Usha Khanna: Bambai Ka Maharaja (1980)

I've always been slightly partial to Usha Khanna, and while 1980 was hardly the best vintage for any Bollywood music director, I was hoping 'Bambai Ka Maharaja' might be of some worth. Which it is, partly at least.

I don't find the first couple of songs particularly memorable, but things really pick up on the LP's second side. The title track is a sophisticated lounge funk number sung by Asha Bhosle, sounding like it could have been a James Bond theme and including several ace breaks. 'Too Jahan Jayegi' (the only song I was able to locate a film clip from) is an infectious disco stomper reminiscent of Bappi Lahiri's soundtracks of the same period. And 'Mil Gaya Mil Gaya' is stylistically all over the place; sometimes modern, sometimes traditional, occasionally a bit bonkers; all in a very good, very entertaining way. Soft and sedate 'Ayega Re Ayega' is a fitting ending.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Bam Bam Bole Baba Chhaya Nasha Re
2. Suresh Wadkar, Anwar & Chorus: Madine Ki Galiyon Se Awaz Aai - Qawwali
3. Asha Bhosle: Bambai Ka Maharaja
4. Kishore Kumar: Too Jahan Jayegi
5. Asha Bhosle & Amit Kumar: Mil Gaya Mil Gaya
6. Kishore Kumar: Ayega Re Ayega


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Usha Khanna: Aao Pyar Karen (1964)

I don't have as many Usha Khanna soundtracks as I probably should. 'Aao Pyar Karen' might not be the best I've heard of hers, but it does feature several appealing songs, the arrangements of which, while neither particularly innovative nor adventurous, seem perfectly fitting. Many have a pleasantly bucolic, almost sedate feel to them; 'Bahare Husn Teri' and 'Ek Sunheri Sham Thi' are particularly noteworthy. Others are livelier, like the title track, 'Dilbar Dilbar' (criminally, they've chopped of its intro on the record) and 'Jinke Liye Main Diwana Bana' (ditto; argh!). Usha Khanna was nothing if not an exceptionally good songwriter.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Bahare Husn Teri
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Tamannaon Ko Khilnedo
3. Mohd. Rafi: Dilbar Dilbar
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Ek Sunheri Sham Thi
5. Mohd. Rafi: Yeh Jhuki Jhuki Nigahen
6. Usha Khanna & Mahendra Kapoor: Aao Pyar Karen
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Meri Dastan
8. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Tum Akele To Kabhi
9. Mohd. Rafi: Jinke Liye Main Diwana Bana
10: Mohd. Rafi: Dilke Aine Men

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Usha Khanna: Dil Deke Dekho (1959)

The 1959 romantic comedy 'Dil Deke Dekho' [review] showcased an impressive amount of young, fresh movie talent. It was director Nasir Hussain's only second feature, it starred Shammi Kapoor in the process of establishing the stylish & romantic hero persona that would make him a legend, it was the debut of Asha Parekh (the first MFT3F sampler's cover star), and it was the first film to be scored by Usha Khanna.

It's something of a wonder how a just 17-year-old girl with no formal training managed to gain entry onto the Bollywood music scene, even if she was aided by O.P. Nayyar. She wasn't the first female music director in Bollywood (Ishrat Sultana, Jaddan Bai and Saraswati Devi had all scored films in the mid-1930s), and there have been others since, but she is by far the best known. I've really liked the (few) soundtracks I've come across by her, so I've been wanting to hear this one for quite some time. I'm happy to say it doesn't disappoint.

With a flurry of strings and a drum roll she jumps right into it on the title track; very much in the spirit of Nayyar's own work (with more than a nod to The McGuire Sisters' 'Sugartime'), and perfectly compelling. There's a joie de vivre flowing through the album; 'Bade Hai Dil Ke Kale', 'Bolo Bolo Kuchh To Bolo', 'Dilruba Meri Neeta' (nicked from Paul Anka's 'Diana'), 'Hum Aur Tum Aur Yeh Sama'; all lovingly performed by Mohd. Rafi and Asha Bhosle (who came to consider Usha as a daughter). Songs that are damn hard to dislike. This would be impressive from any first time music director; from a teenager, it's a marvel.

