Friday 24 April 2020

Shamsunder: Bazar (1949/1979)

Bazar

In a cool pop-art(ish) sleeve comes a score from long ago. The focus of MFT3F has seldom been music made before 1960; soundtracks from the 1940s are scarce here. Remissness perhaps – 'Bazar' is certainly a very enjoyable record. One imbued with that sweet tinge of nostalgia; lovely melodies, melancholy sounding many of them (obviously/unfortunately I don't know what they're singing about); beguiling arrangements. Highlights for me include Rafi's 'Shaheedo Tumko Mera Salam', Lata's 'Ae Dil Unko Yaad Na Karna' and the duet 'Ae Mohabbat Unse'. (I love the subtle percussion on the latter.) The next time I listen I may well pick others. Why do I keep thinking I've heard 'Apni Nazar Se Door Woh' before?

Shamsunder, aka Shyam Sundar, appears to be a mostly forgotten music director, at least judging by the scarcity of information available online. Researching him had me scratching my head; I initially thought he and actor Shyam might be the same person, due to them both working on this film. Add the fact that actor Shyam was sometimes dubbed by a playback singer also named Shyam... well, it became rather confusing.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Basalo Apni Nigahon Mein
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Ae Mohabbat Unse
3. Mohd. Rafi: Yeh Hai Duniya Ka Bazar
4. Shamshad Begum, Mohd. Rafi & S.C. Batra: Chhaila De Ja Nishani
5. Mohd. Rafi: Shaheedo Tumko Mera Salam
6. Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Dil Unko Yaad Na Karna
7. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Apni Nazar Se Door Woh
8. Shamshad Begum: Pee Aaye Aakar Chal Bhi Diye
9. Mohd. Rafi: O Janewale Chand
10. Rajkumari & Mohd. Rafi: Zara Sun Lo Ham Apne
11. Mohd. Rafi: Mere Bhagwan Too Mujhko
12. Lata Mangeshkar: Sajan Ki Galiyan Chhod Chale



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7 comments:

  1. https://mir.cr/1KV5XQTC
    no reups

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm not familiar with the film, but i remember hearing about the actor Shyam from my parents years ago. He died after falling off a horse during the making of a film, at the age of 31.

    He isn't the same guy as the music director, who died a few years later at the age of 47. There are supposed to be two sets of composers for this soundtrack, according to wikipedia. It's possible the other team, Husnlal Bhagatram, either co composed and were forgotten about, ghost composed and weren't credited OR only did the underscore and not the songs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I noticed that about the other composers on Wiki. I was wondering though, if it might be incorrect; that someone had it confused with 1950's 'Meena Bazar', which Husnlal Bhagatram did compose?

      Delete
  3. It's possible. only anyone alive and well, with a good memory (or inside knowledge, e.g. a relative) of the sessions would know for sure

    ReplyDelete

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