Kya Hua Tera Waada

Mohammad Rafi - a singer par excellence, absolute pure in sound with mellifluous rendering that was as much at ease while singing “Man tarpat Hari darshan” as with “Yahoo…”. 

Rafi’s “Illahi tu Sun le Hamaari Duaa” was the first recording, that Mehmood okayed in his role as the producer of Chhote Nawab, where RD made his debut. Rafi’s rendering of “Aaja Aaja” & “O Haseena Zulfon Wali” added the spring to Teesri Manzil, the movie that catapulted Pancham to the success, and never looked back.

Notwithstanding RD’s preference for Kishore & Manna Dey, his songs with Rafi kept creating waves, and the best example of this is the song that got Rafi back into limelight, and as a “Sone par Suhaga” also got him his National Award. 

The composition had all the elements that RD was known for – specially when it came to his teaming up with Nasir Hussain & Majrooh. Electric Guitar riffs (played by Bhupendra) that the song begins with and a lovely piece on violin, before the first stanza, by Uttam Singh (who went on to compose music later for movie like Waaris, Dil to Pagal Hai & Dushman) were woven wonderfully in the composition. 

Here it is, Kya Hua Tera Wada, from Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin:

Le Kar Hum, Deewana Dil..

There are a number of occasions where a song in the movie acts as a break for the movie - sometime on purpose & sometimes unintentionally. There are very few such moments, where the story moves on in rapid speed - while a song is going on.

Yaadon ki Barat had one such song where a lot more action was happening off the song-stage itself. A killing, a heist and amidst all this a stage performance by Tariq (who made his debut with this song) & Neetu Singh, in a guest appearance.

Keeping in mind all the paraphernalia around the song, the composition also had to be something special. RD manages precisely that..and how..

The killing of a henchmen, gets mixed into the song's initiation by RD's own typical hoot, followed by some amazing prelude comprising of percussion & guitar - a sudden lull - and then tempo starts building up again to a longish prelude, before the vocals by Asha & Kishore take over. Even the interludes - showing the main villain & his Mona darling as well as a heist by Dharmendra in progress - ensures that the pace does not falter a bit.

Add to this composition, the whole lot of instruments - specially the rapid beats on Conga drums, a variety of Guitars, Kishore's rendition, Asha's ending of each stanza with that throaty ha-aa.. and the very very sexily grooving Neetu Singh --- the song is an absolute magic in rhythm!

Just watch on..

Aap Ke Kamre Men Koi Rahta Hai..

Almost forty years ago to date, Nasir Hussain released, perhaps his most ambitious, and most successful movie – in its own right a cult movie (my wife and her three brothers still sing the theme song with the same fervor) – Yaadon ki Baraat. 

Working on his favourite formula of Lost & Found – this time about three brothers, the movie also had some of RD’s most amazing compositions – which ensured a recall & a repeat value for the movie, forever.

One of the songs was very unlike a normal movie song for those times. A friend had remarked once: Pancham’s music was the celebration of life itself. That being the case, this song is a perfect example of joie-de-vivre. 

The sequence had a fair share of drama to begin with. Tariq, one of the heroes – who being a singer in the hotel, is entertaining the patrons with some serious jamming, before in a very formulaic manner, misses out reuniting with one of the lost brothers - Vijay Arora. The actual song starts after this melodrama – with Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle grooving to some excellent guitar chords.

What makes the composition different is the whole treatment – conversational in style as well as lyrics – with the singer also inviting patrons to join him in chorus. 

However, before showcasing this song, today being the Dashmi – last day of Durga Pooja, sticking to my promise, let me first give you the original Bangla composition. 

Bandho Dared Andho Kare , from black & white movie of 1970 -Rajkumari - starring Uttam Kumar & Tanuja, and sung by Asha & Kishore..

And now the song from Yaadon ki Baraat.

An absolute turnaround in the treatment as the composition turns into a full-fledged rock sound. While Kishore pitches in for both the heroes, once the final jamming starts, RD grabs the opportunity to pitch in with his own voice too. Since the song had Zeenat Aman as one of the characters, Asha brings in Dum Maro Dum – thus increasing the heat & the glam quotient of the entire composition. 

Enjoy this amazing number..

Agar main kahun jo dekha, nahee tha woh koyee kwaab
Pada tha table pe chasma, woh kiska janaab

Gore gale me woh muffler, tha kis hasin kaa

Jara haath dil pe rakh ke, hame dijiye jawaab

Aapke kamare me koyee rehata hai