Wednesday 14 June 2017

BHARAT BHUSHAN-an actor of 'note.'


It is difficult to imagine any other actor in Bailju Bawra other than Bharat Bhushan,he  may have never been a swashbuckling hero, but he was just right as the sensitive, suffering poet-musician in several hit musicals in the fifties and sixties.Remember the films Baiju Bawra, Mirza Ghalib, Basant Bahar, Kavi Kalidas, Barsaat Ki Raat and Sangeet Samraat Tansen where he portrayed an artiste who was at odds with a cruel world but still retained a song on his lips.
Bharat Bhushan was born on 14 June 1920 Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He did his studies and took a graduate degree from Aligarh. After this he took to acting against his father's wishes. He began his career in his early twenties, with a supporting role in the controversial Chitralekha (1941).
He had to struggle for over a decade to make a mark in Hindi movies till Baiju Bawra (1952), which gave him instant stardom and legendary status along with Mohammad RafiMeena Kumari and Naushad Ali.
Riding the crest of success, the star-director team of Baiju Bawra collaborated once again for Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1953), for which Bhushan bagged the Filmfare Best Actor Award,Sohrab Modi's Mirza Ghalib (1954) saw Bhushan playing a poet (the eponymous Ghalib) whose wife and lover were played by Nigar Sultana and Suraiya respectively; in Basant Bahar (1956), he played a singer once again.
His list of leading ladies included Meena Kumari, Nargis and Nutan. His well-liked pairing with Madhubala began with his cameo in the Madhubala-centric Gateway Of India, escalated with the success of the musical, Phagunand reached its peak with Barsaat Ki Raat
The 1960s began well for Bhushan with Barsaat Ki Raat and the ensemble hit, Ghunghat (opposite Bina Rai), but there were several younger heroes on the scene now. In 1964, his ambitious colour starrers like Jahan Ara (opposite Mala Sinha) and Dooj Ka Chand (opposite B Saroja Devi) failed.He swiched to character roles,his stint as the older man began on a hopeful note with Rajshri's Taqdeer (1967), but the film failed.He played father role of Shashi Kapoor in Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) .
Realising his acting days were drawing to a close, Bhushan planned to direct a film with Manoj Kumar and Vyjayanthimala in the late 1960s  Dooj Ka Chand, but the project fell through. 
Bharat Bhushan died on 27 January 1992,he was reportedly in a dire financial state.even after enjoying status of star struggled lot in his old age and was found travelling in a local train also.My Tribute to this Legend of the Golden Era.
Song from Baiju Bawra 1952



Song from Baiju Bawra 1952



Song from Mirza Ghalib 1954



Song from Basant Bahar 1956



Song from Gateway Of India 1957



Song from Phagun 1958



Song from Rani Roopmati 1959



Song from Barsaat Ki Raat 1960



Song from Sangeet Samrat Tansen 1962



Song from Jahan Ara 1964



Song from Taqdeer 1967



Song from Pyar Ka Mausam 1969

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Top 10 Hit Songs of 1967 as per Binaca Geetmala Annual Programme


Binaca Geetmala,India's First weekly radio countdown show of top filmi songs from Hindi cinema listened to by millions of Hindi music lovers, that was broadcast on Radio Ceylon.The show was hosted during its entire run by Ameen Sayani,Here are top 10 songs of 1967
Song from Milan (1967)



Song from Teesri Manzil (1966)


Song from Aakhri Khat (1967)



Song from Diwana (1968)



Song from Anupama (1966)



Song from Milan (1967)


Song from Anita (1967)



Song from Dus Lakh (1966)



Song from Around The World (1967)



Song from Baharon Ke Sapne (1967)


Sunday 11 June 2017

Relax & Enjoy your SUNDAY with These KISHORE KUMAR FUN 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 Bollywood  Rare FUN Songs of KISHORE KUMAR 
                                                              Part -1


