Birthday greetings to Lata Mangeshkar on September 28
Presenting my favourite Lata Mangeshkar songs composed by C Ramchandra, as my birthday greetings to her on September 28, is not a very diplomatic thing to do, given the history of their relationship. As her biographical accounts go, Lata Mangeshkar was more than a muse to C Ramchandra, and central to his music. But when the relationship turned sour, its repudiation (by her) was ruthless and complete. When she gave her famed public performance of Ae mere watan ke logo at Lal Quila on the Republic Day 1963, which brought tears to Nehru’s eyes, its lyricist Pradeep was acknowledged, but its composer C Ramchandra was not. (Note: Please also see comments 49, 51, 52, 54). When in 1967 Lata Mangeshkar selected her best 10 songs for HMV, she did not include any song by C Ramchandra, but her by then favourite boys Laxmikant Pyarelal’s – made it to the list!
Let us leave the human Lata Mangeshkar for her biographers to analyse; for me her music is divine, and to a great extent I consider her C Ramchandra songs, especially of early 1950s, among her best, most romantic, most melodious and deeply moving. But his music became so Lata-centric that the breakdown of their relationship also spelt his music’s doom. Among the greats of the Vintage/Golden Era, he faded out relatively early. In a sharp contrast, SD Burman was able to weather his hiatus with Lata Mangeshkar for about 5 years 1957-62 (she came back to him with Bandini) because he could work wonders with Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle, and he gave immortal songs with all the great male singers Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Talat Mahmood, Manna Dey and Hemant Kumar, and of course, himself. No wonder Dada was the longest lasting among the great composers. Interestingly if I try to recall C Ramchandra’s great songs by male singers, there is hardly much beyond his own (Chitalkar) songs.
Another important aspect of C Ramchandra is that among the great composers, he has the largest number of Lata gems, which are still hidden and relatively unknown, but incredibly beautiful. Of course, as music lovers know, there are two distinct C Ramchandra’s – one, fast, western and comic a la Ana meri jaan meri jaan Sunday ke Sunday and the other, soulful Lata, best characterized by the iconic Ye zindagi uis ki hai. Here are ten of my very special Lata Mangeshkar songs composed by C Ramchandra.
1. Dil se bhula do tum hamein from Patanga (1949), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
Picturised on Purnima, with Shyam in the frame, is a quintessential C Ramchandra-Lata Mangeshkar melancholic song. Lata Mangshkar in 1949 was still under the influence of Noorjehan style. C Ramchandra was one of the major influences to help her evolve her own distinct style. Patanga is a prime example of two contrasting C Ramchandra’s. This is the film which had breezy songs with Shamshad Begum and C Ramchandra himself (Chitalkar) like Mere piya gaye Rangoon, Pahle to ho gayee namaste etc.
2. Aisi mohabbat se hum baaj aye from Nirala (1950), lyrics PL Santoshi
Mehfil mein jal uthi samafrom Nirala was very famous and well known. Many years later I heard this song for the first time from an elderly lady who could reproduce the exact tune and the emotion of the song, but she was not aware about its film or the composer. I had no doubt it had to be C Ramchandra, but only in the internet era I could fully place the song.
3. Abhi sham ayegi nikalenge tare from Samadhi (1950), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
Who has not heard the foot tapping breezy song Gore gore banke chore from this film, which has acquired an iconic status, and you have this somewhat less heard but absolutely mesmerising soulful Lata Mangeshkar melody picturised on Nalini Jaywant. Two very distinct C Ramchandra’s again.
4. Koi kisi ka diwana na bane from Sargam (1950), lyrics PL Santoshi
Picturised on Rehana, this song is one of the defining songs of C Ramchandra-Lata Mangeshkar.
5. Balma bada nadan from Albela (1951), Rajendra Krishna
Albela was another movie which had two distinct and contrasting C Ramchandra’s. You have the breezy dance songs, all legends by now, such as Shola jo bhadke, Sham dhale khidki tale and Bholi surat dil ke khote, and you have soulful, emotional melodies including the iconic lullaby Dheere se aa ja ri ankhiyan mein. It is a difficult choice but my favorite is Balma bada nadaan re for its pathos.
6. Dil ki kahani to chahe from Sagai (1951), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
On Rehana again. His favourite lyricist creates another masterpiece, composed equally beautifully by C Ramchandra.
7. Ai pyar teri duniya se hum from Jhanjhar (1953), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
C Ramchandra-Rajendra Krishna-Lata Mangeshkar is matchless when it comes to most beautiful Lata Mangeshkar songs. This one is again not among his very well known, but it has again the same quality of mesmerising you the first time you hear it.
8. Kaise bhaye sakhi rut sawan ki from Pehli Jhalak (1954), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
When I heard this song for the first time on the internet, my reaction was O my God, where was this song hidden? I have mentioned about undiscovered C Ramchandra gems. You have this fabulous classical song performed equally brilliantly by Vyjayantimala.
9. Kaise aaun Jamuna ke teer from Devta (1956), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
One of the best classical Raga based songs picturised on Anjali Deve.
10. Dil ki duniya basa ke sanwariya tum na jane kahan kho gaye from Amardeep (1958), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
I started this list with a dil song, there was another dil song in between and now I end with a fabulous dil song. C Ramchandra – Lata Mangeshkar gave some of the most heart touching songs. My all-time great Lata-C Ramchandra favourite, picturised so beautifully on Vyjayantimala.
I have reached ten, all absolute gems, without including any song from his runaway hits Anarkali and Azad. C Ramchandra was reputed to be a very fast composer. After completing the Tamil version of Azad, its producers wanted to complete its Hindi version on the same sets in Madras in quick time of 3-4 weeks. For its music Naushad declined the offer on the ground that he did not do a rush job. C Ramchandra, of course created an all time great score. Dilip Kumar wanted Talat Memood to playback for him. When he was unavailable, C Ramchandra convinced Dilip Kumar that he would sing for him in Talat style, and no one would notice the difference. How true when you hear Kita hassen hai mausam. None of his great songs appear to be a rush job, every song seems to be crafted with a great deal of effort. I feel very happy to present these songs as my birthday greetings to Lata Mangeshkar on her 82nd birthday.
{ 130 comments… read them below or add one }
I would fully agree with you on ‘Balma bada naadan.
It is indeed difficult to realize what C Ramchandra had to feel helpless at the time of his skirmish with Lata, with Asha already having matched Lata at each scale and step in Shaarda Duet- O Chand Jahaan Tu Jaye – for him.
In fact, in this duet, one simply wonders why was Lata considered the only so great . Well, this is just a very personal view with no intention either distract the discussion or the spirit of the original post.
What a great list! I especially appreciated that you picked out those songs picturized on Rehana.
But if I were to do any such list, I think I would have to include “Katate Hain Dukh Mein Yeh Din” from Parchhain. Lata sounds soo beautiful in that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw5VVbGcsN0
@Ashok Vaishnav
I am one of those for whom Lata is divine, I do not compare Asha Bhosle with her.
@Richard S
You are spot on as always. Katate hain dukh mein ye din was also in my short list. The problem was limitation of ten. As a matter of fact, two of the songs I had initially put had to be replaced as their videos were removed by Youtube. They were Dard jaga ke thes laga ke chale gaye hae chale gaye from Sipahiya (1949) and Jo mujhe bhula kar chale gaye mujhe unki yaad sataye kyun from Sangeeta (1950). Now I have located another video of the second song. Let me put it here which was in my original list of ten.
Jo mujhe bhula kar chale gaye from Sangeeta
http://youtu.be/CZ7wx4KnBL0
mujh pe ilzaam-e-bewafai hai…from’ YASMIN’
@arvind
There are endless C Ramchandra-Lata Mangeshkar beauties which I had to leave because of limitation of number. Another song which I would have loved to include is:
Tum kya jano tumhari yaad mein hum kitna roye from Shin Shinaki Bubla Boo
For me Lata is divine, an incarnation of Goddess Sarawati. I simply count her disagreements with Rafi ( another divinity), Asha, S.D. Burman or C. Ramchandran as perfectly normal acts. Don’t we have such instances in other incarnations’ lives ? Why blame Lata ?
