Saturday 18 March 2017

Babuji Dheere Chalna


The list of songs sung by Geeta Dutt can never be complete without “Babuji Dheere Chalna”  1/8 songs from the film “Aar Paar” that belonged to a genre of crime. This romantic song is inspired partly by “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas” a popular song by Cuban writer Osvaldo Farres. Believed to be translated from Spanish to English by Jennifer Lopez, “Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps” was popularized by Doris Day. (Another source claims Lyrics for English song were penned by Joe Davis). The originality of lyrics penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri leaves no room for doubt.


You may listen to the song here
Picturised on Shakila, the refreshing voice of Geeta Dutt rings in our ears through this song and remains a rage with the audience, young and old to this day.
Geeta Dutt started her playback singing career at the age of sixteen in the movie Bhakta Prahlad (1946) where she sang just two lines for a song. Her lovely, versatile voice tasted its first success in Bollywood with the song “Mera sundar sapna beet gaya” (Do Bhai 1947). History tells the rest of her success story. Her repertoire of songs range from sad, serious, soulful numbers to bhajans and ballads, not to miss her foray in fun n frothy numbers too.
Choreographed by Gurudutt himself and cinematographed by V K Murthy,  Shakila, a dancer in this film and quite “fast” at that, tells Kalu (played by Guru Dutt), her beau  “Sir,go slow…” . While dancing to the tunes of O P Nayyar voiced by Geeta Dutt, smoking the smoke from onlookers at the club, she tries to woo her fancy Kalu. Delicate are the ways of fate and strange are the ways of life sings Shakila to Kalu. And is Kalu, the bachelor, while munching nuts all through the song, mindful of his many adversaries? Shakila shoots him this poser.  
Film: Aar Paar (1954)       Director: Guru Dutt         Music Composer: O P Nayyar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri           Singer: Geeta Dutt          Actors:  Johnny Walker, Shyama, Shakila, Jagdeep, Jagdish Sethi

Reviews of few other songs can be reached via Bollywood Songs Review

Image Link:

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Deewana Hua Badal (Duet)


Image Link: https://mrandmrs55.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/sharmila-tagore-and-shammi-kapoor-kashmir-ki-kali-dal-lake.jpg



Song that sings a saga of love, shot in the cool locales of “Paradise on Earth” - Kashmir and wrapped beautifully by the melodies of M Rafi and Asha Bhosle. This romantic buoyant ballad is picturized on the flamboyant Shammi Kapoor and gorgeous Sharmila Tagore (who made a stunning debut ) sailing us to Dal Lake in Srinagar, taking us to Nehru Park where we watch Shammi waltzing and jiving to woo Sharmila even as they are sailing in separate boats in the lake.
The song begins with Sharmila climbing down the outside entrance stairs of a Village Inn followed by Shammi in his typical somersaultish style. Truly a treat to watch Shammi’s great balancing act during boating! Some cool moments ensue for a few minutes and the song ends with Shammi waving away to Sharmila from his own boat. Bubbly lively feel is a true takeaway from this timeless melody.


Movie Masala:
Since this was Sharmila’s debut film and also being a Bengali, she had no idea what to do with playback songs. It was Shammi Kapoor who told her what to do during a song, teaching her about music and rhythm (as told by Sharmila in “The Telegraph” Aug 15, 2011)
In Rafi’s voice lies the voice of Shammi so much so that on the musical maestro’s demise, Shammi himself said (somewhere I’ve read) “My voice has departed”
This movie – Kashmir ki Kali became a Box Office hit that year. The film incidentally has no title track.
O P Nayyar was selected to compose the music in place of Shanker-Jaikishen.

This is 1/9 songs from
Film: Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
Director: Shakti Samanta
Music Composer:  O. P. Nayyar
Lyrics: S.H. Bihari
Picturised on: Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore
Singers: Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosle

Few other songs reviewed in this blog can be reached via Bollywood Songs Review



Rahen na Rahen Hum

My sketch of Suchitra Sen
How heartbreaking it is to lose a loved one…isn’t it? I mean not about losing loved one’s life, that’s a different saga altogether. What when circumstances separate a person to be physically nowhere near proximity, but far away from his/her dear celebrity? Instances like these may be common to many, but expressions of feelings are indeed unique to each. So when poor Devyani (played by Suchitra Sen) is separated from her dearie, wealthy Monish Rai (played by Ashok Kumar) who has to travel abroad for higher education, what has this gentle beauty Suchitra got to sing through her song? Must listen at (youtube link)…. while you read my take of her philosophy right here.

As you read, do listen to the song  Here

The magic of film Mamta lies in this song “Rahen na Rahen Hum” that’s backed by tingy tongy chimey tunes that ding n dong every now n then, sweetly supporting the gentle melodies of Lata singing away musings of Suchitra. The sounds of ringing during singing as if from a bell in a temple takes the listener to a plane of purity and divinity (Is this a precursor to prove future tawaif’s chastity - an attempt to tempt one to ponder… I just wonder!). Suchitra when asked to sing this song by Ashok Kumar even as he verbally vows his loyalty to her despite his decisively compelled separation, she too pledges her fealty philosophically. So deeply lost in love, she knows not about separation from unity. Come what may the weather, Spring or Summer, and the fragrance, be it like a breeze or a flower, the garden of their life, she promises to grace devotedly with colour. Lost in the realm of love, she sings that she shall sway and she shall blossom just so to remain forever his bosom. On his return, she is not sure of her presence (rahen na rahen hum – whether or not I’ll be here) yet her fond hope of him returning, one can sense when she sings “wahi pe kahin hum tumse milenge” - there somewhere we shall meet again! This line in particular is so synonymously in sync with “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna”.  Hai na bolo?
     

1/7 songs from the Film: Mamta (1966) 
Music Composer: Roshan           
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar (solo)
              Mohd Rafi & Suman Kalyanpuri (duet)
Director: Asit Sen                            
Cast: Suchitra Sen, Ashok Kumar, Dharmendra
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri        

Movie Masala:
Suchitra Sen, born as Roma Dasgupta, refered to as “Mahanayika” in Bengali film world is one actress who with just 7 Hindi films under her belt made the shortest foray in Bollywood mainstream yet sealed her signature that lasts till date. She came (in 1951), she conquered with atleast3 unforgettable films (Gulzar’s Aandhi, Asit Sen’s Mamta and Bimal Roy’s Devdas) and walked away (in 1978) deep down only to get lost in the world of spiritualism.


Image Link:
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Aayega Aane Waala

Team Nostalgia at Good Earth, Palmgrove, Bengaluru on Nov 19, 2016.

Theatrical ambience - Amphi like - tempting many to click a quick selfie…. Bright lights dotting verdant green walled enclosure, interspersed by interesting interplay of solids n voids of concrete n metal; Coleus, here n there clinging on to rugged stone plinth that based the stage; Enthusiastic community crowd filling the steps right up to top; Trees that flanked on either side of the stage with boughs calendula kind, cantilevered from their trunks, kind enough to bow over their One Sis n Many Bros sitting on stage, a Good Earthy feel…what an inspiration to pen my review of one of a score of songs sung by Team Nostalgia. My pick for song review: Aayega Aane Waala  


A scintillating song from the mystery movie “Mahal” that catapulted Lata several notches up, to reach super star status among singers then.
The backdrop for the song is a series of breathtaking black and striking white imagery thanks to stunning cinematography by Joseph Wirsching.
Picturised on Ashok Kumar, known as Shankar in the film, owner of Sangam Bhavan that is haunted by memories of two lovers, one an unknown man and the other, beautiful looking Kamini played by Madhubala.
Sangam Bhavan was a palatial mansion that stood on the bank of Yamuna, and built by an “Unknown Man” who would supervise its construction, travelling by boat every night. Once Sangam Bhavan was ready, this unknown man brought his beloved to the bhavan and would come rowing every night to visit her. The romance didn’t last long, for, one stormy night, the boat capsized, the unknown man drowned, followed by grief struck Kamini who too threw herself into the river and drowned.
Aware of the tragic ending romantic saga through gardener of the bhavan, Krishna, yet intrigued, Shankar the owner, wanders through ‘The Mahal’ . His intrigue increases when an old portrait (of The Unknown Man) that fell off the wall (and just missed hitting him) looked precisely like a portrait of himself! During his wandering around the mansion, in the middle of a stark dark stormy night, when the clock strikes to say the time now is two (a.m.!) was that a kind of cue?
For, from not too far away, he started hearing the singing of this song by a lady, none other than Kamini (Madhubala) brilliantly playbacked by Lata. His aimless wandering now shifts to focus, tracking the trailing voice emerging from somewhere out there. A voice heard so near, yet that figure n oh that face swinging back n forth n back n forth appears to be far away. When he rushes to sight her at the spot, lo, the voice is ringing, swing still swinging, albeit with its seat plain empty! To him, it’s sheer disbelief!  A face that he could see, though from far, is now elusive, making him pensive.
What an odyssey it is, all through the song! Sung by a teeny, tiny, double braided marvel of a girl from Maharashtra. Who knew then, in that era when rustic and robust Punjabi voices like Shamshad Begum, Zorabhai Ambalewali, Amirbai Karnataki and Noor Jehan to name a few, ruled the roost, that, this little girl would go on to become “The Golden Voice of Hindi Cinema” to this day! Probably Ghulam Haider alone knew, who envisioned in her a potential musical genius. That was when many an eyebrow shot up!!
1/7 songs from the Film: Mahal
Composer:  Khemchand Prakash              Singer: Lata Mangeshkar           Lyricist: Nakshab
Director: Kamal Aarohi                            Cast: Ashok Kumar, Madhubala

Also read Song review of
Ajeeb Dastaan Hai
Aao Huzoor Tum ko
Nostalgia Team that performed at Good Earth Palmgrove, B’lore on Nov 19, 2016 comprised of
Sri Sheshadri Mokshagundam – Master of Ceremonies
Smt. Rekha Sathish – Singer

Sri. Ramanujam Masti – Singer
Li'l Master Aprameya – Budding Singer
Sri. Ravi Dharwad on Keyboard
Sri. Srinivas B. C. on Tabla
Sri. Shashidhar on Rhythm Pad

List of Songs sung at the event:

