Path: Lehigh.EDU!netnews.upenn.edu!news.cc.swarthmore.edu!news.cse.psu.edu!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!nntp.coast.net!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpbs2500.boi.hp.com!hpax!vishk From: vishk@cup.hp.com (Vish Krishnan) Newsgroups: rec.music.indian.misc Subject: Some RD Favourites Date: 18 Jul 1996 19:29:45 GMT Organization: Hewlett Packard Cupertino Site Lines: 314 Message-ID: <4sm3b9$lhn@hpax.cup.hp.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: capella.cup.hp.com X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL0.7] There has been a fair bit of discussion on the junior Mr. Burman. It has been interesting (not saddening, amazing or anything like that, just plain interesting) to note that not much was ever said about a specific period in RD's career. Until PADOSAN, life may not have been that busy for the new kid, but it certainly took off in 1968. He spent the next 7 years (68-75), at least in part fulfilling contractual obligations for movies that, as it happened, were miserable flops. I am not sure some of them were even released. The following pick of 20 movies and specific songs within is my miniscule acknowledgment. I have truly enjoyed this segment of Rahul Dev Burman's professional work. Songs listed here are not in any particular order. In the nature of all "contractual" obligations, some of the movies are pretty non-mainstream - not art films by any stretch - perhaps more along the lines of B-grade and below. It serves little purpose to talk about movies like KATI PATANG, AMAR PREM, HARE RAAM HARE KRISHNA or for that matter, any of Nasir Hussain's productions (CARAVAN and PYAAR KA MAUSAM make good additions to any RD collection, I might add. Should mention TEESRI MANZIL, but that was before 1968). These were all well above the popularity baseline. 1. HIFAAZAT (early '70s) Ye Mastaani Dagar, Matwaali Vaaidyaan Baahon Mein Thaamti, Sharmilee Daaliyaan Aisaa Samaan Miltaa Hai Re Kahaan, Haay Re Ab To, Ai Dil Mujhko, Gum Ho Jaane De Yahaan A classic Asha solo with a (relatively speaking) vintage RD orchestra. The movie became the sole property of the Sreelanka Broadcasting Corp, and somehow, Vividh Bharati never played any of the music from here. Can anybody tell me if this one is available on tape somewhere? 2. RAAKHI AUR HATHKADI (this may have appeared in some posts) a. Achchhi Nahin Sanam Dillagi Dil-E-Beqaraar Se Kyon Ro Rahey Ho Chhedaa Thaa Hamnein Tumko To Pyaar Se The song illustrates a fleeting glimpse of finger-style guitaring in Hindi movies. Tremendous implementation. A good Kishore-Asha duet. b. Aa Ja Aa Ja Sanam, (I forget the words) Clearly a song filmed on Helen or Bindu. A background Asha voice is superimposed on the foreground, also by Asha. Great effect. 3. ABHILAASHA (1970?) Ek Jaanib Shamm-E-Mehfil, Ek Jaanib Rooh-E-Jaana Girtaa Hai Dekhen, Kahaan Parwaana The cassette is readily available. By the mid-'70s, this genre of RD's orchestration all but disappeared. Wonderful Rafi-Manna Dey duet. I am not sure, but this may have been among the last examples of the pure accoustic strumming! How's that for gross generalizations! The most popular song(s) in the movie was "Vaadiyaan Meraa Daaman", a Rafi-Lata tandem. Not bad at all. 4. BADAA KABOOTAR (1971?) Was this movie even released ever? a. Raaz Ki Ek Baat Hai, Baat Ye Raaz Ki, Ab Na Rehne Do Kaampte,... Honthon Se Kehne Do Fun song by Asha - moves like Helen! b. Haay Re Haay Re (can't recall the rest of it) A rather energetic song with a unique Asha-RD harmony that I have not heard in the rest of their work. It seems to have been remotely inspired by the theme song from ZORBA THE GREEK, although I must say it is probably a third derivative or even further removed. A Bengali version also exists. 5. JAWAANI DEEWANI (probably discussed on RMIM several times, I never saw it) In my own opinion, this is among RD's best. There are quite a few Asha-Kishore duets. The two that will live forever are: a. Jaan-E-Jaan, Dhoondhtaa Phir Rahaa Asha touches the low note in style. Right up there with the cream of RD's work. b. Nahin Nahin, Abhi Nahin, Abhi Karo Intezaar It caused much dissonance to see Joya do the song on screen. Another smasher. 