(function() { var c = -->

12 March 2015

The Legends: Talat Mahmood - Part 2

24.02.1924 - 09.05.1998
It's been awhile since I published my post on Talat Mahmood's solos. And my post of Talat-Lata duets. Somehow, it was hard to find the energy to blog. But on the bright side, things are - literally - warming up, and it is cheery to actually see bright sunlight and know that Spring is perhaps only a month away. (For all I know, Old Man Winter might decide to drop a foot of snow on us next week! Keeping fingers crossed.)

I also found it harder to sort through and pick Talat's duets with other singers than I did for anyone else in this series. Usually, my dilemma is 'what should I leave out?' But this time around, most of them, as you know, happened to be his duets with Lata. Finally, after some pretzelling, I whittled my list down to a manageable ten songs. Let me begin with another Talat-Lata duet...

Talat Mahmood - Lata Mangeshkar
1. Tere saath chale hain
Angarey (1954)
Music: SD Burman
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Tere saath chale hain wasn't even on my list of Talat-Lata duets, but it's a song that has grown on me since I heard it for the first time a few weeks ago. Picturised on Nasir Khan, better known as Dilip Kumar's brother, and on Nargis, this is a mellow, romantic number - the sort of song that Talat Mahmood could probably sing in his sleep. Also, though the song itself is a 'soft' one, Lata is consistently hitting the high notes without it being apparent. Her control over the notes is that effortless, and Talat's deeper (and lower) 'voice' is a perfect complement to hers. I like this song as much for the musical interludes as I do for the melody itself.  

Talat Mahmood - Asha Bhosle
Boot Polish (1954)
Music: Shankar Jaikishen
Lyrics: Shailendra
I had Do dil dhadak rahe hain aur awaaz ek hain from Insaaf on my short list, but decided to post this instead, because there is a contrast between the words as sung, and its picturisation. The juxtaposition of happiness (the girl is excited at going away to her husband's home) and sadness (a brother missing his sister who is separated from him) makes the pathos even deeper. The song was picturised on lyricist Shailendra who appears as the blind beggar, and on Baby Naaz who plays the little girl separated from her brother. (There is also another girl, seen in the screenshot above, on whom the first part of the song is picturised, who is uncredited.) Though the story is ostensibly about both siblings, it is Naaz who steals the show (she won a special mention at the Cannes Film Festival). She was around 6 or  7 when she acted in Boot Polish, and was a complete natural in front of the camera. It was perhaps one of the few films of the time (or even later) where children on screen remained normal children instead of precocious mini-adults. 

Talat Mahmood - Suraiya 
Mirza Ghalib (1954)
Music: Ghulam Mohammed
Lyrics: Ghalib
It's a cinch which songs come to mind when you think of a Talat Mahmood-Suraiya duet. Raahi matwale from Waris or this one. After Lata, I think it was the Talat-Suraiya combination that really called to your emotions - his soft-as-silk voice blends beautifully with Suraiya's husky vocals. It is they who make this film come alive, because while Sohrab Modi paid great attention to historic detail, the film could have done with a tauter script and tighter editing. But Modi assembled a stellar crew - Saadat Hasan Manto wrote the story, Rajinder Singh Bedi wrote the dialogues, while Ghulam Mohammed set Ghalib's poetry to music. This is one of my favourite ghazals of all time - telling a tale of two people who love each other but who cannot be together because of circumstances they cannot control. They spill their emotions out in verse, asking the most rhetorical question of all time - Dil-e-nadaan tujje hua kya hai? Of course they know what' s happened to their hearts. 

