The First Lady Music Director of the Golden Era breaks the glass ceiling with Rafi

Continuing the Centenary Celebrations of Rafi with his songs by Usha Khanna (b. 7 October 1941) wishing her Happy 83^rd Birth Anniversary

Music direction in our films had been generally a male monopoly. Usha Khanna was the only one in the Golden Era to break the glass ceiling. Long before her, in the Vintage Era that honours belonged to Saraswati Devi of Bombay Talkies who created everlasting songs sung by non-singers like Ashok Kumar, Devika Rani and Leela Chitnis. Though on record Saraswati Devi was preceded by two more female music directors, Jaddan Bai (Talaash-e-Haque, 1935) and Ishrat Sultana aka Bibbo (Adal-e-Jahangir, 1934), it is Saraswati Devi and her songs that are remembered till today. That is about all regarding female music directors. That makes Usha Khanna’s rise to the top very remarkable, and significantly she created a storm with her very first score Dil Deke Dekho (1959).

She got all this fame at a tender age of 18 which means she must have started working on the film at the age of 16-17. Her father Manohar Lal Khanna was an employee in the Gwalior princely state, but he was more of a writer, and his love for films brought him to Bombay where he wrote lyrics for many films. In some films of Usha Khanna he gave lyrics in the name of Javed Anwar.

After matriculation Usha Khanna learnt classical music at Prof Deodhar’s music college; thereafter, she learnt light music from Robin Banerjee. Indivar persuaded her to concentrate on composing music rather than singing. This was a very prudent advice considering the dominance of the Mangeshkar sisters. She sang well though and has sung many film songs.

OP Nayyar introduced her to S Mukherjee of Filmistan who asked her to sing some songs and, upon being told that these were composed by her, offered her to compose music for Dil Deke Dekho. This film also turned out to be the debut film of Asha Parekh as a lead actress (earlier she had debuted as a child actor). This film consolidated Shammi Kapoor’s makeover as a light-hearted, dancing and jumping star. Shami Kapoor-Asha Parekh would go on to appear together in several superhit films.

For this project she composed music in a completely OP Nayyar style with Rafi and Asha Bhosle as the singers, and similar rhythm and orchestration. A talented girl that she was she realised the pitfalls of being branded as a copycat; in her next film Hum Hindustani (1960) she shook off OP Nayyar-tag, and her songs for Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar are in a completely different mould. She composed well-known songs for a variety of singers.

She married producer-director-lyricist Sawan Kumar. The marriage developed serious strains, but they continued to work together professionally. Usha Khanna was the music director of Sawan Kumar’s superhit film Sautan (1983)

It is not surprising that she stormed the music scene with the vocals of Rafi. She continued to compose great songs for Rafi in her career. In a recent comment Hans has mentioned Usha Khanna’s special bonding with Rafi (as also her felicity with Mukesh and other singers). She composed about 115 songs for him including solos and duets. Some of these are among his best songs though they may not be from big banners. Continuing the series on Rafi’s centenary celebrations, I present his best songs by Usha Khanna wishing her a very Happy 83^rd Birth Anniversary.

1. Dil deke dekho by Rafi from Dil Deke Dekho (1959), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Usha Khanna

In this club dance song Shammi Kapoor is in his familiar role of a drummer in the band. The song’s appeal has not dimmed in 65 years.

2. Hum aur tum aur ye saman by Rafi and Asha Bhosle from Dil Deke Dekho (1959), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Usha Khanna

Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh have fallen in love. Usha Khanna now changes tack and composes this lovely soft, melodious duet.

3. Yaar chulbula hai haseen dilruba hai by Rafi and Asha Bhosle from Dil Deke Dekho (1959), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Usha Khanna

But Shammi Kapoor has to be wild and crazy, and he has to get into a song and dance with verve. Asha Parekh gives him good company.

4. Jahan tu hai wahan phir chandni ko kaun poochhega by Rafi from Aao Pyar Karein (1964), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Usha Khanna

Rafi was a master of long recital preludes. Usha Khanna composes the recital – Bahaar-e-husn teri, mausam-e-shabab tera/ Kahan se dhoondh ke laye koyi jawab tera/ Ye subah bhi tere rukhsar ki jhalak hi to hai/ Ke naam leke nikalta hai aaftab tera – which smoothly segues into the song.

5. Tum akele to kabhi baag mein jaya na karo by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar from Aao Pyar Karein (1964), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Usha Khanna

A delightful duet in which the hero and heroine each forewarn the other like a ‘Parent’ from going to the garden alone.

6. Maine rakha hai mohabbat apne afsane ka naam by Rafi from Shbanam (1964), lyrics Javed Anwar, music Usha Khanna

Mehmood got to sing some nice hero songs too, Even if he is not convincing as a hero, the Rafi song is.

7. Ye teri sadgi ye tera baankpan by Rafi from Shabnam (1964), lyrics Javed Awar, music Usha Khanna

From the same nondescript film here is a superb song by Rafi for Mehmood.

8. Hum tum se juda hoke mar jayeinge ro ro ke by Rafi from Ek Sapera Ek Lutera (1965), lyrics Asad Bhopali, music Usha Khanna

Is there any doubt that this song counts among Rafi’s best? Usha Khanna was a talented composer and Rafi didn’t care for the banner and hero.

9. Haye tabssum tera dhoop khil gayi raat mein by Rafi from Nishan (1965), lyrics Javed Anwar, music Usha Khanna

Sanjeev Kumar debuted in a lead role (he had appeared in some small roles) in Nishan, which seems to be a B-grade fantasy film. He gets a superb Rafi song composed by Usha Khanna.

10. Haseen wadiyon fizaon se kah do by Rafi from Lal Bangla (1966), lyrics Gulshan Bawra, music Usha Khanna

Now Usha Khanna composes for another B-grade film, and Rafi does an equally competent job for an unknown actor.

11. Teri galiyon mein na rakhenge kadam by Rafi from Hawas (1974), lyrics Sawan Kumar, music Usha Khanna

A very popular song picturised on Anil Dhawan. The producer of the movie-cum-lyricist was also the husband of Usha Khanna.

12. Tu is tarah se meri zindagi mein shamil hai by Rafi from Aap To Aise Na The (1980), lyrics Nida Fazli, music Usha Khanna

A nice ghazal by the well-known shair Nida Fazli, composed brilliantly by Usha Khanna. Deepak Parasher is not the best emoter on the screen, but Rafi’s singing is excellent even in his last years. In a clear B1-B2-G love triangle Raj Babbar shows silent anger at the other guy gallivanting with Ranjeeta.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of music lovers. This blog has no commercial interests and does not claim or suggest any copyright over these songs which vests with the respective copyright owners.