RMIM Archive Article "196".
From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian
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# RMIM Archives..
# Subject: Scintillating favourites from 1960s (part 1)
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# Posted by: Snehal B. Oza"
# Author: Snehal B Oza
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Hello All,
I have been posting a song every alternate day from the golden
era of film music since some time now. Those who read the
introduction knows that it will cover gems from 40s and 50s only.
Recently a RMIMer said that it's not true that every thing that
was recorded after 1960 is bad. Here is an attempt to draw
attention to some rare gems of 60s period. I am afraid that this
may turn out a kind of "Bhule-Bisre-Geet'; as many of the songs
are very obscure. Nevertheless they are all in a group; which is
collector's pride. The reason for only 60s' is that
"traditionally" it's accepted that golden period was 50s *and*
60s. In my opinion it should be 40s and 50s though. But it's
debatable.
So here we start with a 1963 film called Bhutnath with music of
Vedpal. He composed music of Aayi Fir Se Bahar(1960) with the
name of Vedpal Sharma too. The film has two rare gems of Lata
Mangeshkar, forgotten in the ever expanding realm of time. One
penned by Yusuf
'Tum Na Aaye Sanam, Shamma Jalati Rahi
Raat Dhalati Rahi, Dil Tadapata Raha,
Shamma Jalati Rahi'
and an absolute beauty in
'Bhule Se Kar Liya; Ho Bhule Se Kar Liya Pya~~r
Ho Gayi Nadani De Ke Jiya Anmol'
written by Keshav Trivedi.
At around same time came Jadu Nagari (1961) with music of a
master composer S. N. Tripathi. The film has a song which is
among the top ten of Lata's own list of her best songs (according
to a knowledgeable friend). Whatever that may be; song is par
excellence when you compare it with any other song. Lata sings it
with rare touch and tune/music is classic. The song I am talking
about here is
'Nigahon Me Tum Ho, Khayalon Me Tum Ho,
Jidhar Dekhati Hun Nazar Aa Rahe Ho
Mere Dil Ki Dhadkan Ye Batala Rahi Hai,
Khushi Ki Baharon Ko Tum La Rahe Ho'
Easily among the greatest songs of Lata by any standard. This
song sounds more and more beautiful as you go on listening and on
repeated listening. Lyrics are by Hasrat Jaipuri.
Let's turn to 1966. Here we have a song unparalleled by it's
interludes that uses only piano. The composer is same S. N.
Tripathi. The song uses only two instruments, piano and tabala!
But what a song
'Pyar Ke Palchhin, Bite Hue Din,
Ham To Na Bhule Tu~~m Bhul Gaye'
This must be a rare occasion in films where piano in western
classical style is played and mixed (a kind of fusion) with
'gayaki' based on pure hindustani classical. The above song was
by a great poet from UP, Shailendra. The film has one good Mukesh
song 'Ai Mere Dil, Sun Meri Jaan, Reh Gaye ...' If I recall
correctly, the above Lata solo was sung by Talat too. But for a
different S. N. Tripathi film. That was in 1960 for Alibaba.
Haven't heard yet, that version though. S. N. Tripathi had a
string of films in late 50s and early 60s with some very good
songs. Other film that I recall is Kavi Kalidas. The Lata solo
'Sham Bhayi Ghamshyam Na Aaye' (by Pt. Bharat Vyas) is still as
fresh as it was then. And who would not remember his music for
Rani Rupmati ? One more of his film that is known for one single
song by Lata and Mukesh, written by Pt. Bharat Vyas in Bhojpuri,
is Veer Durgadas. And the song:
'Thane Kajaliyo Banalun, Mhare Hirdey Se Lagalun
Aaj Palakaa Me Band Kar Rakho ...
Gori Palkya Me Neend Kaiya Aveli ....'
I guess, he was among few music directors who could make a song
of a language, other than Hindi/Urdu/Panjabi, popular. Only other
occasion I recall is from a Bhojpuri film, Vidyapati, in mid 60s
composed by V. Balsara, an able assistant of Shankar Jaikishan,
who had Lata singing for him the song 'More Naina Sawan Bhadon'
and Rafi's bhajan "Mose Ruth Gayo Banwari' in Todi.
S. N. Tripathi's other notable film was Jai Chittod (1961). The
Lata solo 'Sanjh Ho Gayi Prabhu Tum Hi Prakash Do' is Lata's
other 'Allah Tero Naam' ! Last but not least, I must talk about
Chandramukhi (1960). Very good Manna De and Mukesh songs. Manna
De song that I am trying to recall is 'Manbhavan Sangit
Suhaavan'. Mukesh sung a good solo 'Nain Ka Chain Chura Kar Le
Gayi; Kar Gayi Neend Haram'.
In the year 1966, the vintage music director Bulo C. Rani
produced two unforgettable songs through Lata and Mahendra Pran
(lyricist). The first one
'Mangane Se~~ Jo Maut Mil Jaati~~ Kaun Jita Is Zamaane Me~~'
Song has one excellent antara
'Ansu-on Ke, Janaze Ko Leke Kandhe Pe Ham Ghume~~~ (2)
Chal Ke Manzil Jo Aayi Milane~~~,
Ham Hi Na Rahe Is Zamaane Me'
And Lata sings it great pathos.
Other song is 'Na Baaz Aya Mukaddar Muze Mitaane Se'; equally
good.
I really doubt the story; that says that Lata was not singing
well during mid 60s and her confidence was shaken around that
time until Hemant Kumar convinced her to sing Bis Sal Baad song;
when I hear all these songs.
