Wishing the readers a very Happy New Year with guest article by Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli
(Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli is a familiar name for SoY regulars. He is one of the latecomers to the blog, having first discovered it in 2016 – the blog was started in 2010. But he has made a mark for his insightful comments, wit, easy command of language and interesting turn of phrase. An eminently suitable person to write a guest article. I am happy that he accepted my request to write one on a topic of his choice.
‘Ud jayega hans akela’ is a famous Nirgun bhajan of Kabir, which has become synonymous with Kumar Gandharva. We all leave this world alone. Similarly there are solitary songs from forgotten films or forgotten music directors that have achieved everlasting fame. Hindi film music would be poorer without these Hans Akelas.
Covid19 changed the world in many fundamental ways. The most important change it forced on us was to make us unlearn that the ‘Man is a social animal’. My post on ‘Songs and contra-songs’ was influenced a great deal by the raging pandemic. Its broad theme was suggested by Mr Muli, though long before anyone had heard of the new virus. It is befitting that he has chosen to write on ‘Hans Akela’ to herald the New Year. We all wish that the dark clouds disappear in the New Year and we don’t ‘have to be’ Hans Akelas, and we are back to our normal lives as we are used to.
Mr Muli is an MSc in Statistics and a trained Cost & Management Accountant (CMA). He has been a banker for a number of years, a faculty member at ICFAI, and has been now managing his own coaching institute for CA aspirants in Aurangabad.
Mr Muli’s debut article has everything you can expect from his pen. Thank you Mr Muli and welcome to the Guest Authors Club. – AK)
I believe that an average Indian has at least one of the following three traits: she or he is a Hindi Film buff, or a zealot cricket lover, or a disillusioned political analyst and I am no exception.
My journey with HFM started at the age of 7 years when I first listened to Aaasma ke neeche. Mine was a well-to-do family in a small town of Marathwada. In the late sixties, arrival of a new radio was no less than a festival for us. The seller had come to our house and was demonstrating the clarity of various stations. While surfing he hit upon this station where Aasma ke neeche was being played. He lingered over there for a moment and changed the station quickly, knowing very well that Vakil Saab (my father) abhorred Hindi films and songs. But the song had a lasting impression on me, and in the due course when I became aware that SD Burman was the composer, I became and still am his fan (a case of love at first sight).
Then in the mid-seventies, as in the case of every other collegian, RDB marched in in my consciousness, and through regular listening of Radio Ceylon, Vividh Bharti and AIR Urdu service, Madan Mohan, Roshan, OPN, SJ, Naushad and others became more familiar names.
2016 was the year in which I joined SOY and to quote Warren Buffet, “It was too late.” Six years late to be precise. After Joining SOY, I realised that there is a significant output of forgotten composers who have also contributed immensely to the reputation of the golden era. Not that I was unaware of the fact but somehow there was no deliberate effort made to know more about them and their creations.
After making a few stray comments on some articles I think my first significant comments were in relation to the article Nayika Bhed by AKji, where I made an attempt to produce lists of songs composed by Usha Khanna, Jaidev and Khayyam. When I found that the response to these comments was encouraging I had the gumption to suggest an idea to AKji. It was only a very brief outline but AKji not only accepted the suggestion but completely transformed it into a beautiful theme of Contra songs and the result, as they say, is there for all to see.
However, when I received a mail from AKji asking me to write an article on a theme of my choice, I was startled. After thinking over it I felt that all the active readers of SOY would say “Bachche! Jis school me tum padh rahe ho uske hum headmaster rah chuke hain.” (This actually can be a theme). I still find it difficult to relate with pre-1950 songs barring a few exceptions. When highly knowledgeable authors and readers of SOY reel off song after song with names like Amirbai Karnataki, Zoharabai, GM Durrani et al, I realise that I have a very long way to go. Another handicap is that I have absolutely no understanding of ragas and instruments. But given the encouraging experience so far, I decided to bite the bullet.
With reference to music, Hindi films can be classified as below:
A+++: Iconic films where every department of film making was outstanding including music.
Guide, Pyaasa, Mughal-E-Azam, Bandini, Shree 420 belong to this class
A++: Films where music was the significant, if not the sole factor, contributing to their success.
Anarkali, Naagin, Barsaat Ki Raat, Baiju Bawara, Basant Bahar, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hun, Mere Sanam belong to this class. (In fact many films of “Fab 4” of the Hindi cinema – Pradeep kumar, Bharat Bhushan, Joy Mukharjee and Biswajit belong to this class.)
A+: Films where despite outstanding score the films were disasters.
Prem Pujari, Tere Mere Sapne, Shama, Jahan Ara, Dil Diya Dard Liya will fall in this class.
B: Films where music had no or minimal contribution towards their success. These films obviously belong to the post-golden era and had Mahanayak as the nayak.
Deewar, Trishul, Zanjeer are prime examples of this class.
But I want to focus on an entirely different and unusual class which I would label as “Hans Akela”.
It is a legendary Nirgun bhajan of Kabir which is rendered by Kumarji. It talks of very fundamental theme of soul being a Hans that continues to live beyond the death of the body. These verses of Kabir are very different from Dohas. Dohas are practical and simple to understand. However, they are enlightening and if one wants to follow them in actual life a lot of dedication is required. On the other hand a Nirgun bhajan or verse talks of a formless god and is difficult to understand as there are hidden meanings and they are open to different interpretations. Some scholars hold the view that it is futile to explore the meaning of these verses, as the logic and reasoning that we require to interpret the meaning of something works only in the physical world. In a way they allow the seeker to leave behind logic and reasoning for once and delve deep into the meaningless world.
In the context of this theme the dead body is a film which has been disaster at the worst and average at the best. It has been forgotten long back, and it is only when a particular song of the film comes up for discussion we remember the film, and often we have to use clutches of Google to know more details about it. The song is then “Hans Akela“ which is still floating freely, liberated from the mortal debris of the film.
Here is the rendition of the bhajan by Kumarji which cannot be captured in any words.
Thus, the search is for a song in a film which is a complete washout but for this song – only one song still stands tall and, if at all, we now remember the film, it is for this particular song. Mostly the dead bodies are B/C graders. The composers are not front-liners, and barring a few exceptions actors and directors are not from top draw.
The list is subjective and open to revision/modification. To give one example, I have after long deliberation gone ahead and included Kabhi tanhaiyon mein yun hamari yaad ayegi, though there are at least two other notable songs in the film – Aankho mein teri yaad liye jar aha hun main which I know, and Farishton ki nigari mein, aa gya hun main which is new for me. This is because my subjective judgement leads me to conclude that today if commoners like me remember the film, it is because of this song.
1. Din hai suhana aaj pahali tarikh hai by Kishor Kumar from Pahali Tarikh (1954), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Sudhir Phadake
This is the song that first came to my mind when I thought of this theme. Immortalized by Radio Ceylon, for my generation it was the only thing known about the film. Now Google allows me to state that both, the director (Raja Nene) and the composer (Sudhir Phadake) were more famous for their creations in Marathi film industry. The cast of the film included Nirupa Roy, Agha and Yashodhara Katju.
AKji refers to this song as a good fun song in his article Kishor 1.0, Going by the standards of Babuji (as Sudhir Phadake was fondly called) who spent large part of his later life in producing a film on Veer Savarkar, who composed Jyoti kalash chhalake and who rendered very sternly “Balsagar Bharat” this composition seems to be almost ‘outrageous’.
Unlike the proverbial salary which was supposed to vanish almost as soon as it was received the song has outlived dead body of its film for eternity.
2. Jogiya se preet kiye dukh hoye by Lata Mangeshkar from Garam Coat (1955), lyrics Mirabai, music Pt. Amarnath
I faintly remember this traditional Meerabai bhajan. AKji suggested this to be included in the list. While searching for Pt Amarnath (different from Amarnath) I found an article written by one of his disciples Girija Madhavan. She narrates that Lataji took only one rupee for this song and further said that this is one of her favourite songs.
This seems to be the only movie composed by Pt Amarnath. However, he composed music for a documentary on Ghalib made by MS Sathyu in which there is a gazal recorded in the voice of Ustad Amir Khan, the Guru of Panditji. It is the only gazal recorded in the voice of Ustadji.
Garam Coat was written by Rajinder Sing Bedi for which he won Filmfare award in 1956 (though it is not an original story). Its lead pair was Balraj Sahani and Nirupa Roy. Jayant and Rashid Khan were also part of the cast. It was the debut film of its director Amar Kumar who later gave some successful films like Mere Sanam and Mere Humdum Mere Dost. But despite these credentials this song has remained the identity of the film today.
Being a Mirabai bhajan, It has been rendered by classical singers also. Here is the bhajan rendered by Kishori Amonkar. One can notice that the film song goes preet kiye while Kishoriji ‘s song has preet kiya.
3. Guzra hua zamana by Lata Mangeshkar from Shirin Farhad (1956), lyrics Tanveer Naqvi, music S Mohinder
I first heard this song in the early 80s while travelling from Churchgate to Mahalakshmi on a typical Mumbai monsoon afternoon. It was very passionately sung by a girl in her early teens, perhaps she had a better life earlier. That rendering still haunts me.
AKji in his article on S Mohinder (Forgotten Composers) has very aptly said that this song was enough to make S Mohinder immortal. Though there are several other brilliant songs on the similar subject like Jaane kahan gaye wo din and Aaya hai mujhe ab yaad wo zalim to name a few, this is something special.
Now on several blogs it is mentioned that the writer knew only this song from Shirin Farhad and found subsequently that there were also some other very good songs in the film. However, for a novice like me there is equivalence relationship between Shirin Farhad and Guzra hua zamana.
4. Mohabbat zinda rahti hai by Mohammad Rafi from Changez Khan (1957), lyrics Quamar Jalalabadi, music Hansraj Behl
Hansraj Behl was one of the only two persons who were addressed respectfully as Masterji even by other composers (Ghulam Haider being the other). He gave Asha Bhosle her first break in Hindi movies. He got Lata Mangeshkar to sing a Punjabi song before getting a Hindi number from her and yet today he is included in the category of forgotten composers.
This song along with Jahan daal daal par (perhaps his swan song) epitomises Hansraj Behl. The voice control and the way Rafi reaches the crescendo (Chali aa) are absolutely wonderful.
