By
Jitendra Motavar
19. Chadhne laga badhne laga
Chorni (1982)
Shaily Shailendra
Asha Bhosle
A beautiful cabaret dance song picturized on the dancing queen Helen. After listening and understanding the whole musical structure of the song I just wondered how a 60 year old Shankar came up with such a youthful, pappy and energetic number. Following a minute long fantastic prelude, Asha Bhosle introduces the song with vocables and “ye nashaaa..”. This is followed by a small rhythm-less guitar section, leading to its brisk dancing rhythm. The same guitar piece gets repeated before each antra and gives a unique kick to the song. The composition and its orchestration has a unique blend of pop music and melody, with an excellent use of brass band and strings. Overall, it’s a great combination of melody, rhythm and full orchestra, a complete SJ experience…!
https://youtu.be/fiowsw2HKGE
20. Ye hai geeta ka gyaan
Sanyasi (1975)
MG Hashmat
Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
A 7th song from the album, a beautiful Lata-Mukesh duet with a religious and philosophical appeal, and one of the most famous songs from the film. It starts with Lata crooning a Geeta shloka in her divine voice and Mukesh starting the mukhda. The composition is in a typical late SJ style and has a nice blend of satire and humour. SJ used traditional Indian arrangements using shehnai, sitar and tabla, without any heavy orchestra, to create a bhajan feel, as per the situation. Many of the religious film songs go generally unnoticed, but over here SJ delivered a popular song on the “Karma philosophy”.
https://youtu.be/DFCOMx6CBV4
21. Naav kaagaz ki gehra hai pani
Duniyadari (1977)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd Rafi
A duet version of the title song, in a happy mood. It’s a philosophical song well composed and orchestrated by Shankarji. The song starts after a minute long beautiful prelude and proceeds further on a fast tabla and drum beats rhythm. All the three interludes are excellent, especially the first one reminding SJ 60s style and the third one with a nice shehnai tune.
https://youtu.be/RlXIuqsEfxU
22. Dekha hai tumhe kahin na
Chorni (1982)
Singhar (Sharda)
Kishor Kumar
One more song from the album, a Kishor Kumar romantic solo. The song has an excellent composition, especially in the stanzas. The interludes too have fantastic themes and orchestration in them, which is worth repeated listenings. I think this should have been considered as one of the best KK’s songs…!
https://youtu.be/SJO5SBgyt64
23. Kehta hai dil o mere sanam
Chorni (1982)
Hasrat Jaipuri
Kishor Kumar, Chorus
One more excellent romantic Kishor Kumar solo (with Chorus) from the film. It’s a party song with multiple dancers and the lead actors. SJ composed and recorded the song on a grand level with heavy orchestra, chorus and multiple rhythm instruments, and the result is mind blowing. The song flows on a variant waltz rhythm and has three distinct musical interludes. The composition is melodious and harmonic, and may remind us the classic “Bhanvare ki gunjan”.
https://youtu.be/uewTiQHVcgM
24. Tu mera din hai mein teri raat
Sanyasi (1975)
M G hashmat
Suman Kalyanpur, Mukesh, Chorus
The 8th and the last song from the album, a unique song with a unique situation. All the three stanzas are picturized on three different actresses, Helen (cabaret dancer), Arpana Choudhari (street dancer) and Jayshree T (Marriage dancer) respectively. According to the scenario SJ composed three different interludes before each stanza, using western instruments in the first, shehnai group and tabla in the second and bagpipes in the third one. The whole mukhda tune is on a constant high note, which gives a special sound to the song. A remarkable creation with wonderful experiment by the maestros…!
https://youtu.be/vEMH7kD3STM
25. Paina lupi kehke pukaro
Garam Khoon (1980)
Singhar (Sharda)
Asha Bhosle, Chorus
One more fantastic cabaret on Helenji, from the musical album. Just like “Chadhne laga”, this too is a masterwork by SJ. Extremely melodious composition, fast foot tapping beats and lively orchestration, everything is just perfect. The way Asha Bhosle introduces the song by singing “paina loopi….” and the countermelody played during ‘Kehke pukaro.. mein chali aaoongi..’ sounds great. I think this is one of the best SJ-Asha songs..!
https://youtu.be/nmrRe1qg4KA
26. Hum dard-e-mohobbat ki
Eent Ka Jawab Patthar (1982)
Naqsh Layalpuri
Asha Bhosle
Second of the two mujra songs by Asha Bhosle from this action oriented film. Just like the first one, SJ composed a sentimental and soulful melody for this too. The sarangi tune in its prelude is so beautiful that it goes straight to our hearts. The second interlude have one more sarangi phrase apart from its sitar and violins passages. The composition is simple yet touching, especially a unique ‘Laya’ at the end of each line (e.g. tha…. dete… ho…) gives a fresh touch to the song. A beautiful creation from Shankarji’s bad times..
https://youtu.be/uIsfzU8hGAw
27. Hum nahin bhulenge
Inteqaam Ki Aag (1986)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Mohd Rafi
A beautiful title song and a Rafi solo, which also has a second version in female voices (Sushma Shreshtha, Preeti Sagar). It’s a fast paced romantic song, with a beautiful composition and some extraordinary interludes. The overall sound is quite modern, yet we can feel 60s SJ in its prelude and interludes. Mohammed Rafi’s mature voice and singing gives a sweet flavor to the song. This is his last solo under the baton of Shankar, and it came out excellent..!
