Latest news with #LagJaGale
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Raj Khosla At 100 - Meet The Man Behind Sadhana's 'Mystery Woman'
There's a Hindi proverb which translates in English to "Behind every successful man, there's a woman". In the case of Raj Khosla and Sadhana, this saying proved to be true, both ways. In his 30-year career, Raj Khosla made a name for himself as a director with star-studded movies such as Dev Anand's CID; Mera Gaon Mera Desh, starring Dharmendra and Asha Parekh; and Dostana with Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha. Advertisement - Scroll to continue But what made him stand apart from his contemporaries was his mystery trilogy -- Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Mera Saaya (1966), and Anita (1967) - all three with Sadhana in the centre. While women characters in Raj Khosla's films were hardly just an arm candy or a mute spectator, his collaboration with Sadhana in the genre holds special importance. According to Raj Khosla: The Authorized Biography, a book penned by Amborish Roychoudhury in association with the director's daughters Anita Khosla and Uma Khosla Kapur, these three films were "all primarily love stories neatly wrapped in a thrilling exterior. At the heart of the mysteries were a man and a woman (actually two women - Sadhana had double roles in all three films) in love." Raj Khosla: The Authorized Biography Photo Credit: Cover designed by Pia Alizé Hazarika Raj Khosla Kaun The? Born in Punjab in 1925, Raj Khosla was one of the most prominent filmmakers and screenwriters in Hindi film industry between the 1950s to1980s. May 31 (Saturday) marks the birth centenary of the director. He cut his teeth in films as an assistant to master filmmaker Guru Dutt before flying solo. Whether it was experimenting with opening credits, film editing techniques, staying true to genre without compromising on the emotional quotient, or his handling of musical sequences, the filmmaker was a cinematic visionary. He trained in Indian classical music and came to Bombay, erstwhile Mumbai, looking for work as a singer: he was part of the All India Radio's music staff. Sadhana As 'The Hero' And Fashion Icon In Raj Khosla's Films Before embarking on the suspense trilogy, Raj Khosla and Sadhana first collaborated on 1962's Ek Musafir Ek Hasina. The Hindi cinema of the 1960s and 1970s was dominated by the hero, especially in musical romance films. So to take a female actor and make her the driving force of the story, along with internalised acting and all the song-and-dance (Remember Lag Ja Gale from Woh Kaun Thi? and Jhumka Gira Re from Mera Saaya?), in genres such as mystery and suspense thriller, was almost avant-garde. (1966) Raj Khosla and Sadhana during the shoot of song 'Jhumka Gira Re', for film 'Mera Saaya'. — Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) February 20, 2018 Sadhana's status as a fashion icon -- the first Hindi film female actor to have a hairstyle famously named after her -- was also a bonus for Raj Khosla's films. Whether it was the floral saree and pearl jewellery in the haunting Lag Ja Gale or an embroidered powder blue saree against the backdrop of a palace in Udaipur in the love ballad Nainon Mein Badra Chhaye (Mera Saaya), the Raj Khosla and Sadhana duo was a winning sartorial combination too. Raj Khosla, Sadhana And Mystery According to the book, filmmaker and historian Karan Bali highlighted how the late filmmaker worked with his cinematographer KH Kapadia to get just the right low-key lighting to add to "Sadhana's mystery" in Woh Kaun Thi?, also starring Manoj Kumar. "... It adds to the confusion that Manoj Kumar is going through, and the way he Khosla makes Sadhana walk so that her face is always within light..." Raj engaged in an intense conversation with Sadhana, one of his closest friends in the industry. Photo Credit: Personal collection of Raj Khosla's family The book, recently published by Hachette India, also states that Mera Saaya had "a better ending" than Woh Kaun Thi? "While the latter had a series of mysteries and red herrings built into the script, in the end it all boiled down to one explanation: that the heroine had a humshakal, a twin (Bollywood's favourite buzzword till well into the 1990s). However, in Mera Saaya, we already know that there's someone who looks like the heroine. Yet, till the denouement occurs, even seasoned thriller buffs are left scratching their head and wondering what really could have happened. If keeping the audience guessing till the end is a Hitchcockian trait, Raj Khosla was the finest Hitchcockian director India had seen." Raj Khosla and Sadhana collaborated on four films - Ek Musafir Ek Hasina and the mystery woman trilogy. Why we never got another film remains a mystery.
