Category: Music and Cinema

As with all posts on Lyricists, these posts are a compilation of my daily posts on my Facebook page Lyrical.

So far, on Lyrical, I have taken up nine lyricists of great fame:

1. Shailendra. The opening song that I selected was Kuchh aur zamaana kehta hai.
2. Rajinder Krishan with his Mujhase mat poochh mere ishq mein.
3. Kaifi Azmi with his Jaane kyaa dhoondati rehati hain ye aankhen mujh mein.
4. Sahir Ludhianvi with Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko.
5. Majrooh Sultanpuri with Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kyaa hai.
6. Jaan Nisar Akhtar with his Mujhape ilzaam-e-bewafai hai.
7. Hasrat Jaipuri with his Aansu bhari hain ye jeevan ki raahen. (Yet to be published here).
8. Qamar Jalalabadi with his Ai meri zindagi tujhe dhoondun kahan.
9. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan with his Mera sundar sapna beet gaya.

Tonight we take up the tenth lyricist Indeevar. He was born in 1924 as Shyamalal Babu Rai in Dhamna Village of Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh. He moved to Bombay at the end of 1940s to pursue a professional career as a lyricist.

In a career spanning nearly half a century he wrote 1633 songs for over 300 films. I could find 1589 songs from 446 movies.

Day #1, Song #1
Bade armaano se rakha hai balam teri kasam

He started writing lyrics for songs with the 1945 movie Samrat Chandragupta. It was with his 17th movie in 1951: Malhar that he finally got recognition with the song: Bade armaano se rakha hai balam teri kasam, a song picturised on Arjun Bakshi and Shammi.

Here is from The Hindu newspaper dated 29 Mar 2012 in a piece titled ‘Blast From The Past: Malhar (1951):

“Starring Shammi, Arjun, Moti Sagar, Kanhaiyalal

On watching “Malhar”, more than six decades after it was released, one cannot but admire the fundamental laws that govern good cinema, which have stood the test of time, proving that they are inviolate and sacrosanct. Despite the considerable time that has elapsed, “Malhar”, directed by Harish, shows no signs of staleness, at least in certain vital areas. The first of two films to be produced by ace singer, Mukesh (the other being “Anuraag” in 1956) under the banner of Darling Films, it had a young and largely inexperienced cast and crew, for many of whom it was their debut vehicle.

The film is a showpiece of technical brilliance, especially the editing by S. Prabhakar, which is taut and precise, and never allows the narrative to slacken or waver, even in the second half, which, on certain occasions tends to meander. Equally deft is the cinematography by M. Rajaram, considering the equipment available to him.

However, piece-de-resistance of the film is its music score, composed by Roshan, grandfather of Hrithik Roshan, who had made his debut just a year earlier, in 1950. For the current generation of viewers, who, through incessant harping might be deluded into believing that film dynasties do not extend beyond the Bachchans and the Kapoors, this will be a revelation. As will be the trivia that Mukesh was the grandfather of the talented Neil Nitin Mukesh. Or Moti Sagar, who essays an important role, is the father of singer Preeti Sagar.

Each song, led by the remarkable “Bade Armaanon Se Rakha Hai Sanam Teri Qasam, Pyaar Ki Duniya Mein Yeh Pehla Qadam” is a gem. Roshan was undoubtedly helped by the lyricists, debutant Indeevar and Kaif-Irfani- who penned sheer poetry, including “Dil Tujhe diya tha Rakhne ko, Tune Dil ko Jala ke Rakh Kiya” and “Tara Toote Duniya Dekhe”. Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, needless to mention, made them immortal in their voice.”

Please enjoy Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh sing the first hit song of Indeevar in the Hindi movies, a song composed by Roshan: Bade armaano se rakha hai balam teri kasam….

ba.De armaano.n se rakhaa hai balam terii kasam
o balam terii kasam
pyaar kii duniyaa me.n ye pahalaa kadam
ho, pahalaa kadam
judaa na kar sake.nge hamako zamaane ke sitam
ho, zamaane ke sitam
pyaar kii duniyaa me.n ye pahalaa kadam
ho, pahalaa kadam

le uThaa pyaar bhii a.nga.Daaii hai, dil bhii jahaa.N
ajii, aise me.n li_e jaate ho tum bolo kahaa.N
duur duniyaa kii nigaaho.n se kahii.n jaae.nge ham
pyaar kii duniyaa me.n ye pahalaa kadam
ho, pahalaa kadam …

terii do aa.Nkho.n me.n dikahte hai.n mujhe dono.n jahaa.N
inhii me.n kho gayaa dil meraa kaho Dhuu.NDhuu.N kahaa.N
chaa.Nd ghaTataa ho ghaTe apanii mohabbat na ho kam
pyaar kii duniyaa me.n ye pahalaa kadam
ho, pahalaa kadam …

merii naiyaa ko kinaare kaa i.ntazaar nahii.n
teraa aa.Nchal ho to patavaar bhii darakaar nahii.n
tere hote hue kyo.n ho mujhe tuufaan kaa Gam
pyaar kii duniyaa me.n ye pahalaa kadam
ho, pahalaa kadam …

Day #1, Song #2
Do hain naina hon chaar kaise

We started with our tenth Lyricist (not in any particular order or ranking): Shyamalal Babu Rai or Indeevar with a great song of his in the 1951 movie Malhar: Bade armaano se balam teri kasam.

I hope you liked the first post in the series: ‘Rajinder Krishan Song Of The Week #2 – Phir Wohi Shaam Wohi Gham Wohi Tanhayi Hai‘. Lets begin with this song of his as the Song of the Week #3 as it appeared on my Facebook group ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘.

Rajinder Krishan Song of the Week (RKSOW)
Week#3
Ye hawa ye raat ye chandni

Rajinder Krishan and Sajjad

Rajinder Krishan’s most memorable pairing with a composer has been with Madan Mohan. Let alone listening to scores of his songs from dozens of movies with Madan Mohan, just the songs of 1958 Kalidas movie Adalat would set him amongst the best lyricists that Hindi films came across. A song that really tugs at your emotions and with extraordinarily beautiful and poignant lyrics is Youn hasraton ke daag mohabbat mein dho liye, khud dil se dil ki baat kahi aur ro liye. Nobody is left unaffected by the personification of Khushi and Gham in the lines:

Ghar se chale the ham to khushi ki talaash mein,
Gham raah mein khade the wahin saath ho liye.

OP Nayyar had once stated that two of the ghazals of Madan Mohan (including Youn hasraton ke daag) were better than all the works of OP Nayyar.

With such high praise of the maestro which he richly deserved, can you imagine him copying a composition of a lesser composer? This was the composition by Sajjad, which Madan Mohan openly copied (and admitted) in his Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba. It was for the 1958 movie Aakhri Dao and these lyrics (Tujhe kya sunayun) penned by Majrooh were composed by Madan Mohan in exactly the same way that Sajjad did for Ye hawa eye raat ye chandni.

No composer could have paid a better tribute to another composer.

Sajjad Husaain covered himself in controversy as much as he covered himself in glory because of his contentious personality that sought confrontation with almost everybody he worked with including DN Madhok in 1951 movie Saiyan (Wo raat din wo shaam ki guzri hui kahaniyan is one of their songs in the movie that comes to mind). He had problems with Dilip Kumar in the movie of this song: Sangdil. He didn’t like the standard of singing of Lata Mangeshkar.

Anyway, we still recall him for his excellent composition of this song and many others such as for the 1963 movie Rustom Sohrab: Ye kaisi ajab daastan ho gayi hai and Phir tumhari yaad aayi hai sanam.

Rajinder Krishan; what can you say about him and his lyrics? Most of his lyrics seem so natural and effortless. Here pay particular attention to: Mujhe kyun na ho teri aarzu, teri justaju mein bahaar hai?

Why shouldn’t he (Dilip Kumar) entertain aarzu (desire) for her (Madhubala) when there is bahaar (spring) in this quest of his? In other words, he can be forgiven for desiring her as much as any man can be forgiven for desiring spring.

Fourteen years after the Sangdil song, Neeraj used similar imagination in his 1966 Nai Umr Ki Nai Fasal song: Aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai aaj to tere bina neend nahin aayegi:

Saara aalam hai girftaar tere husn me jab
mujhse hi kaise ye barsaat sahi jaayegi?

Have a look at the remaining lyrics of the present song under discussion:

Ye hawa ye raat ye chandani, teri ek ada pe nisaar hai
Mujhe kyun na ho teri aarzu, teri justaju me bahaar hai
Ye hawa ye raat ye chandani…

Tujhe kya khabar hai o bekhabar
tujhe kya khabar hai o bekhabar, teri ek nazar me hai kya asar
Jo gazab me aaye to kahar hai, jo ho meharban vo qaraar hai
Mujhe kyun na ho teri aarzu, teri justaju me bahaar hai
Ye hawa ye raat ye chandani…

Teri baat-baat hai dilnashi
Teri baat-baat hai dilnashi, koi tujhse badhke nahi hasin
Hai kali-kali me jo mastiyan, teri aankh ka ye khumaar hai
Mujhe kyun na ho teri aarzu, teri justaju mai bahaar hai
Ye hawa ye raat ye chandani, teri ek ada pe nisaar hai

Sangdil

Sangdil means cold-hearted. It was an adaptation of the Charlotte Brontë classic Jane Eyre. It was directed by RC Talwar and starred Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Leela Chitnis.

In the story of the movie Dilip Kumar and Madhubala are childhood lovers but are victims of unfortunate circumstances (he was very poor). When rumours about her are spread and reach him, Dilip Kumar, now wealthy,  becomes Sangdil and encourages his reputation of being some sort of womaniser. Little do the women know that he is trying to seek the image of Madhubala in them.

There are many videos of the song going on depicting the eternal love between Dilip Kumar and Madhubala both in reel and real life until her father broke the relationship between them fearful that if she married him the father’s family would lose her money-amking capacity that supported the entire family. It is similar to Meena Kumari’s story; for many days after she was born her father kept her in an orphanage because he didn’t have means to look after the child.

I saw the movie and the video of the song is only between Dilip Kumar and the actress Shammi who is one of the women throwing herself at him when he becomes wealthy and foot-loose after his unrequited love with Madhubala. There is no flash-back during the song to his days with Madhubala.

Talat Mehmood for Dilip Kumar

I have gone on record saying that the best songs of Dilip Kumar were sung by Mohammad Rafi. However, there have been quite a few of Dilip Kumar’s memorable songs wthe Talat Mehmood. The first song that comes to my mind is from Dilip Kumar Madhubala 1951 movie Tarana (the first movie between them) that displayed the love and chemistry between them: Seene mein sulagte hain armaan. Anil Biswas composed it on Prem Dhawan’s lyrics.

The second one that comes to my mind is the 1950 movie Babul song penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad: Milte hi aankhen dil hua deewana kisi ka.

Please enjoy a really iconic song penned by Rajinder Krishan: Ye hawa ye raat ye chandni…

I hoped my choice of song for RKSOW #3.

Please await the next song in the series.

My second song in this series was Dil apna aur preet prayi. This too is:

Our Dedication to a Lyricist who
Always Dived Deep to find Pearls

Anands All The way

The 1960 movie Kala Bazaar (Black Market) was produced by Dev Anand for Navketan Films and directed by his brother Vijay Anand. The film starred all three brothers: Dev Anand as the black-marketeer Raghuvir (mainly earning money through sale of movie tickets in black), Vijay Anand as Nandkumar Chattopadhayay – the original lover of Waheeda Rehman as Alka – who magnanimously gives up his love for Alka in favour of Raghuvir and Chetan Anand as advocate Desai who fights an interesting court battle for Raghuvir after he had given up his bad ways in order to woo Alka.

A reformed Raghuvir gets to keep all the money he made from Kala Bazaar including a house on Marine Drive where he started living with his hitherto impoverished mother Leela Chitnis and sister Nanda; a fact that won’t have been lost on public at large and Alka.

This was the second directorial venture of Vijay Anand after Nau Do Gyarah.

Bombay Especially in the Rains

This movie was made at a time when Bombay was Bombay and not Mumbai and Hindi films were referred to as Hindi films and not as Bollywood Films as if these cannot exist without being a poorer copy of Hollywood films.

One of Dev Anand’s early successes as Kala Bazaar operator was on the premier of Mother India in Maratha Mandir. Several stars made their appearance at the premier: include Dilip Kumar, Geeta Dutt, Guru Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Sohrab Modi, Mohammed Rafi, Nargis, Nadira and Nimmi. Others seen include, Kumkum, Mukri, Yakub, Naseem Banu and Kumari Naaz. The film also showed Liberty and Metro cinemas, very nostalgic for all of us who grew up in Bombay.

The song that I have chosen is near the end of the movie and shows Bombay during rains including the Marine Drive.

Shailendra and SD Burman

Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra were in the team of Shankar Jaikishan who were the ‘house-musicians’ for RK Films of Raj Kapoor. However, they wrote songs for other music directors too. This one is for Sachin Dev Burman who often said that his second name was the name of his favourite hero: Dev Anand; more often than not Dev Anand movies had music by SD Burman.

