Books on Indian film: Part 1 (or the lack of good books on indian cinema)

Introduction (and complaint)

A while back I had an assignment to write on Raj Kapoor and his films for a cinema class. And I very soon came to the conclusion that there isn't much out there for people that need serious info on Indian cinema or subjects strongly related to Indian film, such as studies on it's music, gender relations, religion, sociology, philosophy etc. These subject are important because a whole state of mind is unconsciously portrayed in mass and popular Indian cinema. For a film to be seen and accepted by the people of India of all castes, religions, ages and sexes means that the commercial cinema of India brings together universal indian and human values shared by all. It would not take long to figure out what these values are because they are expressed in cinema on the 1st degree. But what is more interesting is the cinema that speaks out, that is unclear and experimental. Cinema that is independent from the major studios and also challenges the mind. That is what usually attracts film scholars*, therefore writing books on cinema.

* I just want to mention that I think every film, even if they are big blockbusters, like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Dilwale Le Jayenge or Devdas could easily have many layers and underlined meanings and opinions, but I personally believe that there is not enough dept (compared to independent cinema) to attract film scholars to study the films in further detail.

But alas, it seems that not much serious work has been printed up to date (in English or French anyway). Many books claim to talk about Indian Cinema, but too many are voiceless and empty books pretending to be about Indian film. This makes it hard for me to learn correctly and traditionally about Indian cinema.

So this series of posts is dedicated to various books, good one's (the one's worth reading) and bad one's (the one's to avoid). I think that many authors took the opportunity to write about Bollywood or popular Indian cinema just to capitalise on the growing international phenomenon. So let's try and focus on the real books.

Book 1: Indian Film (1963)

One of the first and oldest books (in English) on this subject, is called Indian Film written in 1963 by Erik Barnouw and S. Krishnaswamy (son of film director, K. Subrahmanyam). My verdict? Basically, I loved this book. There is so much info cram packed about the Indian film industry in every page that you just can't stop reading it. It is so great!

The topics in the book include, History, Studios, Societies, Feuds, Specific Industries (Hindi, Tamil, Bengali), Actors, Industry Insiders and Workers, Producers, Music, Financial Structures (including black-money) and Censorship.

One chapter that I find interesting is called "Ordinary, Decent, Superdecent" (p.168) . It's a brief overview about women and there place in Indian cinema thought history. It starts with naming a few of the first screen stars of the of the silent era. Some examples are, Sita Devi (Renee Smith), Sulochana (Ruby Meyers) and Lalita Devi (Bonnie Bird). Most of which were Anglo Indians (no caste and outcasts by both Indian and English society) because not even Indian prostitutes would go into film. Later, in the 1930's, Durga Dhote and Devika Rani, changed the perception of women working in Indian cinema by being both of the Brahmin caste (high caste) and were accepted as film stars. But after the war, women were categorised and payed differently depending on five categories. The classes and there daily wages where, "Ordinary Girl" 5R, "Decent, class C"10R, "Decent, class B"15R, "Decent, class A" 20R and "Superdecent" 25R to 40R. Also, if you could dance that was a plus. Now (late 40's- early 50's and beyond), the film industry had women from all background appearing and working in Indian cinema.

Oh yeah, the next two chapters, "Pagents for our Peasants" (p.172) and "O Divine Tamil"(p.177) are great too, they are about the rise of Tamil cinema, and it's invasion on the Hindi film Industry during the late 50's, but you will have to read those on your own.

Pictures - First Edition, 1963 and Second edition, 1980

Upside

The book talks about a variety of symbols in Indian cinema and there historical, political, religious or social meanings. So foreigners, like me, can understand the films better.

The books is so rich because of the number and quality of interviews it used, like Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Shivaji Ganeshan, C. Ramchandra, Salil Choudhry, James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, Shashi Kapoor, K. A. Abbas, Mehboob Khan, Durga Dhote, Devika Rani... and more.