And when we are talking about some great songs how can we ever
forget some of those great music directors who called it a day in
sixties. First Sajjad Hussain His film Rustam Sohrab(1963) has
three gems, one each by Lata, Talat and Suraiya Lata's 'Ai
Dilruba, Ai Dilruba, Nazaren Bichha' will go a long way when the
historians will take a note of Sajjad's work. Talat came with yet
another beautiful song for Sajjad in 'Majandra, Majandara' and
Suraiya really served an ace when she sung 'Ye Kaisi Ajab Dastan
Ho Gayi Hai, Chhupate Chhupate Bayan Ho Gayi Hai'.
And with all these gems around, naturally reminds me two kings of
the film music Anil Biswas and Roshan. Anil-da produced some
great classical based songs in Angulimal (1960) and Sautela Bhai
(1962) and Chhoti Chhoti Baaten (1965). Particularly 'Aayi Aayi
Basanti Bela' by Lata, Meena Kapoor, Sandhya Mukherjee and Manna
De is one his best creation in classical arena. (I guess it's
based on Bahar.). The film also has one very good song by Aarti
Mukherjee: 'Chanda Dhire Chire Dhal Re Chanda'. And of course
when 'Ja Mein Tose Na Hi Bolun' plays anytime (from Sautela
Bhai), your all activities stops and you just find yourself
mesmerised by the great classical rendition by Lata. I suppose
there are few such renditions (nearly pure classical) by Lata. I
can recall just few. One in Shankar Jaikishan's Seema in 1955
and other to some extent, in same year by unfortunately,
unrecognised-but-very-good-composer S. Mohindar in Naata, a
production of Madhubala. I will talk about Naata in ATMJH soon.
And finally from Anil Biswas's last film CCB. We have Meena
Kapoor, Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar singing in a same film. Three
people whom he has loved the most. Instead of giving any detail
on the songs of this film, I will direct readers to have a look
at Vish Krishnan's excellent article of the film.
Next, Roshan. Talking of him, a composer beyond match for his
light-soft music, takes my memory to 1960 and 1961. Two films Nai
Umar Ki Nai Fasal, where Neeraj penned some very good lyrics and
Maine Jeena Sikh Liya. Mohammad Rafi's 'Swapna Zare Phul Se' is
all time classic Rafi solo by Roshan Lal besides a great song in
Chandani Chowk (1954). MJSL has one very good Mukesh song,
forgotten by many of us today.
'Tere Pyar Ko Is Tareh Se Bhulana,
Na Dil Chahata Hai, Na Ham Chahate Hain
Jo Sach Tha Use Ik Fasana Banana,
Na Dil Chahata Hai, Na Ham Chahate Hain'
And how can I afford to miss Hemant-Lata's divine singing in
Mamata; "Chhupalo Yun Dil Me Pyaar Mera, Ke Jaise Mandir Me Lau
Diye Ki'. Mamata has one good Lata solo in 'Vikal Man Mora' too.
It starts in a great style but then fails to hold you. Still a
good song anyway. Finally as late as in 1968 he came with Mukesh
(his compatriot all the time since 1949; through whom he saw many
leaps) and chorus for that Anokhi Raat song. The other day I was
listening to 78rpm of the song, after my player was brought from
Vadodara. I was lost in the beauty of the song. The chorus effect
in the beginning is nothing but superb. And Mukesh sings it
marvelously well. In films there are less songs that tells you
this kind of philosophy. Indivar has produced wonderful lyrics.
Roshan came with one exqusite Lata solo for Zindagi Aur Ham(1962)
'Tu Hamko Dekh Aur Hamari Nazar Se Dekh, Pyaari Ada Se Dekh' .
Lata voice sounds very pure, refined and makes the rendition very
sweet.
While remembering Mukesh, I can talk of two songs of Matlabi
Duniya(1960) too. 'Kanton Me Rehane Wale' and 'Wafayen Dekh
Li....Sab Pyar Ki Baaten Karate Hain' still reminds of his olden
days of early 50s and late 40s. These are some of his evergreen
songs. If I remember correctly the tune was set by Jayanti Joshi.
And let me point out to two little known music directors and
their two songs, one by each of them. First one I am going to
talk about is Dilip Dholakia. This man has produced some
excellent music in Gujarati films. His compositions sung by
himself and Geeta Roy are popular today even after 40 years. Let
me mention Geeta's three songs here on the fly:
'Bhabhi Tame Thoda-Thoda Thao Varanagi'
(Or was this by Avinash Vyas ?)
and
'Taalio Na Taale Gori Garabe Ghumi...'
and finally a superb Geeta song in "Mangal Fera"
'Aj Maari Nanadi E Mhenu Maryun'
Let's come back to Hindi songs. Dilip Dholakia has given music in
3/4 films (Hindi). One of them Private Secretary (1961) has one
very good Lata solo:
'Mile Nain Gaya Chain Piya Aan Molo Re'
His other films are Saugand(1961), Bagdad Ki Raten(1962), Teen
Ustaad(1961).
Finally let me talk about another man from Gujarat, Ajit
Merchant. He too, has more than one films to his credit. Film I
chose today is 1964 film Challenge and the song 'Main Bhi Hun
Majabur Saajan, Dil Bhi Hai Majabur' sung by Mukesh and Asha
Bhonsle. One of the best Mukesh duets ever. Asha sings it
extremely well.
Listening to this and all those above, gives you enough evidence
that 1960s was not a bad period for music in Hindi cinema and
they are no less gems than those which were recorded in 1950's
decade. It was just the scheme of the Almighty and Time that
these ones came later in 1960s. Well, these were some random
thoughts on glory of 60s. Will come back with second part and
with more from other music directors.
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From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian