Hemant Kumar’s Hindi Song Compositions: Female songs – ‘Other’ Singers

We have covered Hemant Kumar’s Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle’s songs earlier.

We now move over to the ‘Long Tail’ of the skewed distribution of Hemant Kumar’s female songs. Hemant Kumar has used the ‘other’ known Hindi female playback singers more as an exception only. Raj Kumari had one dance number in Anand Math (1952). Shamshad Begum has two solos and two FF duets, Sudha Malhotra has one solo, one FF duet and one (an iconic) MF duet – that we will take up discussion separately- and Suman Kalyanpur has two FF duets, and Usha Mangeshkar has one solo and two FF duets. We also have a very rare Mubarak Begum, Sulochana Kadam FF duet and a song by a classic trained singer Lakshmi Shankar, as well

Rajkumari

Dil Ka Paimana Hai, Ulfat Ka Hath Hai – Anand Math (1952) – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri

Sheila Ramani is so gracious as lead dancer in this court dance song.

Laksmi Shankar

Kaisi Lagi Karjeawa Mein Katar – Ferry (1954) – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna

Hemant Kumar has used a classic trained singer for Mujra Song. From the initial dialogue in the clip, it seems that the song is seen by the daughter (Geeta Bali) as her mother has to perform for such mehfils

The song is in two parts. The second part has Geeta Bali singing the song on the screen. The feeling of pathos is very clearly felt in the way song is rendered in this part. The context of this change would be clear only when one has seen the film.

Usha Mangeshkar

Kaisi Lagi…..Jiya Jaye To Jiya Jaye – Ek Hi Rasta (1956) – with Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

The song is a duet dance song, so typically planned to celebrate special occasions.

Pyasi Hai Mamata Meri Aaja Dheere Dheere Aa – Maa Beta (1962) – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan

Hemant Kumar has so melodiously weaved lathos of mother being away from her offspring in this lullaby.

Shamshad Begum

Hemant Kumar has used Shamshad Begum for four songs, of which a duet, with Ravi, from ‘Daku Ki Ladki” (1954) do not seem to be traceable on the internet

Meri Itni Araj Hai Huzur Se, Pyar Karna Magar Door Door Se – Hamara Watan (1956) – Lyrics: S H Bihari

We have here a classic mujra song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zik26guG66o

Hum Kisi Se Na Kahenge Chup Chup Se Rahenge– Yahudi Ki Ladki (1957) – with Geeta Dutt – Lyrics: S H Bihari

The song is set to what has now become familiar Arabic dance tunes (thanks to n-number of films based on stories from that milieu) to the listeners of Hindi film songs. Both the singers have been accorded freedom to sing in their natural range.

Pyar Jata Ke Lalchaye Mora Balama –- Hum Bhi Insaan Hai (1959) – Lyrics: Shailendra

This seems to a mujra-styled dance song. Shamshad Begum is her at vintage best, even in 1959.

Sudha Malhotra

Mujhe Tarke Taaluk Samjaya Jaata Hai – Sahara (1958) – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas

Hemant Kumar has so easily been able to present a signature mujra song – with prominent tabla thaaps (beats),  beginning of the stanza without the support of any instruments and of course the use of most ubiquitous instrument of a mujra music – the sarangi.

Suman Kalyanpur

Suman Kalyanpur is present in only two FF duets. Both the duets are perfectly composed FF duets, but have differently blended the inherent vocal qualities of different singers in the respective songs.

Kabhi Aaj Kabhi Kal, Kabhi Paraso – Chand (1959) – with Lata Mangeshkar – Lyrics: Shailendra

The song appears to be public dance stage show. As such, both the performers are expected to move and sing in perfect synchronisation. Hemant Kumar has achieved this synchronization in the vocal part of the songs by perfectly blending almost similar sounding voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Suman Kalyanpur.

Phulwa Band Maheke Dekho Dali Dali – Ham Bhi Insaan Hai (1959) – with Geeta Dutt – Lyrics: Shailendra

Shailendra has captured the two points of views of friends in the song, who seem to be visiting the flower garden – both see different hues in the same settings in which both are present together. Hemant Kumar has enlivened this effect by using two naturally different voices – those of Geeta Dutt and Suman Kalyanpur.

