Song 31:
So as I said Asha Geeta were usually the non-conformists (which is why I like them in the first place!) But that was an era when the A-line heroines always got Lata as playback right from Nargis to Meena Kumari and Nutan. These were after all three of the most powerful performers of that era, essaying roles of the strong, self contained, resolute and virtuous Indian woman. Bharatiya Nari. Always in the mould of Sita. Sacrificing, devoted, non-complaining and Lata fitted the bill, with her steady and strong vocals. But it is always interesting to hear different face and voice combinations. Madhubala for instance always got Asha as she was the naughty, bubbly sorts, yet two of her Lata songs that I put up yesterday from Mughal-e-Azam take her to another level of 'depth of performance'. Dunno what exactly makes a voice suit a face? For instance Mumtaz who was another live-wire and sorta bubbly, surprisingly always had Lata as playback! Does the spoken voice of the artist have to match the playback singer? Or is it the way of speaking, the accent? Similarly if you see Rajesh Khanna, who somehow looked as if he was born to sing Kishore songs on screen, has some stunning ones sung by Mukesh, Manna Dey and Mohd Rafi.
So I love discovering some unusual combos. Think of Meena Kumari and you always think of this simpering, suffering woman, living a life of quiet dejection in a kotha aka Pakeezah or something equally hopeless (not to undermine her performances but yes, her films were kinda sad). So it's a delight to watch this Geeta Dutt playback on Meena in her early days. She is so young and dewy fresh. So stunningly beautiful like one of those Indian dolls women used to make at home as a hobby once from a kit that had a pretty doll-face and body that you could assemble and clothe her in a traditional costume of your choice-Hindu bride or salwaar kameez or lehnga etc.
Geeta's voice adds the further texture of newness, of anticipation, of hope and of the wonder of the first phase of love. Innocent lyrics by Bharat Vyas and simple music by Manna Dey which is minimalistic to say the least. Therefore this song perks up my Sunday morning, for it is not one of those pessimistic and achingly beautiful but sad songs of Meena Kumari's later years, but one that instills happiness and hope in the days ahead! :-)
So as I said Asha Geeta were usually the non-conformists (which is why I like them in the first place!) But that was an era when the A-line heroines always got Lata as playback right from Nargis to Meena Kumari and Nutan. These were after all three of the most powerful performers of that era, essaying roles of the strong, self contained, resolute and virtuous Indian woman. Bharatiya Nari. Always in the mould of Sita. Sacrificing, devoted, non-complaining and Lata fitted the bill, with her steady and strong vocals. But it is always interesting to hear different face and voice combinations. Madhubala for instance always got Asha as she was the naughty, bubbly sorts, yet two of her Lata songs that I put up yesterday from Mughal-e-Azam take her to another level of 'depth of performance'. Dunno what exactly makes a voice suit a face? For instance Mumtaz who was another live-wire and sorta bubbly, surprisingly always had Lata as playback! Does the spoken voice of the artist have to match the playback singer? Or is it the way of speaking, the accent? Similarly if you see Rajesh Khanna, who somehow looked as if he was born to sing Kishore songs on screen, has some stunning ones sung by Mukesh, Manna Dey and Mohd Rafi.
So I love discovering some unusual combos. Think of Meena Kumari and you always think of this simpering, suffering woman, living a life of quiet dejection in a kotha aka Pakeezah or something equally hopeless (not to undermine her performances but yes, her films were kinda sad). So it's a delight to watch this Geeta Dutt playback on Meena in her early days. She is so young and dewy fresh. So stunningly beautiful like one of those Indian dolls women used to make at home as a hobby once from a kit that had a pretty doll-face and body that you could assemble and clothe her in a traditional costume of your choice-Hindu bride or salwaar kameez or lehnga etc.
Geeta's voice adds the further texture of newness, of anticipation, of hope and of the wonder of the first phase of love. Innocent lyrics by Bharat Vyas and simple music by Manna Dey which is minimalistic to say the least. Therefore this song perks up my Sunday morning, for it is not one of those pessimistic and achingly beautiful but sad songs of Meena Kumari's later years, but one that instills happiness and hope in the days ahead! :-)
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