Bollywood Films Based on Great Indian Novels

 

It is said that literature may or may not need films, but films undoubtedly need good literature. Many great films were made in great literature. Devdas was one such film based on Sharat Chandra Chatterji's novel Devdas. It is the most filmed non-epic story in India. 

There has been always a debate for book lovers, A book is better or a film is better? the very idea of seeing their favorite novel or work of literature turned into a movie is simply unacceptable.to many. Cinema is altogether a different media, Here the imagination of a director and cinematographic effects of the photographer and the screenplay can create an outstanding film.

Many great Hindi filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Basu Chatterjee, and Vijay Anand have made films from great novels. If we look into today's filmmakers, we find Raju Hirani and Vishal Bhardwaj follow these great filmmakers.

Here are a few notable film versions of the great novels.

Chitralekha 

Song of Chitralekha 1941

It is a 1941 Indian Hindi-language film, directed by Kidar Sharma and based on the 1934 Hindi novel of the same name by Bhagwati Charan Verma. Its music is by noted classical musician Ustad Jhande Khan, giving popular songs like "Sun sun Neelkamal Muskaye,"It was the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 1941. This was the debut of actor Bharat Bhushan, who later achieved fame with Baiju Bawra (1952)  It was remade by Sharma in 1964, also titled Chitralekha, starring Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar.

Milan

Song of Milan  1946

 It was a 1946 Hindi drama film directed by Nitin Bose. The film starred Dilip Kumar, Mira Misra, Ranjana, Pahari Sanyal, and Moni Chatterjee. It was an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 Bengali story Noukadubi (The Wreck). The screenplay adaptation was done by Sajanikanta Das with dialogues translated into Hindi by Pyare Lal Santoshi.

Parineeta 

Song of Parineeta  1953

It was a 1953 Indian Hindi-language drama film starring Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari, based upon the 1914 Bengali novella of the same name by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The film was directed by Bimal Roy. This version of the film is considered by many to be the most faithful adaptation of the novel.

Devdas

Song of Devdas 1955

It was a 1955  film directed by Bimal Roy, based on the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay novel Devdas. He was only 17 years of age when he wrote this novel in Bengali. The film had Dilip Kumar in the title role, Suchitra Sen in her Bollywood debut as Parvati 'Paro' and Vyjayanthimala in her first dramatic role where she played Chandramukhi, a courtesan. Motilal, Nazir Hussain, Murad, Pratima Devi, Iftekhar, and S Shivraj were playing other significant roles with Pran and Johnny Walker in extended cameo appearances.Many versions of Devdas in many Indian languages are made from time to time.

Kabuliwala 

Song of Kaabuliwala 1961

It was. a 1961 film based on the 1892 short story "Kabuliwala", by the Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore. It was directed by Hemen Gupta and starred Balraj Sahni, Usha Kiran, Sajjan, Sonu, and Baby Farida. Hemen Gupta had remained private secretary to Subhas Chandra Bose, and went on to direct many films including Taksaal (1956), also starring Balraj Sahni, and his tribute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (1966). 

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam 

Song of  Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam  1962

It was a 1962 Indian Hindi-language musical drama film produced by Guru Dutt and directed by Abrar Alvi. It is based on the 1953 Bengali novel, Saheb Bibi Golam by Bimal Mitra, and is a look into the tragic fall of the haveli-dom and feudalism in Bengal during the British Raj. The film stars Meena Kumari, Guru Dutt, Rehman, and Waheeda Rehman. The film was a major critical and commercial success, with critics attributing it to Meena Kumari's performance as Chhoti Bahu.

Godaan

Song of Godaan 1963

This is a very heart touching movie based on Munshi Premchand's novel "Godaan". Released in 1963 starring Raj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, and Shashikala The book was published in 1937;.. It is counted among the greatest novels written in Hindi.

Meri Surat Teri Ankhen 

Song of Meri Surat Teri Ankhen 1963

It was a 1963 Bollywood film starring Ashok Kumar, Asha Parekh, and Pradeep Kumar. It is based on the Bengali novel Ulka by Nihar Ranjan Gupta.

Guide 

Song of Guide 1965

It was a 1965 Indian romantic drama film starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. It was directed by Vijay Anand, who contributed to the screenplay. The film is based on the 1958 novel The Guide, by R. K. Narayan. Guide was highly successful at the box-office upon release.^[3] It went on to become a Bollywood classic and proved to be memorable for its highly acclaimed performances by the lead actors and memorable music by S. D. Burman. Time magazine listed it at #4 on its list of Best Bollywood Classics.

Teesri Kasam

Song of Teesri Kasam 1966

 It was a 1966 film directed by Basu Bhattacharya and produced by lyricist Shailendra. It is based on the short story Mare Gaye Gulfam, by the Hindi novelist Phanishwarnath Renu. The film stars Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman. Teesri Kasam was an unconventional film that portrays rural Indian society. It is the story of a naive bullock cart driver Hiraman, who falls in love with Hirabai, a dancer at a nautanki. 

Gaban

Song of Gaban 1966

It was a 1966 Hindi film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, based on Munshi Premchand's classic novel by the same name. It had Sunil Dutt and Sadhna playing the lead role. 

Kaajal

Song of Kaajal 1965

It was a 1965 Bollywood film produced by Pannalal Maheshwari and directed by Ram Maheshwari. The film stars Meena Kumari, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Padmini, Helen, Durga Khote, Tun Tun, Mehmood, and Mumtaz.i.The film was adapted from Gulshan Nanda's novel "Maadhavi" by Phani Majumdar with Kidar Sharma writing the dialogues. The film was declared as a "Hit" at Box office 

Safar 

Song of Safar 1970

It was a 1970 Indian Hindi film produced by the Mushir-Riaz duo and directed by Asit Sen, based on a novel by Bengali writer Ashutosh Mukherjee. The film stars Ashok Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, and Feroz Khan in lead roles. The film became the tenth top-grossing production of the year.Asit Sen remade the 1956 Bengali film Chalachal, which was directed by him.

Khushboo

Song of Khushboo 1975

It was a 1975 Hindi-language drama film, produced by Prasan Kapoor under the Tirupati Pictures banner, presented by Jeetendra and directed by Gulzar. It stars Jeetendra, Hema Malini, and music composed by R. D. Burman. The film is based on the Bengali novel Panditmashai, by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, which was earlier filmed in Bengali in 1951 by Naresh Mitra.

Shatranj Ke Khilari 

Song of Shatranj Ke Khilari  1977

It was a 1977 Indian film written and directed by Satyajit Ray, based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name. Amjad Khan plays the role of Wajid Ali Shah, King of Awadh, and Richard Attenborough play the role of General James Outram. The film also features the actors Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi, David Abraham, and Tom Alter, as well as Amitabh Bachchan as the narrator. This is the first Hindi feature film of filmmaker Satyajit Ray and second, being 'Sadgati'- another adaptation of Premchand's short story

Ek Chadar Maili Si

It is a 1986 film, directed by Sukhwant Dhadda, and is an adaptation of Rajinder Singh Bedi's classic Urdu novella by the same name. The novel won the 1965 Sahitya Akademi Award. The film stars Hema Malini, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rishi Kapoor and Poonam Dhillon in lead roles.

Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa '

It was an a1998, feature film that deals with the life of a woman who loses her son, a Naxalite, to the violence that is a result of his adopted ideology. The film was directed by Govind Nihalani and is based on Magsaysay and Jnanpith award recipient Mahasweta Devi's Bengali 1974 novel Hajar Churashir Maa 

Bollywood Hit Songs, Picturized on Unknown Actors

 

Hindi Films are known for their songs. Sometimes it happens that a very melodious song is either badly picturized or on relatively unknown actors. In this blog, I have selected a few of such songs that were very popular at that time and are still hummed but we have forgotten on whom these were picturized

 The first song I have taken is 'Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki' from the 1949 film Dulari. This song established Mohammad Rafi, it was picturized on Suresh, who went to Pakistan and acted in two films in 1950 and 1951, but then returned to India soon after. By that time  Dilip Kumar. Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor captured the top slot.

Song of Dulari 1949

Next song in my ;ist  'Na Yeh Chand Hoga Na Tare Rahenge' sung by Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt from the 1954 film 'Shart'.This song was picturized on young actress Shyama with an actor from Bengal named Dipak, who was specially brought over for the role,

Song of Shart 1954

This immortal song 'Tasveer Banata Hoon tasveer Nahin Banti. sung by Talat Mahmood and composed by Nashaad, not Naushad from the 1955 film Baradari was picturized on Chandtadhekher.He was the leading man in films like Surang (1953), Kavi and Mastana (both 1954), Baradari (1955), Kali Topi Lal Rumal (1959), Street Singer, and in a negative role in Basant Bahar. It was after 1968, that Chandrashekar was not getting offers to act in a leading role, and he subsequently moved into character roles.

Song of Baradari 1955

This hit song 'O Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar' from CID (1956) was picturized on Shyam Kapoor and Sheela Vaz. Sheela Vaz was a good dancer she appeared in many hit songs. Shyam Kapoor was seen only in this song. He was one of the assistant of Guru Dutt.

Song of CID 1956

This song from Dekh Kabira Roya (1957) is an immortal song sung by Talat Mahmood. It was picturized on Anoop Komar, brother of Kishore Kumar and Ashok Kumar.

Song of DEKH KABIRA ROYA -1957

This super hit song was sung by Mohammad Rafi and composed by Madan Mohan for the 1958 film Aakhri Dao, 'Tujhe Kya Suno Mein Dilruba' picturized on an actor Shekhar, he was active in the 50s.He appeared in movies, Ankh Michouli (1962), Hum Matwale Naujawan (1961), Aakhri Dao (1958), Abhimna (1957), Chhote Babu (1957), Sangam (1954), Chandni Chowk (1954), Toothe Khilaune (1954), Darwaza (1954) 

Song of Aakhri Daao 1958.

This song is from the 1960 film Baraat, sung by Mukesh and composed by Chitragupt. This song was picturized on Ajit, who is known as Villain, For your information, he was a hero in many films. Here he is singing a heartbroken song.

Song of Baraat 1960

'Jab Gham E Ishq Sataata Hai' is a sad song from the 1963 film Kinare Kinare.directed by Chetan Anand. This song was composed by Jaidev and was picturized on Chetan Anand.

Song of Kinare Kinare 1963

Dosti was a 1964 film,. It was declared a "Super Hit" at the box office. The highlight of this film was its music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. Music director R.D. Burman played the harmonica on film scores and soundtracks. Dosti stands as a landmark in the career history of the musical duo as this won them their first Filmfare Award and made them popular in the film industry. Mohammed Rafi is the main vocalist for the songs.The film features Sudhir Kumar Sawant and Sushil Kumar Somaya. I

Song of Dosti 1964

You would be surprised to know that this romantic song was sung by Mohammad Rafi for the well-known comedian Jagdeep.

Song of Punar Milan 1964

Song of  Waqt 1965

Another such song 'Jane kaisa hai mera deewana'. Film Aansoo ban gaye phool. Sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle. Music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.. It was picturized on Deb Mukherjee, brother of romantic hero Joy Mukherjee. But heroin is very unknown. Her name for screen is Alka.

