Friday, December 5, 2008

Hemant Kumar: Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam (1962/1970)

Basically, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam is a classic Indian film, based on the book by Bimal Mitra. It was India's entry for the Oscars in 1963 and stars Meena Kumari (in one of her most famous roles) as a drunken rich house wife in the province of Bengal during the end of the 1800's.


Initially, I got this album for two songs. The first, and my favorite, "Piya Aiso Jiya Men" is simply a classic Geeta Dutt song that I love. The second is "Sakhiya Aaj Mujhe Neend Nahi Aayegi", beautifully sung by Asha Bhosle and wonderfully picturised by Guru Dutt on the lovely Meenu Mumtaz (Minoo Mumtaz).


But after listening to the album for a while, I slowly fell in love with the song "Meri Baat Rahi Mere Man Me".


It's always a pleasure to hear Geeta Dutt, and on the record you sadly don't get her vocal intro to the song "Chale Aao, Chale Aao" which is in the film (and can be heard in the clip). But Geeta Dutt was most famous for the song "Piya Aiso Jiya Men", as the caracter heartbreakingly calls out to her neglecting husband.

I also enjoy the playful "Bhanwara Bada Nadan" picturised on Waheeda Rehman. But every song on the album has its own charm and I am sure everyone would like one, at the least.

On the back of the record the song titles are translated, so I wrote them down below each one. Enjoy!


I just learned that the film is supposed to be remade, by Rituparno Ghosh starring Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham(I posted the poster just below.) I don't know? a classic is a classic, I wouldn't have remade it, especially with poptart actors, well it's their chance to prove that they can act, and I hope they succeed.



Tracks:

Side 1


1. Title Music
2. Asha Bhosle: Bhanwara Bada Nadan
Oh! How ignorant is the wasp!
3. Asha Bhosle: Meri Baat Rahi Mere Man Me
Unexpressed remained what I wished to say
(the secret of my heart)
4. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Sakhiya Aaj Mujhe Neend Nahi Aayegi
Thou dispenser of wine, tonight sleep will forsake me



Side 2


5. Geeta Dutt: Chale Aao, Chale Aao
Come to me, come to me
6. Asha Bhosle: Meri Jaan O Meri Jaan
(Thou art) my life, my life, do not torment me so
7. Geeta Dutt: Piya Aiso Jiya Men
Oh lover! Deep in my heart have you found a place
8. Geeta Dutt: Na Jao Saiyan Chhod Ke Baiyan
Though released is your hand, do not leave me, love


Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Stella_1's score: 4/5


Get the music now: Hemant Kumar Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam

10 comments:

Shweta Mehrotra Gahlawat said...

This is probably one of the best soundtracks ever- not a single weak moment. Hemant Kumar is divine- I just wish he had sung even more- I am v greedy about listening to him :)

Anonymous said...

I love this soundtrack - they are all so beautiful in different ways. For some reason, I've always thought the composer was S. D. Burman - perhaps because I didnt realise just how often Hemant Kumar composed music! Like Shweta, I cant get enough of his voice and have taken to listening to his old Bengali songs and Rabindra Sangeet for my Hemant da-fix. :-)

Anonymous said...

Really good movie, although depressing as all get out. Beautiful music, thanks for this :-)

Anonymous said...

apparently Hemant Kumar sang for this movie but the song was not released.

sahil ki taraf kashti le chal (unreleased song) - Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam - 1962 - Hemant Kumar - Shakeel Badayuni

So far haven't been able to track down this song.

Anonymous said...

Classic movie, well worth watching. The songs are also great too, they really have a lot of atmosphere & fit so well into the movie.

Thanks for posting,

Asli Jat

Anonymous said...

Hi Stella,

Thanks for this and other great uploads. Really appreciate your
efforts.

Song 4 of Sahib... I think Sakhiya is a female companion. Saakhi is the dispenser of wine. Not sure though. Let the experts clarify.

Regds / Jilluk

Anonymous said...

Ditto re. Hemant Kumar and his singing. For instance, Nagin is one of my absolute favorite soundtracks. But this one is really good too.

"Sakhiya Aaj Mujhe Neend Nahi Aayegi" could be my favorite of all the classic Bollywood mujras. Looks like Minoo Mumtaz knocked Vyjayanthimala out of that spot - though thanks in large part to the brilliant camera work and the direction by Guru Dutt, and the music, of course. Just can't watch/listen to this one enough.

phil said...

Loving this , many many thanks Stella :)

Back posting again @ mine (out of hospital finally)

Anonymous said...

I agree with you sentiments about any attempt to remake this movie. Thanks for the write up. I LOVE side one track 3. Asha Bhosle's Meri Baat Rahi Mere Man Me Unexpressed remained what I wished to say the secret of my heart. I remember when I saw this film I stopped and transcribed the translated lyrics from the screen into my ultra-geek Bollywood Notebook. I remember the part that said something like "We could have talked, we could have listened." Ahhhh! Such a beautifully sad, hypnotic song. Thanks for reminding me of it.

All the best,
Sita-ji

hildebrand said...

I've also been searching for sahil ki taraf kashti le chal (unreleased song) - Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam - 1962 - Hemant Kumar - Shakeel Badayuni
for a long time! if someone has it do ping me.