After the year-wise review of the best songs of 1955 and 1953, I entered the era of pre-Filmfare Awards with 1951 last year. Continuing the year-wise review I come to 1950, i.e. the beginning of the glorious 50s. End of the 40s marked the end of an era of the vintage singers, and consolidation of the hold of Lata Mangeshkar. Now there was no doubt who the reigning queen of female playback singing was. The male playback domain did not show a similar one-star dominance. The two reigning monarchs of music, Naushad and C Ramchandra, who are incidentally being felicitated in tandem on SoY, dominated the year. The lesser stars too shone bright, with some landmark scores, matching the titans in brilliance. Enough to give music lovers hours of delight in contemplation and nostalgia. For the analytically-minded, the year gives enough material for intra-year and inter-year comparison.
Musical landmarks
This was a big year for Naushad with Dilip Kumar-Nargis-Munawwar Sultana starrer Babul being a super hit. All its dozen songs are remembered till today. A year earlier in Andaaz, Naushad had sidelined his old favourite Shamshad Begum in favour of Lata Mangeshkar. In Babul he restores the primacy of Shamshad Begum, Lata having a secondary position. Talat Mahmood makes a grand debut with Naushad, which effectively became his only collaboration with him. The year also saw Naushad making a big splash with Raj Kapoor-Suraiya starrer Daastan. The movie was publicized with Naushad’s name as the top draw: Chaalis karore mein ek Naushad. With this movie, Naushad broke free from AR Kardar as a paid employee; he had reached a position when he could be equal partners with him in the Musical Pictures which produced the movie. I should add here that with all the hoopla about the movie, I personally find its music very underwhelming, and very atypical of Naushad.
It was a big year for C Ramchandra, too, with super scores in Nirala, Sargam, Samadhi, Sangeeta and Sangram. The songs range from pure classical to Western-based, from very serious to comic, and from melodious to very rhythmic. I might as well have placed him above Naushad. It is not without reason that if anyone was considered a worthy rival to Naushad in his heydays, it was CR. It is also befitting that I am discussing Naushad-CR in tandem this year which I am celebrating as the Year of Naushad.
If I have to take a name after these two titans, my favourite for the year is a young Roshan, who had failed so badly with his debut a year earlier in Neki Aur Badi that he was contemplating suicide. But Kidar Sharma must have seen some spark; he persisted with him, and Roshan gave music in Bawre Nain that stands as tall as any of the stalwarts. This had some of Mukesh’s best ever songs, and it gave Rajkumari a long career on TV shows with her Sun bairi balam.
This was also the year of Anil Biswas-Talat Mahmood’s Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal. Talat had already acquired fame for his non-film songs, he sang for films too in Calcutta earlier, and we find evidence of his songs in Bombay also in 1949, but now the universally accepted story is that it was Anil Biswas who gave him the big break in Bombay with Ae dil mujhe, which launched him as one of the most prominent playback singers in the 50s and the early 60s. He gave some excellent music in Beqasoor and Lajwaab. His songs for these three movies have figured in the series on him last year.
SD Burman gave some landmark music in Afsar and Mashal. We have discussed him in detail in the series on him where the songs from these movies have figured. Afsar is remarkable for his use of Suraiya – even though Naushad had been one of the two most important composers for her (the other being Husnlal-Bhagatram), in my opinion, SD Burman-Suraiya songs in Afsar are much better than Naushad-Suraiya songs in Daastan. Mashal has an important place in film music history for giving Manna Dey his career-defining song, Upar gagan vishal.
Jogan composed by Bulo C Rani is an important landmark for its Meerabai songs sung by Geeta Dutt. This presented a very different Geeta Dutt from her usual fast and peppy image. He composed one of the greatest Mukesh-Lata Mangeshkar duets, Arman bhara dil toot gaya in Wafa.
Other important musical compositions
As if the above list was not enough, we have a large number of everlasting compositions by other music directors. In terms of numbers, Husnlal Bhagatram had a prolific year with some outstanding songs in Aadhi Raat, Birha Ki Raat, Chhoti Bhabhi, Meena Baazar, Gauna and Sartaj. Anmol Ratan by Vinod is truly a priceless jewel, with two all-time great Talat-Lata duets – Shikwa tera main gaaun and Yaad aanewale phir yaad aa rahe hain – and a superb Talat solo Jab kisi ke rukh se zulfeein. Ghulam Mohammad has been discussed with great deal of respect on SoY. Mere ghungharwale baal (Shamshad Begum) and Ankhiyan mila ke zara baat karo ji (Rafi-Lata) from Pardes show his diverse talent. Vasant Desai gives extremely melodious music in Dahej in the voice of Jayshree, such as Ambua ki daali pe bole le koeliya. And he completely changes tack for Shamshad Begum in Sheesh Mahal to compose a song very atypical of his style: Husnwaalon ki galiyon mein aana nahi (I have to thank Mahesh Mamdapur for sending me a link of Shamshad Begum’s songs of 1950, which contained this song).
Debut, Fact-file and Trivia
Madan Mohan made a very remarkable debut with Aankhen. It gave Meena Kapoor what became her signature song: Mori atariya pe kaga bole mora jiya dole. He gave some very good Shamshad Begum songs, too, in the film. Its Mukesh-Shamshad Begum duet Humse nain milana BA pass kar ke is among their best duets, and it shows Madan Mohan’s forte in composing light, breezy songs – he would later earn fame for his serious ghazals and classical-based composition. Another noteworthy feature of his debut score is the absence of Lata Mangeshkar with whom his association would acquire a fame of legendary proportions. It is said that MM-Lata friendship goes back to their struggling days when Ghulam Haider composed a duet in their voice for Shaheed (1948), but it could not be used in the film. In spite of the friendship, did she refuse singing for an untested Madan Mohan? MM did sing a duet with Shamshad Begum in Aankhen. Raj Khosla, who later became a famous director, also sang in the film.
Afsar was SD Burman’s first film with Navketan which would lead to a long association with them.
Nutan was launched by her mother Shobhana Samarth in Hamari Beti, in which she also sang a song.
Chitalkar sings under Husnlal Bhagatram and Hanuman Prasad in Apni Chhaya – one of the rare occasions when he sings under someone else. In Babooji too, we find songs sung by Anna Saheb, composed by P Ramakant. Confirmation is needed from experts whether this Anna Saheb is C Ramchandra.
Karan Dewan figures in a number of films, but he does not get to sing any song. A year earlier he had sung a beautiful Duniya hamare pyar ki yun hi jawan rahe in Lahore. In 1950, he is given playback by Krishna Goel in Dahej. How times change!
The year is noteworthy for the number of voices that sang for Raj Kapoor: Mukesh in Baawre Nain (Roshan), Kishore Kumar in Pyar (SD Burman), Rafi in Daastan (Naushad), Chitalkar in Sargam (C Ramchandra), Shankar Dasgupta and Talat Mahmood in Jaan Pehchan (Khemchand Prakash).
I am always struck by how suddenly the New Theatres stalwarts became unnoticeable from their glorious heights. RC Boral has a film, Pahla Aadmi, in the year. I am not able to include any of its songs even in my long list.
Khemchand Prakash passed away on August 10, 1950 at a young age. With him an era in music ended.
If you look carefully at the list of MEMORABLE SONGS given below, you will find the only memorable solo of Rafi is Akele mein wo ghabarate to honge, compared to several by Mukesh and Talat Mahmood. A stark illustration of how they stood in the late 40s-early 50s. This was composed by Khayyam under the name Sharmaji for Biwi, his first hit for Rafi, for whom he would later give a number of immortal songs.
Conspicuous by absence are Shankar-Jaikishan, who had a spectacular debut a year earlier with Barsaat. But considering that they came back with a bang in 1951, as we have seen in the last review, they were surely not sitting idle. They must have been very busy with a number of films in hand, which fructified in 1951 and later.
LIST OF MEMORABLE SONGS
Let me present a list of memorable songs of the year. It is a fairly long list, prepared after careful search so that nothing of value is left out.
Aadhi Raat: Music Husnlal Bhagatram
1. Ban ke suhagan rahi abhagan – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Sarshar Sailani)
2. Rona hi likha tha qismat mein – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Khumar Barabanqvi)
3. Dil hi to hai tadap gaya dard se bhar na aaye kyun – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Asad Bhopali)
Afsar: Lyrics Narendra Sharma; Music SD Burman
4. Man mor hua matwala – Suraiya
5. Nain deewane ik nahi maane – Suraiya
6. Preet ka nata jodnewale – Geeta Roy and Suraiya
7. Pardesi re aat jaate jiya mora liye jaao – Suraiya
Aankhen: Music Madan Mohan
8. Mori atariya pe kaga bole – Meena Kapoor (lyrics Bharat Vyas)
9. Preet laga ke maine ye phal paya – Mukesh (lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan)
10. Humse nain milana BA pass kar ke – Shamshad Begum and Mukesh (lyrics Raja Mhedi Ali Khan)
11. Humse na dil ko lagana musafir – Madan Mohan and Shamshad Begum (lyrics Bharat Vyas)
12. Qismat ne humein majboor kiya – Shamshad Begum (lyrics Saraswati Kumar Deepak)
13. Mohabbat karnewalon ka yahi anjaam hota hai – Shamshad Begum (lyrics Rahja Mehdi Ali Khan)
Anmol Ratan: Lyrics DN Madhok; Music Vinod
14. Shikwa tera main gaaun – Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar
15. Jab kisi ke rukh pe zulfein aa ke lahrane lagin – Talat Mahmood
16. Yaad aanewale phir yaad aa rahe hain – Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar
17. More dwar khule hain aanewale kab aaoge – Lata Mangeshkar
18. Lakhon mein ek hamaare sainya – Nirmala Devi
Apni Chhaya: Lyrics PL Santoshi; Music Husnlal Bagatram and Hanuman Prasad
19. Ho kaale kaale baadal chhaye piya – Shamshad Begum and Mukesh (music Hanuman Prasad)
20. Dukhiya ke dukh hare hain tumne hamaare bhi dukh haro – Lalita Deulkar
21. Andhiyare ghar mein jot jali jagmag jagmag – Chitalkar and Lata Mangeshar
Arzoo: Music Anil Biswas
22. Mera naram karejawa dol gaya – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Prem Dhavan)
23. Humein maar chala ye khayal ye gham – Anil Biswas (lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri)
24. Aankhon se door ja ke jana na dil se door – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri)
25. Kahan tak hum uthayein gham – Lata Mangeshkar
26. Unhein hum jo dil se bhulane lage wo kuchh aur bhi yaad aane lage – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri)
27. Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal – Talat Mahmood (lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri)
28. Mila gaye nain – Sudha malhotra (lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri)
Babooji: Lyrics Ehsan Rizvi; music P Ramakant
29. Gore gore mukh se jo ghunghat hataao – Anna Saheb (Chitalkar?)
Babul: Lyrics Shakeel Badayuni; Music Naushad
30. Dhadke mera dil mujhko jawani Ram qasam na bhaaye – Shamshad Begum
31.Panchhi ban mein piya piya gaane laga – Lata Mangeshkar
32. Husnwaalon ko na dil do – Talat Mahmood
33. Milte hi aankhen dil hua deewana kisi ka – Shamshad Begum and Talat Mahmood
34. Lagan more man ki balam nahi maane – Lata Mangehskar
35. Jadoo bhare naino mein dole jiya teri qasam – Shamshad Begum
36. Nadiya mein utha hai shor – Shamshad Begum, Talat Mahmood and Rafi
37. Na socha tha ye dil lagaane ke pahle – Shamshad Begum
38. Kisi ke dil mein rahna tha – Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum
39. Duniya badal gayi meri duniya badal gayi – Shamshad Begum and Talat Mahmood
40. Mera jeewan saathi bichhad gaya – Talat Mahmood
41. Chhod babul ka ghar mohe pee ken agar aaj jana pada – Shamshad Begum
Bawre Nain: Lyrics Kedar Sharma; Music Roshan
42. Sun bairi balam kuchh bol – Rajkumar
43. Mujhe sach sach bata – Mukesh and Rajkumari
44. Ghir ghir ke aasman par chhane lagi gataayen – Rajkumari
45. Kyun mere dil mein dard jagaya jawaab do – Rajkumari
46. Khayaalon mein kisi ke is tarah aaya nahi karte – Geeta Dutt and Mukesh
47. Mere roothe huye balmaa – Rajkumari
48. Teri duniya mein dil lagta nahi – Mukesh
Beqasoor: Lyrics Arzoo Lakhanvi ( and Ehsan Rizvi); Music Anil Biswas
49. Chale jaiho bedarda main roye marungi – Rajkumari
50. Matwale naino waale ke main waari waari jaaun – Lata Mangeshkar
Bhai Bahen: Lyrics Ishwar Chandra Kapoor etc; Music Shyam Sundar
51. Thandi hawa ke jhonke – Shamshad Begum
Bijli: Lyrics Bharat Vyas; Music Khemchand Prakash
52. Main to maarungi nainon ke baan re zara bach ke rahna – Shamshad Begum
Birha Ki Raat: Lyrics Sarshar Sailani; Music Husnlal-Bhagatram
53. Chhota sa fasana hai tere mere pyar ka – Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi
54. Dil jawani ke nashe se choor hai – Rafi
Biwi: Lyrics Wali Saheb etc; Music Azeez Hindi and Sharmaji (Khayyam)
55. Akele mein wo ghabraate to hone – Rafi (Music Khayyam)
Chhoti Bhabhi: Lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi; Music Husnlal Bhagatram
56. Suno meri sarkar zamana ulta hai – Rafi
Dahej: Lyrics Shams Lakhanvi; Music Vasant Desai (and Purushottam)
57. Wo to baans Bareilly se laya saawan mein byahne aya – Jayshree
58. Aa ja nigahon mein aa ja – Krishna Goyal
59. Choodi dheere pahna choodiwaali ho – Shamshad Begum
60. Ambua ki daari se boli ri koeliya – Jayshree
61. Ae kale baadal bol tu kyun itarata hai – Shamshad Begum
62. Do din bahaar phool to dikhla ke rah gaye – Jayshree (music Purushottam)
Daastan: Lyrics Shakeel Badayuni; Music Naushad
63. Aaya mere dil mein tu – Suraiya
64. Tara ri tara ri, yah sawan rut tum aur hum – Rafi and Suraiya
65. Ye mausam aur ye tanhaai – Suraiya
66. Ae shamma tu bata tera parwana kaun hai – Suraiya
67. Dil ko haaye dil ko teri tasweer se bahlaaye huye hain – Rafi and Suraiya
68. Nainon mein preet hai hothon pe geet hai – Suraiya
69. Dil dhadak dhadhak dil phadak phadak phadke – Suraiya
70. Mohabbat badha kar juda ho gaye – Suraiya
71. Naam tera hai zabaan par yaad teri dil mein hai – Suraiya
Gauna: Lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi; Music Husnlal Bhagatram
72. Agar dil kisi par lutaya na hota– Lata Mangeshkar
Hamari Beti: Lyrics Pt Faani; Music Snehal Bhatkar
73. Mohabbat bhi jhoothi zamana bhi jhootha – Mukesh
Hanste Aansoo: Music Ghulam Mohammad
74. Chhod chale rajaji li haye kaise rahun akeli – Shamshad Begum (lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri)
Hanste Rahna: Lyrics Farooq Qaiser; Music Wadhwa
75. Unki nazaron se koi nazarein mila ke poochhe – Khan Mastana
Har Har Mahadev: Lyrics Ramesh Shastri (and Saraswati Kumar Deepak); Music Avinash Vyas
76. Tim timatim tim timatim timtimate taare – Mukesh and Sulochana Kadam
Jaan Pehchan: Lyrics Shakeel Badayuni; Music Khemchand Prakash
77. Hum kya bataayein tumse kyun door ho gaye hum – Shankar Dasgupta
78. Dukh se bhara hua hai dil – Shankar Dasgupta
79. Armaan bhare dil ki lagan tere liye hai – Talat Mahmood and Geeta Roy
Jalte Deep: Lyrics Naazim Panipati (and two others); Music TK Das (and Shardul Quatra)
80. Humein apne dil se juda kar rahe ho – Geeta Roy
Jogan: Music Bulo C Rani
81. Ghunghat ke pat khol re – Geeta Roy (lyrics Meerabai)
82. Main to Giridhar ke ghar jaaun – Geeta Roy (lyrics Meerabai)
83. Main to prem diwani mera prem na jaane koi – Geeta Roy (lyrics Meerabai)
84. Kaahe nainon mein naina dale re O pardesiya – Shamshad Begum (lyrics Buta Ram)
85. Jin aankhon ki neend haraam hui – Shamshad Begum (lyrics Buta Ram)
86. Daaro re rang daaro re phaagun ke din aaye re – Geeta Roy (lyrics Pt Indra)
87. Sundarata ke sabhi shikaari – Talat Mahmood (lyrics Pt Indra)
88. Jogi mat ja – Geeta Roy (lyrics Meerabai)
89. Pyaare darshan deejo aaj – Geeta Roy (lyrics Meerabai)
Kamal Ke Phool: Lyrics Rajendra Krishna; Music Shyam Sundar
90. Koi dil mein samaaya chupke chupke – Suraiya
91.Thoda thoda pyaar thodi thodi taqraar ho – Shamshad Begum
92. Sazaa mili hai kisi se yah dil lagaane ki – Suraiya
Khamosh Sipahi: Lyrics DN Madhok; Music Hansraj Bahal
93. Hum dil ki dhadkan ki laya par furqat ke gaane gaate hain – Surendra Kaur and Rafi
Khiladi: Music Hansraj Bahal
94. Ada se muskuraye ja qayamate jagaye ja – Kishore Kumar (lyrics Rajendra Krishna)
Lajwaab: Music Anil Biswas
95. Paas balam chori chori aa – Lata Mangeshkar (with Anil Biswas), lyrics Shekhar
96. Zamaane ka dastoor hai ye purana – Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Prem Dhawan)
Maang: Music Ghulam Mohammad
97. Aao baitho baat suno – GM Durrani and Lata Mangeshkar
Madhubala: Music Lachhiram
98. Ye duniya bewafaai ki wafa ka raaz kya jaane – GM Durrani (lyrics Rajendra Krishna)
Mangala: Lyrics Pt Indra; Music MD Parthasarathy, Balkrishna Kalla and E Shankar Shastri
99. Aiyya mari main to laaj se – Bhanumati
Mashal: Lyrics Pradeep; Music SD Burman
100. Jab tum the hamare aur hum the tumhare – Arun Kumar
101. Aankhon se door door hain par dil ke paas jo – Lata Mangeshkar
102. Upar gagan vishal – Manna Dey
103. Mohe laga solva saal – Shamshad Begum and Arun Kumar
Meena Bazaar: Lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi; Music Husnlal-Bhaatram
104. Na thamate hain aansoo na rukate hain naale – Rafi (HFGK mentions DN Madhok as the lyricist)
105. Mahi O dupata mora de de – Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
106. Tujhe barbaad karna tha.. haye dil bhi diya to kisko diya – Lata Mangeshkar
107. Gori baahon mein chudiyan kaali saja lo rani – Rafi and Shamshad Begum
Nili: Lyrics Surjit Sethi; Music S Mohinder
108. Teri zaalim nigahon ne humko ghayal kiya – GM Durrani, Suriaya, Ojha & othrs
109. Haaye ye judaai ki chot buri hai – Suraiya
Nirala: Lyrics PL Santoshi; Music C Ramchandra
110. Mohabbat meri rang laane lagi hai – Shamshad Begum
111. Aisi mohabbat se hum baaz aajye – Lata Mangehskar
112. Mehfil mein jal uthi shama – Lata Mangeshkar
113. Majboor meri aankhein majboor mera dil – Lata Mangeshkar
114. Dil mein kisi ke rahna ho to kiski ijaazat chaahiye – Chitalkar and Shamshad Begum
115. Kahnewale sach kah gaye hain – Rafi and Chitalkar
116. Dekhoji dekhoji.. Chandni raat mein jane kya baat re – Lata Mangeshkar
Nishana: Lyrics Naqshab; Music Khursheed Anwar
117. Kaisi murali bajayi Shyam ne – Geeta Roy
118. Kateele tore naina raseele – Shamshad Begum
Pagle: Music BG Bhatkar (Snehal)
119. Yah aaj ke Laila aur Majnu yun milkar – Khan Mstana, Mukesh and GM Durrani
120. Kyun shikwa karein kyun aah bharein – Talat Mahmood, Khan Mastana and Mukesh
121. Balma tere bina chain kahan, mat jaiyo Dilli darbaar – Mukesh and Zohra Ambalewali
122. Ae chaand mohabbat roti hai ab chaandni raaton ko le ja – Talat Mahmood and Rajkumari
123. Taqdeer hansi aansoo nikale – Talat Mahmood and Rajkumari
Pardes: Lyrics Shakeel Badayuni; Music Ghulam Mohammad
124. Mere ghunghar wale baal – Shamshad Begum
125. Ankhiyan mila ke zara baat karo ji – Rafi and Shamshad Begum
126. Raat hai taaron bhari chhitaki hui chaandni – Lata Mangeshkar
127. Janewale tujhe hum yaad kye jayenge – Lata Mangehskar
128. O ji dheere dheere O ji haule haule anganaa mei aa ja piya – Lata Mangehskar
Pyar: Lyrics Rajendra Krishna; Music SD Burman
129. Mohabbat ka chhota sa ek ashiyana – Kishore Kumar
Raj Mukut: Lyrics Bharat Vyas; Music Govind Ram
130. Panghat pe na jaiyo gori ghunghat utaar ke – Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Roy
Sabak: Lyrics DN Madhok; Music AR Qureshi
131. Kah do humein na beqaraar karein – Rafi and Surinder Kaur
132. Ambua ke ped suhaane kya kahein mose – Surinder Kaur, Premlata, Asha Bhosle
133. More nain bawre chham chham neer bahaye – Surinder Kaur
Samadhi: Lyrics Rajendra Krishna; Music C Ramchandra
134. Gore gore O baanke chore – Lata Mangeshkar and Amirbai Karnataki
135. Abhi shaam aayegi nikalenge taare – Lata Mangeshkar
136. Woh paas aa rahe hain hum door ja rahe hain – Lata Mangeshkar
Sangeeta: Lyrics PL Santoshi; Music C Ramchandra
137. Jo mujhe bhula ke chale gaye mujhe unki yaad sataaye kyun – Lata Mangeshkar
Sangram: Music C Ramchandra
138. Wo unka muskurana sharmana chale jana – Arun Kumar (lyrics Brajendra Gaur)
139. Ulfat ke jadu ka dil mein asar hai – Lata Mangeshkar and Chitalkar (lyirics Brajendra Gaur)
140. Din aaye pyare pyaare barsaat ke – Lata Mangeshkar (lyrics Raja Menhadi Ali Khan)
Sargam: Lyrics PL Santoshi; Music C Ramchandra
141. Tinak tin tani do din ki zindagani – Lata Mangeshkar and Saraswati Rane
142. Jab dil ko sataye gham tu chhed sakhi sargam – Lata Mangeshkar and Sarswati Rane
143. Wo humse chup hain hum unse chup hain – Chitalkar and Lata Mangeshkar
144. Koi kisi ka diwana na bane – Lata Mangeshkar
145. Main hun ek khalasi mera naam Bhimpalasi – Chitalkar
146. Baap bada na bhiya sabse bada rupaiya – Chitalkar, Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
Sartaj: Music Husnlal-Bhagatram
147. Manwa mein pyaar dole sara sansaar dole – Mukesh and Zohrabi Ambalewali
Shaan: Music Hansraj Bahal
148. Majboor hun main nashad hun main – Suraiya (lyrics Rajendra Krishna)
Sheesh Mahal: Music Vasant Desai
149. Aadami wo hai museebat se pareshan na ho – Pushpa Hans (lyrics Shams Lakhanavi and Behzad Lakhanavi)
150. Taqdeer bananewale ne kasi taqdeer banayi hai – Pushpa Hans (lyrics Aajiz)
151. Husnwalon ki galiyon mein aana nahi – Shamshad Begum (lyrics Shams Lakhanavi)
Wafa: Music Vinod and Bulo C Rani
152. Armaan bhara dil toot gaya – Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar (music Bulo C Rani)
Special songs
Readers are aware I have been posting ‘Special songs’ in the overview article, which are largely unfamiliar and which may not figure in any conventional list of ‘Best songs’, but these are the songs which mesmerise you on the first listening, and tend to remain with you forever. Generally, there is also some twist or something unique about these songs. This section should specially please Jignesh, who has been arguing that merit of a song is not sufficient to ensure its longevity. Even connoisseurs are not aware of many outstanding songs, which are now coming into public domain, thanks to YouTube and the Internet. If ever a doubt creeps in anyone’s mind about the utility of spending so much effort and time on dissecting the songs of a time gone 64 years ago, I invite you to listen to these songs. If nothing else, it is the discovery of such wonderful gems, which I would have never come across otherwise, that removes all doubts and makes the effort thoroughly rewarding.
1. Wo humse chup hain hum unse chup hain dilon ke armaan machal rahe hain by Lata Mangeshkar from Rasiya (1950), lyrics DN Madhok, music Bulo C Rani
We are familiar with CR-Lata Mangeshkar duet with the same mukhadaa from Sargam. And you have a song with the same first line in the same year from Rasiya (an unreleased film?). One a romantic duet, the other apparently a mujra song – the two composed by composers with entirely different styles.
2. Jab nain se nain mile umangein naach uthi man mein by Amirbai Karnataki, Geeta Dutt, Rafi and (?) from Veer Babhruvaahan, lyrics Anjum Jaipuri, music Chitragupta
I unhesitatingly put Chitragupta at par with the topmost music directors for his songs for Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi. He flowered in the early 60s, and was generally associated with B/C grade fantasy and mythological films in the early part of his career. And from 1950 I come across this wonderful classical-based song, with prelude clearly in Raga Desh (?). I can’t tire of listening it without end. I associate the word ‘sweet’ for Chitragupt’s songs for Lata Mangeshkar. Here he is as sweet as ever. YT identifies the singers as Amirbai Karnataki, Geeta Dutt and Rafi, but the male voice in the beginning seems to be someone else.
3. Ada se muskuraye ja qayaamate jagaaye ja by Kishore Kumar from Khiladi, lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Hansraj Bahal
There is this beautiful early Kishore Kumar whom Khemchand Prakash had launched with Marne ki duaayein kyun maangun jeene ki tamanna kau kare in Ziddi (1948) and Jagmag karta chaand poonam ka pyara in Rimjhim (1949). He continues in the same soft, melodious vein in this song under Hansraj Bahal, one of the major figures of the Punjabi School of music. The soft Kishore Kumar would continue in many songs in his early career, such as Husn bhi hai udas udas, Dukhi man mere etc. Many would agree with me if I say that Kishore Kumar Part I, i.e. pre-Aradhana, was much better than KK II.
4. Tashreef rakhiye ji tashreef rakhiye mere dil ke makaan mein tashreef rakhiye by Shamshad Begum from Chhoti Bhabhi (1950), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Husnlal Bhagatram
I can’t have enough of Shamshad Begum. She is one singer whose any unknown song you click at random would turn out to be delightful. Husnlal Bhagatram were among the top composers for a brief period during the late 40s to early 50s, before their protégés Shankar-Jaikishan took their mantle and sped away. Listen to this wonderful combination of one of the doyens of the Punjabi School of music with the singer, who is associated with having brought the Punjabi School with her debut Hindi film Khazanchi (1941).
5. Unki nazron se koi nazarein mila ke poochhe by Khan Mastana from Hanste Rahena, lyrics Farooq Qaisar, music Wadhwa
It does not get any rarer than this. I have not heard Wadhwa’s name earlier, and not likely to hear again. Yet you have this absolutely melodious song by the yesteryear’s famous singer, who was also a music director under the name Hafiz Khan Mastana.
5. Kateele tore naina raseele balam zahreele by Shamshad Begum from Nishana (1950), lyrics Naqshab, music Khursheed Anwar
Shamshad Begum never disappoints. Punjab meets Punjab again.
6. Na thamate hain aansoo na rukate hain naale by Rafi from Meena Bazaar, lyrics DN Madhok (?), music Husnlal-Bhagatram
While H-B’s regular Qamar Jalalabadi has been mentioned as the lyricist for Meena Bazaar (1950) in HFGK, for this particular song DN Madhok has been mentioned as the lyricist.
The mystery deepens when I come across a qawwali in the voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with similar mukhada, only the two phrases have been reversed. The YT link mentions the lyricist as Ustad Qamer Jalalvi. Was he another person carrying a name uncannily similar to Qamar Jalalabadi?
Na rukate hain aansoo na thamte hain naale by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
7. Panghat pe na jaiyo gori ghunghat utaar ke by Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Roy from Raj Mukut, lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Govind Ram
I associate Govind Ram with some wonderful songs for Shamshad Begum and other singers in the vintage era. At the turn of the decade he was no longer counted in the top league, but here I discover a beautiful folk-based Lata Mangeshkar-Geeta Dutt duet (which might be one of their earliest).
8. Aji ji mari main to laaj se by Bhanumati from Mangala, lyrics Pt Indra, music MD Pathasarathy, Balkrishna Kalla, E Shankar Shastri
Thanks to the Multiple Version Songs series, we have heard of Bhanumati, but this is her first Hindi song I am hearing, picturised on herself as a stage performance before Ranjan. In the audience, for a fleeting moment in the beginning you notice Aga and David. A fascinating song picturised to a wonderful dance.
9. Jab tum the hamaare aur hum the tumhare by Arun Kumar from Mashal, lyrics Pradeep, music SD Burman
This film has become famous for Manna Dey’s Upar gagan vishaal, but I have a special fascination for this haunting song by Arun Kumar, picturised on Ashok Kumar. The song is clearly inspired from Karan Dewan’s Jab tum hi chale pardes laga kar thes wo preetam pyara from Naushad’s Rattan. Arunji (Arunkumar Deshmukh) has explained the difference between many Aruns. This one was a regular in Bombay Talkies, and a cousin of Ashok Kumar (Arunji, I hope I am identifying correctly).
10. Hum dil ki dhadkan ki laya par furqat ke gaane gaate hain by Rafi and Surinder Kaur from Khamosh Sipaahi, lysics DN Madhok, music Hansraj Bahal
Punjabi Heer song. Surinder Kaur is a legend in Punjab. She had a very brief career in Hindi films. She is in her elements with a fellow Punjabi, Rafi in a song reflective of her milieu, and composed by Hansraj Bahal. Yahan soyee hui hai Anaarkali seems to be inspired by this song.
11. Suno meri sarkar zamana ulta hai by Rafi from Chhoti Bhabhi, lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Husnlal Bhagatram
A very good parody song picturised on the yesteryear comedian Yaqub. Husnlal Bhagatram parody their own songs Do dilon ko ye duniya milne nahi deti (Chaand, 1944, Manju), Ho likhnewale ne likh di meri taqdeer mein barbaadi (Badi Bahen, 1949, Suraiya) and Ramchandra Pal’s Chal chal re naujawan (Bandhan, 1940, Leela Chitnis and Ashok Kumar).
12. Aa ja nigahon mein aa ja by Krishna Dayal from Dahej (1950), lyrics Shams Lakhanvi, music Vasant Desai
Endowed with an amazing voice, Krishna Goel sings for Karan Dewan who sang his own songs just the previous year in Lahore (Duniya hamare pyarki yun hi jawan rahe). And you can’t fail to notice that Vasant Desai used the same tune in Sainya ja ja (Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje).
13. Taqdeer hansee ansoo nikale by Talat Mahmood and Rajkumari from Pagle, lyrics Qabil Kashmiri, music Snehal Bhatkar
This extremely melodious duet is courtesy Rakesh Srivastava, who sent it to me because of doubts about the singers. Some sites mention Sherry and Begum Para as the singers, some as Talat Mahmood and Rajkumari/Lata Mangehskar. Talat Mahmood’s voice was unmistakeable, the lady was clearly not Lata Mangeshkar. In case of such doubts I refer to the Living Encyclopaedia, Aruji, who confirmed Talat Mahmood and Rajkumari as the singers. Incidentally, HFGK ascribes all the 9 songs of this film to its actors like Jagirdar, Agha, Juliet, Cuckoo, Begum Para and Sherry etc., which is copied by other sources too.