5. Meethi meethi baaton se bachna zara by Lata Mangeshkar from Qaidi No 911 (1958), lyrics Hasarat Jaipuri, music Dattaram
Director Aspi Irani, and Sheikh Mukhtar in the cast are enough indicators that this is a B-grade movie (no disrespect intended). But B-grade movies of yore had outstanding scores. Dattaram Wadkar (Shirodkar?) mainly worked as an assistant to Shankar-Jaikishan, but also had a few big banner movies like Ab Dilli Door Nahin and Parvarish in the late fifties. However, he was relegated to be a composer for second rung movies thereafter. There are two versions of the song. In this version Nanda (initially I mistook her as Meena Kumari) is explaining to Daisy Irani the nasty ways of people who speak in a sweet language. Use of the mouth organ makes the song pleasant. This had been mentioned by Ashok Vaishnavji in his article on multiple version songs and also by Venkataramanji in Multiple versions Hindi to Tamil.
6. Dil shaam se dooba jata hai by Asha Bhosle from Sanskar (1958), lyrics Sarshar Sailani, music Anil Biswas
Gem of a song from a composer who was considered to be a pioneer in orchestral arrangement in Hindi cinema! The doyen’s illustrious career was nearing end and there were only five films for which he scored after Sanskar in the next seven years. We find very few songs rendered by Asha Bhosle under the baton of Anil Biswas but this song fills that void to some extent.
Sanskar was the last film directed by Chaturbhuj Doshi who was considered to be the founding pillar of Gujrati film industry. Most of his Hindi films belonged to the 40s and early 50s. The lyricist Sarshar Sailani was renowned as a dialogue writer and perhaps very few songs were penned by him. Ameeta, Anand (Anant) Kumar and Jaishree Gadkar were in lead roles. But nobody remembers Sanskar now except for this rare offering of Asha Bhosle-Anil Biswas combination.
7. Chanda re mori patiya le ja by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar from Banjarin (1960), lyrics Pt Madhur, music Chand Pardesi .
What a wonderful composition from an obscure composer! I am immensely thankful to AKji for suggesting this song for the theme (along with Jogiya se and Zara kah do). It was almost after 20-25 years I heard this song. One of the helps in our house used to sing some songs while working, This and Unchi unchi duniya ki (Naagin) were his great favourites. Sweet melody is enhanced by simple rendition by both Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh whose nasal tone makes the song even sweeter. Almost everything related to the movie except this song seems to be from another planet.
Mehfil Mein Meri had written that this song is the only identity of its composer Pardesi. Pardesi is credited with very few films and two of them belong to the post-70 era. Kitne Paas Kitne Door was one of them in which there was a good song sung by Chandrani Mukharjee (Mere mehboob shayad aaj kuch naaraz hain mujhse) . Incidentally this movie is unique in the history of Hindi cinema as it was made up of twp completely independent stories, one was before interval and the other after it. Utpal Dutt starred in one of the stories.
8. Poochho na humein hum unke liye by Asha Bhosle from Mitti Mein Sona (1960), lyrics Raja Menhndi Ali Khan, music OP Nayyar
Like 1958 I have included two songs from the year 1960. Chanda re mori, which I could not exclude as it was suggested by AKjI and also because it revived sweet old memories. And Poochho na humein is at the top of my OPN-Asha Bhosle list.
When you search for this song every third result is about Mitti Aur Sona. No video of the song is available. Though on some sites the second antara is given, the audio consists of only one. But during that less than three minutes time you are taken to a different world. Even an amateur like me can marvel at the splendid use of the piano. This is a song fit to be included in the list of OPN songs unlike OPN. The film was directed by Jugal Kishor whose last successful film was Dada. It has Pradeep Kumar and Mala Sinha in the lead, fairly saleable names then. But still the only remnant of movie today is the combined magic of Raja Menhdi Ali Khan, OP Nayyar and Asha Bhosle in the fragment of his song.
9. Kabhi tanhaiyon mein yun hamari yaad ayegi by Mubarak Begum from Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1963), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Snehal Bhatkar
“Hum to hur ki pari dekhne aaye the. Lekin jazbaat mein bah gaye , ek purquaif aawaaz sunkar jisne betab kar diya.” This is how RV Smith quotes Ustad Aqueel Hussain Khan (descendant of Ustad Faiyyaz Khan) in his article Melody In Wilderness (The Hindu, 30 July 2016). Ustad was saying this after he heard Mubarak Begum rendering this song at Fatehpur Sikri cultural festival.
In Filmfare just 10 days earlier, Farhana Farook had interviewed her. She recalled the moment when she recorded this song, “At the recording, Kidar Sharma sat with his eyes closed till the song was done. He then got up and gave me four annas. When I hesitated, Snehal Bhatkar told me,’take it, whoever he gives money makes a name.’ People would put four annas in the juke box to hear the song all day.”
Apart from Kidar Sharma there was no familiar name associated with the film. His son Ashok was in lead role along with Tanuja (who was yet to become famous!)
The composer Snehal Bhatkar, who scored mostly for Kidar Sharma’s films from Neel Kamal (1947) onwards, also gave Farishto ki nagari mein and Aankhon mein teri yaad. But Kabhi tanhaiyon mein towers above everything, and today the film Hamari Yaad Aayegi is remembered for this song.
10. Tum jo aao to pyar ho jaaye by Manna Dey and Suman Kalyanpur from Sakhi Robin (1964), lyrics Yogesh Gaur, music Robin Bannerjee .
The title of the movie is perplexing. Maybe Sakhi here stands for the name of Shalini, the lead actress. Ranjan (should be Robin) was primarily known for his skills in talwarbaazi films, and one does not know much about the lead actress Shalini. Same is the story of the film and its director & Composer.
Both Ranjan and Shalini seem to make awkward movements and, therefore, have awkward moments in this song. However the composition itself is pleasing with rare combination of Manna Dey and Suman Kalyanpur rendering it effortlessly.
11. Dil lagakar hum ye samajhe by Mahendra Kapoor/Asha Bhosle from Zindagi Aur Maut (1965), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music C Ramchandra
Anna, C Ramchandra’s popular name, was at the fag end of his illustrious career. Break-up with Lata had taken its toll. The only notable film he did score after this was Rootha Na Karo (there also the songs, in comparison with his prime creations paled woefully).
But perhaps this was his parting gift to the music lovers. He did not use Mahendra Kapoor very often. But for this two-versions song he used very effectively both Mahendra Kapoor and Asha Bhosle, the voices he may not have used in the early 50s.
Fariyal and Pradeep Kumar here fare a shade better than Ranjan and Shalini but that’s all about it.
12. Zara kah do fizaon se by Talat Mehmood and Mubarak Begum from Gogola (1966), lyrics Balkavi Bairagi, music Rai-Frank
One more song suggested by AKjI and he said that Rai and Frank were two different persons. Frankly speaking I heard this song for the first time after it was suggested by AKji (though for the article on Dream songs by Ashwinji I had posted a song from this film). The poster of the film talks about a sea monster and you need no second-guess about the fate of the film. The director is Balawant Dave whose other two movies are Namak and White Face. Azad Irani, Nayam Palli are mentioned in the cast and, yes, the only familiar name is that of Tabassum. There is no other worthwhile output of the composer duo (if actually they are a duo). There is lot of mystery about the composer(s). Some sites name the composer as Frank Rai while some carry the name Frank Roy. One site mentions that there is another film composed by him (or them?) by name Chor Darwaaza. But we find that the name of the composer of this film is Frank Fernard.
The song itself is fairly good and we have the rare combination of Talat Mahmood and Mubarak Begum rendering it. But no video is available, therefore, we do not know whether it was shot on Azad and Tabassum or Gogola and Tabassum.
13. Tum se bichhad kar chain kahan by Lata Mangeshkar from Maharaja (1970), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Madan Mohan
Naresh Saigal is credited with direction, production, story and screenplay. He had to his credit a few well known movies like Ujaala, Boy Friend, Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai. But for this film there is very unusual casting of Sanjay Khan and Nutan.
One does not come across a Madan Mohan film in which there is only one outstanding song. However, in this film other songs are at best average considering the high bar MM had set till then. The song opens with sparkling voice of Lata Mangeshkar, but the words ‘to hum ye kahenge’ after a brief humming do not fit to a T in the tune.
The film was a miserable flop and nobody remembers it in the list of Nutan’s films. But music lovers still cherish this song, and in a sense they did allow this song to bichhad from us.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
1. I have not seen any of the movies listed above. Therefore, I am taking a calculated risk by saying that they are washouts. It is likely that there may be one or more notable aspects of a movie which I missed. But from a common man’s point of view, most of them, if not all, are long forgotten except for the song mentioned.
2. The video links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over these, which rests with the respective owners.
{ 126 comments… read them below or add one }
Very interesting list. I would add ‘Bawre Nain’ to A+ list. I started watching it on TV years back and gave up at the song ‘Ichak bichak churr’. I went for a walk and when I came back ‘Khayalon mein kisi ke’ was on! Now I rate ‘Mujhe sach sach bata do’ higher than even that.
I believe ‘Saranga’ was a pretty bad film. If so, ‘Saranga teri yaad mein’ will eminently qualify as a Hans Akela song.
Muli ji,
I had mentioned Hans Akela in one of my comments and it is my favorite Kumar Gandharva song. So, the title itself was attractive to me. You have explained the theme with great clarity and chosen the songs carefully. Good job, Sir.
I call many beautiful songs as ‘ Audio only, no video please ‘, and most of them would fit the theme here.
DULARI, 1949, is primarily remembered for the evergreen
Suhani raat dal chuki
Na jaane tum kab aaoge..
Almost a dozen songs. Some will remember Lata ‘s Ae dil tujhe kasam hai
Tu himmat na haarna…
But, by far, DULARI is Suhani raat..
Rahul ji
Wishing a happy new year to you and family and to everyone in the SoY family.
A beautiful debut article. Reminds me of the beautiful performances by GR Viswanath versus Australia in his first series in 1969.
Overall the post has been created in a superb manner . The songs ibid are all memorable.
Thanks
Subodh,
Saranga: Please recall Laagi tumse lagan sathi chhute na and Piya kaise milun tumse mere paano padi zanjeer. There are some clear Hans Akelas, there may be many front runners but not really Hans Akelas. It may become a subjective choice.
