Mohammad Rafi - A God-gifted voice.

Mohammad Rafi was born on 24th Dec 1924 in Kotla Sultansingh village in Punjab,  near Amritsar. Although music was not a part of his family background, there is no doubt that he was born with a gift for music in his heart.
 Rafi Sahab had picked up the rudiments of music from a fakir while already possessing a God-gifted voice. At a tender age of about fifteen decided to become a singer, his elder brother encouraged him to become a singer. When he was barely seventeen years old and sang his first playback song for a Punjabi film,  'Gul Baloch' under the music direction of the late Shyam Sunder in 1941. The song became popular, he was invited by the same composer to sing in a Hindi film he was composing.
Rafi Sahab took the final big step in his life and ventured off to Bombay to realise his dreams of making singing his career. In 1942 he arrived in Bombay to sing,  again under the music direction of Shyam Sunder for the movie 'Gaon ki Gauri'.  
Following the success of his song, Rafi Sahab approached the renowned music director Naushad, confiding in him his admiration for the great Kundan Lal. Saigal,  and how his ambition was to sing with Saigal Sahab.  Naushad did not disappoint him,  giving him two lines (Ruhi Ruhi Mere Sapnon ki Rani) with K.L Saigal for a song in the movie 'Shahjehan'. 
Rafi saheb had a tough competition with singers like  Manna Dey,  Talat Mahmood,  Hemant Kumar and Mukesh. He moved ahead of all of them after the success of Baiju Bawra under the music direction of Naushad Sahab.  "O Duniya Ke Rakhwale" together with 'Man Tarpat Hari Darshan' left Rafi Sahab in a league all of his own. 

With Naushad, he gave many immortal songs. Their collaboration produced some of the best and most memorable music of the Golden Era. His talent could not remain confined to just the classicism of Naushad. Many talented composers such as OP Nayyar, SD Burman, Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan, Ravi and numerous others gave their the best with Rafi and presented him in myriad colours. 

He was notable for his voice, versatility and range; his songs were varied from fast peppy numbers to patriotic songs, sad numbers to highly romantic songs, qawwalis to ghazals and bhajans to classical songs. He was known for his ability to mould his voice to the persona and style of an actor, lip-syncing the song on screen in the movie.
He has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in various regional Indian languages as well as foreign languages, though primarily in Hindi-Urdu and Punjabi over which he had a strong command. He has recorded as many as 7405 songs in many languages.
He received six Filmfare Awards and one National Film Award. In 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri award by the Government of India.
Mohammed Rafi died at 10:25 pm on 31 July 1980, following a massive heart attack, aged 55. The last song sung by Rafi was for the movie Aas Paas. One source says it was "Shaam Phir Kyun Udaas Hai Dost / Tu Kahin Aas Paas Hai Dost", recorded just hours before his death.
Some of my Fav Songs of Rafi

                                                          Song of Dulari (1949)

Song of Deedar (1951)

Song of Pyasa (1957)

Song of Kohinoor (1960)

Song of Kala Bazar (1960)

Song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand 1960

Song of Sasural 1961

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Song of Taj Mahal 1963

Song of Dosti 1964

Song of Guide 1965

Ameen Sayani` - The grand old man of radio

His style of addressing the crowd with "Bhaiyo aur Behno " (meaning "brothers and sisters") is still treated as an announcement with a melodious touch. He achieved fame and popularity all across South Asia when he presented his Binaca Geetmala, a countdown program of Hindi hit songs over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon on every Wednesday from1952 to 1988. He remains one of the most imitated announcers of India  
His mother Kulsum Sayani was a social activist, recipient of Padma Shri and a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. She edited, published and printed a fortnightly journal for neo-literates in simple language, on the instructions of Mahatma Gandhi. From his childhood, Ameen helped his mother in all the activities related to the journal, Rahber, which was published from 1940 to 1960. 
In the early 1950s, All India Radio (AIR) had stopped broadcasting Hindi film music. It was a mad decision, which hit AIR very badly and Radio Ceylon, which was still finding its ground in the radio industry, came up because of that. Ameen Sayani joined All India Radio, Bombay, on a reference from his brother Hamid Sayani. There, Ameen did English programs for ten years. It was sad that AIR never recognized Ameen's talent, and he had to use Radio Ceylon all the time. 
Between All India Radio (since 1951), AIR’s Commercial Service (since 1970) and various foreign stations (since 1976), Sayani has produced, compared (or spoken for) over 54,000 radio programmes and 19,000 spots/ jingles.

