Written by
Shri Jitendra Motavar
01. Chal sanyasi mandir mein
Sanyasi (1975)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
Sanyasi is one of the most unique and best albums SJ (Shankar) have scored in their later career, with all the songs being classy and many of them being chart busters, even now. But the most unique aspect of the score is that SJ composed all the songs including its background score in Raag Bhairavi. I think only SJ could do this kind of work, with their extraordinary composing abilities.
As usual this title song is an all time hit from the album and has remained so till now for classes as well as masses. The song starts with heavy group violins and Lata Mangeshkar’s prologue, accompanied by ‘bell sounds’ to highlight “mandir mein..”, which sounds heavenly. The song has an authentic classical orchestration with marvelous use of Sitar, Santoor, Tabla and Violins, on top of its magical composition. I think this song has all the “SJ magic” in it and will always be one of their masterpiece creations…!
https://youtu.be/_8d-Pzn300o
02. Tumhare bin Guzaare hai
Atmaram (1979)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar, Mhd Rafi
The last Lata-Rafi duet by the maestros, and what a great masterpiece it is. Each and every bit of the song is magical. The way its prelude starts on sitar with a unique theme, and a sudden transition into a guitar theme with commencing rhythm, sounds so impressive. The main composition itself is extremely soulful with high standards, and the interludes too have mind blowing tunes and melodies. Beautiful use of violins, sitar, guitar and saxophone, throughout their songs has been a special virtue of SJ songs, and this too is a fine example of that. Generally SJ used to keep first and third interludes same, but over here, the first and second are same with only saxophone theme from the first, transcribed into Lata aalap in the second one. The third interlude is different.
The song which is so rich and impressive musically has been picturized on a very low scale with mediocre visuals. And this was the situation with many of great SJ songs from their later period. Surely one of SJ’s top compositions..!
https://youtu.be/DA8e19yWREU
03. Ek chehra dil ke kareeb
Garam Khoon (1980)
Singhar (Sharda)
Lata Mangeshkar
A beautiful Lata solo in typical SJ style, rhythm and orchestrations, although in a modern form. The song starts with a short accordion prelude, with both the following interludes having beautiful tunes, reminding SJ’s 60s style. Lata’s echoic voice and refined singing add8 richness to this masterly composition. One of the best and evergreen SJ-Lata combinations…!
https://youtu.be/1v3xaQUvYZU
04. Chalo bhul jaayen jahan ko
Do Jhoot (1975)
Vitthalbhai Patel
Lata Mangeshkar, Kishor Kumar
Do Jhoot was another fantastic album after Sanyasi, where all songs were excellent and memorable, although couldn’t get the fame they deserved. This particular duet is one of the finest compositions by SJ with full of rich melodies, rhythm and magic. Had it been a part of films like Bobby, it would have been one of the top Lata-Kishor duets.
The song starts with short prelude on strings, and flows further in SJ’s favorite waltz rhythm. The first and third interludes are rich in high octave violins and accordion themes which immediately reminds us SJ’s golden days. The second interlude has mellifluous alaap by KK and LM. Surely one of SJ’s masterworks..!
https://youtu.be/z40jXcsO7SU
05. Sun baal Brahmachari
Sanyasi (1975)
Verma Malik
Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
Second of the three fantabulous Lata-Mukesh romantic duets with a similar situation where Hemaji tries to seduce and convince the baal brahmachari Manoj Kumar, about her love, but he refutes and resists her with hesitancy.
The song starts with Mukesh chanting Om namah shivaay and LM showing indifference with her killer laugh. SJ used heavy orchestration for the song, and it seems as if we are listening some Indian classical symphony. The composition is so powerful that it sounds magnificent, classy with mass appeal, funny (on Manoj Kumar part) as well as romantic. Pure SJ magic…!
https://youtu.be/DI3PV_6OhnE
06. Baali umariya bhajan karun
Sanyasi (1975)
Vitthalbhai Patel
Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh
One more masterwork from Sanyasi, with beautiful composition, rich Indo-western orchestration and splendid feel. The rhythm alternates between dholak-tabla to solid drums throughout the song, A ‘catchy point’ where interlude drums starts after finishing the stanzas, is a hallmark of innumerable earlier SJ songs, and gives a unique spark to the song. One of SJ’s sure-shot hit compositions…!
https://youtu.be/xF_sAX1XWKo
07. Pardesiya tere des mein
Garam Khoon (1980)
Singhar (Sharda)
Mhd Rafi, Sulakshana Pandit
An amazing romantic duet with excellent composition and spectacular orchestration. Whether they are the tunes of mukhda and antra or themes of prelude and interludes, everything is an absolute bliss..! All the three interludes are unique and impressive, with the third one having a fantastic use of upper and lower strings with guitar, if we listen carefully. Rafi sahab’s superb and mature rendition is an additional asset, whereas Sulakshana Pandit sounds like Suman Kalyanpur. One of the best romantic duets by SJ..!
https://youtu.be/RTC4M5y4dCo
08. Jaisa mera roop rangeela
Sanyasi (1975)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar
A fourth song from the musical Sanyasi, and one of the two Lata solos. It’s a party song with a cabaret feel, where Hemaji intoxicates all the villains whilst singing the song. It start with a 30 min long prelude and progresses to its mukhda with a peppy rhythm. SJ used mainly a western style of orchestration for this song and as usual its fantastic. To compose such a westernized cabaret song on classical raag Bhairavi, is something which only SJ could conceive and create. Hats off..!
