This morning Shammi Kapoor passed away.

My father was a huge fan of the actor. We grew up with music from his films. Later on when we got a Television – some time in 1985 – watching his films on Doordarshan became a favorite pastime. Ujala, Professor, Kashmir ki Kali, Dil Dekhe Dekho, An Evening in Paris, Junglee, Bhramachari, Teesri Manzil, – were movies that were part of my childhood. All India Radio kept his movies alive by constantly playing his songs.

Later, when I was in the 9th – I saw Hero. Obviously one drooled at a very young Jackie Shroff. But, one couldn’t but agree with Shammi Kapoor’s character who had an issue with his favorite child (Meenakshi Sheshadri) marrying a two bit criminal. The following year I saw Premrog – one of my favorite modern Raj Kapoor films… and again Shammi Kapoor had a fanstastic cameo as a man – Bade Raja Thakur – who wanted to do the right thing – get the widowed Padmini Kholapure married to Rishi Kapoor – but prevented by custom & tradition.

But, Shammi Kapoor wasn’t just the old patriarch in films.

He was the young rebel. The first modern Indian man in films – the one without the angst about life, being Indian, corruption, or any other thing. He was the Hero who laughed, sang, cajoled, flirted, was not just strong enough to beat up the bad guys, but also strong enough to shed tears. He was, for many my generation, the ideal Indian male. The man so secure in himself that he ddin’t need to humiliate women… He just loved us all…

Shammi Kapoor – aankh mein kaajal, mooh pe pasina ..yaala, yaala dil legayi

He was a very physical actor – i am sure if you tied up his hands he would not have been able to talk. Legend has it that he ended up dislocating some bones in singing this song. He was trying to keep pace with Mohd.Rafi’s singing.

He had a fine flair for comedy. Though the comedy was also intensely bumbling and physical – the pie on the face kind of comedy. And he was very good at it. This scene in Professor, never fails to crack me up

He was romantic. the Ufff kind of romantic …what woman can say no to a man like this.

And, he could sizzle … passionately sizzle …Dil tera dewana …

and, Raat ke Humsafar with Sharmila Tagore in the film an Evening in Paris

And, he could sulk, and sulk and sulk and sulk …. till the heroine made up, and of course he would accept her eternal love. In that sense he reminded me more of Bhaloo the bear in the Jungle Book than the macho hero Here is Ameeta trying to get a sulking Shammi Kapoor to smile

There was no one – then or now – who could quite move like him on the dance floor. the women who could match him step to step – jhatka for jhatka were only two – Helen & Mumtaz

Aaja Aaja Mein hoon Pyar Tera – Shammi Kapoor & Helen

Shammi Kapoor & Mumtaz in Bhramachari … boy could they move

Baar Baar Dekho – Shammi Kapoor - am told that narrow trousers made a comeback after this song

No piece on Shammi Kapoor can be complete without talking about Mohammed Rafi – When you hear Rafi Sahab sing for Shammi Kapoor, he managed to capture all the energy, the playfulness, and joy of life that Shammi Kapoor brought to all his roles.

Shammi Kapoor – Jawaniyan ye Mast Mast … I truly love this song the ultimate road song.

And, finally, the song that was the ultimate Shammi Kapoor descriptor

My play list for SHammi Kapoor on Youtube is here – it is work in progress.

http://www.youtube.com/p/21AE4BB5C1E7BEF0?version=3&hl=en_GB&fs=1

There is no special reason for this post – no birthday or death anniversary, except that a person I know and respect greatly asked me for one on Madan Mohan.

And since, I do love Hindi music, and love the music of Madan Mohan, it really was no great chore. Madan Mohan, like other music directors of his generation, had this uncanny knack of being able to blend western instruments with Indian sensibilities. He was, supposedly, Lata Mangeshkar’s favourite music director. She definitely sang some of her best songs under his direction.

So, in no particular order of preference, my favorite 15

Aai Dil Mujhe Bata De – lyrics by Rajinder Krishan. Sung by Geeta Dutt. The film is Bhai Bhai

The song is a fun, flirtatious falling in love song… playful and wistful at the same time.

Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha – lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Sung by Lata Mangeshkar. One of my favorite all time Lata Songs. The song is based on Raga Adana. The film is Anpadh – starring Mala Sinha and Dharmendra (who looked so incredible). The film looks at the issue of the education of girls. Mala Sinha is the anpadh (uneducated). The film also features the other Lata hits Hai isi mein Pyaar ki Aabru and Jiya Le Gayo ji Mora Saawariya (in Raga Kalyan)

Baiyan Na Dharo – lyrics by Rajinder Krishan. The film was Dastak – the 1970 version starring Sanjeev Kumar & Rehana Sultana. The song is based on Raga Charukesi and sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Trivia : The film was edited by Hrishikesh Mukherjee who won the national award for this film. The film was directed by Rajinder Singh Bedi who was considered to be the father of the parallel cinema (art film) movement in India.

Bhuuli Huyi Yaadon Mujhe Itna Na Sataao – lyrics by Rajinder Krishan. The film is Sanjog and the singers is Mukesh. The song is based on Raga Kalyan.

Dil Dhoondta Hai Phir Wahi – Lyrics by Gulzar. Sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Bhupinder. This was a song in two versions – a happy one shared here, and a morose one. The film starred Sanjeev Kumar & Sharmila Tagore, and looks at the life of a young foul mouthed prostitute (Tagore) who is hired for a month by an old man (Sanjeev Kumar), who never touches her and treats her with tremendous respect.

Ek Haseen Sham Ko Dil – lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan sung by Mohd Rafi in the film Dulhan ek Raat ki. A lovely, flowy falling in love song – that is seductive in its composition. The film stars Dharmendra and Nutan. A typical Mills and Boons story (it was actually based on Thomas Hardy’s book Tess of D’ubervilles). A lot of victorian novels were highly rated M&B’s ..but that is the subject of another post.

Hum Pyaar Mein Jalne Walon Ko – Lyrics by Rajinder Krishan. Sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The film is Jailor directed by Sorabh Modi

Kaun Aaya Mere Mann Ke Dware -lyrics by Rajinder Krishan. The film is Dekh Kabira Roya and the singer is Manna De. The song is picturised on Anoop Kumar (brother to Ashok & Kishore Kumar). The song is based on Raga Rageshri.

Khelo Na Mere Dil Se – based on Raga Charukesi – lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. Singer Lata Mangeshkar and the film is Haqeeqat – possibly the best Hindi war film ever. Based on the life of soldiers in the 1962 war against China, the film is a masterpiece on all levels, acting, direction and music. This song was never featured in the film. The film has 4 other songs I absolutely adore – Kar Chale Hum Fida Jaan aur Tan Saathiyon (cannot hear this song, sung by Rafi, without the eyes filling up with tears), Main ye sochkar uske dar se uthha tha ( a lovely song sung by Mohd. Rafi), Hoke Majboor Hame and Kahi yeh woh to nahi ( based on raga Kalyan)

Meri Yaad mein na tum aansu bahana – lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Singer Talat Mehmood. The song from film Madhosh is based on Raga Jaunpuri. A farewell song, that just has the right amount of pain and pathos in it. Both Madan Mohan and Talat Mehmood handled this emotion very well.

Naino Mein Badra Chaye -lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The singer is Lata Mangeshkar in the film Mera Saaya starring Sunil Dutt & Sadhna. The film is the story of twins – one good and the other not so good – and the man who has to figure which is the one he loves … The song is based on Raga Bhimpalasi. The film has a great sound track – that includes the title song Mera Saya (sung by Lata), Aap Ke Pehlon mein Aake Ro Diye (sung by Rafi) , and the ever green Jhumka Gira Re (sung by Asha)

Baad Mudat ki Hai - lyrics by Rajinder Krishan. Sung by Mohammed Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur for the Jahan Aara. A lovely love song, composed in Raga Chayanat. The pace of the song, that allows the singers to have a ‘conversation’ through the lyrics makes it one more of Madan Mohan’s songs to savour. There are two other great songs in this film. Phir Wohi Sham – and sung by Talat Mehmood . A wistful melanchonic song that talks of lonliness. For a period of time in my life, that song resonated with state of mind. Talat Mehmood’s voice was velvet and just apt for this song. The second is Kisi ke Yaad mein – a lovely ghazal sung by Mohd. Rafi in Raga Kedar

Rang aur Noor ki – lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi. And, sung by Mohammed Rafi for the film Ghazal. The film is based on Raga Puriya Dhanashree.

Tujhe Kya sunaon dilruba – lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri and sung by Mohd. Rafi for the film Aakhri Dao. The song is picturised on an Actor called Shekar. Which, also tells us a bit about the Madan Mohan problem. Despite a fantastic body of work he never, in his lifetime, found the kind of glory that music directors like Shankar Jaikishen (most of the RK Films) or SD Burman (most of Dev Anand Films) found – and that was primarily because he worked with smaller film makers and more obscure films. Many of these films did not last for too long at the box office. And, the songs usually died with the film. Tapes and LP’s didn’t sell that much and it was left to All India Radio (AIR) and its shows to popularise the song.

Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho – lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. Sung by Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar for the film Haste Zhakm. The film is picturised on Naveen Nischol and Priya Rajvansh. A simmering, passionate song that has a fantastic background score – check out the sounds of thunder & lightning as part of the song..

When you talk about Madan Mohan, the first thing one thinks of is his body of work with Lata Mangeshkar and ghazals. But, Madan Mohan worked with a great number of other artists and his body of work was myriad. Truly talented. But, his inability to play politics and find a mentor – a studio or a powerful producer – meant that he ended up composing for second rung films. Those films barely ran. In an era before mass Television, a non running film was the kiss of death for the music director – the music didn’t get heard. His many fans, including singers and musicians, kept his legacy alive for a new generation. We talk about Madan Mohan with a lot more awe and respect, and he is possibly more popular now than in his lifetime .

His was a story of immense talent, neglected by the industry. He took to drinking heavily and died of Liver Cirrhosis – he wasn’t the first in the industry to plumb the depths of despair because he wasn’t popular, and he won’t be the last. That is the nature of the business – to survive, you don’t need to be just talented but incredibly thick skinned.

Mohd. Rafi - In all the years that i have been blogging (my first ever blog post was in June 2003) – I have done a fair few posts on Hindi film music. But, there has been no post on Mohammed Rafi. It is not that I don’t like his work. I love it. He is my favorite singer in the 1950′s through to the 1970′s era – by many accounts the golden era of Hindi film music.

But, everytime I began thinking of writing a series on my favorites – i got stuck.

How do you write about someone whose body of work encompassed everything from the rebellious anthem – Zindabad Zindabad from Moghul-e-Azam – to the rebellious lament – yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai – the former charging you to go marching, the latter telling you its ok to opt out.

His songs of ‘falling in love’ were superlative – zindagi bhar nahin bhulegi barsaat ki raat or Chaudavi ka Chaand ho or Ehsaan tere hoga mujhpar, and made you want to fall in love. desparately. And, his songs of heart break – enough to put you off falling in love ever again – Yaad na Jaaye, Kabhi khud Pe,. His love duets with a variety of singers from Lata Mangeshkar — Chalo Dil Daar Chalo, Dil Tera Deewana , Mein Chali Mein chali, — Asha Bhosale — aap yuhi agar humse milte rahe, or Bahut Shukriya Badi Meherbani – and Suman Kalyanpur — Ajuhun Aaye Balama, Bahut Haseen Hai Tumhari Aankhen, – covered the entire gamut of sensations associated with love – the flirtatious to the sizzling passion ..

He was known for his classical songs, his fun songs, his drunken songs, his love songs, his sad songs, his patriotic songs, his religious songs … i don’t think there is a single genre of music he didn’t sing or didn’t excel in.