Aside Trivia:

The song seems to have been inspired from Meghla Bhanga Rod Utheche (The Sun Rises in the Clouded Sky) – Tar Aar Par Nei. – Pratima Badopadyay – composed by Nachiketa Ghish, lyrics: Pulak Banerjee

Mubarak Begum, Sulochana Kadam

Bharat Ke Lok Geet (Fashion, 1959) is collection of folk songs from different regions.

The song can be heard by clicking on this link

https://gaana.com/song/bharat-ke-lok-geet

Other than these, he has also chosen to experiment with Bengali female playback singers, like Ratna Gupta, Pratima Banerjee, Aarti Mukherjee, his wife Bela Mukherjee and his daughter Ranu Mukhrtjee, Bula Gupta etc.

We will take up Hemant Kumar’s songs of ‘Other’ (Bengali Female Singers in the next episode.

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

The Micro View of the Songs of 1948 @ SoY – Female Solo Songs – Other Female Singers

We have so far covered Suraiya, Geeta Roy, Shamshad Begum, Raajkumari and Surinder Kaur in our Micro-View of Female Solo Songs of 1948. These are the female playback singers who had fairly extended tenure during the (so-called) Golden Era of the HFM – the period from’50s till ’60s (or some cover even mid’70s.).

We have observed that even as these singers had quite a remarkable quantitative share of the songs, the songs which did remain well-known even in the Golden Period were really very few.

With this disclaimer of my personal bias, I decided to curtail songs of other female playback singers into one post. Hence, I have chosen one song of these ‘other’ female singer each. Even the, the list is fairly large. Most of these singers have had three to more than 10 songs in their account of 1948. So collectively they form what statisticians would call a very dominant tail of normal distribution curve.

Ameerbaii Karnataki – Taqdeer Ne Hansa Ke Hamein Phir Ruladiya – Shehnaz – Ameerbai Karnataki – Dukhi Premnagari

Dilshad Begum – Jawani Pukare Jivan Ke Sathi – Birhan – Lachchhi Ram –

Hameeda Bano – Koochch Bhi Na Kaha Ho.. Aur Keh Bhi Gaye – Parai Aag – Ghulam Mohammad – Tanveer Naqvi

Husn Bano – Pee Ansoo Pee, Aahein Bhar Ji – Pardesi Mehman – Hansraj Behl – Pandit Indra

Johrabai Ambalewali – Bus Mein Kar Ke Wo Bas Kar Gaye – Padmini – Ghulam Haider – Tanveer Naqvi

Khursheed – Pacchataynge Jo Hamein Barbad Karenge – Aap Biti – Hari Bhai – Hasrat Lakhanavi

Lalita Deulkar – Jai Bolo Mahatma Gandhi Ki – Khidki – C Ramchandra – P L Santoshi

Meena Kapoor – Boot Polish Karwa Le Babu Boot Ploish Karwa Le – Ghar Ki Izzat – Pt. Govindram – Ishwar Chandra Kapoor

Meena Kumari – Aata Hai Dil Mein Pyar Kyon Chhede Hai Bar Bar Kyon – Bichchade Balam – Bulo C Rani – Narendra Sharma

Munnavar Sultana – Mera Nanha Balam Na Bole – Patjhad – Ghulam Haider – D N Madhok

Parvez Kapadia – Hum To Motor Khareed Ke Le Aayenge – Hum Bhi Insaan Hai – H P Das + Manna Dey – G S Nepali

Sulochana Kadam – Jahan Koi Na Ho Wahan Chalenge Hum – Lal Dupatta – Gyan Dutt – D N Madhok

Sitara (Kanpuri) – Dil Ki Jaban Par Aaye To Kya Karoon – Pugree – Ghulam Mohammad – Shakeel Badayuni

Uma Devi – Kahi Jiya Dole Ho Ho Kaha Nahi Jaaye – Anokhi Ada – Naushad – Shakeel Badayuni

Mrs. Vishnilal – Kisi Tarah Dil Hi Na Jab Chain Paaye – Anjuman – Bulo C Rani – Majrooh Sultanpuri

It may also please be noted that I have not included those female singers who, to the best of my knowledge, did sing some songs in 1948, but that was in the capacity of an actress in the respective film.

In the next episodes(s) we will take up solo songs of Lata Mangeshkar for Micro-View of Songs of 1948

The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Male – Male And Female – Female Duets

We continue with very interesting variations of Duets, as part of our journey through the ‘Best songs of 1950: And the winners are?

We have had a quite an extensive Tet-e-tat with Male-Female Duets of 1950. This is the year wherein we have quite a rich fare of Male-Male and Female-Female Duets.

