Tag: Vijay Anand

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – February, 2021

Welcome to February 2021 edition of IXth Volume of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We pay tributes to:

Alvida, In Memory: Bollyviewer, with a very heavy heart, to Bollyviewer, who blogged at Old is Gold, and then at Masala Punch, since 2008.

Rajiv Kapoor, actor in ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ and director of ‘Prem Granth’, who passed way at the age of 58. He gave up acting in 1990, to focus on directing the home production Prem Granth in 1996 and producing Aa Ab Laut Chalenin 1999.

We now move on to other tributes and memories:

Kamal Swaroop on Mani Kaul: ‘A visionary and ahead of his time’ – As ‘Ashad Ka Ek Din’ turns 50, it’s time to revisit Mani Kaul’s transcendental cinema and painterly minimalism.

Mani Kaul during the shoot of Ahmaq (Idiot) in the early 1990s. Photo by Lalita Krishna.

 

The Greats: Pran – More often than not, he was the suave villain, clad in the gentleman’s clothing, the one who schemes to get his hands on the hero’s wealth or the hero’s girlfriend, or both. The post reminisces some of his best performances.

Nutan the poet is not known to many. The soft, sensitive poet called Nutan was far more beautiful. This poet would constantly observe the world with a keen eye. She used to make an effort to capture the life experience in words. In these efforts subconsciously she used to dwell in the spiritual world.

Remembering Madhubala, Bollywood’s Very Own Marilyn Monroe – Khalid Mohamed pays tribute to Madhubala’s incandescent performances and tragic life.

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

February 2021 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs takes up Talat Mahmood: Duets with Geeta Dutt: A Rare Blend of Velvety Voice with Mellifluous Tone. To commemorate the memory of Talat Mahmood in the month of his birth runs the theme of his rare duets. Till now, this has been covered-

In 2017, an overview of Talat Mahmood’s duets receding from the memory.

In 2018, Talat Mahmood’s duets with rare co-singers,

In 2019, Talat Mahmood’s duets with Mubarak Begum and with Madhubala Jhaveri, and

In 2020, Talat Mahmood’s duets with Geeta Dutt, essentially from 1950 to 1952.

We will now take up the articles on other subjects:

How 22-year-old Vijay Anand dug in his heels to make his first film ‘Nau Do Gyarah’ – Anitaa Padhye – The film paved the way for Dev’s light comedies in the future, with songs taking the story forward. Goldie had become famous with his very first movie.The article is excerpted with permission from Goldie – The Man and His Movies, Anitaa Padhye, translated by Vikrant Pande, Amaryllis.

My Favourites: Songs About Gender Wars – Songs there are aplenty that extol the virtues of a ‘good’ woman. But here are some that fall in the category of nok-jhonk songs that run the gamut of emotions – the flirtatious, the teasing, even fighting to sell their wares – the battle is being waged for better or for verse. For example – Aji biwi ko ghar pe bithlaa ke – Minister (1959) – Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi – C Ramchandra – Rajinder Krishan.

Songs of Stairs is a corollary to post on Terrace songs in two parts. An example of the typical song on the subject is Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana – C.I.D (1956) – Shamshad Begum  – O.P.Nayyar- Majrooh Sultanpur. This is a song where the stairs have a completely different role to play. The post also refers to two other interesting articles – Film flashback: How the staircase played a starring role in Indian cinema (chronicling the thoughts of the legendary archivist P.K. Nair) and Stairway to Accessibility: the History and Symbolism of Stairs (by The Industrial Historian).

Songs of Raja-Rani are delightful because they are history-neutral and status-neutral.

 A Little About Tabla Master Zakir Hussain and His Kathak-Dancing Wife, Antonia Minnecola (who studied with Sitara Devi for three decades) – The post has two rare YT clips: Kathak Dance By Antonia Minnecola Ustad Zakir Hussain Peter Van Gelder (sitar) @ Basant Bahar Concert 1987 Berkeley California and Zakir Hussain – Kathak

Romancing the Stranger – Hindi films have Romancing the ‘Pardesi’ songs. However, one can be ‘ajnabi’ to someone with whom one has lived under the same roof for years. Nay, one can even be ajnabi to oneself

दो सहेलियाँ is a different subset of female duets that were picturised on two actresses, generally friends, one a lead actress and the other her friend, but those were not dance numbers. The list follows the rules – Stage performances, Street performances won’t be part of it. The lyrics should be directly addressed and not suggestive. For example, Dil Le Gaya Ji Koi Dil Le Gaya – Sanam (1950) – Suraiya & Shamshad Begum / Husnalal Bhagatram – Qamar Jalalabadi and Sharmake Zara Ae Mast Ada – Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952) Shamshad Begum & Asha Bhosle – S N Tripathi – Anjum Jaipuri

The lesser heard romantic duets of Manna Dey is the second and final part of the post, featuring lesser known light hearted romantic duets sung by Manna Dey with Suman Kalyanpur, Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum and Sudha Malhotra. The first part dwelt on Manna Dey’s romantic duets with the Mangeshkar sisters – Lata, Asha and Usha

In the Micro View of Songs of 1945  we have carried forward the micro view of duet songs in the form of Duets of Vintage Era (Male+) Singers, Part 1 and Part 2 and Female-Female Duets (+) to sum up with MY TOP duet songs.

All the episodes of Micro View of Duet Songs for 1945 @SoY can be read / downloaded from one file, by clicking on the hyper-link…

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.

Unse Rippi Tippi Ho Gayi.. Yaane Baat Pakki Ho Gayi – Agra Road (1957) – with Geeta Dutt – Roshan – Prem Dhawan

Duniya Ki Nazar Hai Buri Zulfien Na Sawara Karo – Agra Road (1957) – with Geeta Dutt – Roshan – Prem Dhawan

Masti Mein Chhed Ke Taran Koi Pyar Ka – Haqueequat (1964) – Madan Mohan – Kaifi Azmi

O Lakshmi, O Sarsu, O Sheela – Kahin Le Chal (1968) (UR) – Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra

Doobte Huye Dil Ko Tinke Ka Sahara Bhi Nahi – Kahin Le Chal (1968) (UR) – Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri

Shokh Ankhe … Dekh Kar Surat Pe Pyar Aa Hi Gaya –  Kahin Le Chal (1968) (UR) – with Asha Bhosle – Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri

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

Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs for Other Actors [1]

We have noted that Manna Dey’s formal association with comedy songs with the text-book comedians of the cinema roots in Manzil (1960) song Hato Kahe Ko Jhoothi Banao BatiyaN.. This certainly blazed a trail that distinguished the career of Manna Dey as well as Mehmood.  As can be expected many other music directors subsequently used Manna Dey’s voice for comedy songs with other comedians as well.

Before we fully explore this dimension, it is certainly worth its while to note that Manna Dey has recorded quite a few comedy songs for what is broadly termed as Hero in the cinemas. We begin our present, and last for the time being, leg of Manna Dey’s career journey.

Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs for Lead Actors.

We have had a multi-part series journey of Manna Dey’s Songs for the Lead Actors. Barring a few songs, we had refrained discussing Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs with Lead Actors there..

Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs for THE Kapoor Brothers

The active singing careers of some of the playback singers like Mohammad Rafi, or Kishore Kumar or Manna Dey have spread over several decades and were so potently dominant in their own times that each one having rendered playback voices for the Kapoor Brothers Trio has not attracted any attention. Manna Dey singing a comedy song for each of the three Kapoor brothers, there for does require a special mention.

Manna Dey and Raj Kapoor

Manna Dey had emerged as the principal alternative playback voice for Raj Kapoor from the very first film – Awara (1951) – of their association. It was therefore very obvious that he would get to sing special situation songs like, a sad song Tere Bina Aag Ye Chandani or sheer romantic duet Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua or very light-station dance number Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh or a song bordering to a classical comedy song Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala.

However, the first truly comedy song that Manna Dey sang for Raj Kapoor for the first time came up in Paravarish (1958)

Mama Oh Mama Oh Pyare Mama.. Gharwale Khaye Chakkar… – Paravarish (1958) – with Mohammad Rafi – Dattaram – Hasrat Jaipuri

Manna Dey was used as (almost) a default playback for Raj Kapoor in this film. So it was very natural that Manna Dey would playback to Raj Kapoor and Mohammad Rafi to Mehmood.

Next big comedy song that Manna Dey sang for Raj Kapoor came up in Dil Hi To Hai (1963)

Laaga Chunari Mein Daag Chuupaun Kaise – Dil Hi To Hai (1963) – Roshan – Sahir Ludhyanavi

It was Mukesh who was the default playback singer for Raj Kapoor in this film. However, for so strong classical rag-based comedy song, Roshan easily seems to have preferred Manna Dey

Manna Dey And Shammi Kapoor

Manna Dey had had an occasional chance to playback for Shammi Kapoor – Ab Kahan Jaye Hum – in Ujala  and a few other films, which we have covered in details in our Manna Dey – Shammi Kapoor piece earlier.

