Best songs of 1943: Wrap Up 1

The SOY Award for the Best Male Singer goes to?

There are years when a competition becomes a one-horse race. That is the case with the best male singer for the year 1943. On the one hand we have the landmark film Tansen starring KL Saigal and Khursheed, on the other we have Kismet and Ram Rajya which have several landmark songs by female singers. There is no film which has several memorable songs by a male singer, though we do have sprinkling of some timeless male solos, such as GM Durrani’s Neend hamari khwab tumhare. Here I should add this song has Balakram singing sargam as the interlude, therefore, I treat it as a solo.

Thus, my list of MEMORABLE SONGS in the overview post contains 23 solos which are distributed among 15 singers as follows:

1. KL Saigal:          6
2. Asit Baran:       3
3. KC Dey:            2
4 Anil Biswas:      1
5. Ashok Kumar: 1
6. Charlie:            1
7. GM Durrani:   1
8. Khan Mastana: 1
9. Manna Dey:     1
10, Motilal:           1
11. Rafiq Ghazanavi: 1
12. SN Tripathi:    1
13. Vasant Desai:  1
14. Vishnudutt Pagnis: 1
15. Yaqub:              1
         Total:        23

My list may not be the universally agreed list of the best songs, if there is anything like that. It is a function of my own range of familiarity and personal choice. Among the readers, R Venkataraman has added 14 more songs which did not figure in my Master List in the overview post. There were a few songs which made me think, where was this song hidden, why had I not heard it earlier. Some of these deserve to be in the Main List of the best ten. Some have to be included in the list of ‘Special Songs’ which has become an indispensable feature of reviews of the vintage era songs, as many of them we are discovering now. Let me start with ‘Special Songs’ which include some funky, some hidden gems which may not make it to the Main List of the best ten.

Special Songs

1. Inhin logon ne le leena dupatta mera by Yaqub from Aabroo (1943), lyrics Traditional, music Govind Ram

Now we know that Pakeezah’s famous song was sung 30 years earlier by a male actor. Yaqub does a terrific job of acting like a courtesan and sings superbly. Some more non-singer actors like Motilal (Wo roothe huye hain manana padega; Aage Kadam) and Ashok Kumar (several in Najma), too, have sung songs in the year. But this song is outstanding, and should be considered a landmark as the early predecessor of the version in Pakeezah we are more familiar with.

2. Suryadev jagdeep tej jinka by Unknown from Ram Rajya (1943), lyrics Ramesh Gupta, music Shankar Rao Vyas

Prima facie we believe that if a singer of an old song is unknown, it would not be a worthwhile song. But this song from Ram Rajya dispels that impression. A wonderful song which can’t but move you for its melody

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

3. Mujrim hun muhabbat ka by Yaqub from Aankh ki Sharam (1943), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Vasant Desai

This wonderful song with the above credentials is listed in HFGK. For such an old song the video and audio quality is superb. However this video credits it to Muqabala (1942) with different credentials. Since Yaqub is listed in the cast of Muqabala as a lead actor, this might be from that film. But there is no harm in listing it twice. Some sources credit Khan Mastana as the singer.

5. Har kaam mein rahte prabhu hamaare, Hare Murare Hare Muraare by Vishnupant Pagnis from Mahatma Vidur (1943), lyrics Pt. Narottam Vyas, music Harishchandra Bali

There was something about Vishnupant Pagnis that made him eminently suitable to play saintly characters. In 1939, he played ‘Sant Tulsidas’ in which he sang an extremely melodious song, Ban chale Ram Raghurai. Har kaam mein rahte prabhu hamaare has been sung in a kirtan style, which explains chorus in the background interspersing the main melody.

6. Depak jo gaye to paye gyan dhan by Ustad Jhande Kahn from Shahenshah Akbar (1943), lyrics and music Ustad Jhande Khan

We knew about Usta Jhande Khan as a great musician of the vintage era. Here is a nice song sung by him in Raag Deepak. This too was added by Venkataramanji.

7. Piya bin saawan bhado nain by Krishnarao Chonkar from Shahenshah Akbar (1943), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Ustad Jhande Khan

This is a beautiful classical-raag based song. This too has been added by Venkataramanji and it figures in his list of the best twelve.

8. Tum Shyam badariya by Pahadi Sanyal from Mohabbat (1943), lyrics ?, music Hariprasanna Das

Venkataramanji has really worked hard to locate unknown songs. This one by Pahadi Sanyal, who was a New Theatres stalwart, in a Bombay production is quite good.

9. Chaandni raat hai, chaandni raat by KC Dey from Mohabbat (1943), lyrics ?, music Hariprasanna Das

Here is another one from the same film by the legendary actor-singer KC Dey.

10. Mujhko khayal-e-yaar gar sataye to kya karun by Jagmohan Sursagar from Bhaichara (1943), lyrics Unknown, music Himanshu Dutta Sursagar

The film Bhaichara was mentioned by Hans Jakhar and Venkataramanji. Jagmohan was more famous for his non-film geets. But this filmy ghazal is quite melodious so typical of him.

Readers’ comments

Before we come to selecting the best ten of the year, let us take a look at the readers’ opinion. Arunkumar Deshmukh as usual is first off the block and is unambiguous in his choices. His top favourite is ‘Neend hamari khwab tumhare’ by GM Durrani from Nai Kahani. Anup’s choice for the best male playback singer is KL Saigal for Tansen. Gaddeswarupji dittoes Saigal for Tansen.

Mahesh adds an interesting information that though Mukesh had debuted in 1941 with Nirdosh, he didn’t have any song in 1943. In fact until Pahli Nazar (1945), his songs came in one’s or two’s in the years 1941-44. Then Mahesh endorses KL Saigal for Tansen as the best male playback singer. Pramod Godbole, too, chooses KL Saigal for Jagmag jagmag diya jalaao from Tansen as the best of the year. Venkataramanji endorses KL Saigal for Tansen as the best of the year. He has given a shortlist of 12 songs in which KL Saigal has three songs, though he would not mind if in the final selection his four songs are included.

