A tribute to Roshan on his 51st death anniversary (14 July 1917-16 November 1967)
DP Rangan started a tandem series on Madan Mohan-Roshan on July 14 which, in a unique coincidence, happened to be the birth anniversary of one, and the death anniversary of the other. I have since written a number of posts on their association with their main singers Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and their qawwalis. As the year end approaches, it is time to pay a final tribute to Roshan on his 51st death anniversary with his songs for ‘other’ singers. Later, I plan to end the year with a similar tribute to Madan Mohan with his ‘other singers’.
Not all the great music directors had the ability to be equally comfortable with a wide variety of singers. Some were very obviously fixated with a couple of main singers. If their relationship soured to a point of break up, it led to a precipitous fall in their standing. For excellence with a wide range of singers, the name that comes on the top is SD Burman. Besides Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, he composed some of the career best songs for Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh, Manna Dey and Hemant Kumar. Roshan also had this talent. He died young; as such his total output of about 55 films and 450 songs is a fraction of what the more ‘successful’ composers did (for example, Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed about 2900 songs). But his superlative quality has ensured him an immortal place among the great music directors. With this small number he was able to create outstanding songs for a wide range of ‘other’ singers.
The main singers in his debut film, Neki Aur Badi (1949), were Rajkumari and Amirbai Karnataki. Kyunji scent lagaya hai, a duet in the voice of Firoz Dastur and Amirbai Karnataki we have discovered in the internet era, but it has already left an indelible imprint on us. Geeta Dutt and Rajkumari feature prominently in his next film Bawre Nain. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Rajkumari got a new lease of life on TV shows by virtue of Roshan’s songs. A list of Manna Dey’s best songs is not complete without Laga chunri mein daag chhupaaun kaise, Phoolgendawa na maaro and Haye re main to prem deewana mera dard na jaane koye.
He composed very few songs for Hemant Kumar, but his duet with Lata Mangeshkar, Chhupa lo yun dil mein pyar mera has become immortal. Roshan was an acknowledged Master of Qawwalis, in which he used a large number of ‘other’ singers, such as Balbir, SD Batish, Bande Hassan, Shankar-Shambhu, Mahendra Kapoor and Sudha Malhotra with stunning effect. When you think of Sudha Malhotra you think of Salam-e-hasrat qubool kar lo and her duet with Suman Kalyanpur, Kauni rang mungawa kauni rang motiya. Suman Kalyanpur brings me to her duet with Kamal Barot in the title song of Barsaat Ki Raat – Garjat barsat saawna aayo ri. She had some more great duets with female singers as well as with Rafi and Mukesh. But Roshan didn’t rest with her great duets. He gave her an everlasting solo Sharabi sharabi ye saawan ka mausam.
I conclude the Roshan-leg of the series with a tribute to him on his 51st death anniversary with a selection of his songs for ‘other’ singers.
Rajkumari
1. Suno bairi balam kuchh bole re ib kya hoga by Rajkumari from Bawre Nain (1950), lyrics Kidar Sharma
This was included in the best female solos by ‘other’ singers in 1950. When Roshan’s debut film Neki Aur Badi flopped and there was pressure on Kidar Sharma to replace him, he reposed trust in Roshan’s talent and the result was the superlative score in Bawre Nain. ‘Ib’ instead of ‘Ab’ creates a naughty effect and fits with the image of the impish Geeta Bali. Her pairing with the romantic Raj Kapoor, and its picturization in beautiful surroundings, make it an unforgettable song.
2. Kajrari matwari madbhri do ankhiyan by Rajkumari from Naubahar (1952), lyrics Shailendra
But SoY readers look for more than the familiar. A special favourite with our passionate follower Jignesh and others is this elegant classical-based mujra, ‘sung’ by the elderly Kuldeep Kaur while sitting, to which a young apprentice Roshan Vajifdar (?) dances. The scene seems to stir guilt in Ashok Kumar who is distinctly uncomfortable and prepares to leave. This was the film which had Lata Mangeshkar’s immortal Ae ri main to prem deewani mera dard na jaane koye, one of the best ever songs in Bhimpalasi, and Dekhoji mora jiya churaye liyo jaye.
Geeta Dutt
3. More tose, han han, tore mujhse ulajh gaye naina balam ye baat kisi se na kahna by Geeta Dutt from Bedardi (1951), lyrics SH Bihari
Geeta Dutt sang a number of sad and soulful songs, but she also acquired a reputation for peppy and naughty songs. Roshan amply harnesses this side of the singer.
Suraiya
4. Mere man mein uthe umang piya, ban ke main tarang sama jaaun by Suraiya from Mashooqa (1953), lyrics Qmar Jalalabadi
There was something about Suraiya that whatever she sung was sweet and likeable. This was the film which distracted Mukesh from his main strength – singing, and it took a long time and some luck for him to make a comeback. Mukesh-Suraiya being the lead pair, there are a number of songs in their voices; their duet Jhilmil tare kare ishare being the best known. But this Suraiya solo is quite delightful.
Sudha Malhotra, Suman Kalyanpur, Minoo Purushottam, Mubarak Begum
5. Salam-e-hasrat qubool kar lo meri muhabbat qubool kar lo by Sudha Malhotra from Babar (1960), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
If you think of Sudha Malhotra, this is one of the songs that would be on top of your recall.
6. Sharabi sharabi ye saawan ka mausam by Suman Kalyanpur from Noorjehan (1967), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni
Roshan’s music towered over his films. The film may have tanked, but its songs like Raat ki mehfil sooni sooni (Lata Mangeshkar) are immortal. This solo of Suman Kalyanpur is one of my greatest favourites. She also had a fast happy song in the movie, Aayi baad-e-saba le ke dard jawani, Allah Allah kitne pyare din aa gaye.
