Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna- BAPPI LAHIRI

 

 He began to play the tabla at the tender age of three. Even at that tender age, Bappi showed signs of greatness as he played the tabla with the proficiency of an experienced professional. He received his first opportunity in a Bengali film, Daadu (1972) at the age of 19 and the first Hindi film for which he composed music was Nanha Shikari (1973). The film which established him in Bollywood was Tahir Husain's Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975),

He shot to fame in the 80s and 90s with foot-tapping disco numbers. He introduced Vijay Benedict and Sharon Prabhakar to Bollywood and paved the path to fame for Alisha Chinai and Usha Uthup through his compositions. He popularized the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema with an Indian flavor.

Chalte Chalte (1976) was his earliest chartbuster movie,  its soundtrack was a hit & very popular in the 70s. Yes, the film is remembered today only for Kishore Kumar’s song 'Chalte Chalte Mere Yeh Geet Yaad Rakhna'. 

 Be it college farewells or corporate parties or even simply musical evenings in restaurants across the country, nothing is complete without this magical moment, a time when nostalgia overtakes us all. Kishore da’s long drawls, the whistling quality of his voice, its crystal clarity all shine through. The song was played in almost all programs where a tribute to the genius of Kishore Kumar was paid.

He is also known for soundtracks like Wardat, Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Dance Dance, Commando, Gang Leader, Sailaab and Sharaabi 

Song of Chalte Chalte 1976

If you liked this Blog, you would also appreciate my Youtube Channel, the link is given below

https://youtu.be/BFj560iRLJA

S D Burman - A glimpse of his singing career

SD Burman started working as a radio singer on Calcutta Radio Station in the late '20s when his work as a singer-composer was based on Bengali folk and light Hindustani classical music. Consequently, his compositions were mainly influenced by his huge repertoire of folk-tunes from present Bangladesh and later other parts of India and around the world. His first record was also released in 1932
Not many of us know that he sang for other music directors also. He made his film debut singing in Yahudi ki Ladki (1933) but the songs were scrapped and re-sung by Pahari Sanyal. Then in 1934, he recorded some songs for the film ‘Seeta’ produced by the East India Film Co., under the music direction of KC Dey but the recording is not available. As early as 1941, he had rendered a song for a Hindi film under the music direction of Madhulal Damodar Master. This song happened to be his debut song for Hindi films.
The song is ‘Prem ki pyaari nishaani’ from TAJ MAHAL (1941). The film was produced under the banner of Mohan Pictures and directed by Nanabhai Vakil. S D Burman has rendered this song in slow tempo emphasising on phonetics of some words in keeping with the mood of the song. The song does not have any musical interlude.

Song of TAJ MAHAL (1941)

                               Dakley Kokil Roj Bihaney--Sachin Dev Burman (1932)

In 1944, Burman moved to Mumbai, at the request of Sasadhar Mukherjee of Filmistan, who asked him to give a score for two Ashok Kumar starrers, Shikari (1946) and Aath Din. Staying close to KL Saigal, KN Singh and Manna Dey in Bombay, he would sing at private get-togethers with friends. And then on their suggestion, the song “Dheere Se Jaana Bagiyan Mein” was recorded and found immense success with the listening public.

Dheere Se jaana bagiyan mein by S D Burman

                             Jhan Jhan Jhan Manjira - Classical Song by SD Burman

                                             S.D.Burman sings for Anil Biswas

                                 S D Burman-Ummeed Bhara Panchi(Aath Din)-1946

                                  SD Burman Bengali Folk Song - Bandar Chharo 1943

                                                     Biroho Boro Bhalo Lage

                                             Zindagi aye zindagi tere hain do roop

The Original of Hum Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare from Kala Pani

                      Ghum Bhulechhi Nijhum Nishithe Jege Thaki -S.D.Burman

Suchitra Sen- The Banga Bibhushan

 Banga Bibhushan is a highest award instituted by the West Bengal Government to honour the services of personalities in various fields.Suchitra Sen is the first actress who received this in 2012.In 2005, she refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest cinematic award in India, to stay out of the public eye.She retired from the screen in 1978 after a career of over 25 years to a life of quiet seclusion. She assiduously avoided the public gaze after her retirement and devoted her time to the Ramakrishna Mission.She died at 8.25 am on 17 January 2014, due to a heart attack.
In this Blog I have selected some of her songs from very limited Hindi Films she acted.
Devdas-Her First Hindi language film Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's famous novel "Devdas"

Song from Musafir 1957

Song from Bombai Ka Baboo 1960

Song from Sarhad 1960

Song from Mamta 1966

Song from Aandhi 1975

Influence of Bengali Music in Hindi Film Songs

The music of India includes multiple varieties of Indian classical music, folk music, filmi and Indian pop. India's classical music tradition, including Hindustani music and Carnatic,The biggest form of Indian popular music is filmi, or songs from Indian films.
In the early years of Indian cinema, the music was mainly classical and folk in inspiration, with some Western elements. The most fascinating part of Indian film music is its evolution with time. In the mid 30s the influence of Bengali music was started with the film  Dhoop Chhaon. Nitin Bose along with his brother Mukul Bose and music directors RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick introduced play back singing with the song  Man ki aankhein khol  sung by K C Dey, Parul Ghosh and Suprabha Sarkar.

