The Micro View of the Songs of 1948 @ SoY : Setting The Stage

Wait for the curtains to go up for a review of songs for the particular year @ Songs of Yore is more than an eager wait. It is preganat with more unknown songs now.  Having covered songs of 1955, 1953, 1951, 1950 and 1949 in the previous years, SoY has now crossed the threshold well into the Vintage Era as it now ventures into ‘Best songs of 1948: And the winners are?’

As noted in the overview turnkey article, we now enter the period which has two quite distinct characteristics:

One, Lata Mangeshkar did sing over 40 songs of which you can count about ten memorable and a couple of all-time great songs, yet she was not the sole pole star, as she became from 1949 onwards. Therefore, dividing the female playback singers as Lata Mangehkar and ‘others’ as (has been) done for 1949, 1950 and 1951 would not be a true reflection of reality.

Secondly, the Vintage Era also means entering a period of more unknown than known, therefore, the year-wise review would now be more a discovery trip.

The post under consideration – Best songs of 1948: And the winners are?  – has presented quite an  encompassing overview in an established template: –

Musical landmarks: Like a golden Jubilee (Mela) and a silver Jubileen (Anokhi Ada) under the belt Naushad hasestablished his morchical position. His nearest rival C ramchandra has Nadiya Ke Paar and Kidkiin the year under review. Ghulam Hiader has presened his swan song on now the Indian soil – Shaheed. Raj Kapoor directs his maiden film Aag with Ram Ganguly as music director. Lata Mangeshkar has hardly any presence in these films.

Other important musical compositions are no less noteworthy nor have lost their charm. We will enlist them here –

Anil Biswas:

Gajre

Door papia bola – Suraiya
Baras baras badly bhi bikhar gayi – Lata Mangeshkar

Veena

Wo teekhi nazron se mere dil par – Mukes

Husnlal Bhagatram

Tere Naino Ne Chori Kiya – Suraiya

O Door Jaanewale – Suraiya

Khemchand Prakash

Marne Ki Duaen Kyon ManguN– Kisore Kumar’s maiden solo song – Ziddi

Chanda Re..Ja Re Ja Re – Lata Mangeshkar – Ziddi

Ghulam Haider

Grihasthi

Tere naaz uthane ko ji chahta hai – Mukesh & Shamshad Begum

Pugree

Ek teer chalanewale ne dil loot liya – Mukesh & Sitara (Kanpuri)

S D Burman

Vidya

Laayi khushi ki duniya – Mukesh & Suraiya

Bahe na kabhi nain se neer – Mukesh

Debut

Asha Bhosle – Only a line Bahana Khush Ho Ke Sangam Manaye – in a chorus in the song Sawaan Aya Re – Chunariya

Kishore Kumar’s first duet with Lata Mangeshkar – Ye Kaun Aya Re – Ziddi

Prem Dhawan – Chanda Re..Ja Re Ja Re – Ziddi

RK Films – Aag

Geeta Dutt – Lata Mangeshkar’s maiden duet – Har Shai Pe Jawani Hai – Majboor

Mukesh – Lata Mangeshkar duet – Ab Darne Ki Koi Baat Nahin – Majboor

Ab Yaad Na Kar – Ankoha Pyar

Khayyam (as Sharmaji & (Rehman) Vermaji with Aziz Khan) – Dil Dil Yun YuN Karata Hai – Geeta Dutt, Aziz Hindi – Heer Ranja

Lata Mangeshkar first song with Shamshad Begum and Mohantara – Khushiyan Manayen Na Kyun Ham.. Kismat Hamare Saath Hai.. Jalanewale Jala Karen – Khidki

Surinder Kaur – Itne Door Hain Huzoor Kaise – Pyar Ki Jeet

Padmini as dancer-actor in Uday Shankar’s Kalpana

S Mohinder – as music director in film Sehra and as a singer Ae dil Uda Ke – Sehra

Jaan Nissar Akhtar – as lyricist in Shikayat

Sahir Ludyanavi – as a lyricist for Badal Rahi Hai Zindagi – Azadi Ki Rah Par

Snehal Bhatkar – as a music director in Suhaag Raat

Bharat Bhushna and Geeta Bali – as actors in Suhag Raat

Fact file and Trivia notes that five songs of Meena Kapoor for Anokha Pyar were recorded on Lata Mangeshkar; Leela Chitnis played mother for first time in Shaheed; Mohammad Rafi holds a falg pole in Watan Ki Rah Mein Watan Naujawan Shaheed Ho; Ameerbai Karnataki composed music for Shahnaz, once only in her career; Vidya Nath Seth sang firve songs for Rooplelka of which he composed one song too.

List Of Memorable Songs is a fairly representative list of films, music directors and known as well as less-known songs that were released in the year. I have re-compiled this list, under the title Memorable Songs of 1948, by adding the relevant link to YT file.

For the year under review, Special songs also cover the songs which open a path of discovery on their own well as they have thir own personality. In this case too, I have brought these songs on the same page with List of Memorable Songs of 1948.

The stage is now set to commence our journey into the Micro View of the Songs of 1948. As the List of Memorable Songs and Special Songs have covered most of the well-known songs for the year, we will restrict our micro-view to in-depth listening of not-so-well-known songs. We will then combine our impressions of these songs with that we already have for the well-known ones to present our point of view in so far as

Best male playback singer
Best ‘other’ female playback singer
Best songs of Lata Mangeshkar
Best duets
Best music director

are concerned for the year 1948.

All the posts that will appear on this subject here have been tagged as Songs of 1948 @ SoY.

Fading Memories….Unforgettable Songs: January, 2016

The songs that we have for the present episode, incidentally, presents quite an interesting mix – both in terms of music directors or playback singers or even the year in which these songs were first released.

Harish Raghuvanshi remembers:

All songs of ‘Saawan’ (1959) – Hansraj Behl – Prem Dhawan

As we listen to this anthology, we get to listen to several songs that have faded up in the memory, along with some which remain evergreen…..

For those who would prefer to listen to each song individually, here is the bouquet of these gems to pick and choose from:

• Bheega Bheega Pyaar Ka Sama – Shamshad Begum, Mohammad Rafi
• Tumne Kahaa Chhu, Maine Chhu Liya – Suman Kalyanpur, Mahendera Kapoor
• Hame Kuchh Ho Gaya Jee – Shamshad Begum, Mohammad Rafi
• Dekho Bina Saawan Baras Rahi Badli – Mohammad Rafi
• Meri Ghaghri Nu Ghungroo Lava De – Shamshad Begum, Mohammad Rafi
• Kaanha Chhedo Baansuri – Lata Mangeshkar
• Murli Teri Payal Meri , Tu Gaye Main Nachun Chham Chham Chham – Lata Mangeshkar, Mahendra Kapoor
• Nain Dwaar Se Man Mein Woh Aa Ke Tan Mein Pyaas Jagaye – Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
• Tumhe Yaad Kiya Mere Dil Ne – Lata Mangeshkar

Bhagwan Thavrani has remembered a wide range of the songs, with equally interesting commentary:

Mere Laadlo Tum to Fulofalo – Sant Gyanenshwar (1964) – Lata Mangeshkar – Laxmikant Pyarelal

This is a wonderful lori with wonderful words and usual Lata magic, still it’s almost forgotten…

There is a second version of this song.. in Mohammad Rafi’s voice

O Mrignayani Chnadramukhi – Rang Birangi (1983) – R D Burman

It’s a classical song by Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande with (perhaps) Arti Mukherjee…but I like the picturisation of the song and wonderful rendering by the Maestro Om Prakash and Chhaya Deviboth actors enact their “seen it all ” feelings in a deft manner and their love for each other shows…and how !  साथ जियेंगे साथ मरेंगे गाते गाते गाना.. ..lyrics is by Yogesh ( or is it Maya Govind ! )..

Saari Duniya Se Poochha – Milan (1958) – Lata Mangeshkar – Hansraj Behl

We all remember this 1958 film MILAN for that divine Lata number हाए जिया रोए, but listen to this one…it is a wonderful tune which all of you might have heard often …just trying to take it out from the shadows of more famous one….!

Jahanwale Tune Ye Kya Jindagi Di Jo Aaj Tak Hua Na – Gule Bakawali (1963) – Mohammad Rafi – Hansraj Behl – Gulshan Bawra

Immortal Rafi … Raag Darbari tune by Hansraj Behl . same Raag as in . हाए जिया रोए

Alvida Jaan-e-wafa – Benazir (1964) – Lata Mangeshkar – S D Burman

This gem is from Bimal Roy’s BENAZIR, a flop and forgotten film of the 60’s. It was directed by an unknown director Khaled. It was a Muslim social featuring Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumara, Shashi Kapoor and Tanuja among others. Music had the unique combination of Sachin Dev Burman and Shakeel Badayuni. The film had famous Rafi solo ‘ Dil Me ek Jaan-e-Tamanna Ne Jagah Pai hai ‘ and a couple of other Lata solos which are excellent yet not very popular. To me, this Lata song takes the cake. It was deleted from the film, hence only audio of the song is available. The lyric is so meaningful and a bit tragic.

