Greeting the readers on the 68th Republic Day
When I joined service, an important part of our training was to go on a 30-days’ Bharat Darshan by train. This had been sanctified by Mahatma Gandhi at the inspiration of his mentor and political guru, Gokhale, and romanticised by Richard Attenborough. In between, Abhi Bhattacharya showed kids a jhaanki of Hindustan by train. You can imagine the logistics involved in the exercise – about ten groups of a dozen officers each to be sent from one part of the country to another, stopping for different lengths of time at about eight locations, reservations in connecting trains, board & lodging and asking host organisations to impart orientation training to the group. All these in the days of snail mail and telephone, which was more a decorative piece signifying status rather than an instrument for making calls. The exercise was mindboggling. Come to think of it, all this trouble and expense was avoidable. Our film songs do a very good job of giving a Bharat Darshan. They go not only to the metros, but also to the hinterland, which is where the real India lives. They also give some interesting social and cultural information about the place, not available in any history book or tourist literature.
I have a special fascination for small towns. They are more intimate; they have a unique character; many small towns have become identified with a unique geographical indication, such as brassware of Moradabad, carpets of Mirzapur, locks of Aligarh, petha of Agra, silk of Bhagalpur, Darjeeling tea, Dehradoon basmati and so on. Some of these have got GI patents under the IPR laws. Our films have stretched the boundaries and created their own GIs, such as jhumka of Bareilly, ghaghra of Agra etc. With such wealth of information about our small towns, our film songs are the best way to go on a Bharat Darshan.
Today our Republic completes 68 years. The most spectacular part of the Republic Day celebrations is the procession of tableaux representing the culture of different regions, down Rajpath in the presence of our President and a visiting Head of State/Government (this time, ten Heads of State/Government as a part of our ‘Look East’ policy). Likewise, let us set off on a wonderful journey to small towns through our songs. The song need not be picturised in that city, but it should mention the city in a prominent way.
Banaras: Paan
1. Khaike paan Banaraswala by Kishore Kumar from Don (1978), lyrics Anjan, music Kalyanji-Anandji
Amitabh Bachchan is on the run with Zeenat Aman, being chased by the goons because they have discovered he is not the real Don. He is a fugitive from the law too, because the DSP Saheb, who could have vouchsafed for his innocence, is no more. In this hopeless situation, he bumps into a colony of Banarasi bhaiyas who offer him a paan. The paan of Banaras makes him forget all his woes, it clears his mind, and in the ecstasy, he breaks into a dance with gay abandon.
Poona: Paan
2. Poona se laayi main paan re by Sitara Devi from Aabroo (1943), music Pt Govind Ram
We have some Punekars (as also a Master punkar 
) on SoY. They can confirm if paan is such a big thing in Poona too. Sitara Devi in her ebullient style offers paan to her patrons. Jagdish Sethi, who was a prominent figure in our early films, asks naughtily, what if he does not take the paan? Sitara Devi knows how to put down such smart alecs; she promptly replies Maaroongi naino ke baan re. This paan has other ingredients from Dilli and Lucknow.
Lucknow: Clean water
3. Lucknow chalo ab rani by GM Durrani and Geeta Dutt from Sansaar (1951), lyrics Pt Indra, music ES Shastry
Here Aga persuades his lady to move to Lucknow, preferring it to Bambai as its water has gone bad.
4. Ye Lucknow ki sarzameen by Rafi from Chaudahvi Ka Chaand (1960), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Ravi
But Lucknow is known for its tahzeeb. This song by Rafi pays a tribute to the city’s history which permeates not only in its physical surroundings, but also in its culture.
Dilli/Agra
5. Tum Dilli main Agra mere dil se nikle haaye Shyam Kumar and Rafi from Pahle Aap (1944), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad
The lovers are 100 कोस apart, with one being in Dilli and the other in Agra, but the painful cry of their heart eliminates the distance. Listen to this wonderful song from the debut of Rafi in Hindi films. He plays second fiddle to Shyam Kumar, then a Naushad favourite. Even though Rafi sounds tentative, as any newcomer would be before an established singer, you can recognise the familiar voice which would rule the airwaves some years down the line.
Agra: Ghaghra
6. Agre ko ghaagre mangwa de Raja by Lata Mangeshkar and Ashalata Biswas Bholse from Laadli (1949), lyrics Nazim Panipati, music Anil Biswas
You can trust if Hindi films create a song for Agra, it would not be for Taj Mahal. I was not aware that it was so famous for its ghaghra to overshadow the Taj Mahal. Now we know the reason why UP government’s tourist promotion literature omitted any reference to the Taj Mahal. (For the uninitiated, the real reason is said to be the belief that it was actually an ancient Hindu temple, Tejo Mahalaya. 🙂 )
Bikaner: Flower girl
7. Mera naam hai Chameli main hun malan albeli chali ayi hun akeli Bikaner se by Lata Mangeshkr from Raja Aur Rank (1968), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Laxmikant-Pyarelal
My monthly grocery list includes a few packets of Bikaneri, which can be described as ready-to-eat besan noodles broken into small pieces. A town becoming synonymous with a product is the ultimate GI. Sure enough, Bikaneri bhujia has already got GI tag (see #120 in a list of 267 such Indian products). But our songs explore new frontiers. Bikaner is also famous for, if you didn’t know, its mali’s wives, who are ebullient, and if they are lonely, they would wander and dance around with their wares.
8. Ayi ayi malaniya Bikaner se by Sudha Malhotra, from Oot Patang (1955), lyrics DN Madhok, music Vinod
The malins of Bikaner have been flirtatious in the olden days too. The flower is just a pretext, she seems to be quite game for fun.
Jaipur-Bikaner
9. Main hun Jaipur ki banjaran Chanchal mera naam by Rafi and Lalita Deulkar from Saajan (1947), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music C Ramchandra
Bikaner has men too who are quite a Casanova (chhaila). The banjaran is from Jaipur, but the two are quite familiar with each other’s places and their antecedents. This makes presenting their credentials to the other party quite easy. The male from one town, and the female from another, derives its inspiration from the vintage song Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re, Mera Bambai se baalam aya re (Jhoola 1941).
Bikaner, Jaipur, Faizabad, Meerut, Ambala and Bareilly
10. Bikaner ki chunri odhun by Asha Bhsole from Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974), lyrics SH Bihari, music OP Nayyar
The Robin Hood-dacoit’s moll is dancing with gusto in all her fineries to waylay the cops. While the lady’s main focus is on Bikaner’s chunri, she is also quite enamoured of different objects from other cities, such as:
Bikaner: Chunri
Jaipur: Lenhga
Faizabad: Chudi
Meerut: Gajra
Ambala: Choli
Bareilly: Baans
I had uploaded a video of this song on the YT, courtesy Ravindra Kelkar, but it has been blocked (YT have strange ways). However, here is another link. The songs starts at 26.50. There is a bonus for OP Nayyar fans – the link contains his eight more compositions.
Bareilly: Baans
11. Wo to baans Bareilly se laya, sawan mein byahan aya by Jayshree from Dahej (1950), lyrics Shams Lakhanavi, music Vasant Desai
In the previous song, one can understand that the items of apparel and adornment can catch the fancy of a woman, but I am quite puzzled why she should be so sold on bamboo. But lest you should think that it was an oddity, it seems baans (bamboo) has long been associated with Bareilly, which was known only to Bollywood. Here Jayshree mockingly rues that the only thing her beau could think of bringing for her was baans from Bareilly. Quite clearly, jhumka as the identity of Bareilly is now passé.
Chinchpokli
12. Chinchpokli Chinchpokli by Shamshad Begum, Madan Mohan and another voice from Shabistan (1951), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music Madan Mohan
Chinchpokli is a neighbourhood of South Bombay, and it is a station on the Central line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. I gather from Wikipedia that the name is a combination of two Marathi words meaning tamarind and betel nut. Mumbaikars can throw more light on its origin; but such neighbourhoods with name like this have all the characteristics of a small town. The song goes deeper into its character – young boys and girls are quite baawra and baawri and if the two meet up they start dancing with abandon. Shabistan turned out to be the last film of Shaym who met a tragic death during the shooting from the fall from a horse.
Ludhiana
13. Naam mera Nimmo muqaam Ludhiana by Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey and Dwijen Mukherjee from Sapan Suhane (1961), lyrics Shailendra, music Salil Chaudhary
Ludhiana is the seat of the famous Punjab Agricultural University and a hub of different industries, such as bicycle, woollen garments, hosiery, auto spare parts etc. But here lives Nimmo (Helen) who fires up the street with her dance and song with Bhagwan and Chandrashekhar.
Kashi/Patna/Kalkatta
14. Kashi hile Patna hiley Kalkatta hile la by Manna Dey from Dangal (Bhojpuri film, 1977), music Nadeem Shravan
Dangal marked the second phase of super successful Bhojpuri films which had started with Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo in 1962. The first phase of Bhojpuri films had music by Chitragupta. Manna Dey sings this song based on a traditional Bhojpuri folk song.
Ara/Chhapra/Ballia: Shake the whole district
Manna Dey’s Bhojpuri, however, is not the real thing. There are dozens of YT videos of the traditional style of this song with varying degree of raunchiness. Brace yourself for this song from a pure Bhojpuri film. The song has a generic form: ‘A’ shakes, ‘B’ shakes, ‘C’ shakes/ When my waist wiggles the whole district shakes – A, B and C being towns of the Bhojpuri belt. In this case, Ara, Chhapra and Ballia are district headquarters of the eponymous districts.