14. Humein apne dil se juda kar rahe ho by Geeta Dutt from Jalte Deep, lyrics Naazim Panipati, music TK Das
Would we ever cease to discover ‘inspiration’ of some famous compositions? Now you know where did Tere pyar ka aasra chaahta hun, ‘composed’ by N Datta in Dhool Ka Phool (1959) come from.
15. Milte hi ankhen dil hua by Hemant Kumar and Roma Devi (?), cover version
Here is an interesting cover version of the great Talat Mahmood-Shamshad Begum duet from Babul. We have earlier heard Hemant Kumar’s cover version of Naushad’s Mohabbat choome jinke haath. It is really sad that Naushad-Hemant Kumar combination is so rare – I can’t think of any other song than Chandan ka palna resham ki dori (Shabaab), therefore, any cover version is a treasure. The video link mentions Uma Devi as the female singer
When I started this year-wise review with the songs of 1955, I included 10 special songs. Last year, for 1951 I had to include 15 songs. I am in the same dilemma again: even after 15, there are many more I would like to include. But I stop here, and present it before the knowledgeable readers for their comments, their top tens and their nominations for
And the winners are?
Best male playback singer
Best playback singer
Best duets
Best music director
{ 146 comments… read them below or add one }
AKji, Have you omitted dubbed (remade?) films like Nishan?
Oops. I find that you have included Mangala. I think Vasundhara Devi (mother of Vyjantimala) version in the original also fascinating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guNcA4P_7zI
Gaddeswarupji,
This is beautiful. The video and audio quality for a 1941 film is superb. Who is the dancer? There was cross-exchange between Hindi films. I am sure this lady was inspired by Azurie /Sitara Devi. Richard shound be able to throw some light on this.
The dancer is Vasundhara Devi.It was a 1943 film I think. I do not know the name of the singer; will try to find out. In think that it is a take off on a Carmen Miranda song and was probably discussed before.
“A sensation of that day, Carmen, a shapely siren teased moviegoers around the world with sensuous dancing and singing. Acharya and Rajeswara Rao (music) lifted some of Carmen Miranda’s hit numbers such as ‘I…I…I… like you very much’, ‘Mama ye Quero’ and ‘Down Argentine way.’ Those were sung by Vasundhara. She also danced to the songs in the sequence in which she comes in a disguise. ‘Acharya’ invested this song and dance scene with subtle touches of eroticism, which rocked the moviegoers of the 1940s.”http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/article3024037.ece
AK ji,
Many Thanks. Any such posts by you will definitively start a flood of comments and discussions the omissions and more worthy additions etc.
Hanste Aansoo was the first Hindi movie to be awarded the “A” certificate. I will be interested to know the reasons, though I feel it had nothing to do with exposure etc.
If you don’t mind, my complaint is again for the under-exposure of Mukesh’s contribution in the year, though you rightly mention that he was dominant. He is not at all represented in your special songs category. He sang about 40-42 odd songs and strangely only about 25% of them were solos. The rest were duets etc with many other male and female singers.
Two great solos from “Bebus” and also a beautiful duet with Geeta Dutt need a mention.
His duet with Prem lata for Shyam Sundar’s “Bhai Bahan” is the only song he sang for the composer. Before I come back with more of Mukesh, I will leave the readers with these less-heard but outstanding solos.
https://youtu.be/cwD2B2cbrZQ
https://youtu.be/XP1fh86wC34
https://youtu.be/IqXYYkMqRpg
https://youtu.be/y2FXBPsoJsw
Gaddeswarupji,
Thanks a lot for all this information. I am impressed with Vyjayanthimala’s mother.
AKji, I am sorry that I started off on the omissions instead of enjoying the feast here. Possibly I got distracted by the other thread.
Simply brilliant, and highly edifying to say the least!
Gaddeswarupji,
Please come back after hearing the ‘special’ songs. But your additions are always unique.
Mahesh,
I can’t be saying Mukesh dominated the year and under-expose him at the same time.
But, thanks a lot for the rare Mukesh songs you have added. I especially liked the first two: Do dilon ke mil jaane ka ye bahana and Hey priye tumhare swagat ko. They could have been in the long list.
‘Special’ songs have a limitation of number. These have to be unique on more than one parameter. Another person browsing through the songs of the year may come with an entirely different selection of special songs.
In another upload, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lO5pDn8bmY, her grandson comes along and says, she is Roma Devi. I am guessing, she is the same as, Ruma Devi. I wonder whether she is the same as Ruma Guha Thakurtha.
Akji,
Gave a quick reading of your write-up. Exhaustive and excellent. The number songs you have placed for our consideration seems to be larger than previous years. Will come back after listening to the songs.
Gaddeswarupji,
Are you sure you have given the correct link? I didn’t see her grandson appearing.
Venkataramanji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I tried to spread the net wide. Yet, I was expecting the readers would be adding many more, as Mahesh has already done. But I believe no familiar song has been left out.
Waiting for your detailed comments.
AKji, Sorry; I should have said ‘in the comments’. Pl. check Ankan Banerjee’s comment. She trained with Uday Shankar, and associated with Prithvi Theatre. She acted in some films from 1944 and left for Kolkata after divorcing Kishore Kumar in 1958 . She was Ruma Ghosh those days . I was guessing since she also sang a lot of Bengalee songs and duets.
Gaddeswarupji,
I had noticed that in the YT comments. I have included it as the last song in ‘special’ songs, and identified the singer based on that comment. She could be the same person.
Quite an interesting , and challenging fare on the platter.
Should make the re-visit of these songs a journey far worth its while, making the presentation of own views a matter of sheer pleasure.
Will comeback on each expected aspects ASAP.
Ashokji,
Your comments are always exhaustive and helpful. Looking forward to it.
Ak’ji ; I feel I am on a highway holding your musical platter in my hand and the plate is not shaking ! I will carry it thru and relish it on my dining table ;carefully choosing the best table cloth and cutlery for the very well chosen dishes to enjoy . I will start enjoying with Naushad sahib’s creations [ as you already know , he being my fav .] and will miss SJ my other fav.MDs. As you correctly said they were busy making tunes for their next movies after their debut in Barsaat . Incedently one can notice tunes of three or four songs of Aah as background music in Barsaat as songs in the making .
AKji it will take some time to dig upon some of the gems which I must confess that I never heard it before . Even some of the MDs are new to me . Anyway ; Hats off to the great collection .
KS Bhatiaji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. The whole idea of ‘special’ songs is that these would be unfamiliar to most readers, as most were to me, but these mesmerise you on first hearing. I would be very keen to know your views on the ‘special’ songs, and obviously, your choice of best 5/10 in each category.
Nasir Ali,
Welcome to SoY, and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
The pleasure is mine AK. I find your Blog awe-inspiring. Thanks for the priceless pieces of info.
Lata in Khel under Sajjad Hussain
https://youtu.be/HefYtcrXmm4
Lata and Rafi in Aadhi Raat under HB.
https://youtu.be/9dx17TYQdkQ
AK ji,
The version song from Babul ‘Milte hi aankhen’posted by you,is indeed sung by Roma Devi and NOT Uma Devi(Tuntun).
She is also NOT Ruma Ghosh or Ruma Guha Thakurta ( ex-wife of Kishore kumar and an actress,who was not a regular singer), as suggested by Gaddeswarup ji.
Mr. Ankan Banerjee may really be her grandson.
Many singers from Bengal used to sing in chorus in Bombay. At times they were used by the composers to record version songs. Roma Devi was one of such singers. You can find many other such singers in Version song lists in every HFGK volume.
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AK ji,
Secondly,regarding your doubts on who was Anna saheb the singer in Babooji-50 and also about P.Ramakant.
Ramakant Paingankar was one of the flute players in C.Ramchandra’s orchestra. He was also CR’s favourite and a Man Friday for him.
In the period of 1947 to 1950, CR was flying high and was contracted with studios and also was in need of saving from I.T.
He used the name of Ramakant Paingankar as P.Ramakant,Paingankar and R.A.Paingankar to give music to following films. He composed all the songs but Ramakant’s name was used as the composer
Shadi se pehle-47
Meri Bhabhi-48
Bhedi Bungla-49
Bhole Bhale-49
Babooji-50
Bakhshish-50 and
Rupiah-50
Master Bhagwan,who was producer/Director for many of these films,gave this information to Hamraz ji. This appears in one of the issues of ‘Listeners’Bulletin’. There are some references of similar nature in some Marathi books also.( and also in RMIM).
I find this confusion cropping up every now and then on various Blogs and sites from time to time,hence I am clarifying this point here now in details.
Annasaheb was the name CR had used while giving music to Stunt films of Master Bhagwan. This is stated by CR in his autobiography in Marathi. He even sang as Anna saheb.
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AK you know my bias for Sajjad despite his relatively small output. Mahesh has posted the more well known song from Khel, “Bhool ja ae dil” which is quite interesting musically. Almost Bageshri, seems slow but is actually quite fast with the all the quick switches and almost there notes, a 14 beat cycle and a very interesting orchestral arrangement.
But here is another song from Khel, again Lata singing which is quite different too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsFjZJ6bkPI
This one sometimes reminds me of Faure’s Sicilienne but what is interesting is the usage of two sets of strings playing different clusters of notes just before Lata comes in and then in tandem with her singing. This too is almost along the lines of a Iranian dastagah a fore-runner of his immortal composition “Ae dilruba” from Rustom Sohrab. The interludes are also beautifully orchestrated. Seems like a 7 beat cycle here.
To drift a bit I will post a link to Faure’s Sicilienne there is a brief piece in the main melody which reminds of fleetingly of Sajjad’s composition. It is more the mood than any real similarity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Y0uQLgriA
Another lovely Sajjad composition from Khel this time with Geeta Dutt, more conventional set to a dadra tala but still with a few quirks. There are some interesting vocal inflexions , interesting movements by the strings in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbSA6KQLnJk
And yet another Sajjad number from Maghroor I think it was 1950.
Rajkumari, Rafi and Shamshad… what more do you need. How wonderful Rafi sounds in the lower registers. It ends again climbing up the octave like “Dil mein sama gaye sajan” did two years later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBnr5q9oZ_E
Bulo C Rani also gave music in this film, I’m sure Sajjad must have picked a fight and walked out of this but there is no doubt this is his composition. It has all the trademarks the movement, the dadra taal, the strings, the pizzicato and the final climb.
Arunji,
Thanks a lot for the above clarifications.
SSW,
I know of your weakness for SSW. But, at times it is difficult to put his songs in any popular list, because some of them are known only to connoisseurs like you.
AK you mean my weakness for Sajjad. I wouldn’t want to hear my own compositions. Even my wife, children and dog run madly in different directions at the first note 🙂
SSW,
I too at times doze off :). About your compositions, let us test it on SoY.
Big thanks for Special songs Akji, i am listening 13 songs first time out of those 15. Woh humse chup hai, Jab nain se nain mile, Kateele tore naina are excellent songs. Pearls in this Ocean are endless !!
I cant believe the heroine of Veer Babruvahan is still unmarried at almost my mausi’s age !! 🙂
Na rukte hai aansoo begins in the same tune as Mahelo me rahenewale hame tere dar se kya .. Isnt !?
Aa bhi jaa nigaaho me aa is too sweet song by Krishn dayal immediately reminds Tumse hai pyar mujhe tumse hai pyar of Talat in Teen batti char rasta. Hero is again Karan diwan with again pen and paper in hand writing some poetry.
Tere pyar ka aasra is really copy of hame apne dil se. Great find.
Btw
You cant think of any song other than Chandan ka palna of Hemantda-Naushad pair but the most famous song of this pair is, you know, Insaaf ki dagar pe bachcho dikhaao chalke.
Many songs from your Main list are still unheard for me like the songs of Dahej, Apni chhaya, Babooji, Bijli, Hanste rehna, Jalte deep, Khamosh Sipahi, Mangala, Nishana, Sartaj, Sheesh mahal etc. And Similarly many songs are left out by you which i know. Some of my favorite songs not included in your list are
1. Taare wohi hai, chaand wohi hai – Lata- Anmol ratan
2. Dard mila hai tere pyar ki nishani- Lata- Anmol ratan
3. Mere man hanste hue chal – Lata – Mashaal
4. Apni apni kismat hai aabad koi barbaad koi – Lata – Wafa
5. Kaaga re ja re ja re – Lata -Wafa
6. Barbaad muqaddar ne mere mujhko kiya hai – Lata – Wafa
7. Suni kar gaye shaam hamari – Talat- Wafa
8. Ek mere dil ek unka dil – Lata – Lajawaab
9. Aaye the dhadkan lekar – Lata – Lajawaab
10. Is hansti gaati duniya me – Lata- Lajawaab
11. Dagmag dagmag dole naiya – Geeta- Jogan
12. Tod gaye haaye tod gaye armaan bhara dil tod gaye – Meena – Khel
13. Dil lut liya anjaane me – Lata – Sangeeta
14. Na ummeed ho kar bhi duniya me jiye jaate hai – Lata – Sangeeta
Our Heroine of that era was fated to lament by any means, sometimes she has been forced to marry a wealthy old man, sometimes her lover moves away to Pardes, sometimes she finds that whom she believes her Baalam in her mind, is actually following some other girl ! 🙂
Now a commom plot of that era. A pardesi vendor comes to a village to sell his items ( Door se ik pardesi aaya, puchho kya kya laya..gajre laya jhumke laya dekho tod ke taare laya – rafi- soorajmukhi- HBhagatram) Our heroine gets mesmerized by his singing and Nain-matakka gestures more than his items of sale..and makes 4 eyes with him (Hue unse naina chaar haye mai kya karu – Lata- Beqasoor) she shares her ecstasy with her Sakhi (Koi naino me mere aake na jaye to maza hai, koi chupke se mere dil me samaaye to maza hai) Her sakhi knows her affair and warns her this could be dangerous ( kisne tera dil churaya e sakhi mujhko pata hai , lutkar tujhko sakhi bhaag na jaaye to maza hai- Lata, Rajkumari duet from Meherbani- Hafeez khan) Yet the lady expands her investment in Pardesi and sings duets ( Ae chaand zara sun le chhota sa fasaana hai – Lata,Husnlal – Pyar ki Manzil – HBhagatram)
And one day Pardesi goes back to see after his sick mum with a promise to come back and lady sings (Mai tadpu teri yaad me tu na ja re pardes sajan na ja re pardes – Lata – Rajmukut – Pt.Govindram)
But Pardesi doesnt come back, gives enough time to young lady to produce some wonderful pathos laden melodies that she delivers at every 15 minutes 🙂 ( Na dil laage phoolo me, na dil laage nadiya kinaare – Lata- Raj rani – HBahal ) after 15 mins ( Aahen bhar bhar ke tujhko yaad kiya karti hun – Nalini Jaywant- Muqaddar – KP) after 15 mins ( Dil e nashaad na ro , ho ke barbaad na ro – Suraiya – khiladi – HBahal)…..
3 sweet songs sung by Nalini Jaywant in Muqaddar are a bonus in this year !
1. Dekh gagan me kali ghata kya kehti hai
2. Jab naino me koi aan base
3. Aahen bhar bhar tujhko yaad kiya karti hun
Jignesh Kotadia ji; @36, A perfect fit script for a vintage movie with an equally fited rare songs ; reminds me of ‘ Dil ne phir yaad kiya bewafa lautt bhi aa’ . Such movies and songs do appear as fantasies to the aged people of +70 range like myself . Your script reminds me of Barsaat, Babul, Mela, Sansaar, Pardesi, and a few more . Thanks for reminding the rare songs .
Mahesh,
I missed your comment no. 24 earlier. Khel is pure inadvertent omission. Bhool ja ae dil should have been in the list. I have included some songs of Aadhi Raat. The Rafi-Lata duet you have added, Humein duniya ko dil ke zakhm dikhlana nahi aata is a worthy addition. Thanks a lot.
SSW,
I am catching up with old comments. Reference your comments #27, 28 and 29. My pick is Toot gaya haye toot gaya, a fabulous song, because of Rajkumari. Thanks for adding it.
Thanks KSBhatiaji.
