Ghulam Mohammed – The world is too small? or Is it?

Fading Memories ….. Unforgettable Songs : March 2022

Ghulam Mohammed and His Singers : 1950-1952

Ghulam Mohammed (1903 – 17 March 1968)’s musical scores during the years 1943 to 1949 had established his identity as percussionist who had also gift of composing melodies as well. He had already been successful with the scores of Pugree (1948) and Shair (1949). However, it seems that his concurrent role as assistant to Naushad perhaps had cast some kind of shadow over his own identity as independent music director. This relationship continued till film Aan) 1952. Some historians consider him too naïve a businessman since he continued to assist Naushad even he had getting success by 1948.

This theory seems to hold some merit, because Ghulam Mohammed did get three films in 1950, two in 1951 and three again in 1952. These numbers need to be viewed in the back drop of the fact that several other (so-called) already stablished) music directors were also scoring successful music for the then big production banners in the same period. 1950 had Naushad scoring music for ‘Dastan’ and ‘Babul’, C Ramchandra for ‘Sargam’ and Anil Biswas for ‘Arzoo’. In 1951, along with “Deedar’ of Naushad, S D Buraman’s ‘Bahaar’ and Baazi’, C Ramchandra’s ‘Albela, Anil Biswas’s ‘Taraana’ and Shanker Jaikishan’s “Aawara’ occupied the space. There was hardly any respite in 1952 as well, with Naushad’s ‘Aan’ and ‘Baiju Bawra’, S D Burman’s Jaal and Shanker Jaikishan’s ‘Daag.’

In all the fairness to Ghulam Mohammed, it should also be noted that some other equally talented music directors also had not been able to break the glass ceiling, even if their music was also noted with high respect o their talent. For example, Bulo C Rani – Jogan (1950), Roshan – Hum Log (1951) and Anhonee (1952), Hemant Kumar – Anand Math (1951) and Madan Mohan – Ashiana (1952) to name a few representative cases.

Be that as it may, our principal focus of the present series to commemorate the death anniversary month of Ghulam Mohammed is to refresh our memories of his compositions and get an overview of Ghulam Mohammed’s repertoire of 37 films as independent music directors with special attention to the wide range of playback singer he has used for his compositions.

As such, we have sidestepped some of his popular compositions for the present series and intentionally chosen songs that may be called as less heard ones so as to get a better appreciation of Ghulam Mohammed’s talent.

Previously, in 2021, we have covered Ghulam Mohamamed’s songs with different singers for the years 1943 to 1949.

With this backdrop to be kept at the back of our minds, we now take up Ghulam Mohammed’s songs for different playback singers during the years 1950 to 1952.

Rajkumari, Mukesh – Maine Sapna Jo Dekha Hai Raat… Bhala Jo Koi Puchhe… To Main Kya KahuN – Hanste Aansoo (1950) – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Here is an archetypical vintage era styled composition. However, the song succeeds in conveying the feelings of a girl who has fallen in love, for the first time. Majrooh Sultanpuri also has preferred to use very simple lyrics to truly express the feelings.

One noteworthy feature of Ghulam Mohammed’s compositions was differently presented stanzas of his compositions, unlike many of his contemporaries who would not waste one more tune in one composition.

Shamshad Begum, Hameeda Banu, Raja Gul – O Jane Wale Theher Ja …., Dil De Ja Ya Le Ja Raja Ulfat Ka Ye Bazaar Hai – Hansate Aaansoo (1950) – Lyrics: Shevan Rizvi

Ghulam Mohammed has boldly experimented with non-traditional orchestration for this street dance triad song, while maintaining the identity of the song genre with the use of catchy piece of harmonium in the brief prelude.

Shamshad Begum – Hum Dil Hi Apna Haar Gaye – Maang (1950) – Lyrics: Husaini

Comparison of the present composition with the previous one, Maine Sapna Jo Dekha Hai Raat, evidently demonstrates the vastness of range of tunes that Ghulam Mohammed can command to present almost similar feeling.

Since the song is not available on YT, here is an adio link: Hum Dil Hi Apna Haar Gaye.mp3

Uma Devi, Lata Mangeshkar – Na Jaane Aaj Kyon Gabra Rahi Ho – Maang (1950) – Lyrics: Prakash

Ghulam Mohammed recreates magic of blending voices of vintage era icon (Uma Devi) and the rising star of Golden Era) Lata Mangeshkar)

(Rajkumari), Geeta Dutt, Hamida Banu – Aaya Achanak Aisa Jhonka Hind Ka Jagamag Deep Bujha – Maang (1950) – Lyrics: Sagheer Usmani

Here is song that eulogises passing away Mahatma Gandhi. Even he Ghulam Mohammed has very deftly experimented with change in tunes for different stanzas.

It may be noted that Rajkumari is singing along with Geeta Dutt in first part of the song.

Mohammed Rafi, Amirbai Karnataki – Main HuN Bada NaseeboNwala….Hua Tera Mera Pyar Fatafat – Pardes (1950) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Ghulam Mohammed comes all trump in a light-hearted comedy song. The icing on the cake is use of Amirbai Karnataki for such a song!

How imaginatively Ghulam Mohammed has used Mohammad Rafi’s voice for the opening line!

Lata Mangeshkar – KyuN Ae Dil-e- Diwana Hai Hosh Se Beganaa – Bikhre Moti (1951) – Lyrics: Akhtar ul Iman

The influence of vintage era style on Ghulam Mohammed’s compositions, even during 1951, is evident in the way he has used Lata Mangeshkar’s voice in this song.

Talat Mahmood – Chandanee Raato Mein Jis Dam Yaad Aa Jaate Ho Tum Roshani Bankar Meri Ankhoein Mein Chha Jaate Ho Tum – Naazneen (1951) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

I so much regret that this is one Talat Mahmood song that I must have hardly got to hear earlier.

Asides: Shri Arunkumar Deshmukh informs that this was the film in which Amjad Khan has acted as a child artist.

Shamshad Begum, G. M. Durrani, Mohammed Rafi – Do Din Ki Zindagi Hai … Ik Baar Muskara Do, Parde Mein Tum Hansi Ke …. Dil Ki Lagi Ko Chhupaa Lo – Ajeeb Ladki (1952) – Shakeel Badayuni

This song indeed should tell us what effort Rafi must have put into create his own identity in his initial days as we find difficult to the way Rafi handles lower octave mukhada and high pitch opening of the first stanza or chips in with a cameo line in the second stanza.

Zohrabai Ambalewali, Shamshad Begum – Dil Ke Sheesh Mahal Mein Aaya Yeh Matwala Chor – Amber (1952) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

In the stage dances, the dancers take up dress code of two cultures of two regions. Ghulam Mohammed has composed the tune matching to that culture. Especially noteworthy is the multi-instrument orchestra put to use by Ghulam Mohammed.

Mohammad Rafi – Churakar Dil Ko Yun Aankhein Churana Kisse Sikha Hai .. Chale Jaana Tum Door Bade Shaukh Se Huzoor…Mera Dil Mujhe Wapas Kar Do. – Amber (1952) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Unlike majority of Ghulam Mohammed compositions, here we have complex to sing tune, and that too for a song where the hero is trying to please the heroine!

Lata Mangeshkar – Tutegi Nahi Pyar Ki Dor Duniya Chahe Lag Le Jhor – Amber (1952) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Ghulam Mohammed has not only switched to Lata Mangeshkar as lead singer but has also stayed away in using Lata Mangeshkar in the shadow of vintage era singing style.

Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi – Rote Hai Naina Gam Ke Maare, Dekh Rahi HuN Din Mein Taare – Amber (1950 – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

I have selected this ‘masala’ dance song to validate the hypothesis – that Ghulam Mohammed has given Lata Mangeshkar the position of lead singer – put forward in the earlier song as soon as he has been entrusted the music for the film with the ‘hottest’ pair of the day – Nargis and Raj Kapoor.

Noteworthy is the change in the mood o the song that he has accomplished the way he has used Mohammad Rafi.

Mubarak Begum – Jal Jal Ke MaruN Kuchh Kah Na SakuN – Sheesha (1952) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Ghulam Mohammed deploys vast orchestra during mukhada but then the stanza comes rendered with minimal instrumental support! This should easily rate as one of the best Mubarak Begum songs; however, the fact remains that, at least, I have heard it for the first time. So unfortunate that Mubarak Begum did not get many such high-quality singing opportunities!

What a pity that the failure of film at the box office also leads to the very short life of the songs, barring, of course, some exceptions!

Lata Mangeshkar – Jawani Ke Raaste Pe Aaj Mera Dil Hai – Sheesha (1952- Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Ghulam Mohammed sets the tone of happiness of the song by a very catchy prelude and then follows it up with composing the song in the effervescent singing mode.

Thanks to the technology and resourcefulness and the commitment of all the YT uploaders, we can recreate the mesmerising magic of Ghulam Mohammed’s compositions, even today, whether it did cast spell then or not!

We take a break here till the next episode so that we can absorb the nuances and range of present batch of Ghulam Mohammed’s compositions.

Fading Memories…. Unforgettable Songs: December 2021

Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet Song With The Music Director: 1947-1948

1947-1948

The Google Doodle by Mumbai-based illustrator Sajid Shaikh, on Mohammad Rafi’s 93^rd birthday [B: 24-12-1924 | D: 31-7-1980] depicted Mohammad Rafi as the king of playback singing in Bollywood. It shows the journeys of famous Rafi songs as they progressed from the studio, onto the silver screen and into the hearts of fans forever.

The second part of the First Five-Year Period of Mohammad Rafi’s career, covering the years 1947 and1948, that we presently take up for our series Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet Song with Music Director can be said to be period when he was still in the music recording rooms. As we have seen in the first part covering years 1944 to 1946, Mohammad Rafi was at the initial phase of ‘being under test’. More and more music directors were giving him a solo here or a duet there.

As we shall presently see, the definite trend of Mohammad Rafi trying to create his own space by discovering his own style to the confident delivery of his lines against more experienced female singers of vintage era under the batons of wider range of music directors has started emerging by the end of First- Five Year Period.

1947

Six more music directors have offered Mohammad Rafi diets with as many as eight different singers – three of which are the male singers – in the year 1947.

In so far as Mohammad Rafi’s career is concerned, the year 1947 had opened the door – in the form of the solo, Duniya Mein Meri Aaj Andhera Hi Andhera (Do Bhai- Music: S D Burman – Lyrics: Raja Mahendi Ali Khan) – that led to a strong association with S D Burman.. 1947 had also Mohammad Rafi singing his first, and the only duet with Noor Jehan – YahaN Badala Wafa Ka Bewafai Ke Siwa Kya Hai (Jugnu – Music Firoz Nizami – Lyrics: Azhar Sarhadi). This also was Mohammad Rafi’s first ever playback for Dilip Kumar.

