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Salil Chowdhury

Pinjre Ki Panchhi (1966)

A Salil Chowdhury milestone — where he wrote the story, composed the music, and even directed the film. A rare all-Salil creation.

Pinjre Ki Panchhi Poster

Film Information

Language: Hindi

Lyricists:

Song #PJ3 – Gulzar
Rest – Shailendra

Pinjre Ki Panchhi stands apart in Salil Chowdhury’s Hindi filmography — it is one of the few films **written, scored, and directed by Salil himself**, making it a complete musical auteur piece.

The soundtrack blends humour, pathos, and intricate choral arrangements, with several songs having beautiful Bengali counterparts.

Songs

Nr Song Singer(s) HndMalTamTel KanBngOth
PJ1 Neechaa kaam, oonchaa naam Manna Dey ✔------
PJ2 Mere nayanaa paakhi bechaare Lata Mangeshkar ✔-NP2--LM8-
PJ3 Aane de apnee… kubDa chhaDhey ghoDi Manna Dey, Meena Kumari, Mehmood ✔----GN5-
PJ4 Jhoom le, jhoom le ai matwaale dil Asha Bhosle, Chorus ✔------
PJ5 Manzil teri khoj mei.n, kitni sadiyaa.n Lata Mangeshkar ✔----MC6 / SW2-
PJ6 Ye duniyaa kaisaa gorakh dhandaa Manna Dey ✔------

Notes & Background

Pinjre Ki Panchhi is one of the rare films where Salil Chowdhury wrote the story, directed the film, and composed the music. This makes it a unique all-Salil creation in Hindi cinema.

PJ5 — “Manzil teri khoj mei.n” is based on the exquisite Bengali song “Gun gun phagun shesh holey” sung by Madhuri Chatterjee, and was not included in the final print of the film — a true collector’s gem.

PJ2 — “Mere nayanaa paakhi bechaare” has beautiful Tamil (NP2) and Bengali (LM8) versions.

Manna Dey shines throughout the album, especially in the philosophical and sharply written “ye duniyaa kaisaa gorakh dhandaa”.

The soundtrack overall carries the unmistakable Salil blend of humour, pathos, and intricate harmony.