One Song at a Time - 57. Chandan Sa Badan
(Kalyanji Anandji)
There are some songs which almost everyone likes in the first listen and then continues liking even after a long time. Some songs catch our attention in the first listen but we slowly lose interest in it after multiple listens. Some songs catch the attention of only a few people while some songs, (massive hits when released) are slowly forgotten after a certain period of time. There are only a few songs which remain as fresh as when they were released and which are even now loved by everyone. To this category belongs the song of today, 'chandan sa badan'.
I saw and heard this song for the first time when the movie 'Saraswathi Chandra' was screened on Doordarshan. Those were the days when every movie screened on TV was watched as TV was still a novelty. Saturday and Sunday evenings were reserved for movie watching on TV, irrespective of the quality of the movie screened. When I heard this song the first time I was fascinated. Mukesh used to be, and still is, a favorite singer of mine. So I doubly happy when I heard this melody. I have since then heard it in almost all Mukesh collections and I still don't tire of this song. I guess it is the same for many of you who have heard this song earlier.
The music of this song is by Kalyanji Anandji. I always think that their musical output was very similar to another duo, Lakshmikanth Pyarelal. Some memorable tunes and lot of ordinary stuff. They had scored music for some very successful movies like 'Safar', 'Don', 'Qurbani', 'Mukkadar Ka Sikandar', 'Johnny Mera Naam', 'Dharmatma' etc. Yet, the number of songs of this duo I like is a very small percentage of their output.
The charm of this lies in its simplicity. It is a fairly uncomplicated tune, with uncomplicated orchestration, sung in a very uncomplicated, straight from the heart mode by Mukesh. The lyrics of Indiwar are simple. You hear them once and the words embedded themselves in your heart.Black and White is always fascinating. Added to it you have Nutan on screen. The Kalyani ragam (or Yaman) is used very effectively in this song. No wonder it captured the hearts of a generation and still continues to. I can safely say that all those associated with the song, Kalyanji-Anandji, Indiwar and Mukesh achieved immortality through this song.
As a bonus, I give you another song of Kalyanji Anandji I like a lot. I love the lyrics and the way Kishore and Asha deliver the song. This is a slightly rare song, compared to many of the other 'hits' of Kalyanji Anandji. from the film 'Mahal' starring Dev Anand and Asha Parekh.
Comments
A few of my favourites:
1. Bedardi Dagaabaaz jaa (Bluffmaster) by Lata - Beauty!One of their best.
2. Tere raahon mein khade (Chalia)
3. Yeh Sama sama hai suhaana (exotic indeed).
4. jeevan se bhari teri aankhen (Kishore sang it so well)
5. Other songs from film Safar
6. Tumhe yaad hoga kabhi hum mile the
7. Neend na mujhko aaye (film: Postbox 999) - this was their brand of melody in 50s/60s period.
There are few more, that i suddenly recall now. But their post 70s output is such an opposite to their 60s output. In 70s, Babla introduced electronics into their music - which later became their sound & legacy that was furthered by Viju Shah though he couldnt sustain much.
Exactly my assessment as well. I consider their best to be definitely better than LP, though not as rich as SJ.
Added to the list you have given, you can also add a lot of songs for Mukesh that they gave to the mix.
And as you mentioned, the post 70s output was not of the standards which they were used to in the earlier era. The 'Don', 'Qurbani' and others, though a big hit when released, were musically not to my liking.
KA's another beautiful unforgettable song is from Dilne pukara - Hum ko hone lagaa pyaar...set in Bouli,Charukesi. Video is available. Enjoy it. You should have posted the Lata's version of Chandan sa badan also. Both were the fantastic.. long ago and are still fantastic even today! Good post. Thanks.
Thanks for the comment and the info. You are very correct, as usual :) The songs of 'Chalia' sound like SJ songs than KA songs.
Thanks for the song suggestion. I am not sure if I have heard it. Will hear it now.
Ehsan Tera Hoga Mujh Par, for the film Junglee. Tuned by Shankar-Jaikishan and rendered by Rafi, this song is immortal. Rafi sings Mohabbat some 8 times in the song and comes up with a different emotion each time!
Man Re, from Chitralekha, tuned by Roshan and sung by rafi again. Immortal!
Also Sir, have heard of this popular legend? That Kalyanji-Anandji gave their Kasme Vaade tune to Raaja for his Kanavu Kanum Vazhkaiya in Neengal Kettavai and he gave his Ilaya Nila in return for them to use in Neele neele ambar par.
"'Chandan Sa Badan' took me back to my days in Hyderabad when I would be doing my sums(in Maths) with the Vividh Bharati smiling at me.
Thanks Suresh!
Raj "
Thanks for the comment.
Kalyani's abound in Indian film music, especially in Hindi film music. There are so many delightful Kalyanis out there that is difficult for me to list :)
I don't know if there was a tune exchange between Raja and KA but yes, each one used the other's tune. Only those who are close to Raja or Balu Mahendra may know the truth
Thanks,
madhu
Soon after Mukeshji's death, KA presented an LP (Long Play here). In fact, Mukesh sang many numbers for KA than to any other musician. There used to be two versions of the same song in those days. Hum ne tujh ko pyaar kiyaa hai of KA-Mukesh/Lata, akele hain chale aawo of KA-Rafi/Lata! Several piano based songs from KA are simply superb- chandee ki deewar na todi(Mukesh), diwaano se ye mat poochho(Mukesh), chale the saath mil kar (Rafi), yahan main ajnabee hun (Rafi), Waqt kartaa jo wafaa (Mukesh), O saathheere tere binaa bhi kyaa jeenaa (Kishore/Asha), Dil to hai dil (Lata)etc. Amitabh used to accompany KA in their charity shoes. KA trained little singers. Both were humorous. way back in 1981 or so I got a chance to attend their charity show in Bengaluru. I have their autographs till today.
Thanks to your post for keeping our tongues open with twisting words.
Kishore at his funny best! He takes a dig at many actors and even his favourite pet - Income Tax department and last but not a least - himself :-D And the way Kishore emoted in that song, all through - amazing..
By the way, it was Kalyanji Anandji who have discovered/trained many singers in Bombay, such as Sadhana Sargam.
Lovely pieces of information. Didn't know most of it. I did know they groomed Sadhana Sargam.
The Kishore Kumar singing program with KA conducting used to be telecast often and I have watched it quite a few times. Luckily now it is available on youtube as well.
Nice to know Vengugopal gaaru has their autograph!! And yes, they had a very nice association with Mukesh and I remember seeing a tape of KA-Mukesh songs. Nice tunes to which Mukesh does great justice. (My favorite MD for Mukesh is Roshan.That combination has some amazing songs.)