Geetmala ki chhaaon me - First impressions

Ameen Sayani with Saregama released the second installment of the "Geetmala ki chhaaon me GMKCM)" series - a journey through the lesser-ran-but-great songs of the great years of his Geetmala radio series.

The first GMKCM set had three of the five CDs covering the pre-countdown years (mostly 1950-1953) while CDs 4 and 5 focussed on the hit songs of 1954 and 1955 respectively. I had bought this set after a lot of internal debate. I had almost all the songs in my collection and I knew well what were the top hit songs of the years 1954 and 1955. The only incentive was to experience that golden age of Indian film music in the voice of Ameen Sayani himself. I enjoyed the set immensely. You felt you were back in that black and white period where legends of music ruled the roost and melody was queen. Though I obviously was disappointed by the non-inclusion of masterly soundtracks like "Parchhaaian", "Aaraam", "Anandmath", "Raag rang", "Naubahaar" etc.,
I still enjoyed Ameen Sayani's presentation and decided that the set was truly worth it.

I waited for the next set eagerly and bought it quickly enough. At the end of listening to three of the five CDs, I am left feeling disappointed. No - its not a case of too-high-expectations. Some thoughts which may explain this feeling:

1. You can clearly see the sagging overall quality of music in our films and popular taste. Ameensaab cannot of course help this but it does affect the listening pleasure.

2. But I am completely irked by Ameensaab's apparent devotion to Raj Kapoor and to a letter extent, Shankar Jaikishan. He actually played out a song from "Aawaaraa" in CD 2 (meant for songs in 1957) just because people had complained about the film not being mentioned. My dear Sir, why do not you then mention "Parchhaaiaan" too. and "Naubahaar"? Are these lesser soundtracks than "Aawaaraa"? I thought this series of CDs were meant for songs that did not make the hit list. "Aawaaraa" songs certainly make that list dont they? Can any of "Aawaaraa" songs match the sheer bliss that is conveyed by songs like "kaTate hai.n dukh me din" or "dekho jii meraa jiyaa churaaye liye jaae" or "man me kisii kii priit basaa le"?

Then, he played snatches opf all the popular songs from "Basant bahaar" (6 or 7 of them I think) but mentions sadly that only a couple of "Madhumati" songs made the list. Whoa! Why not play snatches of all the "Madhumati" songs pray? "Madhumati" is, arguably, the most popular and universally loved soundtraks ever.

3. Worst of all, I never got that back-in-time experience that the first set conveyed. CD2 of this set is devoted totally to the 2007 function held to release the first set. While it is fine to recall that good occassion, you cant do that for one full CD.

4. The overall presentation of the hit-parade and the "chhaaon" songs was a little chaotic. I never knew if I was listening to a hit-parade song or not.

In summary, the problem with this second set is that it doesnt convey an "experience". You do not feel that you re-lived another age.