Bolly Songs & Movies: Black & White Era

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90 Years of India's First Talkie Film 'Alam Ara'

Today on 14th March 1931, India's first Talkie Film 'Alam Ara' was released. It was released in one cinema theatre' Majestic'in Mumbai. The first show was started at 3 PM was a house full. The theatre was mobbed, people started collecting to buy tickets from 9 in the morning. The tickets which were costing 4 Annas(a Fourth of a Rupee) that time was sold for Rs 5 in the black market. That was the craze for this film

If you see the publicity poster of this film, it says 'All Living, Breathing, 100 % Talking' , 'All Talking Singing and Dancing' and ' 70 Murda Insaan Zinda Ho Gaye, Unko Bolte Dekho'

The film ran the full house for 8 weeks in Majestic Cinema, later the full unit visited all over the country along with the print, the projector and sound equipment. The film drew a crowd all over the cities of India.

Since Alam Ara was a talkie, the casting was of utmost importance. As it was imperative for actors to know the language, Zubeida got the nod to play the title role instead of the studio’s top star, Sulochana. The reason being not taking Sulochna as the heroine was that she was not proficient in Urdu or Hindustani and thus lost out on the opportunity to be the first talkie heroine of Indian cinema.

Similarly, for the role of hero, Ardeshir Irani first signed Mehboob Khan( the producer, director of Mother India)as the hero but then decided to go for a more commercially viable name. As Alam Ara was a tale that also involved stunts and fight sequences, Irani thought of casting the biggest stunt star of silent cinema, Master Vithal.

A total of 70 actors were part of this film, Prithviraj Kapoor was also one of the actors in this film. He played the role of General Adil Khan. The film was a love story between a prince and a gypsy girl, based on a traditional Parsi play. The film had music by Ferozshah M. Mistri and B. Irani, and had seven songs. The songs were in the Hindustani language, primarily the Urdu dialect. It was the first filmi Hindi songs soundtrack, and the first in the filmi-ghazal style,

Phaili Hui Hai Sapnon Ki Bahen- The Song Takes You In Different World

This song from House No 44 is a gem polished by three genius music greats of the Golden Era of Bollywood. The lyrics are one of the finest of Sahir Ludhiyanvi.The music composed by SD Burman and the song sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Picturized on Kalpna Kartik

If you close your eyes and listen to this song with concentration, you will find yourself in a different world. You go into a trance The song takes you for a quick look at the world over the rainbow. The lyrics of this song is marvellous. Every single line of the song is inspirational and stirring.

There is a story behind this song that all the three creators of this song wanted to be paid one rupee more than each other just to justify with their ego, however, they created a gem for us to relax and enjoy. We should also appreciate the director of the film Raj Khosla, how beautifully the song was picturized.

Kalpana Kartik – the heroine of the film stands in front of a mirror and start imagining. Swinging and dancing around tall and picturesque trees surrounded with mist …..The scene is breathtaking.

S D Burman composed this song in Raga Shuddha Kalyan, this raga is a combination of raga Bhopali and raga Yaman. This raga is used by very intelligent musicians as this raga is aesthetically challenging with melodic subtleties. Dada Burman used this raga again in the 1957 film Paying Guest in the song 'Chand Fir Nikala'

Song of House No 44

INDEEWAR- " Mere Geet Amar Kar Do"

With the song of Malhar(1951) "Bade Armano Se Rakkha Hai Balam Teri Kasam", the underrated lyricist of Bollywood became Indeewar. His original name was Shyam Lal Babu Rai. He made his debut as a lyricist from the 1946 film Double Face as 'Azad'. This was his name in the literary circle. With this name, he wrote many songs for films from 1946 to 1951.

He wrote over a thousand songs in over 300 films in a career spanning over four decades, he gave us many immortal songs like 'Zindagi ka Safar' (Safar),' Koi jab Tumhara Hriday Tod De (Purab Aur Paschim), 'Kasme Waade Pyar Wafa' (Upkaar), Hothon Se Chhoo lo tum (Prem Geet) and also the song like ' Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Mein' (Kurbani)

He worked with various film composers but his association with Kalyanji Anandji produced many great songs such as 'Chandan Sa Badan' (Sarswati Chandra, 1968), 'Zindagi Ka Safar Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar' (Safar, 1970), 'Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera Toda' (Amanush, 1975), and 'Dushman Na Kare' (Akhir Kyon, 1985).