Song of Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool  1969

 

Anjaan - The Lyricist, Well Known to the Music Lover

 

The  English meaning of Anjaan is unknown or anonymous. This was the pet name of the well-known lyricist of Bollywood who has given us many popular songs. Recall the song 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala'and 'Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab' and many more such songs were written by him. His real name was Lalji Pandey. He was born on  October 28, 1930, and was a native of Varanasi. 

He debuted in 1953 in the movie "Prisoner Of Golconda" with the songs "Lehar Yeh Dole Koyal Bole" and "Shaheedon Amar Hai Tumhari Kahani".He was first noticed for his work with the Raaj Kumar film Godaan, based on the Premchand classic, with music by Ravi Shankar. This film got him a few good assignments in the mid - 60’s with big composers like O. P. Nayyar ("Aap Ke Haseen Rukh") in Guru Dutt’s Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi 

He penned more than 1500 songs in 300 films, many of his songs were hit. He worked with many music directors but his collaboration with Kalyanji Anandji was successful. He was at his best in the Amitabh Bachchan films of Kalyanji Anandji, beginning with Do Anjaane ("Luk Chhip Luk Chhip Jao Na") in 1976. Followed Hera Pheri ("Barson Purana Yeh Yaarana"), Khoon Pasina ("Title Song" and "Bani Rahe Jodi Raja Rani Ki"), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar ("Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab", "O Saathi Re", "Pyar Zindagi Hai", "Dil To Hai Dil"), Don with his biggest hit of the career "Khaike Paan Banaras Wala", ("Ee Hai Bambai Nagariya", "Jiska Mujhe Tha Intezaar"), Lawaaris ("Jiska Koi Nahin", "Kab Ke Bichhde") and Jaadugar. 

In his early days, he had to struggle, he worked in small films, in the mid-1960s with big composers like O. P. Nayyar ("Aap Ke Haseen Rukh") in Guru Dutt's Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi and G. P. Sippy's Bandhan, which established him commercially with "Bina Badraa Ke Bijuriya Kaise Barse". This also saw the forging with fellow lyricist Indeevar and composers Kalyanji-Anandji. This was followed by songs in Kalyanji - Anandji's Kab? Kyon? Aur Kahan?. Shankar - Jaikishan's Umang, Rivaaj and Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari, Ravi's Vandana ("Aap Ki Inayat Aap Ke Karam"), R. D. Burman's Hungama ('Wah Ri Kismat', 'Suraj Se Jo Kiran Ka Naata' which was the first-ever song filmed on Zeenat Aman) and a few other films.

Being a native of Varanasi, he had great love and attachment to Ganga. There were a lot of songs written by him on Ganga such as "Maano To Main Ganga Maa Hoon Maano To Behta Paani" and "Ganga Mein Dooba" fromApneRang Hazar.
His health suffered a major setback in the early 90’s, though he delivered hits with Zindagi Ek Juaa, Dalaal, Ghayal, and the 1990 chartbuster "Gori Hain Kalaiyan" (Aaj Ka Arjun) and his last hit Shola Aur Shabnam (1992). His other films in the 90’s included Vishnu Devaa, Parakrami, Insaniyat, Police Aur Mujrim, First Love Letter, Aandhiyaan, Phool Bane Angaarey and others.A few months before his death on 13 September 1997, his only book of poems, Ganga Tath Ka Banjara (A Gypsy from the Shores of the Ganges) was released at the hands of Amitabh Bachchan. His son Sameer is also a very successful Lyricist.

Notable songs of Anjaan

Song of Godaan 1963

Song of Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi  1966

Song of Bandhan 1969

Song of Do Anjaane1976

Song of Hera Pheri 1976

Song of Priyatama 1977

Song of Don 1978

Song of Muqaddar Ka Sikandar 1978

Song of Yaarana 1981

Song of Lawaris 1981

Song of Sharabi 1984

PRADEEP KUMAR- The Royal Hero of Bollywood

 

When you think of the actor Pradeep Kumar, immediately the image of a Mughal Emperor or a prince emerges in our mind. He was the first choice to play prince/king in numerous Hindi films. He was a hero of many period films. Even though he acted in films of other genres, he is famous for his portrayals of kings and princes. His splendid performance as Prince Salim in Nandlal Jaswantlal’s tragic love story Anarkali, and as Shah Jahan in M. Sadiq’s Taj Mahal, demonstrated his ability to slip into royal roles with ease.

