HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANOJ KUMAR

Manoj Kumar (born Harikrishna Giri Goswami on 24 July 1937) is an award-winning Indian actor and director in Bollywood.He was born in in Abbottabad, which was then a part of Pre-Independent India. After making a little-noticed début in Fashion in 1957.In 1958 he was seen in two films with a small roles in Panchayat and Sahara. He did his debut as a hero in 1960 with Kaanch Ki Gudia  with Sayeeda Khan as his heroine.later his 2 films Piya Milan Ki Aas and Reshmi Rooma released but these films didn't boosted his career.

In 1962  Hariyali Aur Raasta opposite Mala Sinha was released The film was the fourth highest grosser of the year and declared a 'Hit' at the Indian Box Office. The Music was given by Shankar Jaikishan, and with lyrics by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri, together they created songs like "Ibteda-e-Ishk Mein Hum Saari Raat Jaage", Allah Jaane Kya Hoga Aage" song by Mukesh and Lata, plus a perennial Diwali hit, "Lakhon Taare Aasman Mein Ek Magar Dhunde Na Mila", "Dekh Ke Duniya Ki Diwali Dil Mera Chup Chap Jala" again by Lata and Mukesh

In 1963 two of his films Ghar Basake Dekho and Grahasti released.Both were family dramas,In fact Grahasti was the first film to "start the trend" of family dramas being made in South India.The film premiere was held at the Naaz Theatre in Bombay on 28 February 1963. The songs and story were appreciated by the critics. With the crowds "storming" the theatre,MotherIndia magazine commented that "Grahasti has pleased the masses.The film was a big office-office success.,Asha Bhosle's rendition of the song "Jeevan Jyot Jale" won her the "Mian Tansen Award". The song was cited as the best song of 1963 out of the 544 songs released that year from a total of 77 films. The other popular number from the film was Geeta Dutt's "Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Lala". The music composer was Ravi and the lyrics were by Shakeel Badayuni. The playback singers were Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt and Usha Mangeshkar.

In 1964  "Woh Kaun Thi"  black-and-white psychological mystery film directed by Raj Khosla, starring Sadhana Shivdasani, Manoj Kumar and Prem Chopra.Music by Madan Mohan was the asset of this movie. The film became a hit at the box office. Its success had Khosla directing Sadhana in two more suspense thrillers: Mera Saaya (1966) andAnita (1967 film).

In the 1960s his successful films included romantic films like Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan, Sawan Ki Ghata and social films like Shaadi, Grihasti, Apne Huwe Paraye, Pehchaan, Aadmi and thrillers like Gumnaam, Anita, Woh Kaun Thi. made him a romantic hero but soon his image as a Patriotic Hero was to be made.

In 1965 his film Shaheed, based on the life of Bhagat Singh, the most influential Indian revolutionary.was released,it was not only commercially successful but also its songs became became very popular.In 13th National Awards Shaheed won the award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and the award for Best Screenplay for B. K. Dutt and Din Dayal Sharma.

After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan .Manoj Kumar then decided to Produce ,Direct and Act in such a Patriotic Movie.The result was Kumar's magnum opus and his directorial debut, Upkaar (1967). In it, he played both a soldier and a farmer. The film was also noted for the famous song Mere Desh Ki Dharti, written by Gulshan Bawra, composed by Kalyanji-Anandji and sung by Mahendra Kapoor. Upkaar was a hit and won Kumar his first Filmfare Best Director Award.

Manoj returned to patriotic themes in Purab Aur Paschim (1970), in which life in the East and West are exposed. In 1972, he starred in Be-Imaan (for which he won theFilmfare Best Actor Award) and directed and starred in Shor (1972). The latter, opposite Nanda, was not a huge box office success on its release but has gained cult status over the years. It featured the memorable song Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai, a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, which was composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal and written by Santosh Anand.

In the mid-1970s Kumar starred in three hit films: Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974) was a social commentary featuring an all-star cast including Zeenat Aman, Shashi Kapoor andAmitabh Bachchan that won him his second Filmfare Award for Best Director; Sanyasi (1975) had Kumar and Hema Malini in the lead roles of a religious-themed comedy; and Dus Numbri (1976) also gave Kumar and Hema top billing. In 1981, Kumar reached the peak of his career when he got the opportunity to direct his idol, Dilip Kumar, as well as star in Kranti, a story about the struggle for Indian independence in the 19th century. Kranti was the last notable successful film in his career. 

