Mehmood

Some of his memorable songs are: "Ek chatur naar" from "Padosan", "Aao Twist Karen" (Let's do the twist) from "Bhoot Bangla", "Yeh do deewane dil ke" from Johar Mehmood in Goa, "Hum kaale hai to kyaa huaa dilwaale hain" (What if I am dark, I have a heart) from "Gumnaam". One month later, Mina's first single was out. Mehmood's son Lucky Ali is a popular singer who has also acted in films. They went to meet her at the end of the concert and proposed her a trial recording session. He died in his sleep on July 23, 2004 in Pennsylvania, USA where he had gone for treatment of lungs disease after suffering poor health for several years. Otto and his wife were present, and were greatly impressed by the singer of that group. He later went on to act in lead roles but he was appreciated for his comedy. On the night of 24 September 1958 a band of teen-age students was playing in a dancing hall in Cremona.

He started off by doing small unnoticed roles in films like "Do Bigha Zameen" and "Pyaasa". Natalino Otto and his wife Flo Sandon's are credited with the discovery of one of Italy's greatest singers of all times - Mina. He got a small break as a murder victim in CID. His greatest hits were Ho un sassolino nella scarpa, Mamma voglio anch'io la fidanzata, Mister Paganini, Polvere di stelle, Op op trotta cavallino, Natalino studia canto, Il valzer del boogie-woogie, La classe degli asini. It was after marriage and becoming a father that he decided to act to earn a better living. He recorded over two thousand songs during his career. He later married her sister Madhu. He was a very prolific singer.

He was hired to teach table tennis to Meena Kumari in those days. Early in 1960s Otto retired from the public scene, but he continued to be involved in show organization, recordings and musical research. He worked as director P L Santoshi's driver (Later Santoshi's son Rajkumar Santoshi cast Mehmood in his venture Andaz Apna Apna). In that year he married Flo Sandon's, also an Italian singer. Some of his early jobs before he started acting were driving, doing odd jobs, selling poultry. His best result was a third place in 1955 with a song titled Canto nella Valle. Mehmood was one of nine children born to actor and dancer Mumtaj Ali in Bombay. Mehmood started acting as a reluctant child actor in Bombay Talkies films like Kismet. During 1950s Natalino Otto took part for five times to the San Remo Music Festival.

He worked in over 300 Hindi films in a career spanning three decades. He also starred in La casa senza tempo and Carosello del varietą. He was known and appreciated for playing comic roles in Hindi films. He was the leading character in Tutta la cittą canta directed by Riccardo Freda in 1945. Mehmood Ali (1932 - July 23, 2004) popularly known simply as Mehmood, was an Indian actor, director and producer. He was offered singer roles in a few films. "Johar Mehood in Hong Kong". Thanks to his popularity, also the movie industry wanted him.

"Johar Mehmood in Goa". Italian people danced to his swing tunes, which earned him the nickname "King of Rhythm". "Sabse Bada Rupaiya" (Rupee is bigger than all). In a short while he won the audience with his records - one of the few Italian singers of those times, if not the only one, to achieve success without his songs playing on the radio. "Jinny and Johny". Banned from the radio, Natalino Otto worked for recording companies instead, together with two great Italian bandleaders such as Gorni Kramer and Pippo Barzizza. "Do Phool". The Italian state radio company EIAR did not broadcast his songs, and labelled them as "barbaric negro antimusic".

"Sangharsh". He was forced to translate song titles and lyrics into Italian. "Kunwaara Baap" (Single father) (1974). But he had to face Italian Fascist regime censorship, that banned anything foreign. "Main Sundar Hoon" (I am beautiful) (1971) with Leena Chandawarkar. Back in Italy in 1937, Otto presented an innovative repertoire, strongly influenced by American music of that era. "Humjoli" (1970). In 1935 he was hired by an Italian-American radio station in New York.

"Sadhu aur Shaitan" (Mendicant and devil) (1968). During 1930s he worked as an entertainer on board transatlantic liners on the routes between Europe and North America, which gave him the opportunity to get to know American music genres, especially jazz and swing. "Bombay to Goa". Natalino Otto's career as a singer and musician started in the clubs of his native region, Liguria. "Bhoot Bangla" (Deserted house). Natalino Otto, stage name of Natale Codognotto (Cogoleto, Genoa, Italy, 25 December 1912 - Milan, Italy, 4 October 1969) was the singer who started the swing genre in Italy. "Do Poo" (1968).

"Aankhen" (Eyes) (1968). "Padosan" (Neighborette) (1968) with Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu and Kishore Kumar. "Patthar ke Sanam" (1967). "Love in Tokyo" (1966) with Shobha Khote.

"Pyar Kiye Ja"(Keep loving) (1966) with Mumtaaz. "Gumnaam" (1965) with Helen. "Sasuraal" (In law's place) (1961) with Shobha Khote.