Rajesh Khanna, The Super Star Options

[swarapriya]

Rajesh Khanna, The Super Star

Rajesh Khanna was dubbed as the first Super Star of the Hindi screen. In a reign of five years, from 1969 to 1973, he made a hit after hit that was unprecedented in the Hindi cinema history. He was working on stage when he won the talent contest by the United Producers of Bombay. These were the 10 producers who formed a team to select new talent as an answer to escalating salaries for the established stars.

Rajesh's first movie was Chetan Anand's "Aakhri Khat" released in 1966. Inspite of a great director and some beautiful music, the film was a commercial failure. But things changed when in 1969, Shakti Samanta's "Aradhana" was released. The movie with its beautiful music and strong performance by Sharmila Tagore created history. In Rajesh Khanna, a star was born. And for the next few years, he couldn't do anything wrong.

Rajesh made nearly 130 movies in his professional career. One of our Forum members, Debjyoti, gave me this idea to start a thread on the songs of his albums. By happy coincidence I have CDs of almost all of his movie albums. In the coming months, I will start sharing these albums in chronological order.

Here is part one of Rajesh Khanna's filmography ...

[amitnaha]

What a brilliant thread !

With pictures.. introduction.. tabulated song details.. a classic in the making..

And I could not help but jump in the bandwagon. as usually I missed two movies, but that I'll fill up later..no problemo..

Thanks Swarapriya..

And what a thread topic.. songs of Rajesh khanna..

I grew up a decade later than those Rajesh golden days.. and those were pre-VHS days.. so, no way to watch a movie even if everyone talked about it.. and probably because of that I connected more to contemporary Amitabh.. than fading Rajesh..

Yet there is no way to remain indifferent to Rajesh and his romance..
There is something in those lines.. that he said in different movies.. often included before his songs.. 'Chalo Pushpa.. aaj kahin bahar chalte hai.. dhoondte kahin aisi jagah..'
or maybe ..'Sir, main marne se pehle marna nehi chahta hoon..'
Something in those lines.. that faintly rings a bell deep inside the heart.. words mold into passion.. and passion takes form in music.. and the song starts.. superb harmony.. and incredible Rajesh..

Rajesh songs are often very special. And it floods you from unexpected corner.

Some time in mid-nineties, I was tracing the footprint of Jim Corbett.. traveling in different places and jungles of Kumaoon.. and incidentally one afternoon reached Naini-tal. There is a nice lake and I was standing by its side.. when I remembered the song.. 'Jis gali mein tera ghar'.. for it was shot probably on that lake.. and I started humming it.. casually.

I had never been a true Mukesh-lover also.. same time-frame factor.. more into Kishore and RD.. yet at that moment, standing next to the lake when the day was rolling into a chilly evening, I felt an irresistible impulse.. I have to listen to that song.. somehow..

I had a walkman, but didn't have the kati-patang cassette among the few I had with me.. that was left lying at Calcutta. What to do.

Luckily there was an audio-shop nearby. I strode into that.. it was almost empty. I asked the guy if he had that cassette.. and told him about my feelings.. if he would rent it for a while.
He looked at me quizzically and picked up the cassette and handed it over to me. I was going to pay when he waved and said.. return when you have your fill. Don't have to pay anything.

I thanked him and came back to lakeside. With the headphone on.. the song filled the universe drowning the world around into oblivion. Daylight melted into darkness while I repeated the song a few times.. sitting next to the gently lapping waves.

Later, I returned the cassette with a pack of cigarette and thanked him from my heart..

And thank you again.. Swarapriya.

Amit

[desai2rn]

What a brilliant thread !

With pictures.. introduction.. tabulated song details.. a classic in the making..

And I could not help but jump in the bandwagon. as usually I missed two movies, but that I'll fill up later..no problemo..

Thanks Swarapriya..

And what a thread topic.. songs of Rajesh khanna..

I grew up a decade later than those Rajesh golden days.. and those were pre-VHS days.. so, no way to watch a movie even if everyone talked about it.. and probably because of that I connected more to contemporary Amitabh.. than fading Rajesh..

Yet there is no way to remain indifferent to Rajesh and his romance..
There is something in those lines.. that he said in different movies.. often included before his songs.. 'Chalo Pushpa.. aaj kahin bahar chalte hai.. dhoondte kahin aisi jagah..'
or maybe ..'Sir, main marne se pehle marna nehi chahta hoon..'
Something in those lines.. that faintly rings a bell deep inside the heart.. words mold into passion.. and passion takes form in music.. and the song starts.. superb harmony.. and incredible Rajesh..

Rajesh songs are often very special. And it floods you from unexpected corner.

Some time in mid-nineties, I was tracing the footprint of Jim Corbett.. traveling in different places and jungles of Kumaoon.. and incidentally one afternoon reached Naini-tal. There is a nice lake and I was standing by its side.. when I remembered the song.. 'Jis gali mein tera ghar'.. for it was shot probably on that lake.. and I started humming it.. casually.

I had never been a true Mukesh-lover also.. same time-frame factor.. more into Kishore and RD.. yet at that moment, standing next to the lake when the day was rolling into a chilly evening, I felt an irresistible impulse.. I have to listen to that song.. somehow..

I had a walkman, but didn't have the kati-patang cassette among the few I had with me.. that was left lying at Calcutta. What to do.

Luckily there was an audio-shop nearby. I strode into that.. it was almost empty. I asked the guy if he had that cassette.. and told him about my feelings.. if he would rent it for a while.
He looked at me quizzically and picked up the cassette and handed it over to me. I was going to pay when he waved and said.. return when you have your fill. Don't have to pay anything.

I thanked him and came back to lakeside. With the headphone on.. the song filled the universe drowning the world around into oblivion. Daylight melted into darkness while I repeated the song a few times.. sitting next to the gently lapping waves.

Later, I returned the cassette with a pack of cigarette and thanked him from my heart..

And thank you again.. Swarapriya.

Amit

Amit ji ,

Very interesting incident. I guess it reflects impulsivness of a true music lover.

The question is did you become a 'Mukesh' fan after that ??

I am a hugh Mukesh fan. Of coure love song of other legends too.