Samir Dholakia remembers songs –

Beeta Hua Ek Sawan – Shokhiyan (1951) – Lata Mangeshkar – Jamal Sen, as remembered by Mahesh Joshi of Rajkot

One of his melodious but lesser known song…… This song was originally created for film “Shokhiyan “of Kedar Sharma, who introduced him in film. But somehow this beautiful song was not included in that film. After the death of Jamal Sen in 1979 , Kedar Sharma utilized the same in tele film named “Pahela kadam” in 1980.

Here are two songs which were the main subject of Arun Kumar Deshmukh’s posts on Atul’s Song A Day

Samaa Ye Pyaar Ka Bahaar Ke Ye Mele – Baaghi Sipaahi – (1958) – Manna Dey, Asha Bhonsle – Shankar Jaikishan –

This is the 2^nd of Manna Dey – Asha Bhosale duets. First one – Raat Gayi Phir Din Aata Hai – was in 1953 film – Boot Polish. Boot Polish also had triad – Thahar Jara O Jaanewale (Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Madhubala Zaveri). They went on to record 168 duets till 2005. As against this, Manna Dey – Lata Mangeshkar pair have recorded 106 duets.

Aaja Aaja Aaja Nadiya Kinaare – Raajhath (1956) – Lata Mangeshkar -Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra –

presented by Helen on the screen

In Four Aces and A Queen, Parag Sankla has presented less remembered songs of Geeta Dutt, by Hansraj Behl, Chitragupt, Bulo C Rani and Avinash Vyas. We have picked up one representative song of each of the music directors mentioned in the article but for which the video links were not provided

Do Roz Ka Jalwaa Hain, Dikhane Ke Liye Hain – Rajput (1951) – Geeta Dutt, Hameeda Bano and Chorus – Hansraj Behl –

An all-female quawaali, indeed a rare one in so far as Geeta Dutt is concerned.

Nadiyaa Kinaare Mora Dera, Mashal Jale Saari Ratiya – Tarang (1952) –

a quartet with Mohammad Rafi, Shamshad Begum, Geeta and composer Chitragupt himself singing a few lines! Between the year 1958 and 1963, this wonderful singer and Chitragupt created as many as fifty plus songs….

Jawaniya Nigodi Sataaye, Ghoonghat Mora Khul Khul Jaaye – Darogaji (1949) – Bulo C Rani – Geeta’s voice could turn so youthful and natkhat…..

Gun Gun Gunjan Karata Bhanwara – Har Har Mahadev (1950) – Avinash Vyas – Gun Gun so creatively succeeds in recreating the humming of the wasp…

K S Bhatia and other readers have been in enriching the post My favourite ‘special’ Asha Bhosle songs by way of quite interesting add-on comments. In fact the avalanche of such songs by all the readers would call for several separate posts to do the justice. We have picked up one song here:

Aap Ki Baaten Aap Ki Kasmen Sab Jhoote – Kala Samunder (1962) – N. Dutta

The discussion also has added a few songs like this one by Suman Kalyanpur as well.

Meri Preet Mera Pyar Bole Aaj Baar Baar – Teerath Yatra (1958) – Suman Kalyanpur – Suresh Talwar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qnkA_d_No4

I had fairly encouraging discussion with Maulika Dersari w.r.t. our December, 2015 episode. While she fondly remembered Zindagi Kitni Khoobsurat Hai, Aayie Aap Ki Zaroorat Hai (Hemant Kumar in 1963 film ‘Bin Badal Brsaat’ ). This one has twin version in Lata Mangeshlar’s voice as well. That led me to search for Hemant Kumar’s duet with Lata Mangeshkar :

Ho Dheere Dheere – Aagosh (1953) – Roshan – Shailendra

We shall conclude our present episode with Mohammad Rafi songs composed by Anil Biswas for ‘Heer’ (1956)

O Khamosh Jamana Hai – with Asha Bhosle – Majrooh Sultanpuri

Le Jaa Uski Duaaen, Jo Tera Na Ho Saaka – Majrooh Sultanpuri

Preet Ka Rogi Ho Ya Jogi, Allah Teri Khair Kare – Rajendra Krishna

We will meet again on 2^nd Sunday of the next month… with more unforgettable songs that have started slipping out of our memory….

If you have such songs to share, you are most heartily welcome…..

The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Male Solo Songs – Chitalkar, Manna Dey, Arun Kumar, Manmohan Krishna and others

In the preceding posts we listened to solo songs of Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Mohammad Rafi and G M Durrani respectively, as part of our journey through the ‘Best songs of 1950: And the winners are?.

These songs cover a substantial share of male solo songs for the year.

In the present post, we will cover, what can be called as fringe players, in so far as the year 1950 is concerned.

Chitalkar

C Ramchandra who sang under the pseudonym of Chitalkar only under his own baton, has songs under Husnlal Bhagatram and Hanuman Prasad (Apni Chhaya) and under P Ramakant (as Annasaheb). Shri Arunkumar Deshmukh states that P Ramakant was C Ramchandra’s music composer, like Chic Chocolate. So there must have been some compelling reason for this subterfuge. For our purpose, these trivia only add a piece of information only.

We have separately covered his Sargam solos (and duets) with other male solos that have been rendered by various singers – for Raj Kapoor – in this year.

1. Gore gore mukh se jo ghunghat hataao (Anna Saheb) – Babooji – Ehsan Rizvi- P Ramakant

2. Mera Dil Nikhattoo, Mera Tange Ka Tattoo – Nirala – P L Santoshi – C Ramchnadra

3. Subhash Chnandra Ke Naam Se Hindustan Ka Naam – Samadhi – Rajendra Krishna – C Ramchandra

4. Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja, Khushi Ke Geet Gaye Jaa – Samadhi – Rajendra Krishna – C Ramchandra

Manna Dey

Manna Dey has surprisingly not got into any special position this year. Of course his Mashall song – Upar Gagan Vishal – does remain one of best ever.

1. Upar gagan vishal – Mashal – Lyrics Pradeep –  SD Burman (and Manna Dey)

2. Naina Laage Ke Pi Ki Aur – Ram Darshan – Ramesh Gupta – Ram Ganguli

Arun Kumar

1. Jab tum the hamare aur hum the tumhare – Mashal – Pradeep – SD Burman

2. Wo unka muskurana sharmana chale jana – Sangram – Brajendra Gaur – C Ramchandra

Man Mohan Krishna

In a film which had Dev Anand as lead actor, a film that was made under his own banner, Manmohan Krishna singing two songs is a very novel experiment.

1. Jhat Khol De Kiwad Khol de, Badhai Dene Ko Aae Tere Ghar Dekh Tere Hamsae – Afsar – Vishvamitra Adil – S D Burman

2. Sadhu Ke Ghar Ki Chhokariyan Do, Ik Patle Ik Bhari – Afsar – Vishvamitra Adil – S D Burman

Both songs in this clip :

Other Male Solos

We have covered Kishor Kumar and Shankar Dasgupta’s playback songs for raj Kapoor separately.

Kishore Kumar – O Phool Chunanewale Tu Khud Hi Gulab Hai….Ada Se Musquraye Ja, Quayamaten Giraye Ja – Khiladi – Rajendra Krishna – Hansraj Behl

Krishna Dayal – Aa ja nigahon mein aa ja – Dahej – Shams Lakhanvi – Vasant Desai

Anil Biswas – Humein maar chala ye khayal ye gham – Arzoo – Majrooh Sultanpuri) – Anil Biswas

Khan Mastana – Unki nazaron se koi nazarein mila ke poochhe – Hanste Rahna – Farooq Qaiser – Wadhwa

Raj Khosla – with Chorus – Rail Mein Jiya Mera Sananan Hoe Re – Aankhen -Bhagwat Datt Mishra – Madan Mohan

Madan Mohan himself sings a duet with Shamshad Begum for this film, which we shall cover in our appropriate posts of Duets.

Sundar – Ye Kaali Kaali Julfonwali Jeen Nahin Dete – Khiladi – D N Madhok – Hansraj Behl

 

Continued………………………

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – June 2015

Welcome to June, 2015 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

It is a matter of great pleasure to commemorate Songs of Yore completing quite a trail-blazing journey of 5 years. The article contains an excellent write up, including some very light to some quite erudite pieces on the subjects ranging from “Hemantkumar’ Ravi, Discovering after three decades, Auto-inspiration or Laziness, Joyous Jaunpuri, Darbari Delights, Darbari and Mukhtar Begum. Chitrapatsangeet has added two excellent illustration of Raag Jaunpuri – one of them is Meri Yaad Mein Na Tum Aansoo Bahana – Madhosh (1954) – Talat Mahmood – Madan Mohan. We will look at the other one at the end of present episode of the blog carnival in our regular section on Mohammad Rafi.