15. Ara hile Chhapra hile Ballia hile la, Hamri lachake jab kamariya by Indu Sonali from Khoon Pasina (2012), lyrics/music Ashok Kumar Deep
Ara reminds me of a recent film Ara Ki Anarkali. The film brings alive Ara and its culture – the raunchy stage dancer, the wild whistles, and more. The significance of the film lies in its message: the lady’s dance may be vulgar – which she has to perform for a living – she may not be a Sati Savitri, but she too has a choice and the right to say ‘No’. Anu Warrier has written a very nice review of the film.
{ 107 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent post Akji,
I wish you and all SoY readers happy republic day.
I want to suggest a correction, I think the singers for Agare ko ghagro are Ashalata biswas and Lata Mangeshkar.
I also want to mention a song from Aur Pyar Ho Gaya.
Luk Chhup Ke Main Ghoomi by Asha Bhosle,
In one of the stanza, she mentions about Bhopal ka gutka
Lehenga from nainital.
Suramedani from barreling…. And so on
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqq7txdL5hI
Delightful post, AK. I’d been meaning to do one along these lines for some time now, but haven’t got around to it – and don’t think I will in a hurry, since you have done a far better job of it than I ever could (there are several songs in your list I’d never heard of).
Here’s one, though, that I also like, which extols the virtues of Shimla as a cool alternative to the searing heat of the plains in June:
Hai yeh June ka mahina from Mud-mud ke na Dekh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1kpP7F8Eg
And (I am quick to assert that I don’t like this song), this used to be very popular once upon a time. Aati kya Khandala:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vElUehYQ1ns
We may also think of the songs
Eit ki dukki pawn ka Oklahoma from Howrah bridge
And
Yeh hai Bombay Meri jaan from CID.
Oh God,
Auto-correct is hopeless. I may a times think that it mainly irritates us than being of any help at all.
The second song Eit ki dukki paan ka ikka
Excellent theme AK, and very apt for today.
The first thought that came to my mind was why film songs have failed to mentioned Jhumri Talaiya, forever associated with HFM. Fortunately Jagga Jasoos has made up for this omission:
https://youtu.be/exUQkIkyBBI
There is Amabarsariya from ‘Fukrey’ about Amritsar, also called Ambarsar by locals:
https://youtu.be/0m_-gNQvfoI
Let’s not forget Raipur, mentioned in ‘Sasural genda phool’ from ‘Delhi 6’:
https://youtu.be/0m_-gNQvfoI
Anup,
Thanks a lot for correction in the name of the singer in the song Aagre ko ghaghro. The dance of Aishwarya Roy to the song Luk chhup ke main ghumi is so fascinating. Alas, she is not the same now. Eint ki dukki is on a metro, Calcutta, which I propose to cover in the next part.
Madhu,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Hai ye June ka mahina perfectly fits to the theme. Thanks for adding it. I was also quite puzzled by the popularity of Aati kha Khandala, but fits in the theme. If you had plans to write on the theme, you must.
Subodh,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. It is nice that someone remembered Jhumritilaiya. Thanks for adding it. I didn’t know about Amabarasiya. The link of Sasural genda phool is not correct. Here is the link.
AKji,
Wonderful post. Long back, for one of my assignments I had to do a study of all townships in Tamilnadu, big and small. Some of the best references on the smallest ones I could find were in the Gazetteers written by ICS/IAS officers, British and Indian. Unfortunately, that practice seems to have been discontinued.
Here is ‘Aagre ka lalaa’ (Asha and Usha in Dus Lakh; MD: Ravi).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiDUlTn1R30
Canasya,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. District Gazetteers were classics. These were brought out along with the decennial census/cadastral surveys. They were keen to learn everything about the land they were going to rule. The survey & settlement operations have gone out of vogue. And the motivation/need for such documents is perhaps not there.
Aagre ka lala is such a nice song. Thanks a lot.
A zinger of a post, AK! While I don’t think ‘paan’ is really that big of a thing in Pune, Kolhapur is certainly known for its spicy cuisine. Here is a ‘laavni’ from ‘Ashanti’ featuring Shabana Azmi, Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman, and with the vocals provided by the Mangeshkar sisters, that refers to the Kolhapuri chilli:
‘Laaungi mirchi main Kolhapur ki’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bgips-ag_M
Ashok Kumar mentions the names of 26 villages/towns/cities in this rap song from ‘Aashirwaad’. The song also paints a pretty vivid picture of the scenes from a train journey in India:
‘Rail gaadi’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUWLmC1r6aQ
I, and I am sure many others, came to know of the existence of Usilampatti, a town in Tamilnadu, through this A.R.Rahman song from ‘Gentleman’:
Usilampatti penkutti:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHiCNVxADaQ
Like Madhu, I too had a ‘list’ in place but I do like your idea of ‘Bharat Darshan’ – that hadn’t occurred to me at all. 🙂
Some of the songs you listed are new to me. But from my list:
Bombay to Goa from the eponymous film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxamnskL7Tc
Kashmir ki kali hoon main from Junglee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kf0we1b4-Y
The ultimate ‘Bombay’ song:
Ae dil hai mushkil jeena yahan from C.I.D.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7EjxI27aMc
Another one: Main Bambai ka babu from Naya Daur
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_3EhfozajQ
And I’ve been wondering about the Agre ki ghaagra – now I need to go find one. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1MljwiHe0s
T.M.Soundararajan singing ‘Kashmir, beautiful Kashmir’ for MGR in the Tamil ‘Idhaya Veenai'(1972) starring MGR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7g6ChklGAY
Several scenes of this movie were shot right in front of our house in Madras, and I had bunked school to watch the shooting. For those who are interested and curious :), our house is the one that features prominently in the background from 20:47 to 21:32 :). In fact the Ambassador car that we had at that time and that served our family well for years can be seen towards the end of the scene. The backdrop in the scenes featuring the boys smoking is our compound wall. The porch of our house features in close-up in the scene in which Manjula and Lakshmi walk out of the gate at 32:22, and once again in the scene beginning 42:36 in which Manjula walks out of the same gate. If only the cameraman had zoomed in to the window overlooking the porch in the latter scene, he would have captured the boy version of me for ever on celluloid 🙂 – I have vivid memories of watching the scene being shot. The name plates of the house (which still carry my grandfather’s name and the name of the house) have been pasted over though.
The link to the movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2sXmeqWsog
Ashwin,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Usilampatti was new to me. I don’t think it figured in the Hindi version. Laungi mich of Kolhapur is really hot. Thanks a lot for adding these songs.
Anu,
I am as keen to see your list as Madhu’s. Now it seems Agra is the place for ghaghra. I thought it was Rajasthani. I am covering metro songs in the next part.
Ashwin,
I am flattered that we have a celebrity in our midst. 🙂
One more song mentioning kolhapur
Thumake jhoomake… Main kolhapur se aayi hoon from Anjaam
Madhuri dancing a lawani
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ6Wu6Fj8-I
One more lawani from a Marathi film
Performed by none other than Rekha
It mentions names of small cities in Maharashtra
Lonavla
Khandala
Panhala etc.
It’s a Marathi song
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTtd6aYw_ek
AK@17: 🙂
There are mentions of Dehradoon in the popular Shamshad-Chitalkar duet, “Mere piya gaye rangoon’ from ‘Patanga’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbErQRZZNKY
Anup,
Too good! Mirch of Kolhapur again. Lavani is a very lively dance form. Thanks for adding the songs.
Ashwin,
Sure.
Nagore is a coastal town in Tamilnadu that is famous for its dargah of a Sufi saint. Here’s a link to a popular devotional song, ‘Nallamanasil kudiyerukkum nagoraandava’ from the film, ‘Anaiyavilakku’. The singer is Nagore Hanifa, who was also known as the voice of the DMK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkEBmnqyxr8
AK ji;
I cherish your ideals ; I cherish your vision ; Cherish the music that stirs many hearts .
A lovely topic on this appropriate day and that too after watching live the lovely republic day parade ; reminding us all when we as kids used to watch it live in the lawns of Raj path [ earlier known as Kingsway ] . With my living around General Post Office [ also known as Gole Dak Khana ] from mid 40s to mid 60s and my father holding senior post in the Govt. of India it was really a fun following the extended period of British Raj and living in Lutyen bungalows where any thing happening good was at stone throw . The world ‘s most famous dignitaries used to pass thru right in front of our house at Irwin Road [ now known as Baba Kharak Singh Marg ]. Watching Beating Parade is another charm that we never used to miss.
I am surely adding up the already posted parade of songs by fellow contributors . I see that the songs relates to small towns , as part 1 . So here are a few songs …..
1. Brindavan ka krishan kanhaiya…..Lata, Rafi….Miss Mary….HK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTvZuQ2-bYk
2. Lelo lelo phool jani lelo….Shamshad , Zorabai, Rafi….Jadoo..Naushad ….[ the wording jhansi ke phool comes at the end ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMBWSMx59Sk
3. Ghoda pishori mera Tanga Lahori mera……Rafi….Pyar Ka Bandhan…..Ravi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vkkxunFP-g&t=43s
4. Ae Shahre Lukhnow tujhe ….Rafi….Palki…..Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFWJbONA830
5. Murli baairan bahi kanhaiya….Lata….New Delhi….SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufVvFl5Fc6k
…..to be contd.
