Welcome to February 2013 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.
We open our account with a very unique and befitting tribute to Mehrun nisha of Hussainabad in Bihar, popularly known as Kumkum, a trained Kathak dancer by Chitrapatasangeet. The post – Kumkum – Tribute to a great dancer – has presented several classical dance pieces, as well as a few non-classical pieces filmed on her, highlighting the nuances of Abhianaya in each song, of which I would like to present Rang Rangeela by Khayaam, from film Barood as very special treat. The author recommends Ham hain tumhaare tum ho hamaare – This song is sung by Rafi and Asha Bhonsle. The song is picturised on Subbiraj and Kumkum as a teasing song. The expressions of Kumkum are lovely to watch in this picturisation. ‘Dusted Off’ and ‘Memsaab Story’ have rich tags on Kumkum @ http://dustedoff.wordpress.com/tag/kumkum/ and http://memsaabstory.com/tag/kum-kum/ respectively.
Incidentally, we have more resources on heroines, this month.
Shri Shrikant Guatam penned two part article [રંગ રાગ અને સલામ બોમ્બે_20130203 and રંગ રાગ અને સલામ બોમ્બે_20130210] on Waheeda Rehman’s “other woman roles, in Janmabhoomi Pravasi (in Gujarati). I present one song that typically expresses that “other woman character” , as discussed in the article:
Pyaasaa – as Gulabo – Jaane Kya Tune Kahi – S D Burman – Geeta Dutt – http://youtu.be/mLGCAGHNTJU
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam – as Jeba – Bhanwar Bada Naadan – Hemant Kumar – Asha Bhosle – http://youtu.be/DHyRikMZXqw
Kagaz Ke Phool – as Shanti – Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam – S D Burman – Lata Mangeshkar – http://youtu.be/MZ3S4-bm70s
Kohraa – a lawfully wedded wife, but is compelled to live under the shadow of the spirit of the husband’s first wife – O Beqaraar Dil – Hemant Kumar – Lata Mangeskar – http://youtu.be/M8vn6PNkoog
Guide –as Rozy – Aaj Phir Zeene Ki Tamanna Hai – S D Burman – Lata Mangeshkar – http://youtu.be/f8PZY9pMOvo
Khamoshi, as Radha – Hamne Dekhi Hai UnAankho Ki Mehakati Kushboo – Hemant Kumar- Lata Mangeshkar – http://youtu.be/LkPEtKO5ARM
Phagun – as Mother, whose married daughter ‘sees’ other woman in her – Sandhya Jo Aaye – S D Burman – Lata Mangeshkar – http://youtu.be/palL1ifDlBA
In a rendezvous tat-e-tat with Simi Garewal, we get to listen to Waheeda Rehman, also, taking about some of these films [Part 1 http://youtu.be/JdSBd4301U4 and Part 2 http://youtu.be/ADhp_f6npqI].
Simi Garewal’s own site has a full page on her own songs.
Conversations Over Chai also had done a beautiful article on Waheeda Rehman in the series The Greats
Continuing the visit of the present carnival with songs on, essentially, feminist themes, ‘Dusted Off’ has presented “ten of my favorite ‘woman pianist’ songs”, songs where a woman is the one actually playing the piano. Apart from the ten of author’s favorites, there are 40+ songs presented by the readers in the “comments”!
“Dances On Footpath” continues feminist flair, by celebrating Happy Birthday, Suman Kalyanpur! and A slightly belated happy birthday to Cuckoo, topping up listings for the month by Songs from the Pakistani Choo Mantar, Starring Noor Jehan.
“Conversations Over Chai” presents a Word Play: Piya, containing songs listing a ‘favourite’ word. “Piya’” is used as having only ONE meaning – the beloved one, not the as ‘drinking’ also! This post also has deluge of 40+ additional songs in the ever lively “comments”. Such a fabulous with a filter of ‘Piya’ being the first or second word of the mukhda!
And we have a stunning photograph of Rehana Sultan for Dastak @ Tum se kahoon ek baat paron se halki. In a comment which puts the song as “probably the most sensuous picturisation of a Hindi song ever” the host of the blog “At The Edge”, Vianayak Razdan brings to the records “some great editing by Hrishikesh Mukherjee”.
Switching over to the general mood, “Hareypam’s Blog” also has an innovatively crafted post on This Singing Business, a guest article by ‘pacifist, a melodious tribute the enterprising spirit of Indian SMEs. [Also, posted on this playlist.], which has additionally wide-ranging 30+ songs, by no means a ‘small’ preference for depicting the true colors of India in the films, in the “comments”.
