Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Sadhana Sargam

Sadhana Sargam .. is an acclaimed Indian playback singer. She is a recipient of   the prestigious National Film Award and Filmfare Awards.

Sargam has sung in many Indian languages for films, television serials and music albums. She is well known for her 90s Hindi songs and recent South Indian songs. She is the only Indian playback singer who has sung in more than 24 regional languages. She also holds a record for being the only North Indian to have won the National Award for a South Indian song. She is also a trained Hindustani classical singer. She has ventured into the southern Carnatic classical style with ease.

Sadhana Sargam is of Maharashtrian origin. She was trained in Indian classical music by her mother, Neelatai Ghanekar, at an early age, and then by Pandit Jasraj. Her mother introduced her to a composer by the name of Anil Mohile, which later resulted in her involvement with the children's choir. In 1982, she released her first single for the film Vidhaata.

Sadhana Sargam is popular in singing Hindi as well as Tamil songs.

In her early days as a singer, her voice at high octaves was thought to be similar to that of Lata Mangeshkar while her low octave voice was that of Asha Bhosle. However, as time passed Sargam developed her own distinct style.

Awards and recognitions

National Film Awards
Filmfare Awards
Star Screen Awards
Zee Cine Awards
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sonu Nigam

                            Sonu Nigam is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil and Kannada movies. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums and acted in a few Hindi feature films. He has changed the spelling of his last name from 'Nigam' to 'Niigaam' in accordance with numerology, but not getting desired results, he returned to the old spelling 'Nigam'.

Sonu Nigam began his singing career at the age of three, when he joined his father on stage to sing Mohammad Rafi's "Kya Hua Tera Vaada, Wo Kasam Wo Irada." at the age of 19.His initial years in Mumbai proved to be a struggle, then he began singing covers of Mohammad Rafi songs, mainly for a number of "Rafi Ki Yaadein" albums released by T-Series. T-Series promoter Gulshan Kumar played a key role in identifying Sonu's talent by giving him a chance to reach a larger audience.

Nigam's first movie song as a playback singer was in the film Janam (1990), which was never officially released. Sonu also got a break in several radio commercials until he appeared on the popular TV show Sa Re Ga Ma, after which there was no turning back. He was trained by his guru Pandit Ravimaharaj.


Sonu Nigam comes from a singing family. Born to Agam Kumar Nigam and Shobha Nigam on 30 July 1973 in Faridabad, Haryana, India, he attended the J.D. Tytler School. He has two sisters, Meenal and Neekita. In the last few years, his father has released several hit albums, including "Bewafaai" and "Phir Bewafaai" and more recently "Bewafaai ka Aalam". Neekita is also an up and coming singer and has several songs and awards to her name, both in Hindi and Kannada. Sonu married Madhurima on 15 February 2002. They have a son, Nevaan, born in 2007. Nevaan is also very interested in music and has recently recorded a song with Lata Mangeshkar.

Awards and nominations
Following are the awards and nominations for Sonu Nigam

National Film Awards

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Monday, November 22, 2010

BHAPPI LAHIRI... Disco...Disco

Bappi Lahiri or Alokesh Lahiri, born 27 November in 1952, is a music director in the Hindi (or Bollywood) film industry. He pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema, and also sang some of his own compositions. He was popular in the 1980s with films like Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi among others. He is very fond of jewelry and is usually found wearing gold ornaments and black glasses with a combination of a tracksuit.

Hindi films

He came to Mumbai at the young age of 19. The first Hindi film for which he composed music was Nanha Shikari (1973). The turning point of his career was Tahir Husain's Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975), for which he composed music and doubled as a playback singer. He himself sung a duet with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar called Nothing is Impossible for the same film. The songs of his next film, Chalte Chalte, became a rage. With Ravikant Nagaich's Surakksha his singing and music became even more popular.

He was the fittest musician for Mithun Chakraborty's Disco Dance based films. Mithun Chakraborty and Bappi Lahiri both became synonyms of Indian Disco culture since late 70's to early 90's. He also scored music for many Hindi films produced from South India. He is called 'Disco King' around India.

Bappi Lahiri pioneered the use of disco music in Indian cinema with an Indian flavour.

