Author: Sunbyanyname

We lost Manna Dey on 24 October in the year 2013. With more than 50 years of delightful singing, he left us with some memorable songs.

Having been born on the Labour Day in 1919 in Calcutta, he recorded his first playback song for the 1942 movie Tamanna, a duet with Suraiya that was composed by KC Dey: Jago aayee usha panchhi bole jago.

He soon emerged the singer of choice for raaga based songs. He tried his hand at comical songs too with great success. Some of his duets in the movies are immortal. One of his unforgettable raaga based songs was in Raag Basant Bahar for the movie with the same name: Ketaki gulab juhi. Another unforgettable song of his is from Waqt: Aye meri zohrazabeen. Yet another is Aye mere pyare watan. Needless to say he made a name for himself as a unique playback singer.

He was the recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and finally Padma Vibhushan and to top it all Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

He was endowed with a very sweet voice and hence, difficult to sing. Also, his superb modulation permitted him to sing repeated words and lines with variations. For example, in the song Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, he sang the line Hum teri aankhon ke deewane hain with almost a dozen variations of “deewane hain”.

For any male singer, Manna Dey continues being a challenge.

Here, I have, over a period of more than a year, tried six of his songs.

Here is the first one.

Song #1
Zindagi kaisi hai paheli

The movie with this song had the most well remembered role of superstar Rajesh Khanna in the 1971 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie: Anand.

He was Anand Sehgal (a role meant to be done originally by Kishore Kumar) suffering from lymphosarcoma of intestines and hence terminally ill. His oncologist Bhasker (Amitabh Bachchan; originally meant for Mehmood) and others around Anand notice that he, Anand, had decided to live life to the fullest and share happiness with others rather than the sadness of his terminal disease.

And this song depicts his view of life (in another similar role (Safar, that is, he spread sadness by Zindagi ka safar hai ye aisa safar koi samajha nahin koi jaana nahin. Indeed, he has three excellent Zindagi songs picturised on him; the third one being: Zindagi ek safar hai suhana. They do get typified, don’t they?).

Please enjoy my rendition of: Zindagi kaisi hai paheli…

ज़िंदगी …
कैसी है पहेली, हाए
कभी तो हंसाये
कभी ये रुलाये
ज़िंदगी …

कभी देखो मन नहीं जागे
पीछे पीछे सपनों के भागे
एक दिन सपनों का राही
चला जाए सपनों के आगे कहाँ
ज़िंदगी …

जिन्होने सजाए यहाँ मेले
सुख-दुख संग-संग झेले
वही चुनकर ख़ामोशी
यूँ चली जाए अकेले कहाँ
ज़िंदगी …

Song #2
Aye malik tere bande hum

I saw this 1957 V Shantaram movie, Do Aankhen Barah Haath on a portable screen in our Jawahar Colony in the Himachal town of Mandi. The film had an impressive legacy: it won the 1957 National Film Award. It won a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. It also won a Golden Globe Award for the best film produced outside the United States.

This song was sung in the movie by both Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar and is the song by which the movie is remembered. The lyrics were penned by Bharat Vyas and composed by Vasant Desai.

I added a stanza to the song appropriate to our situation during COVID 19.

Please enjoy: Aye malik tere bande hum…

Song #3
Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain

This song is from the 1973 war movie Hindustan Ki Kasam that was directed by Chetan Anand. Chetan Anand had earlier won fame by his 1964 movie Haqeeqat based on the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Hindustan Ki Kasam was based on Operation Cactus Lilly in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. It starred Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh as the lead romantic duo. Chetan Anand himself acted in the movie together with brother Vijay Anand.

The song was created by Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat team of Kaifi Azmi and Madan Mohan.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain…

हर तरफ़ अब यही अफ़साने हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवानें हैं
हर तरफ़…

इतनी सच्चाई है इन आँखों में
खोटे सिक्के भी खरे हो जायें
तू कभी प्यार से देखे जो उधर
सूखे जंगल भी हरे हो जायें
बाग बन जाए, बाग बन जाए जो वीरानें हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवाने हैं
हर तरफ़…

एक हल्का सा इशारा इनका
कभी दिल और कभी जाँ लूटेगा
किस तरह प्यास बुझेगी उसकी
किस तरह उसका नशा टूटेगा
जिसकी क़िस्मत में, जिसकी क़िस्मत में ये पैमानें हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवानें हैं
हर तरफ़…

नीची नज़रों में हैं कितना जादू
हो गए पल में कई ख्वाब जवाँ
कभी उठने कभी झुकने की अदा
ले चली जाने किधर जाने कहाँ
रास्ते प्यार के, रास्ते प्यार के अंजाने हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवानें हैं – (२)
हर तरफ़…

Song #4
Phir kahin koi phool khila

Phool or flower is often compared to blossoming of Love. The last thing that the lovers want is that it should be called infatuation. This is exactly the theme of this Manna De song.  This ranks amongst his best. The song is from the 1971 movie Anubhav directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja. Lyrics are by Kapil Kumar and music by Kanu Roy. The latter composed it in Raag Desh. You may recall OP Nayyar’s Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye in the same raag.

Please enjoy: Phir kahin koi phool khila, chahat naa kaho isako…

फिर कहीं कोई फूल खिला, चाहत ना कहो उसको – २
फिर कहीं कोई दीप जला, मंज़िल ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …

मन का समुंदर प्यासा हुआ, क्यूँ किसी से माँगे दुआ – २
लहरों का लगा जो मेला, तूफ़ां ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …

देखें सब वो सपने, खुद ही सजाए जो हमने – २
दिल उनसे बहल जाए तो, राहत ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …

Song #5
Kasme waade pyar wafa sab baatein hain

Our late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the nation a motto: Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan. He asked actor Manoj Kumar who enacted the role of Bhagat Singh in Shaheed to make a movie based on soldiers and farmers. Manoj Kumar came up with his 1967 directorial debut movie Upkar that was the top box office hit of that year. It won as many as seven awards at the Filmfare Awards and won the Second Best Feature Film Award at the National level.

Among the seven Filmfare Awards won by the movie was the Best Supporting Actor Award given to Pran. With this movie Pran shifted from bein a villain to character actor. Pran as Malang Chacha won all around appreciation.

In this song Malang Chacha brings out a bitter but undeniable truth of life. I have seen many saints using the song as a hymn.

The lyrics were penned by Indeevar and composed by Kalyanji Anandji.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Kasme waade pyar wafa…

कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या
कोई किसी का नहीं ये झूठे
नाते हैं नातों का क्या
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या

होगा मसीहा….
होगा मसीहा सामने तेरे
फिर भी न तू बच पायेगा
तेर अपना खून ही आखिर
तुझको आग लगायेगा
आसमान में….
आसमान में उड़ने वाले
मिट्टी में मिल जायेगा
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या..

सुख में तेरे साथ चलेंगे
दुख में सब मुख मोड़ेंगे
दुनिया वाले….
दुनिया वाले तेरे बनकर
तेरा ही दिल तोड़ेंगे
देते हैं….
देते हैं भगवान को धोखा
इन्सां को क्या छोड़ेंगे

कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या
कोई किसी का नहीं ये झूठे
नाते हैं नातों का क्या
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या..

