Pancham and his Magical Music,: Part 2 ( Songs in his Own Voice, Duets)

  Pancham's  Duets  , His  Songs  with other  Singers

In  the  last blog, we heard  and  read  some  wonderful Solos of  Pancham singing for  his own compositions. In this  episode, we will look at  some of  his  wonderful  duets, Invariably all  his

female  duets  , has  to be  with Asha, his  favorite  and  Companion. But  surprisingly there are  some very nice  and  popular  duets  with some  Male  Singers, so let  us begin the  Countdown:

1)Film, APNA DESH : Song is,Duniya Mein Logon Ko .. This  is  probably  his  first  hit  with Asha as a cosinger. This is  an out and Out Asha  song, with some  extraordinary  singing and  Variation of  voice and  high pitch notes, but  even Pancham has matched  her  singing  with his Typical Special sounds  and  effect. If you remember  this  song, both Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz are  dressed in gawdy and outlandish outfits  , so  Pancham matched  the  tone and  pitch of  song  to match  these costumes  and  outcome, one of  his best  compositions ever, even today a  must  sing in all  DJ parties also.

2)Film,  KHEL KHEL MEIN : Song is, Sapana Mera Thoot Gay.  This is  perhaps  one of rare soft,sad songs  Pancham has sung, with  Asha. Rishi and  Neetu  was main pair  in this  film  and he  used Kishore and  Shailendra  as  male voice  for  Rishi, and  all  the  songs  were fabulous . So  for  the other  couple , Rakesh Roshan and  Aruna  Irani, while he  retained Asha, he choose himself  as  male  voice  and  he  had  to create  some  thing different , and came out  with this  wonderful duet filled  with emotions  and  sadness , and  shot very  nicely  by  the director, Ravi Tandon.

3)Film GOLMAAL, :Song is  Tittle  song , Golmaal  Hain Sab Gol Maal  Hain, this is  one of  most hilarious  songs  you will get  to hear, matching  the  mood  of  the  film and  Main Charcater, Amol Palekar's antics. Pancham  was  in comfort zone  since  song was  written by his  buddy Gulzar  and  he  threw  a  surprise  by choosing unknown  person  as  his Co Singer, yes  it is Sapan Chakravarthy, who  was  Pancham's long time  assistant  and  Music  arranger . Point to note  here , few  years before Golmaal , Sapanda had  given a  wonderful  composition for  Zameer , as  independant composer .

4)Film SHAAN: Song is  Yamma Yamma Yeh Khoobsoorat  Sama, . This is a  sort of  coup, why the only  song Pancham sang with great  Mohd Rafi. This was a  multi starrer film, in other  song which involved both  heroes,  Amitab and  Shashi , Jaanu Meri  Jaan, Pancham  used Kishore and  Rafi as male Play back, he could  have done  the same for Yamma Yamma  also,  but he  choose  himself for  2  reasons , this  song suited  his  style of  singing, fast , pacy, jazzy and unique and  second which was incidental , he got a  chance  to sing a  Male duet  with Rafi !!. This  remains  ,as  most popular  song  of this  beautiful  Music  album . Sadly  this  happened  to be last  time Rafi and  Pancham worked  together , since  great  singer  passed  away.  

5)Film ROCKY : Song is  Aa Dekhe  Zara, Kis  Mein Kitna Hai Dum. Again this is a  dance competition song from  Sanjay Dutt's debut film.  The  dance  feautres, Sanjay, Tina, Shakti Kappor and  Reena Roy, Pancham selected  himself  to sing for  Shakti, with Kishore and  Asha, what  stands out in the song,  the  groovy  music  and  usual typical high pitch singing  from Pancham , which in  a normal  circumstance  can be  called  as  Shouting  also, but not when  he  sings !!

6) Film SANAM TERI KASAM: Song is  Jaan E Jaana O Meri  Jaana,  a fabulous duet , of Pancham and  Asha picturised on Kamal and  Reena in the  film. Again one more song, where in Pancham allowed  Asha  to take the lime light , with her  wonderful  singing, but  this is an example  where he  shone as  a composer, ( his  brain wave  of  uttering the  word  Nisha..  Ha  Ha  Nisha in between the song and  foot tapping  Din Tanik  Din   , as per  Lyricist Gulshan Bawra) . No wonder  this  song is  considered as  instrumental in getting Pancham  a  rare  Film fare  award.

7)Film , PUKAR  : Song is Jaane  Jigar  Duniya  Mein .  This  film is  significant and unprecednted , becuase  only time  Pancham had  4 songs  in any  album. He  sang a  rare  duet  with Big B, Mayke Mat  Jayyo  Meri Jaan..  The  song I have  choosen is  a  Pancham and  Kishore  duet. If you remember this  film is  with Goan Background, so the music and dance  is  based  on that style  of  music. Big B and   Randhir  Kappor  trying to woo  their  leadies, Zeenat and  Tina is  back drop of  this  song  and  Pancham  choose  to sing  for Big B  in  this  song . Real peppy  Number.!!

8)Film, MAHAAN , : Song is  Ye Din to  Aata  Hai ,  this is  last  song I have  choosen,  His  duet  with  Asha ( last  sang they  sang together), . By this  time  film came  to Pancham, his  popularity  was on down trend,  and  he had  to some  thing different , AB  had a  Triple  role  in this film so  Pancham had  lot of  scope  to show his  talent as  a composer and  this  duet  with Asha  stood  out as  best  song in the  film, of course a  Kishore  Asha  duet, Pyar  Mein  Dil Pe Maar  De Goli,  was  equally popular .  

The  above list is  only a  Small sample of  the great  songs Pancham sang other than composing. Few might be  wondering, did  he  sing  any duet  with , greatest  Singer of all  time, Lata. Please  do remember,Lata  saw  Pancham as  a Kid, coming to the  sets  along with his  Father the great SD Burman , creating  some  magic  tunes when he was  still a young boy, and when he  became a  composer, the  first  song he recorded was with  Lataji.  So  finally he  did  get a  chance to sing a duet  with  Lata, in film called  LIBAAS, which was  directed  by his  friend, Gulzar.  This  turned  out  to be  Last  time or  last song Pancham sang,  sad  but  true.

Hope  you  liked  this  Second  part  of this blog, please  feedback, and please  mention your name when u feedback , else  it comes  as  "unknown" . Hope to give  some more  interesting facts  of Pancham and  his  music  in coming  days,  Thanks  for  your  time and  support.