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| Music Review: Tribute To Joy Mukherjee |
Sudha (Lakshmi) Rao
03/28/2012
(This article is sponsored by Sounds Of India)
Joy Mukherjee songs
Joy Mukherjee belonged to a family very closely associated with the Hindi Film Industry. His father was a successful producer and co-founder of Filmalaya Studios and his uncles were director Subodh Mukherjee (on his father's side) and Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar (mother's side). One of his brothers, Deb was also an actor and another, Shomu (actress Tanuja’s husband and Kaajol’s father) was a producer/director.
Love in Simla, his first film and success was followed by movies like Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Love in Tokyo, Ziddi, Humsaya, Shagird, etc. Tall, lanky and good looking, Joy also acted with some of the most beautiful and successful actresses of the time including Sadhana, Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore, Tanuja, Saira Banu and Mala Sinha. He was fortunate to have a number of hits, many of musically rich too! He also directed a few films like Humsaya, Love in Bombay, Chailla Babu (a box-office hit) and a TV series Umeed. On March 9th, Joy Mukherjee passed away at the age of 73 (2 days after the death of Music Director Ravi who had composed music for a few of his films).
In this tribute to Joy Mukherjee, I reminisce and share with you some splendid songs from his films. Why, Ek Musafir Ek Hasina and Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon itself would take up a top 10 list of Joy’s finest songs! However, there are some of his other films that boasted of equally brilliant compositions and need mention. And since the list tends to be endless, rather than do this song wise, I decided to list 10 of his films whose music I enjoyed the most.
Ek Baar Muskura Do – 1972 - With music by O.P.Nayyar, had some hit songs (but mostly filmed on Deb Mukherjee)- Savere ka sooraj is my favourite in this film (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Y55w1JMfw) – Kishore sings for Deb but Joy also features in the sequence which is why it made my list!! The other beauties in this film were Roop tera aisa, chehre se zara (the former sung by Kishore and the latter by Mukesh and Asha)
Dil Aur Mohabbat – (1968) –with Sharmila as heroine, had some beautiful songs like kahan se lai o jaaneman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Ek Kali Muskai (1968)
– With Madan Mohan at the helm of music, the film had to have some
amazing music – and the best is an absolutely incredible Lata song Na
Tum Bewafa, where the heroine sings her heart out - the tune is heart
tugging and Lata’s rendition (her voice modulation and ghamaks are just
incomparable) is just perfect!
http://www.youtube.
Humsaya – (1968) – this film produced and directed by Joy Mukherjee who also starred in a double role was unfortunately a box-office failure – but the music of the film (OPN) is just etched in your mind and ears!
Dil ki awaaz bhi sun – a Rafi classic, where strings and tabla vie for honours is a mind-blowing melody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiqZfwulAtc). Other hits were: Woh Haseen Dard De do, where Asha’s oriental and impish touch to the vocals are just perfect for Mala Sinha, Mujhe mera pyar dede (Asha/Rafi), yet another elegant and off-beat duet, and Asha’s Kitna hasin hai ye jahan with lyrics by Hasrat and impressive and elaborate orchestration.
Shagird – (1967) – had a beautiful Lata and Rafi duet -Woh hai zara khafa khafa – engaging and alluring number picturised on Joy and Saira Banu. Laxmikant Pyarelal were the composers with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8BIfiTznNk)
Love in Tokyo – (1966) – This musical hit had some brilliant music by Shankar Jaikishen. My picks are:
Aa Jaa Re (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EHanmlDOhA) where Rafi’s tremolo and vocal modulation ooze passion and ardour as he whispers and caresses and croons all at one time!
Sayonara – Lata sings the Japanese good bye so sweetly for Asha Parekh, kimono and all (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHT28UX8i_I)
O mere Shaahe Khuba (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywlk8Lu2Cjk) - one of my absolutely favourite Rafi songs – inspired singing and an orchestral delight which also has a very charming version by Lata.
Bahu Beti – (1965) – with Mala Sinha as heroine had some fine songs by Rafi – my favourite being Jiyo to aise jiyo – with lyrics by Sahir and music by Ravi – wonder how I missed including this jewel in my Ravi tribute! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVDHTeRr8LQ)
Phir wohi dil laya hoon –(1963) – Nasir Hussain’s production – a musical treat with O.P.Nayyar wielding the MD’s baton – asha’s fabulous solo – aankhon se jo utri and Rafi’s ‘out of this world’ solos – Laakhon hain nighame and aanchal mein sajaa le are just tops with songs like humdum mere khel na jaano, banda parwar, aji qibla and zulfki chaaon mein following closely on heel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpTlZWNDhZI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y--JLe6biVk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXVL9ThAWpE
Ek Musafir Ek hasina – (1962) – A film whose music would take top priority in my list! Joy serenades the lovely Sadhana in most of the songs. Beloved and haunting melodies like Bahut Shukriya, Main Pyar ka rahi hoon, Aap yunhi agar, Hum ko tumhare ishq, Mujhe dekh kar aapke muskurana, Meri nazren haseen, Phir tere shehar me – O.P.Nayyar delights his fans with these priceless songs, with the first three (all Rafi and Asha duets) being the film’s crowning glory – each with such different mood and rhythm and style – Nayyar’s genius just shines forth!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHKt5GX7Am4)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-49Ho-zGl-U&feature=related)
Hum Hindustani – (1960) – Joy starred alongside Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh and had Helen as his heroine in this film which boasts of one of the most popular patriotic songs composed – Chodo kal ki baaten….Hum Hindustani sung by Mukesh (however this song featured Sunil and not Joy!) – but there is a divine romantic Mukesh solo in Raag Yaman – Raat Nikhri Huyee filmed on Joy and Helen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLCWWeHlBPU) with music by Usha Khanna
Joy’s debut Love in Simla had some very lovely (and lively) music (Iqbal Qureshi), as also did his other films Ao pyar Karen (Usha Khanna), Ziddi (S.D.Burman), Saaz aur awaaz (Naushad) and Door Ki Awaaz (Ravi).
Joy’s career might have been fading by the seventies and some of his films (especially during this time) might have been absolutely unremarkable or forgettable but the songs in many of his films were extraordinary indeed – they were worked on by some of the most talented and senior and popular Music Directors and singers of that era – and are cherished and etched in our minds and hearts and memories. I bid goodbye to this endearing and debonair hero with one of my favourite amongst his songs: Sayonara Sayonara…
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