Datta Davjekar, (15-11-1917 | 19-9-2007) a fairly known name in the then Marathi films, debuts with Aap Ki Sewan Mein in Hindi Films. He composed music for 5 Hindi films, 51 Marathi and around 500 documentary films. The film, Aap Ki Sewa Mein, has other record, in the form of. Lata Mangeshkar’s maiden songs as a playback singer with the song Paa Laagoon Kar Joree Re, to its account.

Desh Mein Sankat Aaya Hai, Ab Kuchh Kar Ke Dikhalana Hai – Aap Ki Sewa Mein – with G M Sajan – Lyrics: Mahipal

The song reflects the mood of pre-independance era, as it ends with “Chheen lo , chheen lo ……..” hinting ‘Azaadi chheen lo”. Otherwise, the lyrics are mainly about food shortages, or maybe it is talking about famine, in Bihar or Bengal, that rampaged India in that period..

There is a male-female duet son too.

Main Teri Tu Mera Dono Ka Sang Sang Basera – Aap Ki Sewa Mein – with Mohantara – Lyrics: Mahipal

Mohammad Rafi has handled the eagerness of a longing lover on his way to meet his beloved in a controlled high-octave scale rendition. The beauty of the composition is in its vibrant freshness after so many years.

Aside Trivia:

Datta Dawjekar worked as an assistant to C Ramchandra from 1952 to 1961. As such, the source of inspiration for C Ramchandra’s popular song Eenaa Meena Deekaa. . . (Aasha, 1957) is originally created for the Marathi song “Ina Mina Mona Baass” from a children’s play for Marathi stage, by Datta Dawjekar, who also wrote the lyrics for the Marathi song.

Source Credit: Shishir Krishna Shrama’s post on Datta Dawjekar

Prakash Nath Sharma does not seem to be a known name as a music director. The only film for which he seems to have composed music, Ek Kadam, does have one Mohammad Rafi – Shamshad Begum duet. Tu Bhi Rah Main Bhi (Lyrics: Avtar Visharad), that does not seem to have a digital presence on net.

C(hitalkar Narhar) Ramchandra (12 January 1918 – 5 January 1982), is another music director who went on to have a strong presence in the subsequent period of Golden Era.

Kisko SunauN Hal-e-Dil. Ham ko Tumhara Hi Aasra Tum Hamare Ho Na Ho – Saajan – with Lalita Deulkar – Lyrics: Moti B A

The duet, and Mohammad Rafi’s solo version, were immensely popular and the both has the future imprint of Mohammad Rafi’s singing style that was later identified as his unique style during his post vintage-era career of ‘50s..

The film has one more duet Main HuN Jaipur Ki Banajaran, Chanchal Mera Naam, with Lalita Deulkar (Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi) and two triads, Hum Banjare Sang Hamare Dhoom Macha Le Duniya (Lyrics: Moti B A) and Sambhal Sambhal Ke Jaiyo Banjare, Dilli Door Hai (Lyrics: Ram Murti Chaturvedi) with Lalita Deulkar and Geeta Dutt (Roy).

Khemchand Prakash, a doyen of ‘40s, made two most significant contributions for which the Golden Era remains indebted. One was introduction of Kishore Kumar in Ziddi (1948) – Jeene Ki Tamanna Kaun Karein ……. Marne Ki Duaein KyoN Maangein . and gave Lata Mangeshkar a defining identity in Aayega Anewala (Mahal, 1949).

Aji Maat Poochhco Baat Ki College Albeli, Indrapuri Sakshat Colege Albeli – Samaj Ko Badal Dalo – with Arunkumar and Manna Dey – Lyrics: ?

We have only audio clips here, but the knowledgeable bloggers note that Mohammad Rafi has sung his own lines on the screen.

Part 1:

Part 2

Pt. Ramakant Paingankar-Karnad, one more of those unknown names., except that Ramakant Paigankar was known to be a part of C Ramchandra orchestra team.

Chalo Ho Gayi Taiyyar.. Thehro Jee…. – Shaadi Se Pehle – with Lata Mangeshakar – Lyrics: Pt. Mukhram Sharma

This is a simple fun song that shows the lady making a big shopping list that her beloved readily agrees to buy for her with all the strapping. The song has the distinction of being the first ever Rafi Lata duet.

K(oregaonkar) Datta is said to have given Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle a chance to sing with the then reigning queen Noor Jehan. He scored music for 17 Hindi films

Nainon Se Naina Milaake Sota Prem Jagaate – Shahkar – with Rajkumari – Lyrics: Arzoo Lakhanavi

HFGK does not mention singers for the song. The song seems to be composed as a tong-song. The singing by both the singers rhymes exactly with rhythm of the song.

Ye Duniya Sab Prem Ki Tu Prem Kiye Jaa – Shahkar – with Shamshad Begum – Lyrics: Arzoo Lakhanavi

HFGK mentions the song as Parody song (record no. GE 3729 /31), though I must confess that I could not make it why it was so. However, the song has experimented with one singer overlapping the main singer on a different scale in the mukhada, which must have called for some very innovative recording skills on the part of the sound recordist as well the music arranger.

