SARDARI BEGUM is based on the real life

Sardari Begum

Producer: Shyam Benegal
Director: Shyam Benegal
*ing : Kiron Kher, Amrish Puri
Music : Vanraj Bhatia

Reviewed by: Radhika Kumar
Sardari Begum

Rating:

SARDARI BEGUM is based on the real life of a struggling thumari singer, Sardari Begum (KIRON KHER), who is trying to find her place in a world of fame and fortune. The movie begins when the young Sardari runs away from home because her father disapproves of her singing in public. She runs to the house of her aunt, who is her inspiration, but is turned down and told to go home. Dazed by her aunt's cruelty, she goes to the house of a rich Muslim patron (AMRISH PURI), where she stays as his mistress. Right from the start, Sardari practices and performs in public, hoping that someone will recruit her and make her famous. She tries very hard to become well known. She even has a successful stint as a playback singer for a Bollywood movie, but, does not stay long enough to leave her mark on society. She spends the rest of her life playing for passersby on the street until she is killed accidentally in the midst of a street brawl.

SARDARI BEGUM is an excellent movie from one of India's best film makers, Shyam Benegal. It is told in a very fresh manner, narrarated by Sardari's brother. The movie is not mainstream cinema. It is an art movie with a compelling story. Kiron Kher is brilliant in her debut as Sardari and Amrish Puri is convincing in his role. Vanraj Bhatia's music excellent but is classical and will not please everyone. The lyrics are by people friendly Javed Akhtar. Direction is good. Movies like this come rarely and deserve to win many awards. In my opinion, this is superior to all the Judwaas and the Raja Hindustanis. Be warned though. SB is not for everyone. Few will appreciate the true beauty of the film.

http://ww.smashits.com/music/hindi-film/songs/5039/sardari-b egum.html

Twenty-one years later, Benegal was back with Sardari Begum, based on Thumri queen.

Originally posted by: Dawn05

Thanks Qwest ji ,
I haven't watch this movie yet, but read some reviews before . would like to watch it for sure

Dawn thanks,

I just found my lost CD of Sardari Begum today and was listning to it that what made me think to post this review, please listen to the link you will like it.

Thanx babu. 👏 👏

This film actually tuk me further to Vanraj Bhatia the MD of the movie. A very good MD who does not capture much bandwidth. i have pretty limited exposure to his music, but frm whtever little i do, it would not be wrong to conclude tht he is one of those sadly under-utlised and under-rated musicians in our industry. His music is traditional and has a sweetness that is very individualistic. there's a freshness to it that is reminiscent of the songs of the early 40's-50s, yet it is very much a part of the era in which it was created.

Vanraj Bhatia seems to have been an exclusive with Shyam Bengal (or has he worked with other directors?). Sadly, Benegal too succumbed to the pressures of the market and employed the services of AR Rehman for Zubeida.

Hopefully we can explore some of Vanraj Bhatia's work via this topic. For starters, here is a very 'rookie' list of some unforgettable songs from under his baton.


1. Ghir aayi kali ghata matwari (Asha, Junoon)
2. Mharo gaanv kaathavari (Preeti Sagar, Manthan)
3. Tumhare bin jee na lage ghar mein (Preeti Sagar, Bhumika)
4. Shamsheer barena maang ghazab (Preeti Sagar, Mandi)
5. More kanha jo aaye palat ke (Asha Bhosle(and another singer I can't recall), Sardari Begum)
6. Saawan ke din aaye balamwa (Preeti Sagar/?, ?)


From a filmography perspective


Mandi
Bhumika
Manthan
Junoon
Sardari Begum
Hari BHari

Vanraj Bhatia also released a two CD album of selected sholkas of the Bhagavad Gita rendered by Ravindra Sathe (Krishna), Hridaya Merchant (Arjuna). Chorus by Arun Ingale, Hemant Kulkarni, Milind Ingale and Sharad Jambhekar. Marathi Natya sangeet lovers (and Bharat Ek Khoj watchers) will recognize some of these names.

I love the songs... especially Ghar Nahin Hamare Shyaam!

