And the award for the Best Female Song goes to?
If you browse through my Overview Post on the best songs of 1944 and the Wrap Up 1 about the best male solos, two features would strike you immediately. One was the significantly large number of female solos compared to the male solos. And two, while KL Saigal was the Pole Star of male solos, there was no such Pole Star in female solos. There was no Lata Mangeshkar in 1944. I used to think that Noorjehan was the Lata Mangeshkar before her, but now I realise that I was conditioned by all the optics created by Lata herself, and by reading a good deal about Noorjehan-romantics like Dilip Kumar, Khushwant Singh, and proponents of Track-II diplomacy with our neighbour. I give allowance that as she sang for herself, her songs would be less than independent playback singers. Yet a detailed review shows that a large number of female singers sang absolutely melodious songs, making Noorjehan one among many as far as the quality of songs is concerned.
In the list of 80/81 MEMORABLE SONGS in the overview post (one song had a female solo and a duet version), while we had 19 male solos by 9 singers, we have 45 female solos by 16 singers as follows:
1. Zohra Ambalewali: 10
2. Amirbai Karnataki: 5
3. Manju: 5
4. Noorjehan: 4
5: Rajkumari: 4
6. Hamida Bano: 2
7. Khursheed: 2
8. Parul Ghosh: 2
9. Shamshad Begum: 2
10. Sitara Kanpuri: 2
11. Zeenat Begum: 2
12. Jahanara Kajjan: 1
13. Nirmala Devi: 1
14. Shanta Apte: 1
15. Sitara Devi: 1
16. Utpala Sen: 1
Total: 45
Zohrabai Ambalewali is the front runner with Naushad’s crown jewel Rattan, which had her four gorgeous solos. He also composed two superb songs for her in Pahle Aap. Incidentally, the one female solo I had included in the ‘Special Songs’ in the overview post was Zohrabai’s Mora jobna ka dekho ubhar (Man Ki Jeet). Amirbai Karnataki is not a surprise, she was one of the most melodious and leading playback singers of the vintage era. Manju’s two songs in Rattan are well-known, but each of her three other songs in the year is superb and you will be hard put to leave out any from the Main List. Noorjehan had two well-known films in the year, Dost and Lal Haveli, in which she had some very good songs.
You find both the Sitaras here. Sitara Kanpuri’s entire fame rests on her superb songs in the film Man Ki Jeet. Sitara Devi is the more famous one who was also a renowned Kathak dancer.
You would realise selecting the best ten is an immensely difficult task and it is very much a subjective judgment of a person. And it is indeed reflected in the wide variation in the readers’ choice.
Readers’ comments about the best female solos and additions of songs:
Arunkumar Deshmukh is as usual the first off the block with a very unambiguous choice. His choice is Amirbai Karnataki for Pareshan hun ki kyon meri pareshani nahin jaati from Parbat Pe Apna Dera, composed by Vasant Desai. Canasya’s choice for the best female singer is Manju for Do dilon ko ye duniya milne bhi nahin deti (Chaand, Husnlal-Bhagatram). Anup has three choices for the best female playback singer – I presume jointly – (i) Amirbai Karnataki for Des piya ke ja (Bhartrihari, Khemchand Prakash) and Sooni padi hai pyar ki duniya tere bagair (Caravan, Bulo C Rani); Noorjehan also for two songs, Badnam mohabbat kaun kare and Koi prem ka de ke sandesa, both from Dost (Sajjad Hussain); and Zohrabai Ambalewali for Ankhiyan mila ke jiya bharma ke chale nahin jana (Rattan). Three singers and five songs just shows the dilemma we face in selecting the best in the year.
N Venkataraman has done a very detailed analysis of female solos in the year and has given the list of his best ten, comprising four by Amirbai Karnataki, three by Zohra Ambalewali, and one each by Kajjan (Bhartrihari), Manju (Holi main khelungi un sang dat ke, Gaali), and Rajkumari, Sanwariya re kaahe maare nazariya (Panna, Amir Ali). I must thank Venkataramanji for his great effort. My choice for the best ten male solos was quite coterminous with his. I find uncanny similarity with my choice for the best female solos too.
