Happy birthday to Asha Parekh

Happy birthday to Asha Parekh. The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to Asha Parekh on 2nd October, 2013. She had been a dancing legend of the 60s. Bollywood industry is indebted to her for her brilliant performance in various films. She started her career opposite Shammi Kapoor in the film Dil Deke Dekho in 1959. The film did great business with hit songs composed by Usha Khanna including “dil deke dekho” sung by Rafi. After that she acted in musical blockbusters most of which were directed by Nasir Hussain. She was sublime in the film Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai opposite Dev Anand. The songs in the film composed by Shankar Jaikishan like “sau saal pehle”, “yeh ankhe uff yumma”, “teri zulfon ki”, “jiya ho” became rich assets of history. Asha Parekh had a fantastic combination with Joy Mukherjee. Her films Ziddi, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Love in Tokyo became superhit. Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, released in 1963 was shot in Kashmir, while Love in Tokyo, released in 1966 was shot in Japan. The romantic scenery entertained the viewers. The songs in most of these films composed by OP Nayyar and Shankar Jaikishan stormed box-office. The most famous songs included “banda parwar”, “lakhon hai nigahon me”, “raton ka sila”, “nazneen bara rangin hai wada tera”, “japan, love in Tokyo”, “hume tum mil gaye humdum”, “o mere shahekhuba”, etc. Similarly Asha Parekh’s combination with Biswajeet and Shammi Kapoor was very grand. Her film Mere Sanam with Biswajeet, released in 1965 was another musical blockbuster. All the songs of the film like “pukarta chala hoon mai”, “humdum mere maan bhi jayo”, “hue hai tumpe aashiq hum bhala mano bura mano” sung by Rafi stormed box-office in the mid-60s. Asha Parekh played many serious roles in films like Chirag opposite Sunil Dutt, Kati Patang opposite Rajesh Khanna, Upkaar opposite Manoj Kumar, etc. She got critical acclamation for performance in the film Chirag. Asha Parekh dancing skills gave her a separate recognition during an age when actresses like Vaijayantimala, Rajashree, Mumtaz, Padmini were already created sensation in bollywood. Asha Parekh’s performance in the film Carwan opposite Jeetender requires special mention. She proved her dancing skills opposite other renowned dancers in the film like Helen and Aruna Irani. She also acted in character roles in films like Bulandi, Kaalia, etc., in the 80s. Asha Parekh had headed the Indian Censor Board for some time. As a member of the Board she did a great job in ensuring decency in the entertainment industry specifically films. Recently she was invited as guest judge in the Sony TV Indian Idol Program in 2012, where Sunidhi Chauhan, Anu Malik, Salim Merchant and Asha Bhosle were the other judges. The viewers expect her to continue the great work in character roles in the years to come.

Ujjaini, Locket Chatterjee, Ritwik and others stormed Zee Bangla Dadagiri Program

Ujjaini, Locket Chatterjee, Ritwik and others stormed Zee Bangla Dadagiri Prog

ram. Sourav Ganguly, the anchor of the program Zee Bangla Dadagiri Program invited celebrities in the program on 1st October, 2013. All the celebrities were actors, actresses and singers of the Bengali small screen and also Bengali cinema. The artists along with playing the contest, all came to promote their upcoming film Nayika Sangbad which is going to be released very soon. Arunima Ghosh and Locket Chatterjee acted in lead roles in the film. Ujjaini had sung songs in the film. Sourav Ganguly asked Locket Chatterjee and Arunima Ghosh whether there was similarity of the new version of Nayika Sangbad with the old film Nayika Sangbad released in mid-60s. The old film was a hit film with superstar Uttam Kumar and Anjana Bhowmick playing lead roles in the film. Sourav Ganguly played a song of that film sung by Sandhya Mukherjee titled “keno e logon chanchal holo gejeno dake bare bar” and asked the name of the film and the name of the singer. Bhaswar Chatterjee the noted actor in films and tele-serials was also asked questions about his new films and serials. Sourav Ganguly was asked which was the most tensed moment in his life? Sonali Choudhury asked the question. He said it was the first test he played in 1996. He did not find anything tense about proposing before Dona Ganguly, his wife. Sonali Choudhury also asked whether he reached Dona Ganguly to her house when she used to go for tuition. Sourav Ganguly denied. Sourav Ganguly asked Ujjaini to sing a song. She sang it from the film Nayika Sangbad. In the slog over round Ritwik answered the maximum number of answers and scored fastest fifty. He became the winner at the end of the show. Sourav Ganguly anchored the show very well.

Happy birthday to SD Burman.

The viewers of Bollywood films wish happy birthday to legendary composer and singer SD Burman on 1st November, 2013. He had composed music in more than 80 bollywood films. In Bengal SD Burman sang many notable songs most of which had folk element and also classical composure. Some of his everlasting songs included “paddar dheu re”, “barne gandhe chande geetite”, “jhilmil jhilmil jhiler jole dheu kheliya jay re”, to name a few. In hindi films SD Burman worked with many legendary directors like Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and others. In the film Pyaasa, SD Burman’s composition for Mohammad Rafi “yeh mahalon yeh takhton yeh tajhon ki duniya” still haunts the viewers. In the film Kagaz Ka Phool also Rafi’s song “bichre sabhi baari baari” really touched the souls of numerous film lovers. SD Burman’s composition for Talat Mehmood in Dilip Kumar’s Devdas titled “mitwa” was a very good song in somber mood. SD Burman composed the song “jalte hai jiske liye” in the film Sujata in style. Talat Mehmood’s song for Sunil Dutt became a big hit and was related to telephonic conversation. In Ashok Kumar’s film Meri Surat Teri Ankhen SD Burman was unblemish in the song “pucho na kaise maine rain bitayi”. Manna Dey sang the song in raag ahir bhairav. Rafi’s song in the same film “tere bin sune nain hamaare” had magical charm. SD Burman composed very creative music in the films Bandini, Aradhana, Abhimaan, Milli and many other notable films. The soft music of the rural parts of the country did find place in the numerous compositions of SD Burman. Articles after articles can be devoted to the great legend. His films and works should be shown in the different channels.