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Sholay (1975): Gabbar chops off Thakur's arms with a sword in each hand. Karz (1980): Kamini murders her husband by ramming him repeatedly with a jeep. Mr. India (1987): Mogambo kills hundreds of innocent citizens. No, you don't want to meet these Bollywood baddies in a dark alley; you may not escape with your life if you do. In Pure Evil, Balaji Vittal examines, in delicious detail, the misdeeds of the gangster, the sly relative, the corrupt policeman, the psychopathic killer... A rollercoaster ride, looking at the changing face of the Hindi film villain.
Look behind the scenes of fifty celebrated songs, from an estimated repository of over one lakh!'De de khuda ke naam pe': when Wazir Mohammed Khan sang these words in India's first talkie, Alam Ara, he gave birth to a whole new industry of composers, lyricists and singers, as well as an entirely new genre of film-making that is quintessentially Indian: the song-and-dance film. In the eight decades and more since then, Hindi film songs have enraptured listeners all over the world. From 'Babul mora, naihar chhooto jaye' (Street Singer, 1938) to 'Dil hai chhota sa' (Roja, 1992); from the classical strains of 'Ketaki gulab' (Basant Bahar, 1956) featuring Bhimsen Joshi to the disco beats of Nazia...
To a nation fed on classical music, the advent of Rahul Dev Burman with his repertoire of Western beats was a godsend. RD revolutionized Hindi film music in the 1970s, and with his emphasis on rhythm and beats, this Pied Piper of Hindi film music had young India swinging to his tunes. At the same time, this genius proved his many detractors who criticized him for corrupting popular taste wrong by composing some of the most influential raga-based songs in Hindi cinema and showing an immense comfort with all kinds of music, including Indian folk. RD: The Man, The Music looks at the phenomenon called R.D. Burman and how he changed the way Indians perceived Hindi film music. Through anecdotes and trivia that went into the making of Pancham's music - the many innovations he introduced, like mixed rhythm patterns, piquant chords and sound mixing - and through interactions with the musicians who were part of RD's team, the authors create a fascinating portrait of a man who, through his music, continues to thrive, even fifteen years after his death.
SD, or Sachin Dev Burman, the man who gave Hindi film music its grammar, is perhaps the most enigmatic figure in Indian cine history. As the young scion of the Tripura royal family, SD struck out into the world of cinema and popular music. The early years were difficult, professionally and personally. His unconventional choice of profession and marriage to a 'commoner' caused his family to ostracize him, and his formal training was not enough to stave off rejections. This well-researched biography is both a tribute to a great artist, and a deep inquiry into what made his music great. Going well beyond merely listing his greatest songs, it explores hitherto unknown stories about the creation ...
Do you eat, drink, sleep, think Hindi Cinema all the time like an obsession? Then we are already friends and sure going to have a great time together discovering many hidden and interesting facts about Hindi Cinema. Facts that are not just two-line trivia but studied in depth along with other finer details about the subject. For instance: • The ageless Guide and its English version • The spiritual connect in Silsila and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi • Bertrand Russell & Jagjit Singh in a Hindi film cameo • A bold film suggesting castration for rapists in 1988 • Utpal Dutt - not just a comedian • The two Hindi film songs that won the Grammy Award • Amitabh-Bally Sagoo’s Aby Baby and Adalat • The lost art of riddle-based songs in Hindi film music • Three unusually sensual movies by Hrishikesh Mukherjee • Shocking Hindi films made on the subject of Incest And if this all sounds interesting, then do give it a try as ‘Picture Abhi Baaki Hai, Dost”
"In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you." - Andrea Dykstra Welcome to the June issue of Storizen, where we dive into the invigorating theme of "Self Care: Taking care of yourself." In a world that never stops, it's crucial to pause, prioritize our well-being, and embrace the transformative power of self-care. We are filled with euphoria to share that our cover story, "Society Unveiled: Now You See Us" featuring the brilliant author Balli Kaur Jaswal, uncovers the society we live in. Check out the exclusive feature inside! A lot has changed in Kashmir after Article 370 has been removed. We discuss the situation and consequences with the journalist and au...
Reaping Rewards! Personally, I believe that each one of us has a story to tell at every stage of our lives! I don’t expect anyone to narrate every detail of their lives right from school to the profession! Reaping Rewards is just a fun thing wherein people expressed their inner feelings and happenings that they encountered and wished to share. The reading habit of people is diminishing. So, this was in-fact a massive attempt at encouraging people to write and read as well. The best encouragement for writers is when others read, appreciate, and maybe share their views on the writings. Reaping Rewards deals with Success achieved after struggles, one has a lot of inspiration and positive vibes to take away from each story. When one writes, one expresses; When one expresses, one feels elated; When one feels elated, one experiences true happiness! So, they wrote, they shared, they inspired … and spread happiness!
‘Is kahani mein drama hai, emotion hai, tragedy hai...’ A non-linear, light-hearted rollercoaster ride of a book, Bioscope presents a quirky history of Hindi cinema through unconventional, curated ‘lists’ that will delight die-hard fans and novices alike. Highlighting 10 aspects that give Hindi films their distinctive flavour, the selections – of villainous types and hit pairs, genius compositions and unforgettable lyrics, memorable scripts and filmy fashion from the pre-Independence days right down to the present – pack in trivia, gossip, recommendations and deep insight. By turns opinionated and emotional – and always superbly entertaining – Bioscope will inspire its readers to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of Hindi cinema.
A behind-the scenes look at Basu Chatterji's most loved films This is the enigma of Basu Chatterji. His films did not have the box-office ingredients that could make them a distributor's hot pick, nor were they art house cinema that needed unravelling over many cups of tea. He was the quintessential 'middle-of-the-road' film-maker, a genre that he founded in Bollywood. His films, whether it be Chhoti Si Baat or Rajnigandha or Chitchor, were about common people and common problems, such as employment and love, social and economic inequalities, and joint family conflicts. Like fellow cartoonist R.K. Laxman, who created the 'common man', Chatterji too was an auteur of the common man, whose jour...
The untold story of Hindi cinema’s first superstar Obsessed female fans routinely sent him love letters written in blood. Hysterical crowds camped outside his house to catch a glimpse of the superstar. And the frenzy unleashed by his public appearances was enough to give law-enforcers a nightmare. In the 1970s, Rajesh Khanna achieved the kind of fame that no film star had ever experienced before—or has since. But having climbed to the pinnacle of success, he then saw it all vanish. And through it all, he remained a fighter till the very end. In this riveting biography, journalist Yasser Usman examines Rajesh Khanna’s dramatic, colourful life in its entirety: from little-known facts about his childhood to the low-down on his relationships and rivalries, from his ambitious hopes to his deep-seated insecurities. What emerges is a tantalizingly written, meticulously researched chronicle of a fascinating and mercurial man—one who was both loved and feared by those closest to him. It is a story that encapsulates the glittering, seductive, cut-throat world of Bollywood at its best and its worst.