Ashwin,
Nice song. Is there a Nagore in Rajasthan too?
KS Bhatiaji,
The Republic Day Parade and Beating the Retreat can fill any Indian with a sense of pride. But we are suddenly jolted to the darker side. About the same time some valorous Sena was pelting stones on a bus carrying schoolchildren in protest against a film they had not seen.
All the songs are supremely melodious. Thanks. We have such a huge wealth of city songs.
The delightful ‘Dilli se aaya bhai tingoo’ sung by Binota Chakravarty (née Vinata Amladi) under Vinod’s baton (and he features in the song sequence) for ‘Ek thi ladki’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj2_67jhv5Y
If a constitution would have to be drafted on Bharat Darshan, the prelude of this post will unanimously be adopted as its preamble.
Great Post, and equally great add-ons.
Looking forward to a Metro ride….
AK@25,
My Google search revealed that the town in Rajasthan is Nagaur and that it has a Sufi shrine as well.
…..in continuation from songs @24 , here are a few more ;
6. Chhor Chale aaj hamare raam…..Ayodhaya Pati…..HK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPuG8bNHspo
7. Kashi dekhi Mathura dekhi……Nagin……HK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFb1dFmpLyY
8.Holi khele nandlal……Majumdar…..Rahi……Anil Biswas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnJNkbGhnv4
9. Dharti kyun viprit huyi….Manna dey, Lata…Sampooran ramayan..Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOw9wz4NeOI
10. Holi khelat nandlal biraj mein….Rafi…Godaan…..Ravi Shankar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-4nRKGRRAM
…..to be continued.
Ashwin,
What a unique coincidence of Nagaur! ‘Dilli se aya tingoo’ is my favourite. But this post is on small towns. Let us keep metros for next.
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
KS Bhatiaji,
Such nice songs. Thanks. Kasi dekhi Mathura dekhi is my great favourite. A perfect small city song. Right upfront.
Ak ‘ ji;
Some time I feel proud and luckey also to have chosen Water Engineering Service after my selection thru UPSC services exams . Designing big dams and power houses and inspecting them during construction from time to time gave me many opportunities to visit and even live in small towns which i really had enjoyed during my service . Of course many Dak bungalows and Guest Houses are there but living in jungles of some nearby projects is altogether different .
During Doordarshan days , we all used to watch….Malgudi Days…serial with great interest . Every one , including myself , used to wonder where this town is , that looks so neat and clean , inhabited with simple natured people . The town overall looked very sleepy but everyone doing their work with a sort of slow speed …….never in a hurry . The factual position showed that the Malgudi is a fictional town of the writer and the shooting has been done in one of the town of south india known by Agumbe .
Once , during my plan to inspect Pykara hydroelectric Project in south Nilgiri’s , I had a great experience of finding a town quite similar to Malgudi by the name of Masinagudi . The town is just at the foothills of Nilgiris at a crossing where the road leads the uphill 36 hair bends right upto OOTY . This town slowly has developed into holiday attraction and many tourists drops here to go to Mysore Wild Life Sanctuary as well . Surrounding this area are many attractive houses of the period of british raj built deep in side the forest , well protected by live low voltage fencing …… a precautionary measure to scare away wild animals. Now taking bonfire dinner in dark with wild howls of animal voices was an experience that i cannot forget. The Project which is complete now is worth a visit too . The earlier phase of this project was completed during 30s and the power house of that time is declared as a heritage site . So , a must visit for those who enjoy the Banglore, Mysore and Ooty trip .
Here is a title music of Malgudi Days serial of DD times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLHE5KnVpPk
KS Bhatiaji,
I can relate to your nostalgic memories of small towns. You have been lucky to be posted to some really far-off, but beautiful places.
…..continuing from songs @30 , here are some more.
11. O pawan veg se udne wale …..Lata….Jai Chitod….SNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRyrKgqxv-0
12. Hamara pyara hindustan….Rafi, ?….Jhansi ki rani….Vasant Desai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3wXqjvHSU
….in continuation ,
13. Jao chahe dilli mumbai agra….S. Chauhan…Kurakshetra…H.R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UESUwJB8-o
14.Main Jatt Ludhiyanewala…Alka, Udit…Loh Purush..Dilip, Sameer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UESUwJB8-o
15. Bul tere ne chandigarh de….Rafi, Asha…Nanak naam jahaz hai..SM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UESUwJB8-o
……to be contd.
…..link corrected.
15. Bul tere ne chandigarh de…Rafi, Asha..Nanak naam jahaz hai…SM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DExVlKjygQg
KS Bhatiaji,
Thanks for the additional songs. Except Pawan veg se udanewale ghode, the others were new to me. It seems hardly any corner of India is untouched by our songs.
A very “Hatake” subject is this “Bharat Darshan” and well written too, and plenty of bright comments by various film lovers and memories. I enjoyed their reading. I like the sentence from Anu Warrier’s comment @ 14 “…..I do like your idea of ‘Bharat Darshan’ – that hadn’t occurred to me at all.” Note the last words in the sentence. I wish I could write like that. And Ashwin Bhandarkar seemed to have busted the dam and let out the memories fall in the cascades and he used the wonderful word “Zinger” of a subject. Indeed so.
In the film “Duniya Na Maane” 1937 produced by Prabhat and directed by V.Shantaram there are two songs which tell the greatness of India that perhaps the organiser of the trip AK and colleagues took, had in mind. Following are the two songs sung by Vasanti who married to Karan Diwan:
1) Aha Bharat Piyara Hai, Woh Jag-mein Niyara Hai
2) Bharat Shobha-mein Hai Sabse Aalaa, Har Mahinemein Nirala.
Ashwin Bhadarkar’s comment about the delicacy of Paan, I would like to say whenever we went to Poona, we found the PaanPatti shops had following words written on their mirror “Saadha Paan, Puneri Paan, Jadrda Paan, Calcutta Paan and Banarasi Paan.”
Little girls or women of the respected family were never allowed near the PaanPatti shops but men could go and buy the various Paans.
We all liked Puneri Paan” which had all sweet Masala and aroma, contrary to the Jarda Paans which were made from tender and aromatic powder of tobacco.
Recently I visited Southall during Xmas time. Southall is called “Little India”
They had exactly Indian PaanPatti Shops and little various Massala pots exhibiting by the mirror. One PaanPatti was priced “£1.50”.
The sterling exchange to rupee is at present £1.00= 86 Rupees. I did not eat the Paan just smelt the aroma of the Masala.
The word “Puneri” is equivalent to the Hindi word “Hatake”. There is Puneri Missal, Puneri Halwa, and Puneri Manus and so on which means a man from Poona with a different stroke.
Incidentally since the arrival of huge number of Bangaldeshi people in England who are fond of eating Paans more than any other community, the British National Health has been very conscious about the Paan eating habit of the Indians.
Every time I visited a Hospital I had to fill in a form and declare that I do not eat Paan. According to my doctor the Paan eating leads the complication of mouth and throat diseases and the Tobacco chewing may cause cancer in stomach, mouth and throat.
Ah, the fun of people in India doing their artwork on the walls in the public area with their skilled “Pichkari”! If only they know that the “Paan” has the enjoyment but a fatal sting in it.
Many filmy people are addicted to eating Paan! Among them S.D.Burman who would carry his metal box along with already made Paans probably by his wife very lovingly.
I remember when the Screen Weekly was launched first time our girly company would buy it and read it from page to page.
Once we found, on the front page a news item with Nargis and Raj returning to India from their American Trip. In the picture at Calcutta Raj Kapoor was buying Paans for himself and Nargis. And in the column Nargis enjoying and said something like “It is so wonderful to be back and eating Paan. We are now really home!”
Shalan Lal
Shalan Lal,
That’s a nice paan story. The doctors who are panning it are doing a great disservice to something which has such a pan-India appeal. Of course pandering to any fancy to excess is not a good thing. 🙂
AK,
Well chosen topic and excellent post. Many songs posted by you are new to me.Of course veterans like Bhatiaji, Shalan Lal and others have embellished the article with their experiences and more such songs.
You have started with a song from “Don”. I think you have left out the other one “yeh hai bumbai nagariya” to be added in your forth coming post on metros. Waiting to ride on the metro.
Ashwin,
I am not sure you have watched another Tamil movie: “Makkalaip petra Maharasi”(late fifties). There is a song there starting,”Manappara maadu katti” This song mentions names of many small towns in Tamilnadu which were famous for articles/activities mainly connected to agriculture. It was a very popular song during those days.
AK@39
Very interesting comment AKJi. You seemed to have beaten up in your “Punniness” to arch Punny commenter Mr Ashwin Bhandarkar who is perhaps so called because he has an immense Bhaandar (store) of puns.
SoY people should excuse me for aping to be “P (f)unny! with my puny (paltry) Punniness . I shall not go this way again.
Shalan La
With reference to the song number 12 “ChinchPokali” I think AK’s information is correct as the place once upon a time was full of trees of Chinch-Imali and Supari- the hard nut used in worship and finely desiccated in the venerable “Paan”.
If one will try to find out the roots of the names of place in the vast metropolitan city of Mumbai/Bombay one will have a journey into the history of Bombay. The city Bombay was named after Goddess Mumba a variation on the Goddess Durga or Goddess Laxmi. There is an ancient temple of Mumba in the heart of Bombay’s Jewarat Bazar.
