Sahir & Shairi, Films of Sahir Ludhianvi Options

[swarapriya]

Phir Subah Hogi (1958)

This probably is one of the best Hindi movies, aside from Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa (1957)”, ever made in India that dealt with human dignity and a plea for humanitarian compassion. There were so may facets to this movie that combine to make it a great viewing experience. Watching it makes it a relentless as well as an unforgettable sensual experience at the same time. Let us look into some factors that made this a triumph in film making …

The movie was based on the famous Russian novel “Crime and Punishment” written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was published in 1866. But the story of this movie extends the novel as an emotional plea for social justice and makes a compelling and compassionate political commentary. On one side an independent India saw the attraction of big cities sprawled with excitement, jobs, wealth, and opportunities. On the other side it also saw the greedy sprouting of crime, slums, injustice, and exploitation and because of it the disillusionment that it brought along. The movie shows this latter part of post independence India.

The movie has provided Raj Kapoor an opportunity to exhibit his talents as an actor. He pulls off this with a heart hugging performance where his role demands to react to not only external conflicts but that brings out internal insecurities to the surface. It calls for him to exhibit his histrionics to show the suffering of guilt and its toll of emotional turmoil. Raj carries this with unparalleled aplomb. This probably was one of the most wonderfully orchestrated insightful performances of his illustrious career that showcases his skill as an actor.

Raj Kapoor originally wanted Shankar & Jaikishan to provide music for this film. However, Sahir was adamant about having someone compose music who read Dostoevsky’s novel because he strongly felt that only that person could provide a convincing musical score. Khayyam was Sahir’ choice. Because of Raj’s objections, to show that he has the required abilities to deliver, Khayyam composed six different ways of the title song. Raj was so impressed that he agreed Khayyam to be the music director and left up to him to choose the tune he liked the best.

The musical score of this film happens to be not only one of the memorable ones ever scored by Khayyam but also one of the unforgettable ones put together for an Indian movie. Almost every song sparkles like a real gem. Especially the title song done by Asha and Mukesh with that beautiful haunting melody, to some of the compelling words penned by Sahir, and evocatively picturized in the movie stays with you forever. Khayyam never got his due as a music director that spanned a 50-year professional career. Yet songs from many of his movies have stood the test of time and have been perennial pleasers.

Sahir was coming off from the great success he enjoyed just about a year back with Guru Dutt’s classic “Pyaasa”. Here he was presented with another opportunity to extend similar sentiments, pathos, and sufferings through the powerful words he was commissioned to construct. And he did this with unparalleled magnificence engulfed with enormously grief stricken melancholy. It is clear that Sahir was not happy with what was going on in the society in the post independent India. The despair, disgust, decadence, deceit, and disillusionment spilled over from the message passed on by “Pyaasa” penetratingly permeates this movie as well. In the song “Chin-O-Arab” he laments “Rehne Ko Ghar Nahin Hai”. He complains to God in the song “Aasman Pe Hai Khuda” that “Aaj Woh Iss Taraf Dekhta Hai Kum”. Even amidst such hopelessness, a ray of hope that is always there, like the burst of sunshine amidst clouds, because in the end he concludes that “Woh Subah Kabhi Toh Aayegi”. Poets like Sahir, whose poetry had that intellectual element and has clamored for people to arise from the sultry smugness, only happen perhaps once in a millennium.

Interestingly, for all its glorified reality the movie never got any awards. So many people who were responsible to make this happen went unrecognized. Most of the awards for 1958 went to Bimal Roy’s lyrical poem of love, “Madhumati”. Best actor award went to Dev Anand for “Kala Pani”. The movie was not only nominated or considered for any awards , but also was a commercial failure. In the end the movie which should have been remembered in the book of film history as a memorable masterpiece ended up as another forgotten chapter.

I am uploading these songs in back-to-back two posts. The song "Woh Subah Kabhi To Aayegi" in all its parts is uploaded in the second post. Here are the songs in the first post ...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Phir Subah Hogi (1958)" ...

In this post I am including a slightly longer version of "Asman Pe Hai Khuda". I am also uploading all five parts of the song "Woh Subah Kabhi To Aayegi". Here are these songs ...

[swarapriya]

Sadhna (1958)

This story was written by Pt. Mukhram Sharma who had hard time selling it to the film producers to make it into a movie. Almost all of them felt that it was too controversial and told him that it wouldn’t make into a good movie. B.R. Chopra decided to take the gamble and made a movie from it. It fetched Sharma a Filmfare Award for the Best Story.

