Archive for the ‘Post by Sudhir’ Category
Main baithhi thhi phulwaari mein
Posted on: August 22, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The non film songs of Saigal Saab almost entirely consist of ghazals by various poets. In this category, there is a handful of songs that are not ghazals. But what gems of semi classical creation these are. This particular song has a very unique distinction, making it an important and a rare song. This is probably the only song for which Saigal Saab is the lyricist, composer and singer, all together. Yes, the lyrics of this beautiful song are written by Saigal Saab himself.
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This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The mellifluous voice of Saigal Saab has an enrapturing power that always casts a spell over the listeners. The range of his voice has a span that goes from the very base notes – ‘Bina Pankh Panchhi Hoon Mein’ (Tansen) all way to the higher octaves as in ‘Prem Ka Hai Is Jag Mein Panth Niraala’ (President). Saigal Saab’s voice as the rare ability to effortlessly accord the right expressions to each word, and make it glow distinctly. All his renditions leave a lasting impression in the mind, whether it be a love song ‘Baalam Aaye Baso Morey Mann Mein’ (Devdas), or a lullaby ‘So Jaa Raajkumari So Jaa’ (Zindagi), or an inspirational song ‘Hat Gayee Lo Kaari Ghataa’ (Lagan), a bhajan ‘Suno Suno Hey Kishan Kaalaa’ (non-film), a children’s song ‘Ek Raja Ka Beta Le Kar’ (President), or a song full of melancholy and pathos ‘Bina Pankh Panchhi Hoon Mein’ (Tansen).
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Teri reshmi zulfen chhoo kar
Posted on: August 19, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Atul ji and Arun ji have talked about the lady music directors of the 30s and 40s, like Saraswati Devi, Jaddan Bai etc. The careers of these lady composers did not last for very long in the industry. Then in late 1950s, another lady music director made a debut (with Dil Deke Dekho, 1959), and the industry was introduced to Usha Khanna. A career that is still continuing, Usha Khanna has now been active in the industry for a little more than fifty years. Her career was most active in the 1960s and up to the mid 90s, after which her assignments have been few and far between. She never got any Filmfare awards, but in 1983, she was a runner up for the music direction award for the film Souten. In 1979, Yesudas won the best singer award for the song ‘Dil Ke Tukde Tukde Kar Ke Muskuraa Ke Chal Diye’ from the film Dada, with the music composed by Usha Khanna.
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Ibn e mariam huaa karey koi
Posted on: August 19, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
If one were to try to understand the phenomena of Saigal Saab’s success in the world of show business, one simply has to resort to providence. The initial reactions of the people like RC Boral, BN Sircar, PC Barua, Nitin Bose on meeting him for the first time, was at best dismissive. Unusually tall, already balding above the forehead, irregular features, and when asked about his musical tutorship, he could not name a single Ustad, obscure or famous, under whom he could have learnt. And why, of all the places he arrived in Calcutta from Jalandhar, is a mystery that has no answers even now. And yet, there are volumes that have been written about the magic of his voice, and the account of his career. His voice was as if a divine endowment. One can speculate endlessly as to what could have been the course of cinematic history, had Saigal Saab lived longer. But better than this speculation, it is a succor that he was when he was, and has left behind a legacy that is a tremendous treasure.
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Tu shokh kali main mast pawan
Posted on: August 18, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir,a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
‘Main Suhaagan Hoon’ is a better known movie from 1964. Produced by Nayyar Films, Bombay, it is directed by Kundan Kumar. The star cast includes Mala Sinha, Ajit, Nishi, Kewal Kumar, Nazir Hussain, Tewari, Indira Bansal, Najma, Chand Burk, Daya Devi, TN Sinha etc.
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This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The energy and the vitality that Shammi Kapoor brought on to the screen was unprecedented and unparalleled. Starting off with Jeewan Jyoti in 1953, there was a fair number of films, almost 20 or so, that he did between 1953 and 1957. In many of the films in this period, he was trying to emulate his elder brother, Raj Kapoor. He did attract some attention with films like Rail Ka Dibba, Laila Majnu, Gul Sanobar etc., but somehow the histrionics and the on screen presence in those roles did not come across as a comfortable performer. In hind sight, one can say, that there was a different personality hidden inside that was impatient to explode, but was not finding the right expression.
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This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie songs and a regular contributor to this blog.
It is said that most great people wear their fame with comfort; but it is the really renowned who can wear their fame with humility. Fame is a mammoth burden to carry; and only those who are greater than the fame itself, will not be weighed down by it. Much has been written about Saigal Saab’s character and persona, and there is one quality that all writers concur about – that he was a humble, unassuming and an unsophisticated person. Once at a music concert, Saigal Saab was sharing the stage with luminaries of classical music like Fayaaz Khan, Hafiz Ali Khan and Sadiq Ali Khan. As soon as the first item was announced, there was trouble; the audience wanted to hear to Saigal Saab only. Later, while leaving the place, he commented to a friend that he will never participate in another concert in that particular city, because – “. . . the people here do not know how to behave. Today, my Guru’s were insulted on my account.” Many others would not even realize the issue, much less confess it.
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This article is written by Sudhir,a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie songs and a regular contributor to this blog.
The shock of news was too much to digest yesterday. I was browsing this blog, when Nahm Bhai’s brief message appeared in the comments. I couldn’t believe. Just very recently, I had read an interview in the newspapers. And the Yahoo-man seemed to be set to go on forever. Age seemed never to have touched his spirit. A childhood idol for me, he is the Prince, the true Prince of the clan, and will always remain thus for me.
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