THE BEST OF PUNJABI MUSIC 

The 50th year of India’s independence was celebrated with a lot of fanfare by the music companies, who came out with special albums to comemmorate the grand event, most of which had a compilation of the best Hindi film music made in the past five decades. HMV continues the celebration with the release of 50 Glorious Years Of Punjabi Music, in five volumes, which is a compilation of more than 60 popular Punjabi numbers in the past 50 years. There are songs sung by legendary singers like Shamshad Begum, and the new sensations like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The compilation has been carefully done by Pavan Malhotra, keeping in mind the evolution of Punjabi music in the past 50 years, and how Punjabi folk music has assimilated the new musical trends, enriching itself, and in turn, reaching out to a far greater audience. The five volumes have a good mix of slow, sentimental songs, and fast, energetic bhangra numbers.

Vol - 1: This volume contains some of the best oldies sung by Shamshad Begum, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle to name a few. Side A concentrates on classical-based songs, the popular ones chosen from films. So you have gems like Batti bal ke sung by Shamshad Begum and composed by Hansraj Bahl from the film Bhangra, Main koi jhoot boleya sung by Mohd. Rafi and Balbir and composed by Salil Chowdhury from Raj Kapoor’s Jagte Raho, Nalle lambi te nale kali sung by Lata Mangeshkar and composed by S. Mohinder from the film Lachhu, and Tu ping ke mai parchawan sung by Asha Bhosle and Mohd. Rafi, and composed by Sardul Kwatra from the film Posti. Side B has the traditional numbers which showcase the culture of Punjab, and have been sung by Prakash Kaur, Asa Singh Mastana and Nooran.

Vol - 2: This has the popular folk songs of Punjab which have been heard at some time or the other by every Indian. The numbers bring alive the celebration of the different festivals of Punjab, and give a glimpse of the culture of Punjab. So dance along as you hear Prakash Kaur, Surinder Kaur Jasbir Kaur sing Kala doria, Kala Shah kala, Lathe di chadar and Ik meri akh kashni.

Vol - 3: The numbers in this volume again are the traditional ones, marked for festivals. Most of them are fast-paced and just right for a gidha like Kali teri gut sung by Asa Singh Mastana, Jugni sung by Hazara Singh Ramta, Johri jadon chobare chardi sung by Didar Sandhu and the ever popular Dil da mamla hai sung by Gurdas Maan.

Vol - 4: This stands out among the other volumes since the compilation should appeal to all. One can call it the best of the lot with an assortment of all top singers. So you have Mahendra Kapoor’s Jaggya jaggya from Kala Pathar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Kinna Sohna, Jagjit Singh’s Dhai din na jawani nal (you are sure to enjoy this as much as his ghazals), Reshma’s Shahbaz qalandar, Mussarat Nazir’s Laung gawacha, Gurdas Maan’s Mamla gadbad hai and Shaukat Ali’s Raba sohneyan... to keep you enthralled. One hearing of these songs is not enough.

Vol - 5: The last volume has those Punjabi numbers in which folk music has been influenced by the modern musical trends. One can say that the this compilation is essentially of Punjabi ‘pop’ numbers, aimed at the youth. There’s Tutak tutak tutian and Hai shava sung by Malkit Singh, Cham cham nach di phiran sung by Asha Bhsole and Channi Singh, Makhana sung by Channi Singh and Tora tora sung by Baba Sehgal.

For the old generation, this collection is sure to bring back good ol’ memories, and for the new generation, it will serve as an eye-opener and a revelation that there is more to Punjabi music than just than Daler Mehndi.

50 Glorious Years Of Punjabi Music (5 cassettes);

HMV; Rs. 140