Irrfan Khan- Slow and Steady Won the Race

Starting his film career with a small one and a half minute role as a letter writer in the 1988 film Salaam Bombay, he emerged as the most intense actor of Bollywood. It took him 13 years to get recognition in films with the British film The Warrior (2001) and had his breakthrough with starring roles in the dramas Haasil (2003) and Maqbool (2004). 
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Villain.in the film Haasil in 2004. His first Bollywood lead role came in 2005 with Rog. His performance was praised by critics;
In 2007, he appeared in the box office hits The Namesake and Life in a... Metro. His chemistry with Konkana Sen was one of the highlights of the latter; it also won him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.
He played a police inspector in the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, for which he and the cast of the movie won Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. 
In 2010, he worked on the third season of the HBO series In Treatment, enacting the part of Sunil, who is finding it difficult to come to terms with his wife's death and loneliness after moving to New York. He did Spiderman and Life of Pi in 2012. which became a critical and commercial success worldwide. 
In the same year in 2012 his film Paan Singh Tomar released, he plated the title role for which he was given the National Film Award as Best Actor. In 2013, he starred in The Lunchbox, which won the Grand Rail d'Or at Cannes Film Festival and received a BAFTA nomination and became his highest-grossing Hindi film.
 In 2015, he played the lead role in the film Piku alongside Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan. Khan co-starred in the 2015 film Jurassic World. In the same year, he also appeared in the acclaimed thriller Talvar in which his performance was praised. 
In 2017, Khan appeared in two films, Hindi Medium and Qarib Qarib Singlle. The former was commercially and critically successful, while the latter was an average grosser. Khan's portrayal as Raj Batra in Hindi Medium earned him several accolades, one of which was the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
In March 2018, he was told that he had a rare neuroendocrine tumor and spent several months in London undergoing treatment. It appeared to have recovered from cancer, he returned to India, and in 2019 started shooting his last film, “Angrezi Medium,” a sequel to his 2017 hit “Hindi Medium.” It was released last month,
He was admitted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 28th April 2020, he died on 29th April.2020

  Irrfan Khan "young letter writer"First film role 

                    Irrfan Khan's Best Scenes in Haasil (2003)

Irfan Khan in Paan Singh Tomur 2012

Memorable Scenes of Irfan Khan

The Great Boat Songs of Bollywood

Yesterday's blog of the songs near the seashore once again attracted more than 2000 visitors, this gave me encouragement to search songs picturized on a boat or a cruise.
You would be surprised to note that Boat songs were very popular in the 50s and 60s. Whether it was a necessity due to the lyrics or the situation in the film or just to provide a scenic relief to the viewers, a boat has featured in many songs in our movies. 
The first boat song in my list is from the 1948 film Nadiya Ke Paar where Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal are singing the song "More raja ho le chal nadiya ke paar" sung by Mohammad Rafi and Lalita Deolkar 

Song from Nadiya Ke Paar 1948

Those days many songs were picturized on the boatman seen in between a song singing Haiya Ho or something else, here in this singing chinkola chinkola chinkola rather than Haiya ho. Watch this song from the 1950 film Babul starring Dilip Kumar and Munnawar Sultana

Song from Babul 1950

Here is a funny boat song from Dev Anand's Funtoosh (1956)

Song from Funtoosh1956

This song is not picturized on the hero and heroine but with many women dancing and singing on board while the men row. The folksy feel of this song and the excellent picturization make this one of the list.

Song of Chori Chori 1956

This another boat song where hero and heroine are not singing but others are singing. Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar, she a widow and he a sort-of-sadhu, are going downriver in a rowboat. Watch this peppy love song of a girl talking about the pardesi she loves so much.

Song of Savera 1958

This great song from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi, 1960  is a great boat song, here heroine is singing the song while the hero is also on that boat.

Song of Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi, 1960

The 60s had many boat songs. One  such song is picturized on Suni Dutt and Nanda, sung by Mohammad Rafi

Song of Nartaki 1963

The popular boat song is from the film Kashmir Ki Kali. This song was picturized on Dal lake of Shrinagar. Shikara is a kind of boat popular in Kashmir.

Song of Kashmir Ki Kali 1964

The same year Raj Kapoor also sang on a boat but the very first time on a motorboat.

Song of Sangam 1964

This song was picturized on Kishore Kumar he also sings this song along with Lata Mangeshkar. This one begins on the shore but moves to the mighty Ganga.

