Alia Bhatt is an Indian actress and model who appears in Bollywood films. Born into a family where her parents, Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, and elder sister Pooja Bhatt were actors and filmmakers,
Jaikishan was the flamboyant, man-about-town who loved to dress in the best suits. He was the soul of the party and loved his scotch.On September 12, 1971, Jaikishan passed away due to cirrhosis of liver.He was only 42 years of age.In a short span of life he along with shankar was among the top Music Directors of Golden Era.The debonair musician actually wanted to be an actor, which was his prime motivation for moving to Mumbai. He started learning music under Vinayak Tambe and became a trained harmonium player. Prithvi Theatre was searching for a harmonium player and Shankar took Jaikishan under his wings.Soon, both friends were providing music and even acting in plays produced by Prithvi. He along with Shankar started as Music Director with Raj Kapoor's Barsaat (1949) Raj Kapoor may have introduced them but it�s wrong to credit him only for all their success. They shone even in non RK films like Daag, Basant Bahar, Amrapali, Asli Naqli, Arzoo, Dil Ek Mandir, Junglee, Love in Tokyo, An Evening in Paris. They didn�t just stick to established singers but made sure they found the right voice for the mood. For instance, they used an unknown Subir Sen for Dil mera ek aas ka panchi from Aas Ka Panchi (1960), Suman Kalyanpur for Dil ek mandir hai from Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Manna Dey for Yeh raat bheegi bheegi, Chori Chori (1956), Asha Bhosle for Mud mudke na dekh from Shri 420 (1955), Mukesh (for Dilip Kumar) in Yeh mera diwanapan hai, Yahudi (1958) and made many more such off kilter choices. Shankar-Jaikishan�s popular hits
When you talk of Dev Anand, music cannot be left behind. All his films had that in common - melodious songs that were joyous and boisterous, soft and romantic.The charismatic, evergreen star of Bollywood had as much of romance in his style as swagger in his mannerisms.I being the admirer of him explore the different moods (flirtatious to romantic, playful or sad ) of Dev Anand in his songs..A unique collection of Songs
In this musical journey of Dev Anand S D Burman played a key role.His melodies and Lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi and face of Dev Anand created euphoria in the 1950s and 60s.It was always said that Kishore was Burmanda�s first choice for Dev Anand but Mohammad Rafi with S D Burman gave many immortal songs for Dev Anand.It is an established truth that Rafi had a peerless skill to twist his voice according to the Hero, so he did perfectly for Dev Anand also emerging Dev�s image more romantic. Burmanda once agreed that he tried Talat, Manna Dey and Hemant Kumar for Dev Anand, but Rafi was perfect match for Dev Anand. if you look back to the Golden Era of Hindi film music, you will find that other music directors kept Kishore away & preferred Rafi for Dev Anand. The begining of the journey started with Navketan�s first film "Afsar" in 1950.This film had two evergreen songs of Suraiya � �Man mor hua matwala� and �Nain diwane ek nahi mane�.The year 1951 saw the release of Baazi. It was Navketan Films� first hit film. This film gave Bollywood its all-time great director Guru Dutt. It was Guru Dutt�s directorial debut. Music was again composed by S.D.Burman. It had some hit songs of Geeta Dutt viz. "Suno gajar kya gaye�, "Tadbeer se bigdi hui", "Aaj ki raat piya", "Tum bhi na bhulo balam" and a peppy number by Shamshaad Begum "Sharmaye kahe ghabraye kahe�. Dev Anand�s second movie with Guru Dutt was Jaal(1952). It was also a box-office hit. It marked the rise of a stylish superstar. Jaal featured a beautiful solo by Lata Mangeshkar �Chori chori meri gaali ana hai bura�. Other memorable melodies from this film were �Yeh raat yeh chandani phir kahan�, a solo by Hemant Kumar and a duet with the same mukhda by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. In the year 1954 came Taxi Driver,It had a comic song �Chahe koi khush ho� by Kishore Kumar and a tragic song Talat Mehmood�s �Jaye to jaye kahan�. Almost all films of Dev Anand are a treat for music lovers. All of them cannot be mentioned here. But Dev Anand will always be remembered for his style, his romantic image and the evergreen music from his films. In this blog I am taking songs of Dev Anand in different moods. Romance-
On the 109th Birth Anniversary of K N Singh,we recall this great Villain of Bollywood.. He was selected to represent India in the 1936 Berlin Olympics but circumstances made him to stay home.He played the polished, sophisticated villain in nearly all his 250-odd films. He was always immaculate in his dress - a suit, overcoat, hat and cigarette completed his villain get-up.He had a peculiar style of his own,raising his eye brows,tough looks, loud and nasty talk, and horrible laugh - he always maintained a poised, cultured and soft exterior. Whether it was Guru Dutt's Baazi (1951), Shakti Samant's Howrah Bridge (1958) or Vijay Anand's Teesri Manzil (1966), Singh sent shivers down people's spines.