Meri Bhains Ko Dand Kyun Mara – Pagla Kahin Ka (1969) – Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri

It was Shankar Jaikishan who again recalled Manna Dey for a full-fledged comedy song, filmed on Shammi Kapoor, when Mohammad Rafi had become THE ShammI Kapoor Playback voice.

Manna Dey and Shashi Kapoor

Manna Dey also had his share of Shashi Kapoor songs. It was in Pyar Kiye Ja (1966) that he gets a very light song to sing for Shashi Kapoor

Sun Le Pyar Ki Dushman Duniya – Pyar Kiye Ja (1966) – with Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle – Laxmikant Pyarelal – Rajendra Krishna

This is a cry against the tyranny of the world towards the young people in love, but presented in a lighter tone.

Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs with Other Lead Actors

We have had a detailed look at Ashok Kumar – Manna Dey Comedy Song Jaa Re Beiman Tujhe Jaan Liya (Private Secretary, 1962; Music Director – Dilip Dholakia; Lyrics – Prem Dhawan), in Ashok Kumar – Manna Dey piece @ Manna Dey and Lead Actors. So, we will be satisfied here with taking a note of that one excellent comedy songs of Manna Dey. Of course, no discussion of Manna Dey’s comedy sngs for Ashok Kumar can ever be complete without mention of Babu Samajo Ishare, Horn Pukare (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, 1958; Music – S D Burman; Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri)

One of the rarest find while working for this entire series is Manna Dey’s Comedy Song for Vijay Ananad.

O Mister, O Mister Suno Ek Baat – Agra Road (1957) – with Geeta Dutt – Roshan –  Prem Dhawan

Vijay Anand was considered to be one of the most competent drifters of the films. Picturization of the songs was his forte. He would suddenly briefly appear, in Alfred Hitchcock’s signature style, in some in  the films he directed,  His attempts to act, and that too as lead actors, have been considered to be equally rare, and by and large not very successful.

Agra Road was his first maiden such effort. The film direction was in th every able thriller film directors, (Nagina -1951– fame) Ravindra Dave.

Here Vijay Anand is seen lip-synching Manaa Dey in a very light situation dance sequence. Of course, he himself wi very seriously dressed in a full suit, a tie, shoes and all.

Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs with Other Comedians

After Hato Kahe Banao Jhoothi Batiyan (Manzil, 1960) for Mehmood, we get to listen Manna Dey’s comedy songs for full-fledged comedians in 1962 for Johnny Walker.

Manna Dey’s comedy songs for Johnny Walker

The default playback voice for Johnny Walker has always been Mohammad Rafi. Mohammad Rafi had in fact so much developed a style of throw of words that synched perfectly with Johnny Walker’s theatrics that just by listening  to a song one would know this is Johnny Walker song..

Arre Kisne Chilman Se Maara – Baat Ek Raat Ki – S D Burman – Majrooh Sultanpuri

It is probably no coincidence that it is S D Burman who has chosen to use Manna Dey for Johnny Walker, taking on a contrarian step of not using Mohammad Rafi.. In fact SDB has already used Mohamad Rafi for Johnny Walker, right in this film – Aaj Ka Din Bhi Pheeka Pheeka. However, for this classical styled mujra, S D Burman has opted for Manna Dey. S D Burman has maintained spaces for Johhny Walker’s signature theatrics, while creating one of the most iconic comedy song in the annals of Hindi film history.

We have next three songs, all composed by Kalyanji Anadji.

Mere Mehboob Mujhko – Haseena Man Jayegi (1968)  – with Asha Bhosle –  Kalyanji Ananadji – Qamar Jalalabadi

This is a masala comedy song involving a sulking ‘the other half’ with our ‘comedian’ displaying all the theatrics available in his arsenal to win her over.

Ek Anar Do Bimar – Baazi 1968   -Kalayanji Anandji – Shakeel Badayuni

The templates are so rigidly cast, that even a new combination of music director – lyricist also is not able to inject any noteworthy variation.

Haye Re Raama Raam Qasam Kaisa Aaya Ye Zamaana  – Ek Haseena Do Deewaane (1972)  -Kalyanji Anandji –  Qamar Jalalabadi,

If a film has a comedian, and that too of the order of Johnny Walker, or Mehmood, he has to be allotted one song. By now there are some standard templates typecast. Any one of that template style will be lifted up and a song will be worked out by crafting some variation here or some variation there.