Song of Ganga Ki Lahren 1964

After two elder brothers, its time now the younger brother Shashi  Kapoor to sing on a boat. He does it gracefully in Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

This year another boat song, that too in Kashmir was very popular. picturized on Asha Parekh and Biswajeet

Song of Mere Sanam 1965

Another boat song is from Chhoti-Chhoti Baatein, 1965, picturized on Nadira and Motilal It was sung by Meena Kapoor.

Song of Chhoti-Chhoti Baatein, 1965

This song was picturized on the evergreen Dev Sahab....most good looking actor ever in the history of cinema and smashingly beautiful Saira Banu

..

Song of Pyar Mohabbat  1966

This a sad boat song from Jewel Thief released in 1967. Song was picturized on Dev Anand and Vyajantimala both on separate boats.

Song of Jewel Thief 1967

A great song picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Waheeda Rehman in the 1969 film Khamoshi

Song of Khamoshi 1969

Picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh on the beautiful lake of Nainital

Song of Kati Patang 1971

This is the third song of Rajesh Khanna on a boat, this time with Sharmila Tagore

Song of Amar Prem 1972

This song from the classic Pakeeza, undeniably the most romantic of all the boat numbers.  The singer and the actors take us along the beautiful ride. Raj Kumar wooing the eternal beauty Meena kumari in a boat on a moonlight night 

Song of Pakeezah 1972

Watch this beautiful song by Kishore Kumar written by Gulzar, picturized on Jeetendra

Song of Khushboo 1975

Shot on a Gondola(A type of boat) in Venice, this song was filmed on Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman. It is sung by Asha Bhosle, Sharad Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan.

Song of Great Gambler 1979

This song is sung by Nitin Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. It is filmed on Hema Malini and Manoj Kumar. The song is composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal and the lyrics are by Santosh Anand.

Song of Kranti 1981

Though there are many such songs I have selected only a few of these, the last song from my list is this song

Song of Kaho Na Pyaar Hai 2000

The Bollywood Songs around Sea Shore

In the 40s and 50s, most of the films were shot at the studios. The trend of outdoor shooting began from the 1954 film Taxi Driver. Recall the song "Jayen To Jayen Kahan" it was shot on a beach. This brought a more realistic approach to the picturization.  The waves sticking the rocks, making a huge splash have been metaphorically used as an emotional explosion.
On the other hand, slow and peaceful waves, are shown to have calming influence. 
A seashore song creates a completely different mood or expression. In the 60s the beach or the seashore made its appearance in romantic songs, picnic songs, for obvious reasons. There are many songs, where a family is enjoying happily and denotes the delightful moments of their life.
One of the earliest songs, shot by the seashore. Of course, only long shots and the sea waves are in the song, that is shot on an outdoor location. The close-ups of the actor, Nisar Khan, must have been shot indoors. The conflict and the deep anguish of the character are shown very effectively with the waves hitting the rocks. The orchestration during these scenes also intensifies the tension in the song."Roun Mein Sagar Ke Kinare by C H Atma

Song of Nagina (1951)

A Talat song from ” Taxi Driver, pleasant picturization of sea against the sad mood of the song 

Song of Taxi Driver 1954

 The calm sea with soft waves makes the way for a sad song situation. In the 1957 fi[m Samundar, the heroine Bina Rai sings a sad song sitting on a seashore

  

Song of SAMUNDAR,1957.

. This song opens on a seashore, but later other locations near a beach, also make their appearance, only to end the song on the beach with sunset. The song is from 1958 film Mujrim

Song of Mujrim 1958

The tidal waves crashing on the rocks, scattering the water droplets is a delightful sight to watch. Recall the song "Sach Hue Sapne Tere" from Kala Bazar here Dev Anand in a sad mood sitting on the rock while Waheeda, in a simple saree, without any jewelry at all, with a simple hairdo trying to please Dev, as she does ‘chiki chiki chik chak’. Her encouraging gestures finally appear to work for him, who finally smiles at her.

Song of Kala Bazar 1960

A Trend of Picnic or Happy songs on the beach started from this 1960 film Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Here Meena Kumari seen singing with her friends.

Song of Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai  1960

Another sad song picturized on Dev Anand in the 1963 film Kinare Kinare where he is walking on a beach with calm sea.

