The First Ten Films Made Shankar Jaikishan, the Household Name

"Barsaat" was the first film of Shanker Jaikishan and "Patita" was the 10th film from 1949 to 1953. That was the period when Naushad and C Ramchandra were leading Bollywood Music. S D Burman was also emerging. 
Shankar-Jaikishan's compositions broke new ground in Hindi film music. Apart from relying upon their knowledge of Indian classical music, they also employed western beats and orchestration.  They made use of the orchestra and musical instruments (often dozens or hundreds of them) in their songs. 

Song of Barsaat 1949

The music of Barsaat brought freshness in film music, its songs, and background music created new records in the Film industry. Barsat had 12 songs, all the songs were hit. The songs like "Jiya Beqarar Hai", "Hawa Mein Udta Jaye", "Barsaat Mein Humse Mile", " Meri Aankhon Mein Bas Gaya Koi Re" Chhod Gaye Balam",  and " Patli Kamar Hai" became a rage. Each song was new and had vitality beyond the imagination of the music lovers. With this film, Shankar Jaikishan walked into the hearts of the masses. 

Song of Baadal 1951

Baadal*(1951) was the second film of Shankar Jaikishan, Premnath and Madhubala were the lead pair. The film had 8 songs, almost all songs were popular."Aaj Maane, Aaj Maane Na Moraa Jiya ThumakThumak Naache Sawan Ka Mausam Suhana", "Main Raahi Bhatakne Wala Hoon", and "Aye Dil Na Mujhse Chhupa Sach Bataa Kyaa Hua" were very hit.

Song of Aawara 1951

In December 1951, the third film of Shankar Jaikishan," Awara" released' the film was a hit, even more, hit was its soundtrack. The soundtrack was listed by Planet Bollywood as number 3 on their list of 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks. The film has 10 songs and all the songs were hit. Awara Hoon immediately struck "a chord in audiences from various classes and backgrounds all over India and beyond: in China, in the Soviet Union, in the Middle East. The popularity of "Awaara Hoon" led to the creation of localized versions of the song in Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, China, and Romania. Awara has songs of all moods. Hum Tujhse Mohabbat Kar Ke", and Aajao Tadapte Hain Arman of helplessness. Ek Bewafa Se Pyar Kiya" a melody by a heroine accepting her mistake and E Do Teen Aaja Mausam Hai Rangeen a joyful song is still in the heart of music lovers.

Song of Kaali Ghata 1951

Kaali Ghata (1951) was the fourth film of Shankar Jaikishan. starring Kishor Sahu and Bina Rai. The title song O Kali Ghata Ghir Aayi Re, O Bajne Lagi Shehnaai Re, Hamse Na Poocho Koi Pyar Kya Hai, became popular. "Ille belle aa re" became so popular due to its catchy tune.

Song of Poonam 1952 

 Poonam came after Kaali Ghata in 1952. The film had 8 songs, all except one song are solo of Lata Mangeshkar. The first song of the film "O bhole balma o more sajna, ghunghar baaje chhun chhun , Aayi Aayi Raat Suhani, and "Din Suhane Mausam" became successful

Song of Daag 1952.

In 1952 Shankar Jaikishan had 4 releases. Poonam, Parbat,Nagina and Daag. The music of all these films was super hit. The song of Daag " Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal" had 3 versions one fast and sad by Talat Mehmood. This song was as hit as "Awara Hoon" With this song Shankar Jaikishan, introduced a new trend. An exuberant song transformed into melancholy. This was the first experiment in Hindi Film music having the same lyrics but different versions.

Song of Parbat 1952

Parbat was another film of Shankar Jaikishan, it had 7 songs, all the songs were popular."Haye Mera Dil Le Gaya Koi Aake Ishaaron Se", and "Kya Bataoon Mohabbat Hai Kya," were romantic songs, appreciated by the masses. The other popular song " Beraham Maar Daale Na Mujhko Tera Gham, Ab To Aa Ja" sung by Lata with the chorus. This song has few words but the interludes and the voice of the chorus win the heart of listeners.I think this song laid the foundation of the future chorus songs of Shankar Jaikishan. 

Song of Aah 1953

Aah was the 9th film of Shankar Jaikishan, released after Parbat in 1953. It was an RK Film but directed by Raja Nawathe.. The film was rated "Below Average" at the box office but has various hit songs like "Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat", "Aaja Re Ab Mera Dil Pukara" and "Jaane Na Nazar". The song "Chhoti Si Yeh Zindagani" sung by Mukesh was also picturized on him. 

