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
Writing a letter used to be an art. In the present age of SMS and email, this art of writing letters is almost lost. There was a time when a diary writing or letter writing was the best way of expressing your emotions or feelings but this is being done with Emojis or tweets Many great leaders wrote letters, these letters are still being preserved. Many great books were published having the collection of these letters, recall the book on Nehru’s letters to his daughter Letters have played an important part in several of our films, in many films, a letter found in the end changes the climax, the letters were intercepted by villains and replaced by a fake letter for some devious purpose. Similarly, letters remain a part of many of our film songs. Many hit songs were based on this theme.
The first immortal song in my list is from 1947 film Dard, picturized on Munawar Sultana. This song was written by Shakeel Badayuni, composed by Naushad and sung by Uma Devi who was known as Tun Tun. It was a big musical hit which catapulted Naushad to great heights.
Song of Dard 1947
Here is a song from a movie called “Ardhangini ” (1959).This song featuring Meena Kumari is a happy enough song. It is sung by Lata. Written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Vasant Desai.
Song of“Ardhangini ” (1959)
The next immortal song is from Sangam(1964), written by Hasrat Jaipuri, composed by Shankar Jaikoshan, picturized on Rajendra Kumar
Song of Sangam 1964
Here is a song from Haqeeqat(1964) written by Kaifi Azmi and composed by Madan Mohan sung by Mohammad Rafi and others
Song of Haqeeqat 1964
The song is sung by Asha Bhosle, written by Anand Bakshi and music is given by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, It is a dance song picturized on Asha Parekh
Song of Aaye Din Bahar Ke 1966
This melodious superhit song is written by Neeraj, composed by Shankar Jaikishan and is sung by Mohammed Rafi from 1968 film Kanyadan It features Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh.
Song of Kanyadan 1968
This song from the movie Saraswatichandra (1968) is sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh and is picturized on Nutan and Manish.
Song of Saraswatichandra (1968)
This superhit song from Prem Pujari (1970) was written by Neeraj, composed by S D Burman and sung by Kishore Kumar. picturized on Dev Anand
Song of Prem Pujari 1970
This is a duet of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Rampur Ka Laxman 1972, picturized on Randhir Kapoor and Rekha.
Song of Rampur Ka Laxman 1972
Quite a moving song, sung so beautifully by Kishore Kumar. Written by Gulzar and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal for Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein.In this song, a bicycle riding postman carries posts in a village. The song describes the feelings of those who eagerly look forward to the postman
Song of Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein. 1977
This beautiful Ghazal of Pankaj Udhas from 1986 film Naam. picturized on him , perhaps one of the best Ghazals of him.
Song of Naam 1986
This song is sung by Sonu Nigam & Roop Kumar Rathod from 1997 film Border is about the letters sent to the soldiers by their near and dear ones.
Song of Border 1997
It is really surprising to see a song recently in Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) where letters become the mode of communication for the reclusive writer played by Ayushmann Khurrana, and his fan, played by Kriti Sanon. The song was sung by Anshuman Khurana .
Released on 11th Nov 1970, Johny Mera Naam was the Biggest Hit of Dev Anand's career. The movie, a thriller all the way, had the stamp of quality from director Vijay ‘Goldie’ Anand. He and Dev Anand had begun their association with “Nau Do Gyarah” in 1957 and went a long way to give Indian cinema classics like “Guide”, “Kala Bazaar” and “Tere Ghar Ke Samne”.
With Johny Mera Naam began a Decade of Action cinema. Though Dev Anand was known for Romance his versatility lay in his desire to experiment. It was the first film of Hema Malini with Dev Anand It was also the first Superhit film of her career. Hema Malini is at her best when romancing with the hero especially in ‘Pal Bhar Ke Liye Koi Hame Pyaar Karle’, a song where the Dev Anand keeps popping up from countless windows in a rest house.
Dev Anand and Pran play the roles of brothers separated in childhood. Years later, Sohan (Dev Anand) goes on to become a CID officer called Sohan Kumar who solves his cases taking up different guises. He takes the identity of Johny, a petty thief and gets himself in jail, befriends Heera (Jeevan), solves a case wooing Rekha (Hema Malini) and finds the criminal.
