Naushadji & Dilip Kumar, Simple & Sweet Options

[swarapriya]

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.

[swarapriya]

Gunga Jumna (1961)

In a book on Mehboob Khan, its author tells how "Gunga Jumna" movie came about. Mehboobji decided to remake his previous acclaimed work "Aurat." This was the movie "Mother India." Dilipji, who was a good friend of Mehboob Khan, collaborated with him making suggestions on how the picture and some of its characters, especially that of Birju, should be developed. Dilipji was convinced that he will be playing that role. But Mehboob Saab had other plans. After casting Nargis as mother, he decided to offer the role of Birju to Sunil Dutt. Dilipji was stunned with this unexpected development that he was not ready for. Mehboob Saab couldn't imagine Dilip playing Nargis's son.

Dilipji was not even in talking terms with Mehboob Saab while "Mother India" was getting ready. Eventually that movie was released and was both a commercial as well as artistic triumph for Mehboob Saab.

During this time Dilipji started looking to come up with a story that countered "Mother India." Finally he decided to write and develop himself the story of "Gunga Jumna" and then decided to make the movie himself. Because of this there are so many shades of similarities between "Mother India" and "Gunga Jumna." Both deal with injustices done to a family by a zamindar, both have two brothers one eventually becoming an outlaw and other who upholds law. When "Gunga Jumna" was released, it was also a huge commercial success. Instead of Dilipji running away with honors, it turned out that it was Vyjayanti Mala's performance that won critical acclaim. She won Filmfare's best actress performance for Dhanno's role. The movie's excellent photography also won a Filmfare award and so did the dialogue writer.

After many years, Yash Chopra made this same story (a mixture of "Mother India" and "Gunga Jumna") in modern settings as "Deewar." This again has the similar theme, injustices done by a mill owner to its labor force, a devoted mother raising two sons one of whom turns out "bad" and the other becomes a police officer who upholds the law. This movie catapulted Amitabh Bachchan to undeniable stardom.

Naushadji's music again is on the mark. Lataji has some beautiful songs. All songs are from a CD except the extended ones were ripped from a DVD. Here are details of the songs and songs themselves ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jun 26 2008, 12:12 PM