RMIM Archive Article "171".


From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian

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# RMIM Archives..
# Subject: The Malika turns 73 - Noorjehan
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# Posted by: vishk@cup.hp.com (Vish Krishnan)
# Author: Vish Krishnan
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Today, September 21, is Noorjehan's birthday. I believe she is now 73 years old. It is hard to say really. Filmographers have not been able to agree on the year of birth. Some say it is 1929, and that is highly suspect. By the time she made BADI MAA in 1945, she was already a mother of 2. Now, while she could have been 16 years old then, it is quite unlikely. I am more inclined to go with 1922, a year that Marathi journal- ist Isaak Mujawar stipulates (don't remember very well, but this may be somewhere in his book LATA TE NOORJEHAN, a publication I discovered at the NCPA in B'Bay). As part of her birthday memories, here are some of her rare and forgotten songs. I don't remember movie names, and quite possi- bly, some of them are not even from movies. It would help a lot if someone could fill in the relevant (or even not so relevant) details. Alongside her TV serial (TARANNUM) from the '80s, at least 4 au- dio cassettes were released, much in the style later used by Jagjit Singh for his work with KEHKESHAAN, a Doordarshan produc- tion. Some of the TARANNUM songs are memorable, for their words, the music, and most of all, the beautifully aging voice. 1. Kabhi Kitaabon Mein Phool Rakhna, Kabhi Darakhton Pe Naam Likhna Hamein Bhi Hai Yaad Aaj Tak Woh, Nazar Se Harf-E-Salaam Likhna 2. Zaraa Si Der Mein, Barson Ka Dostaana Lage Woh Ajnabi Hai, Ta-aalluq Magar Puraana Lage 3. Raat Phaili Hai Tere Surmai Aanchal Ki Tarah Chaand Nikla Hai Tujhe Dhoondhne Paagal Ki Tarah Surkh Patton Ki Tarah, Log Ude Jaate Hain Shehr Bhi Ab To Nazar Aata Hai Jangal Ki Tarah Outside of TARANNUM, there were others. I recall a Qateel Shifai ghazal that I did not much care for, but for Noorjehan's rendi- tion of it: 4. Dekhne Ko Hamein Wo Khwaab Mile Soch Kar Bhi Jinhe Sawaab Mile And then there are the movie songs. In a RARE GEMS release, Noorjehan sings some true classics. This is as good a time as any to pay homage to her first really popular song for Ghulam Haider, a Punjabi theme from the Punjabi movie GUL-E-BAKAAVLI (the song goes something like "Shaana Jawaaniyaan Maane"), the 1939 hit that started it all. I like the RARE GEMS release mainly for all the DUPATTA songs it features, particularly "Main Ban Patang Ud Jaaoon" - a treat. In the early '50s, it was common for South Indian music makers to look to the North for eclectic inspiration. I was pleasantly surprised to find the T.S. Bhagwati song "Poomaalai..." from PARAASHAKTI (Shivaji Ganesan's first movie ever). The composer is R. Sudarsanam, and the song is a direct port of "Saanwaria Tohe Koi Pukaare" from Feroze Nizami's DUPATTA. Wonder if she has done any music lately. cheers vish
From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian