Shankar-Jaikishan’s duets (1): Mukesh/Rafi with female singers

25 April 2017

Shankar JaikishanIn the last calendar year I did a series of posts on Shankar-Jaikishan’s songs: singerwise for Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Rafi, Manna Dey, ‘Other singers’ and two posts on their dance songs – for Lata Mangeshkar and female dance duets. Several readers rightly remarked that SJ’s series would not be complete without covering their duets. That is true for all top MDs, but more so for SJ because they dominated the scene during the heydays of ‘Bollywood’ – when our films moved away from social issues of factory workers, farmer’s indebtedness and poverty to song and dance romance; when the heroes and heroines went to Kashmir and danced around flowers. We had not become affluent, but we went to cinema to suspend our disbelief and escape for three hours in darkness to the dream world of glamorous stars gallivanting on the screen.

Duets have always been a part of our film music right since the birth of talkies in 1931. SJ’s debut with the great romantic Raj Kapoor in Barsaat (1949) gave them scope to compose a supremely melodious and soft duet Chhod gaye baalam. Music was an integral part even in their films with socialistic theme like Aawara and Shri 420. RK-Nargis off-screen romance added to their magic on the screen with some iconic duets like Dum bhar jo udhar munh phere and Pyar hua iqaraar hua. Even in a not so successful film Aah, they gave Aa ja re ab mera dil pukara which pulls at your heartstrings.

With SJ rising to the top in the 60s’ Bollywood, they got to compose music for films with top heroes like Shammi Kappoor, Rajendra Kumar and Dev Anand. That was music with different sensibility from RK Films. Now there were breezy duets with Rafi being the main male singer.

Their duets would require a good number of posts. However, I would compress them in two parts. In the first, I present the duets with Rafi/Mukesh being the male singer opposite a female singer. In the second part I would cover the remaining, i.e. duets with other male singers opposite a female singer and hybrid songs, including songs with more than two singers. As usual, I would try to exclude songs that have featured earlier, such as in the series on the best songs for the years 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955 or otherwise.

Mukesh-Lata Mangeshkar duets

Mukesh’s entry to RK coincided with SJ’s, and the association made him the voice of Raj Kapoor. Lata Mangeshkar, too, joined the banner along with them. Thus, SJ, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar became a part of the RK team, not to forget the lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri. Whenever SJ worked outside the RK banner, this team largely remained the same. Later, when there was rift between SJ and Lata Mangeshkar, we have Mukesh duets with other singers too. I can recall some duets with Sharda (Chale jana zara thahro, Duniya ki sair kar lo from Around the World) and Asha Bhosle (Daag na lag jaaye from Mera Naam Joker). I am aware there are some genuine lovers of these songs, but one can safely say when we think of SJ’s duets for Mukesh, what comes in our mind is his duets with Lata Mangeshkar.

1. Ye vada karo chaand ke saamne from Rajhath (1956), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

I have stated several times earlier that it would be highly unfair to describe SJ’s music as primarily due to Raj Kapoor’s musical sensibilities. Here they create a great romantic duet in the backdrop of ‘chaand’ picturised on Pradeep Kumar and Madhubala.

2. Dil ki nazar se nazron ke dil se from Anaadi (1959), lyrics Shailendra

Anaadi was the comeback vehicle of Mukesh after his ill-advised forays into acting and film production turned out to be a disaster. And, what a seamless reunion it was, as if he had never been away! The film had another great duet Wo chaand khila wo tare hanse, which has been discussed on SoY earlier. You can see the balance between the lyricists – Wo chaand khila was written by Hasrat Jaipuri. This too is from outside RK banner, though picturised on Raj Kapoor and Nutan.

3. Ni baliye rut hai bahaar ki from Kanhaiya (1959), lyrics Shailendra

Let us move from the soft and soulful to a fast paced Punjabi-style wedding song. The lead stars are again Raj Kapoor-Nutan in a film from an outside banner.

4. Duniyawalon se door jalnewalon se door from Ujala (1959) lyrics Shailendra

This is the younger Kapoor sibling who transformed into a rebel star and carved out his own niche in face of the great trinity of Dilip Kumar-Raj Kapoor-Dev Anand. SJ compose an appropriate fast-paced dance duet picturised on Shammi Kapoor and Mala Sinha.

5. Aankhon mein rang kyun aya from Ek Phool Aur Chaar Kaante (1960), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

Now a soft romantic duet picturised on a different pair, Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rahman. The team remains the same, and they create great melodies for different banners and stars.

6. Tum roothi raho main manata rahun from Aas Ka Panchhi (1961), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

The surprise Jubilee star Rajendra Kumar owes his success a great deal to SJ’s music, and this film was the beginning of their association. One of the best roothna-manana songs, picturised on Rajendra Kumar-Vyjayanthimala.

7. Laakhon taare aasmaan par ek magar dhhondhe na mila from Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962), lyrics Shailendra

Let me switch to a sad duet picturised on Manoj Kumar (with Mala Sinha) who was another surprise star propelled by some outstanding music in this film. This film also had a couple of more excellent Mukehs-Lata Mangeshkar duets, such as Ibtida-e-ishq mein hum saari raat jaage and Bol meri taqdeer mein kya hai mere humsafar ab to bata.

