Panghat (water-well) songs in Hindi films
Asif
originating from the traditions and times of Radha and Krishna.
Incidentally, of late I have been wondering about the origin of
panghat (water well) songs in Hindi films. They invariably feature
Radha and Krishna (mostly Shyam here), e.g. ‘mohe panghat pe’ (Mughal-
E-Azam, 1959), ‘jamuna kinaare aaja’ (Mehbooba, 1976), and ‘bhor bhaye
panghat pe’ (Satyam Shivam Sundaram, 1978) to name just a few out of
possibly 2 dozens such songs. I don’t think that poetess Meera Bai
ever penned panghat songs. I also do not know of any other ancient
poet doing that. So whose idea it was anyway? Did someone write
first panghat song for a Hindi film?
Likewise, I am curious to know if there is a folk tradition of women
singing such songs in any particular region of India that may have
been the origin of such songs in Hindi films. In rural India I saw
women going to and coming back from a water-well in a group, mostly
gossiping about their men. Never saw them singing anything though,
except on screen with ‘chalo ri chalo ri’ (Mehbooba, 1976) and ‘peetal
ki mori gaagri’ (Do Boond Pani, 1971). Do they sing songs (Radha-
Shyam or not) in Rajasthan?
Afzal A. Khan
> Did someone write
> first panghat song for a Hindi film?
>
> Likewise, I am curious to know if there is a folk tradition of women
> singing such songs in any particular region of India that may have
> been the origin of such songs in Hindi films. In rural India I saw
> women going to and coming back from a water-well in a group, mostly
> gossiping about their men. Never saw them singing anything though,
> except on screen with ‘chalo ri chalo ri’ (Mehbooba, 1976) and ‘peetal
> ki mori gaagri’ (Do Boond Pani, 1971). Do they sing songs (Radha-
> Shyam or not) in Rajasthan?
Firstly, I am curious as to how you divined the content of the
womenfolk's conversation ("gossiping about their men") ?
And why talk about recent films like "Do Boond Paani" or
"Mehbooba" ? In the early forties (1943, I think), a film called
"Panghat" was released, which was quite successful. It was on a
socially important theme --- the community well from which no one
was to be excluded, and a classless (or casteless) society. The
film had some fine music. The MD was probably S. N. Tripathi. Two
of the more popular songs were "Sajan mera saiyyaaN gulaab ka
phool, balam mera siyyaaN gulaab ka phool", and "Door chalaa chal
tu kaheeN door chalaa chal, is matlabi dunya se kaheeN door chalaa
chal".
Also, the film featured a regular 'panghat', with a couple of
panghat songs, viz. "Panghat par paani bharne aaii thi ik gaaNv ki
gori" and "Panghat ko chali pan'haari---pan'haari re, kamar par
ghaRa dhare matwaari".
I faintly recollect another song from this film where the hero is
shown singing merrily while having a bath. It was a light-hearted
song in raag Bhairavi.
Afzal
Prithviraj Dasgupta
> Did someone write first panghat song for a Hindi film?
Two of the earliest, most popular, and IMO most melodious Panghat-
songs in HFM, that I can recollect off the top of my head are by K C
Dey in Vidyapati (1937) and Khan Mastana in Main Hari
(1940)...'panghat pe kanhaiya' and 'panghat pe ek chhabil', resp. The
former is sort of an exception because it's actually a 2-in-1 song
with the panghat song being the second one in the combo. I believe
'mohe panghat pe' by Indubala pre-dates both of these HFM songs and
its lyrics are traditional, so it's unlikely that first 'panghat' song
was for HFM.
-pdg/
Asif
> On 2/24/2011 9:06 AM, Asif wrote:
>
> > Did someone write
> > first panghat song for a Hindi film?