Naushad’s “The Singing Girl Next Door”: Suraiya pays tribute to Suraiya with some of her most melodious songs by Naushad on her 86^th birth anniversary (15 June 1929 – 31 January 2004).

Sajjad Hussain’s birthday also coincides with that of Suraiya, So, Happy Birthday, Suraiya and Sajjad! has presented Suariya’s songs for film 1857, for which Sajjad has scored the music. Suraiya and Sajjad Hussain worked together in Suraiya’s swan song film : Rustm Sohrab.

My favourite Hemant Kumar Songs is a tribute to Hemant Kumar on his 95^th birthday. He had many other, quite notable, songs under several other music directors as well. Here are a few solo songs that come to my mind:

C Ramchandra:

Aye baad-e-shaba jara ahista chal, tahan so hui hai Anarkali – Anarkali (1953)

Jindagi Pyar Ki Do Char Ghadi Hoti Hai – Anarkali (1953)

Zameen Chal Rahi, Aasman Chal Raha Hai – Pheli Jhalak (1954)

Ital Ke Ghar Tital – Bahurani (1963)

Madan Mohan:

Kho Gaya Jaane Kahan Arzoon Ka Jahan – Mohar (1959)

Shankar Jaikishan :

Ham Kathputle Hai Kath Ke – Shikast (1953)

Rula Kar Chal Diye Ek Din Hasin Ban Kar Jo Aaye The – Badshah (1954)

Chitragupt :

Aasman Aasman Tu Kya Jaane – Daakaa (1959)

N Dutta :

Ye Baharon Ka Shama, Kho Na Jaayen Aa Bhi Jaa – Milaap – 1955 ( A solo and duet with Lata Mangeshakar)

R D Burman

Aaja Mere Pyar Aaja – Heeralal Pannalal (1978)

On Hemanta Mukherjee’s birthday, Upperstall on hemanta kumar has recalled one of the immortal composition of Hemant Kumar – Saqiya Aaj Mujhe Neend Nahin Aayegi – Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) – Asha Bhosle and an equally memorable duet, composed by C Ramchandra – Jaag Dard-e-Ishq Jaag, Dil Ko Bequarar Kar – Anarkali (1953)

Two songs by Hemanta kumar presents O Nadi Re Ekti Kothai and Ganga Aaye Kahan Se.

On her 79^th birthday on 4^th June 2015, My favourite Nutan songs has consciously left out songs which show her weeping. This wonderful list brings Man Mohana Bade Jhoothe (Seema (1954) – Lata Mangeshkar – Shanker Jaikishan – to the memory.

For the records Let’s talk About Bollywood has an exclusive page dedicated to articles on Nutan. Nutan’s intelligence is a brief treatise on Nutan’s all-round virtuosity, that sets her apart as an artist. Nutan-bollymusings.com/ informs of the official launch of MUSINGS, a new blog by S. Basu which he has announced will deal chiefly with Nutan.

Musings has posted reviews of two of Nutan;s movies– Aagosh (1953) and Heer (1956) till date.

We now move over to other posts:

The video leads to other Geeta Dutt songs : Jaaongi maike jaaongi : Geeta Dutt, G M Durrani – Paatal Bhairavi (1952) Ghantasala This video is made by superimposing Hindi audio on the original Telugu clip.

Two Geeta Dutt Duets : Ta Thaiya Kar Ke Aana O Jagugar More Saiyan – Panchayat (1958) – Iqbal Qureshi – with Lata Mangeshkar and Jaanu Jaanu Re Kahe Khanake Hai Tora Kangana – Insan Jaag Utha (1959) – S D Burman – with Asha Bhosle

Anil Biswas and Meena Kapoor (via Arun Kumar Deshmukh) – Some of their songs together

• Rasiya Re Man Basiya Re – Pardesi (1957)
• Rim Zim Barse Paani – Pardesi (1957)
• Kachichi Hai Umaraiya – Char Dil Char Rahen (1959)

I have picked up following two songs from My Favourite Cycle songs

• Michael hai to cycle hai (Bewaqoof, 1960, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, S.D.Burman):
• Aanchal ko udne do (Picnic, 1966, Asha Bhosle, S. Mohinder)

Ten Ganga songs from classic Hindi cinema is a good collection of songs from pre-70s (mostly, with one minor exception from 1971) Hindi films which mention the Ganga, in different contexts, to different extents. I have picked up Ganga Ki Reti Pe Bangla Chhwaii De (Sudha Malhotra – Mirza Ghalib (1954) – Ghulam Mohammad ) and Ganga Ki Bhari God Mein (Manna Dey – Mere Apne (1971) – Salil Chaudhary) from the comments of the readers.

“Cricket Se Cinema Tak”- Mac Mohan captures the accidental journey of Mac Mohan (a.k.a. Mohan Makhijani). Here is the songs wherein Mac Mohan plays a lead joint-lead role:

Ye jhuki jhuki jhuki nigahein teri – Mohammad Rafi – Aao Pyaar Karein (1964) – Usha Khanna

(Very Very Interesting Trivia: Sanjeev Kumar can be seen as a very insignificant artist in some of the long shots !!!!)

Johnnie Walker in Bollywood – is a continually updated collection of some of Johnny Walker bottles …. found over the years from various Hindi (and maybe some Tamil and Telugu) filums.

Talat Mahmood: singer, actor, gentleman – Talat Mahmood was in demand not only in the recording studio but also on the screen – Manek Premchand – The article is a brief peep into the book.

Listen to virtuosos of an instrument once banned on All India Radio – Since it was introduced to the subcontinent by missionaries, the baajaa ki peti has become a part of the Indian soundscape. – Aneesh Pradhan – Meend (or a glide between notes) and gamak (or rapid oscillation of a note) are two important embellishments that cannot be produced on this instrument.  It was for this reason that the instrument was banned for broadcast on the All India Radio in 1941. Here are a few early recordings of harmonium solo recitals.

• Govindrao Tembe – Raag Multani in Tarana Multani and Raag Tilang
• Vitthalrao Korgaonkar – Raag Todi in ‘Ja Ja Re’

Three pioneering musicians who helped turn the harmonium into a solo instrument – Bashir Khan, Shankarrao Kalpeshwari and P Madhukar demonstrated that the ‘baaja ki peti’ wasn’t just meant for accompaniment. – Aneesh Pradhan

• Bashir Khan – Ab Na Maanugi (Tori Malhar)
• Shankarrao Kalpeshwari – Dhani (Dhani Thumri)
• P Madhukar – Mishra Dhun

I remember a short, sharp, sweet, opening harmonium notes of Raat Bhi hai kuchch bheegi bheegi, which is repeated over several times.

A tribute to Guide in its 50th year – Vijay Anand’s Guide is now 50 years old and yet timeless, this is one of our cinematic landmarks, and a testament to the possibilities of artistic collaboration within a commercial system. [A longer post about “Tere Mere Sapne” is here. And more about RK Narayan’s “Misguided Guide” here]

Now we move over songs remembered by our friends in this month –

Bhagvan Thavrani

• Kiseeko Yoon Tamannaon Mein Uljhaaya Nahin Karte – Meena Kapoor -Return of Superman (1960) – Anil Biswas: ‘This forgotten Meena Kapur solo is a stunt film nobody knows or remembers..it is picturised on Jayraj and Shila Ramani ( taxi driver and railway platform fame.. ) ….Surprise of surprises, the music is by Anil Biswas…perhaps the last flicker before he vanished..! The film has a duet sung by Anil da and Mubarak Beghum ! This song is written by films producer Manmohan…this film came and went in 1961….
• Aap Ki Inayatein Aap Ke Karam – Lata Mangeshkar -Vandana (1975) – Ravi: ‘A simple, soothing song from a forgotten film…!’
• Kaho Aa Ke Bahar Kare Mera Singar Mujhe Pyar Mila – Mukesh & Asha Bhonsle – FORTY DAYS (1959) – Babul Bose – ‘Film चालीस दिन was famous for that sweet Asha – Manna Dey duet ” Naseeb hoga mera meharbaan kabhi na kabhi ” and great Asha solo ” baithe hain rehguzar pe dil ka diya jalaaye “. This sweet duet of Asha – Mukesh is lesser known but so sweet…Asha is at her playful mischievous best…music director Babul Bose gave a very few but memorable films..in a few films, he teamed with Bipin and gave music under the name ” Bipin Babul ‘.
• Na Phoolon Ki Duniya – Lata Mangeshkar – Saaz Aur Awaaz (1966) – Naushad Ali : PALKI, LEADER and SAAZ AUR AAWAZ were supposed to be Naushad’s twilight years movies and hence the Music of these films was said to be weak as compared to old Naushadian standards….A Lata chorus..it has a mystic aura about it and the chorus female voices add to the atmosphere.. Based on raag SOHINI (perhaps )..’

[Side Note: I landed up on a Suman Kalyanpur number – Poonam Ki Raat Aayi – which I am not able to recollect very easily now. Hence brought it up here.]

