SN Tripathi Part 4 (post 50s): His best songs for Lata Mangeshkar

Continuing the series on SN Tripathi with a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar on her 94^th birth anniversary (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022)

It is matter of satisfaction that after a reader noted the omission of SN Tripathi, I have been able to cover him in some detail, though late. I have already posted three articles on him: Part 1 about his multifaceted talent – actor, singer, music director, story and dialogue writer – in the Vintage Era (pre 50s); Part 2 (post 50s) about his best songs for Rafi, Part 3 (post-50s) about his best songs for Mukesh and other male singers. There cannot be a better way to continue the series than with his best songs for Lata Mangeshkar as a tribute to her on what would have been her 94^th birth anniversary.

For the impact she made she sang only some 70 songs for SN Tripathi which is less than 9% of the total number of songs he composed. If I compare the ratio with his protégé Chitragupta, he composed over 240 songs for Lata Mangeshkar which represents about 23% of his total output.

The important thing is that even with relatively smaller number of songs, Lata Mangeshkar seemed to be a natural fit for SN Tripathi. Since I have posted her duets with the male singers in the earlier parts, I would post in this part her solos and also a duet she sang with her sister Asha Bhosle who completed 90 years earlier this month. The songs I have taken in this post are from just 1956 to 1962. Lata Mangeshkar sang several songs beyond this period and must have sung some before. But this list of songs from a small window shows her matchless quality and validates my statement about her voice being a natural fit for SN Tripathi. As for SN Tripathi I must add that in the post-50s era he added one more talent to his portfolio – as a director of some very famous films, such as Rani Roopmati. He continued acting in the post-50s era. His name appears in the cast in several films, if not as the lead actor, in quite an important role.

Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022)

1. Aao re Hey Giridhari by Lata Mangeshkar from Rajrani Meera (1956), lyrics BD Mishra, music SN Tripathi

SN Tripathi seems to have been untouched by Lata Mangeshkar’s tsunami wave in 1949 and early 50s. His dominant female singers during his early years were Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum. Asha Bhosle has also been used quite often. But it is Lata Mangeshkar who impacted the listeners most. Lata Mangeshkar was the lead playback singer having 6 solos in this film. It is surprising why its songs did not become famous, but  this song is extremely melodious.

2. Raah se dharam ki hataanewala kaun/ Satiyon ko sat se giraanewala kaun by Lata Mangeshkar from Janam Janam Ke Phere (1957), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Janam Janam Ke Phere is famous for the roaring hit Zara saamne to aao chhaliye (Rafi-Lata Mangeshkar) and also for Rang birange phoolon ki jhoome re daaliyan (Manna Dey-Geeta Dutt). Lata Mangeshkar had some terrific solos too which were dwarfed by Zara saamne to aao chhaliye. In this song the chaste woman dares that no one can shake such a woman from the right path.

3. Abla ko bandhan se chhudaane..Aaja naag tohe man mein basa lun by Lata Mangeshkar from Janam Janam Ke Phere (1957), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Now this devout and chaste woman is held captive by bandits in a snake-infested room and they have put a heavy lock on the door. The good woman invokes the divine powers of the snake-gods who pleased with her devotion, slither through the lock’s handle and coil around it crushing open the lock. Another snake god etched in the stone comes to life and bites the baddies to death.

4. Rakh laaj mere sindoor ki Shivshnakar ki pyari Gaura Parvati by Lata Mangeshkar from Ram Hanuman Yuddh (1957), lyrics Shailendra, music SN Tripathi

This song is from a slice of our mythology in which Hanuman’s act of giving shelter to a King, chased by Ram, irked the latter who set off for a fight with Hanuman. Here Nirupa Roy (the queen?) is worshipping Lord Shiva’s consort to keep her husband safe.

5. Suna tu man ki been par aansuon ki ragini by Lata Mangeshkar from Ram Hanuman Yuddh (1957), lyrics Shailendra, music SN Tripathi

In this film too, Lata Mangeshkar was the lead singer with four solos and a duet. Nice song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jYKK8BvFMI

6. Naagendraharaya …Main to janam janam ki pyasi re, mujhe apani bana lo daasi by Lata Mangeshkar from Kavi Kalidas (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Kavi Kalidas is the film which had the timeless song – Preet ke bandhan..Un par kaun kare ji vishwas. Lata Mangeshkar had some very nice songs in the film. Another one is Shaam bhai Ghanshyam na aaye.