On the other side of the table, our attention is drawn by the song Log Kehte Hai Tu Sachch Hi Kehete Honge, from 1963 film Yeh Dil Kisko Dun (Music director – Iqbal Qureshi) – http://youtu.be/Y-hCvbTjcvQ @ Rafi harmonic for charming Shashi Kapoor for a quite an uncanny similarity, in my personal view, with a ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’ song Hum Ko Tum Se Pyaar Aaya – http://youtu.be/lwKgAdAmSfo.
Songs Of Yore (SoY) carries forward the series of Multiple Version Songs through – Multiple Version Songs (3): Both versions by male playback singers – Different Moods, which is an extension of last month’s ‘Both Versions by Male Singers 0 A Happy and A Sad Song’; Multiple Version songs (4): Hindi and Marathi, a brilliant treatise by Shri Arunkumar Deshmukh, and Multiple Version Songs (5): Hindi and Tamil film songs (1) – ‘Inspired and adopted’ songs, a meticulously crafted piece by Shri N Venkataraman.
This month’s new find, Dr.Mandar V. Bichu presents 5 Songs that define Hindi Film Music , songs that have encapsulated “the entire evolution of Hindi film music, right from the time it began way back in the 1930s to its current status in the post-Millennium era”:
- Jab dil hi toot gaya – Film: Shahjehan, Year: 1946, Singer: Kundan Lal Saigal, Composer: Naushad – http://youtu.be/nQQPV-DtY3s
- Barsaat mein humse mile tum – Film: Barsaat, Year: 1949, Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Composers: Shankar-Jaikishan – http://youtu.be/y_J2ApEIrbs
- Aaja aaja main hoon pyar tera – Film: Teesri Manzil, Year: 1966, Singers: Mohd. Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Composer: Rahul Dev Burman – http://youtu.be/x8ZrN_pizyQ
- Roop tera mastana– Film: Aradhana, Year: 1969, Singer: Kishore Kumar, Composer: S.D. Burman – http://youtu.be/ppFmipV6KZc
- Jai ho – Film: Slumdog Millionaire, Year: 2009, Singer-Composer: A.R. Rahman – http://youtu.be/UxLSZoFK8EM
So, did you find the journey through this edition of the carnival a bit too long? Well, it does contain large number of songs to listen to. But, is each one not a gem?
Till we meet next month, I look forward to your inputs and comments on this edition.
The world is too small? or Is it? 
Interesting, and intimidating in a way because of the knowledge that there is so much reading we cannot afford to miss! The carnival is created in such a way that the reader will be compelled to check every part of the procession.
I do agree. Simply reading and listening to our own past ‘likes’ can be a good full time job!
I agree with Naresh Mankad – this does seem a bit intimidating because there’s so much there in one go! Fortunately, since I follow most of the blogs you’ve mentioned, I have kept track so there’s less to catch up with. Thank you for taking the time and effort to collate all of this for us.
Yes, since we follow most he blogs, as they are published, it becomes a bit manageable to follow each post and tons of songs that add up to each post.
This is precisely the reason why I thought of compiling all links and references at one page. Moreover, I do get several more new links as well. I am able to put all this handy this way.
Thanks a lot for visit and kind consideration. Both mean a lot.
Ashok ji,
Superb ! Fantastic !!
I appreciate your efforts in trying to provide so much at one place.
Though I frequent some Blogs,many Blogs are a discovery for me and thanks for that. It will widen my horizons.
The only problem is how to manage enough Time for this.
After my retirement in 1998,I and many of my well wishers were wondering how would I keep myself busy,after having spent 40 odd years in marketing and having travelled all over.But believe me,I engaged myself in this Old Films and music hobby since 2010 and now I fall short of time.
There is so much to do and only 24 hours a day! Na insaafi hai !!
Anyway,though this is my FIRST visit here,there will be many more in future.
Thanks.
-AD
Arunji,
I do agree in totality that hobbies like this does become more than a pastime and more like a job.
But, after having retired, even I was not sure I will be able to gainfully utilize my time on pursuing hobby only.
Well, now, the pressure of time to follow that blog or listen to the song [that has slipped from the memory] suggested there and trying to write something coherent on what we have enjoyed all these years is back again.
Well, is it not good enough, to have a tad too little time than having too much?!
Thanks for the visit.
I look forward to your inputs to become less verbose and more meaningful.