Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet Song With The Music Director: 2nd Five-Year Period: Year 1949 – Part II
To commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of Mohamad Rafi [B: 24-12-1924 – D: 31-71980], we have commenced a series on Mohammad Rafi’s first duet with a music director. We take up the Male-Male or Triad as well as a regular Male-Female duet in the present series because our main purpose to revisit maximum possible duets of Mohammad Rafi.
Our journey began with the 1st Five-Year Period of 1944 to 1948 in the year 2021. We then commenced the 2nd Five-Year Period of 1949-1953 with Part I of the year 1949 in July 2022.
Presently we will take up Part II of the year 1949.
1949 had as many as 16 music directors who had Mohammad Rafi for the first time for a duet. We have covered six music directors – Naushad, Husnlal Bhagatram, Shyam Sundar, Hanuman Prasad, and Snehal Bhatkar – in Part I. Vasant Desai is one of the highly respected music directors who has given innumerable songs to remember forever. However, the two Mohammad Rafi- Lata Mangeshkar duets that seem to have been composed by him for the film Narsimha Avatar are not traceable on internet. Similarly, I could not find the song – Na Thehar Sake, Na Tadap Sake (with Zohrabai Ambalewali; Film – Aakhari Paigam) composed by Abid Hussain Khan)
Presently, we will take up the rest of the eight music directors.
Vinod (a.k.a. Eric Roberts) was known for his catchy tunes one end and melodious compositions on the end had had a very wide creative range. For the year 1949, for Ek Thi Ladki, he has used Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar in three duets and two triads(+). Of the triads, Lara Lappa-… Laai Rakhada, Aadi Tappa …. (Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, G M Durrani; Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri) was an instant raze and continues to remain so even now. The other triad(+) was Hum Chale Door … Dil Hua Choor (Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Satish Batra; Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri)
Ab Hal-e-Dil Ya Hal-e-Jigar Na Puchhiye – Ek Thi Ladki – with Lata Mageshkar – Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri
Rafi and Lata are so at ease in the conversational tone of this romantic duet. Introduction of catchy yodeling in the first interlude is typical of Vinod’s style of mixing catchy part in a serious composition or vice versa
Mohammad Shafi was a highly talented and musically trained music director. Two noteworthy records that stand on his name are – Suman Kalyanpur (Hemadi, then) sang her maiden Hindi film song, Koi Pukaare Dheere Se Tujhe (Mangu, 1954) and Hemlata debuted either with Main Jaan Ke Badale Mein or SadiyoN Ki Nishani Main Ankahi Kahani in Iraada (1971) under his baton.
Fariyaad Na Karna Haye Kahin Fariyaad Na Karna – Gharana – with Shyama Bai – Lyrics: Alam Syahaposh
The song so effectively epitomizes Mohammad Shafi’s musical prowess – soothing opening notes, Shyama’s opening in slightly higher scale and then to settle to pathos, rounding up by Mohammad Rafi in soulful climbing up the scale and reverting to the normal scale, and ending the song with Shyama joining Rafi.
Mohammad Shafi goes onto pair Paro Devi with Mohammad Rafi in the second duet – Tu Kahan Hai Baalam Mere Aaja (Lyrics: Bahzad Lakhnavi).
S Mohinder (a.k.a. Bakshi Mohinder Singh Sarna) composed music for some 50 films, but many of his compositions have achieved the status of evergreen classics. Even though he came from a very strong classical background, he was at ease while composing easy songs that the films demanded.
Chanda Ki God Mein TaaroN Ki Chaanv Mein Ruthe Hue Hum Manaye Re – Jeevan Sathi – with Chand Wirk – Lyrics: Hamid Khumar
S Mohinder has presented with such a lilting melody, even when he has used an almost unknown Chand Wirk to pair Mohammad Rafi in this duet.
Krishna Dayalis not a well-known name, but he had composed music for five films. Many keen followers of old films songs may well remember Mukesh and Suraiya duet – Badra Ki Chhaon Tale Nanhi Nanhi BundiyaN (Lekh, 1949) – that was composed by Krishna Dayal.
