Guest Writers
This is my second post that has inputs from a Guest Writer. The first one was ‘Incredible Nostalgia (I.N.) Songs – Part I’ which had Surekha Saini, my sister, who lives in Ambala, as the Guest Writer. She has given IN Song #8 here. Another sister of mine Evani Leela, also an Administrator of two of my Facebook groups, has abiding interest in Music and Old Hindi Songs. Her part of the post is easy to make out as it is in transliterated Hindi. She too is capable of research and burning of the midnight oil to find out facts about songs that would escape the casual fan of songs.
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. This part’s selection includes: Devika Rani’s song Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath Rahe of 1933 movie Karma that she made with her husband Himanshu Rai; Zeenat Begum’s and Pt. Amarnath’s Hamari Gali Aaana from 1944 movie Shukriya; Mohammad Rafi’s Dil Mein Chhupa Ke Pyaar Ka Toofan Le Chale from 1952 movie Aan; Asha Bhosle’s First Solo Song: Do Chaar Idhar, Do Chaar Udhar from 1949 movie Raat Ki Rani; Mohammad Rafi singing for Raj Kapoor: Main Zindagi Mein Hardam Rota Hi Raha Hoon from the 1949 movie Barsaat; Krishna Chandra Rey’s bhajan Jaao Jaoo Ai Mere Sadhu from the 1932 movie Puran Bhagat; and, Hemant Kumar singing for Raj Kapoor on Madan Mohan’s music in 1953 movie Dhun: Hum pyar karenge.
Let us re-start our Incredible and Nostalgic journey.
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Song #7
Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath Rahe
1933 Movie Karma
I think the first movie song of the first lady of Indian Cinema Devika Rani deserves to be included in IN Songs!
She was the grand niece of Rabindra Nath Tagore who was born on 30th Mar 1908. When at the age of 20, she met Himanshu Rai, a film producer who asked her to join him. She joined him in wedlock as well as in films. Within a year she got married to him and went to Germany to receive training in film-making.
The 1933 movie Karma was the first movie that they made together as the lead cast. The movie, directed by JL Freer Hunt won her critical acclaim. The movie had a 4 minute long kissing scene between her and her husband, a record that has not been broken yet in Indian movies. It was however, controversial in our prudish society.
That was not the only controversial thing that she did. Her husband and she started the famous Bombay Talkies. In 1935, Bombay Talkies first production, a crime thriller Jawani Ki Hawa was produced with her being in lead role opposite Najam-ul-Hassan. The movie was entirely shot in a train. Something about him must have attracted her to him for in their next movie, Jeevan Naiyya, she eloped with him. She was persuaded by her husband’s friends to return since considerable part of the movie had been shot at large cost. She eventually returned as she knew divorce (during those days) was virtually impossible and a Hindu marrying a muslim wasn’t something that the society condoned. The movie was reshot with Ashok Kumar as hero and he then acted with her in several movies starting with 1936 movie on untouchables called Achhut Kanya.
Himanshu Rai died in 1940 and she took up reins of Bombay Talkies and made some very successful films. At the peak of her career in 1945 she chose to retire and marry and settle down with Russian Painter Svetsolav Roerich. They lived together in Manali where several of his paintings are displayed in what was called Roerich Estate. I visited the estate with my father and that’s how I know Devika Rani, the recipient of highest award in Indian Films: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award as well as Padam Shri.
The 1933 movie Karma starring her and her husband Himanshu Rai was a joint production between Germant, UK and India.
The movie was just two years after the first talkie on Indian screen, the 1931 movie Alam Ara.
Lets listen to the song Mere haath mein tera haath rahe sung by Devika Rani. No video is available and the still shows the famous kissing scene between Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai. Roy Douglas and Earnest Broadhurst are the Music Directors but the lyricist is unknown.