https://youtu.be/WJAsytc9EVc
09. Achhi bhi lagti hoon
Garam khoon (1980)
Vitthalbhai Patel
Lata Mangeshkar
After Sanyasi and Do Jhoot, Garam Khoon was an album with all excellent songs. This is a second of the two Lata solos from the film and is an absolute musical treat. The song starts without a prelude, but has catchy tune and beautiful interludes, especially the second one. Like the previous song, this too is a “SJ-Lata-Raag Bhairavi” combination and is a gem…!
https://youtu.be/84Xkub7se2g
10. Ang se acchhi hai rang se
Chorni (1982)
Virendra Mishra
Lata Mangeshkar
One of the two Lata solos from yet another marvelous album with all excellent songs. SJ composed a charming tune and ornamented it with modern yet melodious orchestration using guitar, mandolin and violins. This too is in Bhairavi as the previous two songs, and was picturized on Aruna Irani. Thus, along with “Sham-e-furkat” and “Ankhon mein ankhein” she enacted in SJ’s 3 marvelous Lata solos.
https://youtu.be/WfB7lSqgKw4
11. Naav kaagaz ki gehra hai
Duniyadari (1977)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar
It’s a title song and has two versions, happy and sad. The happy one is a beautiful Lata-Rafi duet, whereas this sad version is a Lata solo. SJ gave completely different mood and feel to both the songs using different compositions and arrangements. This version is quite gentle, sorrowful and calm, with slower rhythm, soothing interludes, and is one of the finest of their 70s output.
https://youtu.be/LU39CiNk-9Y
12. Chalte chalte in raahon mein
Atmaram (1979)
Prabha Thakur
Kishor Kumar
One more masterwork from Atmaram, a sentimental song by Kishor Kumar. The composition is so haunting and enchanting that it touches straight to our hearts, not to mention its beautiful orchestration, with beautiful use of guitar, synthesizer and violins. The melody in stanzas is strong enough to provoke deep emotions in the listener’s heart. I think this song has the same stature and eminence as “Geet gaata hoon main…”, although it couldn’t get that fame and recognition because of some obvious reasons. A sheer SJ magic…!
https://youtu.be/b1kgB6yIHUw
13. Do jhoot jiye ek sach ke liye
Do Jhoot (1975)
Vishweshwar Sharma
Lata Mangeshkar
The only Lata solo from the album, which was in two parts, with different lyrics. Composition wise both are same except an additional short prologue sung by LM in part 2, before its mukhda. It’s a situational song and has beautiful themes in its interludes too. A masterful composition and a treat..!
https://youtu.be/6wPZk_84024
https://youtu.be/aEKQ08hBb1k
14. Chorni hoon main
Chorni (1982)
Shaily Shailendra
Lata Mangeshkar
It’s a title song introducing Neetu Singh’s character in the film and SJ composed a lively, energetic tune with shades of Raag Bhairavi, flowing on fast rhythm. The interludes have vibrant orchestration and the mandolin theme in the third one is quite catchy. The song has four stanzas and the last one gets repeated in slow form in its sad version. A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable SJ song…!
https://youtu.be/VgweFrwYW8o
15. Chhatri na khol udd jaayegi
Do Jhoot (1975)
Vitthalbhai Patel
Usha Mangeshkar, Kishor Kumar
One more superb duet from the album, this time Kishor Kumar with Usha Mangeshkar. It’s a fun filled rain song with all the virtues to be an instant hit: a cheerful and pappy composition, a dynamic and danceable rhythm and a naughty lyrics. SJ created a musical phrase in its prelude with violins and synthesizer, to give a showering rain effects, as they did in “More ang lag ja…” Later, this theme is sung as alaap by Ushaji in its third interlude, and this sounds impressive. A song full of SJ magic..!
https://youtu.be/Pol4KOupl1s
16. Kya maar sakegi maut use
Sanyasi (1975)
Indeevar
Manna Day
5th song from the musical “Sanyasi”, a tender soulful situational melody. This semi classical composition has a pure 60s feel and magic, and is perfect song for Manna Day. Interludes have beautiful phrases of sitar and group violins, which makes the song heart touching and emotional. One of the SJ’s masterly creations…!
https://youtu.be/_NHAxsYxrEE
17. Sham-e-furkat ka dhal gaya
Sanyasi (1975)
Hasrat Jaipuri
Lata Mangeshkar
6th song from Sanyasi, and second of the two Lata solos from the album. It’s a mujra song starting with a beautiful prologue by LM and a short phrase by Premnath. The song has rich indian classical orchestration with impressive use of sarod, sarangi, tabla and violins. It seems Shankar did not compromise even a bit for any of the songs in this film, and this too is no exemption. An excellent work…!
https://youtu.be/34eJ8rG3MiU
18. Sau baar kaha dil ne ek baar
Eent Ka Jawab Patthar (1982)
Naqsh Layalpuri
Asha Bhosle
It’s a soulful mujra song, first of the two from the film, both being Asha solos. Generally in action oriented films, mujra songs hardly have great compositions, but that is not the case in this song. Shankar gave enough weightage and importance to the composition and made it indelible and remarkable. Being a mujra song, it has a beautiful use of sarangi, sitar, tabla and violins in its prelude and three distinct interludes. Main composition too is top notch, where we fall for it, the moment Ashaji starts “Sau baaaar.. kaha dil ne..” and repeats the same phrase after each stanza. An impressive heart touching song from SJ’s later years…!
https://youtu.be/G1oykfMARvY
The magic will continue in part 3.. Next Monday
Watch out for songs No. 19 to 38
(Please refer Part 1 for the Prologue):
