Gods have been an important part of our lives and, therefore, our films. We do not set off on a journey without checking whether it was an auspicious moment or not. There is a Rahukaalam when everything comes to a standstill: No weddings, no new investment or purchase of car or home appliances, no taking of oath by the new CM, no moving to his earmarked bungalow. The inauspicious moments come for some short periods in a year. But in everyday life too there are obstacles, such as a cat crossing your car on the road; and the remedy for this bad omen is simple – stop for a moment, reverse the car and move on again. No meat on Tuesdays, no mangoes ever, not because of some allergy, but I had to sacrifice one favourite food item at the altar of some god.
These are prohibitions to test the faith of the devotees, their self-restraint and hopefully gods would be pleased. There are positive mandamuses also, such as play Teen-patti on Diwali; buy jewellery, utensil on Dhanteras; rush to Big Sale Dhamaka to beat the Pitripaksha; on Thursdays go to a Sai temple; Saturdays to a Hanuman temple and so on. The prohibitions and mandamuses are manageable. Our gods are very kind and it is easy to keep them in good humour.
At times devotees look upon gods as transactional. If I am selected for this job, I would again climb your three hundred steps, and so on. The offering is commensurate with the reward.
Sometimes, nothing works and a nice devout person suffers serious misfortunes in life. Then he lashes at Him, or surrenders before Him for his mercy. Amitabh Bachchan went through the entire gamut in his, ‘Aaj tum khush to bahut hoge’. Starting with severe tongue-lashing he ends with a plaintive pleading, ‘Mere paapon ki saza meri Ma ko mat do’. A flower drops in your palm which is a sure sign that your prayer has been accepted. If one suffers from guilt for having done something despicable in a weak moment, one purges oneself at his altar, Insaaf ka mandir hai ye, Bhagwan ka ghar hai.
God’s devotees kept him extremely busy. Now we see a reverse phenomenon. Every god has a band of faithfuls who, at the slightest whisper of someone offending their god, are ready to hit the streets and burn a few buses. If you do not have stomach for arson or loot, you can still boycott this or that book, or this or that film. Or forward this WhatsApp message to ten persons. If you do it within the next 24 hours, within a week you will get some unexpected bounty. If you delete this message, Hell hath no fury like a god scorned. Gods never had it so good.
Hey Bhagwan! has two opposite meanings. One is the straightforward surrender before Him, and the other is of surprise at the world of vigilantes of gods. When I am told to boycott Haldiram or Lal Singh Chaddha, I am frankly flummoxed, Hey Bhagwan! Ye kya ho raha hai! There is yet another innocuous sense which is a colloquial expression of surprise. Amitabh Bachchan often utters this at KBC when some participant behaves in a strange way.
Let us enjoy some Bhagwan songs.
1. Bhagwan, bhagwan……O duniya ke rakhwale, sun dard bhare mere naale by Rafi from Baiju Bawra (1952), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
Mohammad Rafi, himself being an extremely devout person, is matchless in this devotional song of surrendering before the almighty. Shakeel Badayuni’s lyrics and Naushad’s music has created an immortal masterpiece. There is a story that Rafi sang the last O duniya ke rakhwaale at such a high pitch that his throat started bleeding.
आग बनी सावन की बरसा, फूल बने अंगारे
नागन बन गई रात सुहानी, पत्थर बन गए तारे
सब टूट चुके हैं सहारे,
ओ जीवन अपना वापस ले ले जीवन देने वाले,
ओ दुनिया के रखवाले….
2. Insaaf ka mandir hai ye, Bhagwan ka ghar hai by Rafi from Amar (1954), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
This song occurs at least thrice in the film. Dilip Kumar is gnawed by guilt and he hesitates at the steps of the temple from going inside. A puzzled Madhubala almost pulls him inside. In the last part there is redemption. Shakeel Badayuni comes up with lyrics which fit with the situation perfectly.
इन्साफ का मन्दिर है ये भगवान का घर है
कहना है जो कह दे तुझे किस बात का डर है
है खोट तेरे मन में जो भगवान से है दूर
है पाँव तेरे फिर भी तू आने से है मजबूर
हिम्मत है तो आजा ये भलाई की डगर है
3. Meri sun le araj Banwari, tere dwar khadi dukhiyari by Lata Mangeshkar from Ankhen (1968), lyrics Sahir Ludhiyanavi, music Ravi
Ramanand Sagar of Ramayan TV-serial and saffron-shawl fame, was once director of romantic formula films. He earned super success with his international spy thriller Ankhen, and also Filmfare Award for the Best Director. The terrorists were operating from Beirut and were able to plant their mole, a fake aunt Lalita Pawar in Kumkum’s house. By abducting Kumkum’s son, the aunt is able to blackmail her and get real time details of the secret operation. The cover blown, Kumkum’s brother Dharmendra is in great danger, besides putting the country at great risk. In this hopeless situation, Kumkum is reduced to placing herself at the mercy of Banwari (Lord Krishna).