Rafi has been the voice of every major Actor – Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, Bharat Bhushan, Joy Mukherji, Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra. Incidentally he also sang for Kishore Kumar

He worked with every major Music director of that era. I cannot see a SD or a Naushad or an O.P.Nayyar being as successful without the voice of Rafi. He added something to every song. Of his entire discography – i can possibly list about 300 as my all time favorites … Which possibly tells me why it has been so difficult to write about him.

——————————-

Obviously Rafi was classically trained. But what is interesting – atleast as far as I am concerned – is that his guru was Ustad Wahid Khan - the co-founder of the Kirana Gharana along with Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. The next generation of Kirana Gharana was Savai Gandharva, whose disciple was Pandit Bhimsen Joshi…it is extraordinary that two men who both learnt from the kirana gharana, have had such an influence on my listening pattern. i wonder if I would have developed the love for Hindustani classical music without Mohd. Rafi making it accessible for me (and countless others like me).

So today on his death anniversary – my favorite, favorite classical numbers by Mohd. Rafi…. obviously i am leaving out far more than i am including. Do add your favorites to the list and drop me a line if I have got the Raga wrong.

——————————-

Raga Adana

Man Mohan Man Mein Ho Tumhi – Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur sing this beautiful song from the film Kaise Kahoon. Music Director is S D Burman, and lyrics by Shakeel Shakeel Badayuni. Rafi sings for Biswajeet

another song sung by Rafi in this raga is Radhika tune bansuri churayi

Raga Bahar

Raga Bahar is one of the ragas most associated with spring.

This song, is from the film Shabab. Music by Naushad, Lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. Rafi sings for Bharat Bhushan

Raga Bhageshri

there is a fair body of work composed in this raga in Hindi films. However, there is very little sung by Rafi. But here are two songs that are Bhageshri (or almost Bhageshri)

Raga Bharavi

Bhairavi is one of my favorite ragas – and it is also one of the most basic ragas in classical music. It is hardly surprising that there are a large number of songs that have been composed in this raga.

Kaise Samajhao Bade Na Samaj Hain – sung by Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosale in the film Suraj. lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri, and Music by S.D.Burman. Rafi sings for Rajendra Kumar.

Nache Man Mora – Film Teri Surat Meri Aankhen, Music by S.D.Burman, Lyrics by Shailendra. Rafi sings for Ashok Kumar.

Tu Ganga ki Mauj Mein - Film Baiju Bawra. Music by Naushad, lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni – Rafi sings for Bharat Bhushan

Raga Hameer

Madhuban mein Radhika Nachere – Music by Naushad, Lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. Rafi sings for Dilip Kumar

Raga Janasammohini

Koi Sagar Dil Ko Behlata Nahin – the film is Dil Diya Dard Liya. music by Naushad, lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. Rafi sings for Dilip Kumar

Raga Malkauns

Man Tadpat Hari Darshan ko Aaj – what a movie. Every one of the songs in this film a hit. Every one of them based on a classical raga. Fabulous stuff all around. Music by Naushad, Lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni

Raga Pilu

Ajuhun aaye balama – sung by Mohd. Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur. Rafi sings for Guru Dutt

The other favorite in this Raga is from the film “teri Surat, meri aankhe’

Raga Puriya Dhanashree

Another one of my favorite Ragas. Rafi sings for Sunil Dutt in the film Ghazal. Music by Madan Mohan. Lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi.

Raga Sarang

The film is again Dil Diya Dard Liya – singers are Mohd.Rafi and Asha Bhosale singing for Dilip Kumar & Waheeda Rehman. Music by Naushad, lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni

Raga Shivaranjani

The film is Bhramachari. Music by Shankar Jaikishen, lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri and Rafi sings for Shammi Kapoor.

Raga Shudh Kalyan

The film is Sikander-e-Azam that tells of the conflict between King Puru & Alexander the Great. Music by Hansraj Behl, and lyrics Rajendra Krishna. Rafi sings for Prithviraj Chauhan. (Dara Singh plays Alexander) .

