Monday 19 December 2016

Remembering OM PRAKASH on his 97th Birth Anniversary



Om Prakash (19 December 1919 – 21 February 1998) was an Indian character actor.He started his career at All India Radio - Lahore, with his famous character "Fatih Din" which was liked through out the Punjb and people started recognizing him with this character.He was paid rupees 25 per month as a salary. 
Starting his career in 1944 film Daasi, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was one of the elite of the film industry in the '60s, '70s, and to some extent '80s. His pivotal roles in the films Chupke Chupke, Julie, and Buddha Mil Gaya are considered to be among his best along with Daddu in Namak Halaal and De Silva in Zanjeer. He is known for his roles in comedy films. One of his best performances in his later years was Sharaabi (1984), where he played a role that was pivotal for the movie.Om Prakash had a special rapport with Amitabh Bachchan and both worked in many successful films spanning from Zanjeer to Sharaabi. 

 He had developed a style of his own, a style which was going to take him places, make him a big name in the world of film entertainment for the next forty years.He was good in almost every character he played. He was the comedian, the family man burdened with problems, the munshi, the alcoholic fallen on bad days because of the evil designs of the villain, the nagged husband, the old man in love, the wily politician and the big brother with a heart of gold. He played an assortment of characters with the same ease and had some of the best directors vying for him every time they had a role which they felt only he could play. His role in Gopi is still remembered, some analysts think he has overshadowed Dilip Saab.
It was during earlier phase in his career that he did Azaad with Dilip KumarSargam with Raj Kapoor and Miss MaryBaharPehli JhalakAsha and Manmauji with Kishore Kumar followed by Howrah Bridge with Ashok Kumar and then Tere Ghar Ke Samne with Dev Anand. He was marked out for his performance in both films in spite of the presence of powerful star personas like Dilip KumarRaj KapoorAshok KumarKishore Kumar and Dev Anand.
He acted in more than 300 films and also produced three films  Sanjog (1961), Jahan Ara (1964) and Gateway of India (1957).
He suffered a massive heart attack in his home and rushed to Lilavati Hospital situated in Mumbai where he suffered another heart attack and went into a coma from which he never came out. He died on 21 February 1998.Here is my Tribute to this Great Actor
A Scenes from Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Comedy scene from Pyar Kiye Jaa


 Scene from Namak Halal


Song from Manmauji 1962


Song from Miss Mary 1957


Song from Howrah Bridge 1958


Song from Budha Mil Gaya 1971


Song from Patang


Song from Julie 1975





Sunday 18 December 2016

Relax & Enjoy your SUNDAY with These BOLLYWOOD SONGS


Sunday,A day to refuel your soul and be greatful for your blessings.Take a deep breath and relax.Enjoy your family,your friends,a cup of coffee with these 7 Bollywood Songs

Part -7    18-12-2016
Song from Baazi 1951



Shadi Shadi from Ladki 1953



Timbaktu from Jhumru 1961

A Rare Clip of Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar dancing together
Song from Insaniyat 1955


Song from Brahmachari 1968


Song from Kal Aaj Aur Kal


Song from Gopi Kishan 1994




Saturday 17 December 2016

The Magic of Geeta Dutt-Some of my Favourite songs


We all remember the song "Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya" with this song Geeta Dutt became famous That was in 1947 with the release of Do Bhai music was given by S D Burman. Disc sales of the song rocketed to new heights. 1947-1949 saw Geeta Roy rule as the number one playback singer in the Mumbai film industry as she moved from strength to strength.
In 1949 released the film Mahal and its song  'Aayega Aane Wala' from Mahal soared to heights of till then unseen popularity. ( It remains an all time favourite even today ) The singer was Lata Mangeshkar. Lata went on to become the greatest playback singer the Indian screen has ever seen. Only two singers managed to survive the Lata onslaught in the 1950s Shamshad Begam and Geeta Dutt.Though relegated to the second spot, Geeta managed to hold her own against Lata for more than a decade and she and Lata were the premier two female playback singers of the 1950s.
The first thing that strikes one when you hear Geeta Dutt sing was that she never sang. She just glided through a tune. She was perfact in Bhajan as well as western songs.The sex appeal in her voice and the ease with which she went western was marvellous to behold.
She was at her best  when she sang under the baton of two music directors, S.D. Burman and O.P.Nayyar.
She was the only singer with whom Lata was really feared during her career   Raju Bharathan, Music critic in Filmfare February 1-15, 1985 wrote  "In training and technique Lata was way ahead but neither training nor technique was of much use when pitted against Geeta in the recording room........This put Lata on the defensive and I think she avoided singing with Geeta as far as possible. "
Mera sundar sapna beet gaya
Song from Do Bhai 1947

