Golden Era of Bollywood

Friday 2 June 2017

Raj Kapoor and his love for leading ladies

It is the 29th death anniversary of Raj Kapoor,who was one of the greatest and most successful director who started at a young age of 24 and also one of the best actor in the history of Indian cinema. He was a pioneer in making Hindi cinema bolder, by making his heroine show off their beauty on the silver screen.He had a fascination of seeing his heroines wearing a white saree in at least one scene in his films.
The first love comes in our mind is Nargis.The duo worked on 16 films together, including Awaara and Shree 420. Their films ‘Barsaat’ became the first hit from his studio. Remember the scene where Raj holds Nargis in a violin – that iconic scene became a logo of RK films studios.But when Nargis met Raj Kapoor, he was a married man,they parted away in 1956,Nargis then married Sunil Dutt in 1958.

Next love of RK was with Vyjantimala,both featured in two films, named Nazrana and Sangam.It as said that Raj Kapoor planted this story for the publicity of Sangam.Vyajanthimala, denied having an affair with the actor.Both ofthem never worked again after Sangam.

Next crush of RK was for Zeenat Aman,though she was not his heroine but she worked with him in Satyam Shivam Sundaram. During filming, Raj and Zeenat got close together. It was also rumoured that Nargis left Raj Kapoor due to his alleged womanising habit but later on Raj Kapoor realised that he is doing wrong.

Song from Barsaat 1949

Song from Awaara 1951

Song from Shree 420

Song from Sangam

Song from Satyam Shivam Sundaram

Thursday 1 June 2017

NARGIS DUTT-the most powerful actresses in Indian cinema.

Remembering NARGIS(1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981), on her 88th Birth Anniversary as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema.She starred in many popular Hindi films of the late 1940s and 1950s such as Barsaat (1949), Andaz (1949), Awaara (1951), Deedar (1951), Shree 420 (1955), and Chori Chori (1956). She appeared in Mehboob Khan's Oscar-nominated rural drama Mother India in 1957 for which she won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance.
Between 1940-1960, she made a superhit pair with Raj Kapoor in films like Barsaat, Awara and Aag and has been immortalised in the RK emblem.
Nargis married Sunil Dutt after mother India released,Post her marriage to Sunil Dutt, Nargis gave up films for good. While she was at the peak of her career, even receiving the Filmfare Award for her performance in Mother India

Nargis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent treatment for the disease at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Upon her return to India, her condition deteriorated, and she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She went into a coma on May 2, 1981 and died the next day.one day before the premier of her son Sanjay Dutts debute film Rocky.

Along with her husband, Nargis formed the Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe, which roped in several leading actors and singers of the time and held stage shows at border areas. In early 1970s, she became the first patron of Spastics Society of India, and her subsequent work with the organisation brought her recognition as a social worker, and later a Rajya Sabha nomination in 1980.
She got the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress for Raat Aur Din in 1967 beside getting many national and international awards for Mother India.
Govt. of India started one Award on her name called the Nargis Dutt Award in her honour for best feature film on national integration in the annual National Film Awards
Here are some of her Best Known Songs

Song from Barsaat 1949

Song from Andaz (1949)

Song from Babul 1950

Song from Awaara 1951

Song from Bewafa 1952

Song from Aah 1953

Song from Shree 420 1955

Song from Chori Chori 1956

Song from Mother India 1957

Song from Laajwanti 1958

Song from Raat Aur Din (1967)

Wednesday 31 May 2017

Remembering RAJ KHOSLA on his 92nd Birth Anniversary

Raj Khosla was born on 31 May 1925,he was one of the top directors in Hindi films of the Golden Era.He was known for his excellent song picturizations, probably stemming from his musical background.He was spotted by Dev anand  and advised him to take up direction. On his advice he became Guru Dutt's assistant. His directorial debut Milap (starring Dev Anand and Geeta Bali) in 1954 didn't click at the box office. But his second film, C.I.D., released in 1956 set the ball rolling and the young director never looked back.
In 1958 his 2 films Kala Pani and Solva Saal were released both were hits and were critically acclaimed.In 1960 his next film as director was  Bambai Ka Babu another hit.
Raj Khosla explored a variety of styles be it crime thrillers (C.I.D., Kala Pani (1958)), musicals (Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) – whose starting point was seven songs composed by O. P. Nayyar), suspense thrillers (Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Mera Saaya (1966), Anita (1967) – his mystery trilogy with actress Sadhana), melodramas (Do Badan (1966), Do Raaste (1969)) or dacoit dramas (Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)
After  Mera Gaon Mera Desh and had hits like Prem Kahani (1975) starring the then hottest pair of the day Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz, Nehle Pe Dehla (1976) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978),the last hit he gave was  Dostana (1980) with Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman and Shatrughan Sinha.
Beside Director he produced 7 films only 2 films Do Raaste 1969 and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) were Super hits,his last film Naqab (1989) with Rishi kapoor was a flop.He  died in Mumbai on 9 June 1991, totally disillusioned with the film industry.

