The music of SANJOG, MANMAUJI and ANPADH in early 60s followed by a blockbuster year in 1964 with JAHANARA, GAZAL, HAQEEQAT, WOH KAUN THI and later with MERA SAAYA and CHIRAG among others, Madanji had set high expectations for himself. At the same time, he had to adapt to the different styles of films being made in late 60s... some with more light situations in romantic, youthful films with requirement of modern and western arrangements that were being used by others, especially the younger new composers who were emerging and attaining success. And yet, he retained his signature style based on the situational demands of a film. In 1970, for HEER RANJHA, he created songs seeped in Indian folk and traditional music.
In the same year, he had DASTAK - a small budget, black and white film, which was in the category of ‘art’ films being made in those days. Rajendra Singh Bedi, a well-known writer, produced and directed this off-beat film with a new heroine Rehana Sultan and the young Sanjeev Kumar, who was making his mark as an actor to reckon with. Majrooh Sultanpuri teamed up with him yet again after CHIRAG. Not much was expected from this film, but Madanji created 4 songs, each better than the other and won the National Award for his score... the first and only national honour given to him.
The Rafi Saab solo, ‘Tumse Kahoon Ek Baat’, an experimental song, sung in a whisper, was embellished with sound effects that create an imagery... in HEER RAANJHA he had done a similar song, sung in whispers.
From the three Lataji solos, ‘Baiyaan Na Dharo’ is considered as a fine classical composition based on Raag Charukeshi.
‘Mai Ri’ became even more special as we found a dummy recording in Madanji’s voice many years later and shared it with HMV for selected release. It was never meant to be heard and was only recorded as a cue track for Lataji to dub later.
THE SONGS OF DASTAK All Songs Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
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