• Aye Saba Unse Kah Jara – ‘A rare Rafi- Asha duet from “Alibaba 40 chor ” . The music credit is given to S N Tripathi and Chitragupta but none of the film songs seem to have Chitragupta touch. Maybe , he gave background music only…..Strangely, in the same year 1954, a film named 40 BABA EK CHOR was also released with music by S D Burman with good, average, songs……Enjoy the lilting Arabian tune…!’

In the last episode of our carnival, we had talked about the very widely discussed and participated exercise of annual review of songs of a particular year – Best songs of 1950: And the winners are?. We have taken up documentation of the further micro-review of the songs therein. Here are the posts published during the present month:

• The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Setting the stage
• The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Lata Mangeshkar songs of C Ramchandra
• The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Lata Mangeshkar songs of Husnlal Bhagatram and Ghulamm Mohammad
• The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Lata Mangeshkar songs of Anil Biswas and other music directors
• The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Other Singers – Suraiya
• The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Other Singers – Shamshad Begum

We will continue with the series in the next couple of months as well……

In the end, we have picked up (our customary) very special songs of Mohammad Rafi from the lead we get from the articles / films discussed here before in the present episode of our blog carnival –

• Chitrapatsangeet has provided this song as a Raag Jaunpuri illustration in the comment to the article – Songs of Yore completes five years – referred to at the beginning of the present episode of our blog carnival – Maine Ae Jaane Wafa Tumse Muhabbat Ki Hai – Bedaagh -1965 – Roshan.

That incidentally takes us to two more songs from the same film – a solo by Mohammad Rafi, Zindagi Ke Mod Par, Akele The Ham, Mil Gaye Tum To Dil Ka Sahara Mila, and a duet of Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle, Aankhon Mein Na Jaane

• Recall of Mohammad Rafi songs from Saaz Aur Awaz

Pyaar Ki Raah Bahaar Ki Manzil – Mohd.Rafi & Asha Bhonsle – – A tonga song – after a long time.

Kisne Mujhe Sada Di (part i) – Mohd.Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur – Another haunting song, which typically has more than one version (part ii) in the film.

We continue our pursuit of the golden period of Hindi Film Music …….

The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Lata Mangeshkar songs of Anil Biswas and other music directors

This is Third of Memorable Songs of Lata Mangeshkar during our micro-revisit of the  ‘Best songs of 1950: And the winners are?.

In the First Part, we had a look at Lata Mangeshkar Songs of C Ramchandra, whereas in the Second Part, we had a look at Lata Mangeshakar’s Songs of Husnlal Bhagatram and Ghulam Mohammad.

In this third and concluding part, we will look at Lata Mangeshakar’s Songs of Anil Biswas and each of Lata Mangeshkar’s two Songs of S D Burman, Naushad and Bulo C Rani and one that of Vinod.

 

Anil Biswas’s Lata Mangeshkar Songs

Anil Biswas continues to repose his faith in vocal cords of Lata Mangeshkar, in two films that he did in 1950.

1. Mera naram karejawa dol gaya – Arzoo – Prem Dhavan

 

2. Aankhon se door ja ke jana na dil se door – Arzoo – Majrooh Sultanpuri

 

3. Kahan tak hum uthayein gham – Arzoo – Jaan Nishar Akhtar

 

4. Unhein hum jo dil se bhulane lage wo kuchh aur bhi yaad aane lage – Aarzoo – Majrooh Sultanpuri

All songs in one clip:

5. Matwale naino waale ke main waari waari jaaun – Beqasoor – Arzoo Lakhanvi

S D Burman’s Lata Mangeshkar  Songs

S D Burman’s very popular score of Afsar had Suraiya as The Female Playback Singer, which was obvious. His another film, Pyar, has Geeta Roy as the lead Feamle Playback singer. Even Mashal had one solo to Geeta Roy and duet to Shamshad Begum

1. Aankhon se door door hain par dil ke paas jo – Mashal – Pradeep

2. Aaj Nahin To Kal Bikhar Jayenge Yeh Badal – Mashal  – Pradeep

Naushad’s Lata Mangeshkar Songs

Naushad had only one film, but all the songs were top grossers. Shamshad Begum had primarily lent voice for Munnawar Sultana as well as to Nargis, whereas Lata Mangeshkar was used for Nargis in two slos and duet with Shamshad Begum. In the previous years, Shamshad Begum was the lead playback in Mela, then next year in Andaz, Lata got into the hot seat, this year situation again takes U-turn, to be reversed again completely in the subsequent years.

1. Panchhi ban mein piya piya gaane laga – Babul – Shakeel Badayuni

2. Lagan more man ki balam nahi mane – Babul – Shakeel Badayuni

Bulo C Rani ‘s Lata Mangeshkar Songs

1. Hans Hans Ke Mere Chain Pe Bijli Ghiraye Ja – Rasiya

2. Wo humse chup hain hum unse chup hain dilon ke armaan machal rahe hain – Rasiya – DN Madhok

Trivia: Not very surprised if this song reminds us of more popular song that has similar sounding opening lines : Woh Humse Chup Hai, Hum Unse Chup Hai, Mananewale Mana Rahe Hain – which also happens to be song in the year 1950. One more beauty of the song is that Chitalkar has lip sang for Raj Kapoor.

Other Music Directors’ Lata Mangeshkar Songs

More dwar khule hain aanewale kab aaoge – Anmol Ratan – D N Madhok – Vinod

 

Continued…………

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – November 2014

Welcome to November, 2014 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We begin our journey with anniversary tributes.

Manna Dey – First Death Anniversary

• Five classic Manna Dey tunes to mark the singer’s first death anniversary

The post lists Manna Dey’s five most iconic songs:

§ Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala – Shree 420 (1955) | Shanker Jaikishan

§ Tu Pyar Ka Saagar Hai – Seema (1955) | Shanker Jaikishan

§ Kaun Aaya Mere Man Ke Dwaare – Delkh Kabira Roya (1957) | Madan Mohan

§ Ae Meri Zohara Zabeen – Waqt (1965) | Ravi

§ Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli Haae – Anand (1970) | Salil Chaudhary

• Remembering Manna Dey on his first death anniversary

Also lists author’s choices 10 Manna Dey songs.

Mandatory Sahir Post of the week! – on his 34^th death anniversary on 25^th October

We select two songs form the post here;

• Laage Tose Nain (Chandi Ki Deewar, 1964, N.Dutta) – Talat Mahmood , Asha Bhosle

• Ishwar Allah Tere Naam (Naya Raasta, 1970, N.Dutta) – Mohammad Rafi and Chorus

Sahir Ludhyanwi also has a range of devotional songs to his credit – Allah Tero Naam (Hum Dono), and then that brilliant Asha song from Kaajal, Tora Man Darpan Kehlaye and that fervent Rafi prayer from Naya Daur, Aana Hai Toh Aah Raah Mein

A tribute to S.D. Burman – 39^th Death Anniversary on 31 October

Author writes – SDB is one of favorite music directors. O.P. Nayyar is another music director I have a special fondness for.

Remembering Rehman… An extremely talented but highly underrated actor with a powerful screen presence

We pick up these songs form the post:

• Gali Gali Sita Roye (1960, Chhalia, Kalyanji-Anandji) : Mohammad Rafi, singing for Raj Kapoor
• Jis Pyaar Mein Yeh Haal Ho (1958, Phir Subah Hogi, Khayyam) : Mohammad Rafi and Mukesh – Rehmaan teams in pricking Raaj Kapoor

Remembering Sanjeev Kumar

Our pick is:

• Haye Tabassum Tera (Nishaan,1965, MD: Usha Khanna): Mohammad Rafi and its female version sung by Asha Bhosle

The Unforgettable Geeta Dutt .. (so) ironical that her first super hit song was to be eventually prophetic about her short, tragic life – Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya, Main Prem Mein Sab Kuch Haar Gayi, Bedard Zamaana Jeet Gaya!

Our Picjk is:

• Chand Hai Wohi Sitaare Hai Wohi Gagan (1953, Parineeta, Arun Kumar)

Salil Chaudhary – versatile, experimenting, melodious

• A tribute to a master – Salil Choudhary – Measuring up to the task of presenting 10 of a vast range of songs
• The revolutionary music genius: Salil Chaudhary – article penned by Sadanand Warrier (a.k.a. SSW in the comments to various articles) as a first in the series of articles.

Happy Birthday, Sitara Devi!

..seven scenes represent a pretty nice range…Some of these are very lively and energetic dances, because she was extremely energetic (as Saadat Hasan Manto pointed out when he called her a typhoon). …also included are a couple of slower and less frenetic scenes that highlight her individual humor and unique expressions, because these have been an important aspect of her performances, too.

