#197
        Song: Julmi Sang Aankh Ladi (2), Re
                Sakhi Main Kaase Kahun (2), ..........

        Film:   Madhumati (1958)
        Music:  Salil Chowdhury
        Lyrics: Shailendra
        Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
        *ing:   Dilip Kumar, Vyjayantimala, Pran, Johny Walker

This song is my current favourite. I am humming it for two  days.
Bimal Roy's all time great movie, brought us wonderful soundtrack
through Salil-da.  Although, 'Ajaa Re Pardesi'  is  more  popular
and  much  more  sung  than  this  one,  I  prefer  this for it's
unparallel sweetness. Kaanon me ghantiaan si bajati hain, ise sun
kar!

Mukesh added sweetness to genius of Salil's work by  lending  his
voice  to  Dilip  Kumar, after a gap of almost 8 years. (I assume
Yahudi (1958) was later than Madhumati.) His effort for  'Suhaana
Safar  Aur Ye Mausam Hansi' brought him his first Filmfare award.
Well, that's secondary to me; he sung really beautiful song.  And
I  must  say,  Shailendra's great lyrics really helped Bimal-da's
awesome camera work in memorable picturisation of this song. Just
look at -- 'Ye Kaun Hanstaa Hai Phoolon Me Chhup Kar' or 'Ye Gori
Nadiyon Ka Chalnaa Uchhal Kar' when camera captures virgin beauty
of Tarai and upper Himalayas! Great harmony of lyrics and camera.
And to top it Mukesh' heavenly voice!

One more, striking scene and piece of music that's etched  in  my
memory forever is a chorus sung by a string of Himachal women, on
the hillside on zigzag narrow path. I suppose this was just after
the  above Mukesh song (or may be just before that). What a great
work by Salil Chowdhury ?! I wonder if that little mellow  chorus
is available outside the soundtrack ?

However nice the adaptation? -- from folk music -- may be, 'Daira
Re Daira, Chadhh Gayo Paapi Bichhua' (Manna De, Lata, Chorus) has
failed in finding a place in my heart. Other songs are  nice  and
enjoyable  too.  Rafi  chipped  in  for a song for Dilip Kumar in
'Tute Hue Khwaabon Ne'. But his other song filmed on Johny Walker
became  more  popular:  'Jangal  Me,  Jagal Me Mor Naacha Kisi Ne
Dekha'

Lata's 'Aja Re Pardesi', surely is immortal; I also enjoy  'Ghadi
Ghadi  Mora  Dil  Dhadke'.  But  I don't see magic of 'Aja Re' of
'Julmi  Sang'  in  it.  Yes,  Mubarak  Begum's  'Hum   Haal-E-Dil
Sunayenge'  is  my  favourite. Nice saarangi pieces are in there.
Mukesh-Lata duet 'Dil Tadap Tadap Ke Keh Rahaa Hai' is  also  not
among  my  all  time  favourites  of  theirs.  It  falls below my
expectation.

In all respect an unforgettable film!

Note: Today's ATMJH is dedicated to  legendary  theatre  laureate
from  Bengal  --  Shambhu  Mitra;  who  passed  away yesterday in
Calcutta. Hindi cinema will remember him for his lone directorial
venture  for  RK  Films'  unforgettable production of Jaagte Raho
(1956)/Ek Din Ek Raater? (1956 - in Bengali).



 
Author: Snehal B. Oza