KHEM CHAND PRAKASH - The creator of musical gems, and the mentor of stalwarts

Very few of us know that greats like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Naushad, Manna Dey and Bulo C Rani were mentored by him. But the creator of these musical gems and the mentor of this league of stalwarts is now largely forgotten. On his Death Anniversary, I pay my tribute to this great composer who composed the song Aayega Aane Wala Aayega sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
Khemchand Prakash was born in Jaipur in 1907 where his father Goverdhan Das was a Dhrupad singer & Kathak dancer in the royal court of Madho Singh II, and the boy, Khemchand got his first training in music & dance from his father. Soon he became popular for his Kathak dancing talent and for his unmatched skills in drawing animal sketches with gulaal on the floor using his feet while dancing!
He joined New Theaters as an assistant of Timir Baran, the music director of Devdas (1935) two of the classic compositions from Devdas, ‘Dukh ke din ab...’ and ‘Baalam aan baso...’ , were composed by him as an assistant Music Director.
Initial few years were not good for Khemchand Prakash, it was in 1943 that came a film which pushed Khemchand Prakash much ahead of the other music directors of the era and the film was KL Saigal starrer Tansen, considered one of the finest musicals. Diya jalaao jagmag jagmag, Rumjhum rumjhum chal tihari, More balpan ke saathi, Sapt suran teen gram... are musical gems.

Song of Tansen 1943

Legendary Music Director Naushad was his assistant in many films, in an interview, Naushad said it was Khemchan Prakash who made him assistant from the film Gaazi Salauddin, after that he was assistant to him for many films. He learnt from him a lot He was his real Guru.
We all know that Ghulam Haider was the mentor of Lata Mangeshkar. He introduced Mangeshkar to producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, who was working then on the movie Shaheed (1948), but Mukherjee dismissed Mangeshkar's voice as "too thin".Her voice was also rejected by producer Chandu Lal Shah, owner of Ranjit Movietone and Khemchand Prakash, music director with the studio, challenged his decision and told him that Lata’s voice will rule the nation one day and resigned from the studio. Khemchand’s first film with Bombay Talkies studio, Ziddi, also featured a beautiful song by Lata Mangeshkar, ‘Chanda re, ja re ja re...’. 

Song of Ziddi 1948

But what followed Ziddi was an outstanding piece of work in the form of the music of Mahal (1949).

Mahal made Lata Mangeshkar a popular name in every corner of the country. The haunting melodies and brilliant orchestration of Mahal, set the foundation for the golden period of Hindi film music of the 50s.

Song of Mahal 1949

1948 marked yet another significant film in Khemchand’s career - Bombay Talkies’s Ziddi, in which he gave Kishore Kumar his first major break as a singer with the song ‘Marne ki duaaen kyun maangu...’

Song of Ziddi 1948

Unfortunately, Khemchand Prakash did not survive long enough to see the success of Mahal or the shaping of the golden era of the Hindi film music of the 50s. He passed away on Aug 10 1950

Song from Sindoor 1947 (Audio only)

Song from Mahal 1949 

Song from Tamasha 1952

Song from Tamasha 1952

Baazi 1951 Songs Were Banned by All India Radio

You would be surprised to note that the popular songs like Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le and many more songs were not allowed to air from All India Radio. It was in 1952 that the minister of information and broadcasting (I&B) of newly independent India, B.V. Keskar, decided that All India Radio (AIR)—the information and entertainment lifeline of the nation—would not air film songs as they were degenerate and far too “Westernized”. He believed they would hinder the cultural growth of a young nation on the cusp of a bright future. 
Mr Keskar who was a staunch supporter of Indian Classical music. To his mind, Indian film songs were straying from their responsibility of instilling national pride in people.
The influence of western music and instruments would keep the Indians away from their culture. 
In an article in The Hindu (19 July 1953), Keskar argued that the country’s appreciation for classical music had “fallen” and was “on the point of extinction” particularly in north India.
To begin with, he mandated that all songs aired on AIR would be screened, he imposed “a quota of 10 percent of all program time”. In addition, Keskar ensured that if a film song was played, the film’s title would not be announced, since he considered that advertising. Only the singer’s name would be mentioned.
As a result, Radio Ceylon got popularity. It created the legendary musical countdown Binaca Geetmala—a show entirely dedicated to Indian film songs. Every Wednesday, Indian listeners would tune into Radio Ceylon and listen to their favourite songs with their favourite show host—the iconic and charming Ameen Sayani, who would engage them with complimentary film trivia.

