'Somewhere our society's collective morality is lost. There's a kind of moral confusion in our society which reflects in our films.' 'Filmmakers are hiding behind romance, ghost stories, murder mysteries and sex. No film is looking at social issues.'
S D Burman is that unique composer who remained successful right up to his death with his creative engines never running on empty.
Sukanya Verma remembers the Boss in 30 of his underrated, overlooked gems in Hindi film music.
Can anyone forget S D Burman's classic songs in Devdas, Sujata and Bandini?
Manoj Kumar's musical imprints are as deep as his cinematic ones.
'I played five different versions of Woh Subah Kabhie Toh Aayegi for Raj Kapoor, only to be greeted with a totally blank reaction.' 'Thereafter, for 40 minutes, he disappeared, leaving us baffled.' 'But when he emerged, he couldn't stop appreciating our efforts!' 'He said Sahir Ludhianvi's writing was sheer poetry and since all my five tunes were equally wonderful, he would leave it to my discretion to chose the final tune.' 'What could be greater appreciation for an artiste?'
Re-watching 1967's Jewel Thief evokes the joy of cinema, with its perfect blend of thrill, suspense, romance and music. A film like that can never be remade or be tampered with in any way, observes Deepa Gahlot.
'He had wanted to present me in the likes of the heroines of the 60s whose churidar-kurta look with winged eyeliner and bouffant had captivated fashionistas at the time.'
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.
Celebrating Aamir Khan and his 55 popular songs on his 55th birthday
'Bappi Lahiri was looking for a break so he and his father would meet me.' 'I told Director Bhisham Kohli about this promising young boy from Kolkata, and Bappi came over with his harmonium.' 'Bappi played this composition and Bhisham liked it immediately.' 'As we were discussing, I said I would give the words, and that's how I wrote this song.'
Sukanya Verma lists Chintu's memorable songs.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has floored an audience that included her Pakistani counterpart, senior ministers and parliamentarians by delivering a speech in flawless Urdu laced with couplets from Firaq Gorkhpuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
The show's called Classic Legends and will premiere at 7.30 on December 11 on Zee Classic.
Sukanya Verma presents a playlist of 100 Lata Mangeshkar songs from different decades of Hindi films -- songs that make me sing, smile, sob and sigh.
We celebrate Kishore Kumar's 90th birth anniversary on August 4 with Amit Kumar's 10 favourite Kishore Kumar songs.
'Naseer does not have the sense of humour that Om Puri has. 'Also Om has a great deal of compassion as a human being. Naseer was too focused on his own self.' A fascinating excerpt from Sangeeta Datta's book, Shyam Benegal.
'Aamir Khan and Salman Khan were already very busy. Then, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor started signing more films, Paresh Rawalji also got busy... 'Rajkumar Santoshiji got offered Damini he was very excited about it. He told dad that since her dates were available, let me do this film quickly. But aisa hota toh nahin. That film also took time. 'So sabke dates ka problem ho gaya, including the director's.'
Sukanya Verma salutes most beloved Rishi Kapoor melodies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of practicing appeasement politics, saying the party's priority was "family first." He asserted that the BJP-led government operates on the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (development for all) and prioritizes "nation first." Modi further criticized the Congress's approach to reservations, claiming it was aimed at creating divisions within the country. He highlighted the BJP's initiatives to empower marginalized communities, including the constitutional status to the OBC commission and the introduction of 10% reservation for economically backward groups.
Sukanya Verma lists 25 unforgettable Dilip Kumar melodies to love and listen to.
S P Balasubrahmanyam sang songs about life and loss with enough soul to break your heart, notes Sukanya Verma.
Sukanya Verma lists many more Rishi Kapoor chartbusters.
I was being slowly poisoned' 'I was bed-ridden for three months and was so weak.'
Sukanya Verma remembers some of his greatest solo numbers in our fondly curated playlist.
'A struggling actor once came to me and told me there's no work.' 'I said when there's no work, that's when you have a lot of work.' 'He said he didn't understand.' 'I explained that you have to keep reading, watching, writing, traveling.' 'It is like riyaaz for an actor.'
Film music flourished in the 1970s. Some old masters did some great work, but it was also the decade of new composers.
As India successfully lands Chandrayaan-3, does the moon look as beautiful as one's beloved or has the Chanda Mama of folk ditties acquired a whole new meaning?
A peek into the Big B's life.
All seems to be well with All Is Well. The film has taken its own time to reach the finishing line but fortunately for it, the music is doing some good talking, says Aelina Kapoor.
On his 90th birthday, Sukanya Verma highlights a fraction of the legend's marvelous versatility in this curated list of his 25 unique moods.
Meena Kumari's classic film released 50 years ago, on February 4, 1972.
Javed Akhtar is among the millions who believe that Lata Mangeshkar's voice is therapeutic.
In these pandemic stricken, music bereft times, what can be more joyous than a playlist of golden melodies?
Gems you can enjoy from the time he was at his handsome and magnetic best.
Among Hindi cinema's leading men of the last century, Sunil Dutt, who passed away 16 years ago on May 25, did not hesitate in doing women-oriented films which addressed the issues of their upliftment, empowerment and equality.
As he turns 70 on January 17, we present a glimpse into his world.
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