Jagjit Singh - The Maestro Of Ghazals who started his career with Gujarati Songs

Born on 8th Feb 1941 to simple parents in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, Jagjit Singh was initially named, Jagmohan at birth, by his devout Sikh father. At the age of 24 without the knowledge of his family,Singh moved to Bombay to try his luck as playback singer in Bollywood.

Initially he started as a singer of advertising jingles and later progressed to playback singing. However, what is little known about Singh's connection to Gujarati songs is that he sung his first Gujarati song in 1968, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for Avinash Vyas's composition. This song was sung for Bhavan's 'Song of the Month' produced by Purshottam Upadhyay who paid Singh a sum of Rs250.
'Laagi Ram bhajan ni lagani, ke Ramna... ke Ramna thayi gayi che rag rag ni re bhu…'. This Gujarati song marked ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh's entry into the playback singing world. It was featured in producer Suresh Amin's film Bahuroopi and composer Ajit Merchant gave Jagjit Singh this first break in 1969.The success of this song,Jagjit Singh is said to have sung many songs in Gujarati, so much so that during his performances in Ahmedabad or any other city of Gujarat, tears were found rolling down women's cheeks. He was known to bring words to life as he sang, but when he sang Gujarati bhajans, he was known for connecting people of Gujarat to the Almighty.
In 1969 he married Chitra Dutta and both started singing together.The Unforgettable, which was the couple's first LP, was an unconventional recording and it turned them into stars. The song "Baat Niklegi" from the album achieved great popularity for the Singhs.It was the first time Western Instruments were used in Ghazals.Thereafter, the couple worked both on solo and joint musical projects and performed concerts worldwide.
The popularity of the couple attracted Hindi film Industry.The couple sang for the first time in the 1973 film Awishkar b kar do:ut Jagjit Singh got famous among Hindi Film Audience with the song Hontho se chhoo lo tum mera geet amar from the 1981 film Prem Geet in which he gave the music also.In 1982 he sang in 2 films,Saath Saath and Arth.The song "Tum Ko Dekha To Yeh Khayal Aaya" and"Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho" were very popular.His compositions for the TV serial Mirza Ghalib (based on the life of the poet Mirza Ghalib), remain extremely popular among ghazal aficionados. 
 Besides ghazals, Jagjit Singh has also sung Bhajans and Gurbani(Hindu and Sikh devotional hymns respectively). Albums such as Maa, Hare Krishna, Hey Ram...Hey Ram, Ichhabal and also Man Jeetai Jagjeet in Punjabi, put him in the league of Bhajan singers such as Mukesh, Hari Om Sharan, Yesudas, Anup Jalota and Purushottam Das Jalota. 
With a career spanning five decades and a repertoire comprising over 90 albums, "The Latest" by Sudarshan Faakir was the best selling album with his lifetime hit "Woh Kagaz ki Kashti...Woh Baarish ka Paani". It was the first album by the duo with poetry of only one Poet. In 1990 their son died in a road accident. Chitra felt unable to sing following this event.
 He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the government of India in 2003. In February 2014, Government of India released a postal stamp in his honour.He was regarded as one of India's most influential artists. With sitar legend Ravi Shankar and other leading figures of Indian classical music and literature,
in 2011 he  was due to perform with Ghulam Ali in Mumbai^[5] but suffered a brain haemorrhage on 23 September 2011. He was in a coma for over two weeks and died on 10 October at Lilavati Hospital, in Mumbai.