Kumar is married to Shashi Goswami . He has two sons, Vishal and Kunal. Vishal tried his luck as a singer and Kunal as an actor. His brother, Rajiv Goswami, also entered the film industry, but none were able to gain a footing in Bollywood.

He is awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award lifetime contribution to Indian cinema in 2016 besides Padma Awards. 

Rare Songs from Unreleased Films

                                SUNNO AE DUNIYA WALLO EK NAYA   PAIGHAM LAAYA HOON UNRELEASED FILM             

                           Zara Dekh Sanam - Manoj Kumar, Rajshree,, Grahasti Song

SAATH HO TUM AUR RAAT JAWAN NEEND KISE - Mukesh & Asha - KANCH KI GUDIYA (1961)

                                                       tum aur ham bhul ke gam..fashion1957- geeta dutt -hemant 

Main Kal Phir Miloongi"'Dr. Vidya' (1962) 

Listen to the classic black & white hindi song "Main Kal Phir Miloongi" from the superhit classic bollywood hindi action romantic drama movie 'Dr. Vidya' (1962) starring Vyjayanthimala, Manoj Kumar, Leela Chitnis, Nasir Hussain, Helen, Sunder, Madan Puri, Prem Chopra & Mumtaz Begum. Directed by Rajendra Bhatia. Produced by Mohan Segal. Music by S.D.Burman. This song is sung by Mohammed Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar.

                                Tiki Riki Tiki Riki - Helen, Manoj Kumar, Woh Kaun Thi

                     Phoolon Se Rangeen Zameen Hai - Manoj Kumar - Nakli Nawab 

                                 Khuli Khuli zulfon - Manoj Kumar & Vijaya Choudhary - Banarasi Thug 

song from Reshmi Rumaal

Some of Manoj Kumar's Rare Pictures

Manoj Kumar in his first Film Fashion (1957)

With Lal Bahadur Shastri ji

Remembering Mehmood on his Death Anniversary

MEHMOOD (29 September 1932 – 23 July 2004)

 Mehmood, was an Indian actor, singer, director and producer best known for playing comic roles in Hindi films. During his career of more than four decades, he worked in over 300 Hindi films.
Mehmood was one of eight children born to Latifunnisa and film and stage actor-cum-dancer Mumtaz Ali, who was a huge star of the 40's and 50's cinema,          His sister, Minoo Mumtaz, was also a successful dancer and character actress in Bollywood movies. His youngest brother, Anwar Ali too is an actor and a producer of movies like Khud-daar and Kaash.
As a child, he worked in Bombay films like Kismet. He later had a number of odd jobs, working as a table tennis teacher to Meena Kumari and as a driver for director P. L. Santoshi.

Mehmood got  a small break as a killer in the film CID. He started off by doing small, unnoticed roles in films like the peanut seller in Do Bigha Zameen and Pyaasa. He later went on to act in lead roles, but he was appreciated for his comedy, 

Mehmood was the only actor for whom the audience came to the theatre before the movie started. His huge fan following spoke of his dedication and talent. He was able to carve a niche for himself, which has made him be remembered as an artist who not only introduced himself in the industry but gave a platform for many upcoming actors. He was and is the ‘King of Comedy’ undoubtedly, but he was also the ‘King of Hearts’.  

Sasural (1961), a three-hankie melodramatic mega-success, was Mehmood's big breakthrough film as a comedian. What's more, Sasural created one of the most successful comedy teams of the sixties -- Mehmood and Shubha Khote. The plump and genial Shubha went on to partner Mehmood in most of his mad capers till the mid-sixties -- including Grihasti, Bharosa, Ziddi and Love In Tokyo

                                         Main Tere Pyaar Mein Kya Kya Na Bana, Mehmood, Shubha Khote, Ziddi Song

                                                               Mehmood, Shubha Khote,  Ziddi - Comedy Scene 

Mehmood dominated commercial Hindi cinema during his peak years, to the extent that it was said that some lead actors were unwilling to act with him as he tended to overshadow them.His name in the star cast and face on the film poster ensured that scores turned up at the theatres. One song for him in the film was mandatory in that era.At the insistence of distributors, a song picturised on Mehmood became a must in most films of the sixties. Manna Dey, a recognised classical singer, was singled out for singing many of Mehmood's naughty numbers.He was among the rare few who even went to have films named after him - Johar Mehmood in Goa and Johar Mehmood in Hongkong.

