The Shirtless Heroes of Bollywood

Dara Singh, the first He-Man of Hindi cinema who had the distinction of going shirtless for nearly all his films. It was mandatory for Dara Singh to expose in every film poster as he was the undisputed wrestling champ of India. Those days Bollywood actors were not always known for their bodies, the primary focus was on their acting skills which dominated the screen.
When we look back to see the old heroes shown shirtless the first film comes in my mind is Mr & Mrs 55 in which Guru Dutt actually makes his first cameo–as a shirtless fisherman.The most famous Shirtless was Dharmendra in Phool Aur Pathar.

Dharmendra

The first time that showed a popular hero going shirtless on a movie poster was none other than Dharmendra in OP Ralhan’s ‘Patthar Ke Phool’ in 1966 and in Anil Sharma’s ‘Elaan-E-Jung’ in 1989. He was considered the most handsome looking he-man hero who could make his female fans swoon over him.The poster of ‘Patthar Ke Phool’ raked up a storm among the crowd as it was for the first time that an ‘A’ grade movie playing a common man went shirtless standing near a heroine.
Sanjay Dutt

After many years a hero appeared as He Man was Sanjay Dutt.In his debut film Rocky he was shown shirtless but shirtless body was displayed in Feroz Khan’s ‘Yalgaar’ poster. Salman khan in an interview said that he was inspired by Sanjay Dutt's body and started making under his guidance. 
Sunny Deol

.Contemporary to Sanjay Dutt was another hero Sunny Deol,the son of the original He Man
Dharmendra.Like his father Dharmendra was a fitness freak who played strong men characters in action films. He did strip in a couple of scenes in his debut movie ‘Betaab’ and Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Ghayal’ and ‘Ghatak’ but never on a poster. JP Dutta’s ‘Kshatriya’ was probably the first poster where he went shirtless along with Sanjay Dutt.
Salman Khan

It is Salman Khan who started the Trend of shirtless in bollywood. Though he was shown shirtless in Maine Pyar Kiya but the real trend started after the song "O O Jane Jana" from 1998 film Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. After that  every movie of this super star doesn’t get full stop without the insertion of any shirtless scene.
Ajay Devgan

Ajay Devgan made his acting debut with ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ in 1991 and has come a long since then. He too had a lean physique until he went shirtless for ‘Omkara’ where he pumped iron. The poster of Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham’ made him strip for the movie poster which was followed up by ‘Action Jackson’
Hritik Roshan

One of the fittest and most handsome hunks in contemporary Bollywood.His first film was Kaho Na Pyaar Hai was released in 2000 but It took almost a decade for Hrithik to go topless in Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ in 2011
John Abraham

John is famous for going shirtless in almost every movie of his. His debut movie ‘Jism’ followed by ‘Paap’ set the trend for all his movies. One of the best bodies in the business, his notable films where he stripped for scenes were in ‘Dostana’, ‘Dhoom’, ‘Race 2’ and ‘Shoot Out At Wadala’, etc

 Now, however, with increasing pressure on looks, actors have to work hard to achieve a chiseled look in order to ‘stay in the game.In today's generation of Heroes Tiger Shroff  and Varun Dhawan are two heroes having good physique.

Tiger Shroff

Varun Dhawan

SONGS

Song from Yalgaar 1992

Song from Bang Bang 2014

Song from Desi Boyz

Song from Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-leela

Today Western music rules youngsters' playlists but there are many youngsters who like to listen Ghazals. When we talk of Ghazals in today's scenario only one name appears in our mind that is the Legendary  Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali.
On his 77th Birthday I write this blog about his association with Bollywood.Though, he has hardly lent his voice to Bollywood, the few of his Ghazals that made it to the big screen have remained Indian audiences’ all time favorite. 
Ghulam Ali was born on 5th Dec 1940 , at village Kaleke, district Sialkot, which is now a part of Pakistan.He belongs to a musical family, his father was vocalist and sarangi player who trained him earlier, he also learnt from Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's brother Ustad Barkat Ali Khan who is another great singer.
Owing to his immense popularity, some of his ghazals have been used in the Indian Hindi movies. His popular ghazal "Chupke chupke raat din.." has been used in the movie Nikaah featuring Raj Babbar and Salma Aghaa. Moreover, many of the Hindi film songs have been "inspired" from some of his ghazals. "Thodi si jo pi li hain, chori to nahi ki hain" from Namak Halal (Ghazal - Hungama hain kyon barpa) as you would recognize, is one them.
The first time his Ghazal(a small part in the background ) was taken in Hindi film Chhoti Si Baat in 1975,but his ghazals became popular among Hindi film goers from 1982 film Nikaah.In 1984 again in Maati Mange khoon his Ghazal was being played in background.He was associated with Aawargi(1990),Beti No 1 (2000),Bewafaa (2005) and very recently with Ghar Wapsi.
In Ghar Wapsi, he has also contributed to song Apni Mitti Ki Khushboo Hain Rago Mein Yeh Basi Hai…Choomenge Isko Shaan Se. Humko Toh Pyaara Hain Yeh Watan, Apni Jaan Se.

Song from Nikaah (1982)

Song from Maati Maange Khoon (1984)

Song from Aawargi 1990

Song from Bewafaa (2005)

SHASHI KAPOOR- The Prince Charming of Bollywood

A Tribute To Shashi Kapoor
From the age of four, Shashi Kapoor acted in plays directed and produced by his father Prithviraj Kapoor.He first appeared in films in the 1948 film AAG where he played the younger version of the characters played by his eldest brother Raj Kapoor and then he appeared  in Sangram (1950), where he played younger version of Ashok Kumar.
He was a very popular actor in Bollywood during the 60s, 70s and until the mid 80s.He made a hit Jodi with Amitabh Bachchan in the 70s.The two co-starred in a total of 12 films:
Shashi Kapoor made his debut as a leading man in the 1961 film Dharmputra and went on to appear in 116 Hindi films, including 61 films as the solo lead hero and 55 multi star-cast films, 21 films as supporting actor and special appearance in 7 films. 
He got an opportunity to work as an assistant director in the film Post Box 999, the debut film of Sunil Dutt, and worked as an assistant director to Ravindra Dave in Guest House(1959), which was followed by movies such as Dulha Dulhan and Shriman Satyawadi, where Raj Kapoor was the lead hero.
He personally regarded his best performances as solo lead hero in Hindi films were in Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare , Jab Jab Phool Khile, Haseena Maan Jayegi , Pyar Ka Mausam, Raja Saab (1969), Jaanwar Aur Insaan, Mr.Romeo, Aa Gale Lag Jaa, Chori Mera Kaam, Phaansi, Junoon, Kalyug , Pighalta Aasman, New Delhi Times 
In 1978, he set up his production house, Film Valas, which produced critically acclaimed films such as Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Utsav (1984).^[22] In 1991 he produced and directed a fantasy film titled Ajooba which had his frequent co-star Amitabh Bachchan and nephew Rishi Kapoor in the lead.
He met English actress Jennifer Kendal in Calcutta in 1956 while both were working for their respective theatre groups. Shashi was both assistant stage manager as well as an actor for his father's theatre group, Prithvi Theatre. Geoffrey Kendal's Shakespearean group was also present at the same time in Calcutta and Jennifer was Geoffrey's daughter. After their subsequent meeting, the couple fell in love and after facing initial opposition from the Kendals and support from sister-in-law Geeta Bali, they got married in July 1958.

Shashi_Kapoor_receiving_Dadasaheb_Falke_award_from_Arun_Jaitley.