Dr Shetty,
I also remembered Dulari for Shamshad Begum’s Chaandni ayi ban ke pyar O saajana, O saajana.
At the outset, I would like to wish AKji and all the SoY Writers and experts a very HAPPY, HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!
Rahulji,
A grand beginning to the new year.
This is an unusual but interesting theme with an excellent write-up and song selection.
The chances of subjective preferences will remain here.
For instance, I like one more song from Saranga – Haan diwana hoon hain, which is also well-known.
The first film that struck me was Saheli 1965 and the song Jis dil mein basa tha pyar tera (2 versions – Mukesh and Lata). This song was the surprise Binaca Geetmala topper of 1965.
Though there is also a nice duet by Hemant-Lata (itna to kehdo humse), I believe that Saheli is known for Jis dil mein basa tha.
Some more considerations:
Noormahal 1965 – Mere Mehboob na ja aaj ki raat na ja (Suman)
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani 1970 – Sama hai suhana suhana (Kishore)
Oomar Qaid 1961 – Mujhe raat din ye khayal hai (Mukesh)
Rahul ji &AK ji
I always felt that AK had an ability to choose the right persons to contribute to this blog. Congratulations to him for adding one more in Rahul ji. And Rahul ji has come up with a gem.
I am familiar with most of the songs listed here, only through Vividh Bharti. In fact only after hearing it on radio I remember that I posted a comment about the rare combination of Talat Mehmood, Shamshad Begum and Bal Kavi Bairagi under an unfamiliar MD on the song from Gigolo.
I would like to add one such song here:
Zulfon ki ghata lekar, sung by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle. Lyrics:Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. MD:Babul.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R-9KleHHiX4
Muli ji:
What a thumping start you have given to SoY’s new season with a novel theme and a matching bouquet of fabulous melodies!
At one level, India is a high-cost economy. At another, no other country can match our low cost. Witness ‘Malegaon ke Sholay’. But I am digressing. What I want to say is that making a C-grade movie in India is cheap. All one needs is one peppy tune from a friendly MD, some moral boost from a coterie of supporters, and you are in the game. I would put Five Rifles (‘Jhoom barabar’ – Aziz Nazan; MD: KA) probably in this category:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr3KyhK5ysw&ab_channel=UltraBollywood
During the golden era of HFM, the primary markets for such movies were the tier 4 towns, and the morning shows. These were the markets ignored by the latest releases.
I studied engineering in one such single college dominated town. After the end term exams, hordes of students would descend on the local theatres. Which film was playing did not matter. And the theatre owners seemed to know this. As far as I can recall, there never was a good film on the menu of any of the local theatres after the end of the exams. But we flocked them, nevertheless. During the night shows in December, we went with quilts, knowing fully well that we would have the entire hall to ourselves. Sometimes, students requested reruns (after rewinding the reels) of some particularly juicy song sequences (a là ‘Thaayi Saheba’, the Girish Kasaravalli movie in which the landlord forces reruns of a song again and again and again and again). One such song I recall was ‘Lehenga manga de’ (Asha and Usha in ‘Beti’: MD: Sonic Omi):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBGrhiUv9mU&ab_channel=RareGems
While the Beti song invited whistles, not all songs that came for such treatment (that is, requests for repeat runs) were baudy. Another one that invited standing ovation, and shouts of encore was ‘Sham dhale Jamuna kinare’ (Manna Dey, Lata in Pushpanjali; MD: LP):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkIXEbjnVD4&ab_channel=NarjisMusic
Another song from that era that I recall carried the entire film almost alone was ‘Yaar badshah’ (Asha in CID 909; MD: OPN):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZnFMCzNCRM&ab_channel=GaaneSuneAnsune
Some of these movies also had at least one more reasonably famous song. Still, I hope my choices would qualify.
Here is wishing SoY family a 2020 filled with Sound of Music.
Akji
I will start responding to the readers’ comments soon.
But before that I wish to express my earnest gratitude to you & all the participants of SOY.
SOY grows upon you as you often say about a song.
Before SOY I was prejudiced view about many a composer though I had listened to most of their compositions .
My personal playlist included composers SDB, Madan Mohan, Roshan , C Ramchandra & RDB . It included very few songs of Naushad, SJ, Ravi and many others. I was able to shed those prejudices and enjoy their compositions after reading the relevant articles on SOY. That is the biggest contribution you, all the guest writers and the readers have made to my understanding of HFM.
It is a great honour to join the ranks of eminent writers of SOY though I am skeptical about whether I deserve to be there.
Finally a small correction ; I am a CMA ( formerly CWA) & not a CA though I have been providing guidance to CA aspirants for last 25years. ICAI is known to be very rigid about who can be called as a CA.
Subodh ji @1
Thanks for your kind words.
As AKji has said it is going to be very subjective. But there can be few common principles ( common minimum programme?) .
Ak ji has mentioned 2more songs from Baware Nain. For me Teri duniya mein dil lagata nahi is more familiar than those 2.
By the way I had read somewhere that Kisar Sharma persisted with Roshan as a composer for this movie despite the failure of Neki aur Badi and also against the wishes of distributors.
Pradeep ji @2
Thanks a lot for your appreciation .
Your description ” audio only, no video please” fits squarely to number of songs including Suhani Raat .
Like Ak ji , I also able to relate to chandani aayi banke pyar. But unlike Suhani Raat , I will have to scratch my head a little to know that chandani banke is from the same film ( my flaw).
Tyagi ji
Thanks for your appreciation. Actually I was to leave for a small gathering of close friends but I could not resist thanking you before that.
You mentioned GR Vishwanath . Many of his innings fit into the theme of Hans Akela. In fact I had included a para on Vishy in the first draft but removed it as I felt that it will make the article lengthy. Vishy is & will remain to be my perennial favourite. I still vividly remember his knock of 97 not out against Roberts & co at Chepauk in 75series . It is said that just 15 minutes of his stay at the wicket and it made your day, just like an aalaap of Lataji.
Thanks once again.
Rahul ji
I am grateful for your response despite paucity of time.
I have exactly the same views about Vishwanath’s batting.
As Time has moved ahead, the approach to batsmanship has changed; so has the approach of lyricists and composers towards the art of film-song creation.
Regards
Rahulji,
What an unusual and off-beat interpretation of ‘Hans Akela’, yet one that is so apt for the context! A great collection of songs as well! Congratulations!
Here is my choice (and easily among my Top 3 favourite Asha solos) and if I am not mistaken, the song was not even featured in the film, and yet it went on to win the Filmfare Award for Best Singer for Asha, and she famously did not attend the function because she had broken up with OP by then! This Lone Swan from the film turned out to be the swan song for the OP-Asha combo!
‘Chain se humko kabhi’ by Asha from ‘Pran jaaye par vachan na jaaye'(1974) (MD – OP Nayyar, Lyricist – SH Bihari)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc1MfFxpYEI
Post Script: It just occurred to me that it is so apt that we start 2021 with a post on Lone Swans (at least one example cited by Rahulji is a swan song) given that the COVID-19 scourge that hit the world has been widely regarded as a Black Swan event!
Wrt the comment on Pt.Amarnath, I have great pride in letting SoY readers know that I am the proud inheritor of a copy of his book ‘Living Idioms in Hindustani Music’ – A dictionary of terms and terminology’ that he had presented to my late grand-uncle, who was a connoisseur and promoter of Hindustani Music. Pt.Amarnath was considered to be a musician’s musician and was a vaggeyakaar, researcher and writer on music as well.
Mr Giri @7,
There is no skill involved in choosing Mr Muli. Some readers’ comments are striking. I am happy Mr Muli’s debut has been received well, as it was always expected.
Would the following song qualify as a Hans Akela? Besides the song (which I would rank as one of Lata’s best sad songs) and the lore around it (a spurned and drunk PL Santoshi begging Rehana to let him into her hotel room), and of course, the unusual movie title, I do not think anyone remembers the movie.
‘Tum kya jaano’ by Lata from Shin Shinaki Babla Boo (1952) (MD -C.Ramchandra, Lyricist – PL Santoshi)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlkqmRdSuqE
Mr Muli @9,
We are happy to have you as a guest author. The honour is ours. Thanks a lot.
I can see there are some undisputed additions. I can think of several: Paas baitho tabiyat bahal jayegi; Humein to loot liya mil ke husnwaalon ne. Some additions will be very subjective. For example, Saranga has at least four memorable songs, though one may be most remembered.
What is the full form of CMA? I will make the correction. You may not be a CA, but you are the Headmaster of the school which produces CAs! 🙂
And here is CR himself singing his composition with some improvisation at a private mehfil, followed by the original version by Lata.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Tk5yVnKFI
From the comments in the link above, I learnt that Hemant Kumar went on to use this tune for a Bengali film, but a listening to the song will reveal that while he retained the tune for the sthaayi, he changed the tunes for the antaras.
‘Tumi to jaanona’ by Hemant Kumar from ‘Suryatoran’ (1958) (MD – Hemant Kumar, Lyrics – ???)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NketoIUNvQw
Ashwin @17, 19,
Tum kya jaano is surely a Hans Akela song.
The Lonely Swan, which one thought was white, turns to Black Swan in the year of Double Score, because of a video minus e, jumbled with c, before one less than score (or, leading last of the teens?). Nice one, your cruciverbalist mind must have already started racing.
Awed to know of your family’s connection with Pt. Amarnath.
Rahul ji ;
Congratulation for hitting a six on your debut . Your article is really a landscape of mind that one needs a wide angle video scope. Sometimes it only takes one good song to bring back thousands of good, old memories of soul stirring songs. I am sure this time too the comments that are going to follow will surely cross 1000 mark .
Some times I wish I could turn back the clock and apply pause button to enjoy good old songs of the golden period. Your songs have created a great feeling in me to explore some hidden and some popular songs .
Opening my account with a vintage song of 1940 . I think many will get bowled with this amazingly beautiful song for its high technical excellence and its beautiful composition.
Suni Sejariya Saiyyan Tu Ek Beri Aaja / Punar Milan 1940…Rajkumari. Lyrics by J. S. Kashyap. Music Directed by Ramchandra Pai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT7avepmxpc
….to be contd….
