Hindi films without songs and dance are not complete.

Though there
are few films without songs but very few. Music is the soul of Indian
Cinema.The songs in the films started well before the sound films
started but these were played separately on a gramophone during
the screening of the film.these songs are listed as NFS. The first
sound film ALAM ARA had 6 songs but none of those songs are
available.
Why???
No archival. History lost..
Can you imagine in between 1931 to 1934, India made 1358 films
but only 18 survived and in that we have only 6 full movies and
others in pieces.
Let’s talk about film archive.
Earlier filmmakers made films out of passion and Indian filmmakers
never felt the need to preserve it so they would sell the reels for silver
extraction. The cellulose nitrate prints were used to make nail polish,
acetate film reels to make bangles and polyester film reels to make
plastic bottles.
P.K.Nair single-handedly made the path for preservation and
founded NFAI( National film archive of India) in In 1964 with the help
of ministry of broadcast.
Coming back to first Indian talkie, Alam Ara( which do not exist)
produced by Imperial film company and directed by Ardeshir Irani
was released on March 14,1931 at the majestic cinema in Bombay.
The talkie brought revolutionary changes in the whole setup of the
industry. The sound film in India came with a bang and quickly
displaced the silent movie. Song became an integral part of Indian
films, after coming of sound, a film called “Naujawan” came with no
songs and it was instantly rejected by audiences.
Alam Ara was the genesis of the talkie year. The film’s Popular
Hindustani dialogue and 7 song Made it a big hit which resulted in a
other Filmmakers to raise the number of songs in their films till it
reached a whopping 71 in “Indrasabha”.
1930s was the era of K.L.Sehgal and Devika Rani.
Also note:-
1. Also the era of studios like Bombay talkie, imperial film company,
Wadia,
2. Actors sung there own song, that’s why they were known as
Singing Stars.
3. India gave the world playback. Dhoop Chaun was the movie with
1st playback.
4. The credit of first singer in a song movie goes to Wazir
MMohammad Khan who acted and sang this song De De Khuda Ke
Naam Se De.
In 1935 KL Sehgal's Devdas was released this film was outright
success its music became popular K L Sehgal became the heart
throb of the country, one of its song Balam Aye Baso Mere Man Main
is still in the heart of people.
In 1936 Achhyut Kanya starring Ashok kumar and Devika Rani was
released.This film was shot,edited and released in just two months.It
was a huge success,Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru came to see this film
at Roxy cinema.Its all the songs were popular but the song Main Ban
Ki Chidiya Banke Ban Ban Dolon Re (shown during the live session)
sung by Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani was super hit.
Other films were Jhumroo( sung by Kishor Kumar), Kangan, Pukar,
President, Ek duje ke liye, Street Singer.

During 1940s,
Hindi Film Music in 40s was changing,new experiments and modern
techniques were tried.In this decade playback singing started.This
brought in great new talented singers.On the otherhand few most
talented singers like Noorjahaan and composer like Ghulam Haider
had to move away to Pakistan because of partition.This decade gave
us the exceptional singers like Geeta Roy-Dutt, Suraiya, Shamshad
Begum, Rajkumari, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohd. Rafi,
Mukesh,Talat Mahmood, Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar and Kishore
Kumar . Superlative composers like Anil Biswas, Naushad,
C.Ramchandra, S.D.Burman and Vasant Desai were there now to
compose masterly tunes for these golden voices.