But as the Portuguese owned it by force they called it Bon Bay -polished it to Bombay to match it to Mumabi now called officially. Mumbai was there from ancient time.
The GIP/Central Rly station was once called “Boribundar. Once the place was full of berry bushes.
There is a station on the local railway called Masjid Bundar. It was due to the synagogue of early Jewish people who became Marathi Jews or called Saturday Brahmin as they worship on the Saturday. Now the place is dominated by Muslims and the synagogue was turned into a mosque by the middle of the 19th century.
The Name Dadar is because the place was climbing steps when Bombay was in seven islands. The breaches in between the seven islands were filled in by the East India company who got it from their king who got it as dowry for marrying a Portuguese princess.
Many have written books on Bombay among them old colonialists English, modern historians and Non-Marathi Bombay citizens and plenty of Marathi scholars disputing the views of the other people.
And so on. This is another “Bharat Darshan”!
Shalan Lal
Giriji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Yes, metros are coming in another post.
Shalan Lal,
No one can beat the Punekar in punning. If he starts, it would open a Pandora’s box. The paan-dan is in itself a kind of the mythical box where pandemonium prevails with kattha, choona, supari, and loose coins in the bottom compartment.
Porbunder : Mohandas Gandhi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfx4leB4NWA
Sabarmati : Sant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIKLTEtntI8
Ms. Shalan lal , AK, Giri [ji’s] ,
What to do with your fading memory when words like …..small town , paan, metal , dams……jumble upon each other and leaves no options but to recycle them to refresh your own memory .
Well some exploration made me think of a small town of the 50s which made into a large one as development and rapid urbanisation unfolded. The small town that everyone knows is Jhumri Telaiya . Telaiya is the pond or lake formed by one of the dam of damodar valley and Jhumri is the town . The place is blessed with rich mines of mica [ known as abrak ] and as such the place is inhabited by rich businessmen living in large bungalows. With passing time and arrival of digital technology the govt. too established Jharkhand Mineral Development Corporation . The mica was a great wealth for the state and same was exported to many countries for its use in military and defence systems ….but only till 90s . the demand gradually diminished with the arrival of synthetic fibre .
BUT ; the origin of popularity of this town was a person who used to send a number of request to Vivedh bharti , radio ceylon and other channels of AIR . The largest number of requests were received by these channels from Jhumri Telaiya . This popularity brought other people to join the race of sending maximum number of songs in a day…..competing between rich and poor alike ; as also, from radio repairing shops to paanwaalas .
The popularity of this town is reflected in the following three songs spanning different eras….
16. Mein to jhumri telaiya se aye hun……Mounto [1975]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy08dUauLGs
17. Jhumri telaiya se pahunchi washington…..Hitler[ 1998]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBEHHf86zKY&t=63s
18. Jhumri telaiya mera gaon……Jagga Jasoos [2017]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exUQkIkyBBI
Well the first two songs are pedestrian in nature , the third one impressed me with visual delight . The cinematography with high tone colors is excellent and reminds me the same that were superbly used in the award winning french movie ….AMELIE .
Some additional songs for continuity….
19. Aate hi kashi se hokar….MK…Kailashpati….SNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJhMaePvorM
20. Paan khaiye saiyan hamaro…Asha…Teesri Kasam…SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB3aGlSv95I
…..to be contd.
Mumbaikar8, KS Bhatiaji,
At this rate we would have to search the towns on which songs have not been made.
Bhatiaji,
What nostalgia and revival of Jhumri Tilaiya on SoY! It was a part of folklore, and many people thought it to be a mythical town. Jhumri Tilaiya se panhuchi also mentions Nainital and Bhopal (Washington is erroneous).
Oh!
that means Jhumari talaiyya is actually a place in India?
Which state is it in?
anyone knows?
Anup,
You confirmed the folklore! It is a town, now in Jharkhand; before creation of the new state it was in Bihar.
ksabhatia @ 45 and all other devoted members of “SoY”
Here is the lyric of the fabulous Beatles song and it is better on the record:
In My Life
There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
[Piano Solo]
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
Have an enjoyable time with the post and comments!
Shalan La
Ms. Shalan Lal , AK ji ;
Thanks for your appreciation and for the beatles song . The songs of 60s and 70s were great when the lyrics were simple and melodies to get swayed with .
When I was just four or five year old and perhaps in first standard , my mother used to recite hindi poems and one among those was…..chal mere ghore timbuktu…… . This poem was my fav. for the reason that i could not understood what this strange word was ; neither my brothers and sisters could tell me about it .
Later on after so many years …..it was clear that Timbuktu is an actual small town which later on developed and rose to become an important city of western African Country Mali . Located in Sahara desert near river Niger , this place was an important trading post for trans -saharan caravan route. During 14 th century people used to buy Gold in exchange of Salt , Slaves and Clothes . Timbuktu was captured by France in 1894 They partly restored the city from desolate condition ; but surprisingly no connecting railway and hard surface roads were built . In 1960 it became a part of the independent Republic of Mali.
Timbuktu , as of now is an administrative centre of Mali. Small Salt caravan do arrive ; but the large -scale Trans- Saharan commerce no longer exists there. Although the city has small Airport but it is mostly reached by Camel and Boats. Timbuktu has the history of having gone many cycles of droughts which leads to many helping hands for improving upon agriculture and irrigation practices.
BUT….why Timbuktu in our school poems and songs when the place hardly exists in India ?
Not before but now it exists in the name of …..Timbuktu Collective…..a little community in Andhra Pradesh at Cheenekothapalli , District Anantapur . The place that many years ago had series of drought too , put many farmers in rethinking mode and changed the irrigation and agricultural methods that were adopted during green revolution era and shifted to wholly organic approach. Run by many dedicated scientist and farmers this community has really shown a path of sustainable agriculture thru grass root levels. They live where there is no network , no mobile, no electricity , no tv and no internet ….and hence these positive results.
Now before few songs featuring Timbuktu . ….here is a dialogue that Rajendra nath uttered when deporting a railway train …. Ab mein zindgi mein kabhi bhi raat ko railway station per nahin uttroan ga , chhaye wo timbuktu kyun na ho ….. probably from The Train or Jaanwar .
21. Hey gali gali gyaa timbuktu….Kishore….Jhoomroo….KK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq7Z1ftlAYo
22. akaad bakaad timbuktu…kishore….Bhagyawan…Bhappi Lehri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDkm50UDoIY
…..to be contd.
kasbhatia @ 51
टिम्बुकटू / टिमबुक्टु / तिंबक्तू
You have gone to see most of the meanings of the word “Timbuktu” and a very fine example from the Hindi poem.
It was in the regular use in English of the English people in a comic way to a place unknown in Africa as the explorers in Europe went around the world to explore everything after Renaissance.
The city “Timbuktu” was and is famous for the Islamic knowledge and had in good days of the rise of Islam had a scholastic place for the learners of Islamic knowledge.
When in seventies the political correctness came people started to refrain the use of “Timbuktu” the way they were using.
It looks that the Indian were using it in similar way the British were using it as India had very long English language and culture domination.
I was aware the Hindi poem you have quoted and now you have refreshed it.
From the examples you have quoted it seems that the Indians have not done the political correctness yet.
Shalan Lal
Ms. Shalan Lal ;
While a trail of Timbuktu exists in India in the form of community ; in a similar manner ”Timbuktu Theatre and gardens “exists in the Busch Gardens , Tampa , Florida . A disneyland like African themed Animal and Sea world park . Zoo and Aquarium are the added attractions besides Animal safaris and bird watching .
I , along with my family and grand daughters , visited this place in our June , 2012 vacations and enjoyed a lot . I made a DVD of my vacation and enjoy viewing the same in the company of friends and relatives.
But , alas ! Timbuktu got replaced by Pantopia in 2014 . Up gradations with 4D supplements in Timbuktu theatre reasoned to conversion . Still the enviornment is same but emotional attachment to the word…TIMBUKTU….has gone for ever .
Some addition of songs for continuity……
23. Bure bhi hum bhalle bhi hum / kamar meri laatu……Kishore, Asha….Banarsi Babu…..KA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFiTKfeJuQw
24. Nandlala holi khele ….Mukesh, Rafi, Asha…Mastana…LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcaWbulK2Nw
…..to be contd .
ksbhatia @ 45
From your first quote “What to do with your fading memory ”
Here is Hemant K’s very heart rendering private song “Ab Yaad Hamen Kyon Aatii Ho ?
This is a non-filmy song of Hemant Kumar, Lyric by Faiyyaz Hashmi. And composed by Casanova from my cassette. No date is found about it.
अब याद हमें क्यों आती हो
उजड़ गई दुनिया अपनी
याद हमें क्यों आती हो
दिल में अब वो ज़ोर कहाँ
बेकार हमें तड़पाती हो
याद हमें क्यों आती हो
हँसी हँसी मेँ रुला गये तुम
बने हुए को मिटा गये तुम
बीते गीत पुराने हो गए
उन को फिर क्यों गाती हो
याद हमें क्यों आती हो
दिल को खिलौना जान के तोड़ा
हम को पागल बना के छोड़ा
अब भी क्या जी भरा नहीं है
जो यूँ हमें जलाती हो
याद हमें क्यों आती हो
I wonder who is this Casanova? And there are plenty of songs about “Yaad” in the Hindi popular culture. I wonder if somebody would like to do a post about similarity and dis-similarity of the theme.
