Listening to: Rudaali (1993)

Rudaali is the story of a professional mourner. When I think of this film, I remember the beauty of Dimple Kapadia, the wonder of Rajasthan’s landscape but above all I remember the music of Bhupen Hazarika. A movie about laments and lamenters  needed to have soulful, mournful sounds which melt the heart and fill one’s eyes.  Bhupen Hazarika does a commendable job, especially with the song I have chosen to present today.  The power of the film was such that nearly 18 years after seeing it, the interwoven images and music still linger in my mind, leaving a gentle sorrow for a woman who was but a fiction of someone’s imagination. A good film with good music.

Gulzar’s lyrics are impeccable as always. How I envy a poet his power over words!! Bhupen Hazarika (born 1926) is of Assamese origins and brings an Eastern Indian touch to the music which has a Rajasthani flavour as well. He did not compose for many Hindi films and Rudaali was his most successful work in Bollywood. I am unfortunately not familiar with his Assamese work but I have a CD of his singing Bengali music which I enjoy.

Here are the songs from this album, and a link to it in MusicIndiaOnline. I think Lata’s voice quality is not at its best, but still, she is Lata and she delivers.

1. Dil Hoon Hoon Kare – Lata Mangeshkar 
2. Samay O Dhire Chalo – Bhupen Hazarika
3. Beete na Beete na Raina – Lata Mangeshkar
4. Samay O Dhire Chalo 2 – Lata Mangeshkar
5. Dil Hoon Hoon Kare 2 – Bhupen Hazarika   Very soulful.
6. Maula O Maula – Bhupen Hazarika
7. Jhooti Mooti Mitwa – Lata Mangeshkar

To honour the composer, I am presenting below a song sung by him:

Dil hoon hoon kare–Bhupen Hazarika