He was also a part of various movies throughout the years like Bhoot Bungla, Teen Devian, Boxer, and Qatl. He appeared in all of these movies in the role of an announcer in some event.

He has conferred the Padma Shri award in 2009.

In one of his interviews, the versatile presenter revealed that Amitabh Bachchan, who had wished to become a radio presenter before he tried his luck in Bollywood, visited the studios multiple times but failed to make the cut as Ameen Sayaani didn’t clear him.

Binaca Geet Mala

Binaca Geet Mala part 2

Binaca Geet Mala part 3

Binaca Geet Mala 1952-54

Binaca Geet Mala part 4

Om Prakash- Widely Remembered for his Versatile Roles

He acted in more than 350 films in a career spanning four decades. His style of delivering satirical dialogues was inimitable. His roles as Sharmila Tagore's 'brother' in the memorable Chupke Chupke and Amitabh Bachchan's 'Daddu' in Namak Halal.his God-fearing drink enjoying Catholic rail engine driver in Julie (1975)
His comic performances in Howrah Bridge, Dus Lakh (he won his first major award for this performance), Pyar Kiye Jaa, Gol Maal and Chameli Ki Shaadi.  His roles in Sharabi, Bharosa, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Mere Humdum Mere Dost, Loafer and Dil Tera Diwana were also appreciated. His performance as Dilip Kumar’s elder brother in Gopi gave his career new impetus.

Om Prakash (19 December 1919 – 21 February 1998) was born in Jammu, as Om Prakash Chibber.  Since his career began in 1942, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He also produced Jahanaara starring Bharat Bhushan, Shashikala, Prithviraj Kapoor and Mala Sinha in the title role of Jahanaara.

He got his first break as a villain in a film called Lakhpati. It won him acclaim and got him roles in films like Lahore, Char Din and Raat Ki Rani. It was during this phase in his career that he did Azaad with Dilip Kumar, Sargam with Raj Kapoor and Miss Mary, Bahar, Pehli Jhalak, Asha and Manmauji with Kishore Kumar followed by Howrah Bridge with Ashok Kumar and then Tere Ghar Ke Samne with Dev Anand.
In the movie Dus Lakh(1966) he played the role of a misery father of a large family who loses his bearings after he comes into a lottery of 10 lakhs. Om Prakash won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award
Another memorable role played by him was in Buddha Mil Gaya (1971). he played a character of a mysterious millionaire with a vendetta. 
Chupke Chupke came in 1975 and is one of the most iconic and incredible performances. He performed as Raghavendra Sharma in a suspicious way. He managed to outshine a peak Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan combination.

In Namak Halal (1982) he played as the grandfather who goes undercover to check up on his grandson. His role was small but still, his camaraderie with Bachchan remains incredible.
Om Prakash had a special rapport with Amitabh Bachchan and both worked in many successful films from Zanjeer to Sharaabi
Om Prakash suffered a massive heart attack in his home and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai where he suffered another heart attack and went into a coma from which he never recovered. He died on 21 February 1998
Some of the great songs of Om Prakash

Song from Miss Mary 1957

Song from Howrah Bridge 1958

Song from Budha Mil Gaya 1971

Song from Budha Mil Gaya 1971

Song from Annadata 1972

The Great Romantic Heroes of Bollywood

Starting from the black and white era to the present digital era, the romance has blossomed. As the generation changes the new actors take the throne of the king of romance. Shahrukh Khan is called as King of Romance but the original King was Dev Anand followed by Rajesh Khanna. Over the years, a number of Chocolate Heroes or Romantic heroes have emerged on the silver screen giving the cine-goers a feel of romance.
 Here are the great Romantic Heroes of Bollywood.
The first in my List is
Dev Anand.