Despite being fifty years old, the film does not look outdated, thanks to Vijay Anand. This is also testimony to his skills that despite a run time of around 2 hours 45 minutes, unusually long for a thriller but a norm for Indian movies, you never feel the length
Johny Mera Naam marked some of the best music composed by the duo Kalyanji Anandji.
This was the first song picturized on Sanjeev Kumar on his first film as a hero in Nishaan released in 1965. The song was sung by Mohammad Rafi and composed by Usha Khanna. The film went unnoticed but this song became popular.
He made his film debut with a small role in Hum Hindustani in 1960. His first film as a protagonist was in Nishan (1965). In 1968, he acted alongside the famous actor of that time, Dilip Kumar, in Sangharsh. Dilip Kumar was very much impressed with his acting. He appeared in the 1968 film Shikar, he got the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor He was praised for the 1970 film.Khilona(.
He started accepting the roles of an old man at every young age, recall him in Arjun Pandit, Sholay and Trishul,. His portrayal of the character Thakur, from Sholay, released in August 1975, was one of his stellar performances. In Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974), Sanjeev Kumar reprised the nine-role He also proved his ability to do comedy in films such as Manchali, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Angoor, Biwi-O-Biwi and Hero. His double role in the film Angoor was listed among the 25 best acting performances of Indian cinema
Karwa Chauth has a ritual where the wife holds a fast to pray for the health and long life of her husband. The fast is only broken after she sees the moon, followed by the husband feeding her some food. This festival This one-day festival is celebrated in the Northern part of India but Thanks to the Bollywood, Karwa Chauth isn't limited to be a North Indian or Punjabi festival anymore. It is now glamorized and widely popular function in India.
Many songs and scenes were created in Bollywood to attract audiences. The first time a song on Karwa Chauth was created in 1965 film Bahu Beti.Another old song I remember Aaj Hai Karwa Chauth Ka Vrat from the film Karwa Chauth released in 1978. The trend started in the 1990s with the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,1992,Hum Apke Hain Kaun 1994, later it was Punjabitised by Yash Chopra from DDLJ.
The fast is traditionally celebrated in the states of Rajasthan, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.Every state has his own style of celebrating this fast but in films only Punjabi style is shown.In 1994 film Chand Ka Tukda a song was picturised in Gujarati style. Here are some of the best Karwa Chauth songs from some of our favourite Hindi movies.
LP was the most sought after composer duo in the seventies and eighties. In two decades, they composed music for 250 films. They had 45 golden and silver jubilees to their credit.Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar was born on 3rd Nov 1937 in a modest family. At a very young age, he learned the mandolin.He spent two years in the company of the well-known mandolin player Hussain Ali.
Laxmikant met Pyarelal at a recording and soon became friends. Laxmikant was older than Pyare by three years. When Laxmikant was about 10 years old, he once played mandolin in a Lata Mangeshkar concert in Radio Club, Colaba. Lata was so impressed that she talked to him after the concert. Later, when Lata came to know of their financial hardships, she recommended them to S D Burman, Naushad and C Ramchandra. Both of them worked as instrumentist.
In the early 1960s, they joined Kalyanji Anandji and began arranging music for their films Madari, Satta Bazar, Chhaliya, Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and Himalaya ki God Mein. They got their first break as an independent composer in a Bhojpuri film but this film couldn't be completed/. After that, they were signed for a B grade Hindi film 'Parasmani' released in 1963. The music of this film became so popular that Rajshri Films offered them a film 'Dosti' which was released in 1964. The film and its music became superhit. They got their first Filmfare Award as Best Music Director for this film.
Then came Lootera (1965), a superhit musical non-star cast film, which is remembered only because of Lata Mangeshkar's superhit songs with Laxmikant–Pyarelal. The very next year the music of Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966) followed by Pyar Kiye Jaa. Even in films with lesser-known actors, L-P scored hit music: in Sati Savitri (Songs:"Tum Gagan Ke Chandram Ho", "Jeevan Dor Tumhi Sang Bandhi", "Kabhi To Miloge"); in Sant Gyaneshwar (Songs: "Jyot Se Jyot Jagate Chalo", "Khabar More Na Line"); in Hum Sab Ustaad Hai (Songs: "Pyar Batate Chalo", "Ajanabi Tum Jane Pehachane Se"); in Mr X in Bombay (Songs: "Mere Mehboob Quayamat Hogi", "Chali Re Chali Re Gori", "Khoobsurat Haseena"); and in Shriman Fantush..(Songs: "Sultana Sultana Tu Na Ghabarana", "Yeh Dard Bhara Afasana").consolidated their position.