Talat Mahmood - Geeta Dutt
Lal Pari (1954)
Music: Hansraj Behl 
Lyrics: Asad Bhopali
To me, Talat Mahmood and Geeta Dutt made a perfect combination; they had the same sort of voices - soft, slightly husky, full of pathos. Perhaps it is confirmation bias, since both singers have their fair share of angst-ridden songs. Perhaps that is also why I steered clear of their sad duets, of which there are plenty, to pick a lighter, romantic one. It is always a pleasure to hear Geeta Dutt, especially in her not-so-sad songs (Of which there are plenty, but she is boxed into the image of a serious, pathos-laden singer.), and it is great to have Talat accompany her. Unfortunately, there is no video of this song available, so one merely guesses that it was picturised on the lead pair - Mahipal and Shakila. The other song that was on my short-list of their duets was the equally romantic Armaan bhare dil ki lagan (Jaan Pehchaan). The only reason this made the cut was because, right now, I like this song better than the other.

Talat Mahmood - Shamshad Begum
5. Mohabbat dil ke bas itne se 
Mangu (1954)
Music: OP Nayyar
Lyrics: SH Bihari
An obscure film, but with such lovely songs, Mangu initially had Mohammed Shafi as the music director and he did compose one song in the movie. But OP Nayyar seems to have composed all the other songs. Mangu, according to IMDB, was produced by Sheikh Mukhtar and starred him, along with Sheila Ramani and Nigar Sultana. With no video to check, I have no idea who this song is picturised on - probably the second lead, since OP was the MD and Asha Bhosle is also among the singers listed in the credits. But it is a lovely song, nevertheless, and worth a mention. 

Talat Mahmood - Mubarak Begum


6. Raat kitni haseen ban gayi meherbaan 
Baadal aur Bijli (1956) 
Music: Bipin-Babul
Lyrics: Anjum Jaipuri 
Another obscure film, another music director duo that I had never heard of, and a song that I first heard just a few weeks ago when I was researching Talat's solos. Yet, I have always liked Mubarak Begum's voice in the few songs that I've heard of hers, so this was perfect. Once again, I liked the song as much for its lilting romance as much as I did for the musical interludes. My other choice for a Talat-Mubarak Begum duet was the equally romantic Zara kehdo fizaaon se from the equally obscure Gogola (1966). I have never heard of this movie until I came across this song, and I have no idea what the title means, or what the film is about. The score is composed by another music director that I have never heard of - Roy Frank. 
   
Talat Mahmood - Suman Kalyanpur
7. Sun le meri jaan 
Pyar ki Dastan (1961)
Music: Nashaad
Lyrics: Sarvar
Pyar ki Dastan is not an obscure film by any means, but the Ameeta-Sudesh Kumar starrer was not a box office success. And while music director Nashaad (born Shaukat Ali) is certainly not unheard of, he is not as well-known or popular as some of his peers. Lyricist Sarvar is certainly obscure, having (as far as I have gathered) written lyrics only for two songs. The lyrics of this song are pretty decent, so I wonder why he never made a career in the film industry. Suman Kalyanpur returns to singing under the baton of Nashad, who gave her her first break in Darwaza (1954). According to talatmahmood.net, Suman Kalyanpur sang her first ever duet with Talat Mahmood for that movie.   

Talat Mahmood - Sudha Malhotra
8. Ek baar toh mil lo gale 
Andhre Nagri Choupat Raja (1955)
Music: Avinash Vyas
Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
Another beautiful melody from yet another another obscure film, Ek baar toh mil lo gale is picturised on Chitra (whom I recognise from a film that I recently watched) and Amarnath - neither name nor face ring any bells. One of the few 'sad' songs on this list, it sings of separation as the heroine (?) is led away to her death while the hero watches helplessly. Lyrics by Bharat Vyas (no relation to the music director) emphasise the impending separation and hopes for a meeting in the hereafter. 