8. Hum tum ye khoi khoi raahein from Rangoli (1962), lyrics Shailendra

Tucked inside this Kishore Kumar-Vyjayanthimala starrer is this wonderful duet which one is apt to miss as it is picturised on an unknown pair – Jagdev and Sadhana Roychaudhary.

Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar

Rafi being the most versatile singer, we have his great duets with several singers besides Lata Mangeshkar, unlike Mukesh whose pairings with other singers (for SJ) were unremarkable. At a very early stage of their career, SJ gave a timeless Rafi-Lata duet Kaali ghata ghir ayi re from the film Kaali Ghata (1951). I skip a few years when they create a great haunting duet based on Arabic music.

9. Aa ja ke intezaar mein from Halaku (1956), lyrics Shailendra

This film also had Dil ka na karna etbaar, but Aa ja ke intezaar mein has this feeling of what Subodh describes as a spirit calling out to another across the divide that separates the two worlds.

10. Dheere dheere chal chaand gagan mein from Love Marriage (1959), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

We have seen some lovely songs in which the word ‘dheere’ is repeated in an earlier post (on repeat words). Here is a great romantic song which I had kept for this post.

11. Kya mil gaya haye kya mil gaya from Sasural (1961), lyrics Shailendra

In Aas Ka Panchhi, SJ had used Mukesh and Subir Sen for Rajendra Kumar with outstanding effect. But they would settle for Rafi as the long term voice for him. One of the big grossers of its time, if you watch Sasural today, it would appear trite. SJ’s foot-tapping music was enormously popular, which could be a factor for the film’s commercial success. Rajendra Kumar was well on his way to becoming the Jubilee Kumar, riding on the crest of SJ’s music.

12. Tujhe jeevan ki dor se baandh liya hai from Asli Naqli (1962), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

SJ repeat their magic they had created for Dev Anand in Love Marriage, in their next venture Asli Naqli. Readers may recall Hrishikesh Mukherjee had used Tujhe jeevan ki dor se baandh liya hai among others to show an adolescent Guddi’s obsession with films and film star Dharmendra and picturised it as dream sequence between him and Jaya Bhaduri.

13. Dil tera deewana hai sanam from Dil Tera Deewana (1962), lyrics Shailendra

Who gave the best/most successful songs for Shammi Kapoor – OP Nayyar or Shankar-Jakishan? I leave it for the readers to answer it, but the question itself underscores SJ’s central position in the career of Shammi Kapoor. Another nice Rafi-Lata duet in the film was Mujhe kitna pyar hai tumse, but Dil tera deewana hai sanam has all the exuberance of the Shammi Kapoor. .

14. Aawaz de ke humein tum bulaao from Professor (1964), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

From a fast foot-tapping dance number SJ now switch to its exact opposite on Shammi Kapoor himself with an excellent duet of long distance separation.

Rafi with Asha Bhosle

I have used the term ‘reluctant’ to describe some great music directors’ association with Asha Bhosle. SJ have to be added to this list if you consider their songs for Asha Bhosle compared to her elder sibling and the prima donna, Lata Mangeshkar. However, they composed an outstanding Rafi-Asha Bhosle duet very early in their career in the highly acclaimed film Boot Polish.

15. Nanhe munne bachche teri mutthi mein kya hai from Boot Polish (1953), lyrics Shailendra

The song sets out the theme of hope for the street-children, Baby Naaz and Ratan Kumar, who have been forced into begging by their cruel aunt. Mentored by David, the children are confident enough to proclaim, Mutthi mein hai taqdeer hamari, humne kismet ko apne bas mein kiya hai.

16. Aa ha ayi milan ki bela from Ayi Milan Ki Bela (1964), lyrics Shailendra

This title song from Ayi Milan Ki Bela represents the heydays of Bollywood of escapist song-dance romance. SJ exploited it to the hilt to give a large number of roaring hits. There was a Rafi-Lata duet too in the film: O sanam tere ho gaye hum.

17. Yahi hai wo saanjh aur savera from Saanjh Aur Savera (1964), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

From the fast and foot-tapping Ayi milan ki bela, now I present a very nice, soft and soulful duet picturised on Guru Dutt and Meena Kumari. Just shows that Asha Bhosle had more potential, but SJ did not give her enough attention until it was too late.

Rafi with Suman Kalyanpur

SJ’s tiff with Lata Mangeshkar from mid-60s came as a godsend for Suman Kalyanpur with several duets with Rafi falling in her lap, which would have gone to Lata Mangeshkar. Many of them became iconic and humongously popular, such as Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche har zaban par.

18. Tumne pukara aur hum chale aye from Rajkumar (1964), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

Shammi Kapoor is in full form with Sadhna fully reciprocating.