All the songs cited in my comment 36 are from 1950 movies.
I have to thank you one more time since i missed you to reply (around 1 year ago) in Mahendra kapoor-Saahir post where you have praised my mention of Talat songs of Bewafa. I had missed your comment because i was away for a long time from SoY in 2014. Shukriya for that also.
AKji,
An exhaustive list of songs for deliberation and an equally exhaustive write-up covering different aspects of the Hindi film songs of 1950. This year you have placed before us 152 songs from 50 films, compared to 144 songs from 41 films in 1951, 93 songs from 37 films in 1953 and 84 songs from 26 films in 1955. In so far as the songs are concerned, 6% increase over 1951, 63% increase over 1953 and 81% over 1955.
The final write-up and the selection of songs must have entailed a lot of scanning and effort. There were 114-117 films (including a few unreleased films) and approximately 1000 to 1050 songs to choose from. The number of films and hence the number of songs were higher than the previous years (1955, 1953 and 1951). The average, songs per film, was little less than 9, which is slightly higher than the average arrived at by you for 1951 – 8.67. This is due to the fact that there were at least 40 films having more than 10 songs and out of these, 11 films had more than 12 songs (e.g. Babul, Jogan, Mangala, Ramdarshan etc.). Considering the fact that complete information and links to 200+ songs are not available, you have presented approximately 20% of the available songs. I am sure you must have listened to at least (if not more) 50% of the available songs. On behalf of the all the members of SoY a big thanks for an undeniably immense effort.
Out of the 152 songs in your list, 84 are female solos (roughly 55%/56%), 25 Male solos (16%), 32 MF duets (21%), 5 FF duets (3%) and 6 triads (4%), which is in line with the larger canvas of available songs- Female solos 57%, Male solos 14%, Duets 25% and others 4%. A great job indeed.
The 15 special songs were simply fabulous and offered variety. Enjoyed listening to the songs. You have said that the special songs you have presented may not figure in any conventional list for awards. Can the songs from unreleased films included in the list of awards? Song No.1 is worth inclusion. Hats off to both D N Madhok and Bulo C Rani. Likewise some of the songs from your special list too are worth considering.
In the 2nd song could the other male voice be that of Chitragupt? I am not sure. A wonderful song and a winner all the way.
The delightful version song from Mangla reminds me of my unfinished 5th episode (Tamil-Hindi Version songs from remakes and simultaneous productions) which is long overdue. In the meantime this song and few more such version songs have appeared here in SoY and elsewhere. The same goes for my other pending post on Rabindrasangeet and Hindi version songs. In fact more than two years have elapsed from the time I collected materials for this series. The materials are ready, only I need to stitch them together into an article and I will have to do both the posts soon, before I run out of resources, hopefully within this year. Sorry for the digression. BTW the two actors, the one with the big tokari was indeed David. But the other actor is Agha Sr. and not Yakub. The third character (the short guy) must be some Tamil actor (Krishnamurthy?).
Here are some more additions . Two beautiful triads …
Ek Taraf Jal Raha Deepak by Mukesh, Zohrabai Ambalevali and Geeta Roy, fil Preet ka Geet, lyrics Premi, music Shyam Babu Pathak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvETqRMXJ88
Hato Hato Ji Aati Hai Jadugarni by Mukesh, Pramodini Desai and Shamsad Begum, Film Dilruiba, lyrics S H Biihari, music Gyan Dutt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmLsHF2-eKM
followed by a Duet.
o tujhko naino bich bitha lu by Rajkumari and G M Durrani, film Meharbani, lyrics Khawar Zaman, music Hafiz Khan
Please note the reference to Saigal and Kanan Bala at 2:11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JKDNkR9LOA
This male solo, it seems, is from the unreleased film Piya
Nazar Aa Nigahon Se Chhup Jaane Wale.by Shankar Dasgupta, film Piya, lyrics Majnoon Lakhnavi, music S Banerjee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzARuVf8P8Y
That is all for now.
Thanks once again
AK ji,
While discussing songs of 1950,I think,you have missed a very important film altogether-Meharbani-1950. Just now Venkataraman ji has mentioned one song.
The composer was Hafiz Khan..not singer Hafiz Khan Mastana,but the one who was one of the composers for film Zeenat-1945,along with Meer Sahab and Rafiq Gaznavi.(aahen na bhari,shikve na kiye..all female qawali).
All the 10 songs of Meharbani -50 were simply gems. I am giving a link for a very melodious duet of Talat and Lata-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc4yp_KfIEk
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Jignesh,
You add a wealth of material in your last three comments. I must have heard many of the songs you have added, but I would need to hear them again to refresh my memory.
The ‘special’ songs are special, primarily because they are mostly unknown. Most of them were new to me too, until I researched for this post. For the main list too, a good number of songs were new to me, as I guess they would be for others.
KS Bhatiaji has already complimented you on your excellent script. We knew you were a singer, but now we know your talent is multi-faceted.
Thanks a lot for your comments.
Venkataramanji,
Your preliminary statistical analysis is very interesting. It is uncanny that the ratio of the songs in my selected list between different broad categories follows the ratio in the overall population. But, I believe if you break it within the group singer-wise, the picture will be very startling, as you showed last year. I guess your follow-up comment would cover that. It also confirms my general observation that even during the peak of Golden Era, more than 80% of songs were unremarkable. The heavy preponderance of female songs is another interesting phenomenon. Was it because singing was thought to be a very female thing?
I would have trawled through about twice the number I have selected. For less familiar or unknown songs, I skip over the ones which do not charm me on the first listening. From this exercise emerges the ‘special’ songs, I.e. the songs that bowl you over the first time. If so many listeners are equally charmed by these songs, it is highly satisfying that I have selected right songs.
There is no bar to a ‘special’ song making it to the main short-list. I did that last year too.
Songs from unreleased film can make it to the main list.
About song #2, I can’t hazard a guess. Chitragupta did not sing too many songs, therefore it would be difficult to do voice-matching.
Thanks for identifying the actors in the version song.
I am happy to learn that your two posts are on your radar screen. Whenever. But you run the risk of your list to be pre-empted.
Thanks a lot for your addition of songs. I especially liked the Meharbani duet by GM Durrani and Rajkumari. The reference to KL Saigal and Kanan Bala is very interesting. This should be one of the earliest question-answer type of duet. Kidar Sharma has claimed in his autobiography that his Mujhe sach sach data from Bawre Nain in the same year was the first ever such song. But I would like to have confirmation of this claim from the knowledgeable readers.
Thanks a lot for your comment which opens new vista of understanding.
Arunji,
I was indeed unfamiliar with the songs of Meharbani. Thanks to you and Venkataramanji, I am getting to hear the wonderful songs from this film.
Would it be correct to say that the MD’s name should be written as ‘Hafeez Khan”, and the singer Khan Mastana’s first name was ‘Hafiz Khan’? This Hafeez Khan did Zeenat, and much later, Lakeerein?
AK ji,
Both names have same spelling as Hafiz khan.
This Hafiz khan ( other than the Hafiz khan Mastana) was originally a Sarangiya from Lahore. He gave music to Zeenat-45 along with Meer saheb and Rafiq Gaznavi Then he gave music to Humjoli-46,Meharbani-50,Lakeeren-54,Mera Salam-57 and lastly Shareef Daku-60.
He was a wonderful composer,but unfortunately did not get enough films to shine.He used the voice of Noorjehan and Talat Mehmood in an exceptional melodious way.
-AD
Arunji,
Thank you. I find his name often spelt as Hafeez Khan, which must be an error.
Akji, in your words, thanks for your lavish praise.. Yes, you have heard many songs amongst my list..if you can remember we have discussed Nalini Jaywant’s songs before 2 years in mails.
1950 is another year of the Core part of GoldenEra which is richly stuffed with class music.
Akji,
Jignesh Bhai was the first to post a song from Meharbani in his ingenious writing (Comment #36). Later myself and Arunji added two more. Here is the song. Thank you Jignesh Bhai.
“kisne tera dil churaya e sakhi mujhko pata hai , lutkar tujhko sakhi bhaag na jaaye to maza hai- Lata, Rajkumari duet from Meherbani- Hafeez Khan”
This might have been mentioned somewhere above. But it is one of my favourites and I will mention it again http://youtu.be/9qglcAY9j7M
This also seems to be from 1950 and again somebody might have mentioned it above. From Dilruba http://youtu.be/Dpg8C4Fqy4I
Akji,
True, the singer-wise break up within each group will present a different picture. And this year too there will be some noticeable disparities. I will come-up with my observations in my follow-up posts. Glad to note that songs from unreleased films too can be included in the final list. Here is a song from another unreleased film, Kamini.
Khelaa Khel Muhabbat Kaa by S D Batish, film Kamini, lyrics ?, music Vinod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRe2e3hVi-k
Long time back when I was collecting information on different versions of Vande Mataram for an article, I found the name of Roma Devi, who had lend her voice for the record of this national song along with Jagonmoy Mitra, Beehu Dutta and Supriti Ghosh under the music direction of Timir Baran(H.M.V. N 27893 – 1950). Is she the same Roma Devi, you and Gaddeswarup ji were referring to?
Mahesh ji,
Thank you very much for the additional Mukesh solos. Two of them are in my short list. I have listened to a dozen solos Mukesh sang in 1950. Besides, the solos Mukesh sang for Roshan and Madanmohan in 1950 will be there in my list of ten male solos, for sure. I am sure he will have a fair share in the duets too.
SSW ji,
Sajjad Hussain’s composition makes god listening and additional inputs from connoisseurs like you adds to the listening pleasure. Thank you. Toot Gaya Hai Toot Gaya is a wonderful piece. I believe there were 11 compositions of Sajjad Hussain this year. I will be happy even a couple of them make it to the final list.
Jignesh,
Enjoyed reading your ingenious script. Thank god you were not around during the 40’s or the 50s; else you would have given sleepless nights to many scriptwriters !!! I simply endorse Bhatiaji’s and AKji’s compliments on your multi faceted talent. BTW there was one more lovely song by Nalini Jaywant in 1950,
Rakhti Hu Mai Pyar Tera Sine Se Laga Ke, film Hindustan Hamara, music Vasant Desai.
Gaddeswarup ji, AK ji
Dhak Dhak Karti Chali should have found a place in the main list. I would have mentioned it while presenting my comments on female solos. Thank you Gaddeswarup ji. There are a few more good songs from Diruba.
Venkataramanji, thanks for this hausla-afzaai,, but i dont think the script is too good, yes the songs fitted in it are very well choosen from rares which were also not mentioned anywhere in this post prior to this comment.
Venkataramanji, can you tell us how many pairs (or trios) have sung duets (or triots – i think Triot is an apt word 🙂 ) in 1950 ?? I can see a variety of pairs have sung in this year !
Lata- mukesh, lata-rafi, lata- rajkumari, ameerbai-geeta dutt,lata-CR, lata-anilda, lata- talat, lata- husnlal, mukesh-rajkumari, geeta-mukesh, geeta-shankardas gupta, suraiya-rafi….also duets of asha,shamshad,meena,, i think more than 60 pairs should have sung in this year. You can tell the exact figure.
And yes, thanks for giving another Nalini Jaywant song !
Rakhti hun mai pyar tera seene se lagaake
Teri tasveer ko piya naino me chhupa ke
Phir bhi mere pyar ko jaan gaya zamaana
Par tune nahi jaana, tune nahi jaana
This is terrific singing Venkataramanji !! Superb song !! She was accomplished singer…i am giving its link here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOUSk7e6reU
I saw her singing career in myswar and amazed ! She had sung many songs in 40’s under Ashok Ghosh, Anilda and Gyan dutt in her teenage !!
Songs of Gunjan (1948, Ashok Ghosh) are too sweet and soothing
Listen this one
“Jal barsaye nainwa, man me kaisi aag lagi”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km064uJXUus
One more soothing beauty in her voice from the same movie, “Mai kiska saath nibhaaun”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s50k9ZZn1CQ
She had sung duet with Mukesh in Nirdosh(1941)
And this one is shocking and amazing….. 14 years Nalini singing a wonderful composition of Anilda !! In “Bahen” (1941)
“Jiya laheraaye aai jawaani
Piya ghar jana, sajan ghar jana
Naihar ki galiyo me kachhu na suhaaye
Aai jawaani jiya laheraaye”
What a perfect singing at this age !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRCet071LWY
AK.
Scrutiny for 1950 songs has begun.
Mahesh, SSW, bhatiaj, Jignesh, Arunji, gaddeswarupji , Venkataramanji, all have started chipping in… will take a while to go through….
I will start with Asha.
Two solos in Biwi worth giving a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV2qKBZik7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYBMjrlU5qU
Bawre nain “ ghir ghir se aasman se” is a Raj Kumari Asha duet but is stated as Raj Kumari solo.
Bawre nain had one more Asha Rafi duet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8wyhibgKVw.
Can the singer of song no 2 you are talking about be Chitragupta himself?
May be new one to start the day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbM-gq6mgYE
AK ji; The second singer of song no2 of special songs could be S N Tripathi as Chitragupt earlier worked as his asstt. MD . This is just a guess and is subject to confirmation of experts and voice matching. S N Tripathi has produced and acted in some of his movies which could be of some help .
Venkataramanji,
I can guess the asymmetry singer-wise analysis would throw, but would wait for your analysis.
SD Batish song is very nice. Thanks.
Happy to know that ‘Vande Mataram’ too is on your radar screen.
On the male voice in song no 2, we have another plausible option of SN Tripathi, given by KS Bhatiaji. SNT was a very good singer, but confirmation would be very difficult because we may not find too many songs of around the same time. Comparing with his voice in early 40s may not be very helpful.
Mumbaikar8,
Waiting for your return with substantive comments.
The two Asha Bhosle songs I would have put it to Geeta Dutt, if you had not mentioned the singer.
Ghir ghir ke aasman par has another voice for sure. But it merges with the main voice. Thanks for the information. But you have linked the same song for Rafi-Asha duet.
On the male voice in song #2, we have another possibility of SN Tripathi suggested by KS Bhatiaji. Let us wait for some more clues.
KS Bhatiaji,
SNT can be a very likely answer. He was not only a very good singer, he has sung a few songs under the baton of Chitragupta. The only difficulty is that in that case his name should have been credited.
AK,
Sorry about the links goof up.
I just checked ghir ghir ke aasman se is not clear.
This is a better audio of this song at 3.05 Asha’a voice is distinct.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5GG769Cn8s
Asha Rafi duet from bawre nain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDn6UzvQG0
The singer in song no 2 is just like a filler, in my view.
Chitagupata was a singer I thought he might have filled it but if S N Tripathi was the assistant, that makes sense too..
Mumbaikar8,
Thanks. Now Asha Bhosle’s voice is clear. A discovery for me. It could be another version only in the film, and the record could be Rajkumari solo.
Rafi-Asha duet in Bawre Nain pales before the other songs in the film, all of which achieved great fame.
I hope you mean Chitragupta was the assistant of SN Tripathi. SNT sang some absolutely beautiful songs in Panghat (1943), for which he also gave music. In my earlier comment I hurriedly mentioned that he had sung under the baton of Chitragupta. I would like to correct myself, I have no evidence of that.
AK ji,
This is not related to the point of discussion,but I am tempted to add it here,since you have mentioned name of film Panghat-1943.
Film Chitchor-1976 was a scene to scene remake of film Panghat-43,with the same story.
-AD
Venkataramanji at #41. Of the 1000 or so songs , Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Dutt seem to have sung between 200-300 songs including duets. I do not know what this signifies.
Venkatarmanji.
You had already mentioned the singer could be Chitragupta, I missed it, I am sorry for that.
I have not yet gone through the whole blog in peace.
Ak,
I think bhatiaji is right because SNT’s name is there in the starcast and if he is acting than probabilities of him singing for himself is very high. I do not recognise any of these old artists, Arunji can help us with this.
“The two Asha Bhosle songs I would have put it to Geeta Dutt, if you had not mentioned the singer.”
Agreed Asha in her early years had not established her own identity but can you disregard a good song just for that reason. With the same logic can you disregard Mukesh’s Dil jalta hai to jalne de?
Rafi-Asha duet in Bawre Nain pales before the other songs in the film, all of which achieved great fame.
I beleive, like Jignesh, that if a song does not achieve fame equal to its counterpart that does mean that it is not up to the mark.
A song pales out or it stand out is a personal choice.
The three songs you have chosen from Aadhi Raat, in my personal view they are just average, in fact I am averse to song dil hi to hai tadap gaya I feel the lyricist has butchered Ghalib’s ghazal
I will add a couple of songs that I like
Geeta Mukesh in Hamari Beti kisne ye kisne chhede taar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKBI_yZY9Zo#t=29
Shamshad Begum Rafi and Geeta Ban ban ke mit gayi hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKluR4toks
Dolti Naiya singer Raj Kumari.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3lQTlVU00U
So, here is the root of “deewana keh ke aap mujhe” of Mulzim(1963, Ravi) !
Hans hans ke mere chain pe bijli giraye ja
Lata again from “Rasiya”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4tXti07d4
Mumbaikar8,
Rajkumari’s song Duniya mein raha aaj nahi koi hamara from Dolti Naiya is very nice. Unheard music director Ram Prasad. This song is an absolute fit with ‘special songs’. Now I find Rajkumari sang many songs in the early 50s, before she faded out. All these songs, though not very well known, are very melodious and deserve to be brought out. Thanks for this song.
(You don’t have to retaliate on my innocuous comment that Muhabbat ke maron ka haal ye duniya mein hota hai was lost in the face of the other landmark songs of Bawre Nain :). )
Arunji,
Thanks a lot for this information. I would not have guessed it from the song clippings of Panghat – most of the songs appear to be performed on stage. This is an additional reason (besides its songs) why I would be keen to see the movie if I am able to get my hands on it.
AK,
Isn’t Raj Kumari fabulous, It’s a pity that she faded away so soon.
I actually get annoyed when I hear that song, when I saw that song on your list I wanted to address it.
Your innocuous comment became the trigger point. My retaliation was as harmless that is just my sssstyle:) Even my son tells me that I get combative.
AK ji,
I am surprised about your comment” unheard music director Ramprasad”.
Ramprasad Sharma was a well known trumpeter and a Music Director of his times. He was the father of Pyarelal of L-P jodi.
I have written abut him i on Atul ji’s Blog as well my another article on him is on Anmol Fankaar. I recommend you to read it. here is the link
http://www.anmolfankaar.com/specials/ek-fankaar/103-composer-ram-prasad-sharma.html
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Arunji,
Now I remember. But with due respects, was he a well-known music director of his time?
AK ji,
In his times,Ramprasad might not have been a well known,famous and much in demand compser,but surely he was one of the most respected musicians in the Bombay film industry. many senior composers used to call him Guru ji. he was one of the pioneers of writing song Notations (swar lipi) in film music and had taught this to many including CR,Pyarelal,Ganesh and few others If you read the article on Anmol Fankaar,you will know more about him.
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Arunji,
I read your article. It is very informative. Thanks a lot.
AK ji,
Never mind if I am the first to give my choices.
Here is my choice-
1. Male solo
Talat Mahmood- Aye dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal
Arzoo-50
2. Female solo
Lata
Koi kisika deewana na bane
Sargam-50
3. Duet s
a. Lata and Amirbai karnataki
Gore gore o baanke chhore
Samadhi-50
b. Lata and Anil Biswas
Paas balam chori chori aa
Lajawab-50
4. MD
C.RAMCHANDRA for film Sargam-50
-AD
Female Solos:
Having leafed through other songs of 1950, I would agree that 152 songs presented @ MEMORABLE SONGS and @ the Special Songs indeed cover all the songs that would matter. So, all my discussions would remain within the bounds of these songs.
In so far as Female playback singers are concerned, songs by Lata Mangeshkar almost equals other playback singers put together, within this universe of 152 “memorable songs”. So, in terms of numbers, one may conclude that Lata’s single-handed share of around 50% has established he dominance in the field. I would take this conclusion with a pinch of salt. Some of the music directors who were to take her on completely in the later years, Madan Mohan, Roshan, S D Burman, Naushad have none to a few songs with Lata in this year. In fact only C Ramchandra, Husnlal Bhagatram and Ghulam Mohammad seem to have accepted her in totality. Anil Bisaws, too, continues to repose his faith in her. So her acceptance is not as universal as it happened during the later years.
Also, apart from the numbers, when one looks at the list of memorable songs, there are many songs by other female singers which stand out on popularity, then and in later years, as well as the merits of the composition in comparison to the songs that stand out from Lata’s stable.
Asha Bhosle’s presence is seen during the year, but there does not appear to be any song that can measure up to Memorable category.
Here is the list, in no particular order:
1. Mehfil Mein Jal Uthi Shama – Nirala – C Ramchandra – Lata Mangeshkar
2. Koi Kisi Ka Deewana Na Bane – Sargam – C Ramchandra – Lata Mangeshkar
3. Kahan Tak Hum Uthaye Gam – Arzoo – Anil Biswas – Lata Mangeshkar
4. Lagan More Man Ki – Babul – Naushad – Lata Mangeshkar
5. Man Mor Hua Matwala – Afsar – S D Burman – Suraiya
6. Nain Deewan Ik Nahin Mane – Afsar – S D Burman – Suraiya
7. Dhadke mera dil mujhko jawani Ram qasam na bhaaye – Babul – Naushad – Shamshad Begum
8. Sun Bairi Balam Kuchch Bol Ab Kya Hoga – Bawre Nain – Roshan – Raj Kumari
9. Ari Main To Prem Deewani – Jogan – Bulo C Rani – Geeta Roy
10. Mori Attariya Pe Kaga Bole – Aankhen – Madan Mohan – Meena Kapoor
And of course , a bonus in the form of Nutan’s Tujhe Kaisa Dulha Bhaaye Ri Baanki Dulhaniya – Hamari Beti – Snehal Bhatkar – https://youtu.be/3LOxNBj5UzY, which in no way gives a clue to her solos and duet with Hemant Kumar which blazed a comet like trail in Chhabeeli ten years later.
I am not going to choose. Too many good choices, particularly in the duets category. I will continue to browse and enjoy the ones that I am not very familiar with. Thanks for putting so many good songs in one place. This will be a reference page for some time to come. May be a follow up with some of the missing ones will be helpful.
my pick:
1. geeta dutt :jogi mat ja/jogan
2.mukesh: teri duniya mein/bawre nain
3.milte hi aankhen: talat,shamshad/babul
4.s d burman:afsar
Arunji,
You are always very sure about your choices. Ae dil mujhe aisi Jagath le chal, I guess, would figure in everyone’s list.
Koi kisi ka deewana na bane would figure in many short lists, but I would not be so pat in coming to a judgement. She has, as usual, several other good songs. If you make a combined choice, she has tough competition from a good number of singers.
In female duets Gore gore O baanke chhore should be an obvious choice. But your choice for the standard duet is somewhat surprising.
I am not surprised by your choice of C Ramchandra. If we take the total work as a whole, he should be far ahead of others.
Ashokji.
This is fairly representative of the best female solos. One may quibble here and there. You were perhaps sub-consciously trying to see that ‘other’ singers also get a fair number. Yet, getting 4 out of 10 is enough indication of Lata Mangeshkar’s dominance even at that early stage, and even when known Lata-partisans like Roshan and Madan Mohan had not yet taken her, and Naushad, too, had taken several other singers. But choosing the best from the above list would be a tough call, and she cannot be sure of being an undisputed winner.
Looking forward to other lists.
Arvind,
#2 and 3 should be a common choice. #1 – One can expect this from a Geeta Dutt fan. #4 What about Naushad, C Ramchandra?
Right now I will go with gaddeswarupji,”I will continue to browse and enjoy the ones that I am not very familiar with”.
Mumbaikar8,
He has a reason. You can’t claim that you are not familiar with the language.
AKji, I think that it is not about knowing the language. I do try to find the meanings through websites, those with subtitles or asking friends. Clearly some sons are better than others but there are many great songs too from which it is difficult to choose. Sometimes they suit different moods and also depend on the mood of the person. To say one is best among a group of ten or more seems a bit of insult to some of the great talents.
On a personal note, in 1968 I just finished some research work and did not even register for a Ph. D. yet. I was advised to apply for a Nuffield Foundation Fellowship and went to Delhi for the interview. I found that there was only one in Natural Sciences and some who were already Associate Professors applied for it. In the interview a famous physicist Kothari asked me to name the two greatest theorems in topology. I replied that it was a silly question. After that it seemed that there was no hope of getting the fellowship and I went to visit my brother for a vacation. To my surprise, I got the fellowship.
# 87
gaddeswarupji,the physicist must also be having enormous amount of ‘dil ki daulat’.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SoY…completed 5 glorious years in a few moments !! Exactly in the middle of this, on 7th dec 2012 i was entered in SoY with a motive : “Bahujan shirsh du:khaay”. i am apologising for this 🙂 🙂
On this precious occasion i am giving My Choices in different categories of 1950 songs.
Female solos : Although Lata was the reigning queen, this year had provided equal shares to Suraiya, Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum. Also several sweet songs by Rajkumari. I am presenting 12 songs of my like in 12 different female voices voting SURAIYA as the winner.
1. Man mor hua matwala, kisne jaadu daala_Afsar_Suraiya_SDB
2. Kaaga re ja re ja re, more piya ka sandesawa la re la re ja re_Wafa_Lata_Vinod
3. Ghunghat ke pat khol_Geeta_Jogan_BCRani
4. Mere ghungharwale baal ho raja ghungharwale baal_Shamshad begum_Pardes_G.Mohd.
5. Ambua ki daari pe bole re koyaliya ( this one is fantastic song by Jayshree in Dahej, first time heard from Akji’s list.)
Ambua ki daari pe bole re koyaliya
Preet na karna ji preet na karna ji..bole re koyaliya
Sulag sulag mai kaali bhayi
Koyla bani na raakh
Jal jal ke marna ji..preet na karna ji..bole re..
Shahad ke andar zahar bhara hai
Bacha nahi hai jisne piya hai
Aahen na bharna ji..preet na karna ji..bole re..
6. Tod gaye haye tod gaye armaan bhara dil tod gaye_Meena Kapoor_Khel_Sajjad
7. Chale jai ho bedarda mai roye marungi_Rajkumari_Beqasoor_Anilda
8. Rakhti hun mai pyar tera seene se lagaayke_Nalini Jaywant_Hamara hindustaan_Vasant Desai
Above song is mentioned by Venkataramanji.
9. Mila gaye nain_Sudha malhotra_Aarzoo_Anilda
10. Birha ki raat mose kaati nahi jaati_Asha_Biwi_Khayyam
11. Lakho me ek hamaare saiyan_Nirmala devi_Vinod
12. Aadmi wo hai jo jeevan se pareshaan na ho
Koi mushkil nahin aisi ke jo aasan naho
By Pushpa Hans_Sheesh mahal_Vasant Desai
(1st time heard from Akji’s list)
Male solo : TALAT undeniably.. I am picking him for “Jab kisi ke rukh pe zulfen aake laherane lagi” from Anmol Ratan
Duet : discounting the rage of “Gore gore baanke chhore”.. While Talat dominated solo field, Mukesh had definite edge over Talat in duet section.
1. Khayalo men kisi ke is tarhe aaya nahi karte_Geeta-Mukesh_Baawre nain_Roshan
2. Milte hi aankhen dil hua_Talat-Shamshad_Babul_Naushad
3. Zamaane ka dastoor hai yeh purana_Mukesh-Lata_Lajawaab_Anilda
Best Music Director : VINOD
For his excellent score ANMOL RATAN
Enough sweetness filled in it by Master.
1. Jab kisi ke rukh pe zulfe
2. Taare wohi hai chaand wohi hai
3. Dard mila hai tere pyar ki nishani
4. Mere ghunghat me do nain
5. Kale kale baadalo me pani
6. More dwaar khule hai
7. Sajan aaye aadhi raat
8. Yaad aane wale phir yaad
9. Lakho me ek hamaare saiyan
10. Shikwa tera mai gaaun
Jignesh,
Thanks for your advanced birthday greetings. You wanted to be sure you beat everyone!
You have done interesting social justice in female solos. But, for Lata Mangeshkar none by CR appealed you?
Male solo: I think Talat would be everyone’s favourite. But your off-beat selection would surprise many. However, I must say the song is outstanding. This has been mentioned earlier on SoY in songs on ‘zulf”.
Duets: This was a great year for duets. Looking at your general preferences, I thought you would have included Yaad anewaale phir yaad aa rahe hain and Shikwa tera main gaaun.
Best MD: Again your choice is very off-beat. He was very good though.
Among the duets, in addition to those mentioned above, I would also like to mention http://youtu.be/bnxAj-GaQiU
Gaddeswrupji,
Uth to chale avadhoot is a very charming song. Thanks for mentioning it.
AK,
Happy anniversary to you and your team.
Jignesh,
I am planning a discrimination suit against you! You have given credit to Venkataramanji for the Nalini Jaywant song but have DELBIRATELY ignored to give me credit for Asha’a biwi song.I have a strong case.
As you have tried to be fair and impartial in your distribution of female solos I might give it second thought:)
Mumbaikar8ji
I cited persons names in those cases in which i have heard the particular song very first time. I have had listened Asha’s song well before this post, but not mentioned in my comments.. Similarly still many wonderful songs spared in my mind which i could not mention earlier…e.g. “Bhanwara beimaan gaaye muhabbat ke gaane bade mastaane suhaane lubhaane, kali fuli na samaaye” (lata-RajRani-HBahal),, “Tune jahan banaakar ehsaan kya kiya hai” (lata-Maa ka pyar-Pt.Govindram)..
But, i am THANKING YOU for giving the Rajkumari song from Dolti Naiya. Wonderful song heard very first time. Too sweet.
I am also recommending you to come out with your choices. You are not mere an observer here. 🙂 🙂
While listening through the songs in Memorable Songs List as well some other songs from the films covered therein, I landed upon two beauties:
1. G M Durani’ Main Koi Jhooth Boliya – Madari – Hansraj Behl – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx6EgwGkFco – would reming us of Jagte Raho’ s Teki Main Jooth Boliyan (Mohammad Rafi, Balbir – Prem Dhawan – Salil Chaudhary) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv75_hrB0Fk
2. Lata Mangeshkar’s Agar Dil Kisi Par Lutaya Na Hota – Gauna – Husnlal Bhagatram – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei_KsTtvsdw –
has a later day clone mukhda in Bada Admi (Mohammad Rafi- Chitragupt) – https://youtu.be/MHEg3J8sSpw
These are the joys of labor!
A great year – 1950!! Somehow I feel that the music and singing styles that we come to associate with vintage Hindi songs was being formed around this time. Thank you AKji for this painstaking compilation
I dont have the skill or knowledge to select my favourite top 10, but as some others have mentioned already – would rather sit back and enjoy reading and listening. But at the same time, when there is Bawre Nain, it is difficult to look beyond!!
However since giving opinions is also easy, I think I should give my top favs after listening to all the songs 🙂
Reg Ashokji’s comment #79, the song no: 8 was a discovery for me.
(8. Sun Bairi Balam Kuchch Bol Ab Kya Hoga – Bawre Nain – Roshan – Raj Kumari)
I’d heard only the Nau Bahar version till date and that song is one of my all time favourites. Somehow not able to sync with this faster tempo
Praveen,
Thanks a lot for your compliments. I am waiting for your best five or ten.
Before I present my views on female solo songs of 1950 let me respond to the comments posted by Gaddeswarup ji (#68), Jignesh Bhai (#53). Sorry for the delayed response.
Gadddeswarup ji
Yes, you are right. The total number of songs(solos, duets and others) rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Roy in the year 1950 will be a little more than 300. And the total number of songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Roy and Shamsad Begum will be more then 450, almost 45% of the total songs composed in 1950. Such was their dominance. By 1950 Lata Mangeshkar had consolidated her position, Geeta Roy was still going strong and Shamsad Begum was holding on to her typical numbers. This once again indicates the preference and preeminence of female singers.
Jignesh Bhai,
If you take the duets (MF, MM and FF) then the total number of unique pairs will be around 100, and if you add the triads etc. then number will be more than 125.