Shalan Lal
AK ji;
A lot has been said about Hindustan, Bharat , India , watan , in its praise thru beautiful stories, poems and songs …..some aggressive and some polite . There is one song which I think is sweetest to the core rendered in the simplest way and that is……
25. Bharat shoba mein hai sab se aala…..Vasanti…Duniya Na Mane[1937]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrVSRrpDzv4
Shalan Lal @55, It could be Francisco Casanova who was the principal of the Calcutta School of Music. He was Spanish and could play the flute , the clarinet and the saxophone. He had conducted bands in Paris before he came to India in 1930. He helped arrange songs for Pankaj Mullick “Mone robe kina robe amare” etc.
KS Bhatiaji,
Nice song. This was mentioned earlier by Shalan Lal.
SSW @57
Thanks for your help. The song ” Ab Yaad Hamein Quein Aati Ho!” is a superb melody and I thought it has western type of fast rhythm. It is a superb song and Hemant K has rendered it equally well.
I wonder if this composer Casanova has done any more in Hindi and any other Indian languages.
His contribution is very unique. Are there more non-Indians composers?
Of course some Govan musicians have done great jobs and names like “Chick Chocolate” has got his name as Music director .
When Lata M came to London and she used the “Wren” Orchestra for all her concerts I was very curious that how could they synchronised with the song and as well Lata’s voice.
I talked to few and they showed me their scores and also told me their places in the songs and they had put their marks in English.
Wonders of Lata was also astonished me that she had only her Lyrics written “Chopadi” with no marks or scores like in the West we have music written on the Stave.
I think the musicians developed sharp memories and that keeps their memory in shipshape.
Very much obliged for your good information.
Shalan La
Ms.Lal, our Mr.Venkataraman has written about Francisco Casanova in a place not a million miles from here. 🙂
https://www.songsofyore.com/rabindra-sangeet-and-pankaj-mullick/
Notating the basic melody of our film songs is pretty much the same as notating western songs. However the variations in solo instruments etc are more difficult to put down as are our vocal variations around the primary note and the movement from one note to another.
While western music notation too has actual symbols to indicate how the pieces should be played they don’t cover all the variations in melodic interpretation and possibly very little in rhythmic variations in Indian music .
SSW ;
Thanks for the link on Rabindra sangeet and Pankaj mullick by Mr. Venkatraman ji . The article is truly amazing and what follows as comments and observations are excellent. Its a history revisited.
Some reference to Casanova are there in one beautiful book available on Google and here is link to that …..
Salil Chowdhury’s First Life and Mass Songs
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=7CXsDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT71&lpg=PT71&dq=casanova+music+director&source=bl&ots=De8zfFI1f3&sig=_EVWTZ5Dy-6lrFHsUXF8YQmdRGE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjttqPtoI_ZAhWDULwKHW1sDkUQ6AEIczAJ#v=onepage&q=casanova%20music%20director&f=false
The book is full of information on MDs and singers of those times and deals exhaustively with the orchestra and arrangers of those times .
A song for the continuity…..
26.Ek Din Lahore Ki thandi sadak…..Shamshad, Lata, Rafi…Sagai..CR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju8XHZr5yfM
Mr.Bhatia @61, that book was written by Dr.Samir Gupta who was a good friend of Salilda’s and wrote several books on him. He was a orthopaedic surgeon and passed away in 2016, I believe .
SSW @ 60 63 and ksbhatia @ 61 & 62
I thank you both for wonderful information and I shall follow the references.
Shalan La
SSW@60 and 63
I now read the post
“rabindra-sangeet-and-pankaj-mullick” written by honorable Mr. Venkatraman and praise him for his hard work and very useful information on Francisco Casanova and other information.
I feel that there are two articles or at least the need to separate Rabindrasangeet and Pankaj Mullick.
Venkatramnji mentions Naushad. In my reading of the articles written I his diary by Naushad he mentioned that in the beginning of his career he was very much impressed by the music of the New Theatre and also by Rabindra Sangeet. He said he would listen to both for hours in his spare time and watch the films of New Theatre again and again.
So he could have naturally got the speed and melodic structure of Pankaj Mullic to present creativity in his songs of Deedar and similar in the Anmol Ghadi.
I think Rabindra Sangeet made music accessible to all people and also socially acceptable as well.
Shalan La
Shalan Lal,
It is interesting OP Nayyar also acknowledged that he was deeply influence by New Theatres music.
AK @ 66
Yes indeed so. Recent articles on OP mentioned that OP liked the music of the New Theatre.
The period of thirties and forties! The Talking, Singing films were a phenomenon in India and all were attracted to this new entertainment.
Many hopeful artists like Naushad wanted to be as good as the music of the New Theatre as Saigal, K.C.Dey, Uma Shashi, Pankaj Mullick etc. and others made their songs and singing very popular.
Both Naushad and OP seemed to be more influenced by the easy fast rhythm of the songs of Pankaj Mullick and so they recreated that effect in their selected songs.
But the composers in late forties and later were not much into the music of the New Theatre. They started making searches into folks, clubs and other places.
Barasaat was more Punjabi and Pahadi than Bombaiya of C.Ramchandra.
So started the golden age of the Hindi Film Music and an unforgettable thirst for light music by common people who never had such culture before.
It is good for the Indians as something of their own when Britain started losing the grip on Indian social aspiration.
There is more one can see in Indian golden age than just a honeyed taste for music.
Shalan Lal
This song from the opening scenes of the Kannada classic ‘Chomana Dudi’, based on Shivaram Karanth’s novel of the same name, has mentions of towns like Puttur, Mangalore, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymUz0jtniTU
Ashwin,
Dekho dekho dekho is a perfect Bharat Darshan song. Bioscope’s were meant for that kind of ‘darshan’.
‘Kismet’ song may because of the references to Taj Mahal and Qutab Minar, but Humein ye duniyawale may not. I couldn’t find any mention of cities. I don’t think there was a third distinct voice in the song. There is a chorus, though.
Mangalore, Puttur – now we are really covering the diversity of India.
Thanks a lot for these additions.
AK ji;
One more song from Kashi.
Chhupa chhupi o chhupi…..Lata, Manna Dey….Savera….Sailesh Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV7yRFRuPuU
Bhatiaji , as per your wish I am visiting the post on small towns.
Among the small towns, Benaras holds a special charm. Banaras is popular for many things but Paan is synonymous to this place. When you speak of Benaras one remembers the River Ganges and its several Ghats, temples like Kasi Vishwanath mandir, Kasi Vishalakshi / Annapurna mandir, Sankat Mochan Hanuman mandir, Kaal Bhairav mandir to name a few. Varanasi and its narrow lanes are also well known for its bulls. Banarasi saree, I believe was an integral part of North Indian wedding and bride’s dress. Another feature of Benaras was the Bajras. Up until the 1930s, there are accounts of the soirees set on vessels as they drifted down the river, the sounds of music and ghungroos drifting across the waters to the masses packing the ghats. But from mid 30s the courtesan driven culture became untouchable, the bajra/barge and all that they represented — the arts, the rich rasiks and everything connected to it almost sank without a trace. Varanasi also represents and signifies the rich musical heritage of this ancient city. Its tabla gharānā is one of the six most common styles of playing of the tabla. Banaras is also celebrated for its Thumris, tremendously influenced by the local dialect. Benaras has an illustrious lineage of Katahak Gurus and artists. One should not forget the street food and sweets, bhangs and thandai. The list is unending. But among all these, Banarasi Paan holds a coveted position. I am not sure when Banaras / Kashi found a place in Indian films and its songs. I will come to the songs later.
Going back to the 1950s, Satyajit Ray shot Aparajito (1956) in Benaras, capturing its ghats and the majestic Ganga in an unforgettable panorama. Satyajit ray had a great fascination for Kashi. He was so fond of this place and its visual appeal. l I feel, nobody had captured Benaras so vividly in the camera before Stayajit Ray, in a feature film. . The way he showed Benaras and life in Benaras on screen (Aparajito) was remarkable. The film begins with a long shot from the window of a train crossing the Dufferin or the Malviya Bridge that joins Varanasi with Mughalsasrai. Thus the city is introduced. Just after the title (3:00), the train carrying Apu and his parents, Harihar and Sarbajaya,,crosses the bridge over Ganga and enters Benaras. The next three and half minutes, Satyajit Ray’s camera captures the majestic river, its ghats and its narrow lanes etc. brilliantly. Here is the clipping. The next 45 minutes is all Benaras.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xziaba
You can find the relevant portion from 3:00 to 6:33, 9:58 to 10:45, 12:13 to 15:06, 18:15 to 19:46, 22:22 to 20:08 (kasha vishwanth Mandir), 28:12 to 30:25, 34:55 to 37:00, 40:49 to 43:06 and 44:55 to 45:40
If is too tiring to watch the entire 45 minutes, here are few clippings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zge4SccVBiU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og67B3Xt7OI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68lLeM6Q5SY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMGNWBxBkKI
I would like to post two more clippings of Banaras from Satyajit Ray’s film, Joy Baba Felunath (1979). Both the clippings are accompanied by Bhajans rendered by Reba Muhuri.
