Guest article by Ashok M Vaishnav in the series of centenary tributes to Hemant Kumar (b. 16 June 1920 – d. 26 September 1989)
(Hemant Kumar’s centenary celebration was set off with an excellent article by N Venkataraman, ‘Hemantayan Part 1’, in which he wrote about his family origin, early life, and his career up to 1960. Venkataramanji would write his second and last part on Hemant Kumar’s Remembrance Day, 26 September, covering his post-1960 career.
Ashok M Vaishnav has a great interest in delving deep into film songs and present micro-analysis on various parameters. He very kindly offered to supplement Venkataramanji’s two-part overview with some articles going into Hemant Kumar’s career on various parameters in greater detail. Ashokji’s first article in the series was on Hemant Kumar’s female playback singers. in his second article he covers his male singers. This article is another evidence of Ashokji’s perseverance in going deep and wide.
Ashokji is an engineer by profession. After retirement, he is engaged in management training. I thank him for his efforts to make this series of tribute so befitting the respect Hemant Kumar commands. – AK)
Every time the topic of Hemant Kumar’s Hindi Film songs in male voice comes up, the discussion usually gets marooned in the question – was he a great composer who also sang well or was he a great singer who also made some memorable music?
This article essentially is a part of the overall portrait of Hemant Kumar as a music director. Therefore, it is incumbent of the spirit of the article that we remain focussed on the first part of the question only and leave the answer to the second part to the judgement of the readers.
The distribution curve of Hemant Kumar’s male solo song compositions is, perhaps naturally, skewed towards his own songs. However, as a music director, he seemed to be aware of the needs of the situation of the song and those of the market forces while choosing to use the voice of other male playback singers for his male songs.
Talat Mahmood and Mukesh, being nearer his own voice quality, he does not seem to have felt need for solo songs in these voices. Also, Hemant Kumar did not get to compose music for the films for those heroes for whom these voices would have been the order of the day. The case of use Manna Dey appears to be beyond discussion in an article like this, in the absence of availability of any major back-up, and dependable reasoning. In any case, Manna Dey was getting almost a similar treatment in the industry. We need to rest with the fact that he was used, very, sparingly.
As such, the tail of Hemant Kumar’s male solo compositions remains skewed in favour of Mohammad Rafi, and then to a lesser degree with Kishore Kumar.
For the purpose of our article, we shall stick to basic tenet that a music director knows which voice would do justice to his composition. Our role is here to cast our net wide across the breadth of Hemant Kumar compositions in the films for which he was music director and dig out all possible male songs on the table. Once done, the selection of songs is filtered such that picture that emerges, presents us a very representative retrospective of the range of Hemant Kumar as a music director.
Hemant Kumar
Hemant Kumar’s compositions in Hemant Kumar’s own voice would easily call for a special, stand-alone, wholesome treatment to have the complete picture over different moods, for different actors and for the lyrics penned by different lyricists. Presently, I have selected songs from three different periods, in three different moods.
1. Dil chhed koi aisa nagma, geeton mein zamana kho jaaye – Inspector (1956) – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna
This is a song of pensive mood. Hemant Kumar’s soft, baritone voice ideally suits to such moods. The song has a twin Lata Mangeshkar version as well. The video clip here has both versions.
2. Sawan mein barkha sataye pal pal chin chin barse – Biwi Aur Makaan (1966) – Lyrics: Gulzar
Here is a song that is sheer romance, expressing a strong feeling for belonging with the beloved one when it is raining. The throw of lyric – Sawan mein – at the very beginning of the song, or scaling up the up the delivery of lyrics midway in each stanza, present the creativity of Hemant Kumar as music director as well as his flexibility in singing as a singer.
3. Tumhare nain dekh ke suna hai log jogi ho gaye – Rahgeer (1969) – Lyrics: Gulzar
The poem composed by Gulzar, with long, narrative stanzas, would be a challenge to a music director to yield a melodious song. For a singer also to sing all these lines without loss of breath is equally an imposing challenge. Hemant Kumar, in the dual role of the music director and the singer, has so deftly handled the challenge.
Mohammad Rafi
Hemant Kumar’s choice of Mohammad Rafi as the second highest male singer after himself is ample testimony of his true roleplay of a music director. Hemant Kumar’s solo song compositions in Mohammad Rafi’s voice also is a subject for a separate, full-fledged analysis, as he has used Rafi’s voice from lead actors to character actors; from romantic songs to comedy songs to pathos moods songs to pensive songs, set to a wide range of situations.
4. Paase sabhi ulat gaye, dushman ki chaal ke…..Hum laaye hain toofan se kashti nikal ke – Jagriti (1954) – Lyrics: Pradeepji
Being a patriotic song, the initial couplets open on high scale, gradually coming down to the regular singing scale. The tone of the delivery is that of firmness of conviction of a loving, soft-natured, teacher. This is the tone in which the main song begins. As the song progresses, the message keeps on being more and more intense. Topics like atom bombs reflect the heightened concerns. When it reaches @3.50, the teacher tells his wards that the time is now ripe to stop dreaming the idealism or live in the luxuries, as now is the time to go in for a quantum jump to touch the highest of ambition, of firmly and positively unfurling the tricolour of an independent nation from the top of Himalayas all over the world. As can be expected, anyone will be carried away with these emotions. Song suddenly jumps up in scale, remains there till the message is clear, and then returns to its normal flow. Pradeepji has so clearly spelt out the message in his meaningful, crisp lyrics, Hemant Kumar has weaved in the mood of the song at every stage of the song. And who else could do full justice to such a song, other than the versatile Mohammad Rafi!
5. Ab mori binati suno bhagwan – Taj (1956) – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna
This is a prayer song, which has the earnestness in the base tone of the song, but as the new stanza begins, there is a sense of heightened urgency in the request. In the end, this request reaches a crescendo. Since he himself has rendered the other songs, Hemant Kumar seems to have specifically chosen Rafi for this song. Mohammad Rafi very naturally handles these variations.
6. Phoolon se dosti hai kanto se yaari hai, aise majhe ke pyare zindagi hamari hai – Duniya Jhukati Hai (1957) – Lyrics; Rajendra Krishna
This is one of the famous ‘tonga songs’ in Hindi films. Hemant Kumar has very innovatively composed interlude orchestration pieces. Today when I see the video clip, I note that Sunil Dutt is wearing a loud-striped T-shirt. In those days striped T-shirt was dress code for small-time ‘gunda’ or mawaali’ (ruffians or scamps) characters on the silver screen! One may even recall that David was shown wearing such a T-shirt in Boot Polish’ (1954), probably to epitomise that people who live in that kind of surroundings always have indecent ways of living. The film then goes on disprove this belief.
7. Woh kaun si mushkil hai jo na ho sake aasaan – Ma Beta (1962) – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
Other music directors have often chosen Hemant Kumar’s baritone voice as background song. The song here is about the underlying confidence to overcome the present adversities. Hemant Kumar easily opts to choose Rafi for his capability to express such feelings even when singing at a lower scale. And once again, as Rafi has been called into the play, why not take the advantage of scaling higher notes to express the surge in confidence!
8. Ye mard bade dil sard bade, chalo ji maana, mardon ka phir bhi ghulam hai zamana – Miss Mary (1957) – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna
Miss Mary, a remake of Misamma in Telugu or Missiamma in Tamil, was a light mood film. It was one of the big box-office grossers in those days. Its songs had also become extremely popular. Hemant Kumar has very deftly made subtle changes in the composition, as compared to the original Telugu or more or less similar Tamil version, which has made the song very melodious while retaining its comedy elements. As a result, it looks more natural that Jamuna could have been induced to dance at the music while relishing the delivery of satire in the lyrics!
9. Mareez-e-ishq hoon ae jaan-e-man meri dua lena – Bin Badal Barsaat (1963) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Under regular circumstances, this could have been a poem recital, but here we have a signature Mehmood comedy song, with all the strappings of Rafi – scaling high scales at the beginning of each stanza and then reverting back to the normal scale, or some choice words, like Mareez-e-ishq being delivered in a different style each time it repeats in song.
10. Tera husn rahe mera ishq rahe, to ye subah-o-sham rahe na rahe – Do Dil (1965) – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
A song in the praise of the (beauty) of the beloved has emerged as a very distinct genre in the Hindi films. As it so happens, Mohammad Rafi has a virtually a monopolistic presence in this genre.
Prior to Do Dil, Biswajeet has had a string of films under other banners, wherein it was Mohammad Rafi who was his playback voice. Songs from those films had been quite successful too. That, perhaps, has weighed in the use of Mohammad Rafi for all Biswajeet songs in this film!
Kishore Kumar
All the songs that Hemant Kumar composed in Kishore Kumar’s voice were for the films wherein Kishore Kumar was also acting. The only exception is Woh shaam kuchh ajeeb thi (Khamoshi, 1969- Lyrics: Gulzar), where Kishore Kumar comes in as Rajesh Khanna’s default playback voice.
I have selected three songs here, each representing a different mood, each one representing three different phases of Hemant Kumar’s career in Hindi films as music director.
11. Ek roz humari bhi daal galegi – Bandi (1957) – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna
The opening lines follow a parody form of popular folk lyrics, Kishore Kumar freely improvising his frustrating progress with cooking the food. The couplet ends with Kishore Kumar’s signature style of parodying of some of the classics, KL Saigal’s Panchhi kaahe hote udaas in the present case. The song then moves in, providing enough space to Kishore Kumar’s antics.
12. Aaj rona pada to samjhe, hansne ka mol kya hai – Girl Friend (1961) – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhyanvi
The song ranks as one the Kishore Kumar classics. Composed with minimal orchestration support, the composition fully brings into play the beauty of Kishore Kumar’s vocal cords.
13. Hawaaon pe likh do hawaaon ke naam – Do Dooni Chaar (1968) – Lyrics: Gulzar
The prelude to the song, mainly in the form of base-tone humming and slightly-higher-scale short aalaps by Kishore Kumar sets the pensive mood of the song.
Aside trivia: The child artist in the frame @0.57, subsequently shown strolling with goat cub, accompanying Kishor Kumar in the whole song is Baby Neetu Singh.
Manna Dey
Even as Hemant Kumar has used Manna Dey very sparingly, he has fully exploited the flexibility and range of his singing prowess.
14. Ek bade baap ki beti ko kal ghar ke munshi sang, dekha ghul mil batiya karte aur jamaate rang, ki lag gayi aag zamaane ko – Bandi (1957) – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna
The ‘common men’ are enjoying behind-the-back jibes at ‘bade log’ and their lifestyles. The song is filmed as a street nautanki performance, and Hemant Kumar, too, has composed it as such and then let Manna Dey do the rest of the job.
15. Rahne ko ghar do – Biwi Aur Makaan (1966) – Lyrics: Gulzar
The song seems to be tailor made for Mehmood’s signature theatrics on the screen.
16. Dost kahan koi tumsa, tumsa nahi koi mister – Khamoshi (1969) – Lyrics: Gulzar
This is a typical mandatory song that must be assigned to a comedian in the film. In most the cases, the music directors, lyricists and singers have turned such occasions into presenting a song that, at the minimum, ensures that the public in the cinema hall remains seated during the song.
‘Other’ Male Singers
We now have two songs from two different styled singers. It also so happens that each song belongs to two different generations.
Kavi Pradeep
Pradeepji was essentially a poet, but the beauty is whichever film song is recorded in his voice has become a massive hit.
17. Aao bachcho tumhein dikhayein jhanki Hindustan ki – Jagriti (1954) – Lyrics: Pradeepji
When I look at the song now, I realize how imaginatively the song has been conceived, filmed, composed, and rendered. No wonder, we found the song so enchanting in our school days in the latter half of 1950s.
Yesudas
Yesudas was playback voice for many of the songs filmed on Anmol Palekar on the screen., Probably, hence the choice.
18. Kise khabar kahan dagar jeevan ki le jaaye – Do Ladke Dono Kadke (1979) – Lyrics: Yogesh
This film is produced by Hemant Kumar’s son, Jayanta Mukherjee. Hemant Kumar, the music director, has easily been able to rhyme in with the NextGen singer in the song.
This representative selection of Hemant Kumar’s male solo songs abundantly endorses the tenet that a music director knows whose voice would justice to the composition. For the purpose of the debate of deciding whether Hemant Kumar is a better composer or a better singer, we can always have a couple of more of such samples, in the future.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
The song videos have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over these songs which vests in the respective owners, such as Saregama India Limited and others.
{ 104 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting write up. As far as I know, Mukesh was used by Hemant Kumar in a beautiful duet with Lataji (only song?) in Maa beta, 1962.https://youtu.be/ELJ6xw22xAs
Satishji,
Welcome to SoY, and thanks a lot for adding the song. This article is about Hemant Kumar’s male solos, (as a music director).
Ashok ji,
Another facet of Hemant Da’s music beautifully presented.
Nice songs selected.
For me, the first Hemant _ Kishore song that appears immediately in front of the mind’s eyes is Woh sham kuchh…, followed by the quintessential Kishore as a comedian, singer..
Gaaana na aaya
Bajaana na aaya..
MISS MARY.
Love both the singing and the performance.
Hemant Da and Rafi Saab…
O gawalan kyon mera man
Teri chitvan le gayee…
CHAMPAKALI, 1957.
Ashok ji
You have described all the songs in the article very succinctly.
Pradip ji has posted a quintessential Kishore song which is more famous than this one
Main pagal hoon-Girl friend – Sahir
https://youtu.be/uSY0folJtp8
Thus in this film Hemant Kumar exploited almost full range of KK through pathos ridden Aaj rona pada to ( included by you above) , hilarious main pagal hoon and romantic aaj mujhe kucch ( a duet).
Can’t resist adding my absolute favorite Hemant Da songs…
Ye nayan dare dare….
KOHRA
Tum pukar lo..
KHAMOSHI
Ya dil ki suno duniyawalo..
ANUPAMA.
Rahul ji,
You are spot on !
GIRLFRIEND was a veritable KK musical feast. Though the post is on the solos, it will not be amiss to mention the other duets..
Na dhela lagta hai
Na paisa lagta hai…
With Daisy Irani.
Boom booma boom.
Asha Bhosle.
And, the chorus song..
Jhuk jhuk bhuri maa ko karo parnaam..
With gibberish in the beginning and KK antics later in the song.
Satish (#1)
Your kind appreciation is very welcome.
Dr. Pradep Kumar Shetty ( #3, #4, #6, #7)
You are so right on these songs.
It was, therefore, a tough call to select from his less familiar male songs.
Rahul BHagwanrao Muli ( #5)
As you have observed, Hemant Kumar’s talent as a music director, to spot the right singer and extract best from him /her for teh given situation appears to be impeccable.
Ashok ji:
A wonderful and fully representative post on the male solos composed by Hemant Kumar. Partisan fans will immediately point out the difference between the ‘quality’ of songs sung by Hemant himself and by others. He probably underused his voice in movies not produced by him. Here is ‘Jaane kahan dekkha hai’ (Rafi in Biwi aur Makaan):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTvVfBSZbds&ab_channel=SEPLVintage
Vaishnavji,
A very nice write up, bringing forth clearly Hemant Kumar’s mindset in using other male singers. He believed that he can deliver the goods for most of the songs and where he thought he would not be able to take the song to perfection he called Rafi. No other singer meant much for him for this purpose. Kishore he used just for his own films. In Khamoshi, he used Kishore for that song in reciprocation of Kishore using him for a few of his songs. Kishore was not the established voice of Rajesh Khanna when Khamoshi came. Other singers are just a trickle for him. He gave just 7 songs to others including 3 for Manna Dey.
Of the remaining four, you have posted songs of Pradeep and Yesudas. Hemant gave one song each to Chitalkar and Ravi in the 1955 film Lagan. Here are those two songs.
Sunaoon ik majnu ka haal – Chitalkar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_XSAudG080
Dekhi teri duniya duniyawale – Ravi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSWnL1I2DY8
HFGK also mentions Ranglal Jadhav as singer of a qawwali ‘galat hai loot liya tumki husnwalon ne’ which is a parody of ‘hamen to loot liya’. But, this song has at least two female voices in it which are unidentified.
