Lockdown Legends ( Day 5) : Maestro's Masterpiece

 

The tune of Naina Barse Rimjhim Rimjhim was composed by Madan Mohan in late 40's, but he never found any situation in a film to record it. It was often rejected by the directors who he sang it to.

Many years later, Raj Khosla agreed to try it out as the theme song of the suspense thriller Woh Kaun Thi (1964).

For Woh Kaun Thi , Madan Mohan had already composed amazing songs like Lag ja Gale , Aap Kyon Roye, Shokh Nazar Ki Bijliyan and Chhod kar Tere Pyar Ka Daaman. It was thus   a challenge to create a popular track which,while being romantic, also had to have a lingering and haunting effect, as it appeared in the film in various parts.

Madan  adapted his original tune of many years ago to create this hit song.

This song had to be shot in Shimla where the unit had already arrived. However the recording could not be completed in time as Lata Mangeshkar  was unwell for a few days. Madan Mohan decided to sing the song himself, for shooting purposes, and Sadhana had to lip sync to Madan Mohan's voice.

It is said that various onlookers at the outdoor shooting wondered what kind of ghost story was being filmed with the heroine singing in a male voice!!Fortunately, a small part of the recording in Madanji's voice was found on his spools, the rest was erased. 



Lata dubbed the song later, within the limitations of the expressions and synch of what was already shot. She recounts how when nominated for the music of Woh Kaun Thi for the popular award of the year, Madan Mohanwas disappointed when he did not win it, yet again!


 


Madan Mohan may not have won many awards but the respect he got for his compositions from his peers was unparallelled. One instance of the recognition is such that all awards fade in comparison.

The movie 'Anpadh' (1962) had immortal classics like “Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha” and “Jiya Le Gayo Ji Mora Sanwariya.” The  ghazal sung by Lata Mangeshkar  left Naushad speechless when he heard it.

He asked Madan Mohan to play the song for him again and he heard it this time with his eyes closed. When it was over, he nodded his approval to Madan Mohan telling him, “ Such a wonderful song, I wish I had composed it.”

And then followed it up by saying, “If I could claim the credit for this one song, I would willingly hand over the credit of my entire music over to you.”

Saying this, Naushad turned and left the room, leaving a very embarrassed and beaming Madan Mohan behind to ruminate over a compliment that was the greatest any music director could hope to receive.The ghazal, deserving of such high praise from Naushad is "Hai Isi Mein Pyar Ki Aabroo".