Muse & Music

Thanks for the pointer, Exon.

My apologies to Neeraj as I didn't realize that these songs were recently uploaded by him. I look generally only under music directors to see if there was any recent upload of the album I am uploading. Because the songs of this album were uploaded under individual singers, I missed it. I wasn't trying to undermine efforts of a fellow member. Anyway, my thanks for the missing song, Neeraj.

Cheers,
Swarapriya

You're very welcome, Ketaki. Cheers. -S

(Nutan) Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala (1958)

Here is a typical OP album. Apart from Kishoreda's enarmously popular "Surma Mera Niraala", there are other nice songs too in this album. An example is the title track by Asha, "Ajab Hai Zindagaani" and the great Asha and Manna duet "Baahon Ko Zara Lehraado". Here are the songs ...

(Rekha) Rampur Ka Lakshman (1972)

Here is a real beauty from RD. Some of the fine songs include the duet by Lata and Kishoreda, "Gum Hai Kisiki Pyaar Mein", Asha's solo "Saanwala Rang Hai Mera", and Kishoreda's solo "Rampur Ka Baasi". Here are these and other songs from this album ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Nov 15 2009, 12:46 AM

(Sadhana) Gaban (1966)

Hrishida directed this nice movie based on Munshi Premchand's famous novel. It has some beautiful songs composed by Shankar & Jaikisan. Lata has four sloos in it, all sweet. Then there are two beautiful solos of Rafi Saab and a nice duet. I am also uploading an extended version of "Ehassan Mere Dil Pe". This is by the courtesy of the Forum members. Thank you.

Here are the songs from this beautiful album ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Nov 16 2009, 12:20 AM

Thanks, SP for Gaban!
Geetkosh doesn't mention Solah Singaar Karke....can someone clarify?

This post has been edited by Erum Hashmi: Nov 17 2009, 12:19 AM

You're welcome, Erum. -S

(Saira) Padosan (1968)

Until late 40’s most South Indian language films were made in Calcutta because there were no studios anywhere in the south. But things started changing soon as studios like Gemini, Bharani, Vauhini and others started sprouting up in Madras. Because of the Bengali connection, there was always a fascination of Bengali stories in south.

It all started with a comedy called “Pakka Inti Ammaayi” in 1953. This Telugu film was actually made in Calcutta by its producers, East India Company. The main reason for this was that the company itself was from Calcutta. It was based on a Bengali story. A year before, Sudhir Mukherjee made it into a movie called “Pasher Bari”. The Telugu version starred Telugu comedian Relangi (Suni Dutt in Hindi version), Anjali Devi (Saira in Hindi) as his love interest. The playback singer A.M. Raja starred in the role Kishore played in the Hindi version. This was the first for A.M. Raja as an actor. The movie was a hit. Years later, in 1960, it was remade in Tamil as “Adutha Veettu Penn”. The Tamil version had T. Ramchandran as the hero, Anjali Devi again as the love interest, and Tangavelu. Based on this very story, with very little changed, Mahmood made “Padosan” in 1968. This was remade in Telugu in 1980 with Chandra Mohan as the simpleton hero, Jaya Sudha as his love interest, music director Chakravarti in Mahmood’s role, and the famous singer S.P. Balasubramanyam in Kihsore’s role.

“Padosan” was a great comedy and its songs are an absolute delight. The jugalbandi between Manna Dey and Kishoreda was the highlight of the film. I read a column that stated that Mannada wasn’t happy that in the movie he loses to Kishoreda because he felt that in private life being a trained classical singer that he is losing to Kishoreda who had no such training wasn’t fair. I don’t know how far this story is true because this was just a movie and not the real thing.

I read an article where Sunil Dutt confides that he was ill at ease in acting in a comedy role. He almost backed off, but both Mahmood and Kishoreda encouraged him to not to worry. While shooting Sunil Dutt admitted to have many retakes done where he participated in the scenes with Kishoreda because he used to crack up with Kishoreda’s antics. Each time something like that happened it took some time for him to get his composure back and ready for the retake.

I had hard time finding songs of the 1953 Telugu movie. I was able to get only one song. I will upload it with a small feature on A.M. Raja, right in this section, after uploading Hindi songs. I will also upload the songs of 1980 Telugu version.

I am also uploading several extras with the original set of songs. In the second post, I am including “Bhai Battoor” song which has a lovely introduction by Lata who talks glowingly about R.D. I am also including a combined version of “Mere Saamnewaale” that has both sad and happy versions together albeit neither one is a complete song. This appeared in the Legends album on R.D. I am also uploading Amit’s and Abhijit’s versions of “Kehna Hai” from their respective private albums.

Songs of "Padosan (1968)" Continued ...

In this post I am completing the songs of "Padosan". I am also uploading several specials. Lata has some beautiful words about RD in the introduction of the song "Bhai Battoor". This songs is from her CD album "Lata in Her Own Voice-2". Then I am also including the combined song of both the sad and happy versions of "Mere Saamnewaale". Neither song is complete. This appeared in the CD album "Legends: R.D. Burman - The Versatile Composer (CD 1)". I am also including a verson of "Kehna Hai" sung by Amit and of the same song by Abhijit from their respective private albums.

