VIJAY ANAND- A Writer, Director Ahead of His Time.

Remembering Vijay Anand also known as Goldie on his 83rd Birth Anniversary today  who was the visionary director of some of Bollywood’s most respected movies.
He was born on 22nd Jan 1934 in Gurdaspur Punjab,he was the youngest of the four Anand siblings, including producer and director Chetan Anand and Dev Anand.

He lost his mother when he was only seven, and he along with his other siblings went to live with his eldest brother Chetan and his wife Uma who raised him like their own child.
While still a teenager, he co-wrote the script with his sister-in-law Uma for his filmmaker brother Chetan Anand. The film was "Taxi Driver" (1954) where his other brother Dev Anand played the title role, and it was inspired by the crime thrillers of Hollywood. It was released through their home production company Navketan and became Goldie's first big hit.

 "Nau Do Gyarah" (1957) was Vijay Anand's directorial debut, which was based on his own script. The film starred his brother Dev Anand and Dev's wife Kalpana Kartik. It became another hit.
 His next film was the story of a black marketer and his redemption in "Kaala Bazaar" (1960). The film starred his brother Dev again, along with Waheeda Rehman. This was also the only film where all three brothers (Chetan, Dev, and Vijay Anand) acted together.The movie was a super hit.
In 1961 another hit movie came HUM DONO,the screenplay was written by him,it is said that he was the director of that film though Amarjeet's name appeared as Director.
In 1963  "Tere Ghar ke Saamne" (1963) with Dev Anand and Nutan was a romantic comedy that became another hit. 

His masterpiece as a filmmaker came with "Guide" (1965). Based on RK. Narayan's novel The Guide, the film is unforgettable for its bold themes about how a man (Dev Anand) and woman (Waheeda Rehman) live together outside the sanctity of a marriage. Composer S.D. Burman's songs were given stunning visuals. The film became a huge hit and won several major awards, including two Filmfare Awards for Vijay himself for directing and for writing the dialogue for the film. With Guide, Vijay Anand became the Hindi film industry's big star filmmaker.

In the next year  "Teesri Manzil" (1966) for producer and writer Nasir Husain. The film starred Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh and gave composer R.D. Burman (S.D. Burman's son) his first major success. 
In the next year(1967) another hit movie Jewl Thief released,Vijay Anand was at the pinnacle of his fame, it seemed like Vijay Anand can do no wrong. But his next film(Khin Aur Chal) proved otherwise. After three hit films in a row (Guide, Teesri Manzil, Jewel Thief), Vijay Anand experienced his first flop.It is said that the financer of that film intentionly made it to be flopped by releasing this film in only one show and that too without publicity.
  He bounced back with "Johnny Mera Naam" (1970), which grabbed the top spot at the box office in 1970. It starred Dev Anand and Hema Malini. Vijay Anand won two Filmfare Awards, one for editing and the other one for his screenplay.
In 1971 another film  "Tere Mere Sapne" (1971) based on the A.J. Cronin's novel "The Citadel." He also played a supporting role as an alcoholic doctor. His acting was appreciated in that film,the film was not a major hit.
 His subsequent films like "Blackmail" (1973), "Chhupa Rustom" (1973), "Bullet" (1976) as a director were major disappointments.
In the mid seventies he was more inclined tqwards acting in films, He acted in two major hit films, Kora Kagaz(1974) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan ki (1978),
 In 1997, his older brother Chetan Anand's death devastated him. In 2001, he took over as the new censor board chief after Asha Parekh finished out her controversial three year term.
 His first marriage was with Loveleen, a marriage which took place when Vijay Anand was influenced by Rajneesh,and Lovleen had come to interview him for Russian Times, and wanted to marry him. This marriage was later dissolved by Rajneesh himself, when the couple could not go together. His second marriage was with Sushma Kohli, his sister's daughter. They have a son, Vaibhav,
He died on February 23, 2004 due to a heart attack that time he was in the process of making another film with brother Dev Anand.
My Tribute to him

Song from Nau Do Gyarah 1957

Song from Kala Baazar 1960

Song from Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963

Song from Guide 1965

Song from Jewel Thief 1967

Song from Teesri  Manzil 1967

Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970

Song from Tere Mere Sapne 1971

Song from Blackmail 1973

Song from Chhupa Rustam 1973

Song from Kora Kagaz 1974

Song from Bullet 1976

Song from Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki  1978

Song from Ram Balram  1980

Song from Rajput  1982

GEETA BALI-The Spontaneous and Expressive Star of Golden Era

Geeta Baali started her film career as a child actress, at the age of 12, with the film The Cobbler. She made her debut as a heroine in Badnaami (1946).
Born in Sargodha, Punjab in 1930 as Harkirtan Kaur,  she lived with her parents and a sister in Amritsar.Their family moved to Mumbai sometime in the forties and a young Harkirtan Kaur started working in movies to supplement the family income, first as a child actor and later as a lead actress.

