Happy Birthday to Asrani (digital photo courtesy : Chandra Arts)

Nana Patekar - Happy Birthday

I wish Nana Patekar, an excellent actor, a very Happy Birthday today.

Vidya Balan - Happy Birthday

I wish Vidya Balan, my favourite actress of the present genre, a very Happy Birthday.

Kongara Jaggiah - Tribute

Kongara Jaggaiah (Telugu: కొంగర జగ్గయ్య) (31 December 1926 – 5 August 2004) was an Indian film actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema and theatre. He was popularly known as Kanchu Kantam Jaggaiah (Telugu) for his booming voice, He was starred in eighty films, doing versatile characters in lead and supporting roles.

In 1962, He produced Padandi Munduku, the first Telugu film to be screened in Soviet Russia at the Moscow International Film Festival. In 1992, the Government of India has honoured him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema. (courtesy : Wikipedia)

Sadhana - A tribute

'End of an era of style, versatility and panache' writes Times of India on passing away of Sadhana, a very popular actress of 1960s and 1970s. She joined films as a child artiste in 1955 with a minor appearance in Raj Kapoor's 'Shree 420' in which she played a cameo role in the song 'Mud Mud ke na dekh'. She is credited with introducing the famous 'fringe' haircut known as her trademark 'Sadhana Cut'. Her highly appreciated works include 'Parakh', 'Hum Dono', 'Mere Mehboob', 'Waqt' etc.

I like the song 'Jahan mein aesa kaun hai ke jisko gam mila nahin' picturised on Sadhana in the film 'Hum Dono'. A very meaningful song indeed and Sadhana portrayed will in this song.

పింగళి నాగేంద్రరావు - నివాళి

పింగళి నాగేంద్రరావు గారి జయంతి సందర్భంగా నా నివాళి. వీరు ఒక తెలుగు సినిమా రచయిత మాత్రమే కాదు. పాత్రికేయుడు, నాటక రచయిత కూడా. కృష్ణా పత్రిక, శారద పత్రికల్లో ఆయన ఉపసంపాదకుడుగా పనిచేసారు. వింధ్య రాణి, నా రాజు, జేబున్నీసా, మేవాడు రాజ్య పతనం, క్షాత్ర హిందు, నా కుటుంబం, గమ్మత్తు చావు తదితర నాటకాలు ఆయన రాసినవే. వీరు ఒక రచయితగా తెలుగు సినీ రంగానికి చేసిన సేవ ఎంత విశిష్టమయినదో ఈ క్రింది చిత్రాలే చెబుతాయి.

రాజకోట రహస్యం (1971) గీతరచన
అగ్గిమీద గుగ్గిలం (1968) (కథ, సంభాషణలు, గీతాలు)
సి.ఐ.డి (1965) (రచయిత)
శ్రీ కృష్ణార్జున యుద్ధం (1963) (చిత్రానువాదం)
మహామంత్రి తిమ్మరుసు (1962) (రచయిత)
గుండమ్మ కథ (1962) (చిత్రానువాదం)
జగదేకవీరుని కథ (1961) (రచయిత)
మహాకవి కాళిదాసు (1960/I) (సంభాషణలు) (చిత్రానువాదం)
అప్పు చేసి పప్పు కూడు (1959) (గీతరచన)
పెళ్ళినాటి ప్రమాణాలు (1958) (సంభాషణలు) (కథ)
మాయా బజార్ (1957/I) (సంభాషణలు) (కథ) (చిత్రానువాదం)
మిస్సమ్మ (1955) (రచయిత)
చంద్రహారం (1954) (రచయిత)
పాతాళ భైరవి (1951) (సంభాషణలు) (కథ)
గుణసుందరి కథ (1949) (సంభాషణలు)
వింధ్యరాణి (1948) (సంభాషణలు) (కథ)
భలే పెళ్లి (1941) (గీతరచన)
శ్రీకృష్ణ లీలలు (1935) (సంభాషణలు).

(సేకరణ: వికీపీడియా)

Naushad - India's ace music composer - Tribute

Tribute to Naushad on his birth anniversary today.

Naushad Ali (Hindi: नौशाद अली, Urdu: نوشاد علی خیدر‎;26 December 1919 – 5 May 2006) was an Indian musician. He was one of the foremost music directors for Hindi films, and is particularly known for popularising the use of classical music in films.

