Music In The Mountains: Jaaiye Aap Kahaan Jaayenge

"Mere Sanam" (1965) is one of those films which were not exceptional in the story department, yet they were hits at the box office because of their superlative music and beautiful locations. The story is predictable, the characters are black and white without any shades of grey. They fit in the usual slots of hero, heroine, villain, vamp and comedian. But the film worked, as nothing in it was terribly wrong either. Also, it was in tune with the kind of films being made at that time.

Music is one of the main reasons why we talk about the film even after so many years. Enjoy this solo by Asha Bhosle in her inimitable style. The lovely landscape of Kashmir provides a fitting backdrop to her vibrant vocals.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: O. P. Nayyar

Music In The Mountains: Dil Pukare

After digressing a bit in the last few posts, we are back to the genre of romantic duets today. "Jewel Thief" (1967) is a super-hit spy thriller which is remembered for its intriguing story and melodious music even today. A significant part of the film was shot in picturesque Sikkim, adding a lot of colour and visual delight to the production. Dev Anand and Vyjayanthimala sparkled under the able direction of Vijay Anand. They were supported by an ensemble cast of Ashok Kumar, Tanuja, Helen, Anju Mahendru and Faryal. Perhaps Dev Anand was shown having dalliances with these pretty ladies in an effort to project him as an Indian James Bond.

Enjoy this syrupy sweet song from this film which appeals to listeners across generations and hasn't lost its magic one bit. On the contrary, it has matured well like old wine!

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Music In The Mountains: Koi Nahin Hai

An indulgent dad, a haughty daughter, an honest manager, a wicked thekedaar, a good-natured sidekick, a caring sister, a love triangle, vast estates, superb locales, song and dance, some unsavoury skeletons in the closet, revenge, crime. Some or all of these ingredients have been thrown in to cook up many a potboiler. "Patthar Ke Sanam" (1967) is no exception. Writer Gulshan Nanda used several of these to put together the story of this film. Yet, it did quite well. Good music and a handsome lead trio-- Manoj Kumar, Waheeda Rehman and Mumtaz-- contributed largely to the success of this production.

Here is a solo from this film. Shot beautifully against the backdrop of imposing mountains, it focuses exclusively on the charm of Waheeda Rehman; but for the fleeting appearance of Mumtaz towards the end. No change of costume for the leading lady and no army of accompanying dancers!

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal

Music In The Mountains: In Baharon Mein Akele Na Phiro

"Mamta" (1966) touched viewers' hearts with a good story, great music and superb performances by its lead actors: Ashok Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Dharmendra. Deftly directed by Asit Sen, this is a remake of his Bengali film 'Uttar Falguni'. Suchitra Sen featured in both the versions. She is spectacular in her dual role of mother and daughter. The film is a perfect example of how effective melodrama can be if presented with finesse and honesty. It is remembered for its gripping courtroom drama. Presenting a lovely duet from this film today.

Another song Rahen na rahen hum from the same film has appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Roshan

Music In The Mountains: Vaada Karo Jaanam

Enjoy a melodious duet today from "Sabse Bada Rupaiya" (1976). Mehmood produced this film, while S. Ramanathan is the director. Moushumi Chatterji and Vinod Mehra played the lead couple.

The duo Basu Manohari composed music for this film. Basudeb Chakraborty and Manohari Singh had both worked extensively with R. D. Burman as his assistants. They also worked independently as a team and composed musical scores for films. Both were very talented musicians in their own right, yet the effect of their association with R. D. Burman can be felt in this song.

Manohari Singh was a saxophonist, but he had also mastered several other western instruments. He was the main arranger for R. D. Burman and played saxophone in many memorable songs. Similarly Basudeb Chakraborty's contribution resulted in the creation of a large number of unforgettable songs. A big salute to the creativity of these geniuses!

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Basu Manohari

Costume Drama: Aankhon Mein Kya Jee

A lilting duet today from "Nau Do Gyarah" (1957). This is one of the few films in which Dev Anand starred with his wife Kalpana Kartik. Another solo Dhalki Jaaye Chundariya from this film has appeared in this space in the ongoing theme.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Jab Mera Aanchal Dhalega

An Asha Bhosle-Mohammad Rafi duet to honour Ashatai on her birthday today. This is from "Picnic" (1966).  Asha Bhosle has sung numerous songs in this western dance genre. This is not very well-known, but a nice one and fits well in our theme. Another song Aanchal ko udne do from the same film has appeared in this space under the same theme.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. Mohinder

Costume Drama: O Kali Topi Vaale Zara Naam To Bataa

Presenting a duet from "Kali Topi Lal Rumal" (1959) today. It is not much known. Other better known songs from this film are Laagi chhute na ab to sanam and Dagaa dagaa vai vai. Shakila, Chandrashekhar, Agha, Mukri and K. N. Singh are part of the cast.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Chitragupt

Costume Drama: Meri Duniya Hai Maa Tere Aanchal Mein

Here is a touching tribute to a mother from her son. This beautiful solo is from "Talash" (1969). Rajendra Kumar, Sharmila Tagore (in a double role), Balraj Sahni, Helen and Tun Tun are part of the cast in this romantic musical. S. D. Burman as the singer and composer has made this one of the best songs sung for a mother in Hindi films. All the other songs in this album are very good too.