He was nominated as Best Lyricist for the first time for the song "Ek Tu Na Mila" (Himalaya Ki God Mein) next for "Samjhauta Ghamon Se Kar Lo" (Samjhauta) in 1974 and finally won it for "Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera Toda" (Amanush) 1976'.

In the 1980s, there was a drastic shift in the musical taste of the masses. During this time, Indeevar wrote many hit songs for Bappi Lahiri - 'Naino Main Sapna' from Himmatwala (1983), and 'Tohfa Tohfa Laaya Laaya' from Tohfa (1984).

He died on February 27 in 1999 during a journey. His last projects include Rajesh Roshan's films Karan Arjun in 1995 and Koyla in 1997.

Here are a few of the memorable songs written by Indivar

Song of Malhar 1951

Song of Dulha Dulhan 1964

Song of Punarmilan 1964

Song of Saheli 1965

Song of Himalaya Ki God Mein 1965

Song of Upkaar1967

Song of Anokhi Raat 1968

Song of Saraswati Chandra 1968

Song of Purab Aur Paschim 1970

Song of Safar 1971

Song of Samjauta 1973

Song of Amanush 1975

Song of Prem Geet 1981

Nalini Jaywant - The Dimpled Beauty Heroine of the 40s & 50s

Nalini Jaywant (18 February 1926 – 22 December 2010) was an Indian film actress who appeared in Hindi films in the 1940s and 1950s. She was the heroine of Ashok Kumar and also the heroine of Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand

She made her debut in the 1941 film Radhika she was only 14 at that time. . Her first big role as an actress, not a child artiste, came with Anokha Pyar (1948) where she starred with A-list co-stars in Dilip Kumar and Nargis. She became a top star with her performances opposite Ashok Kumar in Samadhi and Sangram in 1950. She made a winning pair with Ashok Kumar; they acted together in 10 films during their careers. In fact, in 1950 her other film Aankhe opposite Bharat Bhushan was also a hit.

She was the heroine of Dev Anand in the 1952 film Rahi and later she was again the heroine of Dev Anand in Munimji(1955). She worked with Dev Anand in Kala Pani(1958, not as his heroine but played a courtesan Kishori who holds the key to free an innocent man falsely accused of murder, Nalini Jaywant picked up the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

She was the heroine of Ajit, who later got fame as a villain in the 1954 hit film Nastik. Even though she and Ashok Kumar had great chemistry onscreen and starred in a number of hits and blockbusters, her biggest hit was opposite the actor Ajit with Nastik (1954).

Nalini Jaywant was also a singer, in those days it was mandatory for hero or heroines to have a singing ability. She sang more than 40 songs in films. Here are a few rare songs sung by Nalini Jaywant

Song of Behan 1941

Song of Nirdosh1941 Audio

Song of Gunjan 1948 Audio

Song of Hindustan Hamara 1950 Audio

Songs Picturized on Nalini Jaywant sung by other singer

Song of Samadhi (1950)

Song of Naujawan(1951)

Song of Shikast 1953

Song of Nastik 1954

Song of Munimji 1955

Song of Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956)

Song of Kala Pani (1958)

Kavi Pradeep- His Songs Ignite Patriotism

Songs have always played an undisputed role in inciting the spirit of nationalism in the hearts of millions of people. Many patriotic songs, written by the literary stalwarts like Tagore or Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

Kavi Pradeep was the first songwriter to write patriotic songs for Bollywood. His song ' Chal Chal Re Naujawan", for the 1940 film Bandhan, made waves since the Indian freedom movement was at a crucial juncture.
The impact and popularity of the song can be gauged by the fact that the song used to be sung at these assemblies by patriotic INC activists. INC also formed a children corp known as “Vanar Sena” under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. Vanar Sena adopted the song as its marching song and Indira herself used to sing it at the meetings. She later admitted that this song had a lifelong impact on her.

His next song , “Aaj Himalaya ki choti se phir humne lalkara hai” for the 1942 film 'Kismet' was very popular in the Quit India Movement. It is said that he had to go underground to avoid the arrest from the British Government.

