Sujata (1959)


Sujata, one meaning is that one who is born in a good "jaat", is one of those sweet movies. What an appropriate name for a movie. This movie was made by the great cinema genius Bimal Roy. It starred beautiful Nutan (she was Miss India of 1952) who did a magnificent job in the title role. Bimal Roy himself was riding way high on crest of his achievments. He already won several awards including Filmfare awards for Best Director ("Do Bigha Zameen" in 1953, "Parineeta" in 1954, "Biraj Bahu" in 1955, "Madhumati" in 1958). Nutan also won previously a Filmfare award for "Seema" in 1955. Their combination was sure had all the promise of great things happening. Not only they did live up to the expectations, but probably exceeded it. "Sujata" went on to win four Filmfare awards for 1959; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Story.

Burmanda, who was at the top of his game for Bimal Roy's earlier picture "Devdas" probably provided one of the sweetest music ever for a Hindi movie. Listening to these songs over and over again, it seems like one just forgets all of the surroundings and attains sublime pleasure. Majrooh penned the beautiful lyrics. Talat hasn't sung for SD since his "Taxi Driver" days. But one chance he gets here, he delivers. "Jalte Hain Jis Ke Liye" is a song worth remembering for ages to come. Both solos by Asha are stunners. So is Geetaji's song and her duet with Asha. Burmanda sings one here, "Sun Mere Bandhu Re," a perennial pleaser. This song was also beautifully picturized in the movie.

Assistant music director for "Sujata" was Jaidev. The extended version of "Kaali Ghata Chhaye" is by courtesy of the Forum members.

Now for the details of songs and songs themselves ...

Another melodious effort by Bimalda and Burmanda.

Thanks Swarapriya for your great efforts in bringing up the music of the golden era of HFM

Some more relevant pieces of information:
1) First time a song picturized where the hero is singing on the phone for the heroine (The ever green solo by Talat sahab "Jalte hain jiske liye")
2) Bimalda was not in favor of picturizing the above song on the phone and Burmanda insisted
3) The birthday song "Tum jiyo hazaron saal" was recorded in Geeta ji's voice and Asha ji' voice separately. Burmanda retained only Asha ji's version. No one knows if the Geeta Dutt version was ever released on records or not. The song (actually sung by Asha ji) was wrongly credited to Geeta ji. Asha ji finally had HMV (now RPG) give her the credits
4) A sensitive film on a sensitive topic, handled very gently and smoothly by Bimalda
5) Once again this was the time when Lata ji was not singing for Burman da and Asha ji made the best of this opportunity
6) Geeta ji sang the lovely lori "Nanhi kali sone chali" picturised on Sulochana (Ruby Mayers), an Anglo-Indian, who played a very touching role. Sulochana acted in several Hindi and Marathi films of fifties and sixties. A very spontaneous actress !
7) In the song "Bachapan ke din bhi kya din the" Geeta ji does most of the singing and Asha ji does humming.

Cheers
Parag

Parag,

Thanks for sharing some new information here. I know by now that you breath by Geetaji's songs. I understand. There is some sublime magic in her voice that grabs your mind and soul and wouldn't let go. We are so fortunate to have so many great singers and musicians who were around to give these songs we enjoy even today irrespective of how many years they have been around. Sweet music, like beautiful voice, is forever young.

Thanks again,
Swarapriya

Thanks swarapriya for uplaoding and Parag for the interesting info

Swarapriya,

These audio uploads of yours are so good that I am replacing some of my present audios.

Exon

Swarapriya, thanks for your kind words. Yes, almost every music fan I have interacted with on HF is aware about my affection for Geeta ji's songs and her personality. Every one has a life to live and things to do. I just try to do my bit as my little tribute to my beloved singer. At the same time, I do keep enjoying all the great music from the golden era of my personal interest (40s,50s and 60s).

Would like to invite you to this nice article I am posting on Geeta ji (originally written by famous critic Subhash K Jha)

http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?show...c=56097&hl=

Warmest Regards
Parag

Parga,

Thanks for the pointer. What a poignant, fitting, and expressive tribute by Subhashji! Geetaji will be remembered for ever because of her lasting legacy of rich repertoire of songs.

Swarapriya

Swarapriya, can you or some one confirm this ? As far as I know, Shobhana Samarth ji (Mother of Nutan ji and Tanuja ji) was a very beautiful actress of her times. When Nutan came into the film industry she was compared with her mom. Later Nutan proved her mantle as a natural and talented actress.

Cheers
Parag

Yes Parag, Shobhana Samarth was an actress. Apparently a beautiful and rich lady. Both Nutan and Tanuja were schooled in Switzerland. Nutan always wanted to be a singer, not an actress. She has beautiful voice. In her debut movie, Chhabili, she sang four songs. One of them was a duet with your favorite singer Geetaji. That movie's music was cmpsed by Snehal Bhatkar.

Cheers,
Swarapriya

Swarapriya

I am sorry but my question was about Nutan ji winning miss India of 1952. Is that correct ?

Thanks for the detailed reply

Cheers
Parag

Yes Parag, Nutanji was Miss India of 1952. -S

Swarapriya, thanks for the confirmation. I had read something different in one of the film books penned by Shirish Kanekar about Nutan ji.

This is what he has written (with all the due respect to great Nutan ji)

Quote:
When she entered the film industry, she was labelled as a (relatively) less good-looking daughter of a beautiful woman (her mom Shobhana Samarth). The history will always remember her as talented actress daughter of a non-acting woman.