Shashi Kapoor - India’s first global star

Shashi Kapoor(18 March 1938 – 4 December 2017) made his debut as a leading man in the 1961 film Dharmputra. He started as a child artist with his brother Raj Kapoor's directorial Aag (1948). He became global with Merchant Ivory productions The Householder (1963),
The Householder was the first collaboration between producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, a documentary filmmaker till then. They went on to make nearly forty films together, many of which were written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Shashi Kapoor worked in seven films made under the Merchant–Ivory Productions banner: The Householder, Shakespeare Wallah, Bombay Talkie, Heat and Dust—all directed by James Ivory—and three films by three other directors—The Deceivers, In Custody and Side Streets.
Shooting for the film started in 1961 and was completed in 1963. It was made in two versions, Hindi and English, the latter was picked by Columbia Pictures. It was a huge hit — both with critics and audiences — for a film that was made on a budget of $125,000.
After The Householder, Shashi Kapoor signed their next film, Shakespeare Wallah.It was released in 1965, this was a film about a traveling troupe of actors who perform Shakespeare plays in India. Satyajit Ray gave the music for the film, and Madhur Jaffrey won the Best Actress award (Silver Bear) for 15th Berlin International Film Festival.
Pretty Polly (also known as A Matter of Innocence) was a 1967 British film, directed by Guy Green and based on the short story Pretty Polly Barlow by Noël Coward. It stars Hayley Mills, Shashi Kapoor, Trevor Howard, and Brenda De Banzie.
Bombay Talkie (1970) was the next film Shashi Kapoor did with them. Jeniffer Kapoor, his wife was the heroine of that film. You would be surprised to note that Amitabh Bachchan played a minuscule role in the movie. The music of the film was given by Shankar Jaikishan.
Siddhartha was a 1972 Indo-American film based on the novel of the same name by Hermann Hesse, directed by Conrad Rooks.Shashi played Sidhartha and Simi played Kamla in this film. Simi Garewal's nude scene caused controversy in India. The Indian Censor Board, at that time, did not even permit on-screen kissing in Indian films.
Heat and Dust (1983) was the next film directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant. It stars Greta Scacchi, Shashi Kapoor, and Julie Christie. Heat and Dust was based on the novel written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, which won the Booker Prize in 1975. The screenplay for the film was written by the writer herself. It  was Merchant Ivory's biggest commercial success 
The other films he acted are Sammy And Rosie Get Laid(1987), The Deceivers (1988), In Custody (1993),Jinnah (1998) and Side Streets(1998),

Songs of Bombay Talkie 1970

Songs of Bombay Talkie 1970

Songs of Bombay Talkie 1970

Songs of Bombay Talkie 1970

Songs of Bombay Talkie 1970

Sajan Ki Galiyan - An Incomplete Film of Dev Anand

Sajan Ki Galiyan, 1966. The film, besides Sadhana and Dev Saab, was to be the launchpad of Zaheeda, Nargis’ niece, who later was introduced in Prem Pujari (1970). This was the 3rd film of Dev Anand and Sadhana together after Hum Dono(1961) and Asli Naqli (1962).
The film was to be produced cinematographer Fali Mistry (Guide, Hare Rama Hare Krishna) and to be directed by Raj Khosla,

 If there is one director Sadhana worked with extensively, it was Raj Khosla. The two teamed up for four films – Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) and Khosla’s unforgettable mystery trilogy with the actress – Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967). 
The music of Sajan Ki Galiyan was being composed by Shankar-Jaikishan. Fortunately (or unfortunately as one rues what might have been), two songs from the film can now available on YouTube. One is the deliciously romantic Mohammed Rafi solo, “Humne Jinke Khwab Sajaye” a signature S-J composition written by Hasrat Jaipuri. The other clip is a short scene and a song featuring Dev Saab, Sadhana and Zaheeda – “Hum Khoob Jaante Hai”, sung by Mohammed Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur and Geeta Dutt.

This film was to be made in color. It was the second color film after the Guide for Dev Anand.The clips of the songs of this film are featured in Film Hi Film (1983), which wove scenes from incomplete films into the storyline of an old-time filmmaker (Pran) training newcomers for a film he is making in a bid to recapture his long lost glory. Pran coaches them for the intended movie by showing them various scenes from unfinished films.