Thanks for posting the song Hans Hans ke mere chain pe bijli ghiraye jaa, Lata Mangeshkar, Rasiya (unreleased), Bulo C Rani (#70). A wonderful composition from Bulo C Rani.
In Your list of best female songs you have included (#91) Asha Bhosle’s song Birha ki raat mose kaati nahi jaati from Biwi. Originally, this tune was composed for the unreleased film Dil Ke Tukde (1940). Mumbairkar8 too mentioned this song (#59) and in the link given by her this information is stated in the comments. Here is the link to the original song.
Kali Kali Raat Beeti Jaaye Barsaat film Dil Ke Tukde (1940-unreleased), by Rajkumari, music Md. Aziz Khan/ Aziz Hindi, lyrics Nazim Panipati.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=popbfwZa9cQ
Aziz Hindi and Sharmaji (Khayyam) were the joint MDs of the film Biwi. Thus the composer of this song has to be Aziz Hindi.
Ak ji
Presenting my views on the female songs of 1950; I have mentioned in my earlier comment that roughly 1050 songs were composed in 1950 for 114-118 films. Complete information and links to 200+ songs are not available. Out of the available songs, roughly 57% of the songs are female solos, which is in sync with the % of female solos in your list. Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Roy and Shamsad Begum together account for roughly 61% of the total female solos and your list also shows more or less a similar percentage, 63%. The similarity ends here.
Let us look at the larger canvas first. Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Roy and Shamsad Begum together, account for roughly 61% of the total female solos. Suraiya and Asha Bhosle account for another 11%. Rajkumari, Meena Kapoor and Sulochana Kadam collectively account for 8%. Another 7% is shared between Surinder Kaur, Rukmini, Jayashree, Zohrabai Ambalevali, Leela Mehta and Kaushalya. Thus 85%-86%, of the female solos, was shared by 14 singers. Rest of the 15%, of the songs, was shared between, roughly, 30 singers. Out of the 44 singers 13 of them are in your list.
A further drill-down and a comparison with your list throw up some interesting information. First let us look at the break up between Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Roy and Shamsad Begum as compared to the break up in your list.
Singer…………………..Master list……………..SoY list
Lata Mangeshkar …………20%………………..32%..
Shamsad Begum…………..18%…………………21%..
Geeta Roy…………………….23%………………….10%..
If we do a similar exercise for Asha Bhosle and Suraiya
Singer…………………..Master list……………..SoY list
Suraiya…………………………….7%………………..18%..
Asha Bhosle……………………..4%………………….0%..
If you look at the figure from another angle almost, 29% of Lata Mangeshkar’s solos, 21% of Shamsad Begum’s solos and 48% of Suraiya’s solo’s found a place in your list, where as Geeta Roy’s representation in your list is only 7% of her total songs, and Asha Bhosle’s songs, none. Since the other nine singers in your list rendered fewer songs, their percentage representation in your list will be obviously high.
The absence of Asha Bhosle and the lower percentage or lesser number of songs of Geeta Roy in your list is apparent. The disparity is noticeable not startling. The fans may feel that a couple of Asha Bhosle‘s songs and few Geeta Ray’s songs could have found a place in your list and I am one of those Geeta Roy’s admirers. At the most that would have swelled your list to 160, but would not have made any significant impact on the list of the bests.
Nobody will dispute Lata Mangeshkar’s higher representation. She had established her excellence. Her main composers for the year were Husnlal Bhagtram, C Ramchandra, Anil Biswas, Ghulam Mohammad and Pt. Gobind Ram. She also sang for Naushad, Vinod and S D Burman. Husnlal Bhagtram was the most prolific music director of the year. I believe C Ramchandra, Naushad and Anil Biswas together scored music for seven of the top ten revenue earning films for the year. We cannot deny that music and songs, to a great extent, played an important part in the success of a film.
Shamsad Begum was unique with her full-throated piercing voice, clear diction and throw. She was popular and was holding on to her own. In the year 1950 her main composers were Shyam Sundar, Hans Raj Behl, Husnlal Bhagatram, the veterans from the Punjab Brigade, Ghulam Mohammad and Khemchand Prakash. She rendered some wonderful numbers for the film Mangala. She sang for Naushad in Babul. C Ramchandra gave her another couple, Vasant Desai gave some good numbers and she sang for Roshan and Vinod too. Madanmohan making his debut gave her a couple. Thus most of the music directors had a song or two for her.
Suraiya’s higher percentage is quite understandable. She was one of the most sought after leading ladies and she sang her own songs. Her main composers were Naushad, Hans Raj Behl, Shyamsundar and S D Burman.
Geeta Roy sang the highest number of female solos in 1950. She did not sing for C Ramchandra, Anil Biswas and Naushad. Nor did she have Ghulam Mohammad or Vinod or Madanmohan, etc to show-case. Yes, she sang for Husnlal Bhagtram. Besides, her major composers were Bulo C Rani, Avinash Vyas, S N Tripathi, Shyam Babu Pathak and Gyan Dutt. She also rendered four solos for S D Burman. Both Bulo C Rani’s film Jogan and Avinash Vyas’s film Har Har Mahadev were among the ten box office hits for the year.
That was my standard statistical review. But preference/ liking for music cannot be explained by statistics, my choice may not exactly reflect my above views.
I feel that this year too, Lata Mangeshkar will be the most likely choice for the best female singer award. But there were a host of other good singers this year and trying to accommodate them will restrict the songs of Lata Mangeshkar, to three or four, in the final list of ten. First I will present my selection of ten Lata Mangeshkar’s songs and another ten for the other singers and finally I will try to select the best ten from both the list.
My preferred list of ten Lata Mageshkar’s songs for the year 1950 (not in any order)
1. Jaanaa Naa Dil Se Dur, Arzoo, lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Anil Biswas
2. Jaate Ho To Jaao Ham Bhi Yahaan, Khel, lyrics Sagar Nizami, music Sajjad Hussain
3. Jo Mujhe Bhula Ke Chale Gaye, Sangeeta, lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi, music C Ramchandra
4. Kaha Tak Ham Uthaaye , Arzoo, lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Anil Biswas
5. Lagan More Man Ki Balam Nahin Jaane, Babul, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
6. Mahafil Men Jal Uthi Shamaa, Nirala, lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi, music C Ramchandra
7. Matavaale Nainon Vaale, Beqasoor, lyrics Arzoo Lucknowi, music Anil Biswas
8. Taare Vohi Hain Chaand Vohi Hai , Anmol Ratan, lyrics Dinanath Madhok, music Vinod
9. Tasvir E Yaar Dil Se Koi Kisi Kaa Diwaanaa Naa Bane, Sargam, lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi, music C Ramchandra
10. Wo humse chup hain hum unse chup hain dilon ke armaan machal rahe hain, Rasiya( unreleased), lyrics Dinanath Madhok, music Bulo C Rani
My preferred list of ten songs of other female singers for the year 1950 (not in any order)
1. Ae Kale Badal Bol, Shamsad Begum, Dahej, lyrics Shams Lakhnavi, music Vasant Desai
2. Ambuaa Ki Daari Pe Bole Re Koyaliyaa, Jayasree, Dahej, lyrics Shams Lakhnavi, music Vasant Desai
3. Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol Re, Tohe Piya Milenge, Geeta Roy, Jogan, lyrics Meera Bai, music Bulo C Rani
4. Haay Yeh Yeh Judaayee Kee Chot Buree, Suraiya, Nili, lyrics Surjeet Sethi, music S Mohinder
5. Mann Mor Huaa Matawaala, Suraiya, Afsar, lyrics Narendra Sharma, music S D Burman
6. Mat Ja, Mat Ja, Mat Ja Jogee, Geeta Roy, Jogan, lyrics Meera Bai, music Bulo C Rani
7. More Nain Baavare Chham Chham Nir Bahaaye, Surinder Kaur, Sabak, lyrics Dinanath Madhok, music A R Qureshi
8. O Mohan Murli Wale Rakho Laz Hamari, Geeta Roy, Shree Ganesh Mahima/Shree Krishna Vivah, lyrics Ramesh Pandey, music S N Tripathi
9. Rakhti Hu Mai Pyar Tera Sine Se Laga Ke, Nalini Jaywant, Hindustan Hamara, lyrics (?), music Vasant Desai
10. Sun Bairi Balam Sach Bol Re Ib Kya Hoga, Rajkumari, Bawre Nain, lyrics Kedar Sharma, music Roshan
The final 10 arising out of the two lists; From Lata Mangeshkar’s list I will select 3 songs. That does not necessarily mean that the each and every song from the other list is superior to the seven songs left out from Lata Mangeshkar’s list. This is just to include as many other singers as possible.
The three songs from Lata Mangeshkar’s list;
1. Any one song composed by C Ramchandra, preferably song no.6.
2. Any one song composed by Anil Biswas, preferably song no.1 or song no.4.
3. Wo humse chup hain hum unse chup hain (song no.10)
I am excluding Song no.4 (Suraiya), song no.7 (Surinder Kaur) and song no. 8 (Geeta Roy) from the other singers’ list and including the rest seven in the final 10.
Venkataramanji,
This is a very impressive analysis, and integral complement to my article. I found it interesting that Ghulam Mohammad did not have any song for Suraiya in the year. I regard him as one of the three most important composers for Suraiya, along with Naushad and Husnlal-Bhagatram.
Another thing I am always curious to know is how far the absence or low representation of Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt is on account of my own bias. From your analysis it seems I need not feel too guilty on this score.
Akji,
Thank you.
Ghulam Mohammad composed music for two films in which Madhubala was the leading lady and in the other one I think it was Ramola. Ghulam Mohammad did not have the opportunity to score music for any of the films, in 1950, in which Suraiya was the leading lady. Regarding the songs of Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt I have already expressed my opinion. Your bias might have partially played a part, but you need not feel guilty, ultimately it would not have made much of a difference.
What about my selection of songs? I was expecting your view.
In the meanwhile, please listen to this song of Geeta Roy, if you have not heard it earlier.
Chandavadani Sundar Sajni, Man Ka Meet, music Sardul Kwatra, lyrics Pandit Indira
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEupqgZev8c
Venkataramanji,
Giving my choice of the best ten Lata Mangehskar and best ten other singers’ songs would have been trite, and premature on my part. Let me limit myself to some general observations on your choices. An obvious omission in other singers is Meena Kapoor’s Mori atariya pe kaga bole. I think it is her signature song, and a landmark song of the year. This is besides its significance as coming from Madan Mohan’s debut score.
Another omission according to me is Shamshad Begum’s Chhod babul ka ghar. This is also an iconic song.
In Lata Mangeshkar you have taken most of the representative music directors. If you could make room for Husnlal-Bhagatram and a song from Sajjad Husain, it would have satisfied most of the readers.
Now the final composite ten. Whether you take 3-7 or 4-6 is a matter of how much balancing you want to do. If I take your 3-7, I find myself agreeing to your general approach in selecting Lata’s three. But others’ seven my choice would be one by Meena Kapoor (the ‘atariya’ song), one by Jayshree (the one you have mentioned) and five to be divided between Rajkumari, Shamshad Begum, Suraiya and Geeta Dutt (2/1/1/1 in some order). The rationing gets very tight, so may be this year too I would have to do two lists separately.
If you put the ten composite list, or Lata’s ten against others’ ten, even an inveterate Lata fan would find it difficult to say with confidence that she is the runaway winner. Yes, one to one she is the best, but against others combined I am not so sanguine as I was in 1951 or 1953.
Venkataramanji,
I fail to understand how you can do such in-depth stats I need break reading it.
Thanks for making things so easy for us.
Thanks for uploading the original Raj Kumari song Kai Kali Raat I had no idea about the original song.
I need to take crash course from you, to learn how to express opinion without being aggressive.
AK,
As I have stated earlier you have some average Lata songs, but you have missed some very good Lata songs too, Jignesh has uploaded one of them. Rasiya had one more beautiful song,
Phir chhed ne aayi hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbd6w0B0Zzo
Listen to this Afghani folk tune from Sangram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNpX6TkDrY
Inspired this song of Khuda Gawah?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0M0kfcSsYY
One more beauty from Sangram
Nazar se nazar jo milayi gayi hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzOCW5uSwkc
AK,
Better audio of Nazar se nazar,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xslhKDhMrg
Mumbaikar8,
Of the songs you have added Phir chhedne ayi hai ab kaali badariya is outstanding! and could have been a worthy addition to the list. Thanks for mentioning this song.
Other songs are very standard CR orchestration. There are a good number of his songs already in the list. Do you think these could figure in replacing any of CR-Lata songs I have included?
But when are you going to post your list of bests? It would be interesting to see how many in that are from outside my long list.
Venkataramanji
Thanx for the micro analysis of 1950 and for giving the root of Birha ki raat-Asha song..so yes the MD should be Aziz Hindi for this song. This year is really flooded with duets either they are duets or multipluets. But an elderly ‘swajan’ like you when promotes me from Jignesh to Jignesh bhai it turns to an uncomfortable feel for me.
Akji,
The songs, Meena Kapoor’s Mori atariya pe kaga bole and Shamshad Begum’s Chhod babul ka ghar are popular songs. Both the songs could be included in place of Surinder Kaur’s song and Geeta Roy’s third song in my list. I have included a song composed by Sajjad Hussein, Jaate ho to jaao ham bhi yahaan from the film Khel, in Lata Mangeshkar’s list. I liked the composition very much and found it worthy of inclusion. With reference to Husnlal Bhagatram, truly speaking I have not listened to Husnlal Bhagatram extensively. The songs I have known, listened and liked were not from 1950. I have started listening to their composition of late and I agree that you have a point. My selections were based on the mood prevailing at the time of listening.
Mumbaikar8 ji,
Thank you for the nice words.
Yes, Phir chhed ne aayi hai is an excellent song. In fact there are two more songs from this unreleased film, Mat Kahiyo Sajan Hum Jaate Hain by Lata Mangeshkar and Giri Bhanwar Mein Naav Hamari by Asha Bhosle.
Thanks once again
Jignesh,
Thank you for the appreciation.
I understand in Gujarati, ‘Bhai’ is used in addressing an elder with respect. But in Bengali it means younger brother.
The male solos were far few in numbers in comparison to the female solos, in 1950 too. The male solos would add up to a little over 100, which was not even one fourth of the female solos. A little over 50% of the male solos were shared between Md.Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood and G M Durrani. Md.Rafi had almost 21%, Mukesh and Talat shared almost equally another 23% and G M Durrani a little less than 10%, the rest of the solos were shared between another 26 singers.
If we compare this with your list, Md.Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood and G M Durrani together share 52% of the male solos and the rest is shared between another 8 singers. Your list shows a preference for Talat Mahmood (21%) at the expense of Md.Rafi and G M Durrani, not very surprising. Mukesh has the same percentage share in both the lists.
Husnlal-Bhagatram composed bulk of Md.Rafi’s songs in 1950. Besides Md.Rafi rendred two good songs, Ham Ishq Mein Barabad Hain for Madanmohan and Akele Me Wo Ghabrate to Honge for Khyaam. Besides he also rendered a few songs for Hans Raj Behl. Although Talat Mahmood did not match Md.Rafi in numbers, Naushad, Anil Biswas, Vinod and Bulo C Rani gave him some good numbers. He also rendered a couple of songs for Shyamsundar. Similarly Mukesh had Roshan and Madanmohan to showcase. Sajjad Hussain and Lachhiram gave G M Durrani some good songs.
Initially, after a quick-listening, I had short listed 43 male solos. When your post appeared I found all the 25 songs in your list were there in my list too. On further pruning, I was left with 28 songs and 13 singers to choose from. The three extra songs in my list were
1. The Md.Rafi’s song, Ham Ishq Mein Barabad Hain from Aankhen
2. G M Durrani’s song Apni Mehfil Me Phir Ek Baar from Khel and
3. Shankar Dasgupta’s song, Nazar Aa Nigahon Se Chhup Jaane Wale, from the unreleased film Piya.
In my final list I decided to have 3 Talat Mahmood’s songs and two Mukesh’s songs. Both Talat Mahmood’s Sundarata Ke Sabhee Shikaree from Jogan and Mukesh’s Mohabbat Bhi Jhuti from Hamari Beti are good songs, but decided to drop them to accommodate songs of other male singers. As you have pointed out compared to Mukesh and Talat, Rafi’s impressive songs were hard to find, yet I decided to have one of his songs in my final list. After the inclusion of Manna Dey’s song and Shankar Dasgupta’s song, I had 4 singers, Khan Mastana, Krishna Goel, G M Durrani and Kishore Kumar, to choose from to fill up the remaining two slots. After some deliberation I decided to include Khan Mastana and G M Durrani. I could have been Krishna Goel too.