Tu Pyar Ka Sagar Hai -Chorus (Sheshadri Sir, Sri Ramanujam and Smt. Rekha )
Ayega Aanewala 
Yeh Mera Diwana Pan Hai 
Dil Ke Nazar Se
Piya Aiso Jiya
Jalte Hain Jiske Liye
Waqt Ne Kiya
Yeh Raaten Yeh Mausam
Koya Koya Chand
Rahena Rahe Hum
Na Bole Na Bole
Baar Baar Dekho 

Kuch Dil Ne Kaha
Hum Aapki Ankhon Mein
Zindagi Bhar Nahi
Aao Huzoor
Aaja Sanam
Aayiye Meherban
Medley of songs










Episode #67 by Team Nostalgia at Dignity Foundation, Bengaluru

Sri Sheshadri Mokshagundam – Founder, Anchor, Singer
Singers:
Smt Rekha Sathyashankar
Smt Kumuda Mallya
Sri A K Prabhakar
Sri Badrinath


Smt. Mangala Madhuchand – Event Blogger

Playlist – Oct 27, 2017
Jatan Kahan Hai Diwane – CID (1956)
Kahin Ye Wo To Nahin – Haqeeqat  (1955)
Lakhon Hain Nigahon Mein -  Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963)

Haale Dil Unko Sunana Tha – Fariyaad (1942)
Din Dhal Jaaye – Guide (1965)
Aayega Aanewala – Mahal (1949)
Aaj Yeh Meri Zindagi – Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke (1963)
Hum Aur Tum Aur Yeh Sama - Dil Deke Dekho (1959)
Dil Ka Diya Jala Ke Gaya – Akashdeep (1965)
Aansu bhari hain yeh jeevan ki rahein – Parvarish (1977)
Ye Hawa Ye Raat Ye Chandni - Sangdil (1952)
Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki - Dulari (1949)
Babuji Dheere Chalna  - Aar Paar (1954)
Nainon Mein Badra Chhaye -  Mere Saaya (1966)
Darshan Do Ghanashyam Nath Mori - Narsi Bhagat (1957)
Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha – Chaya (1961)


Jaaneman Jaaneman Tere Do Nayan



My Sketch of Asha Bhosle
While you read song review below,
 you may listen to the song  here

Image Source:
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A touching song from a reel that talks about real! Tracked in an extraordinary romantic comedy film 
that celebrates the ordinary middle class lifestyle gifting viewers endless smiles at intervals. For a typical middle class someone like me right in the middle of my life journey, this straight laced wafer thin storyline spun around every day  little situations is simply nostalgic, thanks to Basu Chaterjee’s macroscopic attention to microscopic details. Transports me back to my college days – boy meets girl, then another one meets her. Now she is caught in this Tricky Triangle. Thank God I triumphed out of that phase in my life by not falling into this thorny triangular trap!!
Picturised on Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha, this song is filmed in a cinema hall. While watching Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s graceful  romantic theatrics on big screen, Amol  (as a tongue tied shy boy Arun) stares at the screen, wide eyed, big smiled, mouth agape at intervals, shifting seating postures every now and then for concentrated viewing much to the disturbance of viewers around him. Soon he slips into a dream of his own.
Thanks to Amol’s fantasy, for a few itsy bitsy moments, we get to watch Amol and Vidya (Vidya here as Prabha, his love) too playing around in this heartwarming song with ecstasy.  With the song coming to an end, we and Amol are in for a jolt! For, Amol along with himself brings us back to reality, letting us viewers move on with the movie!!
Movie Masala:
This song where Yesudas was at his breezy best was his debut song in Bollywood
Choti si Baat was Salil Chowdhary’s last film as music director
The influence of everyday situations in middle class lifestyle that led to a confluence of love and those sweet little memorable moments resulted in Basu Chaterjee’s “Choti Si Baat” i.e. “Small Matter” a big hit for middle class viewers.

This is 1/3 songs from
Film: Choti Si Baat (1976)              
Director: Basu Chaterjee    
Music Composer: Salil Chowdary 

Lyrics: Yogesh Gaud        
Singers: Yesudas, Asha Bhosle                   
Actors: Amol Palekar, Vidya Sinha


Mang Ke Saath Tumhara (Duet)

Can you imagine a race between a bus and a tonga? Yes, it can happen… in dreams and in films. Undeniably unbelievable that the clear winner can be…The Tonga!! but not until one watches the film Naya Daur (1957), a film that ushered in a “Naya Daur” - New Era for the careers of many in the industry.

This classic entertaining film and the second highest grosser of that era is about Man vs. Machine, with a clear social message conveying the victory of human spirit and belief riding over technology, clearly the result of a storyline with a difference!  Songs (9 in all) from this film were inspired by the music of a Punjabi troupe who had performed at the 25th week celebrations of B. R. Chopra’s another film “Ek Hi Raasta” (1956).


