Sonik Omi: Mahua (1969)

This comparatively early Sonik Omi score took me slightly by surprise. While the duo's trajectory would in time see them embrace (and sometimes copy) the modern styles of especially RD Burman, 'Mahua' represents a much more traditional sound, one which I previously hadn't associated with them. And that could go either way. But the music here is of such quality that stylistic form becomes moot.

The album's best tracks have a pleasantly melodic, really quite poppy feel to them, and lyrical content and context notwithstanding, I can easily imagine 'Main Hun Tera Geet Gori' and 'Thumak Thumak Teri Chal Masani' with a modern, more western-influenced (re)arrangment. Not that they in any way require it; they're pretty great as they are. Happy sounding 'Chham Chham Chhani' is another favourite, and best of all might be the opener 'Sajan Tere Pyar Mein', a stirring and uplifting Asha Bhosle song, accompanied by some gorgeous visuals.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Sajan Tere Pyar Mein
2. Mohd. Rafi: Thumak Thumak Teri Chal Masani
3. Asha Bhosle & Usha Timothy: Mohe Bikta Sajan Miljaye
4. Asha Bhosle: Chham Chham Chhani
5. Mohd. Rafi & Sulakshana Pandit: Jab Jab Apna Mel Hua
6. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Main Hun Tera Geet Gori

7. Mohd. Rafi: Dono Ne Kiya Tha Pyar

8. Asha Bhosle: Pyar Mera Jo Tu Ne Loota


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Shankar Jaikishan: Jahan Pyar Miley (1970)

All credit to Mohd. Rafi, who recorded some superb songs for Shankar Jaikishan, but it's the female sung tracks that appeal to me on their 1970 score for 'Jahan Pyar Miley'. Of the two versions of the title tune 'Chale Ja Chale Ja' I prefer Suman Kalyanpur's - something about its groove. And I'm really taken by the energetic and lavishly orchestrated 'Nas Nas Men Agan'; the scene in the film looks gorgeous and I wish the clip was in better quality. The best and I believe most famous track is the dazzling cabaret number (and Helen-vehicle) 'Baat Zara Hai Apas Ki'; steamy, jazzy (French New Orleans-tinged) and wonderful. The video clip features the main song; on record we're treated to a playful build-up as well.

A word on its playback singer, Sharda (aka Sharada). She's appeared on a few soundtracks posted earlier, most of them by Shankar Jaikishan, but is considerably less known than the likes of Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar. I've tended to enjoy her contributions; in addition to the above (for which she won a Filmfare Award), 'Leja Leja Leja Mera Dil' from 'An Evening In Paris', 'Hello Hello Sun Sun Sun' from 'Pyar Mohabbat' and 'Jane Chaman Shola Badan' from 'Gumnaam' all spring to mind. She released a self-penned, non-filmi EP in 1971; very groovy and kind of garage/psychedelic sounding; copies are hard to come by and likely out of my preferred price range, but I am intrigued. She even went on to score a few soundtracks herself; that's certainly something to investigate.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Chale Ja Chale Ja
2. Sharda: Baat Zara Hai Apas Ki
3. Mohd. Rafi: Dil Hai Ke Dharakta
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Nas Nas Men Agan
5. Mohd. Rafi: Ae Jan-E-Baharan
6. Suman Kalyanpur: Chale Ja Chale Ja


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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Night In London (1967)

For reasons now forgotten it took me a long time to decide 'Night In London' would be a worthwhile soundtrack to acquire, and subsequently an even longer time to actually locate a copy. The cost of dithering; man, some of these original pressings are pricey. I had to make do with one of somewhat dubious origin.

It's a wonderful score from Laxmikant Pyarelal though, from its exuberant, catchy title tune, through to the final rock'n'roll infused song to a dog (beginning with a bark) 'O Mere Yaar Tomi'. In between we're treated to a sweet, jazzy stroll through the English capital (and beyond) in 'Nazar Na Lag Jaye' before heading to Hong Kong for the rather dreamy 'Ba Hosh-O-Hawas'. And to top it all, the dazzling, emotion-charged, super-seductive cabaret number 'Mera Naam Hai Jameela'. Starring Helen. That riff from 1:45 onwards really gets stuck in your head, doesn't it?

Helen.... swoon.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Night In London
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Mera Naam Hai Jameela
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Baagh Men Phool
4. Mohd. Rafi: Nazar Na Lag Jaye
5. Mohd. Rafi: Ba Hosh-O-Hawas
6. Mahendra Kapoor & Lata Mangeshkar: Sun Ai Bahar-E-Husn
7. Mohd. Rafi: O Mere Yaar Tomi


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Shamsunder: Bazar (1949/1979)

In a cool pop-art(ish) sleeve comes a score from long ago. The focus of MFT3F has seldom been music made before 1960; soundtracks from the 1940s are scarce here. Remissness perhaps – 'Bazar' is certainly a very enjoyable record. One imbued with that sweet tinge of nostalgia; lovely melodies, melancholy sounding many of them (obviously/unfortunately I don't know what they're singing about); beguiling arrangements. Highlights for me include Rafi's 'Shaheedo Tumko Mera Salam', Lata's 'Ae Dil Unko Yaad Na Karna' and the duet 'Ae Mohabbat Unse'. (I love the subtle percussion on the latter.) The next time I listen I may well pick others. Why do I keep thinking I've heard 'Apni Nazar Se Door Woh' before?

Shamsunder, aka Shyam Sundar, appears to be a mostly forgotten music director, at least judging by the scarcity of information available online. Researching him had me scratching my head; I initially thought he and actor Shyam might be the same person, due to them both working on this film. Add the fact that actor Shyam was sometimes dubbed by a playback singer also named Shyam... well, it became rather confusing.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Basalo Apni Nigahon Mein
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Ae Mohabbat Unse
3. Mohd. Rafi: Yeh Hai Duniya Ka Bazar
4. Shamshad Begum, Mohd. Rafi & S.C. Batra: Chhaila De Ja Nishani
5. Mohd. Rafi: Shaheedo Tumko Mera Salam
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Dil Unko Yaad Na Karna
7. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Apni Nazar Se Door Woh
8. Shamshad Begum: Pee Aaye Aakar Chal Bhi Diye
9. Mohd. Rafi: O Janewale Chand
10. Rajkumari & Mohd. Rafi: Zara Sun Lo Ham Apne
11. Mohd. Rafi: Mere Bhagwan Too Mujhko
12. Lata Mangeshkar: Sajan Ki Galiyan Chhod Chale



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Rahul Dev Burman: Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi / Lakhon Men Ek (1971)

The 'Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' LP is one of those very sought after soundtracks that tend to cost silly money when copies turn up. Too much for me anyway, so I've made do with a shortened EP. Luckily the score's highlight makes an appearance, Kishore Kumar's delightfully cool-yet-upbeat 'Ek Bottle Hoga'. Funky in a quirky kind of way, it's quintessential early 70s RD Burman and would have been a rare male inclusion to the Bollywood drunk song mixtape compiled a few years back. 'Sunoji Tum' and 'Lelo Chuiyan' are fun too – maybe I really do need to get the full length!



From what I've been able to find out, the soundtrack to 'Lakhon Men Ek' was only afforded small format releases, including this EP. [Correction: There was in fact an LP release of this too.] I like it; 'Ye Duniya Khel Tamasha' is traditional, percussive, and catchy, and 'Chanda O Chanda' is a sweet pop song, in two versions. Lata's solo one would be my pick of the pair.

Track listing, 'Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi':
1. Suman Kalyanpur & Kishore Kumar: Sunoji Tum
2. Mohd. Rafi: Kholke Ankhen
3. Kishore Kumar: Ek Bottle Hoga
4. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Lelo Chuiyan

Track listing, 'Lakhon Men Ek'
1. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Ye Duniya Khel Tamasha
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Chanda O Chanda
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Chanda O Chanda


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Shankar Jaikishan: Shikar (1968)

As acquisitions become rarer, new posts become less frequent. But I do have a couple left in the box, starting with a late 60s Shankar Jaikishan score; they tend to be good value. And while 'Shikar' [review] might not be in my top anything of theirs, there's a nice (poppy) vibe running through it which makes for pleasant listening.

'Shikar Karne Ko Aaye' has a bright folky feel; even before finding the YouTube clip I could have guessed it was set in the countryside. Upbeat 'Hai Mere Pass To Aa' is another opportunity for Helen to be as sexy as only she can. Asha Parekh dances seductively to the great cabaret number 'Parde Men Rahne Do'; the instrumentation and arrangement is slightly more traditional here, yet it's my favourite track on the album. I've also grown a bit of fond of 'Jabse Laagi Tose Najariya'. There's always something to be said for both Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar on the same song.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Shikar Karne Ko Aaye
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle: Jabse Laagi Tose Najariya
3. Asha Bhosle: Hai Mere Pass To Aa
4. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Parde Men Rahne Do
5. Asha Bhosle: Main Albeli Pyar Jata Kar
6. Mahendra Kapoor & Krishna Kalle: Mere Sarkar Meri Aahonka Asar Dekh Liya


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Kalyanji Anandji: Aamne Saamne (1967)

Kalyanji Anandji's 1960s output isn't generally as immediately attention-grabbing as that from the following decade, yet as has been demonstrated earlier on this blog, their pre-funk-era scores could at times be highly enjoyable affairs. 'Aamne Saamne' [review] [2] [3] is no exception.

The highlights are on the LP's first side. Opener 'Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The' has a top melody with a kind of elegant, hummable pop feel, while 'Nain Milakar Chain Churana' is very much akin to, and on par with, Shankar Jaikishan's famous rock 'n' roll tunes of the same era. Sung by Mohd. Rafi, naturally. 'African Dance' pre-dates the wild freak-out instrumentals that would intermittently appear on their 1970s soundtracks; loud and primal. I don't find side 2 as interesting, though it must be said that 'Mere Bechain Dil Ko' is growing on me.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The
2. Mohd. Rafi: Nain Milakar Chain Churana
3. Chorus: African Dance
4. Mohd. Rafi: Mere Bechain Dil Ko
5. Mohd. Rafi: Aajkal Hum Se Roothe
6. Manna Dey & Miss Shami: Ankhiyan Na Churao


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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Roop Tera Mastana (1971)

Quite a few vintage Bollywood soundtracks (like the ones on my want list) are becoming increasingly hard to find for less than silly money, so I was particularly pleased to get this nice copy of 'Roop Tera Mastana' from someone not out to fleece his customers. It's a great score too; a diverse collection of excellent songs on which Laxmikant Pyarelal's flair for dramatic arrangements is evident throughout.

Lovely opener 'Akash Pe Do Tare' is soulful and soaring; 'Haseen Dildruba' sounds exotic (looks erotic) and slightly dangerous. 'Ban Ke Than Ke' is more traditional yet poppy and catchy; 'Dil Ke Baten' is packed with all sorts of emotions and has a bit of a groove going on. It's my favourite track here, along with cool, jazzy 'Dekh Lo Woh Ghata Chand Par'.

I believe the film's title means "your beauty is intoxicating". I'm pretty sure many will be familiar with the fab S.D. Burman song of the same name.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mahendra Kapoor: Akash Pe Do Tare
2. Mohd. Rafi: Haseen Dilruba
3. Mohd. Rafi: Buddhe Pe Aa Gayee Jawani
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Dil Ke Baten
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Ban Ke Than Ke
6. Mohd. Rafi: Bade Bewafa
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Dekh Lo Woh Ghata Chand Par


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Satyajit Ray: Shakespeare Wallah (1966)

'Shakespeare Wallah' [review] belongs on MFT3F mostly by association, as it technically isn't a product of Bollywood. Yet it makes sense to include it; the film is made and takes place in India, it features well known Hindi actors, and its beautiful music is composed by one of the country's biggest cinema legends. Not unlike 'Bombay Talkie', which coincidently came from the same producer-director team, Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. Whereas that soundtrack was by a pair of MDs who appear on the blog regularly, this is a score by a man who never has.

As many undoubtedly know, Satyajit Ray is a world renowned film maker. What I to a lesser extent was aware of is that he was also a composer. His music here consists not so much of songs, apart from the sweet 'Manjula's Song: Dil Dharke', but of instrumentals and short vignettes. They're low-key and sedate, merging Western composition (topically Renaissance-tinged at times) with Indian instrumentation; the result is lovely and often quite haunting. It's difficult, and perhaps pointless to pick out particular favourites; 'Pantomime' reminds me of something German prog-/Krautrock band Popol Vuh could have recorded, and Wes Anderson included 'The Deserted Ballroom' (in addition to tracks from 'Bombay Talkie') on the soundtrack to 2007's 'The Darjeeling Limited'.

