Consecutive Melodies

Posted on Trivia- The Spice of Life on 11/12/2022

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In Indian films, songs appear at regular intervals sometimes to break the monotony or develop the plot and at other times for no rhyme or reason. Irrespective of this, a melodious song with meaningful and topical lyrics, picturised tastefully is always a pleasure to watch and listen to. A film on an average has five to six songs spaced well throughout the length of the movie. However, there are exceptions where one song is immediately followed by another. It is these exceptions that this post is all about.

In this post, I have listed 5 sets of songs – each set featuring in one movie, coming immediately one after another. There are also songs in the same movie where the gap between two songs is less than two minutes. I have considered them too. In most cases, the plot is such that there is a need for two songs consecutively. But there are movies where there is no reason for consecutive melodies (like Naya Daur). Probably the songs were too good to be done away with and thus were just inserted into the movie one after another. So here’s the list.

1) Naya Daur (1957) – The mood of these two songs is diametrically opposite. Further, the reason for featuring them consecutively in the movie also escapes me. Nevertheless, both are wonderful melodies.

a) Dil Leke Daga Denge – Sahir Ludhianvi – O.P.Nayyar – Md.Rafi.

This song, unlike those familiar with the plot of the film would believe, features not in the latter half but in the very beginning. Rafi sings for both Dilip Kumar and Ajit. Though it sounds like a song lamenting betrayal by a friend, it is actually one of reassurance. This short song has both friends singing with a smile on their faces.

b) Yeh Desh Hain Veer Jawanon Ka – Sahir Ludhianvi – O.P.Nayyar – Md.Rafi and Balbeer

This peppy song with joyous Punjabi folk music and dance is a delight to hear and watch. It begins soon after the earlier song ends, without any gap. Rafi sings the major chunk with Balbeer joining in, in the last stanza. The song perhaps is only to reinforce the idea that the two are very good friends who share the same outlook about life.

2) Dekh Kabira Roye (1957) – Rajinder Krishan – Madan Mohan – Asha & Lata

This song from a film, which is a comedy of errors, is unique because it is actually a series of songs. The first begins as Meri Veena Tum Bin Roye (sung by Lata for Ameeta) and the first line of this song becomes the refrain after the second and the third song ends. The second song is Ashkon Se Teri Humne Tasveer Banai Hain (sung by Asha Bhosle for Anita Guha) and the third is again sung by Lata and picturized on a distraught Shubha Khote. I like the way the second and the third song come back to the opening line. Weaving three songs into one without any disjoint is truly the brilliance of Madan Mohan. The raag he has composed in is Ahir Bhairav.

3) Guide (1965) Guide is known for its wonderfully choreographed dances and ethereal music. The songs of Guide are perhaps amongst some of the best that S.D.Burman ever created. There are two songs in Guide that feature in succession. The two songs are akin to an accusation and a repartee. While the first is a dance performed by Waheeda on stage as she sings, the one that follows is also set on (a fictitious) stage as Dev Anand, waiting in the wings to speak to Waheeda begins to imagine what is going to befall him as he has committed a crime and is sure to go to prison. Just before the two songs, Waheeda has discovered that Dev Anand is guilty of forgery. So the words Mose Chhal Kiye Jaaye are apt. Dev Anand for his part can only see handcuffs as the logical fallout of his act and he has his own set of grievances to nurse as he calls her disloyal (bewafa) in his song.

a) Mose Chhal Kiye Jaaye – Shailendra – S.D.Burman – Lata Mangeshkar

b) Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya – Shailendra – S.D.Burman – Md.Rafi

4) Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961) Centred round the love story of two simple souls who have many challenges to deal with, the movie begins with the the first song followed immediately by the second. Both songs are very short. The plot unfolds through flashback sequences.

a) Picnic Mein Tik Tik Karti – Bharat Vyas – S.N.Tripathi – Manna Dey & Geeta Dutt.

This song breaks many a stereotype that we link with certain names. If you read the names of those associated with the song and then see the song intently, focusing carefully on the voices simultaneously, you will at once appreciate its uniqueness. Who would have imagined that Bharat Vyas – who penned lyrics for songs of many a mythological/historical movie and S.N.Tripathi who also prolifically composed music for such movies could come up with a stunner like this? By the way, S.N.Tripathi was also the director of this movie. The lyrics are such that they have eternal appeal. Why would anyone think of Monday while frolicking on Sunday? The mukhda is sung thrice over in the song. There are no antaras.

b) Kaga Sab Tan Khaiyyo – Bharat Vyas – S.N.Tripathi – Lata Mangeshkar

Even as the first song is fading out, there is a distressed Ameeta singing this poignant song, remembering her beloved. Only the mukhda is sung here. The complete song features much later in the film. With this short song whose mood is completely different from the earlier, the tone is set for the flashback.

5) Anupama (1966) This movie had outstanding music to back a strong storyline. It was directed by the one and only Hrishikesh Mukherjee. There are two female characters who in the film share their birth date. However, they are like chalk and cheese as far as their personalities go. Shashikala is the ebullient, loud and garrulous type whereas Sharmila is quiet and reticent. Shashikala celebrates her birthday where the big gathering enjoys her spirited singing. Less than two minutes after her song ends is sung another song which is slow but extremely moving and meaningful. The two songs are poles apart, thereby very successfully highlighting the difference in the two characters (Sharmila and Shashikala).

a) Kyun Mujhe Itni Khushi De Di – Kaifi Azmi – Hemant Kumar – Asha Bhosle

This song sung by Shashikala sets you tapping your foot as you enjoy the fast pace. Shashikala is all smiles and is extremely happy with herself. Deven Verma plays the piano as she sings.

b) Ya Dil Ki Suno Duniyawalon – Kaifi Azmi – Hemant Kumar

This song sums up the theme of the movie – ek phool chaman mein aisa khila, maali ki nazar mein pyaar nahin. In this movie, the female lead’s (Sharmila Tagore) mother dies on the same day that she is born. Thus, her father (unnecessarily) holds her responsible for her mother’s death. She does not get the fatherly love that she is entitled to for no fault of hers. Dharmendra describes the unjust behaviour of the world towards Sharmila. Kaifi Azmi’s lyrics are spot on. The change in the mood from merry to sombre gets very well highlighted by these two songs coming in quick succession.

This brings me to the end of my post on film melodies featuring in quick succession. In most cases, the objective of having consecutive melodies is evident; however, there sometimes, these seem to be included just because they were too good to be done away with.

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