Song from Passport
He appeared in several iconic movies in the 40s and 50s including Sikandar (1941), Jwar Bhata (1944) (Dilip Kumar's film debut), Humayun (1945),Awara (1951), Jaal (1952), CID (1956), Howrah Bridge (1958), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Amrapali (1966) and An Evening in Paris (1967). Singh played prominent roles in movies like Jhoota Kahin Ka (1970), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) and Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972). His last prominent role was in the 1973 filmLoafer. He had the distinction of working with three generations of the Kapoor family. He acted with Patriarch Prthiviraj Kapoor in Bidyapati (1937), with Raj Kapoor in Awara (1951) and Rishi Kapoor in Rafoo Chakkar (1975). Kishore Kumar made him sing and dance in his film Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi in 1974.This is a rare occasion we see K N Singh in a cameo role.
K.N. Singh turned completely blind in his last years. He died in Mumbai on 31 January 2000 aged 91 was survived by his adopted son Pushkar, who is a producer of television serials.
Remembering SHAILENDRA(30th Aug 1923) the Lyricist on his 94th Birth Anniversary. Poetry was his first love but family situation forced him to take up a job of a railway mechanic.His job in Indian Railways brought him to the city of Bombay.Here in a Kavi Sammelan Raj Kapoor heard him reciting his poems,Raj Kapoor got impressed with his poetry and offered him to write songs for him.Which he initially refused but due tosome domestic reasons and responsibilities, need of money he aproached Raj Kapoor after 6 months and agreed to his terms. His first project was 'Barsaat'. Shailendra wrote his first song 'Barsat Mein Tum Se Mile Hum Sajan..' for Raj Kapoor.His poetic genius was in his ability to convey deepest of thoughts in simplest of words. Eventually, Barsat was also the first film for the emerging music director duo Shankar-Jaikishan. The film proved very successful and after the success of Barsaat Raj Kapoor, Shankar-Jaikishan and Shailendra always worked together. No doubt, Shailendra gave his best with Shankar-Jaikishan, but he shared equally pleasant rapport with musical giants of those days, like Salil Chowdhary, S. N. Tripathi and S.D. Burman. Here are my favorite songs of Shailendra
Few months back I posted a blog on the songs in which Piano being played by the hero or heroine in the song.In this blog I have selected those songs where Hero or Heroine playing String Instrument like Guitar, Sitar or Mandolin.There was a song in Uran Khatola (1955) "Hamare Dil Se Na Jana"here Nimmi is playing a string instrument HARP which was new to Indian public.Before that Acoustic Guitar was introduced in 1952 hitfilm Baazi in the famous song"Tadbeer se bidgi hui taqdeer bana le ".I would also like to mention another Indian String Instrument of Rajasthan the Ravanhattha,This was first seen in a hindi filmDo Aankhen Baarah Haath, 1957 in the song Saiyyaan jhoothon ka bada sartaaj niklaa.. Here are few songs on unusual and exotic string instruments. Guitar- The curious thing about guitar in the Hindi movies is that the guitar is a fashion statement; the hero or the heroine swings it any which way � across the shoulder, left and right like a man gone berserk with his carbine, or even to rotate it around on the floor.One Music Director who really mastered the acoustic guitar in his songs was Sachin Dev Burman. As soon as you think of the acoustic guitar on the Indian scene, you think of Goa and that�s where Guru Dutt�s 1952 movie Jaal
Song from Jaal 1952
Song from Baazi 1952
After the success of 1952 movie Jaal�s guitar based song Ye raat ye chandini phir kahan, Sahir Ludhianvi, SD Burman and Hemant Kumar did it again, in another Dev Anand movie, the 1955 film Munimji in which Dev Anand acted with Nalini Jaywant and Pran.
Song from Munimji 1955
Dev Anand in 50s had popularized Guitar in films He appeared in many songs playing Guitar,in this song from Manzil 1960 he sings along with Guitar
Song from Manzil 1960
The next song on guitar was a peppy classic black and white bollywood song "Baar Baar Dekho" from the superhit bollywood blockbuster China Town. Starring Shammi Kapoor , Shakila , Helen . Film directed and produced by Shakti Samanta. Music composed by Ravi.
Song from China Town 1962
The Guitar also has a strong role in sad songs. Shanker-Jaikishen�s Ajeeb dastan hai yeh (Dil apna aur preet parai) appears lively but also has a hidden sadness.
Song from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1960
This is a rare song from the film Aakhri Khat 1966 in which Rajesh Khanna made his debut and also singer Bhupendra also made his debut as a singer Interestringly this song is picturised on him he is playing guitar
Song from Aakhri Khat 1966
Song from Kismat 1968
Guitar became popular among common people after the release of Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971 the song Dum Maro Dum became the craze
Song from Hare Rama Hare Krishna 1971
Another film that popularized Guitar songs was Yaadon Ki Baarat. One song that was extremely popular among teens was the song where the boy invites a girl to come to the stage. A dream situation for desi teens those days.
Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat 1973
Song from Yaadon Ki Baarat 1973
Song from Zameer 1975
Song from Khel Khel Mein 1975
By the late 70s the Guitar changed to Electric Guitar,in 1977 film Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin in the Song Kya Hua Tera Vaada electric guitar being played by the hero Tariq
Song from Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin 1977
This beautiful Guitar song is picturised on Rakesh Roshan in PRIYATMA 1978. He and friends have thrown a party for Jeetendra and Neetu Singh, who have recently got married.
Song from PRIYATAMA 1978
Song from Karz 1980
Song from Qyamat Se Qyamat Tak 1988
Mandolin -The mandolin originated in Italy, and is a typically hollow-bodied instrument made of wood, with either a round, a flat, or a carved top. For a string instrument that hails from lands far removed from India, the mandolin makes surprisingly frequent appearances in Hindi cinema. First time it was seen in Hindi song Suhani Raat Dhal huki from Dulari 1949 then in Tera dil kahaan hai (Chandni Chowk, 1954)
In the 1960 film Kohinoor Dilip Kumar is shown playing Sitar the most popular song Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re
Song from Kohinoor 1960
Song from Meri Soorat Teri Aankhein 1963
Song from Dil Ek Mandir 1963
Song from Hamrahi 1963
Tanpura: A 4-string instrument to accompany a Hindustani classical vocalist that does not play a melody, but rather provides a harmonic drone throughout the piece.
Song from Basant Bahar 1956
Ektara-As the name suggest it is one string instrument held in one hand and with the string plucked with the index finger.The Baul singers of Bengal use this instrument.The popular song from Devdas 1955 Aan milo aan milo Shyaam saanwre, this instrument is being played.Another famous song Ek Tara Bole Tun Tun where this instrument shown from Yaadgaar
Song from Devdas 1955
Song from Johny Mera Naam 1970
Veena.In Dekh Kabira Roya, Ameeta plays a girl who is devoted to her music.she plays veena in this lovely song Meri Veena Tum Bin Roye.A masterpiece composed by Madan Mohan and sang by the great sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle
Song from Dekh Kabira Roya, 1957
Sarangi:A bowed short-neck stringed instrument famed in Hindustani classical music for its close imitation of the human voice.this instrument can be seen in ths song Aansu Bhari Hain Yeh Jeevan Ki Rahe from Parvarish 1958
Banjo:A plucked 4-5 string instrument with origins in Africa that traveled to America around the 18th century with African-American traditional music and became a staple of country and folk genres.In hindi film Azad 1955 in the song Kitna Haseen hai Mausam this instrument is seen.
Song from Azaad 1955
Recently released movie an Electric Benzo is shown in this song being played by Ritesh Deshmukh in the film Benzo
Song from Benzo 2017
VIOLIN -
A highly popular bowed 4-string instrument with roots in 16th century Italy that has had global impact, including in orchestral performances of Hindi film music.It was first shown in hindi film Barsat 1949 in the song "Muje Kisi se Pyar Ho Gaya Hai"sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Raj Kapoor is seen here playing violin.
Song from Barsaat 1949
Another famous song is from 1972 film Shor,Manoj Kumar is playing violin in this song
