INDIAN FILM SONGS AND THE YEAR 1956

Dev Anand in scene from Bollywood film, "Funtoosh"(1956)

This page is but a small sampling of film songs for the year 1956. So sit back, relax, and enjoy

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
Last Year ** 1956 ** Next Year

World Events of 1956

Egypt takes control of the Suez Canal.

Suez Canal
Morocco gains independence from Spain and France.
There is and unsuccessful uprising of Polish workers against the communist rulers.
2nd Arab Israeli war is fought.
Soviets crush anti-Communist uprisings in Hungary.

Hungary in revolt
Hollywood inundates the Western world with an endless string of "B" movies.

Hollywood has a monstrous cucumber invade earth
French minister Pierre Mendès-France resigns due to his government's policy on Algeria.
The US tests fully serviceable Hydrogen bomb over the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, with the equivalent force of 10 million tons of TNT.
Elvis Presley first makes a splash in the US.

Elvis Presley
The first practical videotape machines are introduced.
Great Britain abolishes death penalty.
The hard-disk drive is invented by IBM. It contained 50, 24-inch disks. Its total storage capacity was 5MBytes.

IBM's 305 RAMAC computer with the RAMAC 350 disk drive
The European singer Dalida has her first big hit with "Bambino". She goes on to become one of the biggest selling recording artists in history.

Dalida

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
Last Year ** 1956 ** Next Year

The Reorganisation begins. Several states are created and reorganised based upon linguistic criteria.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Indian untouchable leader and author of the Indian Constitution, converts to Buddhism along with 385,000 followers.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, dies.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
On March 23, 1956, Pakistan becomes Islamic Republic.
China begins building a road through Aksai Chin. This is a remote area of Tibet that is claimed by India. This act will ultimately escalate into the Sino-Indian War (1962).

Indian stamps from 1956

** World Events ** South Asian Events ** Film World Events ** Notable Films ** Film Song Videos ** Non-Musical Videos **
Last Year ** 1956 ** Next Year

At the age of 9, R.D. Burman composes his first song, Aye Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa, for the film "Funtoosh".
"Jagriti" wins Filmfare Award for "Best Picture".
Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" wins President's Gold Medal as Best Film of 1955.

Pather Panchali
Rajkamal Kalamandir's "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje", becomes the first film to be exempted from the entertainment tax.
The Indian Government refuses to make its compulsory "approved" films (i.e., government propaganda) available free of charge to cinema houses.
Hemant Kumar wins Filmfare Award for "Best Music Director" for his work in "Nagin" (1954).

Hemant Kumar
The success of "C.I.D." brings Asha Bhosle her first hit songs. Because of O.P. Nayyar's success with her voice, she goes on to be his favourite female playback singer.

Asha Bhosle
The Kerala Film Chamber is established in Cochin, Kerala.
Dilip Kumar wins the "Filmfare Best Actor Award" for his performance of Abdul Rahim Khan in "Aazad"

Film poster for "Azaad"
Kamini Kaushal wins the "Filmfare Best Actress Award" for her performance of Biraj Chakravorty in "Biraj Bahu"

Kamini Kaushal