Those Golden Years
A year on from the success of Slumdog Millionaire, the global passion for Hindi cinema and its music continues to grow. Nikki Bedi looks at the early days of Bollywood.
When Slumdog Millionaire won acclaim last year it was hailed a breakthrough for the Indian film industry. In reality, Bollywood is already bigger than its Western namesake. Across the globe "super-hits", like the recent "3 Idiots" and" My Name Is Khan", have broken box office records and in India alone the sheer number of cinemagoers dwarves even the biggest Hollywood blockbusters.
Slumdog took some of Bollywood's classic components to win critical acclaim and Nikki Bedi finds out exactly where it all began. The "Golden Age", from the 1940s to the 1960s, includes some of Bollywood's best loved films as well as introducing the idea of the "playback singer", the "item number" and some of its most timeless music. "Mother India" is one film that holds a special place for many British Asians. It was one of the first colour films made in Mumbai and it is the glorious Technicolor and unapologetic escapism of Bollywood that gives Hindi film its appeal to ex-pats all over the world and especially in Britain.
Nikki talks about her introduction to the sights and sounds of Bollywood and guests including Slumdog composer AR Rahman, director Shekhar Kapur, lyricist Javed Akhtar, actor Ben Kingsley, playback singers Asha Bhosle and Kavita Krishnamurthy Subramanium, superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan, Nitin Sawhney, Tjinder Singh of Cornershop and Trickbaby talk about their memories of the earliest films and the longest-lasting soundtracks.
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Music Played
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AR Rahman
Chaiya Chaiya
- Dil Se.
- Venus.
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AR Rahman
Jai Ho
- Slumdog Millionaire.
- Interscope.
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痴颈蝉丑补濒鈥揝丑别办丑补谤
Deewangi Deewangi
- Om Shanti Om.
- Saavn.
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Lata Mangeshkar
Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain
- Mother India.
- Saregama India.
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Mukesh Chand Mathur - Mera Joota Hai Japani
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Asha Bhosle
Dum Maro Dum
- Bollywood Best Of.
- Baierle.
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AR Rahman
Chaiya Chaiya
- Dil Se.
- Venus.
-
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AR Rahman
Jai Ho
- Slumdog Millionaire.
- Interscope.
-
![]()
痴颈蝉丑补濒鈥揝丑别办丑补谤
Deewangi Deewangi
- Om Shanti Om.
- Saavn.
-
![]()
Lata Mangeshkar
Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain
- Mother India.
- Saregama India.
-
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Mukesh Chand Mathur - Mera Joota Hai Japani
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Mukesh Chand Mathur - Awaara Hoon
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Geeta Dutt
Mera Naam Chin Chin
- Greatest Hits 鈥� Geeta Dutt.
- Saregama.
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Kavita Krishnamurthy
Hawa Hawai
- Mr India.
- T Series.
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Mohammed Rafi
Ai Ai Ya Sukoo Sukoo
- Junglee.
- Saregama.
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Cornershop
Brimful of Asha
- When I Was Born For The 7th Time.
- Warner.
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Lata Mangeshkar
Main Na Bhoolunga
- Roti Kapada Aur Makaan.
- Saregama.
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Lata Mangeshkar
Thandi Hawayen
- Bollywood Before The Slumdog Millionaire Years.
- Master Classics.
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Asha Bhosle
Dum Maro Dum
- Bollywood Best Of.
- Baierle.
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Asha Bhosle
Love Story
- Love Story.
- Saregama.
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Sachin Dev Burman
Tere Mere Sapne
- Guide.
- Saregama.
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Sachin Dev Burman
Aaj Phir Jeene Ki
- Guide.
- Saregama.
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Kishore Kumar
O Jaan鈥� E-Man
- Beginners Guide To Bollywood.
- Nascente.
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Trickbaby
Indie Yarn
- Chor Bazaar.
- Chachaman.
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Asha Bhosle
Ina Mina Dika
- Rough Guide To Bollywood Legends.
- Baierle.
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Asha Bhosle
Piya Tu Ab To Aaja
- Bollywood Box Set.
- Saregama.
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Kavita Subramaniam - Om Namah Shivay
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Lata Mangeshkar
Chalte Chalte
- Pakeesah.
- Saregama.
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Rahul Dev Burman
Mehbooba Mehbooba
- Sholay.
- Fontana India.
Broadcast
- Tue 23 Feb 2010 23:30大象传媒 Radio 2