Continuing Anil Biswas Centenary series, his best songs for Lata Mangeshkar as birthday greetings to her
Anil Biswas occupies an important place among the music directors who played a major role in grooming and developing Lata Mangehskar. She was an artiste par excellence, but Anil Biswas taught her the craft of playback singing: the importance of words, as she came from a tradition which emphasized taans; breath control before mike to take breath without anyone noticing it, and maintaining the vocal quality at any pitch. Anil Biswas was to Lata Mangeshkar what GH Hardy was to Srinivas Ramanujam.
Anil Biswas, on his part, regarded Lata Mangehskar as one who had opened the door to limitless possibilities for music directors. Here was a singer with thorough training in classical music, and gifted with a divine voice, without any obvious angularities. If she had Noorjehan-effect in the beginning, it just needed to be ironed out. Once she came into her own, there was no looking back. Now there was no constraint in what music directors could create; she could reproduce it perfectly as they had imagined, or even better, in a voice unparalleled in the history of film music. She soon became synonymous with Female Playback Singing, and Anil Biswas had a big role in creating the legend.
Anil Biswas was the earliest composers to take Lata Mangehskar into his fold, once this ‘discovery’ by Ghulam Haider became the talk of the town. Now, the story must have been repeated a million times how Ghulam Haider took her to S Mukherjee of Filmistan Studios for Shaheed, who rejected her, as he found her voice too thin, upon which the former told him a day would come when producers would be lining up before her begging her to sing for their films. Ghulam Haider used her in Majboor (1948). Anil Biswas himself used her voice in Anokha Pyar and Gajre in 1948. Her earliest songs for the Bhishma Pitamah are among her all-time greats. Their association continued till the very last film of his career, Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965). Lata Mangehskar, with her over 120 songs in 30 films for the maestro, became his most favourite singer, outnumbering all others by a big margin.
Here some clarifications are in order. Ghulam Haider’s famed ‘discovery’ of Lata Mangeshkar has to be seen in the perspective that she started her ‘playback’ career a year earlier with Aap Ki Sewa Mein (1947), composed by Datta Davjekar. Her ‘singing’ career (singing for herself, as a bit actor in Marathi and, later, Hindi films) started even earlier in 1942. As for Lata’s debut with Anil Biswas, she mentioned in her interview with the Marathi newspaper, Lokmat (Hindi translation available on http://www.anilbiswas.com/), that he gave her a break in Girls School (1949). With direct evidence of her songs in 1948 with him, I am taking that either she got the dates mixed up, or the song might have been recorded first, but the release of the movie got delayed.
To be sure, there are at least ten composers, who have given more songs than Anil Biswas for Lata Mangeshkar, with Laxmikant Pyarelal and Shankar Jaikishan giving four or five times more. But the quality of the Maestro’s music for the Melody Queen is at a different pedestal. Their songs, while being supremely sweet, are soothing and transport you to a tranquil joy. Continuing Anil Biswas Centenary Year Celebration, I present his best songs for Lata Mangeshkar as birthday greetings on her 85th birth anniversary (b. 28 September 1929).
1. Yaad rakhna chaand taaro is suhaani raat ko from Anokha Pyar (1948), lyrics Zia Sarahadi
It would not be a great deal of exaggeration to call it the Mother of all romantic songs. Do dilon mein chupke chupke jo hui us baat ko – Zia wrote some superb lines. Another version of the song was in Meena Kapoor’s voice, who was the lead singer in the film. However, her songs were released on records in Lata’s voice – due to her illness, as per HFGK. (In a Lata-Meena Kapoor duet, the latter’s voice was replaced by Ira Nagarth). I always associated this song with Lata Mangeshkar, and remains my top favourite of the combo. Just to add, the film had some more Lata gems, like Mere liye wo gham-e-intezaar chhod gaye and Ek dil ka lagana baaki tha.
2. Baras baras badli bhi bikhar gayi from Gajre (1948), lyrics Gopal Singh ‘Nepali’
Anil Biswas-Lata Mangeshkar magic continues in the very first year of their association with this supremely melodious song from Gajre, which also had Suraiya’s iconic song Door papiha bola raat aadhi rah gayi.
3. Tumhare bulane ko jee chaahta hai from Laadli (1949), lyrics Behzad Lakhanavi
In 1949, Anil Biswas gave music for two more movies, Girls School and Jeet, and in all the three Lata Mangeshkar had songs. Thus, he was clearly shifting to her as his main singer. Incidentally, in Girls School, C Ramchandra too partnered him, but all the Lata Mangeshkar songs were composed by Anil Biswas. My proposition is that CR’s (musical) fascination for Lata was inspired by Anil Biswas. Ek dil ka lagana baaki tha seems to be the inspiration for the later ‘CR-Lata style’ of melody (I should add, CR had used her voice earlier in a chorus in Shehnai). Tumhare bulane ko is a towering song from 1949 – the year Lata Mangeshkar hit the music scene as a tsunami wave – and one of her all-time greats.
4. Kahan tak hum uthayein gham from Arzoo (1950), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
This was the film which had Talat Mahmood’s path-breaking song, Ae dil mujhe aesi jagah le chal, which propelled him as one of the topmost playback singers of the era. And you have this characteristic Anil Biswas-Lata melancholic melody. Anil Biswas, who was a master of folk, also composed a fast and chirpy, Mera naram karejawa dol gaya, in her voice in the film.
5. Baalamawa naadan from Aaram (1951), lyrics Prem Dhavan
This was the film which had Muksh’s iconic Ae jaan-e-jigar dil mein samaane aa ja, and five solos by Lata Mangeshkar. While discussing the best songs of 1951, some readers made a special mention of Man mein kisi ki preet basa le. But I am presenting Baalamawa naadan as it has a terrific dance.
6. Badli teri nazar to nazaare badal gaye from Badi Bahu (1951), lyrics Prem Dhavan
This film had one of the greatest Mukesh-Lata Mangeshkar duets, Kaahe naino mein kajra bharo, and one of the best Rajkumari songs, Ramaiya bin neend na aawe. But Anil Biswas is now firmly with Lata Mangeshkar. Badli teri nazar has his typical melancholic sweetness.
The year had Anil Biswas’s landmark score in Tarana, which had some stunning songs by Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar. But, since we are discussing that year’s songs in detail separately, let me move further.
7. Ek pal ruk jana jaanewale raahi from Raahi (1953), lyrics Prem Dhavan
This is the kind of song which makes Anil Biswas special. This haunting song in two parts – happy and sad – forces you to halt in your tracks, and soon there is nothing between you and the song.
8. Allah bhi hai mallah bhi hai kashti hai ki doobi jati hai from Maan (1954), lyrics Kaif Bhopali
Shikha Biswas Vohra ended her Inaugural post on the Anil Biswas Centenary Celebration with the first two lines of this song. The wonderful poetry – God is there, and the boatman too, but the boat is still sinking – required a Master like Anil Biswas to compose. Lata Mnangeshkar is obviously matchless.
9. Rooth ke tum jo chal diye from Jalti Nishani (1957), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi
You can now recognize Anil Biswas’s signature style from miles. Supreme melody.
10. Na dir dim tana dere na, Na ja na ja balam, balam more na from Pardesi (1957), lyrics Prem Dhavan and Sardar Jaafari
In this joint Indo-Soviet production, you have an absolutely delightful classical dance by Padmini, and beautiful music by the Maestro, who had great command over classical music.
11. Ja re ja baalma, ja main tose naahi bolun from Sautela Bhai (1962), lyrics Shailendra
The Maestro continues his display of mastery over classical.
