Sahir & Shairi, Films of Sahir Ludhianvi Options

[swarapriya]

Baazi (1951)

“Baazi” tells the story of an ordinary man turning into a criminal as a shortcut to social mobility. This movie was a huge hit when it was released. It paved way for Dev to repeat the same role successfully later in Guru Dutt’s “Jaal (1952)” and Chetan Anand’s “Taxi Driver (1954)”. But “Baazi” has done more than this. This film was responsible for launching several people’s careers. Let’s see how it shaped lives of some of the important and most influential people in the film industry …

It gave Guru Dutt his first start as a director. Dev, a friend of Guru, promised to have Guru direct a film when he turned into a producer. Dev kept his end of the bargain by giving the assignment to Guru for the movie “Baazi” he was producing. Guru, who also acted in several movies, briefly appears in this movie at the very beginning.

It also gave Raj Khosla an opportunity to work as an assistant director for Guru for the first time. Raj was a close friend of Dev and wanted to be a singer. Dev offered him the job to work with Guru until Raj can find success in the field of his choosing. Khosla was assistant to Guru for four of his movies; “Baazi (1951)”, “Baaz (1953)”, “Jaal (1952)”, and “Aar Paar (1954)”. In 1956, Raj turned into a full-time director when Guru offered him to direct Dev in “C.I.D.” By the way, Raj also appears in a scene in "Baazi".

It introduced Badruddin (Jamaluddin Kazi), later christened as Johnny Walker by Guru in his third movie, as a comedian. Balraj Sahni who met Johnny Walker on the sets of “Hulchul (1951)” introduced him to Dev and Guru on the sets of “Baazi”. In the original story there was no role of Johnny Walker. But impressed by his comedy, Guru created a role even after the movie was half way completed. By the way, Sahni was the coauthor of the story of “Baazi” with Guru Dutt. He also worked on the screenplay. When Sahni was busy shooting for “Hulchul”, Guru made several changes to the script. Sahni Saab didn’t like what happened, and he never again worked with Guru.

The movie also introduced a new heroine, Kalpana Kartik. She would later marry Dev in real life. Chetan Anand, Dev’s older brother, was very unhappy with Guru because he thought Guru was unreasonable on his demands with a newcomer. At one point he decided take over for Guru, mostly because of Balraj Sahni’s protests, and shot the film himself for a couple of days. (Balraj Sahni and Chetan Anand were classmates. They both were also members of Indian People’s Theatre Association, IPTA.) When Guru complained about this, Dev intervened and gave Guru complete control of the film.

Sahir Ludhianvi already wrote for a couple of films before this movie. But this was the movie that established him as a force to reckon with. One can see the promise of great things cominng from his pen in future years.

This was also the movie in which Geeta Roy shed her image as a singer of devotional and sad songs. Burmanda, who composed some beautiful music for the movie, had her sing several fast paced songs. This opened up a whole new singing phase for Geetaji.

This was only part of the story for Geetaji. She and Guru Dutt, fell in love with each other during the shooting of the movie. This eventually led to their marriage in 1954.

The movie has nine songs. Seven of them are solos by Geetaji. Each of the song is an utter delight. The song “Tadbeer Se Bigdi” created a sensation when the movie was released. Audience flocked to see Geeta Bali perform a dance to this song over and over again. Interestingly, Sahir wrote it to be a ghazal. It was Burmanda’s idea to give the song a western touch. This as well as rest of the songs from this movie and the movie itself became huge hits.

Many experts believe that the movie became successful mostly because of the way songs were picturized. This skill Guru Dutt exhibited in this movie only improved from film to film he produced or directed. His scenes in this film lift mundane to unusual. He uses what someone called as “rhythmic editing” by taking many close-up shots. The climax of the scene with Geetaji’s song, “Suno Gajar Kya Gaaye”, is still remembered as one that builds the tempo brilliantly and maintains the nail biting tension.

I am uploading songs from this film in three back-to-back posts. Here is first set of songs …

This post has been edited by swarapriya: Apr 16 2010, 10:27 PM

[swarapriya]

Songs from "Baazi (1951)" Continued ...

Here are more songs from this beautiful album ...

[swarapriya]

Concluding Songs from "Baazi (1951)" ...

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

[Faraaj73]

Azad Ki Raah Par (1949)

Per some published sources, this was Sahir's first film. He wrote four songs for this movie. I don't have a single song to share from this album. Please share with rest of if you have any of the songs from this album. Thank you.

