Shair Aur Sargam

(Shailendra) Kala Bazar (1960)

Early in his career and even until late 60's, probably even 70’s, Dev made some really good movies. They were mostly entertaining, fun to watch, and full of melodious and unforgettable songs. This film happens to be one of those. It was produced by Dev himself. It also starred his other two brothers, Chetan and Vijay. Then there is beautiful Waheeda.

Besides acting in the film, Vijay also wrote its story, scripted its screenplay, penned its dialogues, and directed it as well. This was quite a responsibility on young Anand's shoulders. But he came through all of it beautifully.

The movie with black-market ticket sales as background had a scene in it where many dignitaries appeared. The occasion was the premiere of Mehboob Khan's masterpiece "Mother India" at Liberty in Mumbai. A list of these film personalities who were attending the premiere was impressive. Here were they: Kum Kum, Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt, Naaz, Nadira, Nargis, Naseem, Nimmi, Shammi, Anwar Hussain, Dilip Kumar, Guru Dutt, Kanhaiya Lal, Kishore Kumar, Mehboob Khan, Mohd. Rafi, Mukri, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Sheikh Mukhtar, Sohrab Modi, Surendra, and Yakub.

This movie boasted some of the best work of Burmanda. With Shailendra penning beautiful lyrics Burmanda composed several melodious songs. Geetaji had two beautiful duets. But star of the show was Rafi Saab. He had three solos and a duet with Geetaji. I sometimes wonder whether Rafi Saab’s voice was this sweet ever. Then again, Rafi Saab did many such melodious songs throughout his career. But especially the two songs "O Ho Ho Ho Khoya Chaand" (beautifully picturized on Dev) and "Apni Toh Har Aah" are just out of this world. My own favorite of the album is the unbelievably honeyed lovely, "Apni Toh". You can hear this song over and over again and never get tired of it. The listening experience transcends the soul into a quiet soothing bliss. Love ya Burmanda and love ya Rafi Saab...

In the song “Sambhaalo” the male voice initially sounded as if it may have been RD’s. But he was not in the credits of the film. SD’s assistant for this film was Jaidevji.

I am uploading all songs from this film and a few instrumentals in three back-to-back posts. The first two posts contain the songs and a couple of instrumentals. The third post is all instrumentals. Here are these beautiful songs starting in the first post…

Concluding Songs from "Kala Bazar (1960)"...

Here are the rest of the songs, some music clips, and a couple of instrumentals of the song "O Ho Ho" from the film...

Few Instrumentals of the Song "O Ho Ho" from "Kala Bazar (1960)"...

Here are a few more music clips of the popular song "O Ho Ho Ho Khoya Khoya Chaand" from the film...

(Anand Bakshi) Hum Ek Hain (1969)

I am uploading below a couple of songs from this film. It seems like I am missing at least three more songs. These are shown in red italics in the table below. I am requesting members to share with rest of us these songs and if there are any additional ones from this film. Thank you very much.

Also, it appears like Mukesh's song is incomplete. Once again, I am requesting members to share its full version if one exists. Thank you again.

Here are the two songs I have...

(Hasrat Jaipuri) Kala Aadmi (1960)

In this predictable suspense drama the cigarette smoking machine Ashok Kumar romances a young woman, dances with her on the floor, croons a song, and even fights with baddies scaling up tall structures. I have not seen this type of Dadamoni before.

Dattaram's music is fair to average. He was assisted by Sebastian. Only Mukeshji's song, "Dil Dhoondhta Hai", rises slightly above the average. Here is this and rest of the songs from this film...

(Majrooh) Aarti (1962)

This entire film revolves around Meena Kumari who played the title character. Ashok Kumar, whom you will never see without a cigarette in his hand, played a doctor and rejected lover who was earlier engaged to Meena and is bent on making her life miserable. Pradeep Kumar played the role of a poet and the one who marries Meena. The movie begins with lot of promise but soon degenerates into a routine drama where Meena is abandoned by everyone. Then there is too much unnecessary comedy that does not fit well into the movie and interferes with the proceedings. If not for its beautifully composed songs the film leaves one with disappointment that what it could have been.