We would once again to end an episode in this series by ruefully noting the sudden drop in the quality of compositions that Manna Dey had to sing as the years pass, starting always from an iconic song to end with most certainly the forgettable song.

We have one song that can help us move away from that gloom –

Munh Se Mat Laga Ye Cheez Hai Buri – Johnny Walker (9157) – with Mohammad Rafi – O P Nayyar – Hasrat Jaipuri

This is an all-Johnny Walker- Mohammad Rafi song. Manna Dey has played back for some unknown ‘on-screen’ friends. But that has not made a shade of difference to Manna Dey – he matches a note-to-note with Mohammad Rafi.

That is the beauty of a really ‘class’ composition!!

We still have one more episode-worth material for Manna Dey’s comedy songs for Other Comedians. We would take that up in our next episode.

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – January, 2018

Welcome to January, 2018 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We recall film Samrat (1954) song Sabko Mubarak Naya Saal to open our January, 2018 account of the 6th year of our Film Song Blog Festival.

SoY has also presented It’s prose, It’s recitation, It’s a song to mark the New Year. The post has very simply presented dialogues delivered in a sing-song style, which was a characteristic of the Parsi theatre in which there was no clear distinction between dialogue-recitation-song. For example:

Tu Dil Ka Khuda Rooh Ka Kirdagaar by Mohammad Rafi (?) from Parda (1949) – Lyrics: Tanveer Naqvi, Music: Sharmaji – which HFGK lists it as a ‘song’.

The tributes in January, 2018:

Tum Kya Jaano Tumhari Yaad Mein: Lingering Melodies of the Versatile C Ramchandra – Peeyush Sharma pays tribute on 12th January 1918 being the 100th birth anniversary of the affable genius CR….Albela (1951) has a double role by Bhagwan, in which one of the roles was of an established singing theatre artist who inspires our hero Bhagwan to become a singing star. In the smaller role of the theatre artist it was Rafi lending his voice while Chitalkar was the voice of the hero when he hits stardom. This idea was borrowed by director, H.S. Rawail in Shararat, 1959 where he had two Kishore Kumars. Having one Kishore sing in his own voice (Hum matwale naujawan), he got the second Kishore sing, Ajab hai dastan teri ae zindagi, in Rafi’s voice……

Contrary to popular belief, Mohammed Rafi registered his first all India hit under CR’s music direction in Safar, 1946…. The song was Keh ke bhi na aaye tum, ab chhipne lage tare. CR had the conviction to give Rafi two solos in the film and they worked well (other one was Ab wo hamare ho gaye, ikeraar karen ya na karen). Rafi’s next major hit too came from CR, next year in Saajan, in which the main attraction was the Rafi song, Humko tumhara hi aasra, tum hamare ho na ho. The song had already gained a hit status. It also had a duet version by Rafi with Lalita Dewoolkar.

Chitalkar Ramachandra Sings: Ten Songs – Unlike SD Burman’s instantly recognizable voice, Chitalkar’s was a little more elusive—to the average listener, he can be recognized at times, but more often than not, he sounds like someone else altogether…

The Greats: Geeta Bali – She was also the love of Shammi Kapoor’s life (you can listen to him talking about her here) – they met while acting in films like Miss Coca Cola and Coffee House, and fell in love with each other during the shooting of Rangeen Raatein.

Rahen Na Rahen Hum, Mehka Karenge . . . is a tribute to Suchitra Sen who was always in a league of her own and will remain so in the history of Indian cinema.

Poet and lyricist Neeraj: ‘Poetry has kept me intoxicated throughout my life’ – Aditya Sharma – Gopaldas Saxena ‘Neeraj’, who imparted his distinctive flavour to Hindi film songs in the late 1960s and early ’70s, turned 93 on January 4.

Neeraj (far right) at a recording with SD Burman (far left). Courtesy Milan Prabhat Gunjan.

Vijay Anand – A Committed Filmmaker – who knew the language of making of the film song and presented it in the form of very visual poetry:

N Dutta’s film tunes are not heard as widely but they should not be forgotten – Rudradeep Bhattacharjee – Amongst his earliest songs, Ab Woh Karam Karen Ki Sitam (Marine Drive); Yeh Baharaon Ka Sama (Milap) and Maine Chand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamanna Ki Thi (Chandrakanta, 1956) stand out…Remember the classic Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega ?. The same melody had been used by the composer earlier for Kya Kya Na Sitam Tujh Pe Huye (also sung by Rafi) in the lesser-known Nirupa Roy tear-jerker Mohini (1957).