19. Tujhe pyar karte hain karte rahenge from April Fool (1964), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

My most favourite Rafi-Suman Kalyanpur song is this extremely melodious duet. When I hear this song, I don’t regret Lata Mangeshkar was not there. The film also had another very nice, but less heard Rafi-Suman Kalyanpur duet, Kah do kah do jahan se kah do ishq par zor nahi.

Rafi with Mubarak Begum

20. Mujhko apne gale laga le O mere hamrahi from Hamrahi (1963), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

This was a big picture starring the Jubilee Kumar Rajendra Kumar, from a big banner Prasad Productions of Madras. Mubarak Begum got an opportunity of her lifetime when this title duet turned out to be the most popular song from the film. She expected that she would be called by SJ for more mainstream songs on the leading lady. But that was not to be. If you believe in conspiracy theories, the story goes like this. She was called in to record the song when Lata Mangeshkar could not be available at the scheduled time. The idea was that on her return it would be dubbed in her voice. The song was so good, it was retained in Mubarak Begum’s voice, but the Empress was not pleased, and saw to it that she was put in her place.

{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }

1 ksbhatia April 25, 2017 at 8:00 am

AK ji ;

Thanks for the beautiful bouquet of Shankar Jaikishan’s hit parade of duets . Your article beautifully describes SJ’s hold on the batten in the 50s thru 70s . No doubt they were supreme over these years and holding a record of wining maximum numbers of Filmfare awards is no mean achievement . They were the one reason that uplifted the RK’s cinematic achievements . They were equally good outside RK’s camp .

As most of the popular duets have already been covered it will be a fun for me to look for the hidden ones . Posting Rafi , Asha song as a starter…..

Raat ke humsafar …..Rafi, Asha….An evening in paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdLICZI4X5o

2 KB April 25, 2017 at 8:50 am

Excellent collection to bring back old memories. One observation is that except for Raj kapoor and occasionally Sunil dutt almost all male stars were playbacked by Rafi in the late fifties and sixties and many were hits. Mukesh was more prominent in the fifties and sang for more heroes like Rajendra Kumar but was later replaced by Rafi. It is also good to recollect the fact that Asli Naqli duet was later used effectively in Guddi. SJ also gave good opportunities to Subir Sen in some of their films.

3 AK April 25, 2017 at 8:51 am

KS Bhatiaji,
We know SJ are your favourites. Raat ke hamsafar is a very good song. Thanks for mentioning it.

4 Shalan Lal April 25, 2017 at 10:40 am

Yes indeed it is wonderful post of so many songs seen on the screen when I was growing up. Difficult to tell the reality form the tinsel dream! and as Shakespere said, “if music be the food of love give me in excess!” Excess and yet want more!

Shalan La

5 Anil Kane April 25, 2017 at 3:51 pm

AK ji,

Excellent write up on SJ duets.

I wish ‘ai dil na mujhse chhupa’ from Badal was included. Picturised on Madhubala & Premnath.

Anil Kane.

6 AK April 25, 2017 at 4:38 pm

KB,
Thanks a lot. Outside RK films, Rafi has sung in many films for Raj Kapoor.

Shalan Lal,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.

Anil Kane,
Thanks a lot. While selecting songs, I have avoided years, such as 1949, 50, 51, 53 and. 55,
which have been reviewed in detail.

7 ksbhatia April 25, 2017 at 6:15 pm

Ak, KB ji’s

Here is a Rafi song for Raj Kapoor ….

Tum hi tum ho….Rafi, Lata…..Ek Dil Sau Afsaane…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6UbSKc6MOM

8 AK April 26, 2017 at 2:00 am

KS Bhatiaji,
Nice addition. It would be interesting to find out how many songs SJ composed for Rafi to go on Raj Kapoor. If we take all, Rafi must have sung for RK in about a dozen films. I am leaving it to statisticians.

9 D P Rangan April 26, 2017 at 5:36 am

AK

Where is your Garden of Eden where posts are hanging in clusters and when you gently shake them, one drops into the site. By now writing posts is second nature to you. What I admire about your present post is the effort that has gone into ensuring all songs posted are virgin. Even for our Bradman Bhatiaji finding such songs must be quite an effort. I expect him to post at least 50 songs by and by.
Let me close my comment with the pithy saying –
Feu de joie

10 Raghavan Vasudevan April 26, 2017 at 7:27 am

Yes one can count me too as SJ fan. Here a string of songs – duets – which
are rarely heard or played in the media. Few of them run away hits and a few just OK.

1, Mukesh & Suman – SJ have used rarely this pair.
song: aya na humko pyar jatana – film Pehchan.
2 Rafi & Suman – dil ki kitabi kori kori rahne do – Yaar Mera
3 Rafi & Asha – dil use do jaan – Andaz (1971)
4 Suman-Mukesh-Sharada – Vo pari kahan se – Pehchan
5 Rafi & Saira Banu – aaj ki raat ye kaise se raat – Aman

the list goes on and I limit to just 5

11 AK April 26, 2017 at 8:20 am

DP Rangan,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Writing posts is not a second nature for anyone. Even something seemingly fluffy requires some effort to put it up. In my case, it requires greater effort because of my logistical constraints. I don’t mean to sound heroic. I am humbled by the erudite readers’ support and that encourages me to carry on.

