Continuing from the last post let us start from the Beginning of music evolution post independence in India.

Beginning of Golden Era (1950-1970): This was the time when we got the independence and our music has plenty of influence of independent India. This was independent Music. With Independence we also had to face grim challenges of partition, poverty, unemployment and growing population. These challenges has greater impact on our cinema so as music.

All these socio-economic challenges were depicted many times in the music made during this time. Musicians were very much influenced by idea which Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of about new India. Politically Congress was the foremost and single majority party took over while Jawahar Lal Nehru become the first PM of Independent India. It won’t be correct to call this era as Bollywood because this term was not coined by then. It was Hindi Cinema (Hindi Music or Indian Music). How come music is complete if we don’t have Romantic songs. There were sufficient romantics songs were written and sung during this period.

Little bit about the Films during this era. There were few films in 1950s which were black and white but trend was started to adopt color cinema. Mid 50s and 1960s was the time when technicolor films started coming-up. Technicolor films: where films converted to color using technology but shot in the usual way and finally 1980’s is the time when Fuji films entered in the colored cinema space and it has transformed the quality of the color films.

Coming back on the music and songs in GOLDEN ERA, couple of hit romantic love songs from this era this list is endless though I am listing some of the very famous songs, these songs are still being played with equal excitement and have that feeling which is making us enter in that era. Those born in 50s know better. I have populated below list in the chronological order.

• Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re – Film Bahar – 1951
• Babuji Dheere Chalna –Film Aar Paar – 1954
• Jadugar Saiyan Chodo Mori Baiyan – Film Nagin – 1954
• Pyar Hua Ekrar Hua Hai – Film Shree 420 – 1955
• Jaha Mai Jaati Hoo Waha – Film Chori Chori – 1956
• Ye Raat Bheegi Bheegi Ye Mast Hawa – Film Chori Chori – 1956 
• Ae Din Mujhe Bata De Ye Kispe Aa Gaya Hai – Film Bhai Bhai– 1956
• Bujh Mera Kya Naam Re Bujh Mera Kya Naam Re – Film C.I.D – 1956
• Ankhon he Ankhon main ishara ho gaya – Film C.I.D.– 1956
• O Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar – Film C.I.D. – 1956
• Kahin Pe Nighaye Kahin Pe Nishana – Film C.I.D. – 1956 
• Ude Jab Jab Julfein Teri – Film Naya Daur – 1957
• Mana Janab ne Pukara Nahi – Film Paying Guest – 1957 
• Suhana Safar aur ye mausam haseen – Film Madhumati – 1958
• Hai Apna Dil To Awara – Film Solva Saal – 1958
• Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya – Film Mughal-e-Azam  – 1960
• Tujhe Jeevan ke dor se Baandh Liya Hai – Film Asli Naqli – 1962
• Kabhi Tera Daman Na Chhodenge Hum – Film Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare – 1966
• Yeh Dil Tum Bin Kahin Lagta Nahin – Film Izzat – 1968 
• Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke – Film Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke – 1969 

Songs which are depicting unemployment and other social changes happening in society and Pyaasa is one of that kind of movie. Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Wo Kaha Hai lot showing what was going on during that period. I would suggest everyone to hear this once.

• Awara Hoon Ya Gardish Mein – Film Awara – 1951
• A Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahan – Film C.I.D. – 1956
• Panchchi Banu Udati Phiru Mast Gagan main – Film Chori Chori – 1956
• Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De – Film Bhai Bhai – 1956 
• Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai – Film Pyaasa – 1957
• Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Wo Kaha Hai – Film Pyaasa – 1957

Song which were inspirational and giving next level of push to the youth of nation

• Tadbeer Se Bigadi Huyee Taqdeer – Film Baazi– 1951
• Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon – Film Naya Daur – 1957
• Sar Jo Tera Chakraye – Film Pyaasa – 1957
• Kisi Ki Muskurahton Pe Ho – Film Anari – 1959
• Dil Deke Dekho – Film Dil Deke Dekho– 1959
• Apni Azadi Ko Hum Hargis Mita Sakte Nahin – Film Leader – 1965

Touchy and separation kind of sad songs of this era

• Toote Na Dil Toote Na – Film Andaz – 1949  
• Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat – Film Aah – 1953
• Jayein To Jayein Kahan – Film Taxi Driver – 1954
• Rasik Balma Se Dil Kyon – Film Chori Chori – 1956
• Janne Woh Kaise Log The Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila – Film Pyaasa – 1957
• Mehboob Mere Mehboob Mere – Film Patthar Ke Sanam – 1967 

I would suggest everyone to hear couple of these songs to get the essence of that era, how was this era, persona of people during that period, feel that period through these songs. In my opinion this was the real golden era where base of our music industry was established. That is why it is been said that “Old is Gold” for sure that fits here. In the next set of posts we will talk about the rest of the music eras and gems from these eras.