Song of Sajan Ki Galiyan

Song of Sajan Ki Galiyan

Nasir Hussain - The Maker of Rom- Com- Musicals

Started his film career as a story writer when he joined Filmistan in 1948. The famous films he wrote for Filmistan include Anarkali (1953), Munimji (1955), and Paying Guest (1957).  The first film he directed was Tumsa Nahin Dekha in 1957 for Filmalaya. Another film he directed in 1958 was Dil Deke Dekho. The highlight of both of these films was its music. His films were full of adventure, romance, fun, music, outdoor and entertainment
He started his own film company, Nasir Hussain Films and turned producer-director. He made musical hits like Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969), Caravan (1971), Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973), and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977).
Nasir Hussain was an admirer of Dev Anand, when he was making his first film as a director Tumsa Nahin Dekha he wanted Dev Anand as his hero but Dev Anand refused the film because of the heroine being a newcomer so Shammi Kapoor was approached. Similarly when Teesri Manzil was planned Dev Anand was signed for the film but due to differences with Hussain he opted out and Kapoor was cast.

Nasir Hussain introduced Asha Parekh with the film Dil Deke Dekho opposite Shammi Kapoor since then she was in all of Hussain's films until Caravan (1971). Hussain, Majrooh Sultanpuri, and R.D. Burman collaborated on Teesri Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, Pyar Ka Mausam, Caravan, Yaadon Ki Baraat, and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

He made Yaadon Ki Baraat in 1973 which was written by Salim-Javed, who had written Zanjeer the same year. Both the films dealt with the hero wanting to avenge his father's death, and both featured Ajit as the villain. Yaadon Ki Baraat has been identified as the first masala film.

The 1980s were not good for him, all his films Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981), Manzil Manzil (1984) and Zabardast (1985) all flopped, Hussain's son Mansoor Khan took over the reins of Nasir Hussain Films, although Hussain continued to write scripts and dialogues for films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992). In Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, he introduced his nephew Aamir Khan as a hero. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was a milestone in the history of Hindi cinema, setting the template for Bollywood musical romance films that defined Hindi cinema in the 1990s 

Song of  Tumsa Nahin Dekha in 1957

Song of Dil Deke Dekho 1958

Song of Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai 1961

Song of Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963),

Song of Teesri Manzil (1966)

Song of Baharon Ke Sapne (1967)

Song of  Pyar Ka Mausam (1969)

Song of Caravan (1971)

Song of Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973)

Song of Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977)

Song of Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981)

Song of Manzil Manzil (1984)

Urdu Shayari in Bollywood Songs

Urdu Shayari is primarily a spoken art form and therefore more suited to theatrical and cinematic adaptation. In fact, when this Shayari was decorated with music, it made Urdu poetry accessible and entertaining to the masses. 
Urdu, from the very beginning, was the most important language of the talkies. Starting from the first Sound Film "Alam Ara" till the 8os Urdu Shayari was predominantly used in Hindi songs.
As Urdu was the lingua franca of artistic expression, Urdu poetry became indispensable to songwriters. Two of the earliest lyricists in Hindi cinema – Kidar Sharma and Dina Nath Madhok – perfectly symbolized this synergy between poetry and cinema. 
.The credit of the first song and the singer in a movie goes to Wazir Mohammad Khan who acted and sang this song De De Khuda Ke Naam Se De, it was in Urdu.

De De Khuda Ke Naam Se De from Alam Ara

In the 40s till Golden Era, the Urdu Shayari was at its prime. The Urdu poets of the era belonged to different parts of the country. Stalwarts like Jan Nisar Akhtar (father of Javed Akhtar), Sahir Ludhianvi, Kaifi Azmi (father of Shabana Azmi), Mazrooh Sultanpuri and Shakeel Badayuni, were either related or were close friends with each other.
 Almost all lyricists of that time had formal training in Urdu poetry and were well-versed with its various forms like ghazal, nazm, qawwali etc. Their careers began in mushairas 

Song of Dulari 1949

Song of Chaudhavin Ka Chand 1960

From romantic sonnets like Chaudhavin Ka Chand to songs of desperate misery like Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari, and qawwalis like Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai, this was truly the high noon of Urdu poetry in Bollywood. The philosophical song " Mein Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya" by Sahir Ludhianvi from the movie Hum Dono, exemplifies what a naturally poetic time this was for the Hindi cinema. 

