LORI (LULLABY) SONGS THAT I LOVE

Life is the biggest gift of God to us; the next biggest is sleep. It relaxes us and refreshes us and prepares us to face a new day. But, what about those who can’t sleep? If they are small children, then God has given them the gift of their parents, especially their mother, who sings for them lori or lullabies to them to make them sleep. And if they are older people? Well, they still need lullabies from their beloved to make them sleep.

Lori or lullabies send the child or beloved to a different world, a world of dreams. This one from the 1955 movie Vachan, penned by my namesake, and composed by him and sung by Asha Bhosle is the ultimate into this dream world. We are all familiar with it:

Chandamama door ke, puye pakaayen boor ke
Aap khaaen thaalii men, munne ko den pyaali men

PyaalI gai toot munna gaya rooth
Laaenge nayi pyaaliyaan bajaa bajaa ke taaliyaan
Munne ko manaaenge ham dudh malayi khaaenge

Chandamama …

Udan – khatole baith ke munna chanda ke ghar jaayega
Taaron ke sang aankh michauli khel ke dil behlaayega
Khel kood se jab mere munne ka dil bhar jaayega
Thumak thumak mera munna vaapas ghar ko aayega,
Chandamama …

(Boor = white cane sugar powder, puye = plural of ‘puaa’ or ‘malpuaa’, a sweet bread made from thick fluor (sooji / rava); thaali = a dinner plate pyaali = a small bowl to serve side dishes munna = a traditional name for a small child.

There are dozens of Lori songs in the Hindi movies. I was requested to do a post on Lori songs, when, a few months back, I did one on Neend (Sleep) songs (Please read: Neend Hamari Khwaab Tumhaare – Best Of (Lost) Neend Songs – A ‘Lyrical’ Special). I didn’t know it would be such a difficult task since I landed up with almost a hundred Lori songs. I wanted to select just ten for this post; but, finally I have ended up selecting a dozen. These are not in any particular order.

Lets begin with the first one. It is from the 1953 Bimal Roy classic ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ starring Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in lead roles. The movie’s songs lyrics were by Shailendra Singh and the music director was Salil Choudhury who also wrote the story. A young Lata Mangeshkar has sung this so well that it must rank amongst her top 50.

Please enjoy: Aa ja re aa nindiya tu aa…

Aa jaa re aa ni.ndiyaa tuu aa
jhilamil sitaaro.n se utar aa.Nkho.n me.n aa sapane sajaa

SoI kalI soyaa chaman pIpal tale soI havaa
sab ra.ngaa ik ra.ng me.n tuune ye kyaa jaaduu kiyaa
aa jaa …

Sa.nsaar kii raanI hai tuu raa jaa hai meraa laaDalaa
duniyaa hai merii god me.n soyaa huaa sapanaa meraa,
aa jaa …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oIh_6efSU1E%3F

The second is by my favourite singer: Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. It is penned by my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni (Please read: Shakeel Badayuni – the King Amongst Lyricists And Poets – Part I and Shakeel Badayuni – The King Amongst Lyricists and Poets – Part II) It has Naushad’s music.

Please enjoy: Chandan ka palana, resham ki dori….

ho~~
Chandan kaa palanaa resham kii Dorii
jhuulaa jhulaa_uu.N ni.ndiyaa ko torii
chandan kaa palanaa   …

So jaa tuu aise morii sajaniyaa
so jaa tuu aise morii sajaniyaa
sajiyaa pe soye jaise dulhaniyaa
chandaa kaa Tiikaa maathe lagaa_uu.N
taaro.n kii maalaa tujhako pahanaa_uu.N
taaro.n kii maalaa tujhako pahanaa_uu.N
tohe sulaa_uu.N gaa gaa ke lorii
jhuulaa jhuulaa_uu.N ni.ndiyaa ko torii
chandan kaa palanaa   …

In the duet version, Hemantda and Lata sing the following stanza together:

Uu.Nche gagan se koii bulaaye
laayii.n hai.n pariyaa.n Dolaa sajaaye
sajan se milane duur chalii jaa
u.Dake tuu ni.ndiyaa phur.r chalii jaa
u.Dake tuu ni.ndiyaa phur.r chalii jaa
chandaa pukaare aajaa chakorii
jhuulaa jhuulaa_uu.N ni.ndiyaa ko tori

https://youtube.com/watch?v=H0l1qQVTfHA%3F

Have you realised that the movies that we saw in our childhood and boyhood/girlhood have much more lasting effects on us than the latter day movies? One such movie for me was the 1963 movie Mujhe Jeene Do starring Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. The movie was about the rehabilitation of dacoits who want to live the lives of ordinary people with families and children. This song is sung by a mother (Waheeda) to her child as a Lori.  The dacoit father Sunil Dutt is on run from the police. Hence, the entire family is constantly in hiding, moving from place to place and hoping to remain undetected.   This song is a very touching song showing the anxiety of a young mother for her new-born child and the kind of life that he faces. Lata’s voice has made it a most touching lullaby. Sahir Ludhianvi’s lyrics are superb and Jaidev’s music is perfect for the emotions.

Please enjoy: Tere bachpan ko jawani ki dua deti hoon, aur dua deke preshaan si ho jaati hoon…

tere bachapan ko javaanii kii duaa detii huu.N
aur duaa deke pareshaan sii ho jaatii huu.N

mere munne mere gulazaar ke nanhe paudhe
tujhako haalat kii aa.ndhii se bachaane ke liye
aaj mai.n pyaar ke aa.nchal me.n chhupaa letii huu.N
kal ye kamazor sahaaraa bhii na haasil hogaa
kal tujhe kaa.nTo.n bharii raaho.n pe chalanaa hogaa
zi.ndagaanii kii ka.Dii dhuup me.n jalanaa hogaa
tere bachapan ko javaanii …

tere maathe pe sharaafat kii koI mohar nahii.n
cha.nd hote hai.n muhabbat ke sukuun hii kyaa hai.n
jaise maao.n kii muhabbat kaa koI mol nahii.n
mere maasuum farishte tuu abhii kyaa jaane
tujhako kis-kisakii gunaaho.n kii sazaa milanii hai
diin aur dharm ke maare hue i.nsaano.n kii
jo nazar milanii hai tujhako vo khafaa milanii hai
tere bachapan ko javaanii …

be.Diyaa.N leke lapakataa huaa kaanuun kaa haath
tere maa.N-baap se jab tujhako milii ye saugaat
kaun laaegaa tere vaaste khushiyo.n kii baaraat
mere bachche tere a.njaam se jii Darataa hai
terii dushman hii na saabit ho javaanii terii
khaak jaatii hai jise sochake mamataa merii
usii a.njaam ko pahu.nche na kahaanii terii
tere bachapan ko javaanii …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P2D-Z7XM7aU%3F

The 1968 movie Brahmachari starring Shammi Kapoor, Rajshree, Pran and Mumtaz. Shammi Kapoor, the brahmachari, was an orphan who had taken upon himself to take care of orphan children in his home. The movie had many best awards: Best Movie, Best Actor: Shammi Kapoor, Best Singer: Mohammad Rafi, Best Lyricist: Shailendra, and Best Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan.

This Lori sung by Mohammad Rafi for Shammi Kapoor is touching indeed when Shammi Kapoor is forced to make the children sleep hungry.

Please enjoy: Main gaaun tum so jaao…

mai.n gaauu.N tum so jaao
sukh sapano.n me.n kho jaao
maanaa aaj kii raat hai lambii
maanaa din thaa bhaarii
par jag badalaa badalegii
ek din taqadiir hamaarii
us din ke khvaab sajaao

kal tum jab aa.Nkhe.n khologe
jab hogaa ujiyaaraa
khushiyo.n kaa sandeshaa lekar
aaegaa saveraa pyaaraa
mat aas ke diip bujhaao,
mai.n gaaU.N …

jii karataa hai jiite jii
mai.n yU.N hii gaataa jaaU.n
gardish me.n thake haatho.n kaa
maathaa sahalaataa jaauu.n
phir ik din tum doharaao,
sukh sapano.n …

At this stage let me take you to the era of the first super-star of the Hindi movies: KL Saigal; a singer par excellence. This Lori is for the old timers who like the lyrics of Kedar Sharma, the music of Pankaj Mullick and KL Saigal singing and acting. The movie is the 1940 movie Zindagi.

Please enjoy: So jaa raajkumari, so jaa….

so jA ##(slow)##
so jA rAjakumArI so jA
so jA mai.n balihArI so jA
so jA rAjakumArI so jA

so jA mIThe sapane Ae.N
sapano.n me.n pI daras dikhAe.N – 2
u.D kar rUpanagar me.n jAe.N – 2
rUpanagar kI sakhiyA.n Ae.N – 2
rAjAjI mAlA pahanAe.N – 2
chUme mA.ng tihArI so jA
so jA rAjakumArI so jA

https://youtube.com/watch?v=aNfuW2i4tLw%3F

This one is an extraordinary Lori sung by Lata Mangeshkar and C Ramachandra for the 1951 movie Albela starring Geeta Bali and Bhagwan. These absolutely enchanting lyrics are by Rajendra Krishan and the music is by C Ramachandra. The Lori is in two parts. The duet version is a sadder one. Chitalkar just sings the mukhada
and Lata sings the two antaraas. The tune is the same for both versions.

Please enjoy: Dheere se aaja ri ankhiyan mein, nindiya aaja ri aaja…

dhiire se aajaa rii a.Nkhiyan me.n
ni.ndiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
chhoTe se nainan kii bagiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa

o …
lekar suhaane sapano.n kii kaliyaa.N, sapano.n kii kaliyaa.N
aake basaa de palako.n kii galiyaa.N, palako.n kii galiyaa.N
palako.n kii chhoTii sii galiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

o …
taaro.n se chhup kar taaro.n se chorii, taaro.n se chorii
detii hai rajanii cha.Ndaa ko lorii, cha.Ndaa ko lorii
ha.Nsataa hai cha.Ndaa bhii nindiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

Sad / Duet version
dhiire se aajaa rii a.Nkhiyan me.n
ni.ndiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
chhoTe se nainan kii bagiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa

o …
aa.Nkhe.n to sab kii hai.n ik jaisii
jaisii amiiro.n kii, gariibo.n kii vaisii
palako.n kii suunii sii galiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

o …
jagatii hai a.Nkhiyaa.N sotii hai qismat, sotii hai qismat
dushman gariibo.n kii hotii hai qismat, hotii hai qismat
dam bhar gariibo.n kii kuTiyan me.n
nindiyaa aajaa rii aajaa, dhiire se aajaa
dhiire se …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TEN1DkOiFuY%3F

Have you ever imagined cinematography that enhances the effect of a Lori? If you haven’t, you have to see this Lori sung by Sunil Dutt for Nutan in the 1967 movie Milan. The lyrics are by Anand Bakshi and music by Laxmikant Pyarelal and the singer is Mukesh.

Please enjoy: Raam kare aisa ho jaaye, meri nindiya tohe mil jaaye…

raam kare aisaa ho jaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

(svapna chalaa aae koii chorii-chorii
mast pavan gaae lorii
cha.ndra kiraN banake Dorii)           -2
tere man ko jhuulaa jhulaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

guzar jaae.n sukh se terii dukh bharii ratiyaa.N
badal luu.N mai.n tose a.Nkhiyaa.N
bas me.n agar ho.n ye batiyaa.N
maa.Nguu.N duaae.n haath uThaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

mai.n hii nahii.n tuu hii nahii.n
saaraa zamaanaa dard kaa hai ek fasaanaa
aadamii ho jaae diivaanaa
yaad kare gar bhuul na jaae
merii ni.ndiyaa tohe mil jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae
mai.n jaaguu.N, tuu so jaae …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=P9qhPcwndP0%3F

Okay, time for a happy Lori now. This is from the 1977 movie Mukti starring Vidya Sinha and Shashi Kapoor. Once again, the lyrics are by Anand Bakshi but, this time, the music is by RD Burman. The Lori is a duet between Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh.

Please enjoy: Lalla lalla lori, dudh ki katori…

lallaa lallaa lorii duudh kii kaTorii
duudh me.n bataashaa munnii kare tamaashaa

chhoTii-chhoTii pyaarii sundar pariyo.n jaisii hai
kisii kii nazar naa lage merii munnii aisii hai
shahad se bhii miiThii duudh se bhii gorii
chupake-chupake chorii-chorii chorii
lallaa lallaa lorii …

kaarii rainaa ke maathe pe chamake chaa.Nd sii bi.ndiyaa
munnii ke chhoTe-chhoTe naino.n me.n khele ni.ndiyaa
sapano.n kaa palanaa aashaa_o.n kii Dorii
chupake-chupake chorii-chorii chorii
lallaa lallaa lorii …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=s3iOMHOg7DI%3F

This one is another heart rending Lori from the 1964 movie Beti Bete starring Sunil Dutt with Saroja Devi and Jamuna. Shalendra as lyricist, Shankar Jaikishan as composers and Lata Mangeshkar as singer have put this together.