1941. This year a movie called KHAJANCHI directed by Moti B.

Gidwani, starring M. Ismail, S.D. Narang, Ramola Devi and Durga
Mota in lead roles was a major success.The music of this movie
made the movie hit.The music director Ghulam Haider made an
experiment by combining popular Raags of Indian classical music
with Punjabi folk music and revolutionalized the film music industry.
The music songs were a hit. The playback includes Shamshad
Begum, Noor Jehan.
Strong British censorship during this period, but some film
managed to pass through the censorship( example- from this
movie “kismet” the song “Door Hato O Duniyawalon Hindustan
Hamara hay” made a huge hit.. during India’s Independence struggle
the world was also fighting the Second World War and in the lyrics of
this song they referred duniyawalo, as Germans and Japanese but
the purpose of this song was well recognised)
1943 was the year when "Kismet"starring Ashok Kumar and Mumtaz
Shanti.The movie was the first blockbuster movie of Indian
cinema,written and directed by Gyan Mukherjee and produced
by Bombay Talkies during the second world war period, while it was
in a succession battle between Devika Rani and Sashadhar
Mukherjee after owner Himanshu Rai's death.
The film came with some bold themes for the first time in Indian
Cinema showing an anti-hero character, double role and an
unmarried girl getting pregnant.The unprecedented success of
Kismet established Ashok Kumar as the first ever superstar of Hindi
cinema. He remained the most popular actor in Hindi cinema until the
early 50s.The music of the film by Anil Biswas introduced 'full chorus'
for the first time in Hindi cinema. The film gave memorable hits like
the patriotic, Door Hato O Duniyawalon Hindustan Hamara hay, the
sad Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali and a soothing lullaby, Dheere Dheere
Aa.

Trend during these times (Ever knew why old songs are so
emotional and touching??.)
Well I know,
Filmmakers made sure there is at least one sad song in the film. Every
one loved sad songs (the trend is now gone. Today the audience can’t
spare 4minutes) ...Remembering in the old days, the heroine would fall
onto her bed.. she would hug a pillow and sing the song in one extended
shot.

1944 was the year when NAUSHAAD established himself the

leading Music Director for the years to come.Rattan is
a 1944 Indian Bollywood film starring Swaran Lata, Karan
Dewan and Amir Bano. It was a highly successful movie of 1944. The
film is noted as the film which made Naushad one of the top
contributors to music in Indian films and enabled him to demand a
fee of Rs 25000 a film.
1946 ASHOK KUMAR DIED. The first era superstar of Hindi
cinema.

1947 release of Jugnu, major hit for DILIP KUMAR and singles
by MOHHAMAD RAFI..who were about to become LEGENDs.

1948 arrival of DEV ANAND

1949 the golden era of hindi film music actually started from
here.The films which where made and were mostly sung by
Noorjahan, Kishor Kumar, Shamshad begum, Lata Mangeshkar and
music by Ghulam Haider are Barsaat, Mahal, Andaz, Dillagi, Badi
Bahen,Jeet and Patanga.

Sneak peek:- ((((Ghulam Haider gave industry, gems like Noorjehan

(known for her acting and singing skills) and Lata Mangeshkar.The
Movie Mahal made Lata Mangeshkar famous and established
playback singers as stars in their own right.Produced by Bombay
Talkies studio, this Kamal Amrohi's directorial debut launched
both playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and the leading
lady Madhubala into super-stardom.
Unfortunately, during partition Noorjehan and Ghulam Haider left for
Pakistan. ))))

BARSAAT was a 1949 Bollywood film directed by Raj Kapoor. The

film stars the famous duo of Kapoor and Nargis as well as Prem
Nath. It was also the introduction of actress Nimmi in her first film
role. Barsaat was one of the first major hit films directed by Kapoor.
This success allowed Kapoor to buy RK Studios in 1950.The film was
the debut for music directors Shankar Jaikishanand established their
careers. The famous playback singer Lata Mangeshkar famously
sang for both Nargis and Nimmi in Barsaat.All the songs(11) of this
film were super hit.

By the end of 1940s and early 50s— many studios closed up.
End of free lance. People started identifying stars.
South industry blossomed, it gave us VYJANTHIMALA.