Mr Vasudevan,
Good to know that you are also an inveterate SJ fan, and liked some songs. Thanks for the additions.

12 KB April 26, 2017 at 8:55 am

Rafi and Asha had excellent duets in Latt Sahab ,Rajkumar and Pyar hi Pyar also. Although Talat and Hemant and Kishore did sing for SJ well the number of duets were not many.
Another singer who did well with SJ was Mannadey .
Mannadey was an alternate voice for Raj Kapoor and also sang for others under SJ it is suggested that his songs can be brought into a post.

13 AK April 26, 2017 at 8:59 am

KB,
I have planned a Part 2 for SJ’s douets for other male singers.

14 Giri April 26, 2017 at 12:39 pm

S-J were really on top in the 50’s and 60’s. No wonder they composed some beautiful duets. Your classification of them into Mukesh-Lata, Rafi-Lata etc. is interesting.
I feel the Rafi-Suman duet from Saanjh aur savera is a beautiful one well sung by both singers. Perhaps Suman ji’s training in classical music comes to the fore here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEQIxNYPV4
More than Lata ji’s tiff with S-J, I think her refusal to sing with Rafi earned Suman ji a number of duets with him.
Here is one more from Suraj:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7asNfK8SIJY
Thanks for another excellent post

15 AK April 26, 2017 at 4:31 pm

Giri,
Both the duets you havd added are excellent. Thanks a lot for the songs and thanks a lot for your appreciation.

16 ksbhatia April 26, 2017 at 6:34 pm

AK ji ;
As usual I am starting with some of SJ’s popular as well as less heard duets from the B & W era and will gradually move on stepping forward to modern coloured era songs .

2. Nazar nazar se ho rahi hai baat…..Lata, Mukesh….Main nashe mein hun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxhJqDTVPIo

3. Mini mini chi chi…..Lata, Mukesh….Kathputli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd_WkxyThaw

4. Ni baliye rut hai bahar ki…..Lata, mukesh…..Kanhaiya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H_u4EQboVc

5. Sirf tum hi to ho…..Rafi, Asha…..Badtmeez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ThCqbpQtdY

6.Rasa sayang re ……Rafi, Lata…..Singapore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBE0DAJj448&list=PLiATkyQfE_CjXYPiHvnZk4XBVxDyEoLdl

….to be contd….

17 ksbhatia April 26, 2017 at 6:54 pm

AK ji

In continuation here are some more duets….

7.Sau saal pehle …..Rafi, Lata…..Jab pyar kisi se hota hai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c1504KnX44

8.Tumhare hain tum se …..Rafi, Asha…..Boot Polish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPTmsFITtT0

9.Ye aankhen uff yu ma….Rafi, Lata…Jab pyar kisi se hota hai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkUc3xXimHk

10. Aaye go Aaye go……..Rafi, Aarti Mukherjee….Budtmeez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Eyoa5eXzw

……to be contd…..

18 Aruna April 26, 2017 at 9:47 pm

Strictly in my opinion, Mujhko Apne Gale Lagalo” is mother of all duets. Everything in this song is 10/10, could not find slightest of flaw in any respect there. This duet stands out at par with “Jo Wada Kya Wo Nibhana Padega”.

19 mumbaikar8 April 26, 2017 at 11:00 pm

AK,
Thanks for keeping the promise of SJ duets.
Asha has better songs with Rafi than Aaha ayi milan ki bela.
Mukesh was missing in just one Raj Kapoor movie Chori Chori, I do not understand what seamless reunion you are talking about.
Rajendra Kumar was a star when his union began with SJ.
In 1961 other than Aas ka panchhi and Sasural he had two more jubilee hits with Gharana and Zindagi aur Khwab with other music directors. Later in 60s he settled for them.
SJ had used Subir and Mukesh with ”outstanding effect” for Shammi Kapoor in Ujala and Boy Friend but later settled for Rafi, probably both the heroes opted for Rafi.
Giriji is right about the tiff , because in both April Fool and Raj Kumar Lata have solos.
I take karke jiska intazar over Mukjko apne gale lagalo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUC-bgGNKGk
”The Empress was not pleased, and saw to it that she was put in her place” you said it, but resent when I say something.
The Empress was usurped in duets ( you can check 1964- 1965 duets) all MDs except loyal LP opted for Rafi Suman or Rafi Asha, do you think the Empress did not do anything to put Rafi in place?

20 AK April 27, 2017 at 1:21 am

KS Bhatiaji,
‘Ni baliye’ is included in my list at #3. At least three duets in your list are new to me. Thanks for these additions.

Aruna,
Welcome to SoY. ‘Mujhko apne gale laga le’ is indeed an excellent song, but difficult to say it is the best duet of Rafi. You may like to see my old post on ‘Best duets of Rafi’.

Mumbaikar8,
“The Empress…”. You have to read in the context. I have started with “If you believe in conspiracy theory..” I have problems only if someone presents it as absolute truth within his/her personal knowledge which has been proved like a mathematical theorem.

