Today I got my hands on Vol 1 to Vol 5 of Geetmala Ki Chhaon Mein. I have been listening to the CD one after another, and just seem to get enough.
In addition to playing some really wonderful songs, Amin Sayani traces the birth and progress of Bianaca Geethmala with some wonderful interviews with Amitabh Bachchan, Pran, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Noorjahan, and others. Some of the wonderful songs are:
The first time Binaca Geetmala was aired, I believe, Amin received 9000 letters. After that he used to receive 60,000 letters a week. This, folks, was in 1951 !! There is a father-son combination in Jaipur who have heard every episode of Binaca Geetmala and even kept notes. I believe the son has released a book. Must be a wonderful read. Amin came to know about the date of the first Binaca Geetmala (03 Dec, 1951) from that book. And he was offered a royal Rs.25/- to author the program, DJ it, record it, and answer all 9000 letters !! Whew! My hands ache just thinking about it. I wonder what would have happened if we had mobiles those days?
CD 1 (The Musical Journey Begins)
Jane Na Nazar Pehchane Jigar (AAh)
Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon (Dard)
Pee Bin Soona Ji (Hamdard)
Bade Armanon Se (Malhar)
Aa Gham E Dil Kya Kroon (Tholar)
Akele Mein Woh Gabrate (Beewee)
Tarari Tarari (Dastan)
Maan Mera Ahsaan Are Nadaan (Aan)
Piya Milan Ko Jaana (Kapal Kundala)
Tere Nainon Ne Chori Kiya (Pyar Ki Jeet)
Jagmag Jagmag Karta Nikla (Rimjhim)
Mere Bachpan Ke Saathi (Anmol Ghadi)
Mohe Bhool Gaye Sanwariya (Baiju Bawra)
Dil Mein Sama Gaye Sajan (Sangdil)
CD 2 (The Lovable Early Years Till 1953)
Yeh Kaun Aaya (Baazi)
Bachpan Ke Din Bhulana Na Dena (Deedar)
Hum Tum Yeh Bahar Dekho Rang Laya (Amber)
Na Jane Kidhar Aaj Meri Nao (Jhoola)
Main Bank Ki Chidiya Banke (Achhut Kanya)
Aayega Aanewala (Mahal)
Aa Mohabbat Ki Basti Basayenge Hum (Fareb)
Hariyala Sawan Dhol Bajatha Aaya (Do Bigha Zamin)
Mere Piya Se Koi Ye (Ashiana)
Awaaz De Kahan Hai (Anmol Ghadi)
Main Kya Janu Jaadoo hai (Zindagi)
Khayalon Mein Kisi Ke Is Tarah (Bawre Nain)
Woh Humse Chup Hain (Sargam)
Tu Ganga Ki Mauj (Baiju Bawra)
Whew! My fingers are paining. I shall pen the rest of the CD titles tomorrow. The remastering of the songs are exceptional. No scratch sound whatsoever, and the voices of Lata, Asha, Tabassum, Manna Dey, Mukes, Rafi all sound as if you are listening to the original Geetmala.
MUST BUY for all Hindi film music lovers. Are you reading this Kamal, Suhas, Marsilians, and others? And the first time you hear this CD, please hear it on a simple 2-in-1. Will bring back the days when we had our ears stuck to small transistor radios, and running around with wires trying to get good reception.
I am listening to CD 3 and it has songs from Anarkali including 'Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai'. What bliss !! Pradeep Kumar got Rs.1500 for acting in Anarkali and was without work for 10 months after that !!
Cheers