NAUSHAD'S MAGICAL BATON

I have a very vivid memory of a film song which I enjoyed s child of eight while watching the film Andaz starring Dilip Kumr, Raj Kapoor nd Nargis in a rickety thetre of a smll town of Bihar in early 50's.The song was 'Uthai ja unke sitam"sung by Lata Mangeshkar rendered on the screen by Nargiss.Of all the popular melodies mostly sungukesh in this film composed by Nausha d this particular song struck the chord in me which later years I discovered that this lilting melody was composed in raga Kedara.This was my first experience of the geniuss of Naushad who could mould an indian classical raga into popular film song with such a dextrity.Another classical number which mismerised me in my childhood was from the film Shabab "man ki been matwali baje" by Rafi and Lata set in ragaw Basant Bahar.
I still visualise in my memory, a young boy running on the street of a sleepy town of Bihar after the loud speaker on a carriage which was playing this song while dvertising for this film to be shown in the local theatre.Those days in 50's this was the way for promoting a film.The boy who is now 67 is still under the charm of Naushad magical melodies.This is Naushad.
I will write more about some immotal songs composed by Naushad.