Dev Anand gave us many romantic hits. Some of the great such films are Afsar(1950), Sanam(1951) both with Suraiya. Later Munimji 1955 was his a hit film. Another hit romantic movie was Paying Guest in 1957 with Nutan. Both of them have a great romantic film Tere Ghar Ke Samne in 1963.
With Waheeda Rehman Dev Anand gave Guide in 1965 and Prem Pujari 1970. Some of the great romantic films with other heroines are Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai 1961,  Hum Dono 1961,Maya 1961,  Asli Naqli 1962. Love Marriage 1959, Teen Deviyan 1965.

Song of Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Rajesh Khanna

With romantic films like ‘Aradhana’, ‘Amar Prem’, ‘Daag’, ‘Mere Jeevan Saathi’ and ‘Aap Ki Kasam’ to name a few, Rajesh Khanna was one of the most iconic romantic actors of his time. He pulled off his lover boy image with ease and that wasn’t restricted to reel life only. Khanna had women swooning over him and if stories are anything to go by, it is said that girls used to send him love letters written in their own blood!

Song of Aradhana 1969

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor began his career in a lead role with his father’s ‘Bobby’, started out as a romantic hero. With less violence and much romance in his long list of films like ‘Saagar’, ‘Chandni’, ‘Prem Rog’, ‘Yeh Vaada Raha’, ‘Laila Majnu’ 'Kabhie Kabhie'etc, Rishi Kapoor, too, belonged to the new breed of young romantic actors from the late 80s.

Song of Bobby 1973

Shahrukh Khan

 He made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with Deewana. Early in his career, Khan was recognised for portraying villainous roles in the films Darr (1993), Baazigar (1993) and Anjaam (1994). He then rose to prominence after starring in a series of romantic films, including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).

Song of DDLJ 1995

  Shashi Kapoor

 Raj Kapoor’s younger brother entered the film industry when his eldest brother had a successful stint in acting and had turned to direction. With movies like ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’, 'Haseena Maan Jayegi;‘Kabhi Kabhie’ and ‘Sharmeelee’, Shashi Kapoor, set an image of a romantic actor and the audiences loved him in such roles too.

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Aamir Khan

Mr Perfectionist entered into Bollywood as a chocolate-hero in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and had sustained likewise in several films to follow—from Love, Love, Love, Dil, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin,  Raja Hindustani, Ishq. Now, no matter how much of a social activist he becomes, tearing off the garb of a chocolate-hero is just impossible! 

Song of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak 1989

Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor is steadily climbing the ladder to becoming the king of the romance of today’s times. His films like ‘Rockstar’, ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, ‘Saawariya’, ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ and the rest prove – like father, like son!

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Raj Kapoor

Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) perfected a screen image of a lovable, Chaplin-like tramp with roles that often saw him playing an innocent lad in an unjust society, His pairing with Nargis gave us some of the iconic films.

Song of Shree 420  (1955)

50 years of the release of SUNGHARSH

Five decades ago, another superstar took on the part of a thug in director Harnam Singh Rawail’s rather successful venture, Sunghursh (1968). That was Dilip Kumar, he gives a stirring performance, the real delight is when he breaks into a folk dance “Mere Pairon Mein Ghungroo Bandh De Aur Phir Meri Chaal Dekh Le”.   

The movie was released on 01 July 1968. The movie is directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and featured Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Balraj Sahni as lead characters. A most surprising find of the movie was Sanjeev Kumar. His performance of negative role shot to fame. He was commended for his role while a newcomer as compared with established actors like Dilip Kumar and Balraj Sahni 

Set in Varanasi, this fast-paced film talks of thugs, the expert killers who were a terror in Northern India in the 19th Century. They used to rob the pilgrims by hook or crook. Adapted from a Mahasweta Devi work, director H.S. Rawail addresses the loot that goes on at pilgrim centres in the name of faith. How the practice of sacrifice is misused for personal gains and how men compromise love for spiritual virtues – issues that are a relevant event today…issues that our films generally talk of only in hushed tones.
It is said H S Rawail the director of the film wanted Sadhna to be the heroine in this film but she was not available because of her illness. Eventually, Rawail signed Vyjayanthimala for the role. Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala who had worked together for Naya Daur (1957) and Ganga Jamuna were then said to have a romantic affair. The actors parted after Vyjayanthimala worked with Raj Kapoor in the 1964 Hindi film Sangam. Thus, most of the scenes between the two actors for Sungharsh were shot separately.Sungharsh was the last film where Kumar and Vyjayanthimala worked together.

