Best songs of 1941: Wrap Up 3

And the SOY Award for the best duet of 1941 goes to?

I have mentioned the special charm of duets for the variety they add to the film music. In the Vintage Era it is more pronounced as we come across many gems by singers whose names we have not heard.

The long term average of number of songs gives a pattern – the number of duets is more than male solos but far short of female solos. As we run down the list of MEMORABLE SONGS in the overview post, we can see 21 duets. Sharp observers can see the total of the three categories does not add up. This deviation by 1 or 2 is because of errors in classification – some songs classified as solos should be classified as duets as we discover another distinct voice. Needless to say our analysis is not complete if we don’t include the duets – many of them are absolutely superlative though some singers are completely unknown.

This also answers the point made by Mr S Joseph in his comment on Wrap Up 2 about female solos. As we go back in the Vintage Era we don’t need to have a separate category for the best from ‘unknown songs’. The total numbers are small and most of them are unknown. Also for the same reason, I count songs with more than two distinct singers as duets.

Readers’ comments

Arunkumar Deshmukh is very prompt and unambiguous about his choice. His choice for the best duet is Zindagi hai pyar se, the iconic marching song by Rafiq Ghaznavi, Khan Mastana and chorus from Sikandar. Anup Phadke goes for Saawan ke nazaarein hain by Shamshad Begum and Ghulam Haider from Khazanchi. Raunak Joy as usual gives a list of the best ten duets, in order, and gives a detailed analysis of the special feature of each song. His list of the best ten and with summary of his words are as follows:

Mere jeevan ke path par – “With a touch of touch Rabindrasangeet in its melody, scores high on all departments – tuning, orchestration or the lyrics.

Zindagi hai pyar se – “Insanely attractive, this song could have become a worldwide hit only if the internet was available during those days!”

Saawan ke nazarein hain – “Arguably the most popular song of the year.”

Rut aaye rut jaaye panchhi by Ramdulari & Siddheshwar Mukherjee from Chitralekha

Man mein smaaaye piya by Rajkumari & Sitara from Swami (music Rafiq Ghaznavi)

Main teri main teri qismat saath na de my Miss Iqbal and Kantilal from Kanchan (music Gyan Dutt) – “GD experiments with a single mukhda tune for the entire song, yet no boredom steps in as he ensures that his composition, alongwith his orchestration, is able to create a divine feeling of utmost passion and longing, no matter how many cruel games the fate plays upon the unfortunate lovers.”

Kabhi yad aansoon ban ke by Khursheed, Vasanti & Arun Ahuja from Beti (music Gyan Dutt) – “In this fantastic song from Beti, GD does a jugalbandi between the main vocals, whistling and ‘aaha haha ha’ chirping-of-birds-like refrain.

Bhulana na yaad karo na karo by Snehprabha Pradhan and Kantilal from Pyas.

Tore kajra lagaaun mori rani by Vena Kumari & Veena from Bahen, music Anil Biswas

Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re by Arun Mukherjee & Rahmat Bano from Jhoola – “I don’t know how, but Arun Mukherjee had this uncanny ability to sound exactly like Ashok Kumar whenever he sang for him, while at the same time sound exactly like Mumtaz Ali whenever he sang for the latter! No wonder, all comic songs of this Ali-Arun duo became incredibly popular, this Saraswati Devi number being no exception.

Raunak also makes special mention of two songs:

Paani ka tu bulbula by Gyan Durr, Kesri & chorus from Kanchan – “With its unique delineation of the word ‘bulbula’ it is a catchy composition.

Tujhe kya bataaun ki by M Sharif Qawwal & Party from Circus Ki Sundari (music Hafeez Khan Mastana) – is possibly among the earliest qawwalis of our Hindi film music.

Now I am ready with my analysis. Let me start with “Special songs” which has become an indispensable category. I had added two duets as special songs in the overview post. There are many mesmerising songs heard for the first time, some songs added by the readers or some which have unique features that make them special. I should also add here that category-wise Wrap Ups also give me a chance to browse the songs again, beyond the master list in the overview post. For this post I again browsed through the YT for all available duets of 1941, and some special songs are new discoveries beyond the master list. It is  possible some excellent songs whose links have very poor audio quality escape notice.

Special songs

1. Main teri main teri qismet saath na de by Miss Iqbal and Kantilal from Kanchan (1941), music Gyan Dutt

I endorse whatever Raunak says about this song. Listen for yourself.