India.com
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This Lata Mangeshkar song was rejected by director, actor; later, director picked up his shoe to hit… today, it is one of Bollywood's most iconic songs; It is…
Lata Mangeshkar, the nightingale of India's songs, remain timeless. Her melodious voice has spanned generations, transcending language barriers. Her influence on the industry is unparalleled. She has sung over 30,000 songs in over 36 languages. There is one song released in 1964 that has a history. The iconic song was rejected by the director and the lead actor of the movie, and later became a cult classic. We are talking about the song 'Lag Ja Gale' from the movie 'Woh Kaun Thi'. Director Raj Khosla initially didn't like 'Lag Ja Gale' and it took composer Madan Mohan to first convince the film's star Manoj Kumar who then convinced Khosla. Manoj Kumar has been quoted in Raj Khosla: The Authorised Biography , saying, 'One day I got a call from Madan Mohan. He said, 'Raj Khosla has lost his mind. He's rejecting a beautiful song. Please come and handle it.' At that point, Manoj Kumar hadn't even heard the track and was initially hesitant to intervene. But after listening to it, he decided to step in. He spoke to producer NN sippy, who agreed with Mohan and they decided to talk to Khosla. On Manoj Kumar's repeated requests, Raj Khosla agreed to listen to it again, but in the end, he called the song bad. However, after listening to it on repeat, the filmmaker was 'surprised'. His opinion changed and admitted that it was one of the best tunes he had ever heard. He picked up his shoe in frustration to beat himself. He also called himself a fool. Lag Ja Gale became one of Lata Mangeshkar's all-time favourite tracks. With over 315 million views on YouTube, its popularity has continued to grow over time.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Manoj Kumar stepped in to save 'Lag Ja Gale' from rejection
Lata Mangeshkar's iconic song "Lag Ja Gale" almost didn't make it into the film "Woh Kaun Thi". Director Raj Khosla initially disliked the song, prompting Manoj Kumar to intervene after composer Madan Mohan sought his help. Kumar convinced Khosla to reconsider, and upon a second listen, Khosla was astonished by the song's brilliance. "Lag Ja Gale", that plaintive ode to love sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the 1964 classic "Woh Kaun Thi", almost didn't see the light of day. Quite simply, director Raj Khosla didn't like the track and it took composer Madan Mohan to first convince the film's star Manoj Kumar who then persuaded the filmmaker that the song was finally included. Once he heard the song again, Khosla picked up his shoe to hit himself, according to "Raj Khosla: The Authorized Biography", released on May 20 ahead of the filmmaker's 100th birth anniversary on May 31. "I got a call from Madan Mohan one day. 'Raj Khosla has lost his mind,' Madan said. 'Ek gaana sunaya. Usko pasand nahi aaya. (I made him hear a song. He didn't like it.) You come and handle this please," the book quotes Kumar as saying. However, Kumar, who hadn't heard the song yet, was reluctant to intervene, reasoning that it was ultimately "Khosla's film", and opted to speak with producer N N Sippy about the matter. "There were only a few days left for the shoot and the song was yet to be finalized. What was to be done? Sippy concurred with the music director. He, too, wanted Manoj Kumar to approach Raj Khosla and sort this out," recounts the book by author Amborish Roychoudhury in association with Khosla's daughters Anita Khosla and Uma Khosla Kapur. Kumar agreed to intervene when the composer played the song for him. Kumar, on whom the song was eventually picturised alongside actor Sadhana Shivdasani , described the piece of music as a "brilliant composition" and was amazed that Khosla -- who joined the film industry with the dream of becoming a playback singer and someone with keen appreciation of good music -- didn't like the song, the book reads. Later, after persistent urging from Kumar, Khosla finally agreed -- albeit reluctantly -- to listen to the song, but only after telling him that it is "really bad". However, upon hearing it again, the late filmmaker was left "astonished" and admitted it was one of the best tunes he had ever come across. "And this was a song he was about to let go? 'How incredibly stupid of me', Khosla exclaimed. According to Kumar, Raj even picked up his own shoe to hit himself," reads the book. Mangeshkar had listed "Lag Ja Gale" as one of her six favourites. It has over 277 million views on YouTube. The soul-stirring melody, as noted in the book and explained by music composer Sanjeev Kohli, Mohan's son, was a particularly challenging piece to execute, even for the legendary Mangeshkar due to the intricate 'murkis' (ornamental flourishes) and nuanced variations incorporated by both Mohan and Lata herself, which demanded exceptional vocal finesse. When she did it right, even Mohan got emotional and hugged the singer. "When we recorded the song, everybody was happy with it. Raj Khosla loved it. All of us were satisfied. Once the recording was over, Madan bhaiyya aaye aur mujhe gale laga kar rone lage. (Madan bhaiyya came and hugging me, started crying.) The song... created history," Mangeshkar is quoted as saying in the book. Six decades after its release, the song has been repurposed by filmmakers variously in their films, including AR Murugadoss in the recently out Salman Khan-Rashmika Mandanna starrer "Sikandar", Karan Johar in "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" (2016) and "Bombay Talkies" (2013), and Tigmanshu Dhulia for the "Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster" franchise. In a career spanning three decades and 27 films, Khosla directed several hits, including "CID", "Dostana", "Do Raaste", "Do Badan" and "Mera Saaya". The filmmaker, who trained under legendary actor-director Guru Dutt, was also credited for shooting musical sequences with dexterity. These include greats such as "Lag jaa gale", "Mera saaya saath hoga", "Jaane kya baat hai", "Hai apna dil toh awara" and "Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan". "Raj Khosla: The Authorised Biography", published by Hachette India and priced at Rs 799, is available for purchase across online and offline stores. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