>
> > Likewise, I am curious to know if there is a folk tradition of women
> > singing such songs in any particular region of India that may have
> > been the origin of such songs in Hindi films. In rural India I saw
> > women going to and coming back from a water-well in a group, mostly
> > gossiping about their men. Never saw them singing anything though,
> > except on screen with chalo ri chalo ri (Mehbooba, 1976) and peetal
> > ki mori gaagri (Do Boond Pani, 1971). Do they sing songs (Radha-
> > Shyam or not) in Rajasthan?
>
> Firstly, I am curious as to how you divined the content of the
> womenfolk's conversation ("gossiping about their men") ?
>
:-) Actually, out of prank I once cycled past a group of a women
carrying water near my family farm but could not figure out their
talk. Later I half-jokingly and half-curiously asked one woman, "ye
tum log kuwe.n par kyaa baate.n karti rahatii ho?" She laughed and
said something like "apne marad kii baate.n karat hai.n." So the
"mostly" part in my line is mostly a guess.
> And why talk about recent films like "Do Boond Paani" or
> "Mehbooba" ? In the early forties (1943, I think), a film called
> "Panghat" was released, which was quite successful. It was on a
> socially important theme --- the community well from which no one
> was to be excluded, and a classless (or casteless) society. The
> film had some fine music. The MD was probably S. N. Tripathi. Two
> of the more popular songs were "Sajan mera saiyyaaN gulaab ka
> phool, balam mera siyyaaN gulaab ka phool", and "Door chalaa chal
> tu kaheeN door chalaa chal, is matlabi dunya se kaheeN door chalaa
> chal".
>
> Also, the film featured a regular 'panghat', with a couple of
> panghat songs, viz. "Panghat par paani bharne aaii thi ik gaaNv ki
> gori" and "Panghat ko chali pan'haari---pan'haari re, kamar par
> ghaRa dhare matwaari".
>
These songs suddenly gave me an impression today that panghat songs
have certain romantic feel about them because, if I know it right, in
rural India a woman carrying a pitcher full of water walks
beautifully. It is said that those women, especially young ones, who
do not have graceful walk are advised to correct it by carrying a
pitcher full of water on their head. Dev Anand advises Tina Munim to
do so in Manpasand (1980) and she does it.
Afzal A. Khan
In films, this can be carried to a ridiculous extent. I am sure
you have seen "Nau Do Gyaarah" (1957). Right in the beginning,
when Dev Anand leaves Delhi in his truck with a song on his lips :
"Hum haiN raahi pyaar ke, hum se kuchh na boliye", a bevy of
village belles passes him by. They all carry very small empty
"maTkees" under their arm. But the other arm is extended so
high as to make a right angle. And they walk in an exaggerated
sensuous manner. It is, of course, their privilege (and more so
of the film-maker). Two other examples of Dev Anand, car, girls
and song : "C.I.D" -- "Boojh mira kya naaNv re" and "Munimji"
-- "Jeevan ke safar men raahi".
Afzal
naniwadekar
>
> Two of the earliest, most popular, and IMO most melodious Panghat-
> songs in HFM, that I can recollect off the top of my head are by K C
> Dey in Vidyapati (1937) and Khan Mastana in Main Hari
> (1940)...'panghat pe kanhaiya' and 'panghat pe ek chhabil', resp. The
> former is sort of an exception because it's actually a 2-in-1 song
> with the panghat song being the second one in the combo. I believe
> 'mohe panghat pe' by Indubala pre-dates both of these HFM songs and
> its lyrics are traditional, so it's unlikely that first 'panghat' song
> was for HFM.
>
Your point is very valid. Since our first documentary access is only
to 1930s films, we tend to forget that it is so only so far as the
(moving-)visual medium is concerned, and artists in those days were
drawing on the legacy and tradition which they had themselves
inherited, and to which we too have access in many forms provided
history does not begin with Punchum for you.
Another beautiful 'panghat' song, of a slightly later vintage than New
Theatres' Vidyapati, is 'panaghaT pe madhu barasaay gayo rii, shyaam
salonaa meraa', sung by Kanan, composed by Anupam Ghatak. Film- Faisla
(1947).
- dn
Sukesh
?
