Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Kalyanji Bhai- The Musician behind the Immortal Been Tune of 'Nagin'

Kalyanji Bhai of the Kalyanji Anandji music duo started his career as a musician. He was very good at Harmonium, violin, guitar, and drums. He played these instruments under many music directors.

Kalyanji, who introduced a new electronic instrument called the clavioline. With this instrument, he played the been for a snake sequence in the film Nag Panchami (1953), the music of which was scored by Chitragupt. People came to watch the film just to listen to this music . Hemant Kumar heard this tune and decided to use this in the song "Man Dole Mera Tan Dole" of Nagin(1954). The song and this tune became immortal.

He was soon the most sought-after musician in Bollywood. Kalyanji then, with his brother Anandji, started an orchestral group called Kalyanji Virji and Party which organized musical shows in Mumbai and outside. This was the first attempt made for holding live musical shows in India.

In 1957 Subhash Desai, the elder brother of the great filmmaker Manmohan Desai signed him as an independent music director. He signed him not for one film but for 11 films in one stretch. The first film was 'Samrat Chandragupt' released in 1958. The film was a hit and the music was also a hit. Recall the most popular song 'Chahe Paas Ho, Chahe Door' by Lata Mangeshkar.

This was followed by his composing music scores for more films like Post Box 999 before Anandji who was assisting him, joined him officially to form the Kalyanji Anandji duo in Satta Bazar and Madari (1959). Chalia (1961) was their earliest major hit. It was in 1965 his 2 films Himalaya Ki God Mei and Jab Jab Phool Khile made him a great music director.

He not only mastered in many musical instruments but also be known for introducing Jaz in Hindi films. He used to do mimicry of many artists of his time. He also knew astrology and face reading.
It was the music of Saraswatichandra (1968) that endorsed the genius of the brothers, more so because the classical tunes came soon after their modern Rhapsody in Haseena Man Jayegi.The songs "Chandan sa badan, Phool tumhe bheja hai, Chod de sari duniya, Hamne apna sab kuch khoya... were instant hits.

Both Kalyanji and Anandji worked as music composers for over 250 films, 17 of which were golden jubilees and 39 silver."Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar" from Don (1978), "Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The" from Aamne Saamne (1967), "Yeh Saman" from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), "Humare Siva Tumhare Aur Kitne deewane" from Apradh (1978), "Main Pyaasa Tum saawan' from Faraar (1975), "Jeevan se bhari teri aankhe", "Zindagi ka safar hai ye kaisa Safar", "Pal Pal dilke paas", "Neele Neele Ambar Par" are some of their notable songs.

Song of Samrat Chandragupt 1958

Song of Chhalia (1960)

Song of Bluff Master, 1963

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile, 1965

Song of Himalay Ki God Mein, 1965

Song of Upkar 1966

Song of Saraswatichandra, 1968

Song of Purab Aur Paschim, 1970

Song of Sachaa Jhutha, 1970

Song of Safar 1970

Song of Johny Mera Naam, 1970

Song of Kora Kagaz 1974

Song of Dharmatma, 1975

50 Years of Mela

Released on 30 June 1971, Mela was a hit film of that year. This was the first time the two Khan brothers, Feroz Khan and Sanjay Khan appeared together in a film. Mumtaz was the heroine of the film. This film was the second directorial venture of Prakash Mehra after Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968).

The film is a lost and found story, a very popular subject of the 70s. It was based on a rural background where a Shahri Babu(Sanjay Khan) comes and falls in love with a village girl(Mumtaz). There is a dacoit Shakti Singh(Feroz Khan who does not permit anyone to plow his land as he believes that his evil paternal uncle(Randhir) forged documents to make him the owner, and he blames himself for losing his brother, Kishan, during a Mela 20 years ago. Kanhaiya buys the land from his uncle in the city who dies soon after out of shock upon receiving such a large sum of money.,Now Kanhaiya comes with his foster mom to reside at the Uncle s home in the village.

The music of the film was given by R D Burman and the lyrics were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Few of the songs were popular but none of the songs is great.

Soundtrack

#	Title	Singer(s)
1	"Dekho Re Hua Lahoo Se Lahoo Kaise Judaa"	Manna Dey
2	"Ek Baar Rakh De Kadam Zara Jhoom Ke"	Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
3	"Gori Ke Haath Mein Jaise Ye Challa"	Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
4	"Kya Soch Raha Re"	Lata Mangeshkar
5	"Meri Sakhiyo Bolo"	Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
6	"Rut Hai Milan Ki Sathi Mera Aa Re"	Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi

Songs of Mela 1971

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

The Tune that Mesmerized Raj Kapoor

It is the famous waltz 'Waves of the Danube' composed by the Romanian Josef (or Ion) Ivanovici in 1880. This tune has been used in many films over the years – Josef von Sternberg’s Dishonored, Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog, and Emir Kusturica’s When Father Was Away on Business, to name a few – but its most famous film incarnation is as The Anniversary Song from The Jazz Singer(1927)

Raj Kapoor first heard this tune when he saw The Jolson Story (1946) rather than coming across a recording of the original waltz. He was so mesmerized by this tune, he decided to use this in his film Barsaat. When he used this tune in Barsaat, he was approached by the copyright people for breaching the copyright. He had to pay something like 35,000 rupees, a handsome amount in the 40s.

Since he purchased the tune, he used this tune in RK films – Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Sangam (1964), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973), Biwi O Biwi (1982) – either as background music or in song interludes.

