Laxmikant Pyarelal: Kacha Chor / Pratiggya (1975)

I don't think 1975 was Laxmikant Pyarelal's finest year (1972-74 was their prime in my opinion), but I came across this cheaply priced two-fer by them, sporting a cover I found appealing, so I took a chance on it anyway, despite not having heard of it before.

'Kacha Chor' (the film apparently not released until 1977) begins on a high note. Cabaret number 'Pahle Ham Muskurae' is an excellent slice of orchestral exoticism with a good groove and the best thing on side one's predominately traditional and percussion heavy score. The remaining three tracks are OK in a rhythmic sense but hardly anything that sticks in the mind.

I prefer 'Pratiggya' [review]. Its music has much of the same quality as above, but 'Morni Se Morni' and 'Pardesi Aaya Des Men' are songs I'm more likely to return to. And I'm quite enamored with 'Uth Neend Se Mirzia Jaag Ja', an unusual sounding track that combines a strange and haunting melody with a non-stop train-wheel drumbeat.

Track listing, 'Kacha Chor':
1. Asha Bhosle: Pahle Ham Muskurae
2. Asha Bhosle & Mahendra Kapoor: Main Hoon Kacha Chor
3. Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar: Gharibon Se Pyar Kar Le
4. Asha Bhosle & Usha Mangeshkar: Dhola Dhola

Track listing, 'Pratiggya':
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Morni Se Morni
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Pardesi Aaya Des Men
7. Mohd. Rafi: Main Jat Yamla Pagla
8. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Uth Neend Se Mirzia Jaag Ja

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Shankar Jaikishan: Aaj Ki Taza Khabar (1973) / Dhoop Chhaon (1977)

Considering the soundtrack's relative obscurity (I believe this EP was the only release afforded), Shankar Jaikishan's 'Aaj Ki Taza Khabar' [review] is suprisingly good. 'Khilta Hua Shabab Hai' has a joyful 1950s vibe; 'Raat Hai Bhat Hai' sounds somewhat similar to the composing duo's famous rock 'n' roll numbers of the subsequent decade. 'Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao' has a funky groove bringing the music up-to-date, and 'Happy Birthday To Pinky' is as upbeat as is required of a birthday song. Quite delightful.



'Dhoop Chhaon' isn't as immediate but has been growing on me. 'Bheegee Bheegee Raat Suhani' was the one that attracted me to it in the first place; a loud and frantic, sort of depraved sounding beat number that reminds me of Sapan Jagmohan's best stuff. The other three tracks are more conventional (for lack of a better word), but melding modern and traditional influences to create a trio of undeniably worthwhile songs. 'Ek Shahari Chhora' is my favourite, for the moment. Sound quality isn't the best though; my copy of the EP is very worn unfortunately.

Still, these are two more reasons why one shouldn't necessarily write off Shankar Jaikishan scores made after Jaikishan's passing.

Track listing, 'Aaj Ki Taza Khabar':
1. Asha Bhosle: Khilta Hua Shabab Hai
2. Kishore Kumar: Raat Hai Bhat Hai
3. Kishore Kumar: Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao
4. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Happy Birthday To Pinky

Track listing, 'Dhoop Chhaon'
1. Mohd. Rafi: Joode Men Gajra Mat Bandho
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Bheegee Bheegee Raat Suhani
3. Asha Bhosle: Mushkil Hai Bahot Mushkil
4. Usha Mangeshkar, Kalyani Mitra & Chorus: Ek Shahari Chhora
7. Kishore Kumar: Sath Men Pyara Sathi Hai

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Shankar Jaikishan: Dil Daulat Duniya (1972)

I took me a while to discover that Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal had passed away in 1971, and that soundtracks credited to Shankar Jaikishan made after that were in fact Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi solo efforts. Apparently there had been an agreement between the pair that in the event of one's death, the other would maintain their common name. A lovely gesture, but one which unfortunately doesn't take away the impression that S-J scores from the 1970s generally aren't as exciting as the earlier works. But there are exceptions, and while I admit to being slightly lukewarm towards 'Dil Daulat Duniya' [review] at first it has gradually become something of a favourite.

It features a handful of cool songs, of which I like the cheerful 'Deep Jale Dekho', the boisterous 'O Meri Lara Loo' and the frothy (literally) 'Masti Aur Jawani Ho' best. Along with a couple of upbeat Kishore Kumar tracks and two multi-textured instrumentals they add up to a decidedly high-spirited soundtrack; no slow numbers at all. Maybe it doesn't contain any single moments of true wonder, but the sum of all the good stuff it does have more than makes up for it. I always wondered why this LP used to be found in the very expensive sections of those selling Bollywood soundtracks; I kind of get it now.

Track listing:
1. Music
2. Asha Bhosle, Usha Khanna & Rekha Jaikar: Deep Jale Dekho
3. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Sharda: Masti Aur Jawani Ho
4. Music
5. Kishore Kumar: Ruk Meri Rani
6. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: O Meri Lara Loo
7. Kishore Kumar: Sath Men Pyara Sathi Hai

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Ravi: Doli (1969)

Another Ravi score, from two years later, and this one is even better. His pop sensibilities are on display on 'Doli': the enchanting 'Aaj Main Dekhoon' reminds me of the delicious confections that appeared on my (up til now) favourite soundtrack of his, 1975's 'Vandana', and 'Pahle Jhuk Kar' is kind of like an easy-going, bucolic take on Shankar Jaikishan's rock 'n' roll, if that makes any sense. The sumptuous 'Sajna Saath Nibhana' sends tingles down my spine, and 'Aaj Pila De Saqi' has a dreamy 1950s vibe.

Ravi wasn't only about sweet easy listening though; 'Dance Music' combines raunchy guitars, manic percussion and powerhouse horns on an elaborately arranged instrumental that RD Burman would have been proud of, 'Danton Tale' is loud and lively pop, perhaps with a French twist (blame the accordion), and 'Doli Chadh Ke', the one song without a distinct Western influence, is infectiously incessant.

Track listing:
1. Mahendra Kapoor: Doli Chadh Ke
2. Asha Bhosle: Aaj Main Dekhoon
3. Asha Bhosle: Pahle Jhuk Kar
4. Dance Music
5. Mohd. Rafi: Danton Tale
6. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Sajna Saath Nibhana
7. Mahendra Kapoor & Asha Bhosle: Aaj Pila De Saqi

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Ravi: Hamraaz (1967)

Despite 'Hamraaz' being a fairly recent acquisition, I've known about the soundtrack for years due to being struck by its artwork. The smart simplicity of it, the look of the cover stars and the typography really appealed to me, yet Ravi was an MD who initially didn't interest me much, therefore I kept passing on it. His music has grown on me a lot since then though (two of his scores were included in the MFT3F book), so it was only a matter of time before I succumbed.

Do I like it? Yes, quite a bit. It might not feature among my favourites but it does contain a couple of really nice songs. The gently swaying 'Neele Gagan Ke Tale' is a highlight, along with the elegantly rousing 'Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Vada Karo'. Both have lovely melodies, both are distinctly hummable. 'Kisi Pathar Ki Murat Se' is rather good too; stylish and understated (I love the short piano interludes). And there's a compelling 'Title Music' with an exotic, almost mysterious feel; very becoming what I think is a suspense movie.

Track listing:
1. Mahendra Kapoor: Neele Gagan Ke Tale
2. Mahendra Kapoor: Na Moonh Chhupa Ke Jeeyo
3. Mahendra Kapoor: Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Vada Karo
4. Mahendra Kapoor: Kisi Pathar Ki Murat Se
5. Asha Bhosle & Mahendra Kapoor: Tu Husn Hai Main Ishq Hoon
6. Title Music

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Anand Milind: Peechha Karro (1985)

Brothers Anand and Milind Shrivastav will be familiar to longtime followers of MFT3F for 1990's slightly over-the-top but very entertaining 'Jungle Love'. The sons of veteran music director Chitragupta, they've scored as many as 200 films, of which 'Peechha Karro' is one of the earliest.

Its title track is what brought my attention to this soundtrack, via a tip on Twitter from film director Atul Sabharwal. Sung by Sharon Prabhakar, it's a gloriously catchy new wave-reggae funk-pop tune that immediately got stuck in my head. Almost as good and equally infectious is the boisterous disco stomper 'Rama Rama'; combined these two are enough to make it a worthwhile album. The remaining songs are more conventional and fail to interest me as much: 'Tumhe Murga Banaake Khilaoongi' contains a pleasant enough melody and 'Mujhpe Goli Na Chala' has an electro intro and some funky bits in-between. And for some reason half the tracks have alternate titles in the YouTube clips.

The pressing could have been better...

Track listing:
1. Sharon Prabhakar & Chorus: Peechha Karro
2. Asha Bhosle: Tumhe Murga Banaake Khilaoongi
3. Kishore Kumar: Mujhpe Goli Na Chala
4. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Ikde Aa
5. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Rama Rama

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Raamlaxman: Tumhaare Bina (1982)

OK, this one's an acquired taste. To be fair, ten years ago I probably wouldn't have liked 'Tumhaare Bina' much, but a gradual growing appreciation of at least some 1980s Bollywood Disco has made me more receptive to stuff like this. Taking cues from Bappi Lahiri's "anything goes" brand of music direction, Raamlaxman's score is at once cheesy, silly, and infectiously playful.

'Sweety Seventeen' is its big hit: bubbly and brash disco pop with plenty of hooks. 'Hanste Hi Hanste' (especially the happy version) contains touches of soft country psych, and the lovely 'Lab Tak Aai Hai' is enhanced by whistling synth lines and a silky Spanish guitar. Child singer Gurpreet Kaur features prominently; she has a voice that many in all likelihood will find annoying, but her quirky, sound effect-laden take on nursery rhyme 'Humpty Dumpty' certainly makes me grin. Rounding things off is a ridiculous (in a good way) instrumental that combines Hawaiian guitar licks, synth effects and a lounge orchestra. Fun stuff.

Raamlaxman's real name is Vijay Patil. He was once the latter half of duo Raam-Laxman and retained his partner's name in tribute when Raam died in the late 1970's.

Track listing:
1. Behroze Chatterjee & Chorus: Sweety Seventeen
2. Bhupinder & Gurpreet Kaur: Hanste Hi Hanste (Happy)
3. Bhupinder & Behroze Chatterjee: Lab Tak Aai Hai
4. Gurpreet Kaur & Chorus: Humpty Dumpty
5. Bhupinder: Hanste Hi Hanste (Sad)
6. Manhar, Behroze Chatterjee & Gurpreet Kaur: Bol Munne Bol
7. Title Music

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Sonik Omi: Do Chehere (1976)

'Is Raat Ke Sannate Men' is a fantastic track, slightly reminiscent of the psychedelic marvels heard on Madan Mohan's superb 'Hanste Zakhm' from 1973. Rousing and hypnotic; it features an otherworldly melody, ominous horror effects, dramatic percussion and forceful guitar breaks – mesmerizing!

It is however pretty much the only song that impresses me on 'Do Chehere'. I confess a soft spot for Sonik Omi; they weren't the most original of duos yet I've many times found their often RD Burman-inspired soundtracks to contain plenty of worthwhile music. Occasionally forgoing the master's influence might have been a good idea, but what's left here is merely average. It's not that 'Mera Chhail Bhanwar Anguri Piye' and 'Chali Thi Thumka Deke Thaske' are actually bad songs, they're just a bit nondescript.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Ek Buddhu Se Pyar Kar Baithi
2. Usha Mangeshkar: Mera Chhail Bhanwar Anguri Piye
3. Asha Bhosle & Minoo Purshottam: Chali Thi Thumka Deke Thaske
4. Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey & Minoo Purshottam: Aaj Ki Raat Peene De Saqi
5. Asha Bhosle: Is Raat Ke Sannate Men

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O.P. Nayyar: C.I.D. 909 (1967) / Sapan Jagmohan: Do Raha (1971)

More music for India's Crime Investigation Department. I don't think  'C.I.D. 909' [review] is a sequel to 1956's 'C.I.D' (see previous post), but once again O.P. Nayyar was in charge of the soundtrack. Bollywood film music had changed a lot in the decade separating the two scores, and to be honest I prefer this one. I'd love to get hold of the full length LP version; unfortunately it's proving incredibly difficult to find. So this EP will have to suffice, for now.

All four songs are really good, beginning with the summery, Hawaiian-tinged 'Nadi Ka Kinara Ho'. Seductive cabaret number 'Yaar Badshah Yaar Dilruba' (featuring a gorgeous looking Helen on screen) is up next, followed by 'Chaho To Jaan Lelo'; sweet and romantic pop. The catchy 'Dhadka To Hoga Dil Zarur' ends the record on a sing-a-long high.

As is often the case with EPs the sound is a bit scratchy.



Sapan Jagmohan were responsible for one of my favourite 1970s soundtracks, the very cool, very sexy 'Call Girl'. Music of a similar quality can be heard on a couple of EP-only releases of theirs from the same period that I'm aware of; 'Do Raha' is one of them. (Others are high up on my want list.)

And there's only good stuff here as well. 'Tumhi Rahnuma Ho' is a great drunk-song with an infectious groove, catchy melody and cool instrumental breaks. Equally wonderful is 'Meri Bagiya Ki Kali', a beautifully hypnotic ballad with an exquisite arrangement. The more traditional sounding 'Dole Jhumka Mora' didn't interest me as much at first, but its incessant beat has been growing on me of late.

A funny thing: Track 2, which on both cover and label is entitled 'Tera Na Ho Mere Jaisa Haal', doesn't appear to actually exist. From what I've gathered, no song with that name featured in the film, and what is heard on the record is in fact 'Meri Bagiya Ki Kali' again. I can just about understand them including that twice, if only to fill the EP format (and both are included in the download), but I'm clueless as to where the other title came from. (Perversely, the iTunes version of the soundtrack adds a Talat Mahmood song from another film called Do Raha – from 1952.)

Track listing, 'C.I.D. 909':
1. Asha Bhosle: Nadi Ka Kinara Ho
2. Asha Bhosle: Yaar Badshah Yaar Dilruba
3. Asha Bhosle: Chaho To Jaan Lelo
4. Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor & Kamal Barot: Dhadka To Hoga Dil Zarur

Track listing, 'Do Raha'
1. Asha Bhosle: Tumhi Rahnuma Ho
2. Asha Bhosle: Tera Na Ho Mere Jaisa Haal
3. Asha Bhosle: Dole Jhumka Mora
4. Asha Bhosle: Meri Bagiya Ki Kali

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O.P. Nayyar: C.I.D. (1956)

Despite its title, and despite the film being labelled a thriller, the soundtrack to Guru Dutt's "C.I.D." sounds nothing like what I generally associate with crime film music. While I wasn't necessarily expecting a gritty, urban jazz Henry Mancini or Lalo Schifrin type score, it was surprising to find songs as easy-going as on this O.P. Nayyar effort.

It's rather nice all the way through, although I'm unable to really pick out highlights; the music sort of floats pleasantly along without any particular tracks nor bits of them sticking out. All were apparently hits. Opener 'Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan' is sweet and curiously rustic sounding, and at the opposite end 'Ankhon Hi Ankhon Men' is similarly bright and cheery. 'Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana' and 'Leke Pahla Pahla Pyar' have more of an exotic feel. My favourite is probably the Latin-tinged 'Jata Kahan Hai Diwane', sung by the producer's wife.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi & Geeta Dutt: Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan
2. Shamshad Begum: Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re
3. Shamshad Begum: Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana
4. Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum & Mohd. Rafi: Leke Pahla Pahla Pyar
5. Geeta Dutt: Jata Kahan Hai Diwane
6. Geeta Dutt & Mohd. Rafi: Ankhon Hi Ankhon Men

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Mahesh Naresh / Shakila Bano Bhopali / Chris Perry: Maze Le Lo (1975)

'Maze Le Lo' is a strange one. There's aren't many mentions of the film online*, and its soundtrack – curiously also released in France – was made by people that are all unknown to me.

Half of it is composed and performed by Mahesh Naresh, a duo comprising Gujarati brothers Mahesh Kumar Kanodia and Naresh Kumar Kanodia. 'Baankelal Ne Apne Ghar' and 'Aksar Koi Kadka' are both bizarre mashups of all sorts of musical styles combined with dialogue and snippets of other, more famous Bollywood songs. I have no idea what's going on in either but the YouTube clip labels the latter (which I prefer) a parody song. 'Mere Aangana Men' is more coherent; very percussive but interspersed with some cool organ bits. Mahesh Naresh seemed to be under the influence of RD Burman, just not as good.

Shakila Bano Bhopali is credited with composing the more traditional sounding 'Too Na Samjhe' and 'Aaj Ki Taza Khabar', as well as supplying vocals. From what I gather she used to be a famous singer of qawwalis.

Most surprising of all is 'Love Me Love Me Tonight', written by Goan jazz musician Chris Perry and performed by a singer named Fernando. It's a fuzzed-out garage-punk track that wouldn't have sounded out of place in a 1960s biker movie.

*A rather sleazy looking film with the same title is available in its entirety on YouTube, but I think that's a different one.

Track listing:
1. Mahesh Kumar: Baankelal Ne Apne Ghar
2. Shakila Bano Bhopali: Too Na Samjhe
3. Fernando: Love Me Love Me Tonight
4. Mahesh Kumar: Aksar Koi Kadka
5. Shakila Bano Bhopali: Aaj Ki Taza Khabar
6. Naresh Kumar: Mere Aangana Men

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Rahul Dev Burman: Manzil Manzil (1984)

Sticking with mid-80s Rahul Dev Burman, here's one more containing a few decent if not entirely convincing tracks.

'Manzil Manzil' is quite varied; opener 'He Baba' is an energetic disco tune with some appeal, whereas the final 'O Meri Jaan' has a soft, soothing, almost dreamy sound. They might be the soundtrack's best know tracks. In-between we get a couple of cabaret (or cabaret-type) numbers. 'Mitwa' is OK but I prefer 'Yeh Naina Yaad Hai' for its odd droney quality and inclusion of a short harmonica bit nicked from Ennio Morricone's 'Man with a Harmonica' from 'Once Upon a Time in the West', hardly a bad thing.

There are interesting details in the arrangements and instrumentation throughout (I also like the countrified ending to 'Lut Gaye Ham To Rahon Men'), but that's not enough to make a really great score. Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal in their book 'R.D. Burman - The Man, The Myth' describes it as "more technique than feeling". I'll go along with that.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: He Baba
2. Shailendra Singh: Jhalak Dikhake
3. Asha Bhosle & Shailendra Singh: Lut Gaye Ham To Rahon Men
4. Asha Bhosle & Shailendra Singh: O Meri Jaan
5. Asha Bhosle & Shailendra Singh: Yeh Naina Yaad Hai
6. Asha Bhosle: Mitwa
7. Chandrashekar Gadgil & Chorus: Man Re Pyar Hari Ke
8. Shailendra Singh: O Meri Jaan

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Rahul Dev Burman: Zameen Aasman (1983)

'Zameen Aasman' might be one primarily for RD Burman completists. And to be honest I don't have a lot to say about it. Its songs are OK but none can be described as classics or essential. 'Mano-Mano Ya Na Mano' is kind of catchy, comes with a pleasant Caribbean flavour and a surprising country rock intro. 'Pyar Nagma Hai' (both versions identical I think) contains some nice synth bits and has an energetic, new-wavy feel to it, and the breezy 'Maine Dil Diya' rolls pleasantly along to a light ska rhythm. The loungy, rather elegant sounding 'Aisa Sama Na Hota' is the score's best track, the one I'm most likely to come back to.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Mano-Mano Ya Na Mano
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Zameen Aasman Nahin Milte
3. Asha Bhosle & R.D. Burman: Pyar Nagma Hai
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Maine Dil Diya
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Aisa Sama Na Hota
6. Asha Bhosle & R.D. Burman: Pyar Nagma Hai

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Bappi Lahiri: Maut Ka Saya (1982)

It is said about film-makers The Ramsay Brothers that they were Bollywood's prime exponents of low-grade, sleazy 1980s horror cinema. Similarly, Bappi Lahiri's music is often described as the epitome of tacky Bollywood disco. It makes sense then, that they would work together regularly. To Bappi’s credit, his scores were often far more sophisticated sounding than the pairing might suggest. And unlike its appealingly schizophrenic cover, there's not much musically on the soundtrack to 'Maut Ka Saya' that actually suggests horror.

Predictably, the out-and-out dancefloor tracks take centre stage. 'Aafat' is a rousing anthem performed by Bappi regular Annette Pinto and the composer himself, and 'Dance Music' is a percussive jazz dance number enhanced by teasing giggles and sighs. Both are great, but I'm actually even more fond of two of the album's non-disco tracks. 'Yeh Samundar' fuses flamenco with electro and again features Annette in addition to a series of wonderfully exotic solos, while 'Zulfon Tale' is mellow Caribbean flavoured lounge pop, accordion-led with sensuous vibraphone interludes. Shailendra Singh does the honours on this one.

Unusually, there doesn't seem to be a single song clip from this film on YouTube.

Track listing:
1. Bappi Lahiri & Annette: Aafat
2. Amit Kumar, Sachin & Chorus: Tum Phans Gaye
3. Dance Music
4. Annette: Yeh Samandur
5. Shailendra Singh: Zulfon Tale

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C. Ramchandra: Albela (1951)

I like C. Ramchandra. His name isn't one that gets dropped very often in my (admittedly largely 70s-centric) circles but having scored more than 100 movies he can hardly be described as an unknown. The previous soundtracks by him posted here have both been very good (one even included in the 100 Bollywood Soundtracks book) and the same can be said for 1951's 'Albela'.

It's all cheerful and sweet and sort of innocent sounding, full of tuneful songs, mostly performed by Lata Mangeshkar and Chitalkar, the latter being the composer in his playback singer guise. I could name any number of highlights; the dainty 'Dil Dhadke Nazar Sharmae', the carnivalesque 'Diwana Parwana', the children's song 'Dhire Se Aaja Ri Akhiyan Men' (Lata's version of which has actually been featured before), the addictive 'Bholi Soorat Dil Ke Khote'... your best bet though is to simply play the soundtrack from the beginning, close your eyes, relax, and let its wonderful old-world music envelop you.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar, Chitalkar & Chorus: Shola Jo Bhadke
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Dil Dhadke Nazar Sharmae
3. Lata Mangeshkar, Chitalkar & Chorus: Diwana Parwana
4. Chitalkar: Qismat Ki Hawa Kabhi Naram
5. Lata Mangeshkar & Chitalkar: Teri Yaad Ne Mara
6. Lata Mangeshkar & Chitalkar: Dhire Se Aaja Ri Akhiyan Men
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Dhire Se Aaja Ri Akhiyan Men
8. Lata Mangeshkar: Balma Bada Nadan
9. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Diwana Aagaya
10. Lata Mangeshkar & Chitalkar: Sham Dhale Khidki Tale
11. Chitalkar & Chorus: Haseenon Se Mohabbat Ka
12. Lata Mangeshkar, Chitalkar & Chorus: Bholi Soorat Dil Ke Khote

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