Beautiful Duet Series
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 23 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
On 08 Feb 2021, I gave you Beautiful Duet #12 – Aapne yaad dilaya to mujhe yaad aaya. So here, then, is the next one:
Song #13
Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya
Madhubala (Honey Maiden) and Bharat Bhushan (Grace of India)
She was nominated only once for the Filmfare Best Actress Award, ie, for her role in 18 years of her acting (not counting as child artiste) in Hindi movies, from 1947 Neel Kamal (also the debut movie of Raj Kapoor) until the 1964 Sharabi. However, she was so popular that even when she acted with Dilip Kumar (who she wanted to marry but for her father standing in their way), after the shots, people waited in queues just to get a glimpse of her. A complete movie industry depended upon her charms.
Take the 1958 movie Phagun for instance, made 11 years before she breathed her last at the age of 36 years. She was discovered with a hole in her heart (ventricular septal defect) at the age of 21, in 1954. By the time she acted in this movie, her condition had worsened to the extent that she would vomit blood (her heart was pumping unwanted extra blood). However, in between bouts of bloody cough, she would act and deliver her dialogues. And people swooned. As they did with this song.
Bharat Bhushan, on the other hand, won the second Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1955 for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, having wrested it from Dilip Kumar who won the first one for 1954 Daag. However, Dilip Kumar wrested it right back next year for Azaad and denied the same to Bharat Bhushan for Mirza Ghalib.
Phagun – the 1958 Movie
Phagun was a Bhibhuti Mitra production and directed movie that also starred Jeevan, Kammo, Nishi, Cuckoo and Mehmood.
Qamar Jalalabadi penned this song. He also penned songs for Raj Kapoor starrer Chhalia including the popular Dam dam diga diga. His song Din hai suhaana aaj pehli tareek hai used to be broadcast from Radio Ceylone for a number of years on the first of every month. My dad used to hum a popular song of his: Jab raat nahin katati zindagi kaise kategi. He also penned the super hit: Jab tumhaari yaad aayegi sanam. My favourite of his is, however, from Shammi Kapoor’s 1966 movie Preet Na Jaane Reet: Main bewafa nahin hoon tere pyaar ki kasam. Indeed, I titled one of my poems: Main Bewafa Nahin Hoon.
His songs in Phagun were composed by OP Nayyar, the music director who has the record of having most hit/super-hit songs in his movies. Take Phagun’s songs for example:
1 “Teer Yeh Chupke” Asha Bhosle 3:07 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan
2 “Main Soya Ankhiyan Meeche” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:32
3 “Barso Re Haye Bairi Badarwa Barso Re” Asha Bhosle 3:15 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan
4 “Chhum Chhum Ghunghroo Bole” Asha Bhosle 3:32 Madhubala
5 “Piya Piya Na Lage Mora Jiya” Asha Bhosle 3:19 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan
6 “Soon Ja Pukar” Asha Bhosle 3:06 Bharat Bhushan, Cuckoo, Jeevan, Kammo, Madhubala, Nishi
7 “Bana De Prabhuji” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 4:18 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan
8 “Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:53 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan
9 “Meri Chhod De Kalahi” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:12 Mehmood, Dhumal
10 “Tum Rooth Ke Mat Jana” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:15 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan
11 “Shokh Shokh Aankhen” Asha Bhosle 4:06 Nishi, Cuckoo, Bharat Bhushan
I am sure, quite a few of your own favourites are in this movie including Piya, piya na laage mora jiya (Jungle ki morni aayi baagon ke mor se milne!), Main soya akhiyan meeche (a most enchanting number) and that beautiful Punjabi sounding duet (that’s how OP Nayyar’s songs sounded): Tum rooth ke mat jaana, in the same class as a beautiful duet from Naya Daur: Ude jab jab zufen teri, in which this actress from the South (Vyjayanthimala, that is) also did a Punjabi dance!
I had found this song as a most suitable song for Valentine’s Day. Why is this a suitable Valentine’s Day song? Oh, come on! She is enamoured by a stranger (pardesi) (Jab Jab Phool Khile came later; else Shashi Kapoor would have warned her: Pardesiyon se na akhiyan milana, Pardesiyon ko hai IK din jaana). Not having known, JJPK, she is madly in love with the Pardesi who gave her मीठा मीठा ग़म when he left. She appears to be in love with gham and Dard since even in her Pyar kiya to darna kya, she sang: इस दर्द को लेकर जीता है, इस दर्द को लेकर मरता हैI She was probably describing her own life!
Pardesi or Stranger as a Song Theme
By the way, Pardesi, is not a favourite theme with Indians alone. When Frank Sinatra sang Strangers In The Night in 1966, it made history as Grammy’s Record of the Year. Look at its lyrics:
Strangers in the night
Exchanging glances
Wondering in the night
What were the chances
We’d be sharing love
Before the night was through?
Something in your eyes
Was so inviting
Something in your smile
Was so exciting
Something in my heart told me I must have you
Strangers in the night, two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment when we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away
And ever since that night
We’ve been together
Lovers at first sight
In love forever
It turned out so right
For strangers…
My Own Poetry
My Good Morning Message #359
Why would anyone love anyone?
Is it just for frolic and fun?
How much of it is sacrifice?
What do you have to pay as price?
How do you know you are in love?
Do you get a signal from God above?
Some say it is a matter of chemistry,
But to most it still remains a mystery.
As to why just one and no one else would do,
If only someone would provide a clue.
Lovers being strangers just a moment ago,
Are suddenly closer than anyone they know.
Everyone knows Love is not a reasoned emotion,
Else, you won’t fall in love but do so in slow motion.
It affects your entire life but it overpowers you,
Without your knowing it totally showers you.
Love doesn’t give you, between several, a choice,
All you can do is to trust God and rejoice.
Love is the only one whence you fall and win,
You glow in its light outside and within.
You’re sure your loved one was born for you
And hence there is no one you can take in lieu.
You suddenly find answers to many a question,
Before long your love is your obsession.
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi sing one of the most popular songs of that era with the most popular tune: Ik pardesi mera dil le gaya….
आशा: इक परदेसी मेरा दिल ले गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया, हाँ, इक…
रफ़ी: कौन परदेसी तेरा दिल ले गया
मोटी मोटी अँखियों मे आँसू दे गया
रफ़ी: ढूँढ रहे तुझे लाखों दिल वाले
कर दे ओ गोरी ज़रा आँखों से उजाले
आशा: आँखों का उजाला परदेसी ले गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया
आशा: मेरे परदेसिया की यही है निशानी
अँखियां बिलौर की शीशे की जवानी
ठण्डी ठण्डी आहों का सलाम दे गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया, ओय, कौन…
रफ़ी: ओहो, कौन परदेसी तेरा दिल ले गया…
रफ़ी: उसको बुला दूँ सामने ला दूँ
क्या मुझे दोगी जो तुमसे मिला दूँ
आशा: जो भी मेरे पास था वो सब ले गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया
रफ़ी: ओय, कौन…
I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #13.
Please await Beautiful Duet #14- Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe.