Raga Sohini

The raga that got it all started – one of the first classical songs i ever heard. My folks had heard it because it was a Telugu movie (Svarna Sundari) remade into Hindi. Saw it in the old DD days … Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd. Rafi sing for actors I cannot identify. Music by Aadi Narayan Rao and Lyrics by Bharat Vyas

To be honest, if this song would be defined as ‘ragamalika’ – lots of related ragas in the song.

Raga Todi

from the film Basant Bahar – a song in raga todi. The film put rest to the perception that Shankar Jaikishen could not compose songs based on ragas. Rafi sings for Bharat Bhushan

———————–

Read comics. Batman – Bruce Wayne the road home… good fun. not the best Batman I have read, but not the worst either.

Today is the birthday of Mukesh – for the younger generation stumbling across this blog , he was the grandfather of Neil Nitin Mukesh.

To be honest, Mukesh was not my favorite singer. I much preferred the voices of Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar. But, strangely some of Mukesh’s songs are amongst my all time favorite songs.

There was a certain quality to voice – a certain earthiness that worked best with earthy songs –  The philosophical songs and  the sad ones. I personally didn’t like his romantic songs or even his happy songs. For examples songs like Sawan Ka Mahina, or Ek Din Bit Jayega Maati ke mol or even Dil Ki Nazar Se – are not amongst my favorites. I hear them if they are on radio, but they don’t do anything for me.

But there are songs that Mukesh has sung  that touch my soul. They touch that melancholic part of me  that I have hidden away. The simplicity of his voice, the rawness reaches out and soothes me. Unlike a Manna Dey or a Kishore Kumar or a Rafi – Mukesh didn’t have an extensive range either of voice – his voice would crack at the higher notes – or of genres. But what he did well he did exceedingly well.

So on his birthday, my favorites

• Aasman pe hai Khuda – the film Phir Subah Hogi. A fabulous soundtrack by Khayyam and some of the best lyrics in Hindi Films. Ever. Mukesh is just about perfect in this song … when he sings “aadmi hai unginat, devta hai kam” … there is that simplicity of emotion. Whereas Rafis philosophical songs were anthems – even anthems by Mukesh – like the other favorite from this film Chino Arab Hamara – were whimsical, with just that tinge of sadness.

• Aasoon Bhari Hai – The film is Parvarish. The actors Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha. Music is by Dattaram, and lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri. When Mukesh sings vaade bhulade, kasam tod de woh..haalat pe apni, humme chod de woh … the heart melts. There is another song in the same space – same emotions that i loved , this from the film Sanjog – Bhuli Huvi yaadein

Chandan Sa Badan – film Saraswati Chandra – and Mukesh in one of my all time favorite songs. Music by Kalyanji Anandji and lyrics by Indeewar. I remember watching the film as a kid, in the old single channel days, didn’t understand too much of it. the film has two versions of this song – the other version by Lata Mangeshkar

• Kahi Bar Yuhi Dekha Hai - film Rajnigandha starring Vidya Sinha & Amol Palekar. Music is by Salil Choudhary and lyrics by Yogesh

• Kahi Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye – - Mukesh sings for Rajesh Khanna in the film Anand. Music by Salil Choudhary and lyrics by Yogesh. The film is one of my favorites. The film also has the other Mukesh song – meine tere liye saath rang ke sapne

• Kissi ke Muskurahataon pe … the film is Anari, Music by Shankar Jaikishen and Lyrics by Shailendra. Mukesh is superlative in this song, waxing about the meaning of life

• Mujhko is raat ki Tanhaayi Mein – Mukesh sings for a very young Dharmendra in the film Dil bhi tera Hum bhi tere. There is a Lata Mangeshkar version of this song in this film, but i personally prefer the Mukesh version. Music by Kalyanji Anandji and Lyrics by Shamim Jaipuri.

• Nain Hamare – The film is Annadata – starring Jaya Badhuri & Anil Dhawan. Music is by Salil Choudhary. Lyrics by Yogesh. Annadata, i believe, has one of the most under appreciated sound tracks in Hindi cinema. Every song in that film is a gem.

