Duets(+) of Mukesh: With Male Singers

A tribute to Mukesh on his 99^th 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 99^th 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 100^th birth anniversary post next year…….

Acknowledgement and disclaimer:

1. Mukesh Geet Kosh, 2020 edition – Harish Raghuvanshi: For the basic data and the information of the songs selected in the present article.
2. 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 on 22 July 2022

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.

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – Volume X – February 2022 edition

Welcome to February 2022 edition of X^th Volume of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

Lata Mangeshkar (1929-2022): Nightingale has fallen silent – India has lost one of its most prolific and significant artists – the last of her kind. She leaves behind not just her vast oeuvre, but a legacy of a voice that could bridge differences and bring together people with its sublimity.

Till the end, Lata Mangeshkar remained her own person – Mrinal Pande – Her long and distinguished career is not a tragic tale of continuing to shoulder the burden of someone else’s idea of how a woman should sing. She was a genuinely many-voiced singer who considered it an asset to be able to sing for over three generations of stars…..Still it would be wrong to pin her down to a single identity, of a grand dowager queen of music, all white sarees, and an isolation of fervent religiosity and meditational silences. …. But she was very much her own person.

Lata Mangeshkar was India’s inner voice – Pratap Bhanu Mehta – If Lata Mangeshkar became representative of India, it was because the lyrics she sang, and the forms in which she expressed them, contained all of India in them: All of its languages, cultural registers, even its conflicts. It was not benchmarking India to a single measure; it was rather connecting its superabundance.

How Lata Mangeshkar learnt to read and write (despite having gone to school for only a day) – In the edited excerpts from a Nasreen Munni Kabir’s conversation book, Lata Mangeshkar: In Her Own Voice, the acclaimed singer remembers her formative years.

‘Close to the sublime’: Why no book on Hindi film music is complete without Lata Mangeshkar – Ganesh Anantharaman presents excerpts from his book, Bollywood Melodies.

During the support commentary that Harish Bhimani was providing during the live broadcast of Lata Mangeshkar’s funeral procession, he recalled that on one occasion he had asked her about her one song that spontaneously comes to her mind. This was the song that Lat Mangeshkar recalled:

Bairan Neend Na Aaye – (Chacha Zindabad -1959) – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna – Music: Madan Mohan

On being asked the same question to him by Lata Mangeshkar, Harish Bhimani recalled

Man Mohana Bade Jhoothe ..- Seema (1955) – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music Shankar Jaikishan

If I apply the same test to me, the two Gujarati songs that pop up are:

Have Sakhi NahiN BoluN NahiN BoluN Re – Lyrics: Dayaram – Music: Purushuttom Updhyay

Rk RajkaN Suraj Thavane ShamaNe UgamaNe JaI UDe – Music: Harindra Dave – Music: Dilip Dholakia

As can be expected, homages have been showered by almost every newspaper, journal and other social (digital) media. We will confine ourselves to homages from our regular blogs for our present episode.

• Lata Mangeshkar Lives Forever is Soy’s touching personal tribute.
• The Music Stills… in a way that makes the flow of songs to continue in the form of The Many Moods of Love In the voice of Lata Mangeshkar,  Dance Songs – Lata Mangeshkar, Club Songs – Lata Mangeshkar……………..
• In Memoriam: Lata Mangeshkar – My Favourite Solos with Ten Composers and the Part II as Lata Mangeshkar: Ten Solos, Ten Composers
• Seven Songs from Lata Mangeshkar That Have Really Stood Out for Me (from 1949 to 1983)
• ‘Saaz’, the Sai Paranjpye movie that isn’t about the supposed Lata-Asha rivalry – The movie stars Aruna Irani and Shabana Azmi as playback singers and professional rivals.
• And the Voice Lives On… – Ratnottama Sengupta pens a heartfelt requiem for Lata Mangeshkar whose songs lulled her at every milestone in her journey through life

We also lost Sandhya Mukherjee this month.

Though He Actually Never Met Her… – Gulzar voices his “deepest regard” for Sandhya Mukherjee, the Geetasri who never needed any Padma to become the voice of romance for generations. Ratnottama Sengupta explores how Gulzar connected with the iconic actor-singer foursome of Bengali cinema – Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Hemant Kumar and also Sandhya Mukherjee.

We also sadly bid farewell to Bappi Lahiri who passed away on 15^th February 2022

We now move on to the other tributes and celebrations for the month –

Remembering Zohrabai Ambalewali, for her full-throated voice, which had cast its own spell furing’40s.

When ‘villain of the millennium’ Pran shocked the audience as he played a noble soul in Manoj Kumar’s Upkar – Pran, despite of several outstanding path-breaking roles he played there after, is still remembered as the quintessential villain of Hindi cinema,

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

• 50 Years of Piya Ka Ghar ( Released on 23 Feb 1972)
• Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna- BAPPI LAHIRI
• Pran – Noorjahan was his Heroine in his First Hind…
• 50 Years of Pakeezah
• 50 Years of Amar Prem

From Rangeela to Pinjar, Urmila Matondkar’s effortless evolution on screen whilst also pulling off the complexities of Rangeela’s Mili and Pinjar’s Puro

In the series of articles on Sahir’s Songs of Romance, commemorating Sahir Ludhianvi’s birth centenary,  we now take up Sahir Ludhianvi’s Eighteen-films association with S D Burman.

February 2022 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs takes up Talat Mahmood: Duets with Shamshad Begum.  To commemorate the memory of Talat Mahmood in the month of his birth by taking up the theme of his rare duets, till now, we have explored –

In 2017, an overview of Talat Mahmood’s duets receding from the memory.

In 2018, Talat Mahmood’s duets with rare co-singers,

In 2019, Talat Mahmood’s duets with Mubarak Begum and with Madhubala Jhaveri,

In 2020, Talat Mahmood’s duets with Geeta Dutt, essentially from 1950 to 1952, and

In 2021, Talat Mahmood: Duets with Geeta Dutt, from  1954 to 1957, with one duet even in 1972.

Here is a photograph of Madhubala on the 53rd anniversary of her death (23^rd February) posted on BollywooDirect:

Madhubala’s films opposite Bharat Bhushan – Madhubala has done four films with Bharat Bhushan – Gateway of India was a one-woman show with the story revolving around the character of Madhubala and the other actors forming the supporting cast, Kal Hamara Hai saw her play the lone double role of her career, Phagun had her in a triple role and Barsaat ki Raat is one of the greatest musicals ever to have been made in our film industry.

We now move on to posts on other subjects –

The Other Songs of Kavi Pradeep, a.k.a. Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi (06/02/1915 – 11/12/1998) – the songs essentially which are neither patriotic nor inspirational.