Song of Patita 1953

Patita produced and directed by Amiya Chakrabarty. The film stars Dev Anand, Usha Kiran, Agha was the 10th film of Shankar Jaikishan, by this time this duo was riding high on popularity, with this film they emerged the leading music director. Patita is especially well known for some very melodious and popular songs that include: "Andhe Jahaan Ke" by Talat Mahmood, "Hain Sab Se Madhur Woh Geet Jinhein Hum Dard Ke Sur Mein Gaate Hain" by Talat Mahmood, "Kisi Ne Apna Bana Ke" by Lata Mangeshkar, "Mitti se Khelte Ho" by Lata Mangeshkar and the duet "Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Kahaan Ho Tum" by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.

Life and loves of Rekha

 

Rekha had no interest in acting and was basically forced to work to sustain her family financially, this was a difficult period in her life. Still, a teenager, acclimatizing herself to her new surroundings was an uneasy process. Coming from the South, she did not speak Hindi and struggled to communicate with co-workers.

Rekha recalls  "I was called the ‘Ugly Duckling’ of Hindi films because of my dark complexion and South Indian features. I used to feel deeply hurt when people compared me with the leading heroines of the time and said I was no match for them.

Her first Hindi film was Sawan Bhadon opposite Navin Nischal, when Navin Nischol found out that Rekha had been signed as his co-star for Sawan Bhadon, he complained to the producer: “From where did you pick out this namoona [character]? Itni kaali-kalooti [So dark and ugly]!”.

She appeared in several commercially successful films at the time, including Rampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974), yet she was not regarded for her acting abilities.

Rekha transformed her body and started paying attention to her make-up, dress sense, and worked to improve her acting technique and perfect her Hindi-language skills. To lose weight, she followed a nutritious diet, led a regular, disciplined life, and practiced yoga, later recording albums to promote physical fitness.
She began choosing her film roles with more care; her first performance-oriented role came in 1976 when she played Amitabh Bachchan's ambitious and greedy wife in Do Anjaane. The audience was floored when there was a swift change in her screen personality, as well as her style of acting.

Her most significant turning point, however, came in 1978, with her portrayal of a rape victim in the movie Ghar. She played the role of Aarti, a newly married woman who gets gravely traumatized after being gang-raped. The film follows her character's struggle and recuperation with the help of her loving husband, played by Vinod Mehra. The film was considered her first notable milestone, and her performance was applauded by both critics and audiences.

Earlier in her career, she was very bold, Rekha’s sexual openness, too, was revolutionary, even by modern standards, and won her yet more ire. It is impossible to imagine a young starlet today saying some of the things Rekha said four decades ago: “You can’t come close, really close, to a man without making love”, “It is a sheer fluke that I have never got pregnant so far” and “Premarital sex is very natural. 

Rekha had multiple linkups. One of the first prominent affairs of Rekha in Bollywood was with the superstar Jeetendra. Jeetendra was known for his casual flirting with his female co-stars. Both Rekha and Jeetendra had done in numerous films with each other. It is said that Rekha was quite serious about him but the superstar was already married to Shobha Kapoor when he had met Rekha. When rumors about their alleged dating started doing rounds, Rekha was termed as a 'home-breaker' by many. Thus, their relationship died a bitter death.  

Her next affair was with Kiran Kumar but it was a short fling. Kiran was also Vinod Mehra’s best friend, whom she had fallen for later. Their relationship went on for a small time before they decided to call it quits.

Next was Vinod Mehra. There was a rumor that they married at a secret wedding ceremony but it did not last long. Rekha however, had denied having any marital relationships with Vinod Mehra in an interview with Simi Garewal in 2004.

Rekha’s affair with Amitabh Bachchan is the most talked-about romantic relationship that has ever brewed in Bollywood.

Rekha with Mukesh Agarwal

Rekha married Delhi-based business tycoon, Mukesh Agarwal. According to the book, Rekha: The Untold Story, Mukesh was suffering from acute chronic depression and was not at all happy with Rekha’s acting career. To add to that, was their post-divorce trauma. All this led to Mukesh Agarwal’s suicide.

Rekha in her book says I do not invite people into my house. By hook or by crook, those who must find their way in. In fact, my privacy’s worked better than any screenplay. For anything connected with my work, the producers meet me in my office, no one comes into my house except family.

