Saat Saath, Musings & Amusings Options

[swarapriya]

(Manoj) Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961)

Here are the songs from this album, all by the courtesy of the Forum member, Saki. Thank you very much Saki.

[Abdur Rehman]

Here is the Title and Dance music for the album Piya Milan Ki Aas.
128kbps/5:43

[swarapriya]

Here is the Title and Dance music for the album Piya Milan Ki Aas.
128kbps/5:43

Thank you very much for the title music AR. Cheers. -S

[swarapriya]

(Raaj) Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957)

Here is beauty from C. Ramchandra. In this album, every song is melodious. My favorites are both Rafi Saab duets. Here these and other songs from this album ...

[swarapriya]

(Rajendra) Devar Bhabhi (1958)

I am uploading four songs from this album, all by the courtesy of the Forum members. Thank you. I am still missing at least three more songs shown in red italics in the table below. If you can, please kindly share them.

Here are the four songs ...

[swarapriya]

(Sunil) Payal (1957)

Here is a nice album from Hemantda. I am uploading these songs, all by the courtesy of the Forum members, thank you, in back-to-back two posts. Here is the first set of songs ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jan 30 2010, 06:39 AM

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs of "Payal (1957)" ...

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

[swarapriya]

(Amitabh) Reshma Aur Shera (1971)

Sunil Dutt spent considerable amount of his fortunes and endless energy in bringing this Romeo and Juliet type story to the screen. He shot most of the movie in Rajasthan near the great Thar desert. It has stunning photography capturing the desolate nature of the desert that humbles even the mighty.

Apart from the scorching heat of the desert and family feud as the background, the movie has one of the great musical compositions. Jaidev, well trained under Burman da, was absolutely magnificent in scoring several haunting songs that leave an everlasting impression in your heart enclaves. A brilliant and an everlasting contribution.

The movie has several good performances to boast. But if one has to single out, it will be remembered for the stunning performance of Waheeda Rehman. She gave a performance of her career in going through the many stages of womanhood, from an innocent girl to eager lover to defiant daughter to a touchingly tragic heroine.

Yet, for all of its magnificence in scope and scale, the movie was a financial disaster for Dutt as it was totally rejected by the public.

I am uploading these beautiful songs in back-to-back two posts. Here is the first set of songs ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jan 31 2010, 07:00 AM

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs of "Reshma Aur Shera (1971)" ...

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

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Jan 31 2010, 07:30 AM

[swarapriya]

(Dharmendra) Bandini (1963)

As one critic put it, “Bandini” is “…the collective radiance of Bimal Roy’s striking imagery, S.D. Burman’s expressive score, and Nutan’s potent realism …”. The movie is at once symbolic and layered. It reveals the facets of human nature and its unpredictable side. It shows how blacks and whites make gray. It shows the momentary rage of insanity. It demonstrates the resolve for life renewal with full of promise and hope.

Bimal Roy who had Nutan in his previous classic “Sujata (1959)” waited for her to come back from her “retirement” to act in “Bandini”. Nutan took a leave from acting to have a baby and was in no mood to come back to resume her acting career in movies. But Bimalda’s persuasion paid off. And what a glorious come back it was. Nutan gave one of the greatest performances of her life in living in the title role of a woman that has many vibrant shades of a woman that portrayed from strong to suffering, selflessness to sacrificing, seriousness to sobriety, personal to poignancy, despondence to delight, propitation to expiation, redemption to resolve, and prisoner of destiny to freedom of her choosing. She brought a kind of moving restraint and a delicate dignity with such powerful and complelling touch to the role that was neither theatrical nor overdramatic. It was at once subtle and gracefully poetic. Nutan demonstrated why she was one of the great consummate actresses who knew how to be a master of the power of histrionics and how she had complete control over it. This was one of the most understated and silently strong performances of any actresses of our time.

The movie was based on a book by Jarasandha. He was a former jail superintendent and published several stories based on his prison experience.

Bimalda who was famous for making films based less on melodrama and more on situations does this masterfully. Yes, a master raconteur. Bimalda was never overpowering with his narrative and moves through the entire movie in an easy engrossing way. He presented the entire movie from a woman’s point of view. Thus we see Nutan in most of the scenes in the movie. Incidentally, this was the last movie Bimalda directed.

The mood of the stark nature of the prison life was brilliantly captured in glorious black and white photography by the cameraman Kamal Bose. Bimalda, who himself started as a photographer, knew how to get the best from this cameramen. Here Bose responded brilliantly. His camera captured the vacuous stillness of prison life with its rich tonal quality in an unforgettable way.

