The thirty-seventh song in this series.
Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge….
This song is from the 1954 B Mitra movie Shart (Bet). The movie starred Shyama, Deepak (Dipak), IS Johar and Shashikala. The story of the movie was written by IS Johar, Nasir Hussain and Qamar Jalalabadi and was as complex a drama (twists and turns) as movies of that era used to be:
Hiten (IS Johar) is a frustrated young man with a mad streak bordering on criminal. His late father left him huge estate that can be his if he marries Kamini (Shyama), his father’s friend’s daughter. Kamini, of course, refuses to marry him knowing about his madness.
Kamini and her stepmother Manisha (Mohana) are returning, by train, to Dehradun after attending a court case between Kamini and Manisha regarding the property of Kamini’s late father. Kamini hates her stepmother and writes in her diary that she’d rather see her dead. This diary accidentally falls in the hands of Hiten who is travelling by the same train. After Manisha is murdered, Hiten blackmails Kamini about marrying him, else he would tell the police about the diary.
Robin (Dipak), son and grandson of police officers, is travelling by the same train. In the confusion after Manisha’s murder, he comes across Kanu (Kamini’s brother) abandoned by Kamini. Robin lodges murder complaint at the nearest police station and then takes Kanu home.
When at home, Robin hears the shrieks of a young girl. He rushes to her assistance against ruffians and brings her home too. She is Kamini. She signals to her brother to keep quiet about her identity.
In the meanwhile, the police suspect that Kamini is the one who committed the murder and they offer a reward for anyone offering clue about her whereabouts. That’s the time Robin discovers her true identity. However, by this time, he is madly in love with her, having sung many songs for and with her and having been the object of many songs sung by her. These include three delightful Chand songs:
1. Na ye chand hoga sung separately by first Geeta Dutt for Shyama and then by Hemant Kumar for Dipak (penned by SH Bihari (Behari)).
2. Chand ghatne laga raat dhalne lagi by Geeta Dutt for Shyama (penned by Rajinder Krishan).
3. Dekho wo chand chhupake karta hai kya ishaare, a duet sung by Hemant Kumar for Dipak and Lata Mangeshkar for Shyama (penned by SH Bihari).
Chand songs apart, Robin, having been born in a police family, thinks of his duty first and goes to the Police Station to report about Kamini. In the meantime, Hiten (IS Johar) locates Kamini and blackmails her to leave Robin’s house with him. Once he has her, in order to get his late father’s money, he again asks her to marry him. When she declines he comes up with an alternate plan to do away with the custodian of the property, his uncle.
Where does Shart (Bet) come into it? Don’t ask me; as it is I had to see the entire movie to give you all this. I ask you a counter question: Raj Kapoor became famous for 1949 movie Barsaat, the debut movie of Shankar Jaikishan, Hasrat Haipuri, Shailendra and Nimmi. That movie was the first time Lata Mangeshkar’s name appeared on the screen as a playback singer for both Nargis and Nimmi. It had a number of songs on Barsaat (Rain). But, why was the movie titled Barsaat?
Filmistan’s production Shart premiered in Bombay at the Novelty, Palace and Rivoli theaters on 09 Apr, 1954. Lots of expectations had been raised about the movie. However, the filmgoers were disappointed except for the music and songs of the movie.
People loved complex mysteries at that time and hence that couldn’t be the cause of the movie’s failure. Shashikala as Dipak’s dancing sister added glamour to the movie and yet it failed. The likely reason must be that the movie was mauled by the censors.
Anyway, movie per se and its story and success etc are of peripheral interest to us. We are to concentrate on this iconic song in particular and other songs in general that the movie had and that became very popular. In addition to the three delightful Chand songs, there were the following:
4. Kahan se leke aayi hai (SH Bihari).
5. Piya main to hui bawari (SH Bihari).
6. Raat aayi hai mohabbat ki kahani leke (Rajinder Krishan).
7. Dil mera hai diwana (SH Bihari).
8. Mohabbat mein meri tarah jo luta ho (SH Bihari).
9. Ai mere chaman main hoon wo kali (Rajinder Krishan).
10. Chala kaafila pyaar ka (SH Bihari).
11. O na na na jana na chhod ke (SH Bihari).
Na ye chand hoga was, as I told you earlier, sung in the movie twice: once by Geeta Dutt for Shayama and once by Hemant Kumar for Dipak. It was penned by SH Behari and composed by Hemant Kumar.