4. Ab tere siwa kaun mera Krishna Kanhaiya, Bhagwan kinare pe meri la de naiya by Amirbai Karnataki from Kismet (1943), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Anil Biswas
Surrender before the Lord was never so poignant. Amirbai Karnataki sings an immortal devotional song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgrLz-MrGcA
5. Tune mujhe bulaya sherawaliye by Narendra Chanchal and Rafi from Asha (1980), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Narendra Chanchal was a professional singer at Mata Ka Jagarans, community bhajans and aartis until he was called by Laxmikant-Pyarelal to sing a song in his style in Bobby (1973). Here he joins Rafi to sing a song to Sherawaliye. The song depicts the pilgrims’ singing this song while trekking to Vaishno Devi
6. He Kaal ke panje se Mata bachaao jai Ma Asht Bhavani…O sheronwali bigadi bana de mera kaam by Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle from Suhag (1979), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Bollywood has great capacity for innovation and fusion of different cultures. Another sheronwali song sung by Rafi and Asha Bhosle, picturised on the hot pair Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha leading garba/dandiya dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV6-R_y9cNg
7. Shirdiwale Sai Baba by Mohammad Rafi from Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Rafi was the best for devotional songs as he was for so many other varieties. Manmohan Desai’s mad caper had full-blast secularism in his Amar-Akbar-Anthony. Had someone mentioned Amarinder, Man was capable to add him also and then there would have been four tubes carrying the blood of the four brothers flowing into the Mother.
8. Tere dwar khada Bhagwan bhagat bhar de re jholi by Kavi Pradeep from Vaman Avatar (1955), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Avinash Vyas
The demon king Bali had conquered all the world with his intense rituals. Bali was also known for his extreme generosity. Never was any seeker of a favour turned away from his court. Vishnu in his fifth avatar as a dwarf Brahmin takes advantage of his generosity and asks him to give as much land as he can cover in three steps. Bound by his promise he instantly agrees to this trivial demand, and now the dwarf Brahmin comes in his real form and takes the three worlds with his three steps. Here asking for Bhar de re jholi is a trickery but with a larger good in mind..
9. Bhar do jholi meri ya Mohammad laut kar main na jaunga khali by Ghulam Farid Sabri and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (Sabri Brothers)
But the prayer Bhar do jholi is always made with piety in heart. The Sabri Brothers – Ghulam Fard Sabri (1930 – 5 April 1994) and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (12 October 1945 – 21 September 2011) – were the Shahenshah-e-Qawwali before Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and the roving ambassadors of Pakistan. The bulky one (with cap) is the elder brother. I had the privilege of hearing them live when long ago they came to perform at Teen Murti Bhavan lawns in Delhi. Hearing Bhar do jholi from them live was a divine experience. Whether you plead before Sarkar-e-Madina, Tajdar-e-Madina or any God, it reaches the same Almighty. The important thing is the faith.
Bhar do jholi meri sarkar-e-madina
Bhar do jholi meri tajdar-e-madina
Laut kar main na jaunga khali
Uski qismat a chamka sitaara
Jis pe nazar-e-karam tum ne daali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQayTtJqEgM
9. Bhar do jholi meri ya Mohammad by Adnan Sami from Bajrangi Bhaijan (2015), lyrics Traditional, music recreated by Pritam
In Bajrangi Bhaijan this iconic qawwali has been used in a very creative way. Except the first line, antara is changed and the singer Adnan Sami does a wonderful job. While singing it, he almost goes in a trace when the principal characters in the film walk in with the same prayer in their hearts
10. Hey Bhagwan kit jaaye base ho by Rafi and Shamshad Begum from Shrimati 420 (1956), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music OP Nayyar
This is a very interesting song of remonstrance with god in a comic style. After the following verse by Rafi, Shamshad Begum joins in with a completely disconnected Mere gore gore gaal rasili ankhiyan.
गुलाबचंद की तेरे जग में कमाई हो नहीं सकती
खुदाई छोड़ दे तुझसे खुदाई हो नहीं सकती
हे भगवन कित जाये बसे हो हमरी खाक उडाये
हे भगवन कित जाये…..
हम दौलत वालों से तुम्हारी शान ज़माने भर में
मंदिर और शिवाले हमने बांध दिए घर घर में
फिर भी नहीं तुम सुनते भगवन पड़े हो कान दबाए
हे भगवन कित जाये…
11. Dekh tere sansaar ki haalat kya ho gayi Bhagwan, kitna badal gaya insaan
The sectarian riots following Partition showed the worst side of human beings. It showed there was a thin line between insan and haivan, prompting Kavi Pradeep to write and sing this हे भगवान् song in absolute despondency.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU5bGg3JUxw
12. Nahin maloom Qawwali by Habib Painter
Habib Painter (1915 – 22 February 1987) was a billboard painter. Thus his surname of Painter. He had a good voice and good command over language. For years he had been singing songs of trenchant sarcasm against the vigilantes of both Hindus and Muslims. Listen to this rap-style qawwali carefully which ends in the climax: Habib says, this world is a marketplace. O God, it is good that you are covered by a curtain. Otherwise, they would sell you, too, if they find you anywhere, but it is your good fortune that they don’t know your location. I had been lucky to hear him also live long ago.