Ashwin Bhandarkar @14;
Yes, there is one more song of OPN in which Asha excelled in bringing out deep emotions .
Meri berukhi tumne dekhi hai leken…Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon
Singer – Asha Bhosle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slgKT_PjlPM
…to be contd…
Rahul ji ;
Memories of …..gujara huya zamana aata nahi dobara ….brings back more memories forward . Magic touch of Gulam Mohd.
Chal Diya Karvan, Lut Gaye Hum – Talat Mahmood – LAILA MAJNU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOQwmsg3AoU&t=121s
…to be contd….
Joining in wishing Happy New Year.
Mr Muli,
As the saying goes मज़मून जान सकते है लिफाफा देख कर .
We had seen the “लिफाफा” in the “Contra’ songs and had some understanding of the “मज़मून’, you have surely lived upto the expectations.
The ides the title and the introductory rendition A+ in all categories.
Adding one more classification to films
A++1/2
Movies that can be classified as A+++ but bombed at the box office. Name that comes to my mind first in that category is Kagaz ke phool.
If I am not mistaken Mr. Arun Deshmukch had once said that 1957 was the year of some the best songs of golden period and the song that topped Binaca Geet Mala that year was Zara saamne to aao chhalia how many of us remember any thing other than song from Janam Janam Ke Phere?
https://youtu.be/vtX8KCqGp7Q
My choice my hans akela song of mitti me sona is Yeh duniya rahe na rahe kya pata
https://youtu.be/PukWFKLir8U
And one Rafi song MD Bipin Babul lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
https://youtu.be/nf0HPe2Jxus
Ashwin @ 19
Thanks for CR’s renditions of Tum kya jano it is amazing how much a creator can play its creation.
Ghulam Ali doing the same with Chupke chupke raat din
https://youtu.be/T_5K8oAnpHo
KS Bhatiaji @21,
I am indeed bowled over by Rajkumari’s Sainya tu Ek beri aa ja. In a music reality show when she was quite old and unwell, she tried to sing it. Now I know the provenance of this song. Thanks a lot. But Punarmilan (1940) had another immortal song, which is better known is Snehlata Pradhan’s Nacho nacho pyare man ke more.
@22, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hun had many memorable songs. So no song from this movie can be called a Hans Akela.
It would be interesting to have a list of Hans Akela songs, though there will be some objectivity.
Rajesh ji @6
Thanks for your kind words. I am amazed by your ability to reel off songs after songs relating to given theme. And that is another feature common between you & Pradeep ji .
All the songs listed by you are perfect hans akelaa.
Jis dil me basa tha by Mukesh, in fact, has overshadowed it’s female sibling to such an extent that many people do not know that it exists.
Jani babu Qawwal may also feature in another hans akela as a singer for the song
Raat abhi baki hai – Do Khiladi -Usha khanna
https://youtu.be/iOmsPsGesKw
And there was another umar Qaid(1974) having a duet of Mukesh – Lata
Yaad rahega – Sonik Omi
https://youtu.be/yttagdQse8g
this may also be considered as a hans akela.
Giriji @7
Thanks for generous appreciation .
Zulfo ki ghata is a perfect hans akela.
The song from Gogola was suggested by Akji & then only I remembered it.
Canasya ji @8
I am overwhelmed by your appreciation.
You have very precisely defined the formula of c-graders. Many of Dara sing starters like Aaya Toofan, Lootera etc fall in this category.
I have also experienced the raw joy of watching C graders like Lady killer, Badal, aaya Toofan etc with my friends who were engineering students. At Aurangabad the show starting at 11am was called as morning show ( Mumbai & Pune referred that show as matinee)
There also was a practice of opening a new film with 6 shows a day , the first show starting at 6am. I remember watching such “gems” as Ganga ki saugandh & Chalta purja at 6 am. It seems that watching the movie at 6 am was a thrill in itself, the quality
Was secondary.
Of the songs you have mentioned yaar badshah is my favourite & fits perfectly ,so is the song from beti.
Five rifles had one more song which was quite a rage during those days – jabse sarkar ne .
The autocorrect devil
It should be Canasya ji
Ak ji
Thanks a lot.
Full form of CMA is Cost & Management Accountant, it was earlier named CWA (Cost and Works Accountant(
Rahulji @27
Thanks for your feedback.
I am really enjoying recalling songs on various new and interesting themes.
Yaad rahega pyar ka from Umar Qaid 1974 is a nice duet.
In fact, I tried to see the film which turned out to be a typical action potboiler of the 70s.
Here are the YT links to the songs posted by me.
Saheli – Jis dil mein basa tha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU7LuDbHQgw
Noormahal – Mere Mehboob na ja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSFF2bx0iFk
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani – Sama hai suhana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-80vzCK3NEg
Omar Qaid – Mujhe raat din ye khayal hai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ydz6wXRvc
‘ Hamein toh loot…’/ 1958 / AL HILAL / Shevan Rizvi / Bulo C Rani / Ismail Azad & party
https://youtu.be/YUr0zsqtNPY
Ashwinji @ 14,15,17
Thank you for your kind words.
In a way inspiration for the title came from fanciful ideas ——
No doubt chain se humko kabhi is one of the best of Ashaji not only among her OPN songs but for other composers also. However pran jaye —– had 2 other songs from Ashaji which were more popular , albeit less classy. Ek tu hai piya & aake dard jawa hai bear typical OP stamp & hence the gereal public may have liked them more , also the fact that chain se was not included in the movie affected it’s reach. Shirish kanekar in his article on OPN ( in the book Gaye chala ja) has narrated an incident where OPN plays a cassette in their meeting. The cassette,according to Shirish ji, has only one song recorded by Ashaji in her own voice without any accompaniment. It was presented by Ashaji to OPN . I have a strong feeling that the song is Chain se .
Your other choice ” Tum kya jano ” fits the bill perfectly.
It is hard to find hans akela composed by C Ramchandra especially in his heydays. That is also true for frontlines like Naushad , SJ , SDB and MM, Roshan & Ravi.
By the way while replying to your comment Ak ji is at his Tharoorish best.
While reading different articles on Pt Amarnath , I found that almost all used the phrase musician of musicians to describe him.
It’s a great honour for you to have the book written by such a genius musician.
Bhatiya ji @21,22 &23
Your appreciation gives me immense satisfaction.
You are absolutely right when you say that chance listening of a vintage song leads to train of other vintage songs many of them carrying delightful memories with them .
In fact the idea of Hans Akela was born in my mind after I commented on Ek samay par do barsaate ( Akji’s article
I was listening the song after decades & was not aware of anything related to the song till I completed reading Akji’s article second time.
I am listening to Rajkumari’s song for the first time & though it is difficult for me to relate to it or state whether it is hans akela or not, I have read about the event in which Rajkumari tried to render it. If my memory serves me right , it was a function in the honour of Noor jahan where all the legendary composers & singers of pre 50 era came together. In a book titled Geetyatri , an ardent music lover Principal Madhav Moholkar had vividly narrated that programme. I have a copy of the book which I could not find till writting this reply.
The song from Laila majanu is obviously well known and of all the songs of the film , it is the only song that lingers on .
NAAGARAHAVU, 1972, the Kannada original of ZAHREELA INSAAN,was a super hit movie. ANow, considered a classic. Every scene, every artist, every song was highly appreciated. But, ZA was mediocre at best. But, the saving grace, Hans Akela…
O Hansini, meri Hansini…
Dr. Shetty @ 36
Good pick!
Here is the song.
https://youtu.be/R4Vj_XsfHTM
Can same be said about this song from Uspaar piya maine kya kiya?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_wFKxHY6f8
AK @ 20,
Good one! Here’s my cryptic clue for COVID (without the 19):
‘Second portion of cricketing Wall is behind small company for current scourge (5)’.
mumbaikar8 @ 24 & 25,
I agree with you regarding ‘Zara saamne to aao chhaliye’. Wrt your comment on the ability of creators to improvise endlessly on thier creations, I think it has to do with their grounding in our raga-sangeet.
Rahulji @ 34,
Thanks for the additional information on ‘Chain se humko kabhi’ and PJPVNJ. I had no idea that ‘Aake dard jawaan hai’, which I am familiar with, is from the same film.
Wikiepdia classifies a few other songs from ‘Shikari’ as being popular but as far as I know – and I may be wrong – the following one is the only one that people really remember, and I am sure no one remembers the movie. So I hereby (tentatively) propose to the honorable SoY jury that HA status be conferred on this song. I also propose that AK start a new series on the HAs of the Year.
‘Tumko piya dil diya kitne naaz se’ by Lata & Usha from ‘Shikari’ (1963) (MD – GS Kohli, Lyricist – Farooq Qaisar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WIW_3IDmSI
Rahulji @29
Though Yaar badshah is the most popular song of CID 909, it had few more songs which were also well-known, though less popular.
2 trios – Tera nikhra nikhra chehra & Dhadka to hoga dil zaroor
and one duet – Jane tamanna kya kar dala
Mumbaikar8 @37
Here are couple of songs from Us Paar 1974, which are also well-known.
Especially, this Asha song, which used to play often on Chhayageet during DD times – Pyara hindola mera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jYzgH84UWs
Even this song by Lata is nice – Ye jabse huyi jiya ki chori
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfpGUqzdgU
Couple of more suggestions for Hans Akela:
College Girl 1978
Kishore – Bappi – Shiv Kumar Saroj
Pyar maanga hai tumhi se
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgmOgA7HDjk
Milaap 1972
Mukesh – Brij Bhushan – Naqsh
Kai sadiyon se kai janmon se
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2xozlsc6hY
Ashwin @ 39
agreed no one remembers the movie Shikari had some very good as well as popular songs.
Tumko piya probably the most popular.
Going by you parameter Hansta hua noorani chera would qualify as HA
Parasmani song
https://youtu.be/5KkkDRCj3l8
Dr. Rajesh @ 41
You are right Us Paar has some very good songs as well the my favorite after Piya maine kya kiya is
Tumen piya diya sab kocchh mukje ko .
I had my doubts that’s why I had question mark? But I still feel Piya maine kya kiya stand out alone.
