I’m delightedly discovering the great singer Manik Varma. Here are three film clips…
This is a really nice mujra from Aage Badho (1947), one of Dev Anand’s earliest films.
This is from an even older Dev Anand movie, Hum Ek Hain (1946). I do recognize this dancer, and you should too.
This song is beautiful. And look, that’s Shubha Khote! The song is “Ghan Nila Ladiwala,” from a Marathi film. (Maybe someone else has more info on this?)
Note on 6/11/22:
DON’T WORRY, THIS BLOG HAS NOT PETERED OUT YET EVEN IF A COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE LAST POST WENT UP. THERE’S GOING TO BE A NEW POST, HAVING TO DO WITH RECENT/CURRENT PAKISTANI MUSIC (THOUGH SOMETIMES WITH ANCIENT ROOTS). IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT AND IT’S GOING TO BE BIG AND INFORMATIVE. IT’S JUST TAKING A WHILE TO FINISH IT, ESPECIALY BECAUSE THE BLOGGER HAS BEEN STUCK WITH FULL-TIME WAGE WORK. BUT IT’S COMING SOON… STAY TUNED.
Dances on the Footpath
The marathi songs looks as i!f it is from the film: Chimukala Pahuna (the tiny guest, also starring the then super star of the marathi cinema Ramesh Deo) co-produced and directed by Shubha Khote herself.
Manik Verma used to appear quite often on Bombay DD singing marathi songs, but i didn’t know that she started singing in the 40s itself!
Thanks for the info, Harvey. (I guess you know I was waiting for your answer… :) )
Oh, were you? ;-)
glad to be of help!
though I couldn’t recognise the dancer in the first song.
Manik Verma was a great classically- trained singer. I have heard and seen the first two films’ songs, which were great. In Hum Ek Hain, the first movie of Dev Anand and Rehman, Manik Verma sings for Cuckoo and co. Thanks for the third song.
You are welcome. And yes, that is Cuckoo and co. Unfortunately, I guess no one among us can identify the dancer in that other Dev Anand film. :(
The name of the Matrathi Film is “Umaj Padel Tar’ & not Chimukala Pahuna. The tabla accompanist is the Great Master Ustad Ahamad Jan Thirkawa. Harmonium accompanist is probably Tulasidasji Borkar another great player.
Thank you for correcting the info, Vinay!
I discovered your website just after reading an article on Sunday about Manik Verma. You have great stuff here. The link to the article is:
http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/Partnerships-in-percussion/article16940326.ece
The percussionist in the 1960 Marathi film, Umaj Padel Tar, looks like the legendary tabla player Ustad Ahmad Jan Thirakwa but apparently is not Thirakwa.
Thank you for the information and the article link, and for the compliment – much appreciated!