Manna Dey: A Story of Amazing Versatility – In a career spanning 60 years, Manna Dey excelled across a variety of genres – film songs, ghazals, bhajans, classical and pop – he regaled generations of listeners with his romantic ballads, zany rock and roll numbers, playful qawwalis and intricate raga-based songs. In Part 1, Bipin Parekh presents a detailed study of Manna Dey’s musical life and discography to understand and appreciate his massive repertoire and career graph. Part 2 presents analysis of Manna Dey’s association with 195 music directors and his output of 1363 Hindi songs spread over 932 films.

From Bollywood Rewind – Sampada Sharma – Indian Express’s weekly column:

• Shashi Kapoor’s Jab Jab Phool Khile was an extremely judgemental film – The storytellers here are very insistent on telling you that rich people have no moral compass, and will just do whatever they please.
• Not just the ‘king of romance’, Yash Chopra was the founder of Bollywood’s ‘lost and found’ formula with Waqt – Waqt was a gamechanger, not just for Yash Chopra’s cinematic journey, but for the journey that Hindi cinema took after this film.

In continuation to our tradition of ending the post with a few songs of Mohammad Rafi that are relevant to the topics covered in the present episode, we will institute a series where in we wiil listen to Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar’s duet with a music director for the first time in a Hindi film, every month for the rest of the 2022,:

Chalo Ho Gai Taiyaar Zara Thehro Ji – Shaadi Se Pahle (1947) – Lyrics: Mukhram Shaarma – Music: Paigaonkar-Karnad

YuN To Aapas Mein Jhagadate Hai Khafa Hote Hai – Andaz (1949) – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: Naushad Ali

Apni Nazar Se Door Voh, Unki Nazar Se Door Ham – Bazaar (1949) – Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi – Music: Shyam Sundar

Ab Haal-e-Dl Ya Haal-e-Jigar Kuchh Na Puchhiye – Ek Thi Ladki (1949) – Lyrics: Azeez Kashmiri – Music:Vinod

Zara Tumne Dekha To Pyar Aa Gaya – Jal Tarang (1949) – Lyrics: Kaif Irfani – Music: Husnlal Bhagatram

I look forward to your inputs to enrich the contents of Carnival of Blogs on 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 – October 2021

Welcome to October 2021 edition of IX^th Volume of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

We open our present episode with the 92^nd birthday of Lata Mangeshkar.

A little girl who started professional singing more than 7 decades ago is still there somewhere, says Lata Mangeshkar as she recalls such a long journey of career that notched up another hit just last month.

All Mangeshkar sisters Lata, Asha, Usha & Meena together on-screen with Brother Hridaynath in the song Chala Chala Nav Bala from the film Maaze Bal – 1943, composer Datta Dawjekar

In continuation with the practice of presenting Lata Mangeshkar’s songs from a different angle, Mehfil Mein Meri presents Lata – Non-film songs, for the period 1954 in Part 1 and for the years thereafter in Part 2.

We, also, rue the loss of Veteran actor and Mehmood’s sister Minoo Mumtaz passes away  – Komal RJ Panchal – Minoo Mumtaz (26-4-1942 | 19-10-2021) – appeared in films like CID, Naya Daur, Taj Mahal, Gaban, Zameer among others. She passed away in Canada.

Minoo Mumtaz was 79 years old. (Photo: CinemaRare/Twitter)

RIP, Minoo Mumtaz – We Have Lost Another One of the Greatest (as everyone should know) – Minoo Mumtaz was a mujra queen in her own right – in addition to being a hilarious comedienne. The previous post of 2009 where Tom Daniel’s DVD compilationis referred to, describes it as A Whole (Beautiful, Crisp, Clear) DVD of Minoo Mumtaz! It is recommended to re-visit that that post most of all because it includes a list of the contents of Tom’s DVD, which is the best place to look if you want the names of the best songs that she appeared in.

Songs of Yore also had a post, In Conversation with Minoo Mumtaz, which included an interview with her as well as one with her son, Ajaz Ali.

When an era passes – Malika Begum or Malikunnisa, better known by her screen name Minoo Mumtaz, carved a unique place for herself.

Ten of my favourite Minoo Mumtaz Songs recalls songs featuring Mino Mumtaz on the screen.

We now move on to other tributes and memories this month.

Taxi Driver — one of India’s first ‘cabbie films’, which sealed Dev Anand’s romantic hero image – Unnati Sharma – On Dev Anand’s 98th birth anniversary (27^th September) a revisit to a film close to his heart — a complete Anand family production, whose heroine he married.

Hans Jhakhar has come up with a series of articles on Rajendra Krishna (6 June 1919 – 23 September 1987) and his music directors on Songs of Yore to commemorate the 34th Remembrance Day of Rajendra Krishna. The first two articles are: Rajendra Krishna with the Albela Karigar C Ramchandra and Rajendra Krishna and Madan Mohan: Classic Case of Two Geniuses at Work.

The unassuming genius of Hrishikesh Mukherjee – Subhash K Jha – “I confess I’m guilty of making potboilers…That’s because I had a unit and their family to maintain. I console myself with the thought that I’ve made decent films too on family values.” …… Thankfully Hrishida quit this world before people started watching his films on phones.

Eyi Path Jodi Na Shesh Hoy: The Immortal Songs of Uttam-Hemanta – Sounak Gupta and Antara Nanda Mondal present Silhouette’s a tribute to Uttam Kumar by revisiting the iconic Uttam-Hemanta partnership and some of their evergreen hits.

Happy Birthday, Simi Garewal, who was always ahead of her time. When Indian actresses were demure dainty and shy Simi was a whiff of fresh air. There was no pretence about her personality

Forget Dil Chahta Hai, Raj Kapoor-Nargis starrer Chori Chori was the first road trip movie — Unnati Sharma – On Manna Dey’s death anniversary, remembering how the song “Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi” is more popular than the film itself.

Smita Patil as remembered by her sister: ‘Funny, generous, uncaged’ – Anita Patil-Deshmukh pays tribute to the acclaimed actor on her 66th birth anniversary.

Smita Patil photographed by Gautam Rajadhyaksha.

In Subah, Smita Patil’s character broke glass ceiling of what ambitious women can’t do – Unnati Sharma – Smita Patil plays Savitri, a woman who is capable, intelligent and ambitious, but often finds herself caught up in the complications of family life.

Vinod Khanna: The actor who gave Amitabh Bachchan a run for his money – Sampada Sharma – A Stardust cover of 1978 had claimed in big bold letters ‘Vinod Khanna turns No 1’ but unbeknownst to everyone, Vinod was never a part of the rat race and it was perhaps this nonchalance that made him one of the most iconic stars of Hindi cinema.

5 unknown facts about Rekha who turns a year older on October 10 – Subhash K Jha – Rekha prides herself on being an accomplished singer. She sang Qayda Qayda Todke Socho Ek Din in Khubsoorat for herself.

How Kader Khan became Bollywood’s go-to dialogue writer: When an impressed Manmohan Desai gifted him his TV, gold bracelet – Sampada Sharma – On Kader Khan’s 84th birth anniversary, here’s looking at the early career of the actor as a dialogue writer and how he did some of his best work with Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai.