The Banaras Ghat scene starts from 2:27. Here we can hear Reba Muhuri rendering the Bhajan Mohe Lagi Lagan Guru Charanan Ki. Maganlal Megraj (Utpal Dutt ) makes his entry on a Bajra. (4:16).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccuoi2KnUOE
Here the scene starts at 7:00 with the Bhajan, Hey Gobinda Rakho Sharan. Again at 10:19, Maganlal Megraj (Utpal Dutt ) arrives by Bajra to the accompaniment of the Bhajan Pag Ghunghroo Bandh Meera naachi re.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT4e3T9A2pw
Akji,
I am not sure when Banaras / Kashi found a place in Indian films and its songs. Arunji may help us with the right info.
Bhatiaji has posted almost 30 songs and five of them mentions Kashi/ Banaras. Your list has two songs. The iconic song Khaike paan Banaraswala is the best representation of the Benarasi Paan, Bhang and Bhaiyyas. The songs Kashi hile Patna hiley and Ara hile Chhapra hile Ballia hile ‘sab kuch hilake rakh diya. On a Richter scale should measure 8?
BTW this song “Khaike Paan Banaraswala” was initially penned by Anjaan for Dev Anand for the film Banarasi Babu. I believe, it was not accepted. Again it was not meant for Don. As per Salim Khan when Don’s first copy was out, they decided to show the film to Manoj Kumar. Manoj felt that the second half was very fast and needed some kind of a break. Salim-Javed felt that it was a valid. So they decided to incorporate the song Khaike Paan Banaraswala. But the passage was not smooth. When the song was presented to the producer and director and they were aghast. Even Kishore refused to sing this song. After some persuasion he relented.. Anjaan had to force them to record it. Incidentally Anjaan was from Banaras. His original name was Lalji Pandey.
The song Bure bhi hum bhale bhi hum samajhiyo na kisi se kam hamara naam, banarasi babu ham hai banarasi babu, posted by Bhatiaji, penned by Banaras ka puttar Anjaan, mentions ganga, ghat and in the visual we can see bhang preparation too. It seems the song was shot in a studio in Bombay. There is another song in this film which starts with Kishore Kumar singing Bhure bhi hum bhale bhi hum samajhiyo na kisi se kam hamara naam Banarasi babu ham hai Banarasi babu and then Asha Bhosle takes over “O Banarsi Babu Kamar Hai Meri Latu”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X5t-rZbjT0
Twenty years after Banarasi Babu (1978) Anjaan’s son, Sameer penned the songs for a similarly named film. Sameer’s was also born in Banaras, did his schooling and masters in Commerce in Benaras. Sameer’s original name was Shitala Pandey. I am posting two songs from this film.
Paan ka ek bida khila do phir chaal dekho Banaarasi baabu ki by Udit Narayan, film Banarasi Babu (1998), lyrics sameer, music Anand Miland,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfyv-PaNfVY
Bana Re Bambaiya Banaras Ka Bhaiya by Vinod Rathod, film Banarasi Babu (1998), lyrics sameer, music Anand Miland
In the last stanza Jhumri talaiya also gets a mention.
le jaunga tujhko ganw apne
pure karunga main sare sapne
pure karunga main sare sapne
tujhko ghumaunga jhumri talaiya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy2WyhtAmkY
Twenty six years after Don (1973) Amitabh Bachchan once again dons the role of a Benarasi chora. Nana Patekar is a Bengali Journalist here.
Hum Hai Banaras Ke Bhaiya by Sudesh Bhosle and Amit Kumar, film Kohram (1999), lyrics Dev Kohli, music Dilip Sen Sameer Sen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNQjrHZ7L7Q
N Venkataraman ji at No.73
The earliest song about Kashi was in film Shadi ki Raat-1935. It was a comedy film and comedy song, shot on actress Nargis Sr. The Hero was Vijaykumar. The song was a chorus song and MD was Ganapat singh Devaskar.
The song was ” Kashi ke hai seth hamare, silk banane wale, Head office Bambai, Delhi……”
-AD
Arunji, @74
I knew you would come out with answer. Hats off.
Venkataramanji,
Wow! You have presented such a comprehensive and fantastic panorama of Banaras in your comments #71, 72 and 73. You have mentioned its street food. If you are visiting a friend or relative, he would not leave you until you have taken its famed rabri and jalebi. Its most famous alley near the Lord Vishwanath temple is ‘Kachauri Gali’.
That takes me to its central place in Indian mythology as the eternal city, central to Hindu religion. The hippies and backpackers swamping it attracted by its mystic charm, added to its fame. However, unless you are specially ‘devout’, you may be repelled by its filth. You have to be a brave person to take a holy dip in Ganga, which has been captured so fondly by Satyajit Ray.
I doubt if any classic Hindi movie has picturised Banaras as nicely as Ray, though there have been stories based in Banaras, such as Laga Chunri Mein Daag, which give some flavour of the city. There are serials galore located in the city.
A recent film which has generated some buzz is Mukti Bhavan, which has been shown in Film Festival circuits, but not likely to see a commercial release. As the name suggests, it is rooted in the belief that a person dying in the city attains salvation. This has, however, some aspects which may make you cringe. There are stories of family members bringing their ‘ripe’ seniors to the city for ‘mukti’, and making some efforts for hastening their ‘salvation’. There are other aspects of our tradition which may not be entirely holy. It is said that the funeral fire at Manikarnika Ghat has burnt unbroken since time immemorial, with the bodies coming continuously. The power of the ‘Dom King’ and the extortion from the family members before they are allowed to perform the last rites are openly discussed. We can’t shut our eyes at the ghastly sight and the environmental degradation caused by the floating bodies.
Nevertheless, the charm of Banaras is undisputed. No one represented the romance of Banaras better than the quintessential Banaras Man, Ustad Bismillah Khan. There is a story that a rich patron in the US insisted that the Ustadji settle down in New York, with all expenses paid. He hesitated, he has a big kunba dependent upon him. The patron promptly offered to host them as well. But the biggest difficulty was, as Ustadji asked him, How can he bring Ganga of Banaras to New York, which was the soul of his music?
We often forget that Banaras also has an important place in Buddhist religion. After attaining enlightenment, Buddha offered first sermons at the nearby Sarnath.
About your query, though Kashi hile declares to shake the city, on the screen it is Amitabh Bachchan who causes tsunami on Richter scale 8 with his Khaike paan Banaraswala.
N. Venkatraman ji , AK ji ,
I always enjoy when you write . The Banaras has truly emerged as a front runner ; as it is a place where great film makers from every corner of the world have shots many of their films here on these very ghats . Besides Satyajit Ray , films like Gandhi , Passage to india , Jis desh mein ganga behti hai , Sanghursh etc. were partly shot here .
Its really a visual treat to watch each frames of Aparajito beautifully captured by the ace cinematographer S. Mitra , his first movie with Satyajit Ray , a regular there after with S.Ray. The sound scope is a treat for music lovers . The Sitar and Flute numbers in the background enhance the visual treats and so also the large sketches on the walls [ probably by Satyajit himself]. Similarly , Ravi Shankar gave a masterly composed music in a scene in Gandhi when train passing over ganges .
Whenever I think of a soul satisfying song filmed on Ganga my heart bows to …..Ganga aaye kahan se , ganga jaaye kahan re….a song that each short stanza conveys a big message that lingers in mind for a long period of time .
AKji and Bhatiaji,
Thank you for your response to my writing on Benares. I often wonder why I write. But when it becomes participative / interactive with flow/ sharing of information then it seems more than worthwhile.
I watched the movie Mukti Bhavan recently. I presume it was shot near the Harishchandra Ghat. In reality there is a Mukti Bhavan very close to Harishchandra Ghat. There are two cremation ghats in Banaras, one is the well known Manikarnika ghat mentioned by Akji and the other one is Harishchandra Ghat. The recollection of this movie sends me back to my recent cocoonic state. A fleeting glimpse of the Ganga Aarati too can be noticed in this movie. When I visited Banaras in the early eighties I did not find Ganga Aarti performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat. I understand this practice was introduced in 1991.
Rituparno Ghosh’s Choker Bali (2003) too gives some excellent glimpse of the Banaras ghats, its Bajra and kite flying. I am not sure whether the cremation scene was shot at Manikarnika Ghat or Harishchandra ghat.
Between Choker Bali (2003) and Mukti Bhavan (2017), few more films were based on and shot at Banaras: Water (2005), Banaras- A mystic love story (2006), Laaga Chunri me daag (2007), Raanjhanaa (2013) and Masaan (2015).
We can discuss Benaras for days. Before I conclude I would present a some more wonderful songs on Benaras .
A beutiful NF composition from the album Khubsoorat, where the visage of a damsel is compared with the dawn of Banaras, and her tresses are compared with the Dusk of Awadh/ Oudh.
Chehra Subeh Banaras by Talat Aziz from the album Khubsoorat (2000), lyrics Anand Bakshi Music Sameer Phaterpekar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnkqTtR6zXE
Here again a young woman’s eyes are compared with the ghat of Benaras.
Tu Banja Gali Benaras Ki by Asit Tripathy, film Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (2017), lyrics Shakeel Azmi, music Rasheed khan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TMljz7W-r8
A tribute to Banaras
Yeh Hai Shaan Banaras Ki by Sanjeev Abhayankar, film Banaras – A mystic love story (2006), lyrics sameer, music Himesh Reshmiya
https://mp3mad.site/download-136788/Yeh-Hai-Shaan-Banaras-Ki-Sanjeev-Abhyankar.html
Another nice song
Banarasiya Haye Banarasiya by Shreya Ghoshal, film Raanjhanaa (2013), lyrics Irshad Kamil, music A R Rahman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=hqaOn_Vugeo
I would wind-up with the quote of Mark Twain, when he travelled through Benaras between January 18th and March 31st, 1896: “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”.
