Telugu Connection

Here's a cool (just in time for the summer) CD collection of my favorite songs from the wild and wacky, weird and wonderful world of Telugu action films from the late 60's and early 70's. Enjoy!

Click above to enlarge back cover

Track list:

Theesko Coca-Cola - Rowdeelaku Rowdeelu - 1971
Naa Pere Kismis - James Bond 777 - 1971
Aanandam Andistaanu To You - Panjaramlo Pasipapa - 1973
Alaantidaanni Kaanu - Rowdeelaku Rowdeelu - 1971
Chukkesukochchaa Tikkakudiristaa - Pilla Piduga - 1972
Vayasu Kurradi Takkari Donga - Chakkani Chukka - 1969
Pillaa Shokillaa Piliche Manchivada -  Manchivallaku Manchivadu - 1973
Kamudaa Kaamudaa - Pilla Piduga -1972
Yettukuntaavaa Nannettamantaava - Kattula Rattayya - 1972
Rubber Bommaa Muddula Gumma - James Bond 777 - 1971
Entho Manchi Roju Santoshinche - Kattula Rattayya - 1972
Kondamalle Kannepilloy Bulloda  - Monagaadostunnadu Jagratta - 1972

Listen to my favorite track:
Aanandam Andistaanu To You -



Get the CD Here.

Feedback and comments are always appreciated :)

Sharabi Aankhen Gulabi Chehra - Madhosh (1974)

Helen rehearses RD Burman's Sharabi Aankhen Gulabi Chehra with Rakesh Roshan. Imo, one of RD's best songs, featuring a classic duet by Asha Bhosle and RD Burman. Later on, she performs the complete song. Enjoy the 2 videos!





Special thanks to Tom Daniel for restoring the videos and making them look as good as they do.

Helen in Bengali Cinema

Here's Helen in 3 dances that she performed for the Bengali film industry.

First up, Ektu Bosho Chole Jeon from Troyee (1982).



Next is Shay Ki Elo from Rajkumari (1970).



Lastly, she dances to Tere Liye Aaya from Gali Theke Rajpath (1959) with vocal from Geeta Dutt. Thanks to Tom Daniel for improving the video.



Enjoy!

Helen of Tollywood

Here are 5 dances that Helen did for the Telugu (Tollywood) film industry. First up is a very rare Helen performance. She dances brilliantly in the latin-sounding song Rupaayi Kasulone Unnadi Tamaashaa from Santhosham (1955). It's one of the earliest videos available where she's the lead dancer. This dance features lots of closeups of a very young Helen to enjoy. Also, keep an eye out for her ballet footwork as she dances on her toes in parts of the song. :)

Special thanks to Tom Daniel for his restoration of the video.

So, sit back and enjoy the Magic of Helen :)



Next, Helen dances to Chukkesukochchaa Tikkakudiristaa Siggu Tera Teestaa from Pilla Piduga (1972). The vocal is by Telugu playback veteran L.R.Eeswari. Asha Bhosle sang the more familiar dubbed Hindi version Hoga So Hoga from Pistolwali. Thanks to Tom Daniel for restoring the video and for replacing the dubbed Hindi audio with the Telugu audio that I was able to acquire. So, now you can enjoy the video with it's original audio.



Helen dances to Sawaal Hai Kaisa in this dubbed Hindi version of Kaun Sachcha Kaun Jhootha (1972). The original Telugu audio is unavailable. Thanks, once again, to Tom Daniel for restoration of the video.



Here's the video of Sundaranga Andukora (1958) from the devotional Telugu classic - Bhookailas. Enjoy as Helen dances as Maneka and attempts to break Vishwamitra's penance.



Finally, here's another rare find. In what may be their only dance together, here's Helen and Jyothi Lakshmi in Allibilli Andamanta from Bhogi Mantalu (1981). Enjoy!

Across the Universe (Jai Guru Deva, Om)

John Lennon composed this song in India while studying Transcendental Mediation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He always considered it to be one of his best and most poetic songs.

