Osian's Auction Catalogue The Greatest Indian Show On Earth | September 2014

The Greatest Indian Show on Earth Lot 16 “Baiju Bawra based on the legend of Baijnath Mishra or Baiju, a court musician during the time of Mughal emperor Akbar, established Mohammed Rafi as the foremost singer in Bollywood…Music was central to the plot, hence Ustad Amir Khan was roped in (by Naushad) in as a consultant in addition to the likes of Rafi, Lata and Shamsad Begum. Even DV Paluskar lent his voice to the film...Here was aclassic hailing back to the heyday of the Mughal Empire being made within a few years after the traumatic Partition of the country. yet, it was a film whose music was steeped in Hindu hues. And to think the timeless music score of Baiju Bawra was put together by the combined efforts of Naushad Ali, Shakeel Badayuni and Mohammed Rafi! The mind goes back to Raag Makauns in that most moving of bhajans, ‘Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj’. Reportedly, it is in this song that even the redoubtable Rafi found it hard to please the perfectionist Naushad. That he still did it is proof of his dedication. It had Rafi weaving magic to Naushad’s tune and shakeel’s lyrics. Much like another bhajan ‘Bhagwan Bhagwan... O duniya ke rakhwale’. Of course, Baiju Bawra’s music score deserves encomiums beyond a couple of bhajans put together by the Muslim members of the crew. Its songs were the first to be recorded on the magnetic tapes... The music with its classical bent is the central pillar of the film. Understandable too considering the subject in Baiju Bawra is music and love and how they complement each other ! Legend has it that Baiju Bawra beat Tansen in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar. The jugalbandi (duet) is brought alive by Ustad Amir Khan and DV Paluskar in one of the most memorable moments of Hindi cinema - ‘Aaj gaavat man mero jhoom ke’. You don’t have to be a connoisseur of classic music to relish this composition by Naushad. It is simple yet so captivating... Vijay Bhatt, who never loses grip of the subject with his impeccable direction, would have known the value of music for the film and does justice by staying on track despite the camera remaining static in most tight situations. Bharat Bhushan has some impressive moments but it is Meena Kumari who wins your heart with her endearing performance.” Vijay Lokpally, reprinted in Ziya Us Salam (Editor).’Housefull: The Golden Age of Hindi Cinema’. New Delhi: Om Books International 2012; p.94-97. 45 A FOCUS ON VIJAY BHATT & PRAKASH PICTURES