50s - due to ongoing wars and crime. Film noir glimpses can
also be seen in India. Films like Sangram, Baazi released.
In Southern India, S.S Vasan’s Chandralekha marked the entry
of Masala films. (1948)

Movies from 1950s, Guru Dutt’s Pyassa,Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib

Bibi Aur Ghulam and Chaudhvin Ka Chand.
Vijay Anand’s Tesri Manjil, Guide, Tere mere sapne

1960s the time for club songs, and saw a decline. Golden period
was ended. (Only exception - MUGHAL-E-AZAM (1961) one of
the greatest films in Indian history)
Reason was the demise of our finest Filmmakers like GURU
DUTT, VIMALROY, VIJAY ANAND(known as the director for both
classes and masses)
Guru Dutt died in 1964, Vimal Roy in 67

1961 entry of Rebel star Shammi Kapoor with his duck tail
haircut screaming Yahoo! Koi mujhe junglee kahey, from movie
Junglee(shown in live session).Marked the entry of songs
picturised on hilly areas and out of nowhere near the plot, it
became a formula to attract audiences. Sometimes these
movies worked only because of there songs.

1969-72 The time Of RAJESH KHANNA and the rise of R.D

Burman.

Sneak peek:-
Two singers started their careers together . One was
MOHHAMAD Rafi and other KHAN mastana, one became the
greatest male playback singer country even known and other
died a beggar in Khaji Ali Dargah.

70s was the time, that further widened the gap between main
stream Hindi cinema and parallel cinema.
In Main stream cinema, Romance took a backseat and action
oriented film were the main theme which was the result of
Declaration of Emergency in India by then prime minister, Indira
Gandhi. A bad phase for songs but the worst was yet to come.
Interesting developments:-
1. Evolution of Amitabh Bachchan as the young angry man, he
featured in many of Ramesh Sippy movies like Deewar, Zanjeer,
Amar Akbar Anthony, etc. and the roles for female leads diluted
often the role of hero’s mother were stronger than female
leads.Cuckoo and Helen were seen in many item numbers.
2. “Middle of road” cinema: these were off-beat films and not overtly
commercial. Looked on middle class issues like Shyam
Benegal’s Ankur, Mani Kaul’s Uski roti.

1980s was the worst phase for film songs in Hindi cinema.
Example:- from Himmatwala “naino mein sapna” (shown)
But it was the golden period for Malayalam industry
The man kept the innocence and melody in songs with the help of
IILYARAJA and AR Rahman was none other than MANI RATNAM
Exams:- the song “chinna chinna” from movie Roja (shown)

Late 80s and early 90s another exception:- Mansoor Khan

Example:- from movie Jo Jeeta wohi Sikandar “pehla nasha” (
shown)

1990s - Rediscovery
Khan brought the cinema back to life.
Films were full of Indian traditional values, found market abroad.
Dil Chahta gain brought fresh in approach but was not modern.

Some Tamil Landmarks:- Paruthiveeran , Subramaniapuram.

Many Hindi movies were commercially successful featuring khans.

Hit and flop doesn’t always work only on content, audience
acceptance also plays a major role. Example in Sholay, director
decision was that anyhow they can’t show the marriage between
Amitabh Bachchan and widow played by Jaya Bachchan because
they believe otherwise audience wouldn’t digest it. So they killed
Bachchan’s character.
Similarly, the debate around the typical usage of song picturization in
masala movies exist, but even Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal
couldn’t do justice. Simply because they don’t speak this language
Similarly, a mainstream actor Rajesh Khanna, can beautifully portray
serious characters in Aap ki kasam and Aavishkar. But, actor like
Naseeruddin Shah could not deliver a dance.

A beautiful recent picturization ( Irandal kangal (shown))

The people who are keeping the bar high are no doubt, Sanjay Leela
Bhansali and Nagraj Manjule. Even after these bad picturization and
non relevant additions into the movie, we come across Anurag
Kashyap‘ Gangs of Wasseypur which brilliantly showcased songs
according to the emotion, storyline and giving the idea of what time
the story unfolds.