Nadiya Ke Paar (Hindi: नदिया के पार) is a 1949 (or is it 1948?) Hindi film produced by Filmistan Studios and directed by Kishore Sahu (remember him? he played Dev Anand’s father in the 1972 film Hare Rama Hare Krishna). The film starred Dilip Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, S L Puri, Maya Bannerjee, David, Tiwari and Ranibala. Music was directed by C Ramchandra (who preferred the name Chitalkar when he sang). The film must not be confused with Rajshri Production’s 1982 film of the same name, starring Sachin and Sadhna Singh. Both films, however, had one thing in common. They both had a strong Bhojpuri storyline, rustic Bhojpuri dialogues and great songs.
Surinder Kaur – Akhiya Milake :
Lalita Dewoolkar – Dil Leke Bhaga :
Lalita Dewoolkar & Chitalkar – Katwa Ke Naiyya :
Lalita Dewoolkar & Mohd Rafi – More Raja Ho :
Lalita Dewoolkar & Chitalkar – Najariya Mein Aayi Ho :
Shamshad Begum & Mohd Rafi – Do Char Din Pyar Se :
Shamshad Begum is one of the first singers of Indian film industry. She was born on 14th April, 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab. According to music director O P Nayyar, her voice was crisp and crystal clear like a temple bell. She was a premier singer in 1950s and 1960s. Shamshad Begum was one of the two female singers who survived strongly after the entry of the Mangeshkar sisters. Geeta Dutt was the other one.
Shamshad Begum started her singing career by singing for Peshawar Radio. Later she also started working for Lahore Radio in 1937. She was part of a musical group ‘The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts’, which was formed in Delhi. Along with this group she performed in stage shows and also for All India Radio (AIR). Her radio work helped her to enter into the film industry. AIR Lahore used to broadcast her songs repeatedly, which caught music directors’ attention and lured them to use her voice in films.
In 1944, she moved to Bombay along with composer Ghulam Haider as a part of his team. Shamshad Begum lent her voice for Ghulam Haider in director Mehboob Khan’s historical venture Humayun in 1944. At that time another singer Amirbai Karnataki was the topmost female singer in Industry. But with the entry of Shamshad Begum the scenario changed. Many music directors were rushing to sign her for their films. She soon became the lead singer for music directors like O P Nayyar, C Ramchandra and S D Burman.
Shamshad Begum – Na Bol Pee Pee More Angana (Dulari 1949) :
Shamshad Begum – Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re (Bahar 1951) :
Shamshad Begum – Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar (Aar Paar 1954) :
Shamshad Begum – Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon (Patanga 1949) :
Shamshad Begum was graciously beautiful woman in her youth. Her crystal toned, nasal voice created history from 1940s to mid 1960s. In 1998 there came a rumor that India’s famous singer Shamshad Begum had died (only this Shamshad Begum happened to be actress Naseem Banu’s mother and Saira Banu’s grandmother, and a classical music singer). The legendary singer of Hindi film industry, Shamshad Begum is still with us today living at Hiranandani Gardens, Powai in Bombay. She was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2009.
P.S : The male voice in Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon is of Chitalkar and in Kajra Mohabbat Wala the other female voice is that of Asha Bhonsle.
Anokhi Ada (Hindi: अनोखी अदा) is a 1948 Hindi movie produced and directed by the legendary Mehboob Khan. Music was directed by another legend, Hindi film music maestro, Naushad. The film starred Surendra, Naseem Banu, Zeb Qureshi, Murad, Cuckoo, etc.
Surendra is a rich man’s son who leaves his father’s home to live as a vagabond. He encounters the heroine who is very poor and has nothing to eat. He gives her some rotis. Police mistake him for a thief, brings him to the police station where he is bailed out by his father’s Munshi. Meanwhile the heroine’s brother comes under a car and dies. She being bankrupt, leaves the house. They meet again in a train and fall in love. But the train falls off the track and suffers an accident. The heroine loses her memory and in a lost state of mind walks out of the hospital into a professor’s house nearby. He takes pity on her and allows her to live in his house. He begins liking her and knows of her from the doctor who attended her in the hospital. They plan to get married but Surendra who is a former student of professor finds her and appeals to the professor to let her go and let them marry. The professor agrees but the heroine still doesn’t remember him. In the end her memory comes back and they get married.
Ankhen (Hindi: आँखें) was a 1949 (some say it was released in 1950) family drama directed by Devendra Goel and starring Shekhar, Bharat Bhushan and Nalini Jaywant. A moderate box-office success, the film became the tenth highest earning Indian film in the year of its release. It was the debut movie of Madan Mohan as a music director, and perhaps as a singer too. For me the highlight of the film is a song (Rail Mein Jiya Mora) sung by Raj Khosla, who later on made it big as a film director. Very few of us know that Raj Khosla entered the film industry with the hope of making it as a playback singer.
Shamshad Begum & Madan Mohan – Humse Na Dil Ko Lagana :
Khazanchi (Hindi: खजांची) was a 1941 film produced by Pancholi Production, which was based in Lahore, and directed by Moti B Gidwani. The film starred M Ismail, Ramola Devi, S D Narang, Manorama, Durga Mota and Ajmal. Music was directed by Ghulam Haider, who left the profession of a dentist to become a musician. Ghulam Haider revolutionalized the face of the Hindi film songs and laid the foundation for the Hindi film as we know it today by combining popular ragas with the rich verve and rhythm of Punjabi music. A huge hit, Khazanchi was one of the films that helped to establish the musical style of the Hindi film industry in subsequent years. The film also shot Shamshad Begum into the big league.
Shadilal (M Ismail), the khazanchi (cashier) must take some jewellery to Bombay. His son Kanwal (S D Narang) wants to marry Madhuri (Ramola), the daughter of the rich Durgadas (Durga Mota), but the wicked Ramesh (Ajmal) is determined to marry her to get his hands on her wealth. The news comes from Bombay that Shadilal has murdered an actress and stolen her jewellery. A typical murder mystery, the rest of plot should be best left to your imagination.
Shamshad Begum – Diwali Phir Aa Gayi Sajni :
Shamshad Begum – Ek Kali Nazon Ki Pali :
Shamshad Begum – Laut Gayi Papan :
Shamshad Begum – Man Dhire Dhire :
Shamshad Begum – Mohe Bhabhi La Do :
Shamshad Begum – Mori Churiyan :
Umrao Zia Begum – Pine Ki Din Aaye :
Shamshad Begum & Ghulam Haider – Nainon Ke Baan Ki :
Shamshad Begum & Ghulam Haider – Sawan Ke Nazare Hain :
Shamshad Begum & Ghulam Haider – Tori Ankhen Hain :
The outstanding feature of this film is its music composed by Ghulam Haider, especially ‘Sawan Ke Nazare Hain’, ‘Ek Kali Nazon Ki Pali’ and ‘Nainon Ke Baan Ki’. Some of tracks have Ghulam Haider himself singing alongside Shamshad Begum. ‘Pine Ke Din Aaye’ is sung by Ghulam Haider’s wife Umrao Zia Begum. It is even said that the film introduced the then very young Baby Noor Jehan, as a playback singer in the song ‘Sawan Ke Nazare Hain’ as a chorus participant. It was the first film, which was without actress Baby Noor Jehan on screen and with her song picturized on other actress.
