PT. BHIMSEN JOSHI DEFEATED IN SINGING IN FILM:BASANT BAHAR(1956)

शैलेन्द्र 

जयकिशन 

शंकर 

भीमसेन जोशी 

मन्ना डे 

LP- RECORD COVER

This film had music as its central theme.It was based on the कन्नड़  उपन्यास  ' हंस  गीते'  by Taa  Raa Su.This episode shows a classical music competition organised by Chitradurga State in Tipu Sultan's dynasty.For the state singer's son playback singing was given in the voice of the stalwart of Kirana Gharana Pt.भीमसेन  जोशी  rendering राग  बसंत  बहार .The song was written by poet शैलेन्द्र  creating the atmosphere of Basant Ritu:"केतकी  गुलाब  जूही  चम्पक  वन  फूले , ऋतु  बसंत  अपनों  कंत  गोरी  गरवा  लगाये , झुलना  में  बैठ  आज  पी  के  संग  झूले .गैल  गैल  कुञ्ज  कुञ्ज ,गुन  गुन  भंवरों  की  गूंज ,राग  रंग  अंग  अंग ,छेडत  रसिया   अनंग , कोयल  की  पंचम  सुन  दुनिया  रुख  भूले ." while the singer is in full swing, exploring the raga vibrantly, the other competitor, hero of the film भारत  भूषण  takes entry with aalap in same raga Basant Bahar and  continues singing :" मधुर मधुर थोरी थोरी मीठी बतियों से गोरी ,चित चुराय हंसत जाय चोरी करे सिर झुकाय ,शीश झुके चंचल लट गालों को छूले .केतकी गुलाब जूही चम्पक वन फूले ..... " capturing   the attention of the King on the judge's seat.Singer मन्ना  डे  gave playback for the hero and singing beautifully the same song defeats his rival and gets the declared prize from the king. In reality Pt. Bhimsen Joshi could never be challenged at any level in classical singing by playback singer Manna Dey,but in film he was singing for the defeated artist.This makes it interesting to see in the film, the doyen of किराना  घराना  loosing his crown in singing to a playback singer. This song is still popular due to excellent vocal performances by both artists.Music directors of the film शंकर -जयकिशन  did superb job by creating many beautiful compositions in the film,like this song.