Fading Memories…. Unforgettable Songs : September, 2017

(Shankar-) Jaikishan and Hasrat Jaipuri’s Songs Fading From the Memory

Septmber happens to be the month of death anniversaries of Jaikishan [Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal, 4 November 1929 – 12 September 1971] and Hasrat Jaipuri [Iqbal Hussain, April 15, 1922 – September 17, 1999].

Shankar Jaikishan and Shailendra- Hasrat Jaipuri are always spoken in one breath. However, it is said that Jaikishan would normally compose the song that Hasrat Jaipuri would write. There should be n-number of songs of this combination that were loved then, and are loved now too. That has germinated the idea for today’s post – let us bring back, from our Fading Memories, Hasrat Jaipuri’s songs that (Shankar) Jaikishan had composed.. I spanned 14 of SJ-composed films and some HJ-penned 67 songs, in the descending chronological order. Out of these, here are 15 (S)J-HJ songs for which I could not recollect the respective tune when I read the title of the song. Thus there is a personal, yet unintentional, bias in the selection of the songs.

Interestingly, we see a fair predominance of Lata Mangeshkar in this limited collection of 13 songs, covering the period from 1949 to 1953. That, in a way seems to reflect SJ’s marked inclination towards for Lata, among all other female playback singers of that time. It must, however, be recorded here that in comparison to total number of SJ-Lata songs in these 14 films, the numbers that appear is not of significant proportion.

The 14^th song is our traditional end-of-the-post-song, a Mohammad Rafi Song. Incidentally, this was the only Rafi song of the 67 that I had ran through before hitting upon a (Shanker)Jaikishan-Hasrat- Rafi song, of course, not considering Main Zindagi Mein Hardam Rota Hi Raha Hun from Barsat.

Here are the songs for the day:

Prem Nagar Mein Basnewalon, Apni Jeet Par Hasnewalon – Barsat 1949 – Lata Mangeshkar

In the standard format of a Hindi song, technically this may not be called a song. However, creative directors like Raj Kapoor very often used the audiovisual effect of a song like recitation to tellingly convey the intent of a situation. Such a demand of the director would pose a great creative challenge to the lyricist and the music director. In this particular instance HJ and Jaikishan have lived up to the challenge. Use of silhouette shots by the cinematographer Jal Mistry adds to the surreal effect.

Khushi To Qaid Mein Hai…Rota Hai Mera Dil Kisko Pukarun Kya Karun – Badal (1951) – Lata Mangeshkar

The song starts on a high-note-prelude-couplet (Sakhi), which was to become one of the signature styles of SJ compositions. The song is filmed on a budding beuty – Madhubala.

Jiyennge Jab Tak Talak Hum Unki Yaad Aayegi…Maine Kya Kiya, Sitam  Ye Maine Kya Kiya – Kali Ghata (1951) – Lata Mangeshkar.

The song follows quite difficult composition, but the result is quite mellifluous.

Tumko Apni Zindagi Ka Aasra Samje The Ham… Dil Bequar Hai Mera Dil Bequarar Hai -Nagina (1951) – CH Atma

SJ have experimented with CH Atma’s voice as playback of Nazir Khan.

O Pyar Bhari In Aankhon Ne.. Aaja Tujhko Yaad Kiya – Parbat (1952) – Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Roy

SJ have not used Geeta Dutt as much others in the same period. However, this Lata-Geeta duet has picked up nuances of the vocal chords of both singers. Several pieces of orchestration manifest Jaikishan’s virtuosity of using different instruments quite imaginatively.

Ab To Aa Jao Balam..Furkat Ke Maare Ro Diye –Poonam (1952) – Lata Mangeshkar

Each stanza begins on high-scales with interlude orchestration using ensemble of violins. The song is filmed on Kamini Kaushal.