Chrods & Notes Taaza Hawa Lete Hain... Altaf Raja... Venus... WHEN ALTAF Raja sings, he sings to his heart's content. Be it about love, his beloved's sweet revenge or separation, he adds a charm to the song by the way he renders it. In his latest album Taaza Hawa Lete Hain the song Aane lagi hai hichki forms an interesting part. Starting with the title song, the melodious journey is never-ending. The attractive numbers include Halla ho gaya halla, Aa paas aa zara dhire dhire aa, Gadi na choot jaye, Teri tarah tera gaon, Meri Laila Laila tu and Aaja tu baith ja cycle pe. With its foot-tapping numbers, the album is an interesting bargain. Tum Yaad Na Aaya Karo... Ram Shankar... Venus... THE MUCH-HYPED Valentine's Day has come and gone, but not the feelings that it had brought with it. Love is still in the air. Perhaps, the album might help you augment your love, or conceal the feelings of your broken heart. A truly sentimental album, it has those romantic melodies that can attract the attention of people who are in (and out of) love. The slow numbers include mood melodies like Tum yaad na aayaa karo, Chand ka tujh ko deedar, Kya khata thi kyon, Jo tum saath hote and Tanhayee tanhayee, among others. Ae gaon se aanewale bataa woh gaon ka panghat kaisa hai reminds you of ever-popular songs like Chitti aayi hai (Pankaj Udhas) and Woh kaagaz ki kashti (Jagjit Singh). Though a bit mushy, it is certainly a good attempt. DEVOTIONAL Anant... The endless... Vanraj Bhatia... Music Today... THE UPANISHADS are the fountainhead of Indian philosophy. The chants from these scriptures are out of purview of many. Normally one hears a few mantras like the Shanti mantra and others at rituals and ceremonies. . But when portions of such texts are recorded in audio cassettes the scope of listening and gaining knowledge from them is widened. Therefore, Music Today's set of two cassettes titled Anant the endless is important and valuable. The two albums comprise select chants from the sacred books the Upanishads and Vedas. The verses chosen revolve around the themes Om, Shanti, Anant, Atman and Anand.

Chanted against musical strains, these verses are appealing. Vanraj Bhatia's musical score is delightful. Sombre and serene, the score is also able to capture the moods of the verses aptly. There are certain verses which are recited forcefully with music to complement it. It is evident that this musical effort has stemmed from deep research. The instrumental versions (Om, Shanti, Anant, Atman and Anand) make good listening. The music is soft and soothing yet powerful. The orchestration is a blend of east and west with quite a bit of piano. But it veers towards spirituality. At times one is reminded of Yanni's chants. The score for the verses use predominantly Indian instruments. The verses are chanted according to the tune worked out. The diction is easy on the ear. These can be followed with the help of the accompanying booklet which also provides the meanings. A very useful entity to the albums. This twin album is not just for the philosophic and spiritual oriented. It shows how even a sacred text makes for interesting listening. More so this way because it is accessible to all. Definitely worth a purchase.

Originally posted by: Barnali

Hopefully we can explore some of Vanraj Bhatia's work via this topic. For starters, here is a very 'rookie' list of some unforgettable songs from under his baton.


1. Ghir aayi kali ghata matwari (Asha, Junoon)
2. Mharo gaanv kaathavari (Preeti Sagar, Manthan)
3. Tumhare bin jee na lage ghar mein (Preeti Sagar, Bhumika)
4. Shamsheer barena maang ghazab (Preeti Sagar, Mandi)
5. More kanha jo aaye palat ke (Asha Bhosle(and another singer I can't recall), Sardari Begum)
6. Saawan ke din aaye balamwa (Preeti Sagar/?, ?)


From a filmography perspective


Mandi
Bhumika
Manthan
Junoon
Sardari Begum
Hari BHari

Vanraj Bhatia also released a two CD album of selected sholkas of the Bhagavad Gita rendered by Ravindra Sathe (Krishna), Hridaya Merchant (Arjuna). Chorus by Arun Ingale, Hemant Kulkarni, Milind Ingale and Sharad Jambhekar. Marathi Natya sangeet lovers (and Bharat Ek Khoj watchers) will recognize some of these names.

Barnali di, here is the missing info ---

5. Other singer of More kanha jo aaye palat ke -- Aarti Ankalikar

Asha and Aarti have sung this song separately -- there are 2 solos in the film

6. Sawaan ke din aye balamwa aan milo -- is from Bhumika

Aarti Ankalikar, by the way, has sung 4 solos in Sardari begum -- chali pee ke nagar, ghar nahi hamare shyam, ghir ghir aayi badariya kaari and huzoor itna agar ham par... these are classical based songs. You can listen them here ----

http://www.desimusic.com/songs/singer/2635/aarti-ankalikar.h tml

Originally posted by: salilu

Barnali di, here is the missing info ---

5. Other singer of More kanha jo aaye palat ke -- Aarti Mukherjee

6. Sawaan ke din aye balamwa aan milo -- is from Bhumika

salilu thanks, as always you are the connector of missing link. Again thanks for your support.

Originally posted by: Qwest

salilu thanks, as always you are the connector of missing link. Again thanks for your support.

Qwest dada, the singer is Aarti Ankalikar -- I mistyped and then corrected it in my post and also provided link to her songs. She is very well known to the classical music lovers in Maharashtra. Please listen to the songs. They are wonderful. I have been to the live classical concerts of Aarti Ankalikar. She is just out of the world.

Originally posted by: salilu

Qwest dada, the singer is Aarti Ankalikar -- I mistyped and then corrected it in my post and also provided link to her songs. Please listen to them. They are wonderful. I have been to the live classical concerts of Aarti Ankalikar. She is just out of the world.

Salilu thanks for the link I did listen to her before my favorite Huzoor Itna Agar Hum Par thanks she is just great Aarti Ankalikar:

http://www.desimusic.com/songs/singer/2635/aarti-ankalikar.h tml