Shair Aur Sargam, Songs From Movies of 7 Great Lyricists Options

[swarapriya]

Thanks Swarapriya

Ketaki

You are welcome Ketaki.

Cheers,
S

[swarapriya]

(Majrooh) Ek Raaz (1963)

This Shakti Samanta directed film had a simple tale that is infused with unforgettable songs. The movie was fun to watch mainly because it takes you back when things were so simple in our lives. Also for a change performance of Kishoreda was restrained without much of his usual slapstick comedy. However, as mentioned, the real highlight of the film was its music. Chitraguptji's music was simply superb. Almost all songs are excellent.

The movie starred Jamuna, a Telugu and Tamil film actress from South. Her career in the film industry spanned over four decades during which she acted in 200 plus films. She also starred in a few Hindi films. These include “Miss Mary (1957)”, “Ek Raaz (1963)”, “Hamrahi (1963)”, “Beti Bete (1964)”, “Rishte Nate (1965)”, “Milan (1967)”, and others. Most of these films were huge commercial successes. She won Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance in “Milan”.

It is hard to pick a favorite from such a melodious album. But I have not one but two favorites, both solos by Kishoreda, the engrossing "Agar Sunn Le" and the endearing "Paayalwaali Dekhna".

Here are these and the rest of the songs from this beautiful album...

[swarapriya]

(Rajinder Krishan) Bindya (1960)

Many film productions in the South in the 50’s, 60’s and even to some extent to early 70’s made movies mostly to do with family dramas. These production houses include AVM, Gemini, Prasad Productions, Vijaya Productions and others. Their formula was simple. If the movie was a success in one of the regional languages remake them in Hindi. Most of these Hindi versions made big money for their production houses. This movie by AVM, “Bindya”, was one such family drama, but was a flop.

This movie is simply bad. You have seen these type of stories so many times before. You are simply tired of watching these rehashes. Watching these type of movies one wonders whether the people involved with these are testing your intelligence and patience. This one is simply that revolting.

This movie pairs Padmini opposite Balraj Sahni, a total mismatch. To make matters worse there is a fine song “Dekhiye” that Sahni Saab croons romancing Padmini. It was difficult to watch.

One decent thing about this movie was its music. Less heralded Iqbal Qureshi Saab was its music director. He came up with a few winners. These include the above mentioned “Dekhiye”, a couple of solos by Lata, and a solo by Rafi Saab. There is also a lengthy song by Om Prakash, “Hari Om”, that tells the story of Krishn and Sudama in comic overtones. I am uploading this almost in its entirety as it appears in the film (very few edits) and a briefer version with no dialogues.

Here are the above songs and other songs from this film…

[swarapriya]

(Rajinder Krishan) Pyaar (1950)

I am re-uploading these songs of early Nargis & Raj Kapoor film on request...

For this Raj Kapoor’s film not only Burmanda composed music but had Kishoreda sing songs for Raj. Remember this was back in 1950. Raj did not yet settle on Mukesh as his voice. That was still a few years away.

My apologies for the poor quality of the songs even though some of them are decent enough.

Here are the songs…

[swarapriya]

(Anand Bakshi) Tamanna (1969)

There is hardly anything worth to write home about this totally nonsensical family drama. Watching this type of movie one wonders how people, sometimes our own, can be so bad. These are simply revolting one dimensional people void of feelings or emotions.

Two solo songs, one by Mukesh and the other by Rafi, especially that of Rafi Saab are decent to listen to.

Here are these and other songs from this film…

[swarapriya]

(Hasrat Jaipuri) April Foool (1964)

Shankar & Jaikishan made sure that this day, April 1, celebrated as an All Fool's Day around the world, will be remembered by the Indian music lovers forever by composing some of their beautiful and memorable music for this film. Subodh Mukherjee, who introduced Saira Banu in "Junglee" in 1960, is back here with another winner with her in this film.

All songs from this film were chart busters. S&J were assisted by Sebastian and Dattaram.

The song “Aa Gale Lag Jaa” I am uploading here has over 5 minutes of music preceding it. This is the “Pool Aquatics Show” in the movie. I am also uploading this separately as a music clip in the third post.

I am uploading all of the hit songs plus a few music clips from the film in three back-to-back posts. Here is the first set of songs…

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "April Foool (1964)"...

Here are the rest of the songs from this popular musical...

[swarapriya]

A Few Music Clip from "April Foool (1964)"...

Here are a few music clips from the film...

