2018

Roshan aur Madan Mohan ki Asha

Roshan, Madan Mohan and Asha Bhosle September 8, 2018

Greeting Asha Bhosle on her 85th birthday (b. 8 September 1933) with her best songs by Roshan and Madan Mohan In Lata Mangeshkar era, music directors could be divided into two groups: Those who were like their wings chopped-off without her; and those who equally wanted her, but could survive even without her. (OP Nayyar […]

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Best of Mukesh by Roshan and Madan Mohan

Roshan, Madan Mohan and Mukesh August 27, 2018

A tribute to Mukesh on his 42nd death anniversary (22 July 1923 – 27 August 1976) Roshan and Madan Mohan were in tandem in relation to Mukesh at least in one respect: Both used him very prominently in 1950 – Roshan in Bawre Nain, which was his second movie, in which Mukesh sang a solo, […]

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‘Forgotten Artists of Early Cinema and The Same Name Confusion’

Forgotten Artists of Early Cinema August 18, 2018

Welcoming the ‘writer’ Arunkumar Deshmukh and his first book ‘Forgotten Artists of Early Cinema and The Same Name Confusion’ By Arunkumar Deshmukh & Prof Surjit Singh Published by Professor Toofaanii Publishers I want some information about Master Vitthal and Zubeida, the lead actors of the first talkie, ‘Alam Ara’, for writing my dissertation for my […]

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The Master of Qawwali Roshan and some hidden qawwalis of Madan Mohan

Roshan and Madan Mohan August 9, 2018

While Roshan and Madan Mohan generally proceeded in tandem, one or the other created a special niche for himself in some genre. Roshan became known as the undisputed master of qawwalis, whereas Madan Mohan became a byword for ghazals. The essential difference in the two forms is not one of content, but of singing style. […]

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Rafi’s best songs by Madan Mohan

Rafi and Madan Mohan July 31, 2018

A tribute to Rafi on his 38th death anniversary (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) Six years ago to this day, I wrote on the best songs of Rafi by Roshan. Roshan for me was among the big four, with Naushad, SD Burman and OP Nayyar, who gave the best songs for Rafi. Later, […]

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Sajjad Hussain, Bollywood’s Loss

Sajjad Hussain July 21, 2018

Guest article by DP Rangan to pay tribute to Sajjad Hussain on his 23rd death anniversary (15 June 1917 – 21 July 1995) (Sajjad Hussain has been acknowledged as an undisputed genius by all the stalwarts of film music. His name also became a byword for his short temper and his spats with his colleagues. […]

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Roshan & Madan Mohan: Twin Towers of Rhapsody

Roshan and Madan Mohan July 14, 2018

Guest article by DP Rangan, with annotation by Subodh Agrawal, as a joint tribute to Roshan on his 101st birth anniversary (14 July 1917 – 16 November 1967) and to Madan Mohan on his 43rd death anniversary (25 June 1924 – 14 July 1975) (Subodh Agrawal once said that we often think of music directors […]

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Best songs of 1947: Wrap Up 2

Suraiya-Amirbai Katnataki-Noorjehan-Uma Devi-Shamshad Begum-Zohrabai Ambalewali July 4, 2018

And the SoY award for the Best Female Singer goes to? This was the year of female playback singers. Compared to 19 male solos as discussed in the Wrap Up 1, female solos numbered 67 (N Venkataraman counted 69) in the list of 117/119 Memorable Songs (referred to also as Master List) in my overview […]

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Best songs of 1947: Wrap Up 1

KL Saigal-Rafi-Mukesh-Surendra June 25, 2018

And the Songs of Yore Award for the Best Male Playback singer goes to? As I go down the list of 117/119 memorable songs (two songs had double versions) in my overview post on the best songs of 1947, the most striking thing is the rarity of male solos. I could count only 19 male […]

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Suraiya: The Last Nightingale of Bollywood

Suraiya June 15, 2018

Guest article by DP Rangan (Suraiya was literally as sweet as a nightingale. I have covered her in some detail. But with his amazing enthusiasm for research, DP Rangan was not deterred in finding enough interesting material and uncovered songs on her. I thank Mr Rangan for this nice article and join him in paying […]

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