We now come to the end of the series on Ravi. In my opening post in the series we saw him as a many-splendoured genius with a large number of songs for themes and occasions, which have acquired an iconic status, many of which made the readers exclaim, Oh, this is also composed by him! Yet when some of us hesitated in bracketing him among the ‘greats’, Hans Jakhar was not pleased and challenged that at the end of the series we would concede that Ravi deserves to be called a ‘great’ music director. Without getting stuck on the semantics, please recall subsequent posts in the series: Rafi’s solos, Rafi’s duets, Asha Bhosle’s songs by him, Ravi’s special partnership with Shakeel Badayuni, Ravi’s songs for Lata Mangeshkar, and Mahendra Kapoor. That is a massive list of superhit songs with most of the major playback singers. But that is not the end of his work. He composed great songs for other playback singers too, and in this respect he ranks with those music directors whose special strength was their diversity in working with different playback singers, unlike some who were fixated on a couple of their favourites.
In a way, this post which brings to a close the series on Ravi, nicely connects to the opening post, as both have the same underlying theme of ‘diversity’ – the first one showcased his diversity in composing for a variety of occasions and themes, which continued in his artiste-specific posts, which now further consolidates with his landmark songs for many ‘other’ singers. And, let me assure you, you would not cease exclaiming, Oh, this too is a Ravi composition!
Was Ravi a ‘great’ composer?
I come back to our original discussion about Ravi’s ‘greatness’. Obviously we don’t have any mathematical algorithm to measure an artiste’s greatness. We use these words based on our early emotional response to songs by some composers, and our conditioning by how they are described in the public media. Thus, we have no hesitations about early era stalwarts of the New Theatres, the later maestros such as Anil Biswas, Khemchand Prakash, followed by Naushad, C Ramchandra, SD Burman, OP Nayyar, SJ, Madan Mohan and Roshan etc, even though the last two did not have the commensurate commercial success. Let me paraphrase the Ravi-question differently, Where do we place him among the galaxy of the greats? It is a sad fact that we don’t bestow upon him the same respect as we do to the greats in the foregoing list. At the same time, he was undeniably one of the most successful and most sought after music directors.
One extreme view about him was expressed by Shalini: “I’ve long held Ravi to be an exceptionally dull composer. The recent posts on him on SoY have reaffirmed that view.” I am sure Shalini would have realized that she had gone overboard in giving him such poor marks. And, the recent posts on SoY? I thought these enhance his image, as these show special contributions by him to film music, which were not so clearly known:
1. He is among the few composers who gave Asha Bhosle a central place among the female singers. While OP Nayyar set her voice in a style opposite to Lata Mangeshkar, and gave primacy to duets, Ravi gave her songs in Lata Mangeshkar-idiom, and a large number of solos of a very wide range.
2. Shakeel Badayuni’s association with Ravi starting with Chaudahavin Ka Chaand (1960) opened many doors to him outside Naushad-Ghulam Mohammad fold, and gave him opportunity to write a greater variety of songs.
3. Ravi’s best songs for Rafi would figure in any list of his greatest songs. I am always mesmerized by Zindagi ke safar mein akele the hum, mil gaye tum to dil ko sahara mila.
4. Ravi was very clearly the booster rocket for Mahendra Kapoor. If I have to mention his one song, it would be Chalo ek baar phir se ajanabi ban jaayein hum dono – a truly eternal song. This is not to minimize the importance of the poetry of Sahir Ludhiyanavi.
5. Even though Lata Mangeshkar was firmly his ‘other’ singer, she too got to sing songs of supreme melody like, Ae mere dil-e-naadan tu gham se na ghabrana, Wo dil kahan se laaun teri yaad jo bhula de and Dil mein kisi ke pyar ka jalta hua diya.
6. And as you would see from the songs below in this concluding post, Ravi gave at least some landmark songs for Talat Mahmood, Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar too, which would easily figure among their career best.
7. And not to forget, he was himself no mean singer, and he wrote some great lyrics too.
8. Also, he established a solid reputation for himself in Malayalam cinema, some of his songs winning the National Award. He was known there as ‘Bombay Ravi’
Since we are coming to the end of the series, without waiting for the end of the songs below, let me give my conclusion on Hans Jakhar’s Ravi-question. If some of us are hesitant in calling Ravi a ‘great’ composer, this is a kind of curse some artistes face in their career, regardless of their merit. This is also true of public sphere, sports and other fields. Some leaders are able to charm the public without much substance, some are seen as dull and uninspiring. Shalini has used the same terms for Ravi – this is a manifestation of the ‘Curse of perceived dullness’, or what a statistician might say, ‘Perception bias’. In one of my posts on Mahendra Kapoor, I had used the expression ‘the most unloved’ singer for him. Ivan Lendl won tournaments, but fans were cold towards him. Djokovic mildly made a similar complaint recently. No one can deny that they are among the greats of tennis.
I belong to the Ravi-hesitant camp, but after the end of the series I would instantly admit that on a deeper analysis he comes out much superior to what I thought about him in the beginning.
Landmark songs for ‘other’ singers
By giving the above conclusion, I have put the cart before the horse. So without much ado, in this Grand Finale let us enjoy Ravi’s landmark songs for a variety of ‘other’ singers, besides his main singers covered individually earlier.
