#399

        Song:   deep ke sang jaluun main
                aag mein jaise jaley baati
                waise jaley jiyaa moraa
                haaye raam aise jaley jiyaa moraa

        Film:   Daaera (1953)
        Singer: Mubarak Begum 
        Music:  Jamal Sen
        Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
        *ing:   Meena Kumari, Kumar

I apologize for the sketchy p-stats, but I  had  to  write  about
this  song because I cannot get it out of my head. I extrapolated
from the fact that the more popular  song  from  the  movie,  the
lovely  devotional  piece  "devta  tum  ho meraa sahaara.." is by
Mubarak Begum, and the two voices sound very similar (the quality
of  the  recording  I  have  is  rather  lamentable).  As for the
lyricist, it is either Majrooh or Kaif  Bhopali.  Handicapped  by
the  non-availability  of  the  Geet Kosh, I couldn't confirm it.
Gurus, please confirm or correct.

Anyway, coming to the song, though "devta tum ho ..." is the more
popular   song  from  this  abstruse,  Thomas-Hardy-esque  social
statement by Kamal Amrohi, I'd select  today's  pick  as  my  top
favorite  from  it any day, and twice on Sunday. In fact, I'll go
further : from what little I have heard of her songs, this is, in
my  books,  the  most  magnificent  melody from this talented but
sadly under-appreciated singer.  It  excels  on  virtually  every
front:  it's gentle, wistful melody- both simple and intricate at
once, the haunting atmosphere it  creates  (helped  by  diffused,
semi-dark  visuals)  and  the  trail  of  sadness  that it leaves
behind,  and  a  flawless  rendition  by  Mubarak  Begum  in  her
effusively  sweet, nasal voice (if it indeed her be). This is one
of those rare "complete" songs.

Listening to this soundtrack over and over, I couldn't  help  but
marvel  over  the  music  of  Jamal  Sen.  I only have two of his
soundtracks- this one  and  "Shokhiyaan"  (1951),  but  they  are
enough...  irrefutable  proof,  as it were, of this man's musical
wizardry. Are there any more ? (Ashok, I remember you  mentioning
one more in one of your recent posts... which one was it ?)



Guest Author: Hrishi Dixit