July 25, 2021 – The world is too small? or Is it?

Welcome to July 2021 edition of IX^th Volume of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

First and foremost, my most humble homage to Shri K S Bhatiaji our very active member of SoY family, who bade eternal farewell to this mortal world on 30.06.2021,

We pay our tribute to Legendary Actor Dilip Kumar Passes Away at 98 After Prolonged Illness .on 07.07.2021.

As can be expected, there was a torrent of tributes, depicting various facets of Dilip Kumar. Here are a few selected ones:

Farewell to a Titan – Farewell to the clarity of his diction, the Urdu or Hindustani dialogues flowing off his tongue so naturally, not seeming like ‘dialogue’ at all. It fit his persona. Farewell his commitment to his craft, the tiniest details that he infused his character with, never mind that the audiences may not notice, or appreciate.

Also: the songs that reflect The Many Moods of Dilip Kumar and a duets or solos wherein the character of Dilip Kumar sings Dilip Kumar in Ten Moods

Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal: Thespian Dilip Kumar Bids Adieu – Sundeep Pahwa – The Times of India, dated March 23^rd 1954, wrote about Dilip Kumar after he received the First Filmfare Trophy for Best Actor – “Extremely good looking, with dark, intense eyes and a superbly modulated speaking voice, Dilip Kumar has no equal in dramatic performance on the Indian Screen, today…A serious student of life, this dashing young Hero believes that a higher purpose should guide us in life.”

‘My professional name is Dilip Kumar’: Encounters with one of India’s greatest actors – Anwar Abbas – On a personal level, the man was always affectionate, lovable and even adorable. He was the best ever to enter and emerge from Hindi film studios.

The one and only Dilip Kumar: The actor who shaped world’s biggest film industry – Hindi cinema is synonymous with Dilip Kumar. The legendary actor embodied, embellished, and shaped the biggest film industry in the world.

Dilip Kumar, thespian of many parts – Dilip Kumar will not only be remembered because he was an actor par excellence, but also because he re-lived his characters. Even without uttering a single word his eyes can be seen speaking a thousand words.

Did Dilip Kumar, the holy grail of acting in Hindi cinema, facilitate the star-centricity of the industry today? – Naseeruddin Shah – He was truly matchless at creating a demand for himself, sometimes at the cost of the film he was in — a legacy that weighs heavier on the Hindi film fraternity than his nuanced performances.

Life lessons from Dilip Kumar for a ’90s kid – SUDHAKAR JAGDISH – …. “our father always had a Dilip Kumar scene for us to emulate, even in our revolts. As Salim, played by Dilip Kumar, confronts his father Akbar the Great, played by the legendary Prithiviraj Kapoor, for the love of his life, he doesn’t move, his hands motionless, but his voice remains firm… elevating the scene o something of a textbook on familial maryada”.

The Serious Actor and the Matinee Idol – a tribute to Dilip Kumar – Beneath the hurt lover withdrawing into himself, there was also one of the most dazzling smiles in our cinema. And there was a showman too, a man with style, panache, star quality. … In the best work of this actor, the two poles of Realism and Stylization blended into one.

ताजिंदगी विभाजन की लकीर को पाटते रहे Dilip Kumar – Ravish Kumar – He was Dilip Kumar too and Yusuf Khan too. He was so easily able to cross the line of division created in 1947.

Dilip Kumar on how the studio system made way for independent directors – Nasreen Munni Kabir – The ’50s was the beginning of the erosion of authority a picture maker had on the marketing of his product. During the ’40s and up to the ’50s, the director was the principal man, over and above the stars, but after the ’50s, his position was gradually undermined, and the distributor and the financier became the top people. Whereas on one side there was boom, and on the other side, there was decline in the inner health of cinema.

Maybe July Is Now the Worst Month for Great Performers from the Golden Age

Note: Here is a link to the four-part article I had posted after I had read Dilip Kumar’s autobiography Dilip Kumar: The Substance and The Shadow – An Autobiography – as narrated to Udayatara Nayar.

We now move on to other tributes and memories:

Mehfil completes 4 years! by posting the songs ‘one composer singing for another composer’

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan: Lyricist Par Excellence is a tribute to a rare combination of poet, writer and lyricist on his 55^th remembrance day.

On Guru Dutt’s 96th birth anniversary: Why the Master of Gloom fascinates us even today – Shaikh Ayaz – The maker of iconic Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool died when he was only 39. Though he made few films and according to many accounts, led a depressed life he continues to intrigue decades after his death.

Nostalgia post: on a Prakash Mehra-Bachchan audiocassette (and listening to films before watching them) – The tape was a collection of songs and dialogues from the films the two men did together, starting with the 1973 Zanjeer and continuing till the 1982 Namak Halaal.

Shailendra Sharma @ Golden Era of Bollywood has posted following memorial tribute posts:

To commemorate the birth centenary of Sahir Ludhianvi, a series of articles on

Sahir’s Songs of Romance is launched. The first article is about Sahir Ludhianvi’s One Film Association(s) with eleven different music directors.

Laagi Chhute Na Ab To Sanam – Remembering Chandrashekhar is a tribute to the versatile actor who passed away last month.