12. Mori baali re umariya ab kaise beete Ram from Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965), lyrics Shailendra
This last film of Anil Biswas is known for many iconic songs – Meena Kapoor’s Kuchh aur zamana kahta hai and Mukesh-Lata duet, Zindai ka ajab fasana hai. Mori baali re umariya gives a very different flavour of Anil Biswas-Lata Mangeshkar combo than I have presented so far. Folk has been one of his major strengths, and this folk-based song also has his touch of great melody.
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
AK Ji,
Excellent compilation. The songs you have mentioned are timeless. This is an article for all those Lata fans, who seek to know how she began her domination of HFM.
Couldn’t have asked for more.
What a guldasta of eternally fragrent flowers!! You can not think of any replacements,only additions though the normal limit of ten songs has already been exceeded.If you permit me to write AK ji,dil abhi bhara nahi.This combo has given some of the sweetest songs like in Tarana,Jeet,Arzoo,Naaz,Araam(Mil Mil Ke Bichhad) which demand their mention atleast.
Thanks for the post.
Sharmaji,
You are an Anil Biswas-Lata Mangeshkar expert. I am happy that you enjoyed it.
Rakesh Srivastava,
Thanks a lot for your compliments. I have included a song from Arzoo and Aaraam, and mentioned Tarana after the video of song no. 6. Songs of 1951 are being discussed separately, and there will be occasions to discuss Tarana songs.
I was not aware of Naaz (1954) songs. I heard them after you mentioned. I don’t know which was in your mind. But I find this the best:
Katati ha ab to zindagi marne ke intezaar mein, lyrics Prem Dhavan
Thanks a lot for bringing it to our notice.
AK ji,
This is one of the sweetest combination of HFM.
This combination description is incomplete without inclusion of songs from Lajawab-1950,wherein Anil ji gave 9 out of 11 songs to Lata ji.
The best song from this film according to me is ” paas balam chori chori aa” sung by Lata and Anil Biswas ( who mainly joins the chorus. Only last few seconds of this song you can hear his solo voice.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbxAhPCJ52A
-AD
Now this is a post and combination that I can completely get behind! I love all the songs listed and the Ladlii, Rahi, Pardesi and Sautela Bhai songs in particular. Masterpieces all, IMO.
A few others that I’m partial to that haven’t been mentioned are:
Intezaar aur abhi from Char Dil Char Rahen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmen8LxRppU
Aayi bhor suhani from Beqasoor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXyLmda_MK0
Aa mere ranjhana from Heer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bFSVHRpug
Arunji,
Pass balam chori aa is also my great favourite. Because of Anil Biswas’s voice in the song, I had included it in my post ‘Remembering Anil Biswas: The Singer’.
Shalini,
You have added some beautiful songs. I am very fond of Intezar aur abhi, and could have very well included it. Thanks a lot for mentioning it.
AK’ji; Fantastic collections, all songs are jewels in the crown ;” what a gift on Lataji’s birthday! Really ” Mera muskarane ko ji cahata hai ” . All other songs contributed by SOY family are excellent and well chosen. There is no scope to rate them in order of merit . Once again a big thank you for refreshing our memories .
AK,
As aptly described by Rakesh Srivastava , this is a guldasta of fragrent flowers which will never loose its freshness or fragrance.
I do not think anyone can beat you when it comes to praising Lata Mangeshkar and she truly deserves them all.
AK were you inspired by PM Modi’s speech at UN while creating the title for this blog. The dictionary I used for the speech came handy 🙂
My addition to this bouquet is the song from Humdard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=009SjfLanbM
Ha! A post and songs that I am completely in love with. 🙂 I was going to say, ‘But where’s Tarana?’ when I came across your explanation. (I will wait for that post.)
Shalini has posted another Anil Biswas – Lata song that I absolutely adore – Intezaar aur abhi, so let me offer this instead:
Dil todnewale from Laadli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waXI86k8p1A
and this is one song that I really liked for the playfulness of the tune:
Rootha hua chanda hai from Aaram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDq1KLorGz4
AK Ji,
Anil Biswas-Lata Mangeshkar songs cannot be anything other than listener’s delight. Thanks for the dozen AB-Lata combos and the wonderful post.