Vyjayanti Mala was in Chopra’s massive hit “Naya Daur (1957)”. Remembering that and the role of Chandramukhi in Bimal Roy’s “Devdas (1955)”, Chopra offered Vyjayanti Mala the role of the dancer in “Sadhna”. After hearing the story she was overwhelmed by the scope offered by the role that called for not only to show off her dancing skills but the display of her histrionic abilities in some emotional scenes. She readily accepted the offer. Interestingly, this fetched her second Filmfare Award. She declined the Best Supporting Actress Filmfare Award, her first, for “Devdas” claiming that her role was that of a heroine. This time though she was the heroine and she readily accepted the award. The movie shows the maturity she gained as an actress as she portrays the parts of transformation of a prostitute to pious woman magnificently.

If the movie dealt with several issues dealing with women boldly, it was immensely helped by the rich lyrics Sahir Saab wrote for it. From the teasing “Kahoji Tum Kya Kya Kharidoge” to the clamour of admirers singing “Aaj Kyon Hum Se Parda Hai” to the indictment of the society for the way they treat women in the song “Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko”, Sahir Saab stands very very tall.

I am uploading these songs in two back-to-back posts. Here are the songs in the first post ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Sep 26 2010, 10:50 AM

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Sadhna (1958)" ...

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

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Sep 26 2010, 11:01 AM

[Abbasi]

one of my favourite lyricist alongwith Kaifi & Gulzar...keep up the good work..

[swarapriya]

one of my favourite lyricist alongwith Kaifi & Gulzar...keep up the good work..

Thanks Abbasi. Cheers. -S

[swarapriya]

Society (1955)

Songs from this album were recently uploaded by Taiyabji in the "Complete Filmography Of Sachin Dev Burman, Alphabetically" thread in "Hamara Forums > Legends > Legendary Music Directors > Sachin Dev Burman" directory. These are avialble at the following location ...

http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?show...53769&st=30

Thanks for the songs Taiyabji.

[swarapriya]

Sone ki Chidiya (1958)

Sahir Saab wrote all but two songs for this beautiful album from OP (exceptions being a song by Majrooh Saab and a poem by Kaifi Azmi Saab). The combination that gave us some breezy songs in "Naya Daur" only a year back are here in altogether a different album. Yet results are the same. Some catchy and unforgettable songs that are stored away in your memory chambers forever. Every song in this album is just a sheer beauty. I will upload these in two back-to-back posts.

Let us enjoy starting with songs in this first post ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Oct 11 2010, 11:06 PM

[swarapriya]

Songs from "Sone ki Chidiya (1958)" Continued ...

Here are the rest of the songs from this beautiful album. A poem written and recited by Kaifi Azmi Saab is one of the highlights ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Oct 11 2010, 11:08 PM

[Aditya Pant]

Sone ki Chidiya (1958)

Sahir Saab wrote all but two songs for this beautiful album from OP. The combination that gave us some breezy songs in "Naya Daur" only a year back are here in altogether a different album. Yet results are the same. Some catchy and unforgettable songs that are stored away in your memory chambers forever. Every song in this album is just a sheer beauty. I will upload these in two back-to-back posts.

Let us enjoy starting with songs in this first post ...

SP,

Two corrections:

1. Deepak To andhera Hai and Bekas Hi Tabahi Ke are one and the same.
2. Aaj Ki Raat is a poem by Kaifi Azmi and recited Kaifi himself

Aditya

[rpnawani]

Sone ki Chidiya (1958)

Sahir Saab wrote all but two songs for this beautiful album from OP. The combination that gave us some breezy songs in "Naya Daur" only a year back are here in altogether a different album. Yet results are the same. Some catchy and unforgettable songs that are stored away in your memory chambers forever. Every song in this album is just a sheer beauty. I will upload these in two back-to-back posts.

Let us enjoy starting with songs in this first post ...

Swarapriya, thanks for sharing this beautiful album.

'Bekas ki tabahi' and 'Deepak to akela ha' seem to be the same song.

rpnawani

[swarapriya]

Thank you very much Aditya and RP for catching errors in my post. I made changes to the listings to reflect this. My apologies to those who have downloaded the duplicate song "Deepak Tale".

S

[swarapriya]

Bhai Bahen (1959)

Here is yet another winner from the combination of N. Dutta & Sahir Saab. I am uploading these songs in two back to back posts, all thanks to the courtesy of the Forum members.

First set of songs ...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Bhai Bahen (1959)" ...

Here are the rest of the songs from this fine album. It appears that I may be missing the song shown in red italics in the table below. If indeed this is the case, I am requesting members to share this if they can. Thank you.

Here are these songs ...

[Abdur Rehman]

SP, Here is the missing song. Courtesy Forum members
128 kbps/3:26

Cheers