Chitragupt - Part5
Remember the famous song "Laagi Chhoote Na" sung by Mohammed Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar from the film"Kaali Topi Lal Rumaal" , "Chali Chali Re Patang Meri Chali Re" or" Chal Ud Ja Re Panchhi Yeh Desh Hua Begana" from BHABHI these immortal songs were composed by Chitragupt.
Born as Chitragupta Srivastava (16th Nov 1917) in Karmaini village of Gopalganj district of Bihar and left his job as a lecturer in a Patna college to make a career in music composing.
He started working as assistant to SN Tripathi, which explains a slew of devotional/ mythological films Some of these films were Shivratri, Balyogi Upmanyu, Gayatri Mahima, Sati Madalasa and Pavanputra Hanuman.
The other kind of films which fell to Chitragupta’s lot was D-grade stunts.It was after struggling for several years that in the fifties he got introduced by SD Burman to a banner of some standing. That was the AVM Productions of South. It was from the Film Bhabhi(1957) his songs became popular among all.
Do dil dhadak rahe hain aur awaz ek hai (Asha, Talat Mahmood)
Remember the famous song "Laagi Chhoote Na" sung by Mohammed Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar from the film"Kaali Topi Lal Rumaal" , "Chali Chali Re Patang Meri Chali Re" or" Chal Ud Ja Re Panchhi Yeh Desh Hua Begana" from BHABHI these immortal songs were composed by Chitragupt.
Born as Chitragupta Srivastava (16th Nov 1917) in Karmaini village of Gopalganj district of Bihar and left his job as a lecturer in a Patna college to make a career in music composing.
He started working as assistant to SN Tripathi, which explains a slew of devotional/ mythological films Some of these films were Shivratri, Balyogi Upmanyu, Gayatri Mahima, Sati Madalasa and Pavanputra Hanuman.
The other kind of films which fell to Chitragupta’s lot was D-grade stunts.It was after struggling for several years that in the fifties he got introduced by SD Burman to a banner of some standing. That was the AVM Productions of South. It was from the Film Bhabhi(1957) his songs became popular among all.
Chitragupta, who rarely got the opportunity to work in A grade movies ( even this movie was not an A grade movie) gatecrashed into the party of A grade music directors with its songs.
Chitragupta composed music for 150 films spanning from 1946 to 1998. Popular amongst them were Zabak, Bhaabhi, Oonche Log, Insaaf Ki Manzil and Kali Topi Lal Rumaal,Lata Mangeshkar and Chitragupta gave some memorable songs but there are some more Rafi solos: Mujhe dard-e-dil ka pata na tha (Akashdeep), Jaag dile deewana (Oonche Log), Ankhiyan sang ankhiya laagi aaj (Bada Admi 1961). There is a seldom heard but a very pleasant Rafi solo in Barkha – Admi chirag hai, uski chalegi kya chalti hawa ke saamne.
When Chitragupt came to Hindi Film Industry that time the industry was dominated by the big three Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan and SD Burman who were the favourite composers of the three greats Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapur and Dev Anand. Standing alongside them were the two other superstars OP Nayar and C Ramchandra. After the big five the remaining space was occupied by other greats, Madan Mohan, Roshan, Hemant Kumar, Salil Choudhry and Kalyanji Anandji. You still have to reckon with Khayyam, Jaydev, Ravi and several more.Even then Chitragupta made a mark in this crowd with the kind of films he got and with the background he came from is a testimony to his talent.
His classical roots can be seen with the song like Paayal Wali Dekh Na sung by Kishore Kumar for the film Ek Raaz(1963)
In the year 1961 Chitragupta's seven films released most of the films had one or two popular songs but Zabak had many,one of the songs Teri Dunia Se Door a duet by Lata and Rafi is being posteg here.
In 1964 Ganga Ki Lehren came with few good songs,one of such song is here.
Chitragupta was a name in Bhojpuri films The songs of Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadaibe (1962) such as Hey ganga maiya tohe piyari chhadaibo(Lata, Usha),More karejwa mein peer (Lata, Usha), Sonawa ke pinjra mein band bhaile (Rafi), Luk chhip kajraa mein, Hum ta khelat rahli ammaji ke godiya and of Lagi Nahi Chute Ram (1963) such as Lal lal othawa se (Talat, Lata), Mori kalaiya sukumar ho (Lata), Ja ja re sugana ja re (Talat, Lata), Rakhiya bandhaa la bhaiya jiya tu lakh barees ho were popular much beyond Bhojpuri region without anyone caring for the distinction.
Chitragupta had Paralytic stroke in 1974 after that he recovered and continued to give music.his last released film was Insaaf Ki Manzil (1988),he died on 14th Jan 1991
His sons Anand-Milind are also noted Bollywood music directors.They worked as assistant music directors with their father for eight years.they got a big name after Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
Other Hit Songs From CHITRAGUPTA
"ADAA SE JHOOMTE HUYE"BY MOHD.RAFI & SHUMSHAD,M:CHITRAGUPTA-"SINDBAD THE SAILOR-1952"
LATA,USHA.....kasam jhuthi khakar na jalao re jiya,film,kal hamara hai AUDIO
Before I conclude this blog I am posting my favourite Song of Chitragupta
