Suraiya's first recorded song from Sharda(1942)
raaz
http://www.indianscreen.com/Suraiya.htm
the song from Sharda (1942), music Naushad,
lyrics Dina Nath Madhok, is supposed to be the
first recorded song of Suraiya.
Knowledgeable members may please confirm.
surjit singh
My article in the RMIM archives entitled, "A Year in Hindi Films 1942"
may be relevant:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1942 - Suraiya Sings!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Born at Lahore on June 15, 1929, Suraiya Jamaal Shekh was
educated at the New High School for Girls, Bombay. On a holiday
from school, she went, with her uncle character actor Zahur, to
Mohan Studios to see the shooting of Taj Mahal. A child actor was
needed and out of fun, she agreed. Director Nanubhai Vakil liked
her very much. But she went on with her education and kept taking
parts in All-India Radio's children's programs along with another
child-actor Raj Kapoor. Everybody was amazed at the ease with
which she reproduced the popular movie songs of the day.
She sang her first song, "buuT karuu.n mai.n polish baabuu,
buuT karu.N mai.N polish" written by tanviir naqavii and set to
music by Naushad, in the film naii duniyaa. G. M. Durrani was an
assistant MD. Other songs were sung by Rajkumari and Durrani.
Apart from naii duniyaa, Suraiya did playback singing in station
master (1942), shaarada (1942), sanjog (1943), kaanuun (1943) and
jiivan (1944), all for Naushad. All of these movies made her very
popular.
She sang for herself for the first time in hamaarii baat
(1943) where she got seventh billing and Raj Kapoor, who acted as
a peon, was mentioneed at number 13, the last one in the credits!
She sang 4 songs: 3 duets with arun kumaar and one chorus. In the
very next movie, ishaaraa (1943) she was cast opposite Prithviraj
Kapoor. She never looked back after that. The movie magazines
dubbed her the "chocolate charmer" of the Indian screen. She
experienced the greatest thrill of her life when Saigal saw her
rehearsing a song for Director Jayant Desai's samraaT chandrag-
upta (1945). Saigal liked her lilting voice and suggested to
Desai to cast her as a heroine in tadabiir (1945) opposite him.
She was thrilled. They acted in two more movies, umar Kayyaam
(1946) and paravaanaa (1947). We will pick up her career later.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There were many other firsts in 1942. Here are some of them.
Filmistaan studios is formed by a group of people, including S.
Mukherji and Ashok Kumar, who were dissatisfied with the manage-
ment of Bombay Talkies.
Abdul Rasid Kardar forms his Kardar studios.
V. Shantaram breaks away from Prabhat Studios and starts his
Rajkamal Kalamandir (named after his parents, raajaaraam and
kamal vaNakudre) on the former Wadia Movietone premises.
Homi Wadia starts Basant Pictures.
Mehboob starts his own production company with the famous hammer
and sickle logo.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some other movies released in 1942.
basant
Baby mumataaz, later known as Madhubala, acts in her first
movie; she gets 10th billing. She lipsynched the very popu-
lar, ik chhoTii sii duniyaa re, sung by Parul Ghosh, with a
tune created by Parul Ghosh's brother, Anil Biswas. More
about Madhubala later.
bhakta kabiir
When Kedar Sharma saw Bharat Bhooshan, he said that that was
the kabiir he was looking for. The moviegoing public agreed
and made him a star. Has the very popular song, bhaj man
raam rahiimaa, bhaj krishaN kariimaa. The Mayor of Calcutta
presented BB with a silver souvenir.
bhakta suurdaas
Another excellent movie by Saigal. Has many of his famous
bhajans. One is madhukar shyaaam hamaare chor, another is
maiyyaa morii mai.n nahi.n maakhan khaayo. His younger
brother Mahendra Saigal was Krishan in the movie and his
voice can be heard saying "suurdaasaji" in the song, nis din
barasat nain hamaare. He recorded the song, nainahiin ko
raah dikhaa prabhu, 14 times, but still not satisfied with
his performance, cried openly and bitterly. After a while he
gained his composure and recorded what turned out to be
nothing less than a masterpiece. While reporting on this
incident in an article in Listeners' Bulletin, Har Mandir
Singh writes, echoing every music-lover's sentiments, "san-
giit saadhanaa kaa aisaa tapasvii phir kab milegaa."
bharat milaap
Vijay Bhatt's first epic movie based on the Ramayana.