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

• The Dancing Dev Anand
• Noorjehan- The First Female Singing Superstar of H…

• The Movies that Guru Dutt Announced and Abandoned
• S D Burman- Always Looking for New Experiments in …

In the series of articles on Sahir’s Songs of Romance, commemorating Sahir Ludhianvi’s birth centenary,  we now take up Sahir Ludhianvi’s Four Film Association with R D Burman.

October 2021 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs takes up (Shankar (Jaikishan) and Shailendra’s Songs Fading From the Memory: 1955 -1956 (Part). Till now, we have covered the years

1949 – 1953 in 2018

1953 (Continued) in 2019.

1954 in 2020

Here is a collection of some vintage photographs, posted on BollywooDirect:

October is the month  of festivals, or is usherer of the great Indian festival of Diwali, so “Let’s Celebrate!”: Ten festival songs.

We now move on to posts on other subjects –

Songs of Age are not those where there is an observation about how man has no control over time and hence the need to make the best of the moment at hand, but are the songs where there is a mention of not just physical age but also of time passing or of an era having passed

‘Not Quite Usual’ Songs presents songs in two broad categories – Single song-one singer-two characters and Single song-two singers-one character.

Soul music: When Hindi film songs send a prayer to the Almighty – Rineeta Naik explores the omnipresent clamour for divine intervention in the form of a song. Since the array of divinities is long and colourful, the songs are equally eclectic.

Sanchari – Bengal’s invaluable contribution to Hindi Film Music – Sanchari (संचारी), in its very technical sense, n Hindustani classical music has to do with the Dhrupad genre. However, Bengal composers used the term Sanchari as a piece of different tune inserted between two Antaras, thereby imparting the song its unique character.

[Note: For anyone interested in the nuances of music, this post is very informative and should be read, as you listen the songs covered in the post.]

My Favourites: Devotional Songs of Hindi films have knack to move you despite yourself; that make you want to believe even if you don’t; that, either because of the vocals or the picturisation or both, make you believe in the devotion the words expressed.

Romancing through the Window and Door is an immensely explored subject in Hindi film songs of romance. The present post complements the songs on Atariya, Angana and Chhat, thus completing all the features of a house with such possibilities.

The Rendezvous Songs has emphasis more on the element of the meeting place.” … there is an element of escaping the prying eyes of the world in many a song. Some of the songs have risqué lyrics too.”

Boat Songs – Part I focused on the songs that had only the couple on the boat. Now, Part II takes songs with three or more, but not more than five or six people. Presently, Part III finally presents boat songs sung by the boatman.

Was ‘Guide’ ever offered to Zaheeda? – Subhash K Jha – Waheeda Rehman tells the whole story of how she agreed to do ‘Guide’, after two directors were changed

From Bollywood Rewind – Sampada Sharma – Indian Express’s weekly column:

• Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje: V Shantaram’s ode to classical dance – Starring Sandhya and Gopi Krishna, V Shantaram’s 1955 film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje believes that to become a true artist, one needs to sacrifice.
• Sujata: When Bimal Roy took on caste discrimination and disguised it with a love story – Starring Nutan and Sunil Dutt, Bimal Roy’s 1959 film Sujata takes up the subject of caste discrimination in a society that believes in it blindly.
• Yaadein: Sunil Dutt’s one-man show that’s ahead of its time – Starring and directed by Sunil Dutt, the 1964 film Yaadein attempts to examine the paranoia of loneliness with only one actor on screen.
• Junglee: Shammi Kapoor’s massy potboiler that hasn’t aged well – Starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Banu, Subodh Mukherji’s 1961 film Junglee is as mainstream as movies could be, and the true heroes here are music composers Shankar Jaikishen.

Micro View of Best Songs of 1944 @SoY concluded the micro-view of female songs with MY Top Female Solo Songs  and took up that of duets with the duets that have been already covered in Memorable Songs / Special Songs, Male-Female Duets – Part 1 and Part 2 – and reached the end point in Female – Female Duets | Male – Male Duets | Triads (+)

In continuation to our tradition of ending the post with a few songs of Mohammad Rafi, I have selected duets of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi during 1947 to 1949, based on one duet per music director:

Chalo Ho Gai Taiyaar Zara Thehro Ji – Shaadi Se Pehle (1947) – Paigankar- Karnad – Mukh Ram Sharma

Sun To Dil Ka Afasana – Andaz (1949) – Naushad – Majrooh Sultanpuri

Apni Nazar Se Door Vo Unki Nazar Se Door Hum – Bazaar (1949) – Shyam Sundar – Qamar Jalalabadi

Lambi Zoru Badi Museebat Are Din Dekhe Na Raat – Ek Thi Ladki (1949) – Vinod _ Aziz Kashmiri

Zara Tumne Dekha To Pyar Aa Gaya – Jaltarang (1949) – Husnlal Bhagatram – Kaif Irfani

Tadapake Ab Mujhe Chhod Diya – Namoona ((1949) – C Ramchandra – Gulshan Jalalabadi

Dil Le Ke Chhupne Wale Tu Hai Kahan Bata De – Paaras (1949) – Ghulam Mohammad – Shakeel Badayuni

Saajan Ki Ot Leke Haathon Mein Haath Deke – Zevraat (1949) – Hans Raj Bahal – Habeeb Sarhadi

I look forward to your inputs to enrich the contents of Carnival of Blogs on 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.

Hemant Kumar’s Hindi Song Compositions – Songs of Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle

Hemant Kumar (16-6-1920 | 26 September 1989) had already shown flare for music composition from his early childhood. Even though his formal career did commence as a singer, his talents as a composer also did not have to wait longer to get formal recognition. Of course, in so far as Hindi Films is concerned, the first ever film for which he got to compose the music was good eight years after he sang his first film song. He then went on to compose music for 50+ films for next 27 years.

Hemant Kumar’s start as music director in Anadmath (1952) was on a reasonably high note. It soon reached peak with Nagin (1954) and Shart (1954). Both these films had excellent run on box office mainly on the backing of the songs of the film. Hemant Kumar then continued to score at least one musical hit for every two or their films for which scored the music, irrespective of the box office outcome of the film. As it happens with majority of the film songs, the songs from the films that did well on the box office has had longer recall value in the minds of the listeners. These are the songs that have normally cemented the image of Hemant Kumar as the composer in our minds.

The full spectrum of Hemant Kumar’s range as a composer has four distinct shades of grey – his solo songs in his own voice, his songs in the voice of female singers, his solo songs in the voice of other male singers, his own duets and his duets in the voice of other singers.