8. Talat Mahmood - Sudha Malhotra - Jagjit Kaur 
Muhabbat ki dhun 
9. Dil-e-Nadaan (1953)
Music: Ghulam Mohammed
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni 
My usual restriction for posts on duets is that it must not involve a third singer or even a chorus. I've broken my own rule for this song, primarily because I wanted to include this song, and partly because, as I mentioned earlier, there aren't that many choices when it comes to duets with different singers - none that I particularly like, anyway. Dil-e-Nadaan is Talat Mahmood's first ever appearance as hero in a Hindi film made in Bombay. His co-stars were Shyama, who made no secret of her admiration (and attraction) for her handsome hero, and Peace Kanwal, a debutante picked after a nation-wide talent/beauty search. While Talat sings for himself, Sudha Malhotra playbacks for Shyama, while Peace lip-syncs to Jagjit Kaur.

Talat Mahmood - Mohammed Rafi - Manna Dey - Balbir - Lata Mangeshkar - Mukesh  
10. Rahega jahan mein tera naam 
Love and God (1986)
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Khumar Barabankwi
The provenance of Love and God is interesting. A retelling of the age-old Kais-Laila (better known as Laila-Majnu), K Asif mounted the film with Guru Dutt and Nimmi in 1963. When Dutt's sudden death in 1964 threw a spanner into the works, Asif signed Sanjeev Kumar to replace Guru Dutt. Unfortunately, Asif died in 1971, and the film remained incomplete. Asif's assistant director, Mohammed Mehdi Rizvi, struggled to complete the film, and it was eventually released in 1986 - a year after its hero, Sanjeev Kumar had also passed away. Among other things, this song is important for one reason - other than Kishore Kumar, all the great male voices from the golden period seem to have come together for this song. (One clip even included Hemant Kumar as one of the singers. I'm not very sure of that, so I've left his name out.) Rahega jahan mein tera naam also segues into Mohammed Rafi's beautiful rendition of Tumhare dar tak. Beautiful.

What songs would you add to this list? Come, refresh my memory of old favourites, and introduce me to some 'new' old songs... 

*If anyone is interested in just soaking in the songs, here is the playlist.

46 comments:

  1. Yay, first to post.. :-) Wow, nice list, Anu. And quite a few songs are new to me - especially, the ones from Badal aur bijli, Dil-e-nadaan, and Pyar ki dastaan. In a hurry now, but will check it out and rack my brain (and collection) if I can find any other old "new" song! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. My fave Talat-Asha duet is "Laage tose nain" from Chandi ki deewar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rd80gOT-HQ


    Other Talat duets that I can think of right now are: Armaan bhare dil ki lagan (Talat-Geeta from Jaan Pehchan), Mera Kahan Hai (Talat -Jikki from Gul-e-bakavali (?), and Badi Mushkil hai tumhe bhool Jana (Talat- Sabita Bannerjee, Hum hain rahi pyar ke).


    One Talat-Rafi duet I really like is the one from Aadmi - kaisi haseen raat. This was also sung by Mahendra Kapoor - not sure which was the first. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECmwIxLgkBE)


    okay, now I have to go!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So Talat Mehmood continues..... I was wondering if you would post his duets with other singers besides Lata and my wish is granted. I have not listened to all of them yet, but so far I am enjoying everyone. Some, I have not heard in ages.
    There is one Duet with Asha, I used to like a lot, if I could only find it again. It's buried in one of the cassettes, and no player :(. Would like to post these two in the meantime:
    Do dil dhadak Rahe hai aur awaaz ek hai. I like the melody a lot.
    http://youtu.be/DfjJRR-RGSI
    Ae Gham-e-dil kya karoon, ae...
    http://youtu.be/7FypNw7mnJo

    ReplyDelete
  4. As I was listening to the Geeta Dutt duet, this song showed up in the side bar. It sounded unfamiliar at first but as it played, I remembered it have not heard it since ages.
    http://youtu.be/cF1hahRqefE

    ReplyDelete
  5. So many obscure films and so many songs I'd never even heard of before, Anu! Thanks for this post - I'll be going through the rather more unfamiliar songs as this day progresses (have already listened to a couple). You've already mentioned two of my absolute favourite Talat duets, though you haven't listed them - Do dil dhadak rahein hain and Raahi matwaale - so I won't link to them. Instead, here's another lovely one with Asha Bhonsle, Ae gham-e-dil kya karoon:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FypNw7mnJo

