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INDIAN FILM SONGS AND THE YEAR 1954

Scene from Bollywood film, "Nagin"(1954)

This page is but a small sampling of film songs for the year 1954. So sit back, relax, and enjoy

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
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World Events of 1954

Algerian uprising against France begins.
The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched.
The French in Dien Bien Phu (Vietnam) are defeated by the Viet Minh army.

Retreat from Dien Bien Phu
A Geneva Conference establishes the 17th parallel as a "temporary" division between North and South Vietnam.
After authorising $385 million over the $400 million already budgeted for military aid to Vietnam, US President Dwight Eisenhower warns against United States intervention in Vietnam.
The first kidney transplants are done in Boston and Paris.
Lt. Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes premier of Egypt.

Nasser
The world's first atomic power station opens at Obninsk, near Moscow.
Laos gains independence from France.
Yolanda Cristina Gigliotti wins first place in the "Miss Egypt" beauty contest. This first brings her to international attention. She later adopts the name Dalila, but soon changes this to Dalida. It us under the monikar Dalida, that she goes on to become one of the greatest recording artists in European history.

Miss Egypt (1954) a.k.a. Dalida

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
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Major South Asian Events of 1954

Jayendra Saraswathi becomes the 70th Shankaracharya of Kanchi

Shankaracharya
Bombay Electricity Board is formed.
The term "Non-Alignment" is first used in a speech by Nehru in Colombo, Sri Lanka
The Nagaland Rebellion begins.
The Carnatic vocalist M.S. Subbalakshmi is awarded Padma Bhushan

M.S. Subbalakshmi
Tata introduces India's first Mercedes Benz diesel truck

Mercedes Benz truck from Tata
The 1954 Asia Games are held in the Philippines. India wins 13 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze), Pakistan wins 9 medals (4 gold, 5 silver), and Sri Lanka wins 2 medals (1 silver, 1 bronze)
Stampede occurs at Kumbha Mela. It is estimated that anywhere from 350-800 people are killed and 100-2000 people injured.
Nehru Visits China

Zhou Enlai, Soong Qing Lin, and Nehru
Leela Naidu is awarded the title "Miss World from India".

Leela Naidu
Hindustani vocalist Omkarnath Thakur is awarded the Padma Shree

Omkarnath Thakur with Tanpura

One-Anna coin

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
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Film World Events of 1954

"Do Bigha Zameen" becomes the first film to win the new "Filmfare Awards" for "Best Picture".

Scene from "Do Bigha Zameen"
Film Producers Guild is formed.
Music director Anil Biswas ("Kismet"-1943, "Milan"-1946, "Hum Log"-1984) separates from his wife Asha Lata. They later divorce.
First National Awards are held. P.K. Atre's Marathi film "Shyamchi Aayee" wins first President's Gold Medal for the Best feature film of 1953.
Madhubala's heart condition, which had been kept from the public for years, becomes widely known and reported in the press.

Madhubala
Naushad wins Filmfare award for "Best Music Director" for his work in "Baiju Bawra" for song Tu Ganga Ki Mauj.
K.A. Abbas's film "Munna" becomes the second film to be made without songs.
Talks between the Film Federation of India (FFI) and the Indian government collapse. These talks were in reference to All India Radio's (AIR) policy of playing pre-recorded film songs without crediting their sources. The failure of these talks pushes Indian entertainment producers to deal with Radio Ceylon.
The music director Hemant Kumar is thrust into the national limelight with the release of "Nagin"

Disk of music for "Nagin"
The compulsory showing of "approved" films (Government propaganda) is declared to be unlawful.
Pioneering film director Baburao Painter dies.
Dilip Kumar wins the "Filmfare Best Actor Award" for his performance of Shankaar in "Daag"

Nimmi and Dilip Kumar in "Daag"
Meena Kumari wins the "Filmfare Best Actress Award" for her performance of Gauri in "Baiju Bawra"

Meena Kumari in "Baiju Bawra"
Future actress Rekha is born in Madras. Her name at birth is Bhanurekha Ganesan. Her father is the famed Tamil actor Gemini Ganeshan and her mother is the Telugu actress Pushpavalli.
Dharmendra marries his first wife, Prakash Kaur