Guest Writer
This is my first post that has inputs from a Guest Writer. The Guest Writer in this case is Surekha Saini, my sister, who lives in Ambala. She is an Administrator of a few of my 15 Groups and Pages on Facebook. From a casual interest in music and old Hindi songs, she has come a long way. As she herself says often, “I just liked music and songs, particularly Sufi music of Abida Parveen (my favourite); veerji encouraged me to appreciate various aspects of music”.
In the past she helped me research Moods and Raagas and her posts in our Music Group ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne’, particularly during the Fests (that we have on a theme at least once in a month; eg, ‘Baadal Or Badra Songs Fest’ on 06 – 07 June 15) have been well researched and appreciated by all.
Incredible Nostalgia Songs or IN Songs
These songs not just fill you with nostalgia of the era of melody that existed; but, these songs also fill you with disbelief and wonder. Part I indicates that we shall follow up on these subsequently. The selection includes: a Madhubala song nearly two years before what was believed to be her first song; a Meena Kumari song a year before what is reputed to be her first song in Baiju Bawra; the first time Inhi logon ne was sung, 27 years before Pakeezah; Raja Mehdi Ali Khan’s first song when he wasn’t yet 18 years old; the first song composed by Rahul Dev Burman at the age of 9; and, a song by Rajkumari Dubey at the age of 13. Incredible and nostalgic, all siz songs.
Let us start our Incredible and Nostalgic journey.
IN Song #1
Jaayo Na Bides Mora Jiya Bhar Aaayega
1947 Movie Neelkamal
The 1947 movie Neelkamal was a landmark movie in that it was the debut movie of two great actors: Raj Kapoor and Madhubala as hero and heroine; she being only 13 at that time! How did I hit upon it? Well, I am researching Madhubala’s life after I put up her 1958 movie Phagun songs on Lyrical under the on-going theme Great Songs Movies. In 1954 she was discovered with a medical condition that is known in common parlance as having a hole in the heart. And yet in Phagun songs such as: Piya piya na laage mora jiya; Tum rooth ke mat jaana; and Ik pardesi mera dil le gaya, you cannot make out that in another two years time her condition would worsen to the extent of her being reduced to becoming a vegetable. In Feb 1969, she died.
Many people have erroneously listed her Mahal Song (at the age of 16) as her first song in Hindi movies. Yes, it was the first when Lata Mangeshkar started being known as a playback singer. But, it wasn’t the first for Madhubala as heroine!
Her 1947 songs for the movie Neelkamal are her first songs.
Set in the royal court of Janakgarh, the film opens with the palace coup led by the villainous Mangal Singh, resulting in the deaths of the king and queen. Princess Kamala (Madhubala) and her sister are spirited out the court and given over to a family of untouchables. Later, she and her sister fall in love with a rakish artist (Kapoor), resulting in Kamala having to commit suicide.
In the song that I am giving you, Kidar Sharma the director of the movie is also the lyricist. Snehal Bhatkar is the composer. Singers are Rajkumari Dubey and Snehal Bhatkar.
See her running after Raj Kapoor going to Bides (away from the village in another des (country); great distance almost till the end of the song. Do not forget to watch the beautiful end!
Please enjoy the first of my IN Songs: Jaayo na bides mora jiya bhar aayega…..
Jaiyo na bides mora jiya bhar aayega
Jiya bhar aayega jiya bhar aayega
Moko kaulayega moko kachu sa suhayega
Jaiyo na bides mora jiya bhar aayega
Jiya bhar aayega jiya bhar aayega
Moko kamulayega moko kachu sa suhayega
Aiso se kya moh badhana
Aiso se kya moh badhana
Jo nahi sikhe jo nahi sikhe
Jo nahi sikhe preet nibhana
Jinka na ghar bar koi
Jinka na koi thikana
Jinka na ghar bar koi
Jinka na koi thikana
Mana ji hamne mana jaiyo na bides
Jaiyo na bides jiya bhar aayega
Jiya bhar aayega moko kamulayega
Moko kachu sa suhayega jaiyo na
Ham chali ye chal premat aana
Ham chali ye chal premat aana
Sapan hai hum bas man bharmana
Sapan hai hum bas man bharmana
Hamri hasi udane nikle
Dil ki hasi na udana
Hamri hasi udane nikle
Dil ki hasi na udana
Tana delo ji delo tana jaiyo na bides
Jaiyo na bides jiya bhar aayega
Jiya bhar aayega moko kamulayega
Moko kachu sa suhayega jaiyo na
Tum nahi kahte pas bulao
Tum nahi kahte pas bulao
Hum nahi kahte man me basao
Hum nahi kahte man me basao
Jo ankhiya dars ki pyasi
Jo ankhiya dars ki pyasi
Unki najro se dur na
Jao julm ho jayega
Julm ho jayega jaiyo na.
IN Song #2
Pagadi Pehen Ke Turredaar
1951 Movie Madhosh
Just as with our very first IN song that made to stand on its head the oft held popular belief that Madhubala’s Mahal song: Aayega aayega aanewala aayega was the first one picturised on her as a heroine (We put up above that her debut movie as heroine, the 1947 Neelkamal that she did with Raj Kapoor in his debut role, had several of her songs as heroine (nearly two years before her Mahal song!); we have now found out that the popularly held belief that Meena Kumari‘s role as Gauri in 1952 movie Baiju Bawra had first of the songs picturised on her as heroine (Jhoole mein pawan ke aayi bahaar) is wrong. Actually, her song as a feisty damsel making fun of Manhar in 1951 movie Madhosh is the first song!
Having been born on 01 Aug 1932, for the first few months of her existence in the world, Meena Kumari was kept in an orphanage as her parents (mother a dancer on stage and father worked in a theatre company) didn’t have the money to bring her up. She hated acting but Mahjabeen Bano (her name at birth) was made to act from the age of 7 years, so as to earn money for the family.
As Mahjabeen embarked on her acting career at the age of 7, she was renamed Baby Meena. Farzand-e-Watan or Leatherface (1939) was her first movie, which was directed for Prakash Studios by Vijay Bhatt (he later directed her in Baiju Bawra!). She became practically the sole breadwinner of her family during the 1940s. Her early adult acting, under the name Meena Kumari, was mainly in mythological movies like Veer Ghatotkach (1949), Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950), and fantasy movies like Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag or Aladdin And The Wonderful Lamp (1952).
I know for sure that as a heroine she acted in 1950 movie Anmol Ratan but I couldn’t find a single video of Anmol Ratan songs. They all show Lata Mangeshkar’s stills singing for her.
The storyline of Madhosh is ridiculous:
Soni(Meena Kumari) and Raya(Manhar) belong to families who are enemies. Soni and Raya both have the attitude and till about one quarter of the movie she spurns his advances. But gradually they fall in love. At the same time Raina(Usha Kiran) also loves Raya but Raya has no feelings for Raina. One day in an accident Raya wounds a police man. Afraid, Raya leaves his village and goes to Bombay with Soni and Raina. Raya and Soni get married. But since Raya lives a luxurius life earlier he feels that it would be difficult for Soni to manage it. Raya start tourtouring Soni and one day finally Soni leaves Raya and comes back to the village with Anand (Rayan). But now Raya realises the love for Soni and goes to the village to meet her but police try to capture him. Police start firing in which Raya and Soni both die.
You would recall a song of the movie that has her going on a bullock cart with Anand (Rayan) whilst Manhar is left high and dry and sings in the voice of Talat Mahmood: Meri yaad mein tum na aansu bahana…(how could they ever tell that Gauri was her first adult role as heroine in Baiju Bawra?!)
Anyway, listen to and see her first song for which I could find a video. The song has Manhar trying to woo her but she, together with her friends, makes fun of him.
The lyricist of the song is my second most favourite lyricist: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and the composer is my second most favourite composer after Naushad: Madan Mohan. The singing voices are those of Shamshad Begum and GM Durrani (who, as you know, was the guru of Mohammad Rafi!).
Please enjoy Meena Kumari’s first song for which I could find a video (also see the contrast between her being dubbed as ‘Tragedy Queen’ later and the bubbly acting that she did here as an 18 year old about to become 19: Pagadi pehen ke turredaar….
