A MUSICAL SESSION REMEMBERING NAUSHAD AT MATUNGA

Date: 09th December 2007

The table honours were shared by Sharad Desai, Subash Bhatt, Maheshwari and Mahendra Oza. Around 25-30 people had gathered for this event. As there was still time for the programme to start, myself, Dilip Deshmukh, Sreedhar and Maheshwari had tea while enjoying our conversation on Hindi Film Music.

By around 10:15 am everyone was seated in the hall and the programme began. The songs selected were from the Television tribute which was paid to Mohammed Rafi when he passed away in 1980.

1. Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re – Singer: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist:

Shakeel Badayuni Music: Naushad Film: Kohinoor (Version Recording)

2. Man Tarpath Hari Darshan Ko Aaj – Singer: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist:

Shakeel Badayuni Music: Naushad Film: Baiju Bawra (Version Recording)

3. Meri Kahani Bhoolnewaale – Singer: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni

Music:Naushad Film: Deedar (Version Recording)

4. Suhaani Raat Dhal Chuki – Singer: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni Music:

Naushad Film: Dulari (Version Recording)


Sharad Desai mentioned that during his early days when Naushad was a struggler he used to sleep beside the footpath near Kailash Lassiwallah. Leela Chitnis used to stay in the apartments adjoining the footpath where Naushad used to sleep. Many a times she would just kick Naushad while entering her apartments. It was years later when Baiju Bawra was having a silver jubilee run at Broadway theatres that Naushad recalled that it had taken him so many years to cross over from the footpath facing Broadway to the theatre.

Sharad Desai shared an anecdote about the film ‘Rattan’. He mentioned that Gemini Diwan was the producer of the film. Balraj Madhok had recommended Naushad’s name for the composer’s part. Gemini Diwan was very reluctant to take Naushad as a composer. However the film reaped huge success. For 15 weeks there was no Current Booking for this film. Only Advance Booking was available. The Negative costs, meaning when the dubbing, sound recording, etc all was over amounted to 1.5 Lakhs. And the gramophone records sales alone for Rattan had crossed 7.5 Lakhs!


5. Milke Bichad Gayi Akhiyaan – Singer: Amirbai Karnataki Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Rattan Year: 1944


Here Sharad Desai mentioned that during Naushad’s marriage procession the Band was playing Naushad’s composed tunes even though none of the family members of Naushad were aware of the same!

6. Awaaz De Kahaan Hain – Singer/s: Noor Jehan-Surendra Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Anmol Ghadi Year: 1946

Besides working with Noor Jehan, Naushad had an opportunity to work with Kundan. Lal. Saigal in a film ‘Shah Jehan’ when he came to Mumbai. Also he was the only composer who made Saigal sing without in taking liquor. Parwana, Tansen and Shahjehan some other films starring Saigal were all produced in Mumbai.

7. Gham Diye Mustakil – Singer: Kundan. Lal. Saigal Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Shah Jehan Year: 1946


Kardar Productions was a big name during those years. And Naushad was an essential part of the Kardar camp. Naushad had given music in Dulari, Dillagi and Dastaan, which were huge hits.

8. Afsaana Likh Rahi Hoon – Singer: Uma Devi Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Dard Year: 1947


9. Manzil Ke Dhun Mein – Singer: Mukesh Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Anokhi Ada Year: 1948


10. Mera Dil Thodnewaale – Singer/s: Mukesh-Shamshad Begum Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Mela Year: 1948


N.J. Wadia was known for producing stunt films during that time but Mela was an exception and the only social film that he ever made. Naushad wrote the script for ‘Mela’. A new concept of Push back seats had been introduced for the first time in Mumbai at Liberty. This was copied from the Light House theatre in Kolkatta.

11. Hum Aaj Kahin Dil Kho Baithe – Singer: Mukesh Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri Music: Naushad Film: Andaaz Year: 1949

Mukesh started giving playback to Dilip Kumar after the success of Andaaz. Sharad Desai mentioned how even though Chandni Raat was a miserable flop its songs were quite hummable.

12. Kaise Baje Dil Ka Sitar – Singer/s: Shamshad Begum-Mohammed Rafi Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Chandni Raat Year: 1949

Shyamkumar gave playback for Shyam the actor in the movie Dillagi.



13. Tu Mera Chaand Main Teri Chandni – Singer/s: Shyam-Suraiyya Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Dillagi Year: 1949


Sharad Desai next shared some details of the movie ‘Babul’. Sunny was the director of the movie. He had been an assistant to Kardar. Sunny later on directed Udan Khatola and Kohinoor which also starred Dilip Kumar.Uma Devi debuted on the screen for the first time in this movie. Munawar Sultana, the lead actress got two playback voices for herself viz, Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar.

14. Milthe Hi Ankhein Dil Hua – Singer/s: Shamshad Begum-Talat Mahmood Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Babul Year: 1950


Naushad used western tunes for the first time in Dastaan. Shakila was a child artiste in this very movie.

15. Tara Ri Ra Ri Ra Ri – Singer/s: Mohammed Rafi-Suraiyya Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Dastaan Year: 1950


16. Nazar Phero Na Humse – Singer/s: G.M. Durrani-Shamshad Begum Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Deedar Year: 1951


Sharad Desai mentioned that Jaadu was a direct lift from the movie ‘The Loves Of Carmen’ (1948), which starred Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. Suresh and Leela Chitnis starred in the Hindi flick. Rita Hayworth later married Aly Khan and they had a daughter who became known as Princess Yasmin Agha Khan. The film Jaadu was taken off theatres.

17. Jab Nain Mile Naino Se – Singer/s: Shamshad Begum and Chorus Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Jaadu Year: 1951

Old Excelsior Cinema holds the distinction of premiering ‘Limelight’ Chaplin’s only talkie movie and it was attended by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Regarding the movie ‘Aan’, Sharad Desai mentioned that the whole movie was shot on a 16mm reel and was blownup to a 35mm screen.


18. Dil Mein Chupaake Pyar Ka – Singer: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Aan Year: 1952

Anmol Ghadi’s 12 reels comprised of 12 songs. Similar was the case of Rattan.

19. Udan Khatole Pe Ud Jaaon – Singer: Zohrabai -Shamshad Begum Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Anmol Ghadi Year: 1946

Naseem Bano’s first film was Anokhi Ada.

20. Kyun Unhein Dil Diya – Singer/s: Shamshad Begum-Surendra Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Anokhi Ada Year: 1948


21. Chaman Mein Rehke Veerana – Singer: Shamshad Begum Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Deedar Year: 1951


22. Man Ki Been Matwaali Baaje – Singer: Mohammed Rafi-Lata Mangeshkar Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Shabab Year: 1954


23. Insaaf Ka Mandir Hain – Singer: Mohammed Rafi & Chorus Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Amar Year: 1954


24. Tujhe Kho Diya – Singer: Lata Mangeshkar Lyricist:
Music: Naushad Film: Aan Year: 1952


The programme then drew to an end. There were some songs which couldn't be played due to time restrictions.