Downside (0r perks)

Even if it is not necessary to have a background in film studies, you could encounter problems or confusions while reading the book. It is very useful, when reading Indian Film, to have some good knowledge of the history of cinema and it's main figures in Hollywood and the world film industries a like.

One thing that it does not do, is analyse specific films in detail. It's not a book about certain people or specific films. So if that is what you are looking for, this is not the book for you. (It didn't help me for my essay on Raj Kapoor and his films.)

Since it is an older book, some facts might be outdated. Although it was republished in 2001-2002, I do not know if it was reedited and updated for the present times.

Stella_1's score: 4.5/5

Next is Bollywood: A History by Mihir Bose

Little problem

Hi everyone,

I know it's been a long time since I posted an album but I have one little problem, I don't have a record player. And basically for financial issues (primarily paying university) I can't really spend on things that aren't necessities. I will try and save up enough money to be able to start posting records in October. I am very very sorry for the wait.

But in the meantime here are some records I will be posting next (not in definite order)

*I don't have the exact scans or pictures of my records, so I just took some pics off the Internet.

Also, I will be posting about books on Bollywood, Indian cinema and Hindi film music.

Thanks

Winners of the P.S.M. Awards 2007-2008 !!!

First of all I would like to thank all the readers and people who submitted they're choice or choices for the P.S.M. Awards 2007-2008. I also appreciate everyone who took the time to to vote. Thank you very much!

Anyway, the 1st Parties, Sarees and Melodies Awards (2007-2008) results are in and here they are ...


1.First category (Top 10)


Top 10 Best albums (Lp) (there are 11 choices because Amrapali and Umrao-Jaan have the same number of votes.)

1. Yaadon Ki Baaraat
2. Teesri Manzil

3. Mughal-E-Azam
4. Chori Chori
5. Awaara
6. Baiju Bawra
7. Guide
8. Phagun
9. Bobby

10. Umrao-Jaan

11. Amrapali


Just to see if numbers reflect your choices as well, here are the...


Top 10 Most downloaded


1. Mughal-E-Azam
2. Awaara
3. Namak Halaal
4. Bobby
5. Chori Chori
6. Phagun
7. Bobby & MNJ (Instrumental)
8. Amrapali
9. Leader
10. Teesri Manzil


2. Second category (Top 5)

Best Album Cover (Lp)

1. Navrang

2. Jish Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai

3. The Train

4. Shree 420 (Pakistan)

5. Mughal-E-Azam



Best Playback Singer, Male

1. Mohd. Rafi
2. Kishore Kumar
3. Mukesh
4. Manna Dey
5. Tala Mahmood


Best Playback Singer, Female

1. Asha Bhosle
2. Lata Mangeshkar
3. Geeta Dutt
4. Shamshad Begum
5. Suman Kalyanpur


Best Song

1. Awaara - Dam Bhar Jo Udhan Munh Phere
2. Guide - Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai
3. Sadhna - Aaj Kyon Hamse Parda Hai
4. Baiju Bawra - O Duniya Ke Rakhwale
5. Umrao-Jaan - In Ankhon Ki Masti


Best Duet

1. Awaara - Dam Bhar Jo Udhan Munh Phere
2. Yaadon Ki Baaraat - Chura Liya
3. Chori Chori - Yeh Rat Begi Begi
4. Teesri Manzil - O Mere Sona re
5. Kismat -Kajra Mohabbat Wala


Best Lyricist


1. Shailendra
2. Shakeel Badayuni
3. Anand Bakshi
4. Neeraj
5. Naushad


Best Composer

1. Shankar Jaikishan
2. O. P. Nayyar
3. Naushad
4. N. Dutta
5. C. Ramchandra


Best Video of a Song


1. Awaara- Gara (Dream Sequence)



2. Teesri Manzil - O haseena




3. Chori Chori - Jahan Mein Jaati





4. Madhumati - Chadh Gayo Papi Bichhua



5. Yaadon Ki Baaraat - Lekar Hum Diwana Dil



6. Amrapali



7. Sadhna



8. Navrang - Are Ja Re Hat Nat Khat



9. Mughal-E-Azam - Yeh Dil Ki Lagi Kam Kya Hogi




10. Guide - Piya Tose Naina Laage Re

I iliminated the best blog category because the choices where either limited.