2. Main teri main teri kaun bina tere fariyaad sune meri by (?) (?)

While looking for the first song I hit a goldmine – another song on exactly the same tune with some common words in the beginning of the mukhda but rest of the lyrics  are different. The uploader says this song was presumed to be from Kanchan (sung by Miss Iqbal Bano and Kantilal), but that song has different lyrics. The uploader then speculates that it is perhaps a non-film song. But to me the singers of this song too sound like Miss Iqbal and Kantilal, and my speculation is the film might have two slightly different versions of the same duet.

3. Gam-e-sakhi andhmala aati by Meenakshi, Vinayak from Amrit (1941), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Dadasaheb Chandekar

While browsing the net anew I came across this melodious duet by Meenakshi and Vinayak. The song is characterised by long instrumental prelude. The composition and singing is in Marathi Natya Sangeet-style. In fact I couldn’t get the lyrics clearly, some words may be in Marathi and I would need the help of Marathi friends to decode the song. I also guess the gam-e-sakhi is not the Urdu ग़म.

4. Main dhoondhoon nis din preetam ko yahi hai meri reet by Radha Rani and Mansoor from Bambaiwali (1941), lyrics Wahid Qureshi, music Madhu Lal Master

We must be grateful to the YT uploaders for selflessly uploading early unheard gems. The composition is melodious and the singers are very good. They are in the cast too, therefore, it must be picturised on them. I am aware of the music director. The readers may recall that SD Burman’s first song as a singer in Hindi films was in the same year in the film Taj Mahal, composed my Madhu Lal Master.

5. Peehar mein piya chhede marun re main to laaj ki maari by Meera and GM Durrani from Darshan (1941), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Naushad

It is delightful to explore Naushad’s early compositions prior to his earth-shattering Ratan (1944). That was the time he had not yet become the Great Mughal of Movie Music, and his regular would-be playback singers were not yet on the horizon. This naughty folk song is very pleasant to the ears.

6. Main hun rani ek sunahri nagri ki by Umrao Zia Begum and Ghulam Hader from Himmat (1941), lyrics Aziz Kashmiri, music Govind Ram

This song ticks several boxes for inclusion in ‘Special songs’. It is sung by a music director and his wife pair, and was composed by yet another music director. The composition is quite innovative. In the middle the song becomes a prose-like conversation – Raja se hai rani sundar/ Rani se hai raja sundar.

7. Ek naya sansar basa lein ek naya sansaar by Ashok Kumar and Renuka Devi from Naya Sansar (1941), lyrics Pradeep, music RC Pal

This link might create some confusion. It is depicted in an album titled ‘Hansraj Gala’, whereas it has nothing to do with Hansraj Behl. This Hansraj-fan has uploaded several outstanding songs composed by different music directors under ‘Hansraj Gala’. This is a Bombay Talkies film, but the uploader says it was produced under the banner of Saregama. The Saregama banner did not exist then.

Ashok Kumar we all know. Renuka Devi – actual name Begum Khurshid Mirza (1918-1989) – is a fascinating personality. Her memoirs, ‘A Woman of Substance’, gives a picture of a traditional Muslim family in the last century, how her enlightened father set up a college for girls’ education in Aligarh which sowed the seeds of AMU, ensured that his daughters got a modern education. Khurshid married into a respectable family after a budding romance. She got a chance to work in Bombay Talkies under the name Renuka Devi in films such as Bhabhi (1938), Naya Sansar (1941), and as per practice of those days the she also sang in some of her films. She had a late career in Pakistan TV serials as a character actress.

8. More man ki nagariya basai re Madhoji, Madhoji by Leela Chitnis and Mazumdar from Kanchan (1941), lyrics DN Madhok, music Gyan Dutt

Most of the songs of 1941 have soft melody. In the same vein this is an excellent soft song. HFGK does not mention the male singer’s name but some sites carry it.

9. Mujhe le chal apni naagariya by Nalini Jaywant and Husn Bano from Bahen (1941), lyrics Dr Safdar ‘Aah’ music Anil Biswas

Bahen was a master performance by Anil Biswas. Each of its dozen songs is superb. Nalini Jaywant was, of course, the lead actor-singer, and Husn Bano is also in the cast. Thus this melodious duet is sung by two actors-singers.

10. Mere jeevan ke path par chhayi ye kaun, poonam ki chaandni by Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani from Anjaan (1941), lyrics Pradeep, music Pannalal Ghosh

This song by the lead pairs has the usual sweetness of many songs from Bombay Talkies by the lead actors and non-singers, Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani, that were usually composed by Saraswati Devi. Though this time it is Pannalal Ghosh, he inherits the same sweetness.

