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Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Filmmaker Raj Khosla at 100: A tale of Dutt, dacoits and a double life
He had the best possible start as an aspiring filmmaker, working as assistant to the great Guru Dutt. He went on to become one of Bollywood's most versatile directors. In a 35-year career (1954-89), he directed 26 films, adroitly shifting between Bombay noir crime thrillers and spooky tales of mystery, love stories, family socials and dacoit dramas. Raj Khosla grew up in Bombay, hero-worshipping the singer KL Saigal, who coincidentally lived close to the Khoslas' home in Matunga. Khosla, in fact, dreamed of being a playback singer. But, given the opportunity to sing a few songs in films such as Bhool Bhulaiyan (1949) and Aankhen (1950), he soon realised he could never stand out in a field dominated by the likes of Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh. So, when Dev Anand — who describes Khosla in his autobiography as 'my coffee-house friend from the days I was working at the military censor office' — recommended him to Dutt instead, Khosla accepted the offer. Dutt, who was working on his directorial debut, Baazi (1951), took him on as one of his two assistant directors. Khosla assisted on his next three films too. In-between, he made his own directorial debut, with Milap (1955). The Dev Anand-Geeta Bali starrer, a tale of a poor country youth who comes into a big inheritance and falls prey to swindlers, flopped at the box office. A still from Mera Gaon Mera Desh, a 1971 precursor to Sholay (1975), about a small-time thief and jailbird who must protect a village from a merciless daku. Fortunately, Dutt stepped in and offered him the chance to direct his next production, the noir thriller CID (1956). CID was a huge hit. Dutt would remain an important figure in Khosla's life and much of his work reveals influences of his guru's cinematic style. These influences are particularly clear in the way he used songs. They weren't just embellishments but carried the story forward. And they were exquisite, truly deserving of the term 'evergreen'. It was Khosla's films from the '50s and '60s that gave us Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan (CID; OP Nayyar), Naina Barse Rim Jhim and Lag Ja Gale (Woh Kaun Thi; Madan Mohan), Mera Saaya and Jhumka Gira Re (Mera Saaya; Madan Mohan). Many of Khosla's films are remembered fondly even today: Do Raaste (1969; starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz); Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971, starring Dharmendra); Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978; starring Asha Parekh and Nutan); Dostana (1980, starring Amitabh Bachchan). Yet, oddly, the man himself has faded from public memory. In his centenary year — he was born in the same year as Guru Dutt — a new biography by Amborish Roychoudhury seeks to right this strange imbalance. Jabbar Singh! Two genres stand out in Khosla's filmography: suspense and the dacoit drama. In the former, the first two films of his famous trilogy — Woh Kaun Thi (1964), Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967) – were almost Hitchcockian. The suspense is real, the plots taut. Both films keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. (The third was weak and faltered on plot and pace). Among the dacoit dramas, Mera Gaon… foreshadows the blockbuster Sholay (1975): A small-time thief and jailbird Ajit (Dharmendra) must protect a village from the depredations of a merciless daku (who is called Jabbar Singh!). Khosla saw hits and success in his peak years. Behind the scenes, however, a complex personal life was taking its toll. Khosla had fallen in love outside his marriage. Amid the turmoil, he sank into alcoholism. 'Going by several accounts, he was mentally disturbed... The double life he was leading sat heavily on his lean shoulders,' Roychoudhury writes in his biography. Khosla's later films, meanwhile, were neither commercially successful nor did they do justice to his talent. Soon, work started drying up. His time was over. He died in 1991, aged 66, forgotten by the industry. Until the end, he kept a giant photograph of Guru Dutt in his office, Roychoudhury writes. 'In the autumn of his life, it was not uncommon for journalists or assistants to walk in on him weeping in front of the portrait.' Perhaps he was remembering his guru, perhaps he was remembering happier times, or perhaps it was a bit of both. (Poonam Saxena is a writer and translator whose works include Dharmvir Bharati's iconic Gunahon ka Devta, Rahi Masoom Raza's Scene: 75 and Aleph's Greatest Hindi Stories Ever Told)
India.com
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
