For Meena Kumari’s birthday… I’ll skip the most famous and obvious ones (like the one screen capped in the present image header)… Here, in no particular order, are seven more of my favorite Meena Kumari songs.
Miss Mary wasn’t really one of my favorite movies, but it has some of my favorite songs. I recently posted the splendid Geeta Dutt number. But my real favorite is sung by Lata and Asha:
As I recently mentioned on Harvey’s blog, I love the opening song in Kaajal. I have posted songs from Kaajal before, but mostly ones that featured Padmini. As we see here, though, Meena is wonderful in some scenes without Padmini as well. And this is also another one in which we get to hear Asha at her best.
I haven’t seen Chitralekha yet, but I love all the songs and dances. And this one is such a classic… Meena is so sweet here and so is Pradeep, in a way. (Though they do look kind of funny, too, don’t they? Especially Pradeep…) And the dancers are great (one of those dancers being Minoo Mumtaz). Plus, of course, Lata’s singing is very nice here (brought out so well by Roshan):
I know I’ve posted this one a few times before, but it is remarkable. How many songs are out there in which Meena Kumari gets playback singing from Shamshad Begum? Personally speaking, I’m having trouble coming up with any others.
The best dances in the Meena-Dilip starrer Yahudi were actually done by people who appeared in the film only once: Helen, Cuckoo, and Kamala Lakshman. Nonetheles, Meena still had a few delighful numbers: ”Meri Jaan Meri Jaan Pyar Kisi ki” is one of them, a very catchy song by Shankar Jaikishan, and it’s in a kind of setup that Meena worked with a few times in her younger days… Kind of like “Door Koi Gaye” from Baiju Bawra (that song screen capped in the present header), except Meena’s character is more in control of the situation here, and all the girls are supposed to be ancient-Roman Jews. Plus, here we get to see Minoo Mumtaz at her cutest, too…
I posted this next song a while back, and some of us talked about it, and I still haven’t seen Dil Ek Mandir. It’s one of the two films represented in this list that I haven’t seen yet but hope to soon…
And, finally, since I’m writing this post very late at night/early in the morning, I have decided to end it with a lullaby… Who could not love Meena’s lullaby scene in Do Bigha Zamin (one of the best Lata songs, too, and some beautiful music by Salil Chowdhury, who also wrote the story for this great film)…
Ah, lovely songs, Richard. I especially like the last two – they’re among my favourite songs picturised on Meena Kumari (though I have a particular weakness for the songs from Pakeezah as well – each of them is an absolute gem).
Thank you, Dustedoff, glad you like these. I’m glad, especially, that the last two are among your favorites (they are great). I agree about Pakeezah, too, but as I said at the beginning of this post, I had decided this time to skip “the most famous and obvious ones.” :)
I’m so happy that you remembered Meena Kumari’s birthday :)
That duet from Miss Mary is my favourite from the film too.
I love the songs from Chitralekha, and would find it very difficult to name a favourite, but the dance with the song you’ve posted is the best.
The Shamshad Begum song is delightful.
In fact all the songs you have posted are among my favourites.
There’s a film Aarti with music by Roshan. One of the beautiful songs is;
Great choices as always! :) Shamshad Begum Ji sang for Meena Kumari Ji in at least 3 more films: Duniya Ek Sarai (1947 – video unavailable though), Sanam (1951 – in which she was opposite Gope Ji, essentially) and Naya Andaz (1956, alongside Kishore Kumar Ji – remember Meri Neendon Mein Tum for example?). Naya Andaz had music by O. P. Nayyar Ji and I thoroughly appreciate him for the very melodious, enjoyable and rare combination.
To combine your last 2 posts may I post a favourite of mine? I think it has some of the most romantic lyrics ever. Meena Kumari sung to by Rafi…
Thanks, Bawa. It is very sweet looking and nice sounding… Unfortunately, I don’t think I can get the full romanticism of the lyrics without subtitles (not yet…maybe someday…).
Meena’s expressions are great, as often is the case. Pradeep Kumar is nice in this too. (I know some people don’t like him much, but he’s grown on me; I like him in a bunch of things.)
Your wish came true :) – I was about to do it myself but….
http://nasir-eclectic.blogspot.com/2008/02/28-translation-of-rafi-song-ab-kya.html