Khayalon mein kisike
Song from Baawre Nain 1950

Tadbir se bigdi hui taqdeer
Song from Baazi 1951

Yeh lo main hari piya
Song from Aar Paar 1954

Babuji dhire chalna
Song from Aar Paar 1954

Thandi hawa kali ghata
Song from Mr & Mrs 55 (1955)

Ae dil mujhe bata de
Song from Bhai Bhai 1956

Jaane kya tunhe kahi
Song from Pyaasa 1957

Mera naan chin chin choo
Song from Howrah Bridge 1958

Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam
Song from Kaagaz Ke Phool 1959

Hawa dhire aana
Song from Sujaata 1959

Na jaao saiyaan chudha ke baiyaan
Song from Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam 1962





Wednesday 14 December 2016

Remembering RAJ KAPOOR on his 92nd Birth Anniversary



Raj Kapoor is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers and actors in the history of Indian cinema.He was born on 14th Dec 1924 at Dhakki Munawwar Shah near Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar,now in Pakistan.

His father was Prithviraj kapoor who was a famous Hero of his time. His brothers are actors Shashi Kapoor and the late Shammi Kapoor.He had three sons Randhir,Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor,all of them acted in Bollywood.

Raj Kapoor's big break came with the lead role in Neel Kamal (1947) opposite Madhubala in her first role as a leading lady.Though Raj kapoor appeared in film for the first time at the age of ten in  1935's Inquilab.He appeared as child artist in many more films after that.He got real recognition from 1949 film Andaz,he co-starred alongside Dilip Kumar and Nargis in that film.

 In 1948, at the age of twenty-four, he established his own studio, R. K. Films, and became the youngest film director of his time making his directorial debut with Aag starring himself, NargisKamini Kaushal and Premnath.

. He had his first success as producer, director and star of Barsaat released in 1950.  He went on to produce and star in several hit films made under his R.K. Banner including Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956) and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), the last was directed by Radhu Karmakar, his longtime cinematographer, and which won Filmfare Award for Best Film.In 1964, he produced, directed and starred in the romantic musical Sangam alongside Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayantimala which was his first film in colour. This was his last major success as a leading actor as his later films like Around the World (1966) and Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) with younger starlets Rajshree and Hema Malini were box office flops.
In 1970 he produced, directed and starred in his ambitious film Mera Naam Joker which took more than six years to complete. His son Rishi Kapoor made his debut in this film playing the younger version of his character. When released in 1970, it was a box office disaster and put Kapoor and his family into a financial crisis.

In 1971, he launched his eldest son Randhir Kapoor in the family drama Kal Aaj Aur Kal starring himself, his son Randhir, his father Prithviraj Kapoor as well as Randhir's would-be-wife Babita. He launched his second son Rishi Kapoor's career in 1973 when he produced and directed Bobby which was a huge box office success and introduced actress Dimple Kapadia.

In the latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s he produced and directed films that focused on the female protagonists: Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) with Zeenat AmanPrem Rog (1982) with Padmini Kolhapure and Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) which introduced Mandakini.
Outside of his home productions Raj Kapoor also acted in other banners also. His other notable films as a leading actor included Anhonee (1952), Aah (1953), Anari (1959), Chhalia(1960) and Dil Hi To Hai (1963).Teesri Kasam (1966)
Raj Kapoor had received many awards throughout his career, including 3 National Film Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards and 21 nominations. His films Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish(1954) were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His acting in the former was rated as one of the "Top-Ten Performances of all time", by the Time Magazine.His film Jagte Raho (1956) also won the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1987 – the highest award for cinematic excellence in India. Shortly after he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Raj Kapoor died, on June 2, 1988, after suffering from complications linked to asthma.
Raj Kapoor’s importance in Indian cinema is unique because of his multiple successes as actor, director and producer, and the social analysis his films offered, particularly in the first half of his career as filmmaker.