Song of Hum Dono 1961

The advent of parallel cinema, commonly called “art films”, further gave opportunities to traditional poets such as Shahryar, who wrote the lyrics for Umrao Jaan and Gaman. Independent artists like Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali, Salma Agha also wrote tunes for famous Urdu ghazals. Many of these were used in movie soundtracks and gave us classics like Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho and Chupke Chupke Raat Din.

Song of Taj Mahal 1963

Song of Sadhana 1958

Song of Kala Paani 1958

Song of Kaghaz Ke Phool 1959

Song of Gumrah 1963

Song of Sangam 1964

Song of Safar 1970

The Changing Trend of Holi Songs in Bollywood

Since the release of Amitabh Bachchan's "Silsila" in the early eighties, no Holi celebration in India reached a crescendo without "Rang Barse" being sung and danced to.
If we look into the history of Holi songs in Bollywood, we have seen a gradual but marked change in the style of music and picturization. 
The first Holi song was seen in the 1940 film" Holi" written by D N Madhok and composed by Khemchand Prakash was sung by Sitara Devi. Another film "Aurat".released in the same year had two Holi songs in that film composed by Anil Biswas. This film was made by Mehboob Khan. It was remade after 20 years into the iconic Mother India. Both films had Holi songs 
In the 50s many films had Holi songs. Those days the trend was derived from lord Krishna’s days in the Brij region of northern India where he is said to have indulged in sensuous frolicking with his consort Radha and other belles (Gopikas) of his village. 
These songs were essentially folk music. And that too mostly Gujarati and Rajasthani folk music. Since then the music, the mood, the style kept on changing every decade.
The Holi Songs of the 1940s
Sung by Sitara Devi, Amritlal ,Composed by Khemchand Prakash

Song of Holi 1940

Aaj Holi Khelenge Saajan Ke 

Song of Aurat 1940

Jamuna Tat Shyam Kheln Holi

Song of Aurat 1940

Here is a rare Holi song of the lesser-known film Tilasmi Duniya released in 1946. The singing voices are not identified. There is one male voice and a female voice. It starts off as a song of fun and revelry, which also includes reference to the pastimes of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani. The music was given by Sajjad Hussain, this song here is one more of the rarest of rare treats. 

Song of ‘Tilasmi Duniya’ (1946)

Another rare gem is being presented from the 1947 film  ‘Renuka’. the voices belong to Zohrabai, Sardar Malik himself

 

Song of Renuka (1947) 

Holi Songs of the 1950s

Song of Jogan (1950)

Song of Rahi (1953)

Song of Aan (1953)

By the mid-50s romance was visible on Holi Songs

In the 1956 film Durgesh Nandini A romantic Holi song composed by Hemant Kumar and picturized on the elegant Bina Rai and the princely Pradeep Kumar. 

Song of Durgesh Nandini 1956

Song of Mother India (1958)

Song of Navrang (1959)

Song of Kohinoor (1960)

This song from the critically acclaimed Godaan is an unconventional Holi song rooted in the folk music of rural India, composed by the sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. 

Song of Godaan (1963)

Song of Do Dil (1965)

From the 50s,60s trend of Nandlal and Krishan now in 70s we see the fun-filled song and teasing each other

Song of Kati Patang (1970)

Song of Paraya Dhan (1971)

Song of Sholay (1975)

This fun Holi song from the Basu Chatterji directed romantic comedy Dillagi is unusual as compared to the typical lively and exuberant Holi songs of Bollywood, which have scores of people dancing in tandem with the lead actors. 

Song of Dillagi (1978)

In the80s 90 we see  flirtatious songs like Rang Barse or  fun and fear song Ang Se Ang Lagana from Darr

Song of Silsila 1981

Song of Darr 1993

In the new millennium, the Holi songs became power-packed, rigorous dance sequences Peppy music became the new flavor.