The Doyenne of Vintage Era: Khursheed

….. such a prominent singer of the Vintage Era.. Endowed with a full-throated, open and powerful voice… Vintage Era refers to not only a period of time, i.e. the 1930s through 40s, but also, and more importantly, a different style of singing, which became extinct with the arrival of Lata Mangeshkar….. No singer represented this contrast better than Khursheed

Anil Biswas’s songs for Bombay Saigal: Surendra

…because of contractual difficulties inherent in the Studio Era, Anil Biswas could not compose for KL Saigal, even though their careers overlapped for over a decade, half of which was in Bombay itself where Saigal shifted from Calcutta in the early 40s. But, when Saigal was becoming a national sensation with the New Theatres in Calcutta, especially after Devdas (1935), Bombay was looking for its own Saigal, and its prayers were soon answered in Surendra – a tall, handsome young man, with a melodious voice, from Lahore.

Musical Shammi Kapoor

…When you speak of Shammi Kapoor, music cannot be far behind. All his films had that in common – melodious songs that were loud and energetic, joyous and boisterous, soft and romantic… the songs chosen (here) had him playing one instrument or another, or even multiple instruments in the same song…

We now take up visits to different sites which have several articles for our view:

Scroll .in

§ Remembering the Jewish refugee who composed the All India Radio caller tune

All India Radio’s caller tune has been heard by hundreds of millions of people since it was composed in 1936. Somewhat improbably, the melody, based on raga Shivaranjini, was composed by the Czech man.. Walter Kaufmann. He was the director of music at AIR and was one of the many Jewish refugees who found a haven in India from the Nazis.

Here’s a clip of one of his tunes, titled Meditation

§ Rediscover the virtuosity of Hindustani vocalist Amir Khan … a bandish ki thumri in raag Khamaj that he sang for the Bengali film Kshudhita Pashan. The music for this film was composed by sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan.

§ ‘Sun Mere Bandhu Re’: The double notes of S.D. Burman’s life – The thing about great stories is that there are a million way to say them and this is what makes reading Sathya Saran’s Sun Mere Bandhu Re ‒The Musical World of S. D. Burman a pleasure unlike any recent biography.

§ Before movie trailers, Indian producers used song booklets to publicise films – Ever since the release of India’s first talkie, Alam Ara, in 1931, songs have had the power of making or breaking a movie. Some releases scored big at the box-office only because of their repeat-value soundtracks. For music fans, the song booklet outlived the movie and became a record of who wrote the lyrics and who appeared in the production.

§ What’s Lata doing in a Britney Spears song? Western tunes with unlikely Bollywood samples – It’s not only Indian artists who get inspired by music from elsewhere. American music producers, with their penchant for overproduction and constant search for new, exotic sounds, have been sampling Bollywood music for years now. And it’s turned up in the most unlikely of places.

Songs, Stories, Books and More…

• Sau Baar Janam Lenge (Ustadon Ke Ustad, 1963)– The “dead” lover is singing to a distraught Shakila and is asking her to be hopeful….”Sau Baar Janam Lenge, Sau Baar Fanaa Honge, Aye Jaanewafa phir bhi Hum Tum Na juda honge….. Ustadon Ke Ustad was remade in Tamil as Vallavanukku Vallavan (1965). Sau Baar Janam Lenge is rehashed as Orayiram Parvayile, down to the picturisation!
• Gaye Ghabra ke Mil Do Dhadakte Se Dil (Paying Guest, 1957) – Deleted song – It is also the only song Geeta Dutt sings in Paying Guest… An interesting aside about this tune is that this is a rehash of a Bengali number sung by Burmanda himself. The original song is Tumi Ar Nei Sei Tumi.
• A tweet, a new song and Aar Paar (1954) – Nadiya Paar Paar Karke, Tukde Chaar Chaar Karke, Kahin Door Kahin.. Woh Chali. .. this is NOT a new song at all. The portion – Zara Halke Halke is a direct lift from a song from the Pakistani film Anokhi (1956) which has an uncanny resemblance to Na Na Na Tauba Tauba Main Na Pyaar Karoongi (Aar Paar, 1954) – Geeta Dutt and Mohammad Rafi – O P Nayyar.

Before we switch over to our customary Mohammad Rafi ending of the carnival, we have a few more posts to visit –

• My Favourites: Songs of First Love – What happens when you find that special someone? When Cupid’s arrows strike your heart, when one smile, one glance is enough to make your heart beat faster? How does it feel like to be in love? For that very first time?…..There is a special place in our poems and literature for pehla pyar. Perhaps it is the implication of innocence….the first realisation that someone else has become so important to your happiness….the hopes that he or she feels the same way about you….the dreams of living together forever…the expectation of happiness. … As always, Hindi films celebrate that first flush of love with songs. Seek, and ye shall find a cornucopia of songs that soak in this emotion…these songs that express many different shades of the same emotion.
• Leke Pahela Pahela Pyar – Two other artists with Dev Anad and Shakeela were Sheela Vaz and Shyam Kappor, an assistant to Guru Dutt… the article narrates Shyam Kapoor’s fond memories of Gurudutt films, while updating on the present life of Shyam Kapoor.

Our friend Bhagwan Thavrani writes in to send the video clip – Woh dekho udhar chaand – Roop Kumari (1956) – Geeta Dutt , Manna Dey , because SN Tripathi has made exact replica later in 1961 as Nigahon mein tum ho – Jadoo Nagri. – Lata Mangeshkar

And now over to exclusive articles on Mohammad Rafi…

• Combination of LP and Rafi in the films of Dharmendra and Jeetendra in the 1960s – By Dr. Souvik Chatterji – During 60s LP composed music for 71 films, which had pivotal songs of Mohammad Rafi.
• HEADY WINE : Rafi-Dada Burman By K.V.Ramesh – Like many of his contemporaries SD Burman started out with his scores dominated by female voices. Shamshad Begum and Geeta Roy / Dutt were the two earlier voices usually associated with Dada Burman. The trend for male voices was seemingly straight forward – to replace Saigal Rafi sang his first song for S.D.Burman in ‘Do Bhai’(1947). Raja Mahendi Ali Khan’s ‘Duniya mein meri aaj andhera hi andhera’ is very Saigal inspired in so far as singing style goes.. In a movie dominated by two Geeta Roy killers – ‘Yaad karoge’ and ‘Mera sundar sapna beet gaya’ (both sung and emoted with exquisite pain) – it was but natural that this song probably sank without a trace and it’s not present in public consciousness.
• Rafi’s Pancham note By Anuj Sharma – The combination of Rafi and Pancham produced around 110 songs and barring 4 – 5 songs each and every song of this combination was a gem….Even before Chhote Nawab happened in 1961, RD had already chosen Rafi for his first independent assignment under Guru Dutt Productions’ Raaz in around 1957. An eighteen year old Pancham had selected Rafi, Geeta Dutt and Hemant Kumar as his first set of singers for his first film….R.D’s third film ‘Teesra Kaun’ released in 1965 carried one solo by Rafi- ‘Meri jaan tu khafa hai to kya huwa’….. Do you hear SJ tune in the song????

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P.S. – Even before the post was published, Sitara Devi put the curtain down on her LIVE performances on 25-11-2014.

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – October 2014

Welcome to October, 2014 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We have a discovery to report this month. It is a discovery on two counts – first one being that fact that I landed upon this blog only this month, though ought to have done so a little earlier, and the second one is because the blog itself is Back after a long hiatus!.

So, we will devote our beginning to posts on Songs, Stories, Books and More… Random Musings. However, we would pick up posts for the normal period of this edition and would find opportunities to delve into (relatively) older posts in the future editions of our carnival.

We have two posts on one subject, wherein both the posts have approached the subject from totally different angle. The subject is Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday (on 28^th September). The First one is Happy Birthday, Lata ji,… despite loving Asha Bhosle to the core, there are many Lata songs that I am very fond of…The volume and quality of work she has behind her is unmatched and unparalleled. And this is an Asha fan saying this.. And the Second Post is: The Swar-Saamraagyi and the the Sangeet-Maartand: Best of Lata Mangeshkar by Anil Biswas, as can be expected on any SoY post, doing full justice the selection of the songs from 123 songs that Anil Biswas – LataMangeshkar combination has provided from 30 films.

October sets in… oh yes, Happy Birthday Asha Parekh… has chosen to present songs from Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. Lakhon Hai Nigah Main, Zindagi Ki Raah Mein obviously draws a parallel with Jawaniyan Yeh Mast Mast Bin Piye  [Tumsa Nahin Dekha]. “Both songs are favourites though (I) prefer to watch the Tumsa Nahin Dekha song and listen to Lakhon Hai Nigah Mein!”

Gungunaoonga Yehi Geet Main Tere Liye – Remembering Sachin Dev Burman and Majrooh Sultanpuri is in memory of 108^th and 95^th birth anniversaries respectively. “Mohd Rafi .. happens to be.. favourite singer and I remember reading somewhere that Dada Burman wanted him to sing this song. He wasn’t in favour of Talat saab because of that tremble in his voice. But luckily for us, Jaidev (his assistant then) convinced Dada Burman to give Talat saab this song. Thank god for that. However much, I adore Rafi, no one could have sung this song better than Talat saab.”

We have a pair of very interesting posts on Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt on “Songs…and More”.

