The period from 1950-1975 is often considered the ‘Golden Age of Bollywood‘ and for good reason. In the early decades of film-making, there was a severe shortage of advanced musical instruments and recording innovations. But that didn’t stop a host of talented artists, lyricists and music composers from creating melodies through sheer hard-work and giving us songs that remain an asset to Bollywood. That’s why, staying true to its brand promise of ‘Woh Zamaana Kare Deewana’, Zee Classic introduced The Golden Years 1950 – 1975, a musical journey with Javed Akhtar. Tune in to watch veteran lyricist, writer and poet Javed Akhtar as he reveals the untold stories of musical maestros and their soulful renditions from that period.
1) Man dole mera tan dole –
The ‘been’/ flute music in this film was not played on the been at all but on an early keyboard instrument called Clavioline and by Ravi on harmonium. It was played by Kalyanji Virji Shah, who later became part of the composer duo Kalyanji Anandji. In the 2009 movie Love Aaj Kal, the prelude/ hook tune for the song Twist was from Man Dole, and was credited as such.
2) Babujee dheere chalna –
This song is inspired, in part, by Cuban songwriter, Osvaldo Farres‘ Quizas, Quizas, Quizas.
The song was covered by many artists including Nat King Cole. The English version of this song Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps was popularized by Doris Day.
3) Ja ja ja bewafa –
This was taken from the female portion of the duet song Sun Sun Sun Sun Zalima and made into a slow-paced sad song. The song was later used in the 2015 movie Tanu Weds Manu Returns.
4) Pyaar kiya toh darna kya –
K. Asif erected a whole Sheesh Mahal to shoot the song in, for the sum of Rs.10 Lakhs (more than the budget of most films in that era). Just to see this song people came more than 100 times to the theatre!
5) Baar Baar Dekho
This Shammi Kapoor chartbuster has a flavour of the Blues music genre in its arrangement. This song is so popular that its renditions are still used in commercials and jingles.
6) Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re
Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re remains one of the most remixed songs ever. The movie Bahar, was also Vyjayanthimala’s Bollywood debut.
7) Mehbooba Mehbooba –
Randhir Kapoor said in an interview that once when he was paying a visit to R.D., he found him and his team were blowing air into half-filled beer bottles. Kapoor thought they had lost their minds. When he asked what was happening, Pancham told him he was trying out a new sound. This ‘new sound’ is how the Mehbooba Mehbooba track begins.
8) Ek Main Aur Ek Tu
The popular Rishi and Neetu Kapoor track is reminiscent of Elvis Presley’s nursery rhyme, If you’re happy. It seems like the music director, R.D. Burman was inspired by that tune, but of course the song has his stamp on it with his unique improvisations.
9) Na jao saiyan chhuda ke baiyan –
This tune was used by Hemant Kumar in his Bengali non-film song Oliro kotha shune bokul hashe.
The song and the situation was recreated as a spoof in the movie Chushme Buddoor (1980), with Deepti Naval in Meena Kumari’s role and Ravi Baswani in Rehman’s role
10) Main zindagi ka saath nibha chala gaya –
According to Devsaab, this was the underlying philosophy of his life. Jo mil gaya usi ko muqaddar samajh liya, jo kho gaya main us ko bhulata chala gaya. That was certainly how he lived his life – always looking forward to what he could do next. He certainly came to be associated with the lyrics, so evocatively written by Sahir Ludhianvi. Main zindagi ka saath nibhaata chala gaya, har fiqr ko dhue mein udaata chala gaya. To him, these lines ring true of ‘everyone who believes that life is worth living’.
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This post is in partnership with Zee Classic