3. Third Category (1)

Bad Movie, Good Music: The Train

Good Movie, Good Music: Guide and Umrao-Jaan

Best 40's: Mahal

Best of the 50's: Awaara

Best of the 60's: Guide and Teesri Manzil

Best of the 70's: Yaadon Ki Baaraat

Bestof the 80's: Namak Halaal

Best Decade: 50's

Album you thougth you woud not like , but on suprisingly you did :Raja Saab and Boond Jo Band Gayi Moti

Worst Album: Pyaas

Worst Song : Qurbani in English - Let's do it, Let's do it, Let's do it

Song that makes you dance: Yaadon Ki Baaraat - Lekar hum dewana dil

Hindi you learned while listening to a song from P.S.M. : Hoy! Hoy!

Time to Vote !!!

Hilary or Obama? No, your political views about American presidental candidates can stay at home. I'm talking about YOU voting for the best of Parties, Sarees and Melodies of 2007-2008.

It's been a year already and I want to start a tradition of making a top 10 list of the best of Parties Sarees and Melodies.

For the 1st Parties, Sarees and Melodies Awards (2007-2008) the most important poll is Best album (Lp), you can find it on the right side of the blog. If you like more then one album, you can vote for many at a time. (But you can vote only once)

1. Category one is for the poll (Best Album). Vote for 1 to 10 albums.

For the second categories only vote for Top 5

2. And the secondary categories are:

Best Album Cover (Lp)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Choices are the same as best album. See the Covers on flickr, here.

Best Playback Singer, Male

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

See available choices on the right side of blog (Tags, singer: playback singer's name)

Best Playback Singer, Female
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

See available choices on the right side of blog (Tags, singer: playback singer's name)

Best Song
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Any song from an album (Lp or Ep) on Parties, Sarees and Melodies.

Best Duet
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Any song from an album (Lp or Ep) on Parties, Sarees and Melodies.

Best Lyricist
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

For this year, choices are: Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Majrooh, Anand Bakshi, Vithal Bhai Patel, Shakeel Badayuni, Shahryar, Barat Vyas, Prakash Mehra, Anjaan, Jalal Malihabadi, Ramesh Shastri, Qamar Jalalabadi, Neeraj, Vijay Anand, Naushad, Kulwant Jani, Naqsh Lyallpuri, Shiv Kumar Saroj, Sahir, Bashir Sheikh, J. Nakshab, Kidar Sharma, Noor Dewasi, S. H. Bihari and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.

Best Composer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

This year, choices are: Bappi Lahiri, C. Ramchandra, Kalyanji Anandji, Khaiyyam, Khemchand Prakash, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, N. Dutta, O. P. Nayyar, Naushad, R. D. Burman, Roshan, S. D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Satish Bathia and Shankar Jaikishan.

Best Video of a Song
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Choices must come from a song on an album for Parties, Sarees and Melodies

Best Indian Music Blog
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Can be any website or blog!

3. Third Category is for single answers (1 answer)

They are:

Bad Movie, Good Music
1.

Good Movie, Good Music
1.

The Album you where expecting not to like, but once you listened to it you actually loved it!
1.

Best 4o's album
1.

Choices: Mahal, Barsaat, Andaz

Best 50's album
1.

Choices: Bawre Nain, Ujala, Sadhna, Babul, Phagun, Awaara, Navrang, Amar, Madhosh, Chori Chori, Baiju Bawra, Shree 420, Madhumati.


Best 60's album
1.

Choices: Aashiq, Kismat, Raja Saab, Ram aur Shyam, Boond Jo Band Gayi Moti, April Fool, Jis Desh Men Ganga Bethi Hai, Amrapali, Leader, Kohinoor, Teesri Manzil, Guide, Mughal-E-Azam.