Track listing:
1. Title Music
2. Cleopatra's Barge
3. Arrival Of The Troupe In The Rain
4. Manjula's Procession
5. The Good Old Days
6. Mubarak Begum:  Manjula's Song: Dil Dharke (Heartbeat)
7. Pantomime
8. Bobby's Funeral
9. Love Theme – Sanju And Lizzie
10. Carla Begs Lizzie To Return To England
11. The Deserted Ballroom
12. Lizzie And Sanju Backstage
13. The Unhappy Ending
14. Lizzie Sails For England


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Rahul Dev Burman: Raksha (1981)

Upbeat and lively, 'Raksha' is a soundtrack with essentially great sounding tracks that nonetheless I have, for the most part and for some reason, been struggling to get really excited about. It is arguably growing on me and may continue to do so over repeated listens, but the songs don't stick the way RD Burman's best work does. Curiously, it is one of very few scores not given a single mention in my go-to book on him and his career. (And speaking of books...)

'Naye Purane Saal Men' certainly has me humming and my feet tapping; kind of fun but the melody sounds... I don't know, a bit simplistic maybe. Midway it samples White Christmas for no apparent reason; perhaps the on-screen party is a Christmas one. 'Main Chalta Hoon Mujhe Jane Do' is similarly cheerful but it's only at the sporadic synth breaks that my ears prick up.

The real highlight is in fact the opening track, the near perfect percussion-driven, moog-augmented lounge-funk cabaret number 'Jani Dilbar Jani'. I keep returning to that. Doesn't Parveen Babi looking stunning in its picturisation? (Didn't she always?)

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Jani Dilbar Jani
2. Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Naye Purane Saal Men
3. Asha Bhosle & Mohd. Rafi: Main Chalta Hoon Mujhe Jane Do
4. Kishore Kumar: Tere Liye Mere Liye
5. Asha Bhosle & Kishore Kumar: Mil Gaye Dil Mil Gaye


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Rahul Dev Burman: Phir Kab Milogi (1971/1974) / Do Chor (1972)

These two titles were, until recently, completely unknown to me. I suspect the reason might be that neither were particularly big hits, combined with the fact that the soundtracks never appeared as LPs. Or, maybe I'm simply not as knowledgeable as I think I am...

'Phir Kab Milogi' the movie came out in 1974, though it seems to have been held back a few years as this EP is dated 1971. All four songs are good; my favourites are 'Le Qai Khushbu' which has a great funk-pop vibe, and 'Kahin Karti Hogi' which is a take on the Herb Alpert (among others) track 'The Lonely Bull'. 'Ram Qasam Bura Nahin Manoongi' sounds vaguely familiar too, but at the moment I'm unable to place it.



1972's 'Do Chor' is more of the same. Pleasant pop tunes, unassuming yet still memorable, in that special Burman way. 'Meri Jan Meri Jan' may have borrowed some ideas from Cliff Richard's 'Fall In Love With You', but that's allowed, in Bollywood anyway. For me the EP's highlight is loungy drug number 'Yari Ho Gayi Yar Se'; I'm a sucker for that type of thing.

Track listing, 'Phir Kab Milogi':
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Le Qai Khushbu
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Ram Qasam Bura Nahin Manoongi
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh: Kahin Karti Hogi
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Tum Mujhse Roothe Ho

Track listing, 'Do Chor'
1. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Kali Palak Teri Gori
2. Kishore Kumar: Meri Jan Meri Jan
3. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Chahe Raho Door
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Yari Ho Gayi Yar Se


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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Mera Jawaab (1984)

A blog reader first made me aware of 'Mera Jawaab', a few years ago now. I had to admit I'd never heard of this particular Laxmikant Pyarelal score, and considering the vintage I wasn't really expecting to like it should I at some point come across a copy. Now that I have, I find it... well not entirely great but one that has its moments.

Twice-featured 'Mere Liye Zindagi' might be the soundtrack's best known song. The initial duet has a pleasant poppy feel (I like the guitar picking; the easy listening strings are a bit much), while Anuradha's solo version is slower, more subtly arranged. I prefer the latter. I'm also quite partial to 'Aa Baitha Hoon Dar Pe Tere', how its intro seamlessly segues from electro-funk into a traditional sounding Indian groove and how those forms meld throughout the track. Catchy and danceable. Even more so is 'Main Hoon Hasina', an almost anthemic dance floor stomper that's sort of disco but not in any sense western ears will be used to. My favourite here.

