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

[swarapriya]

(Nargis) Ghar Sansar (1958)

Here is a beauty from Ravi, with the duet "Yeh Hawa" by Asha and Mannada taking the honors...

[swarapriya]

(Madhubala) Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)

Here is another beautiful album from Burmanda. All songs just ooze with honeyed melody that was a trademark of almost all songs of Burmanda. In this album every song is an utter delight. Asha's song "Baat Badhti Gayi" is an example of what melody is all about. How about that priceless gem by Geetaji and Asha, "Jaanu Jaanu Ri"? What a memorable and mellifluous composition this song is. Listening to this song gives an elated exhilarating experience. How about the duet by Asha and Rafi Saab? "Chaand Sa Mukhda" is one of my favorite duets. You are completely enraptured and swept away with its lyrics and the style. I can go on and on about each and every song of this album. It is that good.

Two years earlier, Madhubala walked out of B.R. Chopra's "Naya Daur" as its leading lady. Here she was given another chance in this Shakti Samanta's musical film to reprise a similar role. As usual her effervescence pervades the movie with enlighting and enchanting energy.

Shakti Samanta, who produced and directed this movie, shot it almost entirely outdoors. The locale was Nagarjuna Sagar, in Andhra Pradesh, where the dam was under construction at that time. The site, atmosphere, and the buzz associated with the work of the dam fitted well with the movie's theme.

I am uploading the songs from this album in two back-to-back posts. These are from various sources including CD, DVD, and the Forum members (with thanks). I am also uploading a special version of the song "Jaanu Jaanu Ri" with Asha's introduction. It is taken from the album "Legends: Geeta Dutt - The Voice of Passion (CD 5)". This very same thing I heard Asha talk about in one of her concerts that I attended a few years back.

Let us get on this joy ride with songs from the first post…

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Apr 19 2011, 09:50 PM

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)"...

Here are the rest of the songs from this beautiful album including a special version of "Jaanu Jaanu Ri" with Asha's introduction...

[swarapriya]

(Meena) Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959)

Here are the songs from this album...

[swarapriya]

(Nargis) Lajwanti (1958)

Listening to this beautiful music by Burmanda is like taking a stroll through a misty morning where the first rays of sun kiss and bloom the dew moistened flowers while the birds play in the tall branches of the trees singing their love to each other out of sheer endless joy. These songs are what melody is all about. I must unabashedly confess that I just love these songs of Burmanda and get lost forgetting all the worldly worries I have. His music has this mesmerizingly soothing effect...

Here are the songs from this beautiful original soundtrack album where Asha and Geeta join Burmanda and Majrooh Saab in celebrating love and life...

[swarapriya]

(Madhubala) Kal Hamara Hai (1959)

Songs from this fine album came from various sources. Their quality is very uneven varying from so so to very good. I tried to clean noise from several bad tracks but was successful only half way decent. With that caution, here are the songs from this album...

[Debopriyo]

Concluding Songs from "Shree 420 (1955)" ...

I am uploading here a couple of songs from the film that were not on the original soundtrack album, both by the courtesy of the Forum members. Thank you. I am also uploading a couple of specials from the album "Legends: Raj Kapoor - The Showman (CD2)". "Mera Joota Hai" includes some dialogues by Raj from the film. The song "Pyaar Hua" has an introduction by Mannada who pays a glowing tribute to Raj.

Here are these songs ...

requesting The Track " Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh Mud Mud Ke - Asha Bhosle & saathi
according to geet kosh " 2 version are there ....so requesting to upload !! ..

[abhayp]

(Nargis) Lajwanti (1958)

Yet again, Swarapriya, a long hunt for a beloved song finds closure with one of your posts. "ko_ii aayaa" is one of my favourite songs, and I have hunted far and wide for a good copy of it. Thank you so much for making it available!

Warm regards,
Abhay

[swarapriya]

(Nargis) Lajwanti (1958)

Yet again, Swarapriya, a long hunt for a beloved song finds closure with one of your posts. "ko_ii aayaa" is one of my favourite songs, and I have hunted far and wide for a good copy of it. Thank you so much for making it available!

Warm regards,
Abhay

My Dear Abhay,

It is always such a pleasure to hear from you. "Lajwanti" is such a beautiful album. Asha's "Koi Aaya" is such a mesmerizingly melodic beauty. I am elated that I was of some help here.

Cheers,
S

[swarapriya]

(Meena) Jagir (1959)

Here is an album from the great maestro Madan Mohan Saab. All these are a gift from the Forum members. My many thanks to all of the providers. Here are the songs...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: May 15 2011, 12:05 PM

[swarapriya]

(Nargis) Yaadein (1964)

Nargis's great acting career was more or less over after three of her films were released in 1958 ("Adalat", "Ghar Sansar", and "Lajwanti") when she decided to retire from acting. In 1960's "Kala Bazar", Dev Anand's film, she appeared in the film along many luminaries where there is a scene in which the premiere of "Mother India (1957)" is shown. Then she appeared in her husband's experimental one-man drama, "Yaadein", at the end of the movie in a silhouette. She did come back in 1967 at the persuasion of her brother, actor Anwar Hussain, to appear in "Raat Aur Din".

I am uploading songs from "Yaadein" here. There are only a couple. One of them was contributed by Taiyabji, one our fellow members. Thank you Taiyab.

Here are the two songs...

[swarapriya]

(Madhubala) Barsaat ki Raat (1960)

Here is a beautiful musical extravaganza from Roshan Saab. Roshan Saab was not the first choice as a music director for the movie. Originally Khayyam Saab was signed to provide its music. But differences developed between the producers and Khayyam Saab that forced Khayyam Saab to leave the project. This gave an opportunity to Roshan Saab to provide for great qawwali music ever screened for an Indian film. There are so many of these qawaalis in the movie that it feels like a long mushaira and a never ending musical celebration.

Sahir Saab who wrote the lyrics was at the top of his game here. The title song is just a thing of beauty. Rich lyrics. Mesmerizing singing of Rafi Saab. The experience just leaves one on cloud nine.

Interestingly, neither Sahir Saab nor Roshan Saab was nominated for any awards that year. Most honors went to “Mughal-E-Azam” but Shakeel Badayuni Saab won the Best Lyrics Award for the title track of "Chaudhvin ka Chand" and Shankar & Jaikishan won for their music for "Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai".

The movie came in the same year as the magnum opus "Mughal-E-Azam" came for Madhubala, the heroine of both the films. Her beauty was still radiant in spite of her health problems that became public knowledge much later. But Madhubala didn't have much to do in this film. Even her character was not that well etched.

Bharat Bhushan, the hero and one of the producers of the film, on occasion made good movies. This was one of them. He suited well in the role of the poet. He and the music and a sprightly Shyama lighted the screen with several musical interludes while Madhubala giggled away into hearts of her audience.

I am uploading songs from this album in three back-to-back posts. The first two posts contain all the songs from the film. The third post has some extended version songs.

Here is a description of the songs in the first post and the songs themselves...

[swarapriya]

Continuing Songs from "Barsaat ki Raat (1960)"...

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

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Barsaat Ki Raat (1960)"...

I am including in this post three extended versions of the popular qawwalis from this album...

[swarapriya]

(Meena) Madhu (1959)

Here are the songs from this album, most of them thanks to the courtesy of the Forum members...