Abhi To Main Jawan Hun (#262)
Snehal B. Oza
Although I promised to post more popular songs this week, today I had to break,
for today -- 28th September -- is Bhagat Sing's birthday! If I don't remember
him during 50th year of our independence, I will be ashamed.
#262
Song: Ai Maa Meri Yaadon Ko Dil Me Hi Basaa Lena
Barbaad Na Ho Aansoo, Palakon Me Chhupa Lena
Film: Shaheed Bhagat Sing (1954?)
Music: Hansraj Behl
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan?
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
*ing: ?
This is not a 'Hamesha Jawaan' song, strictly speaking. It can best be a good
bhule bisre song, but worth a listen. A slow moving song, where Rafi sings
from his heart, almost next-he-will-cry like rendition. Well this feeling comes
to mind only when he sings this mukhada. He (Rafi) succeeds in maintaining
dignity of occasion and pride of Bhagat Sing, when he sings antara higher than
the mukhada and with some 'josh'.
I don't know year of release for this film. Have in fact no information about
it except this song. Hansraj Behl has several such films! I usually guess year
of release by voice quality of singer and orchestration. Judging from Rafi's
voice I suppose it to be a 1954 film.
Ashok
In article <60nl8j$l...@scel.sequent.com>, sne...@sequent.com says...
>
>Although I promised to post more popular songs this week, today I had to break,
>for today -- 28th September -- is Bhagat Sing's birthday! If I don't remember
>him during 50th year of our independence, I will be ashamed.
>
>#262
> Song: Ai Maa Meri Yaadon Ko Dil Me Hi Basaa Lena
> Barbaad Na Ho Aansoo, Palakon Me Chhupa Lena
>
> Film: Shaheed Bhagat Sing (1954?)
> Music: Hansraj Behl
> Lyrics: Prem Dhawan?
> Singer: Mohammad Rafi
> *ing: ?
>
>This is not a 'Hamesha Jawaan' song, strictly speaking. It can best be a good
>bhule bisre song, but worth a listen. A slow moving song, where Rafi sings
>from his heart, almost next-he-will-cry like rendition. Well this feeling comes
>to mind only when he sings this mukhada. He (Rafi) succeeds in maintaining
>dignity of occasion and pride of Bhagat Sing, when he sings antara higher than
>the mukhada and with some 'josh'.
>
>I don't know year of release for this film. Have in fact no information about
>it except this song. Hansraj Behl has several such films!
The music was by Husnlal-Bhagatram and the lyrics by Qamar Jalalabadi.
>I usually guess year
>of release by voice quality of singer and orchestration. Judging from Rafi's
>voice I suppose it to be a 1954 film.
Not bad, you are off by only 9 years. It is a 1963 film. (And it is very
likely that the song was recorded much earlier.) I am not sure whether the
film got a proper release at all. If the film were to be released prior to
Junglee, it might have had a chance, but the cast would appear bizarre after
that film. Yes, playing the role of Bhagat Singh was Shammi Kapoor. Others
in the cast: Prem Nath and Shakeela.
There did exist anoterh version of Bhagat Singh's life that came in 1954. It
was called "Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh," with Prem Adeeb playing the title
role. For it, music director Lachchhiram composed an excellent version of
Ram Prasad 'Bismil'-written "sarfaroshi ki tamannaa," sung by Rafi. It is
an upbeat tune, as the song was supposed to be sung, unlike the melancholy turn
that Prem Dhawan gave it for the Manoj Kumar version of 'Shaheed,' which
came two years after the Shammi Kapoor version.
Ashok
Prince Kohli
Ashok M. Dhareshwar writes:
|>
|> There did exist anoterh version of Bhagat Singh's life that came in 1954. It
|> was called "Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh," with Prem Adeeb playing the title
|> role. For it, music director Lachchhiram composed an excellent version of
|> Ram Prasad 'Bismil'-written "sarfaroshi ki tamannaa," sung by Rafi. It is
|> an upbeat tune, as the song was supposed to be sung, unlike the melancholy turn
|> that Prem Dhawan gave it for the Manoj Kumar version of 'Shaheed,' which
|> came two years after the Shammi Kapoor version.
I cannot pass this opportunity by to discuss one of my favourite
movies (in terms of songs - I love the movie too but this is not
the newsgroup to discuss that in). The MD of Manoj Kumar's "Shaheed"
was, as Ashok says above, Prem Dhawan, one of the few (only?) movies
he MD'ed. Some of the lyrics were by Prem Dhawan too. Here's a list
of the masterpieces:
1) "pagaDi sambhaal jatta" - this is probably the first song in
the movie. Bhagat Singh's father sings this when the tax collectors
come and try to take away the whole "fasal" of a poor farmer, and
farmer begs them to leave him something for his wife and kids.
I have always found this song, like most others in the movie,
very moving. Singer - Rafi. Lyr. - Prem Dhawan.
