Friday, 4 June 2021

Nutan- She Made 'Kalyani' of Bandini an Immortal

 


Nutan's portrayal as Kalyani, which is regarded as one of the finest performances in the history of Indian cinema. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Movie and she received her third Best Actress Award for this film. This film was the last directorial film of Bimal Roy. 

Nutan was pregnant with Mohnish Bahl when Bimal Roy (who had worked with her in Sujata) offered her Bandini. She wanted to have a break from the films during that time but this role tempted her to work during pregnancy. She gave an ultimate performance and made Kalyani an immortal. Bandini revolves around Kalyani and was also the only film to have depicted the sacrifice made by ordinary rural women during the Indian independence struggle.

The film begins with Kalyani (Nutan), a thin cotton-sari-clad bandini in jail. She's outwardly subdued but there is passion obviously raging within her.  She volunteers herself to care for a severely ill and contagious TB patient, with evidently little concern for her own life. The acting by Nutan was nuanced in a way that is rare for today barring certain screams, she sticks to an internal rhythm, letting her eyes, her slightly downturned lips, and her listless expression convey all the grief as she goes about her work. 

 Kalyani, the all suffering, selfless, sacrificing, and strong, yet weak Indian woman. She must make a choice between two very different men, Devendra (Dharmendra), the loving prison doctor, and Bikash (Ashok Kumar), a man from her past.

Surprisingly, Nutan is given no songs in the first half; “O panncchi pyaare and Ab ke baras bhej bhaiyya ko babul” were reserved for the second half.

She was an actress who could change gears with well-oiled efficiency: She was the very essence of featherweight froth in films like Paying Guest and Anadi and made a splash by posing in a swimsuit for Delhi Ka Thug. Nutan also gave cry-from-the-soul performances in Sone Ki Chidiya (as an exploited actress) She acted in Shammi Kapoor extavaganzas like Laat Sahab clad in skirts and pants, sari-clad, self-sacrificing Saraswatichandra mould, secretly wiping away a tear and singing Main toh bhool chali babul ka desh. This hit garba song was one of Nutan's few, full-fledged dance numbers.
 Nutan continued to get interesting roles even after she crossed 40. She could portray strength of character --- as seen in her award-winning role in Raj Khosla's Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki and others like Saajan Bina Suhagan, Saajan Ki Saheli, Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon, Rishta Kagaz Ka.

Nutan was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 1990.] In February 1991, she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after she fell ill. At the time, she was filming Garajna and Insaniyat. She died at 12:07 p.m. (IST) on 21 February.







Thursday, 3 June 2021

Bollywood Journey of Bicycles.

 


In the 50s and 60s, much of the romance in Bollywood bloomed on bicycles. There are many great romantic songs bloomed on bicycles.  When we think of the Golden Era immediately the song Mana janab ne pukara nahin  from Paying Guest comes into our mind.

The earliest cycle song was 'Sawan Ke Nazare Hain' of 1941 film 'Khajanchi'. The film starts with this song picturized on S D Narang, Ramola, and their friends who are cycling on the road. Since then The cycle romance kept blooming and almost all heroes and heroines had a cycling song in their career. In this blog, I have selected a few cycling songs picturized on various heroes.

Song of Khajanchi 1941

Dilip Kumar
Song of  Gopi 1970



Dev Anand - 
Song of Paying Guest (1957)

Song of  Baat Ek Raat Ki 1962




Pradeep Kumar

Song of Adalat (1958)



Raj Kapoor & Nutan
Song of Anari (1959)

Raj Kapoor & Vyjantimala
Song of  Nazrana 1961

Rajendra Kumar
Song of  Aas Ka Panchhi 1961

Sunil Dutt
Song of Ek Hi Rasta 1956

Kishore Kumar
Song of Bewaqoof 1960

Joy Mukharjee
Song of Ishara 1964

Biswajeet
Song of Mere Sanam 1965

Dharmendra
Song of Lalkar 1972



Manoj Kumar 
Song of Shor 1972

Rajesh Khanna
Song of Palkon ki Chhaon Mein 1977

Amitabh Bachchan & Shashi Kapoor
Song of Shaan 1980

Saira Bano
Song of Padosan (1968)

Rishi Kapoor
Song of Prem Rog 1982

Vinod Khanna
Song of Aarop 1973



Govinda
Song of Bhabhi 1991

Aamir Khan
Song of Jo Jeeta Woh Sikandar 1992

Shahrukh Khan
Song of King Uncle 1993




Ranbir Kapoor

Song of Barfi 2012


Salman Khan
Song of Bajrangi Bhaijan 2015





















Wednesday, 2 June 2021

Raj Kapoor & His Songs are Immortal

 


For him, the songs were truly not only audio but audio-visual. He saw music as it were; and only when he could how the song could be filmed, did he okay it's recording. His use of elaborate sets, of light and shade to convey sombreness and technicolor to project joy, were all part of his visual perception.

