I have always enjoyed the mughal-courtly set Urdu movies from Bollywood (or another phrase I have come across is ‘muslim social’ movies) and Mere Huzoor (My Lord) is one that comes under this genre.
The music of Mere Huzoor is by Shankar-Jaikishan and lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri, and the movie stars Raaj Kumar (spoiler - does he ever get the girl in any of his movies?), the beautiful Mala Sinha (I did think she was rather too ‘old’ for Jeetendra though) and a very young and dashing Jeetendra.
With most of the music and movies in this genre, the lyrics and dialogues are just awesome, befiting the ‘tehzeeb’ or finesse of the culture, requiring the best of showmanship in its presentation. And it is therefore without any wonder that most of the songs sung in this album are by Mohd Rafi, whose mellifluousness voice just gives so much depth and meaning to the music and lyrics. But then, so do Lata, Asha and Manna, in their own right.
I give this album 5 stars, with my favorites being Mere Huzoor, App Ki Khatir, Woh Khushi Milli Hai and Gham Uthane Ko.
Mere Huzoor 1968: The Original Soundtrack
Side One
1. Mere Huzoor – Mohd Rafi
2. App Ki Khatir – Mohd Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
3. Jhanak Jhanak - Manna Dey
Side Two
1. Chandi Chhalla – Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus
2. Woh Khushi Milli Hai – Mohd Rafi
3. Meri Jan – Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosle
4. Gham Uthane Ko – Mohd Rafi
MUSIC #46: MERE HUZOOR 1968 (HINDI OST)
