The Three Reigning Queens, Albums of Madhubala, Meena Kumari & Nargis Options

[swarapriya]

(Swarapriya: can you check whether the recording you uploaded has been edited? At 1:09, there is a jump in the recording that sounds like some splicing has been attempted on the song.)
Warm regards,
Abhay

Abhay, yes indeed. It appears that the song was probably sliced between 1:0 and 1:11. The song I have downloaded came like that. Until you mentoned about it I couldn't tell.

Cheers,
Swarapriya

[swarapriya]

(Meena) Do Bigha Zamin (1953)

Here is an instant classic from Bimalda. This was his maiden venture as a producer and director. It had stellar cast. Its story was written by Sail Chowdhury. Its screenplay was written by Hrishikesh Mukherjee who also was the editor of the movie. Salil Chowdhury also provided its music.

The movie garnered several awards. It won the Best Picture Filmfare award and Best Director Filmfare award. It was the first movie to win International prize at Cannes Film Festival. It won a prize for social progress at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. It also won the National award.

The movie introduced Mehmood in a bit role. It has the child actor Jagdeep in a small role. It has Meena Kumari in a supporting role.

It has only few songs. Here they are ...

[abhayp]

The few songs in "Do Bigha Zameen" are indeed lovely. I wouldn't, however, describe it as a Meena Kumari film: other than singing the (incredibly beautiful) lori, she is there in the film for just a couple of minutes.

I remember reading how her "guest appearance" came about. In a old Filmfare interview, the comedian Asit Sen said that while working on "Do Bigha Zameen", he was simultaneously working in another movie with Meena Kumari. While talking to her on the sets of the latter movie, he told her the story of "Do Bigha Zameen", and she was so moved by it that she said she would like to be part of the film in some way or the other. And that is how she ended playing that bit role in a film at a time when she was indeed a reigning queen on the silver screen!

Warm regards,
Abhay

This post has been edited by abhayp: Dec 18 2009, 02:00 PM

[Yadavagiri5]

(Madhubala) Nadaan (1951)

I am uploading most of the songs from this album here. Chic Chocolate, the music director, was apparently worked with C. Ramchandra who supervised the music for this album. All these songs are by the courtesy of the Forum members. Because these songs came from various sources, their quality is also variable ranging sometimes from very good to other times to kind of iffy.

I am uploading some extended version songs in the second post. That post also lists missing songs. Here is the first set of songs ...

Dear swarapriya,

The male voice in Aisa Kyaa Qasoor Kiyaa sound like Chitalkar and not Rafi. Am I right?

Aisa Kya Qusoor Kiya was in Rafi's voice in the film, and in Chitalkar's voice on 78rpm.

Aditya

As usual, Swarapriya, you have started a wonderful thread and have supplied us with a whole bunch of goodies. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I am uploading the Lata-Chitalkar version below (mp3 @ 128 kbps, 3:21 minutes). There is, unfortunately, a slight echo in the recording: if anyone has a better recording, please do upload it.



In this version, the stanza in the female voice comes first. In the Lata-Rafi uploaded above, the stanza in the male voice comes first and Lata's stanza is truncated. (Swarapriya: can you check whether the recording you uploaded has been edited? At 1:09, there is a jump in the recording that sounds like some splicing has been attempted on the song.)



Warm regards,
Abhay

Dear Abhay,
I have a version of Aisaa Kyaa Qasoor Kiyaa. It sounds okay to me.

Song: Aisaa Kyaa Qasoor Kiyaa

Movie: Naadaan

MD: Chic Chocolate

Singer: Lata, C.Ramachandra

Year: 1951

Format: mp3

Bit Rate: 128

Duration: 3:22

My Rating of Music: 9/10

[swarapriya]

The few songs in "Do Bigha Zameen" are indeed lovely. I wouldn't, however, describe it as a Meena Kumari film: other than singing the (incredibly beautiful) lori, she is there in the film for just a couple of minutes.

I remember reading how her "guest appearance" came about. In a old Filmfare interview, the comedian Asit Sen said that while working on "Do Bigha Zameen", he was simultaneously working in another movie with Meena Kumari. While talking to her on the sets of the latter movie, he told her the story of "Do Bigha Zameen", and she was so moved by it that she said she would like to be part of the film in some way or the other. And that is how she ended playing that bit role in a film at a time when she was indeed a reigning queen on the silver screen!

Warm regards,
Abhay

Thanks for the info, Abhay. I wasn't aware of the story behind it. Cheers. -S

[swarapriya]

Dear Abhay,
I have a version of Aisaa Kyaa Qasoor Kiyaa. It sounds okay to me.

Song: Aisaa Kyaa Qasoor Kiyaa

Movie: Naadaan

MD: Chic Chocolate

Singer: Lata, C.Ramachandra

Year: 1951

Format: mp3

Bit Rate: 128

Duration: 3:22

My Rating of Music: 9/10

Thanks for the song Yadavagiri. Apart from this being mp3, is it the same as Abhay uploaded in the wma format? -S

[swarapriya]

(Nargis) Jogan (1950)

Here is one of the finest hours of the great singer Geetaji. This album has 12 of her songs, 11 solos and a duet. Her singing skills are at the forefront here as she sings different moods of the songs reflecting the moods of that splendid actress Nargis. She does this with graceful elan. An unforgettabale musical experience.

Most of these songs were contributed by the members of this Forum. My heartfelt thanks to all of them. I am uploading these songs in back-to-back two posts. Here is the first set of songs ...

[swarapriya]

Songs of "Jogan (1950)" Continued ...

