Streets Named after Bollywood Celebrities

 

There was a news that a road in Andrews Ganj in south Delhi will soon be named after the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput . Naming the streets after Bollywood Celebrities is not new, this is being done from decades. A  few years back a Flyover in Mumbai was named after actress Sridevi.

Very recently the Pakistan Govt is thinking of acquiring the ancestral houses of Bollywood heroes Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor to be made as museums. The museum will feature biographies, photographs and their affiliation with Peshawar, as well as other records of the two artists and their families.

 A street in Pakistan, where the poet and lyricist Gulzar lived with his family, was renamed ‘Gulzar Street’.

 Mumbai is the city where Bollywood is situated, many streets or crossings are named after many Bollywood celebrities. There is a crossing at Napean Sea Road named after the great singer Mukesh,

Mohammed Rafi Chowk, SV Road, Bandra, Mumbai Named after the late singer, this chowk is near his bungalow Rafi Mansion, at Bandra.

Another chowk named after music director Kalyanji as Kalyanji Virji Shah chowk, Pedder Road, Mumbai has a granite plaque embellished with musical notes and piano keys to his name.

A chowk named after music director R D Burman in Santacruz (West), Mumbai In 2009, 15 years post the demise of the music composer, this chowk was built near the Burman residence.

Sachin Dev Burman Chowk at the junction of Khar Pali Road (PD Hinduja Marg) and 14th Road in Khar (W). The music maestro’s bungalow was located a few blocks away at Linking Road.

Ismail Merchant Chowk, Byculla, Mumbai With an installation of ink pen, this chowk has been named after Indian born writer, filmmaker Ismail Merchant

 A street in Bandra was renamed as Nargis Dutt Road in her memory at  Pali Hill, Bandra (West), Mumbai After the demise of the actress. Sunil Dutt mentioned in his will that he did not want anyone to dedicate any building, road or award in his name.

In May 2008, Carter Road was renamed as Sangeet Samrat Naushad Ali Marg, in the memory of Naushad Ali, the veteran music director from the Hindi film industry. 

Joy Mukerji Marg, Yari Road, Versova, Mumbai was named after one of the popular Heroes of the sixties.  Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Banu inaugurated the street, rechristened ‘Joy Mukerji Lane’.

 As a gesture to honour Manoj Kumar, the Pimpalwadi Road leading to Shirdi was renamed to Manojkumar Goswami road in 2006.

A statue of Bollywood's original superstar Rajesh Khanna was unveiled in Carter Road where he lived, Dimple Kapadia wanted this road to be renamed after him.   

A road in Mathura was named after the famous lyricist Shailendra.

The iconic actor-filmmaker has a street named after him in Brampton, Canada. It is called the ‘Raj Kapoor Crescent’.

Similarly, in a street in Markham, Ontario, Canada, was named after the music composer A R Rahman and called the ‘Allah-Rakha Rahman St’.

A garden renamed in the memory of Dev Anand in Pune, called  Sadabhaar Dev Anand Udyan. Similarly, a park at Khar in Mumbai which was inaugurated by Rajesh Khanna in the 70s was renamed  'Rajesh Khanna Garden'

We all know that Kishore Kumar spent his childhood in Khandwa MP, a Smarak in his name was made there after his death.

There was a place at  Bandra‘s Bandstand  where existed UTV Walk of stars The statue of Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor were placed. 

One of the picturesque valleys in Sikkim has a waterfall named Amitabh Bachchan falls and the reason believed to be is the height of the falls. Big B even has a temple in Kolkata christened after him.

A lake in Switzerland called the 'Chopra Lake' named after Yash Chopra. Not only this but also a bronze statue, a special train, and a deluxe suite have been named in honour of the man who gave Bollywood the lush greens and snowy mountains of Switzerland.

Vijay 'Goldie' Anand- A Filmmaker with Unique Cinematic Vision

 

Vijay Anand was a complete Filmmaker. He was a director, producer, editor, screenplay writer, story writer, dialogue writer, actor, and also knew choreography. In an interview, he told that he even wrote Mukhda of his songs. He was nineteen when he wrote the story of Taxi Driver(1954) along with his sister in law (Chetan Anand's wife). He was in college when he had a full screenplay of Nau Do Gyarah was ready.

His cinematic vision was indeed unique and made him stand apart from other filmmakers. It was his vision to make a movie on a Road Trip. Probably the first Hindi film shot on a road trip from Delhi to Mumbai. He was the first filmmaker who shot a live Film Premiere as a part of his film in Kala Bazar.

Music in his films remained a key feature, he was superb in picturizing of songs. He knew songs are the glue that binds audiences to Hindi films. Close your eyes and you can see Shammi Kapoor with a scarf around his neck, singing “Deewana Mujhsa Nahin” on a colourful hilltop, or instantly recall the smiling faces of Dev Anand and Nutan as they sing “Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukaar” on the inner stairway of the Qutab Minar.