The recent one Chali Re Chali Re Main toh Des Parayee (Saranga, 1961) presents a haunting, plaintive number from film Saranga, one of the films that did make a very special space for Sardar Malik as quite an accomplished music director. The second one is w.r.t. Asha Bhosle’s birthday – Thank you for the music and memories, Asha ji! – which has picked up quite a melodious piece of Humming in Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), among other songs.

Geeta Dutt’s song Rut Phire Par Din Hamare was not there Pyasa.(1957), but has found its place here on account of “Thou shalt write a long post on at least one Sahir Ludhianvi song per week” policy. Rut Phire Par din Hamare Phire Na (Pyaasa, 1957) recollects the topic of this song in Nasreen Munni Kabir’s book (Conversations with Waheeda Rehman). According to Waheeda, this song had been filmed with her rowing in a boat and everyone had appreciated the picturisation. However Waheeda Rehman differed with the view and she apparently pointed out that having that song slows the pace of the story and is just boring. Guru Dutt had heard her criticism and after the first screening, had agreed with her observation (seeing people walk out for a bathroom or coffee break), had taken it off. Excerpts from this bok can be glanced at Excerpt | Conversations With Waheeda Rehman. The other one is Na Main Dhan Chahun Na Ratan Chahun (Kala Bazaar, 1960), This duet, by Geeta Dutt and Sudha Malhotra is said to have ben (actually) composed by Jaidev, the then assistant to S D Burman. This seems quite logical since “Jaidev’s bhajans from Hum Dono (1961) are remembered to the day – Allah Tero Naam, and Prabhu Tero Naam.”

Guru Dutt’s 50^th death anniversary brings in San San San Woh Chali Hawa – Kaagaz Ke Phool, 1959 ‘to remember Guru Dutt not as the melancholic, unhappy genius film maker but in happier times with a happy number! He was after all only 39 when he died.’

We have several other anniversary posts in the present episode of the carnival.

Happy 88th Birthday, Madam Noor Jehan! has clips of the entire ‘90s interview on BBC plus all of Noor Jehan birthday posts going back to 2009. A veritable treasure in on Noor Jehan, in one place !

On Begum Akhtar’s birth centenary, a musical tribute at her grave…..One hundred years after she was born, Begum Akhtar is being remembered and celebrated at the place where she was laid to rest.

How Begum Akhtar changed my life: a tribute on the singer’s 100th birth anniversary – Tisha Srivastav

“Now as a woman in my 40s, having lived life a little, the Begum is back in my life, as a modern-day primer to soothe me into understanding the subtext of experiences. Of love, shocks, surprises, loneliness, romancing life itself and laughing at one’s obsessions.”

The Lonely Ghazal Queen: Begum Akhtar , a legend in her lifetime, who achieved enormous fame at a very young age, and gave joy to millions of listeners of many generations, including doyens like Mehdi Hasan, Talat Mahmood, Madan Mohan, Pt. Jasraj and Pt. Ravi Shankar, Begum Akhtar’s own life seems to be full of sorrow, pain, abusive relationships, betrayal by people she loved and a deep melancholy.

Unfathomable greatness – Saleem Kidwai

The way [Begum Akhtar] would split words or combine them into musical phrases shows how comfortable she was with Urdu’s poetic idiom. This musical comfort level with the language also marked out some of her younger contemporaries like Mehdi Hasan, Iqbal Bano and Farida Khanum, and is sadly missing from most other singers.

Kishore Kumar’s duets by SD Burman : “With 115 songs, he gave Kishore Kumar more songs than any other (male) singer. Surjit Singh’s site indicates that out of this only 53 were solos, and 51 were Male –Female duets, 8 Male duets and 3 other songs. “.. and even die-hard opinionated person like me would very happily concede that quite a few of these pre-Aradhana duets did creditable justice to S D Burman’s marked preference to Kishore Kumar.

Geet Gaya Paththaron Ne – Rajakamal Studio is very passionate retrospective of films that have created a very respectable distinctive position for V. Shantaram. The post also carries link to a song each from Rajakamal Studio’s films from Shakuntala (1943) to Pinjra (1973).

My Favourites: Songs of Yearning – This ‘someone’ is a very hazy concept. We don’t usually know who, or how or when or where we will meet this particular person; we don’t even know that we will meet that special someone. And we do, perhaps – through choice, through circumstance, through fate. Or the someone we find becomes special. But in the meanwhile, we have our own hopes, dreams and expectations of finding that glorious love

Ten of my favourite string instrument songs, where it’s not an orchestra (Ted Lyons and His Cubs, anyone? Or The Monkees?), but a hero or heroine, not a professional musician, being the one ‘playing’ an instrument?

Radio Playback India has presented Raag Hansdhwani by Hariprasad Chaurasia.. I have especial fascination for Raag Hansdhwani, primarily because of Jaa To Se Nahin Bolun Kanhaiya , A Lata Mangeshakar – Manna Dey Duet from film Parivar(1956) , and then because of this song I landed upon this very famous Taranaa by Pandit Amir Khan Saheb Incidentally one of initial blog post is a compilation [Part I, Part II and Part III] of all that I could gather at that time on internet on Hansdhwani.

In our now a regular visit to Suresh Chandvankar’s articles, we have a topical article – When Bollywood maestros collaborated to put a Gandhi prayer to melody. The film musician Vasant Desai cut a disc of Gandhiji’s poem, sung by Manna Dey and Chorus. Gandhiji is credited as the lyricist .

How a goatherd and Mozart inspired the score for Bimal Roy’s ‘Madhumati’, is an excerpt, from Bimal Roy’s Madhumati: Untold Stories from Behind the Scenes by Rinki Roy Bhattacharya published by Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd..

Tamilnadus’ (ex)CM J. Jayalalitha was in the news recently. But we recall here ‘Four dance sequences from classic Jayalalithaa movies, of which one is from Hindi film Izzat (1967) – Jaagi Badan Men Jwala, Saiyan Tune Kya Kar Dala.

MANMOHAN KRISHNA SINGS FOR OP NAYYAR is one more post where we have very unique songs. Of the two non-film songs, both penned by Saroj Mohini Nayyar, the first one is Buje Diye Hua Andhera and the second one is Diya To Jala Sab Raat Re Balam. The latter song was also recorded in film Dhake Ki Malamal by C H Atma .

We round off this carnival edition with a post from Songs..Books and More – Sabhi Kuch Lutakar (Singer – Mohd Rafi, Movie Indrani, 1958) is a “wonderful romantic Hindi number was from an old Bengali film It is picturised on an unknown face. This man (a vagabond?) is strumming a guitar and singing this song. He is watched by Kumar and Sen – a just married couple – standing outside in the veranda of their house. Interspersed with Bengali dialogues, the mood of the song is indeed very romantic.”

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – July 2014

Welcome to July, 2014 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

For the period of the current edition of the Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music, we have birth anniversaries of two music directors whose work apparently spans two ends of the spectrum of Golden Period.

We take up the first chronological end – Anil Biswas.

Remembering Anil Biswas, The Singer – A tribute on Anil Biswas’s Birth Centenary (b. 7 July 1914; d. 31 May 2003)

“Songs of Yore heralded 2014 as the Year of Anil Biswas with Inaugural post by his daughter, Shikha Biswas Vohra – Anil Biswas: The Maestro and My Father. We have since had three more posts dedicated to him with his songs for Suraiya, Talat Mahmood, and his sister, Parul Ghosh…… Therefore, in our tribute to the Bhishm Pitamah in his Centenary Year, it is important to remember him as a singer too.”

The Maker of Mukesh: Anil Biswas’s opening paints a very vivid picture of the role of Anil Biswas – a Guru (of those days), in general, and the extent to which he would take pains for his passion – the music. While continuing the Centenary Tributes to Anil Biswas, SoY pays a very special tribute to Mukesh as well on his 91^st birth anniversary (on 22^nd July).

The Masters: Sajjad Hussain quite vividly portrays the nuances of Sajjad’s music. “According to his son, the principled musician had no regrets or bitterness. He had lived life on his own terms, and had been admired as a musician par excellence by his contemporaries. History deals with him kindly as well, recognising the talent that preferred to remain unused but would never compromise. The body of work that he left behind has delighted music connoisseurs for generations, and it will continue to do so for as long as there are people who listen to Hindi film music from the golden age.”

Bulo C Rani – Phoolon Se Hum Shikhenge , Fariyad Na Karana, Ro Lena presents a bouquet of songs by one of the highly meritorious music directors of the Golden Period who could never hit the commercial success. The article is in Gujarati, but that should not come in the way of enjoying the melodies presented therein.

Atul’s Bollywood Song A Day– With Full Lyrics has crossed a great milestones of publishing 10,000 songs. To commemorate the event, several regular guest writers have contributed a post on this occasion. Visiting these posts is a subject by itself, which we would take up separately.

Forgotten Melodies (Part 2) – Sweet Melodies From My Father’s Films.