He was very fond of composing tunes, he composed tunes with Ram Ganguli with whom Shankar, Jailishan used to play Harmonium and Tabla. It was there the birth of the Team of Shankar Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor took place, that entertained the music lovers. He had a sharp music sense. Raj Saab was a complete musician. He played the tabla, the harmonium, and the piano. He composed songs and sang them in his own voice before handing them over to professional playback singers.

His music journey started with Papaji (Prithviraj Kapoor) in theatre in Calcutta. When he came to Bombay he learned classical music playing Harmonium, Tabla, and Sitar at Narayan Rao Vijay Academy. He was also with Anil Biswas for some time.

Raj Kapoor's song sittings were very famous, all the stakeholders of the song used to be invited on the sittings, time was no limit, everyone present cold give his suggestion. He loved to listen to tunes, to prune and trim the compositions, to correct the singers. He also sits with the Lyricist to change a particular line or word which is not matching the tune, he perfected the compositions to suit his taste.

Songs in RK films were never just 'there'; they were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the film, used intelligently and sensibly to complement the narrative.

Song of Aag 1948

Song of Barsat 1949
Song of Awaara 1951

Song of Shree 420 1955

Song of Chori Chori 1956

Song of Anari 1959

Song of Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai 1960

Song of Sangam 1964

Song of Teesri Kasam 1966

Song of Mera Naam Joker 1970


















Friday, 28 May 2021

Vinod (Eric Roberts) - The Forgotten Music Director

 

Vinod(May 28, 1922) born as Eric Robert was a music director of the golden era but  fell short of reaching the pinnacle of commercial success in an era dominated by prominent composers like Shankar Jaikishan, S D Burman, O P Nayyar and C Ramchandra  

He became a household name.with the song Lara Lappa Lara lappa Layee Rakhda from the 1949 film 'Ek Thi Ladki'. It was a big musical hit of 1949 like Mahboob's Andaz and Raj Kapoor's Barsat. 

The next two films in which Vinod composed were Kamini and Nagin. In 1950, Vinod came back with superb music in Anmol Ratan directed by M Sadiq, starring Meena and Karan Deewan. One could see the versatility in his compositions. Talat Mehmood and Lata sang their all-time great duets, Shikwa tera main gaun and Yaad aane wale phir yaad aa rahein hain, set in Kehrawa Tall with soft notes of flute.
Another rare gem was Talat's Jab kisi ke rukh pe zulfein aake lehrane lagi set in Raag Bhairv. Nirmala Arun (Govinda's mother) also sang a thumri, Lakhon mein ek hamare saiyan haye.
Vinod composed music in 32 Hindi films and also has half a dozen Punjabi films to his credit. Ladla, Oot Patang, Haa Haa Hee Hee Hoo Hoo, Shri Nakad Narayan Makkhi Choos, Seikh Chilly and Garma Garam

           Song of Ek Thl Ladki 1949

Song of Ek Thl Ladki 1949
 
 

                                   Song of Anmol Rattan 1950


                                     Song of Wafa 1950



                                Song of Aag Ka Dariya (1953)







Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Laxmikant Pyarelal - Their Music was a Key to Success of a Film or a Career of an Actor

 


Music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal have composed many of such popular songs which have benefited the films to become hits as well as the film actors/actresses' popularity hiked. Dosti (1964) film was a hit because of its songs.

Bindiya Chamke Gi’  from “Do Raaste” in 1969 gave name and fame as well as ‘star’ status to Mumtaz. Similarly, Sridevi became a star after ‘Hawa Hawai’ from “Mr India” in 1987. In this blog, I am discussing a few of such songs that have boosted the career of many actors.

Song of Do Raste 1969
Song of Mr India 1987


Their first film Parasmani (1963) was successful because of its music.
 Classic songs like "Woh Jab Yaad Aaye", "Mere Dil mein halki si", "Hansta hua", "Roshan Tumhi se" attracted the people to cinema halls to a B grade movie with no star cast. 