Song of Waqt (2005)

Song of Action Replay(2010)

Song of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

Sahir Ludhianvi - The Magician of Words

True to his name "Sahir" which means a magician, he proved to be a magician of words. He painted fascinating images in songs and ghazals, Spellbinding his listeners and readers for decades. For about thirty years, he remained associated with the Hindi film industry. He composed hundreds of songs for Hindi/Urdu films. Most of his songs became hugely popular and are even today sung and hummed by people of all generations. 
 Sahir made his debut as a lyricist with the film "Azadi Ki Raah Par" in 1948. but got fame only associating with S D Burman. Two films, released in 1951, had songs that sky-rocketed in popularity and are hummed even today. First was "Thandi Hawaiian Lehraa Ke Aayen" from Naujawan. The second was a landmark film, marking the directorial debut of Guru Dutt - Baazi. Both films, coincidentally, had music by S. D. Burman.
S.D. Burman and Sahir Ludhianvi went on to compose music for 18 movies, Some of the well-known films are characteristic of Burman-Ludhianvi team: Devdas, Jeevan Jyoti, Jaal, Society, Armaan and Taxi Driver.
The last film Sahir made with Burman was Pyaasa. In Pyaasa, Guru Dutt played a poet named Vijay. After Pyaasa, Sahir and Burman went separate ways due to artistic and contractual differences.
Sahir Ludhianvi has written about 700 songs for 30 music composers in his 32 years career as lyrics writer ( 1921 to 1980 )
Sahir won a Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for Taj Mahal (1963). He won a second Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist for his work on Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1971.
Sahir was considered a *romantic*: personal romance and the resultant disillusionment, followed by universal romance and the resultant frustration with *the way it is*. He never minced the words, did not sublimate emotions. He expressed thoughts clearly and directly.
.During the last years of his life, Sahir suffered from alcoholism and underwent a radical personality alteration marked by moodiness and despair. Sahir Ludhianvi passed away at the age of 59 (25 October 1980) from a heart attack. A bungalow named Parchaiyaan in Andheri, Mumbai became Sahir’s abode from the 1970s till his last days.
List of Films with S D Burman

S. D. Burman	Angaarey	1954
S. D. Burman	Armaan	1953
S. D. Burman	Baabla	1953
S. D. Burman	Baazi	1951
S. D. Burman	Devdas	1955
S. D. Burman	Funtoosh	1956
S. D. Burman	House No. 44	1955
S. D. Burman	Jaal	1952
S. D. Burman	Jeevan Jyoti	1953
S. D. Burman	Lal Kunwar	1952
S. D. Burman	Munimji	1955
S. D. Burman	Naujawaan	1951
S. D. Burman	Pyaasa	1957
S. D. Burman	Radha Krishna	1954
S. D. Burman	Sazaa	1951
S. D. Burman	Shahenshah	1953
S. D. Burman	Society	1955
S. D. Burman	Taxi Driver	1954

Songs with N Dutta

N. Dutta	Baalo (Punjabi)	1951
N. Dutta	Bhai Bahen	1959
N. Dutta	Chandi Ki Deewar	1964
N. Dutta	Chandrakanta	1956
N. Dutta	Chehre Pe Chehra	1981
N. Dutta	Dharamputra	1961
N. Dutta	Dhool Ka Phool	1959
N. Dutta	Didi	1959
N. Dutta	Dilli Ka Dada	1962
N. Dutta	Kala Samundar	1962
N. Dutta	Lighthouse	1958
N. Dutta	Marine Drive	1955
N. Dutta	Milaap	1955
N. Dutta	Naach Ghar	1959
N. Dutta	Naya Raasta	1970
N. Dutta	Picnic	UNR
N. Dutta	Sachche Moti	1962
N. Dutta	Sachche Moti	1962
N. Dutta	Sadhanaa	1958

