After a long delay, I'm back with a podcast episode of my favorite Salman Khan songs from the 90s to 2010. I go extra gaga in this episode because I had a massive crush on Salman when I was 14, and yes, I still have residue from that crush remaining in my heart, especially after seeing his awesomeness in Dabangg this year.
Still, my fondest memories are of his early songs - so here's a trip down memory lane of my favorite Salman songs - right in time for his birthday today (December 27th, 2010). You can listen to the episode here:
Again, I'm still learning here so please be kind about technical/sound editing issues - I'm still working on these skills and mostly do this when my husband and toddler are sleeping. Also some of these songs are sort of difficult to find online and so the sound quality isn't always fabulous, so I apologize for that.
Again comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated, and particularly if anyone has a thought or comment that they'd like to share on-air for the next episode, I'd love to make this more interactive. You can submit questions/comments via email, on twitter or send me an mp3 of your voice.
I also made a playlist on YouTube of all of these songs, so you can check them out to see Salman in all his glory! The transformation over the years is quite remarkable!
Thanks for checking it out - and Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a wonderful New Year! See you all in 2011!
Today's Song of the Day is one my favorite romantic songs from the 90s - from the Rajkumar Santoshi hit film Ghayal (1990), which was produced by Dharmendra and starred Sunny Deol and Meenakshi Seshadhri. The film won a bunch of Filmfare Awards, including Best Director and Best Story Writer for Rajkumar Santoshi, Best Film for Dharmendra, and Best Actor for Sunny Deol. (source: Wikipedia)
I don't remember much of the soundtrack besides Sochna Kya which lifts its tune from the Lambada song, and Mahiya Teri Kasam, sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Pankaj Udhas.
This particular song was picturized on Sunny and Meenakshi and featured beautiful shots of misty landscapes, lots of walking and running between trees in the forest, and gratuitous close-ups of Meenakshi's gorgeousness. When I was younger I wasn't very fond of Sunny Deol ... I never liked his style, his looks or his stoic acting. Now as an adult, I have a new appreciation for him! His acting I've definitely developed a liking for - particularly in this film and in Damini (another great Rajkumar Santoshi-Meenakshi Sesadhri film). Looks matter much less for me as an adult -- I am more charmed by his shy demeanor. And in watching this song again as an adult, I find myself really moved by his romantic gazing into her eyes -- he's really quite good at looking like he's deeply in love with the object of his affection. It kind of made me fall for him a little bit!
This song is one of those intense love songs -- one that has that feeling of epic romance. I absolutely love it, and hope you will too!
It's time for another list! Because I've had qawwalis on the brain lately (or perhaps it was Rishi Kapoor who RE-stole my heart in Do Dooni Chaar?), I decided to immortalize my favorite Filmi Qawwalis on the blog!
Now first to define a Qawwali ... my quick take on it would be a traditional song performance traced back to Islamic and Sufi poets and artists. Originally devotional in nature and thought to have elements of Persian and Turkish music, the qawwali is thought to be a link to the divine through song. Some more detailed descriptions of the qawwali are available on Wikipedia and Chandrakantha's websites.
The Qawwali has been brought to the international scene due to the popularity of artists such as the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the Sabri Brothers, as well as it's prominence in Bollywood films!
The scene is a familiar one: An elaborate stage set with elegant curtains and several platforms, a variety of musical instruments including (but not limited to) a sarangi, harmonium and dholak/tabla, a chorus of background singers clapping dramatically in rhythm, and a dynamic main singer who opens the entire presentation with a beautiful vocal alaap (melody).
This scenario was very popular in early decades of Hindi cinema, but not so prevalent anymore (sadly). There are a few exceptions, but I for one would LOVE to see a resurgence of qawwali items in Bollywood! I miss them!
I'll go out on a limb and say that the obvious KING of the Filmi Qawwali is none other than my darling heartthrob Rishi Kapoor. His qawwalis were immensely popular in the late 70s and early 80s. He exuded so much charisma and passion when performing them that I highly doubt I was the only one besotted with him! For me, Filmi Qawwalis and Rishi Kapoor go hand-in-hand.