Shailendra and SD Burman paired together starting with 1951 movie Buzdil. We fondly recall their pairing for two iconic 1963 movies Bandini and Meri Surat Teri Aankhen. In Bandini they fell apart and hence in addition to Shailendra, SD Burman tried Sampooran Singh Kalra (Gulzar). And then of course Guide was released in 1965 with excellent songs by Shailendra including his trademark delving deep song: Wahan kaun hai tera mussafir jayega kahan?

Lyrics

I chose this song as the Shailendra Song of the Week because of Shailendra’s delightful skill at expressing the emotions of lovers during the rains.

In his very first movie for Raj Kapoor: Barsaat (I have still not found out why this 1949 movie was titled Barsaat by Raj Kapoor as Barsaat had nothing to do with the progress of the story. I have a feeling that the title of the movie stole from Shailendra’s song composed by Shankar Jaikishan: Barsaat mein hamse mile tum sajan).

In 1960 Bimal Roy movie Parakh he came up with the best rain song ever in Hindi movies: O sajana barkha bahaar aayi.

In 1955 movie Shree 420, no one can ever forget the lovers under the umbrella in Bombay rains: Raj Kapoor and Nargis singing Pyar hua iqraar hua.

And of course in 1965 Guide, he tugged at our emotions with his Din dhal jaaye song; viz:

Aisee rim-jhim aisee phuharen, aisee hee thee barsaat
Khud se juda aur jug se paraye, ham dono the sath
Phir se woh sawan ab kyon naa aaye, din dhal jaaye…

(some of the words that he had already used in this song):

Rim-jhim ke taraane leke aayi barasaat
Yaad aaye kisi se vo pahali mulaaqaat

Bheege tan man pade ras ki phuhaar
Pyaar ka sandesa laayi barkha bahaar
Main na bolun, main na bolun aankhen kare akhiyon se baat
Rim jhim ke taraane leke aayi barasaat

Sunake matavaale kaale baadalo kaa shor
Rum jhum ghum ghum naache man kaa mor
Sapano kaa saathi chal raha mere saath
Rim jhim ke taraane leke aayi barasaat

Jab milate ho tum to chhute hain dil ke taar
Milane ko tum se main kyon tha beqaraar
Rah jaati hai
Rah jaati hai kyon hontho tak aake dil ki baat
Rim jhim ke taraane leke aayi barasaat
Yaad aaye kisi se vo pahali mulaqaat

What do the Lyrics Signify?

Unlike Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat in which Barsaat lyrics don’t mean a thing, here, there is a chance meeting in the rain in Mumbai between Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman after she had already turned him down because of his Kala Bazaar ways. Later, when she regarded him as a reformed man, she was in love with Vijay Anand.

Hence, this song was the home-coming for the lovers; the drenching of their souls. One is reminded of Shree 420’s Ramaiya Vastavaiya, a home-coming for Raj Kapoor as Shree 420.

But, rim-jhim is gentle rain and Vijay Anand did it very gently through the meeting in the rain.

Please Enjoy

All in all a heart-warming duet between Mohammad Rafi and Geeta Dutt put together by Shailendra and SD Burman.

Please enjoy: Rimjhim ke tarane leke aayi barsaat…

I hope you liked my choice for the Shailendra Song of the Week #3.

Please await the next song in the series.

I hope you liked the last post in this series: ‘Hasrat Jaipuri Song Of The Week #2 – Nain So Nain Nahin Milao‘.

Lets proceed with his Song of the Week #3:
Ye kya kar dala tune

Just to remind you that that this is the third post in

Our Dedication to a Lyricist to Whom
We Owe the Title of Our Songs Group*

(My Facebook group ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘ or YKDN for short.

Remembering OP Nayyar on His Birth Anniversary Today
(This post appeared on YKDN on 16 Jan 2020)

Shankar Jaikishan fans (may God increase their tribe) will be shocked that I am remembering a composer other than S-J in the same breath as paying tribute to Hasrat Jaipuri. They are like Charminar cigarette smokers or Old Monk rum drinkers; for them there can never be another smoke or tipple.

I am as devoted a fan of S-J as anyone else. Much before anyone formed a group to honour them, on my page Lyrical, I paid a 45 days tribute to them.

However, I don’t feel sorry to appreciate MDs, Lyricists, Singers and Actors other than those associated with S-J.

OP Nayyar was born on 16 Jan 1926 in Lahore (now in Pakistan). At the age of 23, OP Nayyar composed the background score for the movie Kaneez. Three years later, in 1952, he was a full fledged music director for the movie Aasman. OP Nayyar perfected songs whose beats (often horse-trot beat such as in 1957 movie Naya Daur’s song Maang ke saath tumhaara) became so popular that people were often heard humming these everywhere. He also delved into raaga based songs although, in all humility, he claimed that he had no knowledge of classical music. Raag Peelu or Pilu, followed by Pahadi, were his favourite raagas in songs.

He didn’t like to have Lata Mangeshkar sing any of his songs as he didn’t find her voice sexy. Most of his female songs have been sung by Shamshad Begum, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt. He depended heavily on Asha Bhosle and in a television interview he said, “She was almost like a wife to me.” OP Nayyar and Asha Bhosle parted in 1974. Soon after that, in 1974, she received Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award for his song: Chain se hamako kabhi aap ne jeene na diya that was intended to be used for the 1973 movie Praan Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye but didn’t find a place in the final cut.

OP Nayyar paired with major lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri and Sahir Ludhianvi. With the latter he received the Filmfare Award for 1957 movie Naya Daur.

Hasrat ji stayed mostly with Shankar Jaikishan. However, he was the Shehanshah-e-Rumaniyat and his romantic songs were composed by almost all important composers. Here in this series started by me in the New Year 2020, I have already given you two of them: SD Burman and Vasant Desai.

Hasrat ji paired with OP Nayyar in the 1957 Ved Mohan movie Johnny Walker with the comdeian Johny Walker in the title role. He wrote all six songs of the movie for OP Nayyar. Howrah Bridge and Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala in 1958 also had Hasrat Jaipuri’s songs composed by OPN including this one.

The 1960 Rakhan movie starring Ashok Kumar, Padmini and her sister Ragini had most of the songs penned by Qamar Jalalabadi (two of these find mention in my Raaga based songs blogs: Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaye and Tu hai mera prem devta that has both Travancore sisters dancing). However, Hasrat ji and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan had one song and four songs respectively in this movie too. Hasrat’s song was: O ji sawan mein tu beqraar sajanwa se.

Howrah Bridge

The last part of the song takes you under the Howrah Bridge, a miracle of its times. Built over the Hoogly River, it was commissioned as a cantilever bridge in 1943 and happened to be the third longest such bridge in the world (presently the sixth longest).

The bridge has featured in many movies and fills all Indians with romantic nostalgia such as in Woh sham kuchh ajeeb thi ye sham bhi ajeeb hai in the picturisation of which Rajesh Khanna in a polo neck and Waheeda Rehman in saree and cardigan pass under the bridge in their boat within the first minute of the song.

The movie Howrah Bridge was directed by Shakti Samanta who was used to making a super hit movie once every two years or so.

The story in short is that Ashok Kumar and his brother are running a business of their father in Rangoon when his brother disappears one day with family heirloom to sell it in Calcutta. He is deceived by smugglers and Ashok Kumar comes looking for them.

Ashok Kumar pretends to have fallen for the hotel singer Madhubala (her name is Edna in the movie).But, actually he wants to use her contacts to locate the smugglers.

At this juncture, she is actually in love with him and she sings this to him in a tonga to express her feeelings of elation for having found the love of her life.

Hasrat ji does an impressive job of her expressing her feelings through song. Asha Bhosle sings it in great style.

The song has one of the longest whistling in the prelude.

Lyrics

One would expect remarkably good lyrics form Hasrat Jaipuri and he doesn’t fail us:

Ye kya kar dala tune dil tera ho gaya
Hasi hasi me jalim dil mera kho gaya

Wo khel dikhaya tune madhosh banaya tune
O jadugar matwale, bechain banaya tune
Tune re piya, kaisa diya, najro ka paymana
Ye kya kar dala tune dil tera ho gaya
Hasi hasi me jalim dil mera kho gaya

Jab aankh mile sharmaun main khoi khoi jaun
Aankho ki kaliyan kampen jab samne tujhko paun
Sun mere dil, sapno me mil, dard hua diwana
Ye kya kar dala tune dil tera ho gaya
Hasi hasi me jalim dil mera kho gaya

Pehle tha zamana feeka ab laage teekha teekha
Mausam ka dil bhi dhadke kuchh haal na puchho ji ka
Ye kya kar dala tune dil tera ho gaya
Hasi hasi me jalim dil mera kho gaya

One look at her face and histrionics tell the story of her being head over heels in love with him. He looks amused since his primary aim is different.

You see Calcutta by night in the year 1958 and it surprises you to see that it was as crowded in 1958 too!

Please Enjoy

Ye kya kar dala tune dil tera ho gaya…

I hoped you liked my choice of Hasrat Jaipuri Song of the Week #3.

Please await the next song in the series.

 

I hope you liked the first post in the series: ‘Rajinder Krishan Song Of The Week #1 – Kahan Le Chale Ho Bata Do Musafir‘. Lets begin with this song of his as the Song of the Week #2 as it appeared on my Facebook group ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘.

Rajinder Krishan Song of the Week (RKSOW)
Week#2
Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai

Catching-up to do

I started off with Rajinder Krishan really late in comparison to Hasrat Jaipuri and then Shailendra. From the 29th of January 2020, the fifth week started and I had put up only Week #1 song for Rajinder Krishan. In the next few days, therefore, I want to catch up and be at par with the count for Hasrat Jaipuri.

Can Others Too Put up?

Yes, indeed. After the month of February when I would have caught up, the others can also bid for their chosen month in which they would put up.

Song that Tug at Your Emotions

On my blog, there are two important ongoing series and these are the most popular articles on my blog:

Raaga Based Song of the Day.
Songs that Tug at Your Emotions.

Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai is included as Song #25 (not in any particular order or ranking) in the second series. Therefore, all the write-up about the song and the relationship between Rajinder Krishan and Madan Mohan is already there:

Please go through it. You would gain a lot.

Shaam, Gham and Tanhayi

These are some of my favourite themes. So one can imagine all three together in one song.

If you read the write up, you would come across: There is a beautiful reference to फिर तसव्वुर तेरे पहलू में बिठा जाएगा.

Ladies and gentlemen, words and lyrics are not just or mere words. These are windows to the world of the poet or lyricist’s तसव्वुर or imagination. He (very very rarely she) invites you to enter that world. And that’s why, in this group of serious lovers of music and songs (‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘ or YKDN), I have discouraged people from just putting up urls. If the तसव्वुर of the poet or the lyricist doesn’t strike notes with your own तसव्वुर, you are missing out on the fun as much as the expression used frequently in Sri Guru Granth Sahib: गूंगे की मिठाई. Why do you want to be dumb when God has gifted you words of your own? This is social media and not something private of your own. If you want to keep your thoughts to yourself, you have chosen the wrong media! All of us want to hear why you liked the mithayi and what you liked best about it. You may even want to say something about the halwai!

Do you feel you don’t have imagination and or words? Ha! Unlike Lata Mangeshkar who opposed all competition, I have actively encouraged friends to write in all my groups. Some of them have mentioned me in the Preface of their books they published after trying out writing for the first time in my groups.

Writing is absolutely similar to love-making; initially it appears strange and even ridiculous. Later, you have family of your own that you love more than any other family. Try it. You would want to read and re-read your own write up over and over again and other people’s reactions to it. Songs and their videos are already available on the net. What do you say? Try फिर तसव्वुर तेरे पहलू में बिठा जाएगा. You can write a full-fledged article just on this line. Try it ; the entire universe is just your imagination and you feel you don’t have any!

My Own Poetry

Even though already given in the accompanying article, I am giving you separately too. I wrote this poem at the age of 16. It is a love poem: Tu (shortest title for a poem):

एक मुद्दत से तमन्ना थी जिसे कहने की,
बात वो अब भी मैं कह नहीं पायूँगा सनम,
ज़िंदा हैं अश्क़ अब भी जो बहाये मैंने,
मैं उन अश्कों मैं कभी बह नहीं पायूँगा सनम I

याद आएँगी मुझे खामोश ओ मजबूर रातें,
अपने ही आप से मैं करता रहा था बातें
सोचा था अब तेरे दीदार को ना तरसूँगा कभी
जो न मुझे मिल सका उस प्यार को ना तरसूँगा कभी
सोच कर फिर वही मायूस सा हो कर सोचा
बिन तुम्हारे मैं रह भी ना पायूँगा सनम
वो बात अब भी मैं कह नहीं पायूँगा सनम I

मेरे बारे में कभी तुमने भी ये सोचा होगा
ये भी एक और दीवाना है दीवानो की तरह
मैं जो रौशन हूँ सियाह रात में शमा की तरह
मेरा परवाना है यह भी परवानो की तरह
सोच कर तूने इतना तो सोचा होता:
इतने सितम मैं सह भी ना पायूँगा सनम
वो बात अब भी मैं कह नहीं पायूँगा सनम I

खुद को मुझसे इतना भी ना तू दूर समझ
अपने परवाने को इतना भी ना मजबूर समझ
मैं अगर चाहूँ तो इतनी भी है ताक़त मुझ में:
याद को तेरी मैं इक तू ही बना सकता हूँ
इक तो तू है जो मेरी हर बात को समझे वहशत
अपनी तू को मैं हर इक बात सुना सकता हूँ
तुझको सजाना चाहूँ तो ज़ुल्फ़ भी छूने नहीं दे
अपने अरमानो से तेरा हर अंग सजा सकता हूँ
गम नहीं अब जो तू लाख भी रूठे मुझसे
अपनी तू को मैं जब चाहे मना सकता हूँ I

Please enjoy Talat Mehmood sing a composition of Madan Mohan on the lyrics of Rajinder Krishan a song from the 1964 Vinod Kumar (his debut movie as a director) movie Jahan Ara: Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai….

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 …

I hope you liked my choice of song for the Week #2.

Please await song for Week #3.

My first song in this series was Raat Ke Hamsafar Thak Ke Ghar Ko Chale. This too is:

Our Dedication to a Lyricist who
Always Dived Deep to find Pearls

Now that I have (accidentally) started with a tribute to this great lyricist, I want to quickly catch up with Hasrat Jaipuri or the week count this year.

The Movie

Shailendra had fewer (much fewer) title songs as compared to co-lyricist in Shankar Jaikishan movies: Hasrat Jaipuri. This was an important title song.

The trend of movies during those days was that movies with excellent songs had stories that dragged especially in the second half. DD Kashyap movie Maya starring Dev Anand and mala Sinha had two excellent songs by Salil Chowdhury: Tasveer teri dil se and Jaa re jaa reudh jaa re panchhi. Despite these, most of the movie I saw in fast-forward. It was released in the same year as the movie of this song.

Anpadh had excellent songs by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Madan Mohan (including Aap ki nazaron ne samajha) and yet the second half dragged.

But, Dil Apna Aur Preet Prayi was handled by someone who played Marco in Dev Anand’s Guide: Kishore Sahu. The movie, I would say, was directed well and held our interest.

This song occurs somewhere near the end of the movie and yet it had at least kept my interest alive. Hats off first of all to Kishore Sahu. There is no point having an excellent song but whilst seeing the movie in the cinema you take a popcorn break or seeing it on your com you fast forward it.

As far as I am concerned, a movie song must carry the story forward and aptly express the emotions of the protagonist (s). You see the movie Patita, for example; the song on which I named my group and the song we always sing together when we have a Meet of the group: Yaad Kiya Dil Ne expressed the emotions of both Dev Anand and Usha Kiran but didn’t carry the story forward.

Fast Beat – Sad Song

It was a done thing during those days to slow down the beat of sad songs to have soulful effect. Madan Mohan was a master at it, eg, Main ye soch kar us ke dar se utha tha and Mujhe le chalo phir aaj us gali mein.

Shailendra and Shankar Jaikishan mastered the exact opposite with superb effect. Their Anari song is a representative example: Tera jaana, dil ke armaano ka lut jaana. Incidentally, once gain a song that carries forward the plot and expresses the feelings of Nutan very well both in lyrics and notes.

I sometimes feel that Madan Mohan’s song in Anpadh may have been inspired by Shankar Jaikishan: Vo dekho jala ghar kisi ka; fast beat- sad song.

Shailendra

You may be surprised that I selected this song over the popular other song of the movie: Ajeeb dastan hai ye. The reason is that I cannot think of many title songs that can describe the meaning of the title so well. Take Raj Kapoor’s 1949 movie Barsaat, for example; until the end of the movie I kept wondering as to why was it titled Barsaat. Not so with Dil Apna Aur Preet Prayi, especially after this song.

Shailendra, as always, has given us many expressions to think about and I have highlighted these in the lyrics:

Dil apna aur preet prayi, kisne hai ye reet banayi
Aandhi me ek deep jalaya, aur pani mein aag lagayi
Dil apna aur preet parayi, kisne hai ye rit banayi
Dil apna…

Hai dard aisa ke sehna hai mushkil
Duniya waalon se kehna hai mushkil
Ghir ke aaya hain toofan aisa
Bach ke sahil pe rehna hai mushkil
Ghir ke aaya hain toofan aisa
Bach ke sahil pe rehna hai mushkil
Dil apna aur preet praayi, kisne hai ye reet banayi
Aandhi me ek deep jalaya, aur pani mein aag lagayi
Dil apna…

Dil ko sambhala na daman bachaya
Failee jab aag tab hosh aaya
Gam ke maare pukaren kise hum
Hum se bichhda hamara hi saaya
Gam ke maare pukaren kise hum
Hum se bichhda hamara hi saaya
Dil apna aur preet praayi, kisne hai ye reet banayi
Aandhi me ek deep jalaya, aur pani mein aag lagayi
dil apna…

Aandhi mein ek deep jalaya aur paani mein aag lagayi is a superb expression to express the turmoil that is going through in Meena Kumari‘s mind when on the Deewali night it becomes clear to her that an already married man Raaj Kumar is as much in love with her as she had been with him all along.

Bach ke sahil pe rehna hai mushkil: there are many S-J songs with a boat but none has used the boat so beautifully as in this song. It is as if the lyrics have come alive. When the song ends the coda is so superb that it looks like it is gently rocking the boat and not the sea or the breeze!

Gam ke maare pukaaren kise ham
Ham se bichhada hamara hi saaya

I want you to recall these lines of Dil Ki Nazar Se song put up by Shailendra and S-J:

Kyon bekhabar, yun khichi si chali ja rahi main
Ye kaun se bandhano me badhi ja rahi main

It is because Love is never a reasoned emotion. If it was, you won’t fall in love but you would deliberately tip-toe into love!

However, despite that you and your inner self are in sync; both don’t pull in different directions. But, here, Meena Kumari’s emotions are pulling her in opposite directions: Yes, she loves him but he is already married!

Shailendra has, as always, done an outstanding job of selecting his words.

Raag and Tal

It is in Bhairavi, Tal Dadra almost all throughout.

Please enjoy: Dil apna aur preet prayi…

Of course, the selection of Meena Kumari as the heroine of this movie was the master-stroke; she emoted well on these complex feelings.

I hope you liked my choice.

Please await the next song in the series.

Dedication

Our Dedication to a Lyricist to Whom
We Owe the Title of Our Songs Group*

(The Facebook group is ‘Yaad Kiya Dil Ne‘ or YKDN in short

This is My Dedication to Evani Leela in addition to Kishwar Jaipuri

Losing one’s mother is by far the biggest sadness in the life of a man or a woman. Our sister Evani Leela lost hers on the 9th January this year. We have been off YKDN since then as a mark of respect for her and we called off our weekend Fest too.

Now, it is my attempt to get Evani Leela back on her feet. With personal experience I can say that the void and the sadness never go away. However, I would want you to consider that life is a gift and we must get back to honouring that gift of God.

Why This Song?

It is never my intention to take away the initiative from those who would follow me in putting up HJSOWs by merely putting up the most popular songs. It is, however, my intention to put up songs with extraordinary lyrics.

I also have to imagine songs that Evani Leela would be fond of and it occurred to me that this would be very high in her list of favourites, if not the most favourite.

Briefly About The Song

It is from the 1955 V Shantaram film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. Hasrat ji wrote the lyrics of all songs in the movie and this was composed by Vasant Desai. It was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar.

The movie starred the dancer and choreographer Gopi Krishna and V Shantaram’s third wife Sandhya.

The film won the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film, the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and the Filmfare Best Movie Award.

How Did The Song Come About In the Movie?

First of all, off the movie, Sandhya wasn’t much of a dancer. Gopi, on the other hand, was born into a family of Kathak dancers and soon emerged as a renowned and fine dancer. For the movie, Gopi taught her good dancing that you see in this song and other songs of the movie.

In the movie, Gopi as Giridhar has to win a Tandava (the most difficult of dances) dance competition in the temple. However, Sandhya as Neela has fallen at the feet of Gopi’s guru Mangal Maharaj that she too wants to learn dancing like Gopi. Mangal guru agrees to take her as a disciple on one condition that she would help him win the competition.

She however, falls in love with not only his dancing but him too. So she is chucked out by the guru. She also keeps distance from him so as to help him concentrate on winning the competition. It is another thing that he too falls in love with her and wants her back.

Finally, it is a happy ending. She dances with him in the competition and he wins. Mangal guru agrees to marry them.

This song is therefore a turning point in their story of love.

The Magic of The Song

The Lyrics

I am basically a Lyrical man as far as songs are concerned. Lyrics are more than 50 percent of the song for me.

These are extraordinary lyrics indeed.

Hasrat ji, as was the trend during those times, was an Urdu poet and lyricist (Urdu is an indigenous language of India as you already know). Language influences your culture and other way round. Hence, in most of his songs, you would get the flair of this culture. In Sangam, for example, Raj Kapoor (a Punjabi) is portraying Flight Lieutenant Sunder Khanna (another Punjabi) but look at his mastery of Urdu when he sings to Vyjayanthimala as Radha:

ओ महबूबा
तेरे दिल के पास ही है मेरी मंज़िल-ए-मक़्सूद
वो कौन सी महफ़िल है जहाँ तू नहीं मौजूद?

Rarely, you would have come across a Khanna expressing his love in Ooty lake in Urdu!

In this song (Nain so nain nahin milao), however, the lyrics truly reflect the kind of language that the two dancers would be exchanging! Here, pay attention:

नैन सो नैन नाही मिलाओ – २
देखत सूरत आवत लाज, सैय्यां
प्यार से प्यार आके सजाओ – २
मधुर मिलन गावत आज, गुइयां*
नैन सो नैन …

आ …
खींचो कमान मारो जी बाण
रुत है जवान ओ मेरे प्राण
– रुक क्यों गये?
तुमने चोरी कर ली कमान
कैसे मारूं प्रीत का बाण, गुइयां
नैन सो नैन …

रिम झिम झिम गाये झरनों की धारदिल को लुभाये कोयल पुकार
– नहीं!
– तो फिर?
झरनों की धारों में तेरा संगीत
गाये कोयल तेरा ही गीत, गुइयाँ
नैन सो नैन …

नीले गगन पे झूमेंगे आज
बादल का प्यार देखेंगे आज
बादल नैय्या है बिजली पतवार
हम-तुम चल दें दुनिया के पार, सैय्यां …
नैन सो नैन …

It mustn’t have been easy for Hasrat ji to do it. But, then, he must have strived and came up with this winner. That’s the reason I thought Evani Leela would like it; a Telugu by birth she learnt Hindi only to appreciate songs!

The Composition

This is one song that cannot be composed in isolation. The composition must fall in line with the synchronised dance that Gopi and Sandhya would do. In particular, it has to be discussed with Gopi as the choreographer! If you look at the dance, you would know that Vasant Desai excelled.

The Dance

The dance is the essential part of story-line; they have to dance in concert as a teacher and disciple. And, most importantly, also be an instrument of their love for each other. I have my hair standing on ends to see the level of perfection.

Please Enjoy: Nain so nain nahin milao..

Please don’t take it for granted that you know about the song. See it once at least:

Almost everybody would like us to listen to Hasrat Jaipuri’s most popular songs with Shankar Jaikishan especially in Raj Kapoor movies. I am different. Through the selection of my songs I also want you to become aware of the range of the Lyricist.

I hope you liked my choice.

Please await the next song in the series.

Dedication to the Richest Lyricist of His Times

In my Songs group on Facebook: Yaad Kiya Dil Ne we pay tribute to four people associated with the making of songs: the Lyricists, the Composers, the Singers and the Actors.

However, from amongst these four, the people closest to my heart are the Lyricists, the guys who carry forward the story of the movie, give voice to the emotions of the protagonists and comment upon the situation as per the story-line. All others build up on the foundation of the structure laid by the Lyricists.

And that’s why I have a page on Facebook called Lyrical. My blog has more posts on Lyricists than on any of the other three. And this is not to say I am neglecting others. Take Composers for example; my series on Raaga Based Song of the Day is exclusively on how these really talented artistes compose songs.

Starting from the beginning of this year, I started with a series Hasrat Jaipuri Song of the Week. I soon added Shailendra Song of the Week. And now, Rajinder Krishan is the third and the last one this year. I already have a number of posts on him:

1. The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist.
2. The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist – Part II.
3. The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist – Part III.
4. The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist – Part IV.

Why This Series?

Why This Song as the First Song?

Dedication to a Lyricist Beyond Compare

On my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne, from the First of January 2020, I started with a weekly dedication to Hasrat Jaipuri, the lyricist to whom we owe the title of the group. Interestingly, the first group that I formed was also named after a song and the title of the group was from the mukhada of a song penned by Shailendra: Dil Ki Nazar Se.

Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra were lyricists in the camp of the music duo Shankar Jaikishan who themselves were known as the “house-musicians of Raj Kapoor”. Whilst Hasrat Jaipuri emerged as the Shahenshah-e-Rumaniyat (Emperor of Romance), Shailendra emerged as the lyricist who delved deep; people are still trying to find out the full-meaning of some of his lyrics.

So, this is our dedication to a Lyricist who
Always dived deep to find pearls

Incidentally, in this blog, I already have two posts on Shailendra:

1. The Best Songs Of Shailendra, The Lyricist Beyond Compare – Part I.
2. The Best Songs Of Shailendra, The Lyricist Beyond Compare – Part II.

