Manna Dey’s Comedy Songs – Mehmood [3]

In the first part of this Manna Dey’s songs for Mehmood, we saw Mehmood’s career graph on the rising mode. The second part can be said to be the period when his career had peaked. The present, third part takes off from the year 1966 where we had ended second part. As we progress through this part, we come across a stage whereat we feel the beginning of the end of Mehmood’s career. As we have set a limit of end of ‘60s as our period of interest in so far as our core of focus in so far as Manna Dey’s sinigang career in Hindi Films, we are relieved form not being forced to witness the final decline of Mehmood’s career. However, we may, still, will have to bear some pain of listening to some not-so comparable Manna Dey songs for Mehmood

Allah Jane Main Hoon Kaun – Pati Patni (1666) – R D Burman – Anand Baxi

Pati Patni was produced by Mehmood. This was the fifth film of R D Burman’s career. The song is tailor-made for Mehmood’s typical theatrics, but Manna Dey is able to make tolerable.

Meri Patni Mujhe Satati Hai – Pati Patni 1966 – with Surendra and Johnny Walker – R D Burman – Anand Baxi

In a rare situation, Om Prakash, Mahmood and Johnny Walker, three comedians of different styles and essentially of different periods have come together, in a song. Surendra sings for Om Prakash and Johnny Walker for himself – another rare incidence.

Kaise Dekha Hai Mujhe Ji O Ta Ta Thiyo Ta Ta Thiyo – Pati Patni (1966) – with Asha Bhosle – R D Burman – Anand Bakshi

This eve-teasing song, which, in Hindi films, invariably succeeds in sealing up the relationship of mutual love, is also tinged with a touch of comedy.

Nir Ta Ta – Chandan Ka Palna ((1967) – With Mohamad Rafi – R D Burman – Anand Baxi

This song is also a parody of classical singing. Rafi plays the role of Guru (Dhumal) to which the disciple, Manna Dey (Mehmood) plays pranks.

Baat Karate Ho Baat Karana Nahin Aata – Chandan Ka Palna ((1967) – With Asha Bhosle – R D Burman – Anand Baxi

Asha Bhosle (Mumtaz)  sings in the ‘modern’ style to Manna Dey’s (Mehmood) old-fashioned Bangla style, but that does not seem to have any adverse effect on their romantic feelings.

Aao Aao Aao Sanawariya – Padosan (1968) – R D Burman- Majrooh Sultanpuri

Padosan was the film wherein what is typically termed as supporting roles, play more dominant roles than the official lead pair. The song carries on the Mehmood’s parodying of south Indian (Tamil_ accented Hindi

Ek Chatur Naar — Padosan (1968) – with Kishore Kumar – R D Burman – Majrooh Sultanpuri

The song is said to be inspired from  Saraswati Devi‘ s composition [Jhoola(1941), Singer – Ashok Kumar,  Lyrics –  Kavi Pradeep. Manna Dey losing to Kishore Kumar in this song   is also said to be his quiet repentence of having won against Bhimsen Joshi in Ketaki Gulab Champak Ban Phoole [Basant Bahar, 1956, Shankar Jaikishan, Shailendra)

Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada – Do Phool (1973) – with Asha Bhosle and Mehmood – R.D. Burman – Majrooh Sultanpuri

The song is a direct lift from a Tamil film. The first two words mean – Give me a kiss.

Mehmood, by now, seems to resort more and more to some loud theatrics for his comedy acts. Music director(s) and Manna Dey battle to maintain the classical or regional styles.

We end this episode here by taking up Manna Dey – Mehmood Songs composed by R D Burman only. In the next and concluding episode of Manna Dey – Mehmood combination we will continue our journey form 1966, but through the songs of other music director