Clip-Clop Clip-Clop … Tuk-Tok Tuk-Tok ….
“Maang Ke Saath Tumhara” a typical tonga song was shot probably on a cool, breezy early evening on pure countryside locales of Bhopal (and not in Mumbai studio! bringing in realism to the story). The song begins with the beats of tonga…signature sound style of OPNji, Dilip Kumar enjoying his tonga ride in the company of Vyjayanthimala. The stunning effect of light and shade, all of foliage playing on their faces, especially after the start of the song, appear in perfect rhythm with the tonga beats. Gentle movements of Dilip and Vyjayanthimala (their hairs included!) matching with the mood and music, swaying with the breeze and the beats are a treat as visuals. Childish charm of a typical village boy essayed by Dilip dressed in simple clothes gets amplified with that typical teeny scream of his Urrrrhhhh…yaaaaaaaaah at the end of the song. 
Whatta joy to “watch” the song while you listen.


Film: Naya Daur (1957)                  
Director and Producer: B R Chopra          
Music Composer: O P Nayyar
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhiyanvi                 
Singers: Rafi and Asha                   

Actors: Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala

Reviews of few other songs in this blog can be reached via Bollywood Songs Review



Surmayi Akhiyon Mein


My sketch of Kamal Hasan

A touching song from the film Sadma that states a sad story of showering uncondtiional love only to lose all at the end of it all. Relationship between Kamal Hasan (in the role of Somu, a school teacher) and Sridevi (in the role of Reshmi , trapped in a brothel, later however rescued by Somu) is clearly one of a cusp caught between affection and love.  Kamal is so warmly and affectionately called as Somu by Sridevi while with him during her recovery from amnesia. And once her memory is revived he is so coolly and coldly ditched by her, at the climax of the movie. What an anticlimax this must have been for the heartbroken Kamal! Little wonder that the result of a stellar above par performance of Sridevi-Kamal Hasan pair not only made it to CNN-IBN’s list of “Greatest Romantic Couples on Celluloid” but Kamal’s astounding performance sans many sounds (his brilliant expressions said it all) helped the climax of Sadma clinch into CNN-IBN list of “Bollywood’s 50 most memorable scenes of all time”.
In the song, Somu begs Reshmi to leave a sweet little dream for him, to send him a soul to whom he can cling Halka pulka shabnami, resham se bhi reshami….sings the saddened Somu.  Grant a dream – Yes, Reshmi did. Did it turn true for Somu? Alas, it didn’t!
close. Soul that may be a bit unknown, yet, that makes him feel like someone known. “Silken soft like morning dew, light as the feather that flew” …
That’s the tragedy of this sad though soulstirring story!!
You can listen to the song right here!

This is 1/6 songs from
Film: Sadma (1983) Director: Balu Mahendra     
Music Composer: Ilaiyaaraaja   
Lyrics: Gulzar
Singer: Yesudas                              
Actors: Kamal Haasan, Sridevi

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Nainon Mein Badra Chayye

My Sketch of Madan Mohan Kohli
More of my portraits can be viewed at http://mangalaspotpourri.blogspot.in/2017/03/portraits.html

My sketch of Lata Mangeshkar
While you read this song review below enjoy listening to it on YouTube Link Nainon Mein Badra Chayye
One of a kind film where the heroine meets death barely few minutes after its start. What else can ensue if not those run of the mill expectations: A somber saga spinning off interspersed with sad songs filling spaces in between….right? Proving viewers wrong and belying their usual expectations to present a pleasanter film is the unusual director Raj Khosla stunning all with his masterpiece:  film with a unique theme, loaded with sensible suspense, classic romance beautified in classical style, thereby Khosla flaunting flashes of a splendid love story, not to miss the magic of mesmerizing music by Madan Mohan.
Set amidst expansive outdoors around the palatial and picturesque Lake View of Udaipur, this song from the
1966 film Mere Saaya (meaning “My Shadow “ and a remake of Marathi film “Pathlaag”) starts with the affluent descendant of the royal family, lawyer Thakur Rakesh Singh (Sunil Dutt) mentally not one bit at ease with himself though physically appears relaxed, stretched out and smoking away, laid back on a chaise lounge ….but not for long, since the so far still though pensive mind with a cigar in hand is now stirred by the gentle tunes of a sitar and santoor combine, a jawbreaking  jugalbandi  setting tone for a classic ghazal of a song composed by Madan Mohanji, sung with gusto by Lataji playbacking for the female actress of fame who brought to fashion, fringe haircut and tight churidar kurta…guess who…yesss ...the one and only Charming Sadhana.
Sadhana, in this song, while clearly craving for Dutt’s love, makes no bones about singing the same to him “Prem deewani hoon mein”.  Introducing herself as his Queen of Dreams from a previous lifetime (“sapnon ki raani hoon mein” “pichale janam se teree”), she pleads with him to make her his’s in this lifetime too (“aa is janam mein bhi tu”).
A song that shows Dutt reminiscing one of many spurts of blissful moments he had with Sadhana , one that evokes evidence of his enigmatic state,  one that lets viewers’minds soak in the views of the resplendent lake and environs of Lake Palace, Udaipur as much as their misty eyes soak in desparate Dutt’s saga of desolation.
This is 1/6 songs from
Film: Mera Saaya (1966)              
Director: Raj Khosla        
Music Director: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan         
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Cast: Sunil Dutt, Sadhana

Few other songs reviewed in this blog can be reached via Bollywood Songs Review

Image Link
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Sansar Se Bhaage Phirte Ho






YouTube Link for "Sansar se bhaage phirte ho..."



