POP 'carols' and LAXMIKANT-PYARELAL 'music'

POP 'carols' and LAXMIKANT-PYARELAL 'music'

The term "POP music" is originated in Britain in the mid-1950s as a description for rock and roll and the new youth music styles that it influenced. The instruments used to produce POP music are Guitars (Bass, Acoustic and  Electric), Drums, Winds & Brass, String Instruments (Violins, Viola and Cellos ), Piano, Percussion , Electric Organs, Glockenspiel or Xylophone etc are common in pop music. The most importantly rhythms, sometimes with ‘clapping’, that are “dance oriented”.

In hindi film music  POP music was first introduced by great music director C. Ramchandra in early fifties.  Later it was used by O P Nayyar and Shankar-Jaikishan too.

                                                                             

Laxmikant-Pyarelal  have also given many POP “carols”, persistently, in their long span of 36 years (1963 - 1998). Discussing few of the best ‘pop’ style compositions orchestrated by 

Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

Top: Pyarelalji conducting orchestra
Bottom: Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant, Gorakh Sharma (on Guitar) and Pyarelal 

The orchestra arrangements in “PRELUDES” and “INTERLUDES” used to be the assets of the

songs composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. It would be more proper to listen to the songs,

listed below, after reading the write up, explaining peculiarities, for each of the songs,

you will enjoy it, more.

1   “Mr X IN BOMBAY”   1964

It was for the FIRST TIME Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Anand Bakshi worked to gather. Later this combination went to create a history and worked for as many as 304 films as record breaking ’trio’.  It was for the FIRST TIME Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Kishore Kumar worked to gather. Later Kishore Kumar has sung as many as 402 songs under Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The film has evergreen / everfresh songs. It has  one ‘pop’ style composition song too. This song is still popular.

-- Khoobsurat Haseena Jaan-E-Jaa..Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

खूबसूरत हसीना, जान-ए-जा, जान-ए-मन

Excellent composition, from Laxmikant-Pyarelal, in western style orchestra arrangements. "Prelude" of 34 seconds  is wonderfully orchestrated with the use of SAXOPHONE, VIOLINS and FLUTE. Use of Vehicle HORN, SAXOPHONE, ACOUSTIC GUITAR and VIOLINS in the “interludes” is spectacularly orchestrated and  is worth to listen to. The rhythm is from BONGO DRUMS. All three "Interludes" have different tunes. Kishore Kumar is simply awesome as a singer and a comedian, as well in this song, Kumkum fully supportive.

2   “HUM SAB USTAD HAIN”   1965

This film has two beautifully composed pop songs. Both are superbly composed on

POP and “rock N roll” style. Kishore Kumar have sung as many as five songs

including these two pop solos. It is to be noted that Laxmikant-Pyarelal have given some of the best songs to Kishore Kumar when Kishore Kumar was passing through the lean period of his singing career, in mid sixties. The film was a hit. Once again all the songs became immensely popular and most of the songs appeared in Binaca Geetmala weekly countdown show.

-- Pyar Batate Chalo .. Kishore Kumar   ( a patriotic song)

-- Suno Jana Suno Jana  .. Kishore Kumar

Lyricist Asad Bhopali.

“Prelude” of 21 seconds mesmerizes you. Awesome take off by Kishore Kumar. BASS GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR and ELECTRIC GUITAR are gorgeously orchestrated in the entire song.

BONGO DRUM and CLAPPING rhythm is astonishing, “rock N roll” singing and acting by Kishore Kumar.

3   “DILLAGI”  1966

This film have some melodious songs including one ‘pop”

-- Ye Aajkal Ke Ladke .. Usha Mangeshkar

Lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.

“Prelude” of 43 seconds is full of ELECTRIC GUITAR. The “rhythm” pattern changes in “mukhada” and in “interludes”. All the “interludes” are phenomenal in terms orchestra arrangements which is full of BRASS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR,  VIOLINS and BONGO DRUM “rhythm”. Leading actress Mala Sinha had acted / danced fabulously.

4   “SHAGIRD”  1967

Laxmikant-Pyarelal were in supreme form, then. They were exploiting their musical talents.

In this film as many as three ‘pop’ style compositions and all are super hit songs.  

--  Bade Miyan Deewane .. Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey and I S Johar

--  Duniya Pagal Hai .. Mohammad Rafi

-- Woh Hai Zara Khafa Khafa .. Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi

Lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Enthralling  “toe stepping” ‘rhythm’ generated through the intermixing sound effect of ACOUSTIC GUITAR and a SNARE DRUM, a percussion instrument. Entire song is woven around the glimpses of ACOUSTIC GUITAR.  Another beauty of the song is mellifluous overlapping of AALAAPS with words and also AALAAP with AALAAPS, by Lata Mangeshkar & Mohammad Rafi. This overlapped aalaps" can be heard at the end of the song.  i) "overlapped aalaps" at 3.22-3.28 and again at 3.48-3.54) ii) "overlapped aalaaps with words" at 3.28 to 3.48, simultaneously both by Lataji and Rafi sab. This beautiful, melodious and sweet song naughtily acted by Saira Banu and Joy Mukherjee

5  “NIGHT IN LONDON”  1967

One more super musical with two ‘pop’ songs.