The music for all the songs is composed by Naushad and the lyrics are written by Shakeel Badayuni. The film's soundtrack has seven songs sung by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar with one song sung by Asha Bhosle. All are solo songs where Naushad used the music from the regions of Awadh and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Song of Sungharsh 1968

Raj Kapoor- The fascination of seeing his heroines wearing a white saree

Raj Kapoor(14 Dec 1924), who was one of the greatest and most successful directors who started at a young age of 24 and also one of the best actors in the history of Indian cinema. He was a pioneer in making Hindi cinema bolder, by making his heroine show off their beauty on the silver screen. He had a fascination of seeing his heroines wearing a white saree in at least one scene in his films.
One may recall the white-saree clad heroines of RK Films as Nargis in Awara, Padmini in Mera Naam Joker, Vyjayanthimala in Sangam, Zeenat Aman in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Mandakini in Ram Teri Ganga Mail and also Padmini Kolhapure in Premrog. His ‘woman in white’ fascination can be traced from his wife Krishna. It started before he marrying Krishna. It is said that Raj Kapoor once saw Krishna a young girl in a white saree with mogas in her hair, playing the sitar. That was the time when Krishna taking music lessons. Being an artiste, he reacted to the visual. He was reminded of Goddess Saraswati. The image of the ‘lady in white’ stayed in his mind and was later seen in his films.If you recall Krishna, his wife always wore white and had a flower in her hair.

Very few know that Nargis who was Raj Kapoor's heroine in Barsaat 1949 and Awara 1951  was dubbed as the Lady in White, given her penchant for white sarees. “She wore only cotton and organza with a little embroidery.
Raj Kapoor the person was not very different from the personality. A flair for flamboyance was the hallmark 

Song of Awara 1951

Song of Satyam Shivam Sundaram 1978

Song of Prem Rog 1982

Song of Ram Teri Ganga Meli 1985

It was Devika Rani who gave Kohinoor to Bollywood

Devika Rani who is also known as The First Lady of Bollywood gave us a Kohinoor in the form of Dalip Kumar. It happened when Dilip Kumar aka Yusuf Khan first arrived from Poona in Bombay looking for a job, he met Dr Masani at Churchgate station. The psychologist knew Khan from a lecture he had delivered at Wilson College where the young man had been a student.
Dr Masani introduced Yusuf Khan to Devika Rani who was the owner of Bombay Talkies. Devika Rani asked him if he knew Urdu; Khan did, as he was born and brought up in Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province. Devika Rani then offered him an opportunity to become an actor with the studio for a princely monthly salary of Rs1,250. It was Devika Rani who christened Dilip Kumar. The first film of Dilip Saheb was Jwar Bhata released in 1944 was directed by Amiya Chakrabarti.

Still from Jwar Bhata 1944

Besides grooming him for a career in front of the camera, Devika Rani also helped shape Dilip Kumar's acting and performances, encouraging him to watch Hollywood and foreign films and look for inspiration within himself to improve with each film that he did.
Unfortunately, Jwar Bhata did not fare well at the box office. Yet his talent did not go unnoticed and following India’s independence and partition, Dilip Kumar would go onto make his mark in Hindi cinema. 

Still from Jugnu 1947

However, it was the actor’s fourth film, Jugnu (1947), starring Noor Jehan and Shashikala in important roles, that became his first major hit, and got him noticed. The actor received many movies after this film.  

