Movie Details of Amar Prem
Music: R.D. Burman
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Label: Saregama HMV
Director: Shakti Samanta
The film that gave us the iconic quote from Rajesh Khanna expressing his distaste for tears, also gave us one of Hindi music's best soundtracks. Shakti Samanta adapted the movie from the Bengali film Nishi Padma, which in turn was based on a Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay story. While Nishi Padma's songs won singers Manna Dey and Sandhya Mukherjee the National Award for playback, Amar Prem did not have any such luck. Which is a pity, because the movie had some fantastic singing from Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, both handling songs in diverse genres with consummate ease. RD Burman's raga-inspired melody-making skill hit its peak here – his incorporation of raag khamaaj in three different song scenarios was a masterstroke. Also firing on all cylinders was lyricist Anand Bakshi, giving Pancham his most soulful lines, especially in songs like Chingari Koi Bhadke and Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge.
Best Song of Amar Prem: I have always had special love for the Kishore songs from the soundtrack, and from among the three (all exceptional songs!), I pick Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge. Anand Bakshi's positivity-infusing lines have never held more significance than in the trigger-happy times we live in. And Kishore's tender rendition is a balm for the soul, really.
On a related note: The composer reportedly had some help from his father on a couple of songs – Bada Natkhat Hai Yeh and Doli Mein Bithai Ke. Dada Burman himself sang the latter, the only time he did playback for Pancham.
The Amar Prem Playlist:
Listen to the entire album of Amar Prem here:
(With contributions by Praveen VR, co-founder of musicaloud.com; information partly sourced from myswar.com)