Kar Le Kisi Se Pyar Jawani Do Din Ki – Lekh – with Asha Bhosle – Qamar Jalalabadi
I have heard this song for the first time. The duet is set to lower scale and is difficult to sing.
We have had a triad – Chhoti Si Ek Banaayenge Naiyya… Khud Hi Banenge Us Ke Khewaiya (with Shamshad Begum, Zohrabai) – composed by Pt. Govindram for the film Hamara Sansar (1945) earlier. For the year 1949, he gives a duet of Mohammad Rafi with Shamshad Begum
Taaron Ka Ye Khazana Ye Chaandani Suhani – Nisbat – with Shamshad Begum – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Here is one more song that I got to listen first time. Govindram has presented both singers in quite different than the normal style we are familiar with.
Khemchand Prakash can be attributed to giving a big push to the opening up the space for the Golden Era to get into the center stage, replacing the vintage era, through Lata Mangeshkar’ Ayega Aanewala (Mahal, 1949). We have seen Khemchand Praksh using Mohammad Rafi first time, in a triad, Aji Maat Poochhco Baat Ki College Albeli, Indrapuri Sakshat Colege Albeli, for Samaj Ko Badal Dalo (1947).
Hawa Tu Unse Jaakar Keh De Ek Deewana Aaya Hai – Rim Jhim – with Ramola – Lyrics: Moti B A
Khemchand Prakash composing such a light-toned song should stand up as more noteworthy part of the song.
1949 had one more Mohammad Rafi duet- with Shamshad Begum- under the baton of Khemchand Prakash – Ae Dil Na Mujhe Yaad Dila Baaten Purani (Sawan Aaya Re; Lyrics: Bharat Vyas) – which was heard often on radio at least till ‘60s, when I had taken up listening to Hindi Film Songs as a conscious hobby.
Khan Mastana was another highly respected music director as well as playback singer of the 40s period.
Tum Ho Jaao Hamare Hum Ho Jaaye Tumhaare – Roop Lekha – with Surinder Kaur – Lyrics: Khumar Barabanqvi
We have here a path breaking composition from Khan Mastana whom we know as a music director steeped in vintage era style music compositions.
Sudhir Phadke brought in Marathi folk composition styles to Hindi Film Music,
Hari Hari Mere To Shri Hari Naahi Dooja – Sant Janabai – with Lalita Deulkar – Lyrics: Narendra Sharma
Mohammad Rafi is all persona dignified as a committed devotee in the duet.
Mehaman Banke Aaye The .. Armaan Ban Gaye – Shoharat – with Hamida Banu – Lyrics: Gulshan Zama / Madhup Sharma
The duet also seems to follow the composition style of the solo version. Both versions can be heard in the clip here.
We will continue with listening to Mohammad Rafi’s First Duet Song With The Music Director for the year 1950 of the 2nd Five-Year Time Period of 1949-1953 in the next episode of the series.
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.
A tribute to Mukesh on his 99th Birth Anniversary (b. July 22, 1923 – d. August 27, 1976)
Films in India, by and large, revolve around different themes of love between a boy and a girl. As such, songs come in very handy as a very strong and direct, easy-to-comprehend, medium to express the different shades of feelings of love. Traditionally, the solo songs occupied the space of prime importance. During vintage era this was more a necessity because the singers were generally actors themselves. Moreover, the recording technology also was in the development stage, which made recording a duet song with two vastly different musical qualities of pitch and timbre of a male and female voice was quite difficult in comparison to the recording of a solo song.
With the playback singers taking over the onus of singing, and advances in the filmmaking and song-recording technologies, the duets started gaining more importance in the film production considerations. Music directors also started taking this genre seriously and started creating duets that stood, almost, at par with solo songs.