DP Rangan has added Bulbulo mat ro yahan by Noorjehan from Zeenat. The YT uploader has erroneously shown it released in 1944. This film was released in 1945, and it was discussed in that year’s review. The readers would obviously remember it for the iconic all-female qawwali Aahein na bharin shikwe na kiye. Hans has made valuable contribution by adding two very nice songs from the film Aaina – Misle khayal aye to aate chale gaye which has two versions, one by Kalyani and the other by Shama Bai; and Ma, pyari ma, gode mein teri khela bachpan mera by Kaushalya in a child’s voice. He has made a superb connection that its mukhada was used in the Main Chup Rahungi parody song, Aye na baalam. Arunji has added Shanta Apte’s Khaali hai daaman-e-murad from Bhagyalakshmi (music GM Durrani). A nice song.
Neeruahaf is one of the great fans of vintage songs which reflects in her deep selections beyond my list of memorable songs. She added several songs of Amirbai Karnataki, Husn Bano, Hamida Bano, some from films like Badi Baat and Anban which I had missed altogether.
Raunak is another vintage era aficionado who has deep love for New Theatres music. His choice for the best female playback singer is very off-beat, but you can guess it has to be from the New Theatres stable, Suprova Sarkar for the song Jal jaane do is duniya ko (My Sister).
With so much input from the readers, we are now in a position to select the Final Best Ten, but before I do that, let me present some ‘Special Songs’ in the year. We now realise the importance of this category, which gives scope for posting some unique songs and also creates room for some superb songs which have to be kept out of the final list just because of limitation of numbers.
Special Songs
1 O! Mere dilruba aa ja by Sitara Devi from Chaand (1944), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Husnlal-Bhagatram
We all know an ‘Item Song’ when we see it. Wikipedia traces its history from the 1930s through the chain of Azurie-Cuckoo. I am not convinced. In that case, why the term was not heard before the 1990s? I would use the term ‘erotic elegance’ for Cuckoo’s dance numbers in Andaaz. If you think of songs like Main ayi hun UP, Bihar lootne; Munni badnaam hui darling tere liye; Chipka lo sainya Fevicol se etc. the ‘item girl’ has to have revealing dress and her gestures have to be sexually provocative. This dance number is a perfect item song. Two years earlier, she had another ‘item song’ in the film Roti (1942), Sajna saanjh bhayi, aan milo, aan milo.
2. Kyun aankh milayi thi gar aankh churani thi by Amirbai Karnataki from Pagli Duniya (1944), lyrics Buta Ram Sharma, music Bulo C Rani
You can be sure of one thing about Amribai Karnataki. You would hit many of her unknown songs which are incredibly beautiful. Kyun aankh milayi thi is a discovery. I had not included it in my list of memorable songs. Because of the crowded field, I am not able to fit it in the best ten, but it is as good as her best.
3. Pareshan hun ki kyun meri pareshani nahin jaati by Amirbai Karnataki from Parbat Pe Apna Dera (1944), lyrics Diwan Sharar, music Vasant Desai
This is Arunji’s choice for the best female solo of the year. Songs included in ‘Special songs’ are not lesser than the best ten. Amirbai is again absolutely melodious.
4. Mere janam maran ke sathi chalo chita par so jaayein by Shanta Apte from Kadambari (1944), lyrics Miss Kamal (Pradeep), music HP Das
Shanta Apte was an important actor-singer of the vintage era. Somehow her image was more regional than national, and her songs did not get the same reach as other female actor-singers of the era. She was the lead actor-singer of the film Kadambari. Among her several solos, this one is supremely melodious. Because of his contract with the Bombay Talkies, Pradeep could not write the lyrics in his own name in this outside production. Therefore, he wrote it under the name of his daughter.