His first film as an independent music director was Prem Nagar in 1940.His first musical success film was Rattan (1944), following it up with 35 silver jubilee hits, 12 golden jubilee and 3 diamond jubilee mega successes. Naushad was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Bhushan in 1982 and 1992, respectively, for his contribution to the Bollywood film industry. (wikipedea)

Immortal singer Md. Rafi

The greatness of Md. Rafi lies in his adopting his voice to the actors keeping in view their body language and mannerisms. The leading yesteryear heroes  owe a lot to the success of their films because of the songs sung by Rafi saab in their movies. It is a fact which cannot be denied. It is said that Shammi Kapoor was surprised when he heard the song 'Aasman se aaya Farista' and enquired how he could sing this song exactly in line with his mannerisms and body language. That is Md. Rafi. I pay my rich tribute to this great singer on his birth anniversary today. 

Sarangadhara Movie Songs || Adugadugo Alladugo || NTR || Bhanumathi

భానుమతి, ఎన్టీఆర్ నటించిన 'సారంగధర' చిత్రం అంటే నాకు చాలా ఇష్టం. సారంగధరుని వర్ణిస్తూ ఆమె పాడిన ఈ అద్భుత గీతం, అంతకు తగ్గటుగా ఠీవి, దర్పం తో నడచి వస్తున్న ఎన్టీఅర్, ఈ పాట చిత్రీకరణ వెరసి  నభూతో నభవిష్యతి అనిపించాయి. భానుమతి గారి వర్ధంతి సందర్భంగా ఆమెకు నా నివాళి.

Hamari Yaad Aayegi - Kabhi Tanhayiyon mein

Listen to this super hit song from the movie Hamari Yaad Aayegi.

Hamari Yaad Aayegi (You Will Remember Me) is a 1961 Hindi romantic drama film written and directed by Kidar Sharma. Produced under the banner of Show People, the director of photography was D. C. Mehta. The music was composed by Snehal Bhatkar with lyrics by Kidar Sharma. The film had the well-known title song "Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Hamari Yaad Aayegi" sung by Mubarak Begum. The film featured the director's son Ashok Sharma in the main role along with Tanuja, Anant Kumar, Madhavi, Sujata and Rajinder Dube. 

Hamari Yaad Aayegi was Tanuja's debut heroine-centric film as an adult. The film gave her recognition as a "spontaneous actor". However, the film did not do well at the box-office. (Courtesy : Wikipedia)

Merra Naam Chin Chin Chu

It is not uncommon to incorporate a dance sequence in the storyline of Indian cinema. 'Item songs' are the order of the day. But even in the movies of yesteryears Indian cinema, a song sequence was almost a must. A good number of ballroom, twist, etc. were filmed in films of those days. The very popular dancer Helen contributed a lot to the success of many a Hindi film. 'Merra naam chin chin chu' in the film Howah Bridge is an all time hit. Watch this video of this song.

The story behind this song goes like this :

Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu is a Hindustani song from the 1958 Indian film Howrah Bridge. It was sung by Geeta Dutt, and was picturised on Helen. The song was written by Qamar Jalalabadi^[1] and composed by O.P. Nayyar.

The title Mera Naam Chin Chinu Chu (Hindi: मेरा नाम चिन चिन चू, Urdu: میرا نام چِن چِن چو) means "My Name is Chin Chin Chu." In the movie, Helen plays "Chin Chin Chu", a flirtatious dancer from Shanghai who sings the song.

The tune at the beginning of the song was created by S Hazara Singh, the Hawaiian guitarist of OP Nayyar.

The song became highly popular, and rejuvenated the career of the singer Geeta Dutt. It was also the first major hit for Helen.

The name "Chin Chin Chu" is probably taken from Chu Chin Chow, a popular British musical comedy from 1916. In "Chu Chin Chow" the second song is actually entitled "My name is Chu Chin Chow". This is identical to the Indian film song name, with the exception of the first 'chu'. In Howrah Bridge the seductive Helen is playing the role of a girl who was Chinese. She also makes reference to Alaadin from the Arabian Nights which is the theme of the original `Chu Chin Chow`.

(source: Wikipedia)

Suryakantham - The legendary character actress of Telugu cinema.

