Welcome to January, 2018 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.
We recall film Samrat (1954) song Sabko Mubarak Naya Saal to open our January, 2018 account of the 6th year of our Film Song Blog Festival.
SoY has also presented It’s prose, It’s recitation, It’s a song to mark the New Year. The post has very simply presented dialogues delivered in a sing-song style, which was a characteristic of the Parsi theatre in which there was no clear distinction between dialogue-recitation-song. For example:
Tu Dil Ka Khuda Rooh Ka Kirdagaar by Mohammad Rafi (?) from Parda (1949) – Lyrics: Tanveer Naqvi, Music: Sharmaji – which HFGK lists it as a ‘song’.
The tributes in January, 2018:
Tum Kya Jaano Tumhari Yaad Mein: Lingering Melodies of the Versatile C Ramchandra – Peeyush Sharma pays tribute on 12th January 1918 being the 100th birth anniversary of the affable genius CR….Albela (1951) has a double role by Bhagwan, in which one of the roles was of an established singing theatre artist who inspires our hero Bhagwan to become a singing star. In the smaller role of the theatre artist it was Rafi lending his voice while Chitalkar was the voice of the hero when he hits stardom. This idea was borrowed by director, H.S. Rawail in Shararat, 1959 where he had two Kishore Kumars. Having one Kishore sing in his own voice (Hum matwale naujawan), he got the second Kishore sing, Ajab hai dastan teri ae zindagi, in Rafi’s voice……
Contrary to popular belief, Mohammed Rafi registered his first all India hit under CR’s music direction in Safar, 1946…. The song was Keh ke bhi na aaye tum, ab chhipne lage tare. CR had the conviction to give Rafi two solos in the film and they worked well (other one was Ab wo hamare ho gaye, ikeraar karen ya na karen). Rafi’s next major hit too came from CR, next year in Saajan, in which the main attraction was the Rafi song, Humko tumhara hi aasra, tum hamare ho na ho. The song had already gained a hit status. It also had a duet version by Rafi with Lalita Dewoolkar.
Chitalkar Ramachandra Sings: Ten Songs – Unlike SD Burman’s instantly recognizable voice, Chitalkar’s was a little more elusive—to the average listener, he can be recognized at times, but more often than not, he sounds like someone else altogether…
The Greats: Geeta Bali – She was also the love of Shammi Kapoor’s life (you can listen to him talking about her here) – they met while acting in films like Miss Coca Cola and Coffee House, and fell in love with each other during the shooting of Rangeen Raatein.
Rahen Na Rahen Hum, Mehka Karenge . . . is a tribute to Suchitra Sen who was always in a league of her own and will remain so in the history of Indian cinema.
Poet and lyricist Neeraj: ‘Poetry has kept me intoxicated throughout my life’ – Aditya Sharma – Gopaldas Saxena ‘Neeraj’, who imparted his distinctive flavour to Hindi film songs in the late 1960s and early ’70s, turned 93 on January 4.
Vijay Anand – A Committed Filmmaker – who knew the language of making of the film song and presented it in the form of very visual poetry:
N Dutta’s film tunes are not heard as widely but they should not be forgotten – Rudradeep Bhattacharjee – Amongst his earliest songs, Ab Woh Karam Karen Ki Sitam (Marine Drive); Yeh Baharaon Ka Sama (Milap) and Maine Chand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamanna Ki Thi (Chandrakanta, 1956) stand out…Remember the classic Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega ?. The same melody had been used by the composer earlier for Kya Kya Na Sitam Tujh Pe Huye (also sung by Rafi) in the lesser-known Nirupa Roy tear-jerker Mohini (1957).