1948

In 1948, on the first anniversary of Indian Independence, he was awarded a Silver Medal by Jawaharlal Nehru for his, a marathon 4-part, song on Mahatma Gandhi, Suno Suno Ae Duniyawaalon Bapu Ki Amar Kahani (Music: Husnlal Bhagatram – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna)

1948 has once again a very rich crop in so far as our present subject goes, with eight music directors and as many as ten co-singers, Except for Shamshad Begum and Ameerbai Karnataki, in the female singer section, GM Durrani in the male singer section, and Geeta Dutt and Beenapani Mukherjee one triad earlier, all other singers have partnered Mohammad Rafi first time.

Ram Ganguly (1928-1983) was part of Prithvi Theatre team. His choice of music director for Raj Kapoor’s maiden film Aag was thus a natural choice. However, because of some misunderstanding during the days when Barsaat was being planned, Aag remained the only film RK and Ram Ganguly di together,

Solah Baras Ki Bhayee Umariya – Aag – with Shamshad Begum – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Mohammad Rafi gets his chance in the maiden Raj Kapoor film Aag,. Since then, even if he has not been a main singer for RK films, he has always got a song or two in almost every film, some of which have become most notable songs of Rafi’s entire career.

The visuals of the song can be seen with a typical Raj Kapoor touch.

Hans Raj Behl has used Mohmmad Rafi for duets in two films in 1948 – Chunariya and Satyanarayan.

Phool Ko Bhul Le Ke Baitha Khar, Tera Kaanto Se Hai Pyar – Chunariya – with Geeta Dutt – Lyrics: Mulk Raj Bhakhari

The song seems to be some type of beggar or a fakir song.

Dilliwale Sahab Gajhab Kar Daala Re – Satyanarayana – with Beenapani Mukherjee – Lyrics: Pt. Indra

This is a thoroughly enjoyable fun song.

The film had two more duets of Mohammad Rafi and Beenpani Mukherjee – Kya Yaad Hai Tumko Wo Din Ji (Lyrics: Sewak) and Mera Dil Ghayal Karke Bairi Jag Se Dar Ke (Lyrics: Surjeet Sethi).

Ghulam Mohammad has paired Mohammad Rafi to sing with Suraiya, one of the top actress-singing star of that time. The pair then went on to sing 24 duets, some of which remain the most memorable duets, which can be a subject for a separate article in the future.

TaaroN Bhari Raat Hai Par Tu Nahi – Kajal – with Suraiya – Lyrics: D N Madhok

On the face of it the lyrics seem to express pain of the two being away from each other. However, the song runs on a fast pace, normally used for happy songs. In the absence of this dichotomy remains unresolved. However, listening to Mohammad Rafi as if he were singing a song almost after half a decade later in the time in the style of ‘40s and matching Suraiya’s exhortations for clearly expressing the love is such a pleasant surprise.

Gyan Dutt is also a very respected ‘40s name in music direction arena. We have two duets here. Of the two, Chalo Jamuna Ke Paar … Dil Ki Dukanein Lagi JahaN Par NainoN Ke Bajar (Lal Dupatta – with Shamshad Begum, Sulochana Kadam, Chorus- Lyrics: Shewan Rzvi (?))being a very sweet-to-listen-to triad with chorus, Rafi does no get much exposure. So, I have opted for the other one for the present article.

Ari O Albeli Naar Kyon Chhupakar Kare Vaar – Lal Dupatta – with Shamshad Begum, Chorus – Manohar Khanna

This is a chhed-chhad-cum-appeasement light mood duet, the first line of the mukhada and each interlude representing chhed chhad. Mohammad Rafi seems to enjoy seriously matching Shamshad begum’s mischievous tone

Dhumi Khan, is one more of an unknown music director, even though he is shown as ‘supporting actor, music director’. YT has an interesting video clip on Dhumi Khan, that gives some more vital pieces of information. The famous duet song Ambuwa Ki Daali Daali Jhoom Rahi Hai Ali (Vidyapati, 1937- Music: R C Boral) has Dhaumi Khan as co-singer with Kanan Devi. Hopefully, the Dhumi Khan is same person.

Ek Abr-e-Siyah Chhaya Aaja Mere Saathi – Rahnuma – with Shamashad Begum- Lyrics: Dhumi Khan

The song is a simple love song, Mohammad Rafi expressing the sincere intent of the lover for his loved one.

Ek Aisa MahaL Banayenge (with Rekharani- – Lyrics: Habib Sarhadi) from the same film is not traceable on net.

Ameerbai Karnataki, a renowned playback singer, has composed songs for ‘Shahnaz’, wherein Mohammad Rafi had two solos and three duets in the film.

Mujhe Tumse Mohabbat Hai, Ye Meri Chak Damani – Lyrics: Fiza Kausari Banaglori

Mohammad Rafi very deftly handles a medium spaced composition.

Nazaaron Se Kheloon Bahaaron Se KhelooN, Mera Bas Chale To Chand TaaroN Se KhelooN, Yahi Chahta Hai BaharoN Se KhelooN Machalatae Hue AabsaaroN Se KhelooN – Lyrics: Akhtar Pilibhiti

In response to Amirbai’s high scale singing, Mohammad Rafi comes up with a lower scale singing.in this very small clip that is available.

Tere Nazdeek Jaate Hein Na Tujhse Door Hote Hain, Mohabbat Karanewale.. Is Tarah Mazboor Hote HaiN – with Ameerbai Karnataki – Lyrics: Akhtar Pilibhiti

Mohammad Rafi gets to sing a qawwali composition early in his career.