Dilip Kumar in Andaz.1949

One of the films which elevated him to superstardom was Mehboob Khan’s Andaz (1949) with Raj Kapoor.A story revolving around a love triangle, interspersed with drama and tragedy The film saw him paired opposite Nargis. The film became an instant hit at the box office and enabled Dilip Kumar to establish himself as one of the reigning figures of the Indian film industry.
He had a number of big films in the 1950s. Among his most notable films were Hulchul (1951), Deedar (1951), Daag (1952) and Devdas (1955). Dilip Kumar became the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Daag. He went on to win the award seven times.  His performance as the heartbroken Devdas in Devdas, among other roles, sealed his image as the Tragedy King of Indian cinema. However, he tried to shed this image by taking up lighter roles in films such as Aan (1952), Azaad (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Madhumati (1958), Mughal e Azam (1960) and Kohinoor (1960).
In 1961, Kumar produced and starred in Ganga Jamuna opposite his frequent leading lady Vyjayanthimala and his brother Nasir Khan, this was the only film he produced.His next film Leader (1964) was a below average grosser at the box office.He was the co-director alongside Abdul Rashid Kardar of his next release Dil Diya Dard Liya in 1966 but was uncredited as director. In 1967, Kumar played a dual role of twins separated at birth in the hit film Ram Aur Shyam. In 1968, he starred alongside Manoj Kumar and Waheeda Rehman in Aadmi. That same year he starred in Sangharsh with Sanjeev Kumar.
His career slumped in the 1970s with films like Dastaan (1972) failing at the box office. He starred alongside his real-life wife Saira Banu in Gopi (1970) which was a success. But again in 1974 his film Sagina and Bairag in 1976 failed as a hero.
In 1976, Dilip Kumar took a five-year break from film performances and returned with a character role in the film Kranti (1981) and continued his career playing leading roles in films such as Shakti (1982), Karma (1986) and Saudagar (1991). His last film was Qila (1998).He has won ten Filmfare Awards and is the first recipient of the Filmfare Best Actor Award (1954). He was given Dada Saheb falke award in 1994. The Government of India honoured Kumar with the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015. The Government of Pakistan conferred Kumar with Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award in Pakistan, in 1998.
My Fav Dilip Kumar's Songs

Song of Mela 1948

Song of Andaz, 1949

Song of Arzoo 1950

Song of Deedar 1951

Song of Sangdil 1952

Song of Footpath 1953

Song of Azaad 1955

Song of Naya Daur, 1957

Song of Madhumati, 1958

Song of Kohinoor, 1960

Song of Ganga Jamuna, 1961

Song of Leader, 1964

Shatrughan Sinha- The Chhainu of Mere Apne

Shatrughan Sinha  (9 December 1945) who made his debut from 1969 film Saajan is in his 50th year in Bollywood. He was first signed by Dev Anand for Prem Pujari in a very small role of a Pakistani soldier but the film was released later.
He earned his stardom with Gulzar's Mere Apne (1971). As the rough-edged street don Chhainu, who hates rival Vinod Khanna's guts, Shatrughan's impact was raw but powerful. His dialogue from Mere Apne "Shyaam Aaye to Keh Dena ki Chenu Aaya Tha " attracted the Bollywood lovers. His deep baritone, his style and his fiery eyes everything made him the darling of masses.

He became the only villain in Bollywood who received claps from the audience when he beats the Hero. Mere Apne won Shatrughan Sinha labels like Wonder Boy and Wonder Villain. His career steamed full throttle and Sinha happily blustered his way in viperous roles in films like Rampur Ka Lakshman, Bhai Ho To Aisa and Heera.
As the rough-edged street don Chhainu, who hates rival Vinod Khanna's guts, Shatrughan's impact was raw but powerful. He amplified his hearty voice to the full. Costar Meena Kumari complimented him on his ability to deliver dialogues without pausing at the expected moments. 
Mere Apne was released during a year that was enriched by films like Anand, Amar Prem, Guddi, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Tere Mere Sapne, Caravan, Buddha Mil Gaya. No awards came Mere Apne’s way but it remains a timeless classic for its realistic depiction of social issues.
After the role of Chhainu and its dialogues, Shatrughan Sinha became a craze among masses. As proof of his burgeoning popularity, Manmohan Desai was forced to heed his distributors and include a reformation scene in Bhai Ho To Aisa (1972). The public could no longer accept Sinha as an all-black villain. Sinha's style -- in the midst of an action-packed fight, he would take time off to check out if his watch was working -- suddenly made most villains look like they belonged to the age of the Flintstones.

Dialogue of Mere Apne

Song of Sabak 1973

Song of Blackmail 1973

Song of Badlaa 1974

Song of Dost 1974

Song of Aadmi Sadak Ka 1977

Song of Dostana 1980