N Datta – A Tribute – N Datta was at home with classical based songs (though less in number) as well as club songs, where he used all the forms from Rock N Roll to Waltz. We have picked up a couple of representative songs in the end of our post. He has also composed patriotic songs, ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha‘ from Bhai Behen is one of the examples,
Talat Mahmood Was the First Voice of Shammi Kapoor not Mohd Rafi !!! in his movies like “Thokar”, “Memsahib”, “Naquaab”, “Sipah Salar”, “Mehbooba”, “Chor Bazaar”,”Laila Majnu” and “Mohar”
Lata sings for Chitragupt in what can be termed as an endless list of some of the sweetest songs. Here is one example:
Diwane Hum, Diwane Tum, Kise Khabar – Bezubaan (1962) – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
The Great Biopics Of Bollywwod is a read on some of the greatest biographical movies made of time.
January, 2018 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs is dedicated to : Jaidev: Brilliant, But Underrated, Composer: Journey from 1955 to 1963.
And, now the posts on other subjects:
‘Toone Zindagi Me Ek Baar Pi’ – Bahadur Sohrabji Nanji has had a duet ‘Dekhoji Baat Suno Humse Tum Aan Milo’ with Mubarak Begum for M A Rauf composed movie Basera (1950)…. He played the Harmonium for Shankar Jaikishan for Seema (1955)’s song ‘Humen Bhi De Do Sahara Ki Besahare Hain’ and Dil Ek Mandir (1963)’s song ‘Yaad Na Jaaye Beete Dinon Ki’. He also played the piano for Seema’s song ‘Suno Chhoti Si Gudiya Ki Lambi Kahani’ and Organ for ‘Kahaan Jaa Raha Hai Tu Ae Jaane Waale’ …. He also worked with Roshan as assistant and arranger for 16 movies
Baar Baar Din Ye Aaye, Tum Jiyo Hazaaron Saal … is a list of some of the good birthday songs.
Of Whiners and Doormats – the predominant emotion here is either an exultation of their martyrdom or a deep mourning of their fates, to fit the twin (complementary) themes of self-abnegation and self-pity, like in a song: Mujhko sahara denewale – Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962) – Asha Bhosle – Ravi – SH Bihari
Music Has No Boundaries: 7 Indian Songs That Became Huge International Hits – Sanchari Pal – Jimikki Kammal isn’t the first song from India to become a global hit. These 7 Indian songs went viral across the globe before ‘going viral’ was a thing!
Returning To: Padmini’s Navarasa, Classical Dancing to Sia, and Bollywood Raag Yaman (plus) – The teacher in this video, Anuja Kamat, gives a detailed explanation about what makes these songs Raag Yaman, what notes and sequences Raag Yaman contains, and the variation called Raag Yaman Kalyan
Nuptials in Bollywood is an outstanding collection of songs of different hues the marriages in Hindi Films.
Looking for romance and finding RD Burman in ‘Jaane Ja’ from ‘Jawani Diwani’ – Nandini Ramnath says the song is a singing lesson from Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle.”As Vijay sings about hunting high and low for his beloved, Kumar’s voice climbs several octaves while Bhosle occupies the lower depths. Bhosle has barely any lines, but this is no Kishore Kumar solo. The singers are perfectly matched, proving Burman’s unmatched ability to orchestrate magic out of differently pitched voices, complex arrangements and wide-ranging musical instruments.”
In our series Micro View of Best Songs 1948 @SoY of Best songs of 1948: And the winners are? , during the month we have viewed Male-Female Duets of Other Singers in Part I and II, Female-Female Duets and Male- Male Duets & Triads, Triads+
In our tradition of ending our post with article or topical song, I have picked up N Datta’s songs that manifest his virtuosity over western tunes:
Laal Gaal Jaan Ke Lagu, Chor Chor Bhag Pardesi Babu – Mr X (1957) – Majrooh Sultanpuri
One Two Three Four Dil Ka Tu Hai Chor – Black Cat (1959) – with Suman Kalyanpur – Jan Nissar Akhtar
I earnestly seek your suggestions / inputs / criticisms so as to make our Film Blog Festival more interesting and live.
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