21 N Venkataraman April 27, 2017 at 7:18 am

Akji,
Another wonderful post. To keep coming up with posts regularly is not an easy activity. And to come up with one post after the other, each as good as the other, if not better, all the time and sustaining reader’s interest, is all the more difficult. You have mastered this art of coming up with enjoyable pot roast of a post, carefully creating each post, paying attention to facts and figures, mixing all ingredients of good/great content in the right spreads. Despite the constraints, you make it look easy. I think that is what Ranganji too meant.

Duets are unique to Hindi films, for that matter, to Indian films, since nowhere else, couples sing to each other, neither in films nor in real life. But they have played a very important role so as to effectively express passions and emotions between Male and Female lead casts of the story. Many of the duets composed in 1950’s and 1960’s were superb. As you have said, this is true for almost all the top MDs, but more so for SJ because they dominated the scene in the aforementioned period when the thematic shift to romance happened.

Answering your poser “how many songs SJ composed for Rafi to go on Raj Kapoor”, I can recollect 10 films, and Md.Rafi might have rendered around 15 songs. But I can recollect only two songs (one solo and one duet) that Rafi sang for Raj Kapoor under SJ batten. The rest he sang for some other actor or were background songs. And Bhatiji has posted the duet (@7) from Ek Dil Sau Afsane. I think it may be only duet Rafi rendered for Raj Kapoor.
Thanks Akji for the post.

22 N Venkataraman April 27, 2017 at 7:54 am

A lovely Holi duet
Rang Khelo Rasiya Suratiya Pahchan by Md.Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, film Pooja (1954), lyrics Shailendra, music SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4C0Myw486U

There is a first part to this song.
Holi Ayi Pyari Pyari Bhar Pichakari Rang De Chunariya Hamaari (part1) by Md.Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, film Pooja (1954), lyrics Shailendra, music SJ
But Rafi sings only one line,” Do ghadi muskaaye aur murjhaaye, jivan ki phulvari”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJcUDUpC258

23 AK April 27, 2017 at 9:17 am

Venkataramanji,
Thanks a lot for your kind words and the details you have given about Rafi songs for Raj Kapoor. Until a few years ago I used to think Rafi never sang for Raj Kapoor.

Pooja‘s Holi song is too good. I was aware of the first part ‘Holi ayi pyari pyari’. This chorus Holi combines the style of Anil Biswas and Naushad. The second part was new to me.

24 ksbhatia April 27, 2017 at 9:31 am

AK , Venkatraman ji ;

Yes ; perhaps ek dil sau afsaane song is perhaps the only duet where Rafi has sung for Raj Kapoor . Rafi sang for Raj in Mera Naam Joker a solo ….sadke heer tujh pe …and in Barsaat as background song on Raj Kapoor……Mein zindgi mein hardam rota hi raha hoon . Other Mds like OPN , Ravi also used Rafi for Raj in some films .

Continuing my contribution , here are some more of SJ’s duets….

11.Begaani shaadi mein abdulla …Lata, Mukesh….Jis desh mein…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSnPpkttSeM

12.Gori chalo na hans ki chal….Rafi, Asha….Beti Bete….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yetJ589RPPk

13.Mujhe kitna pyar hai tumse….Rafi, Lata…..Dil Tera Deewana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9txeTZjLYc

14.Agar teri jalwa….Rafi, Suman….Beti Bete…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Os9qe3UFCg

15.Tum laakh chhopana chhaoge….Lata, Rafi….Singapore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5LvYNBUf9M

……to be contd…..

25 Peddadu April 28, 2017 at 9:35 am

AKji,
A nice post on my favourite artist. After going through your lists and others’, I cannot but list out a few of my fav. songs.

Dil se dil takraye Rafi- Geeta Dutt: Love Marriage 1959 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlYd36lNvyM)

Tum bin sajan barse nayan Rafi-Lata: Gaban 1966
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMYMdpKNK24)

Kya kya na sahe humne sitam Rafi- Lata: Mere Huzoor 1968 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx4AHoIeqsE)

Dil ka na karna aitbaar koi Rafi- Lata: Halaku 1956 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVKbxtmbkCE)

Aaj kal me dhal gaya Rafi- Lata: Beti Bete 1964
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Peh-Hz0kVB0)

Woh din yaad karo Rafi- Lata: Hum Rahi 1963
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX4_BvNmCSU)

Ek sawal mai karun Rafi- Lata: Sasural 1961
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYkwD8kDvCc)

Kaise samjhaaun badi nasamajh Rafi- Asha: Suraj 1966 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcBxEUptL34)

Pehla pehla pyar ka ishara Rafi- Lata: College Girl 1960 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqYsregXkE)

Hum aur tum aur ye sama Rafi- Lata: College Girl 1960 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wBqjJ0WH6Q)

Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe Rafi- Suman: Suraj 1966
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb9Lj8J-s94)

26 C.P.Rajagopalan April 28, 2017 at 9:52 am

AK, one important omission of Rafi-Suman is the title song of Dil Ek Mandir. Just btw, Rafi solo of Yaad na jaaye is one of my best songs ever.