7. Piya tore nainwa se nain more laage, kya kahun main aage by Lata Mangeshkar from Pakshiraj (1959), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music SN Tripathi

An unknown film Pakshiraj (1959) had some very good Lata Mangeshkar songs. Some are sad, I am choosing a relatively cheerful song.

8. Jeevan ki beena ka taar bole by Lata Mangeshkar from Rani Roopmati (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Music was at the heart of the romance between Rani Roopmati and Sultan Baaz Bahadur. Many scholars believe that it is not a real story but a legend. Without getting into a debate about the historical accuracy, the film had many all-time great songs, some I have covered in the earlier posts.

9. Nainon se nainon ki baat hui, chhup chhup ke tumse mulaqat hui by Lata Mangeshkar from Chandramukhi (1960), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Chandramukhi is known for Mukesh’s title song. Period. In this film Lata Mangeshkar had a very melodious song.

10. Pyara pyara ye samaan aur suhani raat hai by Lata Mangeshkar from Laal Quila (1960), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

This film is famous for two eternal ghazals sung by Rafi – Na kisi ki aankh ka noor hun, na kisi ke dil ka qaraar hun; and Lagta nahin hai dil mera ujade dayar mein. And hidden amidst these gems is Lata Mangeshkar’s this sweet melody composed by SN Tripathi.

11. Nigaahon mein tum ho khayalon mein tum ho, jidhar dekhti hun nazar aa rahe ho by Lata Mangeshkar from Jadoo Nagri (1961), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music SN Tripathi

Now I come to my absolute favourite for over three decades when I heard it first from a lady during a social call. Perceptive readers would have noticed that SN Tripathi has reprised the tune he had composed five years ago for Wo dekho udhar chaand nikla gagan mein, idhar aa gayi chaandni muskurati (Manna Dey-Geeta Dutt) from Roopkumari (1956).

12. O pawan veg se udnewaale ghode tujhpe sawar hai jo mera suhaag hai wo rakhiyo re laaj unki aaj by Lata Mangeshkar from Jai Chittod (1961), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

In a small window we have innumerable superhit and extremely melodious songs by Lata Mangeshkar. The context of the song is obvious. It is from our history of Maharana Pratap’s resistance to the mighty Mughal Emperor Akbar. In the Battle of Haldighati his horse Chetak played an important part. The Queen invokes Chetak to look after the safety of her husband who is riding on his back.

13. Kaga sab tan khaaiyo..Piya milan ki aas, moohe piya milan ki aas by Lata Mangeshkar from Pya Milan Ki Aas (1961), lyrics Bharat Vyas. Music SN Tripathi

Regular reads of SOY may recall that the 13^th Anniversary post of the blog on 7 June 2023 focussed on the discovery trip of the starting verse Kaga sab tan khaaiyo which has been used in several songs. This song captures the profound message of the verse.

14. Koi pyar bhari dhun chhed piya by Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar from Jadugar Daaku (1962), lyrics Prem Dhavan, music SN Tripathi

The name of the film and the cast place it firmly as a B-grade film. Yet SN Tripathi composes a beautiful duet in the voice of the Mangeshkar sisters. Asha Bhosle completed an important milestone in her life – she became 90 on September 8 (born: 8 September 1933). It is very impressive that she maintains her jest for life, performs at concerts and is engaged with some music projects with much younger artistes. With this song I wish her a long life.

15. Sakhi kaise dharun main dheer, haye mere ab laun Shyam na aaye by Lata Mangeshkar from Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962), lyrics Shailendra, music SN Tripathi

Another great song by Lata Mangeshkar from the musical blockbuster Sangeet Samrat Tansen.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
1. HFGK, YouTube, Atul Song A Day are very good repositories for song details.
2. Song links have been embedded from YT only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them which vest with the respective right owners.