Monday, 21 September 2015

Kalyanji Anandji: Haath Ki Safai (1974)

Haath Ki Safai

If you were to think "I’ve heard this before" when listening to the unlisted instrumental kicking off 'Haath Ki Safai', you wouldn't be mistaken. The melody sounds just like Henry Mancini's theme from 'The Thief That Came To Dinner', which isn't unusual in itself; Bollywood MDs did that sort of thing a lot. What's surprising is that just a few months later, Kalyanji Anandji used the same melody again for their (now quite famous) instrumental from 'Rafoo Chakkar'. They must really have liked Mancini’s original.

It precedes 'Wada Karle Sajna' and combined they are the best thing on this soundtrack. The song is beautiful; a soaring melody, sumptuously orchestrated with a cool rolling rhythm. I quite like 'Ham Ko Mohabbat Ho Gai Hai' too, a pleasant if unspectacular pop tune with nice instrumental details, including a Morricone-ism or two. Cabaret number 'Too Kya Jane O Bewafa' follows Kalyanji Anandji's trademark funk pop formula; similar in style to their own 'Ae Naujawan Hai Sub Kuchh Yahan' but without being quite as good. Or as funky.

Track listing:
1. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd. Rafi: Wada Karle Sajna
2. Mahendra Kapoor & Chorus: Oopar Wale Teri Duniya Men
3. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar: Ham Ko Mohabbat Ho Gai hai
4. Kishore Kumar & Hema Malini: Peene Wale Ko Peene Ka Bahana Chahiye
5. Lata Mangeshkar: Too Kya Jane O Bewafa


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