Presently, we will take up the segment of Hemant Kumar’s female songs to explore breadth and depth of Hemant Kumar’s compositions

In terms of the singers, the solo songs of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt, in that order, occupy more that 80 % of the female-singers-spectrum of Hemant Kumar’s compositions. Hemant Kumar mostly used Lata Mangeshkar as his lead singer when he did not use Geeta Dutt. Quantitatively and qualitatively, he had still had enough room for using Asha Bhosle’s talent fully. One major impact of this heavy skew in the distribution of the female solo songs was to lead me to explore Hemant Kumar’s musically relatively less successful films to dig out songs of the other female singers. In the process, I had excellent opportunity to listen to many forgotten Lata/Geeta or Asha songs from these films as well.

These deep-sea explorations have resulted into a several large catches of songs of these three singers. I, therefore, have luxury to choose from the less heard songs of the less remembered films to present a different perspective of the rich legacy of repertoire of Hemant Kumar’s female song compositions.

Lata Mangeshkar

Like his other contemporary Bengali music directors, S D Burman or Salil Chowdhury, in the Hindi Film world of that period Lata Mangeshkar was the clear first choice of Hemant Kumar. The natural melody of the Lata Mangeshkar’s voice was a logical and obvious choice for the soft Bengali tone of these music directors.

Hemant Kumar’s compositions in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice, normally, keep being published at regular frequency on several social media. So, I have picked up only one song from an early film and other one from his few of the last films, to present as encompassing as possible range of Hemant Kumar’s female songs

Kahan Se Le Ke Aayi Hai Kaha Majburiya Meri….. Meri Taqdir Ke Mailk Mera Kuchh Faisala Kar De – Shart (1954) – Lyrics: S H Bihari

The song opens with a couplet that epitomises the helplessness of the protagonist. Hemant Kumar deploys short pieces of violin ensemble that accentuates the pathos mood of the song.

Mitwa Re Bhul Gaye The Rahein Mitwa – Rahgir (1969) – Lyrics: Gulzar

This song also renders the mood of pathos – caused by the separation of the lovers. Hemant Kumar has used high scales of Shehnai in the interlude, to immediately follow the line wherein chorus also joins the song. The song is classic Gulzar poetry which is always a challenge for the music director. However, Hemant Kumar’s natural bent for melody returns with a complex, and yet a melodious composition.

Geeta Dutt

Hemant Kumar did use Geeta Dutt as lead female voice in his maiden film Anandmath (1952) – 5 songs. He then used her voice as lead singer in only Laalten (1956) – 6 songs; Police (1958) – 6 songs and of course, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1960) – 3 songs. He did keep using her off and on, in solos or duets,  in films like Ferry (1954)- 2 songs;  Samrat (1954) – Songs; Shart (1954) – 2 songs; Bahu (1955) – 3 songs; Bhagwat Mahim (1955) – 1 song; Arab Ka Suadagar (1956) – 2 songs; Bandi (1957) – 3 songs; Ek Jalak (1957) 3 songs; Fashion (1957) – 2 songs; Hill Station (1957) – 3 songs; Kitana Badal Gaya Insaan – 3 songs; Miss Mary (1957) – 1 song; Yahudi Ki Ladki – 5 songs; Hum Bhi Insaan Hai (1959) – 2 songs and Duniya Jhukti Hai (1960) – 1 song. If some of the songs are remembered even today, some were lost quickly.

Aa Re Bhanvare Aa, Maheki Meri Man Ki Bagiya – Anand Math (1952) – Lyrics: Shailendra

Since Geeta Bali seems to be on an espionage or a luring mission into the British camps, she resorts to amorous gestures, matching her singing to her physical movements. Geeta Dutt supports such gyrations with matching variations of her singing. Hemant Kumar has so vividly woven an earthy folk-based composition with the situation.

Rangili Rangili Chhabili Rani Nindiya, Aa Mere Raja Ki Ankhiyo Mein Aa – Ferry (1954) – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna

Hemant Kumar sets the lullaby to a soothing, soft orchestration.

Agar Pyar Mein Muskuraaye Na Hote – Laalten (1956) – Lyrics: Kaif Irfani

Hemant Kumar has set Geeta Dutt’s voice to a tone that exudes pathos, and then goes on to support that with short pieces of orchestrations.

Aaja Zara Mere Dil Ke Sahare – Ek Jhalak (1957) – Lyrics: S H Bihari

I always had an impression that this song is only a duet of Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt. This solo twin version is a find of the work for this episode.

Aside: The song is considered to have been inspired from Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (1955) song.

Koi Door Se Awaaz De, Chale Aao, Chale Aao – Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

After the success of Bees Saal Baad (1960), Hemant Kumar and Shakeel Badayuni again team up here. The deep-from-the-memory, haunting, softly echoing, sound of the song in the voice of Chhoti Bahu draws Guru Dutt to the place where he finds the bangles of the Chhoti Bahu. The film goes into the flash back. (@.4.14 to 5.38 of the film soundtrack). The short, soft, sounds of violin in the background in the following frames speak volumes for Hemant Kumar’s creativity as a composer.

Incidentally, it is in this opening that the Hindi version dramatically differs from the Bengali version of the film.

The present song returns at the end of the film to encapsulates the haunting melancholy of the loneliness of Chhoti Bahu

Asha Bhosle

Asha Bhosle, technically for the most part, did not enjoy the status of a lead singer in Hemant Kumar’s scheme of things. But Hemant Kumar has always done full justice to the range of her voice, in terms of number of songs that he gave to Asha Bhosle, as well in terms of variety of the music content. As a result many of Hemant Kumar -Asha Bhosle songs, like De Di Hame Azadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal (Jagriti, 1954), Yaad Rakhana Pyar Ki Nishani Yaad Rakhana (Nagin, 1954), Sakhi Ri Sun Bole Papiha Us  Paar (Miss Mary, 1957)  or Bhnwara Bada Nanadan and Saaqiya Aaj Mohe Nend Na Ayegi (Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) are respectfully placed in Asha Bhosle’s most respected songs ever.

I have selected a few representative songs here, as a sample of the wide range of Hemant Kumar’s Asha Bhosle songs.

Chalo Chale Maa, Sapno Ke Gaon Mein – Jagriti (1954) – Lyrics: Pradeepji

The song is a twin version song. The first version has strong undercurrent of hope of good tidings to come. Hemant Kumar has epitomised the high hopes by setting the opening scale of each stanza on a high note. The second version has pensive pathos mood. Hemant Kumar reframes the initial high notes of the stanza by extending them over the whole line.

Bade Bhaiya Laye Hai London Se Chhori, Dila Do Hamein Bhi Dulhan Gori Gori – Ek Hi Rasta (1956) – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Hemant Kumar conjures a beauty in the form of a children song. He seems to have taken all care to use only those instruments that are mostly seen being used on the screen in the song.

Hemant Kumar’s ingenuity as a composer is evidenced in the second stanza, wherein the song switches over to qawwali style singing because the lyrics talk about the Baarat (bride’s marriage procession).

The transition from qawwali back to the original marching rhythm is also very deftly managed @ 3.39

An interesting Trivia : @1.00 to 1.5 we get to listen a piece on harmonica which is the theme of another great Hemant – Lata duet from the film – Sanwale Salone Aaye Din Bahar Ke

We fast-forward to the later part of the Hemant Kumar’s musical filmography.

Bin Badal Barsat Na Hogi – Bin Badal Barsat (1963) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Hemant Kumar has chosen to base the  composition of this dance song on a folk tune, but the interlude orchestration has all the elements of a mystery-film song, since there seems to be some hidden story that connects the protagonist (Nishi) on the dance floor with the key spectator– Biswajeet. Asha Bhosle’s delivery of the song is also so composed that the elements of mystery and underlying melancholy of the main protagonist’s feelings remain evident.

Kyun Mujhe Itni Kushi De Di, Ki Ghabarata Hai Dil – Anupama (1966) – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

Here is a dance song staged on the screen as a party song. Hemant Kumar has again successfully used Asha Bhosle’s voice to blend the two moods, one obvious mood of joy,  befitting what can be seen on the floor and the other a hidden underlying mood of the protagonist (Shashikala) in sync with lyrics of the song

Note: Originally published on SoY as Hemant Kumar’s Female Playback Singers . This part is the edited and improved-on-the-inputs-of-discussions thereupon version.

We will take up Hemant Kumar’s Hindi Song Compositions in Other Female Voices in the Second Part

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – October, 2019

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

Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday has had a very extensive coverage this moth. We have picked up the representative articles here:

• Happy birthday Lata Mangeshkar: An exhaustive playlist of her 20 favourite tracks
• Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday: Sister Meena reveals why Lata stopped singing, ‘She doesn’t enjoy today’s film songs much’

The Mangeshkar siblings – #Meena, #Lata, #Hridaynath, #Asha and #Usha with their mother #Shevanti.

• Lata Mangeshkar and the Magical Batons is an attempt to briefly touch upon a few music directors who held important place in her career and their work with Lata Mangeshkar..
• Lata with Lesser Known Composers (I) – The better-known names (according to me of course) among the lesser known composers will feature in this part.
• Lata with Lesser Known Composers (II) lists 15 more composers.
• Lata with Lesser Known Composers (III) lists next 12 music directors… with two more posts to come….
• Navrasa By Nightingale – Lata Mangeshkar and Essence of Emotions looks upon depiction of the Nine moods in the form songs of Lata Mangeshkar.
• Fifteen Immortal Songs of Lata Mangeshkar is one more point of view to look at some of her best songs, which are extremely melodious and immortal, sung with various music directors
• ‘Would there ever be another Lata Mangeshkar?’ – Shalan Lal analyses the ‘conditions’ that made the Lata Mangeshkar phenomenon.
• Didi’s Decennial Diamonds – Lata Mangeshkar and the 7 Decades  takes a bird’s eye view of her journey in HFM through one song from each of the 7 decades (1940s to 2000s) of her active career.

We also poignantly take note of passing away of Viju Khote –

Remembering Kaalia – Following the success of Sholay, Viju Khote became a regular in Hindi films. Viju Khote is also remembered for his stint on TV, with Zabaan Sambhal Ke. He passed away on 30-9-2019, at the age of 77, due to multiple organ failure in his Mumbai home.

We pick up other tributes and memories:

SD Burman: ‘The Courage of His Convictions’ – Moti Lalwani  –

• Has his way on Hemant Kumar -. how the maestro had his way on Hemant Kumar for ‘Ye raat ye chaandni phir kahan’, overriding the doubting voices
• Establishes Geeta Dutt As a Frontline Singer – The first song to be recorded by Geeta for Do Bhai (1947) was ‘Humein chhod piya kis des gaye’. Everyone liked it and Dada was allowed a free hand to decide. Do Bhai had nine songs, out of which Dada made her sing six of the eight female songs. The other two were sung by Paro Devi, and the ninth song was sung by Mohammed Rafi.
• Pioneer in Composing Tune First – S D Burman believed that for the song’s popularity, it was necessary to have a good tune, based on which the songwriter could always fill-in the words to suit the tune.

Raah Bani Khud Manzil – The Lingering Effect of Hemant Kumar Part 1  explores the talent and work of Hemant Kumar and Part 2 explores some of his compositions of merit and his opus as a music director in Hindi films.-  His music spelt class and showcased quality. His deep, resonant, sonorous and haunting voice cast a spell on his listeners. Vasanti Limaye pays a tribute to Hemant Kumar, singer and composer.

“Maajhi Naiya Dhoondhe Kinara” – Yunus Parvez was a familiar face in Hindi cinema over three decades from 1970s to 1990s. In stark contrast to his screen image, Yunus Parvez was a highly educated and extremely intelligent personality who was also active for a short period in the field of politics.

Shammi Kapoor: The Charisma of the Original Dancing Hero – Peeyush Sharma– Revelling in the song, its emotion, the fine movements of the orchestra, the feelings that the lyrics carry, the message, the rhythm and gelling with it in celebration with complete physicality was what Shammi Kapoor was all about. For example –

Tasveerein banti hain kirnein-si chhanti hain  (Jeevan Jyoti, 1953) SD Burman/ Sahir/ Asha and Shammi Kapoor(for the last line).

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

• • Sahir Ludhianvi – Tum Na Jane Kis Jahan Mein Kho G…
  • The First Duet of Manna De with Legendry Singers.
  • Dev Anand starrer Mahal completes 50 years
  • Shammi Kapoor- A tough Competitor of Dev Anand in …
  • FORGOTTEN & UNDERRATED PLAYBACK SINGERS OF BOLLYW…
  • Hema Malini- Became Star with Johny Mera Naam
  • Missing The Rhythm of Castanets
  • 13 October – A Cruel Co incidence in Bollywood
  • Amitabh Bachchan – How an Actor Rejected by Produc…
  • Rekha – A Rare Blend of Beauty and Talent
  • Beghum Akhtar – Deewana Banana Hai to Deewana Bana…
  • The Fans and Admirers of DevAnand
  • The Mahatma Gandhi’s connection with the Seven Not…
  • The Mesmarizing Music of the two Great Stalwarts …

Before Walt Disney, There Was Lotte Reiniger and the World’s First Animated Feature – The oldest surviving animated feature was not made by Walt Disney, but by a German puppeteer named Lotte Reiniger who escaped Nazi persecution to move to London and make adverts for the British Post Office. Her film, The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), was a creative and technical masterstroke that would have a huge influence on the generation of animators that followed, including those working in the United States.

October, 2019 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs takes up (Shankar-) Jaikishan and Hasrat Jaipuri’s Songs Fading From the Memory : 1958 – 1959. This is in continuation to the series from the previous episodes which had listed some of the song from 1949 to 1954 and 1955 to 1957.

And, now commence the posts on other subjects.

