Hats off to Dev Anand

Dev Anand was the greatest Style Icon of India. He had a fascination for hats or caps. In almost every film we can see Dev Anand in a different cap or headgear. In his personal life too he was very fond of caps, scarfs, jackets, wrist watches and pens. He had a great collection of pens. In an interview his son, Suneil Anand told that “My father had a fetish for hats and pens. It was a part of his style statement. He was very fond of writing and he loved collecting pens. He had a huge collection.”
Recall the Jewel Thief cap of Dev Anand. It became so popular by the dashing Dev Anand in the film (1967) almost every youth of that time bought that cap. There is a story behind this cap. Dev himself told in an interview that once he was roaming around the street of Copenhagen he saw this cap in a showroom of a shop.  He liked it at the first sight and immediately purchased it. Most of the hats, caps or scarfs he used in his movies were from his personal wardrobe.

In his autobiography Romancing with Life, Devsaab reminisces: “Baazi gave me an image that stayed in the minds of people, and made a genuine star out of me. For the first time, I felt and saw what stardom was in terms of adulation and fan following. I became a phenomenon after the release of Baazi.”

Still from Baazi 1951

After Baazi, this was the second film in which Dev Anand also came through as an actor with a unique style of his own. Dev Anand wears a hat in this film which became very popular those days. Even many film heroes wore the same type of hat in their films.

Still from Jaal 1952

In 1954 film Taxi  Driver Dev Anand played a Bombay Taxi Driver. He wears a cap most of the time. This cap later became very popular among the Taxi Drivers of Bombay

Still from Taxi Driver 1954

In Hum Dono Dev Anand wears a Jungle Hat. This hat, he took from one of his Army Officer friend.This hat he wore in the song "Mein Zindagi Ka Saath" 

Still from Hum Dono 1961

In this blog, I have selected the images and songs of Dev Anand wearing different headgears this will be interesting for all the Dev Anand fans.

Still from Milap 1955

Still from Munimji 1955

Still from Funtoosh 1956

Still from Funtoosh 1956

Nau Do Gyarah 1957

Dushman 1957

Kala Pani 1958

Maya 1961

Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Guide 1965

Jewel Thief 1967

Prem Pujari 1970

Gambler 1971

Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971

Banarsi Babu 1973

Song from Taxi Driver 1954

Song from Funtoosh 1955

Song from Funtoosh 1955

Song from Nau Do Gyarah 1957

Song from Jewel Thief 1967

Song from Prem Pujari 1970

Song from Prem Pujari 1970

Some of the Great Background Songs of Bollywood

Bollywood films are incomplete without a song.  The majority of songs are seen to be sung by the characters themselves rather than being played in the background Background songs are often used in Hindi films as a tool to take the story forward, you see the characters, for instance, becoming rich during the course of the song or a child growing adult. 
In this blog, I have selected some great songs in alphabetical order
                                                                                  A

Aayega aayega aanewala 

Song from Mahal 1949

Ana hai to aa raha me kuchh der nahi hai_

Song from Naya Daur 1957

Ab koi gulshan na ujde ab vatan azad hai

Song from Mujhe Jine Do 1963

B

Bhagwan ik kusoor ki itnai badi saja

Song from Gehra Daag 1963

C

Chal Akela Chal Akela Tera mela pichhe chhuta

Song from Sambandh 1969

Chhodo kal ki baatein

Song from Hum Hindustani, 1960

Chal ri sajni ab kya soche 

Song from Bombai ka Babu, 1960

D

dekhi zamane ki yaari

Song from Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)

G

Gumnam hain koi badnam hain

Song from Gumnam 1965

I

Iktara Iktara

Song of Wake Up Sid 2009

K

Kahi deep jale kahi dil 

Song from Bees Saal Baad 1962

Kahe ko roye safal hogi teri aaradhana

Song from Aaradhana 1969

M

Mera Jeevan kora kagaz kora hi

Song from Kora Kagaz. 1974

N

Nirbal se ladayi balwan ki-

Song from Diya Aur Toofan 1956

Naina barase rimzim rimzim-

Song from Wo Koun Thi 1964

O

O Re Maajhi Mere Saajan Hai Us Paar

Song of Bandini 1963

R

Roop tera mastana

Song from Aaradhana 1969

S

Sun mere bandhu re

Song from Sujata 1959

T

Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi. 

