My geetmala on Madan Mohan

In his debut movie Ankhen (1950), Madan Mohan worked with lyricists like B D Mishra, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, and Bharat Vyas. The songs were sung by Shamshad Begum, Meena Kapur, Rafi,Mukesh, Madan Mohan himself, and even Raj Khosla ( the director of the movie).
I heard the song sung by Raj Khosla ( lyricist was B D Mishra). It was a fun song- "Rail me jiya mora dhananan hoye re". If people listen to this song a few times, I am sure they will like it. Though apparently the most popular song of this movie was "Mori atariya pe kaaga bole, mora jiya dole" by Meena Kapur( lyricist was Bharat Vyas).

Madan Mohan's second movie as a music director was Ada (1951). In this movie,his lyricists were Behzad Lucknowi, S K Deepak,Prem Dhawan and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.This movie saw singers like Lata, Kishore, Talat, Geeta Roy ( yes She was Roy at that time), Asha Bhosle and S D Batish singing for the first time under Madan Mohan.5 all time great singers singing in one movie- that must have been quite a coup when looking at it from retrospectively- though in reality, none of the five were as big names at that time as they subsequently became.Shamshad Begum too sang in this movie.

Madan Mohan's third movie was Madhosh (1951). Oops, it is supposed to be a geetmala, not a chronological list of Madam Mohan's movies.


So here it goes. My first song for this geetmala is from Madhosh.It is sung by Talat
Meri Yaad mein na tum aansoo bahana (Madhosh 1951) Lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdhokgkN3rw

Next song is also from Talat
Main paagal mera manwa paagal (Aashiyana 1952)Lyrics Rajinder Krishna



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWe1oQs05HE&feature=related

Have you heard of a Bollywood movie called Railway platform ? I bet you have not. But I bet that you have heard this Rafi song many a times. This is one of the songs that has passed into folklore. Here it is:

basti basti parbat parbat gata jaaye banjaara (Railway platform 1955), lyrics-Sahir Ludhiyanvi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtCsfOTVgSY

The next song from Bhai Bhai (1956) is a light number, more associated with O P Nayyar, S D Burman etc, but Madan Mohan too could compose such songs, if he only got the chance to work in such movies.

Ai dil mujhe bata de (Bhai Bhai 1956)Lyrics Rajinder krishna



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khw9mUa3EWQ&feature=related

And here is a Manna De classic.
Kaun aaya mere man ke dwaare (Dekh Kabeera Roya) 1957 Lyrics Rajinder Krishna



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SllZY0ke7Vo

Mukesh at his melancholic best
Bhooli hui yaadon(Sanjog 1961)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvTgiiYtVfA&feature=related

Kishore Kumar at his characteristic comical best
Zaroorat hai zaroorat hai (Manmauji 1962)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz-Z7mgyDu8&feature=related

My personal favourite from Anpadh (1962). Lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan captures your attention, right from the first line to the last. It must be one of best masterpieces of Bollywood movie music.

Aapki nazron ne samjha (Anpadh 1962) Lyrics- Raja Mehdi Ali Khan



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTtDt17nizA

Tidbit- When Naushad listened to The two ghazals of Anpadh ( the above one plus "Hai isi me pyar ki aabroo"), he found out who the composer was, immediately rung up Madan Mohan for an appointment, and arrived at his residence. There he said that his two ghazals of this movie were worth more than his entire creations in Bollywood music.

This next song is the last word among songs of its genre, IMHO

Naina barse, rimjhim rimjhim (Woh Kaun Thi)1964



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SDBvp5AXQg&feature=related

What about this next song ?

Naino me badra chaaye (Mera Saaya) 1964



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZlVH51Wmts

Light hearted song from the same movie. Many people thought that this song was composed by O P Nayyar.
Jhumka gira re (Mera Saaya) 1964



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9__fHwQn2ik

How can one forget the title song ?
Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saya)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK6m7zmZEuk&feature=related

Patriotic song par excellence
Kar chale hum fida (Haqeeqat) 1964 Lyrics Kaifi Aazmi



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaaxFPndjng

A beautiful love song
Ek haseen sham ko (Dulhan ek raat ki) lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkvNKXEcrKc&feature=related

This movie called Dastak earned Madan Mohan national recognition for being the best music director.It is widely believed by many that Mazrooh had excelled himself as a lyricist in this movie. The story itself was far ahead of its time, and flopped badly.

Baiyan na dharo balma (Dastak) Lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwrZ2ZMlIgE

Another superb song ( out of many such songs) in a flop movie
Aaj socha to aansoo bhar aaye (Hanste jakhm)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrWgiY8uShE&feature=related

Great music, which became popular, but the film would flop. And Madan Mohan would not get the recognition ( viz Film fare award) that he so richly deserved. Disappointed, he had taken to drinks, and he died on 14 july 1975.If only he could have waited a little longer, then better days awaited him. His next movie called Mausam ( 1975) proved a roaring success, alogwith the music.

Dil dhoondhta hai phir wahi (Mausam 1975) Lyrics-Gulzar



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zmWyZvcnuw&feature=related

And his next movie, Laila Majnu (1976) was a hit too, which made him a favourite of masses as well. Commercial success came to him too late.
Husn haazir hai (Laila Majnu 1976)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIH6p146zXU

But there is little doubt that Madan Mohan was a great music director of the golden era of Bollywood music. And his reputation is only getting enhanced with time, thsnks to the timeless nature of his musical compositions.

His latest movie was Veer Zaara (2004), created from his unused music.But that is too recent to form a part in my geetmala.