Rajesh Roshan: Telephone (1985)

'Telephone' could have been a perfect record. A short and sweet soundtrack by Rajesh Roshan, this 45 rpm mini-album features a handful of very likeable songs, and half of a super ace one. Annette Pinto's 'Hello Darling' would have been its sexy, groovy highlight but for the ridiculous fact that it fades out after 2 minutes. I believe the full length version, running almost twice as long, was released on tape – it's possible that Super T-Series was primarily a cassette label – but for fuck's sake, what reason on earth could they have had for not including the whole thing on this 12" record? Bah!

(A kind reader sent me an MP3 of the long version, origin unknown; I'm enclosing that as a bonus.)

So the best of the rest then, and to be fair I am really fond of it all. Poppy 'Main Tujh Pyar Karoon' comes in both male and female versions, has a pretty melody and lovely instrumental parts. Frantic 'Saak Mubarak No' has a funky middle bit with electronic noodlings, a great chorus and all manners of oddball stuff going on. And speaking of sexy, Asha sounds (and Parveen Babi looks) deliciously seductive on 'Main Hoon Tujh Pe Sun Fida', a smooth, elegant after hours lounge piece, my other big fave from the album.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Main Tujh Se Pyar Karoon
2. Asha Bhosle: Saak Mubarak No
3. Asha Bhosle: Main Hoon Tujh Pe Sun Fida
4. Anuradha Paudwal: Main Tujh Se Pyar Karoon
5. Annette: Hello Darling


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Rajesh Roshan: Aap Ke Deewane (1979)

I still can’t decide to what (if any) extent I’m a fan of Rajesh Roshan. His music tends to vary from mildly pleasant to pretty good; never really bad but seldom truly spectacular. 'Aap Ki Deewane' is no exception.

Opener 'Ram Kare Allah Kare' is an easy going pop tune that turns out to be a bit of an earworm; if that’s a good thing or not is personal preference. 'Apni Khushiyan Tujh Ko' I like for its instrumental second half, especially the closing harmonica solo; it sort of brings Ennio Morricone to mind. Disco stomper 'Ham To Aap Ke Deewane Hain' might be the soundtrack’s best known track; with it’s incessant groove and rousing vocals it has the same sort of anthemic quality that makes Laxmikant Pyarelal’s 'Om Shanti Om' so memorable. (The film clip is mind-boggling by the way…)

My personal favourites (currently) are 'Mere Dil Men Jo Hota Hai' and 'Tum Ko Khush Dekh Kar'. String laden and stirring, they have the strongest melodies here; the latter in particular has the distinct European feel also heard on Roshan’s breakthrough score 'Julie'.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi, Amit Kumar & Chorus: Ram Kare Allah Kare
2. Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Apni Khushiyan Tujh Ko
3. Kishore Kumar, Amit Kumar & Chorus: Ham To Aap Ke Deewane Hain
4. Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar & Mohd. Rafi: Mere Dil Men Jo Hota Hai
5. Kishore Kumar & Mohd. Rafi: Tere Jalwa
6. Kishore Kumar, Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Tum Ko Khush Dekh Kar

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Rajesh Roshan: Julie (1975)

This one often turns up as a recommendation when Rajesh Roshan's work gets mentioned. And rightly so, as it's a very good record. Unlike many other mid-70s albums I've posted, there's nothing particularly out there or jazzy or funky within its grooves; 'Julie' is simply a collection of really nice, well crafted songs. That tends to work too.

In terms of arrangements and general tone I find the record has more in common with contemporary European soundtracks than anything else, especially on the stunning instrumental 'Julie Falls in Love' which almost sounds Italian, and on 'Dil Kya Kare'. Maybe it's just the whistling on the latter that gives me associations to Morricone's frequent collaborator Alessandro Alessandroni. Regardless, it's a lovely track. So are both 'Yeh Raaten' (where have I heard that bit starting at around 1:22 before? Bacharach?) and 'Bhool Gaye Sub Kuchh'. I've heard it said (by some) that Lata Mangeshkar was past it by this point in time; I think these songs are perfect for her.

The best known track is Preeti Sagar's sweet, poppy 'My Heart Is Beating', which just about manages to stay on the right side of saccharine. It's one of those rare Bollywood songs that are sung completely in English. Like 'Bobby' from a few years prior, the film is a teen love story exploring inter-faith/inter-caste relationships; the titular Julie is from an anglo-Indian family.

A beautiful, mellow soundtrack.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Dil Kya Kare
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Yeh Raaten
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Bhool Gaye Sub Kuchh
4. Julie Falls In Love
5. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Bhool Gaye Sub Kuchh
6. Preeti Sagar: My Heart Is Beating
7. Asha Bhosle & Usha Mangeshkar: Sancha Naam Tera

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Rajesh Roshan: Swayamvar / Swarag Narak (1980)

My cautious approach to Rajesh Roshan continues... Truth be told I wasn't expecting a lot from this two-fer, and truth be told it's mostly average. Mostly.