Song #6
Tu pyar ka sagar hai

I have taken the song from the 1955 Amiya Chakraborty movie Seema starring Nutan and Balraj Sahni.

Incidentally, both the movies won Nutan Best Actress Awards, as did three other movies: Sujata, Milan and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki.

I hope you liked my choices of songs and their rendition.

Shall post more in the next part.

This tribute to Madan Mohan is in continuation of my tribute to him exactly two months ago: Tribute to Madan Mohan – My Own Singing.

Madan Mohan was born on 25 Jun 1924 at Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, where his father Rai Bahadur Chunilal was working as an Accountant General with the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces. Madan Mohan spent the early years of his life in the Middle East. After 1932, his family returned to their home town of Chakwal, then in Jhelum district of Punjab, British India. He joined the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the year 1943. He served there for two years until end of World War II, when he left the Army and returned to Bombay to pursue his musical interests. In 1946, he joined the All India Radio, Lucknow as Programme Assistant, where he came in contact with various artists such as Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Begum Akhtar, and Talat Mahmood.

He was very fond of singing, and so in 1947 he got his first chance to record two ghazals penned by Behzad Lucknawi, Aane Laga Hai Koi Nazar Jalwa Gar Mujhe and Is Raaz Ko Duniya Jaanti Hai. Soon after, in 1948 he recorded two more private ghazals penned by Deewan Sharar, Wo Aaye To Mahfil Mein Ithlaate Huye Aaye and Duniya Mujhe Kahti Hai Ke Main Tujhko Bhoolaa Doon. In 1948, he got his first opportunity to sing a film duet Pinjare Mein Bulbul Bole and Mera Chhotasa Dil Dole with Lata Mangeshkar under composer Ghulam Haider (composer) for the film Shaheed (1948 film), though these songs were never released or used in the film. Between 1948 and 1949, he assisted music composers SD Burman for Do Bhai, and Shyam Sundar in Actress and Nirdosh.

As Music Director, he scored his first big break with the film Aankhen in 1950. He was soon to emerge as a music director par excellence especially for ghazals. Indeed, music director OP Nayyar once said about Madan Mohan that two of his ghazals were better than all that OP Nayyar composed. Some of the best songs of Lata Mangeshkar (she fondly called him “Madan Bhaiyya”) were composed by him on the lyrics of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Rajinder Krishan.

Some of my favourite songs of Madan Mohan are: Aaj soch to aansu bhar aaye, Betaab dil ki tamanna yehi hai, Tum jo mil gaye ho (Hanste Zakham 1973), Aapke pehlu mein aa ke ro diye, Naino mein badra chhaye, Jhumka gira re, Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saya 1966), Aapki nazaron ne samajha, Hai isi mein pyaar ki aabru, Vo dekho jala ghar kisi ka (Anpadh 1962), Aapko pyaar chhupane ki buri aadat hai, Tere paas aake mera waqt nikal jaata hai (Neela Akash 1965), Agar mujhase mohabbat hai, Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise (Aap Ki Parchhayiyan), Ai mere dil mujhe bata de (Bhai Bhai 1946), Ari vo shokh kaliyon muskara dena vo jab aayen (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai 1967), Baad muddat ke yeh ghadi aayi, Haal-e-dil youn unhe sunaya gaya, Jab jab tumhe bhulaya tum aur yaad aaye, Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko jhain bhulaye huye, Main teri nazar ka saroor hoon, Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhaayi hai, Teri aankh ke aansu pi jaayun, Wo chup rahen to mere dil ke daag jalate hain (Jahan Ara 1964), Hamare baad mehfil mein (Baghi 1953), Bainya na dharo O balma, Ham hain mataa-e-kuchcha-e-bazaar ki tarah, Mai ri main kaase kahun, Tumse kahun ik baat (Dastak, 1970), Bairan neend na aaye mohe (Chacha Zindabad 1959), Basti basti parbat parbat gaata jaaye banjara, Chand madham hai aasman chup hai, Dekh tere Bhagwan ki haalat (Railway Platform 1955), Bhooli hui yaado mujhe itna na satayo, Vo bhooli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi (Sanjog 1961), Chanda ja re ja re, Main to tum sang nain mila ke (Manmauji 1962), Chhadi re chhadi kaise gale mein padhi, Dil dhoondata hai fursat ke, Ruke ruke se kadam (Mausam 1975), Chhod kar tere pyar ka daaman, Jao hamane dastaan apni sunaayi, Lag jaa gale ke phir, Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim, Shokh nazar ki bijliyan  (Woh Kaun Thi 1964), Do dil toote do dil haare, Doli chadate hi Heer ne bain kiye, Milo na tum to ham ghabraayen, Ye duniya ye mehfil mere kaam ki nahin (Heer Ranjha 1970), Ham chal rahe the wo chal rahe the (Duniya Na Maane 1959), Ham pyar mein jalane waalo ko chain kahan (Jailor 1958), Hamsafar saath apna chhod chale, Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba (Aakhri Dao 1958), Hamse aaya na gaya, Kaun aay mere man ke dwaare, Meri veena tum bin roye, Tu pyar kare ya thukraye (Dekh Kabira Roya 1957), Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, Hai tere saath meri wafa main nahin to kya (Hindustan Ki Kasam 1973), Hoke majbuur mujhe usne bhualaya hoga, Kar chale ham fida, Khelo na mere dil se, Main ye soch kar uske dar se, Zara si aahat hoti hai (Haqeeqat 1964), Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki saza paane ko, Is reshmi paazeb ki jhankar ke sadake, Tere dar pe aaya hoon (Laila Majnu 1976), Ik haseen raat ko dil mera kho gaya, Kabhi ai haqeeqat-e-muntazar, Sapano mein agar mere (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki 1966), Ishq ki garmi-e-jazbaat kise pesh karun. Mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhase, Naghma o sher ki saugat, Rang aur noor ki baraat (Ghazal 1964), Jaa jaa re jaa saajna, Jaana tha hamse door, Unako ye shikayat hai, Youn hasaraton ke daag (Adalat 1958), Kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin koi na koi to aayega, Mujhe le chalo aaj us jagah, Sawan ke mahine mein (Sharaabi 1964), Koi shikwa bhi nahin koi shikayat bhi nahin (Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhaare 1966), Main paagal mera manwa paagal (Aashiyana 1952), Meri yaad mein tum na aasnu bahana (Madhosh 1951), Na tum bewafa ho na ham bewafa hain (Ek Kali Muskaaye 1958), Sapne mein sajan se do baaten, Do ghadi wo jo paas aa baithe (Gateway Of India 1957), Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai (Chirag 1969), Tumhari zulf ke saaye mein shaam kar loonga (Naunihaal 1967), Tu mere saamne hai teri zulfen hain khuli (Suhagan, 1964), and Vo jo milate the kabhi hamsase deewano ki tarah (Akeli Mat Jaiyo 1963).

When I learnt singing, I soon got to sing Madan Mohan. Here I present six more of his songs that I sang:

7.  Humse aaya na gaya.

The song is from a 1957 farcical comedy Dekh Kabira Roya directed by Amiya Chakravarty. Three artistes: a singer, painter and writer, ie, Anoop Kumar as Mohan, Daljit as Pradeep, and Jawahar Kaul as Ranjit, have their talents mixed up as they fall in love with three girls: Ameeta as Geeta, Anita Guha as Rekha and Shubha Khote as Kalpana. Their feigned talents as per the liking of their girl friends lead to the farcical comedy.