Pradeep Kumar (born Sital Batabyal; 4 January 1925 – 27 October 2001) made his debut from a period film Anandmath(1952), he became a sensation with the Bina Rai-starrer Anarkali (1953) and the Vyjayanthimala-starrer Nagin (1954). He had to face a tough competition with the trio of Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor films. He had limited success in the 5os and 60s. in the 1960s, though Ghoonghat (1960), Aarti (1962) & Taj Mahal (1963) were successful many of his films flopped though he worked with Madhubala and Meena Kumari.

He did not get to act with the newer heroines of the 1960s such as Sadhana, Saira Banu, Babita or Sharmila Tagore, though he did work with Asha Parekh in Ghoonghat and Meri Surat Teri Aankhen and with Waheeda Rehman in Raakhi (1963). In 1969, he moved to character roles with Sambandh and Mehboob Ki Mehndi, but did not have many visible roles till Jaanwar and Razia Sultan in 1983.

In 1969, Pradeep saw a glimpse of success once again withSambandh, albeit in a character role. 
He lived a life removed from the spotlight for the next 18 years and died a quiet death on October 27, 2001, at the age of 76.

Pradeep Kumar's famous songs

Song of Anarkali 1953

Song of Nagin 1954

Song of Adaalat 1958

Song of Ghunghat 1960

Song of Aarti 1961

Song of Tajmahal 1963

Song of Chitralekha 1964

Song of Bheegi Raat 1965

Song of Bahu Begum 1967

SAHIR LUDHIANVI- Different from his Contemporaries

 

True to his name "Sahir" which means a magician, he proved to be a magician of words. He painted fascinating images in songs and ghazals, He made his debut as a lyricist with the film "Azadi Ki Raah Par" in 1948. but got fame in 1951 after the release of Baazi, Naujawan, and Saza 

 He did not praise Khuda (God), Husn (beauty), or Jaam (wine). Instead, he wrote bitter yet sensitive lyrics about the declining values of society; the senselessness of war and politics; and the domination of consumerism over love. His love songs, tinged with sorrow, expressed his realization that there were other, starker concepts more important than love.

Close to his heart was the farmer crushed by debt, the soldier has gone to fight someone else's war, the woman forced to sell her body, the youth frustrated by unemployment, and the family living on the street for instance.

 He touched upon issues like poverty, inequality, gender gap, environment, the threat of a war that has not gone away. Some of the challenges are even bigger today than in his time. If he would have been alive today, he would be writing on the self-appointed custodian of religion, the self-serving politician, the exploitative capitalist, and the war-mongering super-powers.

Recall the songs of Pyaasa or Phir Subah Hogi The song Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi with its minimal background music remains popular.

Sahir was a communist sympathizer, but he never became a member of the Communist Party of India or an agenda-pushing poet. He always expressed his true feelings. Sahir did something which no film lyricist did before. He transitioned his literary poetry from his book Talkhiyaan (1945) into film songs.

Sahir was hardly 58 and at his creative best when he suffered a massive heart attack. This bard from Ludhiana bid adieu to this world on October 25, 1980.

Here are some of his immortal songs

Song of Naujawaan 1951

Song of Sazaa 1951

Song of Baazi 1951

Song of Devdas 1955

Song of Pyaasa 1957

Song of Sone Ki Chidiya 1958

Song of Naya Daur 1957

Song of Phir Subah Hogi 1958

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Taj Mahal 1963

Song of  Chitralekha 1964

Song of  Waqt 1965

Song of  Kabhi Kabhi 1976