The mantra Jai Guru Deva Om is a Sanskrit expression and it became a link to the chorus "Nothing's gonna change my world." According to Wikipedia, it literally means "Glory to the shining remover of darkness," and can be paraphrased as "Victory to God divine", "Hail to the divine guru", or the phrase commonly invoked by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in referring to his spiritual teacher "All Glory to Guru Dev."



Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,
Possessing and caressing me.

Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.
Nothing's gonna change my world.
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes,
They call me on and on across the universe,
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe

Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.
Nothing's gonna change my world.
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing
Through my opened ears inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying Love which shines around me like a
million suns, and calls me on and on
Across the universe

Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.
Nothing's gonna change my world.
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

Helen of Kollywood

What follows are 3 videos featuring Helen that she made for Tamil (Kollywood) cinema. The first one is a real rarity. It won't be found in any filmography of Helen. And there's no mention of it in Jerry Pinto's bioagraphy of Helen either. The name of the song is Ninaithale Innikum Sugame and It comes from Billa (1980) which is the Tamil remake of Don. Billa became a huge hit and made Rajnikanth a superstar of Tamil cinema. When it came to film the seduction scene and song (Yeh Mera Dil) made famous by Helen and Amitabh Bachchan, Helen was called upon to reprise her role. In Billa, the song is different and Rajnikanth may have replaced Amitabh, but Helen is still Helen and she employs many of the same dance steps and gyrations that made the Hindi version a classic. A special thanks to Tom Daniel for restoration of the video.

So, sit back and enjoy the Magic of Helen :)



Alavudinum Arbhutha Vilakkum (1979) (Allauddin And Wonderful Lamp) is another Tamil film that Helen dances in that not too many have ever seen. It also stars Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan.



Lastly, here's another rare Helen video from 1958's classic Tamil film Uthama Puthiranan. I supplied the raw video to Tom Daniel. He restored it and it now looks and sounds great. The song is called Yaradi Nee Mohini and Helen doesn't appear until 3:12. But it's well worth the wait as she dances marvelously, especially in the boogie-woogie finale. Enjoy!

Pagla Kahin Ka (Tom Daniel) - First time on DVD

Here's the latest DVD by Tom Daniel: Pagla Kahin Ka (1970). And, once again, he's done amazing work on his latest DVD release. It features restored video and audio with subtitles (thanks to his translator Raja). Pagla Kahin Ka reunites the cast of Teesri Manzil: Shammi Kapoor, Asha Bholsle, Helen and Prem Chopra. Shankar Jaikishan composed the memorable soundtrack. Get the DVD and the original soundtrack album ripped from vinyl at Mediafire for free.




Get the DVD for free Here.

Get the original soundtrack album for free Here.

Read my review of the original soundtrack album Here.

Read the review of the movie and DVD at memsaabstory Here.

Enjoy!

Padmini & Vyjayanthimala's Classic Tamil Dance-off

Finally, here's a high quality video of Kannum Kannum Kalandu from the Tamil film Vanjikkootai Vaaliban which was taken from a Tamil TV. broadcast. Enjoy Padmini and Vyjayanthimala as they square off in the greatest dance-off in Indian cinematic history. The Hindi version is Aaja To Aaja from Raj Tilak and it's the centerpiece of Tom Daniel's excellent Padmini - The Hindi Years DVD. You can get the DVD for free - Here.

Padmini - The Hindi Years (Tom Daniel)

Here's the latest DVD by Tom Daniel and it just may be his best yet! It features restored video and audio with subtitles on all the songs (many for the first time!). It's an excellent collection of Padmini's best Hindi dances and is available at Mediafire for free.

Highlights:

Aaja To Aaja.The unforgettable dance-off between Padmini and Vyjayanthimala from Raj Tilak.

Na Dir Dim from the India/Russia production of Pardesi and which is presented here in beautiful widescreen color!

And Tu Hai Mera Prem Devta from Kalpana in which Padmini and sister Ragini dance spectacularly for the god Mahadev.

Highest recommendation!

I don't think you'll find a more enjoyable DVD at any price. So, get it for free Here.

Get the complete song list and read all about the making of the DVD in the PDF file. Get it Here.

For more stuff about this DVD please visit Richard's "Dances on the Footpath." More posts about Padmini can be found on his blog.