As for her list of haunting melodies with C. Ramchandran, I would definitely include ‘Tum kya jaano tumhari yaad mein’ from ‘Shinshinaki bublabu ‘.
My personal favourite Lata number is Lata-C. Ramchandra composition “aisi mohabbat se hum baaz aaye”. It was my proud moment when I told her personally at a private meeting.I will cherish it.Coincidentally, this song is picturised on my favourite actress Madhubala.What more can one ask?
Again a splendid list!
c. Ramchandra was indeed a great composer
I didn’t know many of the songs on your list! Some of them I knew from Vividh Bharati, but had forgotten.
The most surprising and exciting offer was Kaise bhaye sakhi rut sawan ki from Pehli Jhalak (1954)
Loved it! Why isn’t it more famous?
ai chand kal jo aanaa from devta is also on of my fav from my modest knowledge of Lata-Ramchandra combo. I was going to take it in my chaand list, but it was pushed back by the others.
and that reminds me of other song with moon in it: chanda ki chhaon me from Parchhaiyan.
And that brings me from the moon to a different nocturnal creature: mehfil me jal uthi shama parwane ke liye from Nirala
Thanks for confirming my suspicion that C Ramchandra and Chitalkar is the same person!
Kaise bhaye sakhi rut sawan ki was also an amazing discovery for me. And that it is the beauty of C Ramchandra; more than others with him you keep on stumbling upon hidden gems.
Hi,
You mentioned “Interestingly if I try to recall C Ramchandra’s great songs by male singers, there is hardly much beyond his own (Chitalkar) songs. ”
I’m surprised that you discounted few of the best Talat melodies that are on par with the best Lata melodies that you have listed. To list some:
1. Mohabbat mein aise (with Lata) – Sagai
2. Kise maloom tha (with Lata) – Saqi
3. Mohabbat hi na jo samjhe – Parcchain
4. Kisine mujhko mere (with Lata) – Parcchain
5. Apni Naakaamiyon se – Subah Ka Tara
6. Maan mera yeh rang roop – Kavi
I think CR gave the best of male songs to Talat, and he more than excelled in them.
@KB
You are right, Talat figures prominently in C Ramchandra. But can we say he gave the best of Talat? I would think this honour belonged to Ghulam Mohammad, Anil Biswas, Madan Mohan and SD Burman more. CR was very strong with Lata, Shamshad Begum and Amirbai Karnataki.
AK ji,
Talat mehmood was used maximum by Madan Mohan-in 10 films(Chhote Babu,Madhosh,Aashiyana,Bahana,Dekh kabira roya,Adaa,Mohar,Pocketmaar,Jahanara and Suhagan).
C.Ramchandra-7 films(Parchhain,Yaasmeen,Naazneen,Subah ka taara,Kavi,Sagaii,and Meenar.)
Anil Bishwas-6(Aarzoo,Taraana,Do Raha,Waaris,Araam,and Jasoos.)
SDBurman-5 films(Armaan,Buzdil,Taxi Driver,Devdas and Sujata.)
In case of T.Mehmood,it is interesting to note that his songs became popular from almost all the above composers and choosing a single composer giving max hit songs(in number) is neither possible nor justified.
-Arunkumar Deshmukh
Ghulam Mohd. and Roshan used him in only 3 films each.
@Arunkumar Deshmukh
Thanks a lot for the detailed information. I think there were more movies of Ghulam Mohammad with Talat (Mirza Ghalib, Dil-e-Nadan, Maalik, Lail Majnu etc). Further, when Ghulam Mohammad used Talat Mahmood in a film he composed several songs in his voice, all of which acquired iconic status. Therefore, even with small number of films, my mind has very strong associataion of this pair.
AK ji,
You are right.But these are the only films of Ghulam Mohd and there are total 12 songs of Talat-7 solos and 5duets.
Further,in Laila Majnu there were 2 Composers,namely GM and Sardar Malik-who used Talat in 1 solo and 2 duets.
sardar Malik used Talat in only 1 solo in Thokar-1953.
-AD
Not to distract, but one interesting fact of this talented composer and the unforgettable song from the Tamil film-Vanjikottai Valiban. The song,Kannum Kannum kalandhu-Hear once, you will be mesmerised by this song. The film was a big hit, so also the songs.
@Ramchandran
Thanks for introducing us to this exquisite dancing duo (Vyjayantimala and Padmini) song. It deserves to be posted here.
Kannum kannum kalandhu by Jikki and P Leela from Vanjikottali Valibaan (1958), music C Ramchandra
My personal C. Ramchandra / Lata combo is kaali kaali raatein from Ghungaroo ( 1952 ). It is very sweet and should be on your list.
You are right, this song is very sweet and clearly belogs to the time when CR-Lata gave absolute gems. The only problem was which of the ten I have listed would you like to replace?
Kali kali ratiyan yaad sataye by Lata Mangeshkar from Ghunghroo
Thanks for this wonderful article. I found four beautiful songs that I had never heard before from your article and the other comments.
The song Kali kali ratiyan reminds me of a Sajjad Hussain composition from film Saiyan – Kaali Kaali Raat Re Dil Bada Sataaye.
Sajjad Hussain composed for only 14 films, but songs of Saiyan, Hulchul, Khel, Sangdil, Ruksana, Rustam Sohrab are masterpieces. Sajjad had a nasty personality and he insulted and abused virtually everybody he worked with, so geot very few films.
Finally, the lyricist is Rajinder Krishan (not Rajendra Krishna). he was a Punjabi, and that is how his name is pronounced and spelled.
Sajjad Hussain’s song reminded me of Teri yaad aye sanwariya by Noorjehan from Lal Haveli.
As for Rajinder Krishan, you are right. But there is always an issue in writing proper names in another language. I guess Dharmendra would perhaps be Dharminder, but we accept Dharmendra as the right usage. Same with writing Bengali names in Hindi, or French names in English, when you write the proper name according to the character of the host language. There was at least a decade of debate on the correct way of writing Chinese names in English. They came to some agreed form, but still the debate goes on if it has finally got it right. I find Rajendra Krishna has become accepted usage in Hindi Film Geet Kosh, AIR or TV.
I know this thread is about C. Ramchandra and we have drifted onto Sajjad Hussain. One of Sajjad’s best songs is ” Bhool ja eh dil ” by Lata from the film ” Khel “.
Now that we have already drifted to Sajjad Hussain may I mention some master pieces of this genius composer
1)Aaj mere nasibne -film Hulchul(1951)
2) Dil me Sama Gaye Sajan-film Sangdil(1952)
3)Jaate hai to Jaao-Film Khel(1950)
4)Tere Jahanse Chal Diye-Film Ruksana(1955)- a beautiful Kishor-Asha Duet.
5) Wo To Chale Gaye-Film Sangdil(1952)
6) Woh Raat Din-Film Saiya (1951)
There are no words to describe these heavely songs. Simply Awesome!!
Speaking about C.Ramchandra-Lata combo, how come nobody mentioned these songs
1) Ashko me doob doob si-Film Teerandaz(1955)
2) Aakh Royee magar muskurana pada-film 26 January
3)Aakhir khata hi kya Thi-film Sangeeta(1950)
4) Aye Chand pyaar tera-film Khazana(1951)
5) Aye Pyaar Teri Duniyase Hum-Film Jhanjhar(1953)
6) Doob Jaye jo kismat ka Taara-Film Parchhaiyan(1952)
The Dard in Lata’s voice comes out effectively in these songs!!
Sajjad Hussain was regarded as one of the most talented composers. His maverick personality and temperamental problems limited his total work. Since it is about CR-Lata, I am letting Sajjad Hussain pass.
Coming to CR-Lata, Serial number 7 in my post is Ae pyar teri dunya se hum. Other songs are typical CR-Lata melodies of the fifties. Most are not so well known. Thanks for refreshing their memory. Here are some whose links I could get.
