Raagendu Kiranangal and Shabana Azmi.

Shabana Azmi in Swami (1977)
Pix credit : Filmi Geek

Swami (1977 ), directed by Basu Chatterjee and produced by Jaya Chakravarty (mother of Hema Malini) had the melodious Pal Bhar Main Yeh Kya Ho Gaya , composed by Rajesh Roshan and rendered by Lata ji, brought alive on screen by Shabana Azmi. AT Ummer, who composed the music for Avaludey Ravukal ( Her Nights ), released in 1978, seems to have borrowed this tune outright from Swami, converting it to Raagendu Kiranangal, sung by S. Janaki, a timeless classic to any Malayali movie fan, regardless of its Bollywood roots or its originality.

Kuthiravattam Pappu in Avaludey Raavukal

Mostly peddled as porn, Avaludey Raavukal (1978) directed by I.V.Sasi, starring Seema in her debut act as a teenage prostitute, who would go to become one of the finest actresses of her times, and the director’s partner for life.

The movie was a subject years ahead of its time, sensitive and disruptive by  the existing standards. It would also be the defining break for Alleppey Shareif, who would also go on to form one of the longest sustaining professional collaborations in Malayalam cinema with IV Sasi.

Watch Pal Bhar Main Yeh Kya Ho Gaya from Swami (1977).

Listen to Raagendu Kiranangal from Avaludey Ravukal (1978).

3 thoughts on “Raagendu Kiranangal and Shabana Azmi.

  1. Both the songs in Avalude raavukal were straight lifts from Bollywood… Raakendu kiranangal and Unniyaarariro a lullaby were hit songs and were beautiful mainly because of S Janaki’s rendition….. though A T Ummer had given some lame excuses the fact remains that they were totally copied!!!

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