Lata song from Uspaar I like
https://youtu.be/x8XiVuIPRgI
Ashwin @38, 39,
‘Covid’ – This is superb! Small company, please do not cry to cause havoc (6)? But my friend from Bengal says, ‘Don’t do it, it causes pandemic (6)’
‘Hans Akela’ has to be undisputed. Tumko piya, because many would also be familiar with Chaman ke phool bhi tumko gulab kahte hain
Mumbaikar8 @42,
I don’t expect Hansta hua noorani chehra from you. Most famous yes, but what about:
Wo jab yaad aye bahut yaad aye
Roshan tumhin se duniya
Oui ma, oui ma Ye kya ho gaya
Mumbailar ji @24
Kuch matlab na tha na majmoon shouk ke do harf the
Main jo likhne ke liye baitha to daptar ho gaya.
Bayaz -e-Sukhan
Thanks for your profuse appreciation.
Jara samne to aao is a good example of Hans Akela. It was so popular that one of the domestic helps in our house used to hum that song fairly regularly.
For me mitti me sona is synonymous with puccho na hame.
The third song tum puchate ho somehow reminds me Hamko tumhare ishq ne from Ek Musafir Ek Hasina for no reason whatsoever.
Your classification of Kagaz ke Phool is spot on. May I add Mera Naam Joker & Silsila ( though it is not in the same league) to this category?
You may also recall Sudhir Phadake aka Babuji as a composer who also reveled in rendering his own compositions sung by others. Jyoti kalash & a famous Marathi lavani rutala kata instantly come to my mind. Here is asel kothe rutala kata by Babuji
https://youtu.be/YO0Fy_51RhY
Pradeep ji
Though not a cult like o hansini, there was anothe good song in Zahareela Insaan , duet with a rare combination of Shailendra sing & Ashaji
Mere dil se ye nain
https://youtu.be/k1NiFQtkLIc
Joseph ji
Nice addition & it is a good hans akela.
Rajesh ji @42
I had kai sadiyo se in the original list but I decided to stop in the year 1970.
Post 70 you have few good numbers which may qualify here
1 Mungala – Inkaar – Rajesh Risahn – Usha Mangeshkar
https://youtu.be/GKVxX1lgBmc
If we exclude Jai Santoshi maa & duets then this may aldo be Hans akela for Ushaji in her entire career of HFM
2 Roj Roj aankho tale – Jeeva- RDB – Asha Bhosle& Amit kumar
https://youtu.be/ypn9vN1F4yo
This song had no business to be in such a mediocre movie.
3 Hum na samajhe the – Gardish – SPB- RDB
https://youtu.be/uoJXok3TEzw
Nicely worded article and a good one to begin the new year, The songs a few of them rare pieces of brilliance accompanying the text are well chosen. My pick of the lot is the Lata’s solo composed by S Mohinder.
Muli ji,
When I saw this post in the mail, I thought my surname has been changed without my permission, but later my fears were allayed. 😉
You have become another master of selecting unique topics after Ranganji from the guest author’s side. I think this idea might be making circles in each SOYer’s mind at one point of time or the other. I had this idea when I was writing on N Datta and was stumbling upon film after film which were known by a famous song. But, pioneers like you make these ideas a reality.
Welcome to this club of guest authors with a grand article. Besides the songs – in which AK has also to be thanked – the description is masterly with lot of additional information. This title shows it clearly that music is the most important aspect of Hindi films. Films may have been forgotten and went out of circulation, but the songs linger.
About the songs selected by you, from the film Garam Coat, the first song I knew was ‘zulfon wale ko kya pata ghunghat men jal gayi gori’. Another group song ‘bibi mendki ri’ which was based on some folk song was also popular. The song selected by you came to my ears as no 3, but is unique in rendition. As you said it is already becoming subjective. But, the next song in your list should surprise many as HA. For a Lata fan this might be the only one, but, I can not visualise a Rafi fan not objecting to it when there is ‘hazaron rang badlega zamana’. There are two other solos by him one a very popular qawwali ‘ankhon men tumhare jalwe hain’ and ‘na tajshahi, na badshahi’ which is a great rendition. S Mohinder did not settle with these two singers in giving a great composition. He gave Talat the great ‘sunaoon kisko afsana na apna hai na begana’ with an equally great alaap. Another Lata solo ‘aasman wale bata de ki hai maine kya khata’ is also great.
The Changez Khan song is my absolute favourite. But in radio days the Sudha Malhotra song ‘o ruk ja ruk ja ruk laut ke aana hoga’ which in the initial days I took as a Lata song was quite popular. Similarly, Qaidi no 911 had ‘pyar bhari ye ghatayen’ by Lata-Manna Dey, the tune of which Dattaram used in couple of other songs by the same pair and all were popular.
There is a long list of such songs and I would post some but separately, because this comment is already long.
Thanks once again for the outstanding topic and very nice narrative with some great songs.
I should continue with vintage songs started by Bhatiaji and especially when Venkatramanji is on a long leave.
Piya milan ko jana – Kapal Kundla – 1939 – Pankaj Mullick – lyricist not specified. This song’s composition and rendition is a lot modern than the 30s in my view and has stood the test of times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7hB1lnUbiU
Chale pawan ki chaal – another Pankaj Mullick gem from Doctor with the same set of lyricists Arjoo Lakhnavi and AH Shor not specified for the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwBvKgu2LK8
Kaahe ko raar machayi – Lagan – KL Saigal – RC Boral – Arjoo Lakhnavi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVzFsdfZqw
Dil hi bujha hua ho to – Nirdosh – Mukesh – MD Ashok Ghosh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHd91a8usWo
Toofan mail duniya ye duniya – Jawab – Kamal Das Gupta – Pandit Madhur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8jLwfLRhHs
Muli ji,
When Hans joins in Hans Akela ….its a party. When life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade . How many rules are flaunted and how many gets intoxicated .
O Rasiya rasyia re nimbua mangayi de ….. movie – Dara Singh….Asha , MK…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kgPlvSHiAM
Muli ji, Hans Ji ;
Era of 60s was an era of lots of Action, Fantasy and Scientific movies . Every movie was starring Dara Singh , Randhawa , Azad and so many others . Nishi , Mumtaz , Vijay Chowdhry , Indra Billo , and many more from south india too were dominating such movies. Comedy and Fights were essential requirements for which Bhagwan dada , Maruti and Raja babu was always there.
Whatever was the content of the movie , we engineering students always flanked together to enjoy entertainment after every semester stressful exams. The scale of measure of entertainment was the huge posters that were physically blown out of proportions of heros and heroins ….a trick to satisfy ticket blackmailers .
Out of the blues were some songs from such movies which were entertaining and the next very day the hostel corridor echoed all such songs by the students at their horsing best .
Now a few such songs…..
Zara Sambhaalna Meri Jaan Apni Nigahen | Kamal Barot, Lata, Mukesh @ Dara Singh, Helen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qB2KU7OC60
main to tere haseen khyalon mein kho gaya..Sangram 1965_Rafi_Aish Kanwal_Lala Asar Sattar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCRVXVyGeBk
Kahan Nazar Takrayi – Mahendra Kapoor – JADUI ANGOOTHI – MAGIC RING – Meena Kumari, Kesari, Mumtaz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc91-gRzvds
…to be contd…
Muli ji, Hans Ji ;
Sir, why not have a parallel series with [ n-1] hans songs where ‘n’ is more than 5 hit songs and loner one song is thumbs down . Like we know Chori Chori film had all great numbers but for one or two like ….all line clear and swa lakh ki lottery… were not at all popular or not went well with the listeners . That could be categorized as chitter bug .
Vasudevanji @50
Thanks for your appreciation. Gujara hua jamana is also one of my favourite song of Lataji .
Hansji @50 &51
Hans ji
It’s really heartwarming to read your generous words of appreciation .
I became a serious fan of HFM late and during those days there were very limited sources available for accessing pre 50 songs as well as songs of the relatively less famous composers. This handicap may have affected the selection of songs to some extent ( I have not ventured into pre 50 era).
The other 2 songs of Garam Coat mentioned by you are completely new to me.
You have mentioned N Dutta post above. Very recently I came across the news that his son is planning a biopic on N Dutta.
Out of the songs mentioned by you Dil hi bujha hua is new to me.
There was a marathi song in Pedgaonche Shahane ( wise men of Pedgaon , the words wise men used sarcastically)
Which parodied toofan mail in its opening line..
‘O dildar bolo…’/ 1959 / SCHOOL MASTER / Kavi Pradeep / Vasant Desai / Lata , Talat
https://youtu.be/F9nEomAB4Pk
Rahulji @49
Your comment on roj roj aankhon tale is spot-on.
A nice number by Gulzar-RDB combo. Nothing memorable about the film itself.
Regarding Inkaar, Tu mungala mungala, of course, is the most popular number.
But Chhodo ye nigahon ka ishara (Asha-Kishore duet) is also a nice song and fairly known. In fact, it has been part of many Asha-Kishore duet compilations. I have this song in the Shemaroo collection on Asha-Kishore duets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dpJ42oAKZA
Likewise for Gardish. Hum na samjhe the is a perfect song, well-sung by SPB with poignant lyrics by Javed Akhtar.
But, personally, I also like two other songs from the film. Badal jo barse to ( for Dimple Kapadia) and Ye mera dil to pagal hai ( for an interesting picturization).
The interesting aspect of this exciting theme is that it is open to subjective choices and individual preferences.
Muli ji, Hans Ji ;
Going ahead with songs of radio times…..
LATA JI~Film~SHER KHAN~{1962}~Chahe Roke Ye Zamana,….SNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y8XtENvGl0
Khoya Hua Dil Mil Gaya-Daku Mansoor….Asha…lyrics- Pt. Gafil
music- Krishan Kamal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf0eNFZJo6E
Haqeeqat Yeh Hai Humko Yun Teri…Professor Aur Jadugar. Shankar Qawal,shambhu Qawal,party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXlrGWhpJiA
to be contd…..
Muli ji, Hans Ji ;
In continuation…..
rooplekha ,, 1962 ,, mehfil mai tere husn ka deewana kaun hai ,, rafi , suman kalyanpur….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-hdmCN_Yao
robin hood ” mana mere hasin sanam “…Rafi…GS Kohli….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfHHLyUCkDQ
to be contd….
Rahul ji;
Like …..Dil Diya Dard Liya…..Dilip Kumar’s Dastan too flopped at the box office ….. but one song remained with Rafi’s fans to enjoy…..