Credits include dozens of literary sources, historians and
curators.
javaab
Kanan Devi sang her way to fame in this movie directed by P.
C. Barua. Kamal Dasgupta provided the music for hit numbers
like, tuufaan mel, ai chaand chhup naa jaanaa, kuchh yaad
rahe to sun kar jaa.
Kaanadaan
Mainly a Noorjehan vehicle in which she sings 8 songs, one a
duet with Shamshad. Produced by Pancholi Pictures, music by
Gulam Haider. Four songs are available in the Rare Gems
series by HMV.
muqaabalaa
The first film to have many new special-effects techniques
by co-director Babubhai Mistry, who ruled this genre for
fifty years. He was a consultant to the hit TV serial
Ramayana of the 80's.
roTii
Mehboob's classic movie comparing capitalism and communism.
Popular music was provided by Anil Biswas. A rare appearance
by the "malikaa-e-Gazal" Begum Akhtar, who was known as
Akhatari Faizabadi then. She sang 6 songs. Satyajit Ray's
jalasaaghar (1958) was her last movie. She died in 1974.
sukhii jiivan
The first Hindi movie for C. Ramchandra. More about him
later.
zamii.ndaar
Qamar jalaalaabaadii wrote his first song, duniyaa mai.n
Gariibo.n ko aaraam nahii.n milataa, sung by Shamshad, music
by Gulam Haider. This was a sequel to the hit movie Kazaan-
chii by Pancholi.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most of the info comes from the following:
"The Encyclopaedia of Hindi Film Songs," vol. II.
"Listeners' Bulletin."
"Star-Portrait", by Harish S. Booch and Karin Doyle.
"Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema," by A. Rajadhyaksha
and P. Willemen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by SS=Surjit Singh, a movie fan period.
du...@ttacs.ttu.edu
Formatted by SS=Satish Subramanian
Ahmad
Thanks. A very interesting article. I must have missed it. The
years 1942/43 were truly momentous in Indian film history.
The Saigal episode is very interesting to note. If forced to choose
one great song from KL Saigal, I think I will choose "Nain heen ko
raah dikha prabhu - pug pug thokarein khaoun mein", wonderful
singing. Did not know the struggle in reaching this perfection in
singing.
MA
raaz
Thank you professor sahab, for the informative write up.
After some effort could locate an audio of her first song
"buuT karuu.n mai.n polish baabuu,
buuT karu.N mai.N polish" on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xZtVq5evtE
It gives a great joy indeed, such precious songs are
availble on public domain.
As per the article here,
http://www.hindilyrix.com/singers/singer-suraiya.html
she at 13, sang for Mehtab in sharda (1942).
Ahmad
> she at 13, sang for Mehtab in sharda (1942).- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks Raaz for finding this song.
Her un-imiatable voice and singing style is all here. I think she was
a naturally gifted singer. I have not heard of her getting any
musical training.
She was modest about her talent as a singer. My favourite from her
songs is "Oh door jane waaley, wada na bhool jana".
MA
naniwadekar
>
> She sang her first song, "buuT karuu.n mai.n polish baabuu,
> buuT karu.N mai.N polish" written by tanviir naqavii and set to
> music by Naushad, in the film naii duniyaa.
>
Naushad once claimed that 'yeh rail hamaare ghar kee' in Station
Master was Suraiya's first song. The source for this information is
either Hamraaz or Mahesh Sharma, IIRC. Has it been established that
'boot karuuN maiN polish' was indeed her first song?
If her songs in Nai Duniya and Station Master were not for herself,
then on whom were 'buuT karuu.N' and 'yeh rail' filmed?
.
.
.
.
