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Bappi Lahiri: Pataal Bhairavi (1985)
Bappi Lahiri would throughout the 1980s make soundtracks that verged from tackily second-rate to the near sublime. 'Pataal Bhairavi' contains a little of both. Starter 'Mehmaan Majar Ki Ban Ja' is one...
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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1985)
You don't generally compare Laxmikant Pyarelal to Bappi Lahiri, yet 'Kala Dhanda Goray Log' reminds me, at least in part, of the previous score posted. It isn't a career highlight – the mid-1980s was...
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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Khilona (1970)
A hunch that it wan't the most interesting of soundtracks is the reason I've passed on several copies of Laxmikant Pyarelal's 'Khilona' over the years. Finding a real cheap one I finally succumbed, but...
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Sachin Dev Burman: Chhupa Rustam (1973)
1973 appears to have been a good year for SD Burman. I posted his excellent 'Jugnu' a little while ago; 'Chhupa Rustam'[review][2] is of a similar vein. 'Jo Main Hota' is its first highlight, fresh and...
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Ramlal: Sehra (1963)
Ramlal Choudhary's 'Geet Gaya Patharonne' from 1964 was one of last year's most pleasing discoveries, subsequently featured in the book '100 Bollywood Soundtracks Every Music Ought To Hear'. His...
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C. Ramchandra: Albela (1951)
I like C. Ramchandra. His name isn't one that gets dropped very often in my (admittedly largely 70s-centric) circles but having scored more than 100 movies he can hardly be described as an unknown. The...
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Bappi Lahiri: Maut Ka Saya (1982)
It is said about film-makers The Ramsay Brothers that they were Bollywood's prime exponents of low-grade, sleazy 1980s horror cinema. Similarly, Bappi Lahiri's music is often described as the epitome...
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Rahul Dev Burman: Zameen Aasman (1983)
'Zameen Aasman' might be one primarily for RD Burman completists. And to be honest I don't have a lot to say about it. Its songs are OK but none can be described as classics or essential. 'Mano-Mano Ya...
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Rahul Dev Burman: Manzil Manzil (1984)
Sticking with mid-80s Rahul Dev Burman, here's one more containing a few decent if not entirely convincing tracks.'Manzil Manzil' is quite varied; opener 'He Baba' is an energetic disco tune with some...
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Mahesh Naresh / Shakila Bano Bhopali / Chris Perry: Maze Le Lo (1975)
'Maze Le Lo' is a strange one. There's aren't many mentions of the film online*, and its soundtrack – curiously also released in France– was made by people that are all unknown to me.Half of it is...
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O.P. Nayyar: C.I.D. (1956)
Despite its title, and despite the film being labelled a thriller, the soundtrack to Guru Dutt's "C.I.D." sounds nothing like what I generally associate with crime film music. While I wasn't...
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O.P. Nayyar: C.I.D. 909 (1967) / Sapan Jagmohan: Do Raha (1971)
More music for India's Crime Investigation Department. I don't think 'C.I.D. 909' [review] is a sequel to 1956's 'C.I.D' (see previous post), but once again O.P. Nayyar was in charge of the...
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Sonik Omi: Do Chehere (1976)
'Is Raat Ke Sannate Men' is a fantastic track, slightly reminiscent of the psychedelic marvels heard on Madan Mohan's superb 'Hanste Zakhm' from 1973. Rousing and hypnotic; it features an otherworldly...
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Raamlaxman: Tumhaare Bina (1982)
OK, this one's an acquired taste. To be fair, ten years ago I probably wouldn't have liked 'Tumhaare Bina' much, but a gradual growing appreciation of at least some 1980s Bollywood Disco has made me...
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Anand Milind: Peechha Karro (1985)
Brothers Anand and Milind Shrivastav will be familiar to longtime followers of MFT3F for 1990's slightly over-the-top but very entertaining 'Jungle Love'. The sons of veteran music director...
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Ravi: Hamraaz (1967)
Despite 'Hamraaz' being a fairly recent acquisition, I've known about the soundtrack for years due to being struck by its artwork. The smart simplicity of it, the look of the cover stars and the...
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Ravi: Doli (1969)
Another Ravi score, from two years later, and this one is even better. His pop sensibilities are on display on 'Doli': the enchanting 'Aaj Main Dekhoon' reminds me of the delicious confections that...
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Shankar Jaikishan: Dil Daulat Duniya (1972)
I took me a while to discover that Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal had passed away in 1971, and that soundtracks credited to Shankar Jaikishan made after that were in fact Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi solo...
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Shankar Jaikishan: Aaj Ki Taza Khabar (1973) / Dhoop Chhaon (1977)
Considering the soundtrack's relative obscurity (I believe this EP was the only release afforded), Shankar Jaikishan's 'Aaj Ki Taza Khabar' [review] is suprisingly good. 'Khilta Hua Shabab Hai' has a...
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Laxmikant Pyarelal: Kacha Chor / Pratiggya (1975)
I don't think 1975 was Laxmikant Pyarelal's finest year (1972-74 was their prime in my opinion), but I came across this cheaply priced two-fer by them, sporting a cover I found appealing, so I took a...
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