Song from Aandhi (1974)

W

waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam-

Song from Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)

waha koun hain tera musafir

Song from Guide 1965

Waqt se din aur raat

Song from Waqt 1965

Y

ya meri manzail ya zaindagi ko chin le

Song from Rakhi 1962

Z

Zindagi ke safar me guzar jate hai

Song from Aap ki Kasam 1974

The Ring Given to Suraiya by Dev Anand is still lying in the Arabian Sea

Dev Anand was in love with Suraiya. He had four-year-long (1948-51) affair with Suraiya, He bought one of the costliest rings, that would adorn Suraiya's finger. The ring was bought from a leading Jewellery shop of Zaveri Bazar of Bombay in 1949. This ring is still lying somewhere in the Arabian Sea.
There was a story revolving for so many years that Suraiya's granny who was not in favour of their marriage once she saw the ring on Suriya's finger She snatched the engagement ring from her hand and threw it on the Arabian Sea. The real story revealed by Dev Anand in his autobiography" Romancing with Life" It was Suraiya herself who threw the ring far into the sea of Bombay only after the last meeting with Dev Anand.
Although the couple faced hatred from grandmother, Suraiya’s mother, Mumtaz Begum, supported the lovebirds but was often snubbed by others. In fact, it was Suraiya’s mother who arranged the last meeting between the couple. But Dev Anand was little apprehensive and suspected the meeting to be a trap but he still went ahead to meet his lady love. One of his police officer friends, Tara Chand, decided to accompany him with a pistol and a few torches in his pocket. He gave one torch to the actor to flash towards him in case he sensed any danger. The actor finally reached the terrace of Suraiya’s six-storey building where they met, hugged, cried and ended their four years long relationship and decided never to meet again.
Dev and Suriya were completely broken. The two did seven films together — Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949), Shair (1949), Afsar(1950), Nili (1950), Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951). They never met after the last meeting and did not work together any more in spite of all of their films were hit 
It was on the advice of his elder brother Chetan Anand that the actor decided to end his relationship with the actress and concentrate on his film career. While Dev eventually overcame the trauma of a broken relationship and moved on, Suraiya decided not to get married.

Song of Vidya 1948

Song of Shair (1949)

Song of Jeet (1949)

Song of Nili (1950)

Song of Sanam (1951)

Song of Do Sitare (1951)

The Songs shot in Shimla

Recall the song "Tu Kahan Yeh Bataa" from the film Tere Ghar Ke Samne starring Dev Anand and Nutan. Dev Anand is looking for Nutan in the quiet night with mist all over. The picturisation of that song made the audience glued to their seats. This song was shot in Shimla which made Shimla a hot destination for the Bollywood filmmakers. There was another song Dekho Rootha Na Karo which was also shot in Shimla.

In this Blog I look at the other famous songs shot in Shimla or nearby locations.

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

 Another song Tera Mujh Se Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi from Aa Gale Lag Jaa starring Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore reminds the amazing chemistry between the duo as they skate through the slopes of snow-clad Shimla. Shashi Kapoor’s heart-warming smile and trademark head movements make you fall in love with both the white mountains and the idea of romance.

Song of Aa Lag Ja Gale 1973

In 1973’s Daag, helmed by eternal romantic Yash Chopra, Rajesh Khanna crooned "Mere dil mein aaj kya hain/Tu kahen to main bataa du" to Sharmila Tagore against the backdrop of the mountains.

Song of Daag 1973

In 1974, Dulal Guha directed Dost, in which, right at the outset of the film, the audience saw a pensive Dharmendra on the Kalka-Shimla toy train, with the theme song, "Gaadi bula rahi hai/Ceeti bajaa rahi hai", playing in the background. He hops off the train at Taradevi.