ప్రధాన పాత్రధారుల ఫోటోలు లేకుండా, ఓ గయ్యాళి పాత్ర పోషించిన సూర్యకాంతం గారి ఫోటో మాత్రమే పొస్టర్ మీద వేసి విడుదల చేసిన ఇటువంటి తెలుగు సినిమా ఇంకోటి లేదేమో .. ! అంతేకాదు సినిమా title కూడా ఆ పాత్ర పేరుమీదే ఉంది. విడ్డూరం కాదూ..? అయితే దీని వెనుక కూడా ఓ కధ ఉందట. సినిమా పేరు నిర్ధారణ చెయ్యకుండా చిత్రీకరణ ప్రారంభించారట. అయితే నిర్మాత గారి శ్రీమతి గారు 'మీ గుండమ్మ కధ' ఎంతవరకూ వచ్చింది అని అడిగారట. నిర్మాత గారికి స్పార్క్ లా వెలిగి అదే పేరు స్థిరీకరించారు. The rest is history.

Suryakantham (My pencil drawing)

I pay rich tribute to Suryakantham, a well-known and unparalled character actor of Telugu cinema, on her death anniversary today.

Wikipedia writes about her as under :

Suryakantam (28 October 1924 – 18 December 1994) was an Indian actress in Tollywood. She was known for playing the role of cruel mother-in-laws.

Suryakantam was born at Venkata Krishnaraya Puram near Kakinada of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. She was the 14th child to her parents, ten of whose children had died. She learnt dance and singing at the age of six.

She married Peddibhotla Chalapati Rao, a High Court Judge, in 1950.

Suryakantam started as a dancer in Chandralekha, produced by the Gemini Studios, for which she had been paid Rs 75 in remuneration. She got her first role as character artiste in Narada Naradi, but eventually quit her job at Gemini Studios.

Later, she got a character artist role in the movie Gruhapravesam. She was offered the heroine's role in Soudamini, but did not accept it. She later was in a car accident, in which she received injuries to her face. She later played the role of a cruel mother-in-law in Samsaram.

Another "heroine" role was offered to her from a Bollywood film producer. Knowing that the producer had dropped a heroine from his movie on personal grounds, and that the same was given to her; Suryakantam rejected the offer, saying "I can't live on the unhappiness of other artists." She subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Kodarikam lifted her to lofty heights. The directors B. Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani would not do a movie without Suryakantam. They produced a movie Gundamma Katha, starring N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S.V. Ranga Rao, with Suryakantam playing the lead role of Gundamma. The film was commercially successful.

Prem Jogan - Bade Ghulam Ali Khan - Mughal-e-Azam

What a beautiful love scene it is from Mughal-e-Azam !! Thanks to the legend Naushad saab for getting this classic piece sung by the great Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. 

This Hindustani melody from the classic movie Mughal-e-Azam is a master piece of this great singer. He famously believed that if one child in every house had been taught Hindustani music, partition wouldn’t have happened.

Ye raat ye fizayen

What a beautiful duet from the film 'Batwara', a 1961 movie !! Music composed by S.Madan and the lyric was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The actors in the song are Jawahar Kaul and Zabeen. Watch the video and enjoy.

'Batwara' 1961 movie.

'Batwara' is a 1961 movie. Balraj Sahani, Pradeep Kumar, Niruparoy, Shashikala, Rehman are in the lead roles. The synopsis of this movie is not available. I very much like the song 'Ye raat ye fizayen, phir aaye na aaye' sung by Md, Rafi and Asha Bhosle. The song is written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The actors in this song are Zabeen and Jawahar Kaul. Music composed by S, Madan. The movie was  directed by Karunesh Thakur. 

Shailendra - Lyricist

My tribute to the legendary lyricist Shailendra on his dealth anniversary today.

Shankardas Kesarilal (30 August 1921 – 14 December 1967), popularly known by his pen name Shailendra, was a popular IndianHindi lyricist. Noted for his association with the filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the composers Shankar-Jaikishan, he wrote lyrics for several successful Hindi film songs in the 1950s and the 1960s.

Shailendra won the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award three times.