Best 70's album
1.

Choices: Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Chhupa Rustam, The Train, Humjoli, Bobby, Bobby Instumental.

Best 80's album
1.

Choices: Qurbani in English, Pyaas, Namak Halaal, Umrao-Jaan

The best decade (40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's)
1.

Worst Album
1.

Worst Song
1.

Track that makes you dance!
1.

Hindi word, words or phrase you learned listening to a song on Parties, Sarees and Melodies.
1.

****Special***

Favorite Indian Album (Included or not included on Parties Sarees and Melodies) add a picture + 20 words or more on why you love that album so much.
1.

Please email me a picture of you and the album or just the album if you are shy. (If you are shy an other option is to try sleeveface, see how to sleeveface, here) The pictures will be on the blog, so If you don't want to be seen just try the two options that a suggested earlier. Thanks

You are finished! Thank you very much!

To vote just copy and paste the categories 2 and 3. Then fill out the spaces. Then submit your answers before August 15th 2008.

I will also be announcing the results of the votes and the top 10 most downloaded albums as well I will be giving out awards for the top 5 best Indian music blogs.

Important

*All choices must be from Awaara to Yaadon Ki Baaraat. (All other answers will not be counted, except for the special question)

*The voting starts now and ends on the 15th of August 2008 at 12pm

* Don't forget to vote for best album (poll on the right of blog).

* Email (Redhead344@hotmail.com) or leave you answers on the blog to vote for the other categories. (2 and 3) and email me your Picture !


Any comments and suggestions are welcome!

Rahul Dev Burman: Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973)

Yaadon Ki Baaraat is one of my favorite soundtracks, almost all the songs are great on there own as well as in a whole. Burman creates music for the youth of India, fresh, western and wacky, just the right stuff to get the conservative parents angry. It's not serious music but it's good music.


The plot of the movie centers around three brothers who's parents were killed mainly because their father was a painter who could paint and identify the face of a thief who robed a bank. (As tough being a blond bearded and haired Indian man isn't enough for the police to identify him.)

Anyway, the first song is before all the killing. The perfect little family sings the title song ''Yaadon Ki Baaraat''. If you watch the clip, how could a beautiful girl like that end up with a man like that, (Besides the fact that he has that artist-musician- guy with cool glasses thing going on) it must have been an arranged marriage. Also interesting is that in the clip the youngest boy is played by a little Aamir Khan. And an other plus is that the children singing playback are Padmini Kolhapure and her sister.

The very popular ''Chura Liya Hai Tum Ne'' is actually inspired by the Title Track for the 1969 film, If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium. The Burman track has some of the best Asha vocals.

''Lekar Hum Diwana Dil'' has to be my favorite. It's pure fun. This song with funky music and great vocals made Neetu Singh a star.

The youngest brother, Ratan aka Mondo sings ''Aap Ke Kamre Men'' which is a medley of songs split between a few Hinglish phrases (Come on, sing baby!) My favorite part of the song is when they start singing ''hare ha ha'' with a musical interlude including the finale "Dum Maro Dum" from Zeenat Aman and R. D. Burman's earlier hit Hare Rama Hare Krishna(1971)

You also have the second version of ''Yaadon Ki Baaraat'' when the brothers reunite. Ah! They can once again be a family.

The song ''O Meri Soni'' is the one I like the least, but it still has it's charm especially in the instrumental parts.

And remember, never trust a man with different shoe sizes, especially size 8 and 9. He is probably the one that killed your parents when you when young. Even if you're not a orphan just watch out! Oh, ya, and you never know who could be on the other side of sliding walls, so beware.

Music from the Third Floor also reviewed this album,Yaadon Ki Baaraat , take a look at what he thinks.