A historic song from an equally historical, philosophical period film (set during golden Mauryan rule) with Sahir’s brilliant Hindi shayari making its first foray into Bollywood. Sahir was hitherto known for his prolific poetry in Urdu.
Widowed courtesan Chitralekha (played by Meena Kumari) bestowed with her beauty, charms Aryaputra Samant Bijgupt (played by Pradeep Kumar) who is so lost in lust with her that he fails to fulfill royal duties. Add to this, he is not keen on marrying his fiancée Princess Yashodhara (played by Shobana). Yashodhara’s father therefore sends  Yogi Kumargiri  (played by Ashok Kumar) to convince Chitralekha to give up on Bijgupt.  Kumargiri commands Chitralekha to give up her “sinful” style of living so as to attain nirvana.
Kumargiri’s sermon only earns him back a deeply meaningful philosophical soulful song lyricized in conversational style and sung solo by Lata tracking the sound of Chitralekha wherein she daringly debates about sin vs virtue, living life to the fullest vs living in vain, finding God in real world as against fleeing from society. She cynically poses questions to him about spiritual hypocrisy.  Questions that are pertinent to the fundamental philosophical conundrum faced by humans even today.  Summing up her moral in a verse right in the middle of the song, she states “apaman rachetaa kaa hogaa, rachnaa ko agar Thukraaoge.meaning It will be an insult to the Creator himself, if you reject the act of creation”

Sahir, The King of Romance and a winner of PadmaShri for his soulful poetry, with this delightfully melodious song set amidst grandiose décor, wherein poetry plays king and melody tunes itself as queen, gifts viewers a spectacle that can easily be called “Nothing short of Royal”!

Movie Masala:
It was Sahir who fought with AIR for the right of lyricists to be credited for a song along with singers and composers. 
Despite deft directorial skills of Kidar Sharma, his wrong choice of cast led to a colossal loss, for, the film flopped fanning out as a mere street side potboiler.
Sansar se bhaage phirte ho…. is 1/7 songs from
Film: Chitralekha
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhyanvi
Music Director: Roshan
Film Director: Kidar Sharma
Starring: Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar

Few other songs reviewed in this blog:
Deewana Hua Badal
Mora Gora Ang Laile
Tum ko piya dil diya Sambhal Ye Dil
Mang ke saath tumhaara
Tu Pyar Ka Saagar Hai
Churaliya Hum Tum Ne Jo Dil Ko
Aao Huzoor Tum Ko
Aayega Aane Waala
Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh

NOSTALGIA at Dignity Foundation, Bangalore - 19th May 2017
As Team "Nostalgia" marched forward this month at Dignity Foundation to its 62nd episode musing back to Melodies of the Past, Rekha’s melodious singing as well as her duet along with Sheshadri Sir truly touched the audience doing full justice to Shesh Sir’s compact cherrypicked playlist. Picked from this playlist for my song review is this popular philosophical number “Sansaar se bhaage phirte ho” from the film Chitralekha starring Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Pradeep Kumar.
Sheshadri Sir, the sole Master of the whole Ceremonies, stole the show with a sort of shorter playlist this time, for he touched the souls of the audience with his short n sweet narration of Sweet n Sour short tales of The Titans of Bollywood way back then. Audience had a whale of a time listening to them.
Yesss name anyone… Madan Mohan or Meera Kumari, Salil Chowdhary or Sahir Ludhyanvi, Raj Kapoor or a Rajinder, be it a Burman, a Basant or a Bimal he has files of stories piled up to share with all of us about any of them. Oh did I hear you  ask for Hrishikesh Mukherjee? Ahem…Hold. How much time can you spare…micro minutes or mega hours…pick your time. He’s perfectly fine going On n On n Onnnnnn any time infinite times! Voice goes minimal. Ever smiling Shesh Sir gets emotional. While his heart in general houses the golden era of Hindi Cinema, his soul in particular shelters “Hrishidaa - The Director of the Common Man”
Just watch his eyes while you listen. I did. And I looked around…. anyone chopping onions…nah.  Eyes are wet. Yet they glisten!
Just . That. Name… Hrishidaa. And his heart goes agog gaga. Browse through his emotional dictionary. Sad n Sweet Surprise awaits you when a series of synonyms stare at you. Just a few, I shall put it across just for you…. “Tales that I know about you HMjee how I wish the world listens to me tailless Ji” “Aha Hrishidaa, my Rishi my Dada, my heart bleeds to bid you Alvida !!“
Sing we all shall for you Sir “Take a bow for all that you share of so much that you know” as much as we cheer the Creators of Memorable Melodies “Take a bow for the world sings what you did sow”
Also read Song Review of "Sansar se bhaage phirte ho"
 