How Did This Series Come About?

When I was young and had just joined the Navy, we used to have this British humour magazine Punch (a weekly magazine at that time) available in our wardrooms. Some of its cartoons were memorable. One of the cartoons showed Moses coming down from Mount Sinai with three stone tablets and pronounced to the gathering, “I hereby give you fifteen (oops, one of the tablets fell down and broke)…er….ten commandments.”

Likewise, I have these friends of SJMF. What they and my sister Kishwar Jaipuri do not know about music in general and Shankar Jaikishan songs in particular, can be written on the back of what used to be the lowest denomination of postage stamps in India: the five paisa stamps!

With the new year I decided to start a series titled Hasrat Jaipuri Song of the Week. I was in the fourth such week when I put up this song erroneously ascribing it to Hasrat Jaipuri. The stridency of their protests would have put the inspired protests against CAA, NRC and NPR to shame. “Damn good post”, they sang in unison, “Except that the song belongs to Shailendra and not Hasrat. Whenever you get time, have your head checked for sanity by somebody qualified.”

I made a quick retreat and decided that I must become the modern Moses and give the gathering: ‘Shailendra Song of the Week.’ That is SSOW in addition to HJSOW.

So, here it is, ladies and gentlemen.

As they say in the aftermath of such sticky situations: ‘Der aaye darust aaye.’

Shakti Samanta Again

For the third week song of HJSOW (you are yet to get it on this blog), I gave you one from the 1958 Shakti Samanta movie Howrah Bridge. Why didn’t his favourite heroine Sharmila Tagore act in Howrah Bridge? Well, La Tagore would have been only 14 years old if she had acted in Howrah Bridge. So, Shakti Samanta waited for her (in the lyrics of a popular song: Ye kali jab talaq fool ban ke khile intezzar intezzar intezzar karo). He waited for her to make her debut in Kashmir Ki Kali whose songs put together by SH Bihari and OP Nayyar made me write a blog about those: Ever Fresh Songs Of Kashmir Ki Kali.

Incidentally, Kashmir Ki Kali and An Evening In Paris (from where this songs has been taken) were Shakti Samanta’s 14th and 16th movies respectively with just one movie Sawan Ki Ghata in between that had La Tagore acting opposite Bozo, something that she must have regretted later since Bozo murdered one of the best songs of the movie (put together by SH Bihari and OP Nayyar): Zulfon ko hata lo chehre se by terrible acting.

Shailendra with Shankar Jaikishan

I am not going to fill up this part of the description with flowery adjectives. Suffice it to say that: Doodh ke jale chhachh ko bhi phoonk phoonk kar peete hain.

Let me tell you something about the unchallenged mastery of Shailendra and SJ pertaining to this song only:

Shailendra First

Shailendra died on 14 Dec 1966, five years before Jaikishan died on 12 Sep 1971. What led to his demise was primarily the setback he received from the box-office failure of his only production: Teesri Kasam.

Next year, we would complete 50 years after his demise. And yet, even till now some of us are discovering some new meaning or the other in his songs.

We were told by the singer Sharda that when S-J asked him to write a simple children’s song he came up with one there too with deep meaning: Titli udhi uddh jo gayi phool ne kaha aaja mere paas (It came out that even in this seemingly children’s song only, he gave a relationship between Body and Soul).

What about the first song of this series? He uses the expression Raat Ke Hamsafar to portray the negative feelings that are as dark as the night and hence are co-passengers with night!

What negative feelings is he referring to? Hatred, belittling, ignoring, trifling with that Sharmila Tagore indulged in with Shammi Kapoor! And now what is happening in the movie? Suddenly, the Subah Pyar Ki is showing its glimpses! This is the first time the sprout of love has broken out between the two contenders. If you have got this right, you can follow the rest of the lyrics easily:

Eg, Sone waalon ko hanskar jagaana bhi hai,
Raat ki chaahton ko sulaana bhi hai

Superb lines. The new sprout of Love between them demands this! By this Shailendra means that Love was dormant all this while and now time has come to awaken it! Raat ki chaahton are negative feelings; these have to be put to sleep! Tell me many other lyricists who have gone this deep!

Seen in this light, one of the best lines of the song with amazing imagination used by Shailendra is: Loriyan gaa rahi hai subah pyar ki! Incredible indeed. Love is always kind and always gentle. It is singing lullabies for the negative feelings to go to sleep!

And a complete denouement takes place in the last stanza:

Kya kya vaade huye, kisne khaai kasam?
Kis nayi raah par hamne rakhe kadam? (as I said, this is the first time mutual love has broken out like a new morning)

Chhup saka pyaar kab ham chhupaaye to kya
Chhup saka pyaar kab ham chhupaaye to kya
Sab samajh paa rahi hain subah pyaar ki

And Now Shankar Jaikishan

Once again no hero-worshiping, no meaningless adjectives.

When the new Subah of Pyar is about to break out between the lovers, they are at night in the Love city of the world: Paris!

S-J have to give a composition and background music that would contrast the delights of this Love City at night with what is happening to the lovers! Take it from me that lesser music directors won’t even come close to this challenge. How do you think they scored? Here is what you can do:

Put the video on mute and watch it first and then watch it with their music! You will know what I mean!!

SJ were the first duo who went international in their music and compositions. With what they had to offer in this song, you can’t have the song anywhere else, say, in Tokyo!

Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle

Makes you feel why not Mohammad Rafi and Lata?

It can’t just be that the first two movies of Shakti Samanta with La Tagore had OP Nayyar’s compositions and hence Asha Bhosle sang for Sharmila Tagore.

Please notice that in this song when she expresses her realisation of Love for him, she also displays a somewhat shy sensuousness (as opposed to the bold sensuousness in her bikini song Aasman se aaya farishta penned by HJ; the first ever bikini song in Hindi movies with an Indian actress). Lata ji is good in many genres of singing but Asha was very well suited to accentuate this sensuousness!

Please enjoy: Raat ke hamsafar…

Raat ke hamsafar thak ke ghar ko chale
Jhumati aa rahi hai subah pyar ki
Dekh kar samne rup ki roshani
Phir luti ja rahi hai subah pyar ki

Sone walon ko hanskar jagana bhi hai 
Raat ke chaahton ko sulaana bhi hai 
Deti hai jaagne ki sada saath hi 
Deti hai jaagne ki sada saath hi 
Loriya ga rahi hai subah pyaar ki 
Raat ke hamsafar thak ke ghar ko chale
Jhumati aa rahi hai subah pyar ki
Dekh kar samne rup ki roshani
Phir luti ja rahi hai subah pyar ki

Raat ne pyar ke jaam bhar kar diye
Ankhon ankhon se jo maine tumne piye
Hosh to ab talaq ja ke laute nahin
Hosh to ab talaq ja ke laute nahin
Janey kya la rahi hai subah pyar ki
Raat ke hamsafar thak ke ghar ko chale
Jhumati aa rahi hai subah pyar ki
Dekh kar samne rup ki roshani
Phir luti ja rahi hai subah pyar ki

Kya kya vaade huye, kisne khaai kasam 
Kis nayi raah par hamne rakhe kadam 
Chhup saka pyaar kab ham chhupaayen to kya 
Chhup saka pyaar kab ham chhupaayen to kya 
Sab samajh paa rahi hai subah pyaar ki 
Raat ke hamsafar thak ke ghar ko chale
Jhumati aa rahi hai subah pyar ki
Pyar ki,  pyar ki

All in all a beautiful song with lyrics that are both enchanting and deep-meaning.

I hope you liked my choice.

Wait for the next song in the series.

This post is Part II follow-up of The Best Songs Of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan – Part I. Hence the introduction is the same.

I am fond of calling myself a lyrical man; words of the songs are often the most important part of the songs for me. Indeed, on the Facebook I have a page titled ‘Lyrical’ to honour and pay tribute to various lyricists. I have several (almost a dozen) posts on  my blog on my favourite lyricist and poet Shakeel Badayuni.

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was chosen by me as Lyricist #9 (not in any particular order or ranking) in Remembering Great Lyricists series. He has been a favourite and I already have a comprehensive post on him: The Magic Of The Lyrics Of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.

Here is now a more detailed post. The following posts about Raja Mehdi Ali Khan’s songs have been reconstructed from the same Facebook page Lyrical.

I started the series to bring home the point that whilst we genuinely love everything that Shakeel wrote, many other contemporary poets and lyricists were also good and popular.

So far, on Lyrical, I have taken up eight lyricists of great fame:

1. Shailendra. The opening song that I selected was Kuchh aur zamaana kehta hai.
2. Rajinder Krishan with his Mujhase mat poochh mere ishq mein.
3. Kaifi Azmi with his Jaane kyaa dhoondati rehati hain ye aankhen mujh mein.
4. Sahir Ludhianvi with Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko.
5. Majrooh Sultanpuri with Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kyaa hai. (Yet to be published here).
6. Jaan Nisar Akhtar with his Mujhape ilzaam-e-bewafai hai. (Yet to be published here).
7. Hasrat Jaipuri with his Aansu bhari hain ye jeevan ki raahen. (Yet to be published here).
8. Qamar Jalalabadi with his Ai meri zindagi tujhe dhoondun kahan. (Yet to be published here).

Tonight, as I said, we take up our ninth lyricst, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan‘s creation.

He is my second most favourite lyricist after Shakeel Badayuni. As you go through the posts you would realise as to why.

Having been born in 1928 in Jehlum in undivided India, when the partition of India took place, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and wife Tahira refused to go to Pakistan despite communal riots. His patriotism came to fore in 1948 itself when he wrote the famous number: Watan ki raah mein watan ke naujwaan shahid hon for the movie Shaheed starring Dilip Kumar.

Raja Mehdi Ali Khan paired with the Music Director Madan Mohan to produce some of Lata Mangeshkar’s best numbers. She has acknowledged so.

Raja appears to have done everything at a relatively young age. It is as if he knew that he is going to die young at the age of 37 only on 29 Jul 1966.

When Shakeel gave his first film song in 1947 Dard: Afsana likh rahi hoon, Shakeel was 31 years old. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was just 18 when he gave his, in his first movie Do Bhai. And what a song it was, sung by Geeta Dutt.

Indeed, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan together with Rajinder Krishan emerged as the lyricist of choice for heroines. Some of his best songs are:

1. Aap ki nazaron ne samajha pyaar ke kaabil mujhe.
2. Agar mujhase mohabbat hai mujhe sab apne gham de do.
3. Sapano mein agar mere tum aao to so jaayun.
4. Naaina barse rimjhim rimjhim.
5. Lag jaao gale ke phir ye hasin raat ho na ho.
6. Naino mein badra chhaye.

It is not as if he didn’t write for heroes. Taste some of his best there too:

1. Main nigahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise.
2. Tum bin jeevan kaise beeta poochho mere dil se.
3. Aap youn hi agar hamase milate rahe.

Everyday, on my page Lyrical, I take up three songs. We have finished with eight days and 24 songs.

Day #9, Song #25
Please enjoy: Kya kya sitam sahe hain….

After Shrimatiji, his next movie in 1952 was Izzat. Bulo C Rani composed all the eight songs in the movie; seven of these were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and one by Butaram Sharma.

Here are the seven songs penned by him:

1. Kya kya sitam sahe hain.
2. Dhoondta hoon har jagah kahin nahin.
3. Tera jhoomta shabab jaise.
4. Is duniya se ham nahin darega.
5. Ishq mein ho jao barbaad.
6. Ishq mein ho jao barbaad (Female).
7. Nain naino se mile.

Most of the songs were sung by Sandhya Mukherjee, GM Durrani and Shamshad Begum.

Lets listen to the voice of Sandhya Mukherjee.

Please enjoy: Kya kya sitam sahe hain….

Day #9, Song #26
Zindagani ke sahare laut aa….

Saloni was his next movie in 1952; the second last movie for him for the year, a JP Davani movie starring Ashok Kumar and Nalini Jaywant.

He was back with Basant Prakash (one song penned by Aziz Kashmiri was composed by Vinod). Out of the eight songs, Raja penned three; the others were by Aziz Kashmiri, Hasrat Jaipuri, and Arjun Dev Ishq.

His three were:

1. Ek dil sharmata hai.
2. Roti hui aankhon mein tasveer kisi ki.
3. Zindagi ke sahare laut aa.

My vote goes to the last one after listening to all three (it was difficult finding them). Why? Because the song shows the development of Lata Mangeshkar into a singer par excellence.

Please enjoy: Zindagani ke sahare laut aa….

zindgani ke sahare laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa
mera har aasu pukare laut aa laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa

dhundte hai tujhko bago me bahar aayi hui
mere dil pe tere gum ki hai ghata chai hui
dekh phulo ke najare laut aa
dekh phulo ke najare laut aa
mera har aasu pukare laut aa laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa

kya khabar thi tere bin
ek pal na chal payenge hum
tum agar wapas na aaye haye mar jayenge hum
meri kismat ke sitare laut aa
meri kismat ke sitare laut aa
mera har aasu pukare laut aa laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa
zindgani ke sahare laut aa

Day #9, Song #27
Koi dard hamara kya samajhe

His last movie in 1952 was Rangeeli, a Najam Naqvi movie starring Raj Kumar, Rehana, S Nasir, Leela Mishra, and Yaqub.

