Ramsu issued me a challenge to post the soundtrack of my life’s events using only music from Shammi’s black and white movies. I have done my level best, but plizz to remember that 90 percent of my life (so far) had passed by before I discovered any Hindi movies, let alone dear Shammi. So I did cheat a little bit.
And if the lyrics don’t seem to fit the occasion, well, what do I know? I don’t speak Hindi. I have included links to YouTube videos where there is one! Update: I’ve added audio files where there’s no video available. Enjoy!
Opening credits: “Baharon Ki Kahani” (sung by Asha from Pyar Kiya To Darna Kiya, 1963; Ravi). Picturized on the lovely Helen, whom I want to BE in my next life.
Waking up: “Chunni Munni Tunia” (sung by Asha & chorus from Mem Sahib, 1956; Madan Mohan). Young pretty Meena Kumari at her happy, chirpy best.
Average day: “Jawaaniyaan Ye Mast Mast” (sung by Rafi from Tumsa Nahin Dekha, 1957; OP Nayyar). Just a happy, happy, happy song.
First date: “Chham Chham Lo Suno” (sung by Lata & Manna Dey from Ujala, 1959; Shankar Jaikishan). Long time since I had a first date but I like this song and Mala Sinha enthralls Shammi with her dancing.
Falling in love: “Salaam Aapki Meethi Nazar Ko Salaam” (sung by Rafi from Boy Friend, 1961; Shankar Jaikishan). Shammi at his most heart-meltingly romantic gazing longingly at a beautiful sleeping Madhubala.
Love Scene: “Mujhe Kitne Pyaar Hai” (sung by Rafi and Lata from Dil Tera Deewana, 1962; Shankar Jaikishan). A beautiful duet picturized on Shammi and Mala Sinha.
Fight Scene: I don’t fight, I just get even!
Breaking up: “Gham-e-Hasti” (sung by Rafi from Vallah Kya Baat Hai, 1962; Roshan). Shammi seems so sad in this one.
Getting back together: “Aigo Aigo Aigo Yeh Kya Ho Gaya” (sung by Rafi & Aarti Mukherjee from Boy Friend, 1961; Shankar Jaikishan). Cute flirtatious song with Shammi and Madhubala, who keeps just out of his reach.
Life’s ok: “Dil Deke Dekho” (sung by Rafi from Dil Deke Dekho, 1957; Usha Khanna). I don’t think I need to explain this one!
Mental Breakdown: Shammi just didn’t have mental breakdowns (although I have) so there’s nothing much to choose from for this one. If I weren’t restricted to Shammi I’d choose “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd from their great album “The Wall.”
Driving: “Chali Chali Kaisi Hawa” (sung by Shamshad Begum & Usha Mangeshkar from Bluff Master, 1963; Kalyanji Anandji). I chose this song because I could drive for hours listening to qawwalis and this is one of my favorites.
Learning a lesson: “Zulph Ke Phande Mein” (sung by Rafi from Mujrim, 1957; OP Nayyar). Picturized on the hilarious Johnny Walker in jail.
Deep thought: “Sar-e-Mehfil Jo Jala Parwana“ (sung by Rafi & Suraiya from Shama Parwana, 1956; Husnlal Bhagatram). A poetry competition between Shammi and Suraiya sparks their ill-fated romance.
Flashback: I don’t have enough history with Shammi for a flashback. I’ll choose “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire instead.
Partying: “Baar Baar Dekho” (sung by Rafi from China Town, 1962). So much fun!!!!
Happy Dance: “Mehfil Mein Jo Aaye” (sung by Asha from Vallah Kya Baat Hai, 1962; Roshan). The quintessential 50’s-style dance tune. Love it!
Regretting: “Zindagi Kya Hai” (sung by Rafi from Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, 1963; Ravi). Very intense song.
Death Scene: “Alvida Alvida O Jaan” (sung by Suraiya from Shama Parwana, 1956; Husnlal Bhagatram). *Sob* this song makes me cry whenever I hear it. So mournful!
Closing Credits: “Ab Kahaan Jaaye Hum” (sung by Manna Dey from Ujala, 1959; Shankar Jaikishan). This sounds like a funeral processional to me. If I picked something outside of Shammi songs though, it would have to be Mozart’s Requiem, the most majestic funereal music ever.