This song was enacted between Anoop Kumar and Shubha Khote. The beauty of the songs of this movie, composed by the maestro Madan Mohan is that notwithstanding a hilarious comedy, he composed most songs in serious raagas. This was composed by him in Raag Baageshri/Bhimpalasi.

The original was sung by Talat Mahmood. The beautiful lyrics are those of Rajinder Krishan who paired with Madan Mohan to give us some of the most unforgettable songs in Hindi movies.

Please enjoy my own rendition of Humse aaya na gaya….

हम से आया न गया तुम से बुलाया ना गया
फ़ासला प्यार में दोनों से मिटाया ना गया

वो घड़ी याद है जब तुम से मुलाक़ात हुई
एक इशारा हुआ दो हाथ बढ़े बात हुई
देखते देखते दिन ढल गया और रात हुई
वो समां आज तलक दिल से भुलाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया

क्या ख़बर थी के मिले हैं तो बिछड़ने के लिये
क़िस्मतें अपनी बनाईं हैं बिगड़ने के लिये
प्यार का बाग बसाया था उजड़ने के लिये
इस तरह उजड़ा के फिर हम से बसाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया

याद रग जाती है और वक़्त गुज़र जाता है
फूल खिलता है मगर खिल के बिखर जाता है
सब चले जाते हैं फिर दर्दे जिगर जाता है
दाग़ जो तूने दिया दिल ने मिटाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया …

8.  Kaise kategi zindagi tere bagair.

This ghazal by the Ghazal King Madan Mohan is from an album called Tere Bagair that was released in 2009. Songs in this album including this one were sung by Mohammad Rafi. Then there are others that were sung by Lata

Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle. There is one by Kishore Kumar too.

The song was penned by Rajinder Krishan. It was originally used in the 1968 Pakistani hit movie Jahan Tum Wahan Hum.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Kaise kategi zindagi tere bagair…

कैसे कटेगी ज़िन्दगी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर
पाउँगा हर शै में कमी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर

फूल खिले तोह यु लगे
फूल नहीं यह दाग हैं
तारे फलक पे यु लगे
जैसे बुझे चिराग हैं
आग लगाये चाँदनी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर
कैसे कटेगी ज़िन्दगी

चाँद घटा में छुप गया
सारा जहाँ उदास है
कहती है दिल की धड़कने
तू कही आस-पास है
ा के तड़प रहा है जी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर
पाउँगा हर शै में कमी.

9.   Rang aur noor ki baraat.

This ghazal is from the 1964 movie Gazal directed by Ved Madan and starring Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari. The movie revolves around this ghazal. It was first sung in the movie by Lata Mangeshkar and picturised on Meena Kumari singing in the mehfil of her female friends. Sunil Dutt is passing by her house and falls in love with her voice and the ghazal. Later, he uses the same tune to sing in a mushaira organised by her father Prithviraj Kapoor. Of course, that seals the love between Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari.

But, then, before their love would result in nikah (wedding) she loses her voice and doesn’t want Sunil Dutt to go through wedded life without hearing her. So, she agrees to marry the bad and persistent guy Rehman. Rehman is so thrilled with it that he asks Sunil Dutt to sing a sehra (wedding tribute) on his wedding with Meena Kumari.

Sahir excelled in the lyrics on all three occasions. Its lyrics and extraordinary composition by Madan Mohan made it into one of the most iconic songs of its era.

The song equally belongs to Mohammad Rafi for its outstanding rendition. It is one of the most difficult of Rafi songs.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Rang aur noor ki baraat kise pesh karun…

रंग और नूर की बारात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

मैने जज़बात निभाए हैं उसूलों की जगह (२)
अपने अरमान पिरो लाया हूँ फूलों की जगह
तेरे सेहरे की …
तेरे सेहरे की ये सौगात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

ये मेरे शेर मेरे आखिरी नज़राने हैं (२)
मैं उन अपनों मैं हूँ जो आज से बेगाने हैं
बेत-आ-लुख़ सी मुलाकात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

सुर्ख जोड़े की तबोताब मुबारक हो तुझे (२)
तेरी आँखों का नया ख़्वाब मुबारक हो तुझे
ये मेरी ख़्वाहिश ये ख़यालात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

कौन कहता है चाहत पे सभी का हक़ है (२)
तू जिसे चाहे तेरा प्यार उसी का हक़ है
मुझसे कह दे …
मुझसे कह दे मैं तेरा हाथ किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

रंग और नूर की …

10.   Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai

This ghazal is from the 1964 Vinod Kumar movie Jahan Ara starring Prithviraj Kapoor as Shah Jahan and Mala Sinha as his daughter from his favourite wife Mumtaz. At her death two things happened: One, of course, was that Shah Jahan built one of the seven wonders of the world: Taj Mahal and the second was that Mumtaz loved Shah Jahan so much that she took a promise from Jahan Ara that she would, after Mumtaz, look after her father Shah Jahan and not get married.

Jahan Ara wanted to keep the promise but she fell in love with Mirza Yusuf Changezi (Bharat Bhushan). Because of JaHan Ara’s promise at her mother’s death bed, Jahan couldn’t get married to Mirza Yusuf Changezi and that led to a number of poignant songs in the movie, including this one, based on historical story.

The movie was a huge success thanks to its songs composed by Madan Mohan and penned by Rajinder Krishan. Indeed, this ghazal has the best lyrics of Rajinder Krishan as highlighted by me:

फिर वोही शाम वही ग़म वही तनहाई है
दिल को समझाने तेरी याद चली आई है

फिर तसव्वुर तेरे पहलू में बिठा जाएगा
फिर गया वक़्त घड़ी भर को पलट आएगा
दिल बहल जाएगा आखिर ये तो सौदाई है
फिर वोही शाम …

जाने अब तुझ से मुलाक़ात कभी हो के न हो
जो अधूरी रहे वो बात कभी हो के न हो
मेरी मंज़िल तेरी मंज़िल से बिछड़ आई है
फिर वोही शाम …

फिर तेरे ज़ुल्फ़ के रुखसार की बातें होंगी
हिज्र की रात मगर प्यार की बातें होंगी
फिर मुहब्बत में तड़पने की क़सम खाई है
फिर वोही शाम …

This ghazal was originally sung by Talat Mahmood.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai…

11.   Woh jo milte the kabhi

Here is a ghazal of Lata Mangeshkar that I sang because I was so fascinated by it. Indeed, with this song I paid my own personal tribute to four of the greatest in the making of songs: the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri who was awarded the highest award by the government of India: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Madan Mohan the composer, Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar – the singer, and finally the actress Meena Kumari whose superb acting made it into an unforgettably beautiful song.