He paired with – hold your breath – Chic Chocolate and they made the following songs:

1. Chanda ko sitare mile.
2. Koi dard hamara kya samjhe.
3. Hamne ye dil ke lagane ki saza payi hai.
4. Hum naino mein laye hain pyar.
5. Bayan chhodo balam ghar jaana hai.
6. Hans le gaa le jee behla le.
7. Haseeno se faqt sahab salamatdoor ki.
8. Raat bhi rangeen hai
9. Sainya agar tum ho ser.

I am going to give you two songs from the movie: one today, sung by Lata Mangeshkar and one tomorrow sung by Geeta Dutt.

Please enjoy Lata Mangeshkar singing: Koi dard hamara kya samajhe…

koi dard hamara kya samjhe
koi haal hamara kya jane
koi dard hamara kya samjhe
koi haal hamara kya jane
is dil me kya kya armaa the
wo jaan se pyara kya jane
is dil me kya kya armaa the
wo jaan se pyara kya jane
koi dard hamara kya samjhe
koi haal hamara kya jane

ek aash bandhi thi tut gayi, haye tut gayi
haye kismat humse ruth gayi, haye ruth gayi
kyu chamka tha kyu tut gaya
takdir ka tara kya jane
kyu chamka tha kyu tut gaya
takdir ka tara kya jane
koi dard hamara kya samjhe
koi haal hamara kya jane

gam ki kaali raate hogi, raate hogi
diwaro se baate hogi, baate hogi
ae darde mohabbat kya hoga
anjam hamara kya jane
ae darde mohabbat kya hoga
anjam hamara kya jane
koi dard hamara kya samjhe
koi haal hamara kya jane
is dil me kya kya armaa the
wo jaan se pyara kya jane
koi dard hamara kya samjhe
koi haal hamara kya jane

Day #10, Song #28
Hamne ye dil ke lagane ki saza payi hai

On the 9th day when we broke off, we had started taking up songs of the 1952 movie Rangeeli, a Najam Naqvi movie starring Raj Kumar, Rehana, S Nasir, Leela Mishra, and Yaqub.

Day #10, Song #29
Le le gori pehan le chhori gori gori kalayi mein kali kali chudhiyan

His first movie in 1953 was Paapi, a Chandulal J Shah movie starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis.

Day #10, Song #30
Mohabbat aur wafa ki kis kadar tauheen ki tune

His next movie in 1953 was Naya Rasta, a Jayant Desai movie starring Manhar Desai, Krishna Kumari, Nirupa Roy, and Bipin Gupta.

Day #11, Song #31
Dil lagane wale aap se hazaron hain

Before we start today, lets take stock:

We started with our ninth lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan on 03 Oct 19 with two songs from 1947 movie Do Bhai: Mera sundar sapna beet gaya and Yaad karoge ek din hum ko yaad karoge; both songs sung by Geeta Dutt and composed by her mentor SD Burman.

Since then, we finished 10 days and 30 songs from 28 movies with 123 songs. The last one was the 1953 movie Khoj, in the seventh year of his career.

His next movie in 1953 was Gul Sanobar, an Aspi Azad movie starring Shammi Kapoor, Shyama, Agha, Rajni, Jillo, Kailash, Habib, and Shakur.

Bulo C Rani composed five songs whilst three were composed by Khayyam. These were penned by Kaif Irfani, Nazim Panipati, and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Raja just wrote one: In aankhon mein hai pyar that was sung by Indrani Mukherjee and Moti Sagar.

Anand Bhavan was his next movie in 1953, an SM Yusuf movie starring Manhar Desai, Nigar Sultana, Tiwari, Trilok Kapoor, and Durga Khote.

Vasant Desai composed eight songs in the movie: three by Raja and five by Noor Lakhnavi. The three songs by Raja are:

1. Nanhe munhe raja ki salgirah.
2. Roz kab teri jeet hoti hai.
3. Tera dil jo kehta hai kar deewane.

Manchala was his next movie in 1953. It was a Jayant Desai movie starring Manhar Desai, Nirupa Roy, Agha, Jeevan, and Krishna Kumari.

Chitragupt composed eight of his songs:

1. Hum dil apna tadpayen kyun?
2. Buron ki jeet duniya mein Bhagwan.
3. Nadiya ri nadiya jaa ke sajan se.
4. Buron ki jeet duniya mein.
5. Nahin daan diya nahin punya kiya.
6. Panghat pe peepal.
7. Tadpa na mujhe zaalim.
8. Ye duniya paagal khana.

We shall skip all these.

His next movie in 1953, indeed his last movie that year, was Husn Ka Chor, a JBH Wadia movie starring Mahipal, Usha Kiran, and Aarti.

Bulo C Rani composed six of his songs and one was written by JBH Wadia and Pandit Chand.

These were his six songs:

1. Di lagane wale aap se hazaron hain.
2. Ho gaya tere majnu ko ishq ka bukhar.
3. O janewale kisi ka salaam lete jaa.
4. Dheere dheere dil mein sama.
5. O duniya banane wale bata.
6. Sangdil zamaane mujhe kyun rulata hai.

The first one was sung by Sandhya Mukherjee and Mohammad Rafi. It was one of those songs in lighter vein that Raja wrote once in a while.

Please enjoy: Dil lagane wale aap se hazaron hain…

dil lagane wale aap ke hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
dil lagane wale aap ke hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai

aap se bole ro ro ke laila
ro ro ke ro ro ke laila
pad gaya jigar me rang maila
ha ho gaya jal ke majnu bhi maila
ishq jata ke tir chala ke
jakhmi kar jo chhaila
tir khane wale aap se hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
gum khane wale aap se hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai

maro maro maro maro sar pe mohabbat ka danda
o maro sar pe mohabbat ka danda danda danda
o ishaq ho jayega uska thanda
thanda thanda ishaq ho jayega uska thanda
aankh milake pas bulake maro sar pe danda
mar khane wale aap se hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
o azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
o azi unme se hum bhi ek hai

husan ki chha rahi hai qyamat
husan ki chha rahi hai qyamat
lakho ki ho gayi hai hjamat
lakho ki ho gayi hai hjamat
dil ghabhraye sar chakraye
sar nahi salamt
dekho sar nahi salamt
sar mudane wale aap se hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
dil lagane wale aap se hazaro hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai
azi unme se hum bhi ek hai

Day #11, Song #32
Duniya ki halat naram naram

With that we enter the year 1954, the eighth year of his career. He wrote songs for as many as 12 movies, ie, on an average of one movie per month.

Sher Dil was his first movie in which he wrote just one song composed by Shafi M Nagri whilst others were penned by Preetam Dehlvi, and Saraswati Kumar Deepak. Raja’s song was: O Chevrolet ki poti.

Ladla was his next movie in 1954, a Surya Kumar movie starring Karan Dewan, Shyama, Raj Mehra, Agha, Krishan Kumari, Nazir, Maruti, Dev Kishan, and Dar Kashmiri.

Vinod composed ten songs in the movie that were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Kaif Irfani, and Balkrishna Mauj.

Raja’s five songs were mostly in lighter vein as if he got typified with such songs:

1. Hai re baj gaye raat ke barah.
2. Aji darwaja to kholo.
3. Bura hua to inse hamare naina lad gaye ji.
4. Gali mein husn ko ruswa kiya.
5. Zindagi do din ki hai.

We shall skip all these.

His third movie in 1954 was Toote Huye Khilaune, a Nanubhai Bhatt movie starring Shekhar, Gulab, Ranjit Kumari, Romi, Babu Raje, Asha Mathur, and Poornima.

Chitragupt composed eight songs in the movie that were penned by Anjum Jaipuri, Gopal Singh Nepali and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.

The three songs penned by Raja were:

1. Aye roothi hui taqdeer bata.
2. Ek baar bhulati hai to yaad aate.
3. Tere pyar mein huye badnaam hum.

Once gain we shall skip these.

Guzara was his fourth movie in 1954, an SM Yusuf movie starring Karan Dewan, Jabben Jalil, Paro, and Baby Naaz.

Ghulam Mohammad composed eight songs in the movie that were penned by Fauk Jaami, Munir Lakhnavi, and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Raja wrote five of them:

1. Duniya ki halat naram naram.
2. Rula rula ke pehli aayi aur mili ye pagar.
3. Ban ban ke bigadti hai.
4. Rang rangeele pyare pyare laye.
5. Rang rangeele pyare pyare laye hum khilaune.

You would notice that the focus was still on writing frivolous songs. The first one was sung by Mohammad Rafi in that vein.

Please enjoy: Duniya ki halat naram naram….

duniya ki halat naram naram
ho duniya ki halat naram naram
halwa chhodo puri chhodo
bhajiye khalo garam garam
ho duniya ki halat naram naram

tune bhi muft ki khai hai
kya tu bhi mera bhai hai
o kya tu bhi mera bhai hai
meri hi tarah honge mistar
tere pichhle janam ke karam karam
ho munna pichhle janam ke karam karam
ho duniya ki halat naram naram
halwa chhodo puri chhodo
bhajiye khalo garam garam
duniya ki halat naram naram

hum tumko kaha se de bhiksha
jakar ke khencho riksha
ho munna jakar ke khencho riksha
mat desh pe apne bojh bano
hai yahi hamara dharam dharam
hai yahi hamara dharam dharam
hoye duniya ki halat naram naram
halwa chhodo puri chodo
bhajiya khalo garam garam
duniya ki halat naram naram

chaar aane me insan bike
do aane me imaan bike
chaar aane me insan bike
do aane me imaan bike
ek aane me bhagwan bike
aye duniya walo shame shame shame
aye duniya walo sharam sharam
o duniya ki halat naram naram
halwa chhodo puri chhodo
bhajiye khalo garam garam
duniya ki halat naram naram

Day #11, Song #33
O ri O ri koi laari

Miss Mala was his next movie in 1954, a Jayant Desai movie who was fond of Chitragupt. He composed seven songs in the movie, four of them by Raja and others by Anjum Jaipuri.

The movie starred Kishore Kumar and Vyjayanthimala and was well suited to have songs in lighter vein that Raja Mehdi Ali Khan had mastered as much as the serious songs:

1. Dil na lagana dil ka lagana bahut bura.
2. O ri O ri koi laari.
3. Dekho na dekho hamen maare guroor ke.
4. Kaise bahu ghar mein aayi wah ri.

We have a rare combination now with Kishore Kumar singing for himself and Geeta Dutt singing for Vyjayanthimala. And we have Chitragupt giving us music like C Ramchandra.

Please enjoy (I am sure you will): O ri O ri koi laari….

o ri o ri koi laari
ho ho ho ho ho
do dil jab chupke chupke nain milaye
nain milaye
do dil jab chupke chupke nain milaye
duniya wale dande leke, pichhe pichhe aaye
pichhe pichhe aaye
to fir pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup
pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup

pyaar ki dagar me, do dil aage aage jaye
aage aage jaye
pyaar ki dagar me, do dil aage aage jaye
duniya wale dande leke, pichhe pichhe aaye
pichhe pichhe aaye
to fir pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup
pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup

ye thandi hawaye kahe pyaar karo pyaar
o o o
ye thandi hawaye kahe pyaar karo pyaar
koyal si sadaye kare dil bekrar
kahe pyaar karo pyaar
o o o jaalim hain jamana
mausam hain suhana, dil hain diwana
bolo ham kaha jaye, ham kaha jaye
duniya wale dande leke, pichhe pichhe aaye
pichhe pichhe aaye
to fir pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup
pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup

ankhiyo pe teri karu ankhiya nisar
o o o o
ankhiyo pe teri karu ankhiya nisar
piya mera jiya bole dare mera pyaar
hoy dare mera pyaar
o o o nadiya kinare
jhum ke nazare, karke ishare
piya hamko bulaye hamko bulaye
duniya wale dande leke, pichhe pichhe aaye
pichhe pichhe aaye
to fir pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup
pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup

do dil jab chupke chupke nain milaye
nain milaye
do dil jab chupke chupke nain milaye
duniya wale dande leke, pichhe pichhe aaye
pichhe pichhe aaye
to fir pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup
pyaar karo gup chup
duniya se chhup chhup

Day #12, Song #34
Kamaata hoon bahut kuchh par kamayi doob jaati hai

We are covering his career of the year 1954, that is, eighth year after he joined with Do Bhai. Yesterday, I gave you a delightful song from Miss Mary starring Kishore Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

Hindi movies are quick to typify people such as Amitabh Bachchan as Angry Young Man, And, at this phase in his career, Raja was identified with funny and comic songs.

His next movie Adhikar was no different. It was a Mohan Saigal movie starring Kishore Kumar and Usha Kiran.

Avinash Vyas composed eight songs in the movie and used lyricists Prem Dhawan, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Neelkanth Tiwari, and Saraswati Kumar Deepak. Rarely, you would find lyricists such as Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra who were attached to Shankar Jaiklishan, Shakeel with Naushad or Indeevar with Kalyanji Anandji. Most others went from one MD to the other.

Raja wrote three songs for Avinash Vyas in this movie:

1. Kamaata hoon bahut kuchh par kamayi doob jaati hai.
2. Dil mein hamare kaun samaya khud hi samajh lo.
3. Zindagi haseen hai, zindagi se pyar kar.