5. Jo dard ban ke zamaane pe chhaye jaate hain by Zohrabai Ambalewali from Parbat Pe Apna Dera (1944), lyrics Diwan Sharar, music Vasant Desai
Zohrabai was the most conspicuous singer of the year. Some of her songs are bound to figure in the list of special songs.
6. Mil ke bichhad mat jana, meethi nazar mila ke by Zeenat Begum from Daasi (1944), lyrics DN Madhok, music Pt. Amarnath
Daasi was a major musical success of Pt. Amarnath. Zeenat Begum was the lead singer in the film. This is a discovery trip, but some of her songs are superb.
7. Aankhen ye kah rahin hain…..Ram kare kahin naina na uljhe by Rajkumari from Chaar Ankhen (1944), lyrics Narendra Sharma, music Anil Biswas
HFGK mention the singer as Tara. But the YT upload identifies her as Rajkumari. This familiar voice is indeed Rajkumari’s. She has sung some of the best mujras. The readers may remember another superb Rajkumari mujra composed by Anil Biswas, Chale jaiho bedarda main roye marungi from Beqasoor (1950). This mujra starts with a long recital, Aankhen ye kah rahin hain dil ne kiya kharab/ Dil kah raha hai ki aankhon ne mujhko dubo diya/ Bigada kisi ka kuchh nahin is dard-e-ishq mein/ Donon ki zid ne khaq mein mujhko mita diya.
8. Do dilon ko ye duniya milne bhi nahin deti by Manju from Chaand (9144), lyrics of Qamar Jalalabadi, music Husnlal-Bhagatram
I find Manju’s ‘other’ songs in the year superior to the two in Rattan. Here is one which I consider as her signature song. If it is not in the main list, it is because there is another, a new discovery at that, which is out of this world.
9. More sainyaji ne bheji chunri by Zohrabai Ambalewali from Pahle Aap (1944), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad
This was the year of Zohrabai Ambalewali, not only limited to Rattan. Naushad composes a great folk song for her, which has the flavour of both UP and Punjab.
10. Badnaam mohabbat kaun kare by Noorjehan from Dost (1944), lyrics Shams Lakhanavi, music Sajjad Hussain
This song is often included among Noorjehan’s best.
Best Female Solos
In the year’s best there has to be 2-3 songs by Amirbai Karnataki, a similar number by Zohrabai Ambalewali. Then I have to find room for Noorjehan, Manju, Kajjan and Rajkumari. With some dexterous fitting work, here is the list of the best ten female solos of the year.
1. Chanda des ke piya ke ja by Amirbai Karnataki from Bhartrihari (1944), lyrics Pt Indra, music Khemchand Prakash
The lovers are separated, the pining lady is pleading moon to visit her beau. One of the most famous songs of Amirbai Karnataki.
2. Holi main khelungi un sang dat ke by Manju from Gaali (1944), lyrics Sagun Piya, music Hanuman Prasad
We have heard a variant of this traditional Holi in Sardari Begum (1996) by both Asha Bhosle and Arati Ankalikar. But I am awed by this one by Manju.
3. Sooni padi hai pyar ki duniya tere bagair by Amirbai Karnataki from Caravan (1944), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Bulo C Rani
There is a natural pathos in the voice of Amirbai Karnataki. Sooni padi hai pyar ki duniya tere bagair creates an atmosphere of desolate loneliness. Bulo C Rani has to be rated among the musical stalwarts.
4. Koi prem ka de ke sandesa haye loot gaya by Noorjehan from Dost (1944), lyrics Shams Lakhanavi, music Sajjad Hussain
Madam Noorjehan had some nice songs in the year. I have included ‘Badnam mohabbat kaun kare’ from this film in special songs. Koi prem ka de ke sandesa deserves a place in the best ten.
