Dev Anand & R.D Burman

song : ek roop kai naam (one concept different names)

singer : Kishore Kumar

music : R.D Burman

lyrics : Anjaan

album : Swami Dada (1982 Hindi movie)

produced & directed by : Dev Anand

Trivia: Dev Anand have always explored the themes of spirituality,mysticism and religious-cults in his movies [ eg. Guide(1965), Hare Rama Hare Krishna(1971), Swami Dada(1982)] with out being too judgmental or patronising. 'Swami Dada' is not a real life character but loosely based on the notable 20-th century holymen like Osho,Yogananda,Meher Baba etc. who had large following in the West. (But they should n't be mistaken with their 21-th century counterparts, who are mostly after money and fame.) Dev Anand with his in-born charisma & unbridled energy was tailor-made to play the holyman. The Western female disciple reminds me of Kate Winslet in a much later movie 'Holy Smoke'(1999).

Swami Dada did not do well during the time of release because, like many other Dev Anand movies, it's theme was well ahead of times. And like any other Dev Anand movies ,it had great music from the Burman - this time Burman junior - to be precise, the incomparable R.D Burman !

Dev Anand : Guide (1965) - title song

song : musafir (the traveller)

singer/composer : S.D Burman

movie : Guide (1965-Hindi movie based on novel by R.K Narayan)

starring : Dev Anand, Waheeda Rahman

Produced by : Dev Anand

written & directed by : Vijay Anand

trivia : Dev Anand's most critically acclaimed movie 'Guide' is based on R.K Narayan's novel and directed by Dev Anand's brother Vijay Anand. The title-song is composed & sung by S.D Burman in the Bengali folk style. For the music of his own productions, Dev Anand have consistently used the Burmans - S.D Burman & his equally talented son R.D Burman. No surprise, the music of Dev Anand movies were a great hit !

music of ILaiyaraaja

song : Dilwaale Raat Hai Jawan

singer : Asha Bhosle

album : Mahadev (Hindi movie 1987)

lyrics : Farooq Kaiser

music : Ilaiyaraaja

Trivia: Another great hit from the entertaining 80s! The model featured in this video is the former miss-India and actress Sonu Walia.

The singer needs no introduction. Any music-lover from the Indian sub-continent can easily recognise her sweet voice. She is the living-legend Asha Bhosle.

The music composer Ilaiyaraaja may not be as well known as his protege A.R Rahman (of Slumdog Millionaire fame.) Infact A.R Rahman was a key-boardist in Ilaiyaraaja's orchestra.And Ilaiyaraaja himself started off as a guitarist under the great composer Salil Chowdhury.

In his appearence, Ilaiyaraaja(below) may be mistaken as a south-Indian monk or 'swami'. But it was this soft-spoken & introverted 'swami' who composed all those peppy,chartbusting, Hi-NRG dance hits of the 80s! Though busy in south India, Raaja has also occassionally worked in Hindi music scene.

R.D Burman

song : Shono Ei To Somoy (1986)

album : Modern Bengali Songs of R.D Burman

singer/composer : R.D Burman

Trivia : R.D Burman made this song during the twilight of his career. But it is difficult to believe !The song has such energy and passion typical of the 80s, as if a teenage-band has created it! That speaks much about R.D.B - always well ahead of his times.

Kung Fu Fighting

Title : Kung-fu fighting (1974)
vocals,lyrics & music by : Carl Douglas
Produced & arranged by : Biddu

[Trivia : Watch out in this video a young, 'hippie' Biddu ( our very own Biddu Appaiah - to be precise) performing back vocals & special 'kung-fu dance'! Anyway, it's truly inspiring to watch him in action - a musician born in a small-town in south Asia and making it big in the world-stage. Big up Biddu!]

Lyrics :

Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening
But they fought with expert timing

There where funky China men from funky Chinatown
They were chopping them up
They were chopping them down
It's an ancient Chinese art
And everybody knew their part

From a faint into a slip
And a kickin' from the hip
Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they fought with expert timing

There was funky Billie Chin and little Sammy Chong
He said, here comes the big boss, let's get it on
We took the bow and made a stand
Started swaying with the hand
The sudden motion made me skip
Now we're into a brand new trip

(Everybody was) Kung Fu fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they did it with expert timing
(pause)
keep on, keep on, keep on
Sure enough

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those kicks were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
Make sure you have expert timing

Kung Fu fighting, has to be fast as lightning...