ये दुनिया है एक मंडी, यानी पैसे की पगडण्डी
हर चीज़ यहाँ पर बिकती है, हर जिन्स यहाँ पर सस्ती है
मुफलिस की यहाँ किस्मत बिकती, शान भी बिकती शौकत बिकती
गली गली में अस्मत बिकती, कदम कदम पर इज्ज़त बिकती
ऋषियों के व्याख्यान हैं बिकते, पीरों के फरमान हैं बिकते
बाज़ारों में ईमान बिकते, ताबीजों में कुरआन बिकते
मुल्ला बिकता पंडित बिकता साधू बिकते पीर भी बिकते
मस्जिद बिकती मंदिर बिकते टके टके शिवशंकर बिकते
गोरे बिकते काले बिकते मौज गगन के हाले बिकते
मदहोशी के प्याले बिकते तीरथ घाट शिवाले बिकते
तस्बीह बिकती माला बिकती ठाकुर बिकते ज्वाले बिकती
जनेऊ और किरपाण बिकते वेद शास्त्र ज्ञान हैं बिकते
दोज़ख बिकता जन्नत बिकती पूजा पाठ इबादत बिकती
हबीब यह दुनिया मंडी है हर चीज़ यहाँ बिक जाती है
ऐ खुदा बेहतर है कि तू परदे में है
वरना तुझको बेच डालें इनको मिल जाए कहीं
मगर खैर तो यह है कि इनको तेरा पता नहीं मालूम
नहीं मालूम नहीं मालूम
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
1. This theme was suggested by the reader S Joseph.
2. The YT links of songs have been embedded only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over the songs, which belongs to the respective owners.
{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
Lovely selection of songs, AK. There are far too many songs that I like that fit this theme, but these two are among my favourites:
Devta tum ho mera sahaara from Daera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkLJ7YPcIVM
Ae mere maalik mere parvardigaar from Sohni Mahiwal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRh7bmaX_jQ
OP Nayyar’s Aana hai to aa from Naya Daur (1957) and w oh khet mein milega from Yaadgar (1970) also could make it into this . However, a nice topic and can provide scope for several such songs !
AKji, here’s my addition:
Hazaar Haath Waale from Maha Pooja – Talat and Geeta Dutt- Avinash Vyas – Ramesh Gupta
The song laments the fact that everything immoral is happening right in front of God and he is just not intervening.
waah re waah bhagwaan,
banaayaa kyaa toone insaan,
is fareb ke putle se to,
hai achhaa shaitaan,
hazaar haathwaale,
mandir ke dwaar khule
aur tere munh pe taale
Madhu,
Thanks a lot. ‘Devta tum ho sahara’ is an iconic bhajan by Mubarak Begum.
KB,
‘Aana hai to aa’ was in my shortlist. But I don’t clutter my post with too many songs. Thanks for your additions
A thought-provoking writeup on the theme of the almighty. A great collection of songs . Also, my view is that most movies made it a point to include some song of devotion to the supreme as part of the formula .
I am posting one very popular song which could fall under this theme.
‘ Jyoti kalash chhalke…/ 1961 / BHABHI KI CHUDIYAN / Pt Narendra Sharma / Sudhir Phadke / Lata
https://youtu.be/ajb-SgmNevg
A thought-provoking writeup on the theme of the almighty. A great collection of songs . Also, my view is that most movies made it a point to include some song of devotion to the supreme as part of the formula .
I am posting one very popular song which could fall under this theme.
‘ Jyoti kalash chhalke…/ 1961 / BHABHI KI CHUDIYAN / Pt Narendra Sharma / Sudhir Phadke / Lata
https://youtu.be/ajb-SgmNevg
Anita,
Nice addition.
Mr S Joseph,
Thanks a lot. Devotional songs were very prominent in our fims. But I don’t think there were as many as you are suggesting.
‘Jyoti kalash chhalke’ was an outstanding song. Yes, it is indeed a devotional song.
Here is appealing to the almighty in a hopeless situation . Prayer is the only hope now. The extreme pain can be felt in the singing as well as the lady’s expressions . She is in unbreakable chains and in an unimaginable location. Most think of the almighty only in such extreme hopelessness .
Beqas pe karam… /1960 / MUGHL E AZAM / Shakeel Badayuni / Naushad / Lata
https://youtu.be/FfYmi1eosMU
This is a popular devotional song . The original song was in another Indian language. EVERGREEN.
‘ Brindavan ka Krishna…’/ 1957 / MISS MARY / Rajinder Krishan/ Hemant Kumar / Rafi , Lata
https://youtu.be/66-vyH3dfqg
A very melodious devotional song from the great Madan Mohan . One of the few of his songs where he took the services of Asha and not Lata.
