Path: Lehigh.EDU!netnews.upenn.edu!dsinc!ub!news.kei.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!usenet.ucs.indiana.edu!news From: "Anonymous" Newsgroups: rec.music.indian.misc Subject: C. Ramchandra - A tribute Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 19:05:30 +0530 Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington Lines: 115 Expires: Wed, 10 Jan 1996 00:00:00 +0530 Message-ID: <199601061334.IAA24669@roatan.ucs.indiana.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: localhost Return-Path: anon@indiana.edu X-To: undisclosed-recipients:; X-Gateway-Version: mail2news,v 1.25 95/07/11 00:48:47 root Exp =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ramchandra Chitalkar - Melody, Softness stayed with his tunes =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Fifteen year ago, on 5th January a phenomena called Ramchandra Chitalkar called it last time 'Ai Pyar Teri Duniya Se Ham Bas Itani Nishani Le Ke Chale'. This time he really left. Chitalkar was blamed for importing western tunes to clean Hindustani based film music by then, guardians of Indian film music. What they couldn't see then, was seen by this man. In 1950s many songs became popular, based on seven notes of Hindustani classical as well as on seven notes from western symphonies. His 1949 composition from Shahanai 'Ana Meri Jan Sunday Ke Sunday' is heard even today. Whereas those who blamed him are forgotten long back; except some big guys like Naushad Ali. But should he be remembered for only this single contribution ? Cretainly not. He has produced films too. In 1953 he produced Zanzar with Latabai Mangeshkar. In the same year Lehren and then in 1955 Pehli Zalak. But he is remembered more for his haunting songs. Let me recall some his songs that I like for ever. I don't know when did he start his career; but can recall a song from a film, as early as in 1943, Jaban. The only song that I know is by Kaushalya (her only famous song IMO is 'Ma, Pyari Ma' - Aaina) which goes some thing like this 'Kagaz Ki Thi Wo Nav Ham Jisme Ja Rahe The'. I have yet to hear a song which has so effective use of Veena; although with one exception. The other song is a composition of M. A. Rauf (Ashok, could he be considered for RJGK #28 ?) for a 1947 film Tohfa. Singer is none other but the great Mukeshchandra Mathur and the song; 'Kahan Tak Jafa Husna Walon Ki Sehte'. 'Ash-ar' were by Saqib Lakhanvi. Indian film music has yet to produce another song such as this with such a combination of Shabda-Sur-Swar! Coming back to C. Ramchandra, takes me to 1946. This year came a film called Safar. Songs by Chitalkar himself and Binapani Mukherjee. But the song-de-film was by Mohammad Rafi. (Note that Rafi was given first exquisite song by Chitalkar and not by Naushad. Though in 1945's Anmol Ghadi there is a solo by Rafi, the real Naushad song of Rafi should be from 1947's Dillagi. Sami note that CR HAS given Rafi a *solo* !) Its moments after eleven O'clock, listening to All India Radio (Urdu Service) playing such a song in their programme Tamil-E-Irshad, gives you real pleasure. The song : Kehke Bhi Na Aye Tum Ab Chhupane Lage Tare Dil Leke Tum Hi Jite Dil Deke Humi Hare Come 1949, and a string of films with music by this master comes in the mind. What a year for him as a music director; when he scored music for not one, two or three but a total of twelve films! And music; music was all time great. Look at the list of films: Namuna, Sargam, Sipahiya, Shahnai, Patanga, Khazana, Nirala, Samadhi..... Some of the songs from these films are: Mehfil Me Jal Uthi Shama - Nirala, Lata O Dekhoji Dekhoji Dekhoji - Nirala, Lata Koi Kisi Ka Diwana Na Bane - Sargam, Lata Jab Dil Ko Sataye Gam - Sargam, Lata Hansi Hansi Na Rahi - Sipahiya, Lata Aisi Muhobat Se - Nirala, Lata Mere Piya Gaye Hai Rangoon - Patanga, Chitalkar-Shamshad Dil Se Bhulado Tum Hame - Patana, Lata Dhire-Dhire, Dhire-Dhire Gam Ka - Khazana, Lata-Chorus Tam Tam Se Zanko Na Raniji - Namuna, Shamshad Begum Abhi Raat Ayegi Niklenge Tare - Samadhi, Lata Note: Khazana could be in 1951 and not in 1949 And it didn't end there. The bandwagon continued to role on with Sangita (1950), Sagai (1951), Saki(1952), Ghunghru (1953), 26 Janvari (1954), Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957), Tirandaz and many more. People who say he went western must listen to his songs from these films at least once; or to this never to go song from a poet-cum-producer Pyarelal Santoshi's film Shin Shina Ki Bubla Bu; 'Tum Kya Jano Tumhari Yad Me Ham Kitana Roye'. And of course 1951 film Anarkali (with Basant Prakash) is immoratal as we know and Abhay Avchat's post covered it best. It was a Filmistan film. And many of C. Ramchandra films are for Filmistan where he was working. Some of the songs from these and some other films are: Dile Beqarar Soja - Ghunghru, Lata Dekhoji Dekho Mera Dil Leke - Zamela, Lata Chala Hai Pyar Ka Rahi - 26 Janvari, Lata Apani Kaho, Kuch Meri Suno - Parchhain, Lata-Talat Katate Hai Dukh Me Ye Din - -do-, Lata Dil Ki Kahani Kehna To Chanhe - Sagai, Lata Bechain Nazar Betab Jigar - Yasmeen, Talat Radha Na Bole Na Bole Na Bole Re - Azad, Lata Baharen Bech Dali - Zanzar, Lata Apna Pata Bata De - Shagufa, Lata Dil Ki Duniya Basa Ke Sanwariya - Sangita(?), Lata Jo Muze Bhula Ke Chale Gaye - Sangita, Lata Main Pike Nahi Aya - Kavi, Talat Gaya Andhera Hua Ujala - Subah Ka Tara, Talat/Talat-Lata Kise Malum Tha Ik Din - Saki, Lata-Talat Um-ra Hui Tumse Mile - Bahurani, Hemant-Lata Hawa Bhi Hai Sard Sard - Shatranj, Lata Tere Dar Khushi Mangi Thi - Hangama, Lata Dane Dane Pe Likha Jai - Barish, Chitalkar Viran Mera Dil Hai - Lutera, Lata-Rafi Bhul Jayen Sare Gam - Nausherwan-E-Adil, Lata-Rafi And many more... (I am sure they will appear in the followup post of Ashok, with some flares as I dared writing on an artist liked much by him. :)) By such songs he has immortalised the films. Susprisingly the only time he scored music for Raj Kapoor; who is known for his insistance on good music; didn't produce much famous songs. 'Jap Jap Jap ... Jap Re' by Mukesh could be one. But not excellent. Even in changing time of 1960s he could come with Devta (Kaise Jaun Jamuna Ke Tir) and others. Although he was not probably the same towards the mid 60s and didn't have as many films too; he will still remain one the pillars of cinema music. Anonymous