Here is my final list of 10 best male solos for 1950.
1. Aye Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah Le Chal Jahan Koi Na Ho by Talat Mahmood, film Arzoo, lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Anil Biswas
2. Mera Jeewan Saathi Bichhad Gaya by Talat Mahmood, film Babul, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
3. Jab Kisi Ke Rukh Pe Zulfe Aa Ke Lehrane Lagi by Talat Mahmood, film Anmol Ratan, lyrics Dina Nath Madhok, music Vinod
4. Teri Duniya Me Dil Lagta Nahi by Mukesh, film Bawre Nain, lyrics Kedar Sharma, music Roshan
5. Prit Laga Ke Maine Yeh Phal Paya, by Mukesh, film Aankhen, lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Madanmohan
6. Upar Gagan Vishaal by Manna Dey, film Mashal, lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music S D Burman
7. Duhkh Se Bhara Huwa Hai Dil by Shankar Dasgupta, film Jaan Pehchan, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Khemchand Prakash
8. (a)Akele Me Wo Ghabrate To Honge by Md.Rafi, film Biwi, lyrics Wali Saheb, music Khayyam
OR
(b) Na Thamate Hain Aansu by Md.Rafi, film Meena Bazar, , lyrics Dina Nath Madhok, music Husnlal-Bhagatram
Preferably (a)
9. Unki Nazaro Se Koi Najare Mila Ke Puche by Khan Mastana, film Hanste Rehna, lyrics Farooq Kaiser, music Wadhwa
10. Apni Mehfil Me Phir Ek Baar by G M Durrani, film Khel, lyrics Jan Nissar Akhtar, music Sajjad hussain
Finally, Talat Mahmood is my choice for the best male singer award for the year 1950.
Here are my Most Favorite Male Solo Songs (in no particular order) :
Mukesh – Preet laga ke maine ye phal paya – Aankhen – Raja Menhadi Ali Khan – Madan Mohan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdd0Isv3l4A
Mukesh – Teri duniya mein dil lagta nahi – Bawre Nain – Kedar Sharma – Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6wEC0PQ_pw
Mukesh – Mohabbat bhi jhoothi zamana bhi jhootha – Hamari Beti – Pt Faani – Snehal Bhatkar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bSDryc7v30
Talat Mahmood – Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal – Arzoo – Majrooh Sultanpuri – Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ALcqQoAKdo
Talat Mahmood – Mera jeewan saathi bichhad gaya – Babul – Shakeel Badayuni – Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POi3qdNwxoE
Mohammad Rafi -Akele mein wo ghabraate to hone – Biwi – Wali Saheb – Sharmaji (Khayyam)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WJG7IfVqig
Chitalkar – Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja, Khushi Ke Geet Gaye Jaa – Samadhi – Rajendra Krishna – C Ramchandra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aI46jBNmA
Manna Dey – Upar gagan vishal –Mashal – Pradeep – SD Burman and Manna Dey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZumPX0gG0Zg
Krishna Dayal – Aa ja nigahon mein aa ja – Dahej – Shams Lakhanvi – Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6pLMa2mhh4
Anil Biswas – Humein maar chala ye khayal ye gham – Arzoo – Majrooh Sultanpuri) – Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s8gzR8P0HY
G M Durrani – Ye Duniya Hai Bewafai Ki , Wafa Ka Raz Kya Jaane – Madhubala – Rajendra Krishna – Lachchiram –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39MkJbStz2Y
And the icing on the cake is :
Mera Pyar Mujhe Lauta Do – Sajjan – V Balsara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmom7zEbeYQ
As per YT, this Non-Film Song was created in 1950.
Venkataramanji,
This is very helpful. The correlation in the total list and my list seems to be very surprising. Talat Mahmood and Mukesh did have proportionately high number of memorable songs compared to Rafi.Except the no. 10 in your list, I have no doubts about the others, though my choice might be somewhat different.
Ashokji,
Half of your songs would undisputedly figure in most lists. Thanks a lot.
AK,
1950: Lata is the main female singer but the confidence that was seen radiating in 1951 is yet to arrive, as mentioned by Venkataramanji Geeta was not far behind in spite of singing for lesser known MDS.
Coming to conclusion after Venkataramanji’s statement “Thus most of the music directors had a song or two for her.” Shamshad Begum is used by most of MDS for covering losses if their primary singers ( Lata and or Geeta ) fail to deliver.
The singer that has surprised me in 1950 is Meena Kapoor.
Suraiya is still ruling singing star with others like Jayshree, Nalini Jayant ,Nutan and Bhanumati chipping in.
Again as per Venkataramanjis assessment 57% of the available songs are female solos, to summarize them in 10 songs is not possible for me.
I will divide my female singers in these three categories.
I am picking 10 songs that I like, from hundreds of Lata Geeta and Shamshad songs, I am not much excited by the iconic songs, the songs I have chosen is no judgement on the songs just my choice.
Lata , Geeta and Shamshad three front runners. (Not in any particular order)
LATA
Samadhi…… Woh paas aa rahe hai hum door ja rehen hai
Pardes………..Raat hai taron bari chitki hui chandni
Mashal ……… Aaj nahin to kal jayenge badal
Khel…………….Bhool ja ay dil mohabbat ka fasana
Beqasoor…….Man me naache man ki umange
GEETA
Jogan…………………….Dagmag dagmag dole naiyya.
Har Har Mahadev… Rum jhum rum jhum chali jaon
Magroor………………..Sitamgar sitamgar kiya waar teri nighahon ne dil par
SHAMSHAD
Jogan….. Jin Aankhon Ki Nind Haraam Hui
Nirala…. Mohabbat meri rang laane lagi hai
Second category: Soon to be extinct singing actresses.
SURAIYA
Afsar……………….. Nain deewane ik nahi mane
Dastaan… ………….Ae shamma tu bata tera parwana kaun hai
Kamal Ke Phool… Koi dil mein samaaya chupke chupke (how well she differentiates between chuke chupke and chhupke chhupke)
NILI………………….. Phul Khile Hain Gulshan Me
JAYSHREE
Dahej … Ambuaa Ki Daari Pe Bole Re Koyaliyaa
Dahej Jo dil pe guzarti hai dikha bhi nahin sakte (if only she had worked on her heavy Marathi accent)
NALINI JAYVANT.
Muqaddar ……Aahe bhar bhar ke mai fariyad.(to some extent, heavy accent applies to her too )
NUTAN
Hamari Beti … Tujhe Kaisa Dulha Bhaye
PUSHPA HANS
Sheesh Mahal …Aadmi who hai musibat se pareshaan na ho
BHANUMATI
Mangala…. Aiyya mari main to laaj se (Original uploaded by gaddeswarupji is amazing! I feel this song is precursor of Caravan Asha song diaya ye mai kahan aa phasi )
Third category is for all those singers who have memorable songs but, were virtually lost in the following years.
RAJ KUMARI
Bawre Nain…Sun Bairi balam sach bol re
Beqasoor…….Chale jaiho bedarda main roye marungi
ASHA
Bijli……….Taqdeer bata kya meri khata.
SUDHA MALHOTRA
Aarzoo……Mila gaye nain mila gaye nain
SURINDER KAUR
Sabak …….More nain bawre
VISHNI LAL
Magroor ….Badi bhool hui tujhe pyarr kiya
Last but not the least
MEENA KAPOOR
Biwi……. Mere jeevan me aaj ani baat hui re
Khel…….. Tod gaye hai tod gaye arman dill td gaye
Lajawab…..Jab kari badariya chhaengi
Nirdosh…… Dil ke tukde tujhe seene se
My singer of the Year LATA
Female song the year Dagmag dagmag dole naiyya Geeta Dutt (another song that gives me goose flesh)
Mumbaikar8ji,
Nice compilation of female solos. But where are your male solo, duets and MD choices ?
BTW, i am absolutely stunned by the sublime singing of Rafi , in Indrani (1958), the bengali movie.
The song is One of the Best ever songs of Rafisaab. Too much romance in his voice ! He sings smoothly with not loosing the sweetness even a bit at higher notes !! When he sings ” kisi ka tu ho jaa..” his voice touches the sky !!
Sabhi kuchh lutakar hue hum tumhare
Ke hai jeet uski jo dil aaj haare
Muhabbat me kho jaa
Kisi ka tu ho jaa
Falak se zameen tak hue ye ishaare
For me, a best discovery of the year. Thanks. Do you have such more hindi songs in marathi, bengali or other languages ?
Jignesh,
Thanks for the appreciating female solos.
Compiling female solos was very exhausting, I will come with the rest थोड़ा दम तो लेने दो भाई.
Thanks for appreciating the song, you are still in trance of Rafi Saab’s Indrani song, I like that.
No luck with any other song.
Mumbaikar8,
I have to thank you for two things. First, because I am late in responding again, but you decided to overlook it this time. And secondly, for your very interesting list. A few songs are new for me. You do have some unconventional preferences in female solos.
AK,
Male solos.
Not much room to wriggle about in male solos, my list is very close to Venkataramanji’s with one or two songs altered here or there.
TALAT
Arzoo……………… Ai dil mujhe aisi jagha le chal
Babul……………….Mera Jeevan saathi bichhad gaya
Anmol Ratan ….Jab kisis rukh pezulfe aake lehrane
RAFI
Biwi……..Akele me who ghabharate to hoge
Baawra… Sahil jo dubode kashti ko
MANNA DEY
Mashaal……Upar gagan vishaal
MUKESH
Bawre Nain…….Teri Duniyan Me dil lagta nahin
G M DURRANI
Madhubala…..Kisi ko yaad karta hai mera din
MASTANA
Hanste Rahana Unki nazaron se koi nazarein mila ke poochhe
once again last but definitely not the least
KRISHNA DAYAL
Dahej…..Aa ja nigahon mein aa ja
Singer of the year Talat Mahmood.
Singer that got most to the table Manna De …….Upar gagan vishaal
I dont know I may be a bit dated. But a song from Baap bete Dil unko utha ke diya. another song from Devta- Aye chand kal jo aanaa_lata- C Ram Haye mera dil le gaya-Lata- shankar Jaikishan.Parbat
Any replies pl?
Dear AKji,
Here is my list in varous categories.
Female Solos
As expected, dominated by 6 Lata songs & one each from Shamshad, Geeta, Rajkumari & Suraiyya.
Also, your comment on Geeta that this is a different Geeta is not valid, simply because this is year 1950 & Geeta acquired the image of happy & peppy numbers from Baazi (1951) & onwards.
My list not in any particular order is as given below –
Abhi Sham Aayengi Nikalenge Taare-Lata-Samadhi-CR
Majboor Meri Aankhe-Lata-Nirala-CR
Mehfil Mein Jal Uthi Shama-Lata-Nirala-CR
Jo Mujhe Bhula Ke Chale Gaye-Lata-Sangeeta-CR
Kahan Tak Hum Uthaye Gum-Lata-Aarzoo-Anil Biswas
Wo Humse Chup Hai-Lata-Rasiya-Bulo C Rani
Sun Bairi Balam-Rajkumari-Bawre Nain-Roshan
Ghugat Ke Pat khol-Geeta-Jogan-Bulo C Rani
Man Mor Hua Matawala-Suraiyya-Afsar-SD Burman
Jadoo Bhare Nainon Mein-Shamshad-Babul-Naushad
Male Solos –
Not in any particular order
Ai Dil Mujhe Aisi Jagah-Talat-Arzoo-Anil Biswas
Akele Mein Woh Ghabarate Honge-Rafi-Biwi-Khaiyyam
Jab Kisi Ke Rukh Pe –Talat-Anmol Ratan-Vinod. Talat has sung this with a little nasal tinge. Most surprising. I wonder what could be the reason.
Upar Gagan Vishal-Manna Dey-Mashal-SD Burman
Teri Duniya Mein Dil Lagata Nahi-Mukesh-Banware Nain-Roshan
Mera Jivan Sathi Bichhad Gaya-Talat-Babul-Naushad
Jalte Deep Bujh Gaye-Rafi-Jalte Deep-Sardul Kwatra. This song is not included in your list, so I am posting the link here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2xV50p9t-c
Husnawalon Ko Na Dil Do-Talat-Babul-Naushad
Ada Se Muskuraye Ja-Kishore-Khiladi-Hansraj Behal
Dil Jawani Ke Nashe Se Chur Hai-Rafi-Biraha Ki Raat-HB. One of the very few Rafi songs of earlier years, where he has sung with complete freedom.
Duets
Not in any particular order
Milate Hi Annkhe Dil Hua Diwana-Shamshad, Talat-Babul-Naushad
Mahi O Dupatta Mera De De-Rafi,Lata-Meena Bazar-HB
Chhota Sa Fasana Hai Tere Mere Pyar Ka-Rafi,Lata-Biraha Ki Raat-HB
Zamane Ka Dastoor Hai Yeh Purana-Lata,Mukesh-Lajawab-Anil Biswas
Woh Hum Se Chup Hai-Lata,Chitalkar-Sargam-CR
Jab Dil Ko Satae Gam-Lata,Saraswati Rane-Sargam-CR
Khayalon Me Kisi Ke-Geeta,Mukesh-Banware Nain-Roshan
Yaad Aanewale-Talat,Lata-Anmol Ratan-Vinod
Last two songs in this my list are not there in your list
Jise Dhhoondti Phirti Hai Meri Nazar-Rafi,Geeta-Sheesh Mahal-Vasant Desai-http://hindigeetmala.net/song/jise_dundti_phirti_hai_najar.htm
Maine Kaha Babuji-Rafi,Lata-Chhoti Bhabhi-HB – http://hindigeetmala.net/song/maine_kaha_babu_ji_itna_bataoge.htm
My choice for the best Musical Score for the year goes to Naushad for Babul, since all the songs of the film are of a fairly high quality.
Best Music Director should be C Ramachandra for more no of films(5) with a very high quality of music.
AN Gandhe,
Your query was not clear. We are discussing here the best songs of 1950. Your songs are from different years:
1. Dil unko utha ke de diya is from Baap Bete (1959), composed by MM
2. Ae chaand kal jo ana is from Devta (1956), composed by CR
3. Haye mera dil le gaya is from Parbat (1952), composed by SJ
These songs are easily available on YT. There was no occasion to discuss these songs here.
Ravindran Kelkar,
This is very helpful. Your choices are on expected lines. Thanks for the new additions.
Mumbaikar8,
I am responding late, but your comment is very interesting. Unlike the female solos, where you were not very impressed by my Select List and gave a lot of unfamiliar songs, in male solos you stick to the conventional. The reason you have pointed out, ‘not much room to wriggle about’. However that does not mean the songs are weaker. One reason is the number (a fraction of female solos), but the main reason to my mind is that even the small number contains a number of iconic songs.
I found your concluding comment puzzling: the best singer Talat Mahmood but the singer who got most on the table, Manna Dey. I take it to mean that the best male ‘solo’ (as opposed to the ‘singer’) is Upar gagan vishal according to you. Interestingly, you did the same thing in female solo! Best singer Lata Mangeshkar, but best song, a Geeta Roy song (and that too, not a very common choice)!
We need dissidents! Thanks a lot.
I have layered Duets in Male – Female (or call it Female – Male) duets; Male-Male / Female-Female Duets and Triads / Triads+.
Here are my favorites in Male Female Duets:
Mukesh + Lata Mangeshkar – Zamaane ka dastoor hai yeh purana – Lajwaab – Prem Dhawan- Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-dZvMlv7O4
Mukesh + Geeta Roy – Khayalon Men Kisi Ke Aaya Nahin Karte – Baware Nayan – Kedar Sharma – Roshan
Mukesh + Raj Kumari – Mujhe Sach Sach Bata – Baware Nayan – Kedar Sharma – Roshan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xR52wGxWEs
Mohammad Rafi + Lata Mangeshkar- Mahi O dupata mora de de – Meena Bazaar – Qamar Jalalabadi – Music Husnlal-Bhaatram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53hnfNnty4
Mohammad Rafi + Suraiya – Dil Ko Hae Dil Ko ..Teri Tasveer Se Bahalae Hue Hain (Taraana – Shakeel Badayuni – Naushad)
Talat Mahmood + Lata Mangeshkar – Yaad aanewale phir yaad aa rahe hain – Anmol Ratan – DN Madhok- Vinod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a_wJ7QANp4
Talat Mahmood + Shamshad Begum – Milte hi aankhen dil hua deewana kisi ka – Babul – Shakeel Badayuni – Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXFURlgbMF0
G M Durrani + Pramodini Desai – Chiraiya Udi Jaye Re ….. Dodo Dodo Babu – Dilruba – – Gyan Dutt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR1xlCa5-OY
Madan Mohan + Shmamshad Begum – Humse na dil ko lagana musafir – Aankhen – Bharat Vyas – Madan Mohan
https://youtu.be/gx8cwNJxzgA
And the icing on the cake is:
Hemant Kumar and Roma Devi (?) -Milte hi ankhen dil hua – cover version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0oxCnN5eVg
I will follow up with the other two sub-categories shortly.
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your detailed list. Chiraiya udi jaye re was a revelation. Thanks a lot for introducing this song.
Shikwa tera main gaaun is missing. Inadvertent omission?
Looking forward to other sub-categories.
AK Ji.
Gone through your post on the results of male singers of 1950, and I fully concur with the results.
The female songs of the year are dominated by Lata, who had ‘arrived’ by now. No surprises for who the winner will be.
But in my opinion, Geeta Dutt deserves a special place just for the songs of Jogan.
I wish to mention a few songs, which I find will have no impact on the results, but they deserve to be placed here.
‘Teri gali me koi diwana gata fire ye gaana’ from Sangeeta, by Lata, music C Ramchandra.
Akhir khata hi kya thi jo har ghadi sitam hai Sa…: https://youtu.be/h0FzU6stsCc
Jiya laage nahi dekho dekho re balam bin, from Pardes, by Lata and chorus, music Ghulam Mohammed.
https://youtu.be/pVaKuEXJiBE
And a special song in a moving train, with a beautiful dance and accompanying instrumentalists from Dilruba, by Geeta Dutt, music Gyan Chand,
Dhak dhak karti chali jeewan Ki rail re.
Dhak Dhak Karti Chali.avi: https://youtu.be/8CHLqVwVtJY
Lastly, I will vote for C Ramchandra as the MD for the year, giving beautiful scores for Sangeeta, Samadhi, Sargam, Sangram and Nirala.
AK,
I have divided duets in five categories.
Five mixed duets, Lata and male singers.
Five mixed duets, Geeta and male singers.
Five misc. mixed duets.
Five female duets.
Five misc. mixed duets
Five misc. Triads
LATA MUKESH
Lajawab… Zamane ka dastoor hai ye purana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z33QTl-erU
Wafa:……. Armaan bhara dil toot gaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsA-ietQqaM
LATA CHITALKAR
Sargam…..woh humse chup hai hum unse chup hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkl4yuJdniM
LATA RAFI
Pardes…………. Ankhiiyan milake zara baat kato ji chori chori yun na mulaqat karo ji
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKta7uSuZD8
Birha ki raat…. Chhota sa fasana hai ter mere pyar ka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mefCkTRtpj4
Meena Bazaar. Maahi maahi a dupatta mera de de
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53hnfNnty4
GEETA MUKESH
Bawre Nain…….Khayalon me kisi ke is tarah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cAhn5vetZo
GEETA TALAT
Jan Pahchan….Arman bhare dil ki lagan tere liy hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX1lz67VKcE
GEETA RAFI
Hamara Ghar…Chandni chitki hui hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkWgHsaxocc
GEETA DURRANI
Jalte Deep…. Nai ek duniya basanyenge humtum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7c790PRK9g
GEETA KISHORE
Pyaar Ek hum doosre tum aur teesra koi nahin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gPuljzRFO4
Miscellaneous five
MUKESH RAJKUMARI
Bawre Nain….Mujhe sach sach batado
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbVymd1cT3g
SHAMSHAD TALAT
Babul………….. Milte hi aankhen dil hua
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXFURlgbMF0
RAFI SURAIYA
Dastaan……. Dil ko haye dilko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsCMDkqZHPw
Khiladi…………Yeh pyar ki manzil se mujhe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE5zHm5jK1c
KHAN MASTANA SULOHANA KADAM
Hanste rahna …..Matwali ghatao zara tum jum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpJVeqf0gow
Female Duets and triads
LATA SHAMSHAD
Babul…… kisi ke dil me rahna tha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRMcF03VZ7s
LATA NIRMALA
Anmol Ratan…….. sajan aaye aadhi raat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYE-S_IHAiM
LATA RAJKUMARI
Meherbani Koi naino mere aa ke na jaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZXZ_gSWlig
RAJ KUMARI ASHA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8wyhibgKVw
Ghir ghir ke aasman
GEETA SURAIYA
Afsar………. Preet ka naata todne wale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp2irwhTz1U
Triads
RAJKUMARI SHAMSHAD RAFI
Magroor…… Toot gaya hai toot gaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV0t0gEhRUQ
SHAMSHAD GEETA RAFI
Gauna… Ban ban ke mit gayi hai taqdeer ki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLYI0LjSxbg
SHANSHAD TALAT RAFI
Babul …………. nadi kinare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0GtQGbs3E8
AMIRBAI KARNATAKI GEETA RAFI
Veer babhruwahan…. Jab nain se nain mile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqK2vgTWP1w&feature=youtu.be
LATA CHITALKAR RAFI
Sargam…… Baap bada na bhaiya bhaiya sabse bada rupaiya
I think any of Mukesh’s duet can be the final one
I missed to upload last song
Baap bada na bhaiyya from Sargam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyq5q5qiW9U
Mumbaikar8,
This is a very exhaustive list of duets. Thanks a lot. My best ten would include all kinds you have listed.
Arvinder Sharmaji,
In male solos in 1950, there would hardly be any dispute regarding the first 4 or 5 songs, and it has to be Mukesh or Talat Mahmood. Such milestones songs happen once in a while.
In female solos, everyone agrees on Lata Mangeshkar, except our lone ranger Arvind for Geeta Roy. You are right, her Jogan songs are very exceptional. In the songs you have added, Jiya lage nahi dekho dekho re balam bin is very pleasant, enhanced by its picturisation.
Dhak dhak karti chali from Dilrubahas been mentioned earlier by Gaddeswarupji in comment #51.
AK,
Music Director 1950.
Bhatiaji has said there can be 7-6 or 6-7 between Anil Biswas and Naushad I see couple of more close matches between Bulo c rani and Husnlal bhagatram or SDB or C. Ramchandra, there is close call between two underdogs Madan Mohan and Roshan too.
My choice for this year is the album of Bawre Nain by Roshan.
AK ji,
I have earlier mentioned that the duets (MF, MM and FF) roughly account for 25% of the available songs for 1950 and your list too reflects a similar trend.
The total number of duets (MF, MM and FF) will be a little higher than 200, which is almost double the male solos, but very much less than the female solos; a little more than 40% of the female solos. The MF duets will be roughly around 150-160, which is one third more than the male solos and roughly one third of the female solos.
In an answer to Jignesh’s query, I had replied that the total number of unique pairs, in the duets section (MF, MM and FF), would be around 100 and if you add the triads etc. then the number will be more than 125.
And none of the pairs really dominated the MF duet category. The top five pairs were Md.Rafi-Lata Mangeshkar- 8%, Md.Rafi-Shamsad Begum- 8%, Md.Rafi- Geeta Roy-7%, C Ramachandra-Lata Mangeshkar-6% and Md.Rafi-Suraiya-5%. Thus the above mentioned five pairs rendered one-third of the MF duets.
From the above it will be obvious that the Md.Rafi had the maximum share among the male singers in the duet section. Md.Rafi dominated, at least in numbers, with roughly 32%, another one third was shared between 4 singers- Mukesh (11%), Talat Mahmood (8%), C Ramchandra (7%) and G M Durrani (6%). Another 30 male singers shared the rest of the duets.
As compared to the master list, the five top male singers share 90% of the MF duets in your list. Mukesh leads with 29%, followed by Md.Rafi (25%), Talat Mahmood (23%), C Ramchandra (10%) and G M Durrani (3%). Mukesh and Talat Mahmood with higher percentage of hit songs dominate your list.
Among the female singers, Lata Mangeshkar, Shamsad Begum and Geeta Roy together share 65% of the MF duets in the master list. Their share is almost equal, similar to the female solos. Asha Bhosle, Rajkumari, Suraiya, Zohrabai Ambalevali and Surinder Kaur share another 19%. The rest is shared between another 17 female singers.
As compared to the master list, Lata Mangeshkar, Shamsad Begum and Geeta Roy together share 67% of the MF duets in your list. But here too the disparity is very much evident but not surprising. Lata Mangeshar accounts for 35% of the MF Duets, Shamsad Begum 26%, whereas Geeta Roy accounts for only 6%.
In the MM duets of the master list Md . Rafi has the maximum share and in the FF duets too Lata Mangeshkar, Shamsad Begum and Geeta Roy has the lion’s share.
Here is my list of best ten MF duets for the year 1950
1. Zamaane Kaa Dastur Hai Ye Puraanaa by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar, film Lajawab, lyrics Prem Dhawan, music Anil Biswas
2. Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua Diwana Kisi Ka by Talat Mahmood and Shamsad Begum, film Babul, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
3. Khayalon Mein Kisi Ke Is Tarah Aaya Nahi Karte by Mukesh and Geeta Roy, film Bawre Nain, lyrics Kedar Sharma, music Roshan
4. Aramaan Bharaa Dil Tut Gayaa by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar, film Wafa, lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Bulo C Rani
5. Araman Bhare Dil Kee Lagan Tere Liye Hai by Talat Mahmood and Geeta Roy, film Jaan Pehchan, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Khemchand Prakash
6. Dil Ko Haye Dil Ko, Dil Ko Teri Tasveer Se Bahlaye Hue Hai by Md.Rafi and Suraiya, film Dastaan, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
7. Manwa Me Pyar Dole by Mukesh and Zohrabai Ambalewali, film Sartaj, lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Husnlal-Bhagatram
8. Shikavaa Teraa Main Gaaun by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar, film Anmol Ratan, lyrics Dinanath Madhok, music Vinod
9. Tumse Ho Gaya Pyar Dekho by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar, film Meharbani, lyrics Khawar Zaman, music Hafiz Khan
10. Mujhe Sach Sach Bata Do by Mukesh and Raajkumari, film Bawre Nain, lyrics Kedar Sharma, music Roshan
The FF duets have some wonderful songs and I would like to pick five songs from this category.
1. Ched Saki Sargam by Lata Mangeshkar and Saraswati Rane, film Sargam, lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi, music C Ramchandra
2. Gore Gore O Banke Chore by Lata Mangeshkar and Amirbai Karnataki, film Samadhi, lyrics Rajendra Krishan, music C Ramchandra
3. Preet ka nata jodne wale by Geeta Roy and Suraiya, film Afsar, lyrics Narendra Sharma, music S D Burman
4. Tinak Tin Taani Do Din Ki Zindagaani by Lata Mangeshkar and Saraswati Rane, film Sargam, lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi, music C Ramchandra
5. Sajan Aaye Aadhi Raat by Lata Mangeshkar and Nirmala, film Anmol Ratan, lyrics Dinanath Madhok, music Vinod
There were about 30-35 triads and other songs. And my selection of two songs from the triads are
1. Toot Gaya Hai Toot Gaya by Md.Rafi, Shamsad Begum and Rajkumari, film Magroor, lyrics Mullaji, music Sajjad Hussain
2. Nadi Kinare Sath Hamare by Md.Rafi, Shamsad Begum and Talat Mahmood, film Babul, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
If I have select the best duets from the MF duets list, then my choice will be Zamaane Kaa Dastur Hai Ye Puraanaa by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar.
If I am permitted to choose from the FF duets list, then I will opt for Ched Saki Sargam by Lata Mangeshkar and Saraswati Rane
I will come up with my selection of music directors soon. Good night.
Venkataramanji,
You have outshone yourself. The statistics gives a very good insight. I am pleasantly surprised how closely my Select List reflects the overall distribution with that in the total population. But more interesting is how within each category singerwise distribution changes from global share to share in the Select List. It would be interesting to see whether this inversion in favour of Mukesh and Talat Mahmood was a feature of only early 50s or lasted longer.
Your list of duets captures the best of the year. The only reservation I have is on #9. How about Yaad aanewale phir yaad aa rahe hain?
As for MM, FF duets or triad songs, I don’t plan to open another front. I would club them with MF. They may suffer because of oversight, but we have to live with some imperfections.
Thanks a lot for your very helpful comments.
AKji,
Yaad Aane Wale Phir Yaad Aa Rahe Hai is certainly a wonderful duet, and was mentioned by a couple of readers. Since I liked Shikavaa Teraa Main Gaaun too, I opted for this duet. Yes both the duets from Anmol Ratan could have been accommodated. Tumse Ho Gaya Pyar Dekho caught my fascination on first hearing and not mentioned by anybody else. The final choice is with you.
Thanks a lot
Lata-Mukesh in Sartaj under HB.
https://youtu.be/B7lCDtrCPRQ
1950 would certainly go as a very special year in the history of HFM in so far as the specific variety of Triads and Triads + goes. There would be very few, if any, years which may have so varied a crop of triads and triads + songs.
Here is MY take on Triads and Triads + :
Mohammad Rafi + Shamshad Begum + Talat Mahmood + Chorus – Nadiya mein utha hai shor – Babul – Shakeel Badayuni – Naushad –
https://youtu.be/iuk0z4FWwP0
Mukesh + S D Batish, Shamshad Begum + Chorus – Jaao Sidharo He Raadha Ke Shyam – Arzoo – Jan Nissar Akhtar – Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1pvRI8aPYk
I will shortly conclude my views on Music Director for the year 1950.
Ashokji,
The first song is obviously well known. But the second song is fabulous. The way it starts in slow tempo, it is difficult to believe that it would break into a peppy आओ मिलकर जवानी की लूटें बहार. Thanks a lot.
Best Music Director
The year 1950 has presented a very interesting picture in so far as music directors are concerned.
There are MANY music directors at the very Bottom of the Pyramid who have hardly made any impact by their creations. Then a level above, are A FEW music directors, like Husnlal Bhagatram, Hansraj Behl, Ghulam Mohammad, Vasant Desai, Vinod, Madan Mohan, Snehal Bhatkar, who have had from one to several films, a song here or a song there that did attract fair amount of public and critic attention.
A Rung Above them are music directors like Roshan (Bawre Nain), S D Burman (Afsar), Anil Biswas (Arzoo, Beqasoor) who did not have many films in the year but did have at least one film that not only attained Great Success in those days, but went on to become ever-green as well.
At the top are C Ramchandra (Nirala, Samadhi, Sangeeta, Saragam, Sangram) and Naushad (Dastan, Babul). Each of thier films was a great musical success, several of the songs form each film went on to write their own records of commercial success as well as wen on to become evergreens as well.
So one may choose, as per own individual preference, either Baware Nain or Afsara or Dastan or Babul or Arzoo as the Film that had Best Music, but C Ramachandra is MY CHOICE as the Best Music Director for the year. He has successfully crafted the music, as much for the class as that for the mass, in all the films, even when the films were primarily meant for the mass.
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your detailed comments. You have written the final Wrap Up. May I add a small thing. Bulo C Rani had a major presence in the year. You must have missed him inadvertently.
AK Ji, Ashok Vaishnav Ji,
I’ll ditto both of you.
C Ramchandra : Overall
Bulo C Rani : Special
I fully agree on Bulo C Rani. IT is a miss which should not have happened in so far as 1950 is concerned. By all accounts he would stand up in the first row in this year.
Beautiful. I am reliving yester years. C.Ramchandra has always taught us to lie,love ,face sufferigs as well as sufferings . GREAT . Infact all are great about whom you wrote and about there contributions. Thank you very much .