Song of Baazi 1951

"Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain" An Immortal Art in Celluloid.

Vijay Anand was an Ace Director. His directorial excellence was as much about his deft camera work as it was about his nuanced characters. He was a master of picturising songs. His songs outlived his times. This great song from Guide is an immortal art in celluloid. Both he and his elder brother Dev had a  belief that the songs have repetitive value. Besides the composition of the song, they were very particular about the picturization of the song. Vijay Anand used to say “My camera listens to the song and moves with it,” Long shots, lush backdrops and sharp intercutting brought out the poetry in the prose.
Guide (1965) was Navketan’s first film in colour. Based on RK Narayan’s novel. It became a classic because it excelled in acting (Dev Anand-Waheeda Rehman), music (SD Burman), photography (Fali Mistry), editing (Vijay Anand and Babu Shiekh)... 
There was a situation in the film where the heroine was dejected and to bring hope the hero sings a song. For this situation, three legends, Dada Burman created a tune for which  Shailendra wrote the beautiful lines and Mohammad Rafi gave the voice.  Incidentally, the saxophone that plays in this song was played by Manohari Singh, a music assistant to S D Burman (and later R D Burman).

The song Tere Mere Sapne was shot in the early light(Sun Rise) in Udaipur. This sequence lasts more than four minutes, but it is made up of only three shots, which increase progressively in length – in other words, there are only two cuts in the whole scene. And this isn’t an arbitrary stylistic decision, it is central to what is happening in the film at this point. 
The two cuts in this scene (the first around the 39-second mark, the second around 1.44 minutes) both occur after a movement of the song has been completed, and both have Rosie drawing away from Raju after initially reaching for him. In the first scene, she strokes his shoulder; in the second she hugs him briefly, but then bunches up her fist and moves away. She is still conflicted at the end of both these movements, and in each case the cut serves as punctuation, indicating that the process of reassuring her must begin anew. And this is done at a dual level, by the lyrics of the song as well as by the sympathetic, probing movement of the camera.

 In his book Cinema Modern, Sidharth Bhatia quotes the cinematographer Fali Mistry’s son as saying of this sequence, “It was shot over two evenings and a morning, at dusk and dawn, which means they must have had a very small window of about 10 minutes each time, so they had to ensure nothing went wrong in the acting, camera placement, lighting etc … It required great coordination.” 

Song of Guide 1965

The First KIKI Challenge was originated by Kishore Kumar

The latest in Social Media is KIKI Challenge(It is dangerous not recommended). Jumping out of a moving car to break into a dance may seem bizarre. But that’s exactly what social media users are doing as part of the latest internet sensation.
 People step out of their cars, and dance to the tunes of a Drake track called ‘In My Feelings’ from his latest album ‘Scorpion’. Kiki comes from the lyrics of the song: “Kiki, do you love me?” But it’s not the Canadian rapper who prompted the viral challenge. It was Kishore Kumar who was the original challenger. In the 1959 Hindi film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi there is a song "Babu Samjho Ishare" we can see the three Ganguli Brothers doing the same but that time it was not a challenge. It was a fun song.
Thousands of social media users across the world are uploading videos of viral KiKi challenge, inspired by Canadian rapper Drake’s song Police across the world have issued warnings against the KiKi challenge as many people attempting the act have received injuries So do not accept this challenge Enjoy the song

Song of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi 1958

                                    Drake - KeKe Do You Love Me (In My Feelings)

Bollywood can never forget the Friendship of Dev Anand and Guru Dutt

The two young men struggling to find a foothold in the Bombay film Industry became friends in a studio. the one was struggling Actor and other was a struggling Director. On the Friendship Day Let's remember the friendship between the two Legends Dev Anand and Guru Dutt.
It happened in Prabhat studio where Dev Anand was doing his first film Hum Ek Hain, Guru Dutt was the Assistant Director and Choreographer of that film. Both were staying in that studio in an apartment. One day Dev Anand saw Guru Dutt was wearing his shirt. On enquiring, Dutt admitted that the shirt got swapped in the laundry and since he didn't have any spare shirt so he wore it. This incident became the foundation of a great friendship.
After this incident both started living together and spending time together.both were talented and dreaming to make it big in Bollywood. they promised each other that if Guru Dutt turns a filmmaker he would take Dev as his Hero and If Dev makes a film he will take Guru Dutt as the Director.