Ashkon mein doob doob si from Teerandaaz (1955)
Ae chand pyar tera from Khazana (1951)
Doob jaye jo kismat ka tara from Parchhain (1952)
You mentioned dard in Lata’s voice. Here is a great CR-Lata dard song, which I had wanted to use it at the top of my post. At that time it was not there on the YouTube. On revisit I have been able to locate it. Thank you for making me revisit CR-Lata.
Dard jaga ke thes laga ke chale gaye wo chale gaye from Sipahiya (1949)
I would like to add one beautiful melodious song of Lata CR combo
i.e. Aye ankh ab na rona rona to umra bhar hai from the film SIPAHIYA
1949 Please add to tthe list if possible.
Damani
Heard for the first time. A very melodious song indeed. Here it is:
Ae ankh ab na rona from Sipahiya
Thanks for complying my request
Here is one more song overlooked by us. Lata CR combo
Majboor meri aankhen barbad mera dil hai from film NIRALA
Two more memorable songs of Lata-CR combo is from film Stree (1961)
1) O Nirdayee Preetam……Listen how Lata glides effortlessly through octaves and also pronounces “Tanme” in line “Shool Banke tanme Chhubh Jaata”, creating kasak in the listener’s heart. Hats off to CR and Lata.
2) Kab Aaoge Pran priya…. Experience the dard in lata’s voice.
3) Tu hi mera sahara…..
It seems that Stree is film based on Dushyant-Shakuntala Love story. There are other songs like Zilmil Zilmil Leharonha worth mentioning, but as far as I am concenrned ,the first 3 songs deserve All time masterpieces rating. All these songs are on youtube. Do visit them and experience the voyage of soul stirring melodies. Welcome to the enchanting world of music!!
O nirdayi preetam is, of course, an eternal favourite. But I reached ten well before 60’s. The other wo songs are new to me. Here are the three songs from Stree.
O nirdayee preetam
Interestingly, the first notes of this song remind me of Pankh hoti to ud jati main
Kab aaoge pran priya
Tu hi hai mera sahara
But real gem of this movie, according to me, is the Mahendra Kapoor-Lata Mangeshkar duet Aaj madhuvatas dole.
@Damani
Majboor meri ankhen barbaad mera dil does not seem to be on YouTube. But I am sure some day it will show up.
apart from these, my personal favourites are 1) mere man ka bawara panchhi( amar deep) and 2) ankhon me sama jao (yasmin)
Yes both are great songs.
Mere man ka bawra panchhi from Amardeep
Ankhon mein sama jao from Yasmin
Beautiful collection.c. ramchandra -Lata both are melodies. Thanks. A.K. Anarkali, Albela, Azad are famous but to know c. ram this is the right choice. NouShervan- E- Adil is missing. I am happy today. Thanks again all of you, the lata -c.r. fans. sahara (Mina)- Music is Shailesh.
well, the debate is still not over without a stunning melody of c.ram_lata,, and it is from ‘hangama'(1952)
”aye dard e muhabbat aa tujhko seene se lagake pyar karu,,saajan ki nishani hai tujhko duniya se chhupake pyar karu”
Probably u all have missed this most melodious track to mention, easily comes in my most favs…
‘chham chham chham chham barsat badra
roye roye naino se bah gaya kajra,
aag lage aise saavan ko, jaan jalave jo birhan ki,
kaise bhaye sakhi rut saavan ki”
Waah waah waah waah
Apart from this song there is another masterpiece in ‘pehli jhalak’
”oonchi oonchi dukaan
fika fika pakwaan
dekhi dekhi ameero
tumhari ye shaan”
JustFantastic !!
@vinay…nice pick from ‘teerandaaz’
”ashkon me doob doob ke, aai haseen to kya
mar mar ke do ghadi ko mili zindagi to kya”
Apart from this there is another master stroke, a must listen song of lata in this movie
”badi bewafa hai
udti hawa hai
yeh zindagi saaqiya”
Aaahaahaa,,kya khazana diya hai hume in sangeetkaro ne !
And how one can forget this lata diamond from ‘talaash’ (1957)
”kahin dekh akeli naar
khet ke paar, koi na aaiyo”
Kya baat kya baat kya baat
Salaam CRAMCHANDRA
Annnnnd the last major of this pair…ooooh
”’main jaagu saari rain
sajan tum so jaao, so jaao, so jaao”’
Aur ek lamba unforgettable,melodious safar khatm hua,, music lovers had lost the amazing pair,,music ka golden era apni oonchai se ek kadam neeche gira !
Aur sajjad ki baat nikli hai to unki ek behtarin tune ka ullekh main zaroor karna chahunga,,ATTENTION, this 1 is a MUST LISTEN melody of sajjad sung by MEENA KAPOOR not by lata,,really amazing tune and masterly sung by meena.
”Tod gaye haay, tod gaye
Armaan bhara dil tod gaye
Samjhe the sahaara hum jinko
Majhdhaar me humko chhod gaye” woow
From KHEL (1950)
Ae dard-e-mohabbat ka tujhe seene se lagakar pyar karun from Hungama(1952)
N. A. Bapat mentioned Nausherwan E Adil
here is the lata CR magic of the same.
And once again thank you A.k. what a wonderrful compilation.
Mumbaikar8
I should thank you and all the readers who have added so many more. My list of 10 of early CR-Lata was intended to show their enormous contribution. To do full justice one would need to write a series of articles.
I am travelling. On return I would have to go through all the songs. Then I would send further comments.
Thanks for the beautiful song of Nou Sher wan -E -Adil. Will you try for other songs?
I tried to know what went wrong with C Ram and Lataji. I searched every where to find out the truth. Can any body tell me what happened. Here the discussion is about many unknown(I mean unknown to generation of 70’s onwards) melodies of Lataji and Chitalkar. I would include
Kaun ho tum kaun ho Stree, Mahendra Kapoor and
Umru huyi tum se mile Hemant Kumar Lataji
@Jignesh Kotadia,
Thanks for adding so many of CR-Lata gems. The one I especially like is Oonchi oonchi dukan from Pahli Jhalak. It is such a joyous song:
@NA Bapat,
Many of Nausherwan-e-Adil best known songs are Rafi-Lata duets or Rafi solos. Another very sweet Lata solo is Hum aah bhi bharte hain, matlab ki ye duniya hai yahan kaun kisi ka hota hai
@Viswanathan Nair
The two duets you have mentioned are outstanding. I had confined this to Lata solos. May be a list of his duets are called for. From the film Stree my favourite is Aaj madhuvatas dole.
Aankhon mein sama jao..Is dil mein raha karna
Tere Phulon se bhi pyar
Tum Kya jaano tumhari yaad mein
are my CRamchand lata favourits
Few comments .
Stree was remake of V. Shataram’s earlier big hit Shakuntla starring himself and I think his wife # 2 Jayasree. Stree starred Rajeshri, his daughter from Jayasree.. Huge hit.
Great lavani also from Pehli Jhalak, Acchi Surat hui ya musibat gali men Ana Jana bandh. Another great classical from that film by Lata was Na maro najarian ke ban akeli aayi paniya Bharane. It was good movie with Vaijayatimala and Kishorekumar.
I think C. Ramchadra’s first huge hit was shenani by P.L. Santoshi. Huge hit with every song a hit
Ana meri jan
Mar katari mar Jana
Jawani ki rail chali jayere
Baje shenani hamate nagana
Chadhati jawanimen Jhule Jhule meri rani
Chhook chhook chhaiyan chhaiyan
Jay Krishna hare.
Another great song when Latakia sang again for C. Ramchand was Paavan Diwani from Dr. vidhya.
Gulab Shah,
Thanks for adding so many gems. Na maro nazariya ke baan is a less heard gem, like so many of his sweet songs we are discovering only now because of the internet. And what exquisite dance by Vyjayantimala.
Na maro nazariya ke baan from Pehli Jhalak
A small detail. Pawan diwani from Dr Vidya is composed by SD Burman.
You are correct. S. D. Burman gave music for Dr. vidhya and also Dev Anand, Syraiya starter Vidhya.