“When I did my previous post I was more or less sure about the songs that I would select for this post. I decided then that my next post would be a selection of songs that have struck a chord in my heart and songs that I have just liked because of the sweet melody and of course the lyrics.” The first part of the article – Forgotten Melodies (Part 1) – My Favourite Dance Sequences From My Father’s Films – has appeared in June 2014 episode of our Blog Carnival.

Kamal Hai?! Bindiya Songs has five songs but all of them relate to period beyond the extended end of our time scale. But Anu Warrier (Conversations over Chai) has added Khanke Kangnaa Bindiya Hanse , Lata Mangeshkar – S D Burman – Dr Vidya [1962] among others in her comment.

Makeover of the filmi doormats lists of five filmi doormats – Jameela in Chaudavi Ka Chand (1961)[ Badle, badle mere sarkar nazar aate hai]; Simran in Dilwale Dulahaniya Le Jaayendge (1995); Anjali in Kuchch Kuchch Hota Hai (1998); Lalita in Parineeta (1953 ) and (2005) and Chandramukhi in Devdaas (1935 ), (1955 ) and (2002).

Music, fantasy and colour in V Shantaram’s Navrang narrates ‘over-the-top explosions of colour and classical music in Hindi-film history’.

• The opening credits appear over a stationary shot of a door, as a song with the refrain “Rang de de” (“Give colour”) plays alongside.
• An old man singing the stirring patriotic number “Yeh Maati Sabhi ki Kahaani Kahegi”.
• One of Navrang’s liveliest sequences takes the form of an informal sammelan where Diwakar’s friend, himself a composer of lowbrow verses, performs “Kavi Raja Kavita se” (sung, incidentally, by the film’s lyricist Bharat Vyas)
• A visual and aural feast in the duets : “Kaari Kaari Kaari Andhiyari”, “Arre ja re Hat Natkhat” and “Aadha hai Chandrama”

A Song For The Day is “a personal favorite” in as much as “the song stands for a sense of energy that accompanies longing and loneliness and infuses ephemeral pathos which depending on one’s mood may well turn out to be lasting.” The song neing discussed here is: Jab Chali Thandi Hawa, Jab Uthi Kaali Ghata, Mujhko Aye Jaan-e-Wafa Tum Yaad Aaye – Do Badan (1966) – Asha Bhosle – Ravi.

Kyunki Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq ‘discovers’ the quawaali by Mubarak Ali Khan – Na Tu But Kade Ke Talab. Nusrat Ali Hateh Khan has also rendered this quawalli in his very unique style. And now let us listen what we have always loved to listen – Na To Carvaan Ki Talaash Hai

SoY has also commenced Best songs of 1951: Wrap Up 1 – The article goes on to sum up contributions by the readers and then presents – Songs of Yore Award for the best Male Playback Singer of 1951 goes to Talat Mahmood, and the best song is Meri yaad mein tum na aansoo bahana. Mukesh is given Jury’s Special Honour.

To end the current edition we will take up 75^th Birthday (26^th June) tribute articles –

• Happy birthday RD: Asha Bhonsle lists out her five fav Pancham da songs
• Lata Mangeshkar on RD Burman: He died too young, unhappy
• Happy Birthday RD Burman: Some interesting facts about the legend

However, I would like to recall his first two films only:

The Second one ….Bhoot Bangala (1965 )

• Aao Twist Karen – Manna Dey
• Pyar Karata Ja – Manna Dey and R D Burman
• Jaago Sonewalo – Kishore Kumar
• Ek Sawal Hai Tumse Ye Mera – Kishore Kumar
• Mere Pyar Aaaja – Lata Mangeshkar

And the First.. Chhote Nawab (1961)

• Ghar Aaja Ghir Aaye – Lata Mangeshkar
• Chura Ke Dil Ban Rahe Ho Bhole – Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus
  
• Matwali Aankhonwale O Albale Dilwale – Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
• Aaj Hua Dil Mera Matwala – Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
• Jeenewale Muskura Ke Ji – Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
• Aam Chum Taam Chum – Mohammed Rafi and Chorus –
• Ilahi Tu Sun Le Meri Dua – Mohammed Rafi

And you guessed it right… these songs are also our tribute to Mohammed Rafi as well…..

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – June 2014

Welcome to June, 2014 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We begin our carnival with visits to our regular blogs:

Suraiya’s songs by SD Burman

“Since SD Burman made his debut late, his songs for Suraiya are much less compared to, say, Naushad’s, but as was his wont, he had a talent to create something for every singer, which would easily rank among his/her landmark songs, even if we just count Man more hua matwala and Nain deewane, Suraiya’s songs by SD Burman have a place among her greatest songs.”

Songs of Yore completes four years – With a tribute to Juthika Roy

“Born in 1920, she sang her first song on the radio at the age of 7, which was a Rabindra Sangeet, Aar dekhona, andhaare aamaay dekhate daao. Her first HMV record was of two Bengali songs, which was followed by two Meera bhajans in Hindi in 1935-36. She became synonymous with Meera bhajans and achieved enormous popularity during the 40s through 50s. Kamal Dasgupta composed most of her songs, with whom she also sang a number of duets, including some naats and qawwalis.”

Shri Arunkumar Deshamukh has also guest-written an article on Juthika Roy – Mandir ho har kadam pe pooja ho subah shaam@ atul’s bollywood song a day- with full lyrics. The song presented here is a duet of Juthika Roy with Kamal Dasgupta.

Whilst on the subject of Juthika Roy, let us also enjoy Juthika Roy’s interview on Vividh Bharati, on 25^th February 2009 @ Anmol Fankar.

The incredible brother-sister in music: Anil Biswas’s songs for Parul Ghosh

“Her swan song in films was in Aandolan (1951) – Vande Mataram – with Manna Dey and Sudha Malhotra, composed by Pannalal Ghosh. She sang about 100 songs in all in 25 films. She died on August 13, 1977 after prolonged illness in Bombay. The song list (not exhaustive) at Cineplot shows that she sang for most of the top composers of the time, but her most famous songs are by his brother.”

Ten of my favourite Sunil Dutt songs is the collection of solo songs Sunil Dutt sings on the screen. The list does not contains only song from a given film.

Twin Songsare true back-to-back songs, songs that segue into each other with no dialogues or scenes in between. The compilation presents 14 sets of such songs in one go, which one can be listen here too.

Forgotten Melodies (Part 1) – My Favourite Dance Sequences From My Father’s Filmscaptures some of more favoured dance sequences from films in which Tarun Bose has played a role.

Lively songs from Naushad“is devoted to the multitude of lively songs that Naushad composed through the 1940s, 50s and 60s.Lively here does not “mean only songs that celebrate joy or abandon”. It also includes “songs that have a (relatively) lively and attractive pace when compared to slow, brooding songs. Some of his lively songs may actually be sad situations. But the songs may be lively with a relatively fast tempo or with lyrics, expressions or situations that appear cheerful!.” For an uninterrupted listening, do use this playlist.

We now turn to the archives of the other blogs and articles:

4 June was the birthday of Nutan. We recall Nutan’s Biography, and supplement it with Lady Nutan, wherein very interesting aspects of her life have been presented. The article has sourced a good deal of material from Cineplot.

Jaikishan – The Eternal Prince of Hindi Film Music is an exclusive interview with Bhairavi Jaikishan, daughter of famed Jaikishan of Shanker Jaikishan duo. – “Listen to the soulful Rafi number ‘Yaad Na Jaaye Beete Dinonki” from Dil Ek Mandir. And listen to the Spanish ‘original’ Besame Mucho and one is left awestruck! The feel is similar but to the Indian ear – it is the pathos of the SJ-Rafi rendition which touches the heart! This was a typical Jaikishan characteristic.”

Evolution of the Hindi film song (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6) traces the way Hindi Film Sings evolved. Presented here are some excerpts:

“We saw the late 30s and early 40s responsible for the entry of singers such as GM Durrani, Arun Kumar, Parul Ghosh, Zohra Ambala, Amirbai Karnataki, Rajkumari, Shamshad Begum and Suraiya. Now a newer generation of singers followed them. Among the male singers, Shankar Rao Vyas introduced Manna Dey with Ram Rajya in 1943, Naushad introduced Mohd. Rafi to Hindi films with Pehle Aap in 1944 and Anil Biswas introduced Mukesh in Pehli Nazar in 1945. Of these perhaps the most important talent was undoubtedly Mohd. Rafi.

“While Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar went on to rule the Hindi Film Industries from the 1950s, there were other male playback singers whose contribution could not be denied – Manna Dey, Talat Mehmood and Hemant Kumar….. Meanwhile the 1940s had also thrown up some of the best female talent in playback singing – Meena Kapoor, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt and of course the one and only Lata Mangeshkar…”

And now, we move over to our regular Mohammad Rafi-related video clips and articles:

Mohammed Rafi – VOA Tribute – Rare interview and his own selection of songs –

The special program is a joint production of the staffers of VOA Urdu Service and the VOA English division. This is based on a rare interview of the legendary Bollywood singer, Mohammad Rafi, recorded during one of his visits to London in 1977 by Subhash Vohra of VOA English, who was then working for the BBC Hindi Service. This program, devoted to the memories of Rafi, also includes his own selection of songs.
You can also listen to very intimate observations of the famed Bollywood personality, Ameen Sayani, who is still adored in South Asia for his masterly music presentation over several decades.