> bhakta suurdaas
> Another excellent movie by Saigal. ....
> He recorded the song, nainahiin ko
> raah dikhaa prabhu, 14 times, but still not satisfied with
> his performance, cried openly and bitterly. After a while he
> gained his composure and recorded what turned out to be
> nothing less than a masterpiece. While reporting on this
> incident in an article in Listeners' Bulletin, Har Mandir
> Singh writes, echoing every music-lover's sentiments, "san-
> giit saadhanaa kaa aisaa tapasvii phir kab milegaa."
>
I would wager that this story about 15 takes of the song is like most
other such stories, good to read but with no basis in reality. It was
also claimed (by Naushad) that Lata cried while singing 'mohe bhool
gaye saawariyaa'. Lata remembers no such thing. She doesn't even like
the song all that much.
- dn
Ahmad
>
> - Show quoted text -
Another good song of Suraiya that comes to mind among her best is ,
"Terey nainown ne chori kiya -pardesia".
The Mirza Ghalib Ghazals were not in her style of singing, so not very
good in my opinion.
MA
sridevi Y
IMO, the best songs of Suraiya were with Ghulam Mohd (Shama, Mirza
Ghalib, Maalik, Shair etc.) and Anil Biswas (Gajre, Do sitaare,
Waaris) while the worst was with Naushad (Dard, Dillagi, Deewana,
Dastaan). I guess one could place Husnlal Bhagtram and Khurshid Anwar
somewhere in the middle.
surjit singh
I wrote this series in 1996-1997. For newcomers, here it is again
http://films.hindi-movies-songs.com/index-misclists.html
It needs updating, but no time.
surjit singh
First recorded, no. Just look at the record numbers of this song
(N26099 or N26229) and the Nai Duniya song (N26055). It may possibly
be first released. I cannot say because I do not have the release or
certificate dates.
maheshks
http://www.vijaybhatt.net/spotlight_phase3.html
Prakash was a spring-board to many a later day film celebrities. One
day, in 1941, M. Zahur, an actor on the staff of the studio, brought
along with him his eleven-year old niece, who was a good singer.
Naushad who was then serving there, took her test and pronounced her
"very good". She was Suraiya, who was cast as a singing child star in
'Station Master'. A couple of years later, she was going places in
films made by A.R. Kardar and others.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?222860
Remembrance
Melodious Suraiya
Naushad on Suraiya
It was 1939. One day a small little girl came to meet me with her
maternal grandmother. Her grandmother told me that this girl wanted to
make me listen to her sing. I said, okay, sing. She hadn't trained to
be a singer, but her voice was very melodious ('suriilii'). I told
her: your voice is nature's gift, what's your name? She said, Suraiya.
I immediately said, "But Suraiya, I shall call you Surili". She burst
out in giggles.
This is how I first met Suraiya. She used to be in school then and her
grandmother would take her to musicians. Then I met her again after a
few days at Prakash Studio. A film called Station Master was being
made which required a girl to play the role of a younger sister, so I
called for her. She also sang two songs for this film, of which one of
the songs for children became quite popular - yeh rail hamaare ghar
kii dekho. This is where her film-career began.
Suraiya did not take any formal training in music. It ought to be
remembered that when she stepped into the world of music, it was the
1940s - a revolutionary phase of Indian music. Decades hence, the
songs of those days are still fresh in people's hearts and on their
lips.
Anyway, after that came Sardar Sahib's film Nai Duniya. It required a
child-artist to play the role of a shoe-shine kid. I told Sardar Sahib
that instead of a boy, there was this young girl and if I should call
her. He agreed, and so Suraiya was called. She also gave playback for
the film and her song, "boot karun mai polish" was quite a hit. And
then she was taken for Sharda with Mehtab and thus it continued from
thereon. In those days, for a film -- or sometimes, even for a song --
Rs 200-300 were paid which was quite a sum then. I still remember,
when I first used Lata Mangeshkar, and paid her Rs 60 for it, her
hands trembled and there was wonder in her voice: "Sixty rupees..."
