Foreword:
The intention of writing this article is to convey that Herman Benjamin was a Bene Israel from the Umer Khadi area from Mumbai, India where my parents grew up. I want very much to think he was one of my family as I feel that all Benjamin's are part of my virtual family, no matter the reason why we chose to use Benjamin for our true Jewish last name.
Hence the title "MY HERMAN BENJAMIN". I feel I was related to him even if I may not have been directly. But I am related to him because I am also from the same proud generation of Bene Israel community. Our ancestors are what we share in common.
THE SONG THE MADE HERMAN BENJAMIN
A TRIBUTE AND IN MEMORY OF A GREAT DANCER
A TRIBUTE AND IN MEMORY OF A GREAT DANCER
Indian Film Dance Directors Association felicitates Choreographers
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, January 11, 2012 -
15:03 hrs IST
The families of Late Choreographers Shri Satyanarayan
Master, Shri Badri
Prasad, Shri Surya Kumar, Shri Herman
Benjamin, Shri Sohanlal B, Shri
Hiralal B, Shri Gopi Kishan, Shri P.L. Raj, Shri Sohanlal Khanna, Shri
Manohar Naidu, Shri Suresh Bhatt, Shri Kamal, Shri Subal Sarkar and Shri
Sachin Shankar collected the awards on their behalf for their
contribution in the field of choreography.
(Source:
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1400943/)
From
Wikepidea
Jaan Pehechan Ho
is a popular Indian rock & roll song, composed by famous Indian music
director duo Shankar Jaikishan, lyrics by Shailendra, and sung by Mohammed Rafi. It
was produced for the 1965 Bollywood film Gumnaam, directed by Raja Nawathe, produced
by N.N. Sippy, and starring Manoj Kumar and Nanda. The song has been widely
"remediated" in North American circulation The song's video introduces the movie to the audiences. It was shot in a disco and features Laxmi Chhaya. The choreography was by Herman Benjamin.
FROM
BLOG @ MemsaabStory
The 2001 Hollywood film Ghost World made
this song and dance number from Gumnaam
famous in the non-Hindi film fan world. Laxmi Chhaya’s verve and
enthusiasm coupled with the lively tune and Boy-Wonder-masked backup
dancers make for compelling watching. And of course, the singer’s
ultra-cool style is the juicy cherry on top of this confection. Much
speculation has issued forth as to his identity (is he the eponymous Ted
Lyons?).So today’s trivia question is: who is the manic front man in this wonderful song (the voice of course is Rafi’s)?
Since I saw this film 4 or 5 years ago I have been dying to know his identity. I’ve trawled the web, I even posted the question in my review of Gumnaam here in the hopes that one of my extremely knowledgeable readers could help me out. Well, the day finally dawned where my quest for his name was answered. As I was watching the song on an episode of “Movie Mahal” the words “Rafi sings for Herman” crawled across the screen above his gyrations. You cannot even imagine my excitement. I nearly fainted, seriously!
My pal Asli Jat (who supplies me with these arcane treasures from Hindi film history) informed me that he was in fact the choreographer Herman Benjamin (also known as Harman). He worked on a huge number of films (including Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi)—imdb doesn’t even come close to listing them all.
He choreographed a lot of Shammi films in the 60s, including Teesri Manzil (see, I knew I loved him!). AJ’s father met Herman (along with Shashi) during the filming of Jab Jab Phool Khile in Kashmir, too (and incidentally AJ went to school with one of Rafi’s sons).
I haven’t been able to find out much more about him; he died in 1969 apparently (he can’t have been that old, surely?). If any of you out there know more about him, please please do tell! He was married to Sheba and had a son, but that’s the extent of my knowledge. I am sure he never dreamed that he would become a world-wide cult phenomenon, but hopefully he knows it now.