The dream did come true. After Dev Anand started Navketan, he asked Guru to direct Navketan’s second film, Baazi in 1950. It was then Guru’s turn to give his best for his dear friend. Guru Dutt exhibited his unique style and showed expertise in song sequences. However, Guru was under-confident when it came to the film’s climax and, unexpectedly, even went into hibernation at Mangalore. Dev’s elder brother, Chetan, shot the climax to some extent and persuaded Guru to return. Chetan and Dev restored confidence in Guru and he completed the post-directional work. The film became hit that established Guru Dutt as a Director.
The second film of Guru Dutt was Jaal released in 1952 Jaal sees one of Dev Anand’s best ever performances as he mixes his dark side with his charming one perfectly. In 1953 he directed a film Baaz in which he himself became Hero with Geeta Bali as his heroine but the film flopped. After that, he produced and directed and also acted in Aar Paar in 1954.Side by side he also produced CID in which he took Dev Anand thus fulfilled the promise made earlier.
Though they all worked separately after CID, Guru was highly instrumental for the success of Navketan’s production, Kala Pani, in 1958. Raj and Guru brought in Lachhu Maharaj to choreograph the immortal songs, Nazar Lagi Raja and Hum Bekhudi Mein. Khosla shot all the intense court scenes of the film under Guru’s guidance.
Dev Anand in an interview said that their friendship remained intact even Guru Dutt and he was not working together. Both were busy making films so couldn't meet frequently.
Guru Dutt was having trouble in his marriage and with the flop of Kagaz Ke Phool, he was completely shattered. Though Guru regained success with Chaudhivian Ka Chand (1961) and Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962), he quit direction soon after. On October 6, 1964, he came back to Dev with the idea of directing him and Waheeda in a serious, social film for Navketan. He was bent on Vijay Anand, Dev’s younger brother to edit the film. Dev welcomed his true friend back with open arms. 
Unfortunately four days after the conversation, Guru committed suicide.Dev Anand was shooting for Teen Deviyan when he got this news. He immediately rushed to his house infact he was the first person to be there on the spot.
 It was a pathetic sight — a sobbing Anand holding the dead Guru’s hand and repeatedly saying, “Guru.Uth Kahan Chala Gaya Tu (Guru, get up. Where have you gone?)”. Consoling a speechless Geeta, Dev broke down. Remembering this immortal friendship seems the best way to mark the Friendship Day

Song of Baazi 1951

Song of Jaal 1952

Song of  CID 1956

The Great FRIENDSHIP Songs of Bollywood

Friendship remains the favourite subject of Bollywood Films. A number of Hindi films have dealt with friendship, and few among the many movies made have been memorable. Songs about friendship evoke a different feeling in every individual. Songs celebrating friendship have been popular in Hindi films since the Black & White era. 
 Since the 70s songs about friendship have become insanely popular with the masses. The song Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge from Sholay remains the most popular song on Dosti.  In present times too friendship songs have been an integral part of Bollywood films. Songs about love and friendship are popular at college festivals. Many playback singers who are invited to perform at college festivals croon songs about friendship. 
Here are some of the Popular Friendship Songs

Song of Sangam 1964

Song of Gaban 1966

Song of Sachaai (1969)

Song of Sachaai (1969)

Song of Zanzeer 1973

Song of  Namak Haram 1973

Song of Sholay 1975

Song of Dharam Veer (1977)

Song of Dostana 1980

Song of Ram Balram 1980

Song of Yaarana 1981

Song of Saudagar 1991

The Great Yodeling Songs of Kishore kumar

Yodeling is a form of singing which involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register (or "chest voice") and the high-pitch head register. It originated in Europe, especially in central Europe. In the movies, it was Jimmie Rodgers who popularised Yodeling.