Song of Kinare Kinare 1963

Another hit song by the seashore is from the 1965 film Gumnam, The sea is calm with soft waves. The rocks, the sand, the umbrella with other accessories complete the picture of a perfect picnic by the seaside. Picturized on Helen

. 

Song of Gumnam  1965

 Here’s a somewhat different Seashore song. Not a serene beach, but rocks with the sea beating against them. This is creating a different mood for this song picturized on Dilip Kumar

Song of Aadmi 1968

Picturized on Juhu Beach, this song was shot on Rajesh Khanna. The beach with sea waves slowly folding on the shore. Nothing more to say!

Song of Anand 1970

One of the popular songs of Laxmikant Pyarelal, that is still remembered for its violin tune, the beach it’s an emotional song with the touchy notes of a violin. 

Song of Shor 1972

In 1981 this song was a great hit, The beach appears to be from a South Indian region. Long Beach, luscious green plantations in the vicinity and big rocks. The song is picturized on Kamal Hasan and Rati Agnihotri from the film Ek Duje Ke Liye

Song of Ek Duje Ke Liye 1982

Sagar was the 1985 film, the film was picturized near the sea. The seashore formed an important part of the story and was there throughout the film. The fisherman’s boats, fishing nets, the rocky seashore, and sea waves. This romantic song was shot at the beach.

Song of Sagar 1985

This one of the great seashore songs At the start of the song Urmila Matondkar is seen running on the beach. The song was shot in foreign locations and captures the picturesque places, a beautiful sunset, and the greenery around the beach. 

Song of Rangeela (1995)

We see a very attractive seashore, with a soothing sea and whitish sand. The sea waves are delicate and suit the romantic song. 

Song of Papa Kehte Hai (1996)

 A very beautiful beach, greenish-blue water, whitish sand, picturesque nature. A charming pair on a stunningly beautiful beach. The dance step also became iconic.

Song of Kaho Na Pyar Hai 2000

Feroz Khan - The Original Khan of Bollywood.

Feroz Khan (25 September 1939 – 27 April 2009), his father belonged to Tanoli tribe from Ghazni of Afghanistan, He was born and brought up in Bangalore. He moved to Bombay to work in films.
He is one of the few actors, who flaunted his surname, those days changing names or no surname was very common and mandatory to stardom.
Right from the first film, he kept his real name, he is the original Khan. Though Dilip Kumar is also a Khan he too changed his name to get stardom in the Bollywood.
 He made his debut as a second lead in Didi in 1960. Through the 1960s, he appeared in mediocre films opposite starlets in fantastical dramas, including Reporter Raju (Chitra), Samson (Ameeta), Ek Sapera Ek Lutera (Kum Kum) and Char Darvesh (Saeeda Khan). In the Guru Dutt-Mala Sinha starrer Bahurani, he played the baddie. 
In his role as the wayward younger brother of Raj Kumar, he was noticed in the black and white  film Oonche Log (1965), He then played the second lead to Rajendra Kumar in Ramanand Sagar’s Arzoo, to Sunil Dutt in the thriller Pyasi Shaam, It was BR Chopra’s Aadmi Aur Insaan towards the end of the decade, in 1969, where he came into his own. It won him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.
In 1970 released Safar, in this film the Hero was Rajesh Khanna but Feroz Khan played an important role in this film. In 1971 he appeared in 2 films as the 2nd lead to his younger brother Sanjay Khan( Mela and Upasana).
To improve his career opportunities as a leading man he started his own Production Company. He became a successful producer and director with the 1972 film Apradh, Mumtaaz was his co-star in this film. Apradh was the first Indian movie showing auto racing in Germany, it was a moderate success at the box office. After that, he produced, directed, and starred in the 1975 film Dharmatma, which was the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan and was also his first blockbuster hit as a producer, director, and star and marked the appearance of actress Hema Malini in a glamorous avatar. This movie was inspired by the Hollywood film The Godfather. 
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he was a leading Bollywood star, directing and starring in many of his films. The 1980 film Qurbani, with Zeenat Aman, was the biggest hit of his career and launched the singing career of iconic Pakistani pop singer Nazia Hassan, with her memorable track "Aap Jaisa Koi". In 1986, he directed and starred in Janbaaz, a box office hit, In 1988, he directed and starred in Dayavan, which was a remake of an Indian Tamil film titled Nayakan. After directing and starring in Yalgaar (1992),He launched his son Fardeen Khan's career with the 1998 film Prem Aggan, which, however, was a box office bomb.  he took a long break from acting for 11 years.
He appeared in over 51 films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and became one of Bollywood's popular style icons His last film as an actor was "Welcome" was a roaring hit in 2007. He died from lung cancer on 27 April 2009 at the age of 69. 
In this blog, I am posting some of his forgotten & rare songs

