Navrang (1958)
This is one of my favorite movies. God knows how many times I have seen it. Shantaramji was a genius in translating imagination onto celluloid. He did so beautifully in "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje" and then again with this movie "Navrang." Also, later with "Geet Gaya Patharo Ne."
Everybody knew that C. Ramchandra can provide beautiful music. However with western tinge in it. All his hit songs are testimonials for this with the sole exception of "Anarkali" whose music was exceptional, sweet, and sublime. So one wonders why Shantaram gambled by taking CR to provide the music for something classical like "Navrang's." But Shantaram was not wrong. Every song in this movie was so beautifully composed and so beautifully picturized that watching this movie you feel like you have been drenched in all kinds of lovely colors. Like the holi song, "Are Jaa Re Hat Natkhat" you come out as if you have been playing holi yourself.
There are 13 songs in the movie, and each one of them is a gem. This is the time Lataji and CR were not in talking terms. Asha sang all the female songs. She did such a great job. The lyrics were penned by Bharat Vyas who also took turn to sing a song in this movie.
Now for the details of the songs and songs themselves ...