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Published: 22 February 2023

Last Updated: 22 February 2023

I might have seen her earlier but she floored me with her dance on the ship in Lutera, O Dilwalo Saaz-e-Dil Pe Jhoom Lo Gaa Lo'. I think I saw the film three times just for that dance and umpteen times when the video became available.

I was very happy to be friends with her on Facebook, we exchanged messages. I tried very hard to persuade her to let me write her biography, she did not agree.

You may recall a project with Narsingh D Agnish and Edwina where he captured thousands of screenshots of Edwina's co-dancers, she helped identify more than hundred of them and all three of us wrote a book together.

A similar project was started with all the songs of Bela Bose, Narsingh had captured about 3,000 images, and I had selected about 700. I had requested Bela Bose to help us identify the unknowns. She had agreed.

I was extremely shocked when I found out that she left us so suddenly. Still not recovered from it, but life goes on.

On a not so sad note, Edwina has agreed to help with this project also. I have also been in touch with Madhumati Deepak, trying to persuade her to let me write her biography. I am hoping that she will at least help us identify these poor co-dancers, even their names are unknown.

At the premiere of Chitralekha, photo from Belaji's Facebook page, Bela Bose, Meena Kumari and Belaji's best friend, Zeb Rehman (Preetibala).

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Published: 24 September 2022

Last Updated: 24 September 2022

About background dancers, as told by Edwina Violette.

1. Manjula and Leela are sisters.

2. Willie later became a choreographer after being assistant to Robert Master

3. Frank Alphonso is Pamela’s husband.

4. Nanette and Myrna Waters are sisters.

5. Sonnu is Terence’s brother-in-law.

6. June the background dancers is different from June Maxwell the junior artist.

7. Pamela and Edu had their first born in 1961, the second one too in 1963. They even wore similar maternity outfits, made by the same tailor in Mumbai with pride being such good friends.

8. Sylvia is Pamela’s younger sister.

9. Edu’s husband Keith worked in only one film Do Ustad (1959)

10. Dancers were paid Rs 26 and a quarter per daily.

    

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Published: 22 November 2022

Last Updated: 22 November 2022

Earlier I posted an article from Start and Style about Yash Chopra being a plagiarist. Of course, in such cases truth is hard to determine. However.

A very reliable dear friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells me the following.

From an interview with Hari Prasad Chaurasiya, he learnt that Rajesh Roshan was not too useful during the music direction of Kala Patthar and Yash Chopra wanted to replace him. So the possibility exists that Rajesh took the said song from the NONFILM Suhaag LP and presented it to Yash who may not have known about its origin. However, Yash remains guilty of doing nothing after he was approached by Ishtiyaq Khan. Equally guilty is Philips for not acting on behalf of their client.

 Photo from Filmfare March 16, 1980.

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