Regards
Sukesh
Sukesh
Perhaps the classical music experts can throw light on this.
Regards
Sukesh
suhas
Panghatpe more shyam bajaye murlai CHAtma BilwaMangal Bul C Rani
PanGhat pe najariya Lad Gayi Lata Sohini Mahival Naushad
Panghat Pe kanaiya ata he K C Dey Vidyapati R C Boral
Panghat Sapna Avasthi (?) Bawandar V M Bhatt
Bahut Kathin he Dagar panghatki (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=tNYoeps3Xys)
Panghatko chali panihari Panghat (1943) ? S N tripathi (http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQniQLusc8&feature=related)
Panghat Pe pani Bharane Panghat ? S N Tripathi.
panghat ke ghaayalon ka Panghat S N Tripathi S N Tripathi
rani yeh naya prem ka panghat hamaara Panghat Panghat ? S N
Tripathi
Panaghat Par Indubala (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqkDZewbwtc)
Kabhi Panghat Pe Aaja Pyaar ki jeet(1948)
Saiyyaan Tore Panghat Pe Mai wohi Hu 1966
Panghat Pe Nazariya Lad Gayi Sohini Mahival
kabhi panghat pe aaja Suraiya
Rama ho Rama ,Humane gaavke panghatpe -Mukesh - Ek Beechara( 1972)- LP
-(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csbPS98dcFo)
-Panghat pe dekho aayi milan ki belaa (Naujawaan (1951) Singer-
Rafi,Geeta Dutt S D Burman ( http://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/panghat-pe-dekho-aayi-milan-ki-belaa/)
Panghatpe muraliya baje Ishara(1943) Suraiya K K anwar
Gori panghat pey thehro gagar ko choro Alamgir (http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAUE3VEGoTo&feature=related)
Mohe panghatpa nand lal Mehadi hasn ZEENAT (http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=I_yORvKm1b4)
Mohe Panghat Pe Shoma Ghosh wioth Ustad Bismillah khan (http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCdaS9zKXPg&feature=related) and (http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiuM90Ii7Y&feature=related)
Bharat Pandya
Asif
> Panghatpe muraliya baje Ishara(1943) Suraiya K K anwar
> Gori panghat pey thehro gagar ko choro Alamgir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAUE3VEGoTo&feature=related)
> Mohe panghatpa nand lal Mehadi hasn ZEENAT (http://www.youtube.com/
> watch?v=I_yORvKm1b4)
> Mohe Panghat Pe Shoma Ghosh wioth Ustad Bismillah khan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCdaS9zKXPg&feature=related) and (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiuM90Ii7Y&feature=related)
> Bharat Pandya
Awesome list! Thanks so very much, Pandya ji. I will listen to them
all over the next few days. The opening lines of these songs suggest
that a 'panghat' is also a secret meeting place for lovers in rural
folklore. This dimension gives the poets another context in which to
romanticize the panghat. I used to participate in folk dances and
singing on stage in my school days, and that's when I was exposed to
several such folk songs. They were all charming and that's what I
mostly love about the songs from the '30s and '40s - folk tunes and
folksy singing.
Shri Prithviraj Dasgupta ji: I guess I can listen to 'panghat pe madhu
barsaayo gayo ri' (Faisla, 1947) on that site about Kanan Devi,
right? Is it available there? Thanks.
Archisman Mozumder
Here is a light classical song by Indubala in mishra gara
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqkDZewbwtc
which goes on to become the MEA hit.
Have heard one more version by Azmat Hussain Khan of the Agra Atrauli
gharana.
Regards.
Asif
Archie:
I just listened to this song by Indubala. The sound quality is very
poor, so I could not figure out a lot of it. But whatever I could
understand, she has an amazing voice. I think that those great
artistes from the '30s and '40s could be enjoyed greatly and more if
you could see their live performance. I am not sure how much is left
today of their recordings that we get to listen to online. Could you
please email me a better-quality MP3 of this song or the one by Azmat
Hussain if you have them?