Here are two more enjoyable songs.
Balma Tumhre Nain, Paisa hi paisa (1956), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxmuj_kQIjQ
Ghadiya Gini hai Maine, Do Raha (1952), lyrics Prem Dhawan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obvtpWwZyac
AK ji,
The first two paras of the post are very important and correct. Many Thanks.
As far as Girls School (1949) is concerned, there is this duet with Shankar Das Gupta, which I like immensely. “Baar Baar Tum Soch Rahi Ho, Chaar Dinon Ki Chaandani”.
Lata’s voice is so fresh and innocent in this duet. I think its easy to decipher that the song must have been amongst the first to be recorded of the combo, even though the film may have been released late. The complete influence and training of Anilda is not very much evident in this duet particularly. This is just my interpretation please.
Anil Biswas and Lata Mangehskar combination has to be seen (heard) with reference to her combinations with other music directors, in the same (say, every 5 year or so) periods, if any value judgment on the quality and range of songs, and also of growth of Lata’s voice over the period, has to be made.
However, on this platform we revive our memories of the songs in deterrent sets of contexts. That is why each of Soy’s offering becomes a joy to the listener.
We are quite sure SoY will ensure that all 120 songs of this MD-Singer combination , to the extent they are available on internet, would be covered on this platform one or other subject.
KS Bhatiaji,
Thanks a lot or your appreciation.
Mumbaikar8,
Most of the praise for Lata Mangeshkar in this post is paraphrasing what Anil Biswas said about her publicly. I am happy that you entirely agree with me on her.
PM’s speech at UN: You must have noticed, he slipped into sarkari Hindi whenever he read from the script. Otherwise, he was very smooth; and outstanding at MSG where he was on his own. Thus, you can see I am not impressed by the portion you are referring to. I am wiling to change the title of this post 🙂 if you can suggest a better formulation. The first adjective is not very uncommon, the second one – for Anil Biswas – can do with some simplification as long as it is equally sonorous and conveys what I want to say.
Tere sab gham is an outstanding song. Thanks a lot.
Anu,
Both the songs are very nice. Dil todnewale is the kind of melody which became C Ramchandra’s trademark in the mid-50s. This could be Anil Biswas influence, whom he assisted in some films. Rootha hua chanda hai is very delightful too. Thanks a lot.
Venkataramanji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and for the two songs you have added.
Mahesh,
Thanks for your appreciation.
You make an interesting point about the duet from Girls School. Lata Mangeshkar does sound very raw. But on that basis, I wouldn’t like to speculate that this could be the first of the combo. I would go with the generally accepted view that Anokha Pyar (1948) songs are their first together.
Ashokji,
I think the best of Anil Biswas-Lata Mangehskar is already covered with the songs I have put up now and earlier, and additions by the readers. Whatever additional we are adding is in the realm of relatively unknown, and many may still figure later. It seems, at the onset of the 50s which was the peak of Lata Mangehskar, more nimble-footed composers, such as SJ, CR, and Naushad, managed to get the blockbusters and popular acclaim. Anil Biswas’s peak was the 40s, with pre-Lata vintage female singers. But he was unique in quality and composition, and it may not be appropriate to compare Anil Biswas-Lata with other Lata combos.
Ashok ji and AK ji,
AB/LM combination has exactly 123 songs in 30 films,ad not 120 songs.
-AD
correction- it should be ‘ and not…’
Arunji,
Thanks for giving the precise number. That is why I wrote ‘over 120’ – this is the way I prefer to use data about film songs.
A big wooooooooooow !!!!!
Standing ovation for this post…taaliya taaliya taaliya
Zameen pe letkar pranaam karta hun Anilda aur Lataji ko….
After 4 yrs of nonstop trekking ultimately SoY crew reached at the top of Everest of melody !!
Akji, many many thanks 4 this most awaited post.
