Shankar Jaikishan: Aashiq (1962/1978)

The music of Aashiq is a lot better without the visual of the movie. It doesn't happen very often that a soundtrack over shadows a film that I haven't even seen, but I can't stand watching the clips. The problem is that the camera work is so bad. But I don't get it. Jaywant Pathare was the cinematographer for Aashiq. But he was the assistant camera man to Raj Kapoor for Aag, Barsaat and Awaara (Raj Kapoor's most beautiful films) so he has no excuse. He even won a Filmfare award 4 years later for Anupama for best cinematography. But Aashiq looks like it was shot by an amateur film maker with low angle and ugly compositions. Ok sorry, I am a cinema student so I have to complain a little and I know I am talking a lot about the cinematography, but it really takes away from the soundtrack.

So basically I am suggesting to listen to the songs before you watch the clips or just close your eyes, no really!

Ok, well the two main characters in the film are a singer (Raj Kapoor) and a dancer (Padmini) may I add the best baratanatyam dancer on the screen ever (close tie with Vijanthimala). Anyway, the music in the film isn't simply to entertain but must compliment the characters individual talents. Shankar Jaikishan did it pretty well. You have "Jhanan Jhanjhanake Apni Payal" for the dancer and "Tum Jo Hamare Meet Na Hote" for the singer. Lovely songs.


My personal favorites are, the sweet "Lo Aai Milan Ki Raat", the fun "Yeh To Kaho Kaun Ho Tum" and "Tum Aaj Mere Sang Hanslo".



I would also like to mention that Aashiq is from the same period as Ujala (1959) and Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960) and resembles both albums but is a little more drama and less folk.



Tracks:

Side 1
1. Mukesh: Main Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka
2. Lata mangeshkar: Lo Aai Milan Ki Raat
3. Mukesh & Chorus: Yeh To Kaho Kaun Ho Tum
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh: Mehtab Tera Chehra



Side 2
5. Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh: O Shama Mujhe Phoonk De
6. Mukesh: Tum Aaj Mere Sang Hanslo
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Jhanan Jhanjhanake Apni Payal
8. Mukesh: Tum Jo Hamare Meet Na Hote

Lyrics: Shailendra & Hasrat Jaipuri

Stella_1's score: 3.5/5

Get the music now: Shankar Jaikishan Aashiq

Laxmikant Pyarelal: Bobby and, Shankar Jaikishan: Mera Naam Joker (Instrumental)

This record is nothing like the Soul of Bobby (Soooo good! You can get a sample at Eastern Eye), this record is more of a cocktail or diner reception kind of thing going on, but at times it's a little funky. I enjoy it but it's nothing mind blowing. (Wait, I never say "mind blowing", it must be from all the Hindi movies I have been watching.)

The record is accredited to two music assistants. The first is Sumit Mitra a musician for Laxmikant Pyarelal's Bobby. The second is Arun Paudwal for Mera Naam Joker, a music assistant as well as a composer for Marathi and Hindi films. He was married to the well know playback singer Anuradha Paudwal.

Just to add, I enjoy the Bobby songs more, well simply because the Bobby songs are better. What do you think? Are you a Mera Naam Joker fan? Tell me about it!

Tracks:

Side 1
1. Bobby: Main Shair To Nahin
2. Bobby: Mujhe Kuch Kahena Hai
3. Mera Naam Joker: Kehta Hai Joker
4. Mera Naam Joker: Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan


Side 2
5. Bobby: Chabi Kho Jae
6. Bobby: Na Mangu Sona Chandi
7. Mera Naam Joker: Jane Kahan Gaye Woh Din




Bobby: Sumit Mitra
Mera Naam Joker: Arun Paudwal



Stella_1's score: 3/5



Get the music now: Shankar Jaikishan & Laxmikant Pyarelal Bobby & MNJ (Instrumental)

O. P. Nayyar: Kismat (1968)

At the first glance, you know that this record is certainly not like Phagun. Instead, Kismat incarnates the typical rebel O. P. Nayyar style. His music was rebellious for it's time, but now it's pretty clean, so let's just call his style non traditional. On this record he is inspired by some jazzy rock'n'roll of the 60's with a little folk as well.