Rasheed Attre was one of the music directors who went on to hit immense popularity even after migrating Pakistan. His composition of Faiz Mohamamd Faiz’s ghazal Mujh Se Pahale Si Muhabbat Mere Maheboob Na Mang remains the hallmark of Noor Jehan’s career.

Koltaar Mein Rang De Piya Mori Chundariya – Shikayat – Khan Mastana, G M Durrani, Aslam, Chorus – Lyrics: Ibrahim Khan ‘Momin’

Mohammad Rafi is a minor partner in this MM triad.

Statically speaking, the first Five-year-period of 1944-48 has seen Mohammad Rafi working with 26 music directors for first time for a duet song. Each of the song has given Mohammad Rafi a different experience of singing. That perspective apart, the fact remains that the journey had taken off well and was gaining the required velocity.

We will end 1944-48 five-year-period with what I consider as Mohammad Rafi’s most iconic song, which also happens to be my most favorite among Mohammad Rafi’s songs…

Vatan Ki Raah Mein Vatan Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho – Shaheed – with Khan Mastana, chorus – Music: Ghulam Haider – Lyrics: Raja Mahendi Ali Khan

Mohammad Rafi’s finely controlled delivery of so high passion would be hallmark of his sing style in the future.

Our journey of Mohammad Rafi’s first duet with a music director continues……

Both episodes of the 1^st Five-Year Period of Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet with a Music director – 1944-1948 can be downloaded as one file by clicking on the link.

All 12 episodes from January to December 2021 of the series Fading Memories, Unfading Songs-2021 can be read /downloaded by clicking on the hyperlink.

We will continue remembering Unforgettable Songs that seem to Fading away from our Memories every second Sunday of the month next year too……..

Disclaimer: All images are sourced from net. All copyrights of the respective image remain with the original owner of the image.

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music, March 2019

Welcome to March 2019 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

A tribute to Shashi Kapoor on his 81st birth anniversary: The many faces of the legendary Shakespeare Wallah

Rekha speaks through her eyes, which made her my choice for Umrao Jaan: Muzaffar Ali -For every art enthusiast, Muzaffar Ali’s home is a treat to the eyes. Speaking with him about his films while laying focus on his best-known work, Umrao Jaan (1981), we got to know a bit more about him and his process of bringing poetry and art to the 70mm screen and more.

Rarely Heard Ghulam Mohammad – on 51^st death anniversary – the lyrics formed an important part, then the actual tune.

Remembering Ravi through the songs that he wrote, Lata sings for Ravi and The silent giant-killer and the man of many-splendoured talents: Ravi are rich tributes to a music director who did not get credit befitting his success.

Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se Ajnabi – Gumraah – Strangers Once Again – the situation in life becomes such that you start feeling it is better to be strangers than being lovers. Music composer Ravi takes all the care to handle the delicate situation with utmost care. He uses only the piano (violin and percussion is just an accompaniment) and Mahendra Kapoor’s voice to convey Sahir’s thoughts.

The real mesmeriser Talat Mahmood: His best non-film songs capture some of the most remembered non-film songs of Talat Mahmood.

The Story Of A Sindbad – Shankarrao Biniwale, is narrated to us by Kaushal Inamdar in Marathi here. The post is English translation of that article. Shankarrao Biniwale was an accomplished violinist, who went around the world and explored the origins of violin.

Shailendra Sharma @ Golden Era of Bollywood has posted following memorial tribute posts:

Farooq Sheikh – A Man For All Seasons, who worked with directors like M S Sathyu, Satyajit Ray, Muzaffar Ali, Sai Paranjape, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Yash Chopra, Ketan Mehta, Ayan Mukherjee.

On Kundan Shah, Paigham, and Vyjayanthimala as the comic foil recollects a lighthearted scene in the 1959 Dilip Kumar-Vyjayanthimala-starrer Paigham

Flashback series: human pain and human comedy in Boot Polish (1954) recommends seeing the film because two child actors get top billing in a 1950s Hindi film… and earn it

March, 2019 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs takes up S N Tripathi: Unremembered music director of remembered songs :1957 – 1960. This is the 3^rd article in the series on S N Tripathi. First two covered his songs from 1941 to 1950 and from 1951 to 1956 respectively in 2017 and in 2018.

And, now the posts on other subjects:

Barahmasa in film songs = Literally meaning ‘twelve months’, in music it refers to folk or light classical form of north and east India, sung primarily in the rainy season. E.g.

Barkha ki raat aye manwa by Pankaj Mullick from Adhikar (1938), music Timir Baran
O varsha ke pahle baadal mera sandesa le jana by Jagmohan Sursagar from Meghdoot (1945), lyrics Faiyyaz Hashmi, music Kamal Dasgupta

His girl Friday: Sanjeev Kumar and the ‘computer’ in Trishul, an economical, unobtrusive little moment in a larger-than-life film. The scene is where we are introduced to the middle-aged version of the businessman RK Gupta, played by Sanjeev Kumar, and his superbly resourceful secretary Geeta (Raakhee). The office scene in Trishul isn’t subdued or quirky, but it performs a comparable function – telling us something important about a character, a situation and an environment with a few minute brush-strokes.

