Happy Birthday LATA MANGESHKAR on 87th Birthday

The nightingale of India turns 87
Legendary singer and Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar was born on 28th September 1929  at the princely state of Indore, part of the Central India Agency (now part of Madhya Pradesh). Her father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar was a classical singer and theater actor.She  was named "Hema" at her birth. Her parents later renamed her Lata after a female character, Latika, in one of her father's plays,BhaawBandhan.
 At the age of five, she started to work as an actress in her father's musical plays (Sangeet Natak in Marathi). On the first day in the school, she started teaching songs to other children. When the teacher stopped her, she was so angry that she stopped going to the school.

Lata Mangeshkar was 13 when her father died of heart disease. She being the eldest among brother and sisters, the responsibility of earning bread and butter came to her shoulder. The owner of Navyug Chitrapat movie company and a close friend of the Mangeshkar family, took care of them. He helped Lata get started in a career as a singer and actress.

first song sung by Lata Mangeshkar

 She sang the song "Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari" which was composed by Sadashivrao Nevrekar for Vasant Joglekar's Marathi movie Kiti Hasaal (1942), but the song was dropped from the final cut. Vinayak gave her a small role in Navyug Chitrapat's Marathi movie Pahili Mangalaa-gaur (1942), in which she sang "Natali Chaitraachi Navalaai" which was composed by Dada Chandekar. Her first Hindi song was "Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu" for the Marathi film,Gajaabhaau (1943).
When Master Vinayak's company moved its headquarters to Bombay in 1945 Lata also moved to Mumbai with her family.She started taking lessons in Hindustani classical music from UstadAmanat Ali Khan . Lata  and her sister Asha played minor roles in Vinayak's first Hindi-language movie, Badi Maa (1945). In that movie, Lata also sang a bhajan, "Maata Tere Charnon Mein." She was introduced to music director Vasant Desai during the recording of Vinayak's second Hindi-language movie, Subhadra (1946).She sang “Paa Lagoon Kar Jori” for Vasant Joglekar's Hindi-language movie Aap Ki Seva Mein (1946),which was composed by Datta Davjekar. 

Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhora from Majboor 1948

Once again Lata got another setback in 1948 when Master Vinayak died.She was once again jobless.But this time  music director Ghulam Haider mentored her as a singer. Haider gave Lata her first major break with the song "Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhora"—lyrics by Nazim Panipati—from the movie Majboor (1948), which became her first big breakthrough film hit. In an interview on her 84th birthday, in September 2013, Lata herself declared, "Ghulam Haider is truly my Godfather. He was the first music director who showed complete faith in my talent

Aayega Aanewaala from Mahal 1949

She became the Star from the song  "Aayega Aanewaala," from the movie Mahal (1949), composed by music director Khemchand Prakash and lip-synced on screen by actress Madhubala.After this song she was the leading voice of all heroines and ruled bollywood with her Sweet voice.

Lata Mangeshkar has won several awards and honours, including Bharat Ratna (India's Highest Civilian Award), Padma Bhushan(1969),Padma Vibhushan (1999), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989), Maharashtra Bhushan Award (1997), NTR National Award(1999), Bharat Ratna (2001), ANR National Award (2009), three National Film Awards, and 12 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. She has also won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards. In 1969, she made the unusual gesture of giving up the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award, in order to promote fresh talent. She was later awarded Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

Lata with her Brother & Sisters

Some Un Known Facts of Lata Ji 

-Initially, Lata Mangeshkar is said to have imitated the acclaimed singer Noor Jehan, but later she developed her own style of singing.

-Actor Dilip Kumar once made a mildly disapproving remark about Mangeshkar's Maharashtrian accent while singing Hindi/Urdu songs; so for a period of time, Lata took lessons in Urdu from an Urdu teacher named Shafi.

-.Music Director Ghulam Haider introduced Mangeshkar to producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, who was working then on the movie Shaheed (1948), but Mukherjee dismissed Mangeshkar's voice as "too thin".An annoyed Haider responded that in coming years producers and directors would "fall at Lata's feet" and "beg her" to sing in their movies. 