The song is from the 1963 Nandlal Jaswantlal movie Akeli Mat Jaiyo starring Rajendra Kumar and Meena Kumari.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Woh jo milte the kabhi…

वो जो मिलते थे कभी हम से दीवानों की तरह
आज यूँ मिअल्ते हैं जैसे कभी पहचान न थी

देखते भी हैं तो यूँ मेरी निगाहों में कभी
अजनबी जैसे मिला करते हैं राहों में कभी
इस क़दर उनकी नज़र हम से तो अंजान न थी
वो जो मिलते थे कभी …

एक दिन था कभी यूँ भी जो मचल जाते थे
खेलते थे मेरी ज़ुल्फ़ों से बहल जाते थे
वो परेशाँ थे मेरी ज़ुल्फ़ परेशान न थी
वो जो मिलते थे कभी …

वो मुहब्बत वो शरारत मुझे याद आती है
दिल में इक प्यार का तूफ़ान उठा जाती थी
थी मगर ऐसी तो उलझन में मेरी जान न थी
वो जो मिलते थे कभी …

12.   Main pagal mera manwa pagal.

This song is a favourite of mine. Its beautiful rendition by Talat Mahmood fascinated me. It is from the 1962 movie Aashina starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis, one of the 16 movies that they did together.

Its lyrics were penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed in Raag Kedar by the maestro.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Main pagal mera manwa pagal…

मैं पागल मेरा मनवा पागल
पागल मेरी प्रीत रे
पगले-पन की पीड़ वो जाने
बिछड़े जिसका मीत रे
मैं पागल मेरा मनवा पागल …

कहे ये दुनिया मैं दीवाना
दिन में देखूँ सपने
दीवानी दुनिया क्या जाने – २
ये सपने हैं अपने – २
घायल मन की हंसी उड़ाये
ये दुनिया की रीत रे, मैं पागल …

छुपी हुई मेरी काया में
राख किसी परवाने की
ये मेरा दुखिया जीवन है
रूह किसी दीवाने की
मन के टूटे तार बजाकर
गाऊँ अपने गीत रे

मैं पागल मेरा मनवा पागल
पागल मेरी प्रीत रे, मैं पागल …

So that this post won’t become too long, I shall end here today. Next time I shall give you another six songs of Madan Mohan sung by me in Part III.

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 #52 in the series. I hope you liked Song #51 – Ajj din charya tere rang warga.

Song #52
Din dhal jaaye haay raat na jaaye
Theme-word: In the mukhada

Remembering Dev Anand on His Death Anniversary 03 Dec

Dev Anand died young on this day in 2011, at the age of 88 years. Before dying, he had wooed women who were not even born at the time when he had reached half his age.

Forever being young was, of course, his biggest achievement.

In the Common Room of Government College, Dharamsala (Himachal) whereat I studied in Pre-Engineering in the year 1969-1970, there was a group picture of his class with him being one of the standees. When I joined the Engineering College, Chandigarh after that, my roommate had pictures of Dev Anand all over his side of the room whereas I had pictures of gods on the walls (knowing that my dad could suddenly visit me on surprise) and kept Dev Anand’s pictures in my table drawer. Of course, my roommate even displayed his Dev Anand cut hair. I couldn’t match that because I was a turbaned Sardar at that time!

Guide – 1965

Seeing Dev Anand movies was a favourite pastime with all of us; eg, I haven’t come across any of my friends who hasn’t see the 1965 movie Guide. The three Anand brothers were in the movies: Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand and Dev Anand and in their own ways left marks. This movie was produced by Dev Anand’s Navketan Films and directed by Vijay Anand. It starred Waheeda Rehman having been married to Kishore Sahu an archaelogist who had more interest in ruins than in his wife. And hence, Waheeda fell for Raju Guide Dev Anand.

It would have been an ordinary story but for RK Narayan on whose book the movie was based. Suddenly, when he was running away from tinsel world and Waheeda (the successful dancer Nalini), greatness was accidentally thrust upon him. He was taken as a saint who would solve the famine problem of that area by keeping a Fast Unto Death for desperately needed rain. RK Narayan gave a new meaning to the title Guide.

Shailendra and SD Burman

They paired together from the days of 1951 movie Buzdil. It is in the 1963 Bimal Roy movie Bandini that they developed a rift and thus Sampooran Singh Kalra was brought in by SD Burman to write songs and we all gained from his lyrics (later to emerge as the most successful lyricist Gulzar).
Shailendra was very fond of the word Rimjhim and used it any number of times in his songs such as Rimjhim ke tarane leke aayi barsaat, Ab ke baras bhej bhaiya ko babul (Rimjhim padhengi phuharen), O sajana barkha bahaar aayi (Aise rimjhim mein O snama) and Aha rimjhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye. When he made his house in Bombay, he called it Rimjhim. In this song, here is how he used Rimjhim:

दिन ढल जाये हाय, रात ना जाय
तू तो न आए तेरी, याद सताये, दिन ढल जाये

प्यार में जिनके, सब जग छोड़ा, और हुए बदनाम
उनके ही हाथों, हाल हुआ ये, बैठे हैं दिल को थाम
अपने कभी थे, अब हैं पराये
दिन ढल जाये हाय …

ऐसी ही रिम-झिम, ऐसी फ़ुवारें, ऐसी ही थी बरसात
खुद से जुदा और, जग से पराये, हम दोनों थे साथ
फिर से वो सावन, अब क्यूँ न आये
दिन ढल जाये हाय …

दिल के मेरे तुम, पास हो कितनी, फिर भी हो कितनी दूर
तुम मुझ से मैं, दिल से परेशाँ, दोनों हैं मजबूर
ऐसे में किसको, कौन मनाये
दिन ढल जाये हाये …

This Song

SD Burman never acknowledged the contribution of Mohammad Rafi to his own success and popularity. However, the fact is that like this song, Rafi sang many memorable songs for him. This is as much a classic as the movie.

My Own Poetry

Phir Barsaat Chali Aayi

आज फिर भीगने का दिल करता है बरसात में,
कुछ शोख़ हवा चली है सुहानी रात में I

यादों की बूंदे दिल के आँगन में गिर रही हैं,
और दस्तक दे रही हैं देहलीज़-ऐ-जज़्बात पे I

मेरे रूखे जहान पे सावन को भी तरस आ गया,
लगता है रो रहा है वह भी मेरे हालात पे I

घने धुएं में रौशनी की किरण जगमगाई है,
कुछ और लौ बची है शमा-ए-हयात में I

सावन क्या आया, बस यूँ लगता है,
हल चल सी मच गयी है कायनात में I

हवाएं उनकी बज़्म से लायी हैं खुशबू,
उधर उठ के देखता हूँ बात बात पे I

सोचता हूँ, रवि, यह कहीं सरआब तो नहीं,
कुछ हकीकत तो होगी ख्याल-ए-करामात में I

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Din dhal jaaye haay raat na jaaye…

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.

Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #51 – Itna to yaad hain mujhe. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #52 of mine
Ye raatein, ye mausam, nadi ka kinaara

Ravi and not OP Nayyar

Many of Ravi’s songs are similar to those of OP Nayyar and it amazes us no end since the forte’ of Ravi was sitar based serious songs (such as Tora man darpan kehlaye and songs that were dripping with despondency (Lo aa gayi unki yaad woh nahin aaye). Two songs that come to mind are: One, from China Town, ie, Baar baar dekho (Lyrics by Majrooh who, as I told you today itself, often paired with OP Nayyar), and this one penned by Shailendra.

