Lata Mangeshkar sings for C. Ramchandra - Part 1

In 1947, when Lata Mangeshkar was still in the very early phase of her playback singing career, Ramchandra Chitalkar was one of the first music composers to have reposed his faith in her abilities. He assigned Lata to sing a group song along with Geeta Roy and himself in the film Shehnai (1947).

 

Jawani Ki Rail Chali Jaye (with Chitalkar & Geeta Roy) - Shehnai (1947) - Pyare Lal Santoshi

This marked the beginning a partnership that would result in countless melodies over the next few years15-20 years. In her exceptionally long career, Lata has forged some memorable partnerships with a number of music directors to give us some of the most enduring and mellifluous songs in Hindi films, but in my mind the Lata-C. Ramchandra combination ranks right among the top, especially when we look at both quality and quantity.

After Shehnai in 1947, C. Ramchandra gave a few more songs to Lata in the subsequent year, but most of them were either duets or group songs in films like Khidki and Nadiya Ke Paar. It wasn’t until 1949 that Lata sang her first solo composition by C. Ramchandra. Namoona (1949) had a variety of Lata songs ranging from the folksy fun song, Mhari Gali Ma Aawjo, to the melancholic Ek Thes Lagi to an unusual mujra – Aji Sambhal Ke Aana.

 

Mhari Gali Ma Aawjo - Namoona (1949) - Pyare Lal Santoshi

Patanga was a big musical hot of 1949. While Shamshad Begum was the main singer in this soundtrack, CR gave 4 songs to Lata as well, including this fun duet with Shamshad Begum.

 

Pyar Ke Jahan Ki (with Shamshad Begum) - Patanga (1949) - Rajinder Krishan

Sipahiya was another CR soundtrack in 1949, again including many Lata beauties.

 

Dard Jaga Ke Thes Laga Ke - Sipahiya (1949) - Ram Murti Chaturvedi

By 1950, Lata Mangeshkar had become C. Ramchandra’s primary female singer. There wasn’t even a single film among the 35+ films that CR gave music for between 1950-1956, where Lata did not figure prominently.

In 1950, Lata-CR produced around 30 songs in 5 films – Nirala, Samadhi, Sangeeta, Sangram and Sargam.

 

Mehfil Mein Jal Uthi Shama - Nirala (1950), Pyare Lal Santoshi

 

Abhi Shaam Aayegi Niklenge Taare - Samadhi (1950) - Rajinder Krishan

 

Jo Mujhe Bhula Kar Chale Gaye - Sangeeta (1950) - Pyare Lal Santoshi

 

Din Aaye Pyare Pyare - Sangram (1950) - Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

This brings me to the pièce de résistance of all Lata-CR songs of 1950 - a semi-classical duet with Sarasvati Rane in Sargam. Marked by some outstanding singing, the song reaches a crescendo with a fabulous violin solo in the end – mindblowing!

 

Jab Dil Ko Satave Gham (with Saraswati Rane) - Sargam (1950) - Pyare Lal Santoshi

1951-52 can be considered the peak years for the Lata-CR partnership. They produced more than 75 songs in these two years, including some of their biggest hits in Albela.

The entire Albela soundtrack is outstanding, especially Dheere Se Aaja Ri Akhiyan Mein. But I pick this song, which, though well-known, is relatively lesser heard than other big hits from the film:

 

Balma Bada Naadaan - Albela (1951) - Rajinder Krishan

 

Ae Chaans Pyar Mera - Khazana (1951) - Rajinder Krishan

 

O Babu Kaise Dil Karoon Qaboo (with Amir Bai Karnataki) - Sagai (1951) - Rajinder Krishan

 

O Ladke Ladke Ladke Dil Dhak Dhak (with Shamshad Begum) - Shabistan (1951) - Qamar Jalalabadi

In 1952, Lata and C. Ramchandra continued to enthrall listeners with an amazing repertoire of songs raging from the traditional to experimental.

 

Mujhe Apna Bana (with Geeta Roy) - Ghunghroo (1952) - Rajinder Krishan

 

Jhoom Rahi Pyar Ki Duniya (with Chitalkar) - Hangama (1952) - Rajinder Krishan

 

Dil Dil Se Keh Raha Hai (with Talat Mahmood) - Parchhain (1952) - Noor Lakhnavi

 

Kijiye Nazara Door Door Se - Saqi (1952) - Rajinder Krishan

 

Shin Shinaki Bubla Boo (with Chitalkar) - Shin Shinaki Bubla Boo (1952) - Pyare Lal Santoshi

In the next part of this post I will write about the Lata-CR partnership post-1953, a period that not only produced the best soundtracks of the combo, but also saw a fairly quick decline.