If movies today have changed, it’s because of those who go to the movies have changed.
It is refreshing that people still love good music. This is amply evident from reviews posted on this site. The music of yesteryears still haunts the new generation.
It always will.
Unfortunately I did not get to see many of the movies whose albums I rate below. It is not by accident that you appreciate good music. Good taste has to be handed down the generations.
Music will change with times, tastes wont.
Mughal-e-Azam
One that will go down in the memory as the greatest ever. A stellar performance by the reverred Prithviraj Kapoor. He actually lived that role.You can identify Prithviraj with the great Mughal-e-Azam. The role was executed with such power, elan and authenticity that I can not imagine any other actor doing justice to the role. Madhubala had that divine glow on her face.The music was something one can fill books about.Naushad Ali and Shakeel Badayuni brilliantly shine in their most stunning performance. Each song is a masterpiece. Executed to perfection. Each dialogue was crisp and delivered with panache.This is the only one that scores a perfect 10 on my list. As I write this review I hear that a digitized version of the album is out.
Pyar kiya to darna kya(Lata)
Mohe panghat pe nand lal cher gayo re(Lata)
Prem Jogan ban jaoon(Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan)
Bekas pe karam kijiye sarkar-e-madina(Lata)
Shabab
A typical 60s black and white flick. Add to it the haunting music of Naushad Ali, voices of Mohammed Rafi, lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni and you have an all time great classic.
How can one one ever forget songs like these?
Bhagat ke bas main hai bhagwan(Manna Dey)
Jogan ban jaoongi sayyaan tore karan(Lata)
Jo main jaanati bisrat hain saiyyan, ghoonghta main aag laga leti(Lata)
Aye na baalam vaada kar ke(Rafi)
Resham Ka Palna, Chandan ki dori(Hemant and Lata)
Marna teri gali main, jeena teri gali main(Lata)
Anmol Ghadi
Pre independence blockbuster. Those were the days when fans would actually go crazy about the stars they loved. The most beautiful Noorjehan, Queen of Melody sent many a heart aflutter(of course, of our fathers and grandfathers):(Dont trust me? ask them) And a very handsome Surender Nath. A hearthrob of many a female fans of those days. Does any of our modern heroes even come close to the dashing Surender? And they all sang their own songs remember. And each one was a big hit. Its Naushad Ali again. This is the one that catapulted the maestro into stardom.
These songs still haunt listners on both sides of the borders(if ones exist at all!)
Awaaz de kahan hai, duniya meri jawan hai(Noorjehan)
Aa ja meri barbaad mohabbat ke sahare( Noorjehan)
Mere bachpan ke sathi mujhe bhool na jaana(Noorjehan)
Kyon yaad aa rahe hain bichre hue zamane(Surender)
Aan
Starring Dilip Kumar, Nadira.
Haunting Score, Great performance by the Thespian Dilip. Each song was a hit. The same team of Naushad Ali-Shakeel Badayuini ensured this.
Maan mera Ehsaan(Rafi)
Dil main chupa ke(Rafi)
Gao Tarane man ke(Lata and Chorus)
Tujhe kho diya humne paane ke baad(Lata)
Takra Gaya tumse dil hi to hai(Rafi)
Barsaat ki raat
Remembered most for its divine Qawwalis and Sahir’s https://lyrics. Made Roshan a household name.Roshan who had not had much luck by this time, had decided that if this one does not hit the charts, he will pack up and leave Bollywood. Fate willed otherwise.
Na to Karwaan kee talash hai(Rafi, Mannadey and Chorus)
Nigah-e-Naaz ke maron ka haal kya hoga(Bande Hassan & Co)
Mujhe mil gaya bahana teri deed ka
and Immortal Rafi Classics like
Mainen Shayad Tumhen pehle bhee
Zindagi Bhar nahin bhoolegi
Mayuoos to hoon waade se tere
Mahal
1950s thriller. Haunting melodies by Khemchand Prakash. It was Lata Mangeshkar and old time singers like Rajkumari who cast a spell on audience. Ayega aane wala, made Lata a household name.
Ayega aane wala(Lata)
Yeh raat phir na ayegi(Rajkumari-Zohrabai)
Ek teer Chala-dil pe laga-Hai mera dil(Rajkumari)
mirza ghalib
Bharat Bhushan and Suriayya. Ghalib and his muse. A perfectly matched pair. In later years Suraiyya confided that she spent the rest of her bachelor years as Ghalib’s’mehbooba’. Ghulam Mohammed did not do many films. But this score is enough to reserve his place among all time greats. He used Talat Mahmood extensively in this movie. Immortal ghazals of Ghalib come alive in Talat and Suraiyyas voice.
Ishq Mujhko nahin wehshat hee sahee(Talat Mahmood)
Phir mujhe deed-e-tar yaad aya(Talat Mahmood)
Dil-e-nadaan tujhe hua kya hai(Talat-Suraiyya)
Yeh na thee hamari qismat ke wisal-e-yaar hota(Suraiyya)
Rahiye ab aisee jagah chal kar jahan koi na ho(Suraiyya)
and also was a song sung by Rafi
Hai bas ke har unke ishare main nishan aur
Shah-jahan
Slow paced action by todays standards. K.L. Saigal’s swan song. People flocked to the theatres to hear the magic of Saigal and Naushad. Never again songs like these be ever heard again. It almost marked the end of the era of actor-singer and the beginning of the playback boom.
Jab dil hee toot gaya(Saigal)
Ae dil-e-beqarar jhoom(Saigal)
Gham diye mustaqil(Saigal)
Its Saturday evening once more.
Take out that pack of old casettes and dust them. Ask your wife to make a strong hot brew. Put that old forgotten casette, and press the play button. Sit back, as you hold your wife’s hand, look into her eyes, and relax. Let this music transport you to another world.
The Time, suddenly will seem to stand still.