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

Costume Drama: Are Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Ghazab

A playful duet from "Teen Devian" (1965) today. Dev Anand, Simi Garewal, Nanda and Kalpana featured in this film. It is a story of a poet who falls in love with three women. The inspiration for this story came from D. H. Lawrence's works. The film has many good songs, one of which Kahin bekhayaal hokar has appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Aanchal Ko Udne Do

Enjoy this sweet song from "Picnic" (1966) today. It is a social drama starring Manoj Kumar, Kalpana, Shubha Khote, David and Murad. A forgotten film and a forgotten song!

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: S. Mohinder

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: Sar Par Topi Laal

Presenting a lively and energetic duet from "Tumsa Nahin Dekha" (1957) today. It features Ameeta and Shammi Kapoor as the dancing duo.

Ameeta was born as Qamar Sultana. She appeared in some films before the makers of this film decided to promote her in a big way by casting her as the leading lady in this production. But, as luck would have it, the film catapulted the career of Shammi Kapoor who had been a struggling actor until then to newer heights.

Enjoy this O.P. Nayyar composition. It is full of verve and rhythm, a characteristic of the composer.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: O. P. Nayyar

Costume Drama: Pallo Latake

A playful duet from "Nauker" (1979) today. This was a family entertainer with Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri playing the lead roles. This duet is based on a traditional Rajasthani folk song.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: R. D. Burman

Costume Drama: Chhod Do Aanchal

A lovely romantic duet today from "Paying Guest" (1957). It starred Dev Anand and Nutan in lead roles. Some of the other very good songs from this film are Chand fir nikla, Mana janab ne pukara nahi, O nigahe mastana.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
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

Costume Drama: Inhin Logon Ne

I am happy to be updating my blog after a long gap with a new theme: Costume Drama. As the name suggests, I will present songs from Hindi films that feature different items sported by a character as a part of his or her costume. Hoping to come across some great songs here! Unlike my earlier themes, I will not conclude this theme at any point. Instead, will post as and when I find good songs that fit in this theme.

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Here is an evergreen number from "Pakeezah" (1972) to open this new series. This film was Kamal Amrohi's ambitious project that he started in the early '60s with his then wife Meena Kumari. But soon the couple fell apart and as a result, work on the film stalled. Shooting resumed more than a decade later where a visibly older and unwell Meena Kumari completed her scenes as well as dance sequences. The film did not do too well initially after its release. Ironically, it picked up after its leading lady's passing away within a few weeks.

Ghulam Mohammed's wonderful compositions were and are still very popular.

Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Ghulam Mohammed

Saawan Songs: Saawan Ke Din Aaye

Many great personalities contributed in the making of "Bhumika" (1977), a film inspired by Marathi stage and screen actress of the 1940s Hansa Wadkar's memoirs, Sangtye Aika. Smita Patil gave an excellent performance in the role of the protagonist. Shyam Benegal was the director. Naseeruddin Shah, Amol Palekar, Anant Nag, Amrish Puri, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Om Puri were part of the cast. Girish Karnad and Pandit Satyadev Dubey wrote the screenplay and dialogue respectively. A beautiful duet from this film today. The clip with the full song does not have the video from the film, while a slightly shorter version of the song is with the actual visuals. So posting both the clips.

Singers: Preeti Sagar, Bhupinder
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Vanraj Bhatia

Saawan Songs: Saawan Nahin Bhadon Nahin

Presenting a lively composition by R. D. Burman today. This energetic duet is from "Kudrat" (1981). This is a drama based on the theme of reincarnation. It was written and directed by Chetan Anand. It featured Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini in lead roles. The cast included Vinod Khanna, Priya Rajvansh and Raaj Kumar. Other well-known songs from this film are Humein tumse pyaar kitna, Tune o rangeele kaisa jaadu kiya and Chhodo sanam kaahe ka gham. In spite of having a great cast and good music, the film did not do well commercially. It did win the Filmfare Award for Best Story, though.

Singers: Asha Bhosle, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: R. D. Burman

Garden Of Five Senses: Baar Baar Dekho

A super-hit solo from "China Town" (1962) today. It is a thriller featuring Shammi Kapoor in a double role. This song--a dance number in a club--achieved phenomenal popularity, and is played by band groups at weddings even to date.

Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Music: Ravi