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Published: 23 September 2017

Last Updated: 23 September 2017

We all talk about the influence of Parsi-Gujarati-Marathi theater on cinema. We have about a dozen books on theater listing the plays, year, writer, company, actors, some cases MDs. Of course, we have at least two silent filmography books and the HFGK for talkies. Why cannot somebody just compare the two and say more?

Well, Dr Narendra Shrimali 'Kamal'. Associate Professor, Faculty of Performing Arts, M S Univ of Baroda has done that and much more in his path-breaking doctoral thesis published as a book, Music of Theatre and Hindi Cinema (1900-1950) [A discographical study with particular reference to the theatre of western India]

He lists about 55 dramas used as a basis for the silents and 59 for the takies mostly in the first 5 years.

Now you know!

 Listen to Mujrim Kaun Khooni Kaun (1965)

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Published: 22 September 2017

Last Updated: 22 September 2017

Whenever I read about Indian Classical music or its history, from the earliest books till date, they always mention that the Indian music has melody whereas the western music has harmony. This is very surprising to me because even some of the African music has harmony and we missed it. I have been trying to find examples of it in Indian classical music, but I don't know enough. Here is the earliest example from Hindi film music (based on what they say in books, all I hear is two different tunes overlapping in many places.)

 duniya rang rangili baba

Now you know!

Listen to Hum Diwane (1965) 

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Published: 21 September 2017

Last Updated: 21 September 2017

Wazir Mohammed Khan talks about how he happened to be the first singer. I wish somebody had recorded the song in his voice while he was still alive.

Now you know!

 Listen to Veer Bhimsen (1964)