Mukesh- The Man With Golden Voice

 

‘Dil jalta hai to jalne de’. was the first major song from Mukesh from ” Pehli Nazar”(1945). It was Anil Biswas who composed this song and wanted him to sing in Saigal style The song became so popular that he was branded for the sad songs. He was next to Saigal for such types of songs. Initially, all the composers used Mukesh mainly for such songs.

After this film, however, Anil Biswas helped Mukesh to develop his own distinct style, away from the Saigal effect. Mukesh's songs of Anokha Pyaar-1948, Lajawab-1950, and Aaram-1951 are a testimony to this effort becoming a success. Just listen to the ‘ Aye Jaan e Jigar’ song and you will agree.  The anguish of a failed lover, despondency of a purposeless life, the Heartache-all this is expressed by Mukesh like no other singer.

Naushad also recognized Mukesh's voice, he took him for the first time in the 1948 film 'Anokhi Ada'.Mukesh coming out a winner with his ‘ kabhi dil dil se takrata to hoga’. Mela-1948 put a stamp of approval on Mukesh from none other than Dilip Kumar. He sang many songs for him, in fact he was the voice of Dilip Kumar in Andaz(1949) and Rafi was the voice of Raj Kapoor in that film.

Along with Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey, and Kishore Kumar, he was one of the most popular and legendary singers of his era. Amongst the numerous nominations and awards he won, his song "Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai" from filmRajnigandha (1973) won him the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Mukesh was also popular as being the voice of the actor Raj Kapoor.

Mukesh won 4 Filmfare Awards,Sab Kuch Seekha Humne from Anaari 1959,Sabse Bada Naadan from Pehchan 1970,"Jai Bolo Beimaan Ki" from Beiman 1972 and "Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein" from Kabhi Kabhi 1976

Mukesh died of a heart attack on 27 August 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, US, where he had gone to perform in a concert. His body was flown to India by Lata Mangeshkar, where a grand funeral ceremony was held in the presence of several actors, with personalities of the Indian film industry and fans paying tribute.

In this blog, we have chosen a few of his Jolly & Happy Songs. Watch the video below from my Youtube channel

https://youtu.be/nwsts_0XeUQ

Raj Kapoor- A Big Dreamer

 

Being a big dreamer doesn’t mean that you walk around with your head in the clouds. It means that you’re seeking a purpose for your life. Raj Kapoor was the person who dreamt big and went after them, At the age of 24, he was a director and a studio owner His first film Aag was released in 1948

As a filmmaker, Raj Kapoor produced 16 films and directed 9 of them under his R.K. banner. Most of his films were successful films and received appreciation from critics and the audience. Mera Naam Joker was his biggest dream project  He made it but the film was a failure at the box office putting Raj Kapoor into a big financial crisis.

He didn't stop dreaming, he came up with an idea to get out of this debt. He released the film 'Bobby' in the year 1973. With this film, he launched his 18-year-old son Rishi Kapoor. This trick proved to be really effective and Bobby proved to be a blockbuster hit of that era. After this, along with Raj Kapoor, the days of the whole family and family went back. The film had Dimple Kapadia in the lead role along with Rishi Kapoor.

He had a dream to make a film Henna, for nearly two decades, the showman carried around Henna as an idea, like a dream. In fact, when Raj Kapoor died in 1987,  only the title, the story, and two songs: chitti and mai der karta nahin hoon, der ho jati hai. were ready

His dream lived on when his sons decided to complete the film and got it released on 28th June 1991. This film for the brothers Kapoor was a tribute to Raj Kapoor. It took them 3 years to fulfill the dream of their father. IT wasn't easy. The Cassandras of the film industry labeled the film a non-starter but the sons had the genes of Raj Kapoor of not backing out. 

Raj Kapoor had another film on his wishlist, the title of the film was 'Rishwat' the story was ready and was working on its screenplay. Another dream project was a film on Ajanta caves.

Raj Kapoor had received many awards throughout his career, including 3 National Film Awards, 11 Filmfare Awards and 21 nominations. His films Awaara (1951) and Boot Polish(1954) were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His acting in the former was rated as one of the "Top-Ten Performances of all time", by the Time Magazine.His film Jagte Raho (1956) also won the Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

If you liked this blog of mine, you would also appreciate my Youtube Channel Bollywood Unplugged, the link of the channel is given below

https://youtu.be/r6lX_7UGzL8

 I am posting some of my Favourite Raj Kapoor's Songs

'Kal Aaj Aur Kal ' completes 50 Years

 

Released on 1st July 1971 wast the first film of Randhir Kapoor as Actor & Director. This was the last film of Shanker-Jaikishan for R.K.Films.Jaikishan had already completed the recording music for this film before he died.