 “Hum hain raahi pyaar ke hum se kuchh na boliye.”  from Nau Do Gyarha was the first song he picturised. He didn't take any choreographer in that film. At that time he used to think a choreographer ruins songs. They interfere with the characterisation. He felt they impose their own personalities through their dance steps and don’t allow the artists to express themselves in the way they should.

In the Kala Bazar song “Khoya Khoya Chand”, Dev sings as he runs down the hill. He is madly in love and believes his dream is coming true. So let him move his hands— white hands against dark clothes—[as] he makes his way down the hill. It suited the scene, so once in a while, you let him go.
In the same movie, there was a scene in a train compartment. Dev Anand is sitting on the lower berth and Waheeda Rehman is lying on the upper berth. The girl’s parents are also in the compartment. Dev saab sings the song: “Apni to har aah ek toofaan hai/ Kya karen woh jaan kar anjaan hai/ Uparwala jaan kar anjaan hai.” Waheeda Rehman is listening to him but she cannot move much because she’s lying on the upper berth. There is a double meaning behind the whole situation, which is beyond choreography.

In Teesri Manzil P L Raj was the choreographer. He used to sit with the choreographer when they were composing the songs. That time all their assistants, including Saroj Khan, who was Sohanlal’s assistant. She would always ask him: “Goldie Saab, what do you want?”

As a director, he was very particular about its music. When he was working on Jewel Thief, he discussed with the composer. he told SD Burman: “Dada, this song is for Vyjayanthimala. I am going to use her talents as a dancer.” The dance sequences of Vyajayantimala were shot in a single shot.Honthon Mein Aisi Baat” (brilliantly choreographed by Master Sohanlal), as the camera follows Vyjayanthimala, he uses the circular tracks, dynamic angles and cuts to build up the tension to a crescendo. Here is an example of how Western technique could merge with Indian art. Even as you enjoy the aesthetics of dance.

The picturization of the song 'Pal bhar ke liye koi hame pyar kar le' from the 1970 blockbuster'Johny Mera Naam', where Dev serenades the dream girl through windows of all shapes and sizes, remains a masterpiece even today.

Songs picturized on Vijay Anand

Song of Agra Road 1957

Song of Haqeeqat 1964

Song of Double Cross 1972

Song of Chhupa Rustam (1973)

Song of Kora Kagaz 1974

Song of Ghungroo ki Awaaz 1981

Accordion in Hindi Film Songs

 

The accordion is an instrument similar to the harmonium but the way it is carried (on the shoulders), makes for a different feeling of joy. There was a time when it was a very popular instrument. It was a part of almost every song in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It became popular with the 'Sangam' film song in which Raj Kapoor is shown playing this instrument.

Well before 'Sangam'(1964), this instrument was in use, in fact, it was Naushad who introduced Accordion in the 1950 film 'Dastan' for the song  'Tara ri Aara ri' and 'Dhadak Dhadak Dil'. C Ramchandra who used it for the first time in the song ‘Gore Gore O Banke Chore’ from Samadhi (1951). Shankar Jaikishan used it in the 1951 film 'Awara' for the first time and since then Shankar-Jaikishan has utilized the accordion to the maximum. More than 50 %, estimated, of the songs composed by Shankar-Jaikishan have been orchestrated with Accordion.

Goody Seervai 

Goody Seervai was the prominent Accordion player in the 50s, he started with music director Naushad for ‘Dastaan’ 1950. He played this instrument in the song 'Tara ri Aara ri' and 'Dhadak Dhadak Dil'. Later Goody Seervai also played for O P Nayyar and Shankar-Jaikishan. With Shankar Jaikishan he played the accordion in the popular song 'Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mei Hum' from Chori Chori (1956) and 'Dheere Dheere Chal Chand Gagan Mei' from Love Marriage, 1959

Song of Daastan 1950

Song of Aar Paar 1954

 Song of Chori Chori (1956)

Song of Howrah Bridge (1958).

Song of Love Marriage, 1959

Vistasp Balsara

Another legendary musician was  Vistasp Balsara who started playing for Raj Kapoor’s ‘Awaara’ and continued in many of the hit songs composed by Shankar-Jaikishan. Recall the songs 'Awara Hoon' and  “Ek Bewafa Se Pyar Kiya” Another hit songs of 1952 “Aye Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal” (Daag, 1952), and  “Yaad Kiya Dil Ne” (Patita, 1953) are worth mentioning. He shifted to Calcutta in 1953.  He worked with masters of music like Rai Chand Boral, Pankaj Mullick and Hemanta Mukherjee in the '50s.

Song of  Daag, 1952

Song of  Patita 1953

Sumit Mitra 

In 1957 another musician Sumit Mitra came to Mumbai. He knew accordion and became assistant to Servai who was a musician with Shankar Jaikishan. He was a regular musician in SJ camp. Sumit Mitra who played the accordion in the 'Sangam" song; Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega'  have played the accordion for 13,000 songs, started with Shankar-Jaikishan S D Burman. After the death of Jaikishan Sumit Mitra permanently shifted to Laxmikant-Pyarelal orchestra and played for the duo for many years. For Laxmikant Pyarelal, he played the accordion in the first song of their career 'Hansta Hua Noorani Chehra' from Parasmani. First ‘interlude’ starts with the ‘strokes’ of the  ACCORDION, played by Sumit Mitra.

