Melody in the movies: 1980 (Continued)

Rajiv Vijaykar (Screen)

...The year is also noted for one of the biggest catastrophes to hit Hindi film music—the death of the Mohammed Rafi on July 31. In the year of his demise, Rafi sings unforgettable, hit songs in both Karz and Qurbaani as well as Aasha, Judaai, Dostana, Ram Balram, Kali Ghata, Do Premee (all Laxmikant-Pyarelal scores), Bombay 405 Miles and Neeyat (Kalyanji-Anandji composition), Aap Ke Deewane, Svayamwar and Man Pasand (Rajesh Roshan), Chambal Ki Kasam (Khayyam), The Burning Train, Abdullah, Shaan, Takkar and Jai Mahal (all RD Burman hits), Mera Salaam (Rajkamal) and last but not the least, Aap To Aise Na The (Usha Khanna).

Melody in the movies: 1980 (Continued)

Rajiv Vijaykar (Screen)

The Burning Train and Shaan are the two major multistarrers that Pancham scores for this year. Though the films fail to do good business, the music of both films is quite popular.

The standout song in the former is of course the fabulous Sahir-RD qawwali sung by Asha and Rafi, 'Pal do pal ka saath hamara', with which RD proves again after Hum Kisise Kum Nahin that since the 'Seventies, no popular composer could equal him in intricate, authentic qawwalis. The other popular numbers are 'Pehli nazar mein', 'Meri nazar hai tum pe' and the beautiful number sung by Sushma Shrestha and Padmini Kolhapure as child-singers, 'Teri hai zameen'. Shaan has a sizzler of a score with 'Jaanu meri jaan', 'Yamma yamma', 'Doston se pyar kiya', 'Naam Abdul hai mera' and the stunning Asha number 'Pyar karnewale pyar karte hain shaan se.'

The Rahul Rawail-RD combo begins their association with Gunehgaar, but the film does not get a proper release and the songs fail to make any impact.

Melody in the movies: 1980

Rajiv Vijaykar (Screen)

Rekha makes her singing debut with 'Kaayada kaayada...' and 'Saare niyam tod do...' in Khubsoorat. This offbeat RD-Gulzar score also has the popular 'Sun sun sun didi tere liye...', while veteran Ashok Kumar sings 'Piya bavari...' with Asha Bhosle.

Abdullah sees RD modernising his father's tune in 'Maine poocha chand se...' It is a whopper Rafi hit but connoisseurs prefer Kishore's 'Ae khuda har faisla tera mujhe manzoor hai...' Asha sings two modestly popular numbers, 'Jashn-e-bahaara mehfil-e-yaara...' and 'Bheega badan jalne lagaa...'

'Jaadugar jaadoo kar jaayega...' and the sizzling 'Khatooba...' are memorable in the Indo-Russian co-production Alibaba Aur Chalis Chor.

Takkar boasts of three tepidly songs, 'Maakhan chor Nandkishore...', 'Jab jab dekhoon...' and 'Murti Ganesh ki andar daulat desh ki...'

Dhan Daulat has 'Jeena kya aji pyar bina...', while two classy Kishore-Asha duets 'Kiski sadaayen...' and 'Tere bin jeena kya...' make up the Red Rose score.

The suspense thriller Jai Mahal has Lata's haunting 'Main hoon diya sooni raaton ka...' and the Asha-Rafi duet 'Tataiyya ne dunk maara...'.