Here are the songs ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Nov 17 2009, 01:22 AM

Pakka Inti Ammaayi (1953) - A Telugu Movie

I had real difficulty in procuring songs of this movie. I was able to get only one that I am uploading here.

This movie had several firsts. A.M. Raja, an established and popular singer, was acting for the first (and the last) time in this movie. Editor of a Telugu periodical, “Jwala”, Muddu Krishna wrote dialogues and songs. This was his first movie. Ashwathama made his debut as a music director with this movie. That great comedian of Telugu cinema, Relangi, was acting as a hero in this movie for the first time. This was the first of many Bengali stories to be made in Telugu.

Here is a bir about Raja (see the attached piture) ...

A.M. Raja was born in 1929 in a village called Ramchandrapuram in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh and was of Telugu origin. His family moved to Chennai when he was only three years old after his father passed away. He graduated with a B.A. degree but his major interest was music. He was an accomplished piano player and was well versed in both Carnatic as well as Western styles of music.

Pursuing a career in music led Raja to meet the ace music director K.V. Mahadevan and in due course he became one of his close friends. With Mahadevan’s support Raja recorded several private songs. These were broadcast by AIR. Impressed by Raja’s voice, Gemini’s Vasan gave him a chance to sing all songs for his movie “Samsaram” in 1951.

After singing all songs of the Tamil movie “Samsaram” in 1951, Raja got an opportunity to sing in Telugu movies. This was in the Telugu film “Aadarsham” made in 1952. He also sang in Vasan’s Madhubala-starrer Hindi movie, “Bahut Din Huwe” in 1954. He acted in only one movie, “Pakka Inti Ammaayi”. This was remade as “Padosan” by Mahmood in 1968. In the Hindi version, Raja’s role was played by Kishoreda.

Raja sang in all South Indian languages.

His most famous Telugu movies as a singer were “Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959)”, “Missamma (1955)”, “Pelli Kaanuka (1960)”, “Prema Lekhalu (1953)”, “Vipra Narayana (1954)”, and others. He also was a music director. He composed music for scores of movies in both Tamil and Telugu. He was married to Jikki (G. Krishnaveni), also a famous singer in her own right. Raja died in an accident when he missed a step and fell under a train in1989.

Even though blessed with a great and unique voice, Raja apparently was very difficult to work with. As a singer he gave trouble to several music directors. As a music director, he was equally uncooperative. When the music for “Kalyana Parisu”, Sridhar’s directorial debut movie (made later in Telugu as “Pelli Kaanuka” and in Hindi as “Nazrana”), became an instant hit, he even had differences with him.

Raja is known for a voice that was a blend of melody and rhythm. He was more popular in Tamilandu than in Andhra Pradesh, and left a legacy of thousands of songs that are enjoyed even today.

Here is the only songs I have. Requesting members to come forward to share rest of the songs from this great comedy ...

Pakkinti Ammaayi (1980) - A Telugu Movie

This was a remake of "Padosan (1968)" which itself was a remake of 1953 Telugu movie that was a remake of a 1952 Bengali movie ...

Telugu version in reality was also very enjoyable, just like the Hindi version. Great singer Balasubramanyam played Kishore's role in Hindi and I thought he did a super job. The music director of the movie, Chakravarti, played Mahmood's role, and he was also superb.

Here are the songs from this movie ...

(Sharmila) Satyakam (1969)

This movie was directed by Hrishida. It seems like there are only three songs in the movie. I am uploading those below ...

(Vyjayanti) Kismat Ka Khel (1956)

Here is an early album by Shankar & Jaikishan with their favorite singer Lata singing all but one song. All songs are by the courtesy of the Forum members ...

There is a male voice at the end of the song "Ae zamee ae aasmaan" from
"Kismat ka khel". My previous version of the song said that it was Manna
Dey, but on listening to it, I don't think it is. Is it just a chorus singer or does
anybody recognize the voice?

(Waheeda) Bees Saal Baad (1962)

This was Hemantda's maiden Hindi production. It was based on Arthur Conan Doyle's famous story of Sherlock Holmes, "Hound of the Baskerville". The story probably was made in English umpteen times. Nevertheless Hindi version had several good things going for it. First and the foremost Hemantda's music. Beautifully haunting. Melodiously mesmerizing. Of course Lata's "Kahin Deep Jale" was a chartbuster and award winner. But to me both songs of Hemantda were utterly unbelievable. There is so much magic, depth, something that touches deep in your heart in the voice of Hemantda. I love it. Second, the movie had some beautiful lyrics written by Shakeel Badayuni Saab. This was the third year in a row he got the Filmfare award as the best lyricist (the other two for "Chaudhvin Ka Chand" in 1960 and "Gharana" in 1961). Thirdly, I thought Waheeda was just absolutely adorable in the role. When it comes to mingle innocense with melancholy she is absolutely great. Waheeda gave performances like this that have become her trademark (for example, "Chaudhvin Ka Chand"). By the way, the movie also introduced Biswajeet, already established as an actor in Bengali movies, to Hindi films.

I am uploading the songs in two back-to-back posts. The first post contains all the songs from the film. The second post has some specials. Now for the songs ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Nov 20 2009, 01:01 PM