First of all this is not a formal music review and this album doesn?t need anymore and so here is my free flowing thoughts and emotions on the music of this all time classic album.
I have been listening Hindi film music only for past five years and also my level of knowledge in Hindi language is comfortable enough to understand a Hindi movie but not to the extent of understanding the lyrics written for the songs but when it comes to music, language is not a barrier so I don?t hesitate to listen to Hindi songs even if I don?t understand the https://lyrics.
Thanks to Mouthshut
Only through one of the Mouthshut review I came to know about this movie ?Mughal-E-Azam? that it is an all time classic movie and after that I heard a lot about the movie and its cost of production and more than everything its timeless music.
Thanks to Technology
I don?t know who Naushad is and how great a composer he was and is but all the articles on this movie showering praises about his music made me curious, eager and almost mad to hear its music but somehow I could not enjoy the music completely in its old format with mono sound.
Then the happiest news came to me that this classic movie is going to be reincarnated in Color with all the modern technology with which the contemporary movies are made which also includes the Digital Stereo sound version of the songs. From the day one I heard about this, I have been looking forward for the release of this album. And do you know, I am the first person to buy this album from Music world in Chennai after its release.
Technology - Boon or Bane: It is a boon if it is used in the way in which it is used in this album to reincarnate such classics which reshapes the entire body of song without disturbing the soul and it is a bane if it is used in the way in which it is used in most widely selling Remix albums which literally reshapes the body and kills the soul of such classics.
Music has been recreated with voices being the same as in the old version. They have newly orchestrated and recorded the background music of the songs with 120 instruments and 60 chorus singers. And so except voice track which still is mono, other instruments and orchestrations are mixed in stereo. Such reincarnations will definitely make the present youth to enjoy and appreciate such classics. So, I whole heartedly thank technology for making this possible.
Thanks to Naushad
I haven?t heard any of his songs before but after listening to this album I must say that he has accomplished the purpose of his birth and his life with this single album. All are soul stirring melodies. The stunning fact is the striking simplicity in his composition. Each and every song has the simple and best usage of traditional tablas, veena, flute, shenoy, violin orchestrations, chorus etc.,
I couldn?t trace out whether the music is composed for written lyrics or lyrics are written for composed tune, both gels well to great extent which is hard to find in today?s music. In contemporary music people split the word and verse anywhere to make it fit for the tune. Each word in the language has its own tone and rhythm which has been perfectly put to use in these songs.
I think our yester year music composers are highly inspired by western classical music and there is nothing wrong in it. The orchestrations in the songs are grand and great like that of western classical music and again with simplicity that our people can understand and appreciate. Once Illayaraja said, ?Music need not be done, it will and should happen? and in that context I think tunes of these songs are not composed and it has just happened like every other natural happenings in the world. It won?t happen for everyone, for that we need special blessings from God and Naushad has got that.
I heard the movie was released in 1960 during which even my mother wasn?t born and I already said that I have been listening to Hindi music only for past five years. But when I heard this album, I felt like I have heard ?Pyar kiya to darna kiya? many times before. Such wide was the reach of all these songs. And I hope even my prodigies will be able to listen and appreciate this music. And I liked all other songs immediately on first hearing itself.
Thanks to Lata Mangeshkar
The Lata Mangeshkar that I was knowing is an old singer who have sung thousands of song with a nasal voice and I have never heard her younger voice before and so I was wondering how she was able to hold on in the industry with such a voice, But this album gave a big blow on my thought and I must say there is no wonder that she is, where she is know in the hearts of millions of music fans. She has a divine, soothing, mellifluous voice that can melt even hardest hearts. Almost the whole album belongs to her voice. Her expressions and emotions in singing speak more than lyrics about the situation of the song.
About other singers, Mohammed Rafi?s voice is instantly addictive and he sounds like K.J. Yesudas. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan?s two songs are also good which I think belongs to Ghazal genre. Now I know what the real form of Ghazal is and how well it can sound pain and somberness.
Thanks to God
I am blessed to hear these songs and I am equally cursed to not understand the language. And everyone who listens and enjoys this music has got blessings from God. I think I know less than nothing about music as a whole but thanks to God for giving me an awareness and consciousness to understand and enjoy such good music besides all barriers. Thanks to the intuitive that made me to go and buy this album. And finally thanks to Mouthshut for giving me a place to pen my thoughts and thanks to you for patiently reading my thoughts till the end.
I am eagerly expecting to watch the color version of this movie which is going to be released on Diwali. One request, please go and buy this album even if you have the old version, don?t you think buying this album is worth of your money than buying any contemporary remix album. I would have bought this album even if it priced 500 bucks but it is just 125/- now. So what are you waiting for??.