2) "o re jogi hum to lut gaye tere pyaar mein" - Lata has never
sounded sweeter to my ears. And for the doubters who claim
that she does not put the requisite emotions in her voice or
that her songs invariably sounded like bhajans, this is one of
the antidotes to their beliefs. A lovely tune, folksy, lyrics again
by Prem Dhawan, and Lata has just the right trace of Punjabi accent.
On the screen, it was sung by a pretty girl who has fallen for
Bhagat Singh's rugged good looks :-) Actually, Manoj Kumar looks
much smarter with his face covered, as a Sikh.
3) "Mera rang de basanti chola" - The trio of Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor
and Rajendra Mehta do an excellent job in getting the emotions
right. I do not know who the lyrics are by, but I believe that
they are generally credited to Prem Dhawan again. One really
wishes he had had more output. Is he still alive?
Sung on the screen by the shaheed trio.
4) "Ae watan ae watan, tujhko meri qasam" - a marching tune to my ears.
Full of deshbhakti, the song makes one stand straighter while
listening to it. Mohd. Rafi again. The perfect choice.
This is a background song in the movie, though at times Manoj Kr.
and maybe others are shown singing it.
5) "Sarfaroshi kee tamanna" - sung while the perpetrators are in
jail, in a contemplative mood. I will not quite term it melancholy
as Ashok has above. More of a meandering, slow, "I understand
what's in store for me, and I am ok with it" kind of mood.
Was written by Ram Prasad 'Bismil.' Sung by Rafi, Manna Dey and
Rajendra Mehta.
The best cameo in the movie was by Pran, appearing in probably his
first non-villainous role. He is a hardened criminal in the same prison
as these three have been put in, and when the latter go on a hunger
strike to demand better conditions in the jail, he gladly takes all the
food that they will not eat. His change of heart, and the way he lets
his eyes and facial expressions emote, are wonderful to behold and
something I never forget. Especially the part where the three "shaheeds"
are being led to the gallows and his reaction to it.
I will try to send in these songs to the overworked (what with all
the Geetanjali's pouring in :) ISB volunteers.
-Prince
Ashok
In article <60ug06$e3j$2...@murrow.corp.sgi.com>, pri...@viman.engr.sgi.com says...
>
>I cannot pass this opportunity by to discuss one of my favourite
>movies (in terms of songs - I love the movie too but this is not
>the newsgroup to discuss that in). The MD of Manoj Kumar's "Shaheed"
>was, as Ashok says above, Prem Dhawan, one of the few (only?) movies
>he MD'ed. Some of the lyrics were by Prem Dhawan too. Here's a list
>of the masterpieces:
Thanks, Prince, for the details of the 'Shaheed' soundtrack. Prem
Dhawan has composed music for a few more films. I remember two films
from the late 1960s. One is 'Pavitra Papi' where Prem Dhawan was one
of the earliest to use Kishore for playback in the post-Aradhana phase
with the song "teri duniyaa se, ho ke majboor chalaa." Around the same
time, he scored music for 'Raat Ke Andhere Mein', which had a lovely
Rafi/Lata tandem song, "agar bewafaa tum ko pehchaan jaate."
I think he has a couple of films in the 1970s also.
>4) "Ae watan ae watan, tujhko meri qasam"
It is perhaps "ham to teri qasam"?
>-Prince
Who is the singer Rajendra Mehta featured in some of the all-male
songs in 'Shaheed'? Has he shown up in other films?
Ashok
Renu Thamma
(Ashok) (AshokM.Dhareshwar) wrote:
: Who is the singer Rajendra Mehta featured in some of the all-male
: songs in 'Shaheed'? Has he shown up in other films?
Possibly Rajendra Mehta of the Rajendra-Nina Mehta ghazal-singing fame? I
have only heard these songs on Chitrahaar and that was well over 5 years
ago, so I could be completely wrong.
Renu.
Ashok
In article <610b50$e...@news1.zippo.com>, AshokM.Dhareshwar says...
>Thanks, Prince, for the details of the 'Shaheed' soundtrack. Prem
>Dhawan has composed music for a few more films. I remember two films
>from the late 1960s. One is 'Pavitra Papi' where Prem Dhawan was one
>of the earliest to use Kishore for playback in the post-Aradhana phase
>with the song "teri duniyaa se, ho ke majboor chalaa." Around the same
>time, he scored music for 'Raat Ke Andhere Mein', which had a lovely
>Rafi/Lata tandem song, "agar bewafaa tum ko pehchaan jaate."
>I think he has a couple of films in the 1970s also.
>Who is the singer Rajendra Mehta featured in some of the all-male
>songs in 'Shaheed'? Has he shown up in other films?
Heard from couple of RMIMers:
Ashok
------------------------------------------------------
Prem Dhawan also did SHAAIR-E-KASHMIR MEHJOOR, the only Hindi movie
I know of that features authentic Kashmiri music. There is a lot
of the thick pizzicato string sound, perhaps a low-key santoor.
