Page 42 - Seniors Today December 2020

Once Upon a Time | Music
On The
Classical Track
Indian classical musicians have made immense contributions to film music,
as singers, instrumentalists and directors, writes Narendra Kusnur
Musically, the 1952 film Baiju Bawra is often
remembered for the way music director
Naushad used classical raags. The use of raag
Malkauns on Mohammed Rafi’s ‘Man Tadpat
Hari Darshan Ko Aaj’ and raag Darbari on ‘O
Duniya Ke Rakhwale’ set new standards in
film music composition.
Naushad also used raag Deshi effectively on
the song ‘Aaj Gaavat Man Mero Jhoomke’. But
instead of opting for regular playback singers
like Rafi or Manna Dey, both known for their
mastery over classical nuances, he chose the
team of Ustad Amir Khan and Pandit DV
Paluskar on this song. Both were known
names in Hindustani classical music, and
made a huge contribution to the soundtrack,
with pieces in raags Puriya Dhanashree, Todi,
Megh and Darbari. In fact, Khan also played
the role of music consultant for the film.
Khan and Paluskar, who sadly died young at
34, were two examples of classical musicians
contributing to film music scores. Though
the number of classical vocalists singing in
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films has been low and sporadic, the number
of instrumentalists has been pretty large,
either in their capacity as music directors or
by playing instrumental parts and getting
known for specific solos.
An example of instrumentalists in film
music would be Ustad Allarakha, who went
by the name AR Qureshi, while composing
for soundtracks in the 1940s and 1950s,
before going on numerous tours abroad
with sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and
settling down full-time with classical music.
Among the vocalists, a known instance is
of Ustad Rashid Khan singing ‘Aaoge Jab
Tum Saajna’ to guest composer Sandesh
Shandilya’s tune in Jab We Met in 2007.
Prominent contributions
We shall now look at some of the prominent
classical vocalists and instrumentalists who
contributed to Hindi films. Ghazal singers
are not being included, as ghazals have
always been an intrinsic part of films in terms