Music In The Mountains: Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale

Deviating from the romantic songs that have appeared so far in this series, let us listen to a sturdy mountain song that is folkish in nature. Embellished with Gulzar's beautiful lyrics and Vishal Bhardwaj's lively composition, this is a number that makes us tap our feet and clap along with its energetic rhythm. This is from "Maachis" (1996), a film woven around the Sikh unrest in Punjab in the 1980s. In spite of the dark shadow of militancy in the background, this is a light-hearted song where friends rejoice and reminisce about their lovers/fiancees back home in rural Punjab. Along with penning the lyrics, Gulzar wrote and directed the film too. Tabu, Om Puri, Chandrachur Singh and Jimmy Shergill were part of the cast.

Singers: Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: Vishal Bhardwaj

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: Shaam Rangeen Hui Hai

A hauntingly beautiful duet today from a forgotten film "Kanoon Aur Mujrim" (1981). Suresh Wadkar and Usha Mangeshkar have lent their voices to this superb composition by C. Arjun. He is the man behind the hugely popular songs from "Jai Santoshi Maa" that released in 1975. One of his compositions Saawan Ki Pari from "Murder On Highway" (1970) has appeared in this space in an earlier theme.

Not much is known about the film from which today's song is being posted. Its video is not available. And to top it all, there seems to be some dispute about who the lyricist is. Some credit these lovely lines to Ahmed Wasi, and some to Kaifi Azmi. Such sketchy details are usually a deterrent to posting a song. But the sheer allure of this melody is hard to resist.

So here it is!

Singers: Usha Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Ahmed Wasi/Kaifi Azmi
Music: C. Arjun

Costume Drama: Huzoor Is Kadar Bhi Na Itraa Ke Chaliye

"Masoom" (1983) is the first film directed by Shekhar Kapur. It is an adaptation of Erich Segal's novel Man, Woman and Child. Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi are the lead actors. Tanuja, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey are in supporting roles. Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar appear as child actors.

Watch some amusing dance steps and fun acts by Naseeruddin Shah and Saeed Jaffrey in this entertaining duet.

Singers: Suresh Wadkar, Bhupinder
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: R. D. Burman

Saawan Songs: Lagi Aaj Saawan Ki Phir Wo Jhadi

Saawan is not always about song and dance. It is about melancholy too. As in today's song. It is from "Chandni" (1989). This is the second song to appear in this space from this film. The first one was Mere haathon mein posted in the Adornments theme.

Singers: Suresh Wadkar, Anupama Deshpande
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Shiv Hari

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

Saawan Songs: Patjhad Saawan Basant Bahaar

"Sindoor" (1987) was a family drama starring Shashi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Govinda, Jayaprada and Neelam. Rishi Kapoor made a guest appearance. Presenting a very popular song from this film today in its several versions.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar, Mohammed Aziz
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal

Rain Songs: Baadal Ghumad Badh Aaye

Sai Paranjpye's "Saaz"(1998) was perhaps inspired by the lives of sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. It told the tale of two sisters who inherit nothing but immense musical talent from their father. How much the rest of the film had in common with the real life story of the legendary sisters is not known. Being all about singers, it had 10 wonderful songs and the music was composed by Yashwant Deo, Bhupen Hazarika, Zakir Hussain and Raj Kamal. A lovely track from this film today. There are two versions, one in male voice and another in female voice. The clip for the female version is not available. I could not find out who amongst the four named above has composed this particular number.

Singer: Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

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: Megha Re Megha Re

Here is a wonderful song from "Pyaasa Sawan" (1981), a reasonably successful film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. It featured Jeetendra in a double role--playing father and son--along with Moushumi Chatterji and Reena Roy as the leading ladies. This duet contains very high-pitched notes throughout, beautifully rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Suresh Wadkar. Though a gifted singer, Wadkar could not make much of a mark in playback singing for Hindi films.

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar
Lyrics: Santosh Anand
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal