Music In The Mountains: Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat

The stories of many Hindi films have been woven around pairs of twins. "Sharmilee" (1971) is one of them. Raakhee excels in her portrayal of two twin sisters: one shy and gentle, while the other bold and outgoing. She was paired with Shashi Kapoor, and the two of them delivered a hit film. Music of course played a big role in the film's success.

Listen to this song! Poet Neeraj's craft shines in his eloquent Hindi. Keeping the nature of the two sisters in mind, S. D. Burman composed a unique track by juxtaposing Western and Indian pieces to create this melody. Interestingly, the lyrics and the music accompanying them evoke melancholy, and the instrumental interludes convey exuberance. Yet, the two together gel wonderfully well to make this beautiful solo.

Two other songs from the same film have appeared in this space earlier. They are Aaj madhosh hua jaaye re in another theme and O meri o meri o meri sharmilee in the ongoing theme.

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

Music In The Mountains: O Meri O Meri O Meri Sharmilee

Gopaldas Saxena 'Neeraj' passed away yesterday at the age of 93. He was a prominent poet who was equally adept at writing in Hindi and Urdu. He served as a professor of Hindi literature at a college in Aligarh for many years. He has also written lyrics of some very popular songs in Hindi films. His monumental verse Karwan guzar gaya gubar dekhte rahe was used in the 1965 film 'Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal'. Its highly philosophical and deeply meaningful words have been interpreted in many different ways from being gently hurtful to introspective to inspirational.

Today's song is a tribute to him. I was looking for something which would fit into our ongoing theme, and settled on this light-hearted, frothy solo from "Sharmilee" (1971). It was a super-hit film at its time with a good story and wonderful music. Raakhee is the leading lady in a very memorable double role, and Shashi Kapoor is the male lead. While referring to Raakhee's beautiful eyes, Neeraj has inserted his name very aptly in one of the lines of the song. That makes this a little more special!

Another song Aaj madhosh hua jaye re from the same film has appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

Singer: Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman

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: Doongi Tainu Reshami Rumaal

Rumaal, the small piece of cloth that is used by adults and children, men and women, the rich and the poor alike appears as today's subject in our ongoing theme. Primarily used as a handy wipe, its larger variety is sometimes used as a neckwear or a headscarf. Trays of gifts exchanged on ceremonious occasions and offerings to deities in temples are often covered with decorative rumaals. Chamba rumaal from Himachal Pradesh is well-known for its beautiful embroidery depicting mythical stories.

Enjoy a song from "Prem Pujari" (1970) today in which the rumaal appears as a part of the colourful costume sported by a group of women dancers. This was the first film directed by Dev Anand. He was the writer, producer and the male lead too. The film is remembered for some evergreen songs like Rangeela re, Shokhiyon mein ghola jaye and Phoolon ke rang se. Watch the beauteous Waheeda Rehman perform the spirited gidda with her friends in this lovely composition.

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

Adornments: Choodi Nahin Ye Mera Dil Hai

Glass bangles are one of the loveliest trinkets that a woman adorns herself with. Equally beautiful are the lyrics of this duet about bangles from "Gambler"(1971) penned by Neeraj. Presenting this lovely composition for your listening pleasure today.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman

Her Story: The Baby's Here!

Presenting a duet from "Sharmilee" (1971) today that shows the journey of a couple from the wedding to the arrival of their bundle of joy. With this, we come to the point at which we had started our story, that is, the birth of our heroine. The very same little girl is a mother today. And though I do not believe in celebrating any "Day", it is a coincidence that I am posting this song on the eve of the "Mother's Day". This also happens to the 50th post in this series.

This baby--it does not matter whether it is a girl or a boy--will grow with the love and care of its parents. There will be lullabies, birthday parties, going to school and everything that happens during growing up. But we will not chronicle all of that in this space. We will continue with our story. This will remain "Her Story" in which the child may sometimes make an appearance.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman

Her Story: Stork's Visiting!

The birth of a baby. That is the single most important event that changes everything in the life of a couple. The months leading up to that special moment are spent in pleasant anticipation of the days to come. Presenting a duet from "Tere Mere Sapne" (1971)--the second song from this film to appear in this space--that shows the expectant parents singing and dreaming about their soon-to-arrive baby.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman
 

Her Story: Bliss!

The newly-weds are finding bliss in each other's company. If they can be happy doing routine domestic chores (see previous post), they can have the time of their lives riding a simple bicycle. The modest two-wheeler never looked so "cool" as it did in this lovely duet from "Tere Mere Sapne" (1971).

Trivia: Most of this film was shot on location around the coal mines in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. It is based on A. J. Cronin's novel "The Citadel".

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Lyrics: Neeraj
Music: S. D. Burman