Salil Chowdhury

Aanand Mahal (1977)

A never-released film remembered today only for its exquisite Yesudas–Sabita led soundtrack and stunning classical compositions by Salil Chowdhury.

Film Information

Language: Hindi

Lyrics:
– Yogesh (AM1, AM3, AM4)
– Vidyapati (AM2)
– From “Meghdootam” by Kalidas (AM5)

Based on Badal Sarkar’s Bengali play “Ballavpurer Roopkathaa”, the film was fully shot but never released. Salil Chowdhury refused to score the background music after seeing the final cut, although the songs were completed and released on record — now rare collector’s items.

The first Yesudas song composed by Salil, “Ni sa ga ma pa…”, was beautifully shot at the Maharaja of Datia’s palace. Song AM4 is a continuation of AM1.

Songs

Nr	Song	Singer(s)	Hnd	Mal	Tam	Tel	Kan	Bng	Oth
AM1	Ni sa ga ma pa.. aa aa re mitwaa	Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	SM11	-
AM2	Twamasi mama bhooshaNam	Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
AM3	Om iti brahma	Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
AM4	Sapnaa dekhe.n mere khoye khoye naina	Yesudas, Sabita Chowdhury	✔	-	-	-	-	SM11	-
AM5	AshaDasya prathama divase	Yesudas	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-

Notes & Background

Aanand Mahal remains one of Salil Chowdhury’s rarest and most mysterious works. The film was fully shot but withheld from release. Only the songs, recorded earlier, survived.

The soundtrack is deeply classical in tone — blending Hindustani, Sanskritic verse (Kalidas), and ancient poetry (Vidyapati).

Yesudas shines throughout, delivering spiritually charged renditions that stand among his finest collaborations with Salil.