Please enjoy: Aaj kal mein dhal gaya din hua tamaam…

aaj kal me.n Dhal gayaa, din huaa tamaam
tuu bhii so jaa, so ga_ii, ra.ng bharii shaam

so gayaa chaman chaman, so ga_ii kalii-kalii
so gae hai.n sab nagar, so ga_ii galii-galii
nii.nd kah rahii hai chal, merii baa.Nh thaam, tuu bhii …

hai bujhaa-bujhaa saa dil, bojh saa.Ns-saa.Ns pe
jii rahe hai.n phir bhii ham, sirf kal kii aas pe
kah rahii hai chaa.Ndanii, leke teraa naam, tuu bhii …

kaun aaegaa idhar, kisakii raah dekhe.n ham
jinakii aahaTe.n sunii, jaane kisake ye kadam
apanaa koI bhii nahii.n, apane to hai.n raam, tuu bhii …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eTh9WUbvkwE%3F

I don’t know about you but I am very fond of this Lori from the 1959 movie Chiraag Kahan Roshni Kahan starring Rajendra Kumar and Meena Kumari. Ravi is the lyricist as well as the music director. Singer is Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy: Tim tim karte tare, kehate hain saare…

Tim-Tim karate taare ye kahate hai.n saare
so jaa tohe ni.ndiyaa pukaare
Tim-Tim karate …

sapano.n ke desh chandaa maamaa raajaa
bulaa rahaa hai bajaakar suro.n kaa baajaa
chorii-chorii khi.Dakii se karataa hai ishaare
Tim-Tim karate …

ra.ng-bira.ngii pariyaa.N tujhe jhuulaa jhulaa_e.Ngii
billii-totaa-mainaa kii kahaanii bhii sunaa_e.Ngii
achchhe-achchhe tujhe khilaune de.ngii pyaare-pyaare
Tim-Tim karate …

baadalo.n kii paalakii pe tujhako biThaa ke
chandaa maamaa saaraa jag laa_egaa ghumaa ke
lauT ke aa_e shaan se raajaa dvaare
Tim-Tim karate …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vpLmlPLJkO8%3F

I hope you enjoyed all these Loris. We come to the last two now. The first one of these is from an outstanding movie of Kamal Hassan and Sridevi: the 1983 movie Sadma. This is the story of a girl: Sridevi who meets with an accident, loses her memory and is led into prostitution. Kamal Hassan rescues her and painstakingly works on her with love and understanding to make her recall her past. It takes him months of hard labour and many unpleasant situations. But, ironically, when she regains her memory, she can’t recognise Kamal Hassan.

This Lori is sung by Yesudas for Kamal Hassan trying to make Sridevi sleep. It has really outstanding lyrics by Gulzar and music by Illayaraaja.

Please enjoy: Surmayi akhiyon mein nanna munna ik sapna de jaa re…

suramaI akhiyo.n me.n nanhaa munnaa ek sapanaa de jaa re
nindiyaa ke udate paakhii re, a.Nkhiyo.n me.n aajaa sAthI re

raa rii raa ram o raarii ram

sachchaa koI sapanaa dejaa
mujhako koI apanA dejaa
anajaanaa saa magar kuchh pahachaanaa saa
halkaa phulkaa shabanamii
resham se bhI reshamii
suramaI …

raat ke rath par jaane vaale
nI.nd kA ras barasaane vaale
itanA kar de kI merI aa.Nkhe.n bhar de
aa.Nkho.n me.n basataa rahe, sapanA ye ha.Nsataa rahe
sapanaa yuu.N chalataa rahe
a.Nkhiyo.n me.n basataa rahe
suramaI …

https://youtube.com/watch?v=V5qMS-K8eYY%3F

Sadly, that brings us to the last one of the dozen best Lori songs that I selected for you. This is from the 1959 movie Sujata about the rehabilitation of untouchables. The movie starred Nutan as an untouchable and Sunil Dutt who falls in love with her. This outstanding Lori has been sung by Geeta Dutt on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and music of Sachin Dev Burman.

Please enjoy: Nanhi kali sone chali hawa dheere aana…

havaa dhiire aanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa
nanhii kalii sone chalI havaa dhIre aanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa
nanhii kalii sone chalii

chaa.Nd kiran sii gu.Diyaa naajo.n kii hai palI – 2
aaj agar chaa.Ndaniyaa aanaa merii galii
gun gun gun gIt koI haule haule gaanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa

resham kii Dor agar pairo.n ko ulajhaae – 2
ghu.ngharuu kaa daanaa koI shor machaa jAe
daane mere jaage to phir ni.ndiyaa tU bahalaanaa
nI.nd bhare pa.nkh liye jhuulaa jhuulaa jaanaa
nanhii kalii sone chalI havaa dhIre aanaa

https://youtube.com/watch?v=l1rjhKLsi88%3F

In the end, anyone who has read Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ and/or has seen the movie, will be aware of the dream world of the lullaby. Here is Seal Lullaby for you from the children’s loved book and movie: The Jungle Book:

Seal Lullaby