Tags: Earth Wind & Fire, life OST, Memsaab's favorites, Mozart, music, Pink Floyd, Shammi Kapoor
September 8, 2008 at 6:10 pm |
Great list! I’ll be checking out these songs. None from Kashmir Ki Kali?! Really like your ‘Average Day’ song…it’s one of my favorite Rafi tracks of all time! :)
September 8, 2008 at 6:29 pm |
Looking forward to listening to all these songs when I have time to enjoy. Just wanted to say I love your picture collage- three beauties in one. Those eyes…
September 8, 2008 at 6:33 pm |
No, bollywoodfan, I wasn’t allowed to use color films, only Shammi’s black and white :-) But yes, that is a great song. I love all the songs here…
Awww, thanks Marta, although I think you are biased ;-)
September 8, 2008 at 6:53 pm |
WOWIE! I am going to convert this into a tag and get tagged by you. :D I’ll watch the songs later on. Thanks for sharing. :)
September 8, 2008 at 7:11 pm |
Kanan, please do make your own list and come back and give us a link to it when you post it!
September 8, 2008 at 9:14 pm |
Holy smokes, and I’ve not seen ANY of Shammi’s black and white films. I’m not sure I’ve seen any of Shammi’s films at all! Obviously, I need to get a move on.
September 9, 2008 at 12:11 am |
I am blown away! There are very few people I know whom I would even issue that challenge to, and fewer still who would do it so wonderfully. Awesome list, memsaab!
~r
September 9, 2008 at 12:40 am |
Brilliant list! I wonder what you’d come up with if you were allowed to pick only from Shammi’s color films…? BTW, Mehfil jo aaye tum is one of my favourite dance numbers too – and Shammi looks so gorgeous in it!
September 9, 2008 at 3:38 am |
wow…whatta list…its been real long since I heard Aigi Aigo & many other gems…thanks to your list m listening to them again and loving’em even more…Thanks a ton…(BTW I am lil disappointed to see no song from Rajkumar ;)) Brilliant list Memsaab..aapne dil jeet liya and inspired me to post something on Shammi Sahab on my blog…D’u know his son will be acting in a film soon, to become the oldest Kapoor Debutant at the age of 50 :)
September 9, 2008 at 8:53 am |
anarchivist: What?????? Run, run to the nearest DVD store. Get Dil Deke Dekho or Tumsa Nahin Dekha. Then let me know what you think!
Ramsu: It was difficult (took me two weeks, right?) but lots of fun too. Many hours of Shammi gazing *sigh flutter flutter* Thank you :-)
madhu: Maybe one day when I’ve recovered from this I’ll give the color ones a try. Plenty of good songs to choose from with my Shammi, black/white or color.
Alok: My DVD of Rajkumar is in color (although it’s not very good color) so it was disqualified. I have read that his son Mickey is debuting soon! Glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane. I enjoyed watching them all (and listening) too…
September 9, 2008 at 11:10 am |
Hey there. I see you on a lot of my blogger friend’s site so I thought I’ll stop by and say hi. I did this post too! I haven’t seen too many older Bollywood films. I’ve grown up with it in the 80s and I have seen a handful from the 70s. Great picks!
Here’s my list here – http://apunbindaas.blogspot.com/2008/09/nicki-apunbindaas-lp.html
September 9, 2008 at 11:22 am |
I REALLY dig ur “Baar Baar dekho” pick- it IS utterly fun. I wish I could run back home and watch the movie again like right now :). Also love “Aigo Aigo,” and “Comfortably numb.”
September 9, 2008 at 11:37 am |
Classy job with such a limited range of songs. A++++
September 9, 2008 at 11:50 am |
Hi Nicki, I know you from Bollywhat? too :-) Thanks, actually I did see your list earlier and it along with Shweta’s and Veracious’ posts on the same subject galvanized me into action!
Shweta: Yes Baar Baar Dekho is a great song from a good movie! thanks for helping to push me along in this…
Veracious: I think maybe it was easier having my choices whittled down a bit. But if I did it with western music it would be a snap!
September 9, 2008 at 11:55 am |
I know you weren’t supposed to use color films, but songs from “Professor” would’ve been apt too, no?
September 9, 2008 at 12:01 pm |
It would have been much easier if I could have used his color films too :-P
I realized how many Shammi film songs I’ve absorbed into my everyday life, though. Also he’s so associated with Shankar-Jaikishan (and rightly so), but he did work with a lot of music directors!
