I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
This is the Song #45 in the series. I hope you liked Song #44 – Bheegi bheegi raaton mein.
Song #45
Mera naam chin chin chu
Happy Birthday Helen Anne Richardson
She was born on this day in 1938 in Rangoon, Burma.
The family trekked to Bombay in the year 1943 to escape Japanese occupation of Burma. She quit her schooling to earn for the family as her mother’s salary as nurse wasn’t enough.
The movie Howrah Bridge from where I have taken this song was her first big break at the age of 19 years.
She redefined dancing in the movies as cabaret based. Later she successfully attempted (since she emerged as a natural dancer) other genres of dancing including even classical. That she emerged as a darling of producers and directors would be an understatement. Omkar Prasad Nayyar was very fond of her and – hold your breath – made her enact even a ghazal in a movie!
Of course, OP Nayyar was the composer of this song.
Howrah Bridge – 1958 Movie
It was a Shakti Samanta movie. As I have already told you several times, Shakti Samanta got used to making super hit movies once every two years. After he started Shakti Films, this was the first release under the banner.
The movie starred Asdhok Kumar and Madhubala in a murder mystery with origins in China (the Calcutta based filmmakers had fascination for China).
Qamar (Moon) Jalalabadi penned the lyrics and all the songs of the movie became hits or super hits:
1 “Aaiye Meharbaan” Asha Bhosle
2 “Yeh Kya Kar Daala Tune” Asha Bhosle
3 “Dekhke Teri Nazar Bekaraar Ho Gaye” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
4 “Gora Rang, Chunariya Kaali” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
5 “Mohabbat Ka Haath, Jawaani Ka Palla” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
6 “Main Jaan Gayi Tujhe Saiyaan” Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi
7 “Eent Ki Dukki, Paan Ka Ekka” Mohammed Rafi
8 “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” Geeta Dutt
Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu
Helen would have never thought that the very first song of hers in the movies would be such a super hit song that even after 62 years, it is still a super hit! It has everything: Raat, Chandini, Singapore, Shanghai and other such exotic Eastern places:
मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू
चिन-चिन-चू बाबा चिन-चिन-चू
रात चाँदनी मैं और तू
hello, mister, how do you do?
बाबूजी मैं चीन से आई चीनी जैसा दिल लाई
सिंगापुर का यौवन मेरा शाँघाई की अँगड़ाई
दिल पर रख ले हाथ ज़रा, हो जाए न पागल तू
मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू
ओ बाबूजी मैं और आप, कितना अच्छा हुआ मिलाप
तुझको देख तबीयत भड़की, अलादीन की मैं हूँ लड़की
फूँक दूँ मंतर छू चू चू, सिंदबाद the sailorतू
मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू
Who Does the Song Belong to?
I think besides Qamar Jalabadi, OP Nayyar and Helen, one must give credit where credit is due: Geeta Dutt. She too redefined the way songs were sung in the movies until then.
My Own Poetry
Not just Shanghai and Opium, Chinese also exported Corona to us. Here is my light hearted take on that (Can you imagine OP Nayyar composing it?):
To His Beloved “Corona”
लॉक डाउन में रह रह के याद आती है,
रुलाने में तुम करोना से कम नहीं।
कोई और तुमसा नहीं सताती है,
तुम जैसी हो, किसी में दम नहीं।
हो जाता है मुझे भारी बुखार,
सांस मेरी जाती है फूल।
वायरस नहीं, तुम्हारा है चमत्कार,
तुमसे इश्क़ ज़िन्दगी की है भूल।
कहीं से कोई मिलता नहीं इलाज,
करोना वायरस से तो फ़िर भी बच जाऊं।
औरों को तो कई होंगे काम काज,
मैं तो मुहब्बत में ही गंगा नहाऊं।
हाथ धो के पड़ी हो मेरे पीछे,
तुम तो हो सानिटाइजर से परे।
रहता हूं मैं तुम्हारे अंगूठे के नीचे,
जैसे कोई खरगोश शेरनी से डरे।
अगली बार ठीक करूंगा अपना हाइजीन,
कभी तुमसे नहीं करूंगा मैं प्यार।
सांप के आगे कौन बजाता रहे बीन?
करोना से भी ख़तरनाक है तुम्हारी मार।
रिलीज़ करो मुझे अपनी क्वारंटाइन से,
दिमाग पे मेरे हो गया है इफैक्ट।
जाहिल हो क्या मेरे मरने के साइन से,
किसी और को करलो अपना आशिक़ सिलेक्ट।
The Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Mera naam Chin Chin Chu…
I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #45.
Please await Raat or Din Song #46 – Din hain pyare pyare.