Song of Parasmani 1963

Dosti was amongst the top ten highest-grossing films of 1964, declared a "Super Hit" at the box office, with no star cast This was the music of the film which made the film hit. Laxmikant Pyarelal got their first Best Music Director
 
Song of Dosti 1964






Jeetendra became ‘star’ through the success of musical hit film “Farz”, 1967, in particular, the song ‘Mast Baharon Ka Aashiq
Song of  “Farz”, 1967,



Raja Aur Runk (1968) was a film starring Sanjeev Kumar and Kumkum with no star value was one such film that became a hit because of their music.  The hit team of Anand Bakshi and Laxmikant Pyarelal created melodious songs like 'Tu Kitni Achchi Hai...O Maa', 'O Phirkiwali', 'Mera Naam Hai Chameli' and 'Sang Basanti Ang Basanti'.
Song of  Raja Aur Runk (1968)

 Laxmi Chhaya is known for the songs like ‘Mar Diya Jaye Ke Chhod Diya Jaye’   ‘Hi Sharmau Kis Kis Ko Batau’  and ‘Aaya Aaya Atariaya Pe Koi Chor’ all from “Mera Gaon Mera Desh” 1971,
Song of Mera Gaon Mera Desh 1971


In the success of Bobby(1973) its music played a great role, This was a RK film but its music was super hit and Shailendra Singh, the singer became popular because of them.
Song of Bobby 1973

Madhuri Dixit became a star from the song Ek Do Teen from Tejab 1988. With this song, Alka Yagnik also became the Top Female playback singer. 
Song of Tejab 1988




 







Monday, 24 May 2021

Majrooh Sultanpuri- A Long Lyrical Journey from 1946 t0 2001

 


His first film as a lyricist was Shahjehab(1946) writing the immortal song 'Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya' sung by K L Saigal and the last filmOne 2 Ka 4 (2001). He was the only lyricist who wrote songs for heroes ranging from Saigal to Shahrukh Khan and leading ladies from Nargis to Madhuri Dixit. 

He worked with all the top music directors of his time –  Naushad, Anil Biswas, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, Roshan, Laxmikant Pyarelal, his associations with SD Burman and later were with RD Burman stand out. In fact, he introduced R D Burman to Nasir Hussain for Teesri Manzil. In his last film, he wrote for A R Rehman.

He was part of the formidable quartet of lyricists that ruled Hindi Cinema in the 1950s and early 60s, the others being Sahir Ludhianvi, Shakeel Badayuni and Shailendra. Majrooh Saab’s career, spanning over five decades, saw him writing wonderful lyrics for well over 300 films, many of them extremely successful at the box office.

He could write any kind of lyrics tailor-made for the situation in the film. Be it the peppy “Hum hain rahi pyar ke” (Nau Doh Gyarah) or the nonsense lyrics of “C-A-T cat, cat maane billi” (Dilli Ka Thug) to “Aaj main upar aasman neeche” (Khamoshi – The Musical), Majrooh became the undisputed king of the “situational song. He got his first break as a lyricist in A R Kardar’s Shah Jahan in 1945, penning the last classic by K L Saigal “Jab dil hi toot gaya”.

.He subsequently did films like Natak (1947)Doli (1947), and Anjuman (1948) but his major breakthrough was Mehboob Khan’s immortal love triangle, Andaz (1949), with hit songs like Tu Kahe Agar, Jhoom Jhoom ke Naacho Aaj, Hum Aaj Kahin Dil Kho Baithe, Toote na Dil Toote na and Uthaye Ja Unke Situm.

He wrote many immortal songs, in this blog I have selected a few songs composed by various composersIn an interview to Film Division’s Jayanti Rasgotra in 1997, when asked to rate his three best songs, Majrooh listed them: Kahin bekhayal hokar yoon hi chhoo liya kisi ne (Teen Deviyaan, S D Burman, 1965), Raat kali ek khwaab mein aayee aur gale ka haar hui (Buddha mil gaya, 1971, R D Burman) and that immortal Rahein na rahein hum mahka karenge…(Mamta, Roshan, 1966, Lata Mangeshkar)

Song of Shah Jehan (1946) Composer Naushad

Song of Romeo Juliet 1947   Composer Husnalal Bhagatram

Song of Footpath 1953  Composer Khayyam

Song of Aar Paar 1954

Song of Paying Guest 1957 Composer S D Burman

Song of Maya 1961



Song from Aarti (1962)  Composer Roshan

Song of Ishara 1964

Song from Oonche Log 1965  Composer Chitragupt

Song of Dosti 1964  Composer Laxmikant Pyarelal



Song of Teesri Manzil 1967



Song of Dastak 1970 Composer Madan Mohan

Song of Bhumika 1977 Composer Vanraj Bhatia



Song of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak  1988 Composer Anand Miland

Song of Khamoshi The Musical  1996 Composer Jatin Lalit

Song of Kya Kehna 2000 Composer Rajesh Roshan



Song of Pukar 2000 Composer A R Rehman