#49 Dastak: Top 100 Bollywood Albums

Music: Madan Mohan

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Label: Saregama HMV

Director: Rajinder Singh Bedi 

Composer Madan Mohan and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri worked together in a handful of movies between 1953 and 1970, with varying results. The most remarkable songs in their joint portfolio happened towards the very end of the collaboration. 1969 movie Chirag had the timeless Teri Aankhon Ke Siva that Majrooh wrote based on a line from Faiz's Mujhse Pehli Si Muhabbat. Dastak which came out the next year was the pinnacle, bringing Madan Mohan the much belated honour of a National Award. The five song soundtrack featured a track in the composer's own voice, one of the rare playback recordings by the man.

Best Song of Dastak: Lata Mangeshkar sang three of the five songs in the film; and while Baiyan Naa Dharo became the biggest hit, Mai Ri Main Kaase Kahoon is my pick. The melancholy is more impactful here, both musically and lyrically, and the singer is in sublime form.

On a related note: Lata's third song Hum Hain Mata-e-Koocha-o-Baazaar Ki Tarah has a verse towards the end that goes "Majrooh Likh Rahe Hain Wo Ahl-e-Wafa Ka Naam.. Hum Bhi Khade Hue Hain Gunahgaar Ki Tarah". Incorporating their name in the last couplet of a poem was a practice shaayars of old reportedly followed. Hum Hain was the rare instance of this happening in a film song.

1. Baiyan Naa Dharo (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar)
2. Hum Hain Mata-e-koocha-o-bazaar (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar)
3. Mai Ri Main Kaase Kahoon (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar)
4. Tumse Kahoon Ek Baat (Singer: Mohammed Rafi)
5. Mai Ri Main Kaase Kahoon (Singer: Madan Mohan)

Listen to Mai Ri Main Kaase Kahoon from Dastak here:

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

#50 BRAHMACHARI: TOP 100 BOLLYWOOD ALBUMS