Song of Mein Shaadi Karne Chala 1962

Song of Reporter Raju  1962

Song of Reporter Raju  1962

Song of Char Dervesh 1964

Song of Teesra Kaun  1965

Song of Oonche Log 1965

Song of Ek Sapera Ek Lootera 1965

Song of Tasveer 1966

Song of Woh Koi Aur Hoga 1966

Song of CID 909 1966

Song of Raat Andheri Thi 1967

 Song of Aurat 1967 

 Song of Aaja Sanam 1968

Song of Anjaan Hai Koi 1969

Five Significant Roles of Moushumi Chatterjee

Moushumi Chatterjee (born 26 April 1948) is an actress who is recognized for her work in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. She made her film debut in the Bengali hit Balika Badhu (1967), and debut as heroine in the Hindi film Anuraag in 1972. Since then she has acted in more than 100 films as the main lead or a character role.
In this blog, we look into some of her memorable roles from Bollywood to Bengali films. She became a household name with the Bengali film Balika Badhu, directed by Tarun Majumdar. She played a child bride in the period drama, which became a platinum jubilee hit with a run of 75 weeks at the box office. In her next film a Bollywood film" Anurag", she played a blind young woman, Shivani, who wants to learn sculpting.
 Balika Badhu (1967) - The film was based on a novel of the same name by Bimal Kar. The film was remade in Hindi as the same name in 1976 also directed by Majumdar. The movie is about child marriage, a custom that still prevails (illegally) among various Indian societies. Set during British Raj in India, the movie tells the story of a village schoolboy Amal, who is married to a younger girl named Rajni. Left together for a few days, as a part of the ritual, the two develop friendship and love. Shortly, Rajni must return to her parents’ house, while Amal continues with his studies at home with Masterji, an elderly teacher. His life is enlivened occasionally when Rajni is permitted to visit.For this role she was given Best Actress for her debut by BFJA

Anuraag (1972) -  is a 1972 Hindi film, directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Moushumi Chatterjee and Vinod Mehra in lead roles. Moushumi plays a blind sculptor in this film. She stays in an ashram and makes friends with a small boy (Satyajit), who is suffering from cancer. She falls in love with Rajesh (Vinod Mehra). Rajesh asks his parents to permit him to marry her, to which his mother agrees, but his father refuses under her present condition. Then, an eye specialist reveals that an eye replacement would cure her. Later, as a dying wish, the young boy donates his eyes to her, thus granting her eyesight for the first time in her life.
The film became a semi-hit while doing extremely well in big cities and won the Filmfare Best Movie Award for the year. Moushumi was nominated for the best actress award.

Song of Anurag 1972

Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) - was written, directed, and produced by Manoj Kumar. The film is about a family for which Bharat (Manoj Kumar) attempts to provide for after falling into a financial struggle. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay, the brother of Bharat, and stars Zeenat Aman as Sheetal, Bharat's love interest, Moushumi Chatterjee as Tulsi, a friend of Bharat in poverty, and Shashi Kapoor as Mohan Babu, a wealthy businessman. Moushumi was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for this film.

Song of  Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974)

Angoor (1982) - Moushumi Chatterjee got the chance to hone her comedic skills and timing opposite Sanjeev Kumar. She played Sudha, wife to Sanjeev Kumar’s Ashok. She meets his well-behaved twin, also named Ashok, and mistakes him for her husband. Sudha tries her best to win him over and gives into her husband’s demands, much to the merriment of the audience. As the clueless wife, she hit every note right.

Song of Angoor 1982

Goynar Baksho (2013) -  horror-comedy, directed by Aparna Sen, involved three generations of women with a priceless box of jewels that links them together. The film starred Moushumi Chatterjee, Sen’s daughter Konkona Sensharma and Srabanti Chatterjee.
Moushumi played a ghost in this comedy film. She won a Filmfare East award for Best Supporting Actress for the part, while Konkona Sen Sharma won Best Actress.

Song of Goynar Baksho (2013)