    And (again with Asha), from my favourite film which featured Talat, Pyaas kuchh aur bhi bhadka di from Lala Rukh:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbFzujRgUSM

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have a feeling I could probably create a list of Talat-Asha songs that I really like. Here's another that I'd completely forgotten about when I posted my first comment, but which popped into my head a minute ago. Humein haal-e-dil tumse kehna hai:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBiBK8B2WBE

    ReplyDelete
  7. You're welcome, Harini. And I'm glad you got to be first to comment - does that mean that the email subscription has begun to work again?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for adding to the list, Harini. Will link these as soon as I get some time. (I still haven't linked the songs in the first post. :()
    Of the songs you posted, I like Laage tose nain and Bade mushkil hain. I mentioned Armaan bhare dil in my post - it was the second of my choices. Mera kahan hai is new to me - or at least I don't remember the song from the title. I'll have to listen to it, but right now it strikes no bells.

    Kaisi haseen hai raat was originally recorded as a Rafi-Talat duet. Unfortunately for Talat, Manoj Kumar insisted on having Mahendra Kapoor sing for him. Naushad had to give way, and it is the Rafi - Mahendra Kapoor version that is heard in the film. The Talat version is available only in audio format. It was really the beginning of the end for Talat Mahmood.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for the appreciation, Neeru. :) I'm glad you enjoyed the songs. Do dil dhadak rahe hain was very much on my mind; in fact, I'd mentioned it as my second choice for an Asha-Talat duet. I didn't know Ae gham-e-dil kya karoon was also a duet. I thought it was a solo with two versions, one by Talat and one by Asha. Thank you for this link. I'm listening to it while responding to you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Neeru, I didn't remember the song at all when I first saw your comment. And when I listened to the first few bars, I remember having heard it ages ago. Thank you for refreshing my memory. (See, this is why I like blogging - I get to hear 'new' old songs all the time!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Madhu, I was surprised too - I'd never heard of the films, or the music directors in some cases. I'm so glad we live in an age where these hidden gems have been brought to light. I'll make a playlist of the songs in my post, Madhu, so you can listen to them in peace. :)


    And thanks for your additions - I was just writing to Neeru, who also posted Ae gham-e-dil kya karoon that I hadn't known there was a duet version as well. I'd been under the impression that there were two solo versions - by Talat, and Asha. What a lovely song it is! (And in any case, even if I'd known, I probably wouldn't have posted it since I'd posted it in my first post on Talat.)


    Pyaas kuch aur bhi bhadka di is another beautiful number - so soft, so romantic. (And I like Shyama - a lot, so it is good to see her, as well.)

    ReplyDelete
  12. You should. :) (Neki aur pooch pooch? *grin*)

    I am always slightly taken aback when I see Premnath singing on screen. :) But again, lovely song, lovely heroine.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a lovely song this is! Had never heard this before... and wow, Shakila - so pretty as ever. Thanks, Madhu.

    ReplyDelete
  14. LOL, it does not mean that the email subscription has begun to work again ;-) I just happened to check the blog - have made a mental note to check your blog twice a week :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Aah, thanks for confirming. I figured this was the story - Mahendra Kapoor dubbing for Talat in the final version. But was not sure.

    Here you go - the link to Mera Kahan Hai from Gulebakavali ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXAt8DR-j5s

    ReplyDelete
  16. I second Anu's motion - you should totally do a Talat-Asha duets post, Madhu! :-) I rather surprised myself by mostly coming up with his duets with Asha when I thought of Talat duets I like.:-) They have a fair and varied quantity of songs together. But before I get to my favorites of their songs, let me mention some of his songs with others that I love.

