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/
