972

Song from  Aap Ki Kasam (1974)

Song from Prem Nagar 1974

Song from Kudrat 1981

Song from Agar Tum Na Hote 1983