-In the early 1962 she was given slow poison. The doctor was called. He came with an x-ray machine to check her, and gave her an injection to render her unconscious, because She was in pain. For three days, She had a close brush with death. After ten days, she began to recover. The doctor told her that somebody gave her slow poison. The slow poison incident rendered her very weak. She was bed-ridden for nearly 3 months. The most surprising thing was that soon after the incident, the cook who used to work at Lataji's home, suddenly vanished without taking his wages. The cook had earlier worked with some Bollywood people. Bollywood lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri used to regularly visit Lataji at her home daily at 6 pm. Majrooh used to first taste the food and then allow Lata to eat. He used to recite poems and stories to keep Lata in good humour.

-Lata Mangeshkar composed music for the first time in 1955 for Marathi movie Ram Ram Pavhane. Later in the 1960s, she composed music for 5 Marathi movies under the pseudonym of Anand Ghan.

The Song Sung and Composed by Lata

-Lata Mangeshkar has produced four films:,One was in Marathi "Vaadal" in 1953,Jhaanjhar (Hindi),1953,Kanchan (Hindi)1955 and  Lekin(Hindi)1990.
-The Guinness Book of Records—in 1991—listed her as the most recorded artist in the world with not less than 30,000 solo, duet and chorus-backed songs recorded in 20 Indian languages between 1948 and 1987. Today the number might have crossed 50,000.

Song from Lekin

She is the blessed one - she is blessed by God,I wish her a very long life and many more years to bless us with her wonderful songs.

RARE & UNRELEASED FILM SONGS OF LATA JI

Jiya Jaye Piya aaja - Naujawan 1951

Dilip Kumar Sings with Lata ji.from Ram Musafir 1957

  

Tere Sab Gham Mile Mujhko Lata Mangeshkar Film Hamdard (1953)

Mukh Mod Na Lena Sajna Lata Mangeshkar Film Aashiana (1952)

Ae Dil Kahan Teri Manzil Lata Mangeshkar Film Maya (1961)

Jiya Kho Gaya Lata Mangeshkar Film Railway Platform (1955) 

Tootegi Na Pyar Ki Dor Lata Mangeshkar Film Amber

Thandi Hawayen Lata Mangeshkar Film Naujawan 

MACHALTI AARZOO KHAREE BAAHEIN PASAARE from Usne Kaha Tha

Aaye Nainon Mein Balam - Jitne Door Utne Paas (Unreleased)

Dil Beqarar Sa Hai from Ishara 1964

Hey Abdullah Nagin Wala  from Ishara 1964

A Rare  Duet of Lata and Suman Kalyanpur

Kabhi aaj kabhi kal kabhi parson (Chand 1959)

Duet with Geeta Dutt

Ham panchhi mastaane (Dekh Kabira Roya)(1957) 

Non Film Ghazal by Lata

a

Har ek baat pe kehte ho tum ke tu kya hai 

Bhiga Bhiga Mausam from Suraag 1980

Unreleased Song | Film Majnoon | Rajesh Khanna | Rakhee | Kamal Amrohi | Khayyam | Lata Mangeshkar

Un released song from Pakeezah (1972)

Pee Ke Chale Hum Hai Sharabi-Rare Song-Lata Mangeshkar

Remembering YASH CHOPRA on his 84th Birth Anniversary

Yash Chopra is undoubtedly India's most successful film-maker. With a career spanning over five decades, he has been associated with almost 35 films, most of which have created box-office history. Born on 27th September 1932, in Jalandhar (Punjab), is younger brother of B R Chopra another Legend of Bollywood.
He started out as an assistant to his brother and went on to direct 5 very successful films for his brother’s banner - B.R.Films. These were Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Dharmputra (1961), Waqt (1965), Ittefaq (1969) & Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969).

Song from Sasural

                                                       Quwali from Dharamputra

song from Waqt

After leaving B R Films he Directed movies for other banners. Joshila (1973), Deewaar (1975), Trishul (1978) for Producer Gulshan Rai & Parampara (1993).for Firoz A Nadiadwala.

Song from Joshila

Yash  Chopra founded his own production company, Yash Raj Films,in 1971launched with Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), Starring Rajesh Khanna and Rakhi.In 1976 Yashraj Films Kabhie Kabhie was released.It was an instant hit.

