Movies To Remember - 1

 At least, I remember them, for various reasons. No. 1 on the list is Padosan.

An innocuous storyline. A simpleton (aptly named Bhola) has a neighbour- a hoity toity girl who loves music- whom he wants to impress. He tries learning how to sing, fails, and at the suggestion of his music guru, fakes the singing. She's impressed, till she discovers the faking. He wins the girl anyway, thanks to more shenanigans.

On the way, there is a rival. HER music teacher, whom he outwits in a competitive singing session, across the window-thanks to his guru singing while he lip-synchs.

May not seem much, but the acting, direction (by Jyoti Swaroop) and music elevate this bare story to heights of comedy rarely achieved in Hindi films. In today's lingo, it's ROFL.. makes you roll on the floor laughing, much of its length.

Brilliantly conceived and directed. Mehmood and Kishore Kumar, the supporting actors, steal the show, while the hero and heroine are more like props. A laugh riot, with great music by RD Burman, lyrics by Rajendra Krishan. 1968.

My Favourites From Bollywood

 There are probably more, but this is a short list.

Dev Anand. I am fond of all his films up to Des Pardes. After that, his films were not great, though he continued making them regularly. But his films are only one part of why I like him. He had a charm that transcended the world of films, and spilled out into his life. His work ethic was great, and his zest for life, memorable. He also regularly introduced new talent in his films, particularly heroines like Zeenat Aman and Tina Munim. Many of his films from the 70s or earlier were romantic, and had great music. Except Guide, which was also serious and had great music. Some of the songs are eternal favourites, like Wahan kaun hai tera, musafir, jayega kahaan, or Yeh dil na hota bechara, Dil aaj shaayar hai and Phoolon ke rang se..

Kishore Kumar. My second favourite is Kishore Kumar, born in Khandwa. M.P. (not in Bengal), and a great all-rounder, to use cricketing terminology. (Incidentally, Salim who co-wrote Sholay, is also from Indore, and so is Johnny Walker). He was so talented that he could sing, compose music, direct films and perform almost any kind of role. The movies he produced were sometimes extremely serious ones. His first innings was known more for acting, but he skyrocketed to his zenith in his second as a singer. Aradhana under S.D. Buman's baton as music director proved to be the rocket-launcher. He never looked back, and produced gems for many music directors including R.D. Burman and Laxmikant Pyarelal. My favourites include most songs of his, in many moods. This blog gets its anme from one of his songs in Kati Patang.

Mehmood. Another immensely talented actor, producer and director. Made many significant films, like Kunwara Baap, Sabse Bada Rupiah, and Ginny aur Johnny, besides rollicking comedies like Bhoot Bangla, Padosan and Bombay to Goa. Acted against all the top heroes and sometimes overshadowed them. His Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain role in Gumnaam was imitated by Amitabh Bachhan in a later film song. He was good at emotional roles too, which he proved in many of his films.

My Name is Anthony Gonsalves

No, of course, it isn't. I am simple trying to recall some songs which made an impact when I first saw them on screen. Some like this one, were fun, with Amitabh emerging out of an Egg..egdum jhakaas. Some others-

O manchali, kahaan chali..the music, and the masti in the picturisation caught my attention.

Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche har zabaan par and from another movie, Badan pe sitare lapete hue..Shammi Kappor's unique dance style.

Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain..unique lyrics, and Mehmood. Aa ri aaja, nindiya tu lekar kahin udankhatole mein..is a moving lullaby also sung on screen by Mehmood.

Ek chatur naar karke singaar,..by Mehmood and Sunil Dutt on screen.

Zindagi ittefaq hai, kal bhi ittefaq thi, aaj bhi ittefaq hai..Mumtaz does a great job of bringing Asha Bhosle's singing to life on screen.

Mehbooba, mehbooba,..Helen sets the screen on fire. This was popular even before the film released.

Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jaayein hum dono- the power of lyrics (by Sahir Ludhianvi) to mesmerise..Mahendra Kapoor's silken voice..

Odd Films That Stayed With Me

Jangal Mein Mangal was one, mainly because of one song. "Tum kitni khubsoorat ho"- sung with a lot of feeling by Kishore Kumar.

Gumnaam, because of two songs- Mehmood singing Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwaale hain, and Helen singing Gham chhod ke manao rang reli, aur maan lo jo kahe Kitty Kelly.

A Fish Called Wanda, due to a scene in which a guy is caught with his pants down-hilarious.

The Naked Gun, due to Lelie Neilsen's antics on a Baseball field.

Lootmaar because of the Asha Bhosle song picturised on Simple Kapadia - "Jab chhaye, mera jadu, koi bach na paaye."

Bombay to Goa,..one dialogue stands out- "Amma, pakoda."