Mujhi mein chhupkar…/ 1958/JAILOR / Rajinder Krishan / Madan Mohan / Asha , Rafi
https://youtu.be/L18PxG5uF80
One devotional song by KL Sehgal .
‘ Nayanheen ko raah …’/ 1942 / BHAKT SURDAS / DN Madhok / Gyan Dutt / KL Sehgal
https://youtu.be/1v0_4RGSjCw
Mr S Joseph @10,
Naushad has created this immortal naat.
@11,
One important aspect of Lord Krishna was raasleela. Sometimes his principal gopika Radha became jealous of Krishna dallying with other gopika. Though it was interpreted as spiritual love, I would not describe it as a devotional song as understood in the normal sense.
@12,
Mujhi mein chhupkar mujhi se door is indeed a very nice composition.
@13,
Nainheen ko raah dikha prabhu: What can one say about this divine voice singing this song of absolute surrender!
Two very popular devotional songs from the same movie of the fifties .
1)Tu pyar ka …/ 1956 / SEEMA / Shailendra / SJ / Manna Dey
https://youtu.be/e2D-kjOMNF0
2) ‘ Manmohana bade jhoote… / 1956 / SEEMA / Shailendra / SJ /Lata
https://youtu.be/rKM2eEehOa0
Mr S Joseph,
Tu pyar ka sagar hai is a devotional song. But I would not describe Manmohana bade jhoothe as a devotional song. Mose beimani kare mose hi roothe and lines like this makes it a lament of a disappointed Radha by the betrayal of Krishna. Radha-Krishna lore has many songs of this type.
Indeed an excellent post. Very insightful and interesting prologue.
The first song that I could think of was,
Kya mil Gaya Bhagwan! from Anmol ghadi.
So far not added by anyone.
And, the next one
My favourite song by my favourite composer, Chitragupt. Sung and composed by him
Bhagwan tujhe main khat likhta
I think these bhajans would also fit the theme,
Sukh ke sab sathi by Rafi
And
Badi der bhai by Rafi.
Anup
🙂
A very popular devotional song composed by Vasant Desai which was taken up as a daily prayer in many schools. EVERGREEN.
‘ Ae maalik tere…’/ 1956 / DO AANKHEN BAARAH HAATH / Bharat Vyas / Vasant Desai / Lata and chorus
https://youtu.be/YmYFRNXrPdk
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. All the songs you have mentioned fit to the theme. ‘Kya mil gaya Bhagwan mere dil ko dukha ke’ is a remonstration to God. Everything was moving so nicely as Noorjehan bumped into her childhood friend when she gets a jolf.
Another Vasant Desai composition that has also been taken up as a school prayer in many schools. In the movie also this was a school prayer. We see how all the creators of this song have become immortal.
‘ Humko mann ki…’/ 1971 / GUDDI / Gulzar / Vasant Desai / Vani Jayaram and chorus
https://youtu.be/FyG6yfoyITA
Mr S Joseph,
Vasant Desai has the credit of composing two songs in different eras in two different voices, both became immortal as school prayer songs: ‘Ae maalik tere bande hum’ from DABH by Lata Mangeshkar and later the one you have mentioned by Vani Jairam.
This one may not count as a devotional song in literal sense as it doesnt have any “bhagwan” , “khuda” etc but more of a spiritual song-what great lyrics by the one and only Shailendra( Film Kala Bazar, SD Burman, Shailendra, Geeta Dutt & Sudha Malhotra)
Na Mein dhan chahun, na ratan chahun
Few highlights:
laaye kya the jo leke jaana hai
nek dil hi tera khazaana hai
shaam hote hi pachhi aa jaaye
ab to ghar jaau apane ghar jaau
Another gem of a song I could think is from Gopi / Rajendra Krishan/Kalyanji-Anandji/Rafi
Sukh ke sab saathi, dukh mein na koi
Mere Ram, mere Ram , tera naam ek saanch duja na koi
A once popular song . Rafi is known for such songs. Though it is a song to the almighty yet not sure if this would fall under devotional songs category .
‘ Parvar digare alam…’ / 1956 / HATIMTAI / Akhtar Roomani /SN Tripathi / Rafi
https://youtu.be/V9AFYG6fRB4
“There is a story that Rafi sang the last O duniya ke rakhwaale at such a high pitch that his throat started bleeding.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nICMWztHVOE
At around 1.45 mins in above video the maestro Naushad himself debunks this myth.
In this devotional song there are 3 singers . Ravi had many devotional songs to his credit. The video is not available. Only those who have seen the movie may be able to add something to the uploads here.
Darshan do Ghanshyam…/ 1957 / NARSI BHAGAT / Gopal Singh Nepali / Ravi /Hemant , Sudha Malhotra , Manna Dey
1)https://youtu.be/0UYtyMXwEuo
2) https://youtu.be/AosDTMRZ26M
(2nd link … Manna Dey solo)
This another famous song may also get covered here..
