Chitalkar.. a singer of a kind

Chitalkar Ramchandra was one of ttowering cinema personalities of his time - well built with the style of a leading man. It was difficult to believe that this man indulged in music and crafted some of the most heart-searing melodies of all-time. He is of course famously known as C.Ramchandra. While this name may ring a bell even for the modern generation,  the first name "Chitalkar" may not be as familiar. Not unless the person has dived at least a little into the ocean of old music. While Annasaab (as the man was fondly called) could sing pretty well, his musical obligations forced him to focus primarily on his composing skills. His singing hence took a back seat. But even with the limited time, he has sung some of the most well-remembered songs of Indian  films. In fact, he was good enough a singer to be used as a playback singer by other leading composers of the time like Anil Biswas, S.D.Burman and Roshan !! Lets take a peek into some of my personal favorites of Chitalkar the singer.

Albelaa, 1951 - Albelaa deserves a header all to itself here because this was where the singer and composer together hit their peak. The songs were the craze of the times, and continues to remain enduringly popular even amongst the youngsters. C.Ramchandra decided to make himself the voice of the hero Bhagvan in the film, and with Lata created some of the most popular songs ever - sholaa jo bhaDake, bholii suurat dil ke khoTe, diivaanaa paravaanaa, dhiire se aajaa rii akhiyan me and going solo in qismat kii havaa kabhii naram kabhii garam.

When I say that he vocalized for the hero in the film, dont think this was an isolated instance. In fact, Chitalkar is one of those few singers who playbacked for the three superstars of the time - the crazy, fun-filled mombaasaa on Raj Kapoor in Sargam, the zamaane-kaa daane daane pe likhaa hai and the soulful phir vahii chaa.Nd vahii Gam on Dev Anand in Baarish and perhaps most famously, rendering so stylishly kitanaa hasii.n hai mausam for Dilip Kumar in Aazaad. Most listeners take this to be a Talat rendition. In fact, Dilipsaab wanted this to be renndered by Talatsaab who couldnt make it to the recording. Chitalkar stepped in and sang it giving it the necessary Talat touch. Its one of the most successful C.Ramchandra compositions ever.

There is no doubt that Chitalkar's prime forte were the songs of fun where the singers needed to be as uninhibited and energetic as possible. It is wondrous to note that an otherwise serious Lata rendered some of CR's craziest songs with the man himself. baabaDii buubaDii baabaDii bam in Hangaamaa, yaar vaii vaii and mombasaa in Sargam, are baabaa in Shin shinaa ki booblaa boo, jhukatii hai duniyaa in Sagaai, dil kaa ye i.njan siiTiyaa.N maare from Ustad Pedro, o chaai machhuaa from Naadaan and so many more. Mohammed Rafi also joined Chitalkar in many a fun songs as baap baDaa naa bhaiyyaa,

But in equal measure has Chitalkar numerous classy romantic numbers - mostly duets with Lata. vo hamase chup hai.n from Sargam, ae aa.Nkh ab naa ronaa and lagaa hai kuchh aesaa nishaanaa kisii kaa from Sipahiyaa, chalii bhii aa ki teraa i.ntazaar kab se hai from Shatranj, jhuum jhuum jhuum jhuum rahii pyaar kii duniyaa from Hangaamaa, kahate hai.n pyaar kisako and phir vahii chaa.Nd vahii Gam from Baarish, and to round off with Albelaa, shaam Dhale khiDakii tale and mere dil kii ghaDii kare Tik Tik Tik.

What melodies these are !! Such a repertoire would make the best singers proud ! But then, C.Ramchandra did not expand his singing abilities much. As a result, once he slid as a composer, his singing also faded away. But his songs continue to delight us till this day..