These 6 old songs featuring Sadhana were superhits, people went crazy seeing her beauty, still top the retro playlist, the songs are…
Home Entertainment These 6 old songs featuring Sadhana were superhits, people went crazy seeing her beauty, still top the retro playlist, the songs are… These 6 old songs featuring Sadhana were superhits, people went crazy seeing her beauty, still top the retro playlist, the songs are… These evergreen songs of Sadhana went people go crazy for her beauty, they still top the retro playlist. Read Inside. These 6 old songs featuring Sadhana were superhits, people went crazy seeing her beauty, still top the retro playlist, the songs are… In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, many actors come and go, but some rare gems are not just actors; they are stars who remain etched in our memories. One such story is of an actress from the golden era who became eternal with her expressive eyes and strong screen presence. But besides her films that captivated the hearts of millions, it was also her enchanting appearance in some blockbuster old classics that still strikes an emotional chord with the audience. The actress that we are talking about is none other than Sadhana. Much like her name, Sadhana's simplicity created a magic on screen that remains untouched even today. Here are 5 melodies featuring Sadhana that continue to rule playlists, radio stations, and hearts. 1. Tujhe jeevan ki dor se – Asli Naqli (1962) Capturing the beautiful chemistry between Dev Anand and Sadhana, this song was sung by the legendary Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. The song was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan. From Sadhana's expressive eyes to her innocence, she created magic like no other, and this song became a massive hit on the radio. 2. Abhi na jao chhod kar – Hum Dono (1961) This song can still make people teary-eyed. This cult classic was sung by Rafi and Asha Bhosle. The music video featured Sadhana and Dev Anand in a tender romantic moment. The heartfelt and deep lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi made it a timeless classic. 3. Aaja, aai bahaar – Rajkumar (1964) This song features sizzling chemistry between Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana, and the voice to this upbeat romantic song was Lata Mangeshkar combined with Shankar-Jaikishan. The song topped the chartbuster and continues to resonate even today. 4. Mera saaya saath hoga – Mera Saaya (1966) This emotional and heartfelt song touches a nerve like no other. The lyrics feel like a long-gone person still communicating with the one left behind. This timeless classic was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Madan Mohan's music added a soulful touch to this deeply emotional song. 5. Jhumka gira re – Mera Saaya This retro blockbuster is one of the most popular songs that still causes a stir. The peppy song was sung by Asha Bhosale, and its video featured Sadhna's grace and natural charm. 6. Lag ja gale – Woh Kaun Thi? This masterpiece hits home like no other. The heartfelt composition and deep lyrics make it top the retro love playlist even today. This song was with Lata Mangeshkar's soulful voice, Madan Mohan's composition, and Sadhana's expression, makes it a magical treasure. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest Entertainment News on
NDTV
31-05-2025
- 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 Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Indian Idol 12 winner Pawandeep Rajan sings Mera Saaya from hospital room. Watch
Indian Idol 12 winner Pawandeep Rajan underwent multiple surgeries after being involved in a car accident. In a new video recorded inside the hospital ward, the singer was seen singing 'Mera Saaya' in his mellifluous voice. The heartwarming video has won the hearts of people, with many wishing him a speedy is currently recuperating and can be seen with a cast in his hand in his recent Instagram video. He captioned the video with a folded hands and a heart the video, Pawandeep, sitting on the hospital bed, sang the iconic 'Mera Saaya Saath Hoga' song, from the 1966-film 'Mera Saaya', featuring Sunil Dutt and Sadhana. We can also see the hospital staff listening to his beautiful rendition. Here's the video: His comment section was filled with love and messages wishing him a speedy recovery. A user wrote, "God bless you Pawandeep (sic)," while actor Saiee M Manjrekar wrote, 'Wow pawan!! May god always keep you safe, this is love and strength to you (sic)."Take a look at some of the comments: On May 5, Pawandeep met with a car accident in Amroha when his vehicle rammed into a parked truck, which left him with multiple Watch