ना तू ज़मीं के लिए है ना आसमां के लिए | Dastaan (1972)…Rafi …LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwwNxdmjUkc
AK @ 45
Hansta hua noorani chera as HA song was in context of Ashwin ‘s Shikari HA song “Tumko piya”
Because not only chaman ke phool Shikari had a couple of songs, better (less popular yes) than tumko piya.
Agar mai poochoon jawab do tum, maangi hai duayen hum ne sanam.
Bhatiyaji @53, 54
Yes When Hanji joins then it’s a party.
You almost created a separate breed of Hans , can I call it a Fauladi hans?
One more from that breed
Hum tere bina jee na sakenge sanam – Thakur Jarnail singh – Ganesh – Ashsaji
https://youtu.be/XwIAkMgPILA
Reverse Hans ( can it be a crow?) Is good idea.
Ms. mumbaikar8 , AK ji ;
To your list I will add one more song from Shikari….Yeh rangeen mehfil gulabi gulabi . In fact all the songs were popular and that was the saving grace of this entirely different film from F C Mehra who made this movie after the super hit film Professor . This film was made for audience [ I was one of those during 60s ] who liked fantasy and scientific films ….K N Singh as scientist who turned human into King Kong and shikaries engaged to tame king kong for benefits of a circus company ….well that is the story in nutshell.
At the time of its release , K M Amladi …film critic of the 60s for The Hindustan Times wrote ….with this film a new team of Farooq Kaiser and G S Kohli is born who are set to make a grand entry in future fantasy movies . Feroz Khan ‘s Char Darwesh movie followed Shikar but the music was a little dilution of its melody . Every song seems to be a rehearsal of Shikari songs .
Rajesh ji @59
Yes chhodo ye nigaho ka ishara was good & often heard during those days. But today it’s difficult for persons of even our generation ( who were collegians then) to recall it.
You had started with Jis dil me basa tha
5 years earlier the same trio (
K&A & Mukesh) had given yet another hit (3rd in Binaca & surprisingly ahead of pyar kiya to ) . And ironically in this case also the hansini was left far behind.
Mujhko is raat ki – Dil bhi tera hum bhi tere – KA – Mukesh
https://youtu.be/9xl2Cv3vpMs
Ms. mumbaikar8 , AK ji ;
In continuation…. here is that song from Char Darvesh that sounds so similar to ….tum ko piya dil diya ….with interludes like ….baaje ghungroo cham cham ……yes for sharp ears .
Kaali Kaali Ankhon Main – Char Dervesh…G S Kohli…Asha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4zxu8Fh3w
Ak ji
You have correctly pointed out the subjectivity aspect. Acconting scholars agree that there will be subjectivity in recording classifying & presenting acconting information but they also define accounting standards to reduce the scope of the subjectivity so that there is a fair degree of uniformormity ( though allowing some flexibility) .
If we take the case of Saranga here , you have mentioned 2 songs besides the title song. Now it is likely that in other cases also there are 2-3 good songs from the same film. The criterion in such cases may be whether we are able to recall those songs & relate it to the given film as instantly as the hans song.
By the way I am trying my hand at a cryptic deck and it is for the vaccine
Remedy Protecting the sixth coming after a small company.
Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli @64;
Yourself
”Reverse Hans ( can it be a crow?) Is good idea.”. yes just like …Kawaa chala hans ki chhal ?
Hans ji ;
The hard hit radio listeners do have their own classifications . Songs that we all grew with are Hans songs for us …..irrespective of other songs being hit or not. Such songs do have everlasting shelf lives. They bring laughter and tears as well , not because of wordings but for their connectivity to our own life.
Memories hit me when i listen to these songs…..
Geeta Dutt, Suman Kalyanpur : Phulvaa band mehke : Film – Hum bhi insaan hai (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmtqr4Lk0rc
Ek Do Dus Upar Se Aayi Bus Kamal Barot, Suman Kalyanpur DIL BHI TERA HUM BHI TERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzeegmqD9jc
Mr Muli @68,
Your cryptic: COVISHIELD (CO-VI-SHIELD, Small company coming after sixth protecting)? If it is correct, I am thrilled. You just missed to put (10) after the clue.
Rahulji,
I was out of circulation for some time. I am back in time to savour an atypical theme presented by you. Congratulations for an interesting post and an excellent debut article. A good selection of songs too.
Most of the songs, which occurred to me while going through the post, have been already posted by my esteemed friends. And here is a couple.
A semi classical composition rendered by Manna Dey.
Baje Re Payal Baje, Hameer Haath (1964), lyrics Neelkanth Tiwari, music Sanmukh Babu Upadhyay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIOVIDpBTn0
You reference to the two ‘Masters’, Hansraj Behl and Ghulam Haider, reminds me of a song composed by Master Krishnarao.
Aaj Milan Ki Raat Hai, Lata Mangeshkar, Keechak Vadh (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCF__m5PNM8
Hope the songs would qualify
Thanks to AKji for adding Rahulji to the list of SoY guest writers. Indeed a great selection.
I take this opportunity to Wish you a happy new year and to everyone in the SoY fraternity.
PS:
I convey my sincere apologies for not being able to respond to those who communicated their concern/ best wishes/ greetings …during my period of absence.
Bhatiaji, @ 53, 54, 55
You are right about the power packed films of Dara Singh etc. They were very popular in Panjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan areas and their muscular bodies were their recommendation. Music part was mostly for dance songs some of which became hits which have a good chance of coming in the HA category. Muliji has already suggested name for the black sheep among the good songs. I think no composer opted for bad songs but it may be the case that those songs were just unfortunate. Or this may even be the case of people running out of the stock of bouquets. There is no set pattern for popularity.
Now look at this gem of a song picturised on Dev Kumar.
Naaz tha jispe mere seene men wo dil hi nahin – Mukesh – Usha Khanna – Asad Bhopali.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsnuOHT4bAM
Akji @71
That was a full toss that you hit for six. Ashwiji might have a better delivery up his sleeve.
Venkataraman ji @ 72
Glad to have you back on SOY & immensely greatful for your appreciation.
My kitty of golden songs is overflowing with many new discoveries ( at least for me)
Baje re Payal baje is one of them.
I am delighted that you have posted Master Krishna Rao song from Keechakwadh. The film was also made in marathi and this song has a marathi version.
Master has a connection with my native Aurangabad. His original surname was Pathak but he is better known as Phulambrikar, Phulambri is 30 km away from Aurangabad. There is a drama theatre named after him at Jalna ( neighbouring district).
Here is the marathi version
https://youtu.be/957LP7BZkaY
Rahulji,
Thanks a lot for posting Dund madhumati raat re from Keechak Vadh (Marathi). Its a beautiful, evergreen composition, one of my favorites.
Maybe I am biased but, though both the Hindi and Marathi versions have the same tune, the Marathi version truly stands out and has a bigger impact.
Some more potential HA songs:
Kalakaar 1983
KK- KA -Indivar (The female version by Sadhana Sargam is hardly known).
Neele neele ambar par chand jab aaye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujl0rhUICGg
Aaj Ki Taza Khabar 1974
KK – SJ- Hasrat
Mujhe meri biwi se bachao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLoguu21pYs
Ek Naari Do Roop 1973
Rafi – Ganesh – Asad Bhopali
Dil ka suna saaz tarana dhoondega
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v62_-JTtVIU
Joining very late to tye party. Very interesting idea.
Though the song choice would be subjective.
तरीही खूप छान वाटतंय.
I won’t add any song. A lot of songs already added.
या लेखाबद्दल धन्यवाद राहुलजी.
I believe you too are Maharashtrian, so wrote in Marathi. I’ve seen you adding Marathi songs a lot of times on SoY.
Anup
🙂
Rahulji,
The success is ratio of Hindi Films is considered to be less than 7%.
Even if one would consider only, so called, A grade – big banner, big stars, big Music Director – even then the ratio may not be very high.
Many of thh films that I watched in cinema halls in 60s, and some- infrequently- after mid ’70s, were then ‘watchable’ mostly because of the songs.
Films of late ’40s – that I had seen as re-runs those days – and many of ’50s films, our common refrain was that the songs were better heard as audio- the only way one can get to listen songs in those days off-cinema hall- rather on screen, or now a video clip, because either the picturiisation will be terrible or the actors would not be seen to do justice to the feelings that the song evoked.
This feeling becomes more vocal in the present blogging era.
Your article is the epitome of feelings of all such HFM songs lovers and present day HFM blog-readers,
You only deserve the special credit for your ‘Hans’ sense – the maxim of Goose’s sense of discrimination, the ability to separate milk from the water – for selecting all these gems.
Venkataramanji @72,
The Hindi Keechak of 1959 does not seem to have learnt anything from the Marathi Keechak of 1958, and seems to have still got lured by the same tune (which cleverly uses the moorchhana of Bhoop-Malkauns) composed by the same MD and sung by the same singer. Moorkh # 1.
‘Dhund madhumati raat re’ by Lata from ‘Keechakvadh’ (1958) (MD – Master Krishnarao, Lyricist – Ga Dhi Madgulkar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=957LP7BZkaY
I don’t know about the Hindi film but at least as far as the Marathi film is concerned, this was not a Hans Akela since the following Sarang-based song by Lata and Sudhir Phadke is also remembered:
‘Kasaa nesun shalu hirva’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJssFfEE54M
अनुपजी @78
मन:पूर्वक धन्यवाद.
Yes I am a Maharashtrian hailing from Aurangabad though my surname is very rare in Maharashtra. When I was at Willingdon College Sangli the principal of the college, Mr Agashe, often wondered about my marathi speaking abilities since he used to think that I came from Karnataka
Can we classify the following hit songs as Hans Akela?
Maine chand aur sitaron ki tamanna ki thi- Chandrakanta
Tuje kya sunavun yeh dilruba – Akhri dao
No other song seems to be well-known from these films
Vaishnav ji @ 79
If at all the article reflects नीर-क्षीर विवेक as described by you, the major credit goes to SOY & it’s eminent authors.
You have aptly described the
Significant role played by music in making many a movie watchable.
During those days many of us would watch the movies only for the sake of 1 or 2 songs , all other factors irrelevant. I remember watching an absolutely old print of Phool Bane Angaare only to listen Chaand Aahe Bharega.
