Journey in song, dance

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Alam Ara

Here’s an interesting fact: The film Shirheen Farhad had no less than 42 songs. But we’re not talking about the Boman Irani-Farah Khan starrer Shirin Farhad (Ki Toh Nikal Padi) that was recently in the theatre. We’re talking about the 1931 film by Jamshedji Framji Madan that was among the first few movies to usher in the era of the musical in Bollywood films.

While today it may seem inconceivable that there was actually a time when B’wood films didn’t have any music, the fact is that it was with Alam Ara, in 1931, when sound was first introduced that musical sequences also became popular. Alam Ara had a respectable tally of seven songs. Shirheen Farhad, which came after that, had 42, as mentioned earlier. Its successor Indra Sabha would have 69!
Alam Ara’s music was scored by Ferozshah Mistry and B. Irani and featured such popular tracks as De De Khuda Ke Naam Pe and Teri Kaatil Adaaon Ne Maara. From there to Chikni Chameli, B’wood music has had a long journey indeed.