Song of Parasmani 1963

Sumit Mitra played the accordion second time with Laxmikant Pyarelal in the song 'Gudiya Hum Se Roothi Rahogi' and 'Koi Jab Rah Na Paye' from Dosti 1964.

Song of Dosti 1964

Song of Dosti 1964

Kya Miliye Aise Logon Se ' from “IZZAT”   1968.

Song of  IZZAT  1968

Another popular song of Laxmikant Pyarelal from Bobby 1973, 'Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Bund'  In this song the accordion is played for the maximum time, it is the instrument which is tunefully played in every alternate line of ‘mukhada’ once again played by Sumit Mitra

Kersi Lord 

Kersi Lord was a multi-instrumentalist. He learned accordion from Sevai.In the sixties and seventies, Kersi Lord also played the accordion for many songs. He was a regular musician of S D Burman. He played the accordion in the immortal song 'Roop Tera Mastana' from Aradhana 1969. Another song 'O Meri Sharmilee' from Sharmilee (1971) is worth mentioning.

Song of Aradhana 1969

Song of Sharmilee (1971)

Enoch Danial

Enoch Danial was one another finest accordionists. Moving from Goa to Mumbai in 1955, Daniels built a successful career as a pianist and accordionist in films. He first joined S D Burman and then Shankar Jaikishan. His first song for SJ was 'Le Gayi Dil' from Love In Tokyo. He also played for music director Hemant Kumar His memorable performance was in ‘Bees Saal Baad’.  He has worked with prominent music directors such as S.D. Burman, C. Ramchandra, Shanker and Jaikishen, Vasant Desai, Salil Chowdhury, Khayyam, Ravi, Madan Mohan, O.P. Nayar, N. Dutta, Ram Kadam and Sudhir Phadke

Song of Bees Saal Baad 1963

In the 80s with the popularity of synthesizer, the accordion as an instrument in Hindi songs was losing its charm. Though there are many songs in the 80s where accordion was used but in most of the songs, electronic instruments were preferred. Anjan Biswas was a musician who played the accordion along with Sumit Mitra.

Javed Akhtar- Guru Dutt was his Inspiration

 

Javed Akhtar (born on 17th Jan 1945) arrived in Mumbai on 4 October 1964 to become a filmmaker. His dream was to make a film with Guru Dutt as Director with Akhtar Ul Imaan as the writer, who wrote films like Kanoon(1960), Dharamputra(1961), Waqt(1965) and many more.

His dream of meeting Guru Dutt and working with him shattered only in 6 days of his arriving in Bombay. His idol Guru Dutt committed suicide on 10th Oct 1964. So his dream could not be fulfilled working as his assistant and learn filmmaking. In a TV show, he said that Jaal(1951), the second film of Guru Dutt was his inspiration, even the character of the angry young man in his films was inspired by this film.

He was born as Jadoo Akhtar in Gwalior, (Madhya Pradesh) to Jan Nisar Akhtar, a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and singer Safia Akhtar, a teacher and writer. Akhtar's early years were spent in Lucknow, Aligarh and Mumbai, mostly with relatives. He was a gifted debater in college, he won the Rotary Club Prize frequently.

Poetry was in his genes but he didn't want to be a poet. He even didn't want to be a writer but circumstances made him scriptwriter. Within six days of his arrival, he had to leave his father's home. He had 27 paise in his pockets. He had no certainty of either food or shelter.

To start earning money, he started doing an odd job as a clapper boy with Kamal Amrohi in a salary of Rs 50 per month. He had a struggle of 5 years. During his struggle, he even Ghost wrote many stories and dialogues for established writers.

. He got a job as a scriptwriter on Yakeen(1969) which flopped. Akhtar then joined with his friend Salim Khan to develop the story for Adhikar(1971). Their first film as a scriptwriter was Andaz(1971) followed by Haathi Mere Saathi and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972). After that he along with Salim became the topmost scriptwriter of Bollywood,

They have worked together in 24 films including two Kannada films – Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja. Of the 24 films they wrote, 20 were hits.
Javed is a Urdu poet before writing songs for films he was writing poetry.It was Yash Chopra who insiisted him to write songs for his film Silsila(1981). After that he gave us many memorable songs He won 5 National Awards for his songs and also 5 Filmfare Awards for lyrics. In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second-highest literary honour, for his poetry collection Lava.
He was also nominated a Rajya Sabha MP.from Nov 2009 to Nov 2015.
He married to Honey Irani, with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both film directors and actors. The father-and-son duo has worked together in films such as Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, Rock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara with Zoya. He divorced Irani and later married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of eminent Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi.
Some of his Award-Winning Songs

Song from 1942: A Love Story (1994)

Song from  Papa Kehte Hai 1996

Song from Border 1997

Song from Refugee 2000

Song from Lagaan 2001