This BLOG is about the Past of Hindi Films Specially Black and White Cinema We will refresh your memories by bringing out forgotten or unseen songs and clippings of film scenes We will try to give you as much information as we gather from our research.
This Blog was started as a one-man’s passion for film history but has now become an addiction for many music lovers who are equally passionate about Hindi films
There are some films which are iconic, Navketan's Baazi released in 1951 is also such film which gave the Hindi Film Industry many legends.The film is notable for two reasons: first, being the directorial debut of Guru Dutt and second, it was the film which inspired many urban crime thrillers in the fifties.This was the second film of Dev Anand's production house Navketan Films, and as per a commitment was given by Dev Anand to Guru Dutt in their days of struggle, the movie was directed by Guru Dutt.
The movie begins with hands being shown gambling, just in case if we viewers missed the point. A look at the credits makes you feel that the ‘who is who’ of the remaining years of the 50s are represented there. First of all this film gave us the Star Dev Anand who in the years to come to become the Style Icon of Bollywood. The second person to become Legendary Director of Bollywood was Guru Dutt.the third legend in making was S D Burman the great composer of Golden Era of Bollywood. Next legendary personality was Kalpna Kartik who later married Dev Anand made her debut with this film.
Kalpana Kartik in Baazi
S D Burman
Balraj Sahni, who had just returned after a stint with the BBC was entrusted with the story, screenplay and dialogues. Zohra Sehgal was brought in to choreograph the dance sequences. A young poet named Sahir Ludhianvi was given a chance to pen lyrics for the songs who later became a Legendary Lyricist and poet.
Sahir
Raj Khosla served as an assistant director who became a legendary Director. A bus conductor who Sahni had seen entertaining passengers was called in for a cameo, to play a drunkard, and while the film credits him by his real name Badruddin, after Baazi, the world knew him as Johnny Walker.
The other Legendary personalities were the Cinematographers V Ratra and his assistant V K Murthy who gave memorable cinematography of all Guru Dutt’s films, (including Pyaasa, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulamand Kagaz ke Phool) has earned Murthy a place in the history of Hindi cinema. He was awarded a ‘lifetime achievement award’ by the Indian International Film Academy in 2008. This came as belated recognition by the Bombay film industry for the contribution made to its evolution by technicians such as V.K. Murthy.
V K Murthy
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.” Songs of Baazi 1951
In this blog, I have selected the films released from the late 1940s to 1975 which were musically hit. Often before a film was released, a Bollywood movie’s soundtrack was played repeatedly on the radio, reaching the hearts of millions across the country who may not have afforded the luxury to see the actual film in theatres. It is said that the hit music makes a guarantee for its success. But there were many films whose music was super hit but the film was not as successful. This is my Top 20 list of such musical films. Barsaat (1949)
Barsaat was one of the first major hit films directed by Kapoor. This success allowed Kapoor to buy RK Studios in 1950. The music was by Shankar Jaikishan all the songs(11) were popular. Barsaat is ideally one of Hindi cinema’s best soundtracks. Some of the hits are Hawa Mein Udta Jaye – Lata Mangeshkar Chhod Gaye Balam – Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh Jiya Beqarar Hai – Lata Mangeshkar Mujhe Kisise Pyar – Lata Mangeshkar Patli Kamar Hai – Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh
Produced and Directed by Guru Dutt, written by Abrar Alvi, and starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman and Mala Sinha. The movie boasts one of the best performances of S.D. Burman, Sahir Ludhianvi, Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi to produce one of the most lyrical Hindi musicals. Pyaasa marked the last collaboration of the long-lasting team of composer Burman and lyricist Ludhianvi Jaane Woh Kaise – Hemant Kumar Aaj Sajan Mohe – Geeta Dutt Hum Aap Ki Ankhon Mein – Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi Jane Kya Tune Kahi – Asha Bhonsle Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye – Mohammed Rafi
Indian epichistorical drama film directed by K. Asif and produced by Shapoorji Pallonji. Starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Durga Khote, The soundtrack was composed by music director Naushad, and the lyrics were written by Shakeel Badayuni. After conceiving the idea of the film, Asif visited Naushad and handed him a briefcase containing money, telling him to make "memorable music" for Mughal-e-Azam. The soundtrack contained a total of 12 songs, which were rendered by playback singers and classical music artists. These songs account for nearly one-third of the film's running time Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat – Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya – Lata Mangeshkar Mohe Pangat Pe – Lata Mangeshkar Mohabbat Ki Jhooti Kahani – Lata Mangeshkar Aye Mohabbat Zindabad – Mohammed Rafi Prem Jogan Ban Ke – Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Yeh Dil Ki Lagi – Lata Mangeshkar
Baiju Bawra was a musical "megahit" which had a mighty run of 100 weeks in the theatres. The film's music director was Naushad, The lyricist was Shakeel Badayuni, a Naushad discovery. For Baiju Bawra, he had to forgo Urdu, and write lyrics in pure Hindi, with songs such as the bhajan "Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj", becoming popular.the film's music director, Naushad, also received the inaugural Filmfare Best Music Director Award for the song "Tu Ganga Ki Mauj"; this was Naushad's first and only Filmfare Award win.