Song from Milap 1954

Song from C I D 1956

Song from Kala Pani 1958

Song from Solva Saal 1958

Song from Bombai Ka Baboo (1960)

Song from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962)

Song from Woh Kaun Thi? (1964)

Song from Mera Saaya (1966)

Song from Do Badan (1966)

Song from Do Raaste (1969)

Song from Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)

Song from Prem Kahani (1975)

Song from Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978)

Saturday 27 May 2017

Bollywood Songs having Dialogues In between

There have been many songs in Bollywood which are not mere songs but they are also decorated either with a dialogue or a monologue.Remember the song from Silsila "Ye kahan aa gaye hum" in which Amitabh Bachchan in his own voice renders Main aur meri tanhaai……This trend is not new,since 50s there have been many songs where voice of Film Actors were used to enhance the beauty of the song.Here are some of my favorite such songs.
Dil ki umangein hai jawan – A fun song picturised on Nalini Jaywant, Dev Anand and Pran.in the 1955 film Munimji. It becomes hilarious when Pran is urged to sing – Gaaiye na kya mushkil hai said by Nalini Jaywant

Song from Munimji 1955

Zara nazron se kehdo ji- This song from Bees Saal Baad has Biswajeet following his ladylove Waheeda Rehman.He becomes poetic in between the song.

Song from Bees Saal Baad 1962

Bol Radha Bol Sangam Hoga Ki Nahi-This super hit song of Sangam has the voice of Vyaijayantimala in between the song sung by Mukesh

Song from Sangam 1964

Duniya bananewaale kya tere -This song from Teesri Kasam has Raj Kapoor narrating the love story of Mahua – a beautiful girl. Raj Kapoor mesmerises you with his narration

Song from Teesri Kasam 1965

Naino waali ne haaye mera dil- This song from Mera Saaya has the voice of Sunil Dutt in between the song.

Song from Mera Saaya 1966

Aaj ki raat ye kaisi raat-This is a sensuous song from Aman (1967) rendered so effectively by Mohammed Rafi, while Saira Banu is whispering the sweet nothings in Rajendra Kumar’s ears.

Aaiye Aapka Tha Humen Intezar-Remember this hit song of 1969 Mahal sung by Asha Bhonsle and Shayari in between by Dev anand

Song from Mahal 1969

Nafrat karnewaalon ke seene mein- Another song from a Dev Anand film Johny Mera Naam. Its a monologue/ shayari by Kishore Kumar himself.

Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970

Are rafta rafta dekho aankh meri ladi hai-This song by Kishore kumar brilliantly composed by Kalyanji Anandji and picturesed on Dhermendra and Rekha is one of the high lights of the song.

Song from Kahani Kismat ki 1973

Tere bina zindagi se koi-This song is a background song but your heart just melts when you hear this famous dialogue between Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar. Along with the music, these lines form the soul of the song, taking the song to some another level.

Song from Aandhi 1975

Ye kahan aa gaye hum-This beautifully picturized song has Amitabh Bachchan's monologue in this song in his rich baritone is as famous or even more as the song itself. Main aur meri tanhaai……

