Why Bollywood is Lagging Behind on Films on Environment ?

 

India is the biggest producer of films in the world but very few films are made on this subject. The Government of India introduced an award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation in 1989 to encourage films in this genre. The first film awarded on this subject was an Assamese Film 'Bonani'  directed by Jahnu Barua. Since its inception, the award has been present only nineteen times to unique films. It has been presented for films in eight languages with the highest being six in Malayalam, followed by five in Kannada, two each in Assamese and Odia, and one each in Bodo, Manipuri, Marathi, and Tamil.

The first Bollywood film on this subject awarded was 'Irada' in 2017 directed by Aparna Singh starring Naseeruddin Shah. The same year another film . Kadvi Hawa'  starring Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey and Tillotama Shome was also released on this subject. This film was  also got a Special Mention at the 64th National Film Awards .

It is surprising that Bollywood, the oldest and the largest producer of films in India has not made many films in this subject but many regional filmmakers have made many films on this subject. In southern languages like Kannada and Malayalam, many National Award-winning films are being made every year. Interestingly a Malayalam film 'Valiya Chirakula Pakshikal' 2015 was made on an incident in a small village in Kasaragod in the state of Kerala where thousands of people were infected with fatal diseases due to the effects of endosulfan, a pesticide used to protect cashew nut trees. 

Irada (2017) raises the contemporary ecological issues of uranium poisoning, reverse boring, fertilizer poisoning due to the green revolution and their immediate adverse impact on the people who live in Malwa region.

Kadvi Hawa (2017) is the story of a blind, old man (played by Sanjai Mishra), who lives in a Bundelkhand village where it hasn’t rained for 15 years. He lives in the fear of his son, Mukund (essayed by Bhupesh Singh) committing suicide in the face of back-breaking debt.

Kedarnath(2018) was a film based on the actual Kedarnath flood tragedy in the year 2013. This being a commercial film, a Love Angle  added between two inter-faith Lovers.

Many Bollywood films had natural calamities in their stories but not outright an environmental story. The floods or droughts were the part of many great films like 'Mother India' or 'Guide' but these do not come in this genre. Bollywood has a massive potential to reach out to the masses and create awareness about the same. It has the power to influence people’s actions and thus make a difference. The films can represent environmental issues and community problems efficiently and convey to the people the aftermath of their current deeds. 

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.

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

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

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)

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