‘ Man tarpat hari…’ / 1952 / BAIJU BAWRA / Shakeel Badayuni/ Naushad / Rafi
https://youtu.be/4c9yzRB5pPc
Mr Sivanandam @22,
It is not essential for a devotional song to have the markers such as god, Bhagwan or Khuda. It is the content and meaning of the verse and how it has been used in the film. Na main dhan chaahun na ratan chaahun is a very nice devotional song. So is Dukh ke sab sathi.
@24,
Naushad says Rafi never mentioned this thing to him. After rehearsal for 15 times, Rafi’s throat had collapsed and he could not sing for many days. The Jury is still out.
Mr S Joseph @23,
Parvardigar aalam: It is a song to the almighty. Why should you have doubts whether is a devotional song or not.
@25,
Darshan do Ghanshyam: Nice song. I can add an interesting trivia about the song. Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire won multiple Academy Awards. Its central piece was a KBC type scene hosted by Anil Kapoor and facing him was the slum boy. One of the questions was “Who wrote Darshan do Ghanshyam”, and the ‘correct (?)’ answer given was Surdas. As far as I remember Gopal Singh ‘Nepali’ was not even among the options. People didn’t take long to point out this blunder. For a prestigious film this was a huge faux pas. I believe Boyle had to enter into some out of court settlement with Nepali’s family.
@26,
Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj is another iconic song from BIju Bawra
Many devotional songs are there n our films. Here are two of my favourites:
aana hai to aa, raah mein kuchh…
Naya Daur/ Rafi/ O.P. Nayyar/ Sahir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y2qwoJUbgM
*
aye malik tere bande hm
Do Aaankhen Barah Haath/ Lata/ Vasant Desai/ Bharat Vyas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmYFRNXrPdk
S. Joseph @ 13
The way Saigal saab has sung that bhajan, nobody can touch him or even come close to him.
Just noticed that the songs I mention above @ 29, have already been mentioned by others. Sorry for cluttering the comment section. Here is one that hasn’t been mentioned and is an absolute fave:
Tu Dhoondta Hai Jisko
Yatrik/ Dhananjay Bhattacharya/ Pankuj Mallick/ Pt. Madhur
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6kDsk7OPv4
Neeruahaf,
Tu dhoondhta hai jisko is an excellent spiritual song on the philosophy of अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि. Dhananjay Bhattacharya has uncanny similarity with Pankaj Mullick. Thanks for adding this song.
A very popular devotional song from Chitragupt .
‘ Tumhi ho maata…’/ 1962 / MAI CHUP RAHOONGI / Rajinder Krishan / Chitragupt / Lata and chorus
https://youtu.be/PrXdnAwmUhA
Another popular devotional song by Chitragupt , mostly heard during Durga Puja .
‘Jai jai hey…’ / 1964 / GANGA KI LEHEREN / Majrooh Sultanpuri / Chitragupt / Lata & chorus
https://youtu.be/sOsyMO5l3hc
AK ji
साष्टांग दंडवत is the phrase used in Marathi when anybody bows before the god. There is surfeit of songs on bhagwan in Hindi films. To select handful few of them and create a wonderful post based on them is feat which deserves no less than साष्टांग दंडवत.
Currently I am enjoying a vacation in Madurai and South India in general and Tamilnadu in particular have palatial temples from ancient times with equally rich history behind them.
However in Hindi films of late we find relatively less dominant presence of Bhagwan and hence of devotional songs. Maybe from cricket to politics to movies we have made human gods so need for celestial god’s has waned.
I post here two songs from two different eras composed by two great composers . One of them is sung by the composer himself and in the other it’s composer songs a bit .
Alla megh de – Guide -Shailendra – SDB
https://youtu.be/RhU-d5HNRfM
Sachinda ,the singer , brings out the collective anguish and yearning of the villagers.
Kun phaya kun- Rockstar- Irshad Kamil – AR Rahman – AR, Javed Ali and Mohit Chauhan
This arguably is the best devotional song post 2000
https://youtu.be/T94PHkuydcw
Mr S Joseph @33,
Tumhi ho mata tumhi pita ho: Another song that acquired the status of a school prayer. That is a high compliment to a devotional song.
@34,
Jai jai he Jagdambe mata: This song has become a generic song of the Divine Goddess.
Mr Muli @35,
You have made me a Bhagwan 🙂 , but thanks a lot for your nice words. साष्टांग दण्डवत् is also quite common in Hindi, as it is a Sanskrit phrase. Our gods of cricket, when they fail us, are also target of vilest abuses. If these gods are so ephemeral, we have to think of some other term for them.
I think the reason for waning of gods in films is the realisation that they all need vigilantes to protect them.
Allah megh de is a top class song. For the best devotional song post-2000, my vote would go to Bhar do jholi from Bajrangi Bhaijan (2015).
If someone asks me ” What is the most important discovery of mankind? ”
My reply:
Thinking or believing or having faith in The Supreme Al-Mighty.