Songs At The Opening Credits Of The Movie – Title songs carried a gist of that particular film and the songs at the opening credits sort of served as the preamble of that particular film. Though at times both combined as one and solved both purposes. Opening credit songs might not essentially have the title of film in it. Sometimes the film might also have both, opening credits having the title as well as independent title song. We have picked up a few examples form the article:

Dhund,

Umrao Jan

Rang Birangi – serves the purpose of title songs and an opening credit song.

Somewhat Cross-dressed Women ‘Romancing’ Women in Performances: Ten Songs from which I have picked out a few, which are relatively less-known-

Chaakuwaala chhuriwaala (Al Hilal, 1958):
Dupatta mera mal-mal ka (Adalat, 1958)
As-salaam alekum babu (Kalpana, 1960)
Jawaani jala bedardi (24 Ghante, 1958
Chhodo chhodo ji baiyaan mori (Baradari, 1955)

Few Marathi songs by prominent Hindi singers has listed Marathi songs sung by Geeta Dut, Sudha Malhotra, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar and Moahammad Rafi, obviously excluding Lata Mageshkar, Asha Bhosle and Suamn Kalyanpuar. The post ends with a note on Lata Mangeshkar’s connection with Marathi cinema – a music director. Sixty-nine years back Lata Mangeshkar debuted as a Music Director in the Marathi movie Ram Ram Pavhana (1950). It is to be noted that in her first movie as a composer she used her own name. And it’s not clear why in the later four Marathi movies she gave music under the pseudonym- Anandghan. Anonymity I guess. Her music was one of the 8 state awrds that Sadhi Manas got.

How SD Burman became as famous as the singers he worked with despite his thin, nasally voice – In edited excerpts from a reissued biography – Incomparable Sachin Dev Burman – on SD Burman (known as Dada), H Q Chowdhury reopens the debate: was he a singer-composer or a composer-singer?

Who wrote the classic Hindi film ‘Aandhi’? And was it based on Indira Gandhi? Gulzar clears the air – In edited excerpts from an interview, by Saba Mahmood Bashir, in ‘Aandhi Insights into the Film’, Gulzar reveals how his Suchitra Sen-Sanjeev Kumar starrer got made.

Khilte Hain Gul Yahan – Sharmilee – Of Roses And Romance – One version rendered by Kishore Kumar and the other by Lata Mangeshkar. One is happy, the other is sad. The opening lines of both songs depict the sense of the opposites in the songs.

Songs with a Surprise! Share the opening lines by chance. The post has put up quite demaninding filters for the selection of these songs

- The words should be from the opening lines of the songs
- The songs should share at least four words.
- The songs should not have been inspired from a well known ghazal or a bhajan,
- The songs should be from two different films

Teri Dhoom Har Kahin – Kala Bazaar – Money Matters is a praise money situation –

Sooraj ke jaisi golaai
Chanda ki thandak bhi paayi
Thanke toh pyare duhai
Lai lai lai lai
Teri dhoom har kahin
Tujh sa yaar koi nahin
Hum ko toh pyare tu sab se pyara

In our tradition of ending our post with article on Mohammad Rafi or a topical song of his, I have picked up a few songs, each one of which basically has a link with the topics discussed in the present post.

Duniya Ki Haalat Naram Naram, Halwa Chhodo, Poodi Chhodo, Bajhiya Yeh Kha Lo Garam Garam– Guzara-1(954) – Ghulam Muhammad – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

Ghoda Peshauri Mera Tanaga Lahori Mera – Pyar Ka Bandhan (1963) – Ravi – Sahir Ludhyanavi

Beta Jamure Kah De Duniya Ko Lalakar Ke – Biradari (1966) – With Manna Dey – Chitragupta – Prem Dhawan

Kya Hua Maine Agar Ishq Ka Izahar Kiya – Yeh Dil Kis Ko Doon (1963) – with Asha Bhosle – Iqbal Quereshi – Qamar Jalalabadi

I am also not able resist temptation to recall one of my most favorite song – Ghulam mOhammad creation.

Hai Bas Ke Har Ek Unke Ek Ishare Pe Nishan Aur – Mirza Ghalib (1954)

I earnestly solicit your inputs for further broad-basing our cache for the content for our carnival of blogs on the Golden Era of Hindi film music.

Disclaimer: This monthly series of posts is my best-effort-based compilation of posts on Hindi film songs that I normally visit regularly. As I record my sincere thanks to all the original creators of these posts, any other posts that I have nor covered herein shows my lack of awareness of existence of such posts and is by no means any disrespect to their work. The copyrights to the posts, images and video clips remain the properties of the original creators.

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – February, 2016

Welcome to February, 2016 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We take up the tributes first.

Suraiya - A personally autographed picture Suraiya: The Last Singing Star of Indian Cinema – a tribute to her on her death anniversary on 31^st January – By Parag Sankla – “Almost eighty five years ago, God must have said “Today I am sending three great artists to this world. A natural actress, a beautiful lady and a melodious singer! Acting, beauty and singing. These are not three different persons, this is one girl! And here I present you Suraiya.”… Along with Kanan Devi and Noor Jehan, she was one of the most prominent female singing stars of the golden era of Hindi films….Her first two songs as a singer (“Aao aao hil mil kar khushiyan manayein” and “Rana ji ki jai jai se”) came for a film titled Taj Mahal (1941) composed by Madhavlal Damodar. This golden period of Suraiya’s career (1941 – 1946) is often ignored in many of the articles on her……I love the song “Suno more raja, nazariya milaaike” for composer Neenu Majmudar from “Main kya karoon” (1945).”…..From among other songs that have find mention in the article, we pick up Jab badal ghir ghir aayenge, kaho jee kit jaayenge – Daak Bangla. 1947 – Naresh Bhattacharya as a song that is we get to hear less.

