Archive for the ‘“Sales pitch” song’ Category
Choodi main laaya anmol re
Posted on: April 12, 2012
This article is written by Ava Suri, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
A few days back I found myself translating a song from Achhut Kanya for Raja who is subtitling the movie for the famous DVD restorer Tom Daniel.
The movie is one of the most celebrated ones of Hindi Cinema, an early classic, and an Indo-German collaboration that starred Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar. However, what I didn’t know was that it contained a dance by Mumtaz Ali, the father of Mehmood and Minoo Mumtaz. I found Mumtaz Ali so captivating, his dancing and singing so natural and so impromptu that I went off on a google fired discovery of facts about him. As is often the case, any information on artists of this era is not easy to come by. After a day of looking high and low, I managed to unearth only one thing, that he was a scion of the royal family of Arcot.
Read more on this topic…
BA MA PhD ye diplomaay ye degree
Posted on: January 2, 2012
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Trying to think of all other songs on the Hindi screen that contain the names of the educational degrees and qualifications. How far back do you think this trend goes ? Well, all the way back to 1936, to the time of Saigal Saab. The film ‘Krorepati (The Millionaire)’ has a duet by Saigal Saab and Pahadi Sanyal –‘Jo Naukri Dilaa De, BA Dilaane Waale’ . Then the next one that I can locate is ‘Hum Se Nain Milaanaa BA Pass Kar Ke’ , a Madan Mohan / Raja Mehndi Ali Khan creation sung by Mukesh and Shamshad Begum in 1950. Then in 1954, the Kishore, Usha Kiran film ‘Adhikaar’ has a song ‘BA MA PhD’ created by Prem Dhawan and Avinash Vyas, and sung by Asha Bhosle. Then fast forward to 1971 and the path-breaking film by Gulzar, ‘Mere Apne’. And the song – ‘Haal Chaal Thheek Thhaak Hai’. The second line of the mukhdaa of this song goes like ‘BA Kiyaa Hai, MA Kiyaa; Lagtaa Hai Wo Bhi Aiwen Kiyaa Hai’.
Read more on this topic…
Aahen na bhar thandi thandi
Posted on: November 5, 2011
What is the most popular drink in India ? Tea, or ‘Chai”, as they call it in Hindi and many other Indian and foreign languages. If you visit and Indian household or office, you are likely to be served “chai”. When you go to a railway station, then the most ubiquitous vwndor you may come across is the itinerant teaseller one who sells his goods while carring a kettle of tea and shouting “Chai, garam chai” in his characteristic manner which has remnained unchanged over several generations.
Read more on this topic…
“Daroga jee” (1949) was a one woman show all the way. This movie, produced by Nargis Arts (Nargis’ home production) was meant to show Nargis’ ability to sing all kinds of songs. So far as many as seven songs picturised on Nargis have been discussed in this blog, in which she was shown singing romantic song, broken heart song, bullying shopkeepers song, etc etc.
Read more on this topic…
Hum albele saudaagar
Posted on: October 19, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
One more addition to the long list of songs for selling – this time it is another general merchant shop on a thhelaa.
Read more on this topic…
As long back as 1939, there was a fun movie called “Brandy Ki Bottle” . In this movie, a man (Master Vinayak) is asked by his boss to bring a bottle of Brandy to cure the illness of his boss’ kid. This man is not aware what is Brandy, and that leads to hilarious scenes throughout the movie.
Read more on this topic…
Raja ka haathi le le
Posted on: August 22, 2011
“Mastaanaa” (1954) is a movie starring Motilal and Nigar Sultana, who were mainly big name actors of 1940s but who continued to act in 1950s too.
From the picturisation of this song, I guess that Motilal and Nigar Sultana play roadside toy sellers and they have a kid (Master Romi).
Read more on this topic…
Surma mera niraalaa
Posted on: August 4, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Celebrating and remembering Kishore Da on the anniversary of his birth today. 🙂
Read more on this topic…
Le lo le lo do phool daani le lo
Posted on: July 24, 2011
I have mentioned this fact about Hindi movie songs that most of them are about human feelings viz love, sadness, happiness and not about commerce/business. In fact there are very few songs that are about selling some products. I have discussed a few songs where chanajor or similar stuff is being sold. In one such write up, readers came up with the list of a few other songs where some item was being sold.
Read more on this topic…
I have noticed that majority of Hindi movie characters do not seem to do anything for their living, at least as far as songs are concerned. Most songs are about feelings of happiness, sadness, love etc. There are very few songs about the activities that help people make a living.
Read more on this topic…
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
Recent comments