The first one was sung by Kishore Kumar for himself and Geeta Dutt for Usha Kiran.

Please enjoy: Kamaata hoon bahut kuchh par kamayi doob jaati hai…

kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai
kuch income tax le jata kuch biwi udati hai
kuch income tax le jata kuch biwi udati hai
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai
achha kaho tum kuch bhi
lekin ye samjhdaro ka kahna hai
kaho tum kuch bhi lekin
ye samjhdaro ka kahna hai, kya
luta dete hai ghar ko mard aurat ghar banati hai
luta dete hai ghar ko mard aurat ghar banati hai

aa teri in saadiyo ne jamfaro ne maar dala hai
aa teri in saadiyo ne arey jamfaro ne maar dala hai
teri diwali ki khatir mera nikala diwala hai
mai kadka hu mai kadka hu mai kadka jeb se
tu shent kapdo me lagati hai
mai kadka jeb se tu shent kapdo me lagati hai
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai

base bhi shehar me chalti hai kyu texi me jate ho
cinema dekhte ho hotlo ke bil chukate ho
kamayi aadhi bahar aur aadhi ghar me aati hai
kamayi aadhi bahar aur aadhi ghar me aati hai
luta dete hai ghar ko mard aurat ghar banati hai
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai

ubal jata ho chahe dud chahe roti jal jalti ho
pehan kar reshmi sadi tu hai nipat nari
pehan kar reshmi sadi tum aise aise chalti ho
tum aise aise chalti ho tum aise aise
mai bate jab sunata hu tujhe aankhe dikhati hu
mai bate jab sunata hu tujhe aankhe dikhati hu
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai

uda dete hai paisa bad me phir hath malte hai
dabake muh me cigrette aap aise aise chalte hai
musibat sar pe jab aati hai biwi kam aati hai
musibat sar pe jab aati hai biwi kam aati hai
luta dete hai ghar ko mard aurat ghar banati hai
kamata hu bahut kuch par kamayi dub jati hai

Day #12, Song #35
Teri nazron ne hamko chheda hai

Barati was his next movie in 1954. A JK Nanda movie, it starred Chand Usmani, Peace Kanwal, Agha, Om Prakash, Leela Mishra, Sham Kumar, Darpan, and Johny Walker.

The Music Director was Roshan and he took C Ramchandra and Lata as singers together with S Balbir, Asha Bhosle and Sudha Malhotra.

Roshan’s nine songs were penned by Jan Nisar Akhtar, Tanveer Naqvi, D.N. Madhok, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan; indeed, mostly by DN Madhok. Raja wrote two including the best song of the movie:

1. Teri nazaron ne hamko chheda hai.
2. Kahin door koyaliya gaye re.

Both are very good songs. My choice is the first one sung by C Ramchandra and Asha Bhosle. It is so typically Roshan!

Please enjoy: Teri nazron ne hamko chheda hai…

teree najro ne hamko chheda hai
ham shor macha denge dekho ji ham shor macha denge
tum chhip chhip hamse milte ho
ham sabko bata denge suno ji ham sabko bata denge

dekhenge rani ham toh chhedenge tumko dil ne yeh thani hai
dekhenge rani ham toh chhedenge tumko dil ne yeh thani hai
hay apni najar ko roko ji dekho yeh toh divani hai
aji angana me aji angana me
sowe sasuji ham unako jaga denge
suno ji ham sabko bata denge

yeh dillagi nahi hai dil ki lagi hai kaise batau mai
yeh dillagi nahi hai dil ki lagi hai kaise batau mai
hay jo karna hai so karo ji kabhi hath naa aau mai
hamse naa hamse naa
karo yeh shokhiya ham tumko saja denge
suno ji ham sabko bata denge

kya mai karungi tauba jan bhi doge tum toh diwaane ho
kya mai karungi tauba jan bhi doge tum toh diwaane ho
hay dil nahi bas me kya karu yeh meree ek naa mane ho
ik bat hai ik bat hai
ji o ham kaano me chupake se bata denge
dekho ji chupake se bata denge

tum chhip chhip tum chhip chhip
hamse milate ho ham sabko bata denge
dekho ji ham shor macha denge

Day #12, Song #36
Aye saba unse keh zara ke hamen beqraar kar diya

The next movie for him had a title that has been used in Hindi movies extensively: Alibaba Aur 40 Chor.

It was a Homi Wadia movie starring Mahipal, Shakila, B. M. Vyas, S. N. Tripathi, and Maruti Rao.

SN Tripathi had often acted in movies that he was MD of. In this movie he and Chitragupt composed the following songs, all penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan:

1. Gadhon par baith kar hum, dekho dekho hazur.
2. Aye saba unse keh zara ke hamen beqraar kar diya.
3. Chalo ham babool ke tale.
4. Sharma ke lajja ke main ek jhalak dikhlayun.
5. Dekho ji chand nikla peechhe khajoor ke.
6. Aankh mili hai pyar hoga.
7. Kismat phati hui hai taanke laga rahe hain.
8. Zara nazren mila lo muskra lo.

You would find that his trademark comic songs go hand in hand with his trademark romantic songs.

Please enjoy Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle singing: Aye saba unse keh zara ke hamen beqraar kar diya…

aye sabah unse kah jara ke hume bekarar kar diya
aye sabah unse kah jara ke hume bekarar kar diya
dil hamara jaan se pyara kya karu tum pe ye nikhar kar diya
dil hamara jaan se pyara kya karu tum pe ye nikhar kar diya
aye sabah unse kah jara ke hume bekarar kar diya

zindagi, tum nahi to zindagi nahi
chadani, tum nahi to chandani nahi
zindagi, tum nahi to zindagi nahi
chadani, tum nahi to chandani nahi
oo gunegaro ye pukaro, tum nahi bahar ko bahar kar diya
aye sabah unse kah jara ke hume bekarar kar diya

kah jara sanam humko tumse pyar hai
kah diya ki mai, hume tumko pyar hai
kah jara sanam dil se dil nisar hai
kah diya sanam dil se dil nisar hai
pas aa to, muskara ke tumne magar bekarar kar diya
aye sabah unse kah jara ke hume bekarar kar diya
tu hamara jaan se pyara kya karu tum pe yu nikhar kar diya
aye sabah unse kah jara ke hume bekarar kar diya
aye sabah unse kah jara

Day #13, Song #37
Mere pyar mein tujhe kya mila

At the end of the Day #12 we had taken up a songs: Aye saba unko keh zara from the 1954 movie Alibaba Aur 40 Chor.

We had finished with 172 songs from his 40 movies since 1947’s Do Bhai. Of course, I had carefully selected for you 36 songs, less than one song per movie and one in 4.8 songs. By the way, that is generally the average with great lyricists so far.

Lets proceed further.

His next movie was Chandni Chowk, a BR Chopra movie starring Shekhar and Meena Kumari.

Roshan composed 12 songs that were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Raja penned only one: Qutub minar pe chad kar that was sung by Sundar and Shamshad Begum.

We shall skip that. At this stage of his career, he was much in demand for frivolous songs.

His next movie in 1954 was Maan, a Safdar Aah movie starring Ajit Chitra, Jagirdar, Kamlesh Kumari, and Kumar.

Anil Biswas was the composer who composed ten songs for the movie that were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, Kaif Bhopali, Safdar Aah and Asad Bhopali.

Anil Biswas broke the trend of Raja being used for frivolous songs and he penned just one song but it was the best and soulful song of the movie.

It was sung by – any guesses? – ah, you guessed it; I am predictable about my favourites – Lata Mangeshkar who would many years later sing Raja’s Lag jaa gale ke phir ye haseen raat ho na ho.

Please enjoy: Mere pyar mein tujhe kya mila…

mere pyar me tujhe kya mila, mere devta mujhe bhul ja
mere pyar me tujhe kya mila, mere devta mujhe bhul ja
yahi aansuo ka hai faisala, mere devta mujhe bhul ja
mere pyar me tujhe kya mila

meri hasarte mujhe ro chuki
meri manjile mujhe kho chuki
meri manjile mujhe kho chuki
mai hu woh chaman tere pyar ka
mai hu woh chaman tere pyar ka
jo ujad gaya mujhe bhul ja
mere pyar me tujhe kya mila

teraa pyar mujhko na de sada
teraa pyar mujhko na de sada
mai hun sangdil mai hun bewafa
mai hun sangdil mai hun bewafa
jise maine khud hi bujha diya
jise maine khud hi bujha diya
mai hu woh deeya mujhe bhul ja
mere pyar me tujhe kya mila, mere devta mujhe bhul ja
mere pyar me tujhe kya mila

Day #13, Song #38
Zara thehro main haal-e-dil suna loon phir chale jaana

His next movie in 1954 was Dak Babu, a Lekhraj Bakshi movie starring Nadira, Kuldip Kaur, Yashodhara Katju, Radha Kishan, Talat Mahmood, and Manmohan Krishan.

Dhaniram was the composer of songs and he composed as many as eleven songs that were penned by Prem Dhawan, Chand Pandit, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Dhaniram himself. Raja wrote two of them:

1. Kisi ke teer-e-nazar dil pe khaye.
2. Gori gayi tadpa ke.

We shall skip both these.

His last movie in 1954 was Aulad, a Mohan Sehgal movie starring Balraj Sahni, Usha Kiran and Nirupa Roy.

Sardar Malik composed two of his songs and four others penned by Prem Dhawan and Vishwamitra Adil.

Raja’s two songs were:

1. Duniya tasveer hai rote huye.
2. Badhayi ho badhayi seth ji.

We shall again skip both.

His first movie in 1955 was Shahi Chor, a Naseem Siddiqui movie starring Daljit K, Shakeela, Hiralal, Jayant, Mumtaz, W M Khan, Yashodhara Katju, and Neeru.

Dhaniram was the composer who composed six songs of Shewan Rizvi and one each by Raja and Kaifi Azmi. His song was: Dil se mila dil aur sung by Asha Bhosle.

His second movie in 1955 was Jalwa and he was asked by Vinod only to write yet another frivolous song: Ham do ladke jeb ke kadke.

For the 1955 movie Bandish he wrote just one song for Hemant Kumar sung by Rafi: Le lo ji hamare gubare pyare pyare.

His next movie in 1955 was Albeli, a DC Goel movie starring Pradeep Kumar and Geeta Bali.

Ravi composed most of his own songs and two by Raja:

1. Chhod babul ka ghar (not to be confused with Shakeel’s Babul song).
2. O balma kyun na karun main tose.

Once gain we shall skip.

His next movie in 1955 was Madhur Milan in which Bulo C Rani composed twelve songs out of which just two were penned by Raja:

1. Ek taraf joru ne nikaala hai diwala.
2. Dil pyar ki mehfil hai.

Lets skip both.

His next movie in 1955 was Shahi Mehman in which Bipin Babul composed nine songs; eight of which were penned by Anjum Jaipuri and Hasrat Jaipuri. Raja wrote one: Aye sanam mere naache kadam.

Inaam was his next movie in 1955. There were seven songs in the movie; six composed by SN Tripathi and one by Saraswati Devi. Raja wrote all the songs that were composed by SN Tripathi:

1. Tu hai ke nahin hai.
2. Ham chale tere dil ke makaan.
3. Tadbir ka ho teer aur taqdir nishana.
4. Zara thehro main haal-e-dil suna loon.
5. He sambhal ke bhai.
6. Najumi hoon main.

Three of these were sung by Suraiya.

Please enjoy Suraiya singing: Zara thehro main haal-e-dil suna loon phir chale jaana…

zara thaharo mai haal-e-dil suna lun phir chale jana
tamanna_o ko ashqo me baha lun phir chale jana
zara thaharo

are o janewale ek hi pal ke liye ruk ja
mai shamma-e-zindagi apani bujha lun phir chale jana

zara thaharo mai haal-e-dil suna lun phir chale jana
zara thaharo

qayamat ki ghadi hai aaj to ji bhar ke rone do
mai tumako haar ashqo ke pinha lun phir chale jana

zara thaharo mai haal-e-dil suna lun phir chale jana
zara thaharo

tere jate hi saaj-e-zidagani tut jayega
mai apana aakhari nagama suna lun phir chale jana

zara thaharo mai haal-e-dil suna lun phir chale jana
tamanna_o ko ashqo me baha lun phir chale jana
zara thaharo

Day #13, Song #39
Dekho jhumati barsaat chalo ghumein

His next movie in 1955 was Chiragh-e-Chin in which all six songs that were composed by SN Tripathi were penned by Raja:

1. Alvida ai zindagi ki baharo alvida.
2. Chaman mein husn ke.
3. Chhoti si ek jhalak dikha ke.
4. Darbar mein baithe kayi sahib-e-kamaal.
5. Mohabbat kar ke ai taqdeer pehchanta bhi.
6. Sher dil samjha tha jinko.

I don’t know what’s the reason but all videos and all information about the movie has been taken off the net.

Mastani was his next movie in 1955 and there were twelve songs in the movie composed by BN Bali. Seven were penned by Raja:

1. Ameeron ke Bhagwan gareebon ko sataya.
2. Basre ki hoor gori gori.
3. Dekho jhumati barsaat chalo ghumein.
4. Wafa tumhare liye beqraar rahi hai.
5. Akhiyon se akhiyan mila ke.
6. Gadi waale ho zara haule haule chalna.
7. Hato chhedo na balam.

