Costume Drama: Dhaani Chunar Mori Haay Re

"Madhu" (1959) is one of many films that are forgotten with the passage of time. Karan Dewan and Meena Kumari played the lead pair and Roshan composed some nice songs for this film. Here is a very pleasant and mellow melody. It is a pity that the video is not available.

Does the opening sound like that of Mana janaab ne pukara nahi from "Paying Guest" which was released in 1957, just a couple of years earlier than this film?

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Naqsh Lyallpuri
Music: Roshan

Costume Drama: Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadke

Several Hindi films have been based on the idea of reincarnation. "Madhumati" (1958) is one of the earliest films to have been made on this theme. It is produced and directed by Bimal Roy. Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi are the writers. Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala played the lead roles.

Enjoy a melody from this film today. This is the first song from this great musical to appear in this space. Beautiful solo, pretty leading lady and lovely visuals all add up to make this song a treat to listen to!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Shailendra
Music: Salil Chowdhury

Costume Drama: Jaise Radha Ne Mala Japi

"Tere Mere Sapne" (1971) is a Navketan film, produced by Dev Anand, and written and directed by his brother Vijay Anand. Both brothers starred in it too, along with Mumtaz and Hema Malini. The story is based on a novel by A. J. Cronin, "The Citadel". Dev Anand plays a doctor working in a coal-mining village. Most of the film is shot on location in Chhindwara, an area in Madhya Pradesh known for coal mines .

S. D. Burman adorned the film with melodious compositions two of which have appeared in this space earlier under another theme. They are Hai maine kasam lee and Jeevan ki bagiya mahkegi. This is the third one, a sweet solo by Lata Mangeshkar. Enjoy!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Aaj Na Chhodenge

Presenting a lively duet from "Kati Patang" (1971) that is out of season at this time of the year, but fits well in our theme. The film and all its songs were huge hits. The lead pair--Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh--was very popular too.

The story of a young woman pretending to be a widow appealed to viewers because of its differentness. Gulshan Nanda had written the story and screenplay based on a novel by Cornell Woolrich, I Married A Dead Man. Shakti Samanta was the director. His collaboration with Rajesh Khanna was very successful that resulted in nine films. "Aradhana" was the first and "Kati Patang" the second.

Enjoy this number from the happening '70s!

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: R. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Laaga Chunari Mein Daag

My parents (God, the creator) have sent me to my marital home (this world) with a clean chunari (self, soul), but I have soiled it by getting involved in worldly pleasures and sins. Now how do I hide it when I go back (leave this world)? How do I face them with a soiled chunari (tainted self)?

This is the essence of this classic from "Dil Hi To Hai" (1963). Raj Kapoor and Nutan played the lead roles in this film. A superb composition by Roshan, philosophical lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi based on a Kabir bhajan (produced below), and Manna Dey's soulful voice make this solo an unforgettable number. Raj Kapoor plays the singer and Padmini, the dancer in this song.

Meri Chunri Mein Parigayo Daag Piya 

 

Panch Tat Ki Bani Chunariya
Sorah So Baid Laag Kiya 
Yeh Chunri Mere Maike Te Aayee
Sasure Mein Manva Khoye Diya
Mal Mal Dhoye Daag Na Chhute 
Gyan Ka Sabun Laye Piya 
Kahat Kabir Daag Tab Chhuti Hai
Jab Sahib Apnaye Liya

Singer: Manna Dey
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music: Roshan

Costume Drama: Baat Chalat Nayi Chunari

Presenting a lovely song from "Rani Roopmati" (1957) as a tribute to Mohammad Rafi on his death anniversary today. Here Rafi has lent his voice to Bharat Bhushan who is taking lessons in singing from his teacher. Well-known singer Krishnarao Chonkar has provided playback for the teacher. Enjoy this beautiful composition based on Hindustani classical music.

Another song Jhananananan jhananananan had appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

According to some sources this film was released in 1957 while some others say that the release date was in 1959.

Singers: Mohammad Rafi, Krishnarao Chonkar
Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
Music: S. N. Tripathi

Costume Drama: Maine Rang Li Aaj Chunariya

"Dulhan Ek Raat Ki" (1967) is a drama inspired by Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Nutan, Dharmendra and Rehman played the lead roles in this film. Presenting a beautiful composition by Madan Mohan, made more beautiful on the screen by Nutan.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
Music: Madan Mohan

Costume Drama: Sar Se Sarke Sarke Chunariya

"Silsila" (1981) is a romantic drama with great music. Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha, Sanjeev Kumar and Kulbhushan Kharbanda starred in it. Santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and renowned flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia composed music for this film as Shiv Hari. Enjoy this lovely song today.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Hasan Kamal
Music: Shiv Hari

Costume Drama: Odh Li Chunariya

Presenting a duet from "Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya" (1998) today. This is a romantic comedy written and directed by Sohail Khan. His brothers Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan starred in it along with Kajol and Dharmendra.

Singers: Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu
Lyrics: Sudhakar Sharma
Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Costume Drama: Radha On The Dance Floor

We come across both old and new songs in this space. Enjoy this bubbly dance number from "Student Of The Year" (2012) today. Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan appeared in lead roles in this romantic drama.

Singers: Shreya Ghoshal, Udit Narayan, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravijani
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan
Music: Vishal Shekhar

Costume Drama: Dhalki Jaaye Chundariya

"Nau Do Gyarah" (1957) is an engaging thriller. Produced by Dev Anand, this was his brother Vijay Anand's first directorial venture. It starred Dev Anand, his wife Kalpana Kartik, Madan Puri, Shashikala and Jeevan. Listen to a sweet solo from this film today. Some of the other lovely melodies from the same are Aankhon mein kya jee, Aajaa panchhi akela hai and Hum hain raahi pyaar ke.

Kalpana Kartik's maiden name was Mona Singha. She featured in only six films in the 1950s, co-starring with Dev Anand in all of them.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Chunari Sambhal Gori

Presenting an early R. D. Burman composition today. This energetic song from "Baharon Ke Sapne" (1967) features Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh, Anwar Hussain and Bela Bose with a group of dancers. Anwar Hussain was Jaddanbai's son and Nargis' half-brother.

The tune has a wonderful folkish touch to it. The number sounds fresh and is enjoyable even today. Most of the film was shot in black and white. So the visuals have an old world charm about them. It is a pity that the video is not of a very good quality.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: R. D. Burman