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 … More Chali Re Chali Re Main toh Des Parayee (Saranga, 1961)
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 … More San San San Woh Chali Hawa – Kaagaz Ke Phool, 1959
One of the self-imposed rules of this blog, which I have just now recognised, is that – Thou shalt write a long post on at least one Sahir Ludhianvi song per week. This realisation came about as I heard an old favourite play on the radio a short while ago. I try not to listen to the … More Rut Phire Par din Hamare Phire Na (Pyaasa, 1957)
One of my favourite stories (or collection of tales) is the ancient Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata. Like most Indians growing up in the 80s and 90s, my introduction to Mahabharata was largely through family and then the amazing Amar Chitra Katha comic series. To add to this, was the epic B.R. Chopra TV series which aired sometime … More Dalapathi (1991)
As I rummaged through my old cassette collection some months ago, I heard this romantic Mohd Rafi song that I used to like very much but had forgotten over the years. The song was: Sabhi Kuch Luta Kar Huye Hum Tumhare, Ki Hai Jeet Uski Jo Dil Aaj Haare. My pre-recorded cassette had no details about … More Sabhi Kuch Lutakar (Singer – Mohd Rafi, Movie Indrani, 1958)
October is a big month. The festive season in India has started. The Navratris are on in full swing. The east is celebrating Ashtami today while the South celebrates Saraswati Pooja. Tomorrow is Vijayadashami (Dussehra/ Dasara) – the Hindu festival of the triumph of good over evil. It is the day when according to Hindu … More October sets in… oh yes, Happy Birthday Asha Parekh…
Today is the 108th birth anniversary of the legendary Sachin Dev Burman and the 95th birth anniversary of the very talented Majrooh Sultanpuri. This was meant to be a list post – my top 10 songs written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Sachin Dev Burman. But as I shuffled my memory and started jotting … More Gungunaoonga Yehi Geet Main Tere Liye – Remembering Sachin Dev Burman and Majrooh Sultanpuri
Sansaar ki har shai kaa itnaa hi fasaanaa hai ek dhundh se aanaa hai ek dhundh mein jaanaa hai… This beautiful, philosophical song sung by Mahendra Kapoor from the film Dhund (1973) is another of my favourite MK songs. I thought of this yesterday as I was writing about Chalo Ek Baar Phir se. Dhund is … More Jo Bhi Hai Bas Yehi Ek Pal Hai….
When I recently decided to revive this blog, I was not sure what I wanted to write about. Hindi movie songs – especially the ones between 1950 – 1970 are a passion. But there are so many wonderful blogs existing in the blogosphere on this topic. All these are amazing reads and have contributed a lot to … More Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se – Gumrah (1963)
Some months back, I decided to digitise all my old cassettes (Cassettes – remember – from those gone-by days?) I have a massive collection of old cassettes – some that belong to my parents and some that I collected over the years. Well, the project of digitising them got stuck – come to think of it, it … More Chin-O-Arab Hamara (Phir Subah Hogi – 1958)
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