For over a century the film industry has been gifting us a wide array of stories, movies, music, and performers. And Twitter account, Film History Pics, takes you through the history of Indian cinema through rare pictures.
1. The ‘disco king’ of the 80 & 90s movies, music composer Bappi Lahiri was also a child prodigy who played tabla at Eden Gardens when he was only four years old.
Alokesh ‘Bappi’ Lahiri : child prodigy, disco king
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 25, 2019
He played Tabla at an Eden Gardens show in Kolkata at 4, was composing songs at 11 & became an independent composer at 20.
with parents Aparesh & Basari Lahiri pic.twitter.com/DLJdAoEA7F
2. People may remember him as the king of comedy, but yesteryear star Mehmood was just as amazing a dancer!
He danced with such exceptional ease and grace…
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 23, 2019
Mehmood 🕺 legend! pic.twitter.com/jUu2ZUgM6A
3. Once the camera stopped rolling, the person behind the actor could emerge – like these rare photos of Shashi Kapoor show.
Shashi Kapoor
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 23, 2019
“A rare star doing commercial movies by the dozen in mid-70s, but whose heart beat for theatre & art house cinema“
seen here in rare pictures on film sets. pic.twitter.com/CYexJk17yN
Or this Filmfare interview, conducted after he became a ‘saleable’ star.
“Shashi recently returned after 2 weeks of location shoot for Kabhi Kabhi in Kashmir, followed by the inevitable week-end stopover in Goa” (Dec 1974, Filmfare)
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 16, 2019
Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kapoor with Sanjna, Karan & Kunal pic.twitter.com/hO3ScbXkmf
4. Having already delivered hits like Andaz and Haath Ki Safai, Salim-Javed gave an interview to Filmfare when Sholay, Deewar, and Don were some of their ‘forthcoming’ films.
One wonders if they knew, at the time this interview was given in 1974, that their forthcoming films would become blockbusters people still remember and filmmakers recreate.
5. The iconic K.Asif Studio, which was later renamed Mohan Studio, was where Mughal-e-Azam’s legendary ‘sheesh mahal set’ was created. Here, actor Rajesh Khanna claps the muhurat shot of Akela at the same studio, with Reena Roy & Madhushala.
6. It won’t be far-fetched to call the Kapoor clan the first family of Bollywood. Shammi Kapoor, who was last seen in a cameo in Ranbir Kapoor’s Rockstar, was one of the most popular actors of his time.
Shammi Kapoor with professional polo players of Jaipur, during outdoor shoot of ‘Prince’ pic.twitter.com/USMxF34qqt
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 22, 2019
7. The cast of Vijay (1988), which includes actors Hema Malini, Rishi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Anupam Kher, Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Seshadri, and others with director Yash Chopra
8. Because food was always bae.
Shubha Khote & Sadhana pic.twitter.com/tRu2THxnNM
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 24, 2019
9. Because not every moment on the sets is scripted.
“ek doosre se,
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 21, 2019
karte hain pyar hum”
(1991) Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda & Rajinikanth in ‘Hum’@rajinikanth @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/H2uGIfAzHs
10. In his long and illustrious career, Naseeruddin has aced both, commercial hits and independent cinema. And even today, he remains one of Hindi film industry’s underrated gems.
Naseeruddin Shah & Om Puri pic.twitter.com/COENgGwKrf
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 20, 2019
11. A look back at the golden period of film music.
Recording of ‘Jidhar Dekhoon Teri Tasveer’ for Mahaan (1983)
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 19, 2019
Amitabh Bachchan, Pancham da and with his team
(l to r) arranger Babloo Chakraborty, asst. composer Sapan Chakraborty, Amitabh Bachchan, saxophonist Manohari Singh and RD Burman @SrBachchan pic.twitter.com/nGO19AMMX8
shokhiyon me ghola jaaye
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 19, 2019
phulon kaa shabaab ,
usme phir milaayee jaaye
thodi si sharaab ,
hoga yun nasha jo taiyyar
woh pyaar hai ..
(r to l) Kishore Kumar, SD Burman, Dev Anand, Lata Mangeshkar, Neeraj, Gulshan Rai, RD Burman pic.twitter.com/33iVUNYG0Z
12. Former model and actress Ayesha Dutt, who married actor Jackie Shroff, acing ‘rapid-fire’ style questions before the term even existed.
Ayesha Dutt : my favourite things
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 19, 2019
(July, 1984) @AyeshaShroff pic.twitter.com/grI4w6sZj4
13. Because even actors can be fans.
When Suraiya was asked, “who is her favourite fan?”, she replied, “Dharmendra. I am his fan too”
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 18, 2019
In his youth, actor Dharmendra was such a big fan of the actress, that he walked miles to watch her film Dillagi, over 40 times.@aapkadharam pic.twitter.com/8ugXCLiZ4C
14. Often, behind a classic love story lead pair, lies the warmth of friendship.
… mohabbat hum ne maana
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 17, 2019
zindagi barbaad karti hai ,
yeh kya kam hai ke mar jaane pe duniya yaad karti hai ..
Madhubala & Dilip Kumar pic.twitter.com/fiAcOx0kbO
15. Wonder if it was released with ‘cuts’!
(1973) Bruce Lee’s ‘Enter The Dragon’ releases at Eros Cinema, Churchgate, Bombay
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 17, 2019
(courtesy: Midday) pic.twitter.com/CMEmZwShOu
16. ‘Caught’ on camera!
(1985) Syed Kirmani, former Indian wicketkeeper, as the villain in film ‘Kabhi Ajanabi The’. Sandeep Patil was the lead actor. pic.twitter.com/9gQPAGyuX8
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 16, 2019
(1980) Sunil Gavaskar in the Marathi film ‘Savli Premachi’.#HappyBirthday #SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/fe3SHy7DDt
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) July 10, 2019
17. Art always transcends boundaries.
(1977) Satyajit Ray visiting the Taj Mahal with Japanese film-maker Akira Kurosawa and Italian film-maker Michelangelo Antonioni.#SatyajitRay #TajMahal pic.twitter.com/QIegSpwfxr
— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) June 30, 2019
You can follow the account here for more such photos and information.