Rahulji@81,
Oh! What a coincidence. I am also from Willingdon College, Sangli. In fact मी सांगलीचा आहे आणि तिथेच राहतो.
जर वेळ मिळाला तर माझ्या ब्लॉगला भेट द्या. मला छान वाटेल. पोस्ट आवडल्या तर काॅमेंट पण करा.
Waiting for your visit.
Anup
🙂
Anup ji @ 84
I hesitated before writting about Willingdon College bit. Now it turns out to be the right decision . Can you mail me , my email is rahulmuli1961@gmail.com.
I am not a very regular folower of the blog. But I have read few articles and all of them were very good ( including the latest on heriones introducing themselves). In fact I have referred to your blog in this article ( regarding Chand pardesi)
Here are two Dahi – Handi (Gokulashtami) songs which used to play regularly during the festival until recent times.
I am sure, no one remembers these typical action movies.
Badla 1974
KK- LP – AB
Shor mach gaya shor dekho aaya makhan chor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgu6KY5WSmA
Muqabla 1979
Rafi, Kishore – LP – Verma Malik
Teen batti wala govinda aala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYh-UGBc7t4
Hans ji @73;
Reference to Dev Kumar invites me to his another good song that was one out of the blue that I enjoyed when spy films were in vogue. While Vinod and Jeetendra was popular doing such rolls but Dev Kumar entry was a welcome change owing to his tall personality and physique . His career however was shortened owing to his dialogue delivery . It sounded so heavy that was perhaps suitable for the movies of the likes of Dara Singh. For this reason he quickly changed over to villain roles ….and that too as a right hand of main villain star . Good in fighting scenes but left too soon for health reasons.
Rome ki waadiyon….by Rafi Saab movie – Spy in Rome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHV36N-B0XE
Dr. Rajesh Deshpande ji @77;
It is really difficult to find Hans Akela songs for OPN, SJ, MM, Naushad but you have really one …Mujhe meri biwi se bachao…from…1974 film Aaj Ki Taza Khabar . A good comedy that won filmfare best film award . I think same set of producer , directors , music directors ,actors [ except heroin ] made another movie ….Jangle mein mangal . In this movie too one song stands alone .
Tum Kitni Khubsurat Ho | Jangal Mein Mangal (1972) | Kishore ..SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmR24f-k7DA
Rahul Ji@84
I’ll contact you on your email. And I missed your mentioning my blog in the Banjaran song. It’s indeed the only prominent identity left for the composer, Pardesi.
Anup
🙂
I congratulate you on joining the elite ‘ guest authors club ‘ of SOY. This is a nice way to look at failures of HFM of the golden era from an interesting angle . A good number of well known as well as unknown songs have been selected . One significant observation that has emerged here is that this is going to be a very subjective discussion. Also , your classification of HFM could open up further debate. I feel it was not easy for you to include songs by OPN, CR and MM among the 13 songs .
In the selection no.11 posted by you… ‘ dil lagakar hum ye samjhe …’ there are two songs and not one . These songs are very distinct solos in the voices of a Male singer and then a female singer with different lyrics and the song situations are totally different . Only the tune is similar . Therefore this certainly should not figure under this post where you are talking of only a single memorable song in the movie.
I also know that it is very difficult to estimate how many such songs we could have under this post. In fact it is very difficult to fhink of any statistics under this post at present .
Another point is that we are revisiting the ‘ forgotten composers ‘ as well as possibly identifying more ‘ forgotten composers ‘ of HFM .
Joseph ji @90
Thanks for your detailed input. I have mentioned in the write up that the song selection is subjective and open to changes. Subjectivity, I think, adds a vital element of discussion through which one is able to enhance his or her understanding.
Many of the songs mentioned by Hansji & Bhatiyaji were new to me. While I may not include all of them in y list of Hans akelaa, it still opened a new vista for me.
The subjectivity can be reduced to some extent by seting some principles. One of them can be longevity of the song. A song may have been a hit during its time but is it still revered today? Another can be whether the song is significantly better than the other good songs in the same film.
Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli @91;
Yes I entirely agree with your views . Longer the age of a commentator longer is his span of travel thru old lovely songs rarely heard by the younger generations. Of course exceptions are there but the aging tag is always there .
You don’t stop listening to songs when you grow old, you grow old only when stop listening. Aging is necessarily a concept that is rejected in 40s, gracefully accepted in 50s and celebrated in 60s onwards. Its a waltz of steps that keep us going round and round with melodies of fluet , piano and strings …held by unknown .
To keep the show moving , here are some more songs that are little up against the rest in their own domain….again melody of 60s of radio days.
LATA JI-Film~KARODPATI~[1961]~Ho Saajna Na Poochh Mujh Se Pyaar Kya Hai….SJ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-bjZctd6Xc
Aaye Ho To Jaane Ka – Main Aur Mera Bhai (1961) Asha, C Arjun, Jaan Nisar Akhtar…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7xMGE48vUo
Jhoomti Hai Nazar – Hatimtai 1956…Rafi, Asha….SNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R06cYj0MpKY
”’to be contd….
Mr Muli @91,
I am on your last para. I think we can agree that HA should refer to 50s and 60s. That is the Golden Era of film music, and anyone generally familiar with old HFM would be familiar with the best and most famous songs of the period. Secondly, HA should be restrictive and generally undisputed. If there are 3-4 popular songs from a film, even if one is the front-runner, we should avoid including that as HA. Some subjectivity can not be ruled out, but we can have a good list.
Bhatiya ji @ 92
According to your outstanding classification of ageing , I will be very soon in celebration mode. I have found that as one advances in years age wise , one streches deeper in to the past . For instance 10 years back I would not have listened to late 40s early 50s songs which I am doing frequently now.
Akji @ 92
Your parameters for HA are generally agreeable. But sometimes popularity alone may not give the correct picture.
Today in the morning ( does this sound like another Rahul), I suddenly remembered
mangane se jo maut mil jati. I was a great fan of this song without knowing it’s movie or composer in early 90s. I could not get it on my cassettes as it was not available in any music store at Sangli.
You have included it in the article on Bulo C Rani and stated very rightly that Lataji sounds so melodious that one remembers her songs composed by Anil Biswas & C Ramchandra in 50s.
I do not think such an outstanding song was popular then. But we may consider it as HA. And the quality of lyrics by an almost unknown lyricist pran is mesmerizing.
Mangane se jo maut – Sunehre Kadam – Bulo C Rani – Lata
https://youtu.be/FvEznBWRA_0
Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli ji @ 94, 95 ;
Welcome to the senior citizen club . Remembering everything is a great hobby …even things that have never happened !! …and those things are collectors choice of the dreamer. so age gracefully and enjoy as times goes by.
Some times dreams and wishes becomes essential part of life to live with. Remembering those are really graceful moments . Seldom visitors surprise me a lot . Mangane se jo maut …..from …. Sunehre Kadam is one such song that has opened my mind as to when I heard it last ? and why i have not listened to this song again and again for its beautiful composition and soul stirring lyrics ?. Bulo C Rani was really ahead of his times with fantastic orchestra that enhanced and lift the lyrical content to its peak value .
Thanks for great reminder of sad song .
Mr Muli @95,
Thanks a lot for refreshing our memory of Maangne se jo maut mil jaati. I commented that it reminded us of Lata Mangeshkar’s songs of 50s composed by C Ramchandra and Anil Biswas. When I hear it now, I am surprised that such a song should figure in 1966, please listen to Lata songs of the year. Now I have a strong belief that it could have been recorded in mid-50s and used much later.
Bulo C Rani had more Hans Akelas. When I think of him, one of the songs that immediately comes to mind is the iconic qawwali, Humein to loot liya mil ke husnwaalon ne. A perfect HA if ever there was one.
http://www.hamaraforums.com/index.php?showtopic=47638#:~:text=Mukesh%20in%201949%20was%20dominant,to%20aapas%20mein%20bigadte%20hain).
The above article has been posted on the blog a few times, but seems to be a perfect fit here.
Rahul ji,
Many Thanks for your post.
https://youtu.be/T4iOgKMV7HE
Hate to include this with composer being Madan Mohan, but then, it does fit the bill I suppose.
Muli ji:
Let me bring up the century with ‘Aj ki kali ghata’ (Geeta Dutt in Uski Kahani; MD: Kanu Roy):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a2qF_xZb2Q&ab_channel=mastkalandr
Hope this is a valid run!
Mahesh ji @ 98
Thanks for your feedback.
I have gone through the article by Raju Bharatan. It in considerable details deals with films in which Mukesh was used for only one song by the composers. It is a different theme. For instance songs of Mukesh from Bandini & Bambai ka Babu do not fit in this theme because both these films films had number of other outstanding songs. Also Bandini is regarded as one of the finest Bollywood films. In fact most of the songs mentioned in the article are characterized by this feature.
However , I cannot rule out somebody already exploring this theme on some other blog.
@99
There is at least one other song in Sharabi which is fairly well known even today, it is Sawant ke machine me. And connoisseurs may not a have forgotten mujhe is jagah le chalu.
Canasya ji @ 100
Aaj ki kali ghata is a good HA. It is perhaps the only thing known about the film. Was Uski kahani the penultimate film of Geeta Dutt?
Aana meri jaan…’/ 1947 / SHEHNAI / PLSantoshi / CR / CR , Shamshad Begum , Amirbai Karnataki
https://youtu.be/-9a4NEtZDqI
‘Laara lappa laara…’/ 1949 / EK THHI LADKI / Aziz Kashmiri / Vinod / Lata , Rafi , GM Durrani & chorus
https://youtu.be/BmF5M3MjPog
‘Saare jahan se …’/ 1959 / BHAI BEHAN / Raja Mehdi Ali Khan / N Datta / Asha & chorus
https://youtu.be/NvwM5iZTPNY
Muliji, @ 57
I have read your story about the first radio and I understand your position. My father was also an Advocate but he was a fan of music. Your knowledge of hfm is in no way deficient. But everybody may not be liking vintage stuff. I have also discovered a lot of vintage songs after the publishing of HFGK and start of internet.
I dont know if the N Datta biopic is a wise step because biopics mostly do not live up to expectations. Dil hi bujha hua ho was perhaps the first song of Mukesh and such firsts of legends are always famous.