Talat Mahmood
Talat Mahmood was a testimony to the maxim that you do not need too many songs to create an everlasting impact. Going by the Master of Data Hans, Ravi composed only two songs for him – one, Maine bhi husn ki nazaron mein jagah paayi hai, has been already covered by him in his article on Ravi-Shakeel Badayuni. And the other is the iconic Sab kuchh luta ke hosh mein aye to kya kiya.
1. Sab kuchh luta ke hosh mein aye to kya kiya by Talat Mahmood from Ek Saal (1957), lyrics Prem Dhawan
This song also has a twin version in the voice of Lata Mangeshkar, and we know by now which one is better. This link, however, gives both the versions, and if you want to listen to the Talat version please skip to 4.20. Ashok Kumar, gnawed by guilt, imagines his own alter ego sing this song of remonstration to him.
Hemant Kumar
Hemant Kumar was Ravi’s mentor, and Ravi was his assistant in several films. He was also quite generous in singing for his protégé. And what great songs the combination gave! Hemant Kumar was never less than absolutely charming.
2. Muskurati hui chaandni by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Albeli (1955), lyrics Ravi
The lyricist is the same Ravi we are talking about. Anup of Mehfil Mein Meri has written a nice post on Ravi as the lyricist. And remember 1955 was Ravi’s debut year with the film Vachan.
3. Bedard zamana tera dushman hai to kya hai, duniya mein nahin jiska koi uska Khuda hai by Hemant Kumar from Menhdi (1958), lyrics SH Bihari
From a romantic duet let us switch to a song of uplifting the mood in a depressing situation. The song is preceded by the recitation, Museebat ka saamna kiye ja, kaanton pe chalta ja, agar manzil pe jana hai to gir gir ke sambhalta ja. The song also has a duet version with Lata Mangeshkar, but the solo version by itself is superb.
4. Ye jhoomte nazaare tum paas ho hamaare by Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from Nai Raahein (1959), lyrics Prem Dhawan
Lovers in the solitude of the night under the moonlit night, no one could sing a romantic song better than Hemant Kumar. Remember Ye raat ye chaandni phir kahan, or Aa neele gagan taley pyar hum karein. This film also had another superb Hemant-Lata duet, Kal ke chaand aaj ke sapne (which also had a Lata Mangeshkar solo version).
Mukesh
If you look at Mukesh songs composed by Ravi, besides wondering, Oh this is also by him, you also wonder why he didn’t give many more songs to him.
5. Wafa jinse ki bewafa ho gaye by Mukesh from Pyar Ka Sagar (1961), lyrics Prem Dhawan
A quintessential Mukesh.
6. Sada khush rahe tu jafa karnewale, dua kar rahe hain dua karnewale by Mukesh from Pyar Ka Sagar (1961), lyrics Prem Dhawan
This is another great Mukesh solo from the same film. And thinking aloud, to our music experts, aren’t the two songs in the same meter, with Ravi tweaking the tune a little to create ‘two’ great melodies?
7. Bikhara ke zulfein chaman mein na jana by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar from Nazrana (1961), lyrics Prem Dhawan
8. Ye mausam rangeen samaan thahar zara wo jaan-e-jaan by Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur from Modern Girl (1961), lyrics Gulshan Bawra
This film also had a very popular Mukesh solo, Kabhi inkaar karte ho, kabhi iqaraar karte ho.
9. Tumse hi meri zindagi meri bahar tum, apne hi dil se pooch lo by Mukesh and Geeta Dutt from Apna Ghar (1960), lyrics Prem Dhawan
The film may be unknown, but that didn’t mean songs would be inferior. Here is a superb duet with Geeta Dutt.
10. Sainya chhod de bainya mori patli kalaiyan mud jayengi by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar from Rakhi (1962), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
11. Main khushnaseeb hun mujhko kisi ka pyar mila by Mukesh from Tower House (1962), lyrics Asad Bhopali
I associate Tower House with Lata Mangeshkar’s outstanding song Ae mere dil-e-naadan, tum gham se na ghabrana. And then you have this equally superb Mukesh song, which also has a Mukesh-Lata Mangeshkar duet version.
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar’s trademark was wild, comic songs, but he could also come up with superb soft, melodious and poignant songs. Ravi creates landmark songs of all the varieties for him.
12. Ye raatein ye mausam nadi ka kinara ye chanchal hawa by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle from Dilli Ka Thug (1958), lyrics Shailendra
These nights, this spring weather, this river bank, and this naughty breeze – this song always come to my mind when I think of soft, soulful romantic melody.
13. Hum to mohabbat karega by Kishore Kumar from Dilli Ka Thug, lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri
And now from the same film, Ravi gives Kishore Kumar a complete madcap song. An exasperated Nutan scolds him in between antaras, but the crazy Kishore Kumar is not chastened, rather turns the phrase on her. When she says, Meri jooti se, he is ready with Joota polish karega; when she says, Are wah re Majnu, he instantly replies, Laila Laila karega, thandhi aahein bharega; even the curse of Doob maro has no effect on him, because he would Doobega nahi tarega, pyar se nahi darega; and obviously Hum to mohabbat karega. ‘Come what may, I would go on (loudly) expressing my love for you.’
