Dear readers, I have launched a website www.vidursury.com where I write and share all of my interests. This of course includes old Bollywood film music, which I’ve dedicated this website you’re reading to. Many of my future posts on this topic will be written even on that website. Please do read.
P. S. There is a possibility of me merging some of the existing posts into that website…so watch out! 🙂
Here are the beautiful songs from Khandan (1942) – music by Master Ghulam Haider. Its most significant thing was that our dear Madam Noor Jehan was a heroine for the first time. The hero was Pran, who was later one of the most hated villians in films! Manorama was the vamp, Ghulam Mohammed, M Ajmal and Durga Mota played side roles. Songs were mostly by Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum, Ghulam Haider, Naseem Akhtar and Umrao Zia Begum (Haider’s wife, a singer, and previously – in the 30s – an actress)
1. Ud Ja Ud Ja Panchi Panchi by Madam Noor Jehan and Ghulam Haider Ji, sung for Madam herself (how young she is!) and Pran
2. Hum Khelenge Aankh Micholi by Noor Jehan, for herself
3. Hamein Maar Gayi Re Teri Nazariya by Noor Jehan (on herself), Shamshad Begum and Umrao Zia Begum on others
4. Mere Liye Jahan Mein Chain Hai Na Qarar Hai by Noor Jehan, singing-acting
5. Tu Kaunsi Badli Mein Mere Chand Hai Aaja by singing-acting Noor Jehan
6. Chalo Paniya Bharan Ko Chalen by Shamshad Begum and Naseem Akhtar on Manorama and co
Very sadly, 4 (!) songs of Shamshad Begum were cut by the VCD manufaturers 😦 Here is one song uploaded: Meri Ammi Ka Raaz Bhala:
I have the other 3 missing songs and will post them next.
Iam just so fond of Madam Shanta Apte. She was a singer-actress of the 30s and 40s. She mainly performed in Hindi and Marathi films, but also did a Tamil film – Savithri (1941) with great South Indian singer-actress and Carnatic musician Madam M. S. Subbulakshmi. She also sang an English song for her most famous film Duniya Na Mane (1937) – In the world’s broad field of battle. She had such a unique singing and acting style! I plan to create a site in honour of her soon.
I hope you would like the site and also the related YouTube channel I plan to create for her.
A (and the only) Noor Jehan – Nazir starrer, a blockbuster, a great musical with an interesting storyline, and fantastic cast of acting and singing – that’s what Village Girl was. Music by the great Shyam Sundar and direction by M Amarnath. Cast included Nazir, Noor Jehan – leading pair, Durga Khote – hero’s mother, Rama Shukul – villain, with Shanta Patel, Geeta Nizami, Rajkumari Shukla(not the great playback singer, this is an actress usually playing mother roles), Jagdish Sethi, Anant Marathe, Bikram Kapoor playing side roles. I really treasure all the songs. The film launched Madam Noor Jehan to great heights. It also has a great Qawwali (scroll below to it for a surprise!)
1. Sajan Pardesi Balam Pardesi by Madam Noor Jehan on herself
2. Main Kheton Ka Panchi, Mere Pankh Nirale by Noor Jehan on herself
3. Rut Aayi Suhani Hai by Noor Jehan singing for herself and G M Durrani singing for Nazir
4. Saiyan Salone Se Nain Milake by Madam Amirbai Karanataki, picturised on Geeta Nizami’s lovely dance
5. Kis Tarha Bhoolega Dil by Noor Jehan on herself
This song was recorded in Zohrabai’s voice too but finally the Noor Jehan version was chosen
6. Ye Kaun Hansa, Kisne Sitaron Ko Hansaya – Noor Jehan on herself
7. Baithi Hoon Teri Yaad Ka Lekarke Sahara by Noor Jehan, singing for herself
8. Bansi Ki Madhur Dhun Se Mere Bhag Jaga De, Amirbai on Durga Khote. Jagdish Sethi, Bikram Kapoor and Anant Marathe are among the chorus
9. O Pardesi Raja, Koyal Kook Rahi Aaja by Madam Shanta Patel on herself, Madam Amirbai and Madam Rajkumari on others. In this upload the song is thrice back-to-back
10. Jai Jai Radhe Shyam Bolo by Durga Khote, Jagdish Sethi and others on themselves. This is a short Bhajan and actually cannot be considered as a song.
11. Aji Dil Ho Qaboo Mein To by Mohammed Rafi on Nazir and G M Durrani on Bikram Kapoor and others. Mohammed Rafi considers this his first Hindi film song, although he sang before in Pehle Aap (1944)
12. Hum Hindustan Ki Khatir by G M Durrani on Nazir and chorus on others
Surprise!…………………………………
13. Tune Dekha Ik Nazar Aur Dil Ka Chaska Kar Diya by Madam Kalyani, Madam Amirbai on Rehana and others, Madam Zohrabai on herself (!!!!) and others, and Madam Rajkumari
Here’s a great chance to see Zohrabai. In the third stanza you can see her behind singing for a girl in the front.
Hope you liked it.
A truly very very rare video; part of the documentary film, Mortal Men Immortal Melodies. The music director pair Husnlal-Bhagatram composed this song, re-sung by Husnlal’s son. Glimpses of Suraiya and Rehman in Pyaar Ki Jeet, enjoy!
Mirza Sahiban (1947), one of the most famous films of its time, starred the famous Madam Noor Jehan opposite popular actor (and Prithviraj Kapoor’s elder brother) Trilok Kapoor. Roop Kamal, Rekha, Gulab, Mishra, Baby Anwari, Gope and Cuckoo played supporting roles. Like most other films of our dear Noor Jehan, it had fantastic music.
Here are the outstanding melodies, composed by Husnlal-Bhagatram and Pandit Amarnath.
1. Haath Seene Pe Jo Rakh Do To Qarar Aa Jaye by Noor Jehan, G M Durrani on Noor Jehan, Trilok Kapoor
2. Ho, Kya Yahi Tera Pyaar Tha by Noor Jehan, singing for herself
3. Aaja Tujhe Afsana Judai Ka Sunayen, Madam Noor Jehan on herself
4. Tum Aankhon Se Door by Noor Jehan and G M Durrani, on Noor Jehan and Trilok Kapoor
5. Khayegi Thokren Ye Jawani by G M Durrani, on Trilok Kapoor
6. Haye Re Ud Ud Jaye Mera Reshmi Dupatwa by Madam Noor Jehan (on herself), Madam Zohrabai (on Roop Kamal) and Madam Shamshad Begum (on another Noor Jehan!)
7. Suno Meri Sarkar, Jawani Kya Kehti Hai by Zohrabai and Shamshad Begum, on a group of girls
8. Rut Rangeeli Aayi, Chandni Chayi, Chand Mere Aaja by Noor Jehan (on herself), Zohrabai and Shamshad Begum on others
9. Samne Gali Mein Mera Ghar Hai by Zohrabai on Cuckoo, also Gope of screen
10. Patra Likhan Walia by Baby Anwari, Shamshad Begum, Noor Jehan and Trilok Kapoor on screen
11. Aaj Miyan Ji Ko Chadh Jaye Bukhar To Bada Maza Aaye by Shamshad Begum, G M Durrani and chorus on Baby Anwari and co
Hope you enjoyed the songs, and Vilage Girl (1945) songs will come up soon!
A 1944 blockbuster, with gorgeous melodies composed by Meer Saheb. Then rising composer C. Ramachandra assisted him in Noor Jehan’s “Teri Yaad Aaye Sanwariya”, and also sang “Tu Bhool Ke Phende Mein…Dil Na Lagana” for Yaqub. The movie stars Noor Jehan, Surendra, Ulhas, Husn Bano; also Baby Meena Kumari plays NJ’s child role! Also this was the first movie Noor Jehan did with Surendra and the only movie of Noor Jehan with Ulhas and Meena Kumari.
Noor Jehan, Surendra, Chitalakar, Vatsala Kumthekar (of Aurat fame), Husn Bano and others were the singers. Oh! Here are the really melodious songs:
1.Kyon Man Dhoondhe Prem Nadi Ka Kinara by Surendra, singing for himself
2. Ja Re Panchi Ja by Noor Jehan, Surendra and female chorus, all singing for themselves
3. Dil Leke Muka Na Jaana by Surendra and Noor Jehan, singing for themselves
4. Bhaiyya Hamaro Ji…Na Mohe Chahiye by Noor Jehan, Husn Bano and chorus, singing for themselves
The song is started by the chorus and Husn Bano and Noor Jehan join them in the second part.
5. Tu Bhool Ke Phende Mein….Dil Na Lagana Meri Jaan by Chitalkar, singing for Yaqub
6. Mohe Le Chal Balam Mele Mein by Vatsala Kumthekar and a male singer…sorry, I can’t recognise him. Anybody knows? Vatsala sings for herself and probably it is the same case with the male singer
7. Banti Nazar Aati Nahion Taqdeer Hamari by Noor Jehan on herself
8. Yahi Fiqr Hai Sham Ki Pichle Savere by Surendra on himself, also Noor Jehan and Yaqub on screen
9. Teri Yaad Aaye Sanwariya by Noor Jehan on herself; C. Ramachandra assisted Meer Sahab for composing this song
10. Mohaniya Sundar Mukhda Khol by Noor Jehan and Surendra singing for themselves
Hope you enjoyed the beautiful songs.
Here’s a legendary (and lovely, of course!) Madam Khursheed Bano song from Maharana Pratap (1946), music by Ram Ganguly. Hope you enjoy it and hearty greetings of Diwali again!
(Shamshad Begum on Manorama – Khazanchi, 1941)
(Suraiya on herself – Amar Kahani, 1949)
(Zohrabai on Sawarnlata – Rattan, 1944)
(Amirbai on Mumtaz Shanti – Kismat, 1943)
(Shamshad Begum on Naseem Bano and Pushpa Hans on herself, Sheesh Mahal, 1950)
Hope you have a great time on Diwali, and enjoy the songs!
Here are songs showing the wide range of singers Shamshad Begum Ji worked with:
With Lata Mangeshkar in Mughal-E-Azam (1960), picturised on Nigar Sultana and Madhubala
With Zohrabai Ambalewali and Mohammed Rafi in Jadoo (1951), picturised on Nalini Jaywant (!), Sharda Deolkar and Krishna Kumar (thanks to Surjit Singh Ji – see comments – for information)
With Amirbai Karnataki in Shehnai (1947), picturised on Rehana and….Kumkum or Indumati (?)
With Kalyani Mitra and Khan Mastana in Sunehre Din (1949), picturised on Nigar Sultana and others
With Amirbai Karnataki and Kalyani Mitra in Parda (1949), picturised on Chand, Rehana and others
With Noor Jehan and Zohrabai Ambalewali in Mirza Sahiban (1947), picturised on Noor Jehan, Roop Kamal and others
With Naseem Akhtar in Khandan (1942), picturised on Manorama, Pran and others
With Surinder Kaur in Sunehre Din (1949), picturised on Rehana, Nigar Sultana and others
With Rajkumari and Mohammed Rafi in Magroor (1950), picturised on Meena Kumari, Nigar Sultana and Rehman
With Asha Bhonsle in Qismat (1968), picturised on Babita and Biswajeet
With Geeta Dutt in Actress (1948)
With Mubarak Begum in Ganga Maang Rahi Balidan (1981)
With Suraiya and Amirbai Karnataki in Sanam (1951), picturised on Suraiya, Meena Kumari and Jillo Bai
With Mohantara Talpade in Patanga (1949), picturised on Yaqub, Gope, Nigar Sultana and Mohana
With Sitara Kaunpuri in Pagdi (1948)
With Usha Mangeshkar in Bluff Master (1963), picturised on Shammi Kapoor and Saira Bano
Some Vintage Bollywood Fun 