Bin Badal Barsaat / Kohraa / Bees Saal Baad

The 1985 His Master's Voice compilation PMLP 1030 brings together iconic film scores composed by the legendary Hemant Kumar. It serves as a retrospective of his mid-century musical contributions to Indian cinema, specifically highlighting the haunting, atmospheric soundtracks from the films Bin Badal Barsaat, Kohraa, and Bees Saal Baad. These soundtracks, particularly those from the suspense and mystery genres of the early 1960s, are celebrated for their melancholic melodies and innovative use of orchestration that redefined the sound of Indian film noir.

The design of this compilation reflects the mid-eighties approach to cataloging classic Bollywood film music, intended to provide listeners with a curated selection of Kumar’s most enduring compositions on a single long-playing record. Hemant Kumar himself, a classically trained singer and producer, was widely respected for his ability to blend traditional Indian musical sensibilities with Western arrangements. This record stands as a testament to his creative legacy, offering a cohesive auditory experience of the atmospheric tension and emotional depth that characterized these three specific film projects.