K L Saigal, the man with the golden voice, died in 1947 and with him ended the first phase of the evolution of Hindi film music.

The same year, saw the birth of another star -- Lata Mangeshkar who sang her first film song, `Pa Lagoon Kar Jori Re / Shyam Mose Na Khelo Hori Re' in Aapki Seva Mein. This thumri was composed by music director Vasant Joglekar.

Director Kidar Sharma's celebrated film Neelkamal launched the career of Raj Kapoor as a hero. His co-stars were Madhubala and Begum Para.

Raj Kapoor also starred in two more films in 1947, and sang his own songs as well. In Jail Yatra he sang music direcotr Ninu Majumdar;s composition `Piya Milan Naveli Jaye Re'. In Dil Ki Rani he sang S D Burman's composition, `O Duniya Ke Rakhwale / Bata Kahan Gaya Chitchor'.

Dilip Kumar and Noorjehan starred in the romantic musical hit, Jugnu. This was Noorjehan's last film. Ironically it was the first time she won accolades for her performance. Later, Baburao Patel had the film banned. He took objection to the scene that showed an old man in love with a matron. The director, Shaukat Husain Rizvi had to cut the scene before the film could be exhibited again.

Ashok Kumar, who sang his own songs till this year, opted for a playback voice, Mohammed Rafi, for the first time in Filmistan's Saajan. Music Director C Ramchandra's composition, `Hamko Tumhara Aasra' gave Rafi his first hit song.

The first half of 1947, heralded the era of romantic musicals. And perhaps the trendsetter was Filmistan's Shehnai directed by P L Santoshi.

C Ramchandra's music for this film changed the entire mood of Hindi film music. Songs like `Aana Meri Jaan, Sunday Ke Sunday' and `Jawani Ki Rail Chali Jaye' became the craze of the nation in the months before Independence.At the same time, Filmistan made an entirely different film about widow remarriage called Sindoor. Directed by Kishore Shahu, this film also went on to become a big hit. Khemchand Prakash scored the music for this film which starred Shahu himself along with Shamim, Paro and Ramesh Guha.

Jagirdar's Jail Yatra was based on Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, and Kishore Shahu drew inspiration from James Hilton's Random Harvest for Saajan. But Hollywood's silent films had already raced miles ahead of Hindi talkies.

Nargis Art Concern made Romeo and Juliet, an adaptation of Shakespeare's celebrated play, with Sapru and Nargis in the lead.

V Shantaram, inspired by the success of his previous films, made Matwale Shayar Ram Joshi about the famous Maharashtrian folk artist. Manmohan Krishna played the title role. And the film's music became a rage all over.

Mira was another film which found favour with audiences, and in fact was even screened at Toronto Carlo Vi Veri and Venice film festival.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.