Song from Silsila 1981

Thursday 25 May 2017

Remembering SUNIL DUTT on his 12th Death Anniversary

Born on June 6, 1929, Sunil Dutt died of a heart attack on 25th May 2005 in Mumbai.He was Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and Member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West at the time of his death.
He started his career with Radio Announcer in the 50s. His involvement in dramatics got him his first job with Keymers, a British advertising agency that hired him for radio programmes. "Lipton ki Mehfil", anchored by Mr. Dutt and broadcast on Radio Ceylon, at that time the only commercial radio station in the region, became extremely popular. Mr. Dutt interviewed many famous film personalities like Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar.
He was introduced to Bollywood by Ramesh Sehgal in 1955 with the film Railway Platform starring Nalini Jaywant and Sheila Ramani.This film had many hit songs but could not not put him on the fast track to success. His first hit, Ek Hi Raasta (1956), marked the start of a seven-film long association with B R Chopra.His collaboration with B.R. Chopra proved to be successful in films such as Gumraah (1963), Waqt (1965) and Hamraaz (1967)
His real breakthrough came with Mehboob Khan's magnum opus, Mother India (1957). His portrayal of Birju, Nargis' rebellious younger son .He had to face tough competition with the Raj Kapoor-Dilip Kumar-Dev Anand trio and Rajendra Kumar,Shammi Kapoor who were giving hits one after another in the 60s.
He was giving hit films but those were women-oriented films like Sadhna (1958), Sujata (1959) and Main Chup Rahungi (1962) so all the credit of success went to Heroines of those films.
Sunil Dutt turned producer in the early sixties with a couple of offbeat movies - 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke' (1963), where heroine Leela Naidu has an adulterous relationship and 'Mujhe Jeene Do' (1963) where he played a dacoit. This film brought him fame and success,he latter made Yaadein (1964), where he was the only character in the film, however, was found to be too esoteric by most.
Sunil Dutt's sartorial style was markedly different in both these genres of films, but they were all successful. In fact in 1967, he had a hat-trick of hits with Milan, Meherban and Humraaz.The very next year Padosan released which was a hit but once again the credit of success gone to Mehmood and Kishore Kumar.
In 1968 he produced Man Ka Meet which introduced his brother Som Dutt who was unsuccessful in films.Vinod Khanna was also intoduced by this film. In 1971, he produced, directed and starred in Reshma Aur Shera (1971) which was a huge failure at the box office.After Padosan in 1968 none of his film were hit till 1973,Heera released in 1973 was successful but not a great hit.Another breakthrough came to him after the release of Geeta Mera Naam in 1974.After that he gave many hits like Zakhmee (1975), Nagin (1976),Paapi (1977),Jaani Dushman (1979) and many more.
He launched his son Sanjay's career with Rocky in 1981 which was a success. Shortly before the film's release, Dutt's wife Nargis died of pancreatic cancer. He founded the Nargis Dutt Foundation in her memory for the cure of cancer patients.
Sunil Dutt's life was not smooth he faced many ups and down in his life.He overcame all his problems.
In 1982 he was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai, an apolitical titular position bestowed on him by the Maharashtra government for a year.He retired from the film industry in the early 1990s to turn to politics.
In 1984 he joined the Indian National Congress party at the behest of the late Rajiv Gandhi and was elected to Parliament of India for five terms from the constituency of Mumbai North West.During his short tenure as minister, Dutt was known to take up the cause of sportsperson. He is credited with several programmes to improve the standard of Indian athletes.
Just about a year before his death, Dutt returned to the silver screen for a cameo in last year’s superhit ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ starring his son Sanjay in the lead role. It was his last appearance on screen in a long time ever since he featured in his own ‘Dard Ka Rishta’ in 1983 to highlight the plight of cancer victims.
Sunil Dutt was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Padmashree in 1968, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award for National Integration and Communal Harmony in 1997, the Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Award for International Peace, Communal Harmony, Unity and National Integration in 1997 and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1998.
He won Filmfare Award as best Hero twice in Mujhe Jeene Do 1963 and Khandan in 1965,Latter in 1995 he got Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
He also got National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Yaadein in 1965
Sunil Dutt was undoubtedly a great actor — he was much more than that — a compassionate human being, a spirited minister, a magnanimous performer,My Tribute to him on his 12th Death Anniversary

Song from Railway Platform 1955

Song from Ek Hi Raasta (1956)

Song from Mother India (1957)

Song from Sadhna (1958)

Song from Sujata (1959)

Song from Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)

Song from Ek Phool Char Kaante (1960)

Song from Hum Hindustani (1960)

Song from Gumraah (1963)

Song from Waqt (1965)

Song from Hamraaz (1967)

Song from Milan (1967)

Song from Padosan (1968)

Song from Zakhmee (1975)

Monday 22 May 2017

Remembering Homi Wadia -The Original Stunt Film Maker on his 106th Birth Anniversary

Homi Wadia was a filmmaker of 30s and continued to make films upto 80s . He was the founder of Wadia Movietone and Basant Pictures. In a career spanning 5 decades, Wadia started as a cinematographer in Lal-e-Yaman (1933) and subsequently produced and directed around 40 films including adventurous flicks like Hunterwali, Miss Frontier Mail, Diamond Queen and fantasy films like Hatim Tai

In 1981, he got into a labour dispute with union leader Datta Samant, unable to take on the dispute, he decided to quit film making and closed down Basant Studios.
He was born on May 18, 1911, in Surat, Gujarat, was married to actress and stunt woman Fearless Nadia. Nadia was undoubtedly Wadia's most brilliant discovery and creation.Both of them together gave many memorable films.Nadia quit films in 50s.

He was also a founding member of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, established in 1954. He remained active, and even after his wife Nadia died in 1996, he regularly visited Basant theatre in Chembur. He died at the age of 93, in Mumbai in 2004.
Director Homi Wadia and the stunt film icon, who is one of the inspirations for Kangana Ranaut's Julia in 'Rangoon', rewind to the terrific '30s
List of films