Shair Aur Sargam, Songs From Movies of 7 Great Lyricists Options

[swarapriya]

(Shakeel) Gunga Jumna (1961)

In a book on Mehboob Khan, its author tells how "Gunga Jumna" movie came about. Mehboobji decided to remake his previous acclaimed work "Aurat (1941)." This was to be the movie "Mother India (1957)." Dilipji, who was a good friend of Mehboob Khan, collaborated with him by making suggestions on how the picture and some of its characters, especially that of Birju, should be developed. Dilipji was convinced that he will be playing that role. But Mehboob Saab had other plans. After casting Nargis as mother, he decided to offer the role of Birju to Sunil Dutt. Dilipji was stunned with this unexpected development. But Mehboob Saab’s reasoning was that he couldn't imagine Dilip playing Nargis's son.

Dilipji was so upset with Mehboob Saab that he was not even in talking terms with him while "Mother India" was getting ready. Eventually “Mother India” was released and was both a commercial as well as artistic triumph for Mehboob Saab.

During this time Dilipji started looking to come up with a story that countered "Mother India." Finally he decided to write and develop himself the story of "Gunga Jumna". Next he decided to produce the movie himself. Because of this there are so many shades of similarities between "Mother India" and "Gunga Jumna." Both deal with injustices done to a family by a zamindar. Both films have two brothers one eventually becoming an outlaw and the other who upholds the law. When "Gunga Jumna" was released, it was also a huge commercial success. Instead of Dilipji running away with all the honors, it turned out that it was Vyjayanti Mala's performance that won critical acclaim. She won Filmfare's Best Actress performance for her role in the film. The movie's excellent photography also won a Filmfare Award and so did the dialogue writer.

After many years, Yash Chopra made this same story (a mixture of "Mother India" and "Gunga Jumna") in a modern setting as "Deewar (1975)." This movie also had the similar theme, injustices done by a mill owner to its labor force, a devoted mother raising two sons one of whom turns out "bad" and the other becomes a police officer who is bent on upholding the law. This movie catapulted Amitabh Bachchan to undeniable stardom.

For “Gunga Jumna” Naushadji's music again was on the mark. All songs became huge hits. I am uploading these in two back-to-back posts starting in the next post…

[swarapriya]

Songs from "Gunga Jumna (1961)"...

This and the next post contains all the songs from this beautiful album. Here is the first set...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Gunga Jumna (1961)"...

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

[swarapriya]

(Anand Bakshi) Hum Diwane (1965)

This was yet another film that was produced and directed by the comedian actor Bhagwan Dada. There are some fine songs in this album. However their sound quality is very uneven. The song “Pyaar ki” has a gap, probably about 5 seconds duration, around 1minute 42 seconds into the song. You may not notice it unless you hear the words very closely. Also the qawwali “Suno Husnwaalon Ka” is incomplete. Too bad. It starts as a great qawwali. I am requesting members to share the full version if they can. Thanks.

My favorite song of the album is “Kabhi Laaya”. Here is this and other songs from this fine album…

[swarapriya]

(Hasrat Jaipuri) Halaku (1956)

Songs from this album were recently uploaded in this very thread. They are available starting at the following location...

http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?show...4658&st=698

[swarapriya]

(Javed Akhtar) Dastak (1996)

This movie came from the house of Bhatts. Vikram Bhatt wrote its story. Mukesh Bhatt produced it. Mahesh Bhatt directed it. It introduced Sushmita Sen in the lead. It also introduced Sharad Kapoor and Mukul Dev as the two main characters.

Usually the films made from Bhatts have pretty good songs. This time around the songs to me were about average. I am uploading these in two back to back posts. Here is the first set...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Dastak (1996)"...

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

[swarapriya]

(Majrooh) Ghar Sansar (1958)

This family drama is so dated in its theme and treatment that it was very difficult to see it. It dichotomizes people some of who keep on enduring everything bad that came their way and bunch of others who are simply mean spirited and evil to the core. Even with Nargis and Balraj Sahni heading the cast it did not help the proceedings. One good thing about the movie was its music by Ravi and some fine songs. There are a couple of great ones. One is Asha’s beautiful solo, “Sapnon ki Dor Bandhi”. The other is the duet by Asha and Mannada, “Ye Hawa”. I am uploading these and other songs from this album below in this post…

[swarapriya]

(Rajinder Krishan) Shart (1954)

This routine drama's redeeming feature was its fine music by the great Hemantda. Most songs were popular with the solo songs by Geetaji and Hemantda topping the charts. I am uploading these and other songs from this album in two back-to-back posts.

Interestingly, the screen credits did not include Rajinder Krishan as one of the lyricists. Only S.H. Bihari was given credit (spelled as S.H. Behari). But various sources list Rajinder Krishanji as the lyricist of the songs listed.

Here is the first set of songs...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Shart (1954)"...

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

[swarapriya]

(Shailendra) Raj Hath (1956)

Here is another film from the producer, director, and actor Sohrab Modi who was famous for making historic epics. This time though the story was lean and the narration of the events in the film were a bit less cohesive. In the end the movie leaves unsatisfied and much to be desired.

There are plenty of songs sprinkled through out the film. Yet, the music composed by usually reliable Shankar & Jaikishan, except for a couple of songs, was less than inspiring. The exceptions are the two songs, a duet "Ye Vaada" and Rafi Saab's magnificent solo, "Aaye Bahaar".

I am uploading these and other songs from this film in two back-to-back posts. Here is the first set...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Raj Hath (1956)"...

Here are the rest of the songs from this film...

[swarapriya]

(Shakeel) Wanted (1961)

This is the fourth film in two years Shakeel Saab worked with the music director Ravi. It started with the blockbuster "Chaudhvin ka Chand (1961)", followed by the hit "Ghunghat (1961)", "Gharana (1961)" another hit, and this film. Almost all songs from these films were very popular.

Here are the songs from this film...

[swarapriya]

(Anand Bakshi) Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) - Post 1 (Songs)

This hit musical borrows the main story idea heavily from George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion” with gender roles of the main characters reversed. This play was made into the hit musical “My Fair Lady” in 1964. Thanks to the great music and catchy songs “Jab Jab Phool Khile” hit the bull’s eye. It was later remade as “Raja Hindustani” in 1996 which was also a huge hit.

Interestingly, Laxmikant & Pyarelal continue to be the assistant music directors to Kalyanji & Anandji even though by this time they had bagged a Filmfare Award and several hit musicals as the full-fledged music directors under their credit.

I am uploading all songs and several instrumentals of this film in three back-to-back posts. Here is the first set…

[swarapriya]

Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965) - Post 2 (Songs)

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