• O Jaanewaale ho sake toh lautke aana – The film is Bimal Roy’s Bandini. The music is by S.D.Burman, and lyrics by Shailendra. The song is a background song, picturised on Nutan. Going Home …but not quite …

• O re Taal Mile Nadi ke jal mein - The philosophy of life, from the film Anokhi Raat. Music by Roshan and lyrics by Indeevar and Kaifi Azmi

• Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo – When I see a film like Teesri Kasam, i wonder how film makers of that generation had the courage to make a movie like that. A movie which is not a tragedy or a comedy.. instead a clash of values. Music is by Shankar Jaikishen, Lyrics by Shailendra – who, incidentally, is also the producer of the film

____________________________________________

The photo for the day, from my mobile

Had gone out with Annie and Manisha – that is a glass of old monk and water, and light refracing through it … Golden … my photography is getting abstract ..

Office life has been clearing up account – there are two things that I don’t quite follow. The first is why are there so many heads for TDS and so many varying rates. Why is the tax department splitting so many hairs … and secondly, why are people reluctant to give their PAN number – don’t they understand they will pay less tax, if they get their TDS amount booked against their name ?

Today is Dev Saheb’s Birthday – the original Peter Pan of Indian films. The man who refused to grow up. In fact the films that he made in his first 5 years were far more mature than the films he has made in the last 25 odd years.  A few years ago, a leading magazine had done this list of mysteries. And, right at the top of the list was “Who Funds Dev Anand Films” – I remember sniggering about it, because the stuff he has made in the last two decades, or so, has been quite unwatchable.

Remember Aawal Number – starring Dev Saheb (almost 70) and Aamir Khan (25) – there Dev Anand played Aaditya Pancholi’s elder brother – who was the head of the board of cricket, who is also the head of the anti terrorist squad, who was also half a dozen other things – and of course the hero who saves the day by blowing up terrorists from a helicopter – or something equally inane. It was the last Dev Anand Film I saw (confession, i actually saw the film for Aamir Khan ).

A few years ago a friend of mine went to see Mr.Prime Minister as a challenge – he was the only person in the audience

But, when we guffaw at the films that Dev Anand makes today, it takes away from the rich legacy of films that he made till the mid seventies. I don’t consider his body of work post that – simply because it is unfair to him.

The time he made his debut, was just after independence. He ruled the roost with two other mega stars of that generation – Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor.
Dilip Kumar was the tortured hero, Raj Kapoor was the naive hero and Dev Anand played the lovable rogue – more the romantic hero than the other two.

Dev Anand’s collaboration with Guru Dutt produced some gems – Jaal, which i remember watching on DD when i was a kid and sobbing my heart out, Baazi and CID If India ever had a noirish bent of film making at any point of time – it was here .

There was then, the entire string of films as the boy next door – kind, fun and slightly goofy – but totally appealing. Munimji, Paying Guest, Tere Ghar ke Saamne and the ilk- films that were frothy and fun

I personally preferred his darker films – like Hum Duno – how i loved that movie and its music – Kala Bazaar – again a great story and great music; and Kala Paani – there was somthing about DevAnand the actor – that made the moral ambiguity or greyness not only plausible but also  attractive. Of all his characters none was more ambigious than Raju Guide – a man who embarks on an adulterous relationship with a married woman – Rosy – in the film Guide. He robs her, and he loves her and the audience doesn’t really see the contradiction in those two acts.

His other film that i thoroughly enjoyed was Tere Mere Sapne – based loosely and not as bleak as A.J.Cronin’s Citadel –  there is his tender little love story with Mumtaz, and of course his total fascinationwth the superstar Hema Malini. The former represents his values, the latter what he could become if he gave up his values.

For me, the final film in his repertoire was Hare Rama Hare Krishna – i personally refuse to consider his filmography after that point.   The film would have got theaters burnt, if it was made today. The story is a man who is in search of his sister who has fallen in – and been brainwashed – by a religious cult – The film is famous for it ‘dum maro dum’ song.

Today, on his birthday, I will leave you with my favorite songs from his films : Enjoy and do add yours to the list

http://www.youtube.com/p/F75343DD88761F66?hl=en_US&fs=1