Shamsul Huda Bihari (as given in the credits of the movie: SH Behari), born in Arrah, Bihar, must rank amongst the most underrated lyricists in the Hindi films industry. And yet, it is pleasantly surprising to see the range and popularity of his songs.
His most successful pairing has been with OP Nayyar. My favourite songs of SH Bihari with OP Nayyar include: Bahut Shukriya Badi Meherbani, and Mujhe Dekhkar Aapka Muskurana (Ek Mussafir Ek Haseena, 1962); Diwana Huwa Badal, Hai Duniya Usi Ki, Isharon Isharon Mein Dil Lene Waale, Meri Jaan Balle, Phir Thes Lagi Dil Pe, Subhan Allah, Tarif Karun Kya Uski, Kisi Na Kisise Kabhi Na Kabhi, and Balamaa Khulii Havaa Mein (Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964); “Yehi Woh Jagah Hai, Phir Miloge Kabhi, Is Baat Ka Wada Karlo, Aap Se Maine Meri Jaan Mohabbat Ki Hai, Main Shayad Tumhare Liye Ajnabi Hoon, and Mera Pyar Woh Hai Ke (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, 1966); Zara Haulle Haulle Challo Mere Sajna, Zulfon Ko Hata Le Chehre Se, Aaj Koi Pyar Se, Meri Jaan Tum Pe Sadhke, Jo Dil Ki Tadap Na Jane, and Khuda Huzoor Ko Meri Bhi Zindagi De De (Sawan Ki Ghata, 1966); Raaton Ko Chori Chori, Na Jaane Kyon, Mehfil Mein, Tumhari Mulaqat Se, Yeh Purnoor Chehra, Nazar Nazar Se Milaao, Tum Sab Se Haseen Ho and Kyar Cheez Ho Zaalim (Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, 1966); Chain Se Hamko Kabhi Aapne Jeene Na Diya, and Ek Tu Hai Piya Jis Pe Dil Aa Gaya (Praan Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, 1974); Badan Gora Haseen Jalwe Tumko Deewaana Meri Jaan,Ghar Apna Bangaal Aur Bambai Mein Hai Sasuraal, Gham Yateemon Ke Jaisa Bhi Sansaar Main Koi Bachcha, Kisko Gale Lagaaye Dil Kiska Todiye, Pyaar Bhara Kajara Aankhiyon Mein Daal Ke, Saaqi Ki Nigaahon Seae Jee Hoga Kya Aage and Zulf Lehraayi To Saawan Ka Mahina Aa Gaya (Khoon Ka Badla Khoon, 1978).
As far as Hemant Kumar is concerned, other than this movie they were together in the 1955 Usha Kiran and Karan Diwan movie Bahu (Dekho dekho ji balam deke birah ke gam), 1956 movie Inspector starring Ashok Kumar and Geeta Bali (Dil chhed koi aisa nagma), 1957 movie Ek Jhalak starring Pradeep Kumar and Vyjayanthimala (Aaja zara mere dil ke sahare), 1957 movie Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan starring Ajit and Nalini Jaywant (Hai chaar din ki duniya, Kahe tadpaye kahe tarsaaye), 1957 movie Hill Station starring Shyama, Pradeep Kumar, Beena Roy (Nayi manzil nayi raahen naya hai mehrbaan apna), and 1956 movie Arab Ka Saudagar starring Pradeep Kumar and Shashikala (Tera hi aasra hai O do jahaan waale).
SH Bihari has, of course, also paired with Laxmikant Pyarelal (Naseeb Apna Apna, Janam Janam, Shoorveer, Jawab Hum Denge), Shankar Jaikishan (Pagla Kahin Ka, Jaane Anjane, Duniya), Ravi (Mehdi, Ghar Sansaar, Apna Banake Dekho), Bappi Lahiri (Kab Taq Chup Rahungi), Bulo C Rani (Madhur Milan), and Ram Ganguly (Gawiyaa with that beautiful song: Teri yaad ka deepak jalata hai).
Lets turn to the singer and composer Hemant Kumar:
“If God could sing, He would have a voice like Hemant Kumar’s”. This is how Salil Chowdhury described Hemant da’s singing. And we, who adore him, completely agree.