Pandya ji:
I also checked all of your links. Only three work: 1) the one by
Indubala that Archie also listed, 2) Mukesh song from Ek Bechara, and
3) Rafi-Geeta duet from Naujawaan which is great (I knew it) - SDB's
music is always refreshing.
I will search for MP3s of other listed songs later. They all seem
interesting. Thanks.
Archisman Mozumder
>
> Archie:
>
> I just listened to this song by Indubala. The sound quality is very
> poor, so I could not figure out a lot of it. But whatever I could
> understand, she has an amazing voice. I think that those great
> artistes from the '30s and '40s could be enjoyed greatly and more if
> you could see their live performance. I am not sure how much is left
> today of their recordings that we get to listen to online. Could you
> please email me a better-quality MP3 of this song or the one by Azmat
> Hussain if you have them?
>
Asif-bhai, here is Azmay Hussain Khan's recording:
http://www.divshare.com/download/14192212-431
And here is Indubala's version.
http://www.divshare.com/download/14192196-fd2
Do let me know if the links work.
Regards.
kcp
Is Panghat really a water-well ?
I always thought that panghat was a small place near a river, built in
stones, where the villagers ( women mostly ), went to get water from.
In Marathi we call it "ghaat" ( paaNyaacha ghaat )
kcp
kcp
> The opening lines of these songs suggest
> that a 'panghat' is also a secret meeting place for lovers in rural
> folklore.
On stage though : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPRR_ppio04
Afzal A. Khan
>
> Is Panghat really a water-well ?
>
> I always thought that panghat was a small place near a river, built in
> stones, where the villagers ( women mostly ), went to get water from.
> In Marathi we call it "ghaat" ( paaNyaacha ghaat )
>
> kcp
The "ghaT" in "PanghaT", may be a shortened form of "ghaaT".
But, in many regions, I think the expression signifies a
water-well (with a rope and bucket etc.)
And since we are also talking about "panghat" songs, here is
a fine number. Naushad came up with this sprightly song in
"Sohini Mahiwal" (1958) :
"Oh-ho, laR gayee laR gayee laR gayee, laR gayee, laR gayee,
panghaT pe najaria laR gayee re".
And this is its YouTube link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iJB-Om0V88
Afzal
Sukesh
Regards
Sukesh
suhas
yes, Panghat is not exactly water well, it is area around River where
Panharis go out fetch fresh water and wash clothes and bathe..
it is a meeting place of damsel of village who gather and exchange
personal talks, gossips and rumors !.
suhas
My list is not of my expertise but my ability to search and surf.
Bharat Pandya
Sukesh
panghat MHMi (m.) - the periphery of a well, etc. where water is drawn.
Regards
Sukesh
suhas
Add ________ therefore favorite place of peeping tom boys of village !
Ahmad
I agree, Panghat comes from Ghaat which is a riverbank with stony
surface where the Dhobees beat the hell out of our clothes in India.
The bhajans in my opinion relate to river bank and not the well.
A bhajan by Lata comes to mind which has been sung by others: Mohey
panghat pay nand laal cher gayo ray.
I don't know which film it comes from, it may not be from a film !
Ahmad
Asif
I totally agree with this definition. In rural India a panghat is
mostly a water-well, where village belles would draw water with a
pitcher and a rope. Also, in the song 'chalo ri chalo ri' (Mehbooba,
1976) there is a line 'panghat se ghar ko chalo ri', and the song is
filmed along a river.
I also liked Suhas' observation that panghat is where all rumors
(mostly false) in a village originate. So do not blame the men folks
for all the troubles in your village :-)
Sukesh
ghaT, from Sanskrit ghattah, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Telugu kattu, gattu, dam, embankment.]
--------------
ghaaT
1. stairs or a passage leading down to a river
2. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a mountain pass or mountain range
3. (Non-Christian Religions / Hinduism) a place of cremation.
