A tribute to S.D. Burman

Today (October 31,2014) is the thirty-ninth death anniversary of one of Hindi film music’s greatest music composers, Sachin Dev Burman. SDB is one of my favourite music directors. O.P. Nayyar is another music director I have a special fondness for. As I sit to make a list of SDB songs, I realised that I have blogged about […]

A tweet, a new song and Aar Paar (1954)

Two posts in a day? Not intended at all… but cannot help this one. A particular tweet on my Twitter timeline this evening is responsible for this. @BhopalHouse tweeted about a song on Coke Studio (Pakistan – Season 7) that reminded her of O.P.Nayyar’s music. Intrigued by the tweet, I heard the song.   And yes, she was […]

Possession by A.S.Byatt

“Writers aren’t exactly people.. They are a whole bunch of people, trying to be one person.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald I read this quote some months back…No, not in any one of his books, but in one of those Hallmark posters that feature interesting quotes…..And it stuck on in my mind.. This came back to me […]

Mandatory Sahir Post of the week!

This post is unabashedly about the best lyricist/ poet Hindi film music (in my opinion) has ever seen. I have mentioned before in this blog that I adore Sahir Ludhianvi and that one or more of his songs do find a way into this blog every week or so… But today I have a valid reason to […]

Remembering Manna Dey on his first death anniversary

Today is the first death anniversary of that phenomenal, versatile, and fairly underrated singer, Manna Dey. Despite being born in the times of Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore and getting slotted as someone who is good for classical songs only, it is to his credit and brilliance that he managed to sing (some very popular songs) till the […]

Na Main Dhan Chahun Na Ratan Chahun (Kala Bazaar, 1960)

I heard an old Manna Dey – Geeta Dutt bhajan from the film Devdas after a long time. It found a reference in Dustedoff’s impressive post on her top 10 songs featuring string instruments. As is the case, often memories are triggered – due to a word, a sound or a song. In this case it […]

Chali Re Chali Re Main toh Des Parayee (Saranga, 1961)

More than ten years back, I had joined an online forum of old Hindi film music lovers. I met some very interesting people virtually through the forum. And we became friends thanks to our shared interests – love for Hindi music in general and love for Rafi, Asha Bhosle, SDB, OPN and Sahir in particular. This post is […]

San San San Woh Chali Hawa – Kaagaz Ke Phool, 1959

Today is the 50th death anniversary of the legendary Guru Dutt Padukone. A choreographer, actor and director par excellence, Guru Dutt left behind a legacy of some unforgettable movies in the 1950s and 1960s. Pyaasa, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Mr & Mrs 55, Aar Paar, CID – each of […]

Thoughtsofacrazywoman

Ramble on and on...blah blah blah

Sai Scribbles

From the Author of Abhaya

Evergreen Indian film music

Great film music and great music directors

Delightful Children's Books

Find a book to delight a child.

Novel approaches

From academic history to historical fiction virtual conference

Vintage Indian Clothing

A Brief History of the saree blouse and Indian fashion before 1960 with an occasional excursion after. All images are credited but if they are here by accident please do let me know and I will take it down. All posts also on vintageindianclothing.tumblr.com

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by arunava sinha [arunava@gmail.com]