Films- Our Heritage

 Films that we have produced in India since the 1930s are a part of our heritage. And songs (both music and lyrics) are a great part of it.

I just realised this when watching a few musical programs over the last month or two in Pune, post my retirement. I have watched a lot of artists perform, of varying quality on stage. But they are all preserving that great legacy, I feel.

Some great music was due to the Burman duo, SD and RD Burman, my favourites among music directors. There were many more, like Ravi, Roshan and son Rajesh Roshan, Kalyanji Anandji, Chitragupt, and later, Jatin-Lalit and AR Rahman.

Also the lyricists Anand Bakshi, Neeraj, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Hasrat Jaipuri, Shailendra and so on.

Kishore Kumar among male singers and Asha Bhosle among the ladies were my favourites, though a lot more contributed over the years.

A legacy that will live on, for many years.

Formula for a Viral Post on social Media

 You thought only Hindi films have a formula? Or Hollywood? You are quite wrong. Social media posts have one too- or more than one.

One that is surefire hit, and will go viral.

X had a job. Or nothing. He/she makes/made Y crores by doing Z.

Or, his/her parents sacrificed everything to put X through college, or supported her dream. Tears streaming down their eyes, they celebrate the kids' success.

How X climbed a mountain, when everyone gave up on him/her, but with great self-belief, he/she achieved his/her goal of being Y- an IAS officer, an athlete, or a Golfer.. just kidding, Golfers are super-rich as they are born with a Silver Golf Club in hand.

Any more that strike a chord with you? You can always make up a new formula that works- if it does.

Favourite Songs From the 70s

 Most of my favourite songs are from the period 1969- 79.

Aradhana, from 1969, is why I also included 1969 in the decade. Another film that had good songs was Mahal, also from 1969. Aankhon aankhon ein hum tum ho gaye deewane, Yeh duniyawale poochhenge, and Aaiye aap ka tha hamein intezaar were three good songs.

Phoolon ke rang se, Shokhiyon mein ghola jaaye, from Prem Pujari, and Dil aaj shayar hai, and Chudi nahi ye mera dil hai.. are songs from Dev Anand films that are top of my list, during this period.

Rajesh Khanna had several films with hit songs, Kati Patang among the top ones- Pyar Deewana hota ahi, Ye jo mohabbat hai, and Ye shaam mastaani, were three great songs from that film.

Amar Prem was another with Chingari koi bhadke, Kuchh to log kahenge and Ye kya hua, were three gems. Again with Rajesh Khanna in them.

Aap ki Kasam and Mere Jeevan Sathi had great songs too- Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain jo makaam from the first, and Chala jaata hoon kisi ki dhun mein, O mere dil ke chain, Deewana leke aaya hai from the second were great.

Hare Rama hare Krishna had Dum Maro Dum, and Sholay had Mehbooba, mehbooba..

Rajesh Roshan entered with a big bang in Julie, and Dil kya kare, and Bhool gaya sab kuchh were great songs from that film. 

Apradh and Dharmatma by Feroz Khan had good songs too. I liked Hamare siwa tumhare aur kitne deewane hain, and Tum Mile pyar se, from Apradh, and Tere chehre mein woh jadu hai from Dharmatma.

Rajnigandha had its captivating title song, and Chitchor had several, sung so well by Yesudas- Gori tera gaon bada pyara and Aaj se pehle, and Tu jo mere sur mein.

Jawani deewani had great songs like Jaane jaan dhoondhta phir raha.. and Ye jawani hai deewani, and Samne ye kaun aaya dil mein hui hulchul.

Namak haram was another film of Rajesh Khanna with great songs like Main shayar badnaam and Nadiya se dariya..

Gol maal had the song Aanewala pal jaanewala hai.

Parichay had a favourite of mine- Musafir hoon yaaro..

Aandhi had 3 great songs- Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa, Tum aa gaye ho, noor aa gaya hai, and Is mod se jaate hain.

The Early Khans of 70s Bollywood

 I remember Feroz and Sanjay Khan from my early days at the movies, much before Shah Rukh and others came along. Aamir was playing a kid in Yaadon ki Baraat then. 

Sanjay Khan was definitely the handsome one, and starred in quite a few unremarkable movies. Dus Lakh, Babul Ki Galiyaan, Mela, Dhadkan and Dhund were some of these, and I mostly remember nothing of these. But he was tolerable as an actor.

