Trivia Time: How many times have you switched off your lights, laid on your bed, turned on your music system to a soft and a romantic number and let your mind stray into an infinite space of nirvana. A world of a different dimension. A world where you set your own parameters and whose amplitude is counterbalanced by your own imaginative scope. Thinking??????
Well... That’s how music works its magic on hopeful people like me....
The crux of love has been a regularized drawing card in Bollywood movies right since alpha. What has changed is the statement and the implementation of the baby-beau amour strategies. Recapitulating chronologically, love songs have been a durable hallmark of Indian Cinema. Right from the times of K.L Sehgal to Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam, love songs have accomplished to mobilize our imagination and thoughts.
The Hyaloid 2Ks: We live in a decade where the quality of cinema is defined by the degree of gloss it displays. Sometimes gloss backed up with melodious music could work its magic on our imagination despite the existence of lack lustre movie content.
Silsila Yeh Chahat Ka from the movie Devdas is one such number that boasts of a glossy pictorialization. Vocals by Shreya Ghoshal and the orchestral lead sheet surely grab your fancy.
Saathiya has Sonu Nigam standardizing women with the seven colors of life. Music freak Rehman has composed a mellow with this number.
Subah Ki Dhoop Si from the movie Dhoop is an exception that certifies the existence of simplicity in this age. Hariharan and Shreya Ghosal’s vocals celebrate found love. I could easily classify this song as one of my all time favorites.
The 90’s Overhaul: The 1990s saw a major retrieval of soulful music and cinema substance that went downhill during the 80s. Love was back in the air with languishing numbers such as ’’Tere Dar Par Sanam Chale Aaye’’ -Phir teri Kahani Yaad Aayi, ’’Sambhala Hai Mane Bahut Apne Dil Ko’’ -Naraaz, Baahon Ke Darmiyan -Khamoshi and Dil Kehta Hai -Akele Hum Akele Tum. A few haunting melodies of the 90s which dramatized ’’judaai’’- separation were:
Ae Ajnabi- Dil Se ( Gulzar at his poetic best)
Jhonka Hawa Ka-Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Tum Gaye Sab Gaya-Maachis
The songs that really underlined the existence of soulful in the 90’s music were:
Pehla Nasha-Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (highlighted with some amazing piano work).
Mujhe Raat Din-Sangharsh: Sonu Nigam displays his forté for romantic numbers.
Rim Jhim Rim Jhim-1942-A Love Story: where RD made his statement just before he died.
The Scanty 80s: The decade was mostly bedeviled by unintelligent action movies. After giving it enough thought and mind I could come out with a few sprinkled melodious love numbers. The first half of the 80’s was prominently ruled by RD Burman. He surely did come out with a few memorable ones such as:
Arre Jaane Kaise Kab Kahan-Shakti: A very melodious song highlighted by some mind blowing pictorialization.
Chehra Hai Yah Chaand Khila Hai-Saagar: Love struck Rishi Kapoor exhilarated with Dimple’s beauty goes on with this beautifully composed number.
Yaad Aa Rahi Hai-Love Story: Another melodious number dramatizing ’’judaai’’-separation.
Kya Yahi Pyar Hai-Rocky: Undoubtedly one of the best compositions by RD Burman, this song does a lot too much to gain control over my imagination and thoughts. Another love song which I can classify as one of my all time favourites.
Besides RD there were a few others who did manage to woo the listeners with some symphonic love numbers. Such numbers which still haunts memories are Tere Mere Beech Mein -Ek Dooje Ke Liye, Ae Mere Humsafar -QSQT, Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezar Aaj Bhi Hai -Aitbaar and Tumko Dekha Toh Yeh Khayal Aaya -Saath Saath.
Writing about the interpretation of love through music in the three decades, 80s, 90s and 2ks is a lot easier than diagnosing love’s definition in the past decades of 70s, 60s and the 50’s. This era was ruled by the likes of composers such as Naushad, OP Nayyar, Salil Chaudhary, SD Burman and RD Burman backed up with great writers like Shailendra, Kaifi Aazmi, Gulzar and Hasrat Jaipuri. Writing about the golden era of Indian cinema and music surely requires an entire review, which I promise to feature in one my forthcoming write ups.
Out of the present lot of 2003 and 2004, there are a few which have fascinated my ear and mind. One such number is Kabhi Khushboo from the movie Saaya. I really hope to hear more such numbers in the forthcoming times so that a hope of the return of the golden musical era keeps living in some part of my mind.
PS: I hope you really enjoy this read. Half of the credit goes to my friend ’’Aps’’ (goes by the name Senorita on MS) who has helped me compile this list. Ratings and Comments are welcome (good or bad).
Cheers....