Madan Mohan Death Anniversary: Why His 70s Classic Hits Still Break Hearts
TUM jo mil gaye ho, toh yeh lagta hai, ki jahaan mil gaya. Any talk of music director Madan Mohan will invariably bring up reference to this song, written by Kaifi Azmi and sung by Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar in Chetan Anand’s 1973 film Hanste Zakhm. Images of Navin Nischol and Priya Rajvansh come flashing back.
This song comes back to mind on the eve of Madan Mohan’s 50th death anniversary on Monday, July 14. Despite its success, Tum Jo was actually criticised by purists for its heavy use of western arrangements. But it definitely shows his willingness to experiment, specially when his forte had been ghazals and romantic songs.
Madan Mohan had a huge repertoire, beginning with Aankhen in 1950, and covering films like Adalat, Anpadh, Haqeeqat, Woh Kaun Thi and Mera Saaya. Till the end of the 1960s, he had a huge number of successful songs with Lata, Rafi and lyricists Rajendra Krishan and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.
In this column, we shall stick to the 1970s. This is because when one talks of his hits, one mainly mentions songs from the previous decade, overlooking some of his later gems. Let’s thus list five soundtracks from the 1970s, followed by five songs from other films. The order is chronological.
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s 1970 release Dastak won Madan Mohan the National Award for Best Music Direction. Set in a red light area, the film stars Sanjeev Kumar and Rehana Sultan. Three Lata classics adorn the movie. While Baiyan Na Dharo is in raag Charukeshi, Hum Hain Mata-e-Koocha-o-Bazaar Ki Tarah and Maai Ri Main Ka Se Kahoon reflect the creative genius of lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.
The year 1970 also had Chetan Anand’s Heer Ranjha, a love story featuring Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh. Kaifi Azmi wrote the lyrics, and the soundtrack is best remembered for Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil, an easy entry into any sad songs compilation. Lata’s Milo Na Tum To and Do Dil Toote Do Dil Haare also grace the film.
Choice No 3 is Hanste Zakhm, which though best known for Tum Jo, also had some great solo work by Lata. Aaj Socha Toh Aansoon and Betaab Dil Ki Tamanna, filmed on Priya Rajvansh, find the Melody Queen at her soulful best. Rafi also sings the party song Yeh Maana Meri Jaan.
Next comes Gulzar’s 1975 film Mausam, starring Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. The music is best remembered for Bhupinder’s singing of the two versions of Dil Dhoondta Hai, on which Gulzar was inspired by Ghalib’s Muddat Hui Hai The film also has Lata’s Ruke Ruke Se Qadam and the Lata-Rafi duet Chhadi Re Chhadi. The film was released after Madan Mohan passed away, and the credits dedicate the movie to him.
Another film released after his demise was Harnam Singh Rawail’s Laila Majnu (1976), starring Rishi Kapoor and Ranjeeta. It featured the Rishi-Rafi combo which was successful till the singer passed away in 1980. Equally significant was the fact that Jaidev completed the music after Madan Mohan’s death. Hit songs included Lata’s Husn Haazir Hai, Rafi’s Tere Dar Pe Aaya Hoon and the Lata-Rafi duet Is Reshmi Paazeb Ki Jhankaar. Lyrics were by Sahir Ludhianvi.
That brings us to five other Madan Mohan songs from the decade. In 1972, Jyoti Swaroop’s Parwana featured the Kishore Kumar number Simti Si Sharmayi Si, written by Kaifi Azmi and picturised on Navin Nischol. In Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Bawarchi, Madan Mohan composed Tum Bin Jeevan Kaisa Jeevan in raag Bhinna Shadja. Manna Dey sang Kaifi Azmi’s lyrics, with Rajesh Khanna on screen. In Gulzar’s Koshish, the lullaby Soja Baba Mere was sung by Rafi.
Cut to 1973, and Manna Dey had the marvellous Har Taraf Ab Yehi Afsane by Kaifi in Hindustan Ki Kasam. Lata sang the beautiful Rasm-e-Ulfat Nibhaye, written by Naqsh Lyallpuri in Dil Ki Rahen.
Madan Mohan passed away at 51, leaving a huge void. In 2004, his unreleased compositions were used in Yash Chopra’s Veer-Zaara. The legend lives on.
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