Song from Tamasha 1952


Song from Ladki 1953






Song from Adhikar 1954 





Song from Dhobi Doctor 1954





Song from Naukri 1954 





Song from Baap Re Baap 1955





Song from Bhai-Bhai 1956


Song from Naya Andaz 1956





Song from Paisa Hi Paisa 1956




Song from Parivar 1956





Song from Miss Mary 1957


Song from Musafir 1957





Friday 9 June 2017

Vasant Desai-The Talented Music Director who never got his due


 Bollywood film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram films like Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1953), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955).He launched the play back singer, Vani Jairam with the song, Bole re papihara in Guddi (1971).Desai created an equally powerful bhajan “Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena” into a nationwide school prayer through Vani’s vocals.
Born on 9th June 1912into a wealthy family in Sonawade village,Maharashtra,started his career with the famous Prabhat Film Company since it started making talkies. He acted, sang, and sometimes composed songs in Prabhat's films like Dharmatma and Sant Dnyaneshwar
 He scored music for a majority of V. Shantaram's films when the latter broke away from Prabhat to form his own film studio.He was one of the leading Music Director of Marathi films.Veteran Marathi film music director and Desai’s creative mentor Keshavrao Bhosle in his memoirs “Maazzhe Sangeet” applauds Desai for many such firsts as well as introduction of echo in sound recording in India
Going through his long and enviable list of songs would be difficult but suffice to say that his memorable songs are valuable gems of musical heritage.Here are some of my favorite.
Song from Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955)


Song from Toofan Aur Deeya (1956)


Song from Do Ankhen Barah Haath (1957)


Song from Goonj Uthi Shahnai (1959)


Song from Goonj Uthi Shahnai (1959)


Song from Guddi (1971)


Song from Guddi (1971)


Wednesday 7 June 2017

Remembering DATTARAM -The soul Behind Shankar Jaikishan Music


Many of you may not have heard of Dattaram  (his death anniversary is on June 8) but you would surely have heard songs he either composed, arranged or played the dholak, tabla or dafli.He managed  Shankar – Jaikishan’s rhythm section.Dattaram is credited with hit Bollywood film songs like "Aansoo bhari hain yeh jeevan ki raahein" (from the film "Parvarish"), "Chun chun karti aayee chidiya" (from "Ab Dilli Door Nahi") or "Masti bhara hai sama" (also from "Parvarish"). His friendship with Shankar – Jaikishan led to opportunities to compose music for films independently. He was one of the few composers who made a successful move from being an assistant to a full-fledged music director. Despite initial successes as a music director, he continued assisting Shankar – Jaikishan, and never really broke out on his own.
Somewhere in the early 1940s, young Dattaram made his way to Mumbai and was working in the docks as a labourer. Obviously, he was poor and not exactly educated. He had learned the tabla for a few years mainly encouraged by his mother who was a local singer
Dattaram became an important member of the RK Group and worked closely with the likes of Raj Kapoor, Shankara-Jaikishan, Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. 
He was assistant music director to Shankar Jaikishen from 1948 to 1974.This was the time when SJ were in their Peak , gave us Hit and Immortal songs.
He was the person who invented a unique Theka,Ask a pro from the Hindi film music fraternity in Mumbai and anyone will tell you about 'Dattu Ka Theka' (Dattu's beat),He worked on many films as a 'theka' player for rehearsals and finally did his first recording for the film "Nagina".
Raj Kapoor gave him the chance as an independent Music Director in his film Ab Dilli Door Nahi which he produced.Later on He recommended him for Parvarish.He did about 19 films as independent music director.
He did work with other music directors like Laxmikant-Pyarelal and was Raj Kapoor's trusted man when he worked on the music for "Bobby" with the duo. Later, he chose to retire and return to Goa.
Towards his end, he underwent two massive heart attacks.He died on 8th June 2007.

