Music In The Mountains: Husn Pahadon Ka

The lovely song I am featuring today is from "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" (1985), a super hit film produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. His youngest son Rajiv Kapoor and newcomer Mandakini played the lead couple. The film follows the course of the river Ganga from Gangotri to Kolkata, personified by the character played by Mandakini, also named Ganga. The title of the film aptly underlines the symbolism of how Ganga is fresh and pure at her source and how she gets polluted along the way.

Mandakini's real name was Yasmin Joseph. An anglo-Indian from Meerut, she was given her screen name by Raj Kapoor. She appeared in a few other films, but they were not as successful.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain

Costume Drama: Agre Se Ghagaro

Enjoy a solo by Asha Bhosle today from a hit film "Chor Machaye Shor" (1974) starring Shashi Kapoor and Mumtaz. All the songs from this film were appreciated by the audiences. However, the most popular amongst them Le jayenge le jayenge is still a favourite at weddings.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain

Rain Songs: Barkha Ka Mausam Jee Ko Jalaake Chalaa Jaaye

Sometimes it is good to remember songs that were moderately popular. Today's song is one such. It is from "Salaakhen"(1975). This film belonged to action/thriller genre and starred Shashi Kapoor with Sulakshana Pandit. Playback is by Asha Bhosle. Her usual touches are very much there.

Singer: Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain

Rain Songs: Sona Kare Jhilmil Jhilmil

It is interesting how we interpret the sound of rain and express it in various different ways. Of course, it does sound different depending upon whether it is a mere drizzle, a sharp shower or sheets of torrential rain. We have heard it go jhir jhir, rim jhim, rum jhum and tip tip many times. Now listen to it go taapur tupur in this song from "Paheli" (1977). This film marked the debut of Suresh Wadkar as a playback singer. The lead players are Satyajeet and Nameeta Chandra. They faded into oblivion quite soon.

Singers: Hemlata, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain

Rain Songs: Ghir Aaye Megh

Let me confess that today's song is being posted not because of its own merit but because it happens to be from Madhuri Dixit's debut film "Abodh" (1984). It is interesting to look at the raw Madhuri. The song is reasonably good, but may not have made it here had it not been for the leading lady. Who would have thought that she would rule the Hindi film world? After all, this film was a Rajshri production--simple and non-glamorous--and Madhuri played a young village girl who was married off at an early age.

Singer: Hemlata
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain

Rain Songs: Megha O Re Megha

An almost forgotten song from "Sunayana" (1979) today. A Rajshri production, this film was said to be inspired by Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights". One can see glimpses of an early Naseeruddin Shah in the background when Rameshwari lip-syncs on the screen.

Singer: Hemlata
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain

Her Story: Tying The Knot! - 3

Today's song is being posted not so much for its music, but more because of its visuals. It brings alive many wedding rituals beautifully. No wonder then, that it is from a film called "Vivah" (2006).

Singers: Sudesh Bhosle, Ravindra Jain
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain
Music: Ravindra Jain