14. Hasrat hi rahi humse bhi kabhi koi pyar karta by Kishore Kumar from Bombay Ka Chor (1962), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
I have written how for me and many on the SoY, Kishore Kumar means Kishore Kumar 1.0, i.e. pre-1969. From deeply soulful and melodious to completely crazy and wild, and now Ravi strikes a beautiful middle ground of joyous singing which was Kishore Kumar’s forte. There is a charming modulation in his voice when he switches to antara at a higher pitch, Nikale the hum dil ki jholi liye, duniya ne kaantein hi kaantein diye, and glides down to the refrain in the reverse direction equally smoothly. This is a beautiful composition by Ravi.
Manna Dey
15. Tujhe suraj kahun ya chanda, tuhje deep kahun ya tara, mera naam karega roshan by Manna Dey from Ek Phool Do Mali (1969), lyrics Prem Dhavan
In my opening post on Ravi I had included Manna Dey’s iconic Ae meri zohrazabeen as the prime example of an elderly husband’s song of teasing his shy, but delighted at the attention, wife. Tujhe suraj kahun ya chanda is the opposite end. Ravi now composes a serious song in Manna Dey’s voice befitting the situation in the film.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
The information about Ravi-Asha Bhosle and Ravi-Shakeel Badayuni is based on Hans Jakhar’s guest articles. The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim copyright over these songs, which rests with respective owners such as Saregama India Limited and others.
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
AK ji,
Thanks for the series on Ravi.
I never went to extremes like Shalini ji or Hans ji, while evaluating Ravi, but I considered him as a Good Music Director.
Having gone through all articles here about him and listening to most of his songs posted here, I was in a dilemma about rating him.
However after revisiting the Kishore songs in the film Dilli ka Thug, posted here today, I have changed my opinion and now I can call him a “Very Good Music Director.”
In my opinion, there is nothing like a Great MD. It is only a matter of liking or perception put in words.
Those who give everlasting songs and popular songs are Excellent MDs, then comes Very Good MDs, Good MDs and the rest follow.
This is how I look at it.
Thanks again for Ravi series.
-AD
Arunji,
You are welcome. I am happy you liked the series on Ravi. It must have been revelation to many as it was to me as it turns out many superhit songs were his composition which we were not aware of.
‘Great’: I have been using the term, but if you ask me I can’t define it. For Ravi, on top of your expression I would add the word he was very successful and lucky.
AK ji
Grand finale to a coveted series on Ravi……. You are very right. There can not be any rational measure of one’s greatness. Whosoever satiates our appetite for good music is ‘Great’. Without going into this exercice of putting label of greatness on someone, I am adding here singer-wise songs of my choice other than those discussed above :
Talat Mehmood
Wanted-Maine Bhi Husn Ki–Shakeel Badayuni-1961
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYUi6HHnGdA
Pehli Raat-Aurat To Bithaye Dil Mein Tumhen-Asha & Talat-Majrooh-1959
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y20gOun5wh8
Hemant Kumar
Narsi Bhagat-Darshan Do Ghanshyam Nath-Sudha Malhotra,Hemant Kumar & Manna De-G S Nepali-1957
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UYtyMXwEuo
Nai Rahen-Kal Ke Chand Aaj Ke Sapne Lata & Hemant Kumar-Shailendra-1959
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mRk60-s9vY&t=17s
Ek Saal-Ulajh Gaye Do Naina Dekho Ulajh Gaye-Lata & Hemant Kumar-1957
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHyxutvQEM0
Mukesh
Tu Nahin Aur Sahi-Tu Nahiin Aur Sahi Aur Nahin Aur Sahi-Majrooh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mShdjlcQHfk
Girls Hostel-Suljhao Na Uljhi Zulfon Ko-Asha & Mukesh-Gulshan Bawra-1962
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIjMidgCiZU
Manna De
Ghar Sansar-Ye Hawa Ye Nadi Ka Kinara-Asha & Manna De-Majrooh-1958
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrcXBcnukwg
Agree with you both.
He was very lucky and successful. I am not sure I want to label him with any tag, either great or otherwise. I’ll prefer to enjoy his songs irrespective of any tag.
Great song list it was.
Anup
🙂
In Dharkhan (1972) Kishore had one solo Main to chala and one duet with Asha Bhosle Maine pehli ye baar dekha gussa and Mannadey also had a duet Paisa , Daulat with Asha Bhosle. All these were big hits of that time.
And also Kishore had good songs from Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka and so did Mannadey in quite a few films .
KB,
Main to chala jidhar chale rasta is one of my great favourites of Kishore Kumar 2.0, and it is among the songs on which I exclaim, Oh this is also by Ravi. From Ek mahal ho sapno ka we heard a beautiful Lata Mangeshkar song Dil mein kisi ke pyar ka jalta hua diya. Now I realise it has a Kishore Kumar twin version also, an equally melodious song. With each new discovery Ravi goes up one notch.
Rakeshji @3,
ThThanks a lot for your appreciation and addition of some great songs by Ravi. The recital-style duet from Pehli Raat is a new discovery of a third Talat Mahmood song. Ye hawa ye nadi ka kinara is a mellifluous romantic duet. With the series on Ravi I am sure we all have discovered him more.