 In 2011, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his contributions to Art-Cinema.^[4] In 2015, he was awarded the 2014 Dadasaheb Phalke Award, making him the third member of his family to receive the highest award in Indian Cinema after Prithviraj Kapoor and Raj Kapoor
He died yesterday on 4th Dec 2017 at the age of 79 at 5.20 pm. He had kidney problem for several years. He was on dialysis for several years." Kapoor is survived by two sons, Kunal and Karan, and a daughter, Sanjana, who takes care of the Prithvi Theatre

Song from Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Song from Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare 1966

Song from Abhinetri 1970

Song from Sharmilee 1971

Song from Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973)

MOTILAL-The Natural Actor

A Tribute to Moti Lal on his 107th Birth Anniversary
Moti Lal deserves to be re-introduced to the present generation of film goers. He  should to be studied in acting schools because he is one of the all-time greats of Indian cinema.He was a natural actor.Watching his film one never felt he was acting.He was the Chunni Babu of Bimal Roy's Devdas.Perhaps his finest and most underfeted performance came in the title role of Mr Sampat (1952)
He was born in Shimla on 4th Dec 1910.He  starred in over 60 films, with at least 30 in the lead.He was a character actor and also played villainy roles in Anari and Paigham (1959).He received  Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Devdas (1955) and Parakh (1960).He also directed the film Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965), but died before its release.
Motilal came from a distinguished family from Delhi.^[7] His father was a renowned educationist, who died when Motilal was one year old.,he did his schooling in Shimla and later graduated from Delhi.University.
After leaving college, Moti Lal came to Bombay to join the Navy but destiny wanted him to become actor. In 1934 (aged 24), he was offered the hero's role in Shaher Ka Jadoo (1934) by the Sagar Film Company. He later featured in several successful social dramas alongside Sabita Devi, including Dr. Madhurika(1935) and Kulvadhu (1937). He worked with Mehboob Khan in Jagirdar (1937) and Hum Tum Aur Woh (1938) under the Sagar Movietone banner, in Taqdeer (1943) for Mehboob Productions, and Kidar Sharma's Armaan (1942) and Kaliyan (1944). He also acted in S. S. Vasan's film Paigham (1959) (Gemini Studios), and Raj Kapoor's Jagte Raho (1956).
Motilal had a glorious record as filmdom’s smartest hero. For over two decades, he reigned supreme over the hearts of swooning fans. At the age of 55, cinema had to bid farewell to its most dapper hero. Motilal had a passion for horse-racing. He used to have a horse called Traitor, because the animal had the nasty habit of looking back at Motilal exactly at the time of reaching the winning post and losing the race in the effort!  In 1965, Motilal breathed his last.  He died penniless.
An Audio Song  from Shaadi (1941) sung by Moti Lal

Song from Shaadi (1941)

Song from Taqdeer 1943

Song from Mastana 1954

Song from Jagte Raho 1956

Song from Choti Choti Batein (1965) 

Dev Anand-The Original Style Icon of India

 

Fashion is a big industry today in India .An early trendsetter in fashion was Bollywood(Hindi cinema).If we look back we will find Dev Anand was the original Trend Setter. He was the style icon of 1950s and 1960s, scripted a fashion statement with his scarves, mufflers,hats Shirt collars and jackets and his singnature puff.
Dev saab created style "not only in reel but also in real life. His signature strip black trousers, cap wore on one side, bright cardigans and scarves tied around his neck created sensation." I will consider him as the father of fashion in the lead actors wardrobe. 
I think that era will never come back because right now people are too much influenced by outside world. Rather than creating their own style, many people are looking at the West. In the 50s there were no fashion designers,Dev Saheb  used to create his own style which later becomes a fashion
Thanks to his good looks, further enhanced by his stylish wardrobe and on-screen romantic image portrayed in songs like Abhi NA Jao Chodkar, Jia O and Khoya Khoya Chand, Dev Anand had girls swooning over him.
In an interview he was asked about fashion he said"I have always had the passion for clothes and what I wear should be perfect. If I like something, I do it. That's how everybody should, and the world should function. Dev Anand likes fashion. I look myself in the mirror everyday and say, "I look good" and don't care what everyone has to say about me as long as I like it. That's what fashion is all about. Fashion is what suits a man, his body, his physique, his appearance. You cannot follow a fashion designer but you can follow your own personality."

 Black Suit-His black coat after Kaala bazaar became a trend. His looks were compared to Gregory Pack- the great Hollywood star, his charisma, charm & child like smile was intoxicating & every generation admired, adored and appreciated him. He was asked not to wear black color in public as women would jump from buildings after seeing him dresses in black. Such was his charisma.

Hair Style-Dev Anand’s much-aped hair-style the Puff symbolized an urban chic fashion trend.This trend remained till Pyar Mohabbat released in 1966.From this film onwards he stopped making Puff,soon all the young generation changed their hair style.

His penchant for hats- Like every piece of accessory that defined his wardrobe,his hats became a rage. From the artistic beret to the classic cowboy hat to the sophisticated panama,the Jewel Thief cap very few Bollywood stars could carry a range of hats the way Dev saab did!

 His Walk: Mr. Anand was known for his trademark sloping walk, which added to his charisma. Watch the song Khoa Khoya Chand from Kaala Bazar for his walk.

His Sweaters and Jackets-He made the effortless way of wearing sweaters on shoulders a big rage during the 50s,60s and is still the only man you think of when we talk about retro style in Bollywood. Many many years past his hey day, He used a lot vibrant colours and psychedelic hues in his wardrobe when most people during that time didn’t prefer to experiment much. His understanding of colour-coding was phenomenal and personalised it to the hilt. In Guide he challenged all the existing norms with his big floral prints and buttoned up turtle-neck shirts. Dev Anand (inspired heavily by Gregory Peck) draped a sweater over his shoulders, a trend that was replicated years later by Shahrukh Khan in Mohabbatein. 

Scarfs and Muffler-He employed a variety of mufflers in  range of psychedelic hues quite effortlessly. He paired up those bold and outrageously colourful accessories with big and conspicuous floral motifs. It is said he popularized mufflers in India.

Dev  Anand’s style was highly individualistic. Though widely imitated, 

Song from Kala Bazar

Song from Tere Ghar Ke Samne

Song from Teen Deviyan

Song from Guide

Music Directors who were also Singers(Part 1)

PART 1
We all know that the Music Composers are also good singers but not all composers sang in films.In this blog I have taken those composers who sang in one or more films.In the 50s or60s the composers were very particular about the voice of the singer that suits the actor or not.Those days the composer would only sing songs that suited their voice. Today, more and more music directors are composing and singing many songs out of their albums be it AR Rahman, Amit Trivedi, Ram Sampath, Vishal Shekhar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Shankar Mahadevan, Sajid-Wajid and many others.
I start alphabetically the composers who sang for the films
Amirbai Karnataki.
Amirbai was a talented singer and actress who was fluent in Kannada (mother tongue) and Gujarati languages. .In 1943, with the release of Bombay Talkies' Kismet (1943 film) (1943), she achieved popularity: the songs of Kismetbecame a rage and Amirbai became famous. She was initially known as a singing star, but at the decline of her career she became a playback singer. She reached her career peak by 1947. Amirbai also composed music for Wahab Picturesf film Shehnaaz (1948).