Also great songs from Zanzer are ched gays mohe sapanome Shyam and chhook chhanannana chhook chhook by Lata.
Another super hit of C. Ramchandra was Saajan. Hamko tumhara hi ashram, Thandi Thandi ret me khajoor ke tale
AK Ji,
I was going thru your this post,as I am a great fan of CR-Lata combination myself.While all other things are fine,there is one major factual lapse in your introduction lines.
You are saying that in Lal Qila function of 1963,there was a mention of Lyricist Pradeep but there was no mention of C.Ramchandra etc.
This is not correct.
In that funcion where Lata sang this song for the first time,CR was very much on the stage conducting the orchestra,however Pradeep was not prsesent as he had no invitation for this programme.In fact earlier to CR,some other composers had prsented their songs.Then the name of CR was announced and he appeared on the stage.
What you have mentioned about the incident did happen,but elsewhere and at a much later time,when Lata had totally stopped singing for CR. Even Cr was almost in retirement by then.
The occasion was a musical programme on Brabourne Stadium in Bombay in 1971,to celebrate ” Indira Decade”. 13 years had passed since lata had sung for CR(after 1958,Lata did few songs for CR but there was neither the melody nor the interest by them on both sides).
Lata was still on the Top in 1971,whereas CR was a dethroned king of melody.
In this programme.by a mere coincidence CR and Lata had come on the stage together. The compere was Dilip kumar.She was to sing the famous pradeep song ‘Aya mere vatan ke logon’. Dilip kumar was in his best element while describing the events how Nehru wept etc on the first occasion.After this he mentioned that the song was written by Pradeep.Then he stopped and Lata started the song.
C.Ramchandra was furious.As soon as Dilip came in the wing,CR shouted on him,’ Yusuf,did you not know that I had composed this song ? Why did you not mention my name ?’ Dilip kumar did one of his best acting assignment that day and said innocently,” Annasaab,Muze sahi bhi maloom nahi tha”.
CR said,” arre chhod yaar.Tujhe maloom tha,lekin tujhe kaha gaya tha mera naam naa leneko,hai naa? ”
Dilip kumar muttered something and slipped from there.
This was told by CR in details to Shirish Kanekar and is printed in his book “Gaaye chala jaa”.
Further CR was never petty minded.He always praised Lata’s capabilities. In Film Fare dated 12th March 1971,CR says ” Lata is the ultimate in song virtuosity and so she inspired me to reach my ultimate in song composition.She may not sing for me any longer but she is still a singer without Peer ”
It is Lata who could not come to his level.Perhaps she forgot that when you have a quarrel with the Halwai,his sweets should not be criticised.
I thought that the readers should not get a wrong idea,hence all this.
-Arunkumar Deshmukh
Arunji,
Thanks a lot for your comments. I know you cannot be questioned on facts. I have to go back to Raju Bharatan’s biography of Lata Mangeshkar from which I wrote this from my memory. It is possible my recollection is wrong, or Raju Bharatan mixed up the venue and time where it happened. But if you look at it, since the incident did happen, the basic point does not change, as you have yourself mentioned in your comments.
C.ram : Yusuf, u r told not to announce my name on stage by someone….i know everything !
Yusuf khan : No one can dictate terms to dilip kumar , annasaab !
C.ram : Are chhod yusuf, wo din ab gaye, aaj tumhe bhi koi kuch bhi bol sakta hai…
@Arunkumar deshmukhji…..Yes exactly this is written in ‘gaaye chala ja’. Its wndrful book 4 music lovers. By reading these dialogues, it seems this haadsa is happened well after C.ram’s era, thats in ’71.
Actually the dialogue is..
Yusuf-No one dictates terms to Dilip kumar.
CR- Forget those days,There was a time when CR was also not told by anyone.Today CR is also told and Dilip kumar is also told.
You are right,Jignesh ji.
I cut short the dialogues as ,as it is my comment had become quite long,and the point of my discussion was entirely different.
-AD
Arunji….yes those r more clear lines…. Thanx …..Arunji…plz call me only ‘jignesh’..bcz i think i m younger than u.
Arunji, Jignesh,
I revisited Raju Bharatan – ‘Lata Mangeshkar: A Biography’ (page 73-77), and ‘A Journey Down Melody Lane’ (page 135-137). What had stuck in my mind was that though this song became an instant landmark, and an essential part of all her public performances, “Through the years, no matter where, when and why Lata put over Ae mere watan ke logo, she unfailingly mentioned Kavi Pradeep as its author. But never C Ramchandra as its creator!”
When I wrote my article long after I had read these sources, I was not so much into the controversy behind the song as the fact of her not ‘acknowledging’ CR. But since this has now come up for discussion it is better that we discuss what happened on January 27, 1963 at the public rendition of this song, which was to acquire an iconic status. Since none of us was present there, we have to depend on various sources, now available in abundance.
All sources agree on one point that Kavi Pradeep was not invited to Delhi function. Role of a physically absent person can be ‘acknowledged’ – the accounts are silent on this, but we can let it pass. My syntax is liable to be misunderstood that he was present. Therefore, I have simply added a reference to these comments to make the picture clear. Thanks for bringing it to my notice.
What about CR? None of the accounts says categorically that he was present. But Arunji, I trust you, he must have been present, and it must have been considered redundant to mention about his presence. But what is Lata Mangeshkar trying to convey in this recent interview I had declined Ae mere watan ke logo by saying prominently that Hemant Kumar orchestrated the whole project? That Hemant Kumar was conducting the orchestra before the audience (even though CR was the composer)?
Now Asha Bhosle angle. Raju Bharatan recalls CR telling him that “I was always clear in my mind that Lata and Asha would sing Ae mere watan ke logo as a duet”. Asha was to sing Ae mere watan ke logo and Lata was to follow with Zara aankh mein bhar lo pani. But Lata insisted that she would do it as a solo. There are other details in quotes how Asha Bhsole’s air ticket was ready for Delhi, but she told CR, “I very much want to come, but you know, as well as I do, that Lata Didi will never permit me to do so in the end.”
Kavi Pradeep’s daughter Mitul has said in this recent interview that due to some misunderstanding between CR and Lata, this was to be sung by Asha Bhosle, but her father felt that nobody except Lata could do justice to it.
Thus, if you trust all these sources, Asha Bhosle was an integral part of the project – solo or duet with Lata, but she was ejected in the final outcome. However, Lata Mangeshkar in her recent interviews, widely quoted over various media platforms, says that she was not interested in doing this song as she was working round the clock those days and it was not possible to give special attention to one song. (How cavalier she is about a song that made her ‘a tuneful symbol of national integration’?) Then she suggested that it may be done as a duet between her and Asha Bhosle, but Kavi Pradeep insisted that Lata did it as a solo. “Asha too opted out. I tried to convince her to change her mind arguing that her name had even been printed in the newspapers as one of the singers.”
Arunji, I am not aware of Asha Bhosle’s version. But it would only make the story murkier. It is sad that such a great song should have such unpleasant personal prejudices and rivalries behind it.
About some other factual details, different accounts mention the venue as Ramlila Maidan or Nationa Stadium. But this is trivial. Similarly, there seems to be a small factual error in your account of the Brabourne Stadium. You have mentioned the year as 1971. Raju Bharatan gives the same story and the said conversation between CR and Dilip Kumar in detail. He says it happened in one of those emergency style musical nites in 1976. Even if it was to celebrate ‘Indira decade’, it would be 1976 as she became PM in 1966 after the demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 (in Tashkent in mysterious circumstances). Again, this minor detail does not change the essential point of the story – i.e. not acknowledging CR as the composer of this song.
Have we heard the last of Ae mere watan ke logo?
AK Ji,
We have certainly not heard the last of this episode.
As far as Delhi function details are concerned,i have Raju Bharatan’s version,Kavi Pradeep’s interview on this,Lata’s (naughty) version and most important,C.Ramchandra’s version in his own words as told to Shirish kanekar are with me.