In India, it was Kishore Kumar who introduced yodelling in Hindi Films.  Here’s a story: his brother Anoop went to Austria and bought some records with yodels there. One day when Anoop went home, he heard yodelling in the house and thought somebody was playing his records… but it was Kishore who had learned how to do it. The first time Kishore Kumar tried Yodeling in the song was in 1950 film Muqaddar, It was a duet, the first duet of Kishore with Asha Bhosle. The second time Kishore tried with Meena Kapoor for the song " ye sama hum tum jawaan,pehloo se dil sarak jaaye.." from the film  Mashooqa,1953, The next yodelling song was"Tikdambazi" from the 1954 film Adhikar. Piya Piya Piya Mera Jiya Pukare from 1955 released film Baap Re Baap.was a hit so after that many music directors tried Yodeling in their compositions. The next hit song of Kishore was "Nakhrewali Nakhrewali" from the 1956 film New Delhi.
Kishor Kumar's film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) had many songs where S D Burman used his yodelling.
On his 89th Birth Anniversary, I decided to bring for you a compilation of his best yodelling in songs like Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana (Andaz, 1971), Bhor Aayee Gaya Andhiyara (Bawarchi, 1972), Ye Sham Mastani (Kati Patang, 1970) and more. Check them out:

Song of Muqaddar 1950 Audio only

Song of Mashooqa,1953

Song of Baap Re Baap 1955

Song of New Delhi (1956)

Song of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)

Song of Jhumroo (1961)

Song of Jewel Thief (1967)

Song of  Pyar Ka Mausam [1969]

Song of  Andaz (1971)

Song of Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)

Song of Bombay to Goa (1972)

Song of Darling Darling (1977)

Song of Do Aur Do Paanch (1980)

 then introduced by him to the world of Hindi film music.

The Unforgettable Tunes of JAIDEV

Jaidev the music Director of Hum Dono was assistant to Ustad Ali Akbar Khan on Navketan's Aandhiyan (1952) and Humsafar (1953), both the film didn't do well so Ustad Ali Akbar Khan decided to leave Bombay. Jaidev then joins Burman Da as his assistant. The first film he did as an assistant was Navketan's Taxi Driver 1954.

Eventually, Chetan Anand gave him his break as an independent film composer with Joru Ka Bhai (1955).  which starred Balraj Sahni, too didn’t fare well at the box office but gave ample opportunity to the young music director to showcase his skills. The standout song was the delectable Subah Ka Intezaar. After Joru Ka Bhai came Samundari Daku (1956) and Chetan Anand’s Anjali (1957). None of these films fared well at the box office. Though he was composing independently on films he was also assisting Burman da He assisted in Navketan's House No 44 in 1955, Funtoosh 1956 and Kishore Kumar's Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
When Navketan were making Hum Dono in 1960 Dada Burman was not doing films because of his ill health, he suggested Dev Anand take Jaidev in that film. The film was hit and the music was also super hit. After that Jaidev worked as an independent Composer.
 The stupendous success of Hum Dono was followed up with the classy Mujhe Jeene Do(1963), the tragic love story of a dacoit and a courtesan. Same year Chetan Anand's Kinare Kinare got released. The songs of both films were appreciated.
In 1971, Jaidev was reunited with Sunil Dutt for the latter’s film Reshma Aur Shera. The haunting songs of the film, not least Lata Mangeshkar’s Tu Chanda Main Chandni, fetched Jaidev a National Award. In the same year, he composed for another film that was set in Rajasthan. KA Abbas's Do Boond Paani, starring Simi Garewal was a drama on the theme of water scarcity. 
The period between 1977 and ’79 saw Jaidev doing some of his best work, with films such as Alaap (1977), Gharaonda (1977), Gaman (1978) and Tumhare Liye(1978). Bhimsain, who directed Gharaonda, later made Dooriyaan (1979). 

