A Shankar-Jaikishan Musical Evening (Mumbai, 13 Nov 2010)
From Binu Nair
SJ Musical Evening
THE RAFI FOUNDATION WILL CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN and the birth anniversary of flamboyant JAIKISHAN with a live musical function at Mumbai’s Dinanath Hall, VILE PARLE on Nov 13.
Recently there was a comment in the Face-book that SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN were lucky as they had the golden voice of MOHD RAFI to back up their creative creations. I would venture to add the names of Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh and Manna Dey to the list.
The foursome were the pillars of the SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN music station. Hence, wehave four singers lined up for the musical evening who will present the above legends evergreen and great songs.
The singers of the evening are : Srikanth Kulkarni (voice of Mukesh), Mona Kamath (Lata), Hamid Khan & Mukesh Bhanushali (Mohd Rafi & Manna Dey)
A TRIBUTE TO SHANKAR & JAIKISHAN…
BARSAAT IN 1949 WAS THE MAIDEN SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN FILM. It was a musical hit. S.J recorded their career’s first ever song with MOHD RAFI in this movie. Shankar then was all of 27 years (born 15-10-1922) and his younger partner Jaikishan was just 20 years, (born 4-11-1929). Both of them honed their talents learning under the first composing duo of Husnlal and Bhagatram. After Barsaat, they were the super heroes who gave soulful songsin films like Awaara, Daag, Poonam, Aah, Raj Hath and many others.
Writes film historian Manek Premchand in his vivid and memorable “Yesterdays Melodies, Todays Memories” :” SHANKAR – JAIKISHAN, has in dozens of movies, made marvellous and lingering melodies which directly touches the heart. The duo did this while experi-menting with different kinds of songs, keeping one eye on newness and the other eye onsimplicity, trying variations, reversing taals, using counter melody, taking the saxophonehere, positioning the accordian elsewhere and many more.”
SHANKAR JAIKISHAN TEAM revolutionised the use of ORCHESTRA and INTERLUDE musicand made these as integral and inseperable part of their compositions rather than using themas fillers, as was the case until their arrival on the musical horizons. That’s why, prelude, interlude and background music of many of their songs are as popular and notable and hum-able as the tune of the main song. Says singer Sharada, their variations were endless, several of their mukhdas started on a high note.
The Flyer of SJ Musical Evening
Shankar-Jaikishan composed music for 172 films. The role of lyricists SHAILENDRA AND HASRAT JAIPURI in S.J.s music can NEVER be minimised. If Shailendra teamed up with Shankar, Jaikishan tuned up excellently with Hasrat Jaipuri. Shankar was time perfect, came in early and was sedate, whereas his partner Jai was flamboyant, gifted and a movie freak. He could be found at Churchgate’s GAYLORD hotel surrounded with friends listening to songs often – from the juke box. Jai also wrote some poetry and many times “wrote” the first lines of the songs.
Shankar-Jaikishan’s songs were winners in diverse types of films irrespective of its theme and subject.
SOME of the songs selected for the SHANKAR JAIKISHAN MUSICAL on Nov 13th are listed below :
“JIA BEKARAAR HAI”, “HAI PHOOLON KI RANI”, “UNKE KHAYAAL AAYE TO”, “AKELE, AKELE, KAHAN JAA RAHE HO”, “AA AB LAUT CHALE”, “ANDAZ MERA MASTANA”, “RUK JAANA TEHER JAA RE CHANDA”, “DIL KI GIRAH KHOL DO”, “NAKHRE WAALI”, “MAI PYAR KA DIWANA”, “Yeh MERA PREM PATRA PADH KAR” and many more gems witha medley of songs too.
friends, i was fortunate to attend this lovely program organised by the Rafi foundation. last year’s program ‘Dil Pukare Aa Re’ was astounding for the song selection and the music played by the musicians. so i didn’t want to miss out on this program which was on my favorite music directors SJ, with many songs of my idol Rafisaab.
