Ghaalib's Representations on Screen

 

I think that there has been no great ghazal singer who hasn’t sung Ghalib’s work, be it, Mehdi Hasan or Jagjit Singh, most of them have sung his ghazals. He is said to have written his first poem at the age of 11, and by 19, was writing verses that became increasingly incomprehensible to even his contemporaries. 

Ghalib's life was the subject of hundreds of plays regularly performed in Northern India and Pakistan. These plays were based on his life and his personal and professional relationships starting from the Parsi Theatre and Hindustani Theatre days.  He remains the topmost poet whose poems are used as songs in Hindi films but he was not shown much on screen. The first time a full feature film was made in 1954 by V Shantaram named Mirza Ghalib (1954) in which Bharat Bhushan plays Ghalib and Suraiya plays his courtesan lover, Chaudvin. 

Gulzar produced a TV serial, Mirza Ghalib (1988), telecast on DD National that was immensely successful in India. Naseeruddin Shah played the role of Ghalib in the serial, and it featured ghazals sung and composed by Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh

 Mirza Ghalib (1954) made by Sohrab Modi won the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film and the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi in the 2nd National Film Awards for 1954. Suraiya's singing (of Mirza Ghalib's ghazals) and her acting was especially applauded by the Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, who remarked to her " You have brought back Ghalib to life", in a special screening of the film in Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Gulzar's Mirza Ghalib produced by Doordarshan TV was a masterpiece. Naseeruddin Shah, who played the role of the poet in the TV show Mirza Ghalib, considers it his finest performance at par with movies.

Gulzar, who almost seems to consider Ghalib his guru, often using his lines or concepts in his own work, penned a brilliant poem in his honour to begin the show — Ballimaran ke mohalle ki wo pecheeda daleelon ki si galiyaan.

The 2015 film Masaan contains various examples of poetry and Shayari by Ghalib,

Song of Mirza Ghalib(1954)

Song of Mirza Ghalib(1954)

Song of Mirza Ghalib T V Serial by Gulzar

Song of Mirza Ghalib T V Serial by Gulzar

A Scene from Mirza Ghalib 

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"The Unforgettable Film Songs" of Jagjit Singh

It is believed that Jagjit Singh was the singer, who popularized ghazal, an Indian classical art among masses. He is considered to be the most successful ghazal singer and composer of all time in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success. 

Jagjit Singh came to Mumbai in 1965 to become a playback singer in Hindi films. Those days Mohammad Rafi was in his peak, there was Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh already established singers, there was no chance for him at that point of time. He had to struggle for a song in films. He obtained work initially as a singer of advertising jingles. He got the first break in the 1973 film Avishkar when music director Kanu Roy asked him and Chitra Singh to sing 'Babul Mora Naihar Chhoto Jaye' 

His first album "The Unforgettable" in 1976 made him and Chitra Singh star. The album is notable for one exceptional ghazal, Raat Bhi Neend Bhi, based on a Firaq Gorakhpuri poem. Another Ghazal by Kafeel Aazar ' Baat Niklegi To Bahut Door Tak Jayegi' was sung by him. The album was released by The Gramophone Company of India Ltd.

The popularity of the couple attracted the Hindi film Industry. He was offered to compose music for the film 'Premgeet' released in 1981, he sang a ghazal"Hothon Se Chhu Lo Tum" in this film which was a hit among masses. After the success of this film, he got   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. 

In this blog, I have selected a few of his songs from Hindi films

Song of Avishkar 1973

Song of Premgeet 1981

 Song of Saath Saath 1982

Song of Arth 1983

Song of Arth 1983

Song of Dushman 1998

Song of Sarfarosh1999

Song of Tum Bin 2001

Song of Joggers Park 2003

Ghulam Ali - Chupke Chupke Raat Din

 

Ghulam Ali ( born on 5 December 1940), one of the best ghazal singers of his era also gave playback in Hindi films. He was introduced to Hindi cinema with a Hindi film song 'Chupke Chupke Raat Din' in B. R. Chopra's film, Nikaah (1982). 

Though the music director of the film was Ravi, he composed this Ghazal with his approval. This Ghazal was written by Urdu poet Hasrat Mohani (1875-1951) and contained 17 couplets but in this film, only 3 couplets were taken.  In the lyrics, the central character is recalling all the events that took place that made him fall in love. In the screenplay, he is sitting on a lounge chair, listening to this song on the record, and feeling sorry for himself...

He became a big name in India after this song. This Ghazal became a rage in the 80s. Asha Bhosle and Jagjeet Singh also rendered their voice later on. In fact, in 1983 an album 'Meraj-e-Ghazal' of Asha Bhonsle and Ghulam Ali was released.

Ghulam Ali's styles and variations in singing Ghazals has been noted as unique, as he blends Hindustani classical music with ghazals, unlike any other ghazal singer. Highly popular in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, as well as among South Asian diaspora in the US, the UK and the Middle Eastern countries

Song of Nikah 1982

chupke chupke raat din by asha bhonsle

chupke chupke raat din by jagjit singh 

Jagjit Singh- The Unforgettable

In the 60s and 70s, the world of ghazals was dominated by renowned names like Noor Jehan, Malika Pukhraj, Begum Akhtar, Talat Mahmood, and Mehdi Hassan but In the 70s a new voice appeared in Ghazals in India. It was Jagjit Singh with a different melody and freshness in his voice appealed to all and he was recognized by the industry. His pairing with Chitra and the use of unconventional musical instruments in the Ghazal and catchy rhythms and soulful music popularised Ghazals to the masses during the 70s and 80s.
The couple's first Album " The Unforgettables" released in 1976 made them star in the ghazal Industry in India. It became the highest-selling album at a time when there was no market for non-film albums.
The Unforgettables is also notable for one exceptional ghazal, Raat Bhi Neend Bhi, based on a Firaq Gorakhpuri poem. Chitra did not like the initial composition. Jagjit changed the tune and it became one of her most recognized solos in an album over which her husband towers with Baat Niklegi Toh Phir Door Talak Jayegi and Sarakti Jaaye Hai Rukh Se.
Jagjit Singh touched unprecedented heights and a number of his songs are considered classics. He is also the first Indian musician to record a purely digital CD album, titled ‘Beyond Time’ (1987).
Jagjit Singh has also sung many songs for Hindi movies. Popular films include Arth, Saath Saath, Premgeet, Tum Bin, Sarfarosh, Dushman and Tarkeeb. 
Jagjit Singh has proved himself as a genius as he brings out the true meaning of Mirza Ghalib's poetry by singing them as melodious Ghazals.  The album can be easily called a masterpiece.

Ghalib Shayari in Hindi Films

On the 222nd Birth Anniversary of Ghalib, I have made a collection of Bollywood Songs on Ghalib Shayari. He is the topmost poet whose poems are used as songs in Hindi films.
In 1954 a film on Mirza Ghalib was made by Sohrab Modi. The film won (1) the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film and (2) the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi in the 2nd National Film Awards for 1954. Suraiya's singing (of Mirza Ghalib's ghazals) and her acting was especially applauded by the Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, who remarked to her " You have brought back Ghalib to life", in a special screening of the film in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Bollywood has paid a tribute to this legendary poet through a film named Mirza Ghalib (1954) in which Bharat Bhushan plays Ghalib and Suraiya plays his courtesan lover, Chaudvin. The musical score of the film was composed by Ghulam Mohammed and his compositions of Ghalib's famous ghazals are likely to remain everlasting favorites.

Song of Mirza Ghalib(1954)

Song of Mirza Ghalib(1954)

Song of Mirza Ghalib(1954)

Song of Mirza Ghalib T V Serial by Gulzar

Song of Mirza Ghalib T V Serial by Gulzar

Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh’s chemistry worked like magic

Jagjit Singh met the love of his life, Chitra Singh in a studio to record a jingle for an advertisement in 1967. Both of them were struggling singers. Initially, both were singing jingles together for many advertising companies, this brought closeness.
 Chitra ji was earlier married to Debo Prasad Dutta and had a daughter with him, Monica. Chitra ji decided to part ways with her former partner in 1968 and moved on to live separately with her daughter.It was in 1969 Jagjit Singh and Chitra decided to marry.

Their first Album "The Unforgettable" in 1976 made them star. The album is notable for one exceptional ghazal, Raat Bhi Neend Bhi, based on a Firaq Gorakhpuri poem. Chitra Singh did not like the initial composition. Jagjit Singh changed the tune and it became one of her most recognised solos in an album over which her husband towers with Baat Niklegi Toh Phir Door Talak Jayegi and Sarakti Jaaye Hai RukhSe.
Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh’s chemistry worked like magic and there was no looking back for the much-in-love couple. The duo recorded dozens of albums in Hindi and Punjabi and also cut devotional albums. Among their subsequent duo recordings of the 1970s were Shiv Kumar Batalvi – Birha da Sultan (1978), Live in Concert at Wembley (1979) and Come Alive (1979). Of those released in the 1980s, "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 the poetry of only one Poet. Ecstasies (1984) has also been described as "one of their finest". The joint projects ceased in 1990 when their 18-year-old son, Vivek, was killed in a road accident. Chitra felt unable to sing following these events. Monica, Chitra's daughter from her first marriage, committed suicide in 2009.
Jagjit Singh.s work in film encompassed playback singing for productions such as Arth, Saath Saath and Premgeet. He composed all of the songs for the latter, as well as for the TV serial Mirza Ghalib that was based on the life of the eponymous poet, Mirza Ghalib.
Chitra Singh sang in Bengali as well as for Hindi films such as Saath Saath (1982) and Arth (1982).
He toured the UK in 2011 and was due to perform with Ghulam Ali in Mumbai 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.

Punjabi Tappe

Collection of Bollywood Songs on Ghalib Shayari

Mirza Ghalib is the topmost poet whose poems are used as songs in Hindi films.His poems, his lifestyle, his behaviour everything is a great inspiration. He continues to be one of the best and oft-quoted writers in history. 
Bollywood has paid a tribute to this legendary poet through a film named Mirza Ghalib (1954) in which Bharat Bhushan plays Ghalib and Suraiya plays his courtesan lover, Chaudvin. The musical score of the film was composed by Ghulam Mohammed and his compositions of Ghalib's famous ghazals are likely to remain everlasting favourites
On the 221st Birth Anniversary, I have made a collection of Bollywood Songs on Ghalib Shayari.
In 1954 a film on Mirza Ghalib was made by Sohrab Modi. The film won (1) the President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film and (2) the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi in the 2nd National Film Awards for 1954. Suraiya's singing (of Mirza Ghalib's ghazals) and her acting was specially applauded by the Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, who remarked to her " You have brought back Ghalib to life", in a special screening of the film in Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib 1954

Song of Mirza Ghalib T V Serial by Gulzar

Song of Mirza Ghalib T V Serial by Gulzar

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