Even Rs 60 was a large sum and more amazing than that is the fact that
Suraiya said goodbye to film-industry at a time she could have earned
lakhs.
raaz
Now one more input from maheshks, it may be Station Master (1942)
song,
which is the first recorded song.
raaz
>
> http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?222860
>
> Remembrance
> Melodious Suraiya
>
> Naushad on Suraiya
>
> It was 1939. One day a small little girl came to meet me with her
> maternal grandmother. Her grandmother told me that this girl wanted to
> make me listen to her sing. I said, okay, sing. She hadn't trained to
> be a singer, but her voice was very melodious ('suriilii'). I told
> her: your voice is nature's gift, what's your name? She said, Suraiya.
> I immediately said, "But Suraiya, I shall call you Surili". She burst
> out in giggles.
>
> This is how I first met Suraiya. She used to be in school then and her
> grandmother would take her to musicians. Then I met her again after a
> few days at Prakash Studio. A film called Station Master was being
> made which required a girl to play the role of a younger sister, so I
> called for her. She also sang two songs for this film, of which one of
> the songs for children became quite popular - yeh rail hamaare ghar
> kii dekho. This is where her film-career began.
>
Station Master (1942) song here
http://hindi-films-songs.com/hcj-30.html
is a duet and a chorus, the female voice does not resemble
that of Suraiya, may be she was one of those chorus girls ?
Kammu
> On Apr 27, 11:43 am, maheshks <emkaysha...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?222860
>
> > Remembrance
> > Melodious Suraiya
>
> > Naushad on Suraiya
>
> > It was 1939. One day a small little girl came to meet me with her
> > maternal grandmother. Her grandmother told me that this girl wanted to
> > make me listen to her sing. I said, okay, sing. She hadn't trained to
> > be a singer, but her voice was very melodious ('suriilii'). I told
> > her: your voice is nature's gift, what's your name? She said, Suraiya.
> > I immediately said, "But Suraiya, I shall call you Surili". She burst
> > out in giggles.
>
> > This is how I first met Suraiya. She used to be in school then and her
> > grandmother would take her to musicians. Then I met her again after a
> > few days at Prakash Studio. A film called Station Master was being
> > made which required a girl to play the role of a younger sister, so I
> > called for her. She also sang two songs for this film, of which one of
> > the songs for children became quite popular - yeh rail hamaare ghar
> > kii dekho. This is where her film-career began.
>
> is a duet and a chorus, the female voice does not resemble
>
> - Show quoted text -
Naushad's TV interview on DD 1996-7 it is Nai Duniya .
k
surjit singh
> On Apr 27, 10:07 am, surjit singh <surjitsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
So Sharda is out. Story found by Mahesh has been repeated by him in
his 20-part autobiography in Urdu Sushma. I have it with me, will post
some day. However, the earlier story about Boot karun main polish is
also from Naushad and is reported in HFGK Vol II. Poor Hamraaz has
been given misleading info many times. Dr. Guha has mentioned many
such examples, specially in Vol. II.
Even Asha Bhosle gave wrong info. When Har Mandir met her in 1984 she
said her first song for Hindi films was Sawan Aya from Chunariya 1948.
To Nerurakar in 1995 she said it was Gharibon Ke Data in Andhon Ki
Duniya 1947.
We should probably give up trying to find out about first songs, as
Vish, that wise man of the West Coast suggested long ago :)
raaz
Sometimes, it's a bit difficult to starngulate curiosity and
temptation to know the facts, so the pursuit.
Coming back to different statements by the same person
at different times, it may be due to poor memory or casual
attitude, and may not be intentional, let's forgive them.
Since none of us are in an award winning contest or quiz,
what each one of us believe, will take it as her first recorded
song.
Ahmad
>
> - Show quoted text -
Many thanks for this link. I will read through this. The early years
of films and music from 1942-1952 are very important for me, as I saw
most of the good films and listened to all the music produced during
this period. A golden era for me.
MA
Sudhir
been this film's producer) was Suraiya's elder brother
Is it correct ?