Song from Dhoop Chhaon 1935

R C Boral and Pankaj Mallick not only introduced Bengali Bhakti Sangeet but also introduced Western orchestration in the interlude music. Another remarkable innovation of RC Boral and Pankaj Mullick was very long instrumental prelude to the main song, for example Ek bangla bane nyara. Its long instrumental prelude is as charming as the song.”
The music of Vidyapati, 1937. was a great hit,Kanan Devi with her typical Bengali lilt became the number one singer-star of New Theatres on par with K L Saigal with the popularity of Vidyapati’s songs. In Dhartimata (1939), Pankaj Mullick composed Duniya rang rangeeli baba, sung by KC Dey, Uma Shashi and K L Saigal. Another remarkable thing about ‘Duniya rang rangili baba’, which you can’t miss is that each antara is in a different tune – might be again the first of its kind. 

Song from Vidyapati, 1937

In Bengali Music the  Rabindra Sangeet is the main along with folk and bhakti.Tagore’s composition was first introduced to Hindi cinema in 1941 by Pankaj Kumar Mullick for the film titled Doctor.K L Saigal was the first non-Bengali singer to sing Rabindra Sangeet. Mullick later used the tune of Kharo vayu vayu meghe in the film Zalzala popular song Pawan Chale Zor.The far reaching influences of the Rabindra Sangeet is apparent on several music directors and not all of them were Bengali.

Song from Doctor 1941

In the 30s Anil Biswas came to Bombay established himself as a musical force in the film industry.with the success of Jagirdar (1937).He introduced Folk from North East, Boatman’s songs, farmers’ songs, palli geeti, Kirtan, Raag Pradhan compositions to Hindi films.
After Anil Biswas it was S D Burman who used Bengali sangeet in Hindi films. 

Song from Do Bhai, 1947

Inspired by this song of Rabindra Sangeet

Sachin Dev Burman, whose compositions tend to draw upon inspiration from Bengali folk traditions (e.g. bhatiaalii, saari, etc.), have composed several tunes derived from Rabindra Sangeet. Mera sundar sapna beet gaya (Do Bhai, 1947) draws a faint inspiration from O je maane na maana. In fact S D Burman gave us many hit songs from his Bengali Tunes such as Ghum bhulechhi made way for the leisurely Hum bekhdudi mein tumko; Mono dilo na bondhu was turned into Jaane kya tuney kahi(Pyaasa);  Dur Kon Parabase became Wahan kaun hai tera musafir jayega kahan (Guide) to name a few.

Mono dilo na bondhu 

inspired version in Hindi

Song from Pyaasa 1957

Hemant Kumar who was the greatest artist of Rabindra Sangeet.gained popularity in Mumbai as a playback singer.By the mid-1950s, Hemanta had consolidated his position as a prominent singer and composer.The poignant and heart rending Na jaao sainyya chhudake bainyya by Geeta Dutt is inspired from his own Bengali hit Oliro kotha shune bokul haashe although the two songs sound very different in mood.

Oliro kotha shune bokul haashe by Hemant Kumar

Inspired song in Hindi

Song from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam 1962

Salil Chowdhury  who  is known for his eclectic combination of Bengal folk with Western classical and banked on creating honey sweet melodies.Salil Chowdhury’s Tasveer tere dil mein (Maya by Lata and Rafi) was first recorded in Bengali as a Lata solo Ogo aar kichhu to noy, O Sajana (Parakh) was inspired from Na jeyo na (both Lata) and Mukesh’s Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye (Anand) was taken from the Hemant Kumar hit Amai proshno kore neel dhroobotara to name just a few. 

Ogo Ar Kichu To Nai by Lata Mangeshkar

Inspired version in hindi

Song from Maya 1961

 RD Burman – recreated his creations, often his own records – the best example perhaps is Jete jete pathe holo deri, which Gulzar Saab had booked for himself the moment he heard it first. It turned into Tere bina zindagi se koi (Aandhi, 1975)– both songs are peerless.RD Burman camouflaged his Bengali tunes with such varied orchestration to make it sound different .For instance, notice the use of the typically Bengali instrument the maadol in Tere bina jiya jaaye na(Ghar, 1978), or the distinctly Bhakti sangeet beginning to a rocking fun song Kal kya hoga kisko pata (Kasme Vaade, 1978), in which Bhagwan Dada made a guest appearance complete with an ektara!
Jete jete pathe holo deri, by R D Burman

Inspired version in Hindi

Song from Aandhi 1975

The influences of the Rabindra Sangeet too ran deep in RD Burman. Sample just one of those influences – the proverbial Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain jo makaam, woh phir nahin aate (Aap Ki Kasam, 1974) that draws an inspiration from Tagore’s Jaagorone jai bibhaabori. 
 1942 A Love Story (1994)  song "Kuchh Na Kaho"had heavy Bengali influence.

Bappi Lahiri – the softer compositions of Zakhmee (1975), Toote Khilone (1978) or Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979) are more in line with the Bengal genre of music.

The music of the Basu Chatterji film Apne Paraye (1980), based on a story by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee gave Bappi Lahiri an ideal opportunity to experiment with Bengal’s Bhaktigeeti and kirtan once more.
Rajesh Roshan was very much influenced by Rabindra Sangeet many of his songs were inspired by Bengali Music.One of his great songs Chhokar Mere Mann Ko from Yaarana was inspired by this song Tomar holo shuru, amar holo shara.

In the present Century of Indi Pop or Bhangra Music we can sometime hear  beautiful melody from Bengal."Piyu bole" from Pareenita 2005 is one such composition from Shantanu Moitra.And thus Bengal’s music continues to leave its lyrical and melodious stamp in Hindi film music…