Mellifluous is the right word I was looking for. I place Ek Saal song उलझ गए दो नैना देखो उलझ गए दो नैना also in this category. The song moves Ravi up one more pedestal as not only has he composed this song, he wrote it also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHyxutvQEM0
Regards
AK ji and Hans bhai,
The posts on Ravi were all excellent. The fence-sitters must have crossed the ‘barrier’ and put Ravi high on the list of Golden age MDs of Hindi film songs.
Roshan, Madan Mohan and a few others rarely created a ‘weak composition’, Ravi admittedly created a few ordinary songs. Maybe the reason was that for several consecutive years he had a lot of films in hand which made him occasionally compromise on quality.
Regards
One more aspect of Ravi’s career was his work as a lyricist. He wrote some of the songs composed by him. Though his talent as a lyricist was not much popular, it certainly needs a mention.
So may be you can conclude the Ravi series with a post based on his songs as a lyricist.
Anup
🙂
AK ji;
A very fine post to round up ….and a gift for coming X mas week ahead.
I will stick to my original quote…..”Ravi–A gentleman of Music”….and all the songs posted today proved his high level of compositions. Hear that beautiful Mukesh /Lata duet ….Main khush naseeb hun…and one will find every stanza decorated with different melodious interludes. With Piano on waltz one has no option but to dance on the ballroom floor . No matter if your feets are half feet above the floor…..and your partner never complaining.
Rakeshji,
Hemant Kumar was always mellifluous. Ravi has also written many songs, and his work as lyricist is also worthy of a post, but Anup has already written an exhaustive article on this.
Tyagiji,
Every music director, including the top ones, has created some ordinary songs. It is on the other end, i.e. their best songs, where Ravi’s place is in debate. The fence-sitters would have higher respect for him. I hope Shalini moderates her extreme views.
Anup,
You have already done an exhaustive post on Ravi as a lyricist recently. That completes the series. 🙂
KS Bhatiaji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Ak,
The analysis of Ravi ji’s music has just begun. I have upto 5 themse lined up for him,I can hopefully find time to write my blog.
It is very sad to rate him as a dull composer. I love his songs for their simplicity, the lyricists he worked with-Sahir,Shakeel,Rajinder Krishen-they produced memorable lyrics for him.
I hope to analyze his songs both from a classical music front and the lyrical content sometime.
Karthik,
I look forward to it.
Most befitting post to conclude the series on Ravi.
I too was a fence-sitter as far as my liking of Ravi. Now that I pose the questin of Ravi’s liking sclae, I realize how unfounded by belief was, when I I recollect some of the my most remembered Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhosle or Lata Mangeshkar songs. The Talat Mahmood, Hemant Kumar, Mukesh and Manna Dey – all other major male playback singers – conclusively remove any hesitation in placing Ravi with my other ‘very-liked’ music directors (like, SDB, SJ, OPN, Madan Mohan, Khayyam, Jaidev, Chitragupt to name some of them).
I still attempted to look for his songs of other female playback singers. The one Geeta Dutt (duet with Mukesh) song that I could quickly recall was
Tum Se Hi Meri Zindagi – Apana Ghar (1960)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxQFCqtrpMw
Shamshad Begum had passed its prime by the time Ravi fully blossomed in and after 1960. So we do not have any remarkable song here, but Ravi’s ease-of-use of Shamshad Begum in an Aaj Aur Kal (1963) qawwali would make an ample testimony to buttrees Ravi’s claim –
Kehate Hai Jisko Ishq
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euKEPjDS1xI
When we take up one more contemporary female playback singer, Suman Kalyanpur, we find
Ye Mausam Rangeen Sama – Modern Girl (196) – with Mukesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm8vztwdxsk
I could locate one more, not quite heard beuaty here
Ab To Ankh Lad Chuki – Chirag KahaN Roshani KahaN (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygp0EJS7ZUo
Well, that rests my case.
AK ji and Hans ji,
Almost every aspect of Ravi’s career is covered with the present post. His singing and lyricist roles are also often mentioned in the earlier posts in various comments.
Good coverage,as usual,A K ji. Enjoyed the selection of songs.
The THUG from DILLI and the CHOR from
BOMBAY had an ‘ alphabetical’ duet each with his leading ladies, Nutan and Mala Sinha, respectively.
Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle.
C A T cat , mane billi
R A T rat, mane chooha…
&
Hello Hello ji
Kaho kya ji
Pyar ki sikha do mujhe A B C.
Paisa vasool entertainment from the Maverick Kishore Kumar.
AK ji,
Congratulations yet again for putting together a compendium of Ravi’s songs from a different perspective. By taking songs of Ravi with different singers and lyricists, you have rightly shone a light on his greatness.
I was aware of his genius, but getting to know this through your articles and song links on SoY, I have had a 360 degree view of his works. Surely, he stands on his own.
Thanks for putting together this series. I am sure Hans Jakhar also warrants due credit and accolades for painstakingly analysing the man’s versatality and bringing out Ravi’s ” mitti ko sona bananewala” quality!
From AYODHYAPATI, 1956 to AAJ AUR KAL,1963 , Geeta Dutt sang a total of 10 songs for Ravi.
4 solos:
Main janam janam ki daasi…
AYODHYAPATI.
O Babu O Lala,
Mausam dekho chala…
DILLI KA THUG, 1958.
Balam se milan hoga…
CHAUDHAVIN KA CHAND, 1960.