HERMAN CHOREOGRAPHED MOVIES
1971 Jawan Muhabat
(choreographer - as Late Harman Benjamin)
1970
Pagla Kahin
Ka
(choreographer - as Late Herman)
1970
Suhana
Safar
(choreographer - as Late Herman)
1970
Tum Haseen Main
Jawan
(choreographer - as Late Herman)
1969
Prince
(choreographer - as Harman)
1969
Pyar Hi
Pyar
(choreographer)
1969
Pyar Ka
Sapna
(dances)
1969
Vishwas
(choreographer - as Late Herman)
1969
Ek Shriman Ek
Shrimati
(dances - as Late Herman Benjamin)
1968
Abhilasha
(choreographer - as Herman)
1968/I
Brahmachari
(dance director)
1968
Izzat
(choreographer)
1968
Jhuk Gaya
Aasman
(choreographer - as Harman)
1968
Duniya
(choreographer - as Herman)
1967
Aag
(dances - as Harman)
1967
Latt
Saheb
(choreographer - as Herman)
1967
Raat Aur
Din
(choreographer - as Herman)
1967
Raaz
(choreographer - as Harman Benjamin)
1967
Upkar
(dances - as Herman)
1966
Baharen Phir Bhi
Aayengi
(dances - as Herman)
1966
Do Badan
(dances)
1966
Rustom
Kaun
(choreography - as Herman)
1966
Teesri
Manzil
(choreographer - as Harman)
1966
Husn Aur Ishq
alias Alif Laila
(dances - as Harman)
1965
Jab Jab Phool
Khile
(choreographer)
1965
Janwar
(dances - as Herman)
1965
Mere
Sanam
(choreographer)
1965
Shreeman
Funtoosh
(choreographer - as Herman)
1965
Gumnaam
(choreographer - as Herman)
1965
Tu Hi Meri
Zindagi
(dance director - as Herman)
1964
Daal Me
Kala
(choreographer: Vancouver - as Harman Benzamin)
1963
Yeh Rastey Hain
Pyar Ke
(choreographer - as Herman)
1961
Jab Pyar Kisise
Hota Hai
(choreographer: additional choreography - as Herman)
1961
Jhumroo
(choreographer)
1960
Ek Phool Char
Kaante
(choreographer)
1959
Dil Deke
Dekho
(choreographer - as Herman)
1969
Vishwas
(dedicatee - as Herman)
Wikipedia Page @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Benjamin
SONG : Is Duniya Mein Jeena Ho To
SONG: HUM KAALE HAI TO KYA HUA
MOVIE: TEESRI MANZIL
SONG: O Hassina zulfo walli jaane jaha
SONG: Aaja Aaja Mein Hoon Pyar Tera
MOVIE "PAGLA KAHI KA"
SONG: AASHIQ HOON EK
SONG: Suno zindgi gaati hai, pyar ki dhun
MOVIE : SUHANA SAFAR
MOVIE: Tum Haseen Main Jawan
SONG: Tum Haseen Main Jawaan
(Dharmendra was born with 2 left feet)
MOVIE: PRINCE
SONG: Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Hue
MOVIE: PYAR HI PYAR
SONG: Tu Mera Main Teri Duniya
MOVIE: VISHWAS
SONG: Chandi Ki Deewar
SONG FROM Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati
MOVIE: IZZAT
SONG: Jagi Badan Mein Jwala
MOVIE: Jhuk Gaya Aasman
MOVIE: DUNIYA
MOVIE: UPKAR
MOVIE: Ratt Aur Din
SONG:
SONG:
MOVIE: Raaz
MOVIE:
MORE OF HIS VIDEOS WILL BE ADDED SOON ....
