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
Today on the occasion of Basant Panchmi, I write this blog to worship the Goddess Saraswati, the Hindugoddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. One of the most famous festivals associated with Goddess Saraswati is the Hindu festival of Vasant Panchami. On this day, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in schools, colleges, educational institutes as well as in institutes associated with music and dance.
The first film on this season was released in 1942 'Basant' starring Mumtaz Shanti and Ulhas. Madhubala also acted in this film as a child artist( Baby Mumtaz). It was major box office success and the highest-grossing film of 1942. Fourteen years later another film 'Basant Bahar' was released, starring Bharat Bhushan and Nimmi. The highlight of this film was its music, scored by Shankar Jaikishan.
Basant is also called Rituraj, the king of all seasons and in Urdu is called Jashn-E-Baharaan or in short Bahaar. Many lyricists have used 'Bahaar' for this season. Let's look into a few of these songs. The first song I have selected from the 1942 film Basant
Ziddi(1948) was the first hit film of Dev Anand and was also the first Bombay film of Pran. Before this film, Pran was working in Lahore Film Industry. His first film was Yamla Jatt, a Punjabi film released in 1940. His first Hindi film was Khandan made in Lahore was released in 1942, he was the hero of this film and Noorjehan was his heroine.
He had acted in 22 films from 1942 to 1946 in Lahore; 18 were released by 1947. After the partition of India, he moved to Bombay and had to struggle for livelihood. For a few months, he looked for acting opportunities while doing other jobs. He worked in Delmar Hotel, Marine Drive for eight months, after which he got a chance to act in 1948. He got this opportunity because of his friendship with writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam,
Within a week of Ziddi's success, he had signed three more films – S M Yusuf's Grihasti (1948), which became a diamond jubilee hit, Prabhat Films'Apradhi (1949) and Wali Mohammad's Putli (1949). By then, Wali Mohammad, who was responsible for Pran's first role, had come to Bombay and became a producer, setting up an office at Famous Studios, near Mahalaxmi Racecourse.
As a villain, Pran's initial successful films were Ziddi and Bari Behan (1949). He became the favourite of the directors like M. V. Raman, Nanabhai Bhatt, Kalidas, Ravindra Dave, I. S. Johar and Bimal Roy repeatedly cast him in the 50s. He was now regularly offered the role of the main villain or of a negative character in films with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor as the lead hero in the 1950s and 60s. Some of his memorable films with Dilip Kumar in the 50s Pran's trademark blowing of smoke rings first appeared in the latter film. were Aan (1952), Azaad (1955), Devdas (1955), Madhumati (1958), with Dev Anand were Munimji (1955), Amar Deep (1958), and with Raj Kapoor were Aah (1953), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956),
In the 50s he was also offered many films as hero, Pilpili Saheb (1954) and then Halaku in 1956, were his hit films as a hero. . He had roles in several genres, like as a pirate in Sindbad the Sailor (1952) and Daughter of Sindbad (1958); He played comic roles with Kishore Kumar in Chham Chhama Chham (1952), Aasha (1957), Bewaqoof (1960), Half Ticket (1962) and Man-Mauji (1962).
In the late 1960s, Pran played Malang Chacha, a veteran war hero, in Manoj Kumar's film Upkar (1967). The Kalyanji Anandji song "Kasme Waade Pyaar Wafaa" was picturised on him. In this film, Pran played a more sympathetic role. He received his first Filmfare Award for Upkar. Kumar continued to cast him in pivotal roles in films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Be-Imaan (1972), Sanyasi (1975) and Dus Numbri (1976).
From 1969 to 1982, Pran was one of the highest-paid actors of Bollywood. He played the lead role in the film Aurat, (1967) paired opposite Padmini, with Rajesh Khanna in a supporting role. He was paid more amount than Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer(1973). Later he acted with Bachchan in about 14 films with notable ones being Zanjeer, Don (1978), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Dostana (1980), Naseeb (1981) and Sharaabi (1984).
Pran had a six-decade career in Hindi cinema and is one of the most celebrated actors of the industry.r He appeared in over 350 films. At the age of 78, Pran suffered a heart attack in 1998,after which he started rejecting film offers due to age-related problems.
Hindi film songs have been an integral part of Hindi films. A song is appreciated or become immortal not only by its tune but also by its orchestration, vocals, audiovisual aspect and its lyrics. Flashy, peppy songs may become an instant hit, but do not have shelf value.
Lyrics of a song play a major role in a song to become immortal. Unfortunately, the songs of this generation lack the lyrical value. Today most of us do not know the lyricist of the currently most popular song. We may not be interested to know the name of the writer of the song. There was a time when the words of the songs were so beautiful that you would like to know the writer of the song.
Clever wordplay has become a thing of past, Almost almost all the lyricist of the Golden Era played with words, I have selected a few of these songs in this blog.