Nostalgia PlayList – May 19 2017
Solos by Rekha
Aa jao tadapte hain arman – Awara (1951)
Yeh zindagi usi ki hai Anarkali  (1953)
Tere jaana dil ki arman ko lut jana – Anari  (1959)
Jaane  kaise sapnon mein – Anuradha (1960)
Sansar se bhage phirte ho – Chitralekha (1964)
Mai ri main kase kahoon – Dastak (1970)
Simti hui yeh ghadiyan – Chambal ki kasam (1980)
Duets by Sheshadri Sir and Rekha
Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha – Chaya (1961)
Rim Jhim ke pyare pyare geet liye – Usne Kaha Tha (1960)
Solos by Rekha (Kannada Songs)
Moodala Maneya Muthina Neerina – Belli Moda (1967)
Panchama Veda Premada Naada – Gejje Pooje (1969)






















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Aao Huzoor Tum ko


1/5 songs from the 1968 film “Kismat”
Music Director: O.P. Nayyar        Singer: Asha Bhosle        Lyricist: Noor Devasi
Director: Manmohan Desai          Actors: Biswajeet, Babita, Helen, Kamal Mishra, Murad
Based on the film Kismat, a film with a flamboyant narrative and an unending storyline.

A sharaab song associating a drunkard, but with a difference! Difference that lies in the gender. I can guess the difference, can you? In sharp contrast to the practice during those times, when consuming the Devil’s nectar was the prerogative of masculine masses, Manmohan Desai takes a bold step to defy the norms and portray feminine intoxification to the public. Thanks to the lyrics of a lesser known lyricist Noor Devasi who takes us along with the stars of the song, to stars of the skies…
Good Heavens!...seven of them towards the end of the song ! when he refers to jotting down in the heart, memoirs that are unmatched by seven skies (Jis ki misaal de naa sake saatho aasmaan). Rave references to skies, stars and seven heavens…all of these…are they probably implying divinity? So what if the lyricist is lesser known, when the song is considered a memorable one (especially associating Babita), entertaining to us, viewers cum listeners and a claim to fame for Noor Dewasi.
Fabulous rendition by Asha…what an intoxicating mood she must have been in! Glory be to her, for her pauses, expressions and extensions, all so precise and perfectly in sync with the drunken dolly ….is it Karishma or Kareena? Ta…ta…taa it’s the mom of both, Babita.
This song , picturised on Babita and Biswajit was one of the songs selected for Shaan-e-Pakistan 2015 (a 3 day fashion and cultural fiesta that brings the 2 nations together through fashion, food and music)

Few other song reviews in this blog can be reached via "Bollywood Songs Review"

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Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina

My debut portrait - Lata Mangeshkar

My sketch of Jaya Bhaduri
More of my portraits can be viewed @ "My Portraits"

Tere Mere Milan ki Yeh Raina YouTube Link











Music can move people, melt them or even tear them apart. Music can reunite them too! That’s The Mesmerising Magic of Music!! So evident is this in the fondly remembered film Abhimaan (declared Hit by Trade Guide – a Bollywood Trade magazine published during those times), with a mature love story that deals with a very common human trait called “Professional Jealousy” between married couple. Here the singer-husband finds it difficult to accept the popularity and mass appeal of his singer-wife. Their marriage is on the rocks. The movie reaches its climax when the couple Subir (Amitabh) and Uma (Jaya  -Bhaduri then, Bachchan now) get separated, Uma has a miscarriage and finally they fortunately reunite – what an emotional reunion celebrated with this beauty of a song “Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina” rendered in public by both, thanks to timely intervention by Brijeshwar Rai (that’s David for us) who declares to the on-screen audience that it was music that brought them together, tore them apart and reuniting them now. It was Music that defined (or designed!) their life all the way!
This show stopping musical glitters right from the start when Amitabh opens the stanza with a hmmm... and the couple glance by turns at each other. Simple yet stunning sight that sinks into our souls!  And as Amitabh continues to sing, Jaya is unable to take her eyes off him, her emotions go beyond control and ultimately breaks down even as their good times with each other flashback at her. Amitabh along with Asrani (as Chander) waste no time in consoling Jaya , David announcing to the audience that it was the couple’s dream that they should be singing this song together and also requesting Jaya to join Amitabh in the song. When Jaya refuses, it was David’s touching statement that it is his command just like that of a father to daughter, which makes Jaya give her consent.
Amitabh lovingly beckons her to the stage which she readily does, albeit welled with tears. From here on we witness “The Magic of Music” where they both take turns in singing their stanzas. How can one miss Brijeshwar Rai brimming with joy when the two sing in chorus “Dekho naa….” And how can we the audience miss joining him in that joy!
A truly touching direction by SDB….the duo turning towards each other with every repeat of Dekho naa….as if reminding each other of their good times once upon a time! The song ending with their duet rightfully proclaims “Their Grand Emotional Reunion”.

Trivia:
Bindu’s  positive role comes as a good break, earlier known for her vamp/cabaret dancer roles (Zanjeer -1973)
Jaya won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her sterling acting performance wherein she proves that this innocent country girl in her is indeed a woman of substance.
Tune of the song is believed to be based on Rabindra Sangeet “Jodi  Taare Naayi Chini Go Seki”
S D Burman won the Fimfare Best Music Director Award for his brilliant music in this movie.
This song was listed at No. 16 on Binaca Geetmala annual list 1973
Abhimaan was a blockbuster not just in India but also in Sri Lanka where it was screened non stop for 590 days at Empire Colombo.
The film is claimed to be based roughly around the life story of popular playback singer Kishore Kumar with his first wife Ruma Guha Thakurta/Ruma Ghosh.

Film: Abhimaan (1973)  
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee                               
Music Composer: S D Burman
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri          
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar           
Actors:  Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, David, Asrani, Bindu and others

Few other song reviews in this blog can be reached via "Bollywood Songs Review"

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Yeh Raatein Yeh Mausam




My sketch of Nutan - Charcoal on Paper
My portraits of Bollywood legends can be viewed @ "Portraits - Legends of Bollywood"

Dilli Ka Thug, is a 1958 comedy film that is remembered to this day for its enchanting music (by Composer Ravi) with melodious tunes complemented equally richly by Majrooh’s lyrics.
Kishore (Kishore Kumar), a journalist turned gambler, tricks people for his earning.  On landing in Mumbai with a job in hand, he meets Asha (Nutan). The firm employing Kishore is run by Asha’s uncle, murderer of Kishore’s father and his friend. This uncle of Asha, Professor Amarnath by day is also known by the name Anantram, leader of a gang that distributes fake medicines. Kishore, engaged to Asha during childhood, but never met each other in their later years, now tries to win her back.
You may listen to the song here
It takes two to Tango goes a saying. So it was, sort of, in this waltzish song that starts with two -
Kishore and Nutan, not in a ballroom but on the terrace . The hitherto angry outward air of Nutan that preluded this song melts in less than a minute when Kishore repeats his first line “Yeh raatein yeh mausam….with arms wide open. Is it to invoke the night breeze on to the terrace or evoke Nutan into his arms for an embrace?  Why not take it as both when the feelings are same – pristine pure akin to nature.
The magic unfolds when Nutan springs a surprise. Hmmm she takes over humming the tune and singing a melody wherein she states about their hearts having said “We shall never part”. While she sings her say, one can’t miss noticing her palms feel the gentle sway of the leaves of palms to the blows of breeze. What follows next is justifiably their chorus “Yeh Raatein Yeh Mausam…..” praising the night and the clime, shine from the moon and breeze from the shore, all of these making them feel…well, at ease together, in love with each other. What a sea of emotions expressed in just a line! Woohoo, thanks to lyricist Majrooh.
They move on to sing rest of the song taking turns whilst they join back in chorus to sing the couplet
Kaha do dilon ne, yeh milkar kabhi ham, na honge judaa
Yeh raatein, yeh mausam, nadi ka kinara, yeh chanchal hawa”
The emotions of both have been strongly captured in the song, thanks to brilliant picturisation.  Nutan’s mesmerising portrayal of emotions, in particular, is evident in this breezy musical. Is this why she is popular as the “Queen of Emotions” I wonder!
1/8 songs from the Film: Dilli ka Thug (1958)                        
Music Composer:  Ravi                 
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle   
Director: S D Narang      
Cast: Kishore Kumar, Nutan, Madan Puri, Iftekhar
Lyricist: S H Bihari, Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri

Movie Masala:
It is believed that there was a joke in film industry that if you want to draw Nutan, just sketch a straight line. But the joke was shortlived, for, at 17, she was sent by her mother to a finishing school in Switzerland after which she gained a few pounds more!

Few other song reviews in this blog can be reached via "Bollywood Songs Review"

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Tum ko piya dil diya


1/6 songs from the film Shikari that offers viewers a full feel of fun what with the screen filled to a near full film length with nutsy, crazy color cramped fantasy.

A spectacular song pomply picturized on Helen and Ragini. Ragini’s accidental fall and a hit on the head onscreen then, results in a song n dance sequence that remains a hit offscreen to this day!
A fantastic dreamy dance off with Helen by Ragini (as Rita) where Ragini, in her sad state of concussion dreams that she is competing with Helen, both vying with each other in perfect unison to catch Ajit’s attention. A kind of dream that can be dreamt only by a Rani like Ragini, all so since Helen holding hands with Ajit in gratitude when Ajit offered her help caught the eyes of Ragini. Instant assumption by Ragini that Ajit is in love with Helen (too?!). Not so uncommon reaction from our behen Ragini, after all she is no Yogini…right?!

Clearly a war via dance dreamt by Ragini as to who between them will lose in their battle of winning the heart
of Ajit, the mesmeric glances alternating at intervals by Ajit at both of them while dancing, notwithstanding!
The duo Ragini and Helen start off their dance backed by a stencilled setting of colourful cutouts, of leaves n
lotuses, twigs n springs, buds n blooms, pots and ponds, no different from the settings that we see while watching on TV, those Filmi Awards Fests n Fairs that happen with such pomp and fanfare! Both the dancers are costumed in colours - Red and White, is their a choice when the dreamy dance here directly hints at an indirect fight? Can’t miss noticing this: Distribution of that pleasing combo of colours - Red n White between the duo is an inverse ratio, designed to perfect proportion!
Whatta feast to our eyes, the scintillatingly synchronised offering by this dancing duo - a daringly dashing audio video of a colourful cameo!!

