For the purpose of summing up the duets, I have picked up the ones that I liked on the first hearing.
So, here is the list, in no particular order:
Mohammad Rafi, Hamida Banu – Rukhi Sukhi Main Kha Luhgi Paas Bula Lo Mere Raja – Insaaf – H P Das – D N Madhok
I fully concur with Shri AKji’s views: Even though Rafi follows Hamida Bano, the famous voice modulation we became familiar with is present in this song.
Mohammad Rafi, Shamashad Begum – Ye Nayan KyuN Sharma Rahe Hai – Rasili –Hanuman Prasad – Gafil Haranyanvi
It is such a pleasure to listen to Moahammad Rafi in such a youthful voice.
Mohammad Rafi, Amirbai Karanataki – Man Ki Suni Nagariya Suhani Bani – Sona Chandi –Tufail Faruqui – Khawar JamaN
Here too I fully endorse Shri AKji’s views for the song: Amirbai Karanataki seems to overpower him with her natural high pitch over Rafi coming in lower scale. I contrasted with ‘Ansoo thi meri zindagi’ five years down the line in ‘Bikhare Moti’ (1951, Music: Ghulam Mohammad; Lyrics: Aktar Ul Imman) in which too she leads, but by then Rafi was in his full flow.
Mukesh, Hamida Banu – Ja Parwane Ja Kahi Shama Jal Rahi Hai – Rajputani –Bulo C Rani – Pt. Indra
Hamida Banu is in her vintage era singing elements and yet so smoothly modulates the song that song appeals the listeners from the very beginning.
Ashok Kumar, Amirbai Karnataki – Har Din Hai Naya, Har Raat Nirali Hai – Shikari – S D Burman – G S Nepali
Ashok Kumar fully matches Amirbai Karanataki through the song, even at the higher octave scales.
Surendra, Noor Jehan – Awaz De Kahan Hai, Duniya Mera Jwan Hai -Anmol Ghadi –Naushad Ali – Tanvir Naqvi
The song is one of the very popular duet that always remained active in terms of listeners choice at all phases of public / private listening media.
Revashankar, Johrabhai Ambalewali– Hamari Gali Aana Hamse Akhiya Milana – Maharana Pratap – Ram Ganguli – Swami Ramanand
A quintessential vintage composition, and yet so sweeto to listen to.
Firoz Dastoor, Amirbai Karnataki – Naino Ki Nagari Mein Aa Ke Chale Janaa Na Kar Ke Bahana – Pujari – Hansraj Behl – Wali Sahab
The song retains melody even when set to a relatively stronger bass rhythm.
A R Oza, Amirbai Karnataki – Patanga Chala Hai Dipak Ki Aur, Man Mein Le Kar Prem Ki Aasha – Pujari – Hansraj Behl – Wali Sahab
The delivery of the song has remained quite clear even though the song is seto relatively higher octave scale., and then song moves to a slower rhythm in the second stanza.
Yashvant Bhatt, Husn Banu – Aye Phool Bata Kaisa Hoga Mera Piyaa Sajan Pyara – Royal Mail – Narayan Rao – Mustafa N Usmani
An excellent composition, set to lower scales.
Zohrabai Ambalewali, Shamshad Begum – Udan Khatole Pe Ud Jaoon, Tere Haath Na AauN – Anmol Ghadi – Naushad Ali – Tanvir Naqvi
One of the most familiar song in the category of ‘duets’ this year.
Mohantara Talpade, Hameeda Bano – Oonchi Haveli Bana Do Munimji, Haweli Ko Sheeshe Laga Do Muimji – Phoolwari – Hansraj Behl – Pt. Indra
The list of things to be fitted in the palace makes the song an interesting one to listen to.
S D Burman, S L Puri – Baabu.. Re Dil Ko Bachana, Tere Dil Ko Bachana – Eight Days- S D Burman
During the course several articles on S D Burman for our blog, I got the opportunity to listen to this duet. That familiarity has played the role in the selection of this song here.
Of these, I would rate (Mukesh, Hamida Banu ) Ja Parwane Ja Kahi Shama Jal Rahi Hai – Rajputani –Bulo C Rani – Pt. Indra as my MOST liked Duet for 1946.
We will take up MY Top Music Directors for the year 1946 in the next episode.
P.S. : All the episodes of The Micro View of Best Songs of 1946: Duets can be read / downloaded from one file, by clicking on the hyper link.
SoY has published its concluding piece on duets of 1946 – Best songs of 1946: Wrap Up 3and adjudged, Aawaz de kahan hai – Surendra and Noorjehan (Anmol Ghadi, Naushad), and Ek yaad kisi ki yaad rahi – GM Durrani and Shamshad Begum (Shama, Ghulam Haider)jointly as the Best Duets for 1946.
The world is too small? or Is it? 