A mellifluous performance by “Swaranjali Plus”

By Raju Vernekar

Mumbai: A program titled “Bemisal Bengal,” featuring the Karaoke Hindi film songs composed by the veteran composers, including S. D. Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Hemant Kumar, R. D. Burman, and Bappi Lahiri, by the singers of different ages, including senior citizens, was recently organized by the “Swaranjali Plus” at Joggers Park at Chikuwadi, Borivali West, in North Mumbai.

 The melodious old Hindi film songs from the golden era of Bollywood are timeless and possess a soothing quality that transcends generations, offering a sanctuary of calm in an increasingly noisy world. There is no limitation of age for the ardent music lovers and amateur singers, for whom these songs are an eternal source of joy and inspiration coupled with nostalgic memories of childhood, younger days, and the days passed by.

 The golden age of Hindi film music, spanning from the late 1940s through the 1960s until the late seventies, was the undisputed zenith of mellifluous compositions. A brilliant convergence of classical training, poetic brilliance, and peerless vocal talent defined this era. Composers including Shankar-Jaikishan, Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelal, S.D. Burman, Madan Mohan, Naushad, R.D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri and others understood the architecture of a melody. They leveraged Indian classical ragas to create tunes that felt deeply spiritual yet universally accessible.

 The audience at “Bemisal Bengal” was reminded of the golden era when a host of singers presented the songs by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Bappi Lahiri, and others, proving their best to resemble the voice of the original singers.

 The host of songs included “Naina Barse Rimjhim Rimjhim” (Woh Kaun Thi, 1964), “Dum Maro Dum” (Hare Ram Hare Krishna, 1971), “Raina Beeti Jaye” (Amar Prem, 1972), “Musafir Hoon Yaaron” (Parichay, 1972), “Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko” (Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973), “Gun Master G 9” (Surakksha, 1979), and “Ek Rasta Do Rahi” (Ram Balram, 1980).

 While the program was conducted by the organizer and high-energy anchor Kiran Motani, who provided a brief history of every song, a host of singers—Hemangi Mahadik, Amita Kunte, Amogh Aundhekar, Kirit Panchal, Manoj Tilwankar, Priyanka Idekar, Ravindra Vyas, Deepa Rao, Sudhir Janvalkar, Varsha Save, and Samir Desai—exuberantly captivated the audience with their mesmerizing melodies.

 The magic of Old Hindi cinema music is inextricably linked to the grand, sweeping sound of its live studio orchestras. Collective human synergy birthed classic Bollywood music, as hundreds of musicians played simultaneously in a single room to create timeless masterpieces.

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