Hato Kaahe Ko Jhoothi – Manzil – All That Fuss narrates the bitter sweet bickering and all that fuss about loving someone else and giving all the attention to that someone else.

The ‘Professional’ Songs are the songs that describe one’s profession or occupation. The list mandates stage performances and audio clips not to be includes in the post.

‘Saaransh’ revisited: ‘The ‘watershed’ that set Anupam Kher on the road to success – Sanjeev Kumar was almost cast as BV Pradhan in Mahesh Bhatt’s movie, Anupam Kher  recalls in recently published autobiography Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly.

Shabana Azmi: Playing the Formidable Rukmini Bai in Mandi – From smiling chutzpah to high power kinetic outbursts, Shabana Azmi makes the formidable character of Rukmini Bai come alive in Shyam Benegal’s Mandi. Bubla Basu explores Shabana Azmi’s unbeatable oomph in this acclaimed film.

Following the overview article, Best songs of 1946: And the winners are?, we have taken up micro view of Duet Songs for 1946  We have covered Male- Female duets this month in four episodes – those of Mohammad Rafi, G M Durrani, Mukesh, Chitalkar, Ashiok Kumar, Surendra and Other male Singers in Part 1 and Part 2.. We plan to take up female-female duests and Traiads, Triads + in the last episode of this month.

To end the present post with a few duet songs of Mohammad Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar, each one of which basically has a link with the topics discussed in the present post, we have picked up:.

Dekho Rutha Na Karo, Bat Dil Ki Suno – Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963) – S D Burman – Hasrat Jaipuri

Tum Lakh Chuupana Chahoge – Singapore (1960) – Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri

Tumhare Bin Guzare Hai – Atmaram (1979) – Shankar Jaikishan – Vishweshar Sharma

Luska Luska Luska Lui Lui Sa….Tu Mera Copyright, Main Tera Copyright – Shararat (1959) – Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra

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.

The Micro View of Best Songs of 1946 @ SoY – Female Solo Songs – Other Singers – 4

That 1946 IS the vintage era year is corroborated by Geeta Roy (Dutt) and Lata Mangeshkar getting bracketed as ‘Other’ female singers.

Solo Songs of Geeta Roy

Several knowledgeable references have recorded Bhakta Prahlad as the maiden film for Geeta Roy as playback singer. Ironically, HFGK does not mention this in the records for both of her songs in the film.

Ab Jaani Re Pahchani Re – With Chorus – Bhakta Prahlad – Hanuman Prasad

YT records Kalyani Das as the co-singer in the song, whereas HFGK does not mention any specific singer other than the chorus, probably because Geeta Roy was given only two lines to sing in this song.

Suno Suno Binati Hamri Prabhu Ji Bhool Hui Mujhse Bhaari – Bhakta Prahlad – with Chorus- K C Varma –

In this case too, HFGK has credited the song to “Chorus’ only.

Tumhe Sajan Mane Tum Ruth Jaana – Milan – Anil Biswas – P L Santoshi

HFGK does not mention any singer.

Chhin Mein Bajegi Bansuriya Preet Bhari – Milan – Anil Biswas – P L Santoshi

HFGK does not mention any singer.

Solo Songs of Lata Mangeshkar

For the year 1946, Lata Mangeshkar appears in this list as an actor -singer, she is yet to sing as a playback singer. She is in the process of creating a small window that is to open floodgates of her dominance in the years to come.

Chidiya Bole Chun Chun Chun Mena Bole Hun Hun Hun – Jeevan Yatra –  Vasant Desai – Diwan Sharar

Pyare Bapu Tirange Ki Lelo Kasam = Sona Chandi – D C Dutt

Along with chorus there is a distinct male voice (A R Ojha, as per YT upload), but since HFGK mentions the song as a solo, I have listed it here.

Piya Ayega Gori Sudh Na Bisar – Subhadra – Vasant Desai – Pt. Sudarshan

Saawariya Oy Bansuriya Oy Bajay Gayo Re – Subhadra – Vasant Desai – Pt. Indra

Thus, ends our rather protracted micro view of solo songs of the female singers for 1946.  However, one will find several solo songs in HFGK that do not appear here. These are the songs that would essentially belong to the  singer not mentioned on the records or are the songs that dot yet have the YT links.

In our next episode I plan to sum up the Micro View of Solo Songs of Female Singers with  My Top Female Solo Songs for 1946.

Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music – September, 2018

Welcome to September, 2018 edition of Carnival of Blogs on Golden Era of Hindi Film Music.

Our focused topic for the month of September, 2018 is R K Studios, one of the last icons of the Golden Era of Film-making.RK Studios: The final curtain – Madhu Jain – With the Kapoors deciding to sell the iconic studio that was destroyed last year in a fire, a slice of film history has been lost forever – RK Films was in effect a Nargis-Raj Kapoor banner for a few years. Nargis played a much greater role in RK films than is widely known and acknowledged: supervising the lighting on occasion, going into the production details, recognizing the potential of the actress Nadira, giving generously when the money was needed, and much more. She was alongside him through much of their golden years together. They were in sixteen films together, beginning with Aag in 1948 and ending with Jaagte Raho in 1956.

And, now, we take up the tributes in September 2018:

Tere mandir ka hoon deepak jal raha, by Vijay Kumar – Pankaj Mullick’s voice had a clarity and a boom that, I am certain, would have reached the man in the last row of a listening audience, without the aid of a mike…He had the voice of a supreme bhakt!

Happy Birthday Lata Didi presents Lata Mangeshkar’s duets or trios with other Mangeshkar sisters.

Madan Mohan’s tuning with Lata Mangeshkar – For all the shared background and their lofty personal bonding, it has ever remained a mystery for many of music lovers as to why Madan Mohan did not use Lata Mangeshkar’s voice in his first film……

The title of the post – Lata Mangeshkar and S D Burman gave Bollywood many Immortal Songs – is a complete statement in itself.

Happy 92nd Birthday, Noor Jehan! has a recently updated playlist of Noor Jehan songs.

O Nigahen Mastana – the most romantic songs ever created by any music director, in which female singer simply hums her part.

The One and Lonely Kidar Sharma: An Anecdotal Autobiography and Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal’s ‘S D Burman: The Prince Musician’ are the book reviews.

70 Years ago Dev Anand got his first Hit FilmLata Mangeshkar and S D Burman gave Bollywood many Immortal Songs  as Ziddi, in 1948.

Hats off to Dev Anand – Dev Anand was known for very different hats /caps/headgears in different films, He was also very fond of these in his personal life as well.

Dev Anand’s dreams that couldn’t be Fulfilled  gives us a view of Dev Anand’s unfulfilled projects.