Song of Dost 1974

 It is the title song of the 1974 J Om Prakash’s directorial debut movie Aap Ki Kasam starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics and Rahul Dev Burman who received his only Filmfare Awards nomination for this movie, composed the music. The song was shot in Kufri a beautiful place near Shimla.

Song of Aap Ki Kasam 1974

In Jab We Met, Shimla was the place where Geet (Kareena) stayed after she broke up with her boyfriend Anshuman. The song is picturized in the town with a scene where Sahid Kapoor drives his car on the mall road while searching out for Kareena.  Moreover, the movie also features the iconic toy train of Shimla when they head back to Kareena’s native place

Song of Jab We Met 2007

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The song “yeh vaada hai” is a romantic track from the movie Raju Chacha featuring Ajay Devgan and Kajol. The song is mainly picturized in the woods of St. Bedes and the forest road of Shimla for a romantic touch.

Song of Raju Chacha 2000

The track “behti hawas sa tha wo” has different locations of Shimla town featuring the road near victory tunnel and even the Shimla bypass. The hill station was described as Aamir Khan’s hometown, so had numerous scenes shot in and around Shimla.

Song of 3 Idiots

The story behind the song"Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere"

The Filmfare Award in 1965 went to Dosti(1964) for five categories including three categories namely – music director, singer and lyricist gone to Dosti for the song Chahoonga main Tujhe Sanj Savere –The song was brilliantly rendered by Melody King Mohd. Rafi Saab and was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Laxmikant Pyarelal were the upcoming Music director Many of their earlier films were not successful at the Box Office only Parasmani was successful. Dosti was their first Super Hit film and the music was also super hit. The song Chahoonga main tujhe sanj savere tune was composed much earlier than any Parasmani song by the duo with Lata Mangeshkar in mind. They could not find a situation in their early films to use the song properly.
Originally the lines of the song written by Mazrooh were Chauhingi Mein Tujhe Saanjh Savere, Phir Bhi Kabhi Ab Naam Ko Tere, Awaz Mein Na Dungi.
Dosti was a small budget movie of Rajshri Films and getting Mohammad Rafi and Lata the Established singer was out of the budget for the composer but they thought of approaching Rafi to sing songs for Dosti.
They were very apprehensive when they drove to Rafi’s mansion early that day not knowing if the great singer would agree to sing for a low-budget movie and for such young, struggling music directors such as LP. 
 During the musical sitting of Dosti, Laxmikant sang this song out for Rafi at the very tail end of their session before departing Rafi’s house as a song they kept in their pocket as a reserve. Rafi was completely bowled over by the tune of Chahoonga  main tujhe , he agreed to sing songs for Dosti for the sake of singing this song. LP replied that there was no situation in the movie for this song. They did not want to use it. Rafi insisted persistently and said that he would sing all the songs for free if Chahoonga main tujhe was included in the film.  LP returned back and had to make the writer, producer, director re-write the story to include Chahoonga  main tujhe as a primary song in the film.
The movie was released and took India by storm in 1964. Rafi sang 5 solo songs in this film, all the songs were hit Rafi Saab had given his golden voice to many unknown actors, even in Dosti two boys played the part of friends were Sudhir Kumar and Sushil Kumar. All of the songs lip-synced by Sudhir Kumar (Mohan), the blind boy.  Even as a unique coincidence Dosti is the only movie in Hindi Cinema which made a record for the biggest hit without heroine. 
Rafi Saab was honoured by the Government of India with the coveted Padmashri Award as well as National Film Award for the Best Male Playback Singer for this song “Chahooga main Tujhe“