27 N Venkataraman April 28, 2017 at 11:09 am

Akji & Bhatiaji,
Bhatiaji is right. Perhaps Sadaqe Hir Tujhape Ham Faqir Sadaqe from the film Mera Naam Joker may be the only solo, and Tum hi tum ho from the film Ek Dil Sau Afsaane may be the only duet, Md.Rafi sang for RajKapoor under SJ’s baton. Ghulam Mohammad too had made Md.Rafi sing some good songs for Raj Kapoor. As far as I could gather, Md.Rafi sang 22 songs (6 solos, 14 duets and 3 triads) for Raj Kapoor under other MD’s.
O P Nayyar- Do Ustaad (1959) – 1 solo, 5 Duets
Ghulam Mohammad – Amber (1952) – 1 solo, 4 duets
Naushad – Dastaan (1950) – 3 duets
Andaz (1949) – 1 duet
C Ramchandra – Sargam – 2 Triads
S Mohinder – Paapi (1953) – 1 solo, 1 duet
Ravi – Nazraana (1960) – 1 solo
Kalyanji Anandji – Chhalia (1961) – 1 solo

A few more Duets that Rafi sang for SJ
Rafi sings for Shammi Kapoor and Lata sings for Vaijayantimala. The lyrics for the film College Girl (1960) was penned by Rajinder Krishan

Pehla Pehla Pyar Ka Ishara, Kaho Ji Dekha Hai Kabhi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hoqFvnuHig

Hum Bhi Karte Pyar Hai Samjh Me Aaya, Chali Ho Kahan Dekho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1FIXoPS8jg

Ye College Ka Zamaana Ye Hasna Hasana,ye Banna Banaana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX7AVDXtRoQ

28 N Venkataraman April 28, 2017 at 11:11 am

One more duet from College Girl (1960)
Hum Aur Tum Aur Ye Samaa Lovely Lovely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wBqjJ0WH6Q

29 mumbaikar8 April 28, 2017 at 11:45 am

AK,
Rafi had couple of talkable songs with Sharda
Seema (1971) – Jab Bhi Yeh Dil Udaas Hota Hai – Mohd.Rafi & Sharda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL83GRm5bjQ
Jane Chaman Shola Badan – Mohd Rafi, Manoj Kumar, Gumnaam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2f0NzCohyY

30 Giri April 28, 2017 at 12:51 pm

AK.
Regarding the ‘conspiracy theory’ about the Humrahi duet, I am curious to know if ‘track singing’ was in vogue in 1962-63 itself. I am under the impression that songs were recorded live those days.

31 Subodh Agrawal April 28, 2017 at 1:43 pm

Great post AK. My own favorite among Mukesh-Lata songs is ‘Dam bhar jo udhar munh phere’ from awara. It is interesting how Nargis-Lata want the moon to look away, while Raj Kapoor-Mukesh want it to look towards them so that it may bear witess at his trial for stealing hearts!

32 Ashwin Bhandarkar April 28, 2017 at 5:00 pm

I would like to make mention of ‘Patli kamar hai’ by Mukesh-Lata from ‘Barsaat’ not only because I like it but also because of its uniqueness – it is a nightclub song and an O*LDDS rolled into one! Further, Lata gets away with singing a nightclub song but without singing for the nightclub dancer!

* – One-sided, since only Nimmi feels the pangs of separation and not Premnath, who is having a ball with Cuckoo!

33 AK April 28, 2017 at 6:34 pm

Peddadu, CP Rajgopalan,
Thanks a lot. Nice additions.

N Venkataramanji,
It is interesting that Usha Khanna should compose a far more outstanding Hum aur tum aur ye sama in her debut film ‘Dil De Ke Dekho’.

Mumbaikar8,
Nice word ‘talkable’ to describe Rafi songs with Sharda (or any song in which her voice was there).

Giri,
You are right. My understanding too is that at that time songs were recorded live. For recording companies the singers had to record again, which explains the difference between the film version and record version found quite often. The record companies often had their own musicians/orchestra who would play the same tune. But how is it connected to the ‘conspiracy theory’?

Subodh,
Thanks a lot foryour appreciation. Very perceptive observation about ‘Dum bhar jo udhar munh phere’.

Ashwin,
Nice one: ‘one-sided LDDS’. There are a number of happy-sad duets. How about ‘Betaad hai dil dard-e-mohabbat ke asar se’? Two ladies in love with the same man. Its a zero sum game. One’s love is on the upswing, the other has lost it.

34 ksbhatia April 28, 2017 at 7:27 pm

Venkatraman ji ; @27,

Thanks for the listing of Rafi’s solos and duets for Raj Kapoor . I don’t think you missed any of their other films . Just as a passing observation …..Ashok Kumar was the original hero of the movie Do Ustad . Some how later on he was replaced by Raj Kapoor . Any one knowing the reasons?

Till then here are a few of more of B & W movie songs….