There r many iconic songs of this pair mentioned already in your list and following comments and i m adding many more those i m missing here…
1.
Preetam tera mera pyar
Gupchup kya jane sansaar
Rakho ke parde ke andar
Jalta hai angaar
Preetam tera mera pyar
(gajre)
Initial taan ‘preetam aaaa’ is really haunting !
2. Anokha pyar
Mere phoolo me chhipi hai jawani
Mere haaro me mere gajro me
Koi le lo ji meri nishani jawani
Mere phoolo me chhipi hai jawani
Ye damakte hai jaise sitaare
Ye chamakte hai jaise sharaare
Rang inka gulabi shahani
Rang inka gulabi shahani jawani
Mere phoolo me chhipi hai jawani
In me champa hai aur hai chameli
In me hai motiya hai motiya aur juhi
Aaj hai aisi daulat lutaani
Mere phoolo me chhipi hai jawani
3. Lajawaab
Ek mera dil ek unka dil
Do prem gagan ke taare hai
Do nain mere do nain unke
Kya kya chhup chhup ke ishaare hai
Us surat ke diwane bane
Us deepak ke parwane bane
Ye pyar ka bandhan kya kehna
Hum unke hai wo hamaare hai
Ye aansoo dard e muhabbat ke
Koi inki keemat kya jaane
Aankho se gire to moti hai
Palko pe rahe to taare hai
Wahwahwahwah..atisumadhur
EK MERA DIL EK UNKA DIL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdQTxuGouSs
4. Do raha
Ghadiya gini hai maine tere intezaar ki
Kya tujhko bhi khabar hai dil e bekaraar ki
Woh bhigi bhigi raat
Woh dil se nazar ki baat
Jaadu sa kar gai hai nigaahen woh pyar ki…
Tum the to har taraf the
Gulistaan khile hue
Laaun kahan se haaye
Woh masti bahaar ki..
Duniya ki kuchh khabar hai
Na apna hi hosh hai
Duniya tum hi to ho mere
Sabr o karaar ki…
Amazing tune Amazing singing…the zing thing gold spot
GHADIYA GINI HAI MAINE
Clearer Audio quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL-f9fhoOPY
many more real diamonds
5. Lajawaab
Aaye the dhadkan lekar dil me
Chale to lekar jaan chale
Naiya paar lagaanewale
Khud bankar toofan chale
6. Jeet
Mast pawan hai chanchal dhara
Man ki naiya dol na jaye
Aaj sama hai kitna pyara
Man ki naiya dol na jaye
7. Beqasoor
Matwale naino wale ke main wari wari jaaun
8. Aarzoo
Jana na dil se door
Ankhon se door jaake
Naazuk bahot hai dekho
Dil ho na gham se choor
9. Fareb
Mila dil mil ke chhuta ja raha hai
Naseeba banke phuta ja raha hai
10. Fareb
Jaaoge thes lagaake
Bahot pachhtaoge baalam
11. Fareb
Mere man men
Sama gaye aise piya
Jahan nain jhuke
Wahin dekh liya
12. Fareb
Raat gungunaati hai
Loriya sunaati hai
Neend kyun nahi aati
Kyun nahi aati..
13. Akash
So gayee chandni
Jaag uthi bekali
Tum mujhe aur bhi
Yaad aane lage
the obscure movie ‘maan’ is really a big musical discovery. Besides ‘dam bhar ka tha daur’ of mukesh and ‘allah bhi hai’ of lata, it has many other superb songs of lataji.
14. Maan
Keh do ke muhabbat se na takraye zamana
Aasan nahi pyar ke deepak ko bujhana
(‘allah bhi hai’ and ‘keh do ke muhabbat se’ were originally recorded for another ‘saleem anaarkali’ theme movie which was shelved and the songs used in ‘Maan’ !!