Plus recently I got hold of the Marathi autobiography of C.Ramchandra, Majhya Jeevana chi Sargam (The Sargam of my life) published in 1977. This book suddenly disappeared from the market soon after it was published,but not before few copies were already sold.this was because in this book,CR has in details described about 2 major points 1. His relations with Lata,without mentioning her name but calling some girl as SEETA.A diserning reader easily recognises who this Seeta was. 2. Details of Delhi function and who was to sing it etc.
For your information currently,I am writing about this book in 10 parts on Atul ji’s blog as CR’s journey of life.Today the 4th episode was posted.
Further 2 days back Anmol Fankaar has also posted my article” C.Ramchandra and Seeta”.
I will come to the Delhi episode shortly and reveal what CR actually said about it.
For the time being I just confirm once again that CR was very much present on the stage conducting orchestra when Lata was singing.Later,He was called by Nehru and he had an exclusive photo with him.
So,it has not ended here, yet……
-Arunkumar Deshmukh
Arunji,
Of all the unsavoury stories around Ae mere watan ke logo, perhaps this might take the cake. All the artistes associated this song had given up their royalty rights for War Widows. HMV has so far paid only Rs 3.39 lakhs as royalty. Curious about whether the company was releasing the amounts regularly, the poet’s daughter, Mitul Pradeep, had sought details. When she didn’t get a reply, she moved the Bombay highcourt for details of the accounts. The Court asked HMV’s counsel whether they would like to close the matter by paying a lump sum. The counsel asaid he would have to seek instructions from the HMV hqrs in Kolkata.
We do not know the sale records. But knowing the songs enormous popularity over 50 years, Rs 3.39 lakhs does seem to be a pittance. The court noted that the petitioner was not seeking the money for herself, but wanted the rightful amount to go to the War Widows.
I would look up your articles. Thanks for your comments.
anyone can say anything but the songs that lata didi had sung in the composition of C.Ramchandra are immortal and remarkable.. Lata is best for all other composers but the beauty of lata shows more and more in the composition of C.Ramchandra
We really have a great list of CR and Lata combination. What ever said and done, any one will agree that this pair has really leveled up the Hindi Film Music to spectacular height. One can easily make out Lata’s special voice and the sense of belongingness to C Ramchandra’s compositions.
I would like to add a few more to the list above :
1. Dard Ke Maare Hue O – Hungama
2. Ai Darde Gigar Mere- Parchchain
3. Jee Chahat Hai – Jhanjhar (1953 film said to be produced by CR and Lata)
4. Ye Aarjoo Thi Kabhi – Barish
5. Tum Apani Yaad Bhi Dilse – with Talat-Yasmin
6. Cheen Sake To Cheen – Shagufa
7. Ai Chand Pyar Mera – Khazana
8. Kabhi Khamosh Ho Jaana-Patanga
9. Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Pyar Ki Duniya- Hangama
10. Ishk Me Jo Kuchch Na Hona tha – Saqi
I am sure there are much more to add ….
The posts above invoke extreme nostalgia. During the late 60s-early 70s we used to tune in to Radio Ceylon every Sunday at 9:30 pm to listen to Hamesha Jawan Geet for one and half hours of musical bliss. Later that programme was curtailed to 60 minutes beginning at 10:00 pm. The requests from listeners in this programme were not vitiated by mails from Jhumari Tilaiya, Rajnandgaon, and Yavatmal. And this was one of the few programmes where one could regularly expect to listen to a few CR-Lata gems from the minor movies. To me, Lata singing for CR in the late 40s-early 50s and for Madan Mohan later was a different Lata just as Asha singing for O. P. Nayyar or SDB was a different Asha. I will not try to list CR-Lata songs which are legion, but will mention only one for its haunting melody: Apna pata bata de from Shagufa (I prefer the slow version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=djMzYCs9YZo
After reading this and related blogs I have come to respect Arunkumar Deshmukhji’s knowledge of HFM. In one of his posts above he mentions that SDB had used Talat in five movies, namely Armaan, Buzdil, Taxi Driver, Devdas, and Sujata. In fact, there is at least one more movie (Angarey) in which Talat sang (Doob gaye akash ke tare) for SDB.
Canasyaji,
Regarding the movies in which SDB used Talat, there are two more that I can recollect – Sazaa(1951) and Babla (1953).
Canasyaji,
Thanks for your opinion about my posts.
I do not remember in which connection,I had mentioned only 5 film names for SDB+Talat songs. However this is not true.
They have combined in the following films…..
(basically,SDB had not much good opinion about Talat and he was taken only if he was the only fit person for that song.)
Angarey, Armaan, Babla, Bahar, Devdas, Ek nazar, Shahenshah, Sujata, Taxi Driver, Buzdil, Sazaa
-AD
Where can I get the book “Majhya jeevana chi sargam”?
I tried a lot but did not get anywhere.
Nikhil ji,
This book is NOT available anywhere now. perhaps you are aware that there was a rumour that due to the explosive revealations in the book,all the remaining copies of the book in the market were collected and burnt. Do not know if it was true.
No transalations were allowed in any language. I have also been informed that the famous Gujrathi and Hindi author Rajnikumar Pandya ji had approached the copyright holder of the book for Hindi translation ,but he was disappointed.This is the latest news on this book.
The best way to have a copy of the book is to get Xerox copy done,of the original book,from the person owning a copy-which will also be rare.
just for your info,there are 3 articles on this book posted on Anmol Fankaar.
-AD
C. Ramchandra was one of a kind music director. He was a genius, who excelled in sad songs. His love for Lata emotionally compelled him to compose the best for her. In my judgement his best songs include. 1) Vo pass aa rahe hain hum door jaa rahe hain film Samadhi, 2) Kat-te hain dukh mein ye din film Parchhaiyin, 3) Ye do ansoo lagi dilki bijha jaate, fil m Yasmin, 4) Ankhon main sama jao is dil mein raha karna, film Yasmin, 5) Koi kisi kaa deewana na bane, film Sargam, 6) Gham ki waadi mein khushi ka kaarwan, film Saqi, 7) Ai dird-e mohabbat, film Hangama, 8) Yeh zindagi usi ki hai, film Anarkali, 9) Itna hassen hai mausam, film Azaad, 10) Thukra ka mujhe ai jaane waale, film Patanga.
So true, Harjap Singh Aujla. Serial 3 and 8 are duets. I do not know whether you would like to keep them in the best of CR-Lata songs. Serial 6 and 7 I am not able to recall off-hand. Probably new to me. I am going to check up on them. Just shows, as I said, CR-Lata have the largest number of hidden gems from the early 50s.
I can quote other all Lata songs too like Doob jaye jo qismat ka taara, koi hotaa nahin phir sahara film Parchhaiyin, Naa umeed hote bhi duniya mein jiye jaate hain fim Sangeeta, Mujhpa ilzaam e bewafai hai.
गाण्यांच्या संकलका ला माझा सलाम !!!
मी सी रामचंद्र यांचा संगीता चा निस्सीम चाहता आहे . पण या संकेत स्थळा पासून कसा दूर राहिलो ? पण येथील गाण्यांचे कलेक्शन आणि त्यावर तुम्हा सर्व चाहत्यांच्या प्रतिक्रिया पाहून तसेच त्यावरील प्रेम पाहून खूपच आनंद झाला आणि माझ्यासारखे सी रामचंद्रांच्या संगीताचे अजून वेडे (व शहाणे) चाहते आहेत हे बघून धन्य वाटले .
मंगेश शरद,
बहुत धन्यवाद. मैं इतना ही समझ पाया कि आपको यह अच्छा लगा और आप प्रशंसा कर रहे हैं.
on 27 th Jan ‘2014 also, the history was repeated as there was no mention of music composer.
Politicians are shrewd enough to distort history and present only what suits them. Is the same also applicable to Lata…
It was irony to note no news channel cared about music composer of the song.
I happen to be a latecomer to this fascinating debate but can’t resist the temptation of joining.
Let me also list some songs which I found missing here.
1. Ek thes lagi aansoo tapke from Namuna.
2 . Dil hai luta hua jahan from Talash.
3. Dheere se aja ri (solo) from Albela.
CR/Lata team has also given some excellent bhajans which are the hallmark of this composer.
1. Tum bin meri kaun khabar le from Jhanjhar.
2. Jai2 Ram Raghurai and
Tere phoolon se bhi pyar from Naastik.
Apart from that, I am forgetting 1 from Karigar.
I am really enjoying this exchange.
Its a Sunday and I can take some musical liberties.
This again is (CR/Lata),my favourite musical topic and 2 points I would like to make.
You said in your opening post that that among the great music directors CR has the most no of hidden gems.
Respecting your sentiments and agreeing to that,
I would also include the doyen of Indian film music, the great Anil BISWAS to this list.
You mentioned that ‘O nirdayi preetam’ reminded you of ‘Pankh hote to’
Kindly listen to a Lata song ‘Aaj Milan ki raat hai’ from ‘Keechak Vadh’. Soulful music of this sons is by Master Krishna Rao. You won’t be disappointed.
.
Sharmaji,
Thanks a lot for your additions. There was a vintage era Tum bin hamri kaun khabar le sung by Sheela in Pukar (1939), composed by Mir Saheb. Compared to that, CR-Lata’s seems weak. My personal opinion. I am sure you have heard it, otherwise you must on the YT.
Aaj milan ki raat hai is excellent. Thanks a lot. Among the other songs you mentioned, I especially liked these which were new to me:
Ek thes lagi ansoo tapke from Namoona (1949), lyrics Naqshan Jarachvi
Dil hai luta hua from Talash (1957), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
Marvellous collection ,and hidden stories about CR. I do feel none but only CR could utilize the Lataji’s talent .I dont find any one can use ragas in such a beautiful way . One thing about CR music the no strenza of some was a repeatirion , every strenza was with some thing new , new or other istrument use .The lori dhire se aaja ri is immortal.,main jagu re tu sojaa were the marvellous . My children really used to close eyes and go to sleep one you utter the song . Thanks
Thanks a lot Dr Bhandarkar, and welcome to SoY. CR-Lata combo indeed created some of the most moving songs in the early 50s.
I came across this debate just today and was delighted to note that there are so many fans of Lata & C. Ramchandra combination like myself. I consider the songs of this pair as sweetest of them all, pure honey. I am familiar with all songs listed and would like to add a few which do not appear here but are as sweet.
1. tadpaake mujhe ab chhod diya ~ Namoona
2.woh paas aa rahe hain~ Samadhi
3.naa ummeed hoke bhi~ Sangeeta
4.dil dhadke nazar sharmaaye~ Albela
5.katate hain dukh mein yeh din~ Parchhain
6.kaahe naina ladey is din ke liye~ Jhamela
7.apna pataa bataa de~ Shagufa
8.mehendi lagi thi mere haath~ Meenar
9.humein lakh naa karod naa hazaar chahiye~ Duniya gol hai
10.ab woh raaten kahan~ Yasmin
11.soona hai mere dil ka jahan~ Devta
12.tu na aaya aur hone lagi shaam re~ Aasha
13.anganaa mein suraj muskaya~ Stree
14.balma anadi man bhaaye~ Bahurani
All above are Lata solos which are equally sweet.( Anarkali & Azaad songs are excluded for obvious reasons )
Anil Kane,
Welcome to SoY, and thanks a lot for adding these songs, half of which were new to me.
The first one is a duet with Rafi. But Lata Mangeshkar is very prominent in the song.
CR-Lata combination in the early 50s was pure honey, and they have the most number of excellent songs hidden from public memory.
Dear AK ji,
Yes Sir ! Song no. 1 is a Lata/Rafi duet. A few others, apart from those in Nausherwan e Adil, which come to mind are:
1.mehfil mein mrei kaun yeh diwana aa gaya ~ Albela
2.mujhe tumse bahut hai pyar ~ Khazana
3.udhar se tum chale aur hum idhar se ~ Sagaai
4.Aa gayi hai ishq pe bahaar ~ Saqi
Why Rafi was sidetracked by C Ramchandra, in spite of giving some beautiful numbers in the initial stages of his career listed below, will always remain a question mark.
1.keheke bhi naa aaye tum ~ Safar
2.hum ko tumhara hi aasra ~ Saajan ( solo as well as duet with Lalita Dewoolkar )
3.more raja ho le chal nadiya ke paar ~ Nadiya ke paar ( duet with Lalita Dewoolkar)
4.bolo ji dil loge toh kya kya doge ~ Patanga
Even in the second half of the fifties Rafi featured in a few songs :
1.yeh hasrat thi ke iss duniya mein ~ Nausherwan e Adil
2dekh humein aawaz naa dena ~ Amar Deep
3.jawani mein akelepan ki ghadiyan ~ Pagham
You will note that song no 1 above is on par with any other highly rated Rafi solo of any contemporary music directors. Any way it is our loss not having many more Rafi songs under the baton of C Ramchandra.
Bolo ji dil loge from Patanga is a duet with Shamshad Begum.
Dekh humein awaaz naa dena from Amar Deep is aduet with Asha.
Jawani mein akelepan ki ghadiyan from Paigham is a duet with Asha.
Anil Kane,
In your list the two pure solos are, Kahke bhi na aaye tum and Ye hasrat thi ki is duniya mein – both outstanding songs. The latter is more famous, but the first one is my great favourite. Even though Humko tumhara hi aasra has a solo version, I remembered it as a duet until you mentioned it. Other songs in your list are duets – Boloji dil doge (with Shamshad Begum) and Dekh humein aawaz na dena, Jawani mein akelepan ki ghdiyaan (with Asha Bhosle).
Even though CR gave some outstanding songs with Rafi, we have to see his place in perspective. I put for your consideration three thoughts. One, there was something special in CR (Chitalkar)’s own singing that most of his songs became raging hits. Two, CR was more of a lady’s composer. Post-Lata, he was very Lata-centric. Before that, he had something special with Shamshad Begum, Amirbai Karnataki etc. Three, Rafi with CR has to be juxtaposed against Rafi with Naushad, SD Burman, OP Nayyar and Shankar Jaikishan. For each of them, Rafi was a very important part of their music, which was not the case for CR.
Dear AK ji,
Your analysis of why we could hear Rafi/CR combination sparingly is apt.
I fully agree with your view point , Sir!
AK ji
One more beautiful Lata / CR solo which is rarely heard was played by Radio Ceylon in its morning broadcast today at 7.15 a.m.
it is from Shatranj a Meena Kumari & Ashok Kumar starrer.It is :
Hawa hai sard sard aur dil mein bhi hai dard ‘.It is in 2 parts.
Other more often heard song from the same film a duet by Lata & Hemant Kumar is ‘ Badli mein chhupe chand ne kuchh mujhse kahahai
Anil Kane,
Hawa hai sard sard is a beautiful song. Heard it for the first time.
Badli mein chhupe chaand ne kuchh mujhse kaha hai I have put at the third top spot in my favourite My favourite Hemant Kumar-Lata Mangeshkar duets.
AK ji,
A beautiful Lata-C.Ramchandra solo was played by Radio Ceylon (do not feel like calling it SLBC ) today. It was often heard in the good old days but has been almost forgotten now. It is:
‘ Yeh hawa yeh sama chandni hai jawan,
tumhe layee meri fariyad yahan’-Shagufa (1953)
Anil Kane,
Thanks a lot for sharing this song.
Ye hawa ye shama chaandni hai jawan from Shagufa (1953), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
AK,
Isn’t the antara of song mil gaye mil gaye aaj mere sanam from kanyadan similar to the Shagufa song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4tr_4cTvFc&feature=player_detailpage
AK,
I am sorry I meant Mukhda and not antara
Mumbaikar8,
Yes, but it needs a perceptive listener like you to notice it.
AK ji, Mumbaikar8,
I agree.
Another nice article AK ji!
I really miss Anna’s music in the 60s. If he had not ignored Rafi he would have been able to survive the 60s as well , for it was not possible to survive the 60s without Rafi. Having said that, 60s or no 60s, Anna remains one of the top 3 music directors of the HFM. His output with Lata is a sheer magic.