( In spite of being a home production,Geeta Dutt got to sing only one song. It is said that she was not singing for Waheeda Rehman by this time. But, for me, this reason does not fit the bill because Waheeda sang in Lata’s voice_ Badle badle mere Sarkar nazar aate hain, but there still were the other songs_ Dil ki kahani rang laayi hai, Bedardi mere Sainya Shabnam hai kabhi sholay…both Asha; Sharma ke ye kyon sab pardanashin.. Asha, Shamshad Begum. So, clearly ‘ the other singers’ case!)
Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding…
GRIHASTI, 1963.
4 Duets:
Miya mere bada beimaan…
S Balbir.
EK SAAL, 1957.
I love you, O Madam…
Asha Bhonsle.
DULHAN, 1958.
( I have written earlier about this nice stage performance where a very young Nanda ,in a male getup,says I love you,O Madam to Nirupa Roy. The mood of the song later changes into patriotic and folk dance flavour,Nanda becoming a female. Highly watchable.)
Oye teri chulbuli chaal..
Lata Mangeshkar.
NAI RAHEN, 1959.
( Could not find it on the You Tube.)
Tumhi se meri zindagi…
Mukesh.
APNA GHAR, 1960.
( Included in your list, and, also mentioned by Ashok Vaishnav ji.)
2 Multiple singers’ songs:
Kaun jaane re Baba…
Rafi, Asha Bhonsle.
JAWANI KI HAWA,1959.
Taqt na hoga Taj na hoga…
Rafi, Manna Dey.
AAJ AUR KAL.
Ravi was very prolific song maker and many of his songs have lasting and un-wilting blossom.
Ravi Visited Britain in the eighties when the golden era was gone. Then the Nehru Centre was not established as a good venue for the Indian artists. However the High Commission of India organised a reception and his programme at the High Commission in the main hall.
He sang some of his great melodies just fingering on the harmonium and a Tabala accompaniment.
I found him very gracious and unassuming person. At the reception he mingled easily with the people and chatted about on various subjects like other simple people. He did not carry around that he was a special person who gave a treasure of good songs for the songs lovers.
AK’s tributes are very refreshing about Ravi’s songs.
Shalan Lal
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. At the end of the series I expect everyone to accept that Ravi has gone up in their esteem. Good that you added the qawwali from Aaj Aur Kal. That adds to the singers for whom composed excellent songs.
Usha Mangeshkar with Ravi.
Khilen hain sakhi phulwa…
Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle.
GRIHASTI, 1963.
Lut jaa,lut jaa, yahi din hai kisi pe….
Asha Bhonsle,Kamal Barot.
AANKHEN, 1968.
Kamal Barot’s other song with Ravi is the highly popular
Daadi Amma Daadi Amma
Maan jaao…
Asha Bhonsle.
GHARANA, 1961.
Dr Shetty,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and the two ABC songs. I was aware of only one. Here is the link of the other one.
Hello helloji, pyar ka sikha do mujhe ABC by Kishore Kumar from Bombay Ka Chor (1962), lyricist Rajendra Krishna, music Ravi
E Vishwanath,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Hans Jakhar would be happy to see how the series has shaped.
Shalan Lal,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Ravi was a gentleman music director, and some of his rewards may be because of his personal qualities.
Usha Mangeshkar was part of a qawwali with Shamshad Begum and chorus in AAJ AUR KAL.
Kehte hain jisko ishq
Tabiyat ki baat hai…
That makes 2 Shamshad Begum qawwalis with Ravi, the CHAUDHAVIN KA CHAND one having been mentioned earlier.
Suman Kalyanpur has a duet with Rafi in SALAAM MEMSAAB, 1961.
Lyrics: Asad Bhopali.
To Rafi’s
Zara si baat pyar ki
Zuban se nikal gayi
Huzoor kya khataa hui
Nigah kyon badal gayi..
followed by two more stanzas of pleading for love,
Suman Kalyanpur replies with a very stern…
Zara shareef ladkiyo se
Baat karna seekhiye
Phir uske baad Aayine mein
Apna shakl dekhiye
Hamare mehmaan the
Toh baat aake tal gayi
Nahin toh log poochte ke
Shakl kyon badal gayi!
Very straightforward threatening there! Salaam Memsab!!
Sudha Malhotra seems to have sung a song in AYODHYAPATI ,1956.
Sakhi re aaj mere dil…
( Could not find it on YouTube.)
Darshan do Ghanshyam Nath mori akhiyan pyaasi re….. the iconic NARSI BHAGAT song with Hemant Kumar and Manna Dey came in 1957.
Remember the controversy in the SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE ?
Anil Kapoor, the quiz master asks to identify the author of the bhajan.
The 4 options were Tulsidas, Meerabai, Surdas and Kabir. Jamal, the contestant chooses Surdas, and,lo and behold,it is the ‘ correct ‘ answer! “Aap jeet gaye 250,000 Rs! ” But, the real writer, Gopal Singh Nepali was nowhere in sight!
( But, career diplomat Vikas Swarup, currently with The Ministry Of External Affairs,in his novel Q & A, on which the film is based,had quoted Surdas’s Akhiyan Hari Darshan ki pyasi. The filmmakers wrongly used the NARSI BHAGAT song and were sued by G S Nepali’s son for the same!)
Sudha Malhotra has a duet with duet_ a Children’s song, in ISI KA NAAM DUNIYA HAI.