In Marathi & also Hindi & Gujarati, ghat is a term used to identify a difficult passage over a mountain.[2] One such ghat is the Bhor Ghat connecting the towns Khopoli and Khandala, on NH 4 about 80 km north of Mumbai.
In many cases, the term is used to refer to a mountain range itself, as in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
Regards
Sukesh
Regards
Sukesh
kcp
> ghaaT - A broad flight of steps leading down to the bank of a river in India, used especially by bathers.
>
> ghaT, from Sanskrit ghattah, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Telugu kattu, gattu, dam, embankment.]
Wrong. In Sanskrit it means a earthen round shaped pot.
Sukesh
Regards
Sukesh
kcp
was obviously talking about ghaT and that your definition in Sanskrit,
was flawed.
dn.usenet
"kcp" <kcpi...@gmail.com> wrote :
>
> Wrong. In Sanskrit it means a earthen round shaped pot.
> was obviously talking about ghaT and that your definition
> in Sanskrit, was flawed.
>
The word 'ghaTa' (not to be confused with 'ghaTaa' or 'ghaaTa' or 'ghaaTaa')
in Samskrit is primarily used to mean an earthern jar. But it has one more
meaning: border / seemaa. So the word has at least a loose association with
a river's border, which is where the 'ghaaTa' is.
- dn
kcp
> But it has one more meaning: border / seemaa.
Experts opinion needed : ghaT ( AFAIK the Sanskrit Origin has only one
meaning - earthen round shaped pot/jar )
Sukesh
Regards
Sukesh
surjit singh
surjit singh
naniwadekar
>
> Experts opinion needed : ghaT ( AFAIK the Sanskrit Origin has only one
> meaning - earthen round shaped pot/jar )
>
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/contextualize.pl?p.2.apte.1676435
Meaning number 7. Or just search for 'border'. Only one meaning? There
are enough meanings of the word to play a ghaTakanchuki with them by
cramming them all in a ghaTa and hopefully taking out the one you
like.
- dn
kcp
> On Mar 2, 11:25 am, kcp wrote:
>
>
>
> > Experts opinion needed : ghaT ( AFAIK the Sanskrit Origin has only one
> > meaning - earthen round shaped pot/jar )
>
> Meaning number 7. Or just search for 'border'.
Cannot open the above page ( tried in IE & chrome ). Can somebody
( obviously other than DN ) help ?
surjit singh
search for platts dictionary in google and then search it for any word.
kcp
Thanks for the pointer. DN is right here. It has several meanings !
Fantastic site !
But "A large earthen water-jar, pitcher, jar, watering-pot" seems to
be apt for "panghat"
Asif
>
> And since we are also talking about "panghat" songs, here is
> a fine number. Naushad came up with this sprightly song in
> "Sohini Mahiwal" (1958) :
>
> "Oh-ho, laR gayee laR gayee laR gayee, laR gayee, laR gayee,
> panghaT pe najaria laR gayee re".
>
> And this is its YouTube link :
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iJB-Om0V88
>
Afzal Sahab:
This song from Sohni Mahiwal is great - very well sung and composed.
Trademark Naushad stuff. Although I have seen many films of Nimmi
(excluding Sohni Mahiwal) before, this is the first time I have seen
her so bubbly and lively. And she looks even more beautiful in this
form. She once said in an interview that she used to milk her cows in
a village near Agra before she visited her nani in Mumbai and never
returned home to Agra.
I think Raj Kapoor was highly fascinated with looks of Nimmi and
Nargis, both of whom worked in his Barsaat (1949). He paid great
tribute to both actresses when he first launched Nargis-look-alike
Dimple in Bobby (1973) and then Mandakini in the garb and also a bit
in the looks of Nimmi (from Barsaat) in Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).
Thanks again for the link.
Archie: I will download the songs of Indubala and Azmat Hussain this
weekend. Thanks for the links.
