Since 1999
Articles
Articles on Hindi Films
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Agha Hashr Kashmiri, Pandit Radheyshyam Kathavachak and Pandit Narayan Prasad Betab were the three stalwarts of the Parsi theater that was the main mass entertainment media in the early 20th century. Here Radheyshyam describes his first meeting with Hashr, where he learnt that just once scene in a play can be worth the whole play. BTW, the drama mentioned here was eventually called Bilwamangal and is still played regularly during the Ramlila season. I remember the particular line cited always got huge clapping in Ludhiana in the late 50s.
Pandit Radheshyam Kathavachak writes,
In Kanpur I saw Agha Hashr for the first time. He had come to sell his drama ‘soordas’ for Rs 1000 to the company. During the reading of the drama, Hashr invited me also. And he said to me very politely, “I am a Muslim, my language is Urdu, this is a religious drama and it has Hindi in it. If you find an error, please let me know without hesitation.” When he read it, I learnt that Hashr sahib is very clever in talking and selling his wares. Right in front of me, Sorabji told him – your one scene alone is worth Rs 1000 - where Chintamani says to Bilwamangal - “You love me so much, if you had loved God so much, you would have attained Nirvana”.
Now you know!
Bharat 28 Lata Naashaad
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From the book Behind The Curtain by G D Booth:
Shankar Indorkar: He [Rahman] says, “Just you play something. Play
anything. Just open the cor anglais and play something.” I didn’t understand.
I say, “What key? At least tell me something!” But he says, “Play
anything, whatever you want.” So I played something, nothing, just something.
Maybe half an hour. From low to high on both instruments (oboe
and English horn). Whatever I could think. And he just recorded everything.
So it got to be about two o’clock in the morning, and then he says,
“Okay, pack up.” I didn’t understand what was going on. He paid me, and
I went back [to Mumbai]. And after that he never called me. Because he
had all my sounds. So you could say he has me.
I guess that's post-modern creativity :)
Now you know!
I do have about 2,000 more songs from 1931-1960 to post. Trying to get permission from the friend who gave them to me. In the meantime, posting songs from films.
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