Track listing:
1. Mohd. Rafi: Dil Deke Dekho
2. Mohd. Rafi, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Megha Re Bole/Bade Hai Dil Ke Kale
3. Mohd. Rafi: Bolo Bolo Kuchh To Bolo
4. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Pyar Ki Kasam Hai
5. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Dilruba Meri Neeta
6. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Yaar Chulbula Hai
7. Mohd. Rafi: Hum Aur Tum Aur Yeh Sama
8. Mohd. Rafi & Asha Bhosle: Do Ekam Do
9. Mohd. Rafi: Rahi Mil Gaye Rahon Mein

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Usha Khanna: Hotel (1981)

Ah, now this is more like it. 'Hotel' is another horror movie (produced by the infamous Ramsay Brothers), and while there's no apparent fear and trembling conveyed in the music here either the soundtrack is much better than 'Jaani Dushman's. Atmosphere, character, diversity… and top songs. Pop songs; Usha Khanna has a wonderful knack for writing unassumingly catchy tunes and this album has several. The floaty 'Pyar Karte Hain Ham', the cool and funky 'Tere Jaisa Pyara Koi Nahin', the beautiful 'Jeena Hai To Jee Bhar Hanslo' (I prefer the female version), the bittersweet sounding 'Dekho Pyar Men Aesa Nahin Karte' and the frenetic 'Kaun Yeh Aaya Mehfil Men'… I really can't fault any of them. Lots of playfulness in the song arrangements, and two short but awesome instrumentals as icing on the cake; this is about as perfect as it gets.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle & Manhar: Pyar Karte Hain Ham
2. Usha Khanna: Tere Jaisa Pyara Koi Nahin
3. Amit Kumar: Jeena Hai To Jee Bhar Hanslo
4. Music
5. Amit Kumar & Alka Yagnik: Dekho Pyar Men Aesa Nahin Karte
6. Amit Kumar & Usha Khanna: Kaun Yeh Aaya Mehfil Men
7. Usha Khanna: Jeena Hai To Jee Bhar Hanslo
8. Music

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Usha Khanna: Hawas (1974)

(This soundtrack is simultaneously being posted on Parties, Sarees and Melodies. Go have a look.)

I've yet to properly sink my teeth into the music of Usha Khanna, but each time I hear something of hers, I want to find out more. The last one I posted was excellent, as is 'Hawas'. There's a great, loungy vibe contained within most of the score; psych-tinged, jazz-tinged, pop-tinged - or any combination of the above. I'm particularly fond of 'Aao Yaro Gao' (a companion piece, perhaps, to Burman's 'Dum Maro Dum'), 'Yeh Hawas Kya Hai' (loads of cool jazzy details) and 'Apne Dil Men Jagah Dijiye' (with an awesome John Barry/Persuaders sound-a-like intro). To be fair though, there's a hardly a dull moment at all on this album, so well worth grabbing.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Aao Yaro Gao
2. Asha Bhosle: Yeh Hawas Kya Hai
3. Mohd. Rafi: Teri Galiyon Men
4. Asha Bhosle: Apne Dil Men Jagah Dijiye
5. Asha Bhosle: Kal Raat Usne

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Salil Chowdhury: Mere Bhaiya / Usha Khanna: Honeymoon (1972)

This one came out of left field: Neither Salil Chowdhury nor Usha Khanna have ever struck me as the most exciting of Bollywood composers (although rumour has it that the latter made some good ones); then I stumbled over this two-fer real cheap, figured I'd have a listen... and guess what? It's excellent! It's an unassuming sleeve (unassuming? downright awful more like it), but inside lie a couple of ace songs.

The 'Mere Bhaiya' tracks are mostly traditional, but of the sort I like... 'Pyas Liye Manwa' for instance, very nice. 'Chanchal Man Par Chhaye' also has a certain charm to it, even though Chowdhury's attempt at rock 'n' roll isn't on par with, say Shankar Jaikishan at their best. It's the 'Honeymoon' side however that's the main point of interest, with two killer tunes included: 'Jeevan Hai Ek Sapna' gallops off like a Morricone western thing (whistling, guitar twangs and whip cracks) and has a great soaring melody, while 'Mere Pyase Man Ki Bahar' begins really lovely with the two singers calling to each other, then a cool shuffling beat starts up, and then the main melody which reminds me a bit of Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra's 'Summer Wine' - something that can only be a plus (that might be just me though), absolutely great stuff!

Yup, I really need to check up on Usha Khanna a bit more.

Track listing (1-4: Mera Bhaiya, 5-8: Honeymoon):
1. Lata Mangeshkar: Chhod Chali Ghar Tera
2. Lata Mangeshkar & Manna Dey: Marzi Hai Tumari
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Pyas Liye Manwa
4. Manna Dey: Chanchal Man Par Chhaye
5. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Mere Pyase Man Ki Bahar
6. Mohd. Rafi: O Sathi, O Sathi, O
7. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Jeevan Hai Ek Sapna
8. Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus: Do Dil Mile

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