Song from Ab Dilli Door Nahin 1957


Song from Ab Dilli Door Nahin 1957


Song from Parvarish 1958


Song from Parvarish 1958


Song from Kala Aadmi 1960


Song from Shriman Satyawadi 1960




Song from Qaidi No.911 (1959)






Monday 5 June 2017

Bollywood songs having English/ foreign language lyrics


English and many foreign language words are used in Bollywood Songs,There are many hindi films in which full English/foreign language song is picturised.One of such old song comes in my mind is from the film Ek Phool Char Kante released in 1960,"The beautiful baby of broadway".similarly there was one song in rajkapoors SANGAM[1964]which had many languages like english,german,russian,etc.In this post I have taken many of such songs.

Ek Phool Char Kante 1960


Song from Sangam 1964


Song from Hare Rama Hare Krishna


Song from Bombay Talkie 1970


Song  from Bombay To Goa 1972


Song  from Julie 1975


Song  from Karthik Calling Karthik 2010


Song  from Bewaqoof 1960


Song  from Great Gambler 1979


Song  from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2011


Song  from Befikre 2016




Sunday 4 June 2017

Remembering NUTAN on her 81st Birth Anniversary


 Nutan an Indian actress.was born on 4th June 1936 to the film actress Shobhna Samarth and filmmaker Kumarsen Samarth,She started her career as actress as a fourteen-year-old in Hamari Beti (1950). This film was produced by her mother, Shobhana.Her first big break was Seema, for which she won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award.


She formed a popular screen couple with co-star Dev Anand and the two acted in four films together – Paying Guest (1957), Baarish (1957), Manzil (1960) and Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963).She was lucky to have been noticed by Bimal Roy, and he did two of his masterpieces with her. Bandini and Sujata are her tragic masterpieces.In Bandini and Sujata, a heavenly Nutan demonstrates the value of sacrifice and its poignant drama.Sophia Loren, who greatly admired her after watching her performance in Sujata at the Venice International Film Festival.
When heroines were nothing more than mere glamorous props meant for providing titillation, Nutan accepted only those roles in which she either played the main part or at least shared equal footing with the male counterpart.
She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades. Regarded as one of the finest female actors in the history of Hindi cinema,She held the record of five wins of the Best Actress award at Filmfare, which was held only by her for over 30 years until it was matched by her niece Kajol in 2011.
In 1974, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. In the 1980s, Nutan started playing character roles and continued working until shortly before her death. She portrayed mostly motherly roles in such films as Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Meri Jung (1985) and Naam (1986). Her performance in Meri Jung earned her a sixth and last Filmfare Award, this time in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Nutan was married to Rajnish Bahl from 1959 till her death of cancer in 1991. Their son, Mohnish Bahl is a well-known character actor in Hindi films and television.
She worked all the top actors of her time,she was the heroine of Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor also signed one film with Dilip Kumar but unfortunately that movie never released.ultimately she did one film with him "Karma" in 80s. With Kishore Kumar, she appeared in a romantic comedy film that had some elements of a crime thriller — Dilli Ka Thug — and was first seen in a swimming costume.She worked with Shammi Kapoor,Sunil Dutt,Dharmendra and Sanjiv Kumar.She also did one film with Amitabh Bachchan "Saudagar".
Some of Nutan's Popular Songs
Song from Humlog 1951


Song from Laila Majnu 1953


Song from Seema 1955


Song from Paying Guest 1957


Song from Paying Guest 1957


Song from Dilli Ka Thug 1958


Song from Anari 1959


Song from Sujata 1959


Song from Chhalia 1960


Song from Bandini 1963


Song from Tere Ghar Ke Samne 1963


Song from Milan 1967


Song from Saraswatichandra 1968


Song from Saudagar 1973


Song from Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki 1978


Song from Karma 1986



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 Aah 1953


Song from Shree 420 1955


Song from Shree 420 1955


Song from Chori Chori 1956


Song from Chori Chori 1956


Song from Mother India 1957


Song from Laajwanti 1958


Song from Raat Aur Din (1967)