Dattaram Naik with Mohammed Rafi. Courtesy : Roop Naik
N Datta with Asha Bhosle and the violinists

N Datta – A Tribute – N Datta was at home with classical based songs (though less in number) as well as club songs, where he used all the forms from Rock N Roll to Waltz. We have picked up a couple of representative songs in the end of our post. He has also composed patriotic songs, ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha‘ from Bhai Behen is one of the examples,

Talat Mahmood Was the First Voice of Shammi Kapoor not Mohd Rafi !!! in his movies like “Thokar”, “Memsahib”, “Naquaab”, “Sipah Salar”, “Mehbooba”, “Chor Bazaar”,”Laila Majnu” and “Mohar”

Lata sings for Chitragupt in what can be termed as an endless list of some of the sweetest songs. Here is one example:

Diwane Hum, Diwane Tum, Kise Khabar – Bezubaan (1962) – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan

The Great Biopics Of Bollywwod is a read on some of the greatest biographical movies made of time.

January, 2018 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs is dedicated to : Jaidev: Brilliant, But Underrated, Composer: Journey from 1955 to 1963.

And, now the posts on other subjects:

‘Toone Zindagi Me Ek Baar Pi’ – Bahadur Sohrabji Nanji has had a duet ‘Dekhoji Baat Suno Humse Tum Aan Milo’ with Mubarak Begum for M A Rauf composed movie Basera (1950)…. He played the Harmonium for Shankar Jaikishan for Seema (1955)’s song ‘Humen Bhi De Do Sahara Ki Besahare Hain’ and Dil Ek Mandir (1963)’s song ‘Yaad Na Jaaye Beete Dinon Ki’. He also played the piano for Seema’s song ‘Suno Chhoti Si Gudiya Ki Lambi Kahani’ and Organ for ‘Kahaan Jaa Raha Hai Tu Ae Jaane Waale’ …. He also worked with Roshan as assistant and arranger for 16 movies

Baar Baar Din Ye Aaye, Tum Jiyo Hazaaron Saal … is a list of some of the good birthday songs.

Of Whiners and Doormats – the predominant emotion here is either an exultation of their martyrdom or a deep mourning of their fates, to fit the twin (complementary) themes of self-abnegation and self-pity, like in a song:  Mujhko sahara denewale – Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962) – Asha Bhosle – Ravi – SH Bihari

Music Has No Boundaries: 7 Indian Songs That Became Huge International Hits – Sanchari Pal  – Jimikki Kammal isn’t the first song from India to become a global hit. These 7 Indian songs went viral across the globe before ‘going viral’ was a thing!

Returning To: Padmini’s Navarasa, Classical Dancing to Sia, and Bollywood Raag Yaman (plus) – The teacher in this video, Anuja Kamat, gives a detailed explanation about what makes these songs Raag Yaman, what notes and sequences Raag Yaman contains, and the variation called Raag Yaman Kalyan

Nuptials in Bollywood is an outstanding collection of songs of different hues the marriages in Hindi Films.

Looking for romance and finding RD Burman in ‘Jaane Ja’ from ‘Jawani Diwani’ – Nandini Ramnath says the song is a singing lesson from Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle.”As Vijay sings about hunting high and low for his beloved, Kumar’s voice climbs several octaves while Bhosle occupies the lower depths. Bhosle has barely any lines, but this is no Kishore Kumar solo. The singers are perfectly matched, proving Burman’s unmatched ability to orchestrate magic out of differently pitched voices, complex arrangements and wide-ranging musical instruments.”

In our series Micro View of Best Songs 1948 @SoY of Best songs of 1948: And the winners are? , during the month we have viewed  Male-Female Duets of Other Singers in Part I and II, Female-Female Duets and Male- Male Duets & Triads, Triads+

In our tradition of ending our post with article or topical song, I have picked up N Datta’s songs that manifest his virtuosity over western tunes:

Laal Gaal Jaan Ke Lagu, Chor Chor Bhag Pardesi Babu – Mr X (1957) – Majrooh Sultanpuri

One Two Three Four Dil Ka Tu Hai Chor – Black Cat (1959) – with Suman Kalyanpur – Jan Nissar Akhtar

I earnestly seek your suggestions / inputs / criticisms so as to make our Film Blog Festival more interesting and live.