She became star with Baazi co starring Dev Anand.Before that her film Bawre Nain (1950) with Raj Kapoor was a hit and she got  rave reviews for her performance as a village belle".She also appeared in Anand Math 1952,The film starred Prithviraj Kapoor, Bharat Bhushan,  Pradeep Kumar and Ajit in the lead. Pradeep Kumar made his debut in Hindi cinema, as did the film's music director Hemant Kumar.
 She became a star in the 1950s.She received a Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for "Vachan" (1955) and another nomination as Best Supporting Actress for "Kavi" (1955).

 In 1955 she married Shammi Kapoor who was 2 years younger than her but not yet a star. Their passionate and romantic saga began in 1955 when Shammi and Geeta worked together in a film titled Rangeen Raatein. While shooting for it in Ranikhet ( a hill station) the two spent a lot of time together and soon fell in love. 
She contributed a lot to the making of Shammi Kapoor. She gave him his confidence and his personality. If you see the way Shammiji danced... that was Geeta Bali's personality,Interestingly, her personal commitments did not affect her career. She continued acting even after marriage. And ironically it was during one of her professional commitments that she contracted small pox.  Unfortunately, she died on January 21,1965 merely 15 days after picking up the disease.Geeta Bali left behind her husband Shammi Kapoor and their two small children. Geeta Bali was only 35 years old.
Despite a short career (that spanned hardly some 15 years or so), she managed to carve a niche for herself
.Here are my favourite songs picturised on Geeta Bali, in no particular order. The list is restricted to 15 songs because of real life time constraints
 Ye Raat, Ye Chaandani Phir Kahaan, Sun Jaa Dil Ki 

Song from Jaal

Sari Sari Rat Teri Yaad Satai

Song from Aji Bas Shukriya(1958)

Shola Jo Bhadke Dil Mera Dhadke 

Song from Albela 1951

Bhula Nahin Dena Ji Bhula Nahin Dena, Zamana Kharab Hai Daga Nahi Dena 

Song from Baradari 1955

Tadbir Se Bigdi Huyi Takdir Banale 

Song from Baazi 1951

Ye Nayi Nayi Preet Hai, Tu Hi To Mera Meet Hai 

Song from Pocketmaar 1956

 Hum Pyaar Mein Jalne Walon Ko - Jailor [1958] 

Song from Jailor 1958

Ai Dil Tujhe Kasam Hai

Song from Dulari

Chori Chori Meri Gali Aana Hai Bura 

Song from Jaal 1952

Chale Jana Nahi Nain Milake

Song from Badi Bahen(1949)

De Bhi Chuke Hum Dil Najaraana

Song from Jaal 1952

Vande Mataram

 

Vande Mataram  from Anand Math 1952

Yeh Din Din Hai Khushi

Song from Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963)

Jhuka jhuka ke nigahein 

Song from Miss Coca Cola (Audio Only)

Chanda chandni mein jab chamke

Song from Muzrim 1958

 Ke

Remembering K L SEHGAL on his Death Anniversary

Today on his 70th Death Anniversary we remember him as the greatest Singer of Hindi Cinema. In his era there was no playback singing A hero or a heroine has to sing his or her own song.He was the first Super Star of Bollywood.
Saigal's distinctive singing was revered and idolised by the first generation of post-independence Hindi Film playback singers, including Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi, and Mukesh. Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar have even gone on record in an interview that they consider Kundan Lal Saigal to be their musical guru.
In a career of fifteen years, Saigal acted in 36 feature films– 28 in Hindi, seven in Bengali, and one in Tamil. In addition, he acted in a short comedy Hindi film, Dulari Bibi (three reels), released in 1933. In 1955, B.N. Sircar released a documentary film based on the life of K.L. Saigal, Amar Saigal. In the film, G. Mungheri performed the title role of Saigal. The film contained 19 songs lifted from Saigal's films. In all, Saigal rendered 185 songs which includes 142 film songs and 43 non-film songs. Of the film songs, there are 110 in Hindi, 30 in Bengali and two in Tamil.
 His dependence on alcohol had begun affecting his work and his health. It was said that he could only record a song after being fortified with liquor. He survived ten years of drinking; however, his alcoholism was too advanced for even a single attempt at abstinence, and Saigal died in his ancestral city of Jalandhar on 18 January 1947, at the age of 42.
My TRIBUTE to the First Super Star of Bollywood-K L SEHGAL
Prem Nagar Mein Banoungi