Telugu remake "Annadammula Anubandham", made in 1975. Here are some videos:

Churaliya-Telugu

Lekar Hum-Telugu

Yaadon Ki Baaraat-Telugu

Tracks:


Side 1
1. Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar: Lekar Hum Diwana Dil
2. Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar & R. D. Burman: Aap Ke Kamre Men


Side 2
3. Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar: O Meri Soni
4. Lata Mangeshkar, Padmini, Shivangi & Chorus: Yaadon Ki Baaraat
5. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Chura Liya Hai Tum Ne
6. Kishore Kumar & Mohd. Rafi: Yaadon Ki Baaraat



Lyrics: Majrooh


Stella_1's score: 4/5


Get the music now: R. D. Burman Yaadon Ki Baaraat

Madan Mohan: Madhosh (1951/1982)

Madan Mohan's Madhosh really surprised me. The cover seemed so dull, so I didn't listen to it entirely until a few weeks ago when I just let it play. Wow, it really is good. But most of all, it's different. The only other music of Mohan's that I have heard and loved is the soundtrack to Veer-Zaara (2004) which took old songs of his and updated them for modern viewers.

The most popular and what has to be my favorite song of Madhosh is the only male track ''Meri Yaad Men Tum Na Aansoo Bahana'' sung by the great Talat Mahmood.

I enjoy all the tracks except for the last two which I find plain and unnecessary (depending on the context the tracks are probably necessary for narrative structure of the movie, but since I haven't seen it, so when I say unnecessary it means too the record as a musical whole).

Anyway, the first track ''Hamen Ho Gaya Tumse'' is very nice. It is a song that is at the time modern but still has a very prominent 40's sound. The slithering and sinister clarinet mixed with Lata's vocals make it delightful to listen to.

Also enjoyable are the Dil Dhak Dhak-1 and 2. They are a mix of tribal back vocals and sweet principles voices. The contrast is greater for Dil Dhak Dhak-2 when Lata Mangeshkar is the main singer. The instuments also clash with a mix on indian and western instuments. At the end, during the solo instumental part of Dil Dhak Dhak-2, it reminds me of the title music from Detective by Mukul Roy (Geeta Dutt's brother). Link to Music from the third floor's review and music.



Two lovely songs are ''Meri Dil Ki Nagariya Men'' and ''Chhode Mujhe Na Ja''. They are both calm and melancholic, I especially like the echo effect in the second one.



''Pagadi Pahenke Turredar'' is ok, but you know me I love Shamshad so much, but sadly I was disappointed. Mohan did not use her to her full potential.




Just to point out, the record has some of the best playback singers like Shamshad, Mahmood and also Lata (at her prime in the 50's, I think anyway). But for the third track ''Dil Dhak Dhak-1''I have one question, who is this Miss Chand? I haven't heard of her before and I can't find any info. If anyone knows about this fine singer, let me know.



Tell me what you think!



Tracks:


Side 1

1. Lata Mangeshkar: Hamen Ho Gaya Tumse
2. Talat Mahmood: Meri Yaad Men Tum Na Aansoo Bahana
3. Miss Chand & Chorus: Dil Dhak Dhak-1
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Dil Dhak Dhak-2



Side 2

5. Lata Mangeshkar: Meri Dil Ki Nagariya Men
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Chhod Mujhe Na Ja
7. Shamshad Begum & Chorus: Pagadi Pahenke Turredar
8. Lata Mangeshkar: Meri Ankhon Ki Neend Legay
9. Lata Mangeshkar: Jab Aanewale Aate Hain



Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan



Stella_1's score: 4/5



Get the music now: Madan Mohan Madhosh

Weird Labels! Help!

Ok, I tried to find out more about these records, like where were they made? When they were made? But I can't find any information. I am almost 100% sure that these are copies.



1.Carolina

This could be a copy, but the label, Carolina, is from a Tamil film, so it could be a south indian label.

2. Penguin

The hole in the middle of the record is slightly smaller than usual. I also know that the record that has that label is available on Angel records, so this is a copy, but from where?

3. ? Record

And the last label is from Malaysia, it is on Hindi and Tamil records. But I don't know when they where made?

If anyone has any info, or if someone has a record with one of these labels on it please feel free to leave a comment! Thanks!