Essentially, the duets are categorised as male-female duets, male-male duets, and female-female duets. As can be expected, the bulk of the duets in the films remain male-female duets. Male-male and female-female duets normally remained as duet songs that friends would sing together. However, the traditions of patriotic songs, devotional songs, or dance songs in the greater arena of music also inspired similar male-male and /or female-female songs. The subjects used to vary from manifestation of friendly affection – either positive or negative (jealousy), celebrating the festivities together, sharing of mutual concerns or one teasing/advising/counselling the other. As such, once the choice of subjects and practices of narrating the story evolved over 40s, male-male duets genre also started getting prominence. In the 60s and onwards, with more films being produced with more than one hero, the male-male genre further got more weightage. However, essentially, the core subjects have not changed as materially as that of solos.
In so far as Hindi film songs are concerned, duets of Mukesh constitute roughly 20 % share of his total film songs. Mukesh Geet Kosh also includes duet songs that have some element of chorus in the song, while taking care that these are separately identified. The male-male duets of Mukesh, including those with chorus element, constitute again around 15% of the duets of Mukesh. The male-male duets of Mukesh offer fairly wide-spread range, in terms of subjects of the songs, co-singers, year of the song, and of course, the popularity, to lead me to zero in on this subject for the post to commemorate the 99th birth anniversary of Mukesh.
Under the broader category of duets, Mukesh Geet Kosh also has separately identified songs that have some actor /actress chipping with Mukesh a line here or there in the song. I have not included such songs here. Mukesh has more than one duet with Mohammad Rafi or Kishore Kumar. I have chosen the one which I like more than other Rafi or Kishore duets. In some cases, I have included a few triads or quartets (with all male or male-female combination), where the context of the narration, or paucity of a right duet, or the need for variety of different subjects or styles or music directors so necessitated. In one particular instance of duet with Talat Mahmood, I have included, rather had to include, an NFS as well.
So here are Duets(+) of Mukesh with Male Singers, generally, in the chronological order of year of the release of the film.
With Shailesh (Mukharjee)
Rab Mere Araj Sun Meri Sharan Ab Teri – Aag (1948) – Lyrics: Saraswati Kumar Dipak – Music: Ram Ganguli
Ram Ganguli has certainly come up with a very different style of composition for a song that is essentially a devotional song.
If we would have strictly followed the chronological sequence of the release of the films, one of the two Mukesh – Mohammad Rafi duets from Chilman (1949) or Thes (1949) would have appeared here. But from the seven Mukesh-Mohammad Rafi duets, the song that liked most happens to be a duet from the film of the year 1958, So that will have to wait for a while.
With G M Durrani
Aise Mein Koi Chham Se Jo Aa Jaye To Kya Ho – Hanste Aansoo (1950) – Lyrics: Shewan Rizvi – Music: Ghulam Mohammad
Here is an exchange of arguments for pros and cons between two friends of locating the bed if a house is built on a given location – one wants to set up his bed at that very doorstep so that when some (a much awaited) beauty comes up suddenly he would not miss it. His friend warns of another extreme possibility of a high-heeled slipper to be awaiting a welcome instead.
Ghulam Mohammad has come up with so lovely enough orchestration for this composition to induce revisits to the song. If we would have seen the film, we may also have come to know what will have happened after the song is over.
I have picked up a triad next because that provides us with a new combination of singers.
With Khan Mastana
KyuN Shikwa Karein KyuN Aah Bharein – Pagle (1950) – with Talat Mahmood – Lyrics: Anjum Rehmani – Music: V G (Snehal) Bhatkar
The friends have gathered to vent their frustration of non-result bearing efforts of their pursuit to get someone to love them.
Pagle had one more triad, with G M Durrani as the third player –
Ye Aaj Kal Ke Laila Aur Majnu– Pagle (1950) – with G M Durrani – Lyrics: Anjum Rehmani – Music: V G (Snehal) Bhatkar
Another song of the youthful frustration when all efforts to woo the ‘fair sex’ fail, which leads to this deep sigh, in the form of
Ye aaj kal ke Laila or Majnu .. … … ik haath se dil ko thamate haiN ik hath se tata kahate haiN
It would be interesting note that Mukesh Geet Kosh has clearly identified the singers for these songs, but HFGK mentions Jagirdar, Agha and Sheri as the singers, who in fact are the actors singing the songs on screen.