Song from Daag

The period from late seventies to 1989 marked a professional setback in Chopra's career; several films he produced or directed in that period failed to leave a mark at the Indian box office, notably Doosra Aadmi (1977), Mashaal (1984), Faasle (1985) andVijay (1988). In 1989, Chopra directed the commercially and critically successful cult film Chandni,After that he made many love Stories.The 1991 film Lamhe was a beutiful love story.Though the film didn't run as per the expectation but it was acclaimed by the critics.As per Yash Chopra Lamhe was his all time favourite film.

Song from Lamhe

Song from Chaandni

In 1993 he produced and Directed Darr Starring Shahrukh Khan, it was a sympathetic look at obsessive love and defied the image of the conventional hero. -Chopra directed three more romantic films, all starring Khan; Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Veer-Zaara(2004), and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), before he announced his retirement from directing in 2012.

His career has spanned more than five decades and 50 films; he is considered one of the leading filmmakers in the history of Hindi cinema. He came to be known as the "King of Romance" of the Indian cinema.

Song from Veer Zara

He was one of the first directors to take his camera to countries such as Switzerland, Holland, Germany and the United Kingdom.The Swiss Government honoured him for helping rediscover Switzerland and he was presented a special Award by screen goddess, Ursula Andress, on behalf of the Swiss Government. In fact, a lake in Switzerland has been unofficially named ‘The Chopra Lake’ because of the way he had used it in his films.

Song from Jab Tak Hai Jaan

He  has won several film awards, including six National Film Awards and elevenFilmfare awards, including four Filmfare Best Director awards The Government of India honoured him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005

Yash  Chopra married Pamela Singh and together they have two sons Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra, born in 1971 and 1973,Yash Chopra died of Dengue Fever on 21 October 2012.

Tribute To Yash Chopra

Song from Dhool Ka Phool 1959

Song from Waqt 1965

Song from Aadmi Aur Insaan 1969

Song from Deewar 1975

Song from Trishul1978

Song from Kaala Patthar1979

Song from Silsila 1981

Song from Mashaal 1984

Song from Chandni  1989

Song from Lamhe 1991

Song from Darr 1993

Song from Dil To Pagal Hai1997

Song from Jab Tak Hai Jaan 2012

Remembering DEV ANAND on his 93rd Birthday

Part-1 Dev Anand , one of my hot favorites, had a phenomenal impact on Indian cinema and Indian audience was Born on 26 th September 1923 at Gurdaspur in undivided Punjab.He was third of four brother. His older brothers were Manmohan Anand (Advocate, Gurdaspur Dist. Court) and Chetan Anand and younger one was Vijay Anand.Dev Anand did his schooling till matriculation from Sacred Heart School, Dalhousie, (then in Punjab) and went to college Dharamsala before going to Lahore to study. Later Dev completed BA degree in English Literature from the Government College, Lahore in British India.

Scene from Hum Ek Hain

Video clipping of Dev Anand's First Film

Dev Anand  left his hometown to work in the Military Censor Office at Churchgate, Bombay. He was offered a role in the 1946 flick 'Hum Ek Hain by Prabhat Studio .Dev Anand was paid a handsome monthly salary of Rs 400 for the film. He bought a house with that money.During that time Guru Dutt was also working with Prabhat Studio This is where he stuck a friendship with Bollywood legend Guru Dutt.

In 1947 his 2 films Mohan and Aage Badho were released but hegot first real recognition  from 1948 film Ziddi. It was offered to him by his favorite actor, Ashok Kumar. Interestingly, Ashok Kumar's brother, Kishore Kumar, sung his first complete song (for Dev Anand) here, and the two would later become very close friends. Before Ziddi, Kishore sang a few lines in 'Aath Din' (1946) under music director SD Burman. After Ziddi's success, Anand decided that he would start producing films.

 In 1949, he launched his own company Navketan Films (which means "newness").The company, true to its name, produced a range of path breaking noir films dwelling on the darker side of urban life in the 1950s. Its principal characters were drunks, card-sharpers taxi drivers and bootleggers.The first film of this banner was Afsar released in 1950,the film was an average hit.Next fim of this banner was Baazi released in 1951.This film made Dev Anand the Super Star.After that he gave one or more hits every year upto 1978.The Last hit was Des Pardes.