In Memory of Dev Anand’s birthday are the songs that Hemant Kumar played back the screen.-

Guide: A Spiritual Odyssey – Dev Anand’s creative effort reached its apogee in Navketan’s Guide, a film that accommodates more than one perspective. On the occasion of Dev Anand’s birth anniversary (he would have been 95 today), Vijay Kumar relives the finer points of one of the finest Hindi films ever made, exploring its streams and currents of thoughts and views.

G P Sippy- A carpet merchant to the maker of Sholay – G P Sippy had turned a construction magnate and then plunged into filmmaking in 1951 with the Dev Anand film Sazaa and rolling of as many 17 films in his career.

60 Years of Madhumati which was released on 12 September, 1958, swept off a big gate collection and a host of awards.

The Musical Journey Of Asha Bhosle is a tribute to her on her birthday (8^th September, 1933)

Asha sings for Madan Mohan – I and Asha sings for Madan Mohan – II, are the solos songs and duets/trios etc. respectively.

Roshan aur Madan Mohan ki Asha draws some parallels and some not so parallels in the patterns willingness of the use of Asha Bhosle by these music directors.

Messenger of Love and Peace – 7^th September, 2018 is the 40^th anniversary of P L Santoshi. The post lists just a few more of his wonderful songs, with the films and singers mentioned. Let us hear this one – Tum Se Hai Pyar Mujhe Tum Se Hai Pyar – Teen Batti Char Rasta (1953)

King of Ghazal Talat Mahmood with Ghazal Maestros Madan Mohan and Roshan and Best of Mukesh by Roshan and Madan Mohan are the two articles in Soy’s series on Roshan and Madan  Mohan that provide finer insight to the use of these two singers by these two music directors.

That Salil Chowdhry – A Creative Genius is evident from the fact that he was Composer, Music Arranger, Poet, Story writer and much more .

The Masters: Rajinder Krishan is a collection of his songs composed by Madan Mohan, and then a select compilation of his work with other directors.

The Guitar That Sang is the recollections of an elder brother of a nine-year older brother, David Vernon (Verni) Liddle, who was a guitarist who played for some of the greatest hits of Hindi cinema.

Sadhana – One photograph that changed her life!  was published in the famous film paper “Screen” publicizing the Sindhi Film “Abaana”.

Piya aiso jiya mein samaye, by Vijay Kumar – Meena Kumari never looked so beautiful, and so fully subsumed in her role, as in this song. An anticipation of a rendezvous in privacy is writ large on her persona. Shakeel too understood the नज़ाकत of the situation and penned words befitting his stature as the poet of romance. And Geeta sang it effortlessly as if giving voice to her own emotions.

September, 2018 episode of Fading Memories, Unforgettable Songs is dedicated (Shankar-) Jaikishan and Hasrat Jaipuri’s Songs Fading From the Memory 1955 – 1957

We have two more articles nearer to this subject: Jaiksihan ‘s forte was romantic and western tunes and Hasrat Jaipuri – A Love Letter written in Real Life becomes Immortal in Reel in the form of Ye Mera Prempatra Padhkar……The post lists other Hasrat Jaipuri romantic songs in tribute to him.

And, now the posts on other subjects:

Some of the Great Background Songs of Bollywood – Songs being heard from the background has been a very important genre for Hindi Films. The post has listed many known songs, in alphabetical order.

Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche – Brahmachari – Talk Of The Town – Gossip, the communication spreading through the grape wineyard, is autothermic, and once initiated, by a topic like the one in the preceding article, then is almost unstoppable.

In praise of visible film craft is about the simplistic idea that the elements of filmmaking mustn’t draw attention to themselves.

Royal Singing – It is often observed in popular culture that royals do not sing anything; if they do, many people think they should not be doing so. That’s because the arts—especially the performing kind—are seen as trivial affairs. The post lists some songs that were lip-synched by Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses on Hindi film screen. Actors who portrayed the royals are mentioned too.

Shola Jo Bhadke – Albela – Sparks Of Love – The Cuban percussion at the beginning played by Chic Chocolate warns you of the fire that is about to spread. Geeta Bali herself looking like a luminous spark of that fire, with a Hawaiian lei around her neck, a floral top and a wraparound skirt.

Hindi songs featuring Umbrella, have included the songs where the prop, umbrella is seen throughout the song or at least for a significant portion of the song. Also someone has to handle the umbrella, if it’s just kept there, even if open won’t count for the list.

Badi Der Se Megha Barsa – Namkeen – Withering Woes – There are some who might flaunt that wait when it is over. The show off of that wait you have gone through to your partner might take the romance in your life several notches up. Of course the flaunt is merely a charade to spice up the romance. From here begins the roothna-manaanaa and all the banter. It will also be a treat if this charade of flaunt is in Asha Bhonsle’s voice.

‘Heroine teasing Hero’ songs – Hero ‘Chhed Chhading’ the heroine is a relatively common scenario in Hindi films, but the exact opposite is not that common. No seductive songs are included, as those songs are usually a part of a trap arranged for the hero. So even if it sounds like a teasing song, they don’t count. And, the target should be one single person and not men in general or a group of boys.

Two princes or two paupers? Parvarish, and an identity non-crisis – In view of the SC of India verdict on the Section 377 verdict, the fluidity of identity (sexual and other kinds) assumes a deeper meaning. Here is a reminder of an egalitarian 1950s Hindi film that simply sidesteps the identity question and even lampoons those who get all hot and bothered about it.

Of Trees And Hindi Film Songs – If ecologically, tress provide much needed oxygen, then they also provide a ready nourishment to human love, particularly between a male and a female.

The Ring Given to Suraiya by Dev Anand is still lying in the Arabian Sea – The real story revealed by Dev Anand in his autobiography” Romancing with Life” It was Suraiya herself who threw the ring far into the sea of Bombay only after the last meeting with Dev Anand….It was on the advice of his elder brother Chetan Anand that the actor decided to end his relationship with the actress and concentrate on his film career. While Dev eventually overcame the trauma of a broken relationship and moved on, Suraiya decided not to get married.

Can’t Play Sad Music – One of the world’s most charming musical instruments, the frame drum called tambourine has featured importantly in hundreds of our songs, but yet has unfortunately not been judged in the light it has deserved. This is true not just here, but abroad as well…In India it is called the daffli. Now the daffli also has a big brother called Daff, which is typically a similar frame drum, except much bigger,

The post lists The Songs shot in Shimla or nearby locations

Ventriloquism in Hindi Films is a well-researched post, on an interesting subject.

We continue Micro View of Best songs of 1947: And the winners are? with female solo songs, wherein after having covered solo songs of Suraiya and Geeta Roy,  Shamshad Begum. Rajkumari, Amirbai Karnataki (Part I and Part II) Zohrabai Ambalewali (Part I and Part II), we have now covered Khursheed, Noor Jehan & Kanan Devi, Meena Kumar, Naseem Akhtar and Zeenat Begum, Lalita Deulkar, Sharda Gangul and Mohantara, Paro Devi, Menakabai & Saroj Welingkar, Hamida Bano, Beenapani Mukherjee, Sitara Devi & Lata Mangeshkar in ‘other’ female singers. We have also presented a post that has presented Female Solos that I liked in 1947. We have also moved to Duets of 1947 with those of Mukesh with other female playback singers.

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

The story behind the song”Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere” that tells how the song got in from nowhere.

Rsavare Matvare Kajarare Nain Tihare – Holiday in Bombay (1963) – with Balbir – N Dutta – P L SAntoshi

Le Gaya Zalim Ghari Samaja Ke Mera Dhadakata Dil – Bombay Race Course (1965) – Madan Mohan – Rajinder Krishna

Kisi Se Hamne Ye Poochha Mohabbat Kisa Ko Kahate Hai – Garibi (1949) – Bulo C Rani – Rajinder Krishna

O Gawalan Ku Mera Man Teri Chitwan Le Gayi  – Champakali (1957) – Hemant Kumar – Rajinder Krishna

I earnestly seek your suggestions / inputs / criticisms so as to make our Film Blog Festival more interesting and live.

The Micro View of Best Songs of 1947 : Female Solo Songs – Other Female Singers and Lata Mangeshkar [5]

Hamida Bano

Hamida Bano is also a member of Hindi Film World’s Lahore club, who had to remain contended with an ‘also ran’ tag in her career. One can see many more of the songs to her crdit in HFGK for 1947, but YT links to all these songs have not yet been established.

Champakali Hai Udaas, Bhanwara Na Jaye Paas – Chhin Le Azadi – Hansraj Behl – Pandit Indra

Hamara Master Khuda Kare Beemar Ho Jae – Dekhojee – Sabir Hussain – Wali Sahab

Hum To Barabaad Hue Ab To Koi Abaad Rahe – Kaun Hamara – Bulo C Rani –

Ham Tumhare Tum Hamare Aao Kare Pyar – Lakon Mein Ek – Hans Raj Behl – Pandit Indra

Tu Kahan Chhupa Bhagwan, Tera Milata Nahi Nishan – Lakon Mein Ek – Hans Raj Behl – Pandit Indra

Beenapani Mukherjee

Lakho Ke Bol Sahe, Sanwariya Tere Liye Maine – Leela – C Ramchandra – G S Nepali

Naian Jal Bhar Aaye – Samrat Ashok – Gyan Dutt – Shams Lakhanavi

Sitara Devi

HFGK mentiones Sitara as the singer for these solo songs. I have there fore assumed that she is Sitara Devi( in any case different than Sitara(Kanpuri)).

Bhoole Se Dil Tujhe Na Bhulaye To Kya Karoon – Amar Asha – Shanti Kumar – Qabil Amrutsari

Soz –e-Gam Deke Mujhe Usne Ye Irshad Kiya – Shahzadi – S K Pal –

Lata Mangeshkar:

It is not for long that Lata Mageshkar will have more than three times the song then most of the other female singers. In fact, we have found it necessary to run the micro view of Hindi Film Songs right from year 1948 onwards werein it is almost Lata Mangeshkar on side and other playback singers on the other.

Ek Naye Rang Mein – Aap Ki Sewa Mein – Datta Davjekar – Mahipal

Pa Lagu Kar Jori Re – Aap Ki Sewa Mein – Datta Davjekar – Mahipal

Ab Kaun Sunega Mere Man Ki Baat – Aap Ki Sewa Mein – Datta Davjekar – Mahipal

Thus ends our rather protracted micro view of solo songs of the female singers for 1947.  However, one will find several solo songs in HFGK that do not appear here. These are the songs that would essentaially belong to quite and unknown singer (as far as I am concerned) and number of songs ) . Moreover the numbers also may either be very insignificant or the YT links of these songs are not available.

In our next episode I plan to sum up My Top Female Solo Songs for 1947.

The Micro View of the Songs of 1948 @ SoY – The Duets – Female Female Duets

When I sort-listed female-female duets for 1948 from HFGK, the number worked out to be reasonably large. However, I could not find digital soft version on the net for almost half of them. Therefore, the songs that I could find YT link can be taken as fairly well-known to those who have good knowledge and interest of vintage era songs. From the perspective of my limited knowledge and interest of the songs of that era, I also found listening to these songs quite interesting.

Shamshad Begum + Geeta Roy – Oh Gori Tera Banka Chhaiya Jeet Ke Aaya Jang – Actress – Shyam Sundar – Raja Mahendi Ali Khan

Shamshad Begum + Geeta Roy – Ankhon Ankhon Mein Dil Se Dil Ki Baat Kah Gaye – Actress – Shyam Sundar –

Amirbai Karanataki + Rajkumari – Basant Chhaya Charon Aur, Ho Chhaya Charon Aur – Amar Prem – Datta Thakor – Mohan Mishra, M A

Shamshad Begum + Geeta Roy – Pyari Tera Mera Mera Tera Pyar – Anjuman – Bulo C Rani – Majrooh Sultanpuri

Lata Mangeshkar + Ira Nagarath – Aye Dil Meri Wafa Mein Koi Kasar Nahi Hai – Anokha Pyra – Anil Biswas – Shams Azimabadi

Geeta Roy  + Sulochana Kadam – Chanda Ki Chandani Hai  Mauj Hai Bahar Mein – Chanda Ki Chandani – Gyan Dutt – D N Madhok

Shamshad Begum  + Johrabai Ambalewali – Baag Mein Koyaliya Yahi Gaye Re – Ghar Ki Izzat – Pt. Govind Ram – Ishwar Chandra Kapoor

Shamshad Begum + Hamida – O Motorwali Chhori, Dil Leja Chori Chori – Grihasthi – Gulam Mohammad – Shakeel Badayuni

Shamshad Begum + Surinder Kaur– Meri Phool Bagiya Mein Aayee Hai, Lo Aayee Hai – Lal Dupatta – Gyan Dutt – Manohar Khanna

Lata Mangeshkar + Geeta Roy – Gori Sakhiyon Se Akhiyan Churay Rahi Hai – Majboor – Gulam Haider – Najim Panipat

Geeta Roy + Rajkumari – Room Zoom Matwale Kale Badal Chhaa Gaye, Balam Ji Teri Yaad Dila Gaye – Suhag Raat – Snehal – Kedar Sharma

Geeta Roy + Rajkumari – Baaji Mori Payal Thunnak Thunnak Suno Ye Sandeshva – Suhag Raat – Snehal – Kedar Sharma

Geeta Roy + Rajkumari – Kis Paapi Sang Ulazi Akhiyan Haye Akhiyan Maine Ro Ro Gavayee – Suhag Raat – Snehal – Kedar Sharma

Shamshad + Geeta Roy – Mere Dil Ki Dhadakano Mein Sakhi Kaun Aa Samaya – Suhag Raat – Snehal – Kedar Sharma

We will take up male-male duets and triads & triads+ in our next episode.