Akji,
Agre ke Ghagra must be the creation of Bollywood, since it rhymes and from the following songs it seems it has remained so. But the song also cites another small town Jaipur and Delhi and 6 states.
Agra Ka Ghagra by Twinkle Bajpai, film Rivaaz (2011), lyrics Reeg Deb, music Anand Raj Anand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U17H-kqZl50
ladke o re ladke kaha se aaya hai re tu by & Rekha Bhardwaj, film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), lyrics Amitabh Bhattacharya, music Pritam Chakraborty
tv pe breaking news haaye re mera ghaagra
haaye bagdaad se leke delhi gaya aagra
Since our azeeen fankara Mohini is from Agra, we may assume that her Ghagra is also from Agra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caoGNx1LF2Q
This lady’s Ghagra is neither from Agra nor from any of the 7 other small towns nor from the four metros nor from the two southern states mentioned by her in the song. Must be a very special Ghagra, Designer Ghagra!
Jao Chahe Dilli Mumbai Agra Nahi Milega Aisa Ghagra by Sunidhi Chauhan film Kurukshetra (2000), lyrics Sudhakar Sharma, music Himesh Reshamiya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UESUwJB8-o
Another Agra song
Agre Ka Lala Angreji Dulhan Laya Re by Asha Bhosle & Usha Mangeshkar, film Dus Lakh (1966), lyrics Prem Dhawan, music Ravi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlLJdRIP7bQ
Venkataramanji,
Banaras is a city of a thousand colours. Another colour which has figured in some celebrated stories in Hindi literature is its nukkads frequented by hangers-on with all the time in the world, no ostensible source of income. Their language is colourful, which would put the most explicit Punjabi to shame. At these addas, state and national politics are decided, governments are made and and unmade and cricket team is selected.
Tu ban ja gali Banaras ki is a nice song.
Entirely agree with you Agra’s ghaghra is Bollywood’s creation. Otherwise they would have given some space to its petha, its Taj Mahal, its fort, Buland Darwaza.
AKji.
At least I can cite two songs in which Taj Mahal finds a place. Kah gaye bhaiya pir fakir aagare me hai mashahur ek to tajamahal , film Tera Jadu Chal gaya (2000). The other song starts with Jaipur in its mukhda. Both Agra and Taj Mahal are in the last stanza.
pahanake wo choli main jaungi aagra
aagre se le dena saiyan mujhe ghaagara
o ghaagara dile dun main aagra bhi le tu
banawake sone ka taaj mehal de dun
Jaipur ki choli mangawa de re saiyaan by Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar, film Gehri Chaal (1973), lyrics Rajinder Krishan, music Laxmikant Pyarelal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCT6wP2vu5g
While on Jaipur let post this Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor duet
Jaipur Se Nikli Gadi Delhi Chale by Shailendra Singh & Asha Bhosle, film Gurudev (1993), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music R D Burman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpCrRj0CRKE
Lucknow/Patna/Bareilly/Mumbai/ Dilli
This lady from Bareilly, now living alone in Mumbai say publicly
lakhnau aur patna me takrar kara du
ram kasam dili sarkar hila du
Ram Kasam Dilli Sarkar Hila Du by Alka Yagnik & Shaan, film – Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004), lyrics S R Bharti, music Nikhil Vinay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZXXkzR1gAk
Delhi/ Agra/ Bareilly
Sweety Tera Drama by Dev Negi, Pawni Pandey & Shraddha Pandit, film Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), lyrics Shabbir Ahmed, Pravesh Mallick, music Tanishk Bagchi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWizZ8rVcUA
Nainitaal
Taalo Me Nainital Baki Sab Taliya by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam, film Hogi Pyaar ki Jeet (1999), lyrics Sameer, music Anand Miland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEAEwoOMBWA
Venkataramanji,
Thanks for adding/refreshing the songs of small towns. Ram kasam Dilli sarkar hila dun belongs to the standard template – ‘If I swiggle my slender waist, I can shake…’. Sweety tera drama is a fabulous song as long as you watch it. But it is interesting to note these have such a short shelf-life, unlike old songs Mere piya gaye Rangoon or Bareilly ke bazar mein which have become immortal. Point to ponder. Some associations have been repeated in songs – Agra – ghaghra: Jaipur – choli etc.
AKji,
@ 83
Yes, you are right. All these songs mentioned by me and its likes have a very short shelf life. After a a week or so it would be difficult to recollect these songs.
Here in Kolkata, tomorrow is Holi. I would like to post two more songs on Awadh. They are Holi songs too.
Awadh Ka Chhora by Rajpal Yadav, Tripti Shakya, Aryan Jaiin, film Kutumb The Family (2017), lyrics & music Aryan Jain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uinbdo1kXhA
Holi Khele Raghuveera Avadh Mein by Udit Narayan,Amitabh Bachchan & Alka Yagnik film Baghban (2003), lyrics Sameer, music Aadesh Shrivastava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVsBu4t4fm0
Wishing every body a happy Holi.
This will be my last posting (songs) on small town, before I move on to Metros/ big cities.
I think Ajmer and Kurkshetra have not yet been covered.
One on Ajmer
Bigdi Hui Bana De Ajmerwale Khwaja by Md Rafi, film Aalam Ara (1956), lyrics Shewan Rizvi, music Alla Rakha Qureshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KIW-hUeM4M
Two songs on Kurukshetra.
I think, the first one was meant only for the trailer, it was not in the full animated version.
Dharamkshetra Kurukshetra by Kailesh Kher, Animated film Mahabharat (2013), lyrics Ibrahim Ashq, music Rajendra Shivv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgaBc0YNtYc
Arjun Hai Tu Ye Teraa Kuruksetra Hai by Ravindra Sathe, film Kurukshetra (2000), lyrics Sudhakar Sharma, music Himesh Reshammiya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y7tOUys45E&index=109&list=LLCcI4zWgFQY0Y9tDIVOjPug
N. Venkatraman ji , A K ji ;
Thanks for refereshing my memories thru songs of banaras and agra …..and splendor thereof of your travel thru various ghats of banaras. The additional songs covering the last three eras updates the belief that youths still like the traditions and history attached to such sacred places. I , in my service days , used to halt at Varanasi for few hours , visiting various ghats while on my way to Rihand Dam for inspection . My father stayed in banaras , for a month or so , as his final bidd to the series of extensions he got after retirement . [ He was Officer on Special Duty for two years extension period each in …..Education commission , UGC , Inter University Board of India and Cyelone …and finally Banaras Hindu University…. from where he came back to Delhi on health grounds ] .
Talking of Agra and Taj Mahal ; I think there are some good songs that still knocks for their inclusion.
28. Mohabaat ki daastan aaj suno….Lata….Mayurpankh…SJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP0hcdGEiCg
29. Ek shenshah ne banwa ke ….Lata, Rafi….Leader ….Naushad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IamkXhPuFPY
Here is my fav. non filmi song since I heard it live on DD probably in 1982 .
30. Taj Mahal mein aa jaana….Nina and Rajendra Mehta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI_dvN_WK7M
The movie Taj Mahal , made in 1963 , had beautiful songs and its main duet song ….jo wada kiya …was very popular and got many awards too . But among those songs was a very beautiful sad song that got hidden and is now a collectors listener choice . Not related to this theme but worth giving ears for their delight….
Khuda e bartar…..Lata….lyrics Sahir …..Music Roshan
Ashwin Bhandarkar ji,
On my rereading of the post,I felt I should accuse you of sidelining my hometown PaneMangalore ( Paner…in Tulu). You are sure to be aware of the place in Bantwal Taluk which was a very important link between the ghats and the coastal region in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The British era bridge across the river Netravati revolutionized the road transport dramatically. Nearly a century old,it is still functional, though a new, larger one is built to keep up with the modern times. The towns of B C Road, PaneMangalore and Bantwal form the three points of an equilateral triangle.
I have not met a GSB person yet who does not have a relative, close or distant, hailing from Bantwal. Aren’t all the Baliga s from Bantwal?
Now you know it is not to accuse you, but to appreciate your mentioning of the song that I write this!
I am not sure if this has been posted.
Bambai se gayi Dilli
Dilli se gayi Poona
Poona se gayi Patna….
HUM HAIN RAHI PYAR KE,1999. Alka Yagnik, Sameer, Nadeem Shravan.
Quite a circuitous route has she taken!
The movie, with a bit of Gulzar’s Parichay in it,won many awards…Best film/ actress_ Filmfare.
Best lyrics ( Filmfare) / singer ( National)…Both for the song Ghoonghat ki aad se dilbar ka….A very mediocre song if you ask me!
Well, when we have a Beimaan beating Pakeezah, and,to some extent,a Jeene Ki Raah overtaking Aradhana… anything will go!
Dr.Pradeep Kr Shettyji,
@88
Yes this song was posted by both Anupji & Anuji in the post ‘Bharat Darshan in Songs (2): Metros’. The opening lines are
Bambai se gai Poona puna se gai Dilhi
Dilhi se gai Patna, phir bhi na mila sajana.
Only one song on Poona has been posted here by AKji. I believe there are not many songs on Poona.
Three songs on Nainital have been posted. Here is the fourth one.
