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of poetry, and many ghazal singers have
contributed regularly. In fact, as early as in
1942, ghazal queen Begum Akhtar sang for
composer Anil Biswas in Roti, and later, Jagjit
Singh and Hariharan were very regular.
One of the earliest examples of classical
vocalists was Saraswati Rane, daughter of
Kirana gharana legend Ustad Abdul Karim
Khan. In the 1943 film Ram Rajya, she sang
‘Beena Madhur Madhur’ for composer
Shankarrao Vyas. Down south, Carnatic
doyenne MS Subbulakshmi sang for the
Tamil film Meera in 1945, and years later, M Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj from Baiju Bawra
Balamuralikrishna sang in films of all south to sing for them. Khan was well-known for
Indian languages. his semi-classical thumris, but the thought
Amir Khan continued from Baiju Bawra by of singing for films didn’t excite him. Yet, he
singing the title song of V Shantaram’s 1955 finally agreed and recorded two songs - ‘Prem
film Jhanak Jhanak Paayal Baaje, composed Jogan Banke’ in raag Sohoni and ‘Shubh Din
by Vasant Desai. Another popular song Aayo’ in Raageshwari.
involving a classical vocalist was ‘Ketaki A similar difficulty was faced by director
Gulab Juhi’ from the 1956 film Basant Bahar. Govind Nihalani when approaching the great
Composed by Shankar-Jaikishen, it featured Kishori Amonkar for Drishti in 1990. The ace
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Manna Dey. And vocalist had earlier sung ‘Saanson Ke Taar
though Dey was known for his flawless Par’ in Shantaram’s 1964 film Geet Gaaya
rendition of classical raags in films, he was Patharon Ne, and after some dilly-dallying,
nervous to sing in front of someone as iconic accepted Nihalani’s request to not only sing
as Joshi, specially after being told his ‘voice’ but play the role of music director too.
would win a competition. Amonkar composed and sang four songs
in Drishti, but was later horrified when she
Compromising on art? realised how they had been filmed around a
For many filmmakers, it wasn’t easy to couple’s affair. She decided she would do no
convince classical vocalists to sing for films, more films thereafter.
though they felt that having a respected name Classical vocalists to do occasional film
would add value to their projects. Many songs included Hirabai Barodekar (in
singers felt they were compromising on Pratibha) and Pandit Jasraj (Ladki Sahyadri
their art by getting into that territory. Also, Ki and Birbal My Brother). But the films
though classical raags were used extensively didn’t do well and the songs were forgotten.
by music directors, film songs had their own A much better-known instance was when
treatment and arrangement, which classical Begum Parveen Sultana rendered RD
vocalists found it difficult to adapt to. Burman’s ‘Hamein Tumse Pyar Kitna’ in the
Thus, it took a lot of cajoling for Mughal- 1981 film Kudrat. The song clicked, though
e-Azam director K Asif and music director Kishore Kumar’s male version was a bigger
Naushad to persuade Bade Ghulam Ali Khan hit.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #18 | DECEMBER 2020 43
