Bade Achchhe Lagte Hain

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

You may find this an inopportune place for these verse from Rudyard Kipling’s “If” – a poetical advice by a father to his son. However I have a reason to do so. Today, my son is completing 24 years – 24 years of my being a parent too – and about to get out in the world to seek his own destiny.

While he is exploring the world his parents have not known, and as a parent, I wish that he will be able to carve out a niche for himself, I am thinking of two very talented artists; both progeny of two genius of Hindi movie industry; and talented in their own way. Both chose the same profession which their father had. Yet their fortunes differed.

One – a prodigal genius himself did create his own place amongst some very talented artistes, and went on to become a trend setter for the generations to follow. The other, despite being very talented, somehow could neither grow out of his father’s shadow; nor outshine other peers – some of them actually lesser talented then him. As a result, he never could get the place his talent actually deserved under the Sun.

Of course in the creative field, the first one was more of an exception. More often than not, a child of a talented artist always finds it difficult to live up to the reputation of the parent.

The first one is – of course Pancham, while the other one – who celebrated his birthday yesterday on 3^rd July, is Amit Kumar – son of Kishore Kumar.

Coincidentally, Amit Kumar was also 24, when his first major solo was released. Today almost after 4 decades, it has remained amongst the best serenades of Hindi movies; as much for the voice as for the composition of Pancham.

This was one of the few compositions where Pancham used Violin (played by Uttam Singh – who later on composed music for Dushman (starring Kajol), Dil to Pagal Hai, Gadar & Pinjar) as the key instrument – in that long melancholic prelude as well as during the song. There is also a bit of flugelhorn and sarangi – and Pancham himself using his voice in between – as a boatman – literally carrying the composition alongwith Anand Bakshi’s simple verse that still make people go back to this song while wooing their lady love:

Hum Tum Kitne Paas Hain

Kitne Door Hain Chaand Sitaare

Sach Poochho To Man Ko Jhoothe

Lagte Hain Yeh Saare

Magar Sachche Lagte Hain

Ye Dharti Ye Nadiya Ye Raina Aur Tum

Bade Achchhe Lagte Hain

Dil Machal Raha Hai

What was the connection RD had with RK? It could be quite coincidental, but the movies which had RK as a hero always inspired Pancham more.

RK, who? Of course Rajesh Khanna!

An easy enough answer, except that this also holds true for two more heroes - Rishi Kapoor & and who else but one of Pancham's best friends in the industry - Randhir Kapoor.

Beginning with Rampur ka Laxman, Randhir Kapoor & Pancham did about 14 movies together. A large number of them did not really fare well. If Jawani Deewwani, Rampur ka Laxman, Dharam Karam & Kasme Vaade did extremely good business, there were movies like Khalifa, Harjaee, Dhongee and many more which turned out to be quite a damp squib.

Damp squib, only as far as their commercial success or artistic value is concerned. Their scintillating musical score was always the saving grace – perhaps the only reason for which even now these movies merit a recall.

Take Khalifa, for instance. This 1976 movie, directed by Prakash Mehra, had Randhir Kapoor, in double role - one good & one evil, along with Rekha. The movie had nothing much to write home about - except its compositions - specially this one.

The composition is very stylish – pacy and very unpredictable as it moves. If the interludes are sensuous – the structure of stanza, with its pulsating beats arrangement & high octave singing that effortlessly glides into seductive crooning, carries hallmark of what Pancham was famous for. Add to that Kishore Kumar in play-full yet romantic full- throated rendition & smooth as honey singing of Asha Bhosle – it was a perfect recipe for creating the magic. This was also the first movie where Gulshan Bawra, till then more of an actor & less of a lyricist, & Pancham collaborated first time. Later they went on to do many more movies, including Kasme Vaade, Harjaae & Satte pe Satta.

On screen, while RK’s acting fortunately does not really create a jarring note, what is worth noticing is Rekha – specially the nuances that she brings to her face while singing. Those were early days – “Ghar” was still a couple of years away - but watching her you would know for sure that the process had begun of her evolving into the beautiful swan that she went on to be.

Look at it yourself. I am sure you will agree too.

Gori Tori Painjaniyaa

Hi All..back again after a brief break...

During this break, the country lost one of its finest & most versatile singers...and last of the male playback legends... Manna Dey! 

Manna Dey, had started his career as an assistant to SD Burman, and sang his first song for him. Quite possibly, that was one of the reasons, RD & him had a special bond. 

While RD's preferred singer seemed to be Kishore, it was Manna Dey, he banked more upon - specially when it came to bringing a variety - either for the composition or purely for balancing the movie's second male voice requirement.

As a result, he utilised Manna Dey's voice for a range of actors - from Mehmood, Pran & Om Prakash to Dharmendra & Rajesh Khanna. The versatile performer that Manna Dey was, he never sounded out of place for any one of them - be it Buddha Mila Gaya's Aayo Kahan se or Padosan's Saawariya or Seeta Aur Geeta's Zindagi Hai Khel.... 

However, my most favourite song of this duo is this one, where RD created a composition that perhaps Manna Dey alone could have done justice to.

Picturised on Rajesh Khanna, this is a classical raga based composition, a medley of Kaamod and Malhar. 

The song has RD creating magic with a fusion of Indian as well as western instruments. Apart from the traditional instruments, one can distinctly hear Veena & Pakhavaz as well as Violin. Since, it was a classical dance composition, the choreography was done by another legend - Gopi Krishna, who set the moves for Hema Malini. This confluence of talent also got something unusual from the lyricist Anand Bakshi also. As a result was created a song which is not only classical in composition, but also a classic by itself.

Here it is..

Ghar se nikalti hai tu, 

Girati sambhalti hai tu
Kuchh aise chalti hai tu
Thumak thumak ke 

Ghaayal jaise koyi hiraniya
Gori tori paijaniya