Waheeda Rehman: Quintessential Beauty with Intense Acting Prowess – By Antara Nanda Mondal – Impressed by her enigmatic screen persona and acting panache, Satyajit Ray picked her for the role of Gulabi in his celebrated Bengali film Abhijan (1962).

More about Waheeda Rehman :

Indurani, a star of the 1930s is a rich tribute on death anniversary of Ishrat Jehan Imamuddin aka Indurani on 18^th February by film historian Arunkumar Deshmukh, enriched by photographs and posters by Harsh Raghuvanshi.

“Ye Sama Ye Khushi Kuchh Bolo Ji Bolo Ji” – Azra – now known as “Farhana”, for the most part, acted in second heroine and character roles in around two dozen movies viz. ‘Junglee’, ‘Ganga Jamuna’, ‘Ganga Ki Lehrein’, ‘Ishara’, ‘Baharon Ke Sapne’, ‘Bandish’, ‘Wapas’, ‘Raja Saheb’, ‘Mahal’, ‘My Love’ and ‘Ilzam’ and finally bid adieu to Filmdom after she got married. In ‘Ganga Jamuna’, she was the second lead opposite Nasir Khan. Movies ‘Shaan-e-Khuda’ (1971) and ‘Pocketmar’ (1974) released after her marriage. ‘Shaan-e-Khuda’ was directed by her father Nanubhai Vakil.

Happy Brithday, Cuckoo! – Some readers of the blog Dances on the Footpath know about the incredible Cuckoo news and trivia post that have developed there. It started with so many comments to the 2011 Cuckoo birthday post (linked to below). And here are a couple of the Cuckoo birthday posts, both of which include a bunch of really good song clips. …. This blog contains a whole lot of Cuckoo…. 2011 Cuckoo Birthday Post ǁ 2014 Cuckoo Birthday Post

The Unlucky Genius Ghulam Mohammad’s best songs for Talat Mahmood – If you associate Anil Biswas, C Ramchandra, Madan Mohan and SD Burman for the best of Talat Mahmood, Ghulam Mohammad would rank at the equal footing with them.

The article is a tribute to the Unlucky Genius with his best songs for Talat Mahmood as a tribute to the singer, too, with velvet voice on his 92^nd birth anniversary.

Here are some of the less heard songs:

Zindagi ki qasam ho chuke unke hum – Maalik (1958), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni –
Chaandni raaton mein jis dam yaad aa jaate ho tum – Naazneen (1951), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni –
Ye raat suhani raat nahin ai chaand sitaaron so jaao – Dil-e-Naadan (1953) Lyrics Shakeel Badayuni

Meri Yaad Mein Tum Na Aansoo Bahana: Remembering Talat Mahmood – Talat Mahmood was grand-uncle, naani’s (maternal grandmother’s) brother of Sahar Zaman. She reminisces her association with Talat Mahmood over the years in this article.

Talat Mahmood, the photogenic ghazal superstar – Manish Gaekwad notes that Talat Mahmood sang over 700 songs in his career, including a rare solo “Kadale Neelakadale” in the Malayalam film Dweepu for composer MS Baburaj. His last recording was “Mere Shareek-e-Safar”, a duet with Hemlata, for the film Vali-E-Azam (music by Chitragupta). Lyricist Ahmed Wasi writes, “Mere shareek-e-safar, ab tera Khuda hafiz” (My companion in this journey, I take your leave now). It turned out to be Mahmood’s swan song. He died on May 9, 1998, at the age of 74.

“मण्टो का बम्बई” narrates the 21 minute docudrama directed by Dharmendra Nath Oza, which was first aired on TV on Sahara Samay on 3^rd April, 2005. The documentary can be seen on Dharmendra Nath Oza’s YouTube Channel in six clips.

Nalini Jaywant – Down Memory Lane – is based on interview was conducted in 1960.

Remembering Nadira: The Diva Who Didn’t Want to be Rescued – Ranjib Mazumder – Remembers Nadira on her death anniversary – Two Jewish women stood out in the race among many prolific names starting from the early days of cinema. In the silent era, Ruby Myers was the most successful star known in film history as Sulochana, and in the post-independent Hindi cinema, Florence Ezekiel, better known as Nadira shone the brightest…..She was the anomaly in a society where women didn’t dare. The viewing public limited her career in a swift stroke of judgment in Shree 420, and in real life, men couldn’t gather the courage to handle an informed mind…..She craved companionship without having to be rescued, but we didn’t have enough imagination to understand that.

The Real and Reel Life of Pran, Bollywood’s Villain Extraordinaire – Ranjib Mazumder looks at some of the interesting aspects of the real and reel life of the villain extraordinaire who would have been 96….Here is one example …. “Pran was very close to Dilp Kumar and Raj Kapoor owing to their long association in the film industry……. When Dilip was getting married, Pran was shooting in Kashmir. Despite heavy rain, he managed to reach Bombay to attend his friend’s wedding. The entire gang including Raj Kapoor got drunk, banged on Dilip’s nuptial-night bedroom door relentlessly till he opened up to say hello to them.”

