I was listening cassette of Pyasa/saraswatichndra. Was just amazed how the music directors picked up the right singers for the son. Can u imagine ‘humne apna subkuch khoya’ or ‘chandan sa badan’ in any voice other than Mukesh. In fact, I have found it interesting that many major hits of Mukesh, apart from Shankar-Jaikishen, have been due to Kalyanji Anandji. Rest songs go to Lata. But when when it comes to ‘wada humse kiya, dil kisi ko diya’, they choose Mubarak begum (she has some wonderful songs like ‘kabhbi tanahaiyon mein to’ or duet ‘ghir ghir aayo badarawa kari’) Then while listening ‘Pyasa’ one could easily notice SD Burman switching to Hemanto da for ‘jaane woh kaise log the jinko ..’ Could versatile Rafi, who sung rest of songs of ‘Pyasa’ sing this song? Perhaps he could. But not give the effect that Hemant kumar did.
Was there a serious thought gone in choosing the singers or since we have listened these songs often, we tend to feel that nobody else could have done justice to these songs except the singer himself. I mean for ‘sar jo ter chakaraye’ SD could well have chosen Kishore in place of Rafi. But Rafi has sung it wonderfully. No doubt about it.
[This message has been edited by ullu (edited August 13, 2000).]
Pyassa is my all time favorite. Guru Dutt is at his best. Rafi is the most versatile singer Bollywood has ever produced. In Pyassa u cant believe how he can switch fron intense songs like "Ae Dunia agar mil bhi jaye to kia hey...." and "Ye kuche ye nilam ghar..." to "Sar go tera...". No other singer has the pich to transform his voice than Rafi.
In sarvasatichander Mukesh is at his best. His song "Chandan sa badan.." overshadows even lata when she sung the same song in the movie. I laso like rafi-Mubarak Begum duet "Mujh ko apney galay laga lo..."
I read Indian film magazines on net often and I am disaapointed with the little cocerage of history except an occasional interview of some 81 yr. old actor or like who basically teel that he does not like films made these days.
There are so many questions in our minds. How did Rafi quickly lose position after 71. Was it just 'Aradhana' songs that put eccentric Kishore at top or more politics was involved. How did RD get in a rut after showing early promise. How Salil Chowdhary came out with intricate tunes. What denied the talent of Madanmohan both fame and money. How did C Ramachandra fade away. how did shankar-jaikishen started risking signing 17 films at a time and was ther real competion within pair.
The person who has witnessed the entire drama of last 50 years is Lata. She has seen it all. She has been at top and knows everything. If only she writes a honest autobiography. But she plays politics. In one of her interview whe asked to choose her ten best, she chose two of mediocre Laxmi-Pyare. No song of C Ramchandra or Vasant Desai or likes. We know the personal problems between her and these people. But they are dead long ago.
When Lata is indifferent, she is pretty accurate in pointing the good and bad points of singers and composers. I remember her talking about Geeta Dutta nd Noor Jehan. She was just on mark while pointing their strength and telling why they stagnated. Afterall, she is a very well trained,. very clever person.
If she writes a honest autobiography shedding her personal grudges or at least a collection of memoirs on various people on how they operated, how they worked, it would be a big gift to hindi song loving people. But I doubt Lata will do it.
I agree with you that Lata should write her memoirs...all inclusive and unbiased. Someone should write and suggest it to her. As you correctly point out she has seen all.
Coming to the topic of favorite musicians I love Manna Dey's semi classical music ..Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj etc. beside all others mentioned in previous posts.
Lata is wierd as a person. I do not think she will rise above her personal likes/dislikes and write something. Recently seh accepted nomination in upper house of Indian parliament and now has asked special permission to president not to attend it at all. Again she has herself played politics. Froom vani jairam to Chitra Singh everyone says that. Though none of them would or can doubt her talent, there was definitely room for more voices than Mangeshkars in Hindi films.
But I agree. She is most qualified to tell us the the whims and fancies, hardwork and likes/dislikes, all the way from Anil Biswas to AR Rehman. She is the person who can tell. But perhaps wont.