Please enjoy: Mere haath mein tera haath rahe….
mere haath mein tera haath rahe
saamne se dono saath rahen
tum mere man ki chaaya ho
tum mere karm ki chaaya ho
mere haathon mein tera haath rahe
aa milke donon saath rahen
tum mere man ki chaaya ho
tum mere karm ki chaaya ho
aa aa aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa aa aa aa
karma
karma
aa aa aa aa aa
karma
karma
karma
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hOpLvMLLVpQ%3F
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Song #8
Hamari Gali Aana
1944 Movie Shukriya
The song I am going to present in IN songs or Incredibly Nostalgic songs is ‘Hamari gali aana’ from film Shukria (1944) sung by Zeenat Begum and Amarnath. When one listens to it with eyes closed, one can feel fragrance of soil after rain and very earthy sounds. The music of this song was composed by GA Chishty who was known for his music from soil. His music was called: “ZAMEEN KI MAUSEEQI”; very simple with eastern tunes but too melodious with the use of basic musical instruments. The song was penned by himself. GA Chishty was also known as Baba Chishty for whom the famous music director Khayyam Saab worked as assistant.
The singer Zeenat Begum was a heart throb voice of 1940s vintage era in Hindi film industry. She had very versatile voice, sweet and melodious but strong and effective. Though not much know about her personal life but she was spotted by Pt Amarnath who was a renowned composer of that period as she used to sing in mehfils and social gatherings. Mostly she sang Punjabi songs for HMV during 1937 till singing for Hindi cinema. Pt Govindram introduced her to Hindi cinema for playback singing in 1942. Mangti (1942) was her first Hindi film for which she sang 10 songs;all super-hit. She sang in another film Nishane (1942) which too was a hit. In the next year she sang in three movies named Paapi, Poonji, Sahara.
After 12 yrs the song, Hamari gali aana, was recorded for film Mem Sahab (1956). The song is almost same copy of that of film Shukria (1944). Madan Mohan composed the song for Mem Sahab, a very delightful film, added very nice and improved instrumentation making it faster in tempo. Lyrics – almost similar – were written by Rajinder Krishan. Song was pleasantly rendered by Talat Mehmood and Asha Bhosle and of course with song recorded with better orchestration and technology.
Why do I find vintage songs nostalgic is because when I listen to these a wish comes to mind: I wish I had a Time Machine which could take me to that era and I see how these songs were recorded with in the absence of today’s advanced technology. This used to be the power of vocals that made vintage songs immortal. Incredible. …hats off. ..
Please enjoy: Hamari gali aana ….
Hamari gali aana
Dekho ji hame na bhulana
Dekho ji hamari gali aana
Hamko ji hame na bhulana achha ji
Shadi mohabbat ki bate
Aur hai jawnai ki rate
Shadi mohabbat ki bate
Aur hai jawnai ki rate
Pehli pehli mulakate
Pehli pehli mulakate
Hai ye khushi ka jamana
Hamari gali aana dekho ji
Hai ye khushi ka jamana
Hamari gali aana dekho ji
Dekho ji hame na bhulana
Dekho ji hamari gali aana
Hamko ji hame na bhulana achha ji
Sawan ki rut hai suhani
Sawan ki rut hai suhani
Joban pe aayi jawani
Kehti dilo ki kahani
Kehti dilo ki kahani
Kahe ko ab sharmana
Hamari gali aana
Kahe ko ab sharmana
Hamari gali aana
Dekho ji hame na bhulana
Dekho ji hamari gali aana
Hamko ji hame na bhulana achha ji
Gata khushi ki har bela
Gata khushi ki har bela
Dhole hai man ki naiya
Dhole hai man ki naiya
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rk1KWPmyvPU%3F
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Songs #09
Dil Mein Chhupa Ke Pyaar Ka Toofan Le Chale
1952 Movie Aan
This post is being done almost entirely from memory, on a cellphone in my bed, since I have excruciating toothache. Hence, if anyone of you brings out a historical error, I would readily correct it.
My favourite quartet: Shakeel Badayuni as Lyricist, Naushad Ali as Music Director, Mohammad Rafi as Singer and Dilip Kumar as Actor (Please also read: ‘The Best Of Old Hindi Songs – Rafi, Shakeel, Naushad And Dilip Kumar Together’), have been so far missing from IN Songs even though they made some incredibly beautiful songs. The reason is that I couldn’t think of a fact that sounds incredible!
And then I thought of Mehboob Khan’s 1952 movie Aan wherein they were together just as they were together for K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam, though only for one song: Zindabad, zindabad.
What is so special about Aan? Well, if you remember the fact that it was India’s first Technicolor movie! If that’s not enough, for the first time in an Indian movie a large orchestra of 100 pieces was used. Still not enough? Well, for the first time in India, Naushad used Western system of musical notations or symbols for Indian raagas.
Aha..now we are getting to the incredible parts. Here is one more incredible part: Aan was the first Indian movie internationally released. So impressed was Cecil De Mille on seeing it in London that he wrote to Mehboob Khan about its directorial excellence. Nimmi was nearly signed by him for a stint in Hollywood!
No one experimented with music the way Naushad did. He ushered in Indian classical raagas into movies. Although he ushered in large orchestras in Hindi movies, 11 years later, in 1963 movie Mere Mehboob’s title song, he used only six instruments! Unfortunately, I can never put up that song; I am not worthy of putting up a song that has no parallel in Hindi movies.
So please enjoy this Aan song put together by my favourite quartet: Dil mein chhupa ke pyaar ka toofaan le chale..
dil me.n chhupaa ke pyaar kaa tuufaan le chale
ham aaj apanii maut kaa saamaan le chale
maut kaa saamaan le chale
dil me.n chhupaa ke pyaar kaa tuufaan le chale
ha ha haa a aa
miTataa hai kaun dekhiye ulafat kii raah me.n
he
ulafat kii raah me.n
miTataa hai kaun dekhiye ulafat kii raah me.n
wo le chale hai.n aan to ham jaan le chale
maut kaa saamaan le chale
dil me.n chhupaa ke pyaar kaa tuufaan le chale
ha ha haa a aa
manzil pe hogaa faisalaa qisamat ke khel kaa
aa
qisamat ke khel kaa
manzil pe hogaa faisalaa qisamat ke khel kaa
kar de jo dil kaa Kuun wo mehamaan le chale
maut kaa saamaan le chale
dil me.n chhupaa ke pyaar kaa tuufaan le chale
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RhJUZbnlF04%3F
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Songs #10
Do Chaar Idhar Do Chaar Udhar
1949 Film Raat Ki Rani
Jab aise geeton ki khoj ki jaati hai to bahut sambhal sambhalkar kadam uThana paDta hai. Lekin jab khoj ke dariya mein utarte hain to haath pair chalane ka mood nahin hota. Gota lagaane mein hi mann Dooba rehta hai. Main dekh rahi thi ki Ravinder PS Ravi aur Surekha Saini bahut mehnat se iss theme ko ek anokha roop dene ke liye pata nahin kahan kahan se anmol ratna khoj laa rahe the. To mera bhi mann lalchaaya ki main bhi ek ratna ko pakaD loon. Aur jab mila aur aankh uThakar dekha to woh KOHINOOR se bhi chamakdaar aur moolyvaan nikala.
Asha karti hoon ki aap sabko bhi pasand aayega.
Yeh geet hamari dulari, hamare dilon par raaj karne wali Asha Bhosle ka pehla solo song hai jo Raat ki Rani (1949) film se hai. aap ko dhyaan se sun.na paDega kyonki aap sunenge to aise lagega ki Yeh Lata mangeshkar ki naqal utaar rahi hai. yaani itni prabhaavit.
Sunkar achambha hua ki Guinness book mein apna naam darj karvaane wali apna ek style aur mukaam haasil karne wali ne kaise aur kitni mehnat ki hogi yahan tak aane ke liye.
Main unke mooh se aaj yeh geet sun.na pasand karungi. lekin woh baat shaayad hi aaye.
Iss naayaab geet ke geetkaar Arzoo Lucknowi hain jinka zikr faqr ke saath karna ho to “karoon kya aas niras bhayi” ke saath kar sakte hain.
Music director Hansraj Behl mere most fav hain.
Dada Saheb Phalke award graheeta Smt Asha Bhosle ka pehla solo geet sagarv aapke liye pesh hai.
Yeh Mujra fest mein rarest geet ho sakta tha.