Songs with Ravi

Ravi	Aadmi Aur Insaan	1969
Ravi	Aaj Aur Kal	1963
Ravi	Aankhen	1968
Ravi	Amaanat	1975
Ravi	Bahu Beti	1965
Ravi	Chingaari	1989
Ravi	Dhundh	1973
Ravi	Do Kaliyan	1968
Ravi	Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka	1975
Ravi	Ganga Tera Pani Amrit	1971
Ravi	Gumraah	1963
Ravi	Humraaz	1967
Ravi	Kaajal	1965
Ravi	Mehmaan	1974
Ravi	Neelkamal	1968
Ravi	Paisa Yaa Pyaar	1969
Ravi	Pyaar Ka Bandhan	1963
Ravi	Samaaj Ko Badal Dalo	1970
Ravi	Waqt	1965

Songs with Khayyam

Khaiyyam	Chambal Ki Kasam	1979
Khaiyyam	Kaafir	UNR
Khaiyyam	Kabhi Kabhi	1976
Khaiyyam	Phir Subah Hogi	1958
Khaiyyam	Pyaasi Dharati	UNR
Khaiyyam	Shagun	1964
Khaiyyam	Trishul	1978

Songs with Roshan

Roshan	Babar	1960
Roshan	Bahu Begum	1967
Roshan	Barsaat Ki Raat	1960
Roshan	Bheegi Raat	1965
Roshan	Chitralekha	1964
Roshan	Dil Hi To Hai	1963
Roshan	Dooj Ka Chand	1964
Roshan	Taj Mahal	1963

Songs with O P Nayyar

O. P. Nayyar	12 O' Clock	1958
O. P. Nayyar	Bade Sarkaar	1957
O. P. Nayyar	Naya Daur	1957
O. P. Nayyar	Sone Ki Chidiya	1958
O. P. Nayyar	Tumsa Nahin Dekha	1957

Songs with Jaidev

Jaidev	Hum Dono	1961
Jaidev	Joru Ka Bhai	1955
Jaidev	Mujhe Jeene Do	1963

The First Song of Sahir

Song of Azadi Ki Raah Par" 1948

Song of Naujawan 1951

Song of Baazi 1951

Song of Jaal 1952

Song of Taxi Driver 1954

Song of Naya Daur (1957)

Song of  Pyaasa (1957)

Song of  Dhool Ka Phool (1959) 

Song of Hum Dono (1961)  

Song of  Gumrah (1963)

Song of  Chitralekha (1964)

Song of Waqt (1965 film)

Song of Kabhi Kabhi (1976)

Master Nissar- The First Star of Hindi Cinema

Master Nisar( 5-3-1902 -13-7-1980 ) was the most popular hero of the early talkie films. His ability to speak fluent Urdu and sing songs made him an instant success. He worked in the second Talkie Movie Shirin Farhad (1931), which was super hit. He made a sought-after team with actress Jehan Ara Kajjan.both of them gave many hit movies one after another.
His popularity was immense, people used to flock in large numbers to studios to catch a glimpse of him. It is said that once due to a very large crowd gathered to see him, the Governor of Bengal was forced to divert his car to another road. He was the first actor in the Hindi film industry to own a Rolls Royce car. His heroines were many like Padma Devi, Zebunnisa, Bibbo, Haseena, Sardar Akhtar, Kanta, etc
He also acted in India’s first homemade the color film ‘Kisaan Kanya’ (1937). This was also his last film as a hero. His popularity started to decrease in the wake of the rise of K L Saigal, Ashok Kumar, Surendra etc. After that, he switched to character roles. He appeared in 75 films during his career. The situation came that he would take whatever role came his way. The last time he was seen in the 1971 film Guddi, Those who have seen film ‘Guddi’ (1971), there is a scene in which a lanky, thin person is massaging Om Prakash. Dharmendra tells Guddi, “Do you know who he is? Master Nissar, one time a great actor who was popular and very rich. 
In the 50s he was seen in many Qawwalis, He was seen as the on-screen lead singer in the qawwali “Aaj Kyon Hum Se Parda Hai” in the film ‘Sadhna’ (1958). He was also seen in the popular Qawwali '"Na to Karvan ki Talash Hain” from Barsat Ki Raat.
In later years, Master Nisar fell on hard times and was often seen begging near the Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai. He died in penury in 1980. 

 Song from ‘Kisaan Kanya 1937. 

 song from ‘Azad 1955

Song of Sadhna’ (1958)

Song of Barsat Ki Raat.1960