    Talat-Lata - Love the song from "Aangarey." I'm torn between the heartbreaking "aasmaan wale teri duniya mein" from Laila majnu and the bubbly "aji humko hai tumse pyaar" from Mehbooba, so you get both.:-)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UEgNeJSda0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BDPgFR39sc

    Talat-Suman - The "Pyaar Ki Dastaan" song is lovely, but I'm partial to their duet from Darwaza - Ek dil do hain talabgar.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meW1ueWb30w

    Talat-Geeta - Again, love your pick but here's a cute number from Makhichoos.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P4OupMZm4E

    Talat-Asha - Love your selection as well as the ones Madhu and others have posted. I'm spoiled for choices here but I will confine myself to just a few songs.:-)

    Dil jawan hai arzoo jawan
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JEcbQLD6ic

    Dil-e-nadaan zamane mein
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3KJI2m7wpU

    Teri nigahon mein
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD3bXXx0dZs

    Mere jeevan mein aaya hai kaun (Asha just hums but it's a beautiful, haunting effect)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ihj4vVC7FM

    ReplyDelete
  17. Now that I have had a chance to listen to all the songs you posted, the
    Last 5 ( except for the Jagjit Kaur ) are new to me. I liked the Mubarak Begam duet the best out of the new ones I got introduced to.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh. :( I was hoping my blog had gone back to behaving itself. Ah, well, thank you doubly for checking in to see if I've posted anything.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gosh! I'd much rather listen to the song than 'see' it. Perhaps it was a dubbed film? It looks southie to me.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You always come up with some songs that I haven't even heard before, Shalini. I can't listen to then right now (the TV is on), but I will soon.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm glad then that I introduced you to some 'new' songs. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I totally agree, Anu. When I am playing some song, I see some other which looks unfamiliar but when played turns out to be an old favourite not heard in ages. I have made it my life's mission -- well, one of my life's missions -- to listen to as many old and forgotten songs as I can and time is a-fleeting!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am so so happy to see the first song. I simply can't have enough of this one. The song is so effortlessly sung by both Talat and Lata and it is so soothing. Even I like the Lala Rukh duet Pyas kuch aur...of Asha and Talat. I would have liked to add the Asha-Talat Dil-e-nadan zamane mein...from Mast Kalandar by Hansraj Behl. And for Suman-Talat, I would have loved Ek dil do hai talabgar badi mushkil hai....from Darwaaza. The Shamshad-Talat duet you have posted is new to me, though I have heard other songs from the film.

    But I was so disappointed not to see Talat-Madhubala Zhaveri featured here. They have sung so many lovely duets mo how to st of them tuned by Hansraj Behl. My most favourite ones are both from Dost -- Ae zamane bata and Jab se maine dil lagaya. Seeing you make playlists, I am wondering if I should make them too, only I have to yet learn how to do it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. My keyboard went haywire and there are some random letters in the second para. Sorry for posting without checking :(

    ReplyDelete
  25. The video is from a south indian film, same name starring MGR. Apparently this story (loosely based on ‘One Thousand Nights and One Night' (‘Alf Leila Wah Leila'). has been made into a movie in India several times in various languages. The Tamil one released in 1956. While the hindi one was made in 1963.

    ReplyDelete
  26. So many songs, zephyr, so little time. I share your pain. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Y'know, when I posted the Talat-Lata duets, you had mentioned Talat-Madhubala Zhaveri there as well. And I could have sworn I had a duet of theirs on my list! I'm glad you posted them here. I'll link them when I have some spare time - probably tomorrow. (Today promises to be 'one of those days'.)

