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I could not have imagined until sometime back that I would be writing two posts back to back on Asha Bhosle. But I have since become conscious of a strong Asha Bhosle Fan Club on SoY. In my last post on her songs with Naushad and C Ramchandra, we saw that even though they might have gone to her reluctantly, they created some of the best songs of her career. That post was devoted to her solos. While looking for their songs I realised that her duets, too, composed by them are no less memorable. We can make a general statement that duets as a class, right since the earliest days from when film songs are available, have held a special charm. Therefore, to have a complete picture of the songs that Naushad and CR composed for Asha Bhosle, I am presenting her duets made by the two reluctant Masters.
Some readers might be wondering what makes a person a member of the Asha Bhosle Fan Club. I am not one, but after observing the staunch members for some time, I have devised a small Asha Bhosle test. Here are three simple Yes/No statements. If you agree, you check Yes, otherwise No. If your response is unequivocal Yes to all the three statements, you are a true-blue member of ABFC.
Asha Bhosle test
1. Asha Bhosle’s Ai gham-e-dil kya karun is much better than Talat Mahmood’s (Thokar; 1953; Sardar Malik). Yes/No
2. Asha Bhosle’s Dil laga kar hum ye samjhe zindagi kya cheez hai is much better than Mahendra Kapoor’s (Zindagi Aur Maut; 1965; C Ramchandra). Yes/No
3. Asha Bhosle’s Tera dil kahan hai sab kuchh yahan hai (Chandni Chowk; 1954; Roshan) is much better than Lata Mangeshkar’s Rahein na rahein hum (Mamta; 1966; Roshan). Yes/No
Continuing my Year of Naushad series, along with C Ramchandra, here are their superb duets for Asha Bhosle, which would delight even non-members of ABFC. I am leaving it to the readers to decide the winner of the duel.
1. Mere mehboob mein kya nahi (with Lata Mangeshkar), from Mere Mehboob (1963), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
The two great sisters have some terrific duets. It is another matter that Asha Bhosle has to settle for Ameeta with Lata Mageshkar for Sadhana. Naushad’s orchestration and the uninhibited dance by the ladies in the zenana of this ‘Muslim social’, each thrilled by her mehboob, without realising they are both fascinated by the same man, makes this one of the best duets by the Mangeshkar sisters.
2. O chaand jahan wo jaayein (with Lata Mangeshkar) from Sharda (1957), lyrics Rajendra Krishna
You talk of the great sisters’ duets! C Ramchandra has already done it. Meena Kumari and Shyama, both in love with the same man, Raj Kapoor, who is seen on a flight, beseech the moon to follow him wherever he goes and bring the news of his welfare. You can take it for granted that Asha Bhosle has to settle for the second lead; also, she comes in after Lata Mangeshkar’s first stanza, but she creates a distinct identity by her khanak for the more ebullient Shyama, compared to the restrained Meena Kumari.
3. Daiya re daiya laaj mohe laage (with Rafi?) from Leader (1964), lyrics Shkeel Badayuni, music Naushad
Leader is not rated among great movies of Dilip Kumar. I am surprised about its unflattering rating, but I am very fond of this movie. It is an entertaining mix of comedy, politics, murder mystery, along with the teasing hero and angry irritated heroine, who finally falls to the hero’s charm. The movie has a proper Rafi-Asha Bhosle duet, and a very good one at that, Aajkal shauq-e-deedar hai, and you have this duet which is really a solo. HFGK identifies it as an Asha Bhosle solo, but Rafi’s Aa aa aa is unmistakable, lip-synched by Dilip Kumar, who enters dressed up for performance, where Vyjayanthimala has electrified the stage with her dance.
4. Dekh humein aawaz na dena (with Rafi) from Amar Deep (1958), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music C Ramchandra
If you are looking for a proper Rafi-Asha Bhosle duet, you can’t do better than Dekh humein aawaz na dena. This has two versions, happy and sad. It is also a perfectly balanced duet in that Asha Bhosle does not merely follow Rafi, she often takes the lead with a slight change in tune, and leaves no less impact than Rafi.
5. Saawan aye ya na aaye (with Rafi) from Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
This film loosely based on the Wuthering Heights boasted some excellent songs, though the film crashed. This is a very pleasant romantic duet, based on Brindavani Sarang, as mentioned in a comment on YT.
6. Mere jeevan mein kiran ban ke (with Manna Dey) from Talaaq (1958), lyrics Pradeep, music C Ramchandra
Did someone say classical-based and romantic? C Ramchandra could do all that, and he also had more diversity than his rival. The lead pairs Rajendra Kumar and Kamini Kadam (?), on a date in the mountains and clouds, hear this beautiful melody coming out from some distance. Coming closer, they see a group of sheepherders, and a couple from the group is seen singing this beautiful romantic duet against the backdrop of some stunning landscape. There are many landmark songs picturised on unknown actors. This should figure among the list of best such songs. Over to our indefatigable researcher Ashokji. The lead pair look at them fondly, wishing they could also express their love so freely.
7. Pyar ki raah bahaar ki manzil (with Rafi) from Saaz Aur Aawaz (1966), lyrics Khumar Barabanqvi, music Naushad
Naushad was not averse to take ‘inspiration’ from his rivals. This was the period when OP Nayyar had become a rage. He may not have a copyright on ghodagaadi beat, but his influence is unmistakable in this duet in a film Naushad probably took as a filler when the more ‘prestigious’ projects, Dil Diya Dard Liya and Palki, were getting interminably delayed.
8. Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi (with Mahendra Kapoor) from Navrang (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music C Ramchandra
But C Ramchandra has put his heart and soul into music of this film. He had to make a point to someone estranged from him, and he does that with élan. While Naushad was very Rafi-centric, C Ramchandra used more diverse voices. The result is this outstanding romantic duet, which is always cited when songs based on Malkaus are discussed.
9. Baalam tere pyar ki thadhi aag mein jalte jalte (with Rafi) from Ram Aur Shyam (1967), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
Now we come to the phase when Naushad is not the undisputed monarch. After a long drought, he was lucky to get this entertainer from South, which laid the foundation of twins separated at birth, one of them being brought up amidst some villainous relatives, scheming to keep him meek and terrorised, and the other fun loving, loud and aggressive. This was the precursor of lady Ram and Shyams, such as Seeta Aur Geeta and Chalbaaz, each becoming a big success. A generic part of the plot is the lookalikes landing up at each other’s places in a mix-up. The meek Ram has landed up at Shyam’s village, where the impish Mumtaz taking him to be the fun-loving Shyam sings this high energy love duet. Love makes Ram, too, quite confident.
10. Aap ka chehra masha Allah (with Rafi) from Rootha Na Karo (1970), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music C Ramchandra
C Ramchandra, too, at the sunset of his career, creates this romantic duet on the once popular pair, Shashi Kapoor and Nanda. But, sadly, he seems to be groping what he wants to be. There is no trace of CR as we know, the song appears to be probably 70% Shankar Jaikishan and 30% OP Nayyar.