Gulzar made a debut as a lyricist with the song “Mere Gora Rang Lai Le” in this movie. It is a beautiful romantic song brilliantly sung by Lataji and melodiously composed by Burmanda. (See the special version of the song I am attaching where Gulzar speaks about his debut as a lyricist.) Interestingly, Gulzar, who also was an assistant director to the movie, initially tuned down the offer from Bimalda to write the song because he wanted to be a director. It was Burmanda’s persuasion that made Gulzar to change his mind and write the song. Rest of the songs were all written by great Shailendra. The quality of the songs is increased because of the richness of the poetry.

The music of this movie was another masterful achievement from Burmanda. His last association with Bimalda in “Sujata” produced some of the most melodious songs he ever composed. This time Burmanda was up to his task again. The songs from this movie are rated as some of his best work ever. That itself says a lot because most of Burmanda’s work had his trademark of melody exuding sweetness. The songs of this film remain as sweet and melodious as they were when they became originally available. Every song, especially songs by Lata, Asha, Mukesh, and Burmanda himself speak volumes. Apart from the Lata’s song mentioned earlier there are several that are worth mentioning. There is a haunting song by Mukesh “O Jaane Waale”. Mukesh sang for Burmanda after a long time. He used this opportunity to deliver a great song. There is a song sung touchingly by Asha, minus her verve and vivacity, “Ab Ke Baras” that expresses a longing to go to her parents’ place. Asha also has another beautiful song in “O Panchhi Pyaare” reflecting the solemn solitude of the prison life. The other song by Lata “Jogi Jab Se” is another beautifully sung romantic piece. Then there is that great song by Burmanda himself “O Mere Maanjhi”. Picturized using vastness of water that is dark, deep, still, chilly, and lonely. This song brings the movie to a closure in Burmanda’s rich and distinctive voice. Interestingly, R.D. Burman was the assistant music director for this movie.

Apart from Nutan, the movie also starred Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra. Both male roles were comparatively minor. Dadamoni walks through his role with professional aplomb. But this is the movie in which the up and coming Dharmendra got noticed. Under Bimalda’s great direction, Dharmendra gives a restrained and dignified performance. Not until Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Anupama (1966)”, Dharmendra’s this talent was ever ably exploited on the screen. Unfortunately, these type of movies in which Dharmendra acted one can only count them on fingers, that too probably on one hand.

The movie won several major awards and rightfully so. It won the National Award for Best Feature Film. It walked away with all major Filmfare awards. These include Best Picture, Best Director for Bimal Roy, Best Actress for Nutan, Best Cinematographer for Kamal Bose, Best Sound for Billimoria, and Best Story for Jarasandha.

Next songs of "Bandini" ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Feb 1 2010, 05:42 AM

[swarapriya]

Songs of "Bandini (1963)"

Here are all of the melodious songs of this beautiful film. I am also including a slightly extended version of "Jogi Jab Se". This was contributed by our fellow member Sukesh Hoogan. Thank you very much Sukeshji. I am also including a special version of the song "Mora Gora Rang Lei Le" with an introduction by Gulzar and R.D. Burman. Here Gulzarji recalls his meeting with Lataji for this song. This is from the album "Legends: S.D. Burman - The Ageless All Rounder (CD3)".

Here are the songs from this great album ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Feb 1 2010, 05:34 AM

[swarapriya]

(Jeetendra) Suhaag Raat (1968)

Here is the hit pair of "Geet Gaya Patharon Ne", Rajshri & Jeetendra, back in this movie. There are some nice songs in this album. My favorite is "Arre O Re" by Kishore. Kishoreda sings this with such a tender voice that it lingers in your mind and heart for a long time. Here is this and rest of the songs from this album ...

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Feb 2 2010, 12:12 AM

[swarapriya]

(Manoj) Reshmi Roomal (1961)

This album was a pleasant surprise to me. I knew some of the popular songs from it, but didn't know that almost every song in it is really this good. The music director Babul must be one of the later part of the team of Bipin-Babul. I am not certain. May be someone can enlighten on this.

When songs are this good it is difficult to pick one out. But I do have one. It is the duet by Asha and Mannada, "Zulfon Ki Ghata". Listening to this song over and over again, makes your heart feel warm and fuzzy and you feel good all over.

Here are the songs ...

[swarapriya]

(Raaj) Neel Mani (1957)

All these songs I am uploading are by the courtesy of our fellow member, S. Maheshji. Thank you very much Maheshji. We are still missing a couple of songs shown in red italics in the table below. If you can, please kindly share these songs with rest of us.

Please be warned that quailty of some of the songs is iffy. Here are the songs ...

[swarapriya]

(Rajendra) Ghar Sansar (1958)

Here is another beautiful offering from Ravi with several good songs. My favorite of the album is "Yeh Hawa Yeh Nadi Ka Kinaara". Tenderly and lovingly done by Asha and Mannada. Here is this and other songs from this album, some thanks to the courtesy of the Forum members. It appears that I may be missing one song shown in red italics in table below. If this is so, and if you can, please kindly share. Thank you.

Now for the songs ...