I am going to give you a song that was sung by Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi and a unique composition by BN Bali. As with the last song by Suraiya that I gave you, you will be wondering as to why such songs don’t become popular!

Please enjoy: Dekho jhumati barsaat chalo ghumein….

dekho jhumti jhumti barsat
chalo ghume ghume kahi sath
chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi
o chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi
dekho jhumti jhumti barsat
chalo ghume ghume kahi sath
chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi

aapki mummy ne ki thi aapse meri shadi
dil ye kahta bande teri ho gayi barbadi
kya karu mai waqt to de baithi hu sade sat ka
chhut jayega kisi se wada mulakat ka
wada mulakat ka

mere dost hai dost jagannath
bura manege manege o nar
wo ladenge mere sath mujhe time nahi
dekho jhumti jhumti barsat
chalo ghume ghume kahi sath
ho chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi
chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi

zimi aur pipi ko ghar me kaun sambhalega
arey zimi aur pipi ko ghar me kaun sambhalega
jab royenge unko chiku gale laga lega
gale laga lega
chiku aalu batate ki bhazi tale
bhai gusse me baithi hai mujhse jale
chiku aalu batate ki bhazi tale
chiku chiku aaya ji

tal raha hu anda anda hoga thanda
sahab marega danda ho jaunga thanda
dekho baz rahe hai khadtal
seth dega dega mujhe lat
dard hoga sari rat mujhe time nahi
dekho jhumti jhumti barsat
chalo ghume ghume kahi sath
ho chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi
chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi

mujhe nikkar to pehna do mujhe paudar to laga do
ek lori to ga do mata ji ek lori to ga do mata ji
chalo bhago bhgao bhago mujhe time nahi
mata chhod de chhod de din rat
hum to ho gaye ho gaye anath
chahe din ho chahe rat mujhe time nahi
hello hello anath aasram anath aasram
vande mataram

is ghar me ghar me do anath
inhe le jao le jao apne sath
yaha bahut hai anath mujhe time nahi
yaha bahut hai anath hume time nahi
suno suno ae duniya walo
do bacho ki ajab kahani
pade mushibat me hum dono
jabse mar gayi apni nani
fashion wali mao ke ghar
jo bache paida hote hai
maye to hansti hai sadak me
bache ghar me rote hai
ae bharat ke bacho dekho
apni kadar na khona
fashion wali mao ke ghar
tum kabhi na paida hona

dekho jhumti jhumti barsat
chalo ghume ghume kahi sath
ho chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi
chhodo chhodo mera hath mujhe time nahi
dekho jhumti jhumti barsat
chalo ghume ghume kahi sath

Day #14, Song #40
Nigahen mili aur tum muskraye

With the 1955 movie on Day #13, we had crossed 50 movies with 200 songs (53 movies with 205 songs to be exact).

His next movie in 1955 was Aab-e-Hayat, a Ramanlal Desai movie starring Premnath, Shashikala, Ameeta, Pran, Mubarak, S L Puri, P Kailash, Helen, and Smriti Biswas.

Sardar Malik composed ten songs in the movie mainly penned by Hasrat Jaipuri (including the popular Main gareebon ka dil hoon). There were two by Qamar Jalalabadi and one each by Kaif Irfani and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Raja’s song was: Nigahen mili aur tum muskuraye, a song picturised on Premnath and Shashikala.

Please enjoy Asha Bhosle singing: Nigahen mili aur tum muskraye…

nigahe mili aur tum muskuraye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye
nigahe mili aur tum muskuraye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye

ji samjho na samjho nazar ke ishare
nazar kah rahi hai ke hum hai tumhare
ji samjho na samjho nazar ke ishare
nazar kah rahi hai ke hum hai tumhare
kaha ja rahe ho ji dil ko chhupaye
kaha ja rahe ho ji dil ko chhupaye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye
nigahe mili aur tum muskuraye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye

mai kaise chhupau lagan pyari pyari
agan mithi mithi chuban pyari pyari
mai kaise chhupau lagan pyari pyari
agan mithi mithi chuban pyari pyari
tadapti hu mai aarzue chhupaye
tadapti hu mai aarzue chhupaye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye
nigahe mili aur tum muskuraye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye

ye kaisi lagan hai ye kya bekali hai
ari o jawani kaha le chali hai
ye kaisi lagan hai ye kya bekali hai
ari o jawani kaha le chali hai
kisi tarha tu mere bas me to aaye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye
nigahe mili aur tum muskuraye
mohabbat hansi aur hum dagmagaye

Day #14, Song #41
Tauba tauba dar lage huzoor se

Badshah Salamat was his first movie in 1956.

It was a Zia Sarhadi movie starring Chandra Shekhar, Amar Nath, Shyama, Bhagwan, and B M Vyas.

Bulo C Rani composed nine songs in the movie, two of which were penned by Raja:

1. Jungle ghooma basti ghooma.
2. Ye hawa ye ghata kehte hain nazare.

We shall skip both.

Noor-e-Yaman was his next in 1956. Once again out of nine songs composed by Bulo C Rani, Raja wrote two:

1. Jab teri nazar ke teer chale.
2. Tera chand sa mukhada jab dekha.

Once again, we shall skip both.

Inquilab was his next movie in 1956. It was a Kidar Kapoor movie starring Rajan, Shyama, Tiwari, Kuldip Kaur, Sapru, and Helen.

Hansraj Behl composed all the songs and all were penned by Raja:

1. Tauba tauba dar lage huzoor se.
2. Tere jahan se hum chale.
3. Dilbar se pyar chhupane mein bada maza.
4. Rangeele meri nazaron ke do jaam pi le.
5. Saaz na bole taar bina.
6. Ai waade saba paigham mera.
7. Kitna achha hota.
8. Maine kooche mein zaalim.

The first six are all solo songs by Geeta Dutt!

Please enjoy: Tauba tauba dar lage huzoor se…

tauba tauba tauba
tauba tuaba tauba dar lage huzur se
ui ui ui mere allah mujhe dekho na ghur ke
tauba tuaba tauba dar lage huzur se
ui ui ui mere allah mujhe dekho na ghur ke

ankhiya churau mai nigahe na milau
jhalak dikha ke mai to chup chup jau
ankhiya churau mai nigahe na milau
jhalak dikha ke mai to chup chup jau
chup chup jau mai to chup chup jau
saukhiya sikhi hai maine jannat ki hur se saukhiya
saukhiya sikhi hai maine jannat ki hur se
ui ui ui mere allah mujhe dekho na ghur ke
tauba tuaba tauba

bijli giregi jo nazar gayi mil
tum hi kahoge fir haye mera dil
bijli giregi jo nazar gayi mil
tum hi kahoge fir haye mera dil
haye mera dil gaya haye mera dil
luki chupi aag hu mai parde me nur ke
luki chupi aag hu mai parde me nur ke
ui ui ui mere allah mujhe dekho na ghur ke
tauba tuaba tauba

van ki hu chidiya na pinjre me aau
maino ki fizao se mai dar dar jau
van ki hu chidiya na pinjre me aau
maino ki fizao se mai dar dar jau
dar dar jau mai to dar dar jau
kahe ko ishara mujhe karte ho dur se
ui ui ui mere allah mujhe dekho na ghur ke
tauba tuaba tauba

Day #14, Song #42
Lagata hai zamana boliyan

His next movie in 1956 was Indra Sabha in which Alla Rakha Qureshi composed eleven songs; ten of which were penned by Shewan Rizvi. Raja wrote one: Sanam tum deewane kiske.

His next movie in 1956 was Zindagi, a title repeated more number of times than others. Kaifi Azmi wrote seven songs in the movie and Raja wrote one. All were composed by Mohammad Shafi.

His song was: Kaali kaali ye ghata, thandi thandi ye hawa.

His next movie in 1956 was Hamara Watan. Songs of the movie were composed by Hemant Kumar; seven by SH Bihari, two by Ravi and one by Raja: Lagata hai zamana boliyan.

Now, you will ask me as to why I am giving you this song. Well, it has been sung beautifully by Lata Mangeshkar. And I bet you’ll appreciate the beauty of the lyrics.

Please enjoy: Lagata hai zamana boliyan…

Day #15, Song #43
Hello hello Hyderabadi

Yesterday, we finished a milestone in that we finished two weeks with our 9th lyricist Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and we were fortunate to have a Lata Mangeshkar song Lagaata hai zamana boliyan when we ended the day.

His next movie in 1956 was Aabroo, a Chaturbhuj Doshi movie starring Kishore Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Madan Puri, Smita Biswas, and Achla Sachdev.

He wrote one of the seven songs composed by Bulo C Rani: Chhedunga main sargam nacho ji sung by Kishore Kumar.

His next movie in 1956 was Hatimatai, a Homi Wadia movie starring Jairaj, Shakeela, B M Vyas, Neena, Sheikh, Krishan Kumari, S N Tripathi, Meenaxi Shirodkar.

SN Tripathi composed ten songs; six of them were by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan:

1. Jane wale O jane wale, khuda ki rehmaton ka tujh pe saya.
2. Jhoomati hai nazar, jhoomata hai pyar.
3. Nahin tujhako khabar teri pehli nazar.
4. Aa gayi bahar haay.
5. Dil kis pe aa gaya hai tumhara.
6. Nakhre karte darti gayi thi main bazaar.

We shall skip all.

Naqab Posh was his last movie in 1956. Because of Raja, we are introduced to yet another composer Dhumi Khan; together with Ramlal he composed eight songs. Raja wrote just one: Akal apni ka na satyanash kar.

Garma Garam was the first one out of his eight movies in 1957, the eleventh year of his career. Vinod was the composer of eleven songs most of which were penned by Pyare Lal Santoshi and two by DN Madhok. Raja helped PL Santoshi write one: Ham ko to mohabbat hai.

Parveen was his next movie in 1957. He was back with All Rakha Qureshi who composed nine songs, four of them being penned by Raja:

1. Ahmed paak jinka naam.
2. Gar naqab ulta to aankhen aapki.
3. Nashe mein hamen koi yaad aa raha hai.
4. Pakad liya aanchal marori mori baiyan.

We shall again skip these.

Bada Bhai was his next movie in 1957. There were eight songs in the movie; two were composed by Shaukat Dehlvi Nashad and six by Naushad.

Raja wrote a song that was composed by Naushad: Hello hello Hydrabadi and it is really worth listening to it. Of course Raja Mehdi Ali Khan continued being typified with lighthearted, comic and frivolous songs.

Please enjoy Asha Bhosle singing: Hello hello Hyderabadi…

hello hello hello are hello haidrabadi
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello are hello haidrabadi
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello

adaye muskuraye adaye muskuraye najar me jhume
ki dil ki gali me tum chori chori ghume
bolo jo hera fera kisne sikha di
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello are hello haidrabadi
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello

kisi se kah rah hai kisi se kah rahi hai najar mitti mitti
mai tumpe luta du bahare jindagi ki
ye kaisi pyari pyari lagan si laga di
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello are hello haidrabadi
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello

hume jo dil diya hai hume jo dil diya hai
tumhari maharbani na vapis denge tumhari ye nishani
tumhari ye nishani to humne chupaa di
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello are hello haidrabadi
culcutta tum aankh lada aur bambai hogi shadi
hello hello hello

Day #15, Song #44
Kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye

It took me more than an hour in the last post to give you a song written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan from among six movies with 14 songs.

His next movie in 1957 was Shahi Bazar. And now we are introduced to yet another composer: S Haridarshan who combined with Dhaniram to compose eight songs, two of which were penned by Raja:

1. Le ke najo ada aayi barke bala.
2. Aankhon mein haya nazron mein ada.

We shall skip both these.

Mohini was his next movie in 1957. N Datta composed nine songs and for a refreshing change, Raja penned most of them except two that were penned by Hasrat Jaipuri:

1. Kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye.
2. Chhup chhup ke dil ki dhadkano mein ga rahe hain wo.
3. Kahan chale ho ji pyar mein deewana kar ke?
4. Taqdeer ki thokar aisi.
5. Dil ke kareeb aa gaye dekha jo door se.
6. Kaha karti hai duniya mera naha chand jaisa hai.
7. Mere dil ka sahanva ilaaj.

It was a Ramesh Desai movie with Nirupa Roy in the title role.