Song of Dosti 1964

Hasrat Jaipuri - A Love Letter written in Real Life becomes Immortal in Reel

Do you know that the immortal song Yeh Meraa Prempatra Padh Kar” sung by Mohammad Rafi in Sangam was actually written for the real girl living next door to Hasrat Jaipuri in Jaipur. In an interview, Hasrat Jaipuri informed this truth but It is not known for sure whether the love letter was actually delivered to her or not?
Hasrat Jaipuri was born on 15th April 1922 at Jaipur. He began writing verse when he was around twenty years old. Around the same time, he fell in love with a neighbourhood girl name Radha. His love was silent but his emotions were not, he thought of expressing them by writing a letter in poetic form. The words were Yeh Mera Prem Patra Padh Kar, ki tum Naaraaz Na Hona. Ki Tum Meri Zindagi Ho.
There was a situation in the film where Rajendra Kumar had to sing a song, for that situation Hasrat Jaipuri suggested the words to Raj Kapoor and informed him of the real incidence also the veteran film producer-director Raj Kapoor liked it enough to include it in his Sangam (1964 Hindi film) and the song ended up becoming a 'hit' song in India.
Hasrat Jaipuri the great Lyricist started his Film career with the immortal song Jiya Beqaraar Hai for the film Barsaat in 1949. It was also the first film of Shankar Jaikishan, That was the beginning of a lifelong association." Yet, there was an unstated agreement that Jaikishan would often prefer Jaipuri to pen lyrics for his tunes, while Shankar would turn to Shailendra. 
He wrote  a whole range of songs like "Sayonara sayonara" (Love In Tokyo)," Aao twist karen" (Bhoot Bungla)." Ajhoon na aaye baalma" (Sanjh AurSavera), "Duniya Bananewale"(Teesri Kasam) to Romantic songs like Yeh Mera Prem Patra (Sangam)."Zindagi ek safar hai suhana" (Andaz), "Teri pyari pyari soorat ko" (Sasural), "Pankh hote to ud aati re" (Sehra), "Tere khayalon meinhum" (Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne), " Tu kahan yeh bataa" (Tere Ghar KeSaamne), Sau Saal Pehle Mujhe Tum Se Pyaar Tha (Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai) and Bahaaron Phool Barsao (Suraj )
He worked in  350 films and 2000 recorded songs, his last releases were Saazish with Jatin-Lalit and Sher Khan (with Bappi Lahiri), and at the time of his death, he was working on a few small films and a book of Shaayari.
He won innumerable awards, honours and mementoes. Among them were two Filmfare trophies (for `Baharon Phool Barsaoo’ from Suraj and `Zindagi ek safar hai suhana’ from Andaz) and two awards - the Doctorate from the World University Round-Table and the Josh Mahilabadi award from the Urdu Conference for his literary work as a poet. Also the Dr Ambedkar award for a film song, `Jhanak jhanak tori baaje payaliya’ from Mere Huzoor, which was written with a blend of Hindi and Brij Bhasha. Apropos that, the poet once said, "Hindi and Urdu are like two great and inseparable sisters"
He died on 17th September 1999. He still remains the King Of Romance.

In this Blog I have selected some of my favourite Romantic Songs of Hasrat Jaipuri Ji.

Song of Barsaat 1949

Song of Patita (1953)

Song of Chori Chori (1956)

Song of Sasural 1961

Song of Junglee 1961

 

Song of Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai  1961

Song of Maya 1961

Song of Professor (1962)

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963)

Song of Asli Naqli (1963)

Song of Sangam (1964)

Song of Brahmchari (1968)

Song of Andaz 1971

Dev Anand's dreams that couldn't be Fulfilled

Dev Anand was a workaholic, he believed holidays are a waste of time. He couldn't sit idle, His favourite pastime was writing. He began writing his autobiography in Scotland and finished it within a year. He was a dreamer and his philosophy was that if a person does not dream then he is like a dead. 
When Dev died in London he was not there for vacation but for a routine check-up and had plans to go location hunting in London, Wales, Scotland and then Europe for his new film. He had two dream projects in mind. One was the Hindi film Hare Rama Hare Krishna Aaj and other was an English film "Song of Life".
Dev Anand in an interview told that Song Of Life is not the story of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar or his family. The basic storyline is somewhere close to Pandit Shankar's life in that it has a musician father, an American wife and a daughter born out of wedlock, said Anand. "I have a lot of affection and respect for Pandit Ravi Shankar and am not naming him anywhere either in the film or in the credits," The two-hour film would have at least three American characters and three Indians in the lead.
Dev Anand told to media that after Guide  None of his films were in English and he wanted to position his next film as an American musical,"