Song from 1934 film Chandidas

Balam Aaye Baso More Man Mein

Song from 1936 film Devdas

Ek Bangla bane Nyara

Song from 1937 film President

Mein kya Janoo kya Jadu Hai

Song from 1940 film Zindagi

So Ja Rajkumari Soja

Song from 1940 film Zindagi

Kahe Ko Raad Machai

Song from 1941 film Lagaan

Diya Jalao Jagmag

Song from 1943 film Tansen

Do Naina Matware

Song from 1944 film My Sister

Thukra Rahi Hai Duniya

Song from 1944 film Bhanwaraa

Mere Sapnon Ki Rani Ruhi

Song from 1946 film Shenshah

Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya

Song from 1946 film Shenshah

Aye Dil e Bekraar Jhoom

Song from 1946 film Shenshah

Mohabbat Mein Kabhi Aisi

Song from 1947 film Parwaana

Happy Birthday JAVED AKHTAR-The Dialogue-Weaver and Lyrical Maestro

Javed Akhtar was born on 17th Jan 1945 in Gwalior. His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and his mother Safia Akhtar was a singer, teacher and writer. He spent most of his childhood and was schooled in Lucknow. He graduated from Saifiya College in Bhopal
When Javed Akhtar arrived in Mumbai in 1964, he was a homeless man without any food or shelter. He struggled to find work in the Hindi film industry. He used to sleep under trees, or in corridors, until he took shelter in Kamal Amrohi Studio in Jogeshwari.
Initially he started working as a Clapper Boy in films,he met Salim Khan for the first time while filming ‘Sarhadi Lootera’, where Salim was an actor and Javed was a clapper boy. Javed was later made the dialogue-writer of the film as director SM Sagar was unable to find one.
He was offered to write a screenplay by Mr Devar of south for his south remake in hindi,he went to Salim Khan to join him for this film as a script writer.Later both were hired by G. P. Sippy's Sippy Films as resident screenwriters and produced the screenplays for successful films like Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay and Don.
Their first big success was the script for Andaz, followed by Adhikar (1971), Haathi Mere Saathi andSeeta Aur Geeta (1972). They also had hits in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Zanjeer (1973), Haath Ki Safai (1974), Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Chacha Bhatija (1977), Don (1978), Trishul (1978), Dostana (1980), Kranti (1981), Zamana (1985) and Mr. India (1987). They have worked together in 24 films including two Kannada films – Premada Kanike and Raja Nanna Raja. Of the 24 films they wrote 20 were hits.They  described as "the most successful scriptwriters of all-time", are also noted to be the first scriptwriters in Indian cinema to achieve star status. Javed and Salim split in 1982 due to ego issues.
He was aproached by Yash Chopra in 1981 to write Lyrics for his film Silsila,that was the first film when he emerged as a  successful Lyricist.It was in 1997 film Saaz where he recieved his National Award for the Best Lyricist and first Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist in 1995 for "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha" from 1942: A Love Story.
Javed and his first wife Honey Irani, whom he met on the sets of ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’, share the same birth date, January 17,with whom he had two children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar, both film directors and actors.Javed divorced Irani and later married Shabana Azmi, the daughter of another Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi.

 Javed Akhtar has won the Filmfare Award fourteen times - seven times for Best Script, and seven times for Best Lyrics. He has won the National Award five times. In 2013, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu, India's second highest literary honour, for his poetry collection ‘Lava’. He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2007).He was a Rajya sabha M P from 2009 to 2015.

