By Dr Amjad Parvez

Daily Times August 11, 2014

   

This combination of Lata and Madan Mohan's command on composing and rendering ghazals and other melodious songs has been unmatched. Madan Mohan's inculcation with big masters of music visiting father like Ustad Faiyyaz Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Malika-e-Mausiqui Roshan Ara Begum, Begum Akhtar, Siddheshwari Devi and Talat Mehmood, all renowned names in the field of classical music and Ghazal singing in his house must have left a mark in his psyche. Otherwise how could he create compositions such as "Maine rang li aaj chunariya" from 'Dulhan Ek Raat Ki' and "Baiyan na dharo". In those days, apart from low cast films, Madan Mohan did get a Nutan film 'Dulhan Ek Raat Ki' and he composed the lovely number "Sapnon mein agar mere tum aao". Again I would not be doing a justice to Madan Mohan-Lata combination  if I do not mention his compositions such as 'Sapne Mein Sajan Sey' and Do Ghari Woh Jo Paas' (with Muhammad Rafi) pictured on beautiful Madhubala from the movie 'Gateway of India' and 'Rukey Rukey Sey Qadam' from the movie 'Mausam' pictured on Sharmila Tegore. My all time favourite however is Lata's 'Aaj Socha To Ansoo Bhar Aei Mudatein Ho Gaein Muskurae/ Mudatein Ho Gaeein Muskuraye' from Chetan Anand's 1972 movie 'Hanste Zakhm'. The Sitar introduction and interludes takes one's breath away. It was filmed on Priya Rajvansh in a club sequence with KN Singh flirting with her and she remembering her love for Nivin Nishchol in flashbacks; an excellent portrayal. Another of Lata's crooned song from this movie is 'Betaab Dil Ki Tamana Yehi Hai". These songs were penned by none other than Kaifi Aazmi.

I must not forget the songs from Sadhna-Manoj's movie 'Woh Kaun Thi' like 'Lag Ja Galey Keh Phir Yei Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho' and 'Naina Barsey Rim Jhim' and of course 'Jo Hum Ney Dastaan Apni Sunai' and the songs from Sunil Dutt-Sadhna starrer movie 'Mera Saya' like 'Tu Jahan Jahan Bhi Ho Ga Mera Saya Saath Ho Ga' and 'Nainon Main Badra Chaaei'. About Yash Chopra getting Madan Mohan's rejected tracks from the latter's son Sanjeev Kohli library and Lata singing 'Tere Liye', 'Aisa Dais Hei Mera' (with Udit Narayan, Gurdas Mann & Pritha Majumdar), 'Yei Hum Aa Gaeye Hain Kahan' (with Udit Narayan), 'Do Pal' and 'Kyun Hawa' (with Sonu Nigum), 'Hum Tau Bhai Jaise Hain', Tum Paas Aa Rahe Ho' (with Jagjit Singh) and 'Jane Kyun', she said about singing for 'Veer-Zaara' (2004): "Madan Mohan was like my brother. Yashji's like my brother. I felt I had gone back in time."

Some of memorable songs by Lata for Madan Mohan are 'Aankhon Aankhon Mein Un Sei', 'Preetam Meri Duniya Main Do Din Tau Rahe Hote' and 'Sanwari Soorat Mun Bhai Re Piya Tori Sanwari Soorat Mun Bhai' from 1951 movie 'Ada' with lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Prem Dhawan, 'Ja Ja Re Ja Sajna Kahe Sapno Mein Aaei Ja Kei Dais Paraye', 'Jana Tha Hum Sei Door Bahane Bana Liye' and 'Un Ko Yei Shikayat Hei Keh Hum Kutch Nahi Kehte' from 1958 movie 'Adalat' starring Nargis and Pardeep Kumar. Lyrics were penned by Rajinder Krishen, 'Woh Jo Milte They Kabhi Hum Sei Diwano Ki Tarah/Aaj Yun Milte Hain Jaise Kabhi Pehchan Na Thi' from 1963 movie 'Akeli Mat Jaaiyo' starring Meena Kumari and Rajinder Kumar with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. We have already mentioned two songs of 1962 movie 'Anparh' above. The others by Lata are 'Jiya Lei Gayo Ji Mora Sanwariya', 'Woh Daikho Jala Ghar Kisi Ka' and 'Rang Birangi Rakhi Lei Kar Aai Behna'. Lyrics were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. 1952 Nargis-Raj Kapoor film 'Ashiana' had six lovely songs by Lata namely 'Main Na Janu Mere Dil Ko Yei Kaya Ho Gaya', 'Mera Qarar Lei Ja Mujhe Beqarar Kar Ja', 'Mere Piya Sei Koi Ja Kei Keh De Jeewan Ka Sahara Teri Yaad Hei', 'Mukh Mor Na Laina Sajna Dil Bechain', 'Sama Hei Bahar Ka Lei Lei Maza Pray Ka' and 'Tum Chand Kei Saath Chale Aao' penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. 1953 Naseem Bano movie 'Baghi' had a lovely song 'Baharain Hum Ko Dhoondhain Gi Na Jane Hum Kahan Haun Gei' again a Majrooh penned number. A semi-classical number 'Jaa Re Badra Bairi Ja Ja Ja Re' penned by Rajinder Krishen was from 1960 movie 'Bahana'. Another hit number 'Bairen Neend Na Aaye' was from Kishore Kumar-Anita Goha 1959 film 'Chacha Zindabaad', penned by Rajinder Krishen. I have mentioned a classical based song 'Bainyan Na Dharo Balma' from Rehana Sultan-Sanjeev Kumar 1970 movie 'Dastak' already. The other Majrooh penned numbers are 'Hum Hain Mata-e-Kucha-o-Bazzar Ki Tarah' and 'Maai Ri Maai Ka Sei Kahun Peer Apni Ji'. 1970 Raj Kumar-Priya Rajvansh film 'Heer Ranjha' had two lovely songs by Lata 'Doli Charhde Heer Nei Bain Kiya Ho' and 'Do Dil Toote Do Dil Haare'; the latter became very popular because of climax in its composition in the antaras.