Song from Shehnaaz (1948)

Shehnaaz (1948)

Song from  Kismet (1943)

 Anil Biswas
On the advise of his mentor,Hiren Bose, Anil Biswas came to Bombay in 1934. He worked in Eastern Film Company, Sagar film company National Studios and Bombay Talkies during 1942 to 1946, after which he became a Freelancer.He made his  debut as a music director with "Dharam ki Devi" (1935). He reached the height of his career with the success of "Kismet" (1943).  This film broke all records and ran in the theatres longer than any film in history.  (This record remained intact until roughly 1978 when "Sholay" surpassed it.)  Kismet was not his only success; other hits as well such as "Jwar Bhatta" (1944) and "Milan" (1946).
Here ia rare and unique song,Anil biswas singing for another Music composer

Song from Lala ji (1942)

Chale Bajaate Seeti & Tose Bichhad Ke Anil Biswas & Asha Bhonsle 

Song from  Zamana 1957

A R RAHMAN

Born A.S. Dileep Kumar on October 10th, 1966, in Madras, India, Allah Rakha Rahman was exposed to music from the time he was a child, entered in classical piano studies by his parents at the age of four. At 16, he quit school and was following in his father's footsteps He became famous in Bollywood with Roza in 1992.He  is a composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician and philanthropist.Among his awards are two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and sixteen Filmfare Awards South. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 2010 by the Government of India.Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was Rahman's Bollywood debut. Successful scores and songs for Dil Se.. and the percussive Taal followed.

A R Qureshi
A R Qureshi composed music for some 38 Hindi moves. Most of these movies were small budget movies that did not leave much impact at the box office. His best known movies were “Sabak”(1950), “Bewafa”(1951) and “Khandaan”(1955).Here is a rare song from Maa  Baap 1944,A R Qureshi singing with Rajkumari

Song from Maa  Baap 1944

Bappi Lahiri 

Alokesh "Bappi" Lahiri (born 27 November 1952) is a music composer, music director, singer, actor, and record producer. He popularized the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema and sang some of his own compositions.Very recently he sang for Vishal Shekher in Dirty Picture

Song from Disco Dancer 1982

Song from Dirty Picture 2011

Bhupendra Hazarika

He was a lyricist, music composer, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam.He is also acknowledged to have introduced the culture and folk music of Assam and Northeast India to Hindi cinema at the national level. He received the National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1975. Recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Padmashri (1997), and Padmabhushan (2001), Hazarika was awarded with Dada Saheb Phalke Award(1992), India's highest award in cinema, by the Government of India .His first hindi film as Music composer was was Ek Pal released 1986.after that he gave music for  Rudaali (1993),Darmiyan 1997,.Saaz 1998 ,Gaja Gamini 2000 and,Daman(2001).

Song from Ek Pal 1986

Song from Rudaali 1993

Bulo C Rani

He assisted Khemchand in the movies like Tansen,Chandni, Sukh Dukh (1942) and Shahenshah Babar (1944). He sang his first playback song "Ruth Na Pyaar Mein" under Khemchand in the film Mehmaan (1942). His first film as a composer was Caravan (1944). The same year, he sang in a film Pagli Duniya. In that film, he changed his name temporarily to Bhola. But later on he sang many songs under this name till the end of his career.

Song from Dukh Sukh(1942)

Song from Pagli Duniya.  (1944)

C. Ramchandra

A a renowned music composer of the Golden Era, For his career as an occasional playback singer he used only his surname Chitalkar. Chitalkar sang some renowned and unforgettable duets with Lata such as Kitna haseen hai mausam in film Azad or Shola Jo bhadke in Albela.The highly popular patriotic song "Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo", which was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and penned by poet Pradeep, was a composition of Ramachandra.

He gave music for more than 100 films His biggest success as a music composer was the 1953 movie Anarkali and Albela 1951.The famous song Ena Meena Dika from ASHA was his composition.

Song from Albela 1951

Song from Azaad 1955

Hemant Kumar

He was a Bengali playback singer, music director and film producer, who sang in Bengali, Hindi and other Indian languages. He is also the greatest artist of Rabindra Sangeet. He won two National awards for the category best male playback singer. He is often credited as one of the greatest Indian singers of all time for his unparalleled manly voice.His first hindi film was Anandmath 1952.some of his famous films were Nagin,Jagriti,Bees Saal Baad,Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam,Anupama and Khamoshi

Song from Jaal 1952

Song from Khamoshi 1969