Best ten duets

1-2. Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re ae babuji by Arunkumar and Rahmat Bano from Jhoola (1941), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Saraswati Devi

Unless you go all out to be unconventional, this everlasting song is an automatic choice. Raunak has mentioned Arun Kumar had this uncanny ability to sound like Mumtaz Ali whenever he sang from him; and of course, he was the voice of Ashok Kumar. This stage dance song has become immortal. The female dancer with Mumtaz Ali is Shahzadi (?) lip-synching Rahmat Bano.

2-1. Saawan ke nazaare hain by Shamshad Begum and Ghulam Haider & chorus from Khazanchi (1941), lyrics Wali Saheb, music Ghulam Haider

Quite a free-spirited song. Amidst the orchard and meadows, you see a bevy of girls on bicycle singing this song of joy. Along with them a group of boys gives them company on their own bicycles. The music became a trend-setter as the Punjabi School of Music. This was also as insanely popular as Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re.

3. Zindagi hai pyar se, pyar mein bitaye ja by Khan Mastana and Rafiq Ghaznavi & chorus from Sikandar (1941), lyrics Pt. Sudarshan, music Rafiq Ghazanvi, music Rafiq Ghaznavi

How many distinct voices are there in this song? I have no  idea, one gets conflicting details on different sites. Taking  the lowest common denominator I have mentioned two names Rafiq Ghaznavi and Khan Mastana. This was one of the films in the great trinity of historical films of Sohrab Modi – Pukar, Sikandar and Prithvi Ballabh. It had opulent sets and one can see it in the picturisation of this song. This inspirational marching song has become a landmark.

4. Bhigoyi mori sari re, dekho bheege na choli by Khursheed and Ishwarlal from Shadi (1941), lyrics Munshi ‘Dil’, music Khemchand Prakash

We have seen Khursheed emerge as the best female singer of 1941. In this duet she holds fort in a somewhat risqué Holi song. Ishwarlal is a nice foil to her, but the song leaves no doubt that it is she who leads.

5. Jaake naina matwale hain, baal ghungharwale hain by Ishwarlal, Shamim and Snehprabha Pradhan from Pyas (1941), lyrics DN Madhok, music Khemchand Prakash

This is a wonderful duet song by singers all of whom are forgotten now.  Fully deserving to be in the main list of the best ten.

6. Bhulana na yaad karo na karo by Ishwarlal and Snehprabha Pradhan from Pyas (1941), lyrics DN Madhok, music Khemchand Prakash

This song was mentioned by the readers. It is so melodious it would be unfair to leave it out of the main list. Thus it makes an entry from missed songs to the main list.

7. Nainon ke baan ki reet anokhi, baan chale aur nain na dekhe by Shamshad Begum (and Ghulam Haider) from Khazanchi (1941), lyrics Wali Saheb, music Ghulam Haider

The predominant impression of this song is it is a Shamshad Begum-solo. But there is a distinct male voice (the legendary music director Ghulam Haider). Also seen in the picture is a shy lover of Ramola – so logically there has to be a male voice in the song. An absolutely fantastic song.

8. Tore kajra lagaaaun mori rani by by Beena Kumari and Baby Meena from Bahen (1941), lyrics Dr Safdar ‘Aah’, music Anil Biswas

This beautiful song sung by the elder sister while shampooing the kid sister (Baby Meena) is composed by the doyen of the Vintage Era, Anil Biswas. This must be Meena Kumari’s earliest singing assignment.

9. Dekho humre raja ki aaj sagaai hai by Arun Kumar and Rahmat Bano from Jhoola (1941), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Saraswati Devi

Jhoola (1941) had another superb dance song in the film with Arun Kumar singing for Mumtaz Ali and Rahmat Bano for Shahzadi (?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssnD0AKakIk

10. Bhari dupahari kamini ikli dukli mat jaye by Master Avinash and Saraswati Rane from Charnon Ki Dasi (1941), lyrics Pt. Anan Kumar, music Annasaheb Mainkar

HFGK mentions the female singer as Vanmala (as does the record too), but ASAD confirms it as Sarsawati Rane. Beautiful song.

In conclusion, 

The SOY Award for the best duet of 1941 goes jointly to:

Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re by Arun Kumar and Rahmat Bano from Jhoola (1941)
&
Saawan ke nazaare hain by Shamshad Begum and Ghulam Haider from Khazanchi (1941).