Most Popular Ghazals from Hindi Films

Song from Awishkar 1973

Song from Saath Saath 1982

Song from Arth 1982

Song from Zulf Ke Saye Saye 1983

Song from Phir Aayee Barsat 1985

Song from Aashiana 1986

Song from Nargis 1992

Song from Dushman 1998

Song from Sarfarosh 1999

Song from Tum Bin 2001

Song from Umar 2006

Today Western music rules youngsters' playlists but there are many youngsters who like to listen Ghazals. When we talk of Ghazals in today's scenario only one name appears in our mind that is the Legendary  Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali.
On his 77th Birthday I write this blog about his association with Bollywood.Though, he has hardly lent his voice to Bollywood, the few of his Ghazals that made it to the big screen have remained Indian audiences’ all time favorite. 
Ghulam Ali was born on 5th Dec 1940 , at village Kaleke, district Sialkot, which is now a part of Pakistan.He belongs to a musical family, his father was vocalist and sarangi player who trained him earlier, he also learnt from Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's brother Ustad Barkat Ali Khan who is another great singer.
Owing to his immense popularity, some of his ghazals have been used in the Indian Hindi movies. His popular ghazal "Chupke chupke raat din.." has been used in the movie Nikaah featuring Raj Babbar and Salma Aghaa. Moreover, many of the Hindi film songs have been "inspired" from some of his ghazals. "Thodi si jo pi li hain, chori to nahi ki hain" from Namak Halal (Ghazal - Hungama hain kyon barpa) as you would recognize, is one them.
The first time his Ghazal(a small part in the background ) was taken in Hindi film Chhoti Si Baat in 1975,but his ghazals became popular among Hindi film goers from 1982 film Nikaah.In 1984 again in Maati Mange khoon his Ghazal was being played in background.He was associated with Aawargi(1990),Beti No 1 (2000),Bewafaa (2005) and very recently with Ghar Wapsi.
In Ghar Wapsi, he has also contributed to song Apni Mitti Ki Khushboo Hain Rago Mein Yeh Basi Hai…Choomenge Isko Shaan Se. Humko Toh Pyaara Hain Yeh Watan, Apni Jaan Se.

Song from Nikaah (1982)

Song from Maati Maange Khoon (1984)

Song from Aawargi 1990

Song from Bewafaa (2005)

Begum Akhtar-The Queen Of Ghazal

Begum Akhtar was born Akhtari Bai Faizabadi in Faizabad on 7th Oct 1914.She took the music world by storm with her maiden performance at the tender age of fifteen.She acted in some Hindi movies in the Thirties. She rendered her songs herself in all her films.She disappeared from the Music world for five long years after her marriage.In 1949, she returned to the recording studios, the Lucknow Radio Station and soon after, to stage performances.She was amongst the early female singers to give public concert, and break away from singing in mehfils or private gatherings, and in time came to be known as Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazal)
She was a regular performer on All India Radio. She usually composed her own ghazals and most of her compositions were raag based.She  was the one who brought Thumri and Dadra to the common man through public concerts. Her voice matured with time, adding richness and depth.  She has nearly four hundred songs to her credit.She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for vocal music, and was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan (posthumously) by Govt. of India.She died on 30 October 1974 in the arms of Nilam Gamadia, her friend, who invited her to Ahmedabad, which has become her final performance.
Some Of Begum Akhtar's Most Popular Ghazal

SAIYAN GAYE PARADESH : BEGUM AKHTAR THUMRI : LIVE CONCERT RECORDING

SADHANA-The Timeless Beauty and Bollywood's Fashion Icon

On the 76th Birth Anniversary Of Sadhana,the heart-throb of the nation in 1960s,we look back at the craze of this great actress.She belonged to an era when Hindi cinema was transitioning from the slow ’50s  to the more playful, chaotic ’60s.Starting her career as heroine in Bollywood through 1960's romantic film Love in Simla. Her fringe haircut became popular during the 1960s and came to be known as "Sadhana cut".Sadhana is also credited for bringing into fashion tight chudidar-kurta. She went with this concept of gracefully changing the traditional loose salwar kameez to her director Yash Chopra for 1965's film Waqt.Initially Yash Chopra was not agreed for this change but Sadhana with the help of her fashion designer Bhanu Athaiya showed him a sample, which he liked. The trend lasted well in the 1970s and can be seen to be adopted by many actresses.
After Love In Shimla her 2nd film Parakh was released.in this film she played the simple village girl,she had to stick her fringe back in order to match the simple village girl she played here.Even without that she looked beautiful.Then came Hum Dono in 1962 The film stars Dev Anand in a double role, and also has Nanda his co-heroine.The film was a big hit that established Sadhana as a leading actress.In the same year Ek Musafir Ek Hasina and Asli Naqli released, both were successful.at the Box Office.In 1963, Sadhana played her first role in a technicolour film Mere Mehboob directed by H. S. Rawail. The film was the "blockbuster" of 1963.She now became the most sought after heroine of Bollywood.
In 1964, she played a double role in the first of the suspense-thriller trilogy, Woh Kaun Thi? This white-sari-clad performance opposite Manoj Kumar earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress.The film was a box office "Hit". Raj Khosla cast her in two more successful mystery films, Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967) thus making her famous as the "Mystery girl". Mera Saaya, a box office "Super Hit".
Sadhana had  health issues due to her thyroid, which she got treated in Boston.She was doing limited films,earlier also she did 2 or 3 films in a year.Her most of the films fared well in Box Office and few of them were Mega Hits such as Mere Mehboob,Waqt,Arzoo and Ek Phool Do Maali.
Raj Khosla was the director who worked with her in many movies.three of their films Woh Kaun Thi, Mera Saaya and Anita presented her a beautiful woman who haunts the hero,who does with her beauty. Sadhana had a unique quality that she blooms and blossoms,she sparkled in her songs.Think of brilliant smile that opens in Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se Baandh Liya Hai or Tera Mera Pyar Amar from Asli Naqli,the softness of Jahan Mein Aisa of Hum Dono or the magnetic pull of the call Lag Jaa Gale of Woh Kaun Thi.
Sadhana died on 25 December 2015 in Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai 
Here are 10 Famous Songs Picturised on Sadhana