July 2021 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs takes up Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet Song With The Music Director: 1944-1946 to commence the series Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet with a Music Director. This is a follow-on to the series Mohammad Rafi’s first solo song with a music director.

We now move on to posts on other subjects –

Charulata & Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam: Satyajit Ray & Guru Dutt’s Contrasting Worlds – Alpana Chowdhury – Ray’s film is an outward-looking one, literally and metaphorically. Unlike the closed, confining chambers in which Choti Bahu pines for her husband, the Dutta household is bright and airy, with windows opening out, on to the world outside.

Pyarelal, Mehmood, Laxmikant, Jeetendra, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar — a rare photograph.

The Jal Tarang Songs – Musical Ripples present ten songs where the instrument has been used in a manner in which its tinkling is distinct

From Bollywood Rewind – Sampada Sharma – Indian Express’s weekly column:

Shree 420: Raj Kapoor’s take on conmen who pose as saviours – Starring Raj Kapoor, Nargis and Nadira, Kapoor’s 1955 film Shree 420 is the story of an honest man who has to trade his morals for money.

Baiju Bawra: Naushad’s timeless musical masterpiece – Starring Bharat Bhushan and Meena Kumari, Vijay Bhatt’s 1952 film examines the mythical story of Baiju who goes ‘bawra’ for his love and his music.
Devdas: Of pride that ruins love – Starring Dilip Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Vyjanthimala, Bimal Roy’s 1955 film Devdas is the tragic love story of two characters whose pride stands in the way of their happiness.
Do Bigha Zamin: The Bimal Roy film which hasn’t aged a day – Starring Balraj Sahni, Bimal Roy’s 1953 film Do Bigha Zamin examines the unforgiving nature of poverty that does not allow its victims to escape.

Micro View of Best Songs of 1944 @SoY took up Setting the Stage and then have taken up My Top Male Solo Songs and then continued with Female Solo Songs with 1^st part of solo songs Amirbai Karnataki. In its review of Male Solo songs. SoY has conferred KL Siagal as the Best Male Singer and jointly selectedAe qatib-e-taqdeer mujhe itana bata de; Do naia matware tihare hum par zulm karein, andChhupo na chhupo na chhupo na (My Sister: Music Pankaj Mullick ) as best Male Solo Songs for the year 1944 in Wrap Up 1 .

SoY has also presented Best songs of 1944: Wrap UP 2, conferring the Best Female Singer trophy to Amirbai Karanataki fo the song Chanda Desh Piya Ke Ja (Bhartruhari, Lyrics: Pt. Indra- Music: Khemchand Prakash)

In continuation to our tradition of ending the post with a few songs of Mohammad Rafi, each one of which basically has a link with the topics discussed in the present post.

Woh Apni Yaad Dila Ne Ko Ek Ishq Ki Duniya Chood Gaye – Jugnu (1947) – M G Adeeb / Asgar Sarhadi, B.A. – Firoz Nizami

Wah Re Zamane Kya Rang Dikhaye, … Pal Mein Hasaye, Pal Mein Rulaye… – Ghar Ki Izzat (1948) – Ishwar Chandra Kapoor – Gobinda Ram

Watan Ki Raah Mein Watan Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho – Shaheed (1948) – with Khan Mastana and chorus – Raja Mehandi Ali Khan – Ghulam Haider

Dil Ko Hua Tumse Pyar, Ah Hai Tumhein Ikhtiyar……… Takara Gaya Tumse Di Hi To Hai – Aan (1952) – Shakil Badayuni – Naushad

Nayi Zindagi Se Pyar Kar Ke Dekh, Is Ke Rup Ka Singar Kar Ke Dekh – Shikast (1953) – with Lata Mangeshkar and chorus – Shailendra – Shankar Jaikishan

Asha Ke Jab Dep Bujhe To Man Ka Deep Jala, Jag Ka Rasta Chhod Musafir Teri Rah Chala, Apni Chhaya Mein Bhagwan Bitha De Mujhe.. Main HuN Tera Tu Apana Bana Le Mujhe – Insaniyat (1955) – Rajinder Krishna – C Ramchandra

Dil Leke Daga Denge … Yaar Hai Matlab Ke – Naya Daur (1957) – Sahir ludhianvi – O P Nayyar

Toote Hue KhwaboN Hum Ko Yeh Shikhaya Hai – Madhumati (1958) – Shailendra – Salil Chaudhuri

Sukh Ke Sab Sathi, Dukh Mein Na Koy – Gopi (1970) – Rajinder Krishna – Kalyanji Anandji

Na Tu ZameeN Ke Liye Na AsmaaN Ke Liye.. Tera Wajood Hai.. Ab Sirf Dastan Ke Liye -Dastan (1972) – Sahir Ludhianvi – Laxmikant Pyarelal

I look forward to your inputs to enrich the contents of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

Disclaimer: This monthly series of posts is my best-effort-based compilation of posts on Hindi film songs that I normally visit regularly. As I record my sincere thanks to all the original creators of these posts, any other posts that I have nor covered herein shows my lack of awareness of existence of such posts and is by no means any disrespect to their work. The copyrights to the posts, images and video clips remain the properties of the original creators.