Movie Masala:
Tired of watching Helen in cabaret attire? View this song while you listen…pleasant change to see Helen here dressed in desi design!
One of the sisters’ trio of Travancore fame, Ragini was an acclaimed dancer and actress.  Her two elder sisters were Padmini and Lalitha who were also dancers, actors and performers in various languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam etc. Ragini died of cancer in 1976 at the age of 39.
G S Kohli, music director of this sweet n melodious song, along with his independent compositions of songs like this for a few films, also worked as an assistant to OP Nayyar right through his career. The rhythmic beats, guitar and other instrumental interludes however remind us of the distinct impact of OPN.
His individual direction included songs from films Shikari (1963), Mr. India, Namaste Ji (1965), Adventures of Robin Hood (1965), Lambe Haath (1960), Faulad (1963), Purnima (1965), Char Dervesh (1964)

Film: Shikari (1963)          Director: Mohammed Hussain   Music Director: G S Kohli
Lyrics: Farooq Qaisar       Singers: Lata, Usha
Cast: Ajit, Ragini, Helen and Madan Puri, K N Singh, Tun Tun

YouTube Link: Tum ko piya dil diya

Few other song reviews in this blog can be reached via "Bollywood Songs Review"



Oomph! What a Sweet Sixtieth it was at Dignity Foundation this month. Celebrating this was Our Hero of Team Nostalgia Sri Sheshadri Mokshagundam speaking about the unspoken legends of Bollywood, “Celebrating the Uncelebrated” as he rightly themed it. Strongly supporting the theme was a playlist of 20+ songs handpicked by him. Picked from this playlist for my song review was “Tum ko piya dil diya…..” from the movie Shikari (1963)….which you read above.
Reminiscence began with a soulful song of prayer “Hum ko man ki shakthi dena” from the film Guddi remembering Vasant Desai, the music composer and Vani Jayaram, the singer. While this sixtieth episode sailed with the singing of many an unsung hero’s ode, Sheshadri Sir stirred the session once in a while throwing questions at the discerning audience. Pat comes back the answers well before he completes the question! Courtesy Smt. Rekha Kini , Encyclopedia of Evergreen Old Bollywood and many other senior citizens like her adding to its pages.
La, la, la what an icing it was on the cake, with the storming of stage by Li’l Darling Aarohi, all of 5th grade (not even a 2004!!) springing one and all a surprise, singing this mesmerising number of Rafi and Asha “Ek Chameli ke mandve tale….” from the film Cha, Cha, Cha (1964)
What a way to the end, celebrating in advance,  our Hero’s B’day...tap, tap, tap n a clap, clap, clap, lilt n tilt to the song n need I say…Senior Citizens all set to Dance! Hey, why you looking askance saying Nnno Chhance? Sure, please do come n take a glance. Not sure if we can stop you dance!!!  J
While the team walked out of the programme with tons of takeaways equaling their giveaways, there we met an old man near the gate. “While walking past here, few minutes ago I heard someone sing a Rafi number Jaag dil-e-deewana rut jaage… and I stood still till I heard to its end.” What a Pat  that was to singer  Manjunath Prasad!
Here’s to you Sheshadri Sir… a tribute via salute, Chorus from us… “Haa Tujhe Salaam”


Nostalgia Songs List – March 17 2017

Duets by Manjunath Prasad and Rekha
Agar main puchoon jawab doge – Shikari (1963) Ajit, Ragini
Beqarar dil tu gaaye ja – Door ka Rahi   Ashok Kumar, Tanuja
Dil e nadan tujhe hua kya hai – Mirza Galib
Tum to pyar ho o sajni - Sehra
Tumko dekha toh ye khayal – Saath Saath – Farooq Sheikh, Deepti Naval
Kitni haseen ho tum – Yeh dil kisko doon – Shashi Kapoor, Ragini..?
Female Duets
Gore gore o banke chore – Samadhi
Chup chup khade ho zaroor – Badi Bahen
Solos by Manjunath Prasad
Yeh teri saadgi yeh tera baankpan – Shabnam
Tum ko dekha toh ye khayal aaya – Saath Saath
Jaag dil e deewana rut – Oonche Log (1965)
Dil jalta hai to jalne de – Pehli Nazar (1946)
Solos by Rekha
Dard e dil dard e vafaa – Sushila
Pankh Hoti Re Ud Aati Re – Sehra
Dil ne phir yaad kiya - Dil ne phir yaad kiya
Tasveer banata hoon tasveer nahin banti – Bara Dari
Solos by Shubha
Hum ko mann ki shakthi dena - Guddi
Aaja re pyar pukaare – Dil ne phir yaad kiya
Tere khayalon mein hum – Geet gaya patharon ne
Zindagi pyar ka geet hai – Souten
Solos by Sudha
Aye chandchup na jaana – Jawaab
Nazar se door jaanewale – Lahore
Ae ri main to prem diwani – NauBahar (1952)
Yeh kaisi ajab dastan ho gayi hai – Rustom Sohrab
Dil e nadan tujhe hua kya hai -
Solos by Kumuda
Panchi Bawara Chand se Preet Lagaye – Bhaktha Sur Das
Prabhu ji tum raakho laaj hamari – Hospital (1943)
Solo by Li’l Aarohi
Ek Chameli ke mandve tale – Cha Cha Cha

  










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