Allah bhi hai mallah bhi hai
Posted on: April 21, 2013
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
For some artists, it is never any effort on this blog to search new songs and track numbers posted. Their numbers continue to keep incrementing, just in the process of posting as it is. Some names are really apparent. Rafi Sb, Lata ji, Asha ji, Kishore Da etc. And hence, their milestones continue to occur, as a matter of routine, whatever may be the other compulsions to add new posts. (As I commented in an earlier post, the number of songs of Kishore Da showcased here seems proportionately lesser, only because he made his volumes in the 70s and 80s, and we have on this blog traditionally been focusing on the decades prior to that.)
So friends, welcome all to the 2300th song of Lata ji on this blog. Keeping steadily ahead, and continuing to notch up newer century milestones, like I said without making any concerned efforts. Debates about number of songs aside, one thing we all will agree is that the talent and longevity of this artist is phenomenal and now legendary. Kudos, and a warm salute to her, with greetings for good health and a long presence amongst us, continuing to regale and bless with her voice.
This song is a lovely sound of melancholy and a very interesting history behind it. The film is ‘Maan’ from 1954. Produced under the banner of Filmkaar Ltd. Bombay, the film is produced by Rajendra Jain and is directed by Dr. Safdar ‘Aah’ Sitapuri. This latter name we are familiar with more as a lyricist so far on this blog. Yes, he had other accomplishments to his credit also, being a director and a story / screenplay writer besides being a lyricist. This film is a costume drama that has the elements of a tragic love story in a historical setting. The star cast includes Ajit, Chitra, Jagirdaar, Kumar, Achla Sachdev, Yashodhara Katju, Durga Khote, Kamlesh Kumari, Chandabai etc. The 9 songs of this film are written by Kaif Bhopali, Dr. Safdar ‘Aah’ Sitapuri, and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. This particular song is from the pen of Kaif Bhopali. The music is from the baton of the redoubtable Anil Biswas, and the singing voice, of course is Lata Mangeshkar.
And the interesting story behind it, that is linked with a film that came on six years later.
‘Mughal e Azam’, the magum opus of the famous director producter K Asif, was released in 1960. However, this film had been in the making, since the mid 1940s. It is a fact that Asif Sb started planning for this film in 1944. The original title for this movie was ‘Anarkali’, based on a stage play of the same name, written by him in the 1920s. A fair amount of planning was in progress. The famous actor of that era, Chandramohan had been contracted for the role of Badshah Akbar. The new and upcoming young heroine, Nargis was selected for the role of Anarkali, and the role of Salim was assigned to actor Sapru, another promising leading who was also just starting his career. The story writing, dialogues, songs and music responsibilities were also assigned. Anil Biswas, then at the heights of popularity, was contracted to compose the music.
The film went on to take a very chequered course of history for the next decade and a half. The partition happened and the primary financier behind the film migrated to Pakistan. In 1948, Chandramohan passed away. The film was all but shelved. Then in 1950, with new financial support (from the business house of Shapurji-Pallonji) the preparation for filming started again. Sapru had lost his star status in few short years. Dilip Kumar, who was working with K Asif for his film ‘Hulchul’ (1951), got considered as a fitting replacement, and besides he was already working with Nargis in that film. But by the time ‘Hulchul’ was ready, Dilip Kumar and Nargis had a serious falling out, and Nargis vowed never to work with Dilip Kumar again.
And so, the hunt started for ‘Anarkali’ all over again.
Just then the news broke that two more productions on the same theme had gotten underway. One was being produced by S Mukherjee, under his banner Filmistan. The second one was under the banner of M&T Studios, to be directed by Kamal Amarohi. Incidentally, Kamal Amarohi was one of the original screenplay and dialogue writing team, and he had contracted with this new banner for a film on this subject, thinking that K Asif’s film was shelved for good. K Asif was able to convince Kamal Amarohi to give up his project and return to the fold. But of course, the Filmistan production went ahead. The film, also titled ‘Anarkali’ was released in 1953, with music by C Ramchandra. And it went on to become the greatest musical bonanza of the year. The star of Anil Biswas was on decline. And so, another major change came up in the team. Anil Biswas was replaced by Naushad, some say as a preference of Dilip Kumar. However, by the time this replacement move came two songs were already conceptualized and their music was already composed by Anil Da (as per Anil Da himself, quoted by Nalin ji Shah).
Those compositions never got used in the film they were intended for. But then Anil Biswas used these composition in the film ‘Maan’ (1954). One listen to this song, and you may find a very strong affinity, in concept, to the song ‘Bekas Pe Karam Kijiye’. I have not seen the film ‘Maan’, but knowing about this song, and another song, which I shall be discussing soon, gives me a feeling that this film was also made as a tragic love story, on the lines of ‘Anarkali’ and ‘Mughal e Azam’. And Anil Da used the couple of songs already conceptualized and composed, into the storyline of ‘Maan’.