Babita was the heroine of the film who later married Randhir Kapoor. The highlight of the film was the presence of Raj Kapoor, Prithviraj Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor, the three generation of Kapoors in a film. This film came after the colossal disaster of “Mera Naam Joker”.

 The movie was based on how three generations live under one roof but with different opinions. The movie is a time-pass. The grandfather and grandson always had difference in thoughts while the father always tries to makeup between them. In the end, the grandfather dies giving the message that it is KAL AAJ AUR KAL.

Randhir Kapoor does not show much of promise as a director He was no way near to Raj Kapoor’s classic touch. He directed a few films after this but none of the film clicked at the box office.

The music of the film was given by Shankar Jaikishan but Nothing compared to “Barsaat”, “Awara” and “Shree 420”. There are some hummable tunes like “Aap Yahan Aye” and “Tik Tik Tik Tik” though. Kishore Kumar became the voice of Randhir Kapoor.

Soundtrack

#	Title	Singer(s)
1	"Aap Yahan Aaye Kisliye"	Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
2	"Bhanware Ki Gunjan"	Kishore Kumar
3	"Hum Jab Honge Saath Saal Ke"	Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
4	"Tick Tick Tick Chalti Jaye Ghadi"	Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
5	"Ek Paon Chal Raha Alag Alag"	Manna Dey
6	"Kisi Ke Dil Ko Sanam"	Sharda

Songs of Kal Aaj Aur Kal 1971

The Tune that Mesmerized Raj Kapoor

 

It is the famous waltz 'Waves of the Danube' composed by the Romanian Josef (or Ion) Ivanovici in 1880. This tune has been used in many films over the years – Josef von Sternberg’s Dishonored, Akira Kurosawa’s Stray Dog, and Emir Kusturica’s When Father Was Away on Business, to name a few – but its most famous film incarnation is as The Anniversary Song from The Jazz Singer(1927)

 Raj Kapoor first heard this tune when he saw The Jolson Story (1946) rather than coming across a recording of the original waltz. He was so mesmerized by this tune, he decided to use this in his film Barsaat. When he used this tune in Barsaat, he was approached by the copyright people for breaching the copyright. He had to pay something like 35,000 rupees, a handsome amount in the 40s. 

Since he purchased the tune, he used this tune in RK films – Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Sangam (1964), Mera Naam Joker (1970), Bobby (1973), Biwi O Biwi (1982) – either as background music or in song interludes.

This tune remained an integral part of the film. Raj Kapoor, who plays Pran in the film plays this tune on the violin throughout the film. Nargis (Reshma), who keeps referring to the instrument as a “sitar”, finds herself inextricably drawn to this haunting melody. In a crucial scene towards the end, when the lovers have been separated, Reshma again hears the tune and rushes off towards its source. She lands up in a posh club (with, apparently, not very sound-proof walls) and falls at the feet of the man playing the violin. But it is not Pran. The shocked violinist kicks out at her.  

Song of Barsaat 1949

                    Losif Ivanovici - Donauwellen Walzer (Waves of the Danube Waltz)

Raj Kapoor & His Songs are Immortal

 

For him, the songs were truly not only audio but audio-visual. He saw music as it were; and only when he could how the song could be filmed, did he okay it's recording. His use of elaborate sets, of light and shade to convey sombreness and technicolor to project joy, were all part of his visual perception.

He was very fond of composing tunes, he composed tunes with Ram Ganguli with whom Shankar, Jailishan used to play Harmonium and Tabla. It was there the birth of the Team of Shankar Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor took place, that entertained the music lovers. He had a sharp music sense. Raj Saab was a complete musician. He played the tabla, the harmonium, and the piano. He composed songs and sang them in his own voice before handing them over to professional playback singers.

His music journey started with Papaji (Prithviraj Kapoor) in theatre in Calcutta. When he came to Bombay he learned classical music playing Harmonium, Tabla, and Sitar at Narayan Rao Vijay Academy. He was also with Anil Biswas for some time.

Raj Kapoor's song sittings were very famous, all the stakeholders of the song used to be invited on the sittings, time was no limit, everyone present cold give his suggestion. He loved to listen to tunes, to prune and trim the compositions, to correct the singers. He also sits with the Lyricist to change a particular line or word which is not matching the tune, he perfected the compositions to suit his taste.

Songs in RK films were never just 'there'; they were seamlessly woven into the fabric of the film, used intelligently and sensibly to complement the narrative.