Hi Swarapriya

I think I've heard some of the songs from this album, but this GM Durrani solo is the only song I possess. Its a nice song but I don't track lyricists and not too sure this was penned by Sahir...

Dil Fida Karte Hain, Qurban Jigar Karte Hain

[Aditya Pant]

Baazi (1951)

SP, Aye Dil Aye Deewane is not from Baazi, but Baaz - lyrics by Majrooh, music by OPN.

Aditya

[Aditya Pant]

Azad Ki Raah Par (1949)

Per some published sources, this was Sahir's first film. He wrote four songs for this movie. I don't have a single song to share from this album. Please share with rest of if you have any of the songs from this album. Thank you.

Hi Swarapriya

I think I've heard some of the songs from this album, but this GM Durrani solo is the only song I possess. Its a nice song but I don't track lyricists and not too sure this was penned by Sahir...

Dil Fida Karte Hain, Qurban Jigar Karte Hain

This is certainly not by Sahir. The words of this song are taken from the poem by the Indian revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, who is better known for 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamana". The original poem is very long and a few lines are taken from various parts of the poem and put together in this song.

Going by the title of the film, it is very likely that in the film this song was picturized on the character of Bismil.

Aditya

[Exon]

Azad Ki Raah Par (1949)

Per some published sources, this was Sahir's first film. He wrote four songs for this movie. I don't have a single song to share from this album. Please share with rest of if you have any of the songs from this album. Thank you.

SP,

Congratulations on yet another nice thread and writeup.
A couple of years ago, Anupama had posted Sahir's songs list.
http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?s=&a...st&p=544321

You may find it useful for cross reference.

Exon

[swarapriya]

Azad Ki Raah Par (1949)

Per some published sources, this was Sahir's first film. He wrote four songs for this movie. I don't have a single song to share from this album. Please share with rest of if you have any of the songs from this album. Thank you.

Hi Swarapriya

I think I've heard some of the songs from this album, but this GM Durrani solo is the only song I possess. Its a nice song but I don't track lyricists and not too sure this was penned by Sahir...

Dil Fida Karte Hain, Qurban Jigar Karte Hain

Thank you very much Faraaj for the song. Cheers. -S

[swarapriya]

Baazi (1951)

SP, Aye Dil Aye Deewane is not from Baazi, but Baaz - lyrics by Majrooh, music by OPN.

Aditya

Thank you very much Aditya. That was my mistake in tagging. I made corrections to my write up to rectify the situation.

Cheers,
S

[swarapriya]

Azad Ki Raah Par (1949)

Per some published sources, this was Sahir's first film. He wrote four songs for this movie. I don't have a single song to share from this album. Please share with rest of if you have any of the songs from this album. Thank you.

SP,

Congratulations on yet another nice thread and writeup.
A couple of years ago, Anupama had posted Sahir's songs list.
http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?s=&a...st&p=544321

You may find it useful for cross reference.

Exon

Thank you very much Exon. I will follow Anupama's song list next time I have any doubts. It is always good to have some references like this.

Cheers,
S

[swarapriya]

Naujawan (1951)

Here is another collaboration of SD and Sahir Saab, again in 1951, that produced some beautiful songs. There are a couple of beautiful duets by Geetaji and Rafi Saab. Also, a couple of duets by Kishoreda. Both solos of Lata are excellent. It is beautiful to listen to Lata finish the song "Dil Ka Dard" on a high note. Unfortunately the audio of this song is not that good. But song of the album is the other solo by Lata, "Thandi Hawaayen". A mesmerizingly melodious song tuned by Burmanda to some beautiful lyrics. You feel as if a cool breeze is caressingly touching your face.

I am also including a special version of "Thandi Hawaayen". In this Lata discusses her experience singing for Burmanda. This is taken from the album "Legends: S.D. Burman - The Ageless All Rounder (CD1)".

Here are the songs from this beautiful album ...

[akbaralibhai]

Thank you very much for starting this wonderful thread and songs of Baazi and Naujawan.

[HarshBhatt]

Great start, waiting for some 'never heard before songs'

Keep sharing

Thanks

[swarapriya]

Thank you very much for starting this wonderful thread and songs of Baazi and Naujawan.

You're very welcome Bhai Saab. Cheers. -S

[swarapriya]

Great start, waiting for some 'never heard before songs'

Keep sharing

Thanks

Thank you very much Harshji. I will keep trying to see if I can live up to your expectations. Cheers. -S