16. Apni ulfat pe zamane…..Mukesh, Lata……Sasuraal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7ecW1H0vwU

17.Mehtab tera chhehra……Mukesh, lata…..Aashiq

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vswCQxiTxAc

18.hat jaao deewane aiye….Rafi, Lata….Singapore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xs9LFrhGDY

19.O shama mujhe phook de…..Mukesh, Lata….Aashiq

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag3W_-63F_g

20.O kali ghata ghir aayi re…..Rafi, Lata….Kali Ghata

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3teobBtp_UA

….to be contd….

35 mumbaikar8 April 29, 2017 at 1:51 am

AK,
Readable was deliberate. I am aware of your feeling for Sharda I had same feeling about Kumar Sanu. Getting better though, I enjoyed two Kumar Sanu songs you added to my list of repeat words songs.
Try to listen to jab bhi yeh dil udaas hota hai without prejudice she is not bad.

36 AK April 29, 2017 at 2:41 am

Mumbaikar8,
At least her songs have not gone into oblivion. I recall most of her songs, which means there must be some thing in them.

37 Giri April 29, 2017 at 7:21 am

AK@33
You have mentioned that according to the conspiracy theory Mubarak Begum was called to record the song when Lata was not available, with the understanding that when she returned it will be dubbed in her voice.
It looked like Mubarak Begum was used as ‘track singer’
Hence my doubt.

38 AK April 29, 2017 at 9:12 am

Giri,
I think that was the intention. But when the song turned out to be so good, it was retained in her voice. That was also perhaps the case with Manhar’s Aapse humko bichhade huye ek zamana beet gaya (‘Vishwas’) meant to fill in for Mukesh. But in this case the story goes that Mukesh after hearing the track was so impressed, that he himself insisted that it should be retained in Manhar’s voice.

39 mumbaikar8 April 29, 2017 at 12:52 pm

AK,
Manhar has a duet in Abhimaan, it has the same story, I believe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TXm_KxlMa4
Abhimaan has a shloka by Anuradha Paudwal that was to be rerecorded by Lata but was retained because SDB was satisfied with Anuradha’s rendition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3oqXKGdw7g

40 ASHOK M VAISHNAV April 30, 2017 at 12:18 pm

SJ’s duets span a great variety of moods.
It requires no ordinary courage to venture into diving in this deep ocean to hunt for those rare gems.
SoY and the readership fraternity has made that possible.

41 ksbhatia April 30, 2017 at 7:11 pm

AK ji;

In continuation of songs @34 , here are some more from color era as well……

21.Teri neeli neeli ankhoan….Rafi, Lata…..Jaane anjaane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AbukvYc5d8

22.Panchhi re o panchhi……Rafi, Asha….Hare kaanch ki chudiyan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cozdm0Qqly4

23.Nain tumahre majedar….Mukesh, Asha….Junglee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyEfZMEiRB8

24.Din sara guzara tore angana….Rafi, Lata…..Junglee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztJjOsD4k0o

25.O sanam tere ho gaye hum…..Rafi, Lata….Ayee milan ki bela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE_RHVhOWeU

…..to be contd…..

42 Canasya May 1, 2017 at 6:27 pm

SJ’s debut was in 1949 and Jaikishen bade farewell to us in 1971. Thus, (Shanker-)Jaikishen’s career coincided exactly with what at SoY many consider the Golden era of HFM. Because SJ dominated HFM for so long, they participated, nay, led the way in every trend, at every twist and at every turn. In chronicling SJ’s music AK ji has provided nothing less than a representative mini chronicle of HFM’s golden era itself, warts and all. Borrowing from Kelkar ji’s three phases of OPN, I will try to map SJs music (and HFM) in this comment into three phases.
May be, I am reading too much in the song selection for this post, but usually, AK ji presents the most iconic, the sweetest songs unless those have been discussed on SoY earlier. In this post he begins (for Rafi’s duets) with a song from Halaku (1956) from a period when SJ, like most other MDs of that era, emphasized lovingly crafted lilting compositions and the entire sound track of their films used to be memorable. Rafi’s mildly husky voice in the song is reminiscent of a mighty Rolls engine purring sweetly. This was the voice Husnlal-Bhagatram, Firoz Nizami, Naushad, and SJ themselves had used earlier to great effect.
Sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s (I put the cut-off at 1957, but others may prefer a different date) MDs seem to have begun emphasizing catchy ‘mukhadas’ with indifferent ‘antaraas’. SJ were again there in the front leading the trend as epitomized in the title song of Aai Milan ki Bela (1964). Half of the industry followed suit.
Then came the big sound (60+ piece orchestra) and the screaming contests (between Rafi and Lata, for instance, as in Dil Tera Deewana, 1962). Again, half of the industry chose to fall in line.
The Hamrahi duet stands out for this reason. Rafi is singing in a calm and collected voice confident in the knowledge that he is the senior partner. And Mubarak Begum’s dulcet voice is such a relief to ears conditioned to expect Lata and Asha in every other song.
Here is a query. And I am hoping that knowledgeable stalwarts such as SSW ji will be able to help me find an answer. Raju Bharatan (I know, his name is not held in the highest esteem by commentators on SoY, but he remains a pioneer as an HFM critic) has mentioned in his book “Down melody lane” the use of “Musigan” by SJ. This instrument seems to have dominated their music in the later years. The link below is to an excerpt from his book:
https://shankarjaikishan.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/shanker-he-was-the-total-musician-raju-bharatan/
The relevant line is: “It was a pathetic sight to see Shanker reduced to using the musigan as a “surrogate” to give birth, in his 1972 “Seema” avatar to something like Jab bhi yeh dil udaas hota hai jaane kaun aas paas hota hai.”
What is a “musigan”? I have not been able to find any other reference to it.
I was thinking of posting Aashiq’s duets as my favorites, but with Bhatia ji in full flow, dallying for one day was an opportunity lost forever! Thankfully, SJ’s quality oeuvre is an ocean allowing me to still post a couple of songs not mentioned by him. Here are two other favorites. The first is from Aah (Jaane na nazar). The Aah CD has better preserved sound than many other more recent CDs I have, perhaps because RK had preserved some records in a pristine form. (I would doubt if HMV have the master tapes).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ooNta8icg
The next one is from Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti hai (Aa ab laut chalein).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Fu_O7y-dg

