This is a book edited by Ziya Us Salam and is a collection of essays about Hindi films and film-makers mostly from the 'golden era' of the fifties to the seventies. Full of nuggets that might be interesting to film buffs like me. I will give you an example from the essay on Mughal-e-Azam.
Asif's (the director's) second wife Nigar Sultana played Bahar in the film. The role was initially conceived for Sitara Devi, the Kathak dancer, who happened to be Asif's first wife..Nargis was the original heroine of the film, and 10 reels were shot with her. She was replaced with Madhubala because Raj Kapoor did not want Nargis to play opposite the new hero Dilip Kumar(yes, he was replacing Chandra Mohan, who passed away).
Anyway, the narrative, starting from Bimal Roy, V. Shantaram ( he founded Prabhat and then, Rajkamal Kalamandir) and Guru Dutt's films, goes on to those of Navketan, and Shakti Samanta and Yash/B.R. Chopra. Then there are essays by people like Vijay Lokapally, the journalist, and others, about various solo films.
One essay I liked a lot was the one about Bees Saal Baad, the suspense film that had songs by Hemant Kumar such as 'Zara nazron se kehdo jee, nishaana chook na jaaye' and Beqaraar karke hamein yun na jaaiye, aapko hamari kasam laut aaiye'. The review of Jewel Thief and Guide are also very good.
Asif's (the director's) second wife Nigar Sultana played Bahar in the film. The role was initially conceived for Sitara Devi, the Kathak dancer, who happened to be Asif's first wife..Nargis was the original heroine of the film, and 10 reels were shot with her. She was replaced with Madhubala because Raj Kapoor did not want Nargis to play opposite the new hero Dilip Kumar(yes, he was replacing Chandra Mohan, who passed away).
Anyway, the narrative, starting from Bimal Roy, V. Shantaram ( he founded Prabhat and then, Rajkamal Kalamandir) and Guru Dutt's films, goes on to those of Navketan, and Shakti Samanta and Yash/B.R. Chopra. Then there are essays by people like Vijay Lokapally, the journalist, and others, about various solo films.
One essay I liked a lot was the one about Bees Saal Baad, the suspense film that had songs by Hemant Kumar such as 'Zara nazron se kehdo jee, nishaana chook na jaaye' and Beqaraar karke hamein yun na jaaiye, aapko hamari kasam laut aaiye'. The review of Jewel Thief and Guide are also very good.
2 comments:
Yes, Vijay did mention this book. I would like to read it too.
part 2 of this write-up of yours is awaited..
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