Please enjoy Mohammad Rafi singing: Kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye…

kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye
mahlo ki rani
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye
mahlo ki rani kismat ne likhi aansuo
se teri kahani o mahlo ki rani
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye

itni badi duniya me bhi koi nahi tera
itni badi duniya me bhi koi nahi tera
ya thokar kismat ki hai ya gham ka andhera
haye ya gham ka aandhera
is duniya ne ab tujhe mitane ki hai thani
kismat ne likhi aansuo
se teri kahani o mahlo ki rani
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye

aansu tere hansti huyi kaliyo ko rula de
aansu tere hansti huyi kaliyo ko rula de
aahe teri aakash ke pardo ko hila de
pardo ko hila de nadan tha vo jisne
teri ek na mani kismat ne likhi aansuo
se teri kahani o mahlo ki rani
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye

aankhe teri benur huyi dil tera tuta
aankhe teri benur huyi dil tera tuta
bhagwan ke hote huye
sansar ne luta sansar ne luta
duniya me kisi ne bhi teri kadar na jani
kismat ne likhi aansuo
se teri kahani o mahlo ki rani
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye
kismat ne likhi aansuo
se teri kahani o mahlo ki rani
kya kya na sitam tujhpe huye

Day #15, Song #45
Tauba tauba tauba ye adayen

Paristan was his next movie in 1957. Since SN Tripathi was the composer, Raja wrote all the eight songs:

1. Bharosa kar le usi pe.
2. Kamar bandhe huye.
3. Mere dil se aati hai ye sada.
4. Aisi nazaron se na dekho.
5. Aankhon ko chaar kar ke.
6. Chandni muskura rahi hai.
7. Hanste hain chand taare.
8. Tera hi sahara hai zamaane mein.

We shall skip all these.

Pataal Pari was his second last movie of 1957. He wrote just one song for S Mohinder: Haseeno se nazar takra ke gash khana.

Captain Kishore was his last movie in 1957.

He wrote three songs for Chitragupt:

1. Kya main batayun chachaji?
2. Dekho ji dil na todo nahin to main ro doongi.
3. Aankhen mila ke dil chura ke.

We shall skip all three.

Naya Paisa was his first movie in 1958, the first of seven movies that is.

He wrote five out of eight songs that were in the movie composed by S Mohinder:

1. Tauba tauba tauba ye adayen.
2. O meri bulbul-e-Baghdad.
3. Ek do teen dil gayi chheen.
4. Main tere dil ki duniya mein.
5. Tere ghungru jo chham chham baaje.

You will like the first one sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Tauba tauba tauba ye adayen…

tauba tauba tauba ye adaye
tauba tauba tauba ye nigahe
tauba tauba tauba ye adaye
tauba tauba tauba ye nigahe
ye nigahe hai kya jadu
hua hua hua haye dil mera bekabu
tauba tauba tauba ye adaye

gaya gaya jispe haye mera dham
bade bade nakhre wala hai sanam
jane jane jane kare na sharm
kare kare kare sabka dil pe sitam
tauba tauba tauba ye jafaye
tauba tauba tauba ye nigahe
ye nigahe hai kya jadu
hua hua hua haye dil mera bekabu
tauba tauba tauba ye adaye

sachi sachi sachi dear pyar karega
kisi kisi kisi kisi se na kabhi darega
mera mera mera jab dil bharega
teri teri teri teri teri judai me marega
tauba tauba tauba kaha jaye
tauba tauba tauba ye nigahe
ye nigahe hai kya jadu
hua hua hua haye dil mera bekabu
tauba tauba tauba ye adaye

mera mera mera mera liya dil hi chura
liya liya liya liya tune badla ye kya
diya diya diya mera chain uda
kiya kiya kiya kiya mere sath daga
tauba tauba tauba kaha fajaye
tauba tauba tauba ye nigahe
ye nigahe hai kya jadu
hua hua hua haye dil mera bekabu
tauba tauba tauba ye adaye

Day #16, Song #46
Sach kehta hoon bahut haseen ho tumse mohabbat

In the last 15 days we covered 259 songs penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan from 71 movies; out of these I gave you 45. Most of you have enjoyed really good compositions with excellent lyrics. It is another thing that many of these didn’t become popular.

Lets start with the 16th day.

His second movie in 1958 was Chandu. Bipin Babul was the composer of six songs for the movie; two of which were penned by Raja and four by Raj Baldev Raj.

These were his two songs:

1. Gore gore gaalon pe kaala ye til.
2. Dhol dhappa dhai dhappa.

His next movie was Miss ’58. He wrote just one song for N Dutta: Chhuttiyan do chaar ho.

His next movie was Devar Bhabhi; a Kedar Kapoor movie starring Rajendra Kumar, Mala Sinha, Leela Mishra and Balraj Sahni.

There were seven songs in the movie that were composed by Ravi:

1 “Tasveer Teri Dil Mera Behla Na Sakegi” Mohammed Rafi
2 “Kise Thi Khabar Ki Yu Had Se (Happy)” Asha Bhosle
3 “Aankh Ki Andhi” Manna Dey
4 “Chori Chhup Jaye Re” Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum
5 “Hazaro Hasrate Aisi” Asha Bhosle
6 “Kise Thi Khabar Ki Yu Had Se (Sad)” Asha Bhosle
7 “Ye Kaisi Ruth Aayi Ajab Rang Layi” Asha Bhosle

Only the first one was penned by Raja. The other six were penned by Shailendra.

The first one is not to be confused with the lovely Talat Mehmood number penned by Faiyaz Hashmi. This one is a comical number. We shall skip this.

Miss Punjab Mail was his next movie in 1958. It was a V Vakil movie starring Nishi and Daljit K. Raja wrote four songs composed by BN Bali:

1. Chanchal nain mila ke dil mera loot liya.
2. Prem nagar se aaya.
3. O babu gentleman, dekh ke tikhe tikhe nain.
4. Jadugar sawariya.

Once again we shall skip all.

Shan e Hatim was his last movie in 1958. Alla Rakha Qureshi composed eight songs in the movie; six by Raja and the rest by Zebunnisa as was the case in the last movie:

1. Kehna mera maan.
2. Bhalayi duniya ki jo.
3. Hairan hoon kis se pyar karun.
4. Duniya ki har ek cheez pukare.
5. Jinna dekhiya mere ishq di masti.
6. Meri aankhen hain paimaane.

We shall skip all these.

Maa Ke Aansoo was his first movie in 1959. Sardar Malik composed twelve songs that were all penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan; some of them together with Madan Mohan:

1. Meri jholi ko bharde.
2. He bad ke farishton se bhi insaan.
3. Chala chal musafir.
4. Chala chal musafir (Part II).
5. Khud ko zara pehchan.
6. Kisi se aankh ladi badi mushkil hai.
7. Main so jayun mustafa kehte kehte.
8. In aankhon ne unako nahin dekha.
9. Aa jaa re sanam main to naachun.
10. Apna bana le mujhe raat haseen hai.
11. Main gir chuka hoon sambhalo mujhako.
12. Zamane badalte jaa rahe hain.

Once again, we shall skip all the songs.

His next movie was Bhai Behan; with that he must have finished making songs for all Bhai movies!

He re-penned one song composed by N Dutta (the others were all by Sahir): Saare jahan se achha.

Zara Bachke was his last movie in 1959.

He wrote two songs composed by Shaukat Dehlvi Nashad:

1. Pata note karo hamara, humse aa milna dobara.
2. Ai ishq ise barbaad na kar.

Jaali Note was his first movie in 1960; the 14th year of his career.

It was a Shakti Samanta movie starring Dev Anand and Madhubala.

After a long time he was back with OP Nayyar. He wrote six songs for him whilst Anjaan wrote two:

1. Sach kehta hoon bahut haseen ho tumse mohabbat.
2. Chand zard zard hai, mere dil mein halka halka dard hai.
3. Dil hai aapka huzoor leejiye na leejiye.
4. Chhuri ban kaanta ban O my son.
5. O mister dil badi mushkil mein tune aaj daala.
6. Gustakh nazar chehre se hata hum ko na sata.

Please enjoy Mohammed Rafi and Asha Bhosle singing on a signature horse-trot tune of OP Nayyar: Sach kehta hoon bahut haseen ho tumse mohabbat…

sach kahata hu bahut hasin ho, tumse mohbbat ho sakti hai
tumse milke koi bhi ladki, aapne aap ko kho sakti hai
sach kahata hu bahut hasin ho, tumse mohbbat ho sakti hai
tumse milke koi bhi ladki, aapne aap ko kho sakti hai
sach kahata hu bahut hasin ho, tumse mohbbat ho sakti hai

chaudvi ka chand jaise taro me hasin, tere jaise lakho me hazaro me nahi
chaudvi ka chand jaise taro me hasin, tere jaise lakho me hazaro me nahi
pyar mera piya ruth jaye na kahi, tu hai mere pas aye na yakin
pyar mera piya ruth jaye na kahi, tu hai mere pas mujhe aye na yakin

dekha jo tujhe dil kho gaya, ho ke mera dil mera ho gaya
mane na jiya ab ke piya, le ke mera dil bate na bana
sach kahata hu bahut hasin ho, tumse mohbbat ho sakti hai
tumse milke koi bhi ladki, aapne aap ko kho sakti hai
sach kahata hu bahut hasin ho, tumse mohbbat ho sakti hai
tumse milke koi bhi ladki, aapne aap ko kho sakti hai
sach kahata hu bahut hasin ho, tumse mohbbat ho sakti hai

Day #16, Song #47
Gar tum bura na maano to main tumse pyar kar loon

You must have seen that it took me hours selecting a song for you from amongst movies of 1958, 1959 and 1960.

His next movie in 1960 was Mehlon Ke Khwab; a Hyder movie starring once again Madhubala but this time with two Kumars: Ashok and Pradeep.

S Mohinder composed seven songs for the movie; three penned by Raja and four by Anand Bakshi. Here are those three:

1. Gar tum bura na maano to main.
2. Ye hai jeevan ki rail; ye hai toofan mail.
3. Is duniya mein sabse achhi chheez.

Please enjoy the first one sung by Subir Sen and Asha Bhosle for Pradeep Kumar and Madhubala: Gar tum bura na maano to main tumse pyar kar loon….

gar tum bura na mano to mai tumse pyar kar lu
mujhe tum daga na doge kaho aitbaar kar lu
gar tum bura na mano to mai tumse pyar kar lu
mujhe tum daga na doge kaho aitbaar kar lu
gar tum bura na mano

jo najar ki aarzoo hai bade shok se kaho tum
ae bahar jindagi mere samne raho tum
mai tumhare har jhalak par dilo jaan nisar kar lu
mujhe tum daga na doge kaho aitbaar kar lu
gar tum bura na mano

mera dil bhi jaan hazir jo chalaye teer aankhe
huyi mere dil ki dushman teri ye shareer aankhe
tu nazar ke teer barsa mai jigar ke paar kar lu
mujhe tum daga na doge kaho aitbaar kar lu
gar tum bura na mano

meri rooh ko tune diya tune pyar ka sahara
teri ek hasi ki khatir mujhe kya nahi ganwara
tera gam bhi ho to mai use gale ka har kar lu
mujhe tum daga na doge kaho aitbaar kar lu
gar tum bura na mano mujhe tum daga na doge
kaho aitbaar kar lu gar tum bura na mano to
mai tumse pyar kar lu mujhe tum daga na doge
kaho aitbaar kar lu

Day #16, Song #48
Assalaam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai

His next movie in 1960 was Kalpana, a Rakhan movie starring Ashok Kumar, Padmini and her sister Ragini.

OP Nayyar was the composer who gave us the unforgettable Beqasi hadd se agar guzr jaaye in Raag Desh and Khammaj. Tal Dadra. But, that was written by Jawed Akhtar’s dad: Jan Nisar Akhtar.

Raja wrote four of the songs:

1. Aana aana atariya pe aana.
2. Assalaam aalekum babu kaho kaise haal hai.
3. Hamen maaro na naino ke baan.
4. Pyaara pyaara hai sama. saiyan jaate ho kahan.

The movie provided ample opportunity for both the sisters to present their dancing skills. Tu hai mera prem devta, for example, penned by Qamar Jalalabadi had Rafi and Manna Dey singing in Raag Lalit, Tintal whilst both Padmini and Ragini danced.

Here we have Sudha Malhotra and Asha Bhosle singing for them dancing.

Please enjoy: Assalaam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai…

assalam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai
assalam aalekum
walekum salam kudiye bada changa haal hai
assalam aalekum
assalam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai
assalam aalekum
walekum salam kudiye bada changa haal hai
assalam aalekum

chhed nahi babu mujhe badi hi sarir hu
jane kon hai wo ranjha jiski mai heer hu
ishk ke muaamle me bada benajir hu
karle kubul mujhe aashiko ka peer hu
o gori tere aashiko ka bada bura haal hai
assalam aalekum
assalam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai
assalam aalekum
walekum salam kudiye bada changa haal hai
assalam aalekum

bholi bhali aankho wali gaon ki chhoriya
tod ke dilo ke tale karti hai choriya
kaale kaale balo wali gori gori goriya
hans ke pila deti hai pyar ki katoriya
dilo ko ye kyu na lute mufat ka maal hai
assalam aalekum
walekum salam kudiye bada changa haal hai
assalam aalekum
assalam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai
assalam aalekum

tu to saanu chhediya si assi tenu kutiya
isi pala pyar wala pej bhi na chhutiya
pyar de musafir assi kaisa tenu lutiya
change pal jiunde paisa tu ta maar sutiya
uff bhi na kitti assa saddi ki majal hai
assalam aalekum
assalam aalekum babu kaho kaisa haal hai
assalam aalekum
walekum salam kudiye bada changa haal hai
assalam aalekum

I have divided all the best songs of Raja Mehndi Ali Khan on my page Lyrical into four nearly equal parts.

I hope you liked my choices in Part II.

Please await Part III.

And as promised, the last song of today evening is also from the 1960 movie Kalpana starring Ashok Kumar and Padmini.