Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Oct 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
I hope you liked my choice for Song #23 – Log peete hain ladkhadate hain in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #24.
Song #24
Tora man bada paapi sanwariya re
Theme-word: Tu sangdil hai teri zindagi mein pyar nahin
Happy Birthday Helen Anne Richardson 21 November
Finally, now with the Best Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni and that also from Dilip Kumar’s own production Gunga Jumna that set a new standard for the hero. Many have copied this role of Dilip Kumar; one of them being Amitabh Bachchan by his own admission.
In the last two posts: Raat or Din Songs and Beautiful Duets Series. I had mentioned how Helen had redefined dancing in the movies starting with her Mera naam Chin Chin Chu in 1958 Shakti Samanta movie Howrah Bridge. I also mentioned that since she was a natural dancer, she became adept at other genres of dancing including even classical.
Now I have thought of a song in which she was a typical Indian courtesan.
Gunga Jumna
This 1961 movie was produced by Dilip Kumar who took Nitin Bose to direct it. The movie starred Dilip Kumar as Gunga, his brother Nasir Khan as Jumna and Vyjayanthimala as his love angle.
The movie’s songs were penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad and the songs and the dialogues penned by Wajahat Mirza were in sync in that wide spread use of Awadhi dialect was there. The only song that was in Hindi won the Best Children’s song since it was sung by a teacher (Abhi Bhattacharya): Ansaaf ki dagar pe.
Have a look at the lyrics of this song:
आ मतलब का तू मीत बेदर्दी गरज़ की राखे प्रीत
दुखिया मन को घायल करना समझे तू अपनी जीत
आ
तोरा मन बड़ा पापी साँवरिया रे
मिलाए छल-बल से नजरिया रे
तोरा मन बड़ा …
तू संगदिल है तेरी ज़िन्दगी में प्यार नहीं
तेरे चमन में है सब-कुछ मगर बहार नहीं
तुझे क़सम है न यूँ मुस्करा के देख हमें
तेरी नज़र का भी ज़ालिम कुछ ऐतबार नहीं
हाँ मिलाए छल-बल से …
सितमगरों की इनायत से बेरुख़ी अच्छी
जो तेरे साथ ना गुज़रे वो ज़िन्दगी अच्छी
गरज़ का यार है मतलब का तू है दीवाना
न तेरी दोस्ती अच्छी न दुश्मनी अच्छी
हाँ मिलाए छल-बल से …
जहाँ में हो जिसे जीना वो तुझसे दूर रहे
जो मरना चाहे वो आकर तेरे हुज़ूर रहे
ये क्या गज़ब है कि हम आह करके हों बदनाम
तू लाख ज़ुल्म करे फिर भी बेक़सूर रहे
हाँ मिलाए छल-बल से …
The song was sung by Asha Bhosle for Helen.
Beauty of this Song and Dance
In the movie there is a beautiful song and dance picturised on the greatest Bharat Natyam dancer in Hindi movies: Vyjayanthimala. And then, we had to have a dance by Helen as a courtesan who is accomplished in Cabaret. But, look at the way she delivered! In a movie with a dance by Vyjayanthimala, Helen still could make a place for herself in a dance that was not her forte’!
Raag Pahadi
It is the raag of my home place in Himalayas. It is not difficult for any one of you to think of this song as Pahadi since Pahadi is also a dhun and not just a raag. The Tal is the commonest: Kaherava.
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Tora man bada paapi sanwariya re…
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #24 in the series.
Please await Song #25 – Tere naam ka deewana.