This discovery has helped to live together in a community with a spirit of Give and Take. Without it we could not have progressed to the level we are today. People say: But Religions are fighting among themselves. True. Self-centeredness is definitely working here. But sure, mankind has to find some sure solution and we hope mankind will succeed ultimately. All the progress has made many problems. Over-Population / Climate Change / Environmental Issues / Danger from so many types and quantities of Armaments / Depletion of Resources / Diseases / and amny more.
The UNIVERSE is much bigger beyond our imagination and is being taken care of. How? We really don’t know.
Our Sanatan / Hindu religion is the most democratic religion and there are multiple resources in it to take guidance to carry on peacefully living in the given circumstances.
If someone asks me ” What is the most important discovery of mankind? ”
My reply:
Thinking or believing or having faith in The Supreme Al-Mighty.
This discovery has helped to live together in a community with a spirit of Give and Take. Without it we could not have progressed to the level we are today. People say: But Religions are fighting among themselves. True. Self-centeredness is definitely working here. But sure, mankind has to find some sure solution and we hope mankind will succeed ultimately. All the progress has made many problems. Over-Population / Climate Change / Environmental Issues / Danger from so many types and quantities of Armaments / Depletion of Resources / Diseases / and amny more.
The UNIVERSE is much bigger beyond our imagination and is being taken care of. . How? We really don’t know.
Our Sanatan / Hindu religion is the most democratic religion and there are multiple resources in it to take guidance to carry on peacefully living in the given circumstances.
Aham Brahmasmi
Who am I? \
A person having human body plus soul which makes me a living person. Is it true?
No.
I am having billions and billions of living cells – dead, newly born – plus foreign living bodies, so many souls etcetera. Each one of these souls may try to identify with myself. Likewise, each one of us could say to be a part of whole creation which is identified by our Rishis as BRAHMA (Brahmaaji of Trinity).
Nobody has known the true Almighty. Claims in all religions are products of human mind. Please avoid direct or indirect criticism of our religion by mentioning Gods here and there.
AK ji,
A novel and interesting theme for songs.
Songs calling God and praising his powers are used in films from the beginning of Talkie films. The earliest such song record was released for film Madhuri-1932 first time.
I am presenting a 1934 such song by the blind singer K.C.Dey from film Griha Lakshmi aka Educated wife-1934. Music is by S.P.Rane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsD6Z1ilg7E&t=66s
-AD
AK ji,
Thanks for this novel and interesting theme.
Calling God and praising his powers through songs was common in almost every alternate film in the early era of Talkie films. The first such song record was issued in 1932 for film Madhuri.
I am presenting such a song from film Griha Lakshmi aka Educated Wife-1934. The song ” Bhagwan karega madad teri….” sung by the blind singer K.C.Dey. The Lyricist is not known. The music was by S.P.Rane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsD6Z1ilg7E&t=66s
-AD
Another classic from Ravi.
‘ Tora mann darpan…’/ 1966 /KAJAL / Sahir Ludhyanvi / Ravi / Asha
https://youtu.be/c44Ah24hr9M
A popular devotional song . All known symbols have been shown as it appeals to all believers . Was a prayer for the soldiers on the borders .
‘ Allah tero naam…’/ 1961 / HUM DONO / Sahir Ludhyanvi / Jaydev / Lata and chorus
https://youtu.be/f-ERhzkxgEs
Manoj @38, 39, 40,
You have summarised the Vedantic philosophy very nicely. In this philosophy of नेति नेति there was no room for denominational ‘religion’ as the word is understood today: A Book, A Church, and some codified practices. That is why Abrahmic religions have Prophets who propagated/founded those religions. The Sanatan Dharma has no Single Book, and it has hundreds of Books and so on. We need more and more people who understand the essence of their religion.
Arunji @41, 42,
You are welcome. And thanks for the very valuable information. I think as long as human beings existed, they were wonder-struck by many phenomena they did not understand, and they needed to imagine an Almighty who drove these things. Bhagwan madad karega teri is a very nice song. It has all the qualities of a KC Dey song.
Mr S Joseph @43, 44,
Tora man darpan kahlaye is a classic song. Allah tero naam: There should be more songs covering all faiths.
AK Ji,
I think this song hasn’t been mentioned so far and hence including it. One of the best from the combination of Rafi-N Dutta-Sahir: Film Naya Rasta
Ishwar Allah tere naam, sabko sanmati de bhagwan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NUXRi3lwAs
Suraj ki garmi se..
… aaya mere Ram.
KADAMBARI.
Vandana karo
Archana karo
Jain Veer ki
Mahavir ki…
LADKI SAHYADRI KI.
Budham Sharanam Gachhami..
ANGULIMAL.
Tera hai zameen
Tera aasman..
THE BURNING TRAIN.
O Mother Mary..
BHEEGI PALKEN.
Ae Khuda har faisla..
ABDULLA.
Ek Omkar..
RANG DE BASANTI.
Yahan wahan jahan tahan…
..
Apni Santoshi Maa.
JAI SANTOSHI MAA.
Shirdiwale Sai Baba..
AAA.
A great song .This may get covered here.
