RIP.. Yash Chopra...

Passing of Yash Chopra this week,  brings an end to a magical era that brings back so many beautiful memories. Very well known for making movies with beautiful visuals, scenic locals, mesmerizing music all to depict his favorite movie theme, love.

 As the saying goes, everything is fare in love and war, Yashji's characters were forgiven for all the dream sequences and the songs in those dreams. He would transport the characters in movie and the viewers along with them in dreamland of the lush green valleys of Kashmir, tulip gardens in Switzerland or may it be the snow covered Alps as soon as they close the eyes. He painted the dreams for my generation, filled them with magic and music.

Music was always very strong point in all his movies. This week there is a lot written about all his hit movies like, Silsila, Chandani, Kabhi-Kabhi, Lamhe,Waqt, Mashal , Trishul the list goes on and on. All the songs from these movies are very popular and were huge hit.

But I have picked a song from a not very well known movie called Faasale. Composed by another one of my favorite music director duo, Shiv Hari, this one is musical treat. What I like about the music is it synchs with the visuals so perfectly, wind blowing to the tune of flute, dupatta fluttering from face at the sound of santoor, feet running down hill to the beat of tabla, and all blended so well, that it feels like the nature is making music.

Hum Chup hai Ke dil sun rahe hai...




Yashji, aap to ab hamesha ke liye chup hogaye hai, lekin hamare dil mai, aapke ganne hamesha gunjte rahenge.

RIP Yashji.....

Come again to read more about the songs that have been forgotten ...with bhule bisare geet.

Kya yahi pyar hai...

Another RD composition. a blast from past.  This was one of the popular songs, from a hit movie 'Rocky' back in 1980's  and all the songs from movie were immensely popular.

Most music directors at that time and even today , use some percussion instrument to carry the major beat in the music, it could be drums, tabala, bongo or any other.

What's different about this song is, RD uses Guitar and the chords to keep the rhythm of mukhada in this song. Synthesizer opening up the antara of the song with a mysterious sound and the beat is picked up by drums for antara. RD loved to experiment with different instruments and used them to do more. The Guitar strumming the base chords for rhythm gives a little more depth to the emotions of the mukhada 'dil tere bin kahi lagata nahi' . The singers Kishor Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar doing full justice to this soulful composition, it's just amazing.

 Kya yahi pyar hai .. from movie 'Rocky'

RD being RD..had this same tune composed in Bengali and you can hear the musical genius at his best in the original bengali song. Listen the the choice of instruments and the arrangement. The echoing drum strike strarts the music and one by one other instrument joins in till you realize that he is building the same tune. . The Bengali version is a solo song, beautiful sung by Asha Bhosale.

 

Eki bhalobasha ...Bengali song by Asha Bhosale

 

 

In Panchamda's recording studio all the musicians used to be along the edges of the room and RD with his harmonium in the middle giving clues to each musicians when to start and join in. Close your eyes and listen to the Bengali version you'll feel like you are standing in the middle of that room with him as you can hear each instrument joining in.

Interestingly, this song was also made into a Bengali Pooja song, sung by Kishor Kumar's son, Amit Kumar. Amit recorded this song the very next day after Kishor- Lata's hindi version was recorded. But the Bengali Pooja album was released 1 year before the Hindi song made it to market. Making it first song to be released in both Father and son's voice and also by both sisters Lata and Asha.

Come again to read more about the songs that have been forgotten ...with Bhule Bisare Geet.

 

RD Burman...

I have been a avid fan of Pancham's music for many years and like many other RD fans, know a lot his songs by heart. But recently I came upon a RD composition, that I had not heard before only because it is not from any movie and it somehow never got it's due.

This tune RD originally composed for a Bengali song, used it as a theme tune for movie 'Sagar'.
The original Bengali song is an absolute treat, and even though I don't understand the language, the brilliance of this composition took my breath away. The arrangement of the instruments, where synthesizer starts the music with chords, saxophone joins in crooning longingly and the Guitar kicks in to build the bridge from low notes to the highest where Pancham's voice picks up the song. The delivery of his words vibrates with such high emotions, you can hear the words as if floating on the waves. Just amazing... Asha's voice synchs in to compliment his, as antara and you'll identify the tune from Sagar. The language is no barrier when it comes to appreciate good music.


Original Bengali song: Tumi koto Je Dure

Anuradha Paudwal had requested RD to compose for music album titles 'Aaja Meri Jaan'. There were some 8 songs composed for this album and RD used the same composition for the title track of this album.

SP Balasubramanyam, loved the original Bengali song and copied it in Tamil. When RD wanted to record this song for the Aaja Meri Jaan album, he call SPB to sing it. On recording when SPB realized that the song does not have a beat in the starting and the lyrics start with guitar chords as queue, he thought it was difficult to catch the beginning beat (the drums or beat doesn't start in the song till after the actual lyrics start) . RD replied ," Bloody fellow! that why I called you . you can do it." The song in hindi is also very nice to hear and SPB did a great job with it.

Hindi Song By SPB: Aaja Meri Jaan

The music company scrapped this album, but used one of the songs from album as title track for the movie by same name. (Aaja Meri jaan , starring Kishan Kumar). The other songs in the movie were done by Amar-Utpal and the credit for music went to the duo. RD who had seen high with his hits could not come to terms with such humiliation at the hands of industry in his later life.

Come again to read more about the songs that have been forgotten and lost...with Bhule Bisare Geet.