#53 Sadma: Top 100 Bollywood Albums

Music: Ilaiyaraaja

Lyrics: Gulzar 

Label: Sony Music India

Director: Balu Mahendra

Director Balu Mahendra's remake of his critically acclaimed 1982 film Moondraam Pirai marked his entry into Bollywood, as it did for master composer Ilayaraaja. Raja's soundtrack for the movie reused two tunes from the Tamil original as is, one of which became the iconic lullaby Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein. While the Tamil film had three lyricists, Gulzar wrote all the songs in Sadma. Raja and Gulzar were supposed to reunite in 2009 for another film, but that project did not materialise for some reason.

Best Song of Sadma: Though I love Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein to bits, it is Aye Zindagi where the composer and lyricist both were at their creative best in the soundtrack. Raja, while composing a new song for the situation, incorporated some clever references to the Tamil original amidst its intricate arrangement, and Gulzar on his part penned a poignant "conversation with life" (that "Hai Na?" is such a fantastic touch). Not to be outdone, singer Suresh Wadkar too produced one of his career-best renditions for the song.

On a related note: The song Aye Zindagi has seen two separate tributes in recent times – first in the 2013 movie Prague, and more famously in the 2016 movie Dear Zindagi. I find the former a better cover though.

1. Aye Zindagi Gale Lagaa Le (Singer: Suresh Wadkar)
2. O Babuaa Yeh Mahua (Singer: Asha Bhosle)
3. Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein (Singer: K.J. Yesudas)
4. Ek Dafa Ek Jungle Tha (Singers: Kamal Haasan and Sridevi)
5. Yeh Hawa Yeh Fiza (Singers: Asha Bhosle, Suresh Wadkar)
6. Surmayee Ankhiyon Mein (Singer: K.J. Yesudas)

Listen to the entire album of Sadma here:

(With contributions by Praveen VR, co-founder of musicaloud.com)

#54 KABHI KABHIE: TOP 100 BOLLYWOOD ALBUMS