Dev Anand and Suraiya who were in love have worked together in seven films --Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949), Shair (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili(1950), Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951), all of which were successful at the box office. 
Do Sitare was the last film in which they appeared together. Dev-Suraiya romance began when shooting the filmVidya. They couldn't marry because Suraiya's maternal grandmother was strongly opposed to the inter-religious romance. they decided not to act together after 1951.

Dev Anand married Christian actress Mona Singh in 1954.She changed her name to Kalpana Karthik to work in films.The couple turned parents in 1956 when their son Suneil Anand was born.

Dev Anand was among the group of film personalities who stood up to the Internal emergency imposed by then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1977, he actively campaigned against her with his supporters in the Lok Sabha.

Though Dev Anand’s demand as the lead hero had not decreased even in the 1980s, he decided that it was the right time to introduce his son Suneil Anand in films as the hero. He launched his son in the Kramer vs. Kramer inspired Anand Aur Anand (1984), which was produced and directed by Dev Anand himself and had music by R.D. Burman. He expected the film to do well but the film was a box office disaster and Suneil Anand decided not to act in films any more.

Most of Dev Anand's movies explored his viewpoint of the world and often highlighted many socially relevant topics. Another notable feature in Anand's movie was the soul stirring music. He was on very friendly terms with most of the Bollywood music composers like O. P. Nayyar, Sachin Dev Burman and his son, Rahul Dev Burman. Others known to Dev Anand were lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri, Neeraj, Shailendra, and playback singers Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar.

 One of the most handsome actors of his times, Dev Anand was asked not to wear black suit in public apparently because women would go crazy seeing him dressed in black and would jump from buildings.

.He introduced a multitude of talent to the Indian Film Industry by way of actors, directors, music composers and cinematographers. He had one of the finest Film Sound Post-Production facilities in India - Anand Recording Studios - that has to its credit more than 3,000 Indian feature films that have been mixed/ surround mixed for worldwide release. The 'Evergreen' Dev Anand went on to star in over 110 movies, spanning from 1946 through to 2005. In 1958 He has won two Filmfare Awards for his performance in the film Kala Paani (Black Water) and in 1966 for his performance in Navketan International Films' Guide.In 1979 his movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna turned out to be a blockbuster hit.In 2001, the President of India honoured him the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award on the Republic Day. and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

 His career spanned more than 65 years with acting in 114 Hindi films, of which 92 have him play the main solo lead hero, and he did two English films.

Two of his films Kahin Aur Chal (1968) and a multistarrer Ek Do Teen Chaar (1980) remained unreleased till date
.

Dev Anand was conferred upon the 'Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema' award by the current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in July 2000.

In September 2007, Dev's own autobiography Romancing with Life was released at a birthday party with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. In February 2011, his 1961 black and white film Hum Dono was digitised and colourised and released.

Dev Anand died in his room at The Washington Mayfair Hotel in London at the age of 88 on 3 December 2011 (4 December 2011 by Indian Standard Time) of a cardiac arrest. His death came just months after the release of his last film, Chargesheet.

Dev Anand's funeral at London

An illustrious chapter may have closed but the life and works of the evergreen star will continue to inspire individuals.

Dev Anand'Songs

Rare SONGS

Song from  Hum Ek Hain 1946 Dev Anand's First Film

Song from 2nd Movie of Dev Mohan 1947 (Audio)

Sawan Ki Ghataon from Aage Badho 1947

Yeh kaun aaya re - Kishore and Lata first Duet from Ziddi 1948

Marne ki duayen kyon mangu_Kishore Kumar First film song Picturized on Dev Anand from Ziddi

Layee Khushiyan from Vidya 1948

Song from Jeet 1949

Song from Tarana 1950

Song from Afsar 1950

Song from Sazaa 1951

O Sanam Mein Tujhe from Sanam 1951

Song from Aaram 1951

Song from Zalzala 1952 (audio)

Khali Pili from Tamasha 1952

A rare song of Asha fom Armaan 1953 (audio)

song from Dev Anand's un released film

Dev Anand's Memorable songs in Part 2