Sudhir
Ahmad
>
> - Show quoted text -
I agree. I have not regarded Naushad as a great director. A populist
(chaloo) musician, not very profound like Anil Biswas and others. I
also note from the discussion and conclude that he is a bit of a
showman. The stories from him sometimes do not match up , but as Raaz
says, this is not a serious matter.
I have listened to songs and chosen and collected my favourites
without regard to who the music director of that particular song is.
As I do not have any music directories I still can not identify the
directors.
Another song of Suraiya that comes to mind, and I have just listened
to it as she is under discussion at the moment is, "Ek tu ho ek mein
hoon - aur nadi ka kinara ho". The voice sounds like very early
Suraiya, a bit vulnerable but good. I do not know the name of the
film or the music director, but I could find out from Sohail Ahmad as
he is very knowledgeable on these matters.
MA
kcp
Here is what he told in his official Autobiography "Daastaan-e-
Naushaad" ( interesting story on Nai Dubiya narrated by him, which
also BTW establishes that Station Master was released when Nai Duniya
and/or its music was being made....that comes later )
The heroine of Station Master needed a younger kid as her sister, to
act in the film. I told Durrani to search for a smart girl who knew
Hindi. He brought one small kid of 7-8 years age, in front of me, who
had come with her grandma. I told her to sing a song and she was shy
initially , but then without any fear sang some popular song of those
days. Her range of voice was very good. She needed a bit of
improvisation and she could become a great singer. After her grandma
was convinced that Suraiyya's studies would not be hampered, she was
allowed to sign the contract ( I took her to Vijubhai to sign her for
SM ). She sang for the song "Ye Rel Hamaare Ghar Ki" by standing on a
stool, because her mouth could not come up to the mic.
The author of the official autobiography ( Shashikant Kinikar ) also
mentions at the end of the book, that Suraiyya was not the main singer
in this song. He mentions 3 other songs where she did sing , in this
film :
Sajan Ghar Aaye Ri , Chalo Chalo Ri Sakhi & Baba Chocolate Laaye.
surjit singh
AFAIK Suraiya no relation to Sheikh Mukhtar.
surjit singh
I remembered one more place where Boot karun main polish is mentioned
as her first song. It is in the Naushad Filmography by Nerurkar
published in 1997. He had some info that was not available in HFGK Vol
II, so I assume he talked to him at length. So either Naushad gave him
info about Boot or he merely copied from HFGK Vol II without bothering
to double-check with Naushad.
Kammu
>
> - Show quoted text -
I understand the Kardar-Naushad discussion and the recording of
this
song in detail can be read in Naushad ki Aapbeeti Naushad ki zubani by
Faruq Argali . It is also mentioned that the music of Nai Duniya was
being scored
by Badri Prasad who later became a charecter actor . The whole story
is
very interesting .
I cannot read Urdu but I was briefed by a friend who
read the book .
Regards ,
k
maheshks
>
> - Show quoted text -
Saajan Ghar aaye and chalo chalo ri sakhi are led by Rajkumari and
have the voice of suraiyya amongst others.
Baba chocolate laaye is a solo picturised on kalyani. I heard it long
back. Will re-hear and try to find out who is the singer.
kcp
Yes What I meant that "Ye Rail" was by Rajkumari+Durrani+Chorus ( no
Suraiyya credits )
Rest all the 3 songs I mentioned, was credited to Suraiyya
( irrespective of the main singer i.e. Suraiyya is in the ensemble )
Baba Chocolate is a Suraiyya solo !
surjit singh
kcp
you mean not like a 12 year old kid ? she must be 12 at the time of
recording ? Maybe Naushad mistook for her physical appearance and
thought she was 8..one never knows ?
surjit singh
I have the movie. The chocolate song is not picturized on Kalyani. It
is picturized on Kaushalya. And Kaushalya was quite capable of singing
her own songs. According to Filmi Titliyan, a book Afzal volunteered
to render into English, Kaushalya's was father was the famous Lachhuu
Maharaj.
maheshks
yes indeed it is picturised on Kaushalya.