Music by Roshan Saab is beautifully superb. There are many good songs in the film. Most of them became very popular. The song “Kabhi Toh Milegi” appears four times in the movie. The second and third appearances repeat beginnings of the song heard earlier but the fourth one is different. I am uploading these two versions here. The other song by Lata, “Baney Ho Ek Khaak Se” is also fine to listen to. Her both duets with Rafi Saab also stand out. But the song of the album is Rafi Saab’s beautiful rendering of the song “Ab Kya Misaal Doon”. The song’s sweetness is heightened by the fabulous lyrics penned by Majrooh Saab. I am uploading these and the other songs of the film plus various version songs in two back-to-back posts.

Here are the songs in the first post…

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Oct 4 2015, 06:00 PM

A Few Version Songs of Songs From the Film "Aarti (1962)"...

Here are a few version songs and an instrumental of the songs from this film...

(Rajinder Krishan) Barkha (1959)

Actor Jagdeep heads the cast of this film dealing with the familiar plot of a rural setting where a bad zamindar subjects poor to misery and suffering. Jagdeep who started as a child artiste and acted in nearly 400 movies was in AVM’s earlier 1957 hit film “Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke”. The owners of AVM immediately signed him for multiple films. As part of this he appeared in another 1957 film for them, “Bhabhi”, in an adult role. It was a super hit. He appeared either as the leading man or in an important role in quick succession for their films. These were 1959 “Baap Bete”, this film “Barkha”, and the 1960 “Bindiya”. However Jagdeep did not stay as a leading man and serious actor for too long as he later found his niche and success as a comedian.

The dramas AVM produced in those times all have similar plots. Very seldom their subjects changed. Either Madan Mohanji or Chitraguptji were the music directors for these films. Rajinder Krishanji was a constant for all the films and was in charge of penning the lyrics for the songs. This movie may have been okay for the times it was produced but it was difficult to watch it in today’s constantly changing times.

There are several good songs in the film. The duet of Lataji and Mukeshji, “Ek Raat Mein”, and Lataji’s solo “Tadpaaoge” were chartbusters. The song “Sur Badle” appears four times in the film. First three have different “antaras” but the fourth one is simply a repetition of the “mukhda”. However it has some music preceding it. I am uploading all four versions of this song and others here in two back-to-back posts.

Here is the first set of songs…

Concluding Songs from "Barkha (1959)"...

Here are the rest of the songs from this movie...

(Shailendra) Masoom (1960)

This movie tells travails of three orphaned children, two boys and a girl, all very young. The story unfolds as the older boy tries to find suitable places for his younger brother and little sister. For a change, this movie shows that there are many people out there who are willing to extend a helping hand.

Robin Banerjee’s music is one of the highlights of the movie. It starts with beautiful title music and in the span of two plus hours sprinkles some fine songs around. A couple of songs from the film became extremely popular. These were “Humein Unn Raahon Par” and Ranu Mukherjee’s lovely “Naani Teri” (music for this song was composed by Hemantda). Subir Sen’s voice in the song “Humein” is deadpan for Hemantda’s. Even intense hearing does not give any clues that it is not Hemantda singing but it is Subir Sen. Incidentally there is a question about the female singer of the duet “Tu Prem Nagar”. Many sources list Sudha Malhotra as the singer. But I have also seen the song attributed to Sabita Banerjee. The DVD titles don’t help here. It omitted listing credits of all the playback singers. I am requesting members with Geet Kosh to please help clarify this. Many thanks.

Apart from the two popular songs mentioned above, I have another favorite from this film. It is Suman Kalyanpur’s song “Nanhi Si Gudiya”. Beautifully composed, the song was passionately sung by Sumanji. It lingers in your thoughts for a while.

Some of the songs have faint hum in the background that I could not get rid of. For this reason I am uploading all the songs at a lower bit rate. Here are these…

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jan 26 2016, 12:00 PM

(Anand Bakshi) Jeene Ki Raah (1969)

This film was produced and directed by L.V. Prasad. It was based on the 1953 Telugu hit “Brathuku Theruvu”. In spite of many inconsistencies in the plot and absurdities in the story, the movie became a winner thanks mainly on its hit music. Laxmikant & Pyarelal grabbed a Filmfare Award as the Best Composers for their score. This was a repeat for LP who were also the recipient of the same award for Prasad’s “Milan” only two years earlier. Lataji was adjudged as the Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage”.

Many of the songs are repeated in the film. “Badi Mastaani” appears three times, all three different versions. “Chanda Ko” appears twice. “Ek Banjaara” also appears twice even though the second one is a repeat. Except it is preceded by some music and Rafi Saab’s humming.

I am uploading these and other songs plus a couple of version songs and a few instrumentals in two back-to-back posts. Here is the first set of songs…

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jan 26 2016, 12:03 PM

Some Specials of Songs from "Jeene Ki Raah (1969)"...

I am uploading below a couple of version songs and a few instrumentals of the songs from this film. Here are they...

Hello Swarapriya,
Words are not adequate to convey the immense thanks due to you from all members, and I convey my sincere gratitude for all your uploads.

Your superb well organized collection provides the tenets for an in-depth study of the history of Indian music. The uploading of additional specials from other renowned musicians and singers provides the environment to foster artistic development.

Thank you for sharing your collection and for taking the trouble to make this available to everyone.

I am especially very grateful to you.
Regards,
Parchy

Parchy,

Your words have deeply touched my heart. Thank you kindly for such eloquent expression. An occasional recognition, albeit rare in these columns, is enough for you to move forward as you know that you have made a difference that has left an indelible mark on others.

Many cheers to you,
Swarapriya

(Hasrat Jaipuri) Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1960)

This family drama was produced and directed by Sohrab Modi. He also had a major role in the film. Naaz who acted in a handful of films as a child artiste grew old enough that she was given an adult role in this film for the first time. She married later her costar in the film, Subiraj.

One of the highlights of the film was its music. This is rare in the sense we don’t see or get to hear too many songs composed by Sardar Malik (see his photo below when he was young). He should have had more recognition for his work that he never received. His 1960 “Saranga” was a milestone in his career that also came same year as this film. Hindi film world that way is very strange. Even though Malik Saab was trained as a dancer, singer, and musician and started his career with the film “Renuka” in 1947 as a composer, his entire film production was limited to about 30 films.

“Saranga” had around 20 songs, some of very longer duration and some of shorter duration. Many songs from this film became popular, especially the two solos by Mukeshji, “Haan Deewaana Hoon Main” and “Saranga Teri Yaad Mein”. Apart from the glory of “Saranga” Malik Saab’s some other unforgettable songs include “Bahaaron Ki Duniya” from the 1953 film “Laila Majnu”, “Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoon” from “Thokar”, again a 1953 film, “Main Ghareebon Ka Dil Hoon” from the film “Aab-E-Hayat (1955)”, “Hui Yeh Hum Se Naadaani” from “Chor Bazar (1954)”, “Sunn Chaand Meri Yeh Daastaan” from “Naag Jyoti (1963)”, and a few others.

Sardar Malik was married to the sister of Hasrat Jaipuri, who wrote lyrics for the songs of this film. One of the bright spots in Malik Saab’s life was his son Anu who carved himself a very successful career as a music director. Senior Malik passed away in 2006 but not before seeing the success his son was enjoying. Anu Malik rose to prominence in 90’s and is still very much visible in TV shows and as a composer for an occasional movie. Anu also has two other brothers Abu and Daboo. Daboo also gave music to few films.

This movie has several good songs. All duets, Ashaji’s solos, and Mukeshji’s solos standout. My favorite solo of the movie is “Ek Tum Nahin Ho” and the duet is “Bahaaron Se Poochho”. Here are these and the rest of the songs from this film…