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Showing posts from August, 2021

265. Italian film director Uberto Pasolini’s third feature film “Nowhere Special” (2020) in English, based on his original script: The rare intent and ability to care for the future needs of others when you can do so

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    “I wanted to make a film with this title for a long time. The title is from a dialogue at the end of Mel Brooks' film   Blazing Saddles ; one character asks the other, "Where are you going to go ? " and the other replies," Nowhere special ", and the first person replies,  "I always wanted to go there."  The idea behind this choice is that there is no perfection, that you just have to live, find a place where it is good to live, simply.” ---Director Uberto Pasolini, speaking  on how he chose the title of this film for his own fictional script, written after he read a newspaper story on a similar adoption, with the adoption agency refusing to divulge details of that case to him, due to confidentiality clauses (a rough translation of his interview given to Malik Berkati at the Zurich film festival, quoted in J:Ma. Lifestyle and Citizenship)  F ilm director Uberto Pasolini makes small budget films with great care and thought that d...

The Film Songs that Incited the Spirit of Nationalism Pre Independance

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  Songs have always played an undisputed role in inciting the spirit of nationalism in the hearts of millions of people.  Many patriotic songs, written by literary stalwarts like Tagore or Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Hindi Films also played a role in uniting the people.  Kavi Pradeep was the first songwriter to write patriotic songs for Bollywood. His song '  Chal Chal Re Naujawan" , for the 1940 film Bandhan, made waves since the  Indian freedom movement  was at a crucial juncture. Kavi Pradeep wrote a song for the film Kismet during the Quit India movement. “Door Hato” was quite literally a demand for the British to quit India. To avoid objections by the censor board, Pradeep used the line “Tum Na Kise Ke Aage Jhukna German Ho Ya Japan” to make it appear that the song was against the Axis powers of World War II.   You would be surprised to find our National Anthem Jana Gana Man which was used before independence in a film called 'Hamrah...

Tasvir Teri Dil Mein- The song that sowed the seed of differences between Lata and Rafi

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  It is well-known fact that Rafi and Lata stopped singing together for three or four years. The reason for their tiff was for  charging the royalty fee by the singers. Lata  wanted Rafi to back her in demanding a half-share from the five percent song royalty that the film’s producer conceded to select composers. Rafi was not in favor of that.Lata stopped talking to Rafi and stopped singing duets with Rafi.  The actual seeds of differences between them started while recording this romantic song from Maya(1961). The song was a hit and still a favorite of many. Lata rejected the original start of the song, She wanted to start with 5th scale while Rafi was not in agreement but Lata insisted, the composer Salil Chowdhary agreed. When the recording started Rafi made the last improvisation to his lines. Lata noticed it and got upset.   W hile rendering her lines Lata’s voice tended to sound shrill especially while rendering “…NAINON KA KAJRA…,” while Rafi Sahaab’...

Mein or Mera Songs- The songs used to establish one's character (Part 2)

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                                                                                   Part 2 Continuing from my earlier post, in this part, I have selected 15 very popular ' Mein or Mera' or 'Hum aur Hamara' songs of the 1960s. The first song on my list is 'Mera Naam Raju Gharana Anaam' from the 1960 film ' Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behati Hai'(1960), sung by Mukesh for Raj Kapoor.  The song is sung by Mukesh and it is picturized on Raj Kapoor as a boat song. The song is an introduction song where Raj Kapoor, carrying a “Dafli” introduces himself by singing this song.  This film has two more songs ' Ho Maine Pyar Kiya ' and 'Hum Bhi Hain Tum Bhi Ho' in this theme.  Audio Song of Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behati Hai(1960) Mein Hoon Jhoom Jhom Jhumroo Song of Jhumroo 1961 Main zinda...

SHAKEEL BADAYUNI- Lo Aa Gai Unki Yaad

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  He was a great lyricist of the Golden Era of Bollywood. That was the time when most of the poets were writing  about the downtrodden sections of society, their upliftment, the betterment of society, and depressive songs. But Shakeel had an altogether different taste – his poetry was romantic and close to the heart. in his first film, he wrote the song  Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon . sung by Uma Devi(TunTun), became immortal, In the 1949 film Dulari, he wrote ' Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki'.He was the lyricist of many immortal songs ' Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya ' , ' Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho  Ya Aftab Ho',  Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin' (Gharana),   'Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil' (Bees Saal Baad), or 'Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat Ki Kasam'   Shakeel shared a close friendship with Naushad,  he and Naushad became one of the most sought-after composer/lyricist duos in the industry.   Among the scores they churned out together, are those of  Deedar  (1951),...