5. Kookat koeliya kunjan mein by Jahanara Kajjan from Bhartrihari (1944), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Khemchand Prakash
I heard this song first in Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala (1985)! And it stuck to me forever. The lecherous subedar Naseeruddin Shah wows the incredulous villagers with his gramophone. He opens a record with some ceremony from its sleeve, puts it on the turntable, and out comes this beautiful song, which amazes the villagers no end. Jahanara Kajjan was the earliest superstar of Hindi films. This happened to be her last song in Hindi films, and a fitting finale, fully deserving to be in the list of the best ten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ye-ezJpsSs
6. Sanwariya re kaahe maare nazariya by Rajkumari from Panna (1944), lyrics Wali Saheb, music Amir Ali
I have included a Rajkumari’s mujra song in the special songs. She specialised in courtesan songs. Sanwariya re kaahe maare nazariya is one of her best and deserves to be in the year’s best ten.
7. Mora dheere se ghunghat hataye piya by Amirbai Karnataki from Bhartrihari (1944), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Khemchand Prakash
Chanda des piya ke ja was of Viyog Shringar. In Sanyog Shringar, too, Amirbai touches your heart-strings. There is no tinge of sauciness in her voice though the words are:
मोरे माथे पे बिंदिया लगाये पिया
मोहे हंस हंस के पान खिलाये पिया
मोरे नैनों में कजरा सजाये पिया
मोरे पैंया में पायल पिन्हाये पिया
मीठी बातें बनाये रिझाये पिया
मैं कछु ना बोली
8. Rumjhum barse baadarwa mast hawaayein aayin piya ghar aa ja by Zohrabai Ambalewali from Rattan (1944), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad
With pitter-patter of raindrops, and Swarnalata with her bevy of friends on jhoola, the breeze could not be more intoxicating for the lover to come home from wherever he was.
9. Ankhiyan mila ke jiya bharma ke chale nahin jana by Zohrabai Ambalewali from Rattan (1944), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad
It is not for nothing that I describe Rattan as the ‘Jewel in the Crown of Naushad’. Zohrabai charms us with her second song through which the heroine tries to stop the lover from leaving her after sharing loving glances and swaying her heart.
10. Chale gaye chale gaye, dil mein aag lagaanewale chale gaye by Zohrabai Ambalewali from Pahle Aap (1944), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad
Naushad-Zohrabai-DN Madhok combination create this frothy number in another film Pahle Aap. Another song from this combo has been included in special songs. Zohrabai was on a roll in 1944.
Conclusion
The above ten songs collectively are a fair representation of the best in the year. But it is difficult to put them in an order, nor am I confident that the above is my order of preference. Everyone would have her own preferred order of songs. But we can fairly say, Amirbai Karnataki creates the most impact. Zohrabai and Manju also impress me a lot.
To conclude,
The SOY Award for the Best Female Playback Singer of 1944 goes to Amirbai Karnataki.
And the SOY Award for the Best Female Solo goes to Chanda des piya ke ja.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
The song videos have been embedded from the YouTube 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, such as Saregama India Limited and others.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
AKji,
Thanks for another well thought out and excellent review of vintage era songs. I still have a mental block for vintage songs but in the list where songs of Rattan ends up at number 8 and 9 , the songs preceding them must really be exemplary. I will surely listen to them.
It’s difficult to choose between Zohrabai and Amirbai , both are magnificent.
AKji,
Most of the songs are new to me. I however found some noteworthy aspects of some perhaps not related to the topic of the post.
1) Mil ke bichhad mat jana, meethi nazar mila ke by Zeenat Begum from Daasi (1944) – has lovely Jal Tarang music in the beginning.