Lyrics: H S Bihari.
Aane aane do aane
Lelo khilone saste..
AK,
A fitting finale of the series on Ravi, one of my favorite MD’s. His tunes were simple and hummable for the common man. You (Hans ji and others from SOY family) have covered almost all the songs.
How can you leave out a gem like “Ae Meri zohrajabeen” from Waqt?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm7vxgjrRAU
One more Manna Dey song from Neelkamal
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XYm8tLfK83E
Giriji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Ae meri zohrajabeen has figured in the first post in the series.
Dr Pradeep Kumar Shetty , AK ji;
Dr. Shetty is in full form with his sixes and fours. With so many inputs of songs it is now clear that Ravi have a great fan followers. There are still some songs which got hidden and are now cropping up for refreshing the melodic pleasure .
Insaan Paise Ke Liye – Hemant Kumar, Paisa ya Pyar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j3qtjpUWrw
JAWAB DE NA DE BEWAFA – KISHORE KUMAR, ASHA – BOMBAY KA CHOR(1962) – RAVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RLZPi5Lk60
LAI LAI MAULA LAI LAI- ASHA- USHA- MEENU PURUSHOTTAM- FILM -SINDBAD ALIBABA AUR ALLADIN(1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkSWWuJ09-E
ARRE CHAL RE AMIRAN CHAL – KISHORE KUMAR – BOMBAY KA CHOR(1962) – RAVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLn9ccxrJDE
….to be contd.
KS Bhatiaji,
All songs you have posted are new to me. The last one Aare chal re Amiran chal is a very good song of a street performer with his monkey. Thanks. You are right, Ravi seems to have a huge following.
ksbhatia ji,
It is nice to partner with you while hitting sixes and fours. Secure feeling having an experienced senior player batting at the other end of the wicket!
SAMAJ KO BADAL DALO, 1970 was the remake of Malayalam movie THULABHARAM, 1968, directed by A Vincent. Sharda won the National Award for the best actress ( then known as Urvashi award) for this movie. She went on to win again in 197 2( SWAYAMVARAM, Malayalam) and in 1977 ( NIRMAJJANAM, Telugu). So, she was known as Urvashi Sharda.
She also has the very rare ( the only instance,in my opinion) honour of playing the same role in 3 remakes of the movie THULABHARAM….
THULABHARAM, Tamil_ A Vincent.
MANUSHULU MARALI, Telugu_ V Madhusudan Rao.
SAMAJ KO BADAL DALO, Hindi_ V M Rao. ( A Gemini production).
Manna Dey has a solo_
Ab akele hi chalna padega
Zindgani ke lambe safar mein…( Background song).
And a duet with Rafi ( for Mehmood and Ajay/ Parikshit Sahani, respectively)_
Dharti Maa ka maan
Hamara pyara laal nishan…
( The movie had a trade union backdrop. AITUC flag and Communist party flag are prominently displayed).
Usha Mangeshkar has two duets…
Lata Mangeshkar_
Amma ek roti de
Baba ek roti de..
( The quintessential beggar children’s song!)
Asha Bhonsle_
Payal chham chham bole sakhi..
( Dance performance).
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi.
Interestingly, Rafi and Manna Dey had sung a song along with the lead actor Arun Ahuja ( Nirmala Devi’s husband and Govinda’s father) in the 1947 Vijay Bhatt film SAMAJ KO BADAL DALO!
Aji mat poocho kuch baat college albeli…
https:// youtu.be/ EDLmMGAQ774
Usha Mangeshkar and Usha Khanna with Asha Bhonsle in SAGAII, 1966.
Rajinder Krishan.
Khak mein mila toh kya
Phool phir bhi phool hai…
I had mentioned the Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor song Jat mangni phat shaadi… earlier.
BADI DIDI. 1969.
Bhatiaji and Dr. Shetty
I also attempted to emulate you two, but fell on my face. I am like the bowler who comes charging to deliver Sarfaraz like yorkers only to end up with rank full tosses on the leg side for you two to smash it to all parts of the ground and have now given up the exercise for the non.
AKji I echo your sentiments and am wondering -Oh is it Ravi. Almost all the songs you posted I have heard in the past but could not have traced them to Ravi. Really a music director who delivered much better than the average and rarely disappointed the film viewers. The series was fully revealing. You have set a pattern for other music directors to be taken up in this vein.
Mr Rangan,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Ravi is unique among major music directors about whom we have to frequent exclaim, ‘Oh, this is also by him’. As regards others, we ‘know’ their famous compositions. As for series like this, there are only a couple left about whom such series can be planned. Of course, there are many more absolutely talented who were not so successful and famous.
AKji,
Thanks for an impressive conclusion to the series of post on Ravi. After the seven posts it was an appropriate finale with a post on his other singers. Your study and conclusion as to whether Ravi could be termed as a great composer was interesting.
I liked your final remark.
“I belong to the Ravi-hesitant camp, but after the end of the series I would instantly admit that on a deeper analysis he comes out much superior to what I thought about him in the beginning.”
I would not let myself caught in the web of perception bias. Without going into any comparison, to me Ravi was a composer of merit.
Posting a NFS by Hemant Kumar, lyrics & music Ravi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzW5QG9WDBs
Venkatraman ji;
The NFS was in my list of posting too. The song is so good …..that made my good night sleep song find of the day.
What sets music above the rest is song lyrics that speak to your very soul. And depending on what you’re in the mood for, you’re most likely to choose it to retain in your mind for great length of time.Honestly shared thoughts about the emotions and feelings lasts longer.
Here is one more NFS by Ravi……
Hemant Kumar : Kal Teri Tasveer Ko Sajde Kiye Hain Raat Bhar : Non Film : Md Ravi : L Hasrat Jaipuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDA9bcT0oiw
Dr Pradeep Kumar Shetty , AK ji, Rangan ji;
Thanks for your appreciation for liking the rare songs @33 .
Here is one more from Talat /Ravi combo….
Wanted 1961 : Maine Bhi Husn Ki Nazron : Talat Mehmood : Md Ravi : L Shakeel Badayuni
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EymXrrVURM
Venkatraman ji;
One more NFS from Hemant Kumar.
Hemant Kumar : Yaad Karoge Hamen Tum Yaad Karoge : Non Film : Md Ravi : L Hasrat Jaipuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA3M4buY1BA
I came across another anecdote revealed by Ravi himself.
Ravi says at some time, it was a fashion for lyricists to compose one song with the film title as part of it and for music directors to set music to it. Ravi was entrusted with ‘Chaudhvika Chand” as music director. He states he was driving home one day and called on Shakeel Badauni to make it pronto to his house. Shakeel dashed to his house. Ravi told him the first line – Chaudhavi ka chand ho and struggled to continue. Prompt came next line from Shakeel – Yaa appu taab ho, jo bi ho thum khuda ki kasam and the rest and a great song was composed and set to tune. This is from Ravi’s reminiscences.
Venkataramanji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Now I notice some of my favourite Hemant Kumar NFS too are composed (and written) by Ravi, which I had assumed to be by Faiyyaz Hashmi/Kamal Dasgupta. Thus, Hemant Kumar was quite willing to sing for Ravi. Yet it is interesting that he gave his best songs under his own baton, according to me.
I notice that you are using a phrase ‘composer of merit’, but are hesitating from using the G-word. Do you also belong to the hesitant camp?
dprangan ji,
You are being too modest!
We have all seen your beautiful Yorkers time and again.
Flowers Bloom in Bollywood was a class post that made me collect thousands of Flower themed songs that I had promised to post from time to time. ( Not a broken promise, I shall definitely keep it, especially the mention of flowers in the songs where you least expect it!)
So, you are definitely in a great form and I sincerely hope you maintain your form.
Looking forward to many more Yorkers and more.
The ‘ long in the making’ SANJH KI BELA, 1980 , starring Joy Mukarjee(!), Nutan, Rehman,Bindu,I S Johar etc lists Mukhesh, Rafi, Asha Bhonsle, Usha Mangeshkar, Ravi and Shakila Banu Bhopali as the singers and Prem Dhawan and Rahi Khanpuri as the lyricists.
I have written about the very unlikely choice of Sharda for the title song. ( Why isn’t she credited in the titles!)
Jeevan ki sooni rahon mein
Kab se bhatke koi akela
Jaaye kahan jab raas na aaye
Bhor ki laali Sanjh ki bela.
https:// youtu.be/ XSWnduKk3rA
Mukhesh sounds sweet in the ‘piano song’..
Meri duniya ko baharon se sajaya tumne
Jaane tum kaun ho..
https:// youtu.be/ 9lwnO8BTz6O.
The Asha Bhonsle song ,Ye dil hai tere hi nigahon ka nishana ( club dance featuring Bindu ) is available on the You Tube.
There is an upload supposed to be the Shakila Banu Bhopali song from the movie. But,I don’t think it fits.
Someone more knowledgeable, please verify.
Aayee bahaar aayee..
https:// youtu.be/ cBhzxyJhoBw
AK
I would borrow the term fitting finale from Giriji, for this excellent article. In the 8 points you have beautifully summarised the music of Ravi. I would add a couple of points. I think one of the strong points of Ravi, was the unassuming nature of Ravi, as confirmed by Shalanji, which resulted in each and everyone involved with him giving off the best. Another thing was his association with his lyricists. More than half of his songs were with Sahir, Shakeel and Rajendra Krishan, who were all greats in their own style. Another thing was he always tried to give of the best in every song without caring for who was the singer. This we see in so many films where there were hit and quality songs with multiple singers.
I thank all who have praised both of us for this revealing series. But, I think Vaishnavji once said that contributions of friends in the comments section is also of equal importance. So it would be an injustice if we dont acknowledge the contribution of Dr Shetty during the whole series. He has given vital and supplemental information on various aspects of Ravi’s music. Even here, he is pointedly giving Ravi’s songs with other female singers, while you have covered his songs with other male singers. Recemtly we have also seen his wide range of knowledge about films and particularly about South films for which we earlier had Venkataramanji.
AKji,
This wonderful series convincingly establishes as to why Ravi should be placed in a very high, venerable position as a music director.
I must join Hansji in appreciating Dr, Pradeep Kumar Shettiji for his comments that surely enriche the post and the theme.
