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. Read more on this article...

Binaca Geetmala 1971

The date was 29th december 1971. My school had winter vacation and were due to open as the new year was approaching.I was in my village during the vacation, and the job of escorting me to the city, where I studied was entrusted on my maternal uncle ( Mama). The journey plan was like this- walk for 6 miles ( we used British system of measurement those days) equal to 3 kos ( we used native units of measurements as well those days) on foot to reach the nearest town. There we caught a bus to reach the city where I lived and studied.

We started in the morning at about 9 O'clock. We had hardly walked one kilometer, when we reached the field of an acquintance. Let us go and meet him, my mama suggested and we went there. The acquaintance, a progressive kisan had a pump set which was not working. My mama, interested in tinkering with mechanical contraptions, started to "help". And before one realised, it was evening.My mama hurriedly took leave of the acquiantance saying that we had to reach the town urgently. Obviously he was in no mood to go back to the village home and face severe tongue lashing on his irresponsible behaviour on wasting time, instead of doing the job he was entrusted to do.

By the time we reached the town, it was night. I thought that we would catch a night bus and reach the city at night. But no, he headed to a place where his sister ( mausi for me) lived. He had decided to stay there for the night.

The mausaji welcomed us and decided to have a feast of chicken. In those days, one did not go to a chicken shop and bought chicken ( the poultry industry was non existent). Every self respecting household in rural and semi rural places had a mini poultry in his house. So he got hold of one murga and got cracking on it. I watched him with interest.

The radio transister was on, and my mama had tuned on Radio ceylon. Songs were coming in the radio. They were old songs and boring as far as I was concerned. Then I heard the announcement- "Aur ab pesh hai Binaca Geetmala ka final programme" accompanied by the familiar Binaca geetmala bugle.

Wow. It was the last wednesday of the year! I had not realised it. I drew myself close to the transistor, and started paying close attention. Binaca Geetmala's Songs ranked from number 32 to number 17 in the year 1971 had been played in the first part during the last week ( which I had missed, being in village where there was no tansistor) and now was the time where the 16 most popular songs of 1971 ( based on polling of listener clubs and sales of records- a far cry from todays SMS polling) were going to be played in Binaca Geetmala's final programme of the year 1971.

Songs were played. Every song, right from the number 16 song onward, was a beautiful song, and the voice of Amin Sayani, describing the songs, and then playing it, was divine.
Here are the songs that were played on that memorable wednesday evening, the evening of Binaca Geetmala's final programme:


song number 16: Tumko Bhi To Aisa (Aap Aaye Bahaar Aayee) Music Laxmikant-Pyarelal Lyrics- Anand Bakshi, singers- Kishore, Lata


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xasY7gmBS8Y&feature=related

song number 15:Maine Tere Liye Hi(Anand)Music- Salil Chaudhury Lyrics-Gulzar Singer-Mukesh


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDl0V8e4MF0

song number 14:Jeevan Ki Bagiya Mahkegi (Tere Mere Sapne)Music- S D Burman Lyrics-Neeraj Singers-Kishore, Lata


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucj4G5kMAHk

song number 13:He Re Kanhaiya Kisko Kahega tu maiyya (Chhoti Bahu)Music- Kalyanji-Anandji Lyrics-Indeevar Singer- Kishore

No link available. It was a very popular song though.

song number 12:Chupke Se Dil De De nahi to shor mach jayega (Maryada)Music- Laxmikant-Pyarelal Lyrics- Anand Bakshi Singers- Kishore, Lata


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLhC-wueSaw

song number 11:Twinkle Twinkle Little Star(Purab Aur Paschim)Music-Kalyanji-Anandji Lyrics-Prem Dhawan Singers-Asha, Mahendra Kapoor


http://www.youtube.com/v/vrSSRPuPxlg

song number 10:Piya Tu Ab to Aaja (Caravan)Music- R D Burman Lyrics- Majrooh Singers- Asha, R D Burman


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bua_QY1awj8

song number 9:Mujhko Thand Lag Rahi Hai(Main Sundar Hoon)Music- Shankar-Jaikishan Lyrics- Anand Bakshi Singers- Kishore, Asha


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srwnfv--EBw

song number 8:Hai Na Bolo Bolo (Andaaz)Music-Shankar-Jaikishan Lyrics- Hasrat Jaipuri Singers- Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur,Sushma Shreshtha, Pratibha


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

song number 7:Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli (Anand)Music- Salil Chaudhury Lyrics- Yogesh Singer- Manna Dey


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVEtwPO6rk8

song number 6:Chal Chal Chal Mere Saathi(Haathi Mere Saathi)Music-Laxmikant-Pyarelal Lyrics-Anand Bakshi Singer-Kishore


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CS4nLI2ZX8

song number 5:Rama Rama Gajab Hui Gawa Re (Naya Zamana)Music-S D Burman Lyrics-Anand Bakshi Singer- Lata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDumwDWR6Os

song number 4:Guni Jano Bhakt Jano (Aansoo Aur Muskaan) Music- Kalyanji-Anandji Lyrics- Qamar Jalalabadi Singer- Kishore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuEia4kx3t4

song number 3:Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai (Kati Patang) Music- R D Burman Lyrics-Anand Bakshi Singer- Kishore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIWX9vCffms

song number 2:Achcha To Hum Chalte Hain (Aan Milo Sajna) Music- Laxmikant-Pyarelal Lyrics-Anand Bakshi Singers- Kishore, Lata Singers- Kishore; Asha


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c1MguD-GGo

song number 1:Zindagi Ek Safar hai sunhana (Andaaz) Music- Shankar-Jaikishan Lyrics- Hasrat Jaipuri Singers- Kishore; Asha


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBUEXlOsGPY Read more on this article...