Even after independence, he wrote many such songs. Recall the songs of Jagriti (1954) 'Aao Bachcho Tumhein Dikhayen Jhanki Hindustan Ki, Is Mitti Se Tilak Karo, Yeh Dharti Hai Balidan Ki" (sung by himself), "Hum Laye Hain Toofan Se Kishti Nikal Ke, Is Desh Ko Rakhna Mere Bachcho Sambhal Ke" and "De Dee Humein Azadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal, Sabarmati Ke Sant Tu Ne Kar Diya Kamaal".

He always believed in writing songs in simple words portraying a meaning fitting into the situation. The popularity of his songs was due to his down-to-earth lyrics and simple language that was well understood by everyone.

He was the writer of Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, that become one of the greatest patriotic songs of the country. It was while Lata Mangeshkar was rendering the song that the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was moved to tears. For writing the song Kavi Pradeep was conferred the honour of "Rashtriya Kavi" (National Poet) by the government of India.

Beside writing patriotic songs he wrote all type of songs for Bollywood,In a career span of five decades, Kavi Pradeep wrote about 1,700 songs.

Kavi Pradeep received numerous awards throughout his life. Some of which are:Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 1961 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1997.

He died of old age at his bungalow, 'Panchamrita', at Vile Parle in north-west Bombay on 11th Dec 1998. He was 84

Song of Bandhan 1940

Song of Kismet 1942

Song of Mashal 1950

Song of Jagriti (1954)

Song of Nastik (1954)

Song of Naag Mani (1957)

Song of Paigham 1959

Song of Sambandh 1969

NAUSHAD- Creations that have withstood the test of time

Naushad (25 December 1919 – 5 May 2006 ) started as an independent music director from the 1940 film Prem Nagar. After just a few years in films, he went to rule the Hindi cinema music world for around two decades, beginning with the landmark Rattan (1944). It was in 1946 he got the superstar status with the two immortal songs from the film Anmol Ghadi. The simple melody in Raag Pahari in the voice of Noorjehan " Jawan Hai Mohabbat" and the duet of Noorjehan and Surendra"Awaz Do Kahan Ho" mesmerized the music lovers. In the same year, K L Saigal gave one of his immortal songs "Jab Dil Hi Toot Gaya" under his composition in Shahjehan (1946) in Raag Bhairavi.

He did 65 films during his lifetime, 26 of those films celebrated Silver jubilees (25 weeks run) – 8 celebrated golden jubilees (50 weeks run) and 4 celebrated diamond jubilee. Many of which are musical milestones such as Andaz (1949), Baiju Bawra (1952), Mother India (1957) and Mughal-e-Azam (1960).

His classical genius was the 1952 film 'Baiju Bawra' in which he used the voices if the great Ustad Amir Khan and D V Paluskar. The music in “Baiju Bawra” was divine! It was, in fact, the soul of the film.There are many moments in “Baiju Bawra” when the contribution of Naushad emerges the strongest point of the movie. Mohammad Rafi, lyricist Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad leave you in a trance with the all-time great number “Man tarpat hari darshan ko aaj”

These were many Raag based songs that made Naushad Classical Genius. Naushad introduced classical music with deft handling, making it melodious for mass appeal and yet retaining enough artistry as the situation demanded. Right from composing 'Rimjhim barse badarwa' in raga Pahadi in film Rattan effortlessly rendered by Zohrabai Amabalewali, Naushad emphasized the durable value of Indian classical music.

His most durable composition Suhani raat dhal chuki was shaped in Pahadi and was from film Dulari made in 1949 that became legendary and is still considered an integral part of any singer’s repertoire in any musical gathering. His other popular number in Pahadi was Tod diya dil mera composed for film Andaz in 1949 and rendered by Lata Mangeshkar. Another of his milestone songs was Toote na dil toote na picturised on Dilip Kumar in Andaz in 1949 and sung by Mukesh,

Prominent immortal songs composed by Naushad are from Mela, Deedar, Amar, Uran Khatola, Mother India, Kohinoor, Gunga Jumna, Mere Mehboob, Leader, Dil Diya Dard Liya and Ram Aur Shyam.