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| Rekha as UMRAO JAAN |
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| KHAYYAM |
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| GULAM MUSTAFA KHAN |
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| COVER OF LP RECORD |
उमराव जान (1982) was an award winning film for its music and songs.The atmosphere of the film was of mid-nineteenth century, during the reign of नवाब of अवध in लखनऊ .Umrao jaan was also a poetess as well as a trained singer and dancer of that time. In the film she is shown getting her basic training from a Ustad of Music,early in her childhood on a ‘kotha’ run by an old prostitute Khanum. Finding the proper situation in the film ,Music director खय्याम composed a unique Raagmalika .Main singer is उस्ताद ग़ुलाम मुस्तफा खान , whose lessons are repeated by singers शाहिदा खान and रुना प्रसाद .
रागमालिका begins with an आलाप and prayer:
”प्रथम धर ध्यान दिनेश,
ब्रह्मा विष्णु महेश …” in राग भैरव.
Second song is:
“अब मोरी नैय्या पार करो तुम,
हज़रत निज़ामुद्दीन औलिया ..” composed in राग तोड़ी.
It is followed by a traditional composition in राग केदार:
“सगुन विचार आयो बमना,
कब पिया आये मोरे मंदिरवा …”.
In the mean time children are shown growing during their music and dance training and Raagmalika continues with the next number a होरी composed in राग काफी :
“बिराज में धूम मचायो कान्हा,
कैसे कर जाऊं अपने धाम ..”,
followed by:
“ दर्शन दो शंकर महादेव |
महादेव तिहारे दरश बिना,
मोहे कल न परत घरी पल छिन दिन || …”
in राग यमन कल्याण and on it the grown up 'उमराव जान '(रेखा) is shown dancing on the steps of कत्थक.Along with dance steps both disciples further sing with their Ustad a मालकौंस number:
“ पकरत बैयाँ मोरी बनवारी,
चुरियाँ करक दई सारी अनारी ।।…”.
The Raagmalika concludes with a Holi Song in भैरवी :
“ बांसुरी बाज रही धुन मधुर कन्हैय्या की,
खेलन जावत होरी …।।”.
All the seven compositions reflect the talent and skill of musical genius खैय्याम ,the veteran music composer of Hindi films.
रानी रूपमती (1959)was a period film in the backdrop of मांडू Estate.Its ruler बाज बहादुर was a music lover and due to music he was in platonic love with RANI ROOPMATI.Both sang together and created some classical ragas also.Film's director and music composer श्री नाथ त्रिपाठी created a situation in which BAJ BAHADUR(played by भारत भूषण )is learning music from his Ustad and presented a traditional भैरवी khayal in जुगलबंदी .Singers were पंडित .कृष्ण राव चोनकर and मोहम्मद रफ़ी .The traditional lyrics are:"बाट चलत नयी चुनरी रंग डारी रे , कैसो है बेदर्दी बनवारी .एसो है निडर डरत न काहू सो लंगर अपने धींगा धीन्गी करत है डगर ,हे मोरे राम ,हे मोरे राम ,हे मोरे राम .बाट चलत इतने दिनन में मोसे कबहूँ न अटक्यो ,नित प्रति जात गलिन में सुबह शाम .आवत फागुन इतरात जात ,हे मोरे राम ,हे मोरे राम ,हे मोरे राम .बाट चलत नयी चुनरी रंग डारी रे .....".This lovely Bhairavi bandish in jugalbandi progresses beautifully fom vilambit towards drut layakaari and taans and is an unforgettable composition.
