Posts Tagged ‘1940’
Bahut us gali ke kiye here phere
Posted on: August 27, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
In her memoirs, Kaanan Devi, the premier leading lady of the films in the 1930s, recounts her times and experiences of working with Saigal Saab. As a singer-actor team, this duo has worked together in many Hindi and Bangla films produced by New Theatres, Calcutta, and there is treasure of memorable music these two have created together. Kaanan Devi writes about his simplicity and a childlike disposition that endeared him to one and all. She tells about his unmindful and forgetful nature, especially when engrossed in music. There would be times when the shooting is to start, the preparations are all in place, the unit is ready, and people are waiting for Saigal Saab to come. Sometimes he would be very late, and there was no information where he is. Then someone would come and tell that Saigal Saab has been in the studio for a long time, but away from the hustle bustle of the shooting location, he is sitting in some lonely corner, or alone in a room, with a harmonium, and is simply singing away to his hearts fulfillment. Then someone or the director would find courage to go and remind him about the schedule, and then he would come running, profusely apologetic, and in good humor trying to get the schedule move forward.
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This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
In his life, and in his death, Saigal Saab remains a mystery. Not much is known about his years of wandering, and then the immediate success as a singer-actor in Calcutta, somehow defies the normal course of understanding life’s events. He was just as he was.
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As I discover more songs of ‘Bandhan” (1940), I cannot but help feel that this movie must have stolen the heart of the movie goers during its time and Leela Chitnis would have become a heart throb of public, in case she was not one already. What a lovely performance from her in this movie. In this movie, she plays a playful and cheerful girl who is forever prepared to play a prank or too.
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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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Apne bhaiyya ko naach nachaaoongi
Posted on: August 21, 2011
“Bandhan” (19408), though over seven decades old has songs that sound fresh and contemporary to me even to this date. And for that one has to admire the creators of these songs who created such timeless classic.
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Tum bin chain na aaye
Posted on: August 20, 2011
“Prem Nagar” (1940) is a movie that is today remembered as the debut movie of Naushad as an independent music director. He created some nice songs in it and with this, his career was launched in style.
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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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Piyu piyu bol piyu piyu bol
Posted on: August 19, 2011
Kavi Pradeep is known for writing lyrics that were hard hitting and straight from his heart. And the messages contained in his lyrics inspired a whole generation of Indians and continues to inspire the generations that followed.
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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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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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