Feroz was the stylish one, and in later years, he made his own films and starred in them. They had him playing larger than life roles, like Dharmatma or Qurbani. I haven't seen Jaanbaaz, but I can guess how it would have been, based on past films of his. Qurbani became famous for introducing Nazia Hasan to Indian films. The Disco Deewane girl sang Aap jaisa koi meri zindagi mein aaye, to baat ban jaaye (under Biddu's music I think), and became a rage. Laila main laila by Kanchan was also a big hit.

Last I remember seeing Feroz was in Welcome, a crime caper.

Of course, there was Amjad Khan and his wonderful debut in Sholay in 1975.

An Amazing Community

A few years ago, a former student (from 1991, XIMB) introduced me to a music group (online) which is into old Hindi film songs (which I simply adore). Since then, I have enjoyed being on the group, and when we decided to have a physical meeting in Hyderabad sometime ago, jumped at the chance. Then, the group only grew bigger -it also has a couple of my young students- and we recently had our second meet in a Bangalore resort. These pics only demonstrate a fraction of what went on..sheer magic, with all activities built around music- quizzes, stories, new friendships, reminiscences- and singing! Every pic has at least one friend I met for the first time (physically) from this amazing group/or their families.

What I Learnt From Hindi Films

Life is song and dance- if you don't appreciate these, you have not lived (Osho has said much the same thing somewhere).

Good music can take you through bad times..try it. Zindagi ek safar hai suhaana..

Happy endings are possible

(particularly with good editing, because then you decide the ending).

The cops cannot solve all your problems- you have to make an effort too. Same with God!

Looking good can make you feel good..even others looking good on screen, when you know they have used make-up.

Philosophy is easier to disseminate through a well-made film, than through other means- zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin, babu moshaay! (film Anand, circa 1970).

Corollary to the above- through good songs as well. Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain jo makaam, woh phir nahin aate, or Aanewala pal, jaanewala hai, ho sake to isme zindagi guzaro, pal jo yeh jaanewala hai. Or, Zindagi ittefaq hai (from Aadmi aur Insaan)

Urdu Words on Song

In songs, actually, is what I meant. Some Urdu words that are appealing when used in film songs-

Dagabaaz ho banke piya,...a very old song.

Iqraar karna mushkil hai, inkaar karna mushkil hai..Manisha sang it in a remake (there were many) of Sleeping With the Enemy.

Beqaraar dil tu gaaye ja khushiyon se bhare woh taraane (Ashok Kumar sang in Kishore Kumar's voice, and Sulakshana Pandit sang for Tanuja).

Mohabbat. Yeh jo mohabbat hai yeh unka hai kaam..

Qayamat- Kamar patli, nazar bijli, suraahidaar gardan, qayamat se meri jaan kam nahin ho..

Haseena- O haseena zulfonwali jaane jahan,..

Bekhudi- Bekhudi mein sanam uth gaye jo kadam.

Great Actors

Out of the ones I have seen on screen, I would classify these among my greats-

Kishore Kumar, Mehmood, Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Prithviraj Kapoor, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Madhubala, Rekha, Kajol, Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Dev Anand.

There are of course many others who were good, but had some flaws- Raj Kapoor imitated Charlie Chaplin a bit more than necessary, though he played the simpleton pretty well.  Rajesh Khanna was very good in some roles, but could not pull off some others, and became a stylised version of himself in his later films. Anand, though, remains one of my favourite (best?) films, and it starred him.

Smita Patil brought an element of mystique to many roles she played. Shabana was also good in some of her roles, many offbeat. Rekha also played some woman-centric roles like in Khoobsurat with great confidence. Her transformation from a raw, dark Southie to the mainstream was remarkable. Kajol is one of the most natural actresses ever, and I wish her career had lasted longer.Of recent actresses, Vidya Balan has acquitted herself well in diverse roles, and may make the list.

Dev Anand gets into this list after discounting some of his later films, which were atrocious, but he pulled off a lot of memorable roles, and acted well in at least a couple of classics like Guide and Tere Mere Sapne, while entertaining a huge fan following in a variety of roles in his early films up until Des Pardes. Johny Mera Naam is a classy masala Bollywood film of his.