Fading Memories…. Unforgettable Songs: January, 2019

Jaidev: Brilliant, But Underrated, Composer:  Journey from 1964 to 1970 – Jaidev’s music remains unscathed in less remembered songs of unknown films

We have been co-travelling the musical journey of Jaidev (a.k.a.  Jaidev Varma; B: 3 August 1919 – D : 6 January 1987) in this month of death anniversary, starting from the last year. We had covered the films from 1955 to 1963 last year..

By the end of this period, Jaidev’s career had seemed to attain the required escape velocity to go into the orbit of sustained commercial success. But, the fate had some other designs in its store. During the making of Mujhe Jeene Do, he had a bitter difference of opinion with Sahir Ludhyanavi, with whom he had created the two last masterpieces – Hum Dono and Mujhe Jeene Do. And then, Navketan was (reportedly) coerced to revert to S D Burman for Guide (1965), which turned out to be an all-round success.

With no (so-called) big banner under his fold, he was forced to take up work for low budget films. However, post-Mujhe Jeene Do, his music perhaps lost that ‘melody’  which gives the music a ‘mass’ touch, even though his compositions, still, were of an exalted order – soulful and sublime, spiritual and transcendental, ethereal and heavenly. In Hindi film industry, such music directors get cast for low-budget films. Jaidev could not emerge as an exception.

As may be observed in this episode, his elaborate compositions for smaller films found a smaller audience and yet Jaidev continued to give of his best in every film he worked on. Many of his best compositions are lost in unfinished films and albums. Though he is the only music director to have received three national wards for music in Hindi Films, as a music composer, he never properly received his due and was passed over many times for others, but his film scores linger on in the deep in our memories.

Presently, we continue with Jaidev’s musical journey from the year 1964 to 1970…….

Naihar Chhootal Jaaye (1964)

This is a Bhojpuri film. The one song that I could locate is thanks to Atul’s Song a Day.

Jiyara Kasak Masak Mor Rahe Laagal – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Shailendra

We have a lilting, light songs from Jaidev. To many a Rafi fans, the song may not be totally unknown.

The songs has a Asha Bhosle version too. The subtle change in the composition that reflects the inherent feelings of a male and a female respectively strikingly comes to our notice.

Hamare Gam Se Mat Khelo (1967)

This one is also an obscure, low budget, film which has six songs, spanning singers like Talat Mahmood, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor and Krishna Kalle.

Ye Khamoshi Kyu Ye Madhoshi Kyu – Geeta Dutt – Lyrics: Nyay Sharma

This is the only song that Jaidev has recorded with Geeta Dutt,based on a western style composition, which is also a rarity for Jaidev. Geeta Dutt sounds as lively as she was in ‘40s.

Ye Bahar Ka Sama Karar Ka Sama Nikhar Ka Sama Kho Na Dena – Mahendra Kapoor – Krishna Kalle – Lyrucs: Nyay Sharma

Even if the singers seem to have been chosen to fit into the shoe-string budget, Jaidev maintains his touch in the composition. The composition has inherent melody to listen to, but is difficult to hum with.

Ansoo Chuupaye Aankh Mein, Khoon-e-Jigar Piya Karun – Talat Mahmood –  Lyrics: Shireeh

This is fairly known song. The composition has a typical Jaidev touch – probably little difficult hum along, but certainly very melodious to the ears. Such songs do not become very popular, but are not easily forgotten too.

Kahiye Kya Hukam Hai, Main Pyar Karoon Ya Na Karoon, Kahiye Kya Hukam hai – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics Nyay Sharma

Essentially this is a mujra song.. The composition is set to rather difficult style.

Jiyo Aur Jeene Do (1969)

This is the only films wherein Jaidev and Hasrat Jaipuri team up together.

Main to Kar Kar Binati Haari Re – Suman Kalyanpur – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri

Here is another song which is rare – from the point of view of hardly being heard, being a maiden song of Jaidev-Suman Kalyanpur combination and being a song which is as melodies as a Jaidev or a Suman Kalyanpur song will always be.

Ye Dharati Hamari Dharati Hai,Hum Isko Swarg Banayenge – Manna Dey, Sulakshana Pandit –  Lyrics: Hasrat jaipuri

The composition and bass orchestration are literally down to earth, in spite of the inherent complexity of the tune.

Aaj Ki Raat Bas Jalwa Dikhane Ke Liye – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Hasrat jaipuri

Here is a composition that is complex, but sounds so appealing in Mohammad Rafi’s voice.

Roop Ki Dhoop to Dhal Ke Rahegi –Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Hasrat jaipuri

The prelude and interlude pieces suggest that the song would be a street song

Sapna (1969)

One more obscure film, not much known lyricist, and yet, Jaidev holds the fort.

Anadi Mor Balma .. Achar Dhar Thunke – Laxmi Shankar – Lyrics: V N Mangal

Jaidev experiments using voice of classical singers for his semi-classical songs.

Ae Meri Majbutr Zindagi.. Chal Ri Kahin Chal Tu Zindagi – Manna Dey – Lyrics: V N Mangal

Even though we have audio track of the song, the rhythm leaves no doubt that the song would have been sung while travelling on a cart, which was a very-well experimented genre in those days.

Mujh Se Mat Rootho, Na Na Rootho Meri Jaan Chali Jaayegi  – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: V N Mangal

A fast-paced, rootahana-manana’ genre song that shows that Jaidev can also do that any other commercially successful music director could do !

A twin version in the voice of Krishna Kalle, which has some obvious variation to reflect the rendition by the female counterpart of a roothana manana situation.

This episode has so large a share of Mohammad Rafi songs that I could have done away with the tradition of ending the episode with a Rafi song. However, I find two unreleased film songs in Mohammad Rafi’s voice.

Ek Bulbulaa Paani Ka (1970, Unreleased)

Teen Taal Par Naach .. Budhape, Bachpan aur Jawani Ke.. Rang Hazaron – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

Jaidev presents Mohammad Rafi in a soulful bhajan.

Shaadi Kar Lo (1970, Unrelased)

Na Tum Haton Na Hum Hatein  – Mohammad Rafi and Parveen Sultana – Lyrics : Jan Nisaar Akhtar

We have a very rare qawwali from Jaidev, wherein he has daringly experimented with voice of Parveen Sultana.

Normally, we do not add any commentary in any episode, after we come to the end of the episode with Mohammad Rafi songs. However, I would seek to make an exception in the present case.

I have a confession to make. After re-visiting the songs from the last episode, when I started listing the films from Jaidev’s filmography, I had a feeling that I should be lucky if I can choose at least one song from each of these totally obscure film.

However, as soon as I started listening to these songs, I started realizing what a gross under- judgement I had made about the genius that is Jaidev. Each song is worth listening repeatedly. Each song has its own unique composition, set to different styles, has used different singers and has been penned by different lyricist. Hence, I have chosen to post YT video of each song here even at the cost of making the song a little larger in the quantity of number of songs.

Also, I have recorded elsewhere my feeling that Jaidev has not done much work with Mohammad Rafi, after Mujhe Jeene Do. That impression also goes out of the window here.

On that note, I now look forward to Jaidev’s creations in ‘70s, even more eagerly in our next episode next year.

We will continue remembering 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.