Aulad, where Mehmood and Aruna Irani sang - "Jodi hamari banega kaise jaani, hum to hai angrezi, tum ladki Hindustani.."

Barsaat, due to the colourful shades/glasses that Bobby Deol wears in it.

Yeh Dillagi, due to its rollicking song- "Jab bhi koi ladki dekhun mera dil deewana bole Ole Ole.."

Adavi Ramudu starring NTR and Jayaprada for the song "Aresukoboi paaresukunnanu ..."

Saboot, due to a scene in which Rajendranath has wipers on his glasses..

A dialogue by Mehmood in Naukar, "Nahaane ke pani mein kewda, Peene ke pani mein bewda," while praising his host's hospitality. 

Lasting Contributions of Bollywood Heroes and Heroines

This is a TIC (tongue-in-cheek for backward people) look at lasting contributions of Bollywood Celbs of my time and yours-

Alia Bhatt- the jokes, of course. After Ajit (a villain), these are the most formidable.

Jeetendra- the white shoes are his legacy.

Mithun-da- Turning, twisting, gyrating, redefining Newton's Laws of Motion.

Rajesh Khanna- the look, a romantic one.

Dharmendra- Main tera khoon pee jaaonga . The dialogue.

Jaya Bhaduri- her laugh

Dev Anand- his scarves, and the delivery of dialogue without punctuation. The way he said, ..well, anything.

Madhubala- the crooked smile which floored the straight guys.

Helen- Her slimness in a world of overflowing adipose tissue. Amazing.

Mehmood- His anti-Fair and Lovely anthem in Gumnaam. Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain.

Shatrughan Sinha- Khamosh! One-worder rather than one-liner. But also had one liners like "Tum jis school mein padhte ho, hum uske Headmaster hain"

Om Prakash- his facial expressions were classic.

Navin Nischal- not sure, he didn't last too many Sawans or Bhadons, took the Victoria no.203 and went away..

Raj Kapoor- The Charlie Chaplin walk, look,..

Zeenat Aman- The glam quotient. Paved the entry to non-actresses with hot looks, that continues to this day.

Parveen Babi- Gave (Namak) Halal a sizzle that was as good as the steak (Advertising fraternity might get this one..)

Lalita Pawar- a blueprint for all Ekta Kapoor successes.

Fun Songs

Here is a list of some fun songs from Hindi films-

1. Peenewalon ko jeene ka bahana chahiye, filmed on Randhir/Dabboo Kapoor. Famous for the line 'Chandramukhi ho ya Paro, koi farq nahin hai yaro'
2. Naach meri jaan, fataafaat, from Mehmood's Main Sundar Hoon.
3. Ek chatur naar karke singaar, sung by Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar, from Padosan.
4. Meri Pyari Bindu, from Padosan
5. Hum the wo thi.......jaate the Japan pahunch gaye Cheen, from Chalti ka Naam Gaadi
6. Mere bhains ko danda kyun mara from Pagla Kahin Ka starring Shammi Kapoor
7. Na biwi na bachcha, na baap bada na maiya filmed on Mehmood in Sabse bada rupaiya.
8. Muthukodi kawwadi hada again filmed on Mehmood in Do Phool.
9. Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain- Mehmood in Gumnaam. Sung by Rafi. 
10. Goya ke chunanche from Manoranjan, with Sanjeev Kumar and Shammi, with Zeenat Aman.

Coincidentally or not, Mehmood and Kishore Kumar are associated with many of them.

Sing-song Comedians

Singing songs is the preserve of heroes, heroines, and vamps (an endangered species today) - right? Wrong. The comedians do it too. And some have had superhit songs to their credit.

Deven Varma sang Mummy o Mummy, Tu kab saas banegi? in one of his memorable roles.

Johny Walker sang several, including Jangal mein mor naacha kisi ne na dekha, and Sar jo tera chakraye, ya dil dooba jaye.

I recently discovered a song sung by Rajendranath, which goes, Aye haseeno, tumne sadiyon, aashiq ko tadpaaya, .....Meri lottery lag jaane waali hai.

Mehmood sang in Gumnaam, Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwaale hain, and it became a raging hit. He also sang with Kishore Kumar in Padosan, one of the all-time hits, Ek chatur naar, badi hoshiyaar...

Mehmood also did a Charlie Chaplin act in a movie called Aulad starring Jeetendra and sang a fun song, Jodi hammari, bane na kaise jaani, hum to hain angrezi, tum ladki hindustani, with Aruna Irani. I loved it when I first saw it in the early seventies.

Other instances of non-comic character artistes singing are also known. For example, dad Bharat Bhushan singing the best song in Pyar Ka Mausam - the Kishore Kumar version of Tum bin jaoon kahan. Shashi Kapoor later sings the Mohd. Rafi version, which is not a patch on the first.