‘ Bhay bhanjana vandana…’/ 1956 / BASANT BAHAR / Shailendra / SJ / Manna Dey
https://youtu.be/nq39-fhY3KU
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram…
Various versions:
SHARDA
AB DILLI DOOR NAHIN
PURAB AUR PASCHIM
GANDHI , 1982, English.
AWAM.
HEY RAM.
Vaishnav Jan toh..
The fantastic Amirbai Karnataki rendition from
NARSI BHAGAT, 1940, Gujarati.
GANDHI, 1982.
HEY RAM.
WATER, 2005.
Mr Sivanandam @48,
Ishwar Allah tero naam has not been mentioned yet. Nice song.
Dr Shetty @49,
All the songs you have mentioned are quite well-known.
@51,
I can only exclaim, what a fantastic recall. Some I know, some I don’t.
Mr S Joseph @50,
Bhay bhanjana Vandana: is a fantastic song.
AK ji,
@ 49…
You probably missed the natural progression :
Hindu, Jain , Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, ‘ New ‘ Devi, Almost contemporary Holy man.
Dr Shetty,
This is brilliant if you meant it that way.
An interesting theme with an excellent write-up!
There are many songs on this topic till the 80s.
Here’s one to begin with.,,,
Ankush 1986
Kuldeep Singh – Abhilash – Sushma Shreshta, Pushpa Paghdhare
Itni shakti humein dena daata man ka vishwas kamjor ho na
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMNh5NyDFE
There is also a male version near the end
Pukar 2000
AR Rahman – Majrooh – Lata
Picturized on Lata Didi herself..
Ek tu hi bharosa ek tu hi sahara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_pLXZnUoPc
Dr Deshpande,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Itni shakti humein dena data I have heard so many times that it acquired a status of a school prayer. But this is the first time I got its coordinates. Thanks a lot.
Dr Deshpande @58,
I have seen this movie. But I had forgotten the song and Lata Mangeshkar’s performance. Thanks a lot.
Keshava dhrith meen shareere
Jai Jagadeesh Hare…
The lovely Jayadev creation , Dashavatara Stotra, is the opening of Geeta Govinda. Beautifully composed by Hemant Kumar and sung with Geeta Dutt in
ANAND MUTT.
The traditional Arti
Jai Jagadeesh Hare..
is used, partly or fully, in many movies:
PURAB AUR PASCHIM
ABDULLA
KKHH
JAI JAGADEESH HARE
TOH BAAT PAKKI
Dr Shetty,
Keshava dhrit meen shareere: Beautiful song. Om jai Jagdeesh Hare in Anand Math does not follow the traditional tune, but it does in Purab Aur Pashchim.
AKji@ 45
I will be pleased to send you a small article (pdf) I had written on Essence of Religion some 30 years back. If interested, please send me your email address.
Thanks
Manoj,
I have sent you a mail.
AK
AK ji
You have included shero wali song from suhag. 3 years earlier Santoshi mata created a huge rage and gave neck to neck fight to Sholay. It’s songs during those days were as popular as Gabbar’s dialogues and even more popular than Sholay’s songs.
Here is one of them written and sung by Kavi Pradeep
Apni Santoshi ma – C Arjun
https://youtu.be/er2ggmmQS3o
You have also included saibaba sing from AAA. In the same year in which AAA was made Manoj kumar , the Bharat , made a full fledged film on Saibaba. It’s composer was little known Pandurang Dixit. One does not remember any other film composed by him. Here is a song from that film written by Manoj Kumar, the Bharat.
Sainath tere hazaro haath – Rafi and Usha Mangeshkar
https://youtu.be/pHX9Zcflmac
Mr Muli,
Thanks for adding the title song from Jai Santoshi Ma. She was rstablished as one of the new deities of the female divine. Even though the YT mentions Kavi Pradeep as the singer, I have doubts. To me sounds more like Mahendra Kapoor.
Sainath tere hazaaron haath I perhaps heard for the first time. Manoj Kumar must have been a Sai-devotee to make this film.
Gagan jhan jhana raha..
NASTIK.
Rare song where The Trinity is addressed to.
Hey Brahma
Hey Vishnu
Hey Shankar
Sarva Shaktiman…
Probably, a rare modern Social movie where a Divine figure , a guiding light, is physically depicted.
Fantastic HK, LM.
Jaya Jaya Hey
Jagadambe Mata…
GANGA KI LEHREN.
Mata Saraswati Sharada..
ALAAP.
Surprisingly, we have hardly any Saraswati bhajans in our movies!
Tu Shyam mera
Sancha naam tera..
JULIE.
One would hardly expect a devotional song in this movie.
Rajesh Roshan had given a nice song in his debut film:
Jai Bholenath Jai Ho Prabhu..
KUNWARA BAAP.
Jai Ambe Jagadambe Maa..
KRANTIVEER.
One would not expect Nana Patekar dance at a Dandiya mela and sing to Ambe Maa.
Tora manwa kyon ghabraye re..
