Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Kitna Pyara Waada Hai...


With formula driving the Hindi movies always, almost each movie has a tailor-made situation to infuse a romantic duet. And irrespective of the actors performing, the most popular duo to perform these duets were Lata & Rafi. With their mellifluous & pure rendition, and their command over ragas, together, they always managed to create that effect of pure romance which was difficult to match for most of the other singers. 


Pancham had worked with them , as assistant to his father in a number of movies - specially those of Navketan banners. However, there have been very few numbers where he himself used their magical chemistry for a romantic duet. This, despite Lata being one of his favourite singers. Partly, this could have been due to him preferring Kishore for most of his male songs. 

Yet, when he did work with them together, the compositions & the songs turned out to be not only super hits, but also have been rated amongst Rafi & Lata's best songs together. 

One such song was in 1971 from the Jitendra & Asha Parekh starrer - Caravan. Being a Nasir Hussain movie, with a story woven around gypsies, the compositions - across the movie - were outstanding. Pancham used the theme of road journey to bring in sounds that were as varied as jazz, the blues as well the folk. Amongst all the compositions, one closest to Hindustani sound was this lovely duet with a two-paced composition. The interesting part is the way song ends with a refrain on Harmonica as the caravan moves on. This refrain was later used by Pancham for another of his composition - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na - from Aa Gale Lag Ja. 

Of course, with Majrooh in his prime, Lata & Rafi lending their voices to suitably subtle & coy Asha Parekh with dancing Jitendra - much before white shoes became his trademark - the songs could not have been anything but sweet & melodious - to remain a chart toppers for years to come.

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