Hemant’s singing has the magical effect of carrying you – body, heart and soul – into the world of the song. Take Ye raat ye chandini phir kahan; and you realise that the Jaal (Net or Trap) is not just cast by Dev Anand for Geeta Bali, but that you yourself are caught in it like a struggling fish. When he goes on to sing… Taaron ki chhaon mein keh le kahaniyan…, you don’t have to imagine the scene; it unfolds before your eyes with his each word. Let’s take just one more illustrative song, a Waltzing number: Chup hai dharti chup hai chaand sitaare, mere dil ki dhadkan tujhako pukaare. Suddenly, you experience an enchanting silence wherein only thing that is awake is your soul.
Interestingly, Hemant da has sung and composed more songs on Chand and Chup than any other. The atmosphere of moonlit night is to be enjoyed in silence and not in crescendo. For example, Lehron pe lehar, kismat hai jawan; Raaton ki sehar, chali aao yahan; Sitaare timtimaate hain to aaja aaja, Machalti jaa rahi hai ye hawaayen aaja aaja.
Hemant Kumar was a singer and composer who came alive, gently and heart warmingly at Raat (Night): Raat haseen, ye chand haseen, tu sabase haseen mere dilvar; Aur tujhase haseen tera pyaar.
Is it, therefore, any surprising that he sang one of his best for a movie called Sannata (Complete Calm): Bas ek chup si lagi hai? Is it also surprising that his own film production of 1969 (he had Asit Sen (the famous director and not the comedian) directing it) was called Khamoshi (Silence)?
Raat, Khamoshi, Chandini are the themes that one can associate with Hemant Kumar: Jaadugar sainya, chhod mere bainya, ho gayi aadhi raat, ab ghar jaane de (from Hemant Kumar’s music direction Nagin), we would want to sing to him, trying to get back home. And Hemant da, in his characteristic baritone would sing back: Ek raat hoke nidar, mujhe jeene do. Life, for him, came alive, at night, like Wordsworth’s Lucy Gray:
“The stars of midnight shall be so dear,
For her and she shall lean her ear,
In many a secret place;
Where rivulets dance their wayward round,
And beauty born of murmuring sound,
Shall pass into her face.”
Chand is one of the reasons the song is dear to me. It is my favourite theme in songs. My very first post on songs was on Chand songs. The very first Songs Fest that I attempted on Facebook had the theme Chand.
This song is not a duet; it has been sung separately by Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar. I am giving you both the versions.
Please enjoy this iconic song from the 1954 B Mitra movie Shart starring Shyama and Dipak, IS Johar and Shashikala, song having been penned by SH Bihari, composed by Hemant Kumar and sung by Geeta Dutt and Hemant Kumar: Na ye chand hoga….
Geeta Dutt
न ये चाँद होगा न तारे रहेंगे
मगर हम हमेशा तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
नज़र ढूँढती थी जिसे पा लिया है
उम्मीदों के फूलों से दामन भरा है
ये दिन हमको सब दिन से प्यारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
कहूँ क्या मेरे दिल का अर्मान क्या है
तुम्हें हर घड़ी चूमना चाहता है
कहाँ तक भला जी को मारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
सहारा मिले जो तुम्हारी हँसी का
भुला देंगे हम सारा ग़म ज़िन्दगी का
तुम्हारे लिये हैं तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
Hemant Kumar
आ…, न ये चाँद होगा, न तारे रहेंगे
मगर हम हमेशा, तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
बिछड़कर चले जाएं तुमसे कहीं
तो ये ना समझना मुहब्बत नहीं
जहाँ भी रहे हम तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
ज़माना अगर कुछ कहेगा तो क्या
मगर तुम न कहना हमें बेवफ़ा
तुम्हारे लिये हैं तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…
Besides the two reasons that I have given you for this being amongst my favourites: One, that one of the two singers singing it is Hemant Kumar and the composer being Hemant Kumar (some of the best songs of Hemant Kumar are on his own composition (such as Ye nayan dare dare, Ya dil ki suno duniyawaalo, Beqraar karke hamen youn na jayiye, Tum pukaar lo tumhaara intezaar hai, and Zindagi kitani khoobsurat hai) and two, that it is a Chand song, there is one basic reason for this song tugging at my emotions. It is a song that talks of eternal love. It equates Love to God: it would stay even after the moon and stars are no more.
And like all Hemant Kumar songs, it brings home this point quietly; like a silent resolve.
The overall effect is a song that transports one into another world; the world of total love and commitment.
I hope you enjoyed it too.
Please await the next song in the series.