The Best Ten male solo songs

With the benefit of the above discussion now we can shortlist the best ten of the year. Since Saigal is the anchor of the year, let us first select songs from other singers which cannot be left out. GM Durrani’s Neend hamari khwab tumhare is a song of this class. In fact if he is going to be remembered by one song, this would be the one. I find Asit Baran’s Tumne mujhse prem jatakar duniya se begana kiya absolutely mellifluous song. Surendra was missing in my long list in the overview post. Among a few of his songs added by the readers, I find Preet ki jyot jalakar chup hain (Vishkanya) worthy of inclusion in the best ten. ‘Dil-e-nadan tujhe hua kya hai’ by Khan Mastana from Hunterwali Ki Beti is a great song. This ghazal by Ghalib is sung in a very different style from what we are familiar with.

We are discovering a new Vasant Desai as a very solid singer. I have been gripped by his Bhai bhaj le Shri Bhgawan from Ankh Ki Sharam. I am including it in the main list of the best ten of the year. Among unknown songs added by the readers I have been under the spell of Sabr-o-qaraar chheen ke ankhen chura gaye from the film Sahara.

That makes six non-Saigal songs. That means we have to select his four solos from Tansen. This situation would please many readers. Most readers would not care for inter-se ranking of his songs, as long his number 1 position is clear.

1. Din soona suraj bina, chanda bin rain….Diya jalao jagmag jagmag diya jalao by KL Saigal from Tansen (1943), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Khemchand Prakash

When you think of Tansen, this song comes to the top of your mind. There is an interesting trivia about this song. Tansen’s rival musicians in Akbar’s court conspire to have him sing Raag Deepak to cure the princess. As the song reaches its climax all the lamps and chandeliers light up by themselves and the princess does get cured. But Saigal’s body gets overheated and has blisters all over. The directorial flaw is that this song is not in Raag Deepak (as mentioned by Venkataramanji). Music experts on SOY may give their views. There is an interesting epilogue to this story. Even in a very sick state, Saigal insists on meeting his muse Tani (Khursheed). It was believed that the only antidote to Raag Deepak was Raag Megh Malhar. A musically untrained Tani sings Barso re with an intensity which cures Saigal. This song has Megh Malhar in it.

2. Bina pankh ka panchhi hun main by KL Saigal from Tansen (1943), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Khemchand Prakash

This sad song seems to be picturised when in Akbar’s palace, Saigal comes to know that Khursheed had been prevented from meeting him.

3. Neend hamari khwab tumhare kitne meethe kitne pyare by GM Durrani from Nai Kahani (1943), lyrics Wali Saheb, music Shyam Durrani

A few video links are available on the YT, but they have poor audio quality. This is a timeless song of Durrani. The song has sargam interludes by literally a child, whose name is Balakram. That embellishes the song a great deal. I am treating this song as solo.

4. Kaahe guman kare ri gori by KL Saigal from Tansen (1943), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Khemchand Prakash

This is quintessential Saigal, one of his best.

5. Baag laga dun sajani by KL Saigal from Tansen (1943), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Khemchand Prakash

A highly popular song of Saigal for its easy tune based on Raag Bahar. The song’s antara starts with Tum basant ho tum bahar ho.

6. Bhai bhaj le Shri Bhagwan by Vasant Desai from Aankh Ki Sharam (1943), lyrics Pt Indra, music Vasant Desai

I have included this song among ‘Special songs’ in the overview post. It also figured in my post on Vasant Desai’s career in the 1930s and 40s. It has impressed me so much that I can’t resist placing it among the best ten in the year.

7. Tumne mujhse prem jatakar duniya se begana kiya by Asit Baran from Wapas (1943), lyrics Munshi Zakir Hussain, music RC Boral

I discovered Asit Baran after I started blogging when I reflected who minded the New Theatres shop when its stalwarts left for Bombay. Tumne mujhse prem jatakar is Asit Baran’s best and a very melodious song.

8. Sabr-o-qaraar chheen ke ankhen chura gaye by SD Batish from Sahara (1943), lyrics Swami Ramanand, music Pt. Govind Ram

This song is discovery of the year. Venkataramanji mentions GM Durrani as the singer. But some comments on the YT link mention SD Batish, and considering the difference in their voices, I think it is by SD Batish. One link mentions Nazim Panipati as the lyricist, but HFK mentions Swami Ramanand (though it does not mention the singer’s name).

9. Preet ki jyot jalakar chup hain by Surendra from Vishkanya (1943), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Khemchand Prakash

10. Dil-e-nadan tujhe hua kya hai by Khan Mastana from Hunterwali Ka Beti (1943), lyrics Mirza Ghalib, music Chhannalal Naik

Listen to this famous ghazal by Khan Mastana in KL Saigal style. Probably first appearance of this ghazal in films. Despite its poor audio, Khan Mastana’s singing is superb, and deserves to be among the list of the best ten.

In conclusion,

The SOY Award for the Best Male Playback Singer of 1943 goes to KL Saigal for his songs in Tansen.

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer
1. I have to thank the readers for their comments and helping me in discovering some hidden gems.
2. We can’t thank enough the faceless uploaders of vintage songs on the YouTube. They have been doing it selflessly. Now YT has a large number of even songs whose singers are uncredited in the HFGK.
3. We owe eternal gratitude to ‘Hamraj ji’ for his compilations Hindi Film Geet Kosh.
4. Song links have been embedded from the YT only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over these songs which vests in the respective owners of these rights.