I feel this Geeta Dutt beauty from SADHNA is underrated.
Hari din beeta sham huyi
Raat paar kara de…
KITAB.
A bhajan by RDB is a rarity. In the voice of Rajkumari it is one of a kind!
Ishwar Satya hai..
SSS.
A semi clad village belle ‘s Hey Bhagwan will elicit some hai hais!
Apni toh har aah ek toofan hai
Ooparwala jaankar anjan hai..
KALA BAZAR
And
Tan man dhan sab hai tera.
MANCHALI.
Addressing one’s beloved in the guise of a Hey Bhagwan!
AKji, Rahulji,
The title song – Apni Santoshi Maa was in two versions, sung by Pradeep and MK.
The link given above has the one sung by MK.
Here’s the link to all the songs of the film, in which you have both the versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn6HkErYQTY
Narendra Chanchal sings another Mata song for LP and AB, along with MK and Asha.
Avtaar 1983
Chalo bulava aaya hai mata ne bulaya hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o92RGZu4alE
Dr Shetty,
Half the songs you have mentioned I have not heard. But RDB’s bhajan by Rajkumari? That must be very special.
Dr Deshpande @68,
Thanks a lot for attaching all the songs of Jai Santoshi Ma. I liked Pradeep’s version of Apni Santoshi Ma.
@69,
Narendra Chanchal was quite an expert at singing Mata’s bulava songs. Thanks.
An interesting well-written song from the brilliant film PK (2014).
Shantanu Moitra – Swanand Kirkire – Sonu Nigam
Bhagwan hai kahan re tu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6SutyLlzws
Sounds like a Prayer to the Sun . Someone who has seen the movie could clarify.
‘ Jagat bhar ki …’/ 1963 / HARISHCHANDRA TARAMATI / Kavi Pradeep / LP / Hemant Kumar
https://youtu.be/KPd1UregTZk
A hit song . It was in two voices … Lata / Mukesh. I learn this song had been widely taken up as a school prayer . LP were new comers in 1963 and this song gave a further boost to their position.
‘ Jyot se jyot…’ / 1964 / SANT GYANESHWAR / Bharat Vyas / LP / Lata / Mukesh
https://youtu.be/Xgy3mAa-mRA
Mukesh voice…
https://youtu.be/pP5m8fKiGTY
Dr Deshpande @72,
Entirely agree, it was a brilliant film, but it got the goat of many vigilantes. Nice song fitting with the theme of the film.
Mr S Joseph @73,
Jagat bhar ki roshni ke liye very much sounds like a prayer to the Sun, why should there be any doubt needing confirmation.
@74,
Jyot se jyot jagaate chalo is an outstanding song. The Mukesh-version was more popular.
An interesting and widely varied class of songs! I especially appreciated the background you have given on Narendra Chanchal. I had no clue that “Beshak Mandir Masjid Todo” was sung by a professional sacred musician, though of course that makes perfect sense. A more recent example of a similar phenomenon might by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing “Is Shaan-e-Karam Ka Kya Kehna” for “Kachche Dhaage” when his voice had only rarely been heard in Hindi films.
The differing meanings of “hey bhagwan” made me smile. Qaraim (people of my religion) usually speak Arabic day-to-day but use Hebrew for prayers and sacred songs. Ordinarily you might refer to god in a conversation using words from either language–arrahman, hashem, allah, haqadosh, many others. Lots of expressions have interchangeable versions from either language; “hhalil-yah” in Hebrew goes for the same situations that “astaghfirullah” does in Arabic, for example. If you want to complain to/about god, though, you HAVE to do it in Arabic! “Yah rab” or “yah allah” is permissible, but “yah adonai” will get you in trouble. When, as a little kid, I asked my grandmother about this, she said, “Well, if we complained in to god in his own language, he might take it too personally.”
Qaraim have actually just finished a month-long period of festivals in our religious calendar and get to rest a little while until spring. As a curiosity, I’ll add one of the piyyutim (sacred poems) sung during Shemini Atseret, the most recent that group of holidays:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um-6wbpRq54
The song is in Hebrew and was written by an eighteenth-century hahham (teacher of the Qaraim) called Mordechai ben Nissan ha-Zaqen. It is too long for me to translate much of it, but the first verse goes, “O lord, this is the eighth day of assembly. We are commanded to cease our labors and go to the kehillah. A holy day from scripture, intended for sacred things, on which the happy one chose to dwell in sorrow. This is that day: the eighth day of the festival that god chose.”
Shelomit,
Thanks for enlightening us about your religion and culture. I must say, the Seyom shamini was absolutely riveting. Without your introduction I would not have taken it as a devotional prayer, but more a folk song with a very nice beat.
My write-up was somewhat irreverent, and at least one reader was offended. That means on these matters we have to be very careful what we speak or write.
Different connotations of हे भगवान्, I believe, is common to all cultures. O my God! I remember the song, Ye ladka, Haaye Allah kaisa hai deewana! Here ‘Oh Allah!’ is used in the sense of irreverent disbelief.