Song of Aag 1948

Song of Barsat 1949

Song of Awaara 1951

Song of Shree 420 1955

Song of Chori Chori 1956

Song of Anari 1959

Song of Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai 1960

Song of Sangam 1964

Song of Teesri Kasam 1966

Song of Mera Naam Joker 1970

Story Behind the Song 'Jhooth Bole kauwa Kate'

 

This popular song of the 1973 film Bobby was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shailendra Singh. This was composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The song was in fact based on Bundelkhand folk song ' Mein Mayke Chali Jaongi'. These lines were suggested by Vithal Bhai Patel, the great Hindi poet to Raj Kapoor.

Raj Kapoor added Mukhra( 'Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kate') to these lines which he heard from Rajendra Kumar 8 years back in 1962 during the shooting of Sangam.

There was an incident at the time of the shooting of Sangam in Paris. After the shooting of previous day Raj Kapoor told Raj Kapoor that in the next day they will start shooting early so he takes care that he wakes him up early. 

The next day Rajendra Kumar got up and was ready for shooting, finds Raj Kapoor still sleeping, he went to his room and knocked Raj Kapoor's door. Raj Kapoor was annoyed by being disturbed. Rajendra Kumar on this said that he himself had asked him to get up in the time which Raj Kapoor said you are lying. Rajendra Kumar at that instance saw 2 crows sitting on the balcony of the room and suddenly said Jhooth Bolun to Kauwa Kate, Raj Kapoor remembered those words and used these words as Mukhra of the song. 

Vithalbhai Patel was credited for this song in this film but Anand Baxi who completed the song was not happy that he did not get credit for the song. In the film immediately the song finishes another song starts. This song was also written by Vithalbhai Patel.'Na Chahon Sona Chandi'

Song of Bobby 1973

Musical Instruments Played by Raj Kapoor on Screen

 

Raj Kapoor had always been interested in music. He was classically trained and capable of playing several instruments reasonably well. He was good in Tabla and Harmonium, he was also excellent in Piano.  He played different instruments on screen, the first time he played an instrument on screen was in a song of Barsaat 1949.

 Kindly recall the iconic pose where Raj Kapoor holds a violin in one hand and Nargis in the other hand. On my research, I have found more than a dozen instruments were played by him on screen.

 He was seen playing the Violin in this song, though he did not sing but played the violin only. If you watch the song 'Mujhe Kisi Se Pyar Ho Gaya' he looked so realistic as if he is actually playing it. .

Song of Barsaat 1949

The next year once again he was seen playing the flute in a song 'Sun bairi balam sach bol re' from Bawre Nain (1950), he was playing the instrument only.

Song of Bawre Nain 1950

The piano remained the favourite instrument of Bollywood Films. In almost every film it was seen in the 50s or 60s films. In many hit songs, Piano was essential Prop. In this song 'Main dil hoon ek armaan bhara' from Anhonee 1952, Raj Kapoor is singing and playing the Piano.

Song of Anhonee 1952

Raj Kapoor plays 'Daph' in this very popular song of Shree 420 (1955)film.

Song of Shree 420 (1955) 

Another song from the same film 'Shree 420' Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua, Raj Kapoor can be seen playing the Penny Whistle

Song of Shree 420 (1955) 

In 3 songs of Shree 420, we can see Raj Kapoor playing three different instruments. In this song, 'Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh' he plays the Trumpet for a few seconds.

Song of Shree 420 (1955) 

The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument from the Indian subcontinent, In this song, Raj Kapoor plays the Sarangi

Song of Parvarish 1958

There is another song from Parvarish where he plays the Tabla. He displays his real skills in this song. He plays the Tabla with his elbow also.

Song of Parvarish 1958

Another rustic instrument played in a song of the 1959 film Do Ustad.  Raj Kapoor playing the been in this song. Generally Been is used by the snake charmers.The Been music was very popular in the 50s, especially after the popularity of the song from Nagin in 1954. Recall the song 'Man Dole Tan Dole'

Song of Do Ustad 1959

'Daph' was the favourite instrument of Raj Kapoor. He played this instrument again in the Songs of Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai 1960

Song of Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai 1960

Song of Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai 1960

Raj Kapoor plays 'Dhol' in the song 'Yeh To Kaho Kaun Ho Tum' from 'Aashiq' released in 1962

Song of Aashiq 1962

Sangam (1964) film had 3 songs in which he played 3 different instruments. He plays the Piano in the song 'Dost Dost Na Raha', Piano Accordion in 'Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega' and Bag Pipe in 'Bol  Radha Bol Sangam'

Song of Sangam 1964

In the 1967 film 'Deewana', he played Shehnai in almost all the songs

Song of Deewana 1967