The film directed by Shakti Samanta, starring Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna. The soundtrack of the film was composed by S. D. Burman, with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. Burman had written the music for the songs of Aradhana and completed the recording of the songs in the voices of Lata Mangeshkar,Asha Bhonsle,Mohd. Rafi,Kishore Kumar & S.D.Burman himself. Aradhana songs gave big boost to the career of Kishore Kumar as a singer as the songs became extremely popular & broke all records. Roop Tera Mastana – Kishore Kumar Mere Sapnon Ki Rani – Kishore Kumar Kora Kaagaz Tha – Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar Gunguna Rahe Hai Bhanware – Asha Bhonsle and Mohammed Rafi Baghon Mein Bahar Hai – Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar Safal Hogi Teri Aradhana – S.D. Burman
Song of Aradhana (1969)
Hum Dono (1961)
Hindi film produced by Dev Anand and Navketan films. Amarjeet is credited as the film's director, but producer and star Dev Anand claimed that it was his brother Vijay Anand, who directed the film, based on his own script.The film is also known for its music by Jaidev and became a box office hit.The film has a superhit song "Mai Zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya" by Mohammed Rafi and the Lata solo "Allah tero naam". It also has the evergreen duet "Abhi na jaao chhodkar" by Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle.
Song of Hum Dono (1961)
Bandini (1963)
Bandini stars Nutan giving one of the finest performances of her career, along with Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra as leads,composed by S.D. Burman, and with lyrics by Shailendra. The film also mark the debut of Gulzar, who was working as an assistant director on the film as a film lyricist, initially having refused Bimal Roy on the offering saying that he didn't want to become a lyricist, Gulzar relented only after film's music director S.D. Burman convinced him so, and he wrote the song, 'Mora Gora Ang Lai Le' in five days. Rest of lyrics are by Shailendra, who gave classics like, the haunting 'Mere Sajan Hain Us Paar' in the bardic voice of S.D. Burman himself, Mukesh's sad song O Jaanewale Ho Sake, where Burman da uses, Bhatiyali with a variation.
Song of Bandini (1963)
Aar Paar (1954)
Directed by Guru Dutt, it has music by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. All the 8 songs were hit.
It stars Vyjayanthimala and Pradeep Kumar, and has a hit musical score by Hemant Kumar. This film was partly produced in Technicolor.The film's soundtrack was composed by Hemanta Mukherjee. It included thirteen tracks, including the hit "Man Dole Mera Tan Dole", whose "Been Music" was performed by Kalyanji on clavioline and by Ravi on harmonium, who once worked under Hemanta Mukherjee's direction and later became independent music directors. Man Dole Mera – Lata MangeshkarJadugar Saiyan – Lata Mangeshkar Tere Dwar Khada Ek Jogi – Hemant Kumar Mera Dil Yeh Pukare Aaja – Lata MangeshkarSun Ri Sakhi – Lata Mangeshkar Yaad Rakhna Pyar Ki Nishani – Asha Bhonsle and Hemant Kumar
The music director of the film was C. Ramchandra and the soundtrack was acclaimed, cited as a "classic".[3][5] The film features several westernized songs such as Sholajo badhkeand Ye deewana, ye parwana which are said to have "employed cabaret type dance/choruses featuring bongo drums, oboes,, clarinets, trumpets, saxophones, etc.C.Ramachandra as Chitalkar himself sang most of the male songs in the movie while Lata Mangeshkar sang all the female songs. Apart from the highly popular Western-style songs, the movie also had classic melodies like "Dheere se aaja re ankhiyan me", "Balama bada nadan re" etc...
The film stars Sunil Dutt, Nutan, Jamuna (reprising her role from the original Telugu version), Pran and Deven Varma. The award-winning and very popular music were given by Laxmikant Pyarelal.The lyrics of the film were career-defining for Anand Bakshi and helped take him to the "top", with songs like "Sawan Ka Mahina Pawan Kare Sor", "Ram Kare Aisa Ho Jaaye" and "Bol Gori Bol".other hit songs are Hum Tum Yug Yug Se -Mukesh Lata Main To Diwana - Mukesh Aaj Dil Pe Koi Zor Chalta Nahin -Lata
Song of Milan (1967)
Bobby (1973)
Directed by Raj Kapoor and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. It was the first leading role for Raj Kapoor's son, Rishi Kapoor, and the film debut for Dimple Kapadia.It was a blockbuster, its music was super hit. Especially the song Hum tum Ek Kamre Mein Bund Ho.Other songs are Jhoot Bole Kauva Kate - Lata Mangeshkar and Shailender Singh Main Shayar To Nahin- Shailender Singh Na Mangun Sona Chandi- Manna Dey and Shailender Singh Beshak Mandir Masjid - Narendra Chanchal
Song of Bobby (1973)
Dosti (1964)
Dosti was amongst the top 10 grosser of 1964 and was declared a "Super Hit" at the box office. The lyrics of the film are written by Majrooh Sultanpuri on music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. Dosti stands as a landmark in the career history of the musical duo as this won them their first Filmfare Award and made them popular in the film industry. Mohammad Rafi is the main vocalist for the songs. Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere Meri Dosti Mera Pyar Rahi Manwa Dukh Ki Chinta Jaanewalo Zara Mera To Jo Bhi Kadam Gudiya Humse Roothi Rahogi Kab Tak Na Hasogi, only song by Lata