Bhatiaji,
Most of the songs you posted are favourites of mine. The radio era was very special for us oldies. As you sometimes say our understanding of songs when we are young and when we advance in age is different. But this difference of time also goes on deleting songs from public memory, which is the reason for this topic.
Ref. discussion between Muliji and AK @ 91, 93 and 95, I would side with AK, the category HA has to be quite definitive and the song must be considered to be the only one remembered from that film by most of music lovers. Its popularity at the time or the quality as compared to other songs or the HA song should not matter. Josephji has used a very apt name for such songs as ‘failures of hfm in golden era’.
Hans ji @107;
As far as old and vintage songs are concerned I think we are covering nautical miles sailing some time in ships and some time in boats. Ships carries lots of popular songs and boat carrying Hans Akela songs . No matter , we will carry on with our smooth sailing …..
Tu Kahan Main Kahan – Suman Kalyanpur | Vazir E Azam 1961 …Robin Banerjee….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC4I-ksuGcg
Nigahe Shauk Se Keh Do Mohammad Rafi Asha Bhonsle Wanted (1961) Ravi…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mnDdC1vTCk
Now some songs.
From the oldest of times some duets have hit the HA target. And if they are from the 30s that would mean a lot because they have survived the rust on memory for more than 80 years. Most of the films of that era have already been forgotten and if songs are remembered it only signifies the importance of music in the Indian psyche.
Main ban ki chidiya banke – Achhut Kanya – 1936 – Devika Rani, Ashok Kumar – Saraswati Devi – JS Kashyap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABth5XKNoyE
Aaj hamen ban behad bhata – Amar Jyoti – 1936 – Shanta Apte, V Nandrekar – Master Krishnarao – Pt. Narottam Vyas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZnUd7mIJHw
Tumhin ne mujhko prem sikhaya – Manmohan – 1936 – Surendra, Bibbo – Ashok Ghosh – Zia Sarhadi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2kO0ynMJ68
Duniya rang rangeelee baba – Dhartimata – 1938 – KC Dey, Uma Shashi, KL Saigal – Pankaj Mallick – Pandit Sudarshan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIB1rShQfNU
Radha radha pyari radha – Kangan – 1939 – Ashok Kumar, Leela Chitnis – Ramchandra Pal – Pradeep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq2t-63cxhk
Muli ji @ 102:
According to geetadutt.com Geeta Dutt’s last recording was in 1972 for Subir Sen’s ‘Midnight’. In 1971 she sang for Kanu Roy in Anubhav (3 solos), Salil Chaudhury in Raat ki uljhan (a duet), and SJ in Jwala (a triplet).
I had mentioned earlier that HAs and C-grade/lo budget movies usually went together. That rules out MDs such as Naushad, CR, HB, SJ, OPN, etc. who commanded top billings. The few rare HAs associated with one of these top MDs are, therefore, especially interesting. Here is ‘Pyar ka fasana’ (Mukesh & Lata in ‘Teesra Kaun’; MD: RDB):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TMB3t6xZ-I&ab_channel=desibhai
Similarly, there is ‘Chali ye fauj hamari re’ (Rafi in ‘Ek ke baad ek’; MD: SDB)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T7ovzp1jXk&ab_channel=SrinivasanChanniga
Rahul Muli ji;
Year 1960 onwards had great B and C grade movies …some with great star casts . Movie Kala Aadmi was one of such movies which had great casts like Ashok Kumar , Shyama , Johney Walker, Mehmood etc with music by Dattaram . The film had 6or 7 songs and all were average except one by Mukesh …..Dil dhoondta hai sahare sahare . …which was most popular . Farmeshi programme during radio days made it one of the best songs by mukesh and so also of Datta ram .
Like Kaala Aadmi there were many action packed suspense movies which some how got recognition with at least one good song which made the movie popular with front benchers . Road no 303 was among such class of 60s . In this movie Johney Walker brother had a roll to play too. All such movies were different from Dara Singh or Zimbo like movies .
I am on a recall mode and will paste songs as they come to my mind . First with Kala Aadmi song….
Dil Dhoondta Hai Sahare – Mukesh – KALA AADMI ..Dattaram….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEKfSiRWUYI&t=59s
Rahul Muli ji;
Coming back to 1960 movie ….Road No 303. Again movie for particular class of audience but with a nice and different style of music by C Arjun . The movie had good songs but one beat them all with a rock and roll number…a duet by Rafi and Manna Dey . This song I used to sing with my elder brother as it had a great energy to dance with…..
Bura Hae Na Gana Bura Itna Tu Jan….: Road No. 303 (1960)
Rafi , Manna Dey
Music: C Arjun
Lyrics: Jan Nisar Akhtar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvA8mpsh80c
….to be contd….
Rahul Muli ji;
Like C Arjun …..bura na gana , now Avinash Vyas creating rock and roll in a social movie of 1957…..bol sach sach bol ….a contrast of lyrics.
Film Laxmi had some good to average songs but this one stands out alone with remarkable dance by old timer comedian Maruti ….
Laxmi – Bol Sach Sach Bol, Khol Duniya Ki Polam Pol….Rafi ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYnogyCxQOM
to be contd…
Ms. Mumbaikar 8, Rahul Muli ji;
Film …Shin Shinaki Bubla Bu..[1952]…had a number of stage show songs and had typical style of C. Ramchandra , but one song that stayed tall among the rest was……
Tum kya jaano Tumahri yaad mein Ham Kitna Roye…..Lata’s best for CR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ3D6kPzWQc
to be contd….
Joseph ji @ 103 104 105
All are nice additions.
Muliji, my contribution to the list is as follows:
Maana Mere Haseen Sanam (Adventures of Robinhood,1965) Lyricist Anjaan, Music by G.S.Kohli, playback singer Md.Rafi. This song is a masterpiece hidden in a nondescript movie. If one were to make a list of Rafi’s greatest solos, this would surely find a place in it. The ease with which he sings this tough composition speaks volumes of his immense talent. The music director is G. S. Kohli, who was O. P. Nayyar’s assistant since the very beginning. G. S. Kohli independently composed music for a few movies, this being one of them. This song showcases his potential and it is a pity that he did not work a great deal as an independent music director. The icing on the cake of course are the beautiful lyrics penned in chaste Urdu by Anjaan. There is no way one can enjoy this song in its entirety without appreciating the tongue-in-cheek lyrics which, simply put, translate as – you are no doubt awesome but I am wonderful too and you owe your greatness to me.
Muliji, please do read my blog https://anitamultitasker.wordpress.com/
I do write on vintage Hindi film music. It is a matter of pride that AKji reads my posts and gives me valuable feedback.
Hansji
Radio days no doubt were marvelous. Just like watching ramovies in squeaky clean multiplexes does not give the same thrill as watching them in shabby single screen theatres, listening to 92.7 & it’s brethern is not as exciting as listening radio.
It is surprising that Ashok Kumar’s
Songs have stood test of time though his reputation as a singer was not at par with his reputation as an actor.
Canasysa ji
Thanks for information about Geeta Dutt.
You are absolutely right about the leading composers. It is difficult to find HAs for them. If at all there are , they may have been at the beginning or at the far end of their career.
I remember 2 contrasting songs composed by RDB which may fit in here
Kajare badarawa re – Pati Patni- Lata
https://youtu.be/o5UZZXyD73w
Mar dalega dard-e-jigar – Teesara Kaun- Asha
https://youtu.be/kOSzjSTjNXg
Bhatiyaji @112 to 115
I am glad that you are dvelving deeper & deeper in the ocean of HFM to fetch rare pearls. Due to my own shortcoming of selective listening , I have missed the beauty of some of them till very recently.
Previously the very name of a composer like C Arjun or Avinash Vyas was sufficient for me to turn away from their songs but SOY and it’s writers & readers have helped me to get rid of that bias.
Anita ji @ 117
Thanks for nice addition. I heard the song for the first time.
I just read songs of music on Trivia . It deals with unusual categories of songs effectively.
Muliji,
I have been visiting this blog for a couple of years and have thoroughly enjoyed many articles. I have been listening and enjoying Hindi movie songs since my childhood. Considering that this is your first article, you have done a great job. No two opinions about it. I would like to contribute a Hans Akela myself. It is a catchy song from the 1965 movie Tu Hi Meri Zindagi. Music is by Rono Mukherji and lyrics are attributed to 2 lyricists(??) – Neeraj and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eySFPCv7Db0
KB Patil,
Welcome to SOY. Good to know that you have been one of the many silent admirers of the blog.
Patil ji
Thanks for appreciation & for adding a good song. It was often heard on radio in 70s .
Dear Rahul ji,
Absolutely fascinating … i love Kumar ji’s Hans Akela but what a wonderful interpretation by you and a great choice of songs. as i was going down the list i was, of course, waiting for kabhi tanhaiyon mein yun … Kidar Sharma’s autobiography, The One and Lonely, has a very interesting story about the recording of this song. He had initially wanted Lata to sing for him but that didn’t quite happen. he sent for Mubarak Begum and when she came in for the recording she requested for some toast and tea, first, because she had gone hungry for some days!
On a different note, i believe Sakhi Robin means generous Robin. Sakhi, with the ‘kha’ from the base of the throat as in khazana, means, to the best of my knowledge, generous or benevolent.
You also said something about as one grows older … while HFM runs in my rug rug … only in the last 3 years have i started to actively re-listen to the songs of the golden era. And in the process discovered this likeminded community. May our tribe grow!
Happy New Year ALL … and continue to stay safe
Anjali
Anjali ji
It is a pleasant surprise to find that my write up should attract a comment even after a year.
Thanks for your generous appreciation.
HFM of the golden era arguably is the biggest factor of such everlasting fan following of movies of that era. There are thousands of fans who might have seen a movie just for the sake of songs and sometimes a single song. I can offhand quote ” phool Bane angare(old)” which I watched just for the song ” chand aahe bharega” .
As for SOY like you , i discovered the blog much too late ( though earlier than you).
The greatest asset of the blog is that even a person like me who does not know ABC of classical music and instruments used can relate to the write ups. Akji and other eminent writers have enriched the blog through their excellent multi dimensional analysis of the subjects and the readers have further contributed to the quality through their erudite comments.
Thank you again.