Please enjoy: Do chaar idhar, do chaar udhar…
Hai mauj mein apne begaane
Ae ae ae ae
Ae ae
Hai mauj mein apne begaane
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar
Dhalke hain chhalakte
O ji chhalakte
Aaaa chhalakte paimaane
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udharKi aafat dhaa ke gaye
Matwaali adaa dikhlaa ke gaye
Matwaali adaa dikhlaa ke gaye
Sar phod rahe hain deewaane
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udharTooti ummeedon ke tukde
Haaye bikhre hai
Aansoon ban ban ke
Kyun bikhre hain
Aansoon ban ban ke
Jaise kisi maala ke daane
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udharLehraati batti kya jaane
Aapey mein nahin hain mastaane
Aapey mein nahin hain mastaane
Jal jal ke girey hain parwaane
Haaye parwaane
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar
Do chaar idhar
Do chaar udhar.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tcKCrXV1JNU%3F
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Songs #11
Main Zindagi Mein Hardam Rota Hi Raha Hoon
1949 Film Barsaat
I have stated this ‘incredible’ fact earlier. However, now I am going to include it in IN Songs. The 1949 movie Barsaat was the first of my Great Songs Movies on Lyrical with as many as 11 Songs. It was the debut movie of Nimmi. It was also the debut movie of Shankar Jaikishen with whom Raj Kapoor worked in 20 movies (10 of his own).
It was the second movie to be directed by Raj Kapoor after 1948 Aag with Nargis (They worked together for 16 movies including six of RK Productions)
Now, Aag already had the IN Song sung for Raj Kapoor by his singing voice Mukesh: Zinda hoon is tarah ki gham-e-zindagi nahin. What is ‘incredible’ about the song? Well, this that Raj Kapoor doesn’t have his moustache that we see in all his movies including his debut film the 1947 movie Neelkamal!
Ok, so what’s so ‘incredible’ about the only song that he sings in the 1949 movie Barsaat? Only this that Mohammad Rafi sang it for him wherever his singing voice Mukesh sang for Prem Nath: Tirchhi nazar hai!
So in this IN song that I am giving you Hasrat Jaipuri is there as Lyricist (which was in all RK Productions; either him or Shailendra), Shankar Jaikishen are there as Music Director (in all RK Productions after this until Jaikishen died). However, in the only song picturised on Raj Kapoor in the movie, Mohammad Rafi sang for him!
Please enjoy Mohammad Rafi singing for Raj Kapoor in his own production: Main zindagi mein hardam rota hi raha hoon….
mai.n zi.ndagii me.n haradam rotaa hii rahaa huu.N
rotaa hii rahaa huu.N, ta.Dapataa hii rahaa huu.N
mai.n zi.ndagii …
ummiid ke diye bujhe dil me.n hai a.ndheraa
jiivan kaa saathii na banaa koI bhii meraa
phir kisake liye
phir kisake liye aaj mai.n jiitaa hii rahaa huu.N
mai.n zi.ndagii …
rah-rah ke ha.Nsaa hai merii haalat pe zamaanaa
kyaa dukh hai mujhe ye to kisii ne bhii na jaanaa
Kaamosh
Kaamosh mohabbat liye phirataa hii rahaa huu.N
mai.n zi.ndagii …
aaI na mujhe raas mohabbat kii phizaaye.n
sharamaaI merii aa.Nkh se saavan kii ghaTaae.n
laharo.n me.n sadaa
laharo.n me.n sadaa Gam ko bahaataa hii rahaa huu.N
mai.n zi.ndagii …
https://youtube.com/watch?v=kgXoz51hxTg%3F
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Song #12
Jaao Jaao Ai Mere Sadhu
1932 Movie Puran Bhagat
Krishna Chandra Rey ek aisi hasti hai jise hum pehle hum naman karenge phir unke baare mein baat karenge.
Inka jeewan charita sabhi insaanon ke liye ek maargdarshan hai.