With S D Batish
Jaao Sidharo Hey Radha Ke Shyam – Aarzoo (1950) – with Shamshad Begum, chorus – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri / Jan Nissar Akhtar – Music: Anil Biswas
Mukesh and S D Batish do not actually get connected through a triad here. What is treated as triad in the credits on the record N 38386, is in fact a three-piece stage show story wherein the first (penned by Majrooh Sutmapuri) and third part (penned by Jan Nissar Akhtar) are S D Batish-Shamshad Begum duets with chorus and the second part (also penned by Jan Nissar Akhtar) is a Mukesh-Shamshad Begum duet with chorus.
With Kishore Kumar
The Kishore Kumar – Mukesh combination has an interesting aspect too. Except for one triad in 1953, they did not have a proper duet during the pre-Aradhana, what is generally called as, Kishore Kumar 1.0 career phase. Then they had a triad-chorus in Satyakam (1969) the transition year. They had first proper duet in 1971, in what can be considered as Kishore Kumar 2.0. Since then, Kishore Kumar has had one more duet with Mukesh, in 1976. The duo further had one triad each with Sushma Shreshtha (Dharam Karam, 1975) and Dilraj Raj Kaur (Chor Mandali, 1983) as well as a quartet with Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar (Amar Akbar Anthony, 1977)
Lo Mil Gayi Degree Pyar Ki – Maalkin (1953) – with Ram Kamlani – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna – Music: Roshan
This must rank as the only song where Roshan has used Mukesh in a comedy situation.
However, the real irony of the song being treated as a Mukesh triad comes up only when we listen the full song and find that Mukesh just gets two words – first time just ‘KahaaN Bhai?’ after the first line, Din mein sau sau chakkar kate, in the first interlude stanza and then just ‘Kis ki?’ after the first line, Baithe baithe kismet khul gayi’ of the third interlude stanza!
Haal Chaal Thhik Thhaak Hai – Mere Apne (1971) – with chorus – Lyrics: Gulzar – Music: Salil Chowdhury
I have a very sweet connection with this song.
In our BITS Pilani days, we would have one, just-released, film screened every weekend. Mere Apne was one such film. Since the story is about the restlessness of students (particularly because of paucity of jobs even after proper college education), the film had been obviously very well received in the campus. When you pass near any of hostel block, particularly after dinner time, you will invariably get to listen the whistling used in the song. Also, the cleverly split first line had tremendous popularly as an informal greetings exchange among friends – Question: ‘Haal chaal? Answer: ‘Thik Thaak Hai.’ – obviously, in the lyrical mimic of the song!
With Mohammad Rafi
Mukesh and Mohammad Rafi share the maximum number of songs together – 7 duets, 6 duets+chorus, 5 triads – one with Shamshad Begum (Hanste Aansoo, 1950), two with Lata Mangeshkar (Shree 420, 1955 and Ahuti, 1978), two with Suman Kalyanpur (Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, 1966 and Vishwas, 1969), and one with Hemlata (Jaaneman, 1976), and one quartet with Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar (Amar Akbar Anthony, 1977). More important. perhaps, is that the association spans almost the entire career of both of them, with first duet in 1949 (Chilman and Thes) and the last one in 1978 (Ahuti).
I have selected one duet, which I have always relished to listen to. Just the memory of the song has helped to me ease out any tension coiled in, any time, in my mind.
Phirate The Jo Bade Hi Sikandar Bane Hue ….. Jo Bor Kare Yaar Ko Us Yaar Se Tauba… Jis Pyar Mein Ye Haal Ho Us Pyaar Se Tauba – Phir Subah Hogi (1958) – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhiyanvi – Music: Khayyam
Mohammad Rafi so lively pulls up his friend’s legs that even the Raj Kapoor’s lady love Mala Sinha cannot hide her smile. Moreover, if you close your eyes, the way Rafi goes with his part you can imagine how Rehman, otherwise an actor who plays serious roles, must be freely acting it out on screen, while lip-synching Mohammad Rafi. Every line Sahir has penned for Rafi’s part is just enough for any friend on the other side to break up the relationship!