Cult Song

This duet assumed proportions of being a cult song. Husband – wife pair of singers or even those in love often sing this song even today. The song draws heavily from OP Nayyar’s Udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawan hai (which Evani Leela gave as a Beautiful Duet #29) and yet, as in a Xerox Ad: “Copy better than the original”, this song became far more popular than OP Nayyar’s.

Dilli Ka Thug

This 1958 movie was written, produced and directed by SD Narang and starred Kishore Kumar and Nutan in the lead with Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle providing the playback for them. Here are the lyrics:

कि: ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा
आ: कहा दो दिलों ने, की मिल कर, कभी हम न होंगे जुदा
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

आ: ये क्या बात है आज की चांदनी में – २
के हम खो गये प्यार की रागिनी में
कि: ये बाहों में बाहें, ये बहकी निगाहें
लो आने लगा ज़िंदगी का मज़ा
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

कि: सितारों की महफ़िल ने करके इशारा – २
कहा अब तो सारा जहाँ है तुम्हारा
आ: मुहब्बत जवाँ हो, खुला आसमाँ हो
करे कोई दिल आरज़ू और क्या
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

आ: क़सम है तुम्हे तुम अगर मुझसे रूठे – २
कि: रहे सांस जब तक, ये बंधन न टूटे
आ: तुम्हें दिल दिया है, ये वादा किया है
सनम मैं तुम्हारी रहूँगी सदा
कि: ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा
(दोनो): कहा दो दिलों ने, की मिल कर, कभी हम न होंगे जुदा
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Ye raatein ye mausam nadi ka kinara…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #52.

Please await Beautiful Duet #53 – Bahut shukriya, badi meharbani.

Today is the Birth Anniversary of the greatest singer: Mohammad Rafi.

I am putting up Part II of a post that I published seven months ago: Tribute to Mohammad Rafi – My Own Singing – Part I.

There has been no singer, male or female, like Mohammad Rafi. With his singing, he conveyed to us, what can one do to lyrics and composition simply by singing with his kind of passion, modulation, range, style and aura. Indeed, he made many songs immortal by just singing them.

Irrespective of the awards and honours bestowed on other singers, more often than not due to political reasons, many like me feel that Mohammad Rafi was beyond awards including Bharat Ratna.

Therefore, to be able to sing the songs earlier sung by Mohammad Rafi is a blessing and honour. This doesn’t, by any stretch of imagination, mean that anyone of us can match his prowess. It only means that we can take lots of joy and pride in the fact that we lived in the era when he was alive and fondly sing his songs to relive their magic.

Song #7 – Zara sun haseena – e – nazneen

As always, I want to start with my favourite poet and lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni. This blog has more posts on him than on any other lyricist.

The song is from the 1963 Niranjan movie titled: Kaun Apna Kaun Praya starring the living legend Waheeda Rehman and Vijay Kumar. Indeed, it is Vijay Kumar (Anil) who is lip syncing this song to Waheeda Rehman (Asha Devi) in the voice of Mohammad Rafi.

The song was composed by Ravi in the raag of my place in the hills: Raag Pahadi.

Have a look at the most beautiful lyrics:

ज़रा सुन हसीना ऐ नाज़नीं
मेरा दिल तुझ ही पे निसार है
तेरे दम से ही मेरे दिलरुबा
मेरी ज़िंदगी में बहार है

हुई जब से मुझ पे तेरी नज़र
मैं हूँ अपने आप से बेख़बर
हुआ जब से दिल में तेरा गुज़र
मुझे चैन है न क़रार है

तेरे हुस्न से जो सँवर गई
वो फ़िज़ाएं मुझको अज़ीज़ हैं
तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ से जो लिपट गईं
मुझे उन हवाओं से प्यार है

ये हसीन फूलों की डालियाँ
तुझे दे रही है सलामियाँ
मुझे क्यों न रश्क़ हो ऐ सनम
तेरे साथ फ़स्ल-ए-बहार है

Please enjoy: Zara sun haseena e nazneen….

Song #8 – Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya

The best of Madan Mohan’s songs were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Rajinder Krishan and Kaifi Azmi. This was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.

It is from the 1967 DD Kashyap movie Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, which was based upon Thomas Hardy’s Tess of d’Ubervilles.

Nutan (Nirmala) was in the title role, ably supported by Dharmendra (Ashok) and Rehman (Ranjit).

The song has not just heart-warming composition by Madan Mohan but really beautiful lyrics:

इक हसीन शाम को दिल मेरा खो गया
पहले अपना हुआ करता था
अब किसीका हो गया

मुद्दतों से आरज़ू थी
मेरे दिल मे कोई आये
सूनी सूनी ज़िन्दगी में
एक शम्मा झिलमिलाये
वो जो आये तो रोशन ज़माना हो गया
इक हसीन …

मेरे दिल के कारवां को
ले चला है आज कोई
शबनमी सी जिसकी आँखें
थोड़ी जागी थोड़ी सोयी
उनको देखा तो मौसम सुहाना हो गया
इक हसीन …

Please enjoy: Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya….

Song #9 – Ajahun na aaye balma sawn beeta jaaye

The comedy pair of Mehmood and Shubha Khote was a pair to watch. The comic chemistry between them was something to be seen.

Composers and music directors vied with one another to make songs for them; some of these being based on raagas.

And, who could sing classical songs better than Mohammad Rafi? Indeed, he was the best in most genre’s of songs; but, particularly delighted us in raaga based songs; eg, Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj in Raag Malkauns, O duniya ke rakhwale in Raag Darbari Kanada, and Unake khayal aaye to aate chale gaye in Raag Gara.

This was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Madhuwanti, Taal Kherava. The only other song that I know of, which was composed in the same raag and taal, was Rasmein ulfat ko nibhayen to nibhayen kaise by Madan Mohan.

This song is from the 1964 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Saanjh Aur Savera starring Meena Kumari and Guru Dutt besides the comedy duo of Mehmood and Shubha Khote.

Here are the lyrics:

अजहुँ ना आए बालमा, सावन बीता जाए
हाय रे सावन बीता जाए

नींद भी अंखियन द्वार न आए
तोसे मिलन की आस भी जाए
आई बहार खिले फुलवा
मोरे सपने कौन सजाए
आ … अजहुं …

चांद को बदरा गरवा लगाए
और भी मोरे मन ललचाए
यार हसीन गले लग जा
मोरी उम्र गुज़रती जाए
आ … अजहुं …

This is a duet. The original was sung by Mohammad Rafi for Mehmood and Suman Kalyanpur for Shubha Khote.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Ajahun na aaye balma….

Song #10 – Jo guzr rahi hai mujhpe use kaise main batayun

This is from the 1968 Vinod Kumar movie Mere Huzoor starring Raaj Kumar as Nawab Salim, Mala Sinha as Sultanat and Jeetendra as Akhtar Hussain Akhtar.

Salim had been in love with Sultanat. However, Akhtar had earlier saved the life of Salim and the latter had invited him to his palatial bungalow in Lucknow. Akhtar, in the train journey to Lucknow, sees and falls in love with Sultanat, a co-passenger.

This song was sung by Salim when Akhtar and Sultanat break the news about their impending wedding.