Inhone apni 13 saal ki umar mein kisi kaaraN apni aankhen kho di aur poori tarah andhe ho chuke the. Par Bhagwan ki aseem kripa ki sangeet mein itni oonchai chaDhe ki famous sangeet kaar S D Burman ke pehle Guru aur maargdarshak bane. Manna dey ke chacha hone ke kaaraN yeh unke liye bhi guide rahe guardian rahe aur unhe Bombay lekar aaye. As an assistant Manna Dey unke saath rahe aur apne career ki neenv bahut sudruDh Dali. Aaj pata chal raha ki Sachin Da aur Manna Da ki safalta ke peeche kiska haath unke sir pe tha. K C Dey as actor, singer, aur music director kamaal ki safalta haasil ki. Ek se ek geet diye films mein sangeet bhi diya aur Pankaj Mullick, RC Boral jaise diggaj angeetkaron ke geet bhi gaaye. Faqr ho raha hai iss geet ko, iss shaqhs ko aapke sammukh prastut karte hue. Inke bhajan aaj bhi bahut shraddha ke yad kiye jaate hain.” teri gathari mein laaga chor musafir jaag zara”, “mann ki ankhen khol baba mann ki ankhen khol”. Aaj bhi itne saalon ke baad bhi unki aawaaz mein jo bhakti rass hai, use aap apne mann mein mehsoos kar sakte hain. Iss geet ko suniye to aapko pata chalega ki woh aankhon mein shaayad aansoo liye gaa rahe the.
Puran Bhagat film ka yeh bhajan aapke liye: Jaao jaao ai mere sadhu…
aa
jaavo-jaavo e mere saadhuu raho guruu ke sa.ng -2
solah baras par aaye the ik din shaant rahe ham log -2
ab phir chho.D chale ham sabako -2
kaho ye kaun hai Dha.ng
jaavo-jaavo e mere saadhuu raho guruu ke sa.ng -2
jitanii duur bhii jaa_o rahoge hiraday hii ke samiip -2
aise hii tum har ik yug me.n -2
badalo har ik ra.ng
jaavo-jaavo e mere saadhuu raho guruu ke sa.ng -2
jaavo parameshwar ko bhajate karo bhalaa_ii sabakii -2
sab sansaarii ju.D jaaye.nge -2
puuran naam ke sa.ng
jaavo-jaavo e mere saadhuu raho guruu ke sa.ng -2
solah baras par aaye the ik din shaant rahe ham log -2
ab phir chho.D chale ham sabako
kaho ye kaun hai Dha.ng
jaavo-jaavo e mere saadhuu raho guruu ke sa.ng
https://youtube.com/watch?v=T80Cd9Vmc-c%3F
IN (Incredible Nostalgia) Song #13
Ham Pyaar Karenge, Ham Pyar Karenge
1953 Film Dhun
The 1953 movie Dhun was the 13th of the 16 movies that Raj Kapoor did together with Nargis. Mukesh was his singing voice and Shankar Jaikishen his Music Directors.
He acted in only two movies that had Madan Mohan’s music: the 1953 movie Dhun and 1952 movie Ashiana.
In the former, there is a duet between Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar singing for Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Bharat Vyas was the lyricist.
Please enjoy a rare song in which Hemant Kumar sang for Raj Kapoor: Ham pyaar karenge, ham pyaar karenge…..
he: ham pyaar kare.nge ham pyaar kare.nge
ham la.Dake jhaga.Dake bhii pyaar kare.nge
la: ek baar kare.nge do baar kare.nge
sau baar sau baar sau baar kare.nge
do: ham pyaar kare.nge ham pyaar kare.nge
he: (gar saare saare din ham aa na sake) -2
(vaadaa karake bhii apanaa nibhaa na sake) -2
la: (saarii saarii raat teraa i.ntazaar kare.nge ) -2
ek baar kare.nge do baar kare.nge
sau baar sau baar sau baar kare.nge
do: ham pyaar kare.nge ham pyaar kare.nge
la: (ham laaj ke maare mar jaaye.nge) -2
(par saamane na tere kabhii aaye.nge ) -2
he: (chhup-chhup ke teraa diidaar kare.nge) -2
ek baar kare.nge do baar kare.nge
sau baar sau baar sau baar kare.nge
do: ham pyaar kare.nge ham pyaar kare.nge
do: (hame.n lage hai.n ba.De is duniyaa ke Dar
kahii.n pyaar ko hamaare lag jaaye na nazar ) -2
(ham chorii-chorii yuu.N hii taqaraar kare.nge ) -2
ek baar kare.nge do baar kare.nge
sau baar sau baar sau baar kare.nge
ham pyaar kare.nge ham pyaar kare.nge
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vQODcwnsRuI%3F
There, then, is the second part of Incredible Nostalgia songs. We shall entertain you with more such gems in the subsequent parts of this blog.
Until we meet again: Jai Hind.