'Main Usse Itna Pyar Karta' has some nice instrumental bits, but as a whole it doesn't do a lot for me. And I'm not very fond of Manhar's voice to be honest.

Track listing:
1. Manhar & Anuradha: Mere Liye Zindagi
2. Manhar, Anuradha & Chorus: Aa Baitha Hoon Dar Pe Tere
3. Manhar & Anuradha: Main Usse Itna Pyar Karta
4. Anuradha: Mere Liye Zindagi
5. Alka Yagnik & Laxmikant: Main Hoon Hasina


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Rahul Dev Burman: Adhikar (1971)

'Adhikar' originally appeared on this blog as an EP, posted some 12 years ago. It seems I kind of liked it at the time, but without being overly impressed. I like the LP better, partly due to it including 'Sharab Nahin Hoon', featuring Asha Bhosle on vocals and Helen on screen. I'm a sucker for those two doing RD Burman songs. Additionally tracks such as 'Koi Mane Ya Na Mane' and 'Tum To Ho Sabke Rakhwale' make more of an impression on me now than they did then, don't ask me why. And 'Fashion Ki Diwani' still sounds pretty irresistible. It looks great too if you can find the film clip (someone pulled it off YouTube before I finished writing this); appealingly mod.

Track listing:
1. Manna Dey: Fashion Ki Diwani
2. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Koi Mane Ya Na Mane
3. Asha Bhosle: Sharab Nahin Hoon
4. Mohd. Rafi: Rekha O Rekha
5. Asha Bhosle: Tum To Ho Sabke Rakhwale
6. Mohd. Rafi: Jina To Hai Usika (Qawwali)


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Ravindra Jain: Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)

I never planned on buying an album by a music director I'd long ago dismissed as not particularly to my taste, especially one made as late as 1985. I knew of 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili's mild controversy (its director Raj Kapoor a cinema legend of course), but I don't look for soundtracks based on somewhat bold scenes in whatever film they're from. Thus there really wasn't much chance of me ever obtaining a copy of this. Until I heard it. And to my surprise very much enjoying what I was being played.

To a large extent a Lata Mangeshkar show case, Ravindra Jain's score is a collection of exquisitely crafted songs that – and this is a clincher – don't come across as saccharine. Highlights include gently swaying 'Husn Pahadon Ka', exotica-tinged 'Sun Sahiba Sun' and the bewitching 'Ek Dukhiyari Kahe'; all as elegant and lush as their accompanying visuals and as beautiful as their on-screen executant. And yes, 'Tujhe Bulayen Yeh Meri Bahen' is trippily scrumptious, even outside the context of its admittedly very appealing picturization.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Tujhe Bulayen Yeh Meri Bahen
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Suresh Wadkar: Husn Pahadon Ka
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Sun Sahiba Sun
4. Suresh Wadkar: Main Hi Main Hoon
5. Lata Mangeshkar & Suresh Wadkar: Yaara O Yaara
6. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Ek Dukhiyari Kahe
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Ek Radha Ek Meera
8. Suresh Wadkar & Chorus: Ram Teri Gangli Maili


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Bappi Lahiri: Dahshat (1981)

This record is one of those Bappi Lahiri soundtracks that tend to have exorbitant price tags attached to them on the second-hand/collectors' market. It sometimes baffles me which ones do and which don't. 'Dahshat' [review] is hardly that scarce – could simply having tracks featured on Western compilations such as 'Bollywood Bloodbath' contribute to the inflation? The score is good in parts, but come on, it shouldn't be costing hundreds of bucks.

Half of it fails to interest me. Kishore's opener I find annoying, and Asha's contribution is quickly forgotten. On the plus side, 'Disco Title Music' is pretty decent. It has a vague 1970s blaxploitation or crime theme feel; for what is essentially an instrumental it could have sounded more adventurous to warrant a 3-minute runtime, but it's still worthwhile. 'Meri Jaan' (on which Bappi takes centre stage himself, along with Sulakshana Pandit) is the album's highlight; a boisterous dance floor stomper situated somewhere between his early (funky) disco experiments and the synthetic (ostentatious) variant of the genre he gradually become famous for.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Mere Pyar Ka Metre
2. Bappi Lahiri & Sulakshana Pandit: Meri Jaan
3. Asha Bhosle: Meri Yaar Ghussewala
4. Anand Raj: Disco Title Music
5. Dialogue


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