-- Night In London .. Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi

-- Nazar Na Lag Jaye .. Mohammad Rafi

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Enchanting Melody, Divine classic ‘pop’. “Prelude” of 67 seconds hypnotizes. Dulcet take off of ELECTRIC GUITAR (played by Gorakh Sharma) and RAFI sahab’s rendering, followed by solo BASS GUITAR and FRENCH HORN. First “interlude’ starts with FRENCH HORN and VIOLINS. Second interlude is full of solo ELECTRIC GUITAR and the third one starts with SYMPHONY VIOLINS. Mohammad Rafi simply preeminent.

6   “MERE HAMDAM MERE DOST”  1969

Laxmikant-Pyarelal have breathtakingly composed 7 solo songs, 3 by Mohammad Rafi + 4 by 

Lata Mangeshkar. There is one eminently orchestrated, romantically worded ‘pop’ song.

-- Na Ja Kahin Ab Na Ja  .. Mohammad Rafi

Lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.

“Prelude” is full of Rafi sahab's ‘humming’ and VIOLINS. The entire song is composed on the western style rhythm created on ACOUSTIC GUITAR. In all the ‘interludes', ACCORDION, 

BASS GUITAR and VIOLINS are beautifully executed without changing the rhythm pattern.

 

7  “AANSOO BAN GAYE PHOOL”   1969

A film with melodious music has one ‘pop’ song.

-- Meharban Mehaboob .. Asha Bhosle

Lyricist Taj Bhopali

Intoxicated melody and ‘rhythm’. One of the best song composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal for Asha Bhonsle. The song is completely woven around the “aalap” and “humming” by Ashaji, supported by westernized orchestra with excellent use of SAXOPHONE, GUITAR and the SYMPHONY style VIOLINS. Beautiful and frolicsome Helen dancing effortlessly.

9   “RAJA JANI”   1972

Everfresh/evergreen musical hit film.

-- Jaani O Jaani .. Kishore Kumar

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

The title track song filmed in background. Beautiful take off through ACOUSTIC GUITAR. Distinctively intoning by Kishore Kumar on western notes. Entire song is orchestrated on ACOUSTIC GUITAR,  BASS GUITAR, WHISTLING, FLUTE and CHORUS on western notes.

One of those  haunting tunes which can spin in your head for hours down the memory lane.

One of the best from Kishore Kumar and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

10  “AMIR GARIB”  1974

-- Main Aaya Hoon .. Kishore Kumar

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Phenomenal use of SAXOPHONE in entire song. “Prelude” 57 seconds and all the “interludes” are orchestrated with SAXOPHONE (played by Manohari Singh), ACOUSTIC GUITAR and VIOLINS. The best song ever composed on SAXOPHONE. Superlatively rendered by Kishore Kumar. Dev Anand acted superbly in the song.  

11   "PONGA PANDIT"

When Laxmikant-Pyarelal were in 'peak' form in mid-seventies, they gave some fabulous scores in this film with as many as 3 POPs

-- Woh Mere Pichhe Padi Hui Hai .. Kishore Kumar

-- Mein Jab Chhedunga Dil Ka Tarana .. Kishore Kumar

— Tere Milane Se Pedale .. Lata Mangeshkar

Lyricist Rajendra Krishna.

An extremely melodious, intoxicated pop song composition. Excellent take off by Lataji in “prelude” with SAXOPHONE. Ear-pleasing BONGO DRUM rhythm and classic orchestra with minimum musical instruments, ELECTRIC GUITAR , VIOLINS, ACCORDION. One of the finest song from the unique combo of Lata - LP.

                                

12  “AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY”  1977

Manmohan Desai’s super-hit musical film.

-- My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves .. Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

The song is awesomely filmed and woven around the musical instruments like SAXOPHONE, BRASS and TRUMPET with BONGO DRUM rhythm. Amitabh Bachchan cavorting charmingly, throughout the song.

13  “DREAM GIRL”   1978

Hema Malini’s home production with tuneful songs.

-- Kisi Shayar Ki Gazal .. Kishore Kumar

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

The song is wonderfully composed on western style. Use of SAXOPHONE , SYMPHONY style VIOLINS in all the interludes is mellifluous. Awesomely rendered by Kishore Kumar and specially penned by Anand Bakshi, for the natural dream girl Hema Malini.

14   “KARZ”   1980

Subhash Ghai’s musical blockbuster with two pops. One “Gazal” in the form of ‘pop’.

-- Dard-E-Dil Dard-E-Jigar .. Mohammad Rafi

-- Paisa Yeh Paisa .. Kishore Kumar

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Apart from enrich and mellifluous orchestra arrangements the beauty of this song is  

it’s overlapping sound effect of CHORUS and KISHORE KUMAR’s rendering…..The rhythm in the form of CLAPPING, TRUMPET and GUITAR is  just fabulous. Rishi Kapoor’s gamboling effect is tuned and synchronised wonderfully with the orchestra arrangements.

15   “FIFTY FIFTY”    1981

Musical hit film.

-- Pyar Ka Wada Fifty Fifty .. Kishore Kumar - Asha Bhosle.

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

The song has  115 seconds “prelude” comprises of stupefying African beats on African traditional DRUMS. Followed by beautiful take off by Asha Bhosle “aalaps”. African DRUM beats are ear-pleasingly synchronised with the CHORUS and VIOLINS. Interestingly all the three “interludes” have different “rhythm” pattern. Rajesh Khanna - Tina Munim capers awesomely.  

16   “EK DUJE KE LIYE”  1981

Another musical bonanza.

-- Mere Jeevan Saathi Pyar Kiye Jaa .. S P Balasubramaniam - Anuradha

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Unique composition, comprising the film’s title throughout the song, in pop style interludes and rhythm.

17   “NASEEB”  1981

This Manmohan Desai’s super musical film has as many as four pop composition

-- Chal Chal Mere Bhai .. Mohammad Rafi, Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor

-- Pakado Pakado .. Kishore Kumar - Usha Mangeshkar

-- Rang Jama Ke .. Rafi, Kishore, Asha and Usha

-- Mere Naseeb Mein Tu Hai Ki Nahi .. Lata Mangeshkar  

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

The song starts with Lataji “aalaps” clapping and then ACCORDION. Euphonic western “rhythm”, “interludes” orchestration with BASS GUITAR, ACCORDION and VIOLINS are worth to listen to it. Hema Malini rocks.

18   “DESH PREMEE”  1982

Manmohan Desai super musical

-- Gore Nahi Hum Kale Sahi .. Laxmikant and Asha Bhosle

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Mesmerizing ‘prelude’ of 54 seconds sets your dancing mood to this lovely song.

Use of  BRASS instruments, GUITAR, ACCORDION nd VIOLINS in the “interludes” is ear-pleasing. Amitabh Bachchan - Hema Malini careened appealingly.

19   “HERO”  1983

This Subhash Ghai film was a musical blockbuster. It has one mellifluously

composed ‘pop’ song with wonderful orchestra arrangements.

-- Ding Dong O Baby Sing A Song .. Anuradha Paudwal and Manhar Udhas

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Western style orchestra arrangements and rhythm. “Prelude” of 40 seconds is mind-boggling in particular use of FLUTE and ACOUSTIC GUITAR. Anuradha Paudwal has brilliantly synchronized her voice with the “filler” of glimpses of the FLUTE. “A Stroke Of SITAR”. One will wonder how nicely the ’SITAR’ is used in the song, immediately after the words “ding dong” .”sing song”…BRASS instruments, SAXOPHONE are orchestrated in the “interludes”. It is also a “rock n roll” style orchestra.

20   “MERI JUNG”   1985

-- Bol Baby Bol Rock-N-Roll .. Kishore Kumar, S Janki, Javed Jafri  

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

A perfect ‘pop’ music song. Use of SAXOPHONE  is cadenced, in the ‘interludes’.

Javed Jafri and Khushboo have gambouled appealingly.

21   “TEZAB”  1988

The song and the film that made Madhuri Dixit a star. Each and every track was a super hit with two pop style compositions.

-- So Gaya Yeh Jahan .. Nitin Mukesh, Shabbir Kumar, Alka Yagnik.

-- Ek Do Teen Chaar .. Alka Yagnik

Lyricist Javed Akhtar.

A foot tapper rhythm “Ek Do Teen”  became a rage and still is. The song used to echo in the streets of India throughout the day when the movie was released. Madhuri Dixit became the dancing queen of Bollywood. This song also gave name / fame to singer Alka Yagnik. Mind Boggling “rhythm”, mesmerizing, enrich orchestra arrangements are the added features of this song. The hook lyrics of this song were actually dummy lyrics used by Laxmikant-Pyarelal to compose the tune. Director N. Chandra liked it so much that he insisted that the dummy lyrics be included in the song.

22    “HUM” 1991

-- Sanam Mere Sanam .. Amit Kumar - Alka Yagnik

Lyricist Anand Bakshi.

Ajay Poundarik

Cleveland (OHIO)

USA