Song from Johar Mehmood In Goa

At the turn of the 1960s, Mehmood even played the hero in small films opposite starlets like Chitra, Naaz and Ameeta. Mehmood cast Ameeta as the heroine in his first production Chhote Nawab (1961), where he gave a break to his friend-cum-composer, R D Burman.After that he produced and Directed Bhoot Bangla(1965)

song from Bhoot Bangla

 His company’s Padosan – in which Mehmood locked horns with Kishore Kumar in a South-Indian-versus-North-Indian war – became a massive hit in the 70s

Mehmood was a Tamilian and his grandfather was the Nawab of Carnatic, thus the South Indian accent came very naturally to him. His funny songs and dialogues in Hyderabadi Urdu accent (such as Hum Kale Hain Toh Kya Hua Dilwale Hai) became his signature and are remembered till date.

Pyaar ki aag mein from ziddi

By the late sixties, he was heralded as the monarch of madness, with successes like Patthar Ke Sanam, Do Kaliyan, Neel Kamal, Aankhen and Aulaad releasing one after the other. Mehmood was a master at playing the hero's friend, who would help him out of sticky situations with his street-smart ways.

Unfortunately, his popularity, according to the grapevine, rankled the ruling heroes of the day. What further restricted Mehmood was his preference for playing central roles in early seventies films like Main Sundar Hoon, Lakhon Mein Ek, Mastana and Do Phool. As his career lost its early heat, Mehmood also resorted to producing his own films (Bombay To Goa, Kunwara Baap, Ginny Aur Johny) to stay in the limelight.

Some of his most memorable films are-1961 Sasural Shubha Khote 1965 Gumnaam Helen 1966 Pyar Kiye Jaa Mumtaz 1966 Love In Tokyo Shubha Khote 1967 Patthar Ke Sanam-- 1968 Padosan Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Kishore Kumar 1968 Aankhen-- 1970 Humjoli Aruna Irani 1971 Main Sundar Hoon Leena Chandavarkar 1974 Kunwara Baap

Some of the hit songs Mehmood acted are Song Film Singer Mama o mamaParvarish(Manna Dey, Mohammed Rafi) Apni ulfat pe zamane ka na pehra hotaSasural(Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar) Woh din yaad karoHamrahi(Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar) Pyar ki aag mein tan badan jal gayaZiddi(Manna Dey) Aao twist kareBhoot Bangla(Manna Dey) Yeh do deewane dil keJohar Mehmood in Goa(Manna Dey, Mohammed Rafi) Hum kaale hai toh kya hua dilwaleGumnaam(Mehmood, Mohammed Rafi) O meri maina tu maanle mera kehnaPyar Kiye Jaa(Manna Dey, Usha Mangeshkar) Tujhko rakhe Ram tujhko Allah rakheAankhen(Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey) Jodi hamari jamega kaiseAulad(Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle) Ek chatur naarPadosan(Mehmood, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar) Yeh kaisa aaya zamanaHumjoli(Mehmood, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar) Muttu kullikaDo Phool(Mehmood, Asha Bhosle) Saj rahee galee meri ammaKunwara Baap(Mehmood, Mohammed Rafi) Famous for his fusillade of funny moments, two of Mehmood's most remembered roles were in Pyar Kiye Jaa (1966) and Padosan (1968).

Some famous Bollywood songs for which people still remember Mehmood are 'Ek chatur naar' from film Padosan, 'Aao Twist Karen' from Bhoot Bangla, 'Yeh do deewane dil ke' from Johar Mehmood in Goa, 'Hum kaale hai to kyaa huaa dilwaale hain' from Gumnaam and so on. He received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Dil Tera Diwana(1963) and Filmfare Best Comedian Award 4 times for films Pyar Kiye Jaa(1967),Waris(1970),Paras(1972) and for Vardaan(1975).

By the time the 90s set in, Mehmood had played his entire hand -- as actor, director, storywriter and producer. But, he was now keeping indifferent health. He made one last attempt at a comeback, with a film called Dushman Duniya Ka (1996). By now, there was a new generation of filmgoers in the theatres -- and new stars in Bollywood’s firmaments. Mehmood managed to get the brightest new star into his movie. Shah Rukh Khan – a self-confessed Mehmood admirer – played the role of the “young” Mehmood in the film, 
On 23rd July 2004, Mehmood died in his sleep in Pennsylvania, US, where he had gone for treatment of heart disease after suffering poor health for several years
Mehmood will forever be remembered as he appeared in his heydays – as the King of Comedy. He taught a nation how to laugh! Thank you for the laughter!

Read more at http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/mehmood-ali.html#WmEk6fHKwEpePA7Z.99