#73 Bobby: Top 100 Bollywood Albums

Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal

Label: Saregama HMV

Director: Raj Kapoor

In yesterday's entry (Maine Pyar Kiya), while S P Balasubramanyam was the male voice for almost the entire soundtrack, a couple of songs had cameos by another male singer – Shailendra Singh. Long before the man got reduced to cameos and single tracks, Singh started off his singing career in a far more momentous fashion – as the brand new singing voice for the brand new Kapoor scion (ok not exactly brand new; Rishi Kapoor had done a child role before Bobby) being launched as hero. Singh turned out to be a perfect choice for Kapoor, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal produced a thoroughly entertaining soundtrack that incorporated Goan and Latin influences, among others. 

Following the movie's success (largely owing to the music), the makers also released the movie's background score officially, with a fitting title of Soul of Bobby. On a side note, Shailendra Singh (and Lata Mangeshkar) might have got all the hit songs from the soundtrack, but the better musician to debut in the movie was Narendra Chanchal, singer of the folk-based Beshak Mandir Masjid.

Best Song of Bobby: The song that quite deservingly became the most popular track from the album, Main Shayar Toh Nahi had some brilliant poetry from Anand Bakshi (containing a meta reference to poetry!), set to a waltz rhythm by the composers. 

1. Na Mangoon Sona Chandi (Singers: Manna Dey, Shailendra Singh | Lyrics: Vithalbhai Patel)
2. Mujhe Kuchh Kehna Hai (Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra Singh | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi)
3. Main Shayar To Nahin (Singer: Shailendra Singh | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi)
4. Jhoot Bole Kauva Kate (Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra Singh | Lyrics: Vithalbhai Patel)
5. Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho (Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra Singh | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi)
6. Beshak Mandir Masjid (Singers: Narendra Chanchal | Lyrics: Inderjeet Singh Tulsi)
7. Ankhiyon Ko Rahne De (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi)
8. Ae Phansa (Singer: Lata Mangeshkar | Lyrics: Anand Bakshi)

Listen to the entire album of Bobby here:

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

#74 MAINE PYAR KIYA: TOP 100 BOLLYWOOD ALBUMS