Music director duos are a unique Bollywood feature, and many have become iconic. In this special series, Dinesh Raheja explores prominent music duos, and their dynamics.
On Kalyanji's birth anniversary on June 30, Subhash K Jha picks the 10 chartbusters from Kalyanji-Anandji's successful career.
Playback singer Suman Kalyanpur, whose voice often drew comparisons to Lata Mangeshkar, passed away at 89, leaving behind a legacy of popular Bollywood songs from the 1960s and 70s.
From sultry cabaret numbers to soul-stirring ghazals, Asha Bhosle crafted a sonic universe where boldness met beauty and mischief mingled with melancholy. Her voice didn't just soundtrack cinema, it liberated expression, challenged norms and gave generations permission to feel, flirt, ache and celebrate without restraint. Sukanya Verma salutes the legend.
The duo converted musical notes into bank notes with a steady spate of 1990s musicals such as Aashiqui, Saajan, Dil Hain Ke Manta Nahin, Raja Hindustani and Pardes.
Jatin-Lalit's music score for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge is one of the best-selling soundtracks of all times and their Pehla Nasha is a song for the ages.
Much, much, much before Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani fussed over What Jhumka, Asha Bhosle trilled in her alluring voice and teased us with tantalising details about the events leading to her precious Jhumka's loss.
Sukanya Verma raises a toast to the amazing Alka Yagnik's solo song supremacy.
Bappi Lahiri realised disco was a winning ticket and escalated his game with several more dancefloor perennials. Soon, every film producer and music director in town was down with disco fever. On what would have been Bappi Lahiri's 73rd birthday this November 27, Dinesh Raheja rewinds to the late music composer's halcyon days.
In this special series, Dinesh Raheja explores prominent music duos, and the dynamics that went into the making, and the unmaking.
Singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit, 71, passed into the ages on November 6 after a prolonged illness. Besides her acting roles, she leaves behind some beautiful songs to remember her by.
Manoj Kumar's musical imprints are as deep as his cinematic ones.
'I have heard big stars, who are a part of Gen Z, demand not only food of their choice but also insist on taking food home for their family. And I am talking about stars who charge anything from Rs 40 crore to Rs 100 crore.'
Dinesh Raheja celebrates Lata's 96th birth anniversary on September 28 by picking some choice examples of her non-typical songs that are tinged with a rare eroticism.
'Some time back, music was just noise.' 'Producers wrongly think item songs sell better.' 'Audiences are intelligent, they accept whatever you give, but that doesn't mean you can fool them.'
'Don was declared a flop because not many people turned up.' 'Luckily, Khaike Paan Banaraswala became a big hit.' 'Word of mouth publicity led to the film becoming a big hit from the second week on.'
Because of Mukesh's much-hailed association with Raj Kapoor, it is often overlooked that the singer has also scored hits with almost all major heroes. On Mukesh's 102nd birth anniversary on July 22, Dinesh Raheja recalls some of his classic songs.
'I just took the Almighty's name and plunged into it.'
You know the celebrated Raksha Bandhan songs. Subhash K Jha lists the ones you don't.
Sukanya Verma remembers some of his greatest solo numbers in our fondly curated playlist.
Zeenat Aman had scored more hit songs than any of her contemporaries. This can be attributed partly to happenstance and partly to the fact that her forte for high glamour could be showcased most winningly in a crowd-pleasing number, observes Dinesh Raheja.
Subhash K Jha celebrates the Ram Mandir pran pratishtha ceremony by picking some memorable Ram bhajans from movies you may not have heard of.
Mumbai's historic tryst with the Lord of Wisdom began at the Keshavji Naik Chawl in 1893.
'Everybody goes through tumultuous times. I've been lucky and my journey has been excellent.' 'I can't complain because I've had everything and God has been kind.'
Mukesh was most emotionally bonded to this tune, so all we will do is look at his songs engaging with this raag in films. In his fascinating book, Windows To The Soul: And Other Essays on Music, Manek Premchand reveals something we don't much know about the legendary singer, who was born 100 years ago on July 22.
Forty four years after Mohammed Rafi's untimely demise on July 31, 1980, at the young age of 55, the singer's work continues to enjoy a musical afterlife on radio, television and modern streaming channels.
Many believe Kishore Kumar serenaded the ladies better than any other iconic playback singer.
Do yourself a favour and let's NOT play Holi to the same handful of Holi songs each year. There's so much more than Holi Ke Din Dil Khil Jaate Hain (Sholay) or Rang Barse (Silsila)!
On his 90th birthday, Sukanya Verma highlights a fraction of the legend's marvelous versatility in this curated list of his 25 unique moods.
Hema Malini, who will turn 72 on Friday, has recorded two songs for Durga Puja.
The song will be choreographed by Bosco, to Kalyanji-Anandji's chartbuster song Laila Oh Laila from Feroz Khan's Qurbani.
In an interim stay till June 2, Justice Nadira Patherya on Friday restrained producer Sajid Nadiadwala from the cinematic use of the Kalyanji-Anandji number in the new film, where it has been remixed with another song Dhanno.
This partnership will allow users to choose from a wide variety of music to add to their social experiences such as videos, stories via music stickers and other creative content.
'But some like Rakesh leave an imprint that is hard to remove or forget...'
In these pandemic stricken, music bereft times, what can be more joyous than a playlist of 25 golden melodies? Sukanya Verma curates one for you.
Subhash K Jha picks songs to celebrate Maha Shiv Ratri.
Sukanya Verma makes a playlist of 15 profound Rajesh Khanna ditties.
Javed Akhtar is among the millions who believe that Lata Mangeshkar's voice is therapeutic.
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