When Melody Queen was proved dispensable!! Only recently the ‘Nightingale of India’ the living legend of Indian music turned 85 , she was felicitated at a grand function at Shanmukhananda Hall- Mumbai , albeit she avoided due to ill-health & her youngest sister attending on her behalf , when Lataji was connected live via phone call she happened to say while thanking all music lovers …..I never criticized anyone nor ruined other’s livelihood to get ahead in my career, it was an antithesis of affirmation. I fail to understand that even after 85 yrs & a recipient of the country’s highest award, she needs to clarify this which is rather unforeseen and disgraceful and proves her remorseful mind. The most notable aspect of her meritorious career notwithstanding, nobody else is vouching her statements every time she comes out with something or the other. I recall some 2 yrs back , in an interview in front of media she went on record saying “Rafisaab refused to sing duets with me and later gave a written apology before we both started singing duets again ” referring to the notorious squabble between the two of the most sought after playback singers of those times. This happened sometime in the year 1961 , when on one fine day Lataji called a meeting of all the playback singers of that time and raised a royalty issue which Rafi Saab refused to agree as it was against his ethos , she retaliated by saying that hereafter she will not sing a duet with Rafi Saab. This disagreement went on for several years until in 1965. It is said that some of the duets that were left unfinished then were recorded separately , the dummy portions were sung by Mahendra Kapoor and later replaced by Rafi Saab, and then combined together much to the chagrin of Music Directors and sound recorders. Later on when the time of fresh films emanated, the film producers & MD’s sensed the vacuum for duets which they decided to fill it with other talented & ambitious female singers keeping Rafi Saab as a perpetual male singer, who was by then an undisputable ‘King of Melody’. Lataji began to get lesser and lesser assignments, from an average of 230 songs she could do earlier in a year, now it was just about 140songs yearly. And many upcoming female singers such as Suman Kalyanpur (SK), Vani Jairam , Sharda , and also her own talented younger sister Asha Bhonsle started gaining toehold . It is said that SK was quoting half of Lataji’s price as little as Rs.5000/, and the most notable fact is that most of the duets of Rafisaab and SK were unquestionable hits and are equally revered even today (List of songs are appended below). This put a great trepidation mentally and financially to Lataji, who was then considered as the ‘Queen of melody’. Almost 4 yrs. passed like this and many duets were recorded with Rafi Saab and other female singers, most of them becoming super-duper hits and few of them even bagging filmfare awards. Later during the recording of Jewel Thief , S.D.Burman (Dada) desperately wanted a duet of Rafi and Lata , he requested Jaikishen (as Jaikishen was equally close to both), to find some way and mend this wrangle , who ultimately managed to broker the reunion and the first duet after that was recorded that was “Dil pukare aja aja re”. But never it is gone on record that Rafi Saab tendered an apology to Lataji. It was in fact Lataji was dispensable and not Rafisaab. The 4 year hiatus between the two great gladiators on the Indian Music stage was a blessing in disguise for SK. Suman Kalyanpur earned more fame for her duets, especially with Rafi, many of which became roaring hits such as, Na na karte pyar tumhi se kar baithe (Jab Jab Phool Khile, 1965, Kalyanji Anandji), Kya kahne masha allah nazar teer aapki (Ji Chahta hai, 1964, Kalyanji Anandji), Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe (Suraj, 1966, Shankar Jaikishan), Aaj kal tere mere pyaar ke charche har zaban par (Brahmchari, 1968, Shankar Jaikishan), Tumse O hassena kabhi mohabbat (Farz, 1967, Laxmikant Pyarelal), Tujhe dekha tujhe chaha tujhe pooja maine (Chhoti Si Mulaquat, 1967, Shankar Jaikishan), Tumne pukara aur hum chale aye (Rajkumar, 1964, Shankar Jaikishan) etc. Although her voice had an uncanny resemblance to Lataji resulting in her trying to imitate the Melody Queen, but some of the songs she rendered clearly adds something distinct, unique, beautiful and everlasting and endure her distinct imprint. While many of her duets with Rafi are breezy in SJ or LP style, there are several others which are extremely soulful and melodious. In a way the 4 year squabble proved to be extremely advantageous to SK who so richly deserved, and I would say all the music lovers are fortuitous to hear the melodious voice of yet another singing sensation of that times. List of some of the famous Rafisaab & SK duets between 1961 & 64 1)Ae jane tamanna aye Jane Bahar – Film Jee Chahta Hai- Kalyanji Anandji 2)Agar teri Jalwa Lumayi na hoti- Beti Bete- Shanker Jaikishen 3)Ajahun Aaye Balmaa Sawan Beta Jaye – Sanj aur Savera - Shanker Jaikishen 4)Baad muddat ke ye ghadi aye – Jahan Aara – Madan Mohan 5)Din ho ya Raat hum rahen tere Saath – Miss Bombay – Hansraj Behl 6)Jab se hum tum baharon mein – Main Shaadi Karne chala- Chitragupta 7)Manmohan Man mein ho tumhi – Kaise Kahun – S D Burman 8)Parbaton ke pedon par – Shagun – Khayyam 9)Raat suhani Jaag Rahi – Jigri Dost – L.P 10)Thehriye hosh mein aalon – Mohobbat isko kehte hain – Khayyam 11)Tujhe pyar karte hain karte rahenge – April Fool - Shanker Jaikishen These are just a few, now I am presenting you today this song from ‘Dil ne phir Yaad Kiya’ It’s a special song because it is not a duet but a triplet by ‘Rafi, SK & Mukesh’. Music by Sonik-Omi their maiden assignment as an independent music directors , the movie is largely forgotten but it had almost a dozen songs and it is not an exaggeration that almost all the songs were hit and are wonderful to listen to even today. Out of those dozen songs the Title song is worth mentioning here. Great lyrics by G.L.Rawal , superb picturisation , and fantastic voice of Rafisaab , Suman Kalyanpur and Mukesh and above all fine music. This song should easily take the place of one of the classic gems in Bollywood music treasure house. Now lastly I have an open question to Lataji , with all due respect to her personality and stature , if she says that she has never panned anybody nor pulled down anybody to safeguard her own career , then how was such an awesome talent abruptly went into stupor when her reunion with Rafi saab took place in 1965 , can she give a convincing reply to this question ? Here is the link to that beautiful song..................... youtu.be/9q6eP0Ifr3E Article written by Shekhar Bopardikar
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:35:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015