The fundamental frequency and the timbre favour the lower side
of the octave. It sounds more like a rabaab to me, but the
"shruti" is very Indian. I remember only an Usha M song from this
movie ("maine naye naye phool chune tere liye"). There are a couple
of Talat solos too - don't recall the words.
It would be interesting to discuss Kashmiri input in general. I
am now less of a believer in Khaiyyaam's PahaaDi-centric interpretation
in NOORIE, PARBAT KE US PAAR, SHAGUN, AAKHIRI KHAT etc. It brings
out but one aspect of the folk spirit, but also tends to "normalize"
the pristine sound for filmi purposes. What does stick in my mind
is an insignificant sequence in KABHIE KABHIE where Rishi Kapoor
lazily plucks away at the guitar strings to produce the notes of a
very Kashmiri "tere chehre se...". It may be worthwhile to go
through those movies once again just to sample the background score.
cheers
vish
PS: Nina and Rajendra Mehta were part of the light singing and
ghazal circuit in the '70s. I think they got eclipsed by the onset
of the Singh-Jalota-Aziz-Ali era.
--------------------------------------------------------
I think that the Rajendra Mehta that Prince has referred to, in his posting,
is a part of the husband-wife duo Rajendra Mehta - Nina Mehta, better known
for their Ghazals. They were very popular in the 80's. Don't know where they
are currently.
Prince - Is this correct?
Also, any idea if the following song was popularized by Nina and Rajendra
Mehta?
Jab raat kaa aanchal lehraaye........
......
Tum mujhse milne shammaa jalaane taaj mahal mein aa jaanaa
Or was it Jagjit and Chitra?
Regards
Ambrish
-----------------------------------------------------------
Chetan Vinchhi
(Ashok) wrote:
>
> Heard from couple of RMIMers:
>
>
> Also, any idea if the following song was popularized by Nina and Rajendra
> Mehta?
>
> Jab raat kaa aanchal lehraaye
> ....
jab aa.Nchal raat kaa laharaaye
aur saaraa aalam so jaaye
tum mujhase milane shamaa jalaakar
taaj mahal me.n aa jaanaa
if memory serves me right.
This was quite popular in the non-filmi section that used to
play on Vividh Bharati from 12:30pm to 1:00pm (before Ek Fankar
kicked in). If I remember correctly, it was indeed Rajendra-
Nina Mehta who sang this song. Quite a nice tune. Had a dreamy
quality to it with very delicate handling of key words such
as aa.Nchal and shamaa. I don't remember any of the antaras
but they belied the promise of the wonderful mukhada.
This duo used to feature on Bombay Doordarshan's "Aarohi"
(hosted for a while by Kamleshwar). That was a while back.
But I do remember Kavita Krishnamurty being featured in some
of the programs. Anybody remember anything more about the
program?
C
Snehal B. Oza
In <610mih$j...@news1.zippo.com> <Ashok M. Dhareshwar> (Ashok) writes:
>PS: Nina and Rajendra Mehta were part of the light singing and
>ghazal circuit in the '70s. I think they got eclipsed by the onset
>of the Singh-Jalota-Aziz-Ali era.
>--------------------------------------------------------
May be. But there was a political reason too. They did a stage show in
aparthied South Africa (during time of Mr Botha) and hence were banned by
Government of Indian Union. Incidentally I recorded this Shaheed song from
radio last week. I guess Rajendra Mehta there is erhaps same as in this husband-
wife pair of Rajendra-Neena.
>I think that the Rajendra Mehta that Prince has referred to, in his posting,
>is a part of the husband-wife duo Rajendra Mehta - Nina Mehta, better known
>for their Ghazals. They were very popular in the 80's. Don't know where they
>are currently.
They are in India and are still active. I saw them on TVS Sa Re Ga Ma some time
back (as judges).
>Prince - Is this correct?
>Also, any idea if the following song was popularized by Nina and Rajendra
>Mehta?
>Jab raat kaa aanchal lehraaye........
Aur Saara Aalam So Jaaye
>......
>Tum mujhse milne shammaa jalaane taaj mahal mein aa jaanaa
>Or was it Jagjit and Chitra?
No, it requires Rajendra-Neena's mature and resonating (no offence meant towards
other giant -- Jagjeet Singh) pair to produce such a gem. It's perhaps only
(or one of very very few) non-film duet that I have fallen in love with. Great
melody, great compposition. They match/compliment each other so well.
Thanks Ambrish for reminding this beautiful nazm(?). Who is shaayar ?
Regards,
Snehal
>Regards
>Ambrish
>-----------------------------------------------------------
Vijay Kumar
Prince Kohli (pri...@viman.engr.sgi.com) wrote:
: 2) "o re jogi hum to lut gaye tere pyaar mein" - Lata has never
: sounded sweeter to my ears.
Somehow I associate it with Suman Kalyanpur (but wouldn't
put money on that). Can someone confirm?
Vijay