15. Maan
Guzra hua ulfat ka zamaana
Yaad karke royenge
Apni kahaani apna fasaana
Yaad karke royenge
16. Maan
Mere pyar men tujhe mila
Mere devta mujhe bhul ja
correction :
Mere pyar men tujhe kya mila
Mere devta mujhe bhul ja
”Ghadiya gini hai” is mentioned by Venkataramanji but i think this GREAT song isnt attended completely because of it’s weaker audio quality uploads.. So i have highlighted it again with a better audio quality link…
What a beautiful melody from anil da and lata. Treasure song of JALATI NISANI
Jignesh,
After a long drought, this downpour is most welcome. Thanks a lot for your compliments and for adding these beautiful Anil Biswas-Lata Mangeshkar gems. Hope, you are going to continue this pleasant barsaat.
The two songs from 1948 (Gajre, Anokha Pyar) are very interesting. The songs sound very raw, Anil Biswas seems to be not putting Lata Mangeshkar to any strain. This connects to Mahesh’s comment (#13). This leads us to an interesting question whether it is possible to determine their first song by her voice quality. These songs are quite a contrast to Yaad rakhana chaand taro is suhani raat ko, another song from 1948, but which is very sophisticated and complex. This fits in with the position that the songs of Anokha Pyar in the voice of Meena Kapoor were recorded later in Lata’s voice. An interesting area for study by the experts.
Most of your songs bear the magic of Anil Biswas touch. I had earlier not noticed the opening recital of the song – Matwale nainowale ke main wari wari jaun. I was surprised by the recital Gore gore chaand se much par kaali kaali ankhen hain – the well-known Mukesh song from Anita. It is not a case of plagiarism. Arzoo Lakhanavi was the lyricist in both the cases. Anil Biswas had mastery of all genres, including mujra. This film also had Rajkumari’s Phir chaahe to na aana O aan baan wale.
The picturisation is very interesting. The setting is not a typical kotha, but seems to be a drawing room. Madhubala seems to be a reluctant performer, as if appearing for an audition before some examiners; and she wants to get done with it as soon as possible.
Another song which oozes honey-sweetness is Tum mujhe aur bhi yaad aane lage from Aakash (1953), lyrics Satyendra Athaiya.
A very delightful song is More man mein sama gaye aise piya jahan nain mile wahan dekh liya from Fareb (1953), lyrics Majrooh Sultapuri. Its opening line reminds one of Piya aiso jiya mein samaye gayo re ki main tan man ki sudh budh gawaan bathi
Mayur Vachharajani,
I am happy you enjoyed it.
AK Ji,
Delighted to see the response to the post.
Fabulous Anil Biswas/Lata songs have been added to the post by the readers.
Three more I would like to add.
Aarzoo :
AAYI BAHAAR JIYA DOLE MORA- LATA- FILM- ARZOO(195…: http://youtu.be/M9OkvS0XA-U
Paisa Hi Paisa :
PAYAL MORI BAJE LATA MANGESHKAR FILM PAISA HI PAI…: http://youtu.be/2D4Dz4e0CHA
Mehmaan :
Aankhon mein chit chor samaye Mehmaan Md Anil …: http://youtu.be/BXRqild5lBU
There is one more thing I would like to add.
As long as young and passionate listeners like Jignesh Ji are there, the flame of HFM of the Vintage/Golden era will keep burning.
AK Ji,
Now this is Jignesh Kotadia effect.
Naaz :
AI DIL DUKHDA KISE SUNAYE- LATA- FILM- NAAZ(1954)…: http://youtu.be/ZYTHq34FUJI
Aakash :
Ab is mar mar ke jeene se Aakash Md Anil Biswa…: http://youtu.be/A10u5TVBB98
Sharmaji,
This Jignesh infection is going to do a lot of good to all of us. Two of the five songs you have added I liked immensely. Payal mori baje has very unpredictable change of tunes between mukhada and antaras, and has very innovative use of chorus. Ai dil dukhda kise sunayein has the characteristic sweetness of Anil Biswas-Lata Mangeshkar combination.