The first antara
mai hu saperan nainital ki
jana hai bambai
babu jana hai bambai
Pichhe Hat Hat Hat Babu Chhed Na -O.P.Nayyar-Asha Bhosle-Basanth (1960) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMQciQEuKw0
This songs mentions Shimla and Benars. Several songs on Benaras/ Kasi have been posted, but only one on Shimla. Shimla is mentioned in the third stanza and Banaras in the next stanza.
Mere Lehenge Me Ghungru Lagade, To Phir Meri Chaal Dekh Le by Asha Bhosle & Md Rafi, film Basant (1960),lyrics Qamar Jalabadi, music O P Nayyar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=glovNztnwPE
Venkatraman ji @91 ;
Many thanks for reminding the Hill Stations …Shimla and Nanital . Along with these stations is the third one …Mussoorie . For Delhi’tes these three stations are fav.for spending summer vacations . Whenever temperature sore I put on my DVD player and relax watching ….Dil Deke Dekho for Nanital , Love in Shimla and Tere Ghar Ke Samne for Shimla and Ek Saal for Mussoorie .
Whenever a good song is posted by my friend , I take a pause and enjoy the beats , rhythm and melody of the song multiple times . The song from Basant…..Mere ghaghre mein ghoongru….is a that carries such qualities. Asha and Rafi sang the duet from their heart and so also the matching expressions and body movements of Nutan and Shammi Kapoor. I did saw this movie when it was released and simply loved its music and songs ; though it did not do well at box office . The other duet……chori chori ek ishara ho gaya hai….was a very good slow melody as well. I think this was produced by the same team that made Phaagun ……another musical masterpiece of OPN.
Ek Saal was another good movie , which again has a number of excellent songs by Lata ji, rafi , talat and Hemant Kumar . Just to mention the best….Chale bhi aao chale bhi aao , sab kuchh luta ke hoshh mein aye to kya kiya, Kis ke liye ruka hai , Uljh gaaye do naina dekho .
Venkatraman ji , Is it that the hill station movies always entertain us with some good songs and music ….Kashmir Ki Kali , jungle, Professor etc included !!
Bhatiaji,
I am glad that you enjoyed the song Mere Lehenge mein gungooru laga de. It reminded me of the song from Sunghursh, Mere pairon mein ghunghroo bandhaa de to phir meri chaal dekh le. Basant had some memorable songs.
“Is it that the hill station movies always entertain us with some good songs and music ….Kashmir Ki Kali, junglee, Professor etc included !!”
All Shammi Kappor films. Point to ponder.
The Sixties were the decade where Hindi cinema romanced the mountains and valleys. Many Hindi movies of that time were set there with some incredibly stunning visuals to be enjoyed. I may not be wrong, if I say Shammi Kapoor found stardom in 1961, donning the teasing, playful and exuberant lover in the virgin snows of the mountains with Junglee. Jaanwar was another film.
Many of the movies of Rajendra Kumar were shot in the Hills, mostly Kashmir. Ayee Milan ki Bela (1964), Arzoo (1965), Saathi (1968), Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan (1968), Talash (1969), Anjaana (1969), Geet (1970), Aap Aye Bahaar Aayi (1971) ….. I think Jhuk Gaya Aasman was shot in Darjeeling.
Well this can be a subject for another post.
I would prefer to post the song here, although this song mentions Bambai, Dilli, Jhansi, and Agra. Many songs on Agra have been posted only two on Jhansi.
The song starts with these lines.
Dilli wali dil ko jalaye
Aagre wali aag lagaye
Jhansi wali jhansa deve
Bambai wali tata de
Interestingly we find the mention of four films in the second stanza.
Is taange me jo bhi baitha
bambai jakar ban gaya hero
nahi jo baitha mara mara
ghum raha hai bankar zero
kyu babu banega hero
ya rahega zero
sholay, dharma, bobby, karma
hit hogi picture teri
kahe ye taangewali dua jaye na khali
Naam hai mer Dilruba Tangewali by Kavita Krishnamurthy, film Dilruba Tangewali (1987), lyrics Jalal Jhansvi, music Anwar-Usman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-keGy9Ni6c4
I am posting a Tamil song mentioning Ooty also known as Otacamund or dhagamandalam
Ooty malai beauty, unn peyar ennamma, film Once more (1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ZMe9__aD8
Bhatiaji, Akji
All the songs posted her may not have high listening quality, but they are relevant to the theme.
Two songs each on Chandigarh and Ludhiana have been posted till now. The following song covers both Chandigarh and Ludhiana.
Main Chandigarh Di Star…. ludhiane di batti udh gayi ni by Sunidhi Chauhan, film Buddha Hoga Terra Baap (2011), lyrics Vishal Dadlani,Swanand Kirkire & Anvita Dutt Guptan, music Vishal Shekhar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=170&v=K_TN9zKQUL8
Chuk Chuk Bombay se Baroda tak was posted in the Songs of Metros post.
Here is another song which covers Bombay, Dilli , Baroda and Surat. This will be first song mentioning Surat, And the first song mentioning Baroda to be posted here.
Bambai se rail chali Dadar se wo bhi chadi
Bambai se rail chali Dadar se wo bhi chadi
Surat mein surat ka didaar ho gaya re
Dilli aane se pehle pyaar ho gaya
Dilli aane se pehle pyaar ho gaya
The fourth stanza……..
aate hain station jaate hain station
badati jaaye dilon ki dhadkan
aaya Baroda utha wo jhoom ke
mera chehra nazaron se chooom ke
itne mein aage aa gayi Dilli
gaadi se utri haaye meri Lilli
Bombay Se Rail Chali by Alisha Chinai & Anu MaliK, film Zaalim 1994, lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Anu Malik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB33bO4aUt4
In Bhojpuri songs we can find mention of several small town from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Ghaziabad finds mention in one of the main stream hind film item no. song.
Joban pe rang ka chakach chada hai
Arey joban pe rang ka chakach chada hai
Jisko bhi dekho saala piche pada hai
Ghaziabad ki rani hoon main
Ghaziabad ki rani hoon
Mera yaar yaha ka kotwaal
Baap Kaa Maal by Mamta Sharma,Mika Singh & Sukhwinder Singh, film Zilla Ghaziabad (2013), lyrics Shabbir Ahmed, music Amjad Nadeem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=iQKmQ7X168A
Another town from UP – Rampur,
Raamapur Kaa Vaasi Hun Main Laxman Meraa Naam by Kishore Kumar, film Rampur Ka Lakshman (1972), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music R D Burman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1X-R1MG1A
Venkataramanji,
#93 to 99: Though not everlasting, the songs you have posted are very creative. I liked Surat mein surat ka deedar ho gaya, and the guy falls in love before the train reaches Delhi. Interesting.
In the last few songs we find the towns Surat, Rampur, Ghaziabad and Ooty making their debut.
This is not a typical Bhojpuri film song. Shot in Benaras, this song mentions several towns in UP and Bihar.
Lucknow, Ballia, Gorakhpur, Patna & Aarah
Gorakhpur is mentioned in this post for the first time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vErS4FtQkWk
Akji,
Are Arrah, Ballia & Patna located in earthquake prone zones? It is ‘Hilla-rious’ to note that ‘Hillna”, is invariably associated with Arraha, Ballia and Patna or any one of the towns. Sometimes the impact is extended to Kalkatta, and even Bambai & Dilli. Here are two more songs.
Arrha hile chapra hile balliya hile patana hile, hile jo kamar hamar o bhola babu hile jo kamar hamar by Udit Narayan & ALka Yagnik , film Angaara (1996), lyrics Anand Bakshi, musicDilipSen-Samir Sen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhioFVEkWJE
arey aara hile chhapra hile aara hile chhapra hile
aur patna hile la ha ha
lachakegi jab kamariya baby sari duniya hile la
hey lachakegi jab kamariya baby sari duniya hile la
arey mumbai hile dili hile mumbai hile dili hile
kalkata hile la ha ha
lachakegi jab kamariya baby sari duniya hile la
lachakegi jab kamariya baby sari duniya hile la
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVpj_E_FFGA
Dr.Shetty @ 87:
Yes, you can include me in the list of GSBs who have Bantwal Baliga relatives. Not all Baligas hail from Bantwal though – for example, there are the Baligas who hail from Kalyanpur.
‘Indraayani kaathi’, one of Bhimsenji’s most popular devotional songs, which was part of his concert repertoire, was actually from the Marathi classic ‘Gulacha Ganapati’ . It was penned by G.D.Madgulkar and tuned to Raga Bhimpalas by the multi-faceted P.L.Deshpande. The song mentions Alandi, the pilgrimage town near Pune, where the saint-philosopher Dnyaneshwar attained ‘samaadhi’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbXsqtxsea4
A brief detour
Allahabad and Itarsi are making their appearance through this song.
Kalcutta ho ya kashi ilahabaad ya itarsi
jaha rahega baat kahega jaha rahega baat kahega
solha aane sachi mama banarasi
film Jawani Zindabad (1990), singers Amit Kumar & Suresh Wadkar, lyrics Sameer, music Anand Miland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDxDnUR5EY
AK ji ;
Some cities I happened to have visited are in this old song which I am hearing after taking L T C [ Leave travel concession ] advance once again .
NAMOONA – MAHRI GALI MA AAVJO RE SURATWAALA….LATA…CR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CORflreYap8
KS Bhatiaji,
Great song. Thanks a lot.