When Manoj Kumar stepped in to save 'Lag Ja Gale' from rejection
New Delhi, "Lag Ja Gale", that plaintive ode to love sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the 1964 classic "Woh Kaun Thi", almost didn't see the light of day. Quite simply, director Raj Khosla didn't like the track and it took composer Madan Mohan to first convince the film's star Manoj Kumar who then persuaded the filmmaker that the song was finally included. Once he heard the song again, Khosla picked up his shoe to hit himself, according to "Raj Khosla: The Authorized Biography", released on May 20 ahead of the filmmaker's 100th birth anniversary on May 31. "I got a call from Madan Mohan one day. 'Raj Khosla has lost his mind,' Madan said. 'Ek gaana sunaya. Usko pasand nahi aaya. You come and handle this please," the book quotes Kumar as saying. However, Kumar, who hadn't heard the song yet, was reluctant to intervene, reasoning that it was ultimately "Khosla's film", and opted to speak with producer N N Sippy about the matter. "There were only a few days left for the shoot and the song was yet to be finalized. What was to be done? Sippy concurred with the music director. He, too, wanted Manoj Kumar to approach Raj Khosla and sort this out," recounts the book by author Amborish Roychoudhury in association with Khosla's daughters Anita Khosla and Uma Khosla Kapur. Kumar agreed to intervene when the composer played the song for him. Kumar, on whom the song was eventually picturised alongside actor Sadhana Shivdasani , described the piece of music as a "brilliant composition" and was amazed that Khosla who joined the film industry with the dream of becoming a playback singer and someone with keen appreciation of good music didn't like the song, the book reads. Later, after persistent urging from Kumar, Khosla finally agreed albeit reluctantly to listen to the song, but only after telling him that it is "really bad". However, upon hearing it again, the late filmmaker was left "astonished" and admitted it was one of the best tunes he had ever come across. "And this was a song he was about to let go? 'How incredibly stupid of me', Khosla exclaimed. According to Kumar, Raj even picked up his own shoe to hit himself," reads the book. Mangeshkar had listed "Lag Ja Gale" as one of her six favourites. It has over 277 million views on YouTube. The soul-stirring melody, as noted in the book and explained by music composer Sanjeev Kohli, Mohan's son, was a particularly challenging piece to execute, even for the legendary Mangeshkar due to the intricate 'murkis' and nuanced variations incorporated by both Mohan and Lata herself, which demanded exceptional vocal finesse. When she did it right, even Mohan got emotional and hugged the singer. "When we recorded the song, everybody was happy with it. Raj Khosla loved it. All of us were satisfied. Once the recording was over, Madan bhaiyya aaye aur mujhe gale laga kar rone lage. The song... created history," Mangeshkar is quoted as saying in the book. Six decades after its release, the song has been repurposed by filmmakers variously in their films, including AR Murugadoss in the recently out Salman Khan-Rashmika Mandanna starrer "Sikandar", Karan Johar in "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and "Bombay Talkies" , and Tigmanshu Dhulia for the "Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster" franchise. In a career spanning three decades and 27 films, Khosla directed several hits, including "CID", "Dostana", "Do Raaste", "Do Badan" and "Mera Saaya". The filmmaker, who trained under legendary actor-director Guru Dutt, was also credited for shooting musical sequences with dexterity. These include greats such as "Lag jaa gale", "Mera saaya saath hoga", "Jaane kya baat hai", "Hai apna dil toh awara" and "Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan". "Raj Khosla: The Authorised Biography", published by Hachette India and priced at ₹799, is available for purchase across online and offline stores.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Iulia Vantur on Salman Khan starrer Sikandar's performance at the box office
Iulia Vantur and Salman Khan Iulia Vantur 's recent work includes a rendition of the iconic song Lag Ja Gale in Sikandar, featuring Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna. The opportunity to work on a song originally sung by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar has strengthened her as a singer, further establishing her presence in the music industry. While the project did give her an opportunity to work on an iconic number, the film, unlike the other Salman starrers didn't do too well at the box office. When we asked Iulia to comment on the same, she said, 'What do you do when your film gets leaked. People are leaking movies online. They were respecting the work of the artists earlier but now they are leaking movies. There are these situations where you can't help. But elements like these damage a film's business. Having said that one must celebrate the love which the film received. There are fans who respect Salman's work and has supported him for thirty years and came to watch the film.' Iulia also says that to last long in an industry like showbiz for decades together is commendable. She elaborates, 'To last for so many decades is not easy. And you need more than just talent for that. You need a different kind of involvement and love to give to your audience. So, these people stuck with you for so long and they stand by you through thick and thin. I think that's the biggest achievement of an actor.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo She's also thankful to Salman for showing trust in her and giving her work. The actress who made her debut with a cameo in O Teri (2014), said, 'All I can say is that I just feel honoured to have been guided by someone who has such vast experience in the industry. I am grateful that he believed in me and trusted my abilities.'