1967 proved to be another lucky year for them. The Music of Milan, Farz, Shagird and Pathar Ke Sanam was very popular. They got their 2nd Filmfare Award for Milan. Laxmikant–Pyarelal has now become the most sought after Music Director Almost all the big banners were signing them They composed Indian classical music as well as Western music; they were most popular for their folk tunes and semi-classical music.
LP had divided their work, to avoid ego problems. Laxmikant used to compose tunes, rehearse singers and look after the commercial aspects – while Pyarelal used to arrange the music and package and record the songs. They both had a perfect wavelength. It is said if they are asked to make a tune for a song sitting separately they will make a similar tune.
In the mid-'90s Laxmikant's health started deteriorating; he finally succumbed to a kidney ailment on May 25, 1998. Pyarelal was left alone and stopped making films, despite many offers from producers.
The English alphabet 'D' seems to be lucky for Shahrukh Khan in his film career. If we look into his journey from TV to Big Screen, we find how the letter D proved to be lucky for him. The first TV serial he signed was 'Dil Dariya' starting from the English alphabet D.But "Fauji" became the first serial telecasted before this in 1989.
"Dil Aashna Hai"(1992) was the first film he signed as a hero but the first film released film was 'Deewana'in 1992. In it, he starred alongside Divya Bharti as the second male lead behind Rishi Kapoor.Deewana became a box office hit and launched Khan's Bollywood career; he earned the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his performance. He garnered the most appreciation for portraying villainous roles in 'Darr'(1993) He became a superstar with 'Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. (1995)
If we look into Shah Rukh Khan's filmography we will find most of his films starting from the English alphabet 'D' proved lucky for him. In 1997 his super hit film 'Dil To Pagal Hai' followed by another film 'Duplicate' and in 1998 another film 'Dil Se' consolidated his No1 position in Bollywood.
'Devdas' released in 2002 was a hit and brought him the Best Actor Award. Another superhit films were Don and Don 2, The last hit film was Dilwale (2015) and Dear Zindgi (2016)
.The first railway on the Indian sub-continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles from Bombay to Thane. The formal inauguration ceremony was performed on 16th April 1853, when 14 railway carriages carrying about 400 guests left Bori Bunder at 3.30 pm Since then 163 years have passed. Today Indian Railway is one of the largest railway networks in the world. This Gigantic engineering marvel has also been a fascination for the Indian Film Industry. since the 1930s. Bollywood has always imbibed and used Railways as a character themselves in the movies.Way back in 1934, ``Toofan Mail" started off a romance between films and trains which is still going strong.
In1936 Achut Kanya, Ashok Kumar, and Kanan Devi film has Kanan Devi playing the role of a level crossing gatekeeper's daughter who averts an accident towards the end of the film. Miss Frontier Mail was another film released in 1936 starring Nadia.She played Savita whose father is the station master framed for a murder committed by a masked man.The highlights are Nadia's stunts on top of a speeding train fighting a gang of rail-road bandits.
The train and its associated emblems (the station, the railway tracks and even the sound made by it) have actually been a steady presence in Indian cinema across decades.
There was a 1942 film Station Master The film was about a girl who is a daughter of a station master, who wants her to to marry a man who is also a railway employee but she wants to marry another person who is a train guard.
A 1953 film starring Shammi Kapoor and Madhubala called 'Rail Ka Dibba' was about a young man living in an abandoned Rail coach.,Railway Platform was a 1955 Indian film about Passengers from all backgrounds who get stranded on an isolated railway platform when a natural disaster delays their train for 24 hours. a love triangle between a princess, a poor man, and his lover at a train station The film marked the debut of Sunil Dutt,
Bollywood and trains have had a long and most affectionate relationship. In fact, Bollywood has a lot to thank the Indian Railways for giving us memorable scenes and songs. Today's youth remembers thefantastic scene from Dilwale Dulhunia Le Jayenge, My generation remember the train scene from Pakeezah when Salim, played by Raaj Kumar sees just Meena Kumari's feet peeping put from the train berth and is instantly smitten."Aapke paao dekhe. Bahut haseen hai.. Inhe zameen par mat utariiyega. Maile ho jaayenge," wrote Salim in a letter to the gorgeous Sahibjaan (Meena Kumari).