Rare Songs of Rekha from Earlier Films

Song of Sawan Bhadon 1970 

Song of Haseeno Ka Devta 1971

Song of Elaan 1971

Song of Zameen Aasmaan 1972

Song of Sazaa 1972

Song of Ek Bechara 1972

Song of Double Cross 1972

Song of Keemat 1973

Song of Hawas 1974

Song of Zorro1975

Song of Dafaa 302 1975

Raj Kumar- A Towering Personality of the Golden Era

 

Raaj Kumar stood out for his unique manner of acting and dialogue delivery His screen presence was such that whenever he appeared with any hero, he will overshadow the person present in the frame. Most of the established heroes of that era avoided working with him.

He achieved prominence with his brief role as the husband of Nargis in Mother India.in 1957, He was paired with Dilip Kumar in Paigham(1959), he played Dilip Kumar's elder brother who is a mill worker and loyal to the owner of the mill. In a small role, he overshadowed Dilip Kumar who was an established actor at that time. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for that film.

He was cast with Rajendra Kumar in Dil Ek Mandir(1963), Raaj Kumar played the role of a cancer patient for which he won the Filmfare Award in the Best supporting actor category. He appeared in Godaan in the same year, gave a memorable performance. 

He became known for his distinct style of dialogue delivery with the release of Waqt(1965). After this film, he was the most saleable actor. His other notable films included Hamraaz (1967), Heer Raanjha (1971), Maryada (1971), Lal Patthar (1971), and Pakeezah (1972). 

After a period of flops in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he had notable successes as a supporting actor in Kudrat (1981), Ek Nai Paheli (1984), Marte Dam Tak (1987), Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987), and Jung Baaz (1989). In 1991, he reunited with fellow veteran actor Dilip Kumar after 32 years in Subhash Ghai's Saudagar. His last hit film was the 1992 film Tirangaa and his final film was 1995's God & Gun.

Raaj Kumar died at the age of 69 due to throat cancer on July 3, 1996

Song of Ujala 1959

Song of Heer Raanjha

Song of Neel Kamal

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Song of Lal Patthar

Song of Kaajal

Song of  Hamraaz

Song of  Hamraaz

Song of  Pakeezah

Song of  Saudagar

Jane Kahan Gaye Woh Din- The Tune of this Song taken from the Background music of Aah(1953)

 

This song was recorded 4 years before the film released in 1970. In fact, Mukesh sang a few stanzas of this song in front of a crowd of 2500 at the Shanmukhananda Hall Mumbai during the Filmfare Award function in June 1967.

The tune of this song was taken from background music in a scene of Aah released in 1953. This piece of music has also been used as a prelude to the song and appears in bits and pieces throughout the movie. Shankar Jaikishan had many times used a tune played in the earlier film and recreate it a new song. 

The writer of this song was Hasrat Jaipuri who wrote 7 stanzas of this song. Shankar Ji. was the original composer of this tune. Jaikishan later composed the full song in Raga Shivaranjani and Bhairavi, Some modifications were incorporated for Mukesh to make it simple.

The background music of Aah(1953)

Song of Mera Naam Jokeer 1970

The Bollywood Celebrities who married twice or more

 Love and loyalty are the inevitable traits that hold a marriage together. Bollywood has had its own share of famous marriages, shocking divorces, and breakups but some celebrities took the plunge more than twice by having multiple marriages of which some turned out successful and some didn't. In this blog, I have selected those celebrities who did not find happiness in their first marriage but were successful the second time around and apart from their personal life, have successful professional lives too.

I start with the Golden Era of Bollywood,

V. Shantaram

Shantaram with first wife Vimal 

V Shantaram and Jayshree (2nd wife)

V Shantaram with Sandhya (3rd wife)

Shantaram was born in Kolhapur to a Marathi Jain family and he married thrice. His first marriage was to Vimla, Shantaram then married actress Jayashree (née Kamulkar). His third wife, actress Sandhya (née Vijaya Deshmukh), was his co-star in Do Aankhen Barah Haath as well as the heroine of his films such as Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, Navrang, Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli, and Sehra. Daughter Madhura (from his first marriage with Vimla) is married to Pandit Jasraj and is the mother of music director Shaarang Dev Pandit and TV presenter Durga Jasraj.
Actress Rajshree is his daughter from the second marriage. He introduced Rajshree and Jeetendra in the 1964 film Geet Gaya Patharon Ne. 

K. Asif

K Asif and Sitara Devi 

K Asif with Nigar Sultan (2nd wife)

 K Asif, better known as the man behind the magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam, first married actress Sitara Devi and later Nigar Sultan. Nigar Sultan was first married to SM Yusuf and after her divorce, she became K Asif’s better half.

Shobana Samarth

Shobhna and Kumar Sen Samarth

Shobhna and Motilal

She is better known as the mother of Nutan and Tanuja for my generation and grandmother of Kajol for today's generation. Her first marriage with Kumar Sen Samarth (filmmaker) was a disaster. After her divorce, she reportedly went for a live-in relationship with the legendary actor Motilal for 10 long years.

Kishore Kumar

 Kishore Kumar, indeed he holds the record of four marriages with beautiful women in Bollywood. First Kishore da married Ruma Devi (Amit Kumar’s mother), then Madhubala (he lost her due to her untimely death), then Yogita Bali, and finally Leena Chandavarkar, whose first husband Siddharth Bandekar, son of then chief minister of Goa, died after one year of their marriage.

Chetan Anand

Chetan Anand with wife and brother Dev Anand

Priya Rajvansh

 The elder brother to Hindi film actor-directors, Dev Anand and Vijay Anand a well-known producer-director.He married  Uma Anand,in 1943.he had a long-term relationship with the actress Priya Rajvansh. She was the heroine of his film Haqeeqatand all films after that. He had a relationship with her till his death

I. S. Johar

I S Johar with his first wife Ramma Bains

The late comedian, producer and director married five times.He first married Ramma Bains in 1943 in Lahore, and had a son and a daughter from her. Later, he divorced her and had four more marriages after that at different periods of his life.

Dharmendra

Dharmendra with his first wife Prakash Kaur

Dharmendra with Hema Malini

Dharmendra's first marriage was to Parkash Kaur at the age of 19 in 1954. From his first marriage, he has two sons, Sunny and Bobby, successful actors, and two daughters, Vijeeta and Ajeeta.

Dharmendra married Hema Malini after converting to Islam to stay married to his previous wife without having to get a divorce,he has 2 daughters with Hema Malini  Esha Deol, and Ahana Deol.

Vinod Mehra

The actor who was a lead in many successful ’70s and 80’s films married thrice. His first marriage was an arranged one to Meena Broca which was reportedly not consummated. Thereafter, reportedly he had an affair with Rekha which didn’t last long as he married his frequent leading lady Bindiya Goswami. His marriage to Bindiya too didn’t last long as it ended in a divorce. The couple didn't have any issues. His third marriage was with Kiran in 1988, which lasted until his death in 1990. The couple had a son and a daughter. 

Vinod Khanna

Khanna met his first wife Gitanjali in college. Khanna married Gitanjali in 1971 and had two sons with her, Rahul and Akshaye; both became Bollywood actors. In 1975, he became a disciple of Osho and in the early 1980s, moved to Rajneeshpuram. Khanna and Gitanjali settled for a divorce in 1985. In 1990, upon returning to India, Khanna married Kavita Daftary, daughter of industrialist Sharayu Daftary. They had a son, Sakshi (born 1991), and a daughter, Shraddha

Mithun Chakraborty

He had a relationship with model-actress Helena Luke, who he married in 1979, but the marriage ended shortly thereafter. He then married actress Yogeeta Bali, who he met in 1979. During the 1980s, Chakraborty had a love affair with popular actress Sridevi there was a rumor that they both married which Mithun Chakraborty later admitted to the press after a fan magazine published their marriage certificate. After his marriage with Sridevi had ended, he returned to his previous wife Yogeeta Bali. Chakraborty has four children: three sons and a daughter

Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt's first wife was actress Richa Sharma in 1987, the couple had a daughter named Trishala Dutt. After Richa's death in 1996, Sanjay had his second marriage to Rhea Pillai in 1998. After a period of seven years, the couple divorced without having any issues. He got married for the third time in 2008 to a lesser-known Bollywood actress, Manyata Dutt

Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan's first marriage was to Reena Dutta. He got married before the release of Qyamat Se Qyamat Tak.  The two lived opposite each other’s building and their windows opened out to each other...Their love story lasted for almost 16 years, sadly, the two went their separate ways due to differences. With this marriage, he had 2 children. He got divorced in 2002.  He married Kiran Rao in 2005. He has a son with this marriage.

Saif Ali Khan

Saif Ali Khan was married to Amrita Singh for 12 years, and the couple has two children, Sara and Ibrahim. Saif married actress Kareena Kapoor on 12th Oct 2012. They have a son with this marriage.