 
Bappi Lahiri has also done playback singing for his compositions. Some of the notable songs that he has sung include:
  • Rahi Hu Mein (Wanted: Dead or Alive)
  • Bombai Se Aaya Mera Dost (Aap Ki Khatir)
  • Mausam Hai Gaane Ka (Surakksha)
  • Dil Tha Akela Akela (Surakksha)
  • Bambai Se Aaya mera Dost ( Aap ki khatir)
  • Yaad Aa Raha Hai (Disco Dancer)
  • Super Dancer (Dance Dance)
  • Pyar Chahiye Mujhe Jeene Ke Liye (Manokamna)
  • Raat Baaki (Namak Halal)
  • Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re (Saaheb)
  • Tamma Tamma Loge (Thaneedar)
  • Pyar Kabhi Kam Nahi Karna (Prem Pratigya)
  • Dekha Hai Maine Tumhe Phir Se Palatke (Wardat)
  • Dil Main Ho Tum
  • Je La La (Tarzan)
  • Bambai Nagariya (Taxi No 9211)
Before his disco rejuvenation he also gave some of the evergreen music to the industry that include:
  • Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna
  • Dil Se Mile Dil, Dil Se Mile Dil (Dil Se Mile Dil)
  • Maana Ho Tum (Toote Khilone)
  • Yeh Naina Yeh Kajal (Dil Se Mile Dil)
  • Pyar Manga Hai Tumhi Se
  • Ke Pag Ghungroo Baandh Meera Nachi Thi
It is not that Bappi Lahiri was only a disco freak; he has also produced beautiful Ghazals such as,
  • Kisi Nazar ko tera intezaar aaj bhi hai (Aetbaar)
  • Aawaz di hia (Aetbaar)
·         AWARDS    

·         Filmfare Awards
1985 - Filmfare Award     Best Music Director for Sharaabi (1984)
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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Daler Mehndi: Bhangra pop singer.

  Mehndi was a student of traditional Punjabi music and his first album broke sales records in India. Since 1995 he has recorded several highly successful albums in India, and also sung as a playback singer for several Bollywood movies. His international popularity has grown in recent years allowing him to tour the United States. Mehndi is also well known as a philanthropist, funding beautification projects in Delhi and aiding earthquake victims

in 1995 his first album Bolo Ta Ra Ra, with tunes based on those given to him by his mother, sold half a million copies in four months and 20 million copies total, making him the best selling non-soundtrack album in Indian music history. He received the Award for Voice of Asia International Ethnic and Pop Music Contest in 1994. He earned Channel V's Best Male Pop Singer Award, which he received in 1996 for Dar Di Rab Rab and in 1997 for Ho Jayegi Bale Bale. He has appeared in the films Mrityudata and Arjun Pundit.His success helped him negotiate a record-breaking deal with his record company Magnasound for 20.5 million rupees.

He has also been a guest star on the new Indian version of Sesame Street known as Galli Galli Sim Sim. Currently he is mentor in the Zee TV reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar.

His album song "Tunak Tunak Tun" (1998) is an Internet phenomenon. This cult following was spurred by the music video for Mehndi's song "Tunak Tunak Tun", often referred to simply as "Tunak", which gained its popularity due to Daler Mehndi's wild dancing and has led to many homages and parodies. Mehndi originally conceived of the music video, in which he dances with "clones" of himself, in response to media statements that he was popular only because of the models in his videos. Tunak Tunak Tun was the first music video to make use of bluescreen technology in India

Daler Mehndi specializes in a type of Hindi-Pop that he infuses with Rababi singing, a Sikh musical tradition. The sound is similar to that of Techno, dance, and house music, with the folk sounds of an Indian tabla being played in the background. His popularity and the concurrent revival of Bhangra music is thought to be driven by the ease of dancing to it and a national pride in the Indian people
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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Ameen Sayani


Ameen Sayani was a popular radio announcer from India. He achieved fame and popularity all across South Asia when he presented his Binaca Geetmala program of hits over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon. He remains the most imitated announcer even today.

Ameen Sayani belonged to a band of announcers of Radio Ceylon who enjoyed iconic status with millions of listeners. He helped popularise Radio Ceylon in India and the station ruled the airwaves in the 1950s and 1960s. Ameen Sayani was also a part of various movies throughout the years like Bhoot Bungla, Teen Devian, Boxer, Qatl etc. He appeared in all of these movies in the role of an announcer in some event.
Sayani is still active in radio in India. He remains a "golden voice" of Indian radio.

