By Dr Amjad Parvez

Daily Times August 27, 2014

   


In all these victorious moments, Lata Mangeshkar’s songs had their contribution for sure! Before winding up this submission I must not forget Mangeshkar’s song “Tere mere beech main kesa hai ye bandhan anjana” from ‘Ik Dooje Ke Liye’.

KalyanJi AnandJi & Mangeshkar: In 1960 I heard a melodious number, a Lata-Mukesh song ‘Mujh Ko Is Raat Ki Tanhai Mein Awaz Na Do’ from the movie ‘Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Terey’. The rich violins interludes augmented the impact of this sad song. All I remember is this song creating a lilting impact when played on Radio at night in its Request Programmes. Anandji was grateful that Hement Kumar rendered a few duet songs with Lata, like ‘O Neend Na Mujhko Aaye’ for the movie ‘Post Box 999’ and ‘Tumhein Yaad Hoga’ from the movie ‘Satta Bazaar’. The duo entered into Bollywood in 1959 with their movie ‘Samrath Chandergupt’ in 1959. This Bharat Bhushan-Nirupa Roy starrer movie had good quality music with Rafi-Lata’s ‘Chahe Paas Ho Chahe Door Ho’. This song became an instant hit. In 1965, two decisive scores for the movies ‘Himalay Ki God Mein’ and ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’ established the duo as composers to reckon with. Songs by Lata ‘Aik Tu Na Mila Saari Duniya Mile Bhi To Kaya Hei’ and ‘Kankariya Maar Kei Jagaya’ are very lilting. The latter 1965 movie ‘Jab Jab Phool Khiley’ was Nanda-Shashi Kapoor starrer with its music as its highlight. From 1965 movie ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’ the song ‘Pardesion Sei Na Akhian Milana’ by Lata-Rafi was the best and most popular song. Lata excelled in the song ‘Yeh Saman, Saman Hei Ya Pyar Ka’, a sensuous song with equally opulent acting by Nanda. From the Black & White days, the movie ‘Sarsawati Chander’ had lovely melody ‘Chandan Sa Badan’ by Mukesh and Lata sung separately in Raag Aimen. The song I like the best was ‘Chore Dein Saari Duniya Kisi Kei Liye Yei Munasib Nahin Adami Kei Liye’ sung by Lata. Nutun alo sings Lata’s number, a beautiful one, ‘Phool Tumhain Bhaija Hei Khat Mein, Phool Nahin Mera Dil Hei’. Another movie worth mentioning for its music was ‘Haseena Maan Jayegi’ released in 1968. It was directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Babita, Ameeta, Yunus Parvez and Johnny Walker. Its songs were quite memorable, with the melodious Lata-Rafi duet ‘Bekhudi Mein Sanam Ruk Gayey Jo Qadam’ being the most popular of them all. I watched a movie titled ‘Johny Mera Naam’. It was perhaps Hema Malini’s first movie. It had ‘Mose Mora Shyam Rootha’ and ‘O Babul Pyare’ by Lata Mangeshkar pictured on Hema Malini. The male lead was Dev Anand.

Mangeshkar’s other worth mentioning songs by KA are “Tera jaana dil ke armaanon ka lut jana”, “Teri raahon main khare hain dil thaam ke”, “Meri jan kuch bhi kijiye” (with Mukesh) and “Bajje payal chun chun ho” (picturised on Nutun) from ‘Chaliya’, “Mere dil ne jo manga” from ‘Rakhwala’, “Kankariya maar ke jagaya” and “Aik tu na mila saari duniya mile bhi” from ‘Himaliye Ki Goud Main’ (This film was a turning point for KA. All the songs were a hit. The two Mangeshkar songs deserve places of their own. Again a lilting touch emphasised by Mangeshkar’s great voice), “Bedardi daghabaaz” from ‘Bluff Master’ (a classical song), “Hum they jin kei sahare” from ‘Safar’, “Tu jahan bhi rahe” from ‘Upkar’, “Mere padnein main nahi” from ‘Kora Kaghaz’, “Jis path pe tu chala” from ‘Yaadgaar’ and the best of them all “Akele hain chale aao jahan ho” from ‘Raaz’ (the impact is haunting, Mangeshkar touches the high notes with ease. Muhammad Rafi also sang the same song), “Yun hi tum mujhse baat karti ho” from ‘Sacha Jhoota’, “Mile mile do badan khile” and “Naina mere rang bhare sapne” (picturised on actress Rakhi) and “Arre husn chala kuch aisa” from the film ‘Black Mail’, “Chotti si umar main lag gaya rog” and “Main bairagi naachun gi” from ‘Bairaag’, “Naino main nindiya hai” (picturised beautifully on Nanda and Rajesh Khanna) from ‘Joru Ka Ghulam’, “Main tujhe milne aai mandir” from ‘Heera’, “Do phool zindigi ke” (picturised on Rekha with Mangeskar taking her voice on upper notes at a climax of the song) from ‘Qabeela’, “Aankhon main surma” (with Kishore picturised on Sharmila Tegore and Nivin Nischol) from ‘Aik Sei Barh Kei Aik’, “Sone ka chabutra” (duet with Kishore; a dance sequence picturised on Moshmi Chatterjee and Vinod Khanna) from ‘Hathyara’, “Aya aya Abdullah” from ‘Juaari’, “Jab se tujhe jaan gai” (B&W film, picturised on Saira Bano and Shami Kapoor) from ‘Buff Master’, “Main tujhe milne aye”, “Are kaya karun” (Mangeshkar singing odd notes on a dance sequence by Zeenat Aman) from ‘Bambai 405 Miles’, “Mera pardesi na aya” (one of my favourites, a song that touches high notes and captures the yearning beautifully) from ‘Mere Hamsafar’, “Ja re ja o harjaai” from ‘Kalicharan’, “Dil beqarar sa hai” from ‘Ishara’, “Jis dil main basa tha” from ‘Saheli’, “Dil hi tau hai” from ‘Muqadar Ka Sikandar’, “Bana ke kyun bigaara” from ‘Zanjeer’ and “Aaj ki raat’ from ‘Vishwaas’.