Wednesday 23 September 2009

Kalyanji Anandji: Professor Pyarelal (1980)

Professor Pyarelal

This one I originally had planned for later, but as it's been requested quite a few times, and I was listening to it anyway the other night, I felt like pushing it forward. So here's Kalyanji Anandji's 'Professor Pyarelal'.

Most of it is pretty much as expected, considering the vintage (and a composing duo just past their prime); I don't find any of the songs particularly noteworthy. They're upbeat and happy sounding, hummable, but with the possible exception of 'Dilwala Mastana' which is quite good, forgettable.

The title tune however, now that's one mad, schizophrenic ride. It begins with cheesy Euro-disco augmented by a chorus sounding like it's from an Italian children's cartoon (look up Mr. Rossi or Mr. Hiccup on YouTube if you have no idea what I'm talking about). Midway there's a jazzy interlude introduced by a fab funky drum break, followed by a cool piano based loungy bit with the title sung in a weird mock-American accent (anyone know who?). More disco ensues, before proceedings wind down courtesy of a lone violin (or possibly viola). Fantastic fun!

And then there's the matter of the cover, which has to be one of the strangest ever. Can someone tell me what, exactly, is going on in that guy's lap? I mean, this is a mainstream movie, isn't it?

Track listing:
1. Professor Pyarelal - Title Song (Instrumental & Chorus)
2. Kishore Kumar & Manhar: Gayeja Aur Muskurayeja
3. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Ye Vada
4. Asha Bhosle: Aage Aage Ek Hasina
5. Asha Bhosle: Ga Ga Ga Gayeja
6. Asha Bhosle: Dilwala Mastana
7. Kishore Kumar: Dil Ki Khushi Yun
8. Kishore Kumar: Aisa Bhi Koi

28 comments:

  1. Ha! You're a genius!

    Anyway, yes, this question has come up before of what, exactly, that poor hair-mobbed woman is doing. I don't know the film, but the actress clearly has her head down out of fear or incapacitation, because taking the angle into account, if that's how far over she has to bend in order to reach his chubby... he's kickin' it GARDEN HOSE style.

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  2. I tried to buy this album once, but it turned out to be a different record in the Professor Pyarelal cover. Serves me right for not checking, I suppose.

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  3. Aha ! I got some good pieces of information there regarding the title track. Just gimme time and I will post it up here :)
    Thanks !

    Harshi :)

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  4. It was a religious recording of a temple singing group. I looked at the Prof. P. cover and noticed that someone had hand written the name of the record in pen.

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  5. well, thanks to you, I can now listen to the actual soundtrack with the full size jacket in my hand!

    Thanks for all your work.

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  6. Thank you for awesome album. You did wonderful job.

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  7. Hey PC!
    Thanx as always!
    This album is much sought after these days, but when it released, both the movie and the soundtrack did not do well.
    The hero - Dharamendra and the lady - Zeenat Aman, both are just trying to escape from the villains and the bullets in this pic.

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  8. Still a very odd choice for a cover though; they must have realized there would be alternative interpretations...

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  9. That's ZEENAT? Fuck, I gotta order this flick! Zeenat equals THE HOT.

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  10. Indian culture was pretty different when it came to such things in those days. Trust me! No one could ever imagine what other meaning it could interpret. The industry made movies that could be watched by all audiences and it was illegal to make adult films in those days. The censor board became pretty lenient only after the 1980s. :)

    Harshi :)

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  11. I dunno, I find that kind of hard to believe, that they weren't aware of the double entendre. Maybe the culture in regards to censorship etc. was different back then, but I don't think sexual practices were, that much. I'm thinking the artwork people were cheekily sneaking it in for a laugh.

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  12. Ok now the title track.

    1) We begin with Alec Costandino's - "Romeo & Juliet". Bass lines and the symphonies are the exactly the same.

    2) At 1 min 28 secs, Cerrone's "Supernature" comes in.

    3)The brass instrument portions are again from Costandino's "R&J"

    4) At 3: 15 we go back to "R&J" bass lines again.

    So basically, there has been a heavy use of Costandino's songs and some portion comes out of Cerrone's "Supernature". Also, there are other parts which I have heard before but do not remember the exact names of the songs. Check out the aforementioned songs :)

    Romeo & Juliet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnlSBOzEjJo

    Supernature - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V112pTo--Js

    Have fun. Let me know what you think.

    Harshi :)

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  13. I'm getting a "500 Internal Server Error" on the link :(
    It's it off line?

    -Stack

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  14. It's DHARMENDRA. I would pay money to put my face in his lap. Or would have, back in the 70s :D

    Thanks for this, it's hard to find. I have the title track only for some reason and LOVE it.

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  15. There's no fellatio involved. Watch the film...the car gets jerked because someone's trying to hunt them down. So yes, no fellatio. That scene is actually in the film...I noticed it because of Phil mentioning the cover on his blog.

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  16. My DVD just arrived yesterday, so that is precisely what I shall do... watch it, find the proper context, and debunk accordingly!

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  17. i love your site so much! it has enhanced every bit of my life. huge huge thanks for all of the magic you put up on here.

    i was wondering if you have any suggestions of vintage children's bollywood music? the only gem i could find was "Nani teri morni ko mor le gaye" from the Masoom soundtrack, but i couldn't find an mp3 OR a soundtrack. i have a family radio show and want to do a bollywood special. but i have NO children's bollywood. any help would be SOOOOOO appreciated! yours truly, dia

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  18. Dia, I could help you out with some---there are not that many really but there are some sweet songs sung with and by kids and also quite a few lovely lullabies if that's the kind you are looking for. You can email me at memsaabstory at gmail dot com...

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  19. Me, I'm clueless in regards to children's Bollywood songs I'm afraid.

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  20. I second Harshi. Most (simple minded Indians, very few of whom actually exist now) would not even dream about the possible double meaning of this cover. Hell, I didn`t even see the guy`s lap until I read these comments. The simplicity in Indian life is mesmerizing.

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  21. Professor Pyarelal is approx. 155 minutes long. At 24 fps, that's 223,200 frames to choose a cover photo from. And they picked one that makes no sense whatsoever to anyone not familiar with the film, is most unflattering towards the persons depicted, but does have overtly sexual overtones. A random coincidence? Not very likely. The designers of this cover knew exactly what they were doing.

    OK, I can't comment on the innocence or virtuousness (or simple-mindedness, although that sounds a bit harsh) of Indians back then. I do however know that Bollywood knew quite a bit about the utilization of sexual imagery and double meanings. One need only look at any number of Helen's cabaret sequences from the late 60s and onwards for proof. And this album is from the 80s.

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  22. Well, that sure is ONE way to look at it!

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