https://youtu.be/NWRM6XOW93A
28. Baaton mein na taalo ji
Kaanch Ki Deewar (1986)
Indeevar
Aaha Bhosle, Mohd Rafi
The most popular song of this album, commonly seen in ‘Chitrahaar’ during 80s. Actually the song was recorded in mid 70s for the shelved film ‘Mahaan’, as can be known from its sound. Finally, the song got its place in “Kaanch Ki Deewar”, after about 10 years. It’s a fast beat, energetic dance number, with extensive use of drums, brass and wind instruments. The composition is simple yet catchy and evergreen, sung with ‘full masti’ by the lead singers. A perfect SJ magic in western style…!
https://youtu.be/NWRM6XOW93A
29. Khilona ban ke main aa gayi
Papi Pet Ka Sawal Hai (1984)
Prabha Thakur
Asha Bhosle
This is the best song in the album according to me, beautifully composed, wonderfully orchestrated and perfectly sung by Asha Bhosle. It’s a song where Rati Agnihotri has to dance in disguise amongst all the villains. Shankar ji brilliantly balanced the dance form of the song and the pathos of the situation, in the composition as well as orchestration. The three distinct arabian flavor interludes are few of the finest from his 80s songs. The more we listen the more we love the song, such is the magic he pored in..!
https://youtu.be/xVP5ENCYd88
30. Papi pet ka sawal hai
Papi Pet Ka Sawal Hai (1984)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar, Kishor Kumar
A perfect title song for the film, and the last one for Lata Mangeshkar with Shankarji. For long time, I didn’t enjoy the song much as I never heard it thoroughly and properly. But when I did, I realized it’s a gem. Actually the situation of the song is quite odd, involving “Khel, tamasha, madari, ustaad, Jamuri” etc., and it’s difficult to create a musical song for it, but Shankarji did it brilliantly. The beautiful prelude starts with damroo and flute piece, followed by a refined rhythm. All the interludes are fine, and so is the composition.
https://youtu.be/BiY57PMVoqE
31. Jab dushman ho gaya waqt
Papi Pet Ka Sawal Hai (1984)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Kishor Kumar
Third song from the movie, a Kishor Kumar solo. The song has a same situation of ‘khel tamasha’ as the previous one, albeit on a sadder note, and Shankarji showed his brilliance once again. The beautiful flute and damroo pieces in the prelude and interludes are marvelous. The composition has all the qualities of becoming a hit KK song, but unfortunately it is still waiting to be unearthed.
https://youtu.be/02ZbxBoTD40
32. Beesvin sadi ki hoon main
Do Jhoot (1975)
M G Hashmat
Lata and Usha Mangeshkar
Fourth song from the album, a beautiful female duet. It’s a nice fun song showcasing a revolutionary (Usha) and reserved (Lata) attitudes of two ladies and their contradictions. It has a superb composition, fantastic prelude and three interludes, where we can easily find the flavors of SJ’s 60s style. In the whole middle to low note stanza tune, only one high note “Gori…. o… gori…” sounds magical. A great work..!
https://youtu.be/rmyMzoT_QE8
33. Bada hi pyara maykaa
Duniyadari (1977)
Vitthalbhai Patel
Lata and Usha Mangeshkar
One more beautiful female duet by the same leads, but this time both having parallel thinking and no disputes. It’s a fun song with excellent composition and brilliant orchestration. If we listen carefully, we will find SJ’s earlier charm in the prelude and interludes. An alaap in its second interlude has been used in many songs by other composers, later.
https://youtu.be/igh4f2WD7Kk
34. Mujhe puchhne ka ye haq to
Naari(1981)
MG Hashmat
Kishor Kumar
A beautiful romantic KK solo, which also has a female version in Sushma Sreshtha’s voice. The composition is unique and youthful with all its beautiful modernized interludes. I think this is a deserving SJ song…!
https://youtu.be/CzXLYUOr9gw
35. Abba abba hay tauba
Eent Ka Jawab Patthar (1982)
Naqsh Layalpuri
Preeti Sagar
A fantabulous pop song in a beautiful voice of Preeti Sagar. Musically speaking it’s a unique and novel composition and one of best from Shankarji’s ’s last years. Just listen it’s rhythm development, a strings theme from its 1.30 min long prelude, and a trombone theme from the third prelude. For me, its one of bests from their later output..!
https://youtu.be/amwpNGiLjT8
36. Joode mein gajra mat bandho
Dhoop Chhaon (1977)
Virendra Mishra
Mohammed Rafi
It a beautiful semi classical song, composed in SJ’s early 70s style. It has a sweet melody accompanied by traditional classical orchestration with beautiful variations in its tabla rhythm. It’s a treat for light classical music lovers..!
https://youtu.be/OH36xuX2Ygc
37. Ek Shehri chhora teer kaleje
Dhoop Chhaon (1977)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Usha Mangeshkar, Kalyani Mitra, Chorus
Yet another female duet, this time without Lata and Asha. The composition is sweet and charming, but needs a couple of listenings before the melody grows in our mind. A short alaap in its typical SJ style prelude and the two interludes are beautiful and remarkable.
https://youtu.be/igIWY0-dBEs
38. Pyar kiya nahi jaata ho jata
Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam (1977)
Hasrat Jaipuri
Asha Bhosle
This was an exclusive SJ-Asha album with five beautiful solos. It’s a romantic song with an excellent composition and orchestration. Just listen it for two or three times and it will grow on you like anything, especially the stanzas. The two interludes too are of typical SJ flavor. I think the songs of this film must have been recorded before 1975.
https://youtu.be/W1EGV54sxGU
These are the songs where everything including the compositions, orchestrations, rhythms, innovations, experiments etc. display SJ’s mastery and magic. The next 43 songs may or may not be in the same merit, but still are excellent and remarkable works that showcases SJ magic and charm in some parts.
Watch out for the songs No. 39 to 60
in Part 4… Next Monday