Today we will first take up Male – Male Duets :

The first two are quite unique combinations, whereas Chitalkar pairs with Rafi to present very peppy numbers.

Mukesh + GM Durrani –

Aise Mein Koi Chham Se Jo Aa Jae – Hanste Ansoo – Shevan Rizvi – Ghulam Mohammad

Mohammad Rafi + Raja Gul –

Ek Chakkar Paon Mein Hai, Ek Chakkar Sar Mein Hai – Shadi Ki Rat – Sarshar Sailani – Pt. Gobind Ram

Chitalkar + Mohammad Rafi –

Kahnewale sach kah gaye hain – Nirala– PL Santoshi – C Ramchandra

Are Kismat Ka Sitara Chamka ….Sab Kuchh Deta Chhappar Fad Ke Deta – Sangeeta – P L Santoshi –  C Ramchandra

We then turn over to another very frequently used variation of the duets – Female- Female Duets

Lata Mangeshkar + Shamshad Begum –

Kas ke kamar ho jaa tayyaar – Sangram – P L Santoshi – C.Ramchandra

Trivia: (Boy) Shashi Kapoor and (Baby) Tabassum playfully grace the song.

Lata mangeshkar + Uma devi –

Na Jaane Kyon Ghabara Rahi Ho, Nazar Kuchch Bahaki – Maang – Prakash – Ghuam Mohammad

Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Roy + Chorus –

Panghat pe na jaiyo gori ghunghat utaar ke – Raj Mukut – Bharat Vyas – Govind Ram

Lata Mangeshkar and Amirbai Karnataki –

Gore gore O baanke chore – Samadhi – Rajendra Krishna – C Ramchandra

Lata Mangeshkar and Sarswati Rane –

Jab dil ko sataye gham tu chhed sakhi sargam – Sargam – PL Santoshi – C Ramchandra

Tinak tin tani do din ki zindagani – Sargam – PL Santoshi – C Ramchandra

Lata Mangeshkar + Raj Kumari –

Ham Aah Bhi Karate Hai …. Nazar Ne Loot Liya – Wafa – Hasrat Jaipuri – Vinod

Geeta Roy + Meena Kapoor –

Maine Balam Se – Aadhi Raat – Rajendra Krishna – Hansraj Behl

Meena Kapoor sings the main song whereas Geeta Roy leads the chorus.

Geeta Roy + Suraiya –

Preet ka nata jodnewale – Afsar – Narendra Sharma – S D Burman

Geeta Roy + Asha Bhosle –

Mausam Hai Namkeen Sanwariya , Aa Jaa Re – Bewee – Nazim Panipatti – Aziz Hindi

Geeta Roy + Zohrabai Ambalewali –

Ek Taraf Jal Raha Deepak – Preet Ka Gee – Shyam Babu Pathak

Mubarak Begum + Sulochana Kadam –

Sham Hui Aur deep Jale…..Aakash Pe Taare Naachenge – Basera – Sardar Ilham – M A Rauf

(Combination of Mubarak Begum and Sulochana Kadam is one of the rarest ones. We could not find video / audio clip of this song. We trust by bringing up here, we will get the song also on internet platform someday.)

Raj Kumari + Lalita Deulkar –

Mora Bhola Sa Balma Re, Naahin Samajhe Hamare Ishare – Khamosh Sipahi – D N Madhok – Hansraj Behl

Continued….

The Micro View of The Best Songs of 1950 @ Songs of Yore – Male Female Duets : Chitalkar and Other Male Singers with other female singers

We continue with the micro-review of Male Female Duets, as part of our journey through the ‘Best songs of 1950: And the winners are?

Having already covered duets of Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mahamood and G M Durrani, today we will first take up Duets of Chitalkar with

                                                                                  Shamshad Begum

Dil mein kisi ke rahna ho to kiski ijaazat chaahiye – Nirala – PL Santoshi – C Ramchandra

Next we take up some of the duet songs of other male singers

Madan Mohan + Shamshad Begum

Humse na dil ko lagana musafir – Aankhen – Bharat Vyas – Madan Mohan

Bahadur Shorabji Nanji (B S Nanji) + Mubarak Begum

Dekhoji Baat Suno – Basera – M A Rauf

Khan Mastana + Sulochana Kadam

Ambuva Pe Koyal Kali Shor Machaye Re – Dushmani – Kuldeep Talwar – V Ramnath

Continued………..