Happy birthday to Vaijayantimala.

Happy birthday to Vaijayantimala.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to dancing queen Vaijayantimala on 13th August, 2009. She had ruled bollywood films during the 50s and 60s, during an age when muslim actresses like Nargis, Madhubala, Meena Kumari rocked silver screen. She was the first South Indian actress to create a sensation in bollywood films and paved the way for other South Indian actresses to follow like Hema Malini, Sri Devi, Jaya Prada, Meenakshi Sheshadri, and others.

Her online chemistry with Tragedy King Dilip Kumar created history in bollywood. Most of their films including Devdas, Naya Daur, Madhumati, Paigham, Ganga Jumna, Leader, Sunghursh ended up being blockbusters. Besides dancing, she was sublime in the role of a tawaif in Bimal Roy’s film Devdas, in the role of village girl in Bimal Roy’s Madhumati. Probably Madhumati marks the best performance of Vaijayantimala in her entire career. Her innocence reflected in her acting and she made the audience spellbound with the lips given in songs composed by Salil Choudhury including “aa ja re pardesi”, “ghari ghari mera dil dharke”, “daiya re daiya re”, etc. She received the filmfare award for the best actress for the brilliant performance in the film.

On one hand she was brilliant opposite Dilip Kumar, on the other hand she created sensation with Raj Kapoor as well. Their film Nazrana did mediocre business. But Sangam was probably one of the biggest hits of Raj Kapoor in his entire life. Vaijayantimala’s stylish performance opposite both Raj Kapoor and Rajender Kumar created a benchmark which could hardly be reached. Sangam still remains one of the most landmark films based on triangular love story shot at exotic locations in London, Paris, and other European countries. Shankar Jaikishan was matchless in Sangam. The acting performance was excellent and she received the filmfare award for the best actress once again.

In the 60s, Vaijayantimala was matchless. Her name was enough to make any film hit. The list of her films include Nagin opposite Pradeep Kumar, Suraj opposite Rajender Kumar, Amrapali opposite Sunil Dutt, Prince opposite Shammi Kapoor, Choti Si Mulakat opposite Uttam Kumar, Jewel Thief opposite Dev Anand, Pyar Hi Pyar opposite Dharmender, to name a few. In fact her combination with Rajender Kumar and Shankar Jaikishan created sensation in the 60s. All their films ended up being silver jubilees including Aas Ka Panchi, Suraj, Sangam, Zindagi, etc. Besides her standard of classical dancing in films like Katputli or Amrapali had created interest among viewers to appreciate aesthetic dance numbers which became an art in due period of time.

Her films should be restored and preserved.

Gulshan Bawra's death is painful for music-lovers in India.

Gulshan Bawra’s death is painful for music-lovers in India.

The music lovers all across India mourn the death of legendary lyricist Gulshan Bawra, who died on 7th August, 2009, at the age of 72 years. He had died his heart failure.

Although his involvement in lyrics of bollywood films is related to less number of songs if compared with the dynamism of Shakeel Badayani, Hasrat Jaipuri, Shailendra, Sahir Ludhiyanvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi and others, his words were very meaningful and his work was appreciated by elite section of the society. Born in 1937, he came to Bombay as a railway clerk in the 50s and showed his talent as a lyricist in due time.

His song “tumhe yaad hoga kabhi hum milethe” sung by Hemant Kumar and Lata in Balraj Sahani’s film Satta Bazar gave him recognition. He received filmfare award for the best lyricist for his brilliant composition “mere desh ki dharti”, sung by Mahendra Kapoor and composed by Kalyanji Anandji in the film Upkaar in 1967. Manoj Kumar’s epic film won most of the awards that year and Gulshan Kumar gave his best for the epic film. He had a great combination with Kalyanji Anandji and for them he wrote different types of songs including patriotic songs, romantic numbers, tragic numbers, etc.

He again got filmfare award for the best lyrics written for the song “yaari hai imaan mera yaar meri zindagi” for the film Zanjeer. It was sung by legendary singer Manna Dey and composed by Kalyanji Anandji. Gulshan Bawra also acted in the film and gave lips in a song sung by Rafi.

His other hit songs included “kasme wade nibhayenge hum” and “aati rahegi baharen” in the film Kasme Wade, composed by RD Burman, “wada karle saajna” from the film Haath Ki Safai, and many other songs.

He faded away from the industry after the emergence of new lyricists in the 1990s. But his works were very meaningful and unique. His songs should be preserved.

Will Saif Ali Khan be successful as producer?

Will Saif Ali Khan be successful as producer?

If the history of bollywood films had been looked into it will be seen that many actors and actresses got involved in production of films after being in the profession for substantial period of time. Some of the them had succeeded while others stopped production due to lack of success.

Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt started their careers with productions of their own. They also knew the art of direction. So they don’t fall within this category. In fact their standards as producers were so high that their best acting lies in their production. Directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee or Mehboob Khan or Pacchi could not utilize Raj Kapoor in the manner he utilized himself in films like Awara, Shree 420, or Sangam, etc. Guru Dutt was at his best in films like Pyaasa or Aar Par or Mr. and Mrs. 55, all under his own production.

In respect of actor turned producers list Shahrukh Khan had mixed responses. Dreams Unlimited developed by Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla did great business in films like Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, but again did mediocre business in other films as well. Anil Kapoor started production few years back. He had success with films like Shortcut, but still his films had not done great business if compared with the hit films of his brother Boney Kapoor who had hit films including No Entry, Hamara Dil Aapke Pass Hai.

Saif Ali Khan had started his career as producer with the film Love Aaj Kal. The film has all the elements of a hit film. With the performance of Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, the viewers are also enthusiastic about its performance. Saif Ali Khan had taken a great decision in casting himself in the main role which releases the pressure of a producer.

But it is too early to foretell that Saif Ali Khan will be a successful producer. There are reasons for making such statement. It had been seen in the past that even eminent producers failed to understand the pulse of the viewers. Their tastes were changing and good producers and directors had both the taste of hit and flop films. Shakti Samanta started giving flops in the 70s like Pagla Kahin Ka or Jane Anjane, inspite of using Shammi Kapoor who had given super hit films in the 60s like Kashmir Ki Kali or An Evening in Paris.