Asha Parekh- The Heroine with Hit Films & Hit Songs

 

Asha Parekh was one of the most successful heroines of the 60s. Every year she gave a big hit Her films were essentially cheerful, lighthearted entertainers These may not count as classics but may be remembered for their songs.

She made her debut in Nasir Hussain's Dil Deke Dekho in 1959, she was a teenager then. She was soon cast opposite Dev Anand (Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai), Rajendra Kumar (Gharana), and Joy Mukherji (Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon). She soon started giving one hit after another. some of these films were Gharana (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Bharosa (1963) , Ziddi (1964), Mere Sanam (1965), The year 1966 was  a great year for her, this year four of her filmsTeesri Manzil (1966), Love in Tokyo (1966), Do Badan (1966) , Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966), became hit. Upkar (1967) , Shikar (1968), Kanyadaan (1968), Mahal (1969), Aan Milo Sajna (1970), Kati Patang (1971), Caravan (1971), and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)

She got her first Filmfare award for Kati Patang and was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contribution to the field of cinema. She took on supporting roles as bhabhi (sister-in-law) and mother, but she called this the "awkward phase" of her career. So she stopped acting in films, and her friends recommended that she become a television director. She took their advice and became a television director in the early 1990s with the Gujarati serial Jyoti. She formed a production company, Akruti, and produced serials like Palash ke Phool, Baaje Payal, Kora Kagaz and a comedy, Dal Mein Kaala. She was the president of the Cine Artistes' Association from 1994 to 2000. Parekh was the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) of India.

She was born on 2nd Oct 1942 and has remained unmarried. Today, Parekh concentrates on her dance academy Kara Bhavan and the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, named in her honour because of her many humanitarian contributions.

Asha Parekh's Hit Songs

Song of  Dil Deke  Dekho 1959

Song of Ghunghat (1960)

Song of Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai (1961)

Song of Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963)

Song of Bharosa (1963) 

Song of Ziddi (1964)

Song of Mere Sanam(1964)

Song of Teesri Manzil (1966)

Song of Love In Tokyo(1966)

Song of Baharon Ke Sapne (1967)

Song of Shikar (1968)

Song of Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969)

Song of Aan Milo Sajna (1970) 

Song of Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)

Song of Caravan (1971)

Sunn Mere Bandhu Re- The Take Was Completed Before the Song was Recorded

 

This immortal song from Sujata(1959) was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed and sung by the great S D Burman. Both born on 1st Oct. This song was a background song.

 The director of the film Bimal Roy gave a rough outline to Sachin Da for a song situation to be sung by a commoner. He wanted a song to sound as if it was straying off-tune, in spite of being in tune. Many singers were tried but ultimately Sachin Da himself finally recorded in his own voice. This was his second song in Hindi films sung after a gap of 12 years.

The situation was that the hero wanted to express his love for the heroine and also wanted to know her feelings. She being shy couldn't express her feeling in words, so to express her feelings Dada suggested a song in the Background.

Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote beautiful lyrics for this situation. The Hero and Heroine are in love They are on a riverfront and a boatman singing in the background expressing their love for each other. Their emotions are caressed by the gentle breeze. The unclear, dispersed light of late evening gives this 'Bhatiyali' song a perfect background. The excellent picturization. Their lips seem to be moving but the sound is mooted, the lyrics in the background expressing their feelings.

Surprisingly the scenes were shot well before the song was ready, in fact, the lyrics were written at the time the scene was being shot. Song recording was done after a few days. It was S D Burman singing solo after 12 years, 

Song of Sujata 1959

This song was used in many films after Sujata. In the 1963 film Bandini , the first two lines were hummed by SD Burman himself. In the 1973 film Abhiman, a few lines were used in the background in a scene

A Scene from Abhiman 1973

It was again used in the background by Gulzar in his film Achanak(1973), one line in a female voice of Lily Chakravarti along with Dada's voice

A Scene from Achanak 1973

In the 1974 film Dil Diwana the opening lines of this song were sung by Asha Bhosle in the song ' Mein Ladki Tu Ladka' composed by RD Burman

In the 1983 film Pukar, R D Burman gave his tribute to this tune in his own voice by changing the lyric as Sun Mere Lamboo Re in a song sung by Amitabh Bachchan 'Tu Maike Mat Jaiyo'

Song of Pukar 1983