Pt Ravi Shankar's Daughters

Pandit Ravi Shankar was close to Anand brothers. He started his career as a music director with Chetan Anand.in 1946 and also gave background music in Aandhiyan in 1952.
On his 88th Birthday Dev Revealed “I have the script for Hare Rama Hare Krishna Aaj which takes forward the story of the earlier film. It is not a remake of Hare Rama Hare Krishna. I don’t believe in remakes. I believe in moving forward. Every scene every character except mine would be new. If Dev Anand played Prashant in 1971 he will play Prashant in 2012 as well.”
Besides these two films, Dev Anand had many scripts ready but after the "Chargesheet" he was to start Hare Rama Hare Krishna Aaj.

G P Sippy- A carpet merchant to the maker of Sholay

Gopaldas Parmanand Sippy started off as a carpet merchant, turned a construction magnate and then plunged into filmmaking in 1951 with the Dev Anand film Sazaa. In a career spanning over five decades, Sippy had produced 17 films and directed six. In his heydays, he was known as Mr Blockbuster. But Sholay remains his landmark best.

He made Shahenshah in 1953, which was India's first full-length Gevacolor film and India's third full-length colour film. The film was made at a budget of Rs. 3 million and was made in 14 months.. After that, he made 12 O Clock with Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman in 1958.
He got the real big success with Mere Sanam (1965). starring Asha Parekh, Biswajeet, Pran, Rajendra Nath and Mumtaz. The film was a hit at the box office, especially because of the musical score by Majrooh Sultanpuri, O.P. Nayyar and the Asha Bhonsle-Mohammed Rafi combination. 
In 1968 released his super hit film The film stars Shammi Kapoor, Rajshree, Pran, Mumtaz, Jagdeep, Sachin and Asit Sen. The music was by Shankar Jaikishan. The film became a box office hit and won several awards, including Filmfare Best Movie Award 
The next year in 1969 his another hit film Bandhan starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz.released. 
It received five out of five stars in the Bollywood guide Collections and grossed 2,80,00,000 at the box office in 1969.

The next milestone film was Andaz 1971, it was directed by his son Ramesh Sippy and with this film emerged Salim Javed. Followed this super hit film another super duper hit came to Seeta Aur Geeta in 1972, once again directed by his son Ramesh Sippy and screenplay by Salim Javed.

In 1975 released the magnum opus Sholay all-time hit film. Once again directed by Ramesh Sippy and screenplay by Salim Javed. It was a big budget film Ramesh Sippy said in an interview that he did not have enough money to finance the film at that time and had to depend on his father late GP Sippy for it. He added it was pure luck that he asked for Rs 1 crore and got Rs 3 crore as his dad had just had a hit with Seeta Aur Geeta.

He continued to produced films till Hamesha 1997, in between he gave us films like  Shaan (1980), Saagar (1985), Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman 1992.

He remained the President of the Film Federation of India (FFI) for many years, first 1972 - 73, 1985 – 86 and then 1988 - 1992. He was the Chairman of the Film and TV Producers Guild of India for several years and won the Filmfare Award in 1968 and 1982.

 He died on December 25, 2007 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Song of Sazaa 1951

Song of Marine Drive (1955)

Song of 12 O'Clock (1958)

Song of Bhai-Bahen (1959)

Song of Mere Sanam (1965)

Song of Brahmachari (1968)

Song of Andaz (1971)

Song of Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)

Song of  Sholay (1975)

Song of  Saagar (1985)