Pagdi pehan ke turredaar
akadtaa kyun hai
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
tu to nahin hai thaanedaar
tu to nahin hai thaanedaar
oye akadtaa kyun hai
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
saare gaaon mein nahin tera jawaab re
saare gaaon mein nahin tera jawaab re
dil mein hai gussa moonh pe jhootha rubaab re
dil mein hai gussa moonh pe jhootha rubaab re
maathe pe sau sau tyuri daal
maathe pe sau sau tyuri daal
oye bigadtaa kyun hai
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
humse na tum jhagadnaa
gaaon ki chhoriyo
dekho bhaago yahaan se
kaali aur goiryo
phir na kehna hamraa sardaar
phir na kehna hamraa sardaar
bigadtaa kyun hai
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
hum ko na tum samjhnaa
shehar ki chhoriaan
ji shehar ki chhoriaan
oye
chutney banaa dein teri
gaaon ki goiraan
ji gaaon ki goiraan
peechhe hamaare tu bekaar
ae eee ae eee ae eee ae eee ae eee
peechhe hamaare tu bekaar
hmmm mmmm hmmmmm
peechhe hamaare tu bekaar
haaye padtaa kyun hai
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
tum jaisi laakhon mere peechhe phirin hain
mere kadmon pe aa ke ro ro girin hain
kehti thin hum se o dildaar
haaye dildaar
kehti thin hum se o dildaar
bichhdtaa kyun hai
kehti thi hum se o dildaar
bichhdtaa kyun hai
jaa jaa
tu garoor se madhosh
o tere gum kar denge hosh
jaa jaa bhaag jaa bhaag jaa
jaa jaa bhaag jaa
o tera thanda kar dein josh
o tujhe kar denge be-hosh
jaa jaa bhaag jaa bhaag jaa
jaa jaa bhaag jaa
oye jaa jaa bhaag jaa bhaag jaa
jaa jaa bhaag jaa
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
hoye
pagdi pehan ke turre daar
akadtaa kyun hai
https://youtube.com/watch?v=SIXznyG3KH8%3F
IN Song #3
Inhi Logon Ne Le Lena Dupatta Mora
1941 Movie Himmat
This Mujra song is Shamshad Begum’s early and very rare songs. I came to know only when I was searching Songs for Mujra song fest that the same song was sung by Shamshad Begum 30 years before ‘Paakeezah’ was released. This song, Inhi logon ne, first appeared in film Himmat in 1941, sung by Shamshad Begam and set to music by Pt Govindram. The lyrics were provided by Aziz Kashmiri but the creation was of Amir Khusro.
We are all well aware of one of the popular songs ‘Inhi logo ne le leena dupattaa mera’ from the film ‘Paakeezah’ (1972) which was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. This song was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and set to music by Ghulam Mohammed. Very good orchestration gives an impression of a sophisticated mujra song. The difference is understandable as during the intervening period, the concept of courtesan and mujra songs changed in keeping with the changed circumstances.
Shamshad Begum is one of my favorite singers and I love her for she has such a rich and strong voice. It has been said that many singers with a strong voice left for Pakistan during partition. We were lucky Shamshad stayed behind and continued singing for Hindi film industry and made so many filmi and non filmi songs. She has an enviable place in classical singing.
The memorable classic song ‘Inhi Logon Ne’ sung by Shamshad Begum is from the film Himmat (1941), probably her second Hindi film. When a song with more or less the same lyrics and same tune is composed by two different music directors and sung by two different playback singers, comparison is obvious . Shamshad Begum has sung this song in a thumri style with some different words in lyrics. The background and interlude music is simple. In my view, with her earthy voice, the song does give the feel of a typical Mujra or Kotha song. In the song from film Pakeezah sung by Lata Mangeshkar there was some improvisation of lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, eg,
mora to meri
mori to hamari
jinane to jisne
The lyrics of the song from film Himmat provided by Aziz Kashmiri were according to thumri more prevalent in mujra or Kotha songs in that era. The music composed by Pt Govindram was so magical in that period when there was not such refined technology. Even today when I listen to this version I can feel myself going back to that era. Truly nostalgic and incredible.
Please enjoy: Inhi logon ne le lena dupatta mora….
Inhi logon ne le leenaa dupattaa moraa
inhi logon ne le leenaa dupattaa moraa
mori na maana bajajwaa se poochho
mori na maano
haan mori na maano
haan mori na maano
bajajwaa se poochho
jine ashrafi gaz deenaa dupattaa moraa
jine ashrafi gaz deenaa dupattaa moraa
inhi logon ne le leena dupattaa moraa
inhi logon ne le leenaa dupatta moraa
inhi logon ne le leenaa dupatta moraa
mori na maano rangrejawaa se poochho
mori na maano
ho mori na maano
rangrejwaa se poochho
jinane gulaabi rang deenaa dupattaa moraa
jiane gulaabi rang deenaa dupattaa moraa
mori na maana padosan se poochho
mori na maano
haan mori na maano
haan mori na maano
padosan se poochho
jinane hansi hansi mein chheenaa dupattaa moraa
jinane hansi hansi mein chheenaa dupattaa moraa
inhi logon ne le leenaa dupattaa moraa
inhi logon ne le leenaa dupattaa moraa
https://youtube.com/watch?v=F0QpprJJ1Ig%3F
IN Song #4
Ae Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa
1956 Movie Funtoosh
This song was the discovery of another YKDN member Vipan Kohli. Why does it deserve a place in Part I of IN Songs? I shall tell you the reasons.