Jaidev was the only music composer of his time to win the National award for Best Music Director three times – for Reshma Aur Shera (1971), Gaman (1978), and Ankahee (1984). 
Jaidev was born in Nairobi on 3 August 1919 and came to India in 1927. After living in Lahore and Ludhiana, he ran away to Bombay (now Mumbai) to become an actor after being mesmerized by the film Ali Baba (1932).
Jaidev’s last film score was Trikon Ka Chautha Kon (1986) and many of his best compositions are lost in unfinished films and albums. He passed away aged 68 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on 6 January 1987. 

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Kinare Kinare 1963

Song of Kinare Kinare 1963

Song of Mujhe Jeene Do1963

Song of Reshma Aur Shera 1971

Song of Do Boond Pani 1971

Song of Gharonda 1977

Song of Gaman 1978

Song of Gaman 1978

The Great Sawan Songs of Bollywood

Sawan is a fifth month in the Hindu calendar. It is derived from Sanskrit: श्रावण. Its a rainy season in India. Generally, this month falls in July or August. During this month the weather becomes romantic. Many poems and songs are written by poets.
 When it comes to Bollywood, what else can make people happy than related songs for the season like this one? Likely, there are plenty of songs specially made for this occasion.‘Sawan’ seems like the favourite subject of our earlier filmmakers with so many songs dedicated to nature. In this Blog, I have selected a few such great Sawan songs.

The first song in my list is "Saawan ke baadalon unse ye jaa kaho" from the first super hit film Kismet 1944

Saawan ke baadalon unse ye jaa kaho

Song from “Rattan” (1944)

Saawan ki ghataaon dheere dheere aanaa

Song from Aage Badho” (1947)

Saawan ki ghataaon mere saajan ko bulaa do

Song from Lekh (1949)

Zara thham jaa tu ae saawan

Song from Jogan” (1950)

Hariyaala saawan dhol bajaataa aaya

Song from Do Beegha Zameen” (1953)

SAWAN KE MAHINE MEIN Ek Aag Si Sine Mein

Song from Sharabi 1964

Deewaana huaa baadal saawan ki ghataa chhaayi

Song from “Kashmir Ki Kali” (1964)

Ajhun na aaye baalma.. saawan beeta jaaye

Song from Saanjh Aur Sawera (1964)

Saawan aaye yaa naa aaye

Song from Dil Diyaa Dard Liyaa” (1966)

Sawan Ka Mahina Pawan Kare sor

Song from Milan 1967

Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke

Song from Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke 1969

Kuchh kahta hai ye saawan

Song from Mera Gaon Mera Desh” (1971)

Abke sajan saawan mein

Song from Chupke Chupke (1975)

Mere Naina Saawan 

Song from Mehbooba(1976)

Saawan Ke Jhule Pade

Song from Jurmana(1979)

Rimjhim Gire Saawan 

Song from Manzil(1979)

Sawan Ko Aane Do

Song from  Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979)

The Films of Meena Kumari and Dev Anand

Meena Kumari and Dev Anand worked together in 4 films and all of them were successful. the first film they worked together was 1951 film Sanam. In that film, she was not the heroine but the heroine sister. The heroine was Suraiya. After that, she came as Dev's heroine in Tamasha in 1952. In fact, this was the first film signed by Meena Kumari with Dev Anand but Sanam released earlier. 
Tamasha was directed by Phani Mazumdar, starring Meena Kumari, Dev Anand and Ashok Kumar in lead roles. One of the big hits of the year from Bombay Talkies produced by Ashok Kumar and Sarak Vacha,
BaadBaan was the next film of Meena Kumari with Dev Anand with the earlier star cast, film directed by Phani Majumdar and produced by the Bombay Talkies Workers' Industrial Cooperative Society Limited. The film stars Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Usha Kiran in lead roles. The music score was composed by Timir Baran and S.K. Pal.
Kinare Kinare was a 1963  film directed by Chetan Anand, who also plays a pivotal role. The film featured Dev Anand and Meena Kumari in the lead roles. A great music by Jaidev.

Song of Sanam 1951

Song of Tamasha 1952

Song of Baadbaan 1954

Song of Kinare Kinare 1963