    Playlists are easy. Sign into YouTube, on the side you will see 'Playlists'. Click on that, and then click on 'Create a new playlist'. Name it whatever you want. Then when you watch a YouTube video, you will see an 'Add' sign below the video, on the left hand side. Click on that, and it will bring up your playlists - choose the playlist you want to add it to. (If it sounds confusing, it really isn't. *grin*)

    ReplyDelete
  28. No worries. My mouse jumps all over the place too - he's quite drunk sometimes. I've corrected it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ah, yes, I thought he looked familiar. Thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Premnath 'sang' some fairly nice songs, actually. And he's total eye candy in Sagaai, which has that sweet song Yahaan se hum chale. :-)

    I shall have to give serious thought to the idea of that post. Shalini has posted some songs I'd never even heard of, let alone heard - so listening to all of those is top priority for me now.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Nalini Ikkandath14 March 2015 at 11:48

    You are in a Talat mood and I for one am not complaining. I actually like the combination of Talat with Suraiya and Geeta Dutt even better than the Talat - Lata one. I feel their voices go really well together. Most of the others were rather new but good. So thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  32. One more, but then again I seem to favor Asha too.
    Sach bata, tu mujh pe fida from "Sone ki Chidiya".
    http://youtu.be/W2qqzUrt0fk

    ReplyDelete
  33. I finally found the Talat / Asha duet I was looking for. Shalini posted it above - dil jawan hai aarzo jawaan

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks Shalini for posting "dil jawan hai aarzoo jawaan",. I have been trying to remember this song while posting a couple of songs. I was going through my cassettes to try and remember.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Yes, he did. :)

    Shalini always posts song that I've never heard of, let alone heard. :) :) I have her to thank for introducing me to some really wonderful melodies!

    And please, go ahead and make that list. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. In a 'Talat mood' because I just couldn't make up my mind. :) I'm glad you are enjoying it, though.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I like that song too, Neeru. Thanks for the link.

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is the place I come to, to educate myself. I have been lapping up the last few posts but because I hardly have anything to add, I refrain from commenting . I'm addicted to COC and Dustedoff. Both of you are marvellous. Loving music and films is something which is very abstract and vague, but blogs like this give it a voice and a shape. It renders an intangible love with a lot more meaning. And all the critiquing of films and music comes from a place of love. I always admire people who can care about something and still look at it with questions. As for this post, the only song I recognised (and love) is Dil e nadaan from Mirza Ghalib. That film has exceedingly beautiful songs and Ghulam Mohommad's score for this and Pakeezah and right up there on my list of 'oncredible film score . Each song has a story of its own. Not to mention that the lyrics are sublime.
    Anyway I first encountered Talat Mehmood when I followed an enchantingly beautiful song into a not so wonderful film. I listened to the song 'Tum to dil ke taar ched kar' and watched the film 'Roop ki rani, Choro ka raja' from beginning to end. Parts of it were interesting. Music was not bad. But the end was strangely put together, as if just for the sake of it. Still, Dev and Waheeda, this song and its picturization was magical. I first started listening to film music when I was sixteen, and Talat Mehmood's voice sounded a lot like Hemant Kumar's. Now, two years later, I can finally tell them apart.
    Thank you for the post. Great read, as always.
    Much love,
    Ritika.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Also sorry for the typos, disqus us eating some of the alphabets.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thank you for your comment, Ritika. You just made my day. :)


    Roop ki Rani, Choron ka Raja belied its wonderful cast. There are so many films that have wonderful songs but are not worth watching that I sometimes think it would be a public service to write a post warning people away from them.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Eh, don't worry. Disqus is a pain sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I managed create playlists, Anu! Thanks for the tip :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. You're welcome, Zephyr. Enjoy. :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Talat Mahmod continues, daur chalta hi rahe .

    I like Talat and Suraiya the best both velvety
    voice.

    Rahi matwale takes me to the other plane.

    I will add their man dheere dheer ggaye re

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCrKPZOZoZY

    And one rare song with madhbala Zaveri
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyfXPOJ_Nbk

    ReplyDelete
  45. Haan, daur chalta raha. :) Thanks for those additions as well. Both such lovely songs.

    ReplyDelete

Back to TOP