If you listen to Lata Mangeshkar wherein, about a decade and a half back, she compiled her best songs, she talks about Pancham visiting her in shorts in Mahalaxmi recording studio and asked for her autograph. She immediately recognised him and knowing that he was fond of pranks, she wrote: “Badmaashi chhodo“. A few years later, she was recording what she called as “his first song” with him, for the movie Chhote Nawab. The song in Raag Malgunji (a not so common Raag) conveyed to her that ‘Pancham ek din bahut badha artiste banega’. And Pancham proved her right.
However, in this case, recorded history shows that RD Burman, under the tutelage of his father Sachin Dev Burman, actually composed two songs before the 1961 Chhote Nawab number. The first one was at the age of nine that his father used for the 1956 movie Funtoosh starring his favourite hero Dev Anand. Pancham also composed the tune of Sar jo tera chakraaye as a child and Sachin Dev Burman used it for the iconic Guru Dutt 1957 movie Pyaasa.
Yesterday, on the birth anniversary of this great music director, who left us prematurely on 4th January 1994, we recalled the first song composed by him in the Hindi movie Funtoosh at the age of nine. His last, of course are 1942 Vidhu Vinod Chopra film 1942: A Love Story songs including ‘Ek ladhaki ko dekha to aisa laga’.
Please enjoy Kishore Kumar singing for Dev Anand for the 1956 movie Funtoosh (Sheela Ramani acted opposite him), on the lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi and music credited to SD Burman (in the movie) but actually composed by his son RD Burman, who was being remembered yesterday on his 76th Birth Anniversary:
Ae meri topi palat ke aaa….
Ai merii Topii palaT ke aa
na apane fanTuush ko sataa
ai mere dilabar idhar nazar kar
na jaa bichhu.D kar
na jaa na jaa
ai merii Topii …
ai merii hamajolii tuu bhii Gair kii ho lii
tuu bhii de ga_ii ghakkaa
auro.n ke sa.ng ghuume.n iThalaa_e aur jhuume.n
dekhuu.N mai.n bhauchakkaa
merii Topii -3
ai merii Topii …
baa.Ndh ke sar pe sehare chuume gore chehare
aur mujhe tarasaa_e
kaaro.n pe cha.Dh jaa_e ho.nTho.n tak ba.Dh jaa_e
dil pe tiir chalaa_e
merii Topii -3
ai merii Topii …
dekhe jise akelii usase kare aThakhelii
raah me.n raas rachaa_e
moraa peT bajaa_e ga.nje sar ko chhupaa_e
chhe.De aur chhup jaa_e
merii Topii -3
ai merii Topii …
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oVE8zvQPINM%3F
IN Song #5
Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya
1946 Movie Do Bhai
I was going to include the first song of Shakeel – Nuashad combine picturised on Uma Devi (Tun Tun) for the 1947 movie: Dard; a song that immediately made Shakeel Badayuni famous. The song is: Afsana likh rahi hoon. However, even though the song is iconic, Surekha and I chatted and rejected it that it cannot be “Incredible” if Shakeel has written it at the age of 30.
I immediately thought of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan‘s first movie: the 1946 movie Do Bhai. He wasn’t yet 18 when he wrote the lyrics for the song: Mera sundar sapna beet gaya. We are convinced it must be really ‘incredible” for someone to write such deep feminine philosophy at the age of 17!
In any case, 5 out of 10 Top Songs of Lata Mangeshkar are credited to him; the other five to Rajinder Krishan. This one has been sung by Geeta Dutt when she was still Geeta Roy (it would take her another 6 years to marry Guru Dutt).
Music is that of SD Burman (the father of RD Burman whose birth anniversary we celebrated yesterday). He has composed it in Raag Bilawal.
Please enjoy Surekha and my choice of our 5th IN Song, picturised on Kamini Kaushal: Mera sundar sapna beet gaya…..