I found the lyrics, penned by Hasrat Jaipuri, as most apt for my wife, Lyn, being in advanced state of Alzheimer’s whilst celebrating our wedding anniversary last year.

Here are the lyrics:

जो गुज़र रही है मुझ पर उसे कैसे मैं बताऊँ -२
वो ख़ुशी मिली है मुझको मैं ख़ुशी से मर न जाऊँ -२

मेरे दिल की धड़कनों का ये सलाम तुमको पहुँचे
मैं तुम्हारा हमनशीं हूँ ये पयाम तुमको पहुँचे
उसे बन्दगी मैं समझूँ जो तुम्हारे काम आऊँ
वो ख़ुशी मिली है …

मेरे दिल की महफ़िलों में वो मुक़ाम है तुम्हारा
के ख़ुदा के बाद लब पर बस नाम है तुम्हारा
मेरी आरज़ू यही है मैं तुम्हारे गीत गाऊँ
वो ख़ुशी मिली है …

मेरी ज़िन्दगी में हमदम कभी ग़म न तू उठाना
कभी आएँ जो अँधेरे मुझे प्यार से बुलाना
मैं चिराग़ हूँ वफ़ा का मैं अँधेरे जगमगाऊँ
वो ख़ुशी मिली है …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Jo guzr rahi hai mujhpe use kaise main batayun…

Song #11 – Jaan-e-bahar husn tera bemisaal hai

Talking about the wedding anniversary, here is a song that I sang to Lyn, totally extempore, last year when we were cutting the anniversary cakes.

I recall the lyrics of most of the songs of my favourite poet and lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni. And so is this song. It was composed by Ravi. Shakeel and Ravi mastered songs describing the Husn (Beauty) of a woman. Indeed, Shakeel received two out of his three Filmfare Awards (the only known hat-trick) for such songs with Ravi: Chaudvinh ka chand ho, and Husn waale tera jawab nahin.

I remember having sung this to Lyn on our wedding night too.

The song is from the 1963 BS Ranga movie Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya starring Shammi Kapoor and B Saroja Devi; a guy from the North and a lady from the South, exactly like me and Lyn.

Here are the most beautiful lyrics:

जान-ए-बहार हुस्न तेरा बेमिसाल है
वल्लाह कमाल है, अरे वल्लाह कमाल है

आई है मेरे पास तू इस आन-बान से
उतरी हो जैसे कोई परी आस्मान से
मैं क्या कहूँ खुशी से अजब मेरा हाल है

हाय ये तेरी मस्त अदाएं ये बाकपन -२
किरणों को भी मैं छूने न दूँगा ये गोरा तन
तुझसे नज़र मिलाए ये किसकी मजाल है

मैं खुशनसीब हूँ के तुझे मैंने पा लिया -२
तूने करम किया मुझे अपना बना लिया
ऐसे मिले हैं हम के बिछड़ना मुहाल है

Please enjoy my rendition of: Jaan-e-bahar husn tera bemisaal hai…

Song #12 – Tum ek baar mohabbat ka imtihaan to lo…

The primary reason for me to learn singing was to be able to sing to my wife, Lyn (short for Marilyn) suffering from Alzheimer’s. My biggest reward is her smile and look of recognition.

Lyrics are the most important part of the song for me. The part of the lyrics that I find most apt for her, in this song, is:

मैं अपनी जान भी दे दूँ तो ऐतबार नहीं
के तुम से बढ़के मुझे ज़िंदगी से प्यार नहीं

The song (ghazal) is from the 1960 Hemen Gupta movie Babar starring Gajanan Jagirdar, Azra and Sulochana Choudhury. You may recall Hemen Gupta from two of his celebrated movies: Anand Math and Kabuliwala.

This song was penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, composed by Roshan and sung very beautifully by Mohammad Rafi.

Here are the lyrics:

तुम एक बार मुहब्बत का इम्तहान तो लो
मेरे जुनूँ मेरी वहशत का इम्तहान तो लो
तुम एक बार …

सलाम-ए-शौक़ पे रंजिश भरा पयाम न दो
मेरे ख़ोलूस को फ़िरास-ओ-हवस का नाम न दो
मेरी वफ़ा की हक़ीकत का इम्तहान तो लो
तुम एक बार …

न तख़्त-ओ-ताज न लाल-ओ-गुहर की हसरत है
तुम्हारे प्यार तुम्हारी नज़र की हसरत है
तुम अपने हुस्न की अज़मत का इम्तिहान तो लो
तुम एक बार …

मैं अपनी जान भी दे दूँ तो ऐतबार नहीं
के तुम से बढ़के मुझे ज़िंदगी से प्यार नहीं
यूँ ही सही मेरी चाहत का इम्तिहान तो लो
तुम एक बार …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Tum ek baar mohabbat ka imtihaan to lo…

In the second part, once again, I have given you a wide range of songs of the greatest singer Mohammad Rafi. I hope you liked my selection.

So as not to make the post longer than 30 minutes of your listening pleasure, I give you only six songs at a time.

Please await songs of Part III.

Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series

I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Oct 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.

I hope you liked my choice for Song #50 – Chah barbaad karegi hamen in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #51.

Song #51
Woh tum na the woh hum na the
Theme-word: Bina tumhare zindagi shama hai ek mazaar ki

Songs of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness

Today I have already given you a Zindagi song. However, in order to have 150 songs when the group is buried on 08 Mar 2021, I have decided to give you another 17. Similarly, I shall be giving you additional five and seven songs respectively in the Beautiful Duets and Raat or Din series so as to have 200 each there too. This is not counted in RRR Songs since I already have 50 there. However, the lyrics of this penned by Neeraj make it a beautiful RRR Song:

वो हम न थे, वो तुम न थे
वो हम न थे, वो तुम न थे
वो रहगुज़र थी प्यार की
लूटी जहाँ पे बेवजह पालकी बहार की

ये खेल था नसीब का, न हँस सके न रो सके
न तूर पर पहुँच सके, न दार पर ही सो सके
कहानी किससे ये कहें, चढ़ाव की उतार की
लूटी जहाँ पे बेवजह पालकी बाहर की

तुम ही थे मेरे रहनुमा, तुम ही थे मेरे हमसफ़र
तुम ही थे मेरी रोशनी, तुम ही ने मुझको दी नज़र
बिना तुम्हारे ज़िंदगी शमा है एक मज़ार की
लूटी जहाँ पे बेवजह पालकी बाहर की

ये कौन सा मुक़ाम है, फलक नहीं ज़मी नहीं
के शब नहीं सहर नहीं, के ग़म नहीं खुशी नहीं
कहाँ ये लेके आ गई हवा तेरे दयार की
लूटी जहाँ पे बेवजह पालकी बाहर की

गुज़र रही है तुमपे क्या बनाके हमको दर-ब-दर
ये सोचकर उदास हूँ, ये सोचकर है चश्मतर
ना चोट है ये फूल की, ना है ख़लिश ये ख़ार की
लूटी जहाँ पे बेवजह पालकी बाहर की

Normally, we have songs with anything more than two stanzas and these get on our nerves. However, here, even after four, you want more. Such is the excellence of Neeraj’s lyrics.

Cha Cha Cha – 1964 Movie

It was scripted and directed by Chandrashekhar who also acted as the hero of the movie and of this song. He acted opposite Helen. The songs penned by Neeraj and composed by Iqbal Qureshi became very popular:

1. Subah na aayi sham na aayi – Also sung by Mohammad Rafi as this song.
2. Ik chameli ke mandve tale – penned by Maqdoom Mohiuddin the poet who wrote Aapki yad aati rahi raat bhar.
3. Tumse mano na mano mujhe tumse pyar hai.
4. Ek lali ghar se chali.
5. This song.

My Poetry

WOH TUM NA THI

तुम वह नहीं हो जिस से मैं प्यार करता था,
आँखों में आँखें डाल के इज़हार करता था.

मेरी जुबां – ऐ – नब्ज़ पे था तेरी वफ़ा का नाम,
शौक – ऐ – ज़िन्दगी को सलाम सौ – बार करता था.

क्या आलम था वह अब भी दिल को खबर है,
सेहर से ही शब – ऐ – हुस्न का इंतज़ार करता था.

नाज़ुक लबों पे गर्मी – ऐ – जज़्बात थरथराते थे,
तेरी मासूमियत – ओ – नज़ाकत से न मैं इंकार करता था.

सुबह को जब तुम शाम कह के सुनाती थी,
तेरे सजदे में झुक के मैं इकरार करता था.

उल्फत -ऐ -ज़िन्दगी में वो मक़ाम भी आये,
जब तुम थी नहीं फिर भी तेरा दीदार करता था.

काश मैं समझ सकता तेरी दगा – बाज़ी का हुनर,
तुम वह कभी थी ही नहीं जिस से मैं प्यार करता था.

This Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Woh hum na the woh tum na the…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #51 in the series.

Please await Song #52 –  Mere dushman tu meri dosti ko.

Madan Mohan was born on 25 Jun 1924 at Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, where his father Rai Bahadur Chunilal was working as an Accountant General with the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces. Madan Mohan spent the early years of his life in the Middle East. After 1932, his family returned to their home town of Chakwal, then in Jhelum district of Punjab, British India. He joined the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the year 1943. He served there for two years until end of World War II, when he left the Army and returned to Bombay to pursue his musical interests. In 1946, he joined the All India Radio, Lucknow as Programme Assistant, where he came in contact with various artists such as Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Begum Akhtar, and Talat Mahmood.

He was very fond of singing, and so in 1947 he got his first chance to record two ghazals penned by Behzad Lucknawi, Aane Laga Hai Koi Nazar Jalwa Gar Mujhe and Is Raaz Ko Duniya Jaanti Hai. Soon after, in 1948 he recorded two more private ghazals penned by Deewan Sharar, Wo Aaye To Mahfil Mein Ithlaate Huye Aaye and Duniya Mujhe Kahti Hai Ke Main Tujhko Bhoolaa Doon. In 1948, he got his first opportunity to sing a film duet Pinjare Mein Bulbul Bole and Mera Chhotasa Dil Dole with Lata Mangeshkar under composer Ghulam Haider (composer) for the film Shaheed (1948 film), though these songs were never released or used in the film. Between 1948 and 1949, he assisted music composers SD Burman for Do Bhai, and Shyam Sundar in Actress and Nirdosh.

As Music Director, he scored his first big break with the film Aankhen in 1950. He was soon to emerge as a music director par excellence especially for ghazals. Indeed, music director OP Nayyar once said about Madan Mohan that two of his ghazals were better than all that OP Nayyar composed. Some of the best songs of Lata Mangeshkar (she fondly called him “Madan Bhaiyya”) were composed by him on the lyrics of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Rajinder Krishan.

Some of my favourite songs of Madan Mohan are: Aaj soch to aansu bhar aaye, Betaab dil ki tamanna yehi hai, Tum jo mil gaye ho (Hanste Zakham 1973), Aapke pehlu mein aa ke ro diye, Naino mein badra chhaye, Jhumka gira re, Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saya 1966), Aapki nazaron ne samajha, Hai isi mein pyaar ki aabru, Vo dekho jala ghar kisi ka (Anpadh 1962), Aapko pyaar chhupane ki buri aadat hai, Tere paas aake mera waqt nikal jaata hai (Neela Akash 1965), Agar mujhase mohabbat hai, Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise (Aap Ki Parchhayiyan), Ai mere dil mujhe bata de (Bhai Bhai 1946), Ari vo shokh kaliyon muskara dena vo jab aayen (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai 1967), Baad muddat ke yeh ghadi aayi, Haal-e-dil youn unhe sunaya gaya, Jab jab tumhe bhulaya tum aur yaad aaye, Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko jhain bhulaye huye, Main teri nazar ka saroor hoon, Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhaayi hai, Teri aankh ke aansu pi jaayun, Wo chup rahen to mere dil ke daag jalate hain (Jahan Ara 1964), Hamare baad mehfil mein (Baghi 1953), Bainya na dharo O balma, Ham hain mataa-e-kuchcha-e-bazaar ki tarah, Mai ri main kaase kahun, Tumse kahun ik baat (Dastak, 1970), Bairan neend na aaye mohe (Chacha Zindabad 1959), Basti basti parbat parbat gaata jaaye banjara, Chand madham hai aasman chup hai, Dekh tere Bhagwan ki haalat (Railway Platform 1955), Bhooli hui yaado mujhe itna na satayo, Vo bhooli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi (Sanjog 1961), Chanda ja re ja re, Main to tum sang nain mila ke (Manmauji 1962), Chhadi re chhadi kaise gale mein padhi, Dil dhoondata hai fursat ke, Ruke ruke se kadam (Mausam 1975), Chhod kar tere pyar ka daaman, Jao hamane dastaan apni sunaayi, Lag jaa gale ke phir, Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim, Shokh nazar ki bijliyan  (Woh Kaun Thi 1964), Do dil toote do dil haare, Doli chadate hi Heer ne bain kiye, Milo na tum to ham ghabraayen, Ye duniya ye mehfil mere kaam ki nahin (Heer Ranjha 1970), Ham chal rahe the wo chal rahe the (Duniya Na Maane 1959), Ham pyar mein jalane waalo ko chain kahan (Jailor 1958), Hamsafar saath apna chhod chale, Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba (Aakhri Dao 1958), Hamse aaya na gaya, Kaun aay mere man ke dwaare, Meri veena tum bin roye, Tu pyar kare ya thukraye (Dekh Kabira Roya 1957), Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, Hai tere saath meri wafa main nahin to kya (Hindustan Ki Kasam 1973), Hoke majbuur mujhe usne bhualaya hoga, Kar chale ham fida, Khelo na mere dil se, Main ye soch kar uske dar se, Zara si aahat hoti hai (Haqeeqat 1964), Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki saza paane ko, Is reshmi paazeb ki jhankar ke sadake, Tere dar pe aaya hoon (Laila Majnu 1976), Ik haseen raat ko dil mera kho gaya, Kabhi ai haqeeqat-e-muntazar, Sapano mein agar mere (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki 1966), Ishq ki garmi-e-jazbaat kise pesh karun. Mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhase, Naghma o sher ki saugat, Rang aur noor ki baraat (Ghazal 1964), Jaa jaa re jaa saajna, Jaana tha hamse door, Unako ye shikayat hai, Youn hasaraton ke daag (Adalat 1958), Kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin koi na koi to aayega, Mujhe le chalo aaj us jagah, Sawan ke mahine mein (Sharaabi 1964), Koi shikwa bhi nahin koi shikayat bhi nahin (Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhaare 1966), Main paagal mera manwa paagal (Aashiyana 1952), Meri yaad mein tum na aasnu bahana (Madhosh 1951), Na tum bewafa ho na ham bewafa hain (Ek Kali Muskaaye 1958), Sapne mein sajan se do baaten, Do ghadi wo jo paas aa baithe (Gateway Of India 1957), Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai (Chirag 1969), Tumhari zulf ke saaye mein shaam kar loonga (Naunihaal 1967), Tu mere saamne hai teri zulfen hain khuli (Suhagan, 1964), and Vo jo milate the kabhi hamsase deewano ki tarah (Akeli Mat Jaiyo 1963).

When I learnt singing, I soon got to sing Madan Mohan. Here I present some of his songs that I sang:

1.   Tujhe Kya Sunayun Main Dilruba.

This song had a composition similar to Sajjad Hussain’s 1952 movie Sangdil song: Yeh hawa yeh raat yeh chandini. Indeed, Madan Mohan acknowledged that he copied Sajjad Hussain’s composition.

The lyrics were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and the song was sung by Mohammad Rafi.

The song was in Mahesh Kaul movie Aakhri Dao starring Nutan and Shekhar.

Please enjoy my own rendition of this iconic song:

2.  Ek Haseen Shaam Ko Dil Mera Kho Gaya.

For this song, Madan Mohan paired with Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Between the two of them we have Lata Mangeshkar’s most popular song: Lag jaa gale in Raag Pahadi.

The song is from the 1967 DD Kashyap movie Dulhan Ek Raat Ki starring Dharmendra and Nutan. This was the last movie of DD Kashyap who had made his second last movie in 1961: Maya starring Dev Anand and Mala Sinha. Two songs from that movie, composed by Salil Chowdhury, are my favourites: Tasveer teri dil mein and Jaa re jaa re udh jaa re panchhi. However, the movie’s second half dragged and I say the movie by fast-forwarding the second half almost entirely.

Thankfully, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki wasn’t as bad as Maya. Madan Mohan and Raja made memorable songs including Sapnon mein agar mere tum aao to so jaayun.

I saw the movie with my parents in a ramshackle cinema hall in the hill town of Dalhousie.

This song too was sung by Mohammad Rafi. Please enjoy my rendition of it:

3.  Mujhe Le Chalo Aaj Us Gali Mein.

I sang this song about an year ago. The moment people heard it, they told me that no one sings this any more these days. But, I have my memories.

This 1964 Raj Rishi movie Sharabi starred Dev Anand and Madhubala and had some of the best songs of Rajinder Krishan and Madan Mohan. This one always was and is my favourite.

No guessing is required to say that this too was sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy my rendition of it:

4.  Bhooli Hui Yaadon.

Mukesh, in his entire singing career of 36 years, sang only nine songs for Madan Mohan. Madan Mohan, like Naushad, knew the limitations of Mukesh and didn’t want to use him. In any case, they had Mohammad Rafi and hence Mukesh wasn’t needed.

This happens to be one of the best that Mukesh sang in his career. Madan Mohan composed it in Raag Kalyan. These very beautiful lyrics were penned by Rajinder Krishan.

The song is from the 1961 movie Sanjog starring Pradeep Kumar and Anita Guha.

Please enjoy my rendition of it (I recorded it about ten months ago). I must caution you that the song has 60 seconds of prelude music:

5.  Lag Jaa Gale Ke Phir.

As I told you, this happened to be the most popular song of Lata Mangeshkar. So, when she left us on the 06 February this year, I wrote two stanzas in tribute for her and used Madan Mohan’s composition to convey my tribute. The original lyrics of the song were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.

Please enjoy not just my lyrics but my own rendition of this iconic song:

6.  Meri Yaad Mein Tum Na Aansu Bahan.

I published my rendition of this  Talat Mahmood song on His Death Anniversary, 09 May this year.

It was originally sung by him for the 1951 JBH Wadia movie Madhosh starring Meena Kumari and Manher Desai.

The song was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and composed by Madan Mohan in Raag Jaunpuri, Tal Kaherava.

I hope you’ll enjoy my rendition of it:

So that this post won’t become too long, I shall end here today. Next time I shall give you another six songs of Madan Mohan sung by me in Part II.

YKDN is an acronym for ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne’, a Facebook group that I have for songs and music.

There are many Song and Music groups on the Facebook; but, ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘ is different. Most other groups simply have members putting up urls of songs from YouTube and other sources and then members congratulate the choice of the one who has posted by such comments as “Wow”, “I love this too”, “Really nice” and so on.

‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘ is different and unique. It is a successor to my group ‘Dil Ki Nazar Se‘, which I had to abandon when some of the members insisted on just putting up urls from YouTube with very little or no contribution of their own. Here is the description of ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘:

“A group for serious music lovers who not just relish putting up and listening to songs but also identify these with Lyricists, Music Directors, Singers and Actors who brought the songs to us. The group pays tributes to these four classes of people on their birth and death anniversaries. The group is also interested in sharing knowledge about all aspects of songs including Raagas. The group also has thematic Music Fests at least once in a month. If you are a casual copy-paste music lover who can copy-paste ten songs (urls) from You Tube in ten minutes, this group is NOT recommended for you.”

The name of the group has been derived from the title of a duet between Hemant Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar from the 1953 movie Patita starring Dev Anand and Usha Kiran.”

In the year 2016, on24th of April, the group had its first annual meet at Whispering Winds, Kandaghat (Please read an account of that Meet at ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Group Meet At Whispering Winds, Kandaghat’). Whispering Winds, Kandaghat is my house in Shimla Hills, Himachal Pradesh (Please read: ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is – Kandaghat In Shimla Hills’).

Since then, it is held annually in April.

This year too we had it in April but decided to have a Winter Session of the KLF on 05 and 06 Nov. This was the first time that KLF was held in November.

Following were the participants:

KLF Nite at Hotel Falcon Crest

In winters, because of shorter days, we started as early as at 6:30 PM. After the Welcome Address by me and introductions, we cut the YKDN cake and sang our anthem:

The theme of the evening songs was Tanhayi (Akela and any other synonyms included). It was decided that any Tanha song would do even if the theme-word didn’t appear in mukhada or antara of the song.

Nikki, Renu and Suresh were the judges.

I was the first one to start. I started with a song in Raag Pahadi, the raag of this place in the Himalayas. Mohammad Rafi was given a Filmfare Award for singing it on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri and composition of Laxmikant Pyarelal for the 1964 movie Dosti:

After this, we had a dozen participants in alphabetical order. These included those who were not physically present but sent their recorded songs.

The first one alphabetically also happened to our newest participant Ashwani Sharma.

He sang a song from the 1949 movie Dillagi starring Shyam and Suraiya. The song was penned by my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni, composed by Naushad and sung by Mohammad Rafi:

Next was Evani Leela’s turn:

She had sent a recording of her song, complete with a description as follows: