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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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Keemat (1972) / Ravi: Vandana (1974)

Here are a couple of early 1970s EPs, the first of which is a slightly rubbish (noisy) pressing. Luckily, 'Keemat' [review] [2] isn't the most essential record I've ever posted. Don't get me wrong, it's nice, and it's hard not to be charmed by songs such as 'Rang Roop Ka Yeh Bazar Hai' and 'Main Ne To Pani Piya Tha' (I love Asha's yelps on the latter), but it doesn't excite me quite as much as many Laxmikant Pyarelal soundtracks a year or two down the line would do.

Or maybe it's just that it pales when compared to 'Vandana'.



I have over the years heard one or two Ravi songs that I've fancied but without really being convinced that he's a music director for me. So when I stumbled over 'Sochta Hai Kya' on YouTube and liked that a lot (who wouldn't? It's bright and breezy, super charming, summery folk-pop to die for), I decided to look for the soundtrack it was from, without expecting too much from the rest of it. Imagine my surprise in finding out it's not even the score's best song.

'Rut Hai Jawan' (which is) is essentially a remake of the Mexican standard 'Bésame Mucho'. Lovely as that song is, in many of its countless versions, I can't recall last I heard one I've liked as much as this. Ravi has rewritten the melody just enough to actually possibly improve it, given it a cool Merseybeat-ish backbeat (there are also versions of the song recorded by the early Beatles) and turned it into a superbly catchy pop song that I often find myself humming for hours on end. And, unusually for an EP, we get the full 6 and a half minutes.

So what are the chances the record's third and final track is going to be any good? Guess what, 'Too Jo Bhi De' is gorgeous. Wow.

I've seen but been unable to obtain a second EP containing more songs from the film (I'm unaware of any LP having been released); while I fear it might not be quite as good I'd still like to get my hands on a copy eventually.

Track listing, 'Keemat':
1. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Rang Roop Ka Yeh Bazar Hai
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Ne Poochha Meri Shadi Kab Hogi
3. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Maaf Karo Baba
4. Asha Bhosle: Main Ne To Pani Piya Tha

Track listing, 'Vandana':
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Rut Hai Jawan
2. Asha Bhosle: Sochta Hai Kya
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Too Jo Bhi De

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Ravi: Dharkan (1972)

Here's one from Ravi. Never the most ingenious of music directors, and more often than not I find his scores a bit dull; this soundtrack is however an exception. 'Dharkan' boasts a delightfully wistful lounge track ('Pee Meri Ankhon Se'), a rockin' cabaret number ('Jab Tu Ne Kuchh Na Kiya') much in the vein of Shankar Jaikishan or even early RD Burman, chirpy and catchy accordion pop ('Main To Chala'), and finally a bit of over-the-top lunacy ('Tumse Nazar Mili') in which shoe polish and a soft drink is given praise. So check it out.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Pee Meri Ankhon Se
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Soja Mere Lal
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Aya Tera Dware
4. Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey & Chorus: Jab Tu Ne Kuchh Na Kiya
5. Kishore Kumar: Main To Chala
6. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Main Ne Phli Bar Dekha
7. Mohd. Rafi: Mere Dost Tujhe
8. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Ravi & Chorus: Tumse Nazar Mili

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Ravi: Ankhen (1968)

While I'm not usually a fan of Ravi, here is one of his I'm prepared to give a few spins. 'Ankhen' is a spy film I think... the score isn't exactly overflowing with the sound and feel of international espionage (whatever that is), but it does include two great Lata Mangeshkar songs; the sweet and tuneful 'Milti Hai Zindagi Men' and the atmospheric 'Gairon Pe Karam'. I keep coming back to both.

'Loot Ja' and 'Tujhko Rakhe Ram' are OK too; lively and upbeat, but ultimately a bit lackluster in terms of arrangements. Not enough glamour perhaps, not enough danger. Not enough distinction.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Us Mulk Ki Sarhad Ko
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Milti Hai Zindagi Men
3. Asha Bhosle, Kamal Barot & Usha Mangeshkar: Loot Ja
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Gairon Pe Karam
5. Asha Bhosle & Manna Dey: Tujhko Rakhe Ram
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Meri Sunle Araj

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The Best Of Music Director Ravi (1984)

Other than 'Kaajal' (below), the only other Ravi soundtrack I own is an e.p. - which I vaguely recall being quite good but I'm going to wait a bit before posting. (I need to find it first... after last year's move there are still loads of things that aren't where they're supposed to be). Instead, here's a compilation of songs taken from other scores of his... some quite nice, some a bit dull, most of them low key, none that I find exceptionally exciting if truth be told. A few of them were probably hits though.

Regular services to follow.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Jab Liya Hath Men Hath (from Vachan, 1955)
2. Asha Bhosle: Kaise Kahun Main Baat (from Gehra Daag, 1963)
3. Mohd. Rafi: Yeh Wadiyan Yeh Fizayen (from Aaj Aur Kal, 1963)
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Aap Ki Inayaten (from Vandana, 1975)
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Lo Aagai Unki Yaad (from Do Badan, 1965)
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Badle Badle Mere Sarkar (from Chaudhvin Ka Chand, 1960)
7. Mahendra Kapoor: Aap Aayen (from Gumrah, 1963)
8. Lata Mangeshkar: Ai Mere Dil-E-Nadan (from Tower House, 1962)
9. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Mujhe Pyar Ki Zindagi Denewale (from Pyaar Ka Saagar, 1961)
10. Mohd. Rafi: Husna Se Chand Bhi Sharmaya Hai (from Door Ki Awaz, 1964)
11. Lata Mangeshkar: Hazar Baten Kahe Zamana (from Ghatna, 1974)
12. Mohd. Rafi: Bhala Karne Wale (Ghar Sansar, 1958)
13. Lata Mangeshkar: Sab Kuchh Luta Ke (from Ek Saal, 1957)
14. Salma Agha: Faza Bhi Hai Jawan (from Nikaah, 1982)
15. Mohd. Rafi: Raze Dil Unse (from Apna Banake Dekho, 1962)

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Ravi: Kaajal (1966)

One from Ravi, the guy who wrote 'Been Music' off 'Nagin'. The songs on 'Kaajal' aren't anywhere near as good though. In fact it's all a bit nondescript to my ears... a few pretty, atmospheric tunes, like 'Samjhi Thi Ke Yeh Ghar Mera Hai' and 'Mera Bhaiya', but nothing really memorable.


Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Tora Man Darpan
2. Mahendra Kapoor: Mudat Ki Tamnaon Ka Sila
3. Asha Bhosle: Samjhi Thi Ke Yeh Ghar Mera Hai
4. Mohd. Rafi: Yeh Zulf Agar
5. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Zarasi Aur Pil Ado
6. Mohd. Rafi: Chhu Lene Do
7. Mahendra Kapoor: Aap Ke Pass
8. Asha Bhosle: Mera Bhaiya
9. Asha Bhosle & Mahendra Kapoor: Agar Na Mile Tum
10. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Mehfil Men Teri
11. Asha Bhosle: Chhun Chhun Ghungaru Bole

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