Basant Bahar (film)

This article is about the film. For other uses, see Basant Bahar (disambiguation).

Basant Bahar (transl. Beautiful Spring), directed by Raja Nawathe,^[1] is a 1956 Indian film.

Basant Bahar
Directed by	Raja Nawathe
Written by	Rajinder Singh Bedi
Story by	Ta-Ra-Su
Based on	Hamsageethe by TaRaSu.
Produced by	R. Chandra
Starring	Bharat Bhushan Nimmi
Cinematography	M. Rajaram
Edited by	P. S. Khochikar G. G. Mayekar
Music by	Shankar Jaikishan
Production company	Shri Vishwa Bharati Films
Release date	7 December 1956 (1956-12-07)
Country	India
Language	Hindi

This musical^[2] had nine outstanding songs, with lyrics written by Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri; and music composition by Shankar–Jaikishan. The movie is an adaptation of the Kannada novel Hamsageethe by TaRaSu.^[3] Hamsa means swan and Geethe means song. It is believed that before a swan dies, it will sing without opening its mouth. That mutter of melody is believed to be unmatched since any scene of lyricism falls short of its reach.

Plot

The film begins with Gopal Joshi (Bharat Bhushan) singing a raga. His father, Narsin Joshi (Om Prakash), the royal astrologer, comes and scolds him for singing and says he should become an astrologer. On the other hand, in his neighbourhood, his neighbour Malaya, the son of the royal musician is scolded by his father for being lesser than Gopal in singing. He is preparing him for a music competition, the winner of which will become the royal musician. At the same time, Gopal enters and says that he will not participate, to which Malaya's father refuses, and convinces Gopal to participate. On the day of the competition, however, Malaya gives Gopal some holy water. He has secretly added a poison that ruins Gopal's singing ability. He loses the competition. Shortly thereafter, he loses his voice completely. A new friend Gopi (Nimmi) who is a dancer, eventually helps him regain his voice. Gopal eventually gets to sing in front of the emperor and impress him.

Cast

• Bharat Bhushan as Gopal^[1]
• Nimmi as Gopi^[1]
• Kumkum as Radhika (as Kum Kum)^[1]
• Leela Chitnis as Gopal's mother^[1]
• Om Prakash as Narsin^[1]
• Manmohan Krishna as Lehri Baba^[1]
• Parsuram (as Parashram)
• Chand Burke as Leelabai (as Chand Burque)
• Shyam Kumar
• S. K. Prem
• Babu Raje
• S. B. Nayampalli (as Nayam Pally)
• Indira Billi
• Chandrashekhar as Emperor (as Chandra Shekhar)^[1]

Awards

• National Film Awards^[4]
  • 1956 - Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Hindi^[4]

Music and soundtrack

This movie's film songs became very popular among the public.

"With each song being a diamond chiseled in the workshop of harmony, 'Basant Bahar' also proves that SJ (Shankar-Jaikishan) could whet all kinds of tastes, trends and demands with equal ease. Aided by their evergreen poetic friends Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri, these memorable songs are of rare quality and timbre to soothe and enchant music lovers of all ages".^[1]

#	Song	Singer
1	"Badi Der Bhayee"[1]	Mohammed Rafi[1]
2	"Bhay Bhajana Vandana Sun Hamaree"[1]	Manna Dey
3	"Duniya Na Bhaye Mohe"	Mohammed Rafi
4	"Ja Ja Re Ja Balama"[1]	Lata Mangeshkar
5	"Kar Gaya Re Mujh Pe Jadoo"[1]	Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle
6	"Ketaki Gulaab Juhi"[1]	Manna Dey, Bhimsen Joshi
7	"Main Piya Teri, Tu Maane Ya Na Maane"[1]	Lata Mangeshkar
8	"Nain Mile Chain Kahan"[1]	Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey
9	"Sur Na Saje, Kya Gaaun Mein"[1]	Manna Dey