Listen & Enjoy the Magical Lyrics of Javed Akhtar. On his 72nd Birthday, 

Song from Silsila 1981

Song from Saath Saath 1982

Song from Saagar 1985

Song from Tezaab 1988

Song from 1942 A love Story 1994

Song from  Papa Kehte Hai 1996

Song from Saaz 1996

Song from Border 1997

Song from Yes Boss 1997

Song from Duplicate 1998

Song from Refugee 2000

Song from Lagaan 2001

Song from Kal Ho Na Ho 2003

Song from Main Hoon Na (2004)

Song from Veer-Zaara (2004)

Song from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna 2006

Song from Jodhaa Akbar

Remembering O P NAYYAR on his 91st Birth Anniversary

O P Nayyar was Born on16th January 1926 in Lahore, British India (present Pakistan). He then underwent music training.  He left home to pursue a career as a composer. He got his first break when he composed the background score for the film Kaneez, 1949.He got a break as an independent Music Director from 1952's Aasmaan (produced by Dalsukh M. Pancholi), O P Nayyar then composed music for Chham Chhama Chham (1952) and Baaz (1953) He started his journey with Gurudutt in the film Baaz and theThe first successful break he got in Gurudutt's film AarPaar, 1954. Also he stormed the film world with his outstanding performance in the film  Mr and Mrs 55, 1955 and CID, 1956, The Geeta Dutt-OP Nayyar duo created magic starting with Aar Paar, Mr & Mrs 55 and CID, which is indelibly etched in people’s memories forever. 
In 1957 Filmalaya introduced Nasir Hussain, who wanted a composer to provide romantic scores for newcomers Shammi Kapoor and Ameeta. Nayyar's scores were featured in the Hussain films Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957)
Naya Daur released in 1957, rocked India and came as a turning point not only for OP but also for Asha Bhonsle who until then was living under the shadow of her sister Lata Mangeshkar.The magical combination of Asha and OP is now an integral part of Bollywood’s folklore. One doubts whether a musical combination like this can ever emerge again. OP exploited Asha’s versatile qualities and range of her silky smooth voice to the hilt.

 O P Nayyar went on to notch up even higher distinction through his compositions for Naya Daur,Howrah Bridge,Jaali Note, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Mere Sanam. The former movie included his enormously popular song, Bandaa Parwar, Thaamlo Jigar, while the latter included Jaayiye Aap Kahaan Jaayenge and Pukaarataa Chalaa Hoon Main. Some months later, his scores for the movie, Kashmir Ki Kali, once again gained high popularity. 
 He won the 1958 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (for Naya Daur). Nayyar worked extensively with singers Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi but not with leading Bollywood female singer Lata Mangeshkar. However, Mangeshkar's song Ek To Balam Teri Yaad Satayein (from the 1958 film Aji Bas Shukriya) was used in the 1973 Hindi film Taxi Driver, for which Nayyar was music director.
O.P.Nayyar came with an unique trend of merging Punjabi bhangra with Spanish tunes. The other unique feature of OP Nayyar is his association with Mohammad Rafi
Rafi had sung probably the maximum number of songs for OP Nayyar who knew the westernised andaz would not have suited anyone else in the same way as Mohammad Rafi.

O P Nayyar can be remembered for the  beat oriented compositions having effect of the tanga (Cart-pulled by horses).Maang ke saath tumhara in the film Naya Daur, picturised on Dilipkumar,Yuh to humne laakh hasin dekhe hain in the film Tumsa Nahin Dekha, 1957,Sach Kahta Hoon from Jaali Note 1960 picturised on Dev Anand and Madhubala, Kisi na kisi se kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin dil lagana padega, in the film Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964,Banda parwar, thamlo jigar, banke pyar phir aya hoon from Phir Wahi Dil Laya Hoon,Zara Haule Haule Chalo from Sawan Ki Ghata and many more.
OP Nayyar had a reputation for stubborn individuality all along his career. Many remember him as being aloof and imperious, but always generous with struggling new-comers and those marginalized in the industry. The press and electronic media frequently referred to him as a rebel composer
 Nayyar was more active during the 1960s than he was in the following decade, and did not compose music for younger actors such as Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. He made a brief comeback during the 1990s with Mangni and Nishchay in 1992 and Zid in 1994.
 He died on 28 January 2007, survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.His songs will remain immortal.Here are some of my favourite songs of O P Nayyar

Song from Aar Paar 1954

Song from Mr & Mrs 1955

Song from C I D 1956

Song from Naya Daur 1957

Song from Tumsa Nahin Dekha 1957

Song from Howrah Bridge  1958

Song from  Jaali Note 1960

Song from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina  1962

Song from  Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon  1963

Song from  Kashmir Ki Kali  1964

Song from  Mere Sanam 1965

Song from Baharen Phir Bhi Aayegi   1966

Song from Sawan Ki Ghata   1966

Song from Yeh Raat Phir na Aayegi    1966

Song from Humsaya  1968

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Song from Kismat  1968

Song from Sambandh   1969

Song from Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye 1973 (Audio)

Song from Zid (1994) The Last film of O P Nayyar