ENJOY
CREATED & PRESENTED BY:
Resources:
http://memsaabstory.com/2008/12/14/trivia-time-
33/#more-5821
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaan_Pehechan_Ho
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1080727/
Dear Sammy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your efforts on the legendary Heraman Benjamins blog..Such artistes are immortal & wud like to see them known to more on this planet for their immense contribution.Wud like to know more about his family.My regards & best wishes to them & to you..Vijay Kumar Rao Goa
Herman Benjamin has two sons. Elias and Percy. Percy is settled in USA. Elias' son (Shannon is the name, I think) is also a talented dancer - or so I am told. Herman Benjamin lived very close to my building in his final days. I was very young at that time. I remember people always talking about kind he was, he was always helpful to others, had a big heart, etc. He lives in Girish Building Mahim, Mumbai when he expired. It was the night of his son Percy's birthday - September 12th or 13th. I remember... Herman Benjamin was a great guy - May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteHi Sammy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your efforts. I am Abraham Benjamin, nephew of late Herman Benjamin. My dad Emanuel Benjamin known as Baba Herman in the Film Industry worked with his brother Hermanji. He worked in most of Hermanji's films as a lead dancer and later he too became a choreographer. Hermanji lived at Jacob Circle and later moved to Mahim in Girish building where he hardly lived. He passed away on 13th September 1968 early morning at 4 am and was just 37 years old. He was buried at the Jewish Cemetery at Worli Mumbai.
אכן חשוב להנציח את זכרו ! כל הכבוד על המידע.
ReplyDeleteכל המידע על דוד הרמן שמעתי תחילה בשנות ה70 בקרית גת מצדקיאל שפורקר גם היה כיאוגרף ריקודים הודים בסרטים וגם עבד יחד עים הדוד שלי הרמן
Deleteהיום אחרי 45 שנים עליתי על כל המידע על הרמן במשך השנים המידע על רמן היה קלוש מאוד במדיה.
בפייסבוק כולם מחוברים
בשביל להכנס לאתר מתאים בכוגל צריך ידע במחשבים
וזה חבל
מעט מאוד אנשים ניכנסים לגוגל בעלי ידע
לנו זה קשה
זו תגובה ראשונה שלי שאי פעם עשיתי בגוגל
כל המידע על דוד הרמן שמעתי תחילה בשנות ה70 בקרית גת מצדקיאל שפורקר גם היה כיאוגרף ריקודים הודים בסרטים וגם עבד יחד עים הדוד שלי הרמן
Deleteהיום אחרי 45 שנים עליתי על כל המידע על הרמן במשך השנים המידע על רמן היה קלוש מאוד במדיה.
בפייסבוק כולם מחוברים
בשביל להכנס לאתר מתאים בכוגל צריך ידע במחשבים
וזה חבל
מעט מאוד אנשים ניכנסים לגוגל בעלי ידע
לנו זה קשה
זו תגובה ראשונה שלי שאי פעם עשיתי בגוגל
Wow... So amazing... I am seating with his father's cousin's son Ben Yahuda David in Israel, and he just recall him and we talk about him... And then I searched and come here this blog... it's so amazing for me that all my favorite songs choreographed by him...!!
ReplyDeleteWho is the administrator on this account ? Please try to contact me privately. Very important as I am his bloodline
ReplyDeleteUncle for us , my mum and sheba aunty were sisters.we grew up in Mahim though we very small we enjoyed his open car rides in chowpatty.Sad he passed away so young.
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog...if only a relative or true distant relative of Laxmi Chhaya could do the same as you have .....
ReplyDeleteIn 1964 when the super suspense movie GUMNAAM was released and I saw it for the first time, I was 12 years old then. And from then onwards till today when I see Herman's Choreographed song "Jaan Pehchaan Ho, Jeena Aasaan Ho" some thing strange happens inside of me, the way a child feels when he sees a bunch of colorful inflated balloons, I feel the same way. The enthusiasm and the energy he has put in his own singing and acting and in the whole group dancing and swaying to the rhythm non stop, just takes my breath away. This is undoubtably the best song and dance ever picturised in Hindi Films. Very sad to learn that Mr.Benjamin died so young. He will be remembered for a long long time as long as movie goers have a taste for great choreographed picturization of songs in the movies. God Bless Herman Benjamin and his family.
ReplyDelete