Many murder thrillers associated with train or love stories took shape in ans around trains were made in Bollywood A few of them like The Train(1970), Parwaana(1971), Do Anjane(1976),The Burning Tratn,(1980), Baaton Baaton Mein (1979), Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981) andJab We Met(2007)
Let us recall those moments when Bollywood movies gained an advantage from railways that started their journey in India on the day of 16th April 1853,
Song from Jawab 1942
In 1942 this Toofan Mail was used in a song in the film Jawab sung by Actress-singer Kanan Devi.The same year another song of Pankaj Mullick
Aayi Bahar Aajfrom the film Doctor is a beautiful Train song.
Song from Doctor 1942
Song from Dilruba 1950
The 1954 film Jagriti song Aao Bachcho Tumhe Dikhaye Jhankee Hindustan Kee was shot on a train and it chugs away while the teacher in the scene shows a group of children the various sights and sounds of India.
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Song from Jagriti (1954)
There was a film in 1955 Railway Platformthe story of this film is entirely railway oriented and much of it has been shot on an actual Railway Platform, As the title song plays along with credits at the beginning of the film, the camera shows the view from the last coach as the train moves along.
Songs from Railway Platform 1955
In 1956 Bhowani Junction film released. This film was based on the masterpiece from John Masters, this film is about Anglo Indian community in pre-partition India. Set at an imaginary railway town called Bhowani Junction.A large part of the film is set around railways that played an all-important role during war years, before and after partition and were 100% powered by steam. The railway scenes in the film were shot in Lahore and other parts of North-west Pakistan
A scene from Bhowani Junction 1956
Dev Anand would have lost his most memorable songs if he hadn’t got a chance to romance on trains. From serenading Waheeda Rahman in the song Hai Apna Dil To Awara Na Jaane Kispe Aayega and Apni To Har Aah Ek Toofan to attempting a jig with Asha Parekh in the song Jiya o, Jiya o Jiya Kuch Bol Do.
Song from Solva Saal 1958
Song from Kala Bazar 1960
Song from Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai 1961
The Kishore Kumar song Cheel Cheel Chillake from 1962 film Half Ticket is a good example of a railway song. Many scenes of the film were on a Railway Platform or on a train.
Song from Half Ticket(1962)
A scene from Half Ticket(1962)
Song from Hum Sab Ustaad Hain (1965)
Song from Mere Huzoor (1968)
Song from Aashirwaad (1968)
In the 1969 film Aradhana Rajesh Khanna in a jeep, trying and succeeding in regaling Sharmila Tagore who was on a train in Mere sapno ki rani kab aayegi tu It was the repeat of Jiya Ho Jiya Kuchh Bol Do type picturization.
Song from Aradhana 1969
By this time Indian Railway modernized itself from Steam to Diesel and to Electric Engine,in this song from Honeymoon 1973, a group of students shown singing and dancing in an electric train
Song from Honeymoon (1973)
This beautiful song from Ajnabee was shot in a Good's Train which I think the first song picturized on a Goods Train
Song from Ajanabee (1974)
Like the Darjeeling train, this song was picturized on a Toy Train in a Heritage site Kalka Shimla Train Route
Song from Dost (1974)
In the 1975 film Julie an Anglo Indian family living at Shoranur. The father played by Om Prakash is a goods driver while Julie is the eldest daughter who falls in love with a Hindu boy who is visiting his family. There are several scenes depicting AWC, HPS WG & WP class at Sholapur.station, yard, roundhouse
A scene from Julie 1975
Sholay1975There are several railway sequences in the film. Two of these show the inspector and a jailor arriving at a rural station aboard a YP hauled train. The most famous one of course is of the dacoits trying to hijack a goods train hauled by H/4 class No. 026472. Jai and Veeru are prisoners of inspector Sanjeev Kumar and after he agrees to let them help him, Jai and the inspector take charge of the fighting from the guard's van while Veeru mans the engine and runs its through the barrier laid on the rails by dacoits.
Song from Rafoo Chakkar (1975)
This song was picturized inside a steam engine on Dilip Kumar and Shammi Kapoor
Song from Vidhaata (1982)
Railway Coolie is an important component of the Indian Railway, this song is picturized on Amitabh Bachchan