7. Yun hi dil ne chaha tha rona rulana by Suman Kalyanpur from Dil Hi To Hai (1963), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
If someone asks who composed the best songs for Suman Kalyanpur, here is one. Sahir’s poetry of unrequited love was steeped in his personal pain. For the readers who love emphasis on lyrics, here is the sublime poetry of Sahir. There was also a happy duet with Mukesh on the same tune, Chura le na tumko ye mausam suhana, khuli wadiyon mein akeli na jana.
यूं ही दिल ने चाहा था रोना रुलाना
तेरी याद तो बन गई एक बहाना
हमें भी नहीं इल्म हम किसपे रोयें
वो बीती रुतें हैं कि आता ज़माना
तेरी याद तो…
ग़म-ए-दिल भी है और ग़म-ए-ज़िंदगी भी
न इसका ठिकाना न उसका ठिकाना
तेरी याद तो….
कोई किसपे तड़पे कोई किसपे रोये
इधर दिल जला है उधर आशियाना
तेरी याद तो….
My heart wanted to grieve and cry anyway
Your memories engulfing me became just an excuse
Even I don’t have a sense what to cry for
Those moments gone by, or these coming times
My heart is aching and my life is full of sorrows
Neither has this any end nor has that any cure
Who should one pine for and who should one cry for
Here the heart is singed, and there the home is shattered
My heart wanted to grieve and cry anyway
Your memories engulfing me became just an excuse
8. Kauni rang mungawa kauni rang motiya by Sudha Malhotra and Suman Kalyanpur from Heera Moti (1959), lyrics Shailendra
A fabulous folk song rooted in daily chores of women in villages.
9. Na na na re na na haath na lagana by Suman Kalyanpur and Minoo Purushottam from Taj Mahal (1963), lyrics Sahir Ludiyanavi
Roshan had some special expertise in composing female dance duets. The dance between Helen and Madhumati is terrific, but its video quality is poor. Here is a good quality audio but you can visualise the scene.
10. Mero sainya gulabiya kae phool hamaro rang kesariya by Suman Kalyanpur and Minoo Purushottam from Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal (1965), lyrics Neeraj
If the song was folk-based, the female duet scaled greater heights. Besides being the master of qawwalis, Roshan was also the master of female folk songs. The quiet lovers Tanuja and Rajeev (?) watch the fast and happy folk duet sung by two female singers who seem to be expressing the shy lady’s feelings.
11. Ae Khuda majboor ki fariyad hai by Mubarak Begum from Chaandni Chowk (1954), lyrics Kamil Rashid
Mubarak Begum is among the talented singers who could not succeed in the unfair marketplace. Here she sings a soulful Naat.
Kishore Kumar
12. Ye sama, hum tum jawan pahlu se dil sarak jaye by Kishore Kumar and Meena Kapoor from Mashooqa (1953), lyrics Shailendra
Kishore Kumar was Roshan’s weak link. But this song is quite interesting which has him yodelling in full steam. This is an early demonstration of his vocal acrobatics which flowered later in films like Jhumroo.
13. Tu hai chanda to main hun chakor teri meri preet lagi by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Aagosh (1953), lyrics Indeevar
From full-blown yodelling, Kishore Kumar switches over to the other extreme in this absolutely melodious duet with Lata Mangeshkar. This was the forte of Roshan, and he borrows heavily from the music of Bawre Nain.
Sundar, Shamshad Begum
14. Qutub Meenar par chadh ke.. Kabhi chaar baje kabhi paanch baje by Sundar and Shamshad Begum from Chaandni Chowk (1954), lyrics Raja Menhdi Ali Khan
Completely crazy, Sundar sings for himself, and no one could give better company than Shamshad Begum.
Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor
15. Laaga chunari mein daag chhupaun kaise by Manna Dey from Dil Hi To Hai (1963), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
Sahir adapts Kabir’s mystic poetry Meri chunri mein par gayo daag piya retaining the same essential meaning. The surface meaning is obvious, but it does not require a spiritual inclination to get to its deeper meaning when Sahir says after Kabir:
लागा चुनरी में दाग छुपाऊं कैसे घर जाऊं कैसे
लागा चुनरी में दाग..
हो गई मैली मोरी चुनरिया, कोरे बदन सी कोरी चुनरिया
जा के बाबुल से नज़रें मिलाऊं कैसे, घर जाऊं कैसे
लागा चुनरी में दाग ….
भूल गई सब बचन विदा के, खो गई मैं ससुराल में आ के
जा के बाबुल से नज़रें मिलाऊं कैसे, घर जाऊं कैसे
लागा चुनरी में दाग ….
कोरी चुनरिया आत्मा मोरी मैल है मायाजाल
वो दुनिया मोरा बाबुल का घर ये दुनिया ससुराल
जा के बाबुल से नज़रें मिलाऊं कैसे घर जाऊं कैसे
लागा चुनरी में दाग …
My chunri is stained, how do I hide it
How do I go home as my chunri is stained
My chunri got soiled that used to be as clean as my chaste body
How do I look into the eyes of Babul
How do I go home as my chunri is stained
I have forgotten all the vows I had taken while leaving (Babul)
I have become totally lost in (the pleasures of) sasural
How do I look into the eyes of Babul
How do I go home as my chunri is stained
The clean chunariya was like my soul, and the trappings of pleasure are stains
My Babul’s home is that world, and sasural is this world
(When the time comes to finally go to the other world)
How do I look into the eyes of Babul (the Maker)
How do I go home (the other world) as my chunri is stained
(See Note at the end for some more discussion on Kabir, his imagery of the Two Worlds and stained cloth)
It is ironical that such a deeply philosophical song has been picturised in a comic setting when the hero has come in a disguise of an old singer to woo his lady love, pulling the wool over her parent’s eyes – a common trope in our films. You can’t blame Sahir, Manna Dey or Roshan who create a masterpiece. Manna Dey’s talent for classical songs have been used for comic effect as early as 1953 in Boot Polish by Shankar-Jaikishan (Lapak jhapak tu aa re badarawa), and that ‘success’ became his millstone.
16. Phool gendawa na maaro lagat karejawa mein chot by Manna Dey from Dooj Ka Chaand (1964), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi
Now the demand for more of the same was unstoppable. This traditional Bhairavi is picturised as a comic track on Agha.
17. Haye re main to prem deewana mera dard na jaane koye by Manna Dey from from Bedaag (1965), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni
I had once prepared a list of Manna Dey’s classical-based songs. They are all my favourites and good enough for a post. I didn’t know that many of them were meant to be comic, but my liking for them has not diminished. This one is on the comic pair Mehmood-Shubha Khote. To exaggerate the farce, the lyrics is a parody of Meera’s Ae ri main to prem deewani mera dard na jaane koy.
18. Bata do koi kaun gali gaye Shyam by Manna Dey from Madhu (1959), lyrics Shailendra
Manna Dey would have been variously typecast as a singer for itinerant old beggars, or as a bhajan singer, if Shankar-Jaikishan, Anil Biswas and SD Burman had not composed some superlative mainstream songs for him. This bhajan is quite memorable. There was a solo version of this song in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice.
19. Usko nahi dekha humne kabhi by Manna Dey and Mahendra Kapoor from Daadi Ma (1966), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
This was one of the roaringly popular songs from this Prasad Productions family entertainer.
Hemant Kumar
20. Chhupa lo yun dil mein pyar mera ki jaise mandir main lau diye ki by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Mamta (1966), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
When you think of qawwalis, you think of Roshan. I have also added, when you think of folk female duets, you think of Roshan. And Subodh Agrawal said long ago, when you think of Yaman, you think of Roshan. With a short career, and small number of films and songs, Roshan showed amazing talent. Hemant Kumar with his heavy, sweet voice was ideally suited for love that was profound and other-worldly. Roshan composed very few songs for him, but still gave this immortal song.
Note: The theme of the ‘other world’ from which we all come to ‘this material world’ with a pure soul (chunri/chadariya) to start with, which gets tainted as we get sucked into the pleasures (mayajaal) of this world, and tension at the final moment of return about the stain on the cloth, occurs in several poems of Kabir.
- In this one Kabir says that no matter how hard the seeker tries to clean it, with ‘soap’ of knowledge, the stain would not go away. But it is cleaned (the seeker is absolved of all sins) when the Lord accepts him.
मोरी चुनरी में परि गयो दाग पिया
पाँच तत्त्व की बनी चुनरिया, सोरह सौ बंद लाग किया
यह चुनरी मेरे मैके ते आई ससुरे में मनवा खोय दिया
मलि मलि धोये दाग न छूटे ज्ञान का साबुन लाय पिया
कहत कबीर दाग तब छुटिहैं जब साहेब अपनाय लिया - In this one the chunri is stained in the naihar itself. Sahir makes the imagery more accessible by suggesting that the maiden was chaste as long as she was with Babul, and the chunri became stained as she got lost in the pleasures of sasural. There must be a way to read the two harmoniously, as they are conveying the same underlying message. I am leaving that for our erudite readers.
नैहर में दाग लगल मोरी चुनरी
पहन ओढ़ गोरि चली ससुराल, मैके के लोग कहें बड़ी फुहड़ी
यह चुनरी धोबी घर पठाई, बहुत धुलाई तनौं न भई उजरी,
नैहर में दाग…
भाई बरेठा दूर बसत है, साबुन महंगा बिकाय वहि नगरी
कहत कबीर सुनो भाई साधो एहि जनम की बिगरी कबौं ना सुधरी,
नैहर में दाग.. - Finally, a very popular mystical bhajan sung by many singers. The Lord has woven a very fine and delicate tapestry, which was worn by the celestials, saints and humans alike, but they all defiled it. The Lord’s humble servant, Kabir, however, wore it carefully, and returned it to Him in as good a condition as he had got it.
झीनी झीनी बीनी चदरिया
काहे के ताना काहे के भरनी, कौन तार से बीनी चदरिया
इंगला पिंगला ताना भरनी, सुखमन (सुषुम्ना) तार से बीनी चदरिया
आठ कँवल दल चरखा डोले, पाँच तत्त्व गुन तीनी चदरिया
सांई को सियत मास दस लागे, ठोक ठोक के बीनी चदरिया
सो चादर सुर नर मुनि ओढ़ी, ओढ़ के मैली कीनी चदरिया
दास कबीर जतन से ओढ़ी, ज्यों की त्यों धर दीनी चदरिया
Acknowledgement: Siddharh (comment #56) has very kindly created a Playlist of the songs in this post.
Disclaimer: The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of music lovers. The copyright over the songs rests with the respective owners.
{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations AK ji for this post.
I think you have covered all the ‘other’ singers.
Just to add, a solo by shamshad from baware Nain
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaJBAHD-bU
And may be I can add,
Bogi bogi bogi from Humlog
G M Durrani and Shamshad
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lnU5NUDtCXg
Roshan’s contribution for these singers, is also significant. All of them got a hit or at least a memorable song of their career.
But sadly enough, even after the success of Bawre Nain, Rajkumari couldn’t get much songs as a main lead singer.
Thanks for the post
🙂
Excellent posting and lots of less known gems discovered….
Thanks a lot
Beautiful compilation.
BAWRE NAIN had a Rajakumari, Asha Bhonsle duet
Ghir ghir ke, ghir ghir ke
Aasmaan par change lage ghataye.
with pleasant flute interludes and picturised outdoors under a cloudy sky.
An excellent perspective on a GENIUS. Sadly, Roshan is not given his due when there is talk of great Bollywood composers; just as neither Khayyam nor Jaidev were. I am aware that this edition relates only to Roshan, but cannot help making a comment or two about another genius , Khayyam. While appreciating Khayyam’s compositions, I made a very interesting discovery that elevated my already very high regard for him, manifold. (your article draws attention to this admirable trait among a few of our composers). Khayyam never tied himself to one or two lyricists and singers (unlike almost all other Bollywood composers). In fact,he went out of the way to choose poets practically unknown to the Bombay Filmdom. Take ‘Bazaar'(1982), for instance. Four different poets for as many songs! And, all of them distinguished ones, including the local (Hyderabad), esteemed Maqdoom Mohiuddin. For ‘Umrao Jaan’ he roped in Shahryar ( Akhlaq Mohammad Khan) and gave him all those beautiful ghazals to write; and what a fantastic choice that was! In a similar fashion, he picked Talat Aziz to sing ‘Zindagi jab bhi’ in Umrao Jaan and ‘Phir chidi raat’ in Bazaar. In either case, no other male voice of the day would have suited those ghazal better. He also called up Bhupendra to render’ Karoge yaad toh’. Could even Kishore or Rafi have sung it with such pathos? And again for ‘Kabhi kisiko muqammal jahan nahin milta’ in Ahista Ahista. I can go on with many more examples as in ‘Razia Sultan’, where he had the lyrics written by eminent poets such as Jan Nisar Akhtar, Nida Fazli, Kaifi Azmi and Kaif Bhopali, and got Kabban Mirza to sing a couple of the songs. There is no parallel in Bollywood music composition to Khayyam’s meticulous selection of lyricists (often several for a single movie) to suit the theme, the occasion and the tune. He is simply a GENIUS. WE can draw a parallel here with Jaidev: He too ventured to do the unusual in creating great songs: his selection of Shahryar for that soulful “Seene mein jalan’ in Gaman, picking Suresh Wadkar to sing it and also, Maqdoom Mohiuddin for ‘Aapki yaad aati rahi, raat bhar’, and having it rendered by ‘Chaaya Gangili’, just like Khayyam. Jaidev too, was a very gifted composer but sadly, Bollywood only had time for the likes of SJ, LP and some others.
Kindly pardon any lapse on my part in effusively alluding to Khayyam and Jaidev in this reply to your write up, which is essentially on Roshan. Just got carried away. Roshan brought such a rich variety to Bollywood compositions in the 1950s and 1960s (particularly 1960s), at a time when almost every front line composer was offering priceless melodies, and Hindi Film Music was at its best ever ( even taking later eras into account). His passing away at a young age even as he was reaching the pinnacle of his career is tragic and a great loss to us all. This is a fitting tribute to him. Thank you.
RAAG AUR RANG,1962 has two duets of Trilok Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar.
Karte hain ishare falak se Chand Taare…Kaif Irani.
O Mahiyapur ke chhaliya
Main Roop Nagar ki chhori re… Prakash Bakshi (who!)
A 15 year old Mangeshkar sings for Roshan in SANSKAR,1952.
Badlegi ye duniya ek din badlegi…
Meena Kapoor sings
Preet nibhana Balma tum kya jaano
for the same movie.
Lyrics. Shailendra.
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and adding two songs. Bogi bogi is so unlike GM Durrani and also unlike Roshan.
It is quite strange the way Rajkumari was ignored. She had many years of singing left in her.
Mr Chellamani,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Chitalkar singing for Roshan? Yes.
BARATI,1954.
Dhak dhak kare Dil
Jhat pat aake mil…D N Madhok.
A duet with ….. Lata Mangeshkar?
No, Asha Bhonsle!
Tere nazron ne hum Ko cheda hai
Hum shor macha lenge…Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.
The movie also had…
Naach le baawariya
Tohe lene aaya Saawariya…
Balbir,Asha Bhonsle; D N Madhok.
Kahin door koyaliya gaaye re…
Lata Mangeshkar, Sudha Malhotra; Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.
AKji,
Great post again !!
Roshan was a classy composer.
Thanks for the very informative and additional translation and references to Kabir.
I agree Suman Kalyanpur’s best songs are with Roshan. Songs #6 and #7 are my all time favourite. The video in song #7 is from the film Chhalia I think.
The song is very much from DIL HI TO HAI. The more popular Suman number being her duet with Mukhesh….
Chura Lena tumko ye mausam suhana.
AAGOSH has two more ‘ other’ singers’ duets…. Shailendra
Sudha Malhotra…Bansuriya kahe bajaye Bin sune raha nahin jaaye re…
Hemant Kumar….Dheere dheere chad gayi nadi mein paani
Dheere dheere ho koi kahe Toofan uthi.
Hemant Kumar has another duet with Indira Manchanda…
Mil jhul ke baanto re garibi ke fande
Dukh Sukh baanto re…
Meena Kapoor has a solo..
Aag chidak gayi chandni
Mere gore badan pe.
A beautiful write up on one of the finest composer of Hindi Film music.
Yes as someone has said, Roshan was not given the recognition he deserve. Also bug banners or studios eluded him.
He will have a place in music lovers heart.
Mr NS Rajan @4,
Thanks a lot for your generous praise. Your detailed comments are most welcome. Khayyam-Jaidev is another pair that can be discussed in tandem. Both gave opportunities to many newcomers, they also composed several non-film songs. All the songs who have mentioned are my great favourites, they belong to a period well past the Golden Era, and old stalwarts had fallen by the wayside. Their longevity is a testimony to their talent.
Roshan is well above any Award. I have a special affinity for him, and countless music lovers like me rate him greater than the more ‘successful’ composers.
Siddharth @9,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. If the video of #7 is from Chhalia the uploader has very cleverly synched the sound.
Dr Shetty @10,
Siddharth is not doubting that the song is from DHTH. He only suggests that the video could be from Chhalia. This may just be possible, many such creative videos are on YT. You can see a video of Piya tose naina laage re picturised on Suchitra Sen in Devdas.
Dr Shetty @5, 6, 8, 11,
Thanks for adding so many ‘new’ songs. Since you have not given the link, I would have to search them and listen later.
Mr Vasudevan,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Roshan has a special place in music lovers’ hearts.
AK,
Great.
Surprised
Did not even had a slightest idea about this other singers’ angle.
Adding my two cents to your effort.
One solo by Asa Singh Mastana Dooj ka chand Lo apna jahan duniya waloon.
https://youtu.be/Yja8WbcyeuM
Duet (Chorus) S D Baatish Laxmi Shankar Taksaal. Aye sajana hamar
https://youtu.be/mp-ZPa-Msj4
I am giving the link of one song mentioned by Dr. Shetty from Sanskar by Meena Kapoor, beautiful song
.Aag chhidak gaye
https://youtu.be/NOOv2nQWNYk
I feel like Raj Kumari, Meena Kapoor was ignored too .
Siddharth is right the video of Yun hi dil ne chaha tha rona rulana is from Chhalia, perhaps this song was not included in the movie. Arunkumarji can help with that.
Mumbaikar8,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. All new songs for me. Thanks for adding the songs and expanding the list of ‘other’ singers. Some top music directors were very clearly fixated on their ‘main’ singers. Therefore, if some are equally great with many ‘others’, it becomes a very conspicuous aspect.
Meena Kappor is a special case. Where do you place her? To a great extent her voice resembled Geeta Dutt.
Nice write – up.
It seems that Roshan has given a satisfactory justice to Suman Kalyanpur by giving her some good songs.
Above all , the analysis of
” लागा चुनरी में दाग ” nd its original poetry of Kabir , is excellent.
Ak ji , thnx for the post.
AK ji,
#2…Kaur looks so much like Rajkumari,I thought she appeared on the screen, perhaps as herself!
COFFEE HOUSE all female score is totally ‘ other’ singers: Asha Bhonsle (4),Geeta Dutt (3) and Suman Kalyanpur (1). All fairly good.
But, the best, according to me is the Geeta Dutt number that,on first hearing without knowing the details, one would think it is a S D Burman composition!
Lovely song.
Ye hawa,Ye fiza,Ye sama
Aaj hai kis kadr haseen jahan…
Prem Dhawan.
https://youtu be/ FqH_iG8aOaY
Roshan gets the recognition that he so richly deserved in this series on SoY, with such a lasting final salute.
From mid-50s, the sort of oligopolistic situation that prevailed in terms of a very few playback singers dominating the scene, possibly limited the music directors’ options.
It was again only when these ‘few’ ran into their sunset years, that a large crop of new singers have seen the light of the day.
When all is said and done, the likes of Roshan created their space, and ensured that they remain everlasting, even within so very limited opportunities they got.
Thanks again for completing the picture of Roshan with these gems.
Pamod Godbole,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I am happy you liked the post.
Dr Shettry,
Kuldeep Kaur = Rajkumari. Kaur’s face was naturally vampish, whereas Rajkumar’s showed innocene. Besides, they don’t look similar to me.
‘Coffee House’s’ Geeta Dutt song was new to me. I would wait for her fans’ response.
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
An interesting Rajakumari,Lata song from ANHONEE.
Nakshab.
Picturised on the two sisters played by Nargis.
Zindagi badli, mohabbat ka nasha aane lagi….
https://youtu be/ 73je1_riHIE
Playful Shamshad Begum on Geeta Bali in BAWRE NAIN.
Aii Eechak Beechak churr
Dil ud gaya Babu phurr…
https://youtu be/ Yv3NtgZQsOs
Did we all miss the ‘ other'(third) Mangeshkar and the beautiful Asha Bhonsle,Usha Mangeshkar duet from CHITRALEKHA,1964?
Sahir Ludhianvi.
Kaahe tarsaye jiyara
Yauvan rut sajna jaake na aaye.
Manna Dey’s comic trail continues with the song for Mehmood
Laage manwa ke beech kathari
Ke maare gaya Brahmachari.
The Rafi Asha duet
Chaa gaye baadal Neel Gagan par
Ghul gaya kajra saanjh dale
has been discussed elsewhere.
The revelation to me was the large number of Asha Bhonsle songs for Roshan. Some 50s movies are Asha centric,or Asha only,Lata less!( Is it a proper usage?)
In the absence of ksbhatia ji,I seem to be doing a ksbhatia ji!!( New English, Again!)
A very interesting Sudha Malhotra,Suman Kalyanpur duet from
ZINDAGI AUR HUM.
Shiv Kumar Saroj.
Hum tere lagan mein magan..
https:// youtu.be/ P5JuMgyEx8U
Interesting because there is a sad Lata Mangeshkar version,too.
https://youtu.be/ CO9dURpS4kQ
AKji:
This post does justice to Roshan’s work and is fully worthy of SoY. It highlights his versatility in a way nothing else could. Here is ‘Gaaye chala ja’, another Durrani and Shamshad (or is it Lata?) song from Humlog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM7cDTFxlnc&index=8&list=PL0N5Xw9ii8-_-A85YvGS9FoROcwB3zBMo
AK,
Nice article. Roshan seems to have given opportunities to almost all the singers!
I wish you could have added ‘Garjat barsat”from Barsaat ki raat. It would have brought in Kamal Barot also in the list.
Many of my favorites are there in your list. SOY through your posts as well as the readers’comments,always introduces me to old songs not heard by me before.
Your translations of Yu(n)hi dil ne chaaha and Laaga chunri mein daag are very good. I saw DHTH on YT and Yunhi dilne Chaaha was not there.
Dr Shetty,
You are outdoing KS Bhatiaji and at this rate you would not leave anything for him. 🙂
Kaahe tarsaye, one of Roshan’s best was a complete miss. Similarly I had mentioned in Rafi’s duets that Chaa gaye baadal slipped my mind. But nothing escapes the readers, and thanks for that.
Laage manwa ke beech katari ki mara gaya brahmachari had very tough competition from so many superb classical-based songs, it couldn’t stand at par with them.
Rajkumar-Lata Mangeshkar duet from Anhonee – Zindagi badli mohabbat ka maza aane laga is quite well known, but Shamashad Begum’s song from Bawre Nain does not register. Hum tere lagan mein magan is a nice song, but less heard. Thanks for adding it.
Canasya,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Gaaye chala ja – The female voice is perhaps Lata Mangeshkar. Excellent song, there is something eternal about it, but the main singers’ voice is merged with the chorus.
Mr Giri,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I am happy you liked my translation of Laaga chunri mein daag, but I am still waiting for the experts’ comments on Sahir’s apparent reversing of Kabir’s imagery as to where the chunri became stained.
I have mentioned Garjat barsat saawan ayo ri in the write-up, but it is such an oft repeated song, I left it at that.
It is surprising Yun hi dil ne chaha tha is not there in the film. It is not clear whether it was never there, or the commercial DVD/YT has removed it. I always knew this version along with the happy duet version.
AK,
Kabir says “यह चुनरी मेरे मैके ते आई”……………….. “ससुरे में मनवा खोय दिया”
Is Kabir not saying the same thing “lost control over Mann” in sasural?
Mumbaikar8,
Here there is unity. I was referring to the second verse ‘नैहर में दाग लगल मोरी चुनरी’.
Mehmood, Manna Dey again…
with a few lines by Puran (who?)
DAADI MAA,
Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Sant log farmaye gaye ji
Iss jag mein Kalyug aayega,
Do charon ke beech zamana
Apni taang adaayega.
How many songs has Bhupinder Singh sung for Roshan? I think only one.
Plays with the titles of NAYEE UMAR KI NAYI FASAL.
Neeraj.
Nayee umar ki naye sitaron
Nayee fasal ki nayee baharon…
https:// youtu.be/ sVNtaQkc4NE
Non comic Manna Dey…
NAYI UMAR KI NAYI FASAL
Manmohan Tiwari ( all other lyrics by Neeraj)
Thi Shubh Suhaag ki raat madhur
Madhu chalak raha tha kan kan mein….
Usha Mangeshkar with Lata Didi.
DEVAR,1966, Anand Bakshi.
Maine jharokhe se kyon jhanka
Main kitni nadaan ….
Mushkil mein pad gayi jaan.
I think the video is not available.
Dr Shetty,
All the songs you have added are new to me. I am impressed.
# 5
The correct name of the film is RAAGRANG-1952
Rafi features in two songs from BAJU BEGUM with’ other’ singers.
Sahir Ludhianvi.
1. Aa ab ja balab hoon main….
…
Doond ke laaoon kahan se..
With Manna Dey.
https://youtu.be/cg_0lS7baxA
2. Farz e shauq aankhon mein hai
Farz e shauq aankhon mein hai..
Waqif hoon khoob ishq ke….
With Tabish.
https// youtu.be/ TZDEN8zBvTA
With Tabish.
Even if he had not composed any other song, he will be remembered for ‘aeri main to prem divani’.
The two songs for me in the manner of Gaddeswarup ji would be
Man re tu kaahe na dheer dhare..
and
Chhupa lo yun dil mein pyar mera…
We find a fairly large number of comic songs by Early Roshan!
SHISHAM,1952.
Kishore Kumar… typical Bindaas style,voice changes..
Nazim Panipati
Is paanch man ka jism se
Kya fayda hame..
…Dil ho gaya shanti flat…
https://youtu.be/ KHUvOYsar4
Shamshad Begum; Madhukar Rajasthani.
Mere nazre paakitmaar sambhalo Dil ke paakit ko.
https://youtu.be/ jE9uBNc3j9E
Nice post, AK. Some ‘new’ songs for me to listen to, both in the post and in the comments.
Just one thing – in Naubahar Kuldip Kaur is not ‘elderly’. She’s been reluctantly brought to the house as Ashok Kumar’s prospective bride. She doesn’t want to marry a blind man, and therefore, purposely insults him, both by the song and by her ‘gift’ beforehand.
I think the dancer is someone called ‘Rama’. Not sure, though.
MAALKIN,1953 is a veritable Kishore fest.
Rajinder Kishen.
1. With Rafi,Ram Kamlani.
Dhoti aur patloon mein ek din huyi ladaai,
Arey ulajh gaye Mr Bulbul se apne Lalloo bhai.
https://youtu.be/ ZJktp_RbsY4
More to follow… With Rafi; with Mukhesh and Ram Kamlani.
Tomorrow….
A major accident case needs my total attention.
Anu,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. And also thanks for the other comments. Some actors always looked elderly.
Gaddswarupji,
I am equally charmed by Ae ri main to prem diwani.
Once again AK has churned out another tantalising post on Roshan thereby throwing open the flood gates for others to add more gems. At this rate Roshan’s work would be stripped bare. For song collectors this is a great boon. I can only say ad astra per asperaet per ludum.
Dr Shetty you tube links provided by you seem to be faulty at least in my Chromebook. The last link after youtube is not so prominent. When I click the general Youtube window opens. Please check.
Dr. Shetty , AK ji’s ;
Yes friends I am back after ten days of pre and post wedding ceremonies mostly accompanied by loud music and guest young and old trying their best to out do each other as if in a Idol competition . The ears still in a swell mode ……needs to think harder now.
First of all congratulations to AK ji for crisp and clear narrative , supplemented with beautiful selective songs that brings miles of smiles…..remembring good old singers which earlier were known for their beauty as well. It will take a time for going thru all the comments and I will come back again.
Dr. Shetty ; I found my Treasure Chest of songs empty now…..You either have a running machine or a galloping horse . The speed with you are posting songs reminds me fast beats of Padosan ‘s faster number …..ek chatur naar ! I need to sunk Bismark to a depth where I may find left overs ….yes if there are any.
Mr Rangan,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
KS Bhatiaji,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your appreciation. As you are coming late to the party, Dr Shetty has already exhausted the well-known songs.
Dr Shetty,
I have also mentioned earlier that your full YT links are not copied/pasted, and we can’t open the link you have given. We have to search the song independently.
Thank you, AK. Lovely selection of songs, including some I wasn’t familiar with, plus some old favourites. And a special thank you for the ending note regarding Laaga chunari mein daag – that made for good reading.
Madhu,
You are welcome. Thanks a lot for your appreciation. It means a lot coming from a literary person.
AKji,
I have created a playlist for this post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5LJexNgklk&list=PL49CO_a-CHIjNVvR-6tffynxeVLZzLJYn
It is done manually appending each url ids.
Lets see if there is an automated way to do this. The tools available copies all the urls from the page but since we need only youtube urls so it becomes cumbersome to separate the songs URLs.
Siddharth,
I can’t thank you enough for this great work. I don’t think there is any automatic way. This has to be done manually as you have done.
AK Sir,
I come across reading this SoY blog since some few days.
Many of the sweet songs mentioned by you and other knowledgeable persons, I have not heard before. For that matter and for the before heard songs listed therein, your view in presenting them makes me (there will be other peoples like me also) joyful. You deserves our thanks.
I think, some forgotten songs may have class value, but they fall in attracting mass that is the reason by my point of view.
Once again thank you all.
– Kalpesh
AK ji ;
Interesting comments made by our friends. Laga chhunri mein dag…….whole heartedly crave for a separate article on songs that connect you to God . I know there could be many in numbers…..besides bhajan, kirtan, shabads …..but apart from that some time songs from films makes you connected by listening to series of such songs . Beside screen pillars like Sahir , Shakeel , Kaifi Azmi ; I have a special place for Shailendra in my heart . Challi kaun se desh , Us par saajan iss paar Aahen , Tujhe apne paas bulati hai teri duniya, andhe jahan ke andhe raste …….and so many others have very deep meanings .
Yaar hum to bas kho jaate hain us duniya mein. Hope others will join me in my request.
AK ji ;
There exist a very common factor ; sort of a bridge ; between Madan Mohan and Roshan compositions and that is presence of Sonk Omi as Arranger / Assistant Music Directors . Not one or Two ….they assisted MM and Roshan in more than dozen films . Sonik Omi indepently gave music to more than 40 or so movies ….but they were all of B or C class movies .
Sonik Omi ‘s last assisted movie for Roshan was Dil hi to hai [1963]. All the songs of the movie were hit …..but what surprised me was that even after super hit of Dli hi to hai , the producer signed Sonik Omi for their next movie …Dil ne phir yaad kiya . There were only two or three songs which got good response ……rest were all average .
Well in Bollywood ……thats a way the ball bounces [ famous I Love Lucy quote] .
Kalpesh Bhatt,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your appreciation. One important role SoY is playing is to highlight such forgotten gems. I try to always look for the unfamiliar but which is mesmerising. Hope to see you more on the blog.
KS Bhatiaji,
There is also a state when you are just lost, not knowing whether in this world or the other world. Losing oneself in music is often like that. Kabir’s mystic poems are like that. You have rightly mentioned Sahir, Kaifi Azmi.
From arranger to a music director is a rise in status, but this is a double-edged sword. If you don’t make it as an independent music director, climbing down as arranger could be embarrassing. Some continued in both roles – arranging and assisting for the biggies and taking up independent assignments that came their way. This dilemma is quite common in other fields – secure paid employment or self-employment – dancer to choreographer, architect/lawyer in a firm to set up one’s own firm. Sonik Omi’s case is not surprising.
ksbhatia ji,
I think at least 4 songs from DIL NE PHIR YAAD KIYA were popular…. The title song, Aajaa re pyar pukaare,Kaliyon ne ghunghat khola and Lo chehra surkh sharab hua.
Of the 11? songs,
Main Sooraj hoon
Tu meri kiran….Rafi,Asha
Ye dil hai mohabbat ka pyasa,
Is dil ka tadpna kya kahiye… Mukhesh
were fairly appreciated.
I would call it a remarkable album. Aren’t some movies remembered for a single popular song? Of course, the debacle of a movie commercially has very strong repercussions on everyone associated with it. Sonik Omi never had that ONE album that would make them immortal.DNPYK comes close.
Akji
sorry for joining very late here after a long interval partly bcz of my bz job and Diwali vacation travels and partly bcz my ears are in clutch of Boney M.’s disco magic nowadays. I had forgotten that I am a part of SoY !! 🙂 !! Every night I sleep with “Ra Ra Rasputin, daddy cool, Ma Baker, Rivers of Babylon, Sunny, Bahama mama and many more of that great band. watching Bobby Farell’s crazy dance induces pure elation !! RIP great man Bobby.
yes, Kajrari matwari madbhari do ankhiyan is my great favorite…to listen Rajkumari is a luxury…whatever she sings I love it.
Bedardi has three more beautiful songs of Geeta Dutt.
Unhen apna bana lena, mujhe dil se bhula dena
https://youtu.be/47lotqD1BAM
Do pyar ki baate ho jaaye
https://youtu.be/8hmAUqRTuyw
Aankhon se puchh lo ke jinhen intezaar hai
https://youtu.be/Yr3zMSUB4xE
and this wonderful Shamshad song
Shab e gham subah ho gayi rote rote
Kati raat lekin kati rote rote
https://youtu.be/IYoGaWCOk_A
Jignesh,
सुबह का भूला शाम को वापस आ जाए तो उसे भूला नहीं कहते. I am happy you didn’t forget your real home. Welcome back. Thanks for the addition of Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum songs. All were new to me. They are quite melodious. It was unusual to hear a ghazal by Shamshad Begum.
I’ve arrived not only after the party is long over but moved to another town . 🙂 But how can I resist commenting on another terrific post on the late great Roshan. This post was particularly satisfying for me to dig through because I have a bias for music directors did significant work with “other singers.” For me, Roshan tops the list of MDs who ventured far and frequently from the stable of staple singers and came up trumps almost every time.
All of favorite “other singer” songs by Roshan have been mentioned save “jhankti hai meri aankhon se qaza” from Dooj Ka chand. It’s another exemplar of Roshan’s finesse with female duets, this one featuring the Hemmady sisters, Shyama and Suman (Kalyanpur).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O65sbLJfOFE
Shalini,
Welcome back to SoY, and welcome to the bandwagon of Roshan-romantucs. You are right on his use of ‘other’ singers. And thanks a lot for the excellent Jhaankti hai qaza. This deserved to be added.
K.S. Bhatia ji (Reference to your comment no. 60)
Sonik and Omi are two people…Master Sonik was senior and arranged for a period of time for Madan Mohanji. Master Sonik was unfortunately not able to see but he was an amazing person and artist. Omi was his nephew, and arranged for Roshan Saab. It is not that they were one person and arranged for both the composers. Omi did not arrange for Madanji at any time. Later they both combined as Sonik Omi to become independent composers.
What a beautiful piece AKji, I am surprised to see that the comment I had posted earlier does not show up. I wonder why.
Enjoyed each and every song posted. about 4 were first time hear for me.
The beautiful Chand takta hai idhar has been playing in my mine continuously over a period of time ever since I heard it posted somewhere else. What a beauty this is. Just as all Roshan Saab’s compositions are. Wish we could have had more such beauties from him.
Ms. Sangeeta Gupta ji;
Thanks for your clarifications. I had always visulised Sonik Omi working together as arrangers for different music directors .
I regard Master Sonik’s contribution in background music of Dil Deke Dekho as one of his best . The Title Music of the movie uplifted the mood of the movie indicating what was in store in songs that followed .
Sangeetaji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Sometimes the comments of even regular writers land up in Spam folder randomly. Several readers have faced this problem. The Spam folder is so huge it is not possible to check it. In such cases the readers write me a mail, and I search it there to bring it to life.
Thanks a lot for the information on Sonik-Omi.
Thank you AKji, I understand…I just came to the page and tried to get the old comment, but could not find it….that is when I realised it was missing. It is something that you could not help….
Bhatiaji, I agree with you on Master Sonik. He was such a talented person…Even being visually impaired did not deter his talent…What wonderful work he has done, no doubt. But it does make me wonder why the combination of Sonik-Omi did not succeed independently as a composer duo…
He was so very sharp….After very many years, I met him at a public function…He had no way of knowing my presence at the event…I went up to him and said “Namaste Masterji”……..within a few seconds and without any hesitation he replied…”Arre Sangeeta Beta, kaisi ho…Bahut dino baad”. It brought tears to my eyes and lots of wonderful memories of the times we had spent together at the Famous Studio….during recordings.
thanks.
but roshan manna de could have turned magic.
roshan exceled with lata suman.
roshan rafi was a dull comination. i find man re or jo wada kiya hyped and dull.
they pale when compared to hazar rahe or ye jeevn hai
roshan smusic did not suit kishores voice. but his son has done excellent wok with kishore.
interesting this father son pair was on poosite poles. his sons main singer was kishore. some thing must be written on this
Anil Anant,
Welcome to SOY. About Rajesh Roshan’s main singer being Kishore Kumar, the obvious reason is that he was in active era. Roshan was in Rafi era.
Dear AKji , kindly refer to his beautiful number from Anhoni sung by Talat, Main dil hun ek arman bhara ,,,,
Any idea who could have played piano in this song? I am sure you will know his name.
Best regards
Jitendra Desai,
Unfortunately I do not know. The musicians remained behind the curtain. There should be some way to recognise them.
Jitendra Desai @75 , AK ji;
So far we have been listening to abridged song but the full song is there on YT . The fine use of strings and jazzie style of Piano seems to me to have been played by R C Boral . As he was the one who used to compose and play western music in hindi films since 1943 or so . My second guess is Pankaj Mallik . He too was instrumental in introducing western melodies in hindi and Bengali cinema. Quite a number of songs he composed had presence of Piano .
Well this is only my guess work…..again to be confirmed by specialists .
KS Bhatiaji, It is sad that we don’t know the names of the musicians who played the instruments. But in Anhonee song it could definitely not be RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick. They were towering personalities and I can not visualise them playing a faceless pianist for Roshan’s song. Goody Seervai could be one possibility, but we need to confirm it.