Claviolin by Kalyanji Virji Shah ,that went on to be accepted as the Been ; Ravi on harmonium; 8 Lata solos, all of them good, at least 4 exceptionally so . The movie, a commercial hit. Icing on the cake, or, rather, the crowning glory … Filmfare award for Best Music.
Yes, NAGIN, 1954.
In this Lata extravaganza, Hemant Kumar had two duets, one each with Lata and Asha, and, two solos ( if I overlooked beautiful chorus in the second song!)
1. Kashi dekhi, Mathura dekhi
..
Tere dwar khada ek jogi..
Pradeep Kumar in disguise and VyjayantiMala, the lovely water nymph!
2. Zindagi ke denewale
Zindagi me lenewale..
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan.
HUM BHI INSAAN HAIN, 1959.
Shailendra.
We all are familiar with the lovely Geeta Dutt, Suman Kalyanpur duet
Phulwa band mehke
Dekho lehke daali daali…
There are 1 each HK and 1 Rafi solos.
HK.
Hai re kismet ka andher
Bante der bigadte lage na der…
Rafi.
Pyari bole Bulbul
Padosan boli kawwa
Kisiko main Chaila
Kisiko main hawwa…
HK has used Subir Sen for a duet with Geeta Dutt. Fairly well known..
Gori tere natkhat naina
Waar kare , chub jaaye.
As usual, SS sounds almost like HK!
Canasya (#10
Biwi Aur Makaan was very much a Geetanjali – Hemant Kumar’s home banner – production.
Jaane Kahaan Dhundha Hai, by every standards, in my view, is a Mohammad Rafi song.
Perhaps, the choice of Mohammad Rafi was in deference to huge success of Mohammad Rafi for Biswajeet’s playback in Non-Geetanjali productions in the immediately preceding years.
Rafi’s selection in Do Dil also may be for that consideration.
Hansji ( # 11)
very happy to know that you liked teh choice of songs in oder to make a point about Hemant Kumar’s approcah to use of male singers,
Wonderful additions to the list in terms of Chitalkar’s and Ravi’s songs.
DO DOONI CHAR has a less popular KK song..
Bada badmash hai ye dil
Ye dil qaboo mein nahin aata…
Ashok ji,
You had given the identity of the child artiste as Baby Neetu Singh. She is billed as Soni. ( Just nit picking!) . Her debut in SURAJ, 1966, was uncredited. In DUS LAKH , the same year, she was credited as Baby Sonia. And, of course, she became a star with DO KALIYAN, 1968. ..Baby Sonia.
So, I guess DO DOONI CHAR may have been in the making for a long time.
Interestingly, DO DOONI CHAR, 2010, Habib Faisal’s debut movie, marked the return of the Star pair of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh 31 years after their last screen appearance together, in DUNIYA MERI JEB MEIN.
The film won the National award for The best Hindi movie.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Shetty (12, # 13)
Thansk for adding these fours ongs, each one representative of four different situations, and hence different styles of compositions.
Ashok Vaishanvji,
Another well presented article and a nice selection of representative songs covering his major and minor male voices. You have presented your case well to establish that Hemant Kumar chose his male singers who would do justice to his composition.
Out of the 420-425 song he composed as a music director, roughly a little less than 100 songs would be male solos. If the duets and triads etc., where only male singer were involved, are included then the figure would be a little more than 100, roughly around 25%.
Another interesting observation is that in his own productions he predominantly used his own voice compared to other male singers. The solo songs he rendered for his own productions would be roughly 71%, whereas his solos for all the films for which he scored music would be a little less than 60%.
Rafi and Kishore Kumar rendered only 1 and 3 solos respectively for Hemanta’s in-house productions.
Hemant Kumar composed a wonderful song for Md.Rafi in Biwi aur Makan(1966). This song reiterates your point that since 1965 Hemant too used Md.Rafi for Biswajeet. The song was picturised on a stage show.
Jane Kahan Dekha Hai , Md.Rafi, Biwi Aur Makan (1966), lyrics Gulzar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7g8hQFH0gE
Only a shorter version of the song was used in the film. Here is the full audio version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qQaVFhjrZI
And Kishore Kumar sang for his son Jayanta Mukherjee in Bees Saal Pehle (1972).
As regards his other male singers you have covered two of them and Hansji has followed it up with further details.
Thanks once Ashokiji.
In BANDISH, 1955, starring Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari, Bhagwan is credited in the titles as ..
Bhagwan As the Balloon seller.
Of course, he sings in the voice of Rafi.
Le lo ji, hamare gubbare pyare pyare
Ye zameen ke phool
Aasmaan ke taare.
Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.
A well written account of the male singers in MD Hemant Kumar compositions. The songs selection is great.
When I read the title I thought that duets would be covered.
One song …
O Nodire…’/ 1972 / SIDDHARTHA / Hemant / Hemant
https://youtu.be/JBAw2cTve1se
Great article, Ashokji. Phulwa band mehke is a very lovely song from Hemant Kumar. However, the original Bengali number it is based on (a non-film number sung by the great Pratima Bandyopadhyay) was composed by another legendary composer, Nachiketa Ghosh. I am not sure how the transformation happened but my guess is probably Hemant Kumar borrowed the composition from Nachiketa Ghosh, for use in the Hindi film.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qCNnZO_f6sE
Mr. Vaishnav
Nicely summarized article very good selection of songs.
I have heard hemant Kumar say in an interview that “dil chhed koi aisa najhma was not a twin song. It was a lata solo only, as Lata could not record for the song for shooting, he sang it, to be recorded later by Lata.
But the produce, director liked it so much that they retained it and a situation was created for it.
Was his last male solo with Rafi in Love in Canada?
Mere yaar tu chhod gham chhod de yeh udasi Muhammad Rafi Love In Canada 1979
https://youtu.be/jqcOQW6aYFg
A good post Ashokji.
A complete summary of choice of male playback singers by Hemant Kumar.
And, excellent selection of songs.
The comments also added new information as usual.
Thank you Ashokji for both the posts in the Hemant Kumar series on SoY.
Anup
🙂
I should again compliment Ashokji for his great effort in exploring a variety of male singers used by Hemant Kumar as music director. Hans has added a couple of more (@11). It is impressive that in comparatively fewer songs he composed (compared to the prolific ones), he still found room for so much variety even though he was himself a great singer. My take is:
1. He was busy.
2. He was unselfish.
I think Ashokji would not mind if I take some credit for including Rafi’s Phoolon se dosti hai, kaanton se yaari hai (#6), my great favourite. I have a great duet favourite too, by Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, but would not mention it in case he plans to include it, I am sure he will.
Referring to Mumbaikar8’s @21, whatever the circumstances, now Dil chhed koi aisa naghma is a twin song. As a matter of fact I had known only Hemant Kumar’s version, and needless to say I was mesmerised. I heard Lata Mangeshkar’s version when I started writing my article on ‘Twin songs; A front-runner and a laggard’. I inferred and stated a general theory, and I don’t need to say which version of this song is a front-runner.
I think many of us feel Hemant Kumar should have used voice more in the films in which hw was the music director.
Discussions from #18 to #23
If I would reply to each one separately, I would be simply copy pasting my replies and feelings. Hence, selecting this method.
One feeling which i now could dare to express is the feeling of being relieved that all SoY readers have favorably reacted to the approach that I adopted in the songs selection. Initial exclusion of Phoolon Se Dosti Hai was also its widespread popularity.
I recall the stories going around when Bishen Singh Bedi was chosen to lead Indian cricket team. The preceding captains were known to have used him excessively as strike as well as defensive bowler. Whether he would over-bowl or under-bowl him now when he is the captain was the point under debate.
For Hemant Kumar, who was a very widely accepted choice as singer by other music directors, the dilemma to compose a song to his voice or choose a singer to best sing the given composition must have been quite ticklish one.
The Jagriti (1954) song, Ham Laye Hai Tufan Se Kishti is possibly one possible answer that he has provided to us.
AK,
I was glad the circumstance happened otherwise we would have been deprived of his version.
ANJAANA, 1956.
Pradeep Kumar, VyjayantiMala; Hemant Kumar; 6 Lata solos and 1 Lata _ Hemant duet…. Almost like NAGIN!
But, there is a Rafi solo ..On Johnny Walker.
Sabse mehenga cheez mohabbat
Duniya ke bazaar mein,
Achha hai jo rahe kunwara
Kya rakha hai pyar mein?
Ashok ji
Oos raat ke baad was released in 1970. Most of the sites list 4 songs of the film while Atul’s song a day mentions that HFGK lists Ashok ji
Oos raat ke baad was released in 1970. Most of the sites list 4 songs of the film while Atul’s song a day mentions that HFGK lists the same 4 songs but also hints that there are more songs.
Myswar com lists 5 songs but wrongly credits the fifth song Rooh pyaasi meri to Mukesh.
Vedio of this song is available on YouTube. And the song is played in the background while titles are being shown. YouTube vedio credits the song to Rafi and then says that it is sung by Anil Kumar in Rafi style.
Anil Kumar as a singer is virtually unknown.
Here is the link to the song
https://youtu.be/ivhi7oPO–o
This is the vedio of full movie one needs to watch only the titles at the beginning to listen to the song.
Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli (#27)
This is great find, since even titles of the films also have mentioned only Mukesh, Asha Bhosle, Bula Gupta and Hemant Kumar as singers. It is only at the end of the titles that Anil Kumar is shown as singer of the title song, which is penned by Gohar Kanpuri
Dr.Pradeep Kumar Shetty (#26)
Sab Se Mehangi Chhez Hai is a very good – a typical – Johnny Walker song – addition to the list
https://youtu.be/17omdSOnDWI
Thanks
Ashok Ji
Many thanks for sharing this wonderful post on Hemant Kumar’s male playback singers
I would love to add another forgotten solo (with chorus) sung by Balbir in Laltein 1956, composed by Hemant Kumar
Main mar gaya to likhna mere afsaane
https://youtu.be/eyuaU0D3wTk
You can listen to all 30 songs composed by Hemant Mukherjee for Rafi here:
Vol 1 (15 songs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDoNIZw_F48
Vol 2 (15 songs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKjVZBxo_ko
Professor Dev Dutt,
Welcome to SoY. Pratima Bandopadhya’s original of ‘Phulwa ban mahke’is excellent. Thanks for sharing it.
Arvinder Shartmaji,
Thanks for adding a very nice song by Balbir, very typical of him, and very atypical of Hemant Kumar style. Now we have two more singers, Anil Kumar added by Mr Muli and Balbir. I am sure Ashokji would put up a final tally after some time.
Dr Shetty,
I think, Anjaan 1956 has no duet by Lata Mangeshkar and HK.
Anup
🙂
Pradeepji ,
Providing the links to song mentioned by you.
@3
Gaaana na aaya
Bajaana na aaya..
MISS MARY.
Love both the singing and the performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvlFaKKvRLk
@4
Another great Rafi song
Hemant Da and Rafi Saab…
O gawalan kyon mera man
Teri chitvan le gayee…
CHAMPAKALI, 1957.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ENXn3dDns
@7
Kishore & Chorus from Girl Friend
Jhuk jhuk bhuri maa ko karo parnaam..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGBKhxQngHY
Canasyaji @10,
Sorry I did not notice that you had already posted the song ‘Jaane kahan dekkha hai’
This was a truncated version used in the film.
I have posted the audio version which includes the truncated portions.(@18)
Yet I should have mentioned your name. Sorry for the oversight.
Hansji @ 11
One minor query about the song by Ravi.
HFGK gives Md.Rafi as the singer of the song ‘Dekhi Teri Duniya’ (Lagan 1955) and there is a footnote saying that initially the song was recorded in the voice of Ravi. I could locate an incomplete version rendered by Rafi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdYRxIBDMso
One of the comments in the above link says that it was also there in one more film. Can you throw some light on this matter?
Pradeepji @12,
NAGIN, 1954
1. Kashi dekhi, Mathura dekhi
.. Tere dwar khada ek jogi..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUQTUliOq_g
2. Zindagi ke denewale
Zindagi me lenewale..
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFnPKTh3jJM
Pradeepji @13,
HUM BHI INSAAN HAIN, 1959.
Shailendra.
Hai re kismet ka andher
Bante der bigadte lage na der… Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=824955w5tyk
Pyari bole Bulbul
Padosan boli kawwa
Kisiko main Chaila
Kisiko main hawwa…….Md.Rafi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49qtxFDkIBk
@16,
DO DOONI CHAR has a less popular KK song..
Bada badmash hai ye dil
Ye dil qaboo mein nahin aata…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hjZsvyHsF4
@19,
In BANDISH, 1955, starring Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari, Bhagwan is credited in the titles as ..
Bhagwan As the Balloon seller.
Of course, he sings in the voice of Rafi.
Le lo ji, hamare gubbare pyare pyare
Ye zameen ke phool
Aasmaan ke taare.
Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga0AqI92qjU
Rahulji @ 28,
Glad that you brought up the song, from ‘Us Raat Ki Baad’ to the fore.
The list provided in Hemant Kumar’s biography also shows five songs.
And surprisingly the song ‘Rooh Pyasi Hoon Parishan Hai Us Raat Ki Baad’ is credited to Anwar.
It t is very much evident from the titles that it was indeed rendered by Anil Kumar.
BTW it was Gouhar Kanpuri’s second song in his career. The first song he penned was for the film Pyaar Ki Baazi (1967), composed by Jimmy and rendered by Mahendra Kapoor. From 1973 onward he and Bappi Lahiri worked as a team for several films.
Pradeepji @27.
ANJAANA, 1956.
Pradeep Kumar, VyjayantiMala; Hemant Kumar; 6 Lata solos and 1 Lata _ Hemant duet…. Almost like NAGIN!
But, there is a Rafi solo ..On Johnny Walker.
Sabse mehenga cheez mohabbat
Duniya ke bazaar mein,
Achha hai jo rahe kunwara
Kya rakha hai pyar mein?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwjVuwIMRWU
A small correction. There was no duet in the film Anjaan (1956). I think you were referring to the solo by Hemant Kumar .
Here is the link
Chandaniya Nadiya Bich Nahaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH9JtMBegfU&feature=emb_title
Ashokji,
An interesting post with a nice selection of songs representing different moods and emotions.
Here’s one of my favorite songs sung by him for Ek Hi Raasta 1956.
Chali gori pi se milan ko chali
Apart from the song, I like to watch it for a youthful Meena Kumari’s graceful movements and expressions!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJzaXWfmu0A
Gulzar- Hemantda combo in Sannata 1966
A dual version song by Hemant Kumar and Lata.
I like both the versions!!
Bas ek chup si lagi hai
nahi udas nahi
kahin pe saans ruki hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2UCn-Rkwmw
Video link for both the versions together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5omcMCiaDBw
arvindersharma( (# 31)
Thanks for adding Balbir’s Lalten song, thereby completing the missing links in the Hemant Kumaar’s Male singers on one page.
Toufique (#32)
Both the links is a wonderful single point source of Hemant Kumar’s Mohammad Rafi songs.
Thanks for this wonderful guidance.
Dr. Rajesh Deshpande (#43 , #44)
Ek Hi Rasta, a BR Films production, had wonderful songs.
It is really surprising how come Hemant Kumar could not build on such success with these big banners. BR Films switched to N Dutta first and then to Ravi, who was Hemant Kumar’s assistant after 1954.
Sannata is also a good album, the songs representing the quintessential Hemant Kumar compositions.
Thanks for sharing your views in so encouraging manner.
Ashokji
Thanks for your appreciation. However what happened to Anilkumar is intriguing. Currently a South Indian singer has become famous on social media as Rafi’s voice. Even Mohd Aziz, Shabbirkumar and Anwar were touted to be next Rafi for some time.
Rajeshji has posted @ 43 chali gori pi ke milan ko chali
from Ek Hi Raasta ( 1956 )
4 years later in a highly successful Marathi film Awaghachi Sansar this tune reappears albeit slower in tempo. It was rendered by legendary classical singer Pt Vasantrao Deshpande. Interestingly opening line of the marathi song is a straight translation of the hindi version
https://youtu.be/06s4XLzqTEc
Here is my favourite Hemant kumar song composed by Hemant kumar .
Us dil ki suno – Anupama – Kaifi Azami
https://youtu.be/poXBa76JNKk
It should be Ya dil ki suno & not us dil ki suno. (Autocorrect devil)
Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli (#48)
The inspired version of Chali Gori Kahan Chali in Marathi is indeed an enriching addition to the dtabase.
‘Anupama’ is gem among Hemant Kuamr composed films.
Thanks
AK mentioned (@24) that his fans feel that Hemant should have used himself more. I think this comes from the extreme love his fans feel for him. Vaishnavji has in his own simple way answered (@25) the question giving example of ‘hum laye hain toofan se’. In fact he used mostly Rafi from other singers. Even to Rafi he gave songs mostly filmed on comedians, a field in which he was expert and those songs in which the special powers of Rafi were needed. In ‘meri binati suno bhagwan’ and ‘wo kaun si mushkil hai’ Rafi had to raise the voice pitch very high which was not the strength of Hemant Kumar. The Do Dil and Biwi Aur Makaan songs were given to Rafi, may be on the request of Biswajeet. I give here a song of Hemant Kumar where he tried to raise his voice pitch. The song is ‘haye re kismat ka andher’ where he tries to raise the pitch at the word andher and is not able to pronounce the ‘ra’ and the word comes out as ‘andheeeeeeeeee’. But, later when he keeps this short he is able to pronounce ‘ra’. This song would have been a cakewalk for Rafi with specialities added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgkFhcWkzFk
I agree with AK that he was unselfish and a thorough gentleman. The fact that he did not use his fellow singers in his films rankled in his mind. So he called Mukesh and Talat and a number of other male singers for multiple male songs of Biwi Aur Makaan, which was his own production. And I am sure he might have personally explained his position about him not using these great singers.
Sharmaji posted the Lalten song ‘main mar gaya to likhna’ @ 31. This song is credited to Balbir, Ravi and chorus in HFGK. I have listened to this song again and I find another voice in the song. Other friends may like to listen again.
Venkataramanji, @ 38
Thanks for the fragment of the Rafi song. It is a mystery why the uploader has only uploaded part of the song, because this fragment proves that Rafi has recorded the song. As you know I have HFGK, so I was also surprised when the song turned out in Ravi’s voice’. In my copy, I had changed the name to Ravi. Until the film is uploaded on youtube, it may not be possible to know whose song went in the film and whose song became a version song. But, thanks to your information, I would now keep both names against the entry, because Rafi has certainly sung it.
Hans Ji,
You are correct about the Laltein song, which was sung by both Balbir and Ravi, along with the chorus.
In fact I missed reading the comments below the upload by my dear friend Gajendra Khanna Ji, who’s a great knowledgeable friend, just like dear Sudhir Kapur Ji
The error is regretted
Devji @ 21,
Thanks for sharing the original version of ‘Phulwa band mehke’.
‘Meghla Bhanga Rod Utheche’ was a 1958 release and penned by Pulak Bandopadhyay. All of them, Hemanta Mukhopdadhyay, Dr.Nachiketa Ghosh, Pulak Bandopadhyay, Pratima Bandopadhyay , were great names to reckon with during the golden period of Bengali music.
Dr.Nachiketa Ghosh, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Gouriprasanna Majumdar (another stalwart) were close to each other and shared a lifelong friendship. I am sure you must be aware of all these information.
One of our friends here in SoY, Dr.Pradeep Shettyji has posted a song ‘O gawalan kyon mera man teri chitvan le gayee’ (@ comment no.4) from ‘Champakali ‘(1957). You may remember, in the 1967 Bengali comedy film ‘Ashi Te Ashio Na’ there is song by Manna Dey and Ruma Guha Thakurta, ‘Tumi Akash Ekhan Jadi Hote Ami Balakar Matan Pankha Meltam’. The entire Ruma Guha Thakurta’s part of the song has the similar tune as the song from Champakali. I am not saying that the MD Gopen Mullick used Hemanta’s tune. I believe this is a traditional tune. And I am sure I have heard a song with same tune in the voice of a Vintage singer. But I cannot recollect the singer or the song. Can you trace it? Here is the link to the song from ‘Ashi Te Ashio Na’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wAOeP9Cmy4
I have posted link with English translation so that our non Bengali friends will get the comical feel of Ruma’s portion of the lyrics.
And the actor at the steering wheel was Bhanu Bandopadhyay, another stalwart in Bengali films. And this is Bhanu Bandopadhyay’s centenary Year too.
Mumbaikarji @ 22,
Thank you for sharing the story behind the twin versions of the song ‘Dil chhed koi aisa naghma’.
Yes, the song ‘Mere yaar tu chhod gham chhod de yeh udasi’ was the last song Rafi rendered for Hemant Kumar.
Pradeepji @ 13 has posted a sung rendered by Md.Rafi from the 1959 film Hum Bhi Insaan Hain.
Lyrics Shailendra
Pyari bole Bulbul
Padosan boli kawwa
Kisiko main Chaila
Kisiko main hawwa…
In the same year in a Bengali movie, ‘Khelaghar’ Hemant Kumar gave Md.Rafi two Hindi songs penned by S H Bihari. And one of the songs had the same mukhda as the song from ‘Hum Bhi Insaan Haai’ I could not find a link to the song from Bengali version. Posting the other song rendered by Md.Rafi and picturised on Asit Baran.
Kehti hai mujh ko duniya deewana nashe mein hai, Md.Rafi, lyrics S H Bihari, Bengali film Khelaghar (1959), music Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wED8vGBXuXA
Posting two songs by Md.Rafi & Chorus, film Payal (1957), lyrics Rajinder Krishan
It appears both the songs were picturised on Agha.
Yeh Duniya Rail Niraali, Bin Pahiye Chalne Wali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SQTuBUYQRk
Hame Na Chede Koi, Maidan Me Hum Jo Aa Jaaye
https://gaana.com/song/maidan-men-hum-jo-aa-jayen
Hansji (#51)
Hemant Kumar may not have the sharp ‘business’ acumen of S D Burman, but he had very clear mind as music director.
Except of Miss Mary in 1957 and of course Biwi Aur Makaan and Do Dil, he did not use Rafi for the main lead actor, because he could mostly feel the bill. In nay case, Pradeep Kumar was the hero in a large number of films (subject to correct statistical computation), or the films were his own productions with Biswajeet.
So what was left out was mostly comedy songs, wherein in any case a different singer had to be used, Rafi was easily the ideal foil, too.
The song posted by Shri N Venkataramanji (# 56) is ‘drunkard’ song, so Rafi comes up as the most natural choice.
Even in the case of switching Rafi in place of Ravi (# 53) also seems abundantly clear when we listen to both the versions. Even for the purpose of sale of records, Rafi was a better option.
That reminds me of the similar issues that has happened with Ankha Pyar (1948) , where Anil Biswas had replaced Meena Kapoor by Lata Mangeshkar on the records.
Or , Raj Kapoor preferring Mukesh in place of Manna Dey for Zindagi Khwab Hai in Jagte Raho..
Venkataramanji,
It seems you have done mind-blowing research for Hemantayan, the result of which is the Khela Ghar song by Rafi. Great song with very apt lyrics. ‘Hamen na chhede koi’ from Payal was also filmed on Agha. Till some time ago, the video of the song was available on youtube.
Sharmaji,
Have you met Bakhshish Singhji recently. He also has mind-blowing knowledge about Hindi films.
Vaishnavji,
In Taaj-1956 also Hemant Kumar used Rafi on Pradeep Kumar who was the lead actor. Here is the song. ‘Mori vinti suno bhagwaan’. See how in the end Rafi raises his voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzDKO0m-dU
A similar song I mentioned earlier from Maa Beta was ‘wo kaun si mushkil hai jo na ho sake aasan’. It was a background song which came perhaps in various parts in the film. The link to the main song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rugK2O_dCC0
Here is the link to the short audio clip of the song in which Rafi had to take the voice pitch to heights. Hence the song was given to him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCBeGwZbUOo
Ashok M Vaishnav ji;
Joining the party late due to family celebrations . Read all the comments and enjoyed listening to songs which I heard never before. All the popular songs already listed and good that everyone ranked Hemant Da as one who entertained all with his soft hidden talent like his own personality.
Music knows my mood and I get thrills when someone dance in perfect harmony with finely crafted dance number. Yes , I too liked Meena Kumari dancing so perfectly to the beats and melodies of ….chali gori peeke milan ko chali…. from Ek Hi Rasta. Every expression translate the lyrical content to scale of perfect ten . Hemant excelled himself in singing and creating its composition . We like to listen to such music that matches our state of mind at that moment of time . Hemant’s soft songs do come as popup in our minds .
Here is an example of Hemant’s range of picking and leaving high and low pitches delicately handled vis a vis lyrics . This little song is in fact a prelude mukhda of Lata’s song that follows and fullfill naration. A masterly touch……
Bhoola Bachpan Dukhi Jawani ……Ek Hi Rasta 1956
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B69xBscamzc
Such are the memories I would like often to go back to.
Hans ji , Bank balance of songs is being retained !
Hans ji , Venkatraman ji ;
Behind every comic song there is an untold story. Hemant’s comic songs are very few ….the list will end where it starts ….but sometime situation in a film demand a song to unfold hidden story….well sort of a song like that is anyone’s guess !
Inspector (1956) – Phoolonke Haar Le Lo Roopka Singar Le Lo Le Lo Ji Sajanka – Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8wzqN0TdiU
Bhataji, @ 62,63
Are you saving song bank for Hemantayan-2. But you can still post from the era already covered in Hemantayan-1. I think it is nobody’s case that Hemant Kumar could not sing comic songs. The question was only of the impact in the film. Here is a comic song by him from Lalten. There were a couple of comic duets too with Geeta Dutt in that film.
Dil se hain shehzade hum, hai surat bhale mawali ki,
khali packit rakhte hain, par photo geeta bali ki.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o09Fvn8u4
I like this song very much and nobody can say that this is badly sung, but he knew Rafi is Rafi. This was perhaps for variety. He also composed comic songs for Chitalkar and Balbi/Ravi in addition to those for Kishore.
ksbhatiaji (# 62)
SoY party is always on, so joining there anytime is never late.
Your appreciation is always so generous and enriching. Thanks.
Hansji (61)
Using Rafi rightly was also an art. Hemant Kumar should credited with that art, for whenever he has y=used Rafi, he has taken full use of Rafi’s toanl range.
Hans ji, Ashok ji @64 onwards;
Song……Dil se hain shehzade hum, hai surat bhale mawali ki,
khali packit rakhte hain, par photo geeta bali ki….has been favorite in our bhatia family and my elder brother used to sing over harmonium and we all would sing with our empty pockets protruding out of our nickers or pants. Those were the days when we used to enjoy our daily pocket money of duwani [ char take ] ….. with this we used to enjoy four of our best eatables during school recess time. Chhole Bhaturre , Chhuski , Aam papad and moongphali chhne meethikheel were favorite of mine . During Tuesdays we were given extra Duwanni to enjoy our evening prayers at Hanuman mandir and some time at Birla Mandir as it was next to our own school at Mandir Marg [ earlier known as Reading Road in 50s and 60s.].
I do get nostalgic as my memory gets awakened . Remember Postman and History always rings twice . ….Postman to check on barking of Dogs ….and History awaiting to born again.
The comic songs of Hemant”s are good to enjoy again . To Hans ji’s listing I will add …. Teetal ke peeche teetle bahar aachha ke bheeter ….and….kabuliwala aya kabuliwala .
No saving account in my Bank Hans ji . Jadoo ki chhari ….is in Dr’s hands of this group ! Dr. Shetty, Dr. Deshpandey , Venkatraman ji, Joseph ji ….and many others are proactive of this group . Ms. Mumbaikar8 is already holding fort in posting and caring lyrical sides of vintage songs . Contributers will again come up with songs in Hemantayan-2 .
Meanwhile here is one of my favorite song …..
Hemant Kumar ……Yeh Nayan Dare Dare…..Kohra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gMhbWeo30o
….to be contd.
Venkatraman ji;
Many of Hemant’s songs for Lata ji has been wonderfully composed . Listening to them is really a treat .
Here is one of my favorite song of Lata ji…..O bekarar dil ho chhuka hai mujhko aansuoan se pyar …..rendered by Hemant Kumar in his Bengali version.
O Nodire Ekti Kotha Shudhai (w. Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJj_fa-MVxc
Bhatiaji @ 68,
Ei nodi re is an evergreen song. It seems to be the favourite of many in SoY-Josephji, Pradeepji and you and a favourite of mine too. May get repeated again in my next article.
Posting a Rafi’s song,
Dil Ko Lagela Mohabbat Ka Chaska, Md.Rafi, Police (1958), lyrics Neelkanth Tiwari.
Picturised on Bhagwandas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ8gx4HOYdo
Except for a couple of songs I think all the songs rendered by Rafi have been posted.
Thanks to all for posting all these male songs of Hemant Kumar, especially those of Mohammad Rafi.
For me, Bees Saal Baad 1962 has always been a special movie as it introduced me to Hemant Kumar.
The first song that I heard in his voice was during my school days in 70s was Zara nazron se keh do ji.
And I remember, my first reaction was What a different voice, as compared to the usual singers!! Have been a fan since then!
Here’ are the links to his two evergreen romantic solos from the film, my eternal favorites.
Zara nazron se keh do ji
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJigEUcbpSw
Bekaraar karke humein yun na jaiye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B26yajmfCm8
A comic song sung by Kishore Kumar for Hemantda in Rahgir 1968.
And he is not in the film!!
I am interested to know on whom is the song picturized.
Ang ang mein aag lagi hai jod jod mein jwala
churan goli dawa na de to dede zahar ka pyala
baid ke palle pade kaise baid ke palle pade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRgbRTtu9CE
Bhatiaji, @ 67
You forgot the churanwala. Duanni was a lot of money for children in those days. I remember in 1965/66 two annas brought a dozen of big sized bananas, which were enough for a whole family.
Venkataramanji, @ 69
In his comment at 19 Dr Shetty had mentioned Bhagwan’s name being given in titles of Bandish as balloon seller. Bhagwan was there in a guest role in that film and came only for that song. Similarly, the song you posted from ‘Police’ is filmed on Bhagwan, who is again in a guest role only for this song. It appears from these films that Bhagwan was specifically called for the songs and these were the only songs for Rafi. In fact in ‘Police’ all the other songs are duets by the pair of Hemant and Geeta and most of them were peppy or fun songs. So it was not that Hemant was not singing cominc songs.
A thought crossed my mind whether in such songs there was some ‘bandish’ on Hemant Kumar from either producer or director to use Rafi for comic songs filmed on comedians. This question is as much for you as for Vaishnavji and AK. And if Arunji can also give his input, it would be ‘sone pe suhaga’.
In view of the fact that most of songs for Rafi went on comedians and if we add the two categories of, high pitched voice songs which were difficult for Hemant and those films where Biswajit demanded and got Rafi, nothing much is left for Rafi in Hemant Kumar’s films. If we look at Biwi Aur Makaan, in the multiple singers’ songs he did not use Rafi, though he is known as a specialist of such songs too. And in those songs Biswajit was also lip-syncing.
Hans ji, Venkatraman ji;
Hemant Kumar rendered songs for many leading players. But his real soft voice belonged to Pradeep Kumar . His soft voice really matched the soft voice of Pradeep Kumar . In a single film like Police one can see the impact the song creates …be it duets.!!
Film Police ….I was fascinated to see as it carried the flavor of western touch . Most of the songs were based on famous tunes of Havana /Cuba that suited the Beach like atmosphere of the film. Pradeep Kumar looked very handsome in his signature black pants with white coat and black bow combinations . For beach shots he wore flowerish B’shirts . A great sense of dressing he had !!
Well Madhubala carried her charms with great outfits of those times and looked beautiful in every dress .
Saw the film in dus aane !! and got entertained with additional eatables like choole bhatoore and Tempto orrange ….local made drink like Banta of Paharganj . All under one rupee !!
Dr. Rajesh Deshpandeji (#71, #72)
In so far as Bees Saal Baad I fully agree. I, too remember, that when we saw the film first time, neither presence of Biswajeet or voice of Hemant Kumar seemed misfit, in comparison to Biswjeet role in the film or in comparison to Lata’s songs, other that Kahi Deep Jale Kahin Dil, receptively,.
Even earlier, when we had heard Rafi for so many Dev Anand songs, Hemant Kumar to would suit as much as Dev Anand’s playback.
I have no idea about Rahegger song in the film.
If I become more honest, the song did not appeal as much , say, in comparison to Hemant Kumar’s comedy songs by Rafi- no offense meant to selection of Kishore Kumar for this song.
Hansji (#74)
It is really very interesting to speculate why Rafi was chosen for comedy song, as Manna Dey could also have fit the bill as much.
The theory of (commercial) compulsion seems to be quite probable..
How would we long to know the truth?
NV @ 56
Thanks for confirming last song of Rafi for HM.
I had not uploaded the interview, I mentioned in my first comment.
In this time of whats app and fake news it is essential to corroborate.
I had searched but failed to find it on that day.
Now I have it,
Hear it is
https://youtu.be/PvN8y6iwYKo?t=55
Hans @ 51
In the later part of, the interview with C. Ramchandra, Hemant has said that he loved playback singing.
Giving song to other singer would have been more of a compulsion.
Perhaps his insistence of singing his own songs may have dried the offers coming to him as MD because late fifties onwards heroes too had preference for their singers like heroines in early fifties.
Here is the interview.
https://youtu.be/Wf5EuEE55Ek?list=RDPvN8y6iwYKo
Anup ji, N Venkatraman ji,
Yes, I was wrong about Hemant Kumar having a duet in BANDHAN.
NV ji,
It is a routine now to thank you for the links provided. This time, I should be doubly grateful because I know you would be busy giving the final touch up to Hemantayan 2.
I stumbled upon 2 version songs by Mukesh of 2 Hemant Kumar songs from EK JHALAK, 1957.
I am certain Mukesh has sung no songs in the movie. Then, the reason for these versions? A reverse Zindagi khwab hai..by any chance?
Solo..
Gori chori chori jaana buree baat hai
Teri kismat ki chaavi mere haath hai…
Duet?
Asha Bhosle coming in for a few spoken words.
Ye hansta hua caravan zindagi ka
Na poocho chala hai kidhar..
In the version song, though, I am not sure whether it is Asha with Mukesh.
https:// youtu.be/ 4EO6LnBWoRl
https://youtu.be/ 3lYcliQ86KU
3 devotional/philosophical HK solos from BANDHAN, 1956.
Rajinder Krishen.
1. Jo milna hai Bhagwan se
Toh mil pehle insaan se…
2. Jaise paani chupa hai ghata mein
Tujh mein chupa hoon main…
3. Kare na jo bandon se pyar
Milega kya usko Kartar?
The last one has a HK, Asha short duet version.
While the solo begins as
Dhool mein jaisa chhupa hai phool
Aur chhupi hai phool mein baas…
The duet begins as
Jaat paat ke jhoote bandhan
Maane jo insaan…
Dr. Pradeep Shetty (#80)
Both versions are great find
Hansata Hua version has Mukewsh in the lead
One remark in the video clip mentins this:
The Female Voice is of not much known singer Miss J. B. Bhisaniya. This name is mentioned on the 78RPM Record!
https:// youtu.be/ 4EO6LnBWoRl
On Hemant Kumar (MD) – Rafi combination, it would be no different from his combination with other major male singers. In fact at least six songs of Rafi (including duets) are everlasting. The recall of Hemant Kumar’s own songs in his voice will be far more. This is because he was primarily a singer, and a unique one at that, though he could never be as prolific as Rafi in Hindi films. The fewer Rafi songs, or that he was used in comedy songs is no reflection on him. If that affected him commercially he could not help it.
Ashok m Vaishnav ji, Venkatraman ji ;
There is no place on the earth where one can find …silence ! . Expecting silence in deep woods and forest is also thin ….as it carries the gentle melodies of chippering of birds , chittering of cricket and buzzing of bees . Of all…. Butterflies are the one that makes no sound. Sweet solitude is all that they make.
Well Hemant Kumar soft charming voice is all that is combination of all these soft sounds . Some time charms over rides the beauty in his non filmi songs too. Bhalla tha kitna apna bachpan….started his worthiness on carrying forward the legacy of Sehgal, Jagmohan, K C Dey and ….so on. Ravi gave a number of NFS of Hemant Kumar for particular audience and Dasgupta too continued with charming melodies . This apart ….Hemant sang for his own compositions also ; a many of the later ones penned by Gulzar .
A few of Hemant’s own NFS…..
Raat Ko Din Bana Diya : Hemant Kumar : Non Film : Md Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD3MwqTUwDs
Koi Mujhe Raat Ko Yaad Kare : Hemant Kumar : Non Film : Md Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h32o1377y14
Hemant Kumar – Aye Shaam Ki Hawaon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uItPJnR1c3o
Well the best of those sung by him under different MDs has been excellent too , like……Kitna Dukh Bhulaya Tumne Pyari-…..Anchal Se Kyun Bandh Liya Mujh Pardesi Ka Pyar…. Kal Teri Tasveer Ko Sajde Kiye Hain Raat Bhar.
From the comments given under this post I learnt that Hemant Kumar has given around 70+ solos to himself .
I am sure in Hemantayan Part 2 I would get more statistics … like the total solos to his credit under other MDs .
To my knowledge , Hemant Kumar did not use large orchestra in his compositions .
In this MD Hemant male solo composition , I can hear only the Tabla and Harmonium . There is hardly anything like the prelude, interludes or postlude that we hear in most HFM .
‘ Bas ek chup…’/ 1966 / SANNATA / Gulzar / Hemant Kumar / Hemant
https://youtu.be/NJeeZwBn70M
Hansji @ 74,
You are right, the songs mentioned were the only songs rendered by Rafi in those two films, ‘Bandish’ and Police’. As regards the reason for using Rafi for only comedy songs, I will not be able to give a definite answer. My guess would be as good as anyone else’s. You have made a nice analysis and rested the case. The juries, Akji and Vaishnavji have given their views. Let us wait for the grand jury Arunji‘s verdict.
There were 3 solos rendered by Rafi in Do Dil (1965). Two were on Biswajeet and one on Mehmood. ‘Tera husn rahe mera ishq rahe’ picturised on Biswajeet was posted by Ashok Vaishnavji. Posting the song picturised on Mehmood.
Ram Ram Japna Paraya Maal Apna, Md,Rafi, Do Dil (1965), lyrics Kaifi Azmi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBs6u4-KNKQ&feature=emb_title
Bhatiaji @ 75,
Yes Hemant’s voice was went well with Pradeep Kumar, and Dev Anand too.
Hemant Kumar scored music for eleven films in which Pradeep Kumar acted, and must have sung for Pradeep Kumar in another half a dozen Pradeep Kumar films under other MDs. We can discuss those in the next post.
Thanks for those add-on anecdotes.
Posting another Rafi Solo
Kaanto Me Phasa Aanchal Julfo Me Fasa Ye Dil, Md,Rafi, Do Dil (1965), lyrics Kaifi Azmi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRGABMaxGtU
Mumbaikarji @ 78 & 79,
True, Hemant Kumar was primarily a singer. Fans and his followers love him for singings.
Thanks for the links to his interviews.
One song by Md.Rafi from Miss Mary was posted by Ahsok Vaishnavji. The other song picturised on Omprakash was posted in the article on Harmonium, I am reposting the song here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpx0pIlTWfY&feature=emb_title
I think that covers all the solos that Hemant Kumar composed for Rafi.
And an interesting trivia about the song, the prelude and portions of the interlude & song are from the Telugu/Tamil film ‘Rojulu Marayi’(1955)/ ‘Kaalam Mari Pochhu’ (1956) where Waheeda Rehman made her first appearance as a dancer. Hemanta used the melody before S D Burman used it in his film ‘Bambay Ka Babu’(1960).
Talking about Rafi singing for Hemantda, I believe, his two other solos from Do Dil 1965 have not been mentioned.
Of course, the best one has already been posted in the list – Tera husn rahe,
One is the customary Mehmood comedy song, as was the norm those days.
Ram ram japna paraya maal apna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_tw9hIrwSQ
The second one, being the romantic Biswajit number.
Kaanton mein phansa aanchal zulfon mein phansa ye dil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRGABMaxGtU
Of course, both these songs must have been a cakewalk for Rafi!!
Venkataramanji,
I guess, I was late in submitting my comment on the Do Dil songs.
Had typed it earlier and then got busy.
Sorry, it got repeated.
Rajeshji @ 89 & 90,
Sorry, you were late by roughly half an hour.
Only three songs of Rafi were left to be posted here.
I think all the the other male singers (solos) of Hemant Kumar have been posted.
Many of the solos rendered by Hemant Kumar too have been posted here. Hence there may be a lot of repeats in my selection of songs in Hemantayan 2.
It is so heartening to note that all Rafi songs of Hemant Kumar have been posted here.
Also, the discussion on Why Rafi for The types of songs that he was selected for has also been quite widely presented.
This is best that we could have, in retrospective now, when we hardly have any more knowledge or any possible source therefor, to know what really would have transpired.
Bhatiaji, @ 75
Very nice observation about their matching voices. After Nagin’s stupendous success, they both worked together in a number of films. In two years 1956 and 57 out of the 18 films Hemant gave music, Pradeep Kumar was in 9 films. That is a big number. Police came in 1958 and this was the last of their association, in terms of hero and composer. Of these ten Ek Jhalak and Police were produced by Pradeep. So he had a preference for HK. But, what was unfortunate was that this combo did not have much of a success. Later Pradeep Kumar had a lot of success with Rafi as his voice.
Vaishnavji,
Manna Dey was at that time not yet the voice of comedians. But, commertial compultions were always there in bollywood.
Mumbaikar8, @ 79
Kishore Kumar also said he always wanted to be a singer, but he jumped straight into acting. There were charms of being a MD. I dont know about the compulsions, but as an MD his duty was to give out the best for each song and choosing singers should have been according to that, unless his services as singer came as appendage.
AK, @ 83
You have again gone back to your recall theory, based on the songs you select. In the Datta-Asha post both you and Sharmaji argued that Ravi’s better recall is nothing and only personal choices matter. Question is whose lists you would take for comparison based on the recall theory. As per your list you have given 6 to Rafi including duets. Even the lists on SOY do not matter because most of Hemant songs have been discussed several times again and again. In public eye Hemant’s recall value stands no chance against Rafi’s. Look at this list given below. Which ones you will strike off. I have even left out a few which to me have a recall value.
1. Hum laye hain toofan se – Jagriti.
2. Sabse mehngi cheej muhabbat – Anjaan.
3 Mori binti suno bhagwan – Taaj.
4. O gawalan kyun mera man – Champakali.
5. Gori gori patli kalai re balamwa – Hill Station.
6. Pehle paisa phir bhagwan – Miss Mary.
7. Ye mard bade dilsard – Miss Mary.
8. O raat ke musafir chanda – Miss Mary.
9. Vrindawan ka krishna kanhaiya – Miss Mary.
10. Phoolon se dosti hai – Duniya Jhukti Hai.
11. Wo kaun si mushkil hai jo – Maa Beta.
12. Dil men teri yaad sanam – Bin Badal Barsaat.
13. Mareej e ishq hoon – Bin Badal Barsaat.
14. Raam raam japna paraya mal apna – Do Dil.
15. Tera husn rahe mera ishq rahe – Do Dil.
16. Sara mora kajra chhudaya tune – Do Dil.
17. Jane kahan dekha hai – Biwi Aur Makaan.
You have also said that if the choice of singers affected him adversely, he could not help it. A Music Director has the responsibility to make the film successful, that is why he is given such an important role and a budget and his advice mattered in the making of the film.
Hans,
From your list I would put #1, #7-10, #15-17, i.e. a total of 8 songs. My impression is than a Hemant Kumar fan who also likes Rafi a lot, would put Hemant Kumar’s songs composed by himself at a higher pedestal. There is no science in this. There was something special about Hemant Kumar’s voice.
Some music directors were very diverse, such as SD Burman and Roshan. Hemant Kumar was not SD Burman. He had a comfort zone, in that sense I said that he could not help it if he chose some singers more or less than he ought to have.
Hans @ 95
Hemant Kumar said he liked singing more, he did not say he wanted to be a singer only.
You cannot compare to what HK said to what KK said, there is something called credibility too.
It is quite obvious that he chose to give playback to for his heroes except for Rafi in Miss Mary which I think may be on insistence of AVM productions. and for Biswajit, I have heard in one of his interviews, that he had asked HK to take Rafi as his singer though in seventies he had KK as his singer.
Hans @ 96
I think you have scored very high on your list for AK.
He has all the songs sung for heroes except for sara mora kajr which is understandable, +Phoolon se dosti hai
Mumbaikar8, @ 98
You have mentioned a couple of times the phrase ‘from horse’s mouth’. I rate HK very high as a human being, but when someone talks about self, it should be subject to scrutiny. So there is no question of credibility. I believe in corroborating things with facts. The fact is that HK version of ‘dil chhed koi aisa nagma’ is not there in the film Inspector, which HK claimed in the interview. Also, in his music life he composed for more than 200 films, which is a huge number. After figures in Hemantayan 2 it is clear that he composed music for 66 films even in the sixties. As per those figures he composed music for 56 films in the 50s. This would be strange to accept that as he aged and the body suffered wear and tear, he still composed for more films in 60s, without loving the job. About production also he replied that he did not like it a bit. But, he still kept on producing films for 13-14 years. And he might have continued it further, but production empties your pockets if not successful.
About my list, the songs ‘mori binati suno bhagwan’ and ‘o gawalan kyun mera man’ were also on heroes. I am sure when he prepares list of recall songs of HK his criteria would change.
AK,
Recall factor should not be based on the thoughts of a Hemant fan. I dont believe that science is any sacrosanct thing. Arts are perhaps more useful than science. Look at the present scenario. Pre-corona, if a person went to a doctor and said treat me though I have no symptoms, any honest doctor would ask him to get out. But, now we are told that more than 80 per cent of corona cases are asymptomatic. Less than 1 per cent people have died even with co-morbidities, and more than 99 percent get cured without any medicine, still it is called a deadly disease, which has stalled the whole world.
You talk about the comfort zone and his special voice to which I agree to the extent of his being a singer. But, still you compare him with Rafi whose zone was so wide that he provided a comfort zone to the Music Directors. The vital difference between Hemant and the other two you mentioned was the era they used Rafi. A person who can create magic with just Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt in Sahab Biwi aur Gulam, can not be taken lightly.
Hans Ji,
Yes. Corona, though the mortality rate doesn’t look very great, is one of the deadliest viruses to have attacked the mankind. Not even a full year since it’s appearance, and, it is the most widely studied virus of all time. Still, we are in the dark about most of it’s features !
I also agree that Rafi’s range was on a different level altogether. Almost every other singer will fall short in comparison. Still, we have great admiration for many of them, who have their own plus points. Hemant Da’s soothing, divine voice is once in a lifetime occurrence.
Ashokji,
I have just come as a tail wind after great comments by expert followers. I know I am nowhere near them like Hans. I try to write something, probably very pedestrian. I was a loyal ex Govt. servant and put up with the inefficiencies of MTNL silently suffering from middle of March to mid October. I now changed my internet provider with reluctance.
Your post has brought out the diversity in the music composition of Hemant Kumar and the selection of songs is very admirable.
In song No. 6 containing three antaras the first and third is sung by the hero and the second by tonga driver. Usually one will expect a male duet. But Rafi covers both. Must be a rare occurrence.
Song No. 7 could also double as a song from firmament.
To sum it up I will rate your post as bodacious.
Hello I am new to this forum. Would like to congratulate you for the wonderful article.
Here is one Mukesh version of Hemant Kumar’s song in Ek Jhalak, ye hansta hua karwan – (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lYcliQ86KU) . Music is by Hemant Kumar.
It is interesting to see how the two sang the same song in their own distinctive style.
Milind,
Welcome to SOY and thanks a lot for Mukesh’s cover version. Not all cover versions are so lovely.