The song selection yet again took the cake with a judicious mix of superhits, unknown gems and sheer foot-tapping numbers. Tell me how many organisers will risk out to select ‘Aaja Ke Intezaar Mein’, ‘Dil Ke Girah Khol Do’, ‘Ye Wada Karo Chand Ke Samne’ Ye ankhen Uff Yum Ma’ when there are much safer bets available? Who will pick ‘ajeeb dastan hai ye’ over ‘Andaaz Mera Mastana? Remember both are great songs, but one is zara hatke 🙂
If you put ‘Aaj Ki Raat’ in Google search, you will either get the Don song or Naushad’s Ram aur Shyam song. How many of the audience would have heard of ‘Aaj Ki Raat, Ye Kaisi Raat, Ke Humko Neend Nahin Aati’ from ‘Aman’ before? I have to embarrassingly accept that i had not heard it before. But after the program, for the next 3 days, i as humming the song to myself all the time 🙂
Mukesh Bhanushali was excellent with the fast SJ-Rafi numbers, while the 22-year old Hamid Khan showed tremendous talent and potential for future growth. Mona Kamat as a sole female singer had to sing a lot of songs, but she put up a solid and consistent performance. Srikant Kulkarni, the senior singer showed what maturity and experience is all about when it comes to singing.
Binuji, thank you once again for the tremendous efforts you have taken, looking forward to more such programs in the near future. And please put up some nice photographs of the program if they are ready.
Harish
thank you all the above writers…
i am sending you Invitations to all of you to attend the musical as my guest.
if u are not in mumbai, u may depute two of your dear friends – each with your reference.
i will be glad to receiv them . please come and enjoy the shankar-jaikishan musical.
thanks once again.
Dear Mr Binu Nair,
Congrats for the good work. Wishing the musical evening a grt success & as usual, it will be a very memorable one, being organised by you! pl plan a series of such events, give adequate notice & publicity so that max Rafians can make good use & attend in large #s.
Basant Singh Ji Post no. 4..
please call me on my cell no. 9833 250 701. i live in mumbai.
thanks for writing in sir.
Binuji,
wah! I grew up listening to S-J tunes. They were amazing. They revolutionised Hindi film music. I am delighted that you are hosting a tribute to them. Wish i were there. But won’t be able to make it.
Here is wishing the programme every success.
Jhuk gaya aasman songs are fantastic….kaun hai jo sapnon mein aaya….
Mere tumhare beech mein, Unse mili nazar ke mere hosh udgayi..etc..
cheers
Utthara
binujee
a very well written article – a flair typical of you – as seen past so many years.
you cover a lot of ground and leave no stone unturned.
keep up the good work. you are one of the very few pillars who carry the flag of rafi sahab far and wide.
ramesh narain kurpad
Binu, i will have to come to Mumbai to visit you.
Girish : gtmluv@hotmail.com
please send me much inforamation how i can join you in future.
My best regrads.
your truly.
Basant Singh
SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN, India’s Best Music Director. They composed and created film songs in a manufacturing scale like in from a workshop. They have innumerable number of hit and good songs. Once they ruled Indian film Indiustry,most deservedly. Hats off to them.
Gautam Banerjee.
Wish I could be there!They are the original innovators in Bollywood music.Laterr on RD,Bappi Lahiri and currently ARRehman are the few who come close to SJ when it comes to experimenting and innovation.I recall from the hey days of Binaca geet mala there were several weeks when moe than half the songs would be of SJ’s.There were several movies like Junglee,JDGBH,Sangam just about every song hit the Binaca geetmala line up.Iam proud to own huge collection of their LP’s.
Dear Binuji,
Greetings!
Thanks for sharing the program relating to Shankar Jaikishan and Rafisahab The program should be telecast in the entertainment media.
The media for the last 10 years hardly cover Shankar Jaikishan and Rafisahab’s combination.
You are absolutely right in mentioning that the preludes and interludes of composition of SJ had almost being memorised by listeners as songs themselves.
The music of SJ had every flavour possible, ghazals, bhajans, folk music, rock and roll compositions, hindustani classicals, etc.
They had used Lataji, Manna Dey sahab, Mukeshji also with great success.
But Rafi’s combination with SJ just created waves during 50s and 60s.
Warm regards,
Souvik Chatterji.