We now move over to the blog spots on other subjects.

Multiple Versions Songs (24): Songs having versions across different films – similar initial lyrics in mukhada – is a presentation of interesting variety of songs which have multiple versions across different films. In some cases these may be a traditional bandish, where you may find some versions outside films.

One can come across widely differing versions on the circumstances that led to the actual performance of Aye Mere Vatan Ke Logo. Subhash K Jha presents one more – India’s most patriotic song: How Lata Mangeshkar almost turned down ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’ .

Shankar-Jaikishan’s dance songs for Lata Mangeshkar – SoY now picks up one music director around him one set of posts remain anchored during the year. 2014 was the year of Anil Biswas, 2015 was that of Naushad with C Ramachndra in tandem with. S D Burman was organically covered concurrently. Now, 2016 has been dedicated to Shanker Jaikishan, with a limit of the year 1959 for the selection of the songs.

My Favourites: ‘Me Tarzan, You Jane’ Songs creates a list with ‘I am…, you are…’ motif.

Here are a few songs that typically represent the theme while not being heard often enough.

Tu ladki main ladka – Do Ustad (1959) – Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle – OP Nayyar – Qamar Jalalabadi
Tu hai nau do gyarah, main hoon ek do teen – Daaku (1955) – Shamshad Begum – Snehal Bhatkar – Kaif Irani
Main bhanwra tu hain phool – Mela (1948) – Mukesh, Shamshad Begum – Naushad – Shaakeel Badayuni
Shalini Razdan has remembered Main sagar ki mast leher, tu aasman ka chand – Dhuan 1953 – Lata Mangeshkar – Vasant Desai

Ten of my favourite romantic duets – of pure, outright romance…Nothing to adulterate the headiness of being in love, of being confident, too, that one’s love is returned.

Ten of my favourite ‘Jaa’ songs – begin with ‘jaa’ (and being strict about this; no variations, like jaaiye or jaao). What or who is being sent away differs, but the crux of the matter remains: go. Go away. This post sprang out of an earlier post on ‘Aaja’ songs….Some interesting coincidences…Jaa tose nahin boloon Kanhaiyya (Parivaar, 1956) has, interestingly, another song in another film begins with exactly the same words: in Samrat Chandragupta, a song picturized on Nirupa Roy and Bharat Bhushan begins Jaa tose nahin boloon…..Jaa Jaa re chanda jaa re from Private Secretary (1964), is created by music director, Dilip Dholakia He has another jaa song from the same film, fabulously rendered by Manna Dey – Ja Re Beiman Tujhe Dekh Liya Jaa.. Another song, nearly decade earlier, which is similar to that of the Lata song from Private Secretary is Ja jaa re chanda teri chandani jalaye from Albeli (1955) – music director – Ravi.

Sadanand Kamath also recites similar interesting coincidence in Kaliyon mein Raam mera kiranon mein Raam hai –-It was a surprise to know just a few days back that Amirbai Karnataki, the Kannada Kokila as she was known in Karnataka, had faced a situation when she was required to lip sync in Sudha Malhotra’s voice for the song ‘Kahaan nahi Ram hai’ from the film PAWAN PUTRA HANUMAN (1957). The song is written by Saraswati Kumar Deepak and is set to music by Chitragupta. Apart from Amirbai Karnataki, the other actor in the role of Hanuman is S N Tripathi. Incidentally, Chitragupta assisted S N Tripathi before he got independent assignment as music director in 1946. Here is the song that provides the title to the post: Kaliyon mein Raam mera kiranon mein Raam hai – Pawan Putra Hanuman – Geeta Dutt .

‘Gata Rahe Mera Dil was Patchwork’: In Conversation With Vijay Anand – never-before-published interview of Vijay Anand – in conversation with Peeyush Sharma we have some interesting aspects of S D Burman’s music. “No one could dictate Burman Dada about which song must be sung by which singer. He had his own style of testing and selecting the voice. Once he would conceptualize a song and decide on the singer for the particular song, no one could influence that decision. He would go to the final limit of even scrapping the song altogether. He would then create a new song but he would not change his decision on the singer. He had the courage of his conviction. He knew which song would best suit a singer. And that decision would be the best decision and the song of course, would be a hit….There was no singer of his calibre in the entire film industry. The kind of highly complex ‘murkiyan’ (tonal embellishments) or ‘gayaki’ (rendering style) he would come up with was simply out of this world. But when he would sing the same tune for Lata or Rafi or Kishore or Asha, he would make it simpler than before.

More to read :

We end our present episode with some (interesting) posts on Mohammad Rafi

How Mohammed Rafi regained his confidence – on the occasion of 94^th birthday irrepressible Raju Bharatan presents some interesting trivia.
Title Credits : Songs by Rafi Sahab – the posts has listed 46 such songs.
Rare pictures of Mohammad Rafi

I look forward to receive your inputs for further enriching the contents of the posts…..

The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Female Solo Songs– Lata Mangeshkar songs of Husnlal Bhagatram and Ghulamm Mohammad

This is Second Part 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. We now look at Lata Mangeshakar’s Memorable Songs of 1950 under two other music directors who also seemed to have accepted Lata Mangeshkar as the principal female playback singer.

Husnlal Bhagatram’s Lata Mangeshkar songs :

1. Ban ke suhagan rahi abhagan – Aadhi Raat: – Sarshar Sailani