 I am posting some of my Favourite Raj Kapoor's Songs
Song from Barsaat 1949



Song from Bawre Nain 1950




Song from  Awaara 1951




Song from Aah  1953




Song from Shree 420 (1955)




Song from Shree 420 (1955)



Song from Chori Chori (1956)




Song from Parvarish (1958)




Song from Kanhaiya (1959)




Song from Anari (1959)




Song from Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960)



Song from Chhalia (1960)




Song from Dil Hi To Hai (1963)




Song from Sangam (1964)




Song from Teesri Kasam (1966)




Song from Mera Naam Joker (1970)



Raj kapoor singing in a live show


Sunday 11 December 2016

Happy Birthday DILIP KUMAR - the Tragedy King of Indian cinema,


Dilip Kumar (born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on 11 December 1922) is an Indian film actor also known as Tragedy King,he was born in Peshawar now in Pakistan. He debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944 produced by Bombay Talkies.In fact it was Devika Rani who sugested to change his name from Yousuf to Dilip Kumar.

Initial films of Dilip Kumar went un noticed, it was Jugnu (1947) in which he starred alongside Noor Jehan that became his first major hit at the box office. His next major hit was the 1948 film Shaheed. He got his breakthrough role with Mehboob Khan's Andaz(1949) in which he starred alongside Raj Kapoor and Nargis in a love triangle story. Shabnam also released that year was also a hit.
He went on to have success in the 1950s with playing leading roles in romantic films like Jogan (1950), Tarana (1951) Hulchul (1951) Deedar (1951), Aan (1952) Daag (1952), Uran KhatolaDevdas (1955), Yahudi (1958) and Madhumati (1958). These films established his screen image as the "Tragedy King". 

 He was the first actor to receive a Filmfare Best Actor Award and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won for that category. In fact he is the winner of 9 Filmfare Awards and still holds the record for the most number of Filmfare awards won for that category with 8 wins.

 Throughout the 1950s he was one of the biggest stars of Bollywood along with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. Dev Anand, who had 3 flops from 1946-47, became a star when Ziddi became a hit in 1948 and Raj Kapoor's fortune as an actor changed when Andaz became a hit in 1949.Thus among the trio, first to become a star was Dilip Kumar and then second was Dev Anand and then Raj Kapoor. 
 His career has spanned over six decades and with over 60 films.The period of 1949-1961 is considered the peak period of Dilip Kumar's career as a hero. From late 1960s roles dried up for Kumar as films starring Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor were more successful from 1961-1969 and also Dilip's films from 1966 to 1976 were box office flops like Dil Diya Dard Liya, Sunghursh, Aadmi, Dastaan, Gopi, Sagina and Bairaag and after 1976 he left films for a five year break.
In 1981 Dilip returned with a character role at insistence of Manoj Kumar in the blockbuster film Kranti and continued his career playing central character roles in multi-hero films such as Shakti (1982), Karma (1986), Vidhaata, Mazdoor, Mashaal, Duniya, Dharm Adhikari, Kanoon Apna Apna, Izzatdaar, Saudagar (1991), Qila. But his only films to be successful from 1981 at box office were Kranti, Vidhaata, Karma, Dharm Adhikari, Kanoon Apna Apna and Saudagar. He has retired from the Indian Film Industry in 1998.He is best remembered for his variety of roles in 'Andaz', 'Aan', 'Devdas', 'Azaad', 'Mughal-e-Azam', 'Ganga Jamuna' and Naya Daur.

 He married actress Saira Banu, who was 22 years younger than him, in 1966. He married a second time in 1980 to Asma but the marriage ended soon after.Dilip Kumar undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2013 along with his Saira.
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions towards Indian cinema and nominated him to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament for a term.

My Favourite Dilip kumar's Songs
Yahan Badla Wafa Ka Bewafai from Jugnu 1947

Gaaye Ja Geet Milan Ke from Mela 1948



Tu Kahe Agar Jeevan Bhar from Andaz 1949


Hue Ham Jinke liye from Deedar 1951


Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal from Daag 1952


Song  from Aan 1952


Yeh Hawa Yeh Raat Yeh Chandni from Sangdil 1952


Shaame-E-Ghum Ki Kasam from Footpath 1953



Song from Naya Daur 1957


Song from Madhumati 1958



Song from Madhumati 1958



Song from Ganga Jamuna 1961


Tere Husn Ki Kya Taarif Karon from Leeder 1964



Song from Ram Aur Shyam 1967




Song from Sangharsh 1968



Song from Sagina 1974