But there are plenty more fabulous numbers besides Rishi's - so I thought I'd share my personal favorites. Obviously I think there are PLENTY more than what I've got here ... I've missed many of the qawwalis from the 60s and 70s, and certainly from earlier decades, but I threw this list together from what I could remember and most of my favorites are from the era I was growing up - the 80s and 90s.
So here's my list of favorite Filmi Qawwali songs - what's your favorite?
Filmi Qawwali Playlist includes the following songs:
Parda Hai Parda - Amar Akbar Anthony (1979)
Hum Kisise Kam Nahin - Hum Kisise Kam Nahin (1977)
Pari Ho Aasmani Tum - Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981)
Aadhi Raat Ko - Parampara (1992)
Tumse Milke Dil Ka Hai - Main Hoon Na (2004)
Nahin Hona Tha - Pardes (1997)
Aaja Aaja Tu Aaja Aanewale - Rajkumar (1996)
Der Na Ho Jaye - Henna (1991)
Koi Jane Koi Na Jane - Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997)
Teri Jawani Badi Mast Mast Hai - Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya (1997)
Ae Mere Zohar Zabhi - Waqt (1965)
Aaya Tere Dar Par - Veer Zaara (2004)
Dulhe Ka Sehra - Dhadkan (2000)
Yaari Hai Imaan Mera - Zanjeer (1973)
Dekh Lo Ishq Ka - Charandas (1977)
Pal Do Pal Ka Saath - Burning Train (1980)
Jeena To Hai Isika - Adhikar (1971)
Teri Mehfil Mein Kismat - Mughal-E-Azam (1960)
Mehenge Mar Gayi - Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974)
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi - 5 Rifles (1974)
Tum Nahin Ya Hum Nahin - Karmayogi (1978)
Eid Ka Din Hai - Deedar-E-Yaar (1982)
Tumhe Husn Dekhe - Jab Se Tumhe Dekha (1963)
Haal Kya Hai Dillon Ko Na Poocho - Anohki Ada (1973)
Wallah Re Wallah - Tees Maar Khan (2010)
EDITED TO ADD: I discovered after I posted this whole thing that MemsaabStory has a wonderful, comprehensive post on her 10 favorite qawwalis that is far superior to mine - so I had to provide a link! Check it out!
I've had this song in my head for AGES, and was terribly frustrated because I had no idea what it was from or even who starred in it ... I don't think I ever saw the movie Prem Geet (1981), which starred Anita Raaj and Raj Babbar, and therefore had nothing to go on in finding the song. I didn't have the lyrics to go on ... when I was little I thought the words were "Oh Silver Penny" ... something my sisters found hilarious and sang constantly. But then I couldn't remember the beginning lines of "Tere Geeton Ki Mein Deewani, Oh Dilbar Jaani" which would have led me to this song.
This song kept popping into my head at random times and I knew it was going to bother me until I figured it out. Finally, I messaged my sister on Facebook with a plea to help me find the Dilbar Jaani/Silver Penny song, and I tell you, the woman is a genius. Or a Bollypedia. She immediately messaged me back that it was from Prem-something and starred Raj Babbar and Anita Raaj. A little googling and voila! Here it is in all it's glory! A genie-costumed Anita Raaj (lovely, ain't she?) writhing about (not easy, especially in silver lame hot pants), bellydancing backgroundies w/ tambourines, fancy sets, etc. And wow! Does that say "Introducing Anita Raaj"? I believe it does! Her debut! Very exciting. It's also sung by the fabulous Asha Bhosle, my favorite playback singer by far.
Another hint from the genius sister was that the music for this film was by Jagjit Singh (of Jagjit and Chitra fame, yes). Very cool - that led me to check out the other songs from Prem Geet and they are indeed lovely.
So now I finally know the REAL words to this song and what it's from! And since it's a Bolly song from my earliest memories, I had to share, of course ...
I've been watching Bollywood movies ever since my consciousness set in, which was roughly around 1981-ish. I have a lot of Bollystalgia and I just wanted to share it. I'm also a Bharata Natyam Dancer, a singer, an avid reader, and a Harry Potter freak. I wish that life had a soundtrack. You can also follow me on Twitter or check out my Tumblr account.