September 9, 2008 at 4:54 pm |
What a great selection of songs! Some of them I’ve loved without knowing that Shammi was involved. :-) And didnt Shammi do mental breakdown in Pagla Kahin Ka? Guess it was color and has no place here. I just realised that apart from Bluffmaster and Chinatown I havent seen any of his B/W ones. Basant is in line for watching but so far I havent got past Chori chori ek ishaara – its so lovely I just keep replaying it! :-)
September 9, 2008 at 5:19 pm |
Many of his b /w ones are from his “male starlet” (as he puts it) days. I haven’t seen Pagla Kahin Ka *mournful* because it’s not on DVD. And anyway, “Comfortably Numb” is a genius mental breakdown song.
Black and white Shammi IS so dreamy though. Especially once he got rid of the pencil mouche (thank you Geeta Bali!) :-)
September 10, 2008 at 12:45 am |
Baar baar dekho is such a fun song! It was the first Shammi song I performed, back when I was part of a band in college, and even rehearsing it used to be the high point of the day. I love how Rafi simply lets it rip when he sings for Shammi — he rarely does that for other actors.
~r
September 10, 2008 at 9:30 am |
What’s your username in Bollywhat? BTW – added your blog in my blog roll so I can see when you updated. Take care.
September 10, 2008 at 9:53 am |
Ramsu, have you given up the band? Too bad. I would love to see you performing Baar Baar Dekho, it’s one of my favorite Shammi songs. Rafi and Shammi had a great singer-actor rapport and relationship, they worked hard on the songs together…
Nicki, it’s memsaab! what else? :-) I don’t visit as often as I used to (I am stuck on here instead ;-) but I try to stop by and see what people are talking about when I can.
September 10, 2008 at 11:07 am |
Guh–I am so impressed! I can’t even come up with a list taking into account *all* the Bollywood films I’ve seen. LOL I’ll just have to wait another year and try again.
September 11, 2008 at 12:53 pm |
Memsaab, I’m truly impressed–I find that my favorite songs (and films) generally have no direct connection to my daily life (and in many cases, an inverse connection). Brava!
September 11, 2008 at 1:38 pm |
ajnabi: we’ll wait a year for your list :-)
Pessimisissimo: bet you could do it with opera music!
I’m a pretty happy person, and Shammi is too (at least in his films) so that helped.
September 13, 2008 at 11:18 am |
Just wanted you to know that, based on your influence, I’ve started watching Shammi movies. In fact, I’ve watched 3 in the past week. You really ought to get a commission for the DVDs people buy based on your recommendations. :)
September 13, 2008 at 12:43 pm |
Cindy, which 3 did you watch? Did you like them? If more people feel the Shammi Love then memsaab khush hua.
September 13, 2008 at 1:07 pm |
I watched Brahmachari, Dil Deke Dekho, and Professor. I really liked all of them. So, thanks for the recommendations and reviews.
September 13, 2008 at 6:10 pm |
Ah those are wonderful films :) glad you liked them! I need to do a post on Professor, it’s so funny.
September 16, 2008 at 5:24 pm |
wow, that’s amazing, great!! i don’t have enough english words for it….sorry….
thanks for that! i’m enjoying the songs…while listening to them i think about my soundtrack… :roll:
the next one is with color films? ;)
anja
September 16, 2008 at 5:44 pm |
Glad you like it Anja :-) German superlatives are welcomed here too!!! I somehow thought you would enjoy it as a fellow Shammi fan.
Why don’t YOU do one with his color films?!
September 17, 2008 at 5:16 am |
mmmhhh..challenge…i have a big exam coming up in october but after that…why not?
for now i linked you in my blog with this wonderful “total genial angefahrenen” article!
anja
September 17, 2008 at 3:29 pm |
“Total genial angefahrenen” is FAB. I will use it on my sister :-)
February 4, 2009 at 6:01 am |
memsaab navin nischol saira banu
February 6, 2009 at 10:56 am |
Please see my Shammi photos uploaded to flickr. Just do a search on Shammi Kapoor and the photo stills from China Town including a rare bathtub scene will surface.
Notice he is wearing his briefs in the bathtub. I guess in those days they were more afraid of censors than reality….ho hum….Just tell me if I am going crazy.