With Mahendra Kapoor
For the records, Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor have three duets, however the third one, from Saathi (1968) – Jo chalaa gayaa use bhul jaa, Naushad has used Mahendra Kapoor for just a higher-scale line being heard as echo Bhul Jaa… Bhul Jaa, as haunting memory from the past that has to be forgotten.
Of the other two, both composed by N Dutta, one is for Dilli Ka Dada (1962) and the other for Holiday in Bombay (1963). I have selected the latter one.
Ye Hasin Bambai Hamein Jam Gayi …. Holiday Holiday Holiday in Bombay – Holiday in Bombay (1963) – Lyrics: Anjaan – Music: N Dutta.
The reasons I have selected this song will sound quite trivial – one: Mukesh gets to playback for the hero (Shashi Kapoor), two: one gets a virtual tour of Mumbai in the video clip, the third: you get to see a glimpse of now totally forgotten, Lambretta scooter (@4.12) and fourth of course, it has a connection with a 2018 SoY post – Bharat Darshan Songs (2) – Metros.
It would not be out of place to record here that Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor share a triad with Rajendra Mehta, a famous ghazal singer of 60s/70s.
Mera Rang De Basanti Chola – Shaheed, 1965 – Lyrics and Music: Prem Dhawan
This would rank as one of the best patriotic songs Hindi films have recorded.
With Manna Dey
The proper duet of Mukesh and Manna Dey, very surprisingly, has come up only in 1976 for the film Das Numbri. Even Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi and Manna Dey triad also came up in only 1973, for Teen Chor. As such, I thought it would be patently safe to fall back upon a quartet and a quintet from the earlier years.
Sathi Re…. Kadam Kadam Se Dil Mila Rahein Hai Ham – Char Dil Char Rahein (1959) – with Mahendra Kapoor, Meena Kapoor, chorus – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhiyanvi – Music: Anil Biswas
The song is an inspirational song, wherein multiple singers join to playback for corresponding actor on the screen. It being an Anil Biswas composition, the composition and orchestration are ideal, so are the lyrics of Sahir. It is not surprising that the overall outcome is a song that you would like listen, again and again, for its sheer melody.
I am not able to resist the temptation of including a quintet chorus song, so well-known to me, and almost of all of us for that matter, that came up in different light when I listened to it from the point of view of the present article.
Hum Bhi Hai Tum Bhi Ho Dono Hai Amane Samane – Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1961) – with Mahendra Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt and chorus – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music: Shankar Jaikishan
I always admired this song for several stunning features – Shankar Jaikishan and the team for conceiving and executing the rich orchestrion (of particular notice is the violin ensemble piece @ 5.35 -5.52 that so vividly creates the feeling of speed), meticulous details of choreography of Hira Lal, and so creative camera work of Tara Dutt that captures every expression of every actor so lively and the overall direction of Radhu Karamakar – RK’s otherwise default director of photography. Essentially, the song was a chorus song representing dacoits on one side and the reformer (Raju) on the other side.
However, I could now easily see a parallel under-current of a duet too running in the song, beginning with two lines that follow the opening skirmish between Raka and Raju, when Kammo and her friend Bijli charmingly declare Hum bhi haiN (@2.30), to which Raju responds, unwittingly, Dekh lo kya asar kar diya pyar ne. The visuals @0.45 to 0.51, where Kammo longingly eyes Raju, which Raka too does not miss to notice or that fleeting exchange of mutual appreciations @ 1.52 to 2.00 between Kammo and Raju corroborate the implicit germination of soft feelings for each other. The song virtually turns into a duet after the second interlude when Kammo directly intervenes the song with itana sa ye dil tu de de agar sara jag tera ho jaye. (@5.03)
As the songs moves on, the mood of festivity of all so beautifully morphs into acquiescence of love of the two.
We come back to our main track again.
With Talat Mahmood
As we have seen @ #3 here before, Mukesh and Talat Mahmood did get just one triad as early as in 1950. These two may be the only male singers of that period who did not even have one Hindi film duet in their entire career.
Fortunately, three Mukesh – Talat Mahmood NFS duets, composed by Murli Manohar Swaroop, fill up this void. We had had heard one duet, Kisi ko deke dil koi nawa_sanj-e-fughan kyun ho, in the earlier post, Mukesh’s Non-film Hindi Geets and Ghazals.
I have picked up the other one here –
Woh Jo Ruthe To Manana Chahiye …. Zindagi Se Rooth Jaana Chahiye – NFS – lyrics: Jigar Murarabadi + Mirza Ghalib – Music: Murli Manohar Swaroop
To the opening line from Jigar Murarabadi ghazal sung by Mukesh, Talat Mahmood joins by a Mirza Ghalib ghazal line Chahiye achchhoN ko jitana chahiye, ye agar chaahein phir to kya chahiye… and so forth.
However, we can take consolation that they did have one more song in the Hindi films – an all-male quintet in 1966.
Mujhko Muhabbat Ho Gayi Hai, Bas Muhabbat Ho Gayi Hai …. Anhoni Baat Thi Ho Gayi Hai – Biwi Aur Makaan (1966) – with Joginder, Manna Dey and Hemant Kumar – Lyrics: Gulzar – Music: Hemant Kumar
Normally Mukesh and Talat Mahmood are put at the slow paced, serious film-song-moods spectrum. Another singer, Hemant Kumar also is considered to be the singer of that part of the spectrum. However, Hemant Kumar, the music director, seems to have helped Talat Mahmood switch the role and join him (in the role of the playback singer) in the fast-paced jest-cum-scolding session with that love-infested friend among the ‘five pandav’ friends who have vowed to remain unmarried till everyone gets a job. Talat Mahmood plays back to Keshto Mukhrjee who impersonates a girl along with Biswjeet who lip syncs Hemant Kumar!
I conclude here my part of the choices of Duets(+) of Mukesh with Male singers so as to start pondering over what subject we should take up for the celebration of Mukesh’s 100th birth anniversary post next year…….
Acknowledgement and disclaimer:
Mukesh Geet Kosh, 2020 edition – Harish Raghuvanshi: For the basic data and the information of the songs selected in the present article.
The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over these songs which vests with the respective owners.
Reproduction of the article originally published on Songs of Yore on22 July 2022
We had stopped publishing the songs that have been covered in the Memorable Songs list for the year. As such, here are the Male Solo songs which are not covered in Memorable Songs of 1943.
As had been noted in the overview article, 1943 has 119 male solo songs for which the singers are identified in HFGK. However, I could not find 57 of these songs on YT.
For the purpose of the present Micro Review, we have divided the Male Solo songs that are available on YT and not covered Memorable Songs of 1943 – one that has songs of G M Durrani and the other with all other singers.
We first take up the male solo songs of singers other than G M Durrani for the year 1943.
K C Dey – Mange Ja Har Bar – Andhera – Pt. Indra – Gyan Dutt
K C Dey – Bol Bol Tu Is Duniya Mein Sab Se Meethe Bol – Badalati Duniya – ? – K C Dey
K C Dey – Chandani Raat Hai Chandani Raat – Manchali – ? – H P Das
We have grouped here male singers who can be considered to have had noteworthy presence in the vintage era period. I have been able to locate 20 songs on YT (G M Durrani -4; K C Dey and Khan Mastana – 3 each; and Umakant, Ashok Kumar, S D Batish, Charlie, Amar, Jagmohan, Surendra, Bulo C Rani, Asit Baran and Sundar 1 each. There a few more songs identified with names of male singers in HFGK, but for the the time being these are not yet posted on YT, nor do I have any access to their digital versions, if they are available with some one.
