'Panchamda created an exclusive theme music for Gabbar Singh, which is used throughout the film every time the dacoit makes an appearance, and in both concept and sound, is so eerie and evil.'
Rahul Dev Burman's collaboration with Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar was unique, but he saved his best for Lata Mangeshkar.
It is erroneously believed that Asha Bhosle sang Rahul Dev Burman's best songs. In fact, RD, like his father Sachin Dev Burman, was besotted by Lata Mangeshkar's voice and his career's finest songs were reserved only for her.
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.
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.
None of R D Burman's collaborations was as rewarding and resplendent as with Gulzar, who turns 89 today, August 18, 2023, says Subhash K Jha.
'It is wrong to say he turned director to create starring opportunities for himself. He was happy with what he had.'
S D Burman is that unique composer who remained successful right up to his death with his creative engines never running on empty.
In half a century, actors have aged or passed away, the shape of the city has altered, the film industry has changed beyond recognition, most single screens have made way for multiplexes, audiences tastes have changed, rural life is very different now, and inflation has devalued the rupee. But a great film is forever. Deepa Gahlot salutes Sholay, as it re-releases in theatres.
The late R D Burman has inspired music, musicians and movie titles. On his 75th birth anniversary on June 27, we celebrate the legend all over again.
Dr Mukesh Hariawala recounts his experience with the super-talented R D Burman when he performed an Open Heart Bypass Surgery many years ago.
Can anyone forget S D Burman's classic songs in Devdas, Sujata and Bandini?
S D Burman enjoyed a productive partnership with Dev Anand's production house Navketan for two decades, but their collaboration reached its apogee with Guide.
Singers and composers hum their favourite Burman tunes, and talk about the legendary composer.
On the iconic music composer's 19th death anniversary, musician Leslie Lewis recounts his R D Burman memories.
What if Sholay were produced now, in our technologically advanced era, with AI vying for our attention?, asks Atanu Biswas.
'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.'
'I make films which I think have the possibility of being liked by a majority of people, and you present it with the right emotions.'
'Editor M S Shinde deserves full credit because, I'm told, Ramesh Sippy had shot 300,000 feet of footage, which was brought down to 18,000. 'He died in 2012, in a 126 square foot flat in Dharavi, penniless, a forgotten hero.'
'The way the anticipation is built up for Gabbar Singh's introduction scene with sound, image and details of his personality, like the combat boots he wears.' 'The camera comes so close -- not a tele lens shot, but a wide-angle close-up -- that you can almost smell Gabbar's breath.'
'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.'
'I wouldn't change a single shot even if I could, the film is just perfect even with a supposedly flawed script!' Celebrating Sholay's 50th anniversary on August 15 with a special series, where contemporary film folk analyse the cult classic.
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.
'Session musicians, background singers, and studio instrumentalists fill out the sound of India's biggest hits. But their names rarely show up on screen.' 'Their royalties never arrive. And their contribution, no matter how iconic, vanishes once the track is mastered.'
Pancham, like his father, was besotted by Lata Mangeshkar's voice and his career's finest songs were reserved only for her.
Mehmood and R D Burman shiver, wail and flail when they encounter a stuffed tiger that wags its tail, furniture that moves on its own volition and dancing skeletons and mummies. Dinesh Raheja revisits a must-watch.
'Everybody was scared, especially with Rajesh Khanna playing a double role and playing my lover and my son.' 'It was quite a risky thing to do. That's why they made me look so old.'
'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.'
'We were asked to add a dialogue where the politician says she admires Mrs Gandhi.'
'She is the gorgeous Lata, the love of my life.'
This is no straight-forward sob story, observes Mayur Sanap.
Srabanti Chakrabarti pays homage to Manohari Singh, one of Indian film music's true unsung heroes.
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.
'Pancham told me once, "It's very difficult to be taken seriously when there are stalwarts like Shankar-Jaikishan, S D Burman, Madan Mohan and Naushad... How do I make my mark?"' Amit Kumar salutes R D Burman on his 30th death anniversary on January 4.
'Rekha and my wife were close friends, and my so-called cold war with Rekha was causing difficulties in my wife's friendship with her.' 'She patched us up for her own selfish reason.'
On the iconic musician's 19th death anniversary, Sukanya Verma shares her 30 favourite RD compositions.
Regaling fans since decades with her brand of charm and charisma, Bollywood's eternal diva has channelled lot of these attributes in her chartbuster songs.
When mainstream Hindi cinema is preoccupied with romance, comedy, horror and action, stories about sisters and brothers are very rare. Vasan Bala has made a first-of-its-kind film where the leads play sister and brother, notes Aseem Chhabra.
Subhash K Jha doffs his hat to the musical genius R D Burman on his 30th death anniversary on January 4.
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