Naushad: Gunga Jumna (1961/1978)

The soundtrack to Gunga Jumna runs in the same veins as O. P. Nayyar's music for the 1957 film Naya Daur. The music also resembles some of Naushad's earlier work in Amar (1954), especially in what I like to call the "village girl songs". In short, the sound is not original, but that does not take away from the quality of Naushad's work. Gunga Jumna was nominated for a Filmfare award that year.

As far as the plot goes the now famous pair (after the success of Devdas in 1955, Naya Daur in 1957 and Madhumati in 1958) goes on to make another hit by playing lovers in early post-independent India. With Dilip Kumar playing the role of the hard working Gunga and Kumar's fictional well educated brother Jumna played by his real brother Nasir Khan, with Vyjayanthimala as the lovely and colourful heroine. Themes such as right vs wrong, village vs city and battling social status of the new educated vs uneducated India live together and create friction in the film.

But if we come back to the music, it is mostly based on folk, with it's regional instruments and simple melodies.

To start, we have the beautiful Helen doing some Kathak on "Tora Man Bada Papi", well it's more like dancing around (it's good dancing, but not Kathak) in a Kathak outfit, not actually dancing a classical Indian form. The song is kind of plain, it does not interest me much, but I like the video.


After, looking at the big difference between the lives of the two brothers (Ganga and Jumna) as children, the video reflex's the contrast present in society of the "new India". This patriotic song, "Insaf Ki Dagar Pe" is a little to idealistic, but at least it is looking to a bring future. Everyone needs hope.

My favorite song has to be "Do Hanson Ka Joda", I love the sarangi (or sarod, I'm not sure), its beautiful. It's sad, simple and sweet.

Two other songs that I like are "Jhanan Ghoongar Baje" and "Dagabaz Tori Batian", because they are joyful and playful.

"O Chhalia Re Chhalia" and "Naina Lad Jaihen" (in this one you get Dilip Kumar dancing, yay!) just didn't get me moving. Ok....my foot was taping, but I expected more.

Overall, there are more ordinary songs than good songs. The album flows very well and I am sure Naushad put effort into this soundtrack.

Tracks:

Side 1

1. Lata Mangeshkar: Dagabaz Tori Batian

2. Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi and Chorus: O Chhalia re Chhalia

3. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Jhanan Ghoongar Baje

4. Mohd. Rafi: Naina Lad Jaihen

Side 2

5. Lata Mangeshkar: Do Hanson Ka Joda

6. Hemant Kumar & Chorus: Insaf Ki Dagar Pe

7. Asha Bhosle: Tora Man Bada Papi

8. Lata Mangeshkar: Dhoondo Dhoondo Re Sajna

Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Stella_1's score: 3.5/5

Get the music now: Naushad Gunga Jumna

N. Dutta: Sadhna (1958/1982)

In the early days, N. Dutta was the assistant to musical director S. D. Burman , so I was scared that there would be a S. D. Burman clone out there, but ''S. D. Burman the second'' he is not (I was relieved). N. Dutta's soundtrack for Sadhna is a little unexpected gem. Every song has it's own charm, making none of them a bore to listen to.


In the film,Vyjayanthimala (one of my favorite and one of the best dancers in Indian cinema) plays a courtesan. Thank god, because that's a good excuse for great dancing (Kathak) and great music.Well it basically insists on having a brothel scene, ''Kahoji Tum Kya Kya Kharidoge'' is what you get. The tabla is great and there are just enough rhythm changes to make you head spin (but in a totally good way).

Like I said in my last post, the best qawwali that I've heard up to date is ''Aaj Kyon Hamse Parda Hai'' . It has great music and vocals.

Next on my favorite list is a song sung by Geeta Dutt, Yeay! (Her and Shamshad Begum have to be the best playback singers ever). We only get one song on the album sung by her, but it's one of the best. ''Tora Manva Kyo Ghabraye'' is a mellow song with a timeless memory. It has a sweet into as well (nice flute).

The rest of the songs ''Aise Vaise Thikane Pe Jana Bura Hai'' , ''Sambhal Ae Dil'' and ''Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko'' are quite nice. I enjoy this album very much. What do you think?



Tracks:

Side 1

1. Lata Mangeshkar: Kahoji Tum Kya Kya Kharidoge

2. Lata Mangeshkar: Aise Vaise Thikane Pe Jana Bura Hai

3. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Sambhal Ae Dil

Side 2

4. Mohd. Rafi & Balbir: Aaj Kyon Hamse Parda Hai

5. Lata Mangeshkar: Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko

6. Geeta Dutt: Tora Manva Kyo Ghabraye

Lyrics: Sahir

Stella_1's score: 4/5

Get the music now: N. Dutta Sadhna

Shankar Jaikishan: Amrapali (1966/ 1979)

Amrapali was a flop when is was released in 1966. But I don't really know why? And weirdly enough, it was picked for India's entry as best foreign film for the Oscars.

Sticking with the theme of high class prostitutes. Amrapali is basically considered the same thing as Umrao Jaan but higher class and from a different time (about 500 B.C.). She is a Nagar Vadhu (bride of the city) and lives with the royals.

This is one of my favorite Shankar Jaikishan soundtracks. It's a little known gem. And I haven't seen the movie, but the music is definitely not the cause for it's bad luck at the box office.


I prefer the second side with ''Tadap Yeh Din Raat Ki'', ''Nacho Gao Nacho'' and the wonderful instrumental ''White Dress'' (I listened too it over and over again)

I also like "Neel Gagan Ki Chhaon" that is on the first side. The other two tracks are ok, but I don't find myself listening to those much.

Too bad that Shankar and Jaikishan didn't decide to put the instrumental bit when Amrapali has a dance battle. Here is the clip . It's intense and kind of funny, so enjoy!

Tracks:

Side 1
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Jao Re Jogi
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Tumhen Yaad Karte Karte
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Neel Gagan Ki Chhaon

Side 2
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Tadap Yeh Din Raat Ki
5. Chorus: Nacho Gao Nacho
6. Instrumental: White Dress Dance

Lyrics: Shailendra & Hasrat Jaipuri

Stella_1's score: 4/5

Get the music now: Shankar Jaikishan Amrapali

Naushad: Leader (1964)

Naushad has some suprises on this album. Leader brings changes in his style that is defined mostly by indian classical and folk music. This soundrack is like Naushad à la S .Dev Burman.

Aspecially, with songs like ''Mujhe Dunyawalo Deedar Hai'', ''Ajkal Shauqe'', ''Hameen Se Mohabbat'' , and ''Aj Hai Pyar Ka Faisla''.The first one is more jazzy and typical 60's bollywood. The last one has a simple melody but is accompanied by a wacky video. It's great stuff.


But you still can hear the old Naushad, in''Ek Shahinsha Ne Banavake'' also mostly in the instrumental intro to ''Dayya Re Dayya'' which is, by far, the best song on the album. S. Dev Burman takes those horns as an intro to the song Hothon Pe Aisi Atba , three years later in Jewel Thief (1967)


What makes Leader special and a good soundtrack too some and a bad soundtrack too others, is the fact that it mirrors the transition between the old 50's bollywood and the new jazzy rock'N'roll sounds of the 60's. It's not really one or the other. I personally am also a bit in between, I don't love it, and I don't hate it. But it sure is a classic worth listening too. Tell me what you think.

Tracks:

Side 1
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Tere Husn Ki
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Ek Shahinshah Ne Banavake
3. Mohd. Rafi: Mujhe Dunyawalo Deedar Hai
4. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Ajkal Shauqe

Side 2
5. Asha Bhosle, Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Dayya Re Dayya
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Aj Hai Pyar Ka Faisla
7. Mohd. Rafi: Hameen Se Mohabbat
8. Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Apni Aazadi Ko Ham

Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

Stella_1's score: 3.5/5

Get the music now: Naushad Leader

Salil Chowdhury: Madhumati (1958/1976)

Madhumati is the only Salil Chowdhury record I have . I do not know any of his other music. But I can really hear the western influences, and I especially noticed the use of some guitar here and there. The Madhumati soundtrack to me is very simple and alive. But I found it sounded sometimes too much the same from song to song. They are all good songs, but not great songs. The obvious popular tracks are "Dil Tadap Tadap Ke" and, a track I don't like, "Aaja Re Pardesi " . But my "coup de coeur" (french expression that means , the one that I instantly loved) is "Chadh Gayo Papi Bichchua inspired by folk music. A nice "village boy/village girl" song, it makes me dance and takes it's roots from the indian folk dance called dandiya garba. So, over all, this is a good soundtrack, but for me anyway, I feel there is nothing that is really super fantanstic. But it's worth a listen, so hear for yourselves.

I suggest, the last part the the second side, (I can listen to over and over again) it's 3 songs: "Tan Jale Man Jalta Rahe" ( don't let the deep voice scare you) , "Ham Hal-E-Dil Sunaenge" and "Toote Hue Khwabon Ne". They are very good .

Tracks:

Side 1
1. Mukesh: Suhana Safar
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadke
3. Asha Bhosle, Sabita Chowdhury, Gulam Mohd. & Chorus:
Kanchle Kanchi Lai Lajo
4. Mukesh & Lata Mangeshkar: Dil Tadap Tadap Ke
5. Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey & Chorus: Chadh Gayo Papi Bichhua

Side 2
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Aaja Re Pardesi
7. Mohd. Rafi: Jangal Men Mor Nacha
8. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Zulmi Sang Aankh Ladi
9. Dwijen Mukherjee & Chorus: Tan Jale Man Jalta Rahe
10. Mubarak Begum: Ham Hal-E-Dil Sunaenge
11.Mohd. Rafi: Toote Hue Khwabon Ne

Lyrics: Shailendra and Majrooh

Stella_1's score: 3.5/5

Get the music now: Salil Chowdhury| Madhumati