6. MERE JEEVAN SAATHI Kishore dominates the singing, but again, I think Helen runs away with the slightly risque Asha sizzler: Aao Na, Galey Lagaao Na, Lagi Bujhaao Na The flute is put to excellent use. RD has done that in other songs too, but somehow, "Aao Na" stands out. 7. GARAM MASAALA Tum Jaison Ko To Paayal Mein Baandh Loon, Samjho Na Mujhe Anaadi Hogay Ji Laakh Choron Ke Chor Tum, Hum Bhi Hain Badey Khilaadi Bearing only marginal resemblance to Paul Simon's PEACE LIKE A RIVER, the interlude also incorporates "In a Ga Da Da Vida", perhaps the only time it showed up in Hindi movies (surprising! a piece like that has been up for grabs for a very long time - a veritable low hanging fruit!). A must-have Asha solo. 8. RAANI MERA NAAM Tum Bhi Jhoothe, Hum Bhi Jhoothe, Bas Ye Milnaa Sach Hai, Aao Naa, Meri Jaan The words betray the picturization - garish setting, with Helen(?), Asha and RD providing redemption. I use the name Helen almost as a concept without the slightest idea as to who actually danced to this song. 9. NAFRAT Raah Mein Kaliyaan Khilaa Ke Yaar, Jaal Bichhaye Khadi Bahaar, O Re Musaafi Sambhal Ke Chal, Dekh Zamaana Rahaa Pukaar Pyaar Kahin Manzil Naa Bhool Jaaye Kishore at his '70s near-best singing with Bhupinder's background harmony. Relatively novel idea for those days. The song makes my top-10 RD list. 10 SAVERAA The movie was not all that obscure after all. The following Bhupinder song might have been though: Ye Zindagi, Hai Chaar Pal Pal Jo Milay, Pyaar Kartaa Chal Ai Dil, O Mere Dil, Dil Re, Ye Zindagi.... Styled a little after the NAFRAT song, we have Bhupinder providing background harmony for Bhupinder singing the main body. Good composition, I think. 11.PARAAYA DHAN The movie was not a flop, really. Somehow, the songs, colourful as they were, did not quite make it. a. Aaj Unse Pehli Mulaqaat Hogi b. Tu Pyaar, Main Preet c. Holi Re Holi were all wholesome compositions. 12.KHEL KHEL MEIN Good story line, and music. Was it not the first time Shailendra Singh worked with RD? The movie borrowed the plot from an old French story called GOOD CHILDREN DON'T KILL. Never acknowledged it. The author was Louis Thomas, a born-blind unknown. a. Sapnaa Mera Toot Gayaa This was not the first time Asha and RD sang together, but it was close. b. I hesitate to talk about "Ek Main Aur Ek Tu". Don't care much for this one. 13.THE TRAIN (1970) Big hit that introduced the Asha-RD duet to the Hindi speaking world. I am still partial to "Meri Jaan Maine Kahaa". I like just about every song in the movie. As for the movie, Helen and Shetty are the real stars. 14.RAMPUR KA LAKSHMAN The movie was famous, but my favourite song probably wasn't. Kaahe Apnon Ke Kaan Nahin Aaye Tu, Kethe Hain Sab Ki Bigdi Raam Banaate Hain The song has made history in oblivion. In terms of borrowing strictly Western Classical themes in Hindi songs, I think of this as the second (or if I stretch it a bit, the third) example. Everybody talks about Mozart and Sir Salil. Let me put in a plug for Rahul Dev. What is interesting here is that Mozart's work is popular and available and the 40th is reasonably well known. By contrast, the "Kije Suite" by Russian master Sergei Prokofiev is not heard or performed that much. Recordings do exist. The suite has 3 movements aptly named The Birth, The Romance, and The Death (of Kije). Can't underestimate the eclectic reach of India's movie music czars. 15.GOMTI KE KINAARE Two good solos, probably both remembered only in low profile: a. Jeene Ka Din, Mar Jaane Ka Mausam, Hai In Nazaaron Mein Is Dil Kaa Kyaa Haal Karoon, Aisi Bahaaron Mein b. Aao, Aao Jaan-E-Jahaan Dil Ne Dhoondha Tujhe, Kahaan Kahaan I am personally a bit partial to the Asha-Kishore song. 16.BOMBAY TO GOA This may be the low point for this tedious post. Somehow, I like the Lata-Kishore solo ("Dil Tera Hai, Main Bhi Teri Hoon Balam") although the song cannot be accused of immortality. 17.ADHIKAAR Even as I reach out for new lows, the movie can be credited with one decent (average, I would say) Asha-Kishore song: Koi Maane Ya Naa Maane, Jo Kal Tak The Anhjaaney, Wo Aaj Hamein Jaan Se Bhi Pyaare Ho Gaye 18.PHIR KAB MILOGI Don't know much about the music except for one Mukesh-Lata duet styled after RED BULL (??), a Spanish standard, almost a signature tune for matadors: Kahin Karti Hogi, Wo Meraa Intezaar Jiski Tamanna ... Dil Beqaraar 19 BHOLA MAANUS I only remember one song from here, and that is enough: Gumsum Kyon Hai Sanam, Kehnaa Zaraa Maan Le Pyaar Ka Ye Mausam Hai, Aise Main...... Here is where we start to see that special tone Asha injected, perhaps mainly for Pancham. 20 MANORANJAN Chori Chori Solaa Singaar Karoongi Aaj Saari Raat Intezaar Karoongi Same genre as the BHOLAA MANUS song - very likable. The movie had other songs, but Asha steals it with "Chori Chori....". 21 LAAKHON MEIN EK (1971?) Chandaa O Chandaa, Chandaa O Chandaa Kisne Churaayee, Teri Meri Nindiyaa Jaagein Saari Rainaa, Tere Mere Nainaa My personal pick from the ocean of RD's work in teh 1968-75 period. Both versions (Lata and Kishore) are beautifully rendered. There is no suggestion here that this was THE best. It is, however, the one I remember with the most affection. Takes me back to a long held belief - the pathos of the minor progression is eternal. cheers vish