Song from Parakh 1960

Song from Hum Dono 1961

Song from Asli Naqli 1962

Song from Mere  Mehboob 1963

Song from  Woh Kaun  Thi 1964

Song from  Rajkumar 1964

Song from  Waqt 1965

Song from  Arzoo 1965

Song from  Mera Saaya 1966

Song from Intequam  1969

Ghazal in Golden Era of Bollywood (Part-2)

Ghazal has been an integral part of Bollywood music,The filmi-ghazal is a genre of filmi based on ghazal poetry in Hindi or Urdu. It’s a unique combination of poetry, melody and singing.In the 1940s ,50s, and 60s Hindi film industry attracted many well known poets and writers of Hindi/Urdu. Initialy  Ghazals were very similar to other Hindustani light classical forms such as the dadra or, thumri.later on the ghazal usually had a form which is not too dissimilar to many film songs. Some of the high quality ghazals like Ujdi Hui Hai Ishq Ki Duniya Tere Bagair,zinda hoon iss tarah ki gham-e-zindagi nahin, tumhaare bulaane ko jee chaahta hai, rehne laga hai dil mein andhera tere baghair are still remembered today.

 I am starting the Part-2 with a rare song composed by Nisaar Bazmi for the film KHOJ (1953).The song is ‘aaye thhe thhodi der ko betaab kar gaye’, sung by Ashima Bannerji. The song is written by Hasrat Jaipuri.sung by Ashima Bannerji

Song from Khoj 1953 

There is this great song by talat mahmood Meri Yaad Mein na Tum Aansoo Bahana from the film Madhosh 1951

Song from Madhosh 1951

Talat Mahmood gave us some of the immortal Film Ghazal,one of such was Aye mere dil kahin aur chal  from Daag 1952,picturised on Dilip Kumar,another is Hum Dard Ke Maron Ka

Song from Daag 1952,

This is a rare ghazal picturised on Dev Anand in 1953 film Humsafar,This song is a duet which is sung by Talat Mehmood and Asha Bhonsle. Sahir Ludhianvi is the lyricist. Music is composed by Ali Akbar Khan.

Song from Hamsafar 1953

Laayi hayaat aaye qazaa,This song from “Shabaab” (1954) is sung by Rafi. Shakeel Badayuni is the lyricist. Music is composed by Naushad.

Song from“Shabaab” (1954)

 This song is sung by Talat Mehmood, Madhukar Rajasthani is the lyricist. Music is composed by Snehal Bhatkar. This song was picturised on Talat Mehmood himself.since the video is not available only audio is available.This song is from “Deewaali Ki Raat”(1956)

Song from Deewaali Ki Raat”(1956)

Tang aa chuke hain kashmakash-e-zindagi se hum is a recitation rather than a song, perfectly rendered by Rafi. in Pyaasa 1957

Song from Pyaasa 1957

Aurat Ne Janam Diyaa Mardon Ko, Maradon Ne Use Baazaar Diyaa  a beautiful Ghazal by Lata Mangeshkar from the film Sadhna written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi

Song from Sadhna 1958

Tujhe Kya Sunaun Mein Dilruba a beautiful ghazal sung by Md Rafi written by Mazrooh sultanpuri for the film Akhari Dao 1958

Song from Akhari Dao 1958

This song is from the film Mein nashe mein hoon 1959. It is presented as a Mujra song. sung by Usha Mangeshkar This is a gazal by Ghalib, which was undoubtedly one of the popular gazals for film makers. This gazal was featured in 3 films. First it was used in Deccan Queen-1936, then in Mirza Ghalib-54 and finally in Main nashe mein hoon-59. 

Song from Mein nashe mein hoon 1959. 

Here is one ghazal by Asha Bhonsle composed by Madan Mohan, Saba se yeh keh do ke kaliyaan bichhaye, from Bank Manager: One of the most beautiful love songs sung by a woman on stage.

Song from Bank Manager 1959

Jalte hain jiske liye,this is one of my favorite Film Ghazal by Talat Mahmood from Sujata 1959,picturised on Sunil Dutt 

Song from Sujata 1959

Ghazal in Golden Era of Bollywood (Part-1)

Ghazal has been an integral part of Bollywood music,The filmi-ghazal is a genre of filmi based on ghazal poetry in Hindi or Urdu. It’s a unique combination of poetry, melody and singing.In the 1940s ,50s, and 60s Hindi film industry attracted many well known poets and writers of Hindi/Urdu. Initialy  Ghazals were very similar to other Hindustani light classical forms such as the dadra or, thumri.later on the ghazal usually had a form which is not too dissimilar to many film songs. Some of the high quality ghazals like Ujdi Hui Hai Ishq Ki Duniya Tere Bagair,zinda hoon iss tarah ki gham-e-zindagi nahin, tumhaare bulaane ko jee chaahta hai, rehne laga hai dil mein andhera tere baghair are still remembered today.
I am starting with a ghazal Duniya e aarzoo ko mita kar chale gaye from the film Barsaat Ki Ek Raat
released in 1948 sung by Munawwar Sultana, Music was given by Ghulam Haider.It is said that Munawwar Sultana received musical training from Ghulam Haider in the 1930s when he was composing non-filmy songs for Jien-o-Phone record company. However, music director Pandit Amarnath gave her chance to sing in her first two Hindi/Urdu films – ‘Albeli’ (1945) and ‘Dhamki’ (1945).Readers should not confused with this singer Munnawar Sultana with the actress Munnawar sultana,both were different.The singer Munawwar Sultana (08/11/1924 – 20/05/1995) was a radio singer in Punjabi and Urdu songs on All India Radio, Lahore in the 40s.After the partition she remained in Pakistan,During her pre-independent filmy career, she sang about 20 songs.

Song from Barsaat Ki Ek Raat 1948  

The next Ghazal in my list is Ujdi Hui Hai Ishq Ki Duniya Tere Bagair from the film Refugee (1948) 

sung by Sulochana Kadam and written by Pt Faani, Music by – Ajit Merchant.This is a rare song

Song from Refugee 1948

Here I am presenting a rare Ghazal by Hemant Kumar under the Music Direction of Kamal Dasgupta in a film Manmaani(1947)

Song from Manmaani 1947

I am presenting here a ghazal ‘guroor-o-naaz se ghesu ka bal khaana nahin achchaa’ written by Aarzoo Lucknowi for the film PARAKH (1944).Only the audio clip is available but it is apparent that Kaushalya has sung this ghazal on herself.

Song from Parakh 1944

When we talk about Ghazal how can we not say about Ghalib.Over a period of years, many of his Ghazals became famous and were used in several films and were sung privately by many well known singers.Ghalib’s one particular Ghazal “Dil E Nadaan,tujhe hua kya hain ” is perhaps one of the most popular Ghazals used in films.This Ghazal was sung by many singers in different Hindi films so far,I am taking from the film Apna Desh(1949) Sung by Pushpa Hans music was given by Purushottam.Today's generation may be unknown of Pushpa hans but  old timer Punjabi readers will recall this name with Nostalgia.

Song from Apna Desh 1949

Here I am posting the same Ghazal in the voice of Talat Mahmood and Suraiya from the film Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song from  Mirza Ghalib(1954)

Momin Khan ‘Momin’ (1800-1851) was one of the prominent Urdu poets in the Mughal court during early 1800s. He  was the contemporary and a close friend of Mirza Ghalib.One of his most famous ghazals by which Momin Khan ‘Momin’ is known worldwide is ‘wo jo hum mein tum mein karaar thha tumhen yaad ho ke na yaad ho’. This ghazal has been rendered by many famous singers as well as upcoming singers.This ghazal was also sung in the film ‘Shikaayat’ (1948) by Kalyani, Manik Dadarkar ( aka Manik Varma) and Chorus. I have selected one sung  in a soulful voice by Begum Akhtar.

Tumhe yaad ho ke na yaad ho by Begum Akhtar

When we are discussing the !940s ghazals ,how can we forget this immortal Ghazal of Mukesh Ji from the film Aag 1948 zinda hoon iss tarah ki gham-e-zindagi nahin

Song from Aag 1948

Mazrooh Sultanpuri was a great Urdu poet who gave us many immemorable Ghazals in hindi films,one of which was Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal (Aarzoo) (1950) sung by Talat

Song from Aarzoo 1950

 If ‘deewaana banaana hai to deewaana banaa de’ (1925) heralded the arrival of Begum Akhtar as a ghazal singer, ‘ae mohabbat tere anjaam pe ronaa aayaa’ (early 1950s) consolidated her position in ghazal singing paving the way for her to be bestowed upon the title of ‘mallika-e-ghazal’ This was written by shakeel Badayuni and composed by Begham akhtar is a Non Filmy Ghazal

Ae mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aaya

 It was Talat’s reign in Hindi film Ghazal. People were mesmerised with his quivering velvety voice and the ‘ dard ‘ with which Talat sang his numbers.

His voice belongs to an era when gentleness was a virtue. His songs fall on ears like soft petals on wet earth. His melody was ‘ felt ‘ rather than ‘ heard ‘. He was named the King Of Ghazals.Talat became Dilip kumar's voice initially His flawless Urdu Diction and the way he articulated the poetry in the song enhanced the song’s appeal. Dilip Kumar insisted for Talat. However a slight misunderstanding with Naushad gave way to Rafi in Deedar,He was Dilip’s voice in different composers’ films. ‘Mera jeevan saathi’ for Naushad(Babul-50), ‘seene mein sulagte’ for Anil Biswas(Tarana-51), ‘ye hawa ye raat’ for Sajjad(Sangdil-52), ‘Aye mere dil kahin’ for Shankar Jaikishan(Daag-52) and ‘Shaam e gham ki kasam’ for Khayyam(Footpath-53).Here is my one of his favorite

Song from Tarana 1951

 Lataji vocalized her first ghazal – the mind-blowing Dil-e-naashaad ko jeene ki hasrat ho gayee tumse under the baton of Hansraj Bahl in Chunariya (1948). Her superb rendition of this none-too-easy a number with expression, enunciation and mastery on its many murkis in all octaves is just breath-taking.

Song from Chunariya (1948)

A Majrooh Sultanpuri Ghazal Uthaaye jaa unke sitam aur jiye jaa  from Andaaz, (1949) consolidated Lata ji's Position as a leading Playback singer of bollywood

Song from Andaaz, 1949

After Lata Mangeshkar automatically the name of Asha Bhonsle appears in our mind,Asha ji’s career in Hindi films gets launched by the hands of Hans Raj Behl. in the year  1948. the film was ‘Chunariya’. In this film, Asha made her debut as part of a trio of singers (along with Geeta Roy and Zohrabai).A year latter she was given a solo by the same Music Director,one of this was a Ghazal.It is a rare song of Asha ji

Song from (Raat Ki Raani)(1949)

Here is one of the most popular ghazals of Mirza Ghalib ‘ hazaaron khwaahishein aisike har khwaahish pe dam nikley’ sung by G M Durrani from the film GHAYAL(1951)

Song from GHAYAL(1951)

Here is one of Sulochana Kadam’s little known song ‘wo aayen hai dil ko kararaa gaya hai’ from the film MALIKA SALOMI (1953).This may be the only ghazal she sang in her Hindi film playback singing career. 

Song from Malika Salomi 1953

 Aah ko chaahiye is probably is the  favourite Ghazal of most of the people, though, simply because everything – Ghulam Mohammad’s music, Suraiya’s superb rendition, and Ghalib’s poetry – fits together perfectly. 

Song from Mirza Ghalib, 1954

Humse aaya Na Gaya Tumse Bhulaya Na Gaya very famous Ghazal by Talat mehmood from the film Dekh Kabira Roya written by Rajendra Krishan and composed by Madan Mohan

Song from Dekh Kabira Roya 1957