43 AK May 2, 2017 at 1:56 am

Canasya,
It is nice to see you come back after a long gap. Busy, eh? But obviously you have been keeping track of SoY.

Can we describe the three phases as artistic, popular and noisy?

I am always a sucker for Raju Bharatan’s gossips, though I detest his clumsy language. In the article you have linked, Raju is in full form: Mukesh got to song ‘Ye mera deewanapan hai’ by toss of a coin; Shankar bluntly calling Mukesh ‘besura’; His intense jealousy for his partner Jaikishan. My morning is made.

Over to SSW on ‘musigan’.

44 SSW May 2, 2017 at 5:52 pm

Canasya , AK, I have never heard of a “musigan”.
That sentence that you point to on the website is incomprehensible as is the colour scheme that it is ensconced in.
Perhaps RB simply wanted to say “By 1971 (Seema was 1971 not 1972) Shankar, was not capable creating a good tune unless he had a multi piece orchestra.”
But that would not have been RB. Simplicity did not seem to sit well with him.

45 Canasya May 2, 2017 at 7:02 pm

SSW ji, thanks a lot for the prompt response. AK ji, your re-labeling of the three phases is “politically” more acceptable. I do not wish to ruffle any feathers either.

46 Canasya January 20, 2018 at 11:46 pm

This query is for SSWji and again relates to Musigan (apologies for ignorance and persistence). Perhaps Bhatiaji and other knowledgeable members of the SoY family may also be able to help. Recently I was listening to the Saaz aur Awaaz programme dated Jan 7, 2018 on Radio Ceylon on YouTube. Suddenly I heard the announcer say (in Hindi) something like, “Now listen to Vipin Reshmiya on Musigan playing ‘Tu hi meri laxmi’, sung by Rafi in Duniya; MD: SJ”. (Listen to it from 11:20 to 17:00 in the link below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QshExs8QAfM

The write-up accompanying this YouTube video mentions “Keyboard” as the instrument. But another listener also posted the clip and wrote the name of the instrument as Musigan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLw2Px1bfV8

Vipin Reshmiya is Himesh Reshmiya’s father. He perhaps played in SJ’s orchestra. In one of the programmes on TV Himesh called him one of the pioneers of electronic music in Bollywood. On listening to the tune you will notice that this sound came to dominate SJ’s music after 1965 (Gumnaam onwards), so much so that the entire soundtracks of Around the World, Seema, Street Singer [MD: Suraj (Shankar?)], and the like, appear to have been composed around it. Hope this information would help you better identify this instrument.

47 SSW January 21, 2018 at 7:04 am

Canasya, I’ve never heard of this particular word “musigan”. The instrument in the musical piece sounds like some sort of a keyboard to me. Maybe even programmable. Almost like an early synthesizer.

48 Canasya January 21, 2018 at 2:45 pm

SSW ji,

Thanks a lot for the prompt response.

49 ksbhatia January 23, 2018 at 12:29 am

Canasya ;

I will ditto SSW’s observations . To me the instrument sounds like electronic keyboard organ / synthesizer . Yes Shankar Jaikishan were really pioneer in introducing this instrument . An Evening in Paris was the first film that they played this organ in practically all the songs . This along with accordeon really add up to highlight the theme and style of french like cafe music . Deewane ka naam to poochho….and …Keja leja mera dil ….are example where they added to the rhythm and beats bringing best of the prelude and interludes. Another song ……panchhi re o panchhi…..from Hare Kaanch ki chhodiyan …is another song where this organ is an highlighter .

Vipin Reshmiya was in SJ’s orchestra and beside this keyboard electronic organ , he used to play clay violin too.

As far as Musigan is concerned , I can only imagine the word as two word synthesizer…. MUSI[C]_[OR]GAN i.e MUSIGAN .

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