Here are the rest of the songs from this beautiful album ...

[parag_sankla]

(Nargis) Jogan (1950)

Here is one of the finest hours of the great singer Geetaji. This album has 12 of her songs, 11 solos and a duet. Her singing skills are at the forefront here as she sings different moods of the songs reflecting the moods of that splendid actress Nargis. She does this with graceful elan. An unforgettabale musical experience.

Most of these songs were contributed by the members of this Forum. My heartfelt thanks to all of them. I am uploading these songs in back-to-back two posts. Here is the first set of songs ...

Swarapriya

Wonderful presentation of Jogan, thanks a lot. This film, its direction, its characters, the music and the singing is like what they term as "Dugh-Sharkaraa Yog" in Sanskrit. Everything is just perfect. Dilip Kumar in a very subtle role(and minus his mannerisms which dominated his later movies), Kidar Sharma's direction at its best, one of the finest production from Chandulal Shah, heart-warming music by Bulo C Rani (his arguably career best), sublime performance by Nargis and the divine voice of young Geeta Roy have made this film a memorable one! It is "sort of fashionable" to call "Mother India" as Nargis's best performance ever, but many film lovers and critics believe that it is the film Jogan which is really the icing on the cake as far as Nargis's film career is considered.

Author Haimanti Banerjee has devoted as many as 15 pages to this film and its music in her book "Geeta Dutt : The Skylark". It is really a great reading. More information about the book is available here:

http://www.geetadutt.com/skylark.html

Thanks
Parag

[swarapriya]

Swarapriya

Wonderful presentation of Jogan, thanks a lot. This film, its direction, its characters, the music and the singing is like what they term as "Dugh-Sharkaraa Yog" in Sanskrit. Everything is just perfect. Dilip Kumar in a very subtle role(and minus his mannerisms which dominated his later movies), Kidar Sharma's direction at its best, one of the finest production from Chandulal Shah, heart-warming music by Bulo C Rani (his arguably career best), sublime performance by Nargis and the divine voice of young Geeta Roy have made this film a memorable one! It is "sort of fashionable" to call "Mother India" as Nargis's best performance ever, but many film lovers and critics believe that it is the film Jogan which is really the icing on the cake as far as Nargis's film career is considered.

Author Haimanti Banerjee has devoted as many as 15 pages to this film and its music in her book "Geeta Dutt : The Skylark". It is really a great reading. More information about the book is available here:

http://www.geetadutt.com/skylark.html

Thanks
Parag

Thanks for your comments Parag. I definitely think here Nargis showed what a great actress she was. But, in my humble opinion, "Mother India" was a greater achievement. Performances like those in "Jogan" were stepping stones to the pinnacle she would reach later with "Mother India". To me it was an utterly mesmerizing performance.

Cheers,
Swarapriya

[abhayp]

Thanks for your comments Parag. I definitely think here Nargis showed what a great actress she was. But, in my humble opinion, "Mother India" was a greater achievement. Performances like those in "Jogan" were stepping stones to the pinnacle she would reach later with "Mother India". To me it was an utterly mesmerizing performance.

I am aware this is going away from music, and also that all this *is* after all each one's opinion, but I can't resist adding my two bits here! I agree with Parag that "Jogan" showcases Nargis at her best. IMO, the Nargis of "Mother India" is very "actressy": the histrionics are clearly on display there. It feels like she is saying to the viewers, "See how well I can play this seminal character!" I don't like the film itself very much and I think Nargis's somewhat over-the-top performance contributes to that.

In "Jogan", by contrast, Nargis gives perhaps the most understated performance of her career. I am not very fond of the film itself, but Nargis - along with Meerabai, Bulo C Rani, and Geeta Dutt - make it a film worth remembering and re-watching.

Warm regards,
Abhay

[swarapriya]

(Madhubala) Saiyyan (1951)

I am uploading seven songs from this album. I am not sure whether this is a complete list or not. All of these songs, except for one, were originally contributed by the fellow member kadri420. Thank you Kadriji.

Here are these songs ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Dec 23 2009, 08:49 AM

[Aditya Pant]

(Madhubala) Saiyyan (1951)

I am uploading seven songs from this album. I am not sure whether this is a complete list or not. All of these songs, except for one, were originally contributed by the fellow member kadri420. Thank you Kadriji.

Here are these songs ...

SP, This is my favorite Sajjad album. Love his unusual style.

Meri Jaan Mohabbat is by Shamshad.

And here is one missing song (quality is iffy)

Tumhe Dil Diya - Saiyan 1951 - Lata - Sajjad - 128 - 03:24


Aditya

This post has been edited by Aditya Pant: Dec 22 2009, 09:20 PM

[swarapriya]

SP, This is my favorite Sajjad album. Love his unusual style.

Meri Jaan Mohabbat is by Shamshad.

And here is one missing song (quality is iffy)

Tumhe Dil Diya - Saiyan 1951 - Lata - Sajjad - 128 - 03:24

Aditya

Thanks for the song Aditya. I also made the changes to the table to reflect your suggestion.

Sajjad. A man of great talent. But couldn't get along with anyone. He was one of the greatest mandolin players. I recently found the following mandolin composition by him on You Tube. Listening to this is an unbelievably exhilarating experience. Here are the details of this ...

Instrument: Mandolin
Time: 4:56
Player: Sajjad Hussain
Bit Rate: 128 kb/s
Source: You Tube
Format: MP3

Here is an out of this world composition ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Dec 23 2009, 10:46 PM

[swarapriya]

(Meena) Footpath (1953)

Here is one of the early albums of Khayyam Saab ...