AK,
With Jignesh’s revival Vaishnav ji
will be vindicated sooner than later:)
Ak ji and Arvindersharma ji,
Glad with ur valuable replies and appreciations. Feeling honoured ! 🙂 thanx very much to you people. Ai dil dukhda kise sunaye is really beautiful song. A typical Anilda gem.
Any post involving Anil Biswas-Lata can only be high class. A great list and a lot of good songs added by readers. I would request everybody to listen to the rest of Lata songs from Anokha Pyar.
But, I want to say something about comment 35. I have watched quite a no. of films with Biswas music right from Roti to Chhoti Chhoti Baten. Anokha Pyar and Beqasoor are among them. Yaad rakhna chand taro’ has three versions in the film. One is by Lata, one is by Meena Kapoor and the 3rd is a duet by Lata and Mukesh. In the film Lata has 5 solos and 2 duets and Meena has 3 solos and 2 duets, which should mean Lata is the main singer. Besides the song included in the list, Lata sings the twin version of the Mukesh solo ‘jeevan sapna toot gaya’ and 3 other solos and all are great songs. Meena Kapoor matches her but she has some inherent problem in twisting her tongue – which hampers her diction at least in this film – which was perhaps a defect like Talat’s throat problem leading to his vibrating voice.
I wonder why the film ‘Anokha Pyar’ flopped with such a great score, where no single song was weak.
The situation for the ‘Beqasoor’ song is that Madhubala’s brother forces her to sing and dance in front of some persons and later when he tries to force her to sign a contract, she runs from home and meets Ajit. The story is related by her to Ajit in flashback.
AK, this is a very informative post, as usual, with a delightful list of songs (as it would have to be). When I first glanced at this post quickly, I wondered what had happened to Tarana, but then I saw that you answered that question in the post as well as in comments.
Another thing that caught my attention is that you mentioned that when Lata moved beyond her Noor Jehan influences, her voice became “unparalleled in the history of film music.” Does this mean that you have concluded that Lata became better than Noor Jehan? I was not under the impression that you had before… I have seen a few comments to the contrary, by people who seemed very knowledgeable about these matters – i.e., that Noor Jehan was actually better than Lata, but she just didn’t get the same appreciation because of her move to Pakistan. And, as I am sure you already know, I agree! But I certainly agree that Lata was great, too.
And, finally, one very minor point – not a big deal, but… All the biographical sources that I’ve looked at say that Lata was born in 1929 (not 1928) and has just turned 85.
AK, what a superb compilation of songs! I was a bit late in commenting on this because it took me some time to listen to all the songs, not having a lot of free time lately. Some I listened to more than once. Your compilation was excellent in itself but it was enhanced greatly by some of the followers of SoY. Truly, history has not been kind to Anil Biswas and it is in forums like SoY that we get to see aspects of composers and singers that have been covered by the dust of history.
I was not a great admirer of Noor Jehan before I happened to come across Richard’s blog and it changed my perspective completely.
Kudos to you and your ilk (and Youtube) for giving us such gems.
Bravo!
Hans ji,
‘Anokha Pyar’ is really a god made album. Every song is a supreme quality melody whichever you pick from them whether it is sung by lata, mukesh or meena.
I firmly believe that Golden era actually started with ‘Anokha pyar’ and ‘Gajre’.
I have whole ‘Anokha Pyar’ album with a total 16 songs in it.
It contains 7 lata solos, 3 meena solos, 1 mukesh solo and 5 duets (4 with lata). So lata sang total 11 songs. I dont know how many songs used in film. U can tell that if u have seen a complete uncut movie. Dvds available of old movies today are often edited ones and miss many songs.
Songs of ”Anokha Pyar”
1. Lata
Yaad rakhna chaand taaro is suhani raat ko
2. Lata
Mere liye woh gham e intezaar chhod gaye
3. Lata
Jeevan sapna toot gaya
4. Lata
Ghadi ghadi puchho na ji kin se meri preet hai
5. Lata
Ek dil ka lagana baki tha so woh bhi lagaakar dekh liya
6. Lata
Bhola bhala ri mora balma na jane, preet bhare man ke ishaare
7. Lata
Mere phoolon me chhipi hai jawani
8. Lata and Mukesh
Ab yaad na kar bhul ja ai dil woh fasana
9. Lata and Mukesh
Yaad rakhna chaand taaro
10. Lata and Ira naagrath(Roshan’s wife)
Aye dil meri wafa me koi asar nahin hai,
Mai mar rahi hun jin par unko khabar nahi hai
(amazing beauty this song is !!)
11. Lata and Meena
Aye dil meri wafa me koi asar nahi hai (another version)
12. Meena
Yaad rakhna chaand taaro
13. Meena
Ek dil ka lagaana baaki tha
14. Meena
Mere liye woh gham e intezaar chhod gaye
15. Meena and Mukesh
Ab yaad na kar bhul ja
16. Mukesh
Jeevan sapna toot gaya
Meena kapoor has also sung her songs very well but Lata has put them all to a different level !!
Hans, Jignesh,
Anokha Pyar songs: HFGK lists 10 songs. But the number of songs in the film may well be different. However, it may not be 16. The difference arises because of re-recording of some songs by Meena Kapoor in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice. Whatever their numbers, Lata is a different class beyond doubt, and for me she is the lead singer.
I felt satisfaction that I could decipher the situation in Beqasoor.
Soumya,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I am a great admirer of Richard myself, but even he cannot convert me to Noorjehan over Lata Mangeshkar.
Richard,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation, and for correcting the slip about Lata Mangeshkar’s DOB.
On Lata Mangeshkar-Noorjehan question, I wrote a post about four years ago, which was one of my earliest when I started the blog. I would request you to read my Lata Mangeshkar vs Noorjehan. I have to add a caveat that I am no music expert, and I am an unabashed Lata Mangeshkar-partisan, as you are Noorjehan’s.
I do not know whether it is mentioned above. Anil Biswas seems to have his own list http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/hindilata.html
Gaddeswarupji,
Everyone’s list would be different. But it is interesting to see so much overlap. Thanks a lot.
I was travelling when this post appeared and everything I could have said has already been said by others in their comments. So, let me simply join the chorus of applause for this wonderful post. May I, however, strike a slightly discordant note – I prefer the Meena Kapoor version of ‘Yaad rakhna chaand taaron’.
Subodhji,
Me too
Like the Meena kapoor version of ‘Ab yaad na kar bhul ja’. Perhaps meena’s version is kept in the movie, first time when i saw this song on tv it was perhaps in meena’s voice. I can’t recall clearly bcz i had seen this song once and only time in 1999.
Subodh,
Welcome back and thanks a lot for your appreciation. Since Jignesh has also joined you I would refrain from making any comment about Lata Mangeshkar-Meena Kapoor.
I am too junior among all of you as far as Anil Biswas and its songs are concerned. I just listen to PURANI-FILMON-KA-SANGEET over Raido Ceylon i.e. Sri Lanka Broadcasting Service for past 50 odd years.
Just listen to songs & enjoying it. Many a times I can’t remember the name of film, but I love listening old Hindi Film music.
Wish you ALL THE BEST OF LUCK AND GOOD WISHES.
Regards,
Pramod Tillu
THANE
M: 9967387959
Pramod Tillu
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your nice words.
Nice post, it has reminded me of some of the songs that I had almost forgotten…would have been nicer if it had included some of my all time favorite Anil Biswas – Lata Mangeshkar songs, like “Ek Dil Ka Lagana Baki Tha” from Anokha Pyar, “Ae Mere Ranjhana” from Heer and “Intezar Aur Abhi” from “Char Dil Char Rahein”…
Sumantra Roy,
Ek dil ka lagana baki tha is also my great favourite. Thanks.