First of all I would like to thank everybody for their good wishes to my/our blog on its birthday.
The quiz got a nice response. Shashi and Samir sent me the answers the very next day. They had some sophisticated techniques to get to the answers. Samir in his feedback to the quiz elaborated on it. Samir, would you be so kind to post it also in the comments section below? It is very enlightening!
Lalitha was very industrious and worked till the last hour and sent me her answer four hours back.
Totally eight persons sent me their answers and it was fun going through them. Lomo and Andi were new for me. They told me that they usually read my posts and the comments by the readers and that they enjoy it a lot and at times more the comments than the post itself (so says Andi).
Here are the scores
Archana = 128,5
Pacifist = 126
Shashi = 124
Samir = 106
Lomo = 100
Lalitha = 93
Andi = 93
Anu = 55
Congratulations Archana for scoring the most points and thanks to all participants! The email communication with you regarding the hints and clues was a source of great pleasure for me!
Well, here are the answers! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 5 Rifles, Aaj Yeh Meri Zindagi, Aar-Paar, Abhi To Haath Me Jaam Hai, Ambika Johar, Amitabh Bachchan, Anand Bakshi, Anjaan, Asha Bhosle, Aziz Nazan, Bappi Lahiri, Chandan Ka Palna [1967], Chhod Mera Haath Mujhe Peene De, dev anand, Dharamendra, Dil Hi To Hai [1963], former Miss India, Geeta Dutt, happy God, Hasrat Jaipuri, Hoon Abhi Main Jawan Ae Dil, Hum Hain Nashe Mein, Jhoom Bharabar Jhoom Sharabi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Leela Naidu, Madan Mohan, Mahjabeen, maid of jerky movements, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Manna Dey, Meena Kumari, Mohd. Rafi, Mujhe Le Chalo, Mukesh, Namak Halal, Naza Sholapuri, Nutan, O. P. Nayyar, R. D. Burman, Raj Kapoor, Rajinder Krishan, Rakesh Khanna, Ramlal, Ravi, Roshan, Sahir Ludhianvi, Sandhya, Seeta aur Geeta [1972], Sehra [1963], Shahi Kapoor, Shakila, Sharaabi, sharabi sharabi mera naam ho gaya, Subah-O-Sham [1972], the illustrious one, Thodi Si Jo Pee Li Hai, Tumhari Mast Nazar, Waheeda Rehman, Yeh Raaste Hai Pyar Ke
My ten favourite thandi hawa songs

It is very cold here now. At night it goes down to -20° C. When I ride my bicycle to work and back, the wind freezes me to the core. Yesterday, as I was returning back home the thought about the discrepancy between the European and Indian attitude towards cold and heat arose again in my mind. In Hindi film songs the cold breeze works like an aphrodisiac, while in Europe it is mostly the hot and sultry summer days, which turn the people on. While Meena Kumari in Pakeezah wishes her lover that the sunshine (coupled with heat) may never touch him (suraj kahin bhi jaaye tum par na dhoop aaye), while the gondoliere even in sunny Italy calls his lover o sole mio (my sun). Of course the temperature difference plays in this attitude a big role. This brought my thoughts to the various thandi hawa songs in Hindi films and resulted is this list.
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Tags: Anand Bakshi, Asha Bhosle, Asha Parekh, Chacha Chowdhary 1953], dev anand, Do Badan [1966], Ek Tum Duji Main Teeja Chaand, geeta bali, Geeta Dutt, Haathi Mere Saathi [1971], Hasrat Jaipuri, Ilzaam [1954], Jab Chali Thandi Hawa, Jhumroo [1961], Johnny Walker [1957, Kamal Mehra, Kehti Hai Yeh Thandi Hawa, Khurshid Anwar, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, Madhubala, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Meena Kumari, Mere Piya Chhede Jiya, Mr. and Mrs. 55 [1955], My ten favourite thandi (cold) songs, Nalini Jaywant, Naujawan [1951], Neelam Pari [1952], O. P. Nayyar, Rajendra Krishan, Rajesh Khanna, Rajinder Krishan, Ravi, S. D. Burman, Sahir Ludhianvi, Shashikala, Sheila Vaz, Shyama, Sun Ja Aa Thandi Hawa, Tanuja, Teen Deviyan [1965], Thandi Hawa Kali Ghata, Thandi Hawa Yeh Chandni Suhani, Thandi Hawayein Lehra Ke Aayein, Thandi Thandi Hawa Pooche Unka Pata, Uff Kitni Thandi Hai
My ten favourite men-in-drag songs
Men in drag has me always in splits. It is one thing, which guarantees a laughter from my side. I know it doesn’t show much of a depth for my character. Yeah, how to put it much better than: I am like that only!

Men wearing women’s clothes is nothing new. In the early films of the Indian film industry boys would often take up female roles. Men in drag is all the same a more ancient phenomenon. The reasons behind it can be different ranging from transvestism to transgenderism. I can imagine that during times or in societies when and where homosexuality was looked down upon, it was one of the ways for men to approach men. For heterosexual men, I can think, it is a means to make fun of women and in this way digest the rejection by them. At the same time it can also be seen as a rebellion against the society and attempt to break away from the roles imposed by the society based on gender. All the same, it is not these deeper thoughts that go through my mind, why I love these songs.

Here are my favourite 10 songs from Hindi films with men in drag. Since it all is supposed to be fun, no rules this time, except for the quite obvious ones like one song pro actor. 😉
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Tags: Aake Sidhi Lagi Jaise, Anand Bakshi, Asha Bhosle, Babita, Bindu, Biswajeet, Bluff Master [1963], Bombay Se Baroda Tak, Dara Singh, Dharmendra, Five Rifles, Gulshan Bawra, Half Ticket [1962], Haseena Maan Jayegi [1968], homosexuality, I. S. Johar, Johar Mahmood In Hong Kong [1971], Kaatilon ke Kaatil [1981], Kajra Mohabbat Wala, Kalyanji-Anandji, Kalyanji-Anandji. Qamal Jalalabadi, Kamal Barot, Kishore Kumar, Kismat [1969], Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Lootera [1965], Malmal Me Badan Mora Chamke, Mehmood, Mohd. Rafi, My ten favourite men-in-drag songs, Nathaniya Hale To Bada Maza, Neetu Singh, O. P. Nayyar, Oy Chali Chali Kaisi Hawa, Paintal, Parde Ke Peechhey [1971], Patli Kamar Nazuk Umar, Pran, Rafoo Chakkar [1975], Rajinder Krishan, Rishi Kapoor, Saira Banu, Salil Chowdhury, Sar-E-Bazar Karenge Pyar, Shailendra, Shammi Kapoor, Shamshad Begum, Shankar Dada, Shankar-Jaikishan, Shashi Kapoor, Suno Suno, Teen Kuwareeyan... Hathon Me Mehndi, transgenderism, transvestism, Usha Mangeshkar, Vinod Mehra, Yogeeta Bali, Zeenat Aman
For Christmas, I was thinking of doing a Christmas song list. But I could come up only with aao tumhe chand pe le jaaye from Zakhmee [1975]. But then I thought Mother Mary and Joseph must have also sung some lullabies to baby Jesus, so why not a list of my ten favourite loris (lullabies).

Lullabies have not always been my favourite songs. Once when a 6 year old child at a friends place asked me to sing an Indian lullaby to him, I realized that I knew only few authentic lullabies in my mother tongue and soon I ended up singing filmi loris! The child must have been pretty deaf or a great fan of off-tune singing. More evenings followed and made me realize how sweet basically loris are.

Some rules, which I followed for my list:
a) The person singing must be singing it to a child and not to a grown-up person
b) Only one song pro film
Well here they are! Try not to fall asleep while reading it! Yawn! 😉
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Tags: Aa Ri Aajaa Nindiya Tu Le Chal Kahin, Aaja Ri Aa Nindiya Tu Aa, Anand Bakshi, Anil Biswas, Ankhiyon Me Chote Chote, Asha Bhosle, Bharat Vyas, Chanda O Chanda, Chanda Re Chanda Re, Do Aankhen Barah Haath [1957], Do Bhigha Zameen [1953], Door Ke O Chanda, dustedoff, Ek Dil Sau Afsane 1963], Geeta Dutt, Humshakal [1974], Kishore Kumar, Kunwara Baap [1974], Lajwanti [1958], Lakhon Me Ek [1971], Madhulike Liddle, Main Gaoon Tu Chhup Ho Jaa, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Meena Kapoor, Meena Kumari, Mehmood, Merry Christmas, Nanhi Kali Sone Chali, Nargis, Nauker [1979], Nirupa Roy, Oleg Strizhenov, Pardesi[ 1957], Prem Dhawan, R. D. Burman, Radha Saluja, Rajesh Khanna, Rajesh Roshan, Rasta Dekhe Tera Vyakul Man Mera, S. D. Burman, Salil Choudhary, Sandhya, Sanjeev Kumar, Shailendra, Shankar-Jaikishan, So Jaa Re Lalna Jhulao Tohe Palna, Sujata (1959), Sulochana Latkar, V. Shantaram, Vasant Desai, Waheeda Rehman
My ten favourite Dharmendra songs

Dharmendra had his birthday on 8th December, but unfortunately it was shadowed by Dev Anand’s demise. Happy belated Birthday, Dharmendra!

So much has been written about Dharmendra’s good looks. What shall I add to it? When I think of his fine appearance, the song that comes to my mind is:
chaand aahen bharega (the moon will sigh)
phool dil tham lenge (the flowers will clasp their hearts)
husn ki baat chali to (when the talk is of good looks)
sab tera naam lenge (your name will be mentioned)
What I find enchanting about him is his dazzling smile. When he smiles it has an assurance of ‘everything will be fine’ and one just melts away. He was not only good looks; he also made some splendid movies, till he went into the kutte-kaminey mode.

Choosing songs from his films was not easy, since many good songs by Mohd. Rafi have picturised on him. So to make things easier for me I had to put in some rules
a) One song pro film
b) Only solo songs
c) Songs to which he lip syncs, i.e. no background songs,that is why pal pal dil ke paas from Blackmail [1973] is conspicuous by its absence.
After the correction by Samir, I’ll put another clause:
d) Songs, where he is not “in Rakhee’s imagination, or just floating around”, that is why pal pal dil ke paas from Blackmail [1973] is conspicuous by its absence. 😉

Ten favourite Dharmendra songs is not a very original post. Sunehriyaadein and Greta have also done a similar post some time ago. Here is my take on it. So, here we go…
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Tags: Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai, Aap Ke Haseen Rukh Pe, aga ye jawal ye laju nako, Anand Bakshi, Anjaan, Anupama [1966], Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi [1966], Bhupendra, Blackmail [1973], Do Chor [1972], Dulhan Ek Raat Ki [1967], Duniya O Duniya Tera Jawab Nahin, Ek Haseen Shaam Ko, Ek Hi Khwab Kai Baar Dekha, Gulzar, Happy Birthday Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Hemant Kumar, jaane woh kaise log they, Kahani Kismat Ki [1973], Kaifi Azmi, Kalyanji-Anandji, Khamoshi [1969], Kinara [1977], Kishore Kumar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Loafer [1973], Madan Mohan, Main Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Mala Sinha, Meri Jaan, meri jaan meri jaan kehna maano, Mohammad Rafi, Mumtaz, My ten favourite Dharmendra songs, Naya Zamana [1971], Nutan, O. P. Nayyar, pal pal dil ke paas, Pratiggya [1975], Pyaasa, R. D. Burman, Rafta Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Rajinder Krishan, S. D. Burman, Tanuja, Tum Pukar Lo, Waheeda Rehman, Ya Dil Ki Suno
My ten favourite Dev jodis

I got the news at fellow blogger Madhu’s site about Dev Anand’s sad demise. I just couldn’t believe it. The tag of ever-green hero suited him so well, that one thought that he was immortal. Just two days back, I wrote at Greta’s blog that Dev’s films from the 50s and 60s hardly let one down.
Dev was a good actor dominating the film industry for three decades. He had his own school of natural acting which endeared him to the masses as well as the critics. He remained for most part true to his genre of a slick urban hero, but he was versatile as far as the different fields of film production was concerned. He was producer, director, actor and once even a singer!

Dev, I think, must have had the most number of female co-stars in the history of the Hindi film industry. He acted with many new faces but also with established actresses. And he looked good with everyone of them. Here is to Dev and his female co-stars
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Tags: aajaa pancchi akela hai, abhi na jaavo chhod kar, accha ji me hari chalo man jawo na, Asha Bhosle, de bhi chuke ham dil nazrana dil ka, dev anand, dil ka bhanwar kare pukar, geeta bali, Geeta Dutt, Hema Malini, Hum Dono [1962], Jaal [1952], Kala Bazar [1960], Kala Pani [1958], Kalpana Karthik, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, layi khushi ki duniya hasti hui jawaani, Madhubala, Mala Sinha, Manna Dey, Maya [1961], Mohd. Rafi, Mukesh, Nau Do Gyarah [1957], neend churake raaton me tumne baaton baaton me, Nutan, R. D. Burman, ruk jaana ruk jaana humse do baatein karte chali jana, S. D. Burman, Sadhana, Salil Choudhury, sanj dhali dil ki lagi thak chali pukar ke, Shareef Badmash [1973], Suraiya, tasveer teri dil me jis din se utari hai, Tere Ghar Ke Samne [1963], Vidya [1948], Waheeda Rehman, Warrant [1975], Zeenat Aman
My ten favourite songs on not wanting to let go.
As I was humming abhi na jao chhodkar few days back, I realised that, not wanting to let the lover go is an oft-repeated motif in Hindi film songs. Well, from this thought to the thought of making list was a short hop.

Letting go, is a difficult task in life and not only the lover but also many other things in life. So here is to the process of relinquishing and surrender!
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Tags: Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar, Anand Bakshi, Anil Biswas, Asha Bhosle, Asha Parekh, Bade Dilwaala [1983], Bees Saal Baad [1962], Beqaraar Kar Ke Hume Yun Na Jaiye, Biswajeet, Bulo C. Rani, dev anand, Dharmendra, Do Badan [1966], Don't go... !, Geeta Dutt. Nargis, Hemant Kumar, Hum Dono [1962], Jaidev, Jogan [1950], jogi jab se tu aayaa more dwaare, Kahin Na Jaa Aaj Kahin Mat Jaa, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Manoj Kumar, Mat Jaa Mat Jaa Mat Jaa Jogii, Mat Jaiyo Naukariya Chhodke, mat jaiyon nagariya chhod ke, Meerabai, Mere Hamdam Mere Dost [1968], Mohammad Rafi, Mujhe Jeene Do [1963], Na Jaa Kahin Ab Na Jaa Dil Ke Sivaa, Na Jaa... !, Na Jaiyo Radhe Cheedenge Shyam, Naa Dir Diim ... Naa Jaa Naa Jaa Balam Balam Mere Naa, Naa Jaa O Mere Humdum, Nadii Naare Na Jaao Shaam Paiyaan padu, Nasir Husain, Padmini, Pardesi[ 1957], Prem Dhawan, Pyar Ka Mausam [1969], R. D. Burman, Ravi, Rishi Kapoor, Sadhana, Sahir Ludhianvi, Sardar Jafri, Sau Saal Baad [1966], Shakeel Badayuni, Sharmila Tagore, Shashi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Tina Munim, Waheeda Rehman
Fruits! Delicious, luscious fruits! One would say everybody loves fruits. They are nutritious, taste good and are attractive for the eye. Well, they have to be, after all the plant wants it’s children to travel far and wide. Why then this step-motherly treatment to these fabulous creations of nature in Hindi film songs?

Fruits were and are associated with lust. Offering of the apple by Eve to Adam is often cited as an example of this partnership in sin. The Indian censors were very strict about this and only let small and insignificant fruits be sung about in the film songs. As you must have noticed in my post Fruit cake, even if they allowed some fruits to slip through, they saw to it that they had the ugliest melodies possible or it is was done indirectly like ambua ki dali (a mango branch) or beri ke neeche (below the jujube tree). Not the fruits themselves but the tree was in the focal point. Lots of lyricists still wrote lyrics mentioning the fruits of their taste or which suited the scene and occasion. All these attempts were brutally suppressed and the words changed beyond recognition.

During my stay in India in July, in London in August and the last week’s stay in the Black Forest, I could meet witnesses and activists in exile. They told me stories of suppression and oppression of artists and poets of the Bombay film industry by the censors. They told me stories of how works of art where mutilated on the grounds of decency and morality.

I can only write about ten such songs. After reading this article, you, my dear intelligent readers will surely see through many other songs, which we sing every day and have been racking our brains why a certain word doesn’t quite fit in.
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Tags: Ai Aa Aa Karu Me Kya Suku, Akela Hu Me Is Duniya Me, anjeer, Asha Bhosle, Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko, Baat Ek Raat Ki [1962], Badi Behen, Bananas, Bharat Vyas, bhooj mera Kya Naam Re, Bhupinder, C.I.D [1956], Chikoos, dates, Dil Aur Mohabbat [1968], Ek Bangla Bane Nyara, fig, Fruits, Gulshan Bawra, Gulzar, Haath Aayaa Hai Jab Se Mera Haath Me, Hemant Kumar, Huzoor Is Kadar Bhi Na Itara Ke Faliye, Indian censors, jackfruit, jamun, Junglee[1961], Kasme Vaade [1978], khajoor, Khathal, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor, Majrooh Sultanpuri Shamshad Begum, Manilkara zapota, Masoom [1983], Mile Jo Kadi-Kadi Ek Zanjeer Bane, Miss Mary [1957], Mukesh, N Dutta, Nain Huwe Bechain, O. P. Nayyar, papaya, President [1937], R. C. Boral, R. D. Burman, Rajinder Krishan, Sadhana [1958], Sahir Ludhianvi, Saigal, Sakhi Ri Sun Bole, Saranga Teri Yaad Me, Saranga [1960], Sardar Malik, seb, Shailendra, Shankar-Jaikishan, Shevan Rizvi, Suku, Suresh Wadkar, tarbooz, water melon
My Ten Favourite Telephone Songs From Hindi Films
The research for the fruit expose has been needing me to call lots of people on phone. This lead me to the idea of making a telephone song list. Okay, I didn’t come up with it in the last few days, but have been collecting them over the last few months. And the fact that, that I love Jalte hai jiske liye just drove me to make this list. Not all of the songs are sung completely on the telephone. Some just start with it and end up with the characters cavorting around the trees, but telephone songs they are.

So, give me a ring!
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Tags: Aadesh Srivastav, Alka Yagnik, Amitabh Bachchan, Anand Bakshi, Anhonee (1952), Anil Biswas, Anjaan, Asha Bhosle, atulsongaday, Baazi 1968, Baghban (2003), Bombay Ka Chor (1962), C Ramchandra, Chand Zard Zard Hai Mere Dil Mein, Ek Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi (1970), Ganesh, Gope, Hello Hello Ji, Hema Malini, Jaali Note (1960), Jalte Hain Jiske Liye, Jidher Dekhoon Teri Tasveer, Juari (1968), Kahan Gaya Mera Sanam, Kaho Kya Hai Ji, Kalyanji-Anandji, Kishore Kumar, Krishna Bose, Mahaan (1983), Main Yahaan Tu Wahaan, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Mala Sinha, Mere Dil Ki Dhadkan Kyaa Bole, Mohd. Rafi, Mr. Naidu, Mubarak Begum, Mumtaz, Nanda, Nargis, Neend Ud Jaye Teri Chain Se Sone Wale, Nigar Sultana, Nutan. Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon, O. P. Nayyar, Patanga (1949), Pyar Ki Yeh Batein Humko Na Samjao, R. D. Burman, Rajinder Krishan, Ravi, S. D. Burman, Sameer, Samshad Begum & Chitalkar, Shailendra Raj Kapoor, Shakeel Badayuni, Shashi Kapoor, Sujata (1959), Suman Kalyanpur, Sunil Dutt, Talat Mahmood, Talat Mahmood & Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mohammad, Tanuja, Telephone songs, Waheeda Rehman
Ten of my favourite flower songs
Blame it on dustedoff! Yeah, she asked me to do this post. And since I always do what I am asked to. Here it is.

Flowers and love go together. Flower codes abound as to what flower to send as secret message. In Hindi film songs, the flowers have been mostly used as similies or metaphors for the heroine. Gulabi hooth (rosy lips) being one of the common comparisons.
In my list I have again used some criteria to boil my list down to ten:
1. Songs with flowers used as adjectives have not been taken (so, no ‘gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhi’)
2. One different flower pro song (i.e. if I like two songs, both with rose in it more than the song with jasmine, than I had to choose between the two rose songs)
3. One song pro film (that was very easy)
4. When the name of the flower is the name of a character in the film, it has been rejected (so no ‘ghar jayegi, tar jayegi’
So here are my 10 favourite solo songs featuring ten different flowers.
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Tags: Aaj Raat Ko, Ai Nargis-E-Mastaanaa, Ajit, Amol Palekar, Arzoo, Ashok Kumar, B. S. Kalla, Baant Bahar, Bahut Din Huwe, Basu Chatterji, Bharat Bhushan, Chaman ke Phool Bhi Tujh Ko Gulaab Kehte Hai, Chameli, Champa, Champa Khili Daar, Champakali, Delonix regia, Devta, Dil Ek Mandir, Dooj ka Chand, dustedoff, English Name: Daffodil, Faisla, Farooq Qaiser, Flower Power, flowers, G. S. Kohli, Genda, ghar jayegi, Gulaab, gulabi aankhen jo teri dekhi, Gulmohar, Gulmohar Gar Tumhara Naam Hota, Gulzar, Hasrat Jaipuri, Hum Dil Ka Kanwal, Jasmine, Jasminum auriculatum, Jasminum sambac, Juhi, Kamal, Ketaki, Ketaki Gulaab Juhi Champak Ban Phoole, Kewra, Kishore Kumar, Kyu Chameli Khil Khilati Hai Bataa, Lata Mangeshkar, LotusJuhi Ki Kali Meri Laadli, Madhubala, Magnolia, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Manna Dey, Marigold, Meena Kumari, Michelia champaca, Mohammad Rafi, Narcissus, Nargis, Nelumbo nucifera, Pandanus, Phool Gendawaa Naa Maaro, Polianthes tuberosus, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Indra, R. D. Burman, Raaj Kumar, Ragini, Rajanigandha, Rajanigandha Phool Tumhare, Rajendra Kumar, Rakesh Roshan, Rosa, Rose, Roshan, Royal Poinciana, Sadhana, Sahir, Saira Banu’s Magnolia champaca, Salil Chaudhary, Sanjeev Kumar, Sarika, Screw Pine, Shailendra, Shankar-Jaikishan, Shikari, Suman Kalyanpur, Tagetes, Tuberose, Vidya Sinha, Vinod Mehra, Vyjayanthimala, Yogesh, Zindagi