In general the songs are very guitar based. You have the almost county "Lakhon Hain Yahan Dilwale" and the bouncy "Aankhon Men Qayamat Ke Kajal".You also get great instrumentals with "One Two three Baby" which is also available on Bombshell Baby of Bombay vol.2, that you can find on Bombay-Connection Records.

My favorites are the Punjabi inspired "Karja Mohhabat Wala" and the heroine's drunk song "Aao Huzoor Tumko".



I understand that O. P. Nayyar makes the music and melodies simple as to make it easy for the viewers to instantly connect with the songs. But from my personal perspective, I feel that the music is in need of multiple layers, but he doesn't provide that. I prefer O. P. Nayyar's earlier work such as Aar Par, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Paghun and Naya Daur. In the 60's he was popular because he did not follow trends, he made them. But I have a feeling that during this period when Kismat came out, he was just copying his own music, making this record unoriginal and a bit boring to listen to today.


But I still like to rock'n'roll from time to time. So Baby, tell me what you think!


Tracks:


Side 1
1. Mahendra Kapoor: Aankhon Men Qayamat Ke Kajal
2. Asha Bhosle & Shamshad Begum: Karja Mohhabat Wala
3. Title Music


Side 2
4. Asha Bhosle: Aao Huzoor Tumko
5. Mahendra Kapoor: Lakhon Hain Yahan Dilwale
6. Mahendra Kapoor: One Two Three Baby


Lyrics: Noor Dewasi & S. H. Bihari


Stella_1's score: 3 /5


Get the music now: O. P. Nayyar Kismat

What I've been doing

...looks like I will be staying here.


Hi everyone,

I haven't had the time to write posts because I have been searching for a summer job. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who left me comments and tips about my summer job in London. But I really need money for university so I decided to save up and stay in Montreal. Maybe next summer I will be able to go.

Before summer actually starts, for school, I had to write a term paper on one of my favorite directors. I chose a director I liked, Raj Kapoor, but I really wanted to choose an indian director I didn't know much about (You know like more underground). But after doing some research I found out that there is not much decent info, in english or french, on indian directors. The only south asian director that has lots of books written on him and his work is the bengali director, Satyajit Ray. I don't know if it's the lack of translation by indian film scholars or just the lack of people seriously studying and analysing indian cinema? Don't get me wrong, good books exist but they are rare. I have a small collection of books, but with what I have read I feel that it's not enough. The books don't go deep enough, there is no analysis of a directors work. However I did discover a book on Raj Kapoor called Harmony of Discourse but it's rare and I could not find it to buy anywhere. If anyone knows how to get that book and other more serious works on indian cinema please feel free to give any suggestions.

On May 24th my dance teacher Sudeshna Maulik had a kathak performance. It was the closing show for an asian heritage festival in Montreal called Acces Asie. There where many south asian performers, I especially liked the Dhol and the Bhangra. Anyway, I have only been learning Kathak for 6 months but me and two other students performed as well. That's me in the back, to see more pictures just click here.

On June 2nd I was invited on CJLO a Concordia university radio talk show called There you have it folks! hosted by Nicole and Sinbad Richardson. It was really fun, I might do it again or this fall I will start my own Bollywood radio show. Whichever I will keep you all posted because CJLO is broadcasted on the Internet as well.

Anyway, now back to posting albums ...

Have a great summer!

Stella in London ?!

Hi everyone, I have decided that I am going to be finding a summer job in London. I cant' wait. I was wondering if any of you ''Londoners'' could help me out with a few of my questions.

1. Well I don't have anywhere to stay, so where is the cheapest (not like dangerous cheap, where only people out of jail or a mental institutions live) place I could stay?

2. Where can I get Indian records?

3. And Indian Movies (DVD's)? Also, are there any cinema's that show Indian films?

4. Where are the best places to go out?

And 5. What are your favorite things to do in London?


*If any of you would like to meet and talk, we could set up a little supper or meeting for Indian record collectors. That would be great. Thanks

Roshan: Bawre Nain (1950/1980)

Roshan, who was a musician trough out the 40's, got his first break as a music director with Bawre Nain. Heavily inspired by the 40's sound, this record represents the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. But the overall sound of this album is melancholic and slightly romantic (as in the artistic current).  

The most popular song on the record is ''Khyalon Men Kisi Ke'', it's sneaky and seductive.

You can find some joyful songs on the album, but you still feel some pain in the music. Like the playful ''Mujhe Sach Sach Batado'' and ''Roothe Hue Chanda''. They still feel a little bit like when someone sad tries to be happy.

My favorite songs on the album are the lonely ''Teri Duniya Men Dil Lagta Nahin'', the lovely duet ''Mohabbat Ke Maron Ka'' and ''Sun Bairi Balam''

It's not the greatest album, but still it is special. It has it's own original charm that makes it stand out. I enjoy it, what do you think? 

Tracks:

Side 1

1. Geeta Dutt & Mukesh: Khyalon Men Kisi Ke

2. Rajkumari & Mukesh: Mujhe Sach Sach Batado

3. Rajkumari: Roothe Hue Chanda

Side 2

4. Mukesh: Teri Duniya Men Dil Lagta Nahin

5. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Mohabbat Ke Maron Ka

6. Rajkumari: Kyon Mere Dil Men

7. Rajkumari: Sun Bairi Balam

Lyrics: Kidar Sharma

Stella_1's score: 3.5/5

Get the music now: Roshan | Bawre Nain

Shankar Jaikishan: Ujala (1959/1990)

Even if Shankar Jaikishan knew Shammi Kapoor because of there association with his brother, Raj Kapoor, it wasn't until Shammi did Ujala that they first collaborated together. Ujala has some gret tunes.

I first heard a glips of Ujala with the song "Jhoomta Mausam Mast Mahina" (my favorite) that was on a compilation Lp called Best of the 50's that came out in the 60's. This record came out in 1990, so does that mean that you couldn't listen to the rest of the songs until then.Well, I guess if you wanted the soundtrack to Ujala, you either had a cassette copy (I don't even know if it exists) or a 78 record or you had to wait until 1990 to get this Lp. It's just weird that they waited that long, because it's a decent soundtrack.

Anyway, like I said "Jhoomta Mausam Mast Mahina" is great, as well as "Duniyawalo Se Door" which is a cute playful love song that I really like. I also enjoy the typically 50's melody of the first song "Suraj Zarra Aa Paas Aa".

You also have a rare Mukesh and Mohd. Rafi duet with the song "Yaro Surat Hamari Pe".

Next you have two songs that resemble each other "Tera Jalwa Jisne Dekha" and "O Mora Nadan Balma".They are the "cabaret" numbers, but I think Shankar Jaikishan could have simply chosen one of them for the movie.

Ujala reminds me of Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (to see the post click here) , especially when you hear the songs "Aa Ab Laut Chalen" from JDMGBH and "Ab Kayan Jahen Hum" from Ujala. Both soundtracks where made during the same periode and Shankar Jaikishan seem to like using a chorus in the late 50's and beginning 60's.

I enjoyed this album very much, what do you think?

Oh and don't pay attention to the creepy Shammi Kapoor picture, because he is so cute in film.

Tracks:

Side 1

1. Manna Dey & Chorus: Suraj Zarra Aa Paas Aa

2. Lata Mangeshkar: O Mora Nadan Balma

3. Mohd. Rafi & Mukesh: Yaro Surat Hamari Pe

4. Lata Mangeshkar: Tera Jalwa Jisne Dekha

Side 2

5. Manna Dey & Lata Mangeshar: Jhoomta Mausam Mast Mahina

6. Mukesh & Lata Mangeshkar: Duniyawalon Se Door

7. Manna Dey & Chorus: Ab Kahan Jayen Hum

8. Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey & Chorus: Chham Chham Chhumak Chhumak

Lyrics: Shailendra & Hasrat Jaipuri


Stella_1's score: 3.5/5

Get the music now: Shankar Jaikishan Ujala