Yasmin Khalid Rafi, daughter-in-law of Mohammed Rafi published her book- Mohammed Rafi – My Abba, A Memoire. In a review of the book on “Outlook”, With A Song on His Lips, Sathya Saran has this to state – “Few sang as Rafi sang, few touched so many as he did. A mellow, melancholy memoir recalls a master we don’t know.”

We have chosen to remain brief and focused in this episode. How would you to react to this style?

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – July 2013

Welcome to July 2013 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

Incidentally, we have several pairs of articles on each of the subject in this edition.

“Luck very rarely smiled on Madan Mohan in terms of hit films. He always composed great music for “B” type movies which did not do well at the box-office. The music was always heavenly. Three such examples are Anpadh (1962), Jahanara (1964) and Sharabi (1965). A great composer who deserved lot more than the single National Award he won for the composition of Dastak’s song.  14^th of July was the anniversary of Madan Mohan.”^# Shri Shrikant Guatam, in his regular weekly column in Janmabhoomi Pravasi’s “Madhuvan” supplement, has presented “successful songs of Madan Mohan in unsuccessful films”. Among the films he has chosen for this article, we pick up “Dulhan Ek Raat Ki”, which has been reviewed by Shri Ashok Dave @ his blog-post. (Both articles are in Gujarati.)

The outstanding Madan Mohan “Dulhan Ek Raat Ki” (1966) gems which went on to become (and are) popular with critics and fans are:

Ek Haseen Shaam Ko Dil Mera Kho Gaya – Mohammad Rafi

Maine Rang Li Aaj Chunariyaan Tere Rang Men – Lata Mangeshkar

Aapne Apana Banaya Meharbani Aapki– Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar

And Madan Mohan vintage song – Sapno Men Mere Tum Aao To So Jaaun – Lata Mangeshkar

And here are songs where Madan Mohan continued to dare with experimentation while blending his distinct style:

Kai Din Se Hai Bekal, Ai Dil Ki Lagan Ab Le Chal – Lata Mangeshkar

Hamaar Kaha Maano, O  Rajaji – Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar

Kabhi Ay Haqueekat-e- Muntazir, Nazar Aa Libase – A Quawali – Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus

Zindagi Hai Dulhan Ek Raat Ki – Bhupinder

Ghayal Hiraniya Van Men – Bhupinder

Kisi Ka Kuchh Kho Gaya Hai, Jiski Shay Hai Woh Aake – Mohammad Rafi

And, a bonus find, thanks to YT, Paiyaan Padungi – Lata Mangeshkar

^#Old Classic Hindi Songs has songs of Madan Mohan on this special page.

Geeta Dutt Anniversary also falls in [20^th]  July. “Songs of Yore” paid a tribute by way of Geeta Dutt’s best songs by SD Burman. The article has a link to the list of Geeta Dutt’s (around) 70 + solos, composed by S D Burman @ The Legendary Nightingale.. Geeta Dutt . To this Old Classic Hindi Songs has gone on to add several songs of Geeta (Roy) Dutt that were previously posted, again under a separate heading, towards the bottom part of the separate page.

In  a rare tribute to Kanan Devi, to “Dances on Footpath”’s Seven Beautiful Songs with Kanan Devi, Who Lived April 22, 1916 to July 17, 1992. We have a rich supplement of previously posted songs of Kanan Devi, by Old Classic Hindi Songs, grouped under a separate heading, listed towards the bottom of the separate page below Madan Mohan’s songs. Click here for Kanan Devi’s songs.

“…And Pran” (Kishan Sikand), The Villain of Hindi Screen, and an equally transformed ‘character actor’ in his second innings, agreed to call “The End”. “Dusted Off” vividly narrates Pran Saheb’s multi-faceted commanding presence on the screen in Pran: In Memoriam . We choose to remember his Dil KI Umange Hai Jawan from Munimji. In a pairing tribute, “Filmi Geek”’s Thank you, Pran saheb, and value-adding discussion thereat, also present Pran Saheb’s songs, one of which narrates  a “song from “’Rahu Ketu’ (1978) , picturized on PremNath and Pran. They are singing to each other, and it is a qawwali. –Main hoon tera Prem and Main hoon tera Pran, probably one of a kind song in the Indian Film history, wherein two characters sing using their own professional a.k.a. real name.”

We take the opportunity to recall Shrikant Gautam’s article in his regular column in ‘Madhuvan’ supplement of Janmabhoomi Pravasi on the occasion of  Pran Saheb being decorated with (a highly belated) Dada Saheb Phalke award.[Blog Carnival’s  April 2013 Edition].

‘Dances on The Footpath’ presents seven of Anil Biswas songs in Happy Birthday, Anil Biswas!, to which we have a paired brief sketch of Anil Biswas along with this video clip by  IMIRZA777.

An now we move on to a pair of articles on [or is it “in”?] 1953 – Songs of Yore, continuing the trend initiated last year – with the songs of the year 1955, has mesmerizingly thrown the gauntlet to pick up Best songs of 1953: And the winners are?. The post has generated one of the highest numbers of discussion “comments”, wherein SoY readers have expressed views on quite a wide horizon of their choices. To which Dances on The Footpath presents us an intertwined comparison of films ‘New Delhi (1956) with ‘Dupatta’ (A 1952 Pakistani film) with reference to the character enacted by Sandhya in V. Shantaram’s film Teen Batti Char Rasta (1953), in a 2009 post. The song that epitomizes the discussion is: Akhiyan hai yeh roop ki pyasi – Lata Mangeshkar, music direction by Shivram Krishna.

Teen Batti Char Rasta has a very unique multilingual song, rendered by different singers to the music composed by different music directors. Among the languages represented therein, we would, obviously, choose, the Gujarati piece @  – 4.00, rendered by Asha Bhosle for which Avinash Vyas composed the music. Here is the ‘original’ song Chaanu Re Chhapanu Kain Thay Nahin ( You can to do dream secretly)  – also rendered by Asha Bhosle on Avinash Vyas’s composition.

And how can we have month of an active monsoon without posts of monsoon songs? Dusted Off has penned Ten Memorable Rain Scenes. We have a pairing post by ‘Let Us Talk Bollywood’- Baarish (1957) no rain, but drenched in beauty and fun.
We have paired posts, too – Sunahari Raaten’s Baarish (1957) and Sharmi Ghosh Dastidar’s Raw appeal (Baarish). These three reviews collectively present us songs from the film: Yeh muh aur daal masoor ki; Dane dane pe likha hai;     Zulf hai;    Kehte hai pyaar jisko ;sad version Kehte hai pyaar jisko;  Phir wohi chaand;  Hum toh jaani pyaar karega and Mr. John ya Baba Khan ya lala Roshanadan.

We have two quite unique posts, emanating from Dusted Off’s post mentioned here above – Bollywood Food Club’s Johnnie Walker in Bollywood   and Apni East India Company’s Bolly Chandeliers. The former presents Johnnie Walker bottle and the latter one presents Chandeliers in our Hindi Films.

We have some excellent posts on Mohammad Rafi this month.

Vijay Bavdekar, Nagpur has painstakingly recalled Rafi’s Ever Remembered Songs Composed By Less Remembered Music Directors.

Ashok Dave, in his review (in Gujarati) of Baiju Bawra (1952) presents raagmala, in which  Mohammad Rafi is in his elements, which has following classical music pieces:

(1) Raag Lalit: Piyu Piyu Re Karat Hai Papiha, Ab Kaho Kaise Raakhun Jiya….

(2) Raag Gaud Malhar: RoomZoom Badariya Barase, Un bin Mora Jiya Tarase

(3) Raag Puriya Dhanashri:  Ajab Tori Prabhu Aan Baan Dekhi, Baag Men Ban Me Neelgagan Men, Dekhat Hun Teri Shan.

(4) Raag Bageshri: Hay Ri Ai Kaise Main Ghar Aaun Mitwa, Tumre Jiyara Baat Chalat Mose Roke Daro Thagawa

Rajiv Nair presents Relationship between Mohammed Rafi saab and Mahendra Kapoor. The post has refrences to – Mahendra Kapoor’s award – winning song @ the Metro Murphy All-India singing competition (1957): Ilaihi koi tamanna nahin,  “composed by Rafi saab for the competition” and  the song Mohammad Rafi called up to share with Mahendra Kapoor :“Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho (Hanste Zakhm, 1973) by composer Madan Mohan. Dad cried and so did Rafi saab, such was the melody and the mood.”

I am quite sure listening to each of the songs that present edition of this Blog Carnival is as much sheer joy, as it was to me in listening and compiling here!

Did I miss any major blog post or an article here? Do let me know, so as to widen the reach of this Blog Carnival.