Abhay Phadnis
"panghat" is specifically defined as "A place for drawing water; a
well, or tank, &c. from which water is drawn or taken; a passage to a
river, river-steps" -
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:1132.platts
The meaning given for the Sanskrit word "ghaTTaH", cited by Platts as
the origin of "ghaaT", also refers to landing place or steps by the
river. Check Apte's Sanskrit dictionary here, which specifically links
this to the Marathi word "ghaaT" as well:
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3011.apte
Warm regards,
Abhay
Pavan Jha
The originations is surely not Rajasthan, as we can go back to as
early as Ameer Khusro days, am sure you have heard his famous puzzle
at Panghat... but Rajasthan has a rich tradition of Panghat songs..
Here its derived as Panihari songs and exists for a few centuries for
sure.. Mostly Female bonding songs of what they converse while
collecting water from a Kuaan (Well) or Bawdi.. Am taking off for a
few days and will be back next will, will post more on this in
details..
Pavan
Sukesh
> On Mar 4, 3:20 am, kcp <kcpin...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Mar 3, 8:38 am, surjit singh <surjitsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > On Mar 2, 8:25 pm, kcp <kcpin...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > On Mar 3, 2:00 am, naniwadekar <nani3ski...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > On Mar 2, 11:25 am, kcp wrote:
>
> > > > > > Experts opinion needed : ghaT ( AFAIK the Sanskrit Origin has only one
> > > > > > meaning - earthen round shaped pot/jar )
>
> > > > >http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/contextualize.pl?p.2.apte...
> > > > > Meaning number 7. Or just search for 'border'.
>
> > > > Cannot open the above page ( tried in IE & chrome ). Can somebody
> > > > ( obviously other than DN ) help ?
>
> > > search for platts dictionary in google and then search it for any word.
>
> > Thanks for the pointer. DN is right here. It has several meanings !
> > Fantastic site !
>
> > But "A large earthen water-jar, pitcher, jar, watering-pot" seems to
> > be apt for "panghat"
>
> "panghat" is specifically defined as "A place for drawing water; a
> well, or tank, &c. from which water is drawn or taken; a passage to a
> river, river-steps" -
>
>
> The meaning given for the Sanskrit word "ghaTTaH", cited by Platts as
> the origin of "ghaaT", also refers to landing place or steps by the
> river. Check Apte's Sanskrit dictionary here, which specifically links
> this to the Marathi word "ghaaT" as well:
>
> http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3011.apte
>
> Warm regards,
> Abhay
Perhaps 'panghaT' is a more lyrical form of 'paanighaaT' ??
Regards
Sukesh
Asif
> Asif,
>
> The originations is surely not Rajasthan, as we can go back to as
> early as Ameer Khusro days, am sure you have heard his famous puzzle
> at Panghat... but Rajasthan has a rich tradition of Panghat songs..
> Here its derived as Panihari songs and exists for a few centuries for
> sure.. Mostly Female bonding songs of what they converse while
> collecting water from a Kuaan (Well) or Bawdi.. Am taking off for a
> few days and will be back next will, will post more on this in
> details..
>
I will be eagerly awaiting your details which often do not come even
after you are back :-) KCP also conveniently forgets to deliver the
promised 'details'.
Anyway, jokes apart, I have always been fascinated with these folk
songs and their origins and traditions. I guess the rural women
routinely get together only while fetching water from a water well and
that must be a time for them to make merry and feel good. So I
totally understand the 'female bonding' part in your post. But how is
their song born? What makes them to start singing and giving music to
their expressions? I know that they mostly sing songs passed down to
them through generations, but I am curious to know if they still
create new folk songs at panghat or, for that matter, in any other
situation?
kcp
>
> Perhaps 'panghaT' is a more lyrical form of 'paanighaaT' ??
>
> Regards
> Sukesh
Perfect
suhas
Will this proverb help in finding meaningb " ghat ghatka pani piya he
" ?
suhas
@ Asif // Men/Women feel like singing when they are relaxed and full
of joy. Ladies in olden days were full of tension ( Saas ? mostly )
at home and had no outings so visit to Panghat was enjoyable which
probably made them sing.