2) Badnaam mohabbat kaun kare by Noorjehan from Dost (1944) . When you listen to the interlude music after 1:51, it appears that the same music was adopted by Chitragupt in Insaaf for the song Do Dil Dhadak rahe Hain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxV-HPSLdgo
I listened to each of the songs. I feel the melody in Manju’s voice is incomparable. I came across this lovely post on Manju (or Manjula), who happens to be the wife of Karan Dewan. https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/jhoothe-hain-sab-sapne-suhane-manju-and-balakram
Siddharth,
Thanks for your appreciation despite your ‘mental block’. My mission is not to convert, because I know many friends who have this feeling about vintage songs. But please do listen to the songs. You may, after all, end up liking them.
Main To Karoon Pyar Piya -Safer 1946 -Filmistan Studio Produced it.
Binapani Mukherji Film: Lyrics: G.S.Nepali – MD: Chitalkar Ramchandr
This melodious songs was sung by singer Binapani Mukherji
It was very popular in that time, use to hear on Radio Ceylon and
in those days in Restaurants were popular playing songs by record player.
Anita,
I must say you have a shrap ear. One can make out the jal tarang in Mil ke bichhad mat jana, but I am not sure if I can make out the connection between Badnam mohabbat kaun kare and Do dil dhadak rahe hain.
Manju has been a revelation. I was not overwhelmed by her songs in Rattan in the face of all the great songs by Zohrabai Ambalewali and Amirabai Karnataki. But Do dilon ko ye duniya milne bhi nahin deti from Husnlal-Bhagatram’s debut film Chaand has no such comparison. But the sweetest is Holi main khelungi un sang dat ke; it vindicates her training in classical music. Thanks for sharing Shishir Kumar Sharma’s article on her. He is among the few who put out articles on the basis of personal interviews with yesteryears celebrities. It is interesting to note that a large part is devoted to 1944 and the songs which we have prominently discussed.
PH Bharadia,
Just to draw your attention, We are discussing songs of 1944 here.
I am not sure if I can make out the connection between Badnam mohabbat kaun kare and Do dil dhadak rahe hain. The commonality emerges only in the interlude between 1:51 and 2:00.
Anita,
I meant that. Let us see what the other readers feel.
AKji,
Very nice selection of special songs. Some of the songs I heard for the first time. I of course agree, Amirbai Karnataki is the best.
As for Anitaji’s point,
On the similarity between the two songs, there is a resemblance between the interludes. I felt it’s a bit fast-paced in the Insaaf song.
Anup
🙂
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You also have a sharp ear to notice the similarity.
AK ji
Thanks for this.
So glad that Amir Bai Karnatki ji won. I’d have voted for that song too though alongside another song of hers: Dariya-e-Mohabbat ka gar dur kinara hai from Caravan. Haunting both of them.
Indeed, wading through some not-so-knowns and some-knowns in such a large number of sample of female singers is very challenging task.
The best female singer review for 1944 has so successfully, and yet so succinctly, delivered has the verdict.
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your endorsement.
AKji,
An excellent review and a nice selction of songs.
Glad to find 9 of my choices in the list of best ten. Yes, one song of Noorjehan deserved to be in the best ten. And you have done full justice to her by including her song in the special ten. And I also fully endorse your views expressed on Noorjehan.
With her superior singing, Amirbai Karnataki stood out among the crowd. The readers’ choice too indicated the same. And I had no doubt in my mind about your preference.
Special thanks for the inclusion of Amirbai’s song ‘Kyun aankh milayi thi gar aankh churani thi ‘, Zeenat Begum’s ‘Mil ke bichhad mat jana, meethi nazar mila ke’ and Rajkumari’s ‘Aankhen ye kah rahin hain…..Ram kare kahin naina na uljhe’ in the bouquet of ‘Special Songs’.
Thanks once again.
Venkataramanji,
Thanks for your appreciation. Th choice of the best of two persons may vary widely. But such convergence is not uncommon. I have noticed we have same sensibility in music and culture. Frankly, it is only with the detailed review that I am realising, that as far as singing is concerned she was not the Lata Mangeshkar of her era. We have to accept Amirbai’s superiority. Thanks for endorsing my general views.