Apne Bimar-e-Gam Ko Dekh Le, Ho Sake To Aa Ke Dekh Le….Aaja Re Ab Mera Dil Pukara – Aah (1953) – Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar

Here is a song which was quite popular then, and is now. The reason we have included in this post is the tellingly innovative use of the song in the narrative of the film. The original song is the manifestation of the condition of the loving couple who are getting separated by a queer turn of the circumstances – the hero going away on a long-drawn cure of what was considered near fatal TB to a faraway sanatorium.

The second version is set to a situation where the hero wants go back and meet his beloved, as promised, probably before his life comes to an inevitable end. The version begins from the stanza with which the first version had ended. Lata Mangeshkar joins in Alaap that signals the nearing reunion,

The film track has third version too – Janaaza Dekhne Mera Nikal Aaye…..Aaja Re Ab Mera Dil Pukara. Unfortunately we do not have its separate video clip.

Humko Chhedta Hai Dil,… Kaun Jaane Kya Hua, Tumne Baat Baat Meing Kya Jaadu Kar Diya – Aas (1953) – Lata Mangeshkar

Here is a happy mood song wherein rhythm-supporting bass has been used in the subdued manner. Note a short sweet opening prelude.

Aaj Ki Raat Kabhi Khatm  Na Hone Aaye…. Wo Aayenge Khushi Bankar, Baharein Saath Laayenge, Mere Ghar Mein Muhabbat Ke Nazaren Muskarayenge – Aurat (1953) – Lata Mangeshkar

For a change, we have a fast-paced song of a bubbling, happy mood.

Taaron Ko Dil Ki Baat Sunai Tamam Raat…Main Bahron Ki Natkhat Raani, Saari Duniya Mujh Pe Hai Diwani – Boot Polish (1953) – Asha Bhosle

The song has deployed a very rich orchestra for interlude, with sweet pieces of flute thrown in for support. Boot Polish must rank as one of those rare films wherein SJ have not used Lata in any song, solely on the merits of the demands of the film’s narrative! (Absence of Lata in films like Suraj or Mera Naam Joker was on account of very specific differences.)

The song is filmed on Chand Burke.

Hum Unke Paas Aate Hain Wo Ham Se Door Jaate Hain, Tadapkar Dastaan Apni Baharon Ko Sunate Hain – Naya Ghar (1953) – Talat Mahmood

SJ have used Talat Mahmood’s voice so naturally in all the songs where they came together, while retaining their musical style. We have here so sweet gem of Talat Mahmood that my heart pains to put under the omnibus category of Fading Memory songs.

Chamke Bijuriya Garje Megh Mat Ja Re Balam Pardesava – Shikast (1953) – Asha Bhosle, chorus)

SJ have used Asha Bhosle to so sweet effect in this song.

Jaage Mera Dil Soye Zamana – Badshah (1954) – Aparesh Lahiri

It appears to be very fitting to begin the end of this post with a song that is sung by a Bengali singer whose son made a big name in Hindi films in the 90s. The knowledgeable fans of Hindi Film Songs will have correctly guessed name of that 90s Lahiri – Bappi Lahiri.

Aparesh Lahiri and his wife Bansri Lahiri, of course, were famous Bengali singers and musicians in classical music. However, it must be to credit of SJ to have experimented to use Aparesh’s voice here.

Asides:

1. SJ had used another well-known singer, Hemant Kumar, in the film for Rula Kar Chal Diye and Aa Neel Gagan Tale Pyar Ham Kare, penned by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri respectively. Both songs are immortal.
2. ‘Badshah’ was adaptation of Victor Hugo’s very famous novel, Hunch Back of Notre Dame, written in French in 1831, on which a Hollywood film of the same name also has been made.

For our traditional end of a post with a Mohammad Rafi song, we have

Soch Na Manwa…Haye Gam Ke Maaro Ka Jamane Mein Koi Na Saath Dega – Pooja 1954

By now a well-established practice of beginning the song with short prelude-couplet comes with an innovative support orchestration of a piano piece – so typical of a Jaikishan touch.

We will continue our search for Unforgettable Songs that seem to Fading away from our Memories every second Sunday of the month……..

Disclaimer: All images are sourced from net. All copyrights of the respective image remain with the original owner of the image.