This tune remained an integral part of the film. Raj Kapoor, who plays Pran in the film plays this tune on the violin throughout the film. Nargis (Reshma), who keeps referring to the instrument as a “sitar”, finds herself inextricably drawn to this haunting melody. In a crucial scene towards the end, when the lovers have been separated, Reshma again hears the tune and rushes off towards its source. She lands up in a posh club (with, apparently, not very sound-proof walls) and falls at the feet of the man playing the violin. But it is not Pran. The shocked violinist kicks out at her.

Song of Barsaat 1949

Losif Ivanovici - Donauwellen Walzer (Waves of the Danube Waltz)

Monday, 28 June 2021

Great Bollywood Songs Shot in Kashmir

Kashmir was an integral part of Hindi films through the sixties, seventies, and most of the eighties. Many hit songs were picturized at the beautiful locations in Kashmir. The first song that emerges in our mind is Shammi Kapoor's Yahoo dance in the snowy peaks of Kashmir. The other song Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra from the 1964 film 'Kashmir Ki Kali' that was picturized on Shikaras has been wildly popular ever since the release of the film.

The beauty of Kashmir is eternal and so is Love, barring one or two songs Most of the evergreen romantic numbers in the Bollywood albums of the golden era of Indian Cinema were picturized on the blissful moments of love in the snow-clad and lush green locales of Jammu & Kashmir,. The earliest known arrival of a film unit in Kashmir dates back to 1944. That year, the Taj Mahal Film Company, Bombay to shoot scenes of its movie, Begum, featuring Ashok Kumar as a shepherd and Naseem alias Pari Chehra or the Fairy-Face, as a village damsel. So, let's take you through some popular Bollywood songs shot in Kashmir.

Song of Junglee 1961

Song of Kashmir ki Kali 1964

Song of Arzoo 1965

Song of Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Song of Mere Sanam, 1965

Song of Jaanwar 1965

Song of Himalaya Ki God Mein 1965

Song of Kab? Kyon? Aur Kahaan?, 1970

Song of Bobby (1973)

Song of Aap ki Kasam 1974

Song of Aandhi 1975

Song of Kabhie Kabhie 1976

Song of Kasme Vaade 1978

Song of Noorie1979

Song of Bemisal 1982

Song of Betaab (1983)

Song of Roja (1992)

Song of Mission Kashmir (2000)

Rockstar (2011)

Song of Jab Tak Hain Jaan (2012)

Song of Haider (2014)

Song of Bajrangi Bhaijan 2015

Sunday, 27 June 2021

R D Burman-A Magical Maestro

His range varied from the catchy 'Aaja Aaja' from Teesri Manzil to the soulful thumri 'Hame Tumse Pyar Kitna' by Parveen Sultana in Kudrat. He also composed the mischievous number Ek Chatur Naar, Badi Hoshiyar from Padosan, and the melodious Tere Bina Zindagi Se koi Shikwa to Nahin from Aandhi

A magical maestro, he could conjure up a serenading classical raga theme or a peppy Western romantic tune out of thin air. He Revolutionised Hindi Film Music by introducing new elements (jazz and rock styles) into Hindi film songs For several decades, he produced iconic music in Hindi and Bengali for as many as 330 films. Most of the current generation of music directors have been influenced by him.

He was the master of experiments and changed the way one would look at music. His voice modulation brought in a new dimension to popular music. Burman brought in various innovations to the background music of Hindi and Bengali films. His unconventional way of generating rhythm would totally blow one’s mind in those times. Objects used in daily life found a place in his compositions. For Meri Samne Wali Khidki Main, the whooshing sound came from rubbing a comb on a coarse shell. For ‘Chura Liya' from Yaadon Ki Baraat? he created that sound using glasses and spoons.

R.D. Burman was born in Calcutta on June 27th, 1939, in Calcutta. His father was the legendary music director S.D. Burman and his mother was Meera a classical singer. As a child, he was nicknamed "Pancham". Music was natural to him, there was the influence of growing up in his father's home, with constant music surrounding him. Furthermore, after the family moved from Calcutta to Bombay, he started to learn sarod from the famous Ali Akbar Khan. He also learned to play the harmonica. With such a musical environment, it is not surprising that he started to compose music very quickly. He was only nine years old when he composed his first song; this was Aye Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa and his father used it in the film "Funtoosh" 1956.

In his teenage, he started assisting his father. His name first appeared on the big screen as assistant music director in "Solva Saal" (1958). After that, he assisted his father in almost all the films till Jewel Thief(1967).

His first released film as a music director was Mehmood's "Chote Nawaab" (1961). From there his career was firmly launched."Teesri Manzil" (1967) marked a major milestone in his career. From this point on, he well established and was able to be the music director for a number of major films. This brought him a number of successful films such as "Padosan" (1968) and "Waris" (1969). The dawn of the 70s saw RD Burman become Bollywood's most sought-after music director. This was represented by such immortal hits as Kati Patang (1970), "Amar Prem" (1971), "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" (1971), Carvaan (1970), "Seeta Aur Geeta" (1972), Jawani Diwani(1972), Yadon Ki Barat, "Sholay" (1975), and Aandhi (1975).

The mid-1980s were a very hard time for R.D. Burman, both personally as well as professionally. The general perception was that he had lost his touch. The songs that he did, generally failed to make a major impact on the public.

In 1988 at the age of 49, he suffered a heart attack. He underwent surgery and continued to make music. But his career limped into the 1990s with very lackluster commercial success. There were a few exceptions to the public rejection of his music, most notably "1942: A Love Story". But by and large, he was considered finished in the Bollywood film industry. At the age of 54, he suffered another heart attack. With his wife Asha at his side, he died on January 4, 1994.

His first composition at the age of 9