The song itself is in very soft tones, and the crafting and arrangement of the music is rather excellent. Try and listen to the incessant low pitch beat of the drum in the background. It creates an aura of a sinister event just about to happen, with the drums slowly but convincingly playing the beat of time marching to its destiny. The effect is really heightened as there is a brief pause in the singing after the line
“kya maut ki aamad aamad hai”
Listen to this deep melancholy, rendered so wonderfully by Lata ji. And wonder about the incessant march of time, as it moves ahead, with the words telling a story that saddens the heart with forebodings of the future.
Lovely sound, lovely song. Enjoy.
Song-Allah bhi hai mallah bhi mai (Maan)(1954) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Kaif Bhopali, MD-Anil Biswas
Lyrics
allaah bhi hai
mallaah bhi hai
allaah bhi hai
mallaah bhi hai
kashti hai ke doobi jaati hai
allaah bhi hai
mallaah bhi hai
hum doob to jaayenge lekin
dono hi pe tohmat aati hai
allaah bhi hai
mallaah bhi hai
ik shamaa ghiri hai aandhi mein
bujhti bhi nahin
jalti bhi nahin
shamsheer e mohabbat kya kahiye
rukti bhi nahin
chalti bhi nahin
majloos mohabbat reh reh kar
har saans mein thokar khaati hai
allaah bhi hai
mallaah bhi hai
ik khwaab nazar sa aaya thhaa
kuchh dekh liya
kuchh chhoot gayaa
ik teer jigar par khaaya thhaa
kuchh doob gayaa
kuchh toot gayaa
kuchh doob gayaa
kuchh toot gayaa
kyaa maut ki aamad aamad hai
. . . .
kyaa maut ki aamand aamand hai
kyun neend si aayee jaati hai
allaah bhi hai
mallaah bhi hai
—————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
—————————————-
अल्लाह भी है
मल्लाह भी है
अल्लाह भी है
मल्लाह भी है
कश्ती है के डूबी जाती है
अल्लाह भी है
मल्लाह भी है
हम डूब तो जाएंगे लेकिन
दोनों ही पे तोहमत आती है
अल्लाह भी है
मल्लाह भी है
इस शम्मा घिरी है आँधी में
बुझती भी नहीं
जलती भी नहीं
शमशीर ए मोहब्बत क्या कहिए
रुकती भी नहीं
चलती भी नहीं
मजलूस मोहब्बत रह रह कर
हर सांस में ठोकर खाती है
अल्लाह भी है
मल्लाह भी है
इक ख्वाब नज़र सा आया था
कुछ देख लिया
कुछ छूट गया
इक तीर जिगर पे खाया था
कुछ डूब गया
कुछ टूट गया
कुछ डूब गया
कुछ टूट गया
क्या मौत की आमद आमद है
. . . .
क्या मौत की आमद आमद है
क्यूँ नींद सी आई जाती है
अल्लाह भी है
मल्लाह भी है
9 Responses to "Allah bhi hai mallah bhi hai"
April 22, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Sudhirji,
Nice and informative writeup. Even Anarkali had its share of troubles with Basant Prakash being replaced by C Ramchandra. But one or two songs sung by Geeta Dutt under Basant Prakash were retained.
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April 22, 2013 at 7:02 pm
This is a 440 volts song, as would be rated by my late friend Shukla Saab. Three bens mattered most for him, in addition to 40s and 50s Rafi Saab. In the listening sessions he organized at his residence, he would switch the lights, slightly increase the amp volume, and would play this song. The effect was electrifying, especially the silence that comes (except the rhythm) that comes after the line “kya maut ki aamad aamad hai.” A jewel from Lata and Anilda.
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April 23, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Sadanand ji, Mahesh ji, Nivedita ji,
Thanks for your appreciative words.
Sheshadri ji
I could not agree more with you, regarding the electrifying effect of this song. And the way you described how Shukla ji would play it, I can expect that the results would capture
Thanks for sharing.
Rgds
Sudhir
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April 23, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Friends,
It seems the comment somehow auto-edited itself. 🙂
The incomplete sounding sentence should read
“And the way you described how Shukla ji would play it, I can expect that the results would capture the intent of this song, very powerfully”.
Rgds
Sudhir
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August 23, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Well about a year later, I wanted to listen this song once again. I did after searching the site. I cried Sudhir-ji, silently
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December 24, 2014 at 11:43 pm
There is no such word as ‘majloos’. It has to be ‘majloom’ i.e. victim, the sufferer or the oppressed. It becomes redundant if somebody has already address this issue.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 21, 2013 at 8:12 pm
A very soulful song worthy of Lata’s 2300th song.
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