Meraa sundar sapana biit gayaa
mai.n prem me.n sab kuchh haar gayii
bedad.r zamaanaa jiit gayaa
meraa sundar sapanaa biit gayaa
kyo.n kaalii badariyaa chaayii hai
kyo.n kalii kalii mus_kaayii hai
merii prem kahaanii khatm hu_ii
meraa jiivan kaa sa.ngiit gayaa
meraa sundar sapanaa biit gayaa
o cho.D ke jaane vaale aa
dil to.D ke jaane vaale aa
aa.Nkhe.n asuvan me.n Duub gayii.n
ha.Nsane kaa zamaanaa biit gayaa
meraa sundar sapanaa biit gayaa
har raat merii divaalii thii
mai.n piyaa kii hone vaalii thii
is jiivan ko ab aag lage, aag lage
is jiivan ko ab aag lage
mujhe cho.Dake jiivan miit gayaa
meraa sundar sapanaa biit gayaa
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zaka9-uC0S4%3F
IN Song #6
Kudrat Hai Rabb Ki Nyaari
1935 Movie Lal Chitthi
Oh my God; I am spellbound and my body is numb after listening to this masterpiece by Rajkumari Dubey from film Lal Chitthi (1935). My reaction is very obvious as this song, Kudrat Hai, was recorded in 1935 and Rajkumari Dubey was born in 1924. Imagine such mature, polished and effective voice, hits straight on one’s heart, is the voice of just 11 years old girl. This is truly incredible and I just wish I could back in time and watch the cute girl singing live. Look at the vocals of 11 yrs old Rajkumari so clear and bang on with very little use of musical instruments by music director Lallubhai Nayak. A few days back I was listening to a thumri: Najariya ki maari, sung by her in the 1972 movie and now I have this song to compare it with. See how incredible is her journey of singing. Hats off.
Rajkumari Dubey was born in 1924 and recorded her first non filmi song in 1934 for All India Radio with HMV just at the age of 10 yrs. Her voice was a God’s gift to her as she didn’t really have the opportunity to learn singing properly. She came into limelight with the songs of film Naukar 1943. She sang in Gujarati and Punjabi too. Although she was not formally trained in classical music but she was great in picking up what her composers taught her. She sang with almost all renowned music directors and singers.
Rajkumari Dubey sang for many leading composers including Anil Biswas, O.P Nayyar, Gyan Dutt, Shyam Sunder, S.D. Burman, Naushad and Roshan. She remained a particular favorite with Roshan, who used her voice in Bawre Nain (1950), Anhonee (1952), Raag Rang (1952) and Naubahar (1952). Her famous songs include Ghabra ke and Ek teer chala from Mahal (1949), Nazron mein samane sai from Hyderabad ki Nazneen (1952), Kajrari matwali from Nau Bahar (1952), Mere roothe huwe chanda from Bawre Nain (1950). She also sang with K.L. Saigal in Bhakt Surdas (1942) and Noor Jehan in Naukar (1943). The last song she sang was a bhajan for Gulzar’s Kitaab (1977) composed by R.D. Burman. One of her last public performances was in 1996, when she received the Aashirwad Navratna Award.
Please enjoy: Kudrat hai rabb ki nyaari….
Kudarat hai rab ki nyaari
Kudarat hai rab ki nyaari
Kudarat hai rab ki nyaari
Kudarat hai rab ki nyaari
baade bahaari aayi
gulshan mein kaisi hariyaali chhaayi
dekho gulshan mein
ye kaisi hariyaali chhaayi
koodti hai daali daali
koodti hai daali daali
koyaliya kaali
par hai kisne paaya
shaan hai niraali
par hai kisne paaya
shaan hai niraali
hai phooli kyaari kyaari
hai phooli kyaari kyaari
baade bahaari aayi
gulshan mein kaisi hariyaali chhaayi
dekho gulshan mein
kaisi hariyaali chhaayi
naache hai titli matwaali
haan
naache hai titli matwaali
naache hai titli matwaali
haan
naache hai titli matwaali
naache hai titli matwaali
haaan naache hai titli matwaali
bhanwra hai deta taali
naache hai titli matwaali
bhanwra hai deta taali
har ?? hai tera jalwa
tu hi hai waali
har ?? hai tera jalwa
tu hi hai waali
sab tum par waari waari
sab tum par waari waari
baade bahaari aayi
gulshan mein ye kaisi hariyaali chhaayee
ye dekho
gulshan mein ye kaisi hariyaali chhayee
https://youtube.com/watch?v=NYplNp-YlrA%3F
There then are the first half dozen of IN or Incredible Nostalgia Songs in the Hindi films. We shall entertain you with more such gems in subsequent parts of this blog.
Until we meet again: Jai Hind.
