Nadira Praying At Home

Here’s a great pic of Nadira praying at home:

I found this in the article, Baghdadi Jewish Women In India, which I found via the Web site Point of No Return, which also has a link to the article, Bollywood’s ‘bad girls’: Jewish actresses lit up screen in Indian cinema’s early years. I think I began this journey from some links at the blog 1947/1948.

Finally, A Watchable Version of the Spring Dance from Dupatta

I can’t believe it’s almost four years since I wrote up Dupatta. I am kind of proud of that review, as it contains a complete plot summary (which is a rare thing on this blog – especially these days), plus, some people have said it is a well written review. Additionally, it contains clips of a few magnificent songs as well as some screen caps that I took extra time to select and format.

Regarding the song clips, most of them are fairly watchable (relatively speaking), but the only clip that I could find of the charming song at the beginning, “Nach Jia Re” (with the lively spring dance that surrounds it) was in positively awful shape. But thank goodness Tom Daniel aka Tommydan333 (and other nos.) has finally “discovered” Noor Jehan (though clearly, as he admits himself, he could have discovered her a few years sooner if only he’d “listened” to me)… Because, he has decided to work with a few great Noor Jehan films, including Dupatta!

Of course, Tom has posted clips that are more clear than others that can be found out there and are logo-free, too. So, I might replace most or all of the clips in my writeup with Tom’s new versions (and hope that they don’t get stricken down). But with so many other things going on, I will have to decide how much to do and when. (I know, excuses, excuses…) In the meantime, I am certain I want to replace “Nach Jia Re.” Here is Tom’s new version, which will also go into my April 14, 20009 review.

Ten Favorite Zubaida Khanum Songs (and a great duet)

I found the Pakistani singer Zubaida Khanum by following some of my favorite stars of ’40s films from India. She did singing in quite a few Noor Jehan films, and she also did playback for Swaran Lata (of Ratan fame), Rehana, and the “Lara Lappa girl,” Meena Shorey.

I may have said in my last post that Zubaida Khanum was no match for Noor Jehan, but that’s not a fair contest. Zubaida was a fine singer in her own right.

For my list, I have included only solo songs, but as a bonus, I added a duet that I just found, a women’s qawwali led by Zubaida singing with Iqbal Bano. I also love the duet that I included in the last post, but we can call that a Noor Jehan song and let Zubaida shine here without being overshadowed.

Here’s to Zubaida Khanum!

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Bonus:

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P.S. I briefly posted this as a seven-song list, but that wasn’t enough, and the list wasn’t quite right. I came up with a better list after doing some research of old posts and comments. Comments from Mr. Jinx were especially helpful!

Songs from the Pakistani Choo Mantar, Starring Noor Jehan

I haven’t posted songs from the Pakistani Choo Mantar for a while, though I did post a couple in the past. So now, here are more… I suspect the Indian version of this film is better known, but I actually learned about the Pakistani version first (a few years back) because of Noor Jehan. And the music here is, of course, wonderful. Now our friend Tom has posted every Noor Jehan song in the film, and that gave me the chance to include all the ones that I’d left out so far…

I love this Sing Off! Noor Jehan and Zubaida Khanum (whom I have liked a lot for a few years – but who I have always known could not be a match for Noor Jehan).

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I had this one on a “Noor Jehan Evergreen Hits” compilation, and I have listened to it a lot on buses and subways… But I actually didn’t know – or had forgotten – that it is from this film too. I like the comments at the end, by the way: “What singing!” “Excellent.” I couldn’t agree more…

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This is beautiful too:

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And this:

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All such great singing, and great music, too (by Rafiq Ali). And by the way, I think Noor looks gorgeous here too.
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P.S. OK, I’ve changed my mind about something: I have decided that I will post the ones that I’d posted before (only this time using Tom’s new uploads): The “Heya Ho” song and the drag song. Here:

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A slightly belated happy birthday to Cuckoo

I can’t put together a big Cuckoo birthday post this week like the one that I did on February 4, 2011.  But for my tribute, here’s a nice video from the batch that Tom just put up from Mirza Sahiban (1947).  I’ve posted this one before (and, of course, I’ve posted every other song from this film, too, since it was the last Indian movie starring Noor Jehan), but this copy looks crisper and clearer than the other one(s), naturally…

See Kalpana (1948) for Free Online, and/or at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at the End of February

Many thanks to Minai for passing the word along.  Go to her blog to get more information about getting (to) this.  After viewing it once when I could not give it the attention that it fully deserved, I am going to have to watch it again or maybe a couple more times. Nonetheless, in a few places, it was very visually riveting for me.  This copy has no subtitles, so I couldn’t really follow the plot (unfortunately, I’ve forgotten much of the little Hindi that I learned last year and so I am going to have to relearn!).  However, much of the time, it seemed that the plot was beside the point.  Most of the movie is enjoyable for the great visual feast, with often elaborate, extremely imaginative and/or surreal sets, fantastic costumes, and lots and lots and lots of exciting dance.  And, of course, a very young Padmini. (I think I also recognized the debut of Usha Kiran.  But I’ll have to double-check; I don’t really know that actress as well, nor was I looking for her as much. But I have enjoyed her performances before – or, rather, after…)  Actually, I think as soon as I have a couple or few hours, I will look at it again.
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New Information: Doing some searching tonight, I found that it is scheduled to be shown at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at the end of February.  I might have to work evenings in February and I might have to move around the end of the month (if not sooner – though I am not sure where, but that’s another problem)…  Nonetheless, I might take the evening off and do whatever else I need to do in order to see this film on the screen, with subtitles and everything.

Happy Birthday, Suman Kalyanpur!

I found this out late in the day, probably through a YouTube poster who knew in advance…that today is (or yesterday was, depending on where you are) the birthday of Suman Kalyanpur (born January 28, 1937). Last night, I just happened to be watching one of my favorite songs by Suman Kalyanpur, because I was thinking about cats. Since I don’t have the time to put together an adequate list of songs by Suman Kalyanpur, I will let this one suffice – because it is also a birthday party song (though the party isn’t meant for a human, of course).

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P.S. There is a very good, comprehensive post about Suman Kalyanpur at Songs of Yore.

Five Great Song-and-Dance Scenes in the Jungle

I started out with closer to ten, but I decided to rule a scene out if it had more to do with a remote village (which might not really be in the jungle) or gypsies or dacoits. Not that these can’t be permitted, but the jungle had to be very much at the heart and soul of most of the scene.

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P.S. I was also looking for a certain Raj Kapoor song… But I couldn’t remember where it was, and it was taking too long to find it!

P.P.S. These days, I guess most of these characters would be referred to as Adavasis?

Sights and sounds of a glamorous Lalita Pawar from the 1930s

Thanks to the Shalin Bhatt for those videos. Lalita Pawar is one of my favorite actresses – as I know she is for a few other people out there – but, of course, we know her in somewhat different kinds of roles. But here is Lalita in her glamorous youth, years before the notorious slap that gave her a crooked eye… And it is so nice to hear her sing, too!

My Favorite Broken-Heart Song of All (from a favorite film from 1948)

Yes, I decided this is it…  I have posted it before, possibly more than once, but I am even more impressed now…  I think it helped that I have seen it with these subtitles (errors notwithstanding).  I find the lyrics wrenching (though I don’t know anything about the lyricist – Moti?)…  The voice is so beautiful too, but as we’ve said here before, it’s not someone known most for films; it’s Surinder Kaur!  Music by C. Ramchandra – one of his great early works…  And Kamini Kaushal is certainly stunning here.  (Plus, a nice glimpse of Dilip – in the only scene where, for some reason, he is dressed like Nehru.)

Altogether, well, as I said, I think it is the number one broken-heart song!

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P.S. And it doesn’t even have the phrase “dil toda” in it anywhere…  But so many songs do…  I am wondering if I should continue a numbered list of favorite broken-heart songs…  The problem is that I can’t find subtitles for some of the most beautiful songs, so I can’t really always compare lyrics.  And the pool to choose from would be kind of large…