Here are some more songs of Anna-Lata combination which I think no one has mentioned yet:
-Chup chup chup hone laga kuch(Insaniyat 1955)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvyGcaA91ZQ
-Bigad gayi kyo meri taqdeer bante bante(Saudagar 1951)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjvSJuylHfs
-Mere nayihar ka moh bada(Chatrapati Shivaji 1952)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkoqoyRx9Vo
-Madbhare pawan mein jaise diye ki lau(Chatrapati Shivaji 1952)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHVt4rLqMrg
-Laadle ram se tum ho ghanashyam(Chatrapati Shivaji 1952)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azuJF-cjStY
-Dekho ji dekho mera dil leke daga nahi dena(Jhamela 1953)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFmplA8R1fc
-Bholi bhali Radhika natkhat Kanahiya(Lehren 1953)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb7R-A-hVIM
-Aaja rasiya O mann basiya(Leheren 1953)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eCbdz68Yfg
-Kanha bajaye bansari aur gwalae(Nastik 1954)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOj7SAjjwuY
-Kaise aaye hain din haaye(Nastik 1954)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmvsyhLKqb0
To be more specific, Anna did do some 11-12 movies in the 60s but he was not the same force to reckon with as he was in the 50s and late 40s. That is what I meant when I said I miss Anna’s music in the 60s.
Kapil,
You have added a good number of unheard gems. I liked the mujra in Nastik the most.
CR with Lata was among the very top, and I have mentioned that among the top composers he is the one with most Lata gems yet to be discovered. His one constraint was he became totally Lata-centric, and once they fell apart, and he lost his ‘diary’, he was lost.
kindly let me the raag in the song ‘kat te hain dukh me ye din movie-parchhaain 1952 song sung by Lata.
AK’ji , Arvinder sharma’ji ,Harjap’ji , I must place my appreciation to all the members of SOY family for the excellent inputs as observations and comments that made me remember my childhood memories afresh . My self and my six brothers and two sisters used to sing most of these songs before retiring to bed . Era of 50sand 60s was musically best with melodies being offered from so many MDs quarters . C Ramchandra’s Parchhaiyan and Albela were top listed by us as all the songs of the movies were melodious . After going all thru the excellent songs contributed by so many passionate lovers of old songs it is very difficult to chose and list the best . As far as we as a family is concerned we will rate Two happy and Two sad songs as……….1. Chanda ki chhaon mein thandi thandi hawohan mein from Parchaaiyan ……..2. Dil dhadke nazar sharmai to samjho pyar ho gaya from Albela……..3. Kat te hain dukh mein din from Parchaiyan……….4. Koi kisi kaa diwana na bane from Sargam . It makes me a little sad also when i went to see ” Labela ” some time around 1966-67. starring bhagwan and belabose. The film was produced by Bhagwan with music by CR. I think i should close here.
Yes ; ‘” Mere watan ke logo ” was sung by Lataji in New Delhi’s Natoinal Stadium near India Gate.
Bhatiaji,
The way you closed you statement# 93 made me think how musical genius C. Ramchandra dropped.
There is no doubt that he was a musical genius, I think he should not be judged by what he did post Lata Mangeshkar.
If at all we want to judge him without Lata, it should be pre Lata period, he certainly had made his mark before she arrived, that proves that she did not make.
His mistake was that he put all his eggs in one basket and had to pay a huge price for it.
I have seen very few people (like SDB and Sahir Ludhyanvi) survive Lata’s wrath.
Mumbaiker’ji, My last sentence said it all. What a pain to bear after listening to a genius for so many years . I think lyricist and singers , as rightly said, are the best supports they should get and not the low budget movies where MDs lend their low stocked tunes . Anyway we all are greatful to CR for the melodies of yester years he gave us to cherish for rest of our life .
I have been a die hard admirer of the musical duo of Lata & C.Ramchandra and it is true that the best and the sweetest songs have been given by this pair and the sweetness and the melody can not be matched. I did not know the details of their soured relation ship and the break up.But it was a very sad episode for the lovers of ultimate melody.After going through the above comments by the lovers of good music I was convinced that C.Ramchandra was a good human being and one of the greatest music directors and it was Lata who did not value the gem.
Ravi Sinha
Ravi Sinha ji; What you summed up for C Ramchandra and Lataji ; I entirely agree with you . C Ramchandra was a gem of a person ; never had a will to compete with other MDs and gave his best during mid ’40 thru 60s. During this period he gave a number of hits and mastered his strokes for sad songs . The List is long and my fav are …….1 Tum kya janno tumhari yaad mein hum kitna roye …..2. Katte hain dukh mein din ……3. Koi kissi ka diwanna na baney .
As aptly remarked i think by shrish kanekat ” bai (lady ) tuze ( yours) bhandan (fight) halwai ya ( sweet maker ) barabor (with) hai (is) halwa varti (on) raag (anger) ka ( why)” loosely translated lady you have fight with sweet maker (CR) but why sore or angry on his sweet (songs or composition ). A remark on not including his song in her top 10.
Dev,
Welcome to SoY. Very apt saying. There were some more surprise exclusions. In that ten she could find room for LP, but not Anil Biswas. She had her own ways.
There is a song in “Pehli Jhalak” – “Mat maro Nazariya ke teer “and with Tabla Tarang this is a beautiful melody.
There is a song in “Pehli Jhalak” – “Mat maro Nazariya ke teer “and with Tabla Tarang this is a beautiful melody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olnykc–K0Y
Akji
Today i have completed 3 years in SoY University. I had taken admission in SoY thru the same post on Dec 7 2012. yet i am not in a position to ask a bachelor certificate (BSoY) from you bcoz i have not fulfilled the minimum requirements (at least 50% attendance) 🙂 ok i will wait for some more years.
I had posted one of the best compositions of CR on that day, but sadly today i couldnt find it on YT.
a class poetry of Rajinder Krishan in Hangama (1952)
Aye dard e muhabbat aa tujh ko seene se lagaake pyar karu
saajan ki nishani hai tujh ko duniya se chhupake pyar karu
milne ka samaa kuchh door na tha
duniya ko magar manzoor tha
duniya ko khabar kya main tujh ko sab kuchh bhi lutaake pyar karu
yeh raat yeh thandi mast hawaa
is par yeh sitam main tumse judaa
kismat men likha hai main tujh se aansoo hi bahaake pyar karu
a correction :
milne ka sama kuchh door na tha
duniya ko magar manzoor na tha
Jignesh,
Many happy returns of the day. Barring some vacations you have been a most diligent scholar at the campus.
It is most frustrating the way YT takes off songs. Sometimes they do it with songs of 30s and 40s too in which only some of us interested and no one’s copyright is involved.
@Jigneshji
I have the song in my collection. I can upload it through soundcloud as a audio piece. I can only make a still video of the song probably with an image of Lata Mangeshkar and post it in You Tube. I leave the choice.
Akji
Many thanx for your kind words.
DPRanganji
It’s great you have this song. I would like to see the still video on YT with Lataji’s image.
Thanx for the offer. I hope i will see this song again on YT soon. Plz upload a good audio, i also have this song in my collection but not in a good condition.
Dear Jignesh,
Here’s the link below
https://youtu.be/7tcwFV7Sl3c
Jignesh dear,
Sorry for posting the wrong link.
Got carried away and posted this one. I don’t think YT has the song, will pursue dear Sudhir Kapur Ji is post this song
Apologies and regards
Sharmaji
this is Dard ke maare hue .. it’s not Aye dard e muhabbat.
Sharmaji
it’s ok. ye gaana mere paas hai lekin uski audio quality utni acchhi nahi hai. I want a better one, if anyone has this song.
Dekh roop ki dhoop raasta bhul na jana rahi
Khile phool ko soch samaj kar haath lagana rahi
main hun phoolon ki rakhwar
main hun phoolon ki rakhwar
khet ke paar koi na aaiyo
Kahin dekh akeli naar khet ke paar koi na aaiyo
another brilliance of Rajinder Krishan in Talaash (1957)
CR-Lata classic.