He was conferred the Padma Shri award in 2009.

Ameen Sayani participated in many popular national radio shows including:
  • " Binaca Geetmala" broadcasted since 1952, mainly over Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and later over Vividh Bharati (AIR), for over 42 years. The program was later revived after 7 years - and was aired over the National Network of Vividh Bharati as "Colgate Cibaca Geetmala", till August 2003.

  • "S. Kumars Ka Filmi Muqaddama" and "Filmi Mulaqaat" aierd over SLBC and Vividh Bharati for 7 years.

  • "Saridon Ke Saathi" was AIR's first sponsored show, which was aired for 4 years.

  • "Bournvita Quiz Contest" broadcasted for 8 years.

  • "Shalimar Superlac Jodi" broadcasted for 7 years.


    • For his exceptional contribution Ameen Sayani has been felicitated with many awards:
  • Living Legend Award (2006) from Federation OF Indian Chambers OF Commerce & Industry, with India Radio Forum

  • Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2003)

  • Kaan Hall Of Fame Award (2003) from Radio Mirchi (FM Network of the Times Group) :

  • Golden Abby by Advertising Club, Bombay (2000 )

  • Hall Of Fame Award (1993) fromIndian Academy Of Advertising Film Art (IAAFA)

  • Person Of The Year Award (1992) Limca Book Of Records

  • Gold medal(1991) from Indian Society Of Advertisers (ISA) presented by Mr. K.R. Narayanan, who was then Vice-President of India
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    Indian Instruments Used in the Films


    Traditional Indian Genre Used In The Films

    (note - Western genre may not be included in this list)

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    Friday, November 19, 2010

    Folk Songs In Bollywood Films Forever

    Folk Songs In Bollywood Films always had and still have magical effects.

    The charm of folk songs in Bollywood seems to be everlasting. How can anyone forget the famous tunes of ‘Naine lad jayiye hai’, ‘Bichua’, ‘Chalat musafir’ who have a special place in the hearts of many. Bollywood composers have become innovative with each passing era. However, the tinge of folk lyrics and music is something one cannot escape.
    Latest is the song from the forthcoming release Love Aaj Kal titled Aahun Aahun, which has created a lot of buzz. Gaddi Te Has Bol Ve Na Jind Saddi Ron Ve originally sung by Shaukat Ali Sahib, the folk singer of Pakistan and then by Punjabi folk singer Madan Maddi. Let’s peep into the recent past and list down some outstanding numbers with a tinge of folk lyrics in it.

    Morni Bagha Ma Bole Aadi- The song depicts the Indian beauty in the most naturalist way. Still the word beautiful surpasses the locales, on which the song has been shot. Morni Bagha Ma Bole still makes many romantic hearts flutter, with the lovely Sri Devi dancing away to glory before Anil Kapoor who is immensely in love with her. However, the track got more recognition for the folk song Maare Hiwda Me Laagi Ge Kataar Re which gave it a new dimension altogether and to singer Ila Arun’s career as well.

    Aisa Desh Hai Mera- Veera-Zara discovers that there is so much in common when it comes to the beauty of their respective desh (countries). However, the folk touch by Gurdas Mann with the famous lyrics ‘Sai Mere Ya Jugni Kehdiye Ye’ brought life to the song. And Punjabi kudiyan (girls) singing ‘Sadke Sadke Ja Rahi Muthayarein Ni’ thrills every Indians’ heart with happiness.

    Bhumro Bhumro- Bhumro Bhumro showcased the Punjabi girl Preity Zinta drapped in typical Kashimiri dress (feren) lip-synching and dancing to the tunes of the folk number. Although, the entire song was sung in Hindi but ‘Bhumro Bhumro Shayam Rang Bhumro’- a liner from the famous Kashimiri folk song became the unique selling point for the song.

    Udjaa Kale Kawa Tere Muh Wich Khand Pawa- Gadar based on devastating consequences of Indo-Pak war has some light moments. Sunny Paji and Amisha Patel dancing to the tunes of Udjaa Kale Kawa Tere Muh Wich Khand Pawa the famous folk song topped the charts.
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