Naushadji & Dilip Kumar, Simple & Sweet Options

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Naushad Ali-Dilip Kumar Filmography

If simiplicity is charm, then we can describe Naushadji’s music as very charming. It seems like he has done so much with so few instruments. An exponent of Hindustani music, his compositions always tapped the huge reservoir of the traditional music resources. From his struggling days in Bombay to a major music maestro he maintained that simiplicity in approach to music all his life. He never deviated from this path.

In a span of 65 or so years in the film industry, he composed roughly 70 films. By any yardstick this is not a huge number. But each one of those films were a work of art and charm. In an interview circa 1982, Naushadji said, "In my 62 years in the film industry, I composed music for 66 films. These days, you come across people who have done the music 200 films in two years. What I'm saying is that, we used to agonise over every tune and phrase in music, spend sleepless nights over a song, and work on it until it was perfected. And I am still looking for perfection." That commitment to perfection, that devotion to creating a lasting melodious tune were Naushadji’s drivers in his professional career.

Naushadji was recognized with several awards during his lifetime. These include Padma Bhushan, Filmfare award for Baiju Bawra (1952), Dadasaheb Phalke award, and Sangeet Natya Academy award.

Naushadji had a special relationship with Dilip Kumar saab. Professionally he composed for 15 films in which Dilip Kumar starred. Most of them were blockbusters. All of them had that charming music that was hallmark of Naushadji.

I happen to have the CD collection of all these films with Naushadji as composer and Dilip Saab as the actor. As time permits, in the coming weeks, I will try to share this music with the Forum membership.

The filmography of Naushadji and Dilip Kumar Saab is given in the following table. I will try to upload albums in the chronological order as they appear in the table below.

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Kohinoor (1960)

"Kohinoor" is another one of those movies that exploited Dilipji's talents to a maximum. One of our most gifted actors, here he transforms from comedy to romantic hero to a tragedy king very effortlessly. For his portrayal he won the best actor Filmfare award.

There is one "mirror" sequence in this movie between Dilip Saab and Jeevan that is very hilarious. However, this was a direct lift from the famous Marx Brothers' movie called "Duck Soup" made in 1933. Groucho was in that mirror sequence. Many years later, in 1955, Harpo Marx (brother of Groucho) reenacted the mirror scence on the Lucille Ball TV show bringing down the house with laughter.

This movie was another big hit for Naushadji as well as commercially. Almost all songs are beautifully written, composed, and sung. All songs are from a CD except the extended ones. The extended versions of the songs are from a DVD except for "Dil Mein Baji." This song is by the courtesy of the Forum members. I cleaned up the noise on all songs from the DVD version and I think they turned out pretty good. However, still some may find the quality is not in par with other songs.

Now for details of the songs and songs themselves ...