Jignesh dear,
As compensation I would like you to have this song from Sangeeta, which was hitherto unavailable, and Sudhir Ji uploaded the song on my request
Teri Gali me koi diwana gata phire ye gaana,
Dil na lagana dil na lagana dil na lagana
https://youtu.be/Sn3VU2Y7pUs
Sharmaji
thank u very much for this nice song.
Sangeeta is a great work of CR.
Dil lut liya aa aa aa aa
Dil lut liya anjaane men
Hum aa gaye unki aankhon ke behkaane men..
wahwah kitna sukun kitna aaram hai in suro men in dhoonon men
Teri gali men koi diwana gaata phire ye gaana
dil na lagaana dil na lagaana dil na lagaana
Na Umeed hokar bhi duniya men jiye jaate hai
Dil tut gaya phir bhi hum pyar kiye jaate hai
Zara suno suno kya kahe zamaana
Tum hame chaaho na chaaho hum tumhe chaahe
Jo mujhe rulaake chale gaye
mujhe yaad unki sataaye kyun…. all masterpieces
@115
Can you send your e mail id. I would like to send the song as a sample and if it meets your approval can post it in You Tube. My e mail id dprangan@outlook.com.
DPRanganji
i have sent you my email id and Whatsapp no. both.
While listening to this sweet song I am reminded of my childhood when there used to be radios for listening to songs. Like all song lovers I used to get glued to the radio to listen to such melodyies.
Ravi Sinha
Arvinder sharma , Sudhir ji[s] ,
I am late on responding to your post @113 . as I was repeatedly listening to the beautiful sweet song [ though I am Diabetic ] of Lata ji…..Teri gali mein koi deewana……from Sangeeta . Thanks both of you for the uploads .
Soft melody , sad songs , pure naturally flowing rhythm were really the nicest combos of CR and Lata ji .
In schooldays I saw Film Alabela. I was thinking songs ;shola jo bhadake & sham dhale khidakitale were sung by Geeta Dutt or Aasha Bhosale. When I came to know those songs were sung by Lata Mangeshkar,I was surprised because these songs are sung by Lataji in very different style. because of such versatility she is known as ‘ suronki Maharani’.
Even if I leave Anarkali and Azad, still there are serious omissions here which I would have included if I were to make a top 10 list…
1) Aye Chand Pyar Mera from Khazana
2) Katte Hai Dukh Mein from Parchhaiyan
3) Ab Woh Ratein Kahan from Yasmin
4) Ankhon Mein Sama Jao from Yasmin
5) Hawa Hai Sard Sard from Shatranj
And I really didn’t get the meaning of this “Interestingly if I try to recall C Ramchandra’s great songs by male singers, there is hardly much beyond his own (Chitalkar) songs.” Seriously there are many great C. Ramchandra solo compositions sung by male singers…
1) Woh Zalim Pyar Kya Jane (Parchhaiyan) – Talat Mahmood
2) Zindagi Pyar Ki Do Char Ghadi (Anarkali) – Hemant Kumar
3) Ae Baad E Saba (Anarkali) – Hemant Kumar
4) Dekh Tere Sansar Ke Halat (Nastik) – Pradeep
5) Apni Nakami Se Mujhko (Subah Ka Tara) – Talat Mahmood
6) Ena Meena Deeka (Asha) – Kishore Kumar
7) Kavi Raja Kavita Ke (Navrang) – Bharat Vyas
8) Ye Mati Sabhi Ki (Navrang) – Mahendra Kapoor
9) Kabhi Tanhaiyo Mein (Meenar) – Talat Mahmood
10) Zamein Chal Rahi (Pehli Jhalak) – Hemant Kumar
11) Bechain Nazar Betab Zigar (Yasmin) – Talat Mahmood
12) Yeh Hasrat Thi (Nausherwan-E-Adil) – Mohm. Rafi
13) Ab Dar Hai Kiska (Amar Deep) – Mohm. Rafi
14) Shyamal Shyamal Baran (Navrang) – Mahendra Kapoor
Few that I can think of at this moment…
Sumantra Roy,
Out of 300 CR-Lata songs I selected some, the readers have added many more in their comments, including most of the songs mentioned by you. I think your comment only endorses what I was trying to say: That their combine gave a huge treasure-trove of songs.
Hemant Kumar and Talat Mahmood songs you have mentioned would figure in their greatest songs. Male songs of CR vis-a-vis has to be seen in relative terms – relative within his own total output, and relative to his peers. If you take SD Burman for example, he would figure very prominently in the best songs for Kishore Kumar, Rafi and Manna Dey as also for Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt; Shankar-Jaikishan for Rafi, Mukesh and Manna Dey as for Lata Mangeshkar.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE LASTING FANS OF C RAMCHANDRA ADDRESSED AS ANNA BY CLOSE FRIENDS LIKE ME AND DUE TO SUCH BONDINGS FEW LIKE USED TO GO FOR HIS RECORDINGS AT DADAR B N SARMAS BOMBAY LAB OR GEMINI LAB AT CHENNAI, NOT ONLY FOR RECORDINGS BUT ALSO FOR( RR ) RE RECORDINGS MOST IF THE TIME. ALONG WITH ABLE ASSISTANTS DD (DATTA DWAJEKAR) AND JOHNNY GOMEZ HE USED TO FINISH ALL WORK IN A VERY SHORT TIME, EXCEPT IN GEMINI STUDIOS HE USED TO TAKE A MONTH FOR RR ALONE, AS MR S S VASAN PRODUCER DIRECTOR WAS VERY METICU-LOUS AND PERFECT IN OUT COME OF THE MOVIE. WHERE AS FOR SHROB MODI HIS LONG TIME FRIEND HE GAVE OUT STANDING SONGS IN NAUSHERWAN A DIL LIKE BINI BINI HAI WALTZ, BOOL JAYE SARE GUM, TARONKI ZUBHAN PAR ALL COMPOSED IN ONE SHOT JUST IN 3 DAYS AND R R IN 4/5 DAYS, SAME IN THE CASE OF AZAD BOTH WERE SUPER DUPER HITS NOT ONLT IN MUSIC BUT ALSO IN RUN.
Mr Padmanabhan,
Welcome to SoY. Good to know that you were acquainted with CR.
may I add these?
https://sites.google.com/site/decadesbacksongs/home/latha-mangeshkar-songs
Dea AK ji, I completely agree with you that it was CR who shaped and nuanced young Lata ji’s evolving tonal personality. It looks as though his compositions take extra care to be gentle to her tender reed-thin voice. What songs of eternal beauty this partnership produced. It’s obviously impossible to be unanimous on their best 10 songs. But you being AK ji, I would like to know whether you had forgotten about ‘aye chand pyar mera’ when you picked your best 10. Or was it a conscious omission? Regards SR
Surajit Roy,
Out of 300 CR-Lata songs I pick about ten for my post. There could be 30 more which are as good as the 10 I have selected. The readers add their favourites. I am sure all the well known songs of this combination, including Ae chaand pyar mera, have been added in the comments.
Dear Arunkumar Deshmukji ! I am a late comer to this discussion ! I have followed Chitalkarji and Lataji from my childhood in Madras ! I now live in the States ( LA, California). In my humble opinion , the eternal haunting melody that Lataji sang for Chitalkar, who poured his heart into his orchestra for this melody is “ Tum Kya Jano “! I am puzzled that this did not make it into your top ten !! Sad! Cheers. Venkat.
Venkat Warren ji’;
I am as passionate as you are about Lata CR combo sad songs . To the song ….tum kya jaano…I will add ….Katte hain dukh mein din…and…Koi kisi ka diwana na bane .
Ksbhatiaji, achaji ! Well said ! I agree ! Lataji did a fabulous melodious job for Chitalkarji in the films Parchain and Sargam .In “ Tum Kya Jaano”, her voice in low octave, flows from her larynx like a soft gentle river water and Chitalkarji complements that gentle melodious voice with his ethereal Orchestra ! Very nice chatting with you. Cheers. Venkat.