Way back in 2003 perhaps, I was lucky to see Ravi in a programme. Manna Dey was felicitated on his 84th birth day. His wife too was there though she generally did not come to his shows. Music Directors Ravi and Anandji were there. Anandji requested Manna Dey not to sing Ai Meri Zohra Zabeen. He asked for a cassette of the song and goaded Manna Dey and his wife to act with the song. He asked Ravi not to music direct but direct them to act properly. The audience clapped and applauded. Ravi Saheb smiled and laughed and warmly waived to the audience. I vividly remember his hearty laugh.
There have been a lot of discussion on the rating of Ravi. Even Arunji has put me on the other extreme of Shalini. But, I may clarify here again that Ravi is not the greatest MD in my eyes. In my view Naushad is the best, because he is too far ahead of others. I have never tried to rate others because for me the songs are only important and in them the lyricist has a very important standing along with the singer and composer. I am not sure that on all this criteria, Ravi would even be in the top 5 for me, if ever I thought about rating them, because alongwith the greats like SJ, CR, OPN and SDB, the sublime Roshan and classy MM are very high on my list. But, certainly he would be in my top ten. When I wrote on Ravi, it was my duty to present his best side and write what I truly believe.
I think those who have reservations about rating him highly may be having some kind of handicaps or bottlenecks. This is just my view and nothing against anybody. One thing I have seen that many of them are not even aware about the most famous of his songs. I dont know how they can rate him on such scarce knowledge about his music. The other handicap is that most of them have got used to finding a lot of Lata songs in the list of famous songs of the other MDs, For them Asha gems Ravi produced is a kind of electric shock and the small number of Lata songs put them off and some of them may not like his high preference for Rafi. Another reason may be that Ravi has relatively been less talked about and despite his class in composing songs he has never been trumpeted about as a class composer nor has he blown his own trumpet. So supporting him or rating him highly may have the risk of them being seen as commoners and not as supporter of classic composers. The best example of this is Sajjad Hussain, who has not even one hundredth of good songs as compared to Naushad, but most of classy people feel happy in treating him as somebody equivalent to Naushad, because it was the agenda of some Naushad hater critics to put him on a very high pedestal in their bid to belittle Naushad.
Another term used about him is lucky. This appears to be somewhat negative. There were many great composers who were not lucky. Calling them unlucky does only enhance there greatness. But, calling somebody lucky is not similar to calling somebody unlucky. In my view, he was not lucky, but only knew public mood better and had the skill to put more melody and expressions in songs for various situations. I had mentioned in my article his successful work with lesser known actors as compared to Naushad or others. I would here give another example. BR Films hired him as composer first in Gumrah and he gave 4 straight blockbusters Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaj and Aadmi aur Insaan. All these films were not only highly successful but are talked about as typical BR movies. Even after this 4 films, BR Films discarded him as composer after Dhund and only brought him back with Nikah in 1982 with a total new cast and with the extra load of making Salma Agha a singer and he produced a hit film and also got blockbuster songs from her, while no other composer could even get a tolerably good song from Salma Agha in other films which followed.
Hans,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You were the one who posed Ravi-challenge and with your two guest articles in the series set the tone for discussing the Ravi-question. With the series we are all discovering Ravi which raises him in our esteem. If some of us are still hesitant, you have hit the Bull’s Eye in diagnosing the reason. It is to do with Lata Mangeshkar’s relative place to Asha Bhosle in Ravi’s music, Thanks again.
Shachindraji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I have also witnessed his simplicity. He would sing his famous compositions on the harmonium very competently. I didn’t know then he wanted to be a singer and that he had some songs in the films.
AKji @45,
“I notice that you are using a phrase ‘composer of merit’, but are hesitating from using the G-word. Do you also belong to the hesitant camp?”
No, not exactly. As I have confessed earlier, I was not aware that many of my favourite songs were composed by Ravi. In fact I became more familiar with Ravi’s work in the internet era. And this series of yours on Ravi and Hansji’s two articles and comments have contributed a lot in clearing the misreading.
An afterthought. Or you can also say delayed reflection. I should have used the phrase “composer of great merit”.
Posting a sing by Sudha Malhotra, film Nai Maa (1960), lyrics Pyarelal Santoshi
https://gaana.com/song/o-ma-pyari-ma-tu-aaja-mere-paas
Another song, Radha ke Rasiya by Sudha Malhotra, film Narsi Bhagat (1957), lyrics Gopal Singh Nepali.
Thanks to Arvinder Sharmaji for sharing this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=X3roJSw2Gc4&feature=emb_title
Venkataramanji,
You are finally using the G-word, but in a roundabout way. I hope it is not because of my coaxing.
Thanks for the articles on SOY! I turn to SOY whenever I am looking for insightful information and equally valuable comments on HFM, particularly the OLD era. While I love all the great singers, I love Rafi Saheb the most. Through my life, I have noted that the songs of Rafi Saheb, which have appealed to me the most, always include Raviji along with MM, Naushad, CR, Chitragupt, SDB and few others. Still, he never appealed to me as great as MM, Roshan, HK and SDB. I always found his compositions in a typical pattern, just as I found Naushad’s. But I agree that I liked his songs very much, if not all. You may note that SJ don’t appear in my list, though I place KA above them for many compositions. I am just a HFM lover and am in awe of you all highly knowledgeable persons here!
Ravi Marathe,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your very generous words. I have somewhat similar feeling about SJ as yours, though under the Categories/Music Directors, I have written a number of posts on them. In their early career they gave some outstanding music.