On the 'Swayamvar' [review] [2] side it's only 'Mujhe Chu Rahi Hain Teri Garm Sansen' that does anything for me; pretty, verging on saccharine but undeniably likeable. And the instrumental interludes are quite lovely. 'Nahi Nahi Koi Tumsa Haseen' on the 'Swarag Narak' side is similarly sweet; nice and hummable if not especially memorable. I like the tinkling piano.

It's the final track that really stands out and the one that sold me on this record. 'Geeta Shlokas & I Love You' is a medley of sorts; what appears to be a lament for a dying person juxtaposed with a steamy slice of Bollywood erotica. It's co-sung by Lata Mangheshkar and the rather enigmatically named Miss Christine, who may in fact be Annette Pinto in disguise. Or at least that's what the IMDb thinks. I'd love it to be the case, but I haven't actually been able to verify it. Does anyone know? Regardless, it's a remarkable piece.

Track listing, 'Swayamyar':
1. Kishore Kumar: Nari Kuch Aisan
2. Mohd. Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar: Mujhe Chu Rahi Hain Teri Garm Sansen
3. Kishore Kumar & Mohd. Rafi: Ek Mahal Ma Chum Chum Karti
4. Kishore Kumar: Aap Apne Nashe Mein Jeete Hai

Track listing, 'Swarag Narak':
5. Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Leena O Leena
6. Mohd. Rafi & Chorus: Aag Hai Lagi Hui
7. Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle: Nahi Nahi Koi Tumsa Haseen
8. Lata Mangeshkar & Miss Christine: Geeta Shlokas & I Love You

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Rajesh Roshan: Lootmaar (1980)

I was a bit unsure of what to expect from this album. I haven't come across many Rajesh Roshan soundtracks, and with one exception I've been unimpressed with the few I've heard. I was however very much taken with the song 'Jab Chaye' from 'Lootmar', which I first heard as part of tributes paid to the film's director/star Dev Anand on his passing a few years ago. It's a terrific and gloriously catchy disco stomper; relentless drumming, swirling strings, psychedelic flourishes; not entirely dissimilar to Bappi Lahiri at his funky best. (Various remakes and remixes on YouTube would suggest it's still popular). I quickly sought out and obtained a copy of the album, optimistically hoping it would include more of the same.

Unfortunately, it doesn't. The remaining tracks are in fact quite unremarkable. I expect opinions may differ on this though.

Track listing:
1. Asha Bhosle: Jab Chaye
2. Kishore Kumar, Varsha Bhosle & Shivangi Kolhapure: Hans Too Hardam
3. Lata Mangeshkar: Main Aur Too
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Aaj Ka Din
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Paas Ho Tum
6. Kishore Kumar & Mahmood: Piya Ham
7. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Hans To Hardam

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Rajesh Roshan: Vishwanath (1978)

I posted 'Vishwanath' as an EP a while back; I liked it so much I wanted to find the LP. Which I now have. It offers three different takes on 'Jab Jab, Jo Jo Hona Hai' (I still like Lata Mangeshkar's lovely lounge one best), unedited versions of the high-octane 'Bibasha-Aaj Karegi Man Mani' and the gorgeous 'Hawa Se Halki', a rather cool new track in 'Duniya Ne Mujhe', and a fast-paced, dramatic instrumental. Definitely worth the upgrade.

Track listing:
1. Kishore Kumar: Jab Jab, Jo Jo Hona Hai
2. Asha Bhosle: Bibasha-Aaj Karegi Man Mani
3. Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar: Duniya Ne Mujhe
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus: Jab Jab, Jo Jo Hona Hai
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Jab Jab, Jo Jo Hona Hai
6. Manna Dey & Chorus: Hai Jindri
7. Lata Mangeshkar: Hawa Se Halki
8. Music

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Rajesh Roshan: Des Pardes (1977) / Vishwanath (1978)

It's been suggested several times lately that I should lend an ear to Rajesh Roshan. Point taken. Unfortunately though, all I have at the moment are these two (rather worn) EPs.

'Des Pardes' is the most scratchy, but least interesting. Though not bad. All tracks have an upbeat, pleasant pop feel to them, 'Aap Kahen' with its nifty breaks being my favourite. But nothing that stands out in a big way. Cool sleeve, very mod.



'Vishwanath' I like a lot; it sounds different from most other scores of the period. Not particularly western, nor particularly Indian (not traditional anyway); it does however sound particularly dramatic, tense, and great. Everything on it is worthwhile, 'Bibasha-Aaj Karegi Man Mani' being the big draw. Machine-gun percussion, jazzy breaks, sound effects, soaring horns and strings - it's awesome! 'Hawa Se Halki' comes a close second.

As often with EPs though, the songs are edited... one reason why I'm keeping an eye out for the LP of this.

Track listing, 'Des Pardes':
1. Kishore Kumar & Chorus: Yeh Des Pardes
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Aap Kahen
3. Kishore Kumar: Too Pee Aur Jee
4. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Jaisa Des Vaisa Bhes

Track listing, 'Vishwanath':
1. Asha Bhosle: Bibasha-Aaj Karegi Man Mani
2. Lata Mangeshkar: Jab Jab, Jo jo Hona Hai
3. Manna Dey: Hai Jindri
4. Lata Mangeshkar: Hawa Se Halki

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