Yeh Chand Hamein Hans Kar Kuchch Yaad Dilta Hai – Aadhar – Umakant – S N Tripathi M A Razi
Aankhein To Hui Band, Magar Dard Jaga Re – Begum – Ashok Kumar -H P Das – G S Nepali
Aa Hosh Mein Deewane – Bahijan – S D Batish – Shyam Sundar – Padtau Lakhanavi
Zindagi Fareb Hai Fareb Se Nibhaye Ja – Chand Tara – Charlie – Gyan Dutt – Swami Ramanand
Mera Chana Masaledar, Kahata Hum Sabse Lalkar – Chhamia – G M Durrani and Chorus -Gyan Dutt
Hare Murare Madhukait Mere – Devdasi – K C Dey – Krishna Chandra Dey – Pt. Narottam Vyas
Hari Ke Nam Bina Re, Radha Naam Bina Re – Devdasi – K C Dey, Chorus – Krishna Chandra Dey – Pt. Narottam Vyas
Roye Ham Charano Pe Bhagwan – Devdasi – K C Dey – Krishna Chandra Dey – Pt. Narottam Vyas
While remaining an essential variant of the duets, male-male duets has neither been a popular format nor been an easy one to compose. We have only two male-male duets for the year, essentially with chorus support.
Mohammad Rafi, Khan Mastana, Chorus – Watan Ki Raah Mein Watan Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho – Shaheed – Ghulam Haider – Raja Mahendi Ali Khan
Mukesh, Shailesh, Chorus – Rab Mere Araj Sun Meri, Sharan Ab Teri – Aag – Ram Ganguli – Saraswatikumar ‘Dipak’
Triads, Triads+
1948 has quite a fairly large selection of triads or triad+ songs. All of the songs that could be listed form HFGK do not have digital link on the most of the otherwise rich reference platforms.
Popular TRiad Song
Mohammad Rafi, Chitalkar, G M Sajan, Chorus – Aji Khushiyan Manae Na Kyon Hum , Ham Kise Se Kyun Dare, Kismat Hamare Sath Hai, Jalanewale Jalanewale Jala Kare – Khidki – C Ramchandra – P L Santoshi
Its all female version – by Shamshad Begum, Lata Mangeshkar, and Mohan Tara – was equally popular.
Other Triads, Triads+ Songs
Shamshad Begum, Lata Mangeshkar, Unidentified voice – Hello Hello Gentleman, Milate Nahi Kyun Ham Se Nain – Actress – Shyam Sundar- Raja Mahendi Ali Khan
Moahammad Rafi, Chitalkar, Shamshad Begum – Aji Mera Bhi Koi Haal Suno,.. – Khidki – C Ramchandra – P L Santoshi
Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Roy, Chitalkar – Tere Bina Suna Suna, Man Ka Mera Anagana – Khidki – C Ramchandra – P L Santoshi
Suraiya, Surinder Kaur, Meena Kapoor – Kabhi Panabhat Pe Aaja Mere Sapno Ke Raja – Pyra Ki Jeet – Husnlal Bhagatram – Rajendra Krishna
Suraiya, Surinder Kaur, Meena Kapoor – Rut Rangeeli Hai, Suhani Raat Hai, Tum Chale Aao To Kya Baat Hai – Pyar Ki Jeet – Husnlal Bhagatram – Rajendra Krishna
Mohammad Rafi, Shamshad Begum, Sulochana Kadam – Chalo Jamuna Ke Paar – Lal Dupatta – Gyan Dutt – ?
Chitalkar, Lalita Deulkar, P Chandar, S L Puri – Kathawa Ke Nayaa Banaihe Hai Re Malhawa, Nadiya Ke Paar Tej Dhar– Nadiya Ke Paar – C Ramchandra – Moti B A
We will take up the concluding part of the Duet Songs of 1948 in our next episode.
We have covered solo songs of two of the five principal male playback singers – G M Durrani + Talat Mahmood – for the year 1949.
Today we will listen to solo songs of Surendra as well those by ‘the other’ male playback singers, before we take two really significant players for the year – Mukesh and Mohammed Rafi.
Solo Songs of Surendra
Not so predominantly as Suraiya does on the female singer side, Surendra continues to hold the flag of singing star high enough on the male side for the current year.
Main To Hun Udaas – Kamal – S D Burman – Prem Dhawan
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.
To commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of Mohamad Rafi [B: 24-12-1924 – D: 31-71980], we have commenced a series on Mohammad Rafi’s first duet with a music director. We take up the Male-Male or Triad as well as a regular Male-Female duet in the present series because our main purpose to revisit maximum possible duets of Mohammad Rafi.
The world is too small? or Is it? 