• 1958: "Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai" (Yahudi)
• 1959: "Sab Kuch Seekha Hamne" (Anari)
• 1968: "Main Gaoon Tum So Jao" (Brahmchari)  (Souce : Wikipedia)

Biswajit - Happy Birthday

I wish Biswajit, the celebrity actor, a very happy birthday. He acted in good number of hit films in Hindi such as April Fool, Mere Sanam, Ye Raat phit na Aayegi, Kismat, Bees Saal Baad, etc.

Raj Kapur - Pencil sketch

Remembering Raj Kapur, the doyen of Indian cinema on his birth anniversary (14th December). 

Dilip Kumar - Padma Vibhushan

I am happy at long last the country's greatest actor Dilip Kumar has been honoured with the nation's highest civilian award Padma Vubhushan. My heartest congratulations to him.

Happy Birthday to Rajanikanth - Digital art courtesy "Chandra Arts"

Shavukaru Janaki - Pencil Drawing

Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), popularly known as Sowcar Janaki, is a south-Indian actress who has acted in over 385 Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows and was a radio artist during her earlier years. Her career as film actress began after her marraige only. She became a popular actress with hits such as Shavukaru  (Telugu), Naan Kanda Sorgam, Kaviya Thalavian, Thayikku Thalaimagan, Panam Paadithavan, Puthiya Paravai(Tamil) and Iru Kodugal (Tamil). She worked with famous directors such as Dada Mirasee and K Balachandar. She served as jury member for the National Indian Films awards committee and as chair person for state Telugu Films awards committee.

www.telugu.telugodu.com వారు ఆమె గురించి ఇలా అంటున్నారు.

మూడు ప‌దుల వ‌య‌సుకే అంతా అయిపోయింద‌నుకుని ఆశ‌లు నీరుగార్చుకుంటున్న యువ‌త‌కు ఓ హీరోయిన్ బుద్ధి చెబుతోంది. అయితే ఆమె ఇప్ప‌టి హీరోయిన్ కాదు. నిన్న‌టి త‌రం హీరోయిన్ కూడా కాదు. మొన్న‌టి, ఇంకా చెప్పాలంటే మ‌రీ మొన్న‌టి త‌రం.. పాత త‌రం హీరోయిన్‌. ఆ హీరోయిన్ పేరు షావుకారు జాన‌కి. ఓ ప‌క్క ఇంటిని చ‌క్క‌దిద్దుకుంటూనే, త‌న‌కు న‌చ్చిన వంట‌ల్లో ప్ర‌యోగాలు చేస్తూనే, న‌ట‌న‌లో త‌న‌దైన శైలితో దూసుకుపోయింది షావుకారు జాన‌కి. ఇప్పుడు ఆమెకు 83ఏళ్ళు. ఆమె మ‌న‌వ‌రాలు సైతం న‌ట‌న‌కు గుడ్‌బై చెప్పి వెళ్లిపోయిన ఈ త‌రుణంలో ఆమె వ‌రుస సినిమాల‌ను అందిపుచ్చుకుంటోంది. హీరోయిన్ బామ్మ పాత్ర‌లో పెద్దింటి మ‌హిళ‌గా మెప్పించింది కంచెలో. లేటెస్ట్ గా సౌఖ్యంలో అయితే ఆమె గెట‌ప్‌కు మ‌రిన్ని పాజిటివ్ రివ్యూలు వ‌స్తున్నాయి. నెత్తిమీద హ్యాట్‌, హాట్ ష‌ర్ట్, షార్ట్, చేతిలో పింక్ లిప్ స్టిక్‌తో చూప‌రుల‌ను ఇట్టే ఆక‌ట్టుకుంటోంది ఆమె షాట్‌. గోపీచంద్‌, రెజీనా క‌న్నా షావుకారుజాన‌కిని ఆ గెట‌ప్‌లో చూడ‌టానికే ఆ మె ఆభిమానులు ఎక్కువ సార్లు టీజ‌ర్‌ను చూస్తున్నారు. సో ఇప్పుడు అంద‌రి క‌ళ్ళు ఆమె వైపే. 

Sharukh Khan and Dilip Kumar

The meeting of two icons of Indian cinema - Sharukh Khan and Dilip Kumar. A nice photo. Isn't it?

DILIP KUMAR - PENCIL SKETCH

Happy Birthday to Dilip Kumar, the icon of Indian cinema - my pencil sketch