[swarapriya]

(Shailendra) Chhote Nawab (1961)

This was comedian actor Mahmood’s first maiden production. Many of his family members were involved with this project. His father Mumtaz Ali wrote its story. His brother Usman Ali produced it. His son Lucky Ali appeared as a child Chhote Nawab in a flashback scene. His sister Minoo Mumtaz appeared in a supporting role in the film. However in this film, Mahmood did not appear as a comedian. But as a regular Bombay film world type hero.

With an uneven storyline and abrupt behavioral changes to the main character the film enjoyed only a limited success. But what lifted the film above the ordinary was its beautiful music. R.D. Burman (see his picture below) made a stunning debut as its music director. His first film would have been Guru Dutt’s 1959 film “Raaz”. It had lyrics by Shailendra and RD set music to three songs. But when Guru abruptly shelved the project, RD’s work never saw public light. Not until “Chhote Nawab” came along.

Mahmood was making plans to make “Chhote Nawab”. He approached S.D. Burman to compose music for his film. But Burmanda declined saying he was already busy with various projects. However, at Burmanda’s residence he met RD, who was playing Tabla. He immediately signed him up for his film as its music director. Later when someone asked Mahmood why he has chosen an unknown entity like RD to compose music. His response was that he was tired of RD constantly denting his car with never ending constant drum beats!

The first song RD recorded for “Chhote Nawab” was “Ghar Aa Jaa”. This was originally written for “Raaz”. This classic song sung by Lataji became an instant hit. From 1957 through 1961 SD, RD’s father, and Lata did not work together. The differences developed when Lata did not show up for one of her recording sessions with Burmanda. But SD immediately called Lataji to sing for his son’s debut film. Lataji without hesitation agreed and the differences between the two music giants Burmanda and Lataji evaporated instantly.

The soundtrack for the film offers variety of songs with a mixture of influences of eastern and western music. There are several good songs in the film. My favorites include the two solos by Lataji, “Chura Ke Dil” and “Ghar Aa Jaa” and Rafi Saab’s soul stirring “Ilaahi Tu Sunn Le”. I am uploading a brief second part of the song that also is in the first part. The second part singing may be of a little slower pace. I am not sure.

Incidentally, the assistant music directors of the film were Laxmikant & Pyarelal. Laxmikant was thinking of taking RD as his partner to become as an independent music director but when he received a call from RD to assist him he gladly agreed.

I am upload songs, specials, version songs, and a few instrumentals in four back-to-back posts. The first two posts contain all songs and some music clips from the film. The third post contains a few version songs and a couple of specials. The fourth and the final post contains a few instrumentals.

Here are songs from the film starting in the next post…

[swarapriya]

Chhote Nawab (1961) - Songs-1

Here is the first set of songs from this fine musical...

[swarapriya]

Chhote Nawab (1961) - Songs-2

Here are the rest of the songs and a couple of music clips from the film...

[swarapriya]

Chhote Nawab (1961) - Specials

Here are a few specials related to songs from this film...

[swarapriya]

Chhote Nawab (1961) - Instrumentals

Here are a few instrumentals of some of the songs from the film...

[swarapriya]

(Hasrat Jaipuri) Krorepati (1961)

This movie that was supposed to be a comedy but it is really not that funny. It had screenplay by I.S. Johar. Johar also co-wrote its dialogues.

The effort by Shankar & Jaikishan, who were flying high during these years, was below mark except for a couple of songs. Interestingly S&J decide to use Manna for playback of Kishoreda in a couple of songs. The song “Pehle Murghi” is one of them. Manna did a fair job with the song, but this one is a typical Kishoreda’s song. If he sang the song it would have been a blast. Mannada also lends his voice for Kishoreda in the duet “Aap Huye”.

The song of the album is Asha’s “Saawan Bann Gaye”. A beautifully rendered lovely song. The song is supposed to have the following mukhda that was missing in the DVD as well as the CD. The mukhda goes like this…

“Aye Aasmaan Ke Raahi Tu Hi Gawaah Rehna,
Thamta Nahin Hai Kab Se Inn Aansuon Ka Behna,
Tera Agar Guzar Ho Iss Desh Ki Taraf Se,
Koi Tadap Reha Hai Itna Hi Unn Se Kehna”

If anyone of you have this song with the above beginning, please kindly share it with rest of us. Thank you.

The other song is Lata’s solo, “O Saajna”. This seems to be inspired by some western tune. Nevertheless it is pleasant to listen to.

Here are these and other songs from this film…

[swarapriya]

(Majrooh) Kabli Khan (1963)

The movie is not that great but the songs are. This is one of the films in which dancer Helen appears as a leading lady.

There are several good songs in this film. The combination of Chitraguptji and Majrooh Saab click here once again. The fine songs include “Aye Hazrat”, “Chalo Jhoomte”, “Salle Ala”, and “Ya Hala”. I am uploading these and others below…