Recall the song 'Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin Iss Ambar Ke Neeche/Aage Hai Qatil Mera Aur Mein Peechhe Peechhe'. Majrooh Sultanpuri played on the word Qatil. Qatil signifying here the sweetheart to whom he can lay down his life.
Hasrat Jaipuri wrote these lines for the song from 'Rajkumar'(1964),' Tumne Kisi Ki Jaan Ko Jaate Hue Dekha Hai/ Woh Dekho Mujh Se Rooth Kar Meri Jaan Ja Rahi Hai'.The play on Jaan as both 'Beloved' and 'Life'. was unique.
Another example is 'Ke Jaan Chali Jaye, Jiya Nahin Jaye/ Jiya Jaye Toh Phir Jiya Nahin Jaye' here Anand Bakshi play Jiya as heart and life. This he wrote for the 1969 film Anjaana.
There is another song from the film 'Saudagar'(1973), ' Sajna Hai Mujhe Sajna Ke Liye' This song was written by Ravindra Jain, here Sajna means to get 'make up' and her beloved.
It is believed that Jagjit Singh was the singer, who popularized ghazal, an Indian classical art among masses. He is considered to be the most successful ghazal singer and composer of all time in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success.
Jagjit Singh came to Mumbai in 1965 to become a playback singer in Hindi films. Those days Mohammad Rafi was in his peak, there was Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh already established singers, there was no chance for him at that point of time. He had to struggle for a song in films. He obtained work initially as a singer of advertising jingles. He got the first break in the 1973 film Avishkar when music director Kanu Roy asked him and Chitra Singh to sing 'Babul Mora Naihar Chhoto Jaye'
His first album "The Unforgettable" in 1976 made him and Chitra Singh star. The album is notable for one exceptional ghazal, Raat Bhi Neend Bhi, based on a Firaq Gorakhpuri poem. Another Ghazal by Kafeel Aazar ' Baat Niklegi To Bahut Door Tak Jayegi' was sung by him. The album was released by The Gramophone Company of India Ltd.
The popularity of the couple attracted the Hindi film Industry. He was offered to compose music for the film 'Premgeet' released in 1981, he sang a ghazal"Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum" in this film which was a hit among masses. After the success of this film, he got 2 films, Saath Saath and Arth. The song "Tum Ko Dekha To Yeh Khayal Aaya" and"Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho" were very popular. His compositions for the TV serial Mirza Ghalib (based on the life of the poet Mirza Ghalib), remain extremely popular among ghazal aficionados.
In this blog, I have selected a few of his songs from Hindi films
Songs have always played an undisputed role in inciting the spirit of nationalism in the hearts of millions of people. Many patriotic songs, written by the literary stalwarts like Tagore or Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Kavi Pradeep was the first songwriter to write patriotic songs for Bollywood. His song ' Chal Chal Re Naujawan", for the 1940 film Bandhan, made waves since the Indian freedom movement was at a crucial juncture. The impact and popularity of the song can be gauged by the fact that the song used to be sung at these assemblies by patriotic INC activists. INC also formed a children corp known as “Vanar Sena” under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. Vanar Sena adopted the song as its marching song and Indira herself used to sing it at the meetings. She later admitted that this song had a lifelong impact on her.
His next song , “Aaj Himalaya ki choti se phir humne lalkara hai” for the 1942 film 'Kismet' was very popular in the Quit India Movement. It is said that he had to go underground to avoid the arrest from the British Government.
Even after independence, he wrote many such songs. Recall the songs of Jagriti (1954) 'Aao Bachcho Tumhein Dikhayen Jhanki Hindustan Ki, Is Mitti Se Tilak Karo, Yeh Dharti Hai Balidan Ki" (sung by himself), "Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se Kishti Nikal Ke, Is Desh Ko Rakhna Mere Bachcho Sambhal Ke" and "De Dee Humein Azadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal, Sabarmati Ke Sant Tu Ne Kar Diya Kamaal".
He always believed in writing songs in simple words portraying a meaning fitting into the situation. The popularity of his songs was due to his down-to-earth lyrics and simple language that was well understood by everyone.
He was the writer of Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, that become one of the greatest patriotic songs of the country. It was while Lata Mangeshkar was rendering the song that the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was moved to tears. For writing the song Kavi Pradeep was conferred the honour of "Rashtriya Kavi" (National Poet) by the government of India.
Beside writing patriotic songs he wrote all type of songs for Bollywood,In a career span of five decades, Kavi Pradeep wrote about 1,700 songs.
Kavi Pradeep received numerous awards throughout his life. Some of which are:Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 1961 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1997.
He died of old age at his bungalow, 'Panchamrita', at Vile Parle in north-west Bombay on 11th Dec 1998. He was 84
