In the last issue read about Indian Cinema’s five most popular patriotic songs. Today lets read about some more songs that are still remembered for their patriotic brilliance and make our National Festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day memorable.
Who can forget the fiery patriotic number Apni azaadi ko hum hargeez mita sakte nahin…
This song was written by Shakeel Badayani for a national event but later it was incorporated by music director Naushad Dilip Kumar’s movie LEADER to boost its box office response. Likewise movies like SHAHEED (aye watan, aye watan…), UPKAAR (Mere desh ki dharti…) JIS DESH MEIN GANGA MEIN BEHTI HAIN (Hoton pe sachhai rehti hain…) PURAB AUR PASCHIM (Hain preet jahan ki reet sada…) etc. did excellent business solely on the strength of their patriotic numbers.
In fact, the popularity of patriotic numbers in the 50’s and 60’s was so passionate that even a ‘ B’ grade Dara Singh movie like Sikander-E- Azam did excellent business thanks to its Rafi’s super hit patriotic song Jahan daal daal pe sone ki chidiya…
However, today the scenario is different. The patriotic songs of today lack that charm which the olden days had. That’s the reason come any national day of patriotic significance the nation starts echoing with old patriotic numbers. The most common among them being – Aye mere watan…, Mere desh ki dharti…, Apni azaadi ko hargeez…, Jahan dal dal pe sone ki… , Yeh Desh hai veer jawano ka…
What’s the magic in these bygone era patriotic numbers? ‘Bharat Kumar’ aka – Manoj Kumar, maker of umpteen patriotic films beginning with SHAHEED, UPKAAR, PURAB AUR PASCHIM TO KRANTI, said, “It’s true the dearth of good writers is the prime cause for the down fall of good patriotic numbers else how one explain among the four movies that ever made on Bhagat Singh, recently, not a single could match the standards of the lyrics of Prem Dhawan’s poetry in my movie Shaheed.
Supporting present days lyricist Industries most respected and highly intellectual lyricist Javed Akhtar feels, “It’s true a patriotic song to make it ‘mark’ needs hard core lyrics. It’s also true the brilliance of Sahir, Kaifi and monarch of patriotic lyrics Kavi Pradeep cannot be replaced so easily. However, to point finger on each and every lyricist under the sun is also not correct.”
He adds, “Even today the industry possesses some brilliant poets but the problem with us poets is that we do get challenging situation to display our skill. However, whenever we have got opportunities we have proved our worth for instance my lyrics in Border and Refugee speak for themselves. Also, Gulzarbhai’s lyrics in ‘Machis’ were excellent. Thus to compare the old genera with present is incorrect. Both are apt in their own place.”
Comments
Post a Comment