Chain se humko kabhi
Posted on: December 28, 2008
O P Nayyar and Asha Bhonsle had forged a long professional relation for 15 years which had turned personal as well. The two had continued an affair that lasted just as long. Towards the early years of 1970s, when O P Nayyar was no longer the top music director of Bollywood and his music was losing its hold over the public, his personal relationship with Asha Bhonsle was on the rocks as well. The two finally split in 1972. Prior to that, they had recorded this song “Chain se humko kabhi aapne jeene na diyaa”. From the voice, lyrics and the music, it is obvious that Asha Bhonsle, the lyricist S H Bihari ( a close confidant of O P Nayyar) and O P Nayyar had given this song their best.
The records of this song became popular even before the movie was released. In fact, the song became so popular that the Filmfare magazine chose Asha Bhonsle as the Filmfare female playback singer of the year for their 1974 awards function.
O P Nayyar did not have too many friends left in the film industry. Now that he was estranged from Asha Bhonsle too, Asha Bhonsle used her clout with the makers of the movie to get this song deleted from the movie though the song was already picturised on Rekha and had got quite popular.
Asha did not attend the Filmfare awards ceremony, though O P Nayyar and S H Bihari did. OP Nayyar accepted the award on her behalf. While returning back from the award function with the lyricist S H Bihari, O P Nayyar tossed the award out of the car and heard it break.
Needless to say, this was the last song of Asha Bhonsle under O P Nayyar’s music direction.
Song-Chain se humko kabhi (Pran Jaaye par vachan na jaaye) (1973) Singer-Asha Bhonsle, Lyrics-S H Bihari, MD-O P Nayyar
Lyrics
chain se hamko kabhi aapne jeene naa diyaa
zahar bhi chaahaa agar, peenaa to peene naa diyaa
chain se hamko kabhi
chaand ke rath mein raat ki dulhan jab jab aayegi
yaad hamaari aapke dil ko tadpaa jaayegi
aapne jo hai diyaa, wo to kisine naa diyaa
zahar bhi chaahaa agar, peenaa to peene naa diyaa
chain se hamko kabhi
aapkaa gham jo is dil mein din-raat agar hogaa
sochke ye dam ghutataa hai phir kaise guzar hogaa
kaash naa aati apni judaayi maut hi aa jaati
koyi bahaane chain hamaari rooh to paa jaati
ik pal hansnaa kabhi dil ki lagi ne naa diyaa
zahar bhi chaahaa agar, peenaa to peene naa diyaa
chain se hamko kabhi
12 Responses to "Chain se humko kabhi"
December 28, 2008 at 9:11 am
Very nice song.
I was quite young when this movie was released and I have still not seen it.
But, like you say, the songs must have been released before the movie. I am pretty sure I heard this particular song well before the movie was released.
Did not know the stories around the bitterness of the OP-Asha split-up. I knew it was an ugly split-up.
What a pity !
That a man who could produce such fantastic music could not have the ability to get along with people. He had tiffs with a lot of people in the industry.
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December 28, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The parting of Asha Bhosle and O.P. Nayyar was bitter, and probably therefore she has hesitated to give Nayyar his due. While talking about O.P. Nayyar in an interview with The Times of India, she once remarked – “Whichever composer gave me work, it was because my voice was suited to his music at that point. No one musician did me any favor by asking me to sing for him.” She gives the credit for her first big break to B. R. Chopra, the producer of Naya Daur.]]
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December 29, 2008 at 6:04 am
It is always sad when people refuse to give credit to those who helped their career. Asha Bhonsle owes a lot to O P Nayyar, and to deny him credit outright is unfair, whatever bitterness there be in their personal matters.
I recall that Lata too would not give credit to C Ramchandra for some great songs that he created for her, after she broke up with him.
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[…] a Mukesh song from “Andaaz” (1949) Kyun pheri nazar(Andaaz) or this Asha Bhonsle song Chain se hamko kabhi(Pran Jaaye par vachan na jaaye)(1973). Mukesh song was excluded because it could not be accomodated in the movie. Asha Bhonsle song was […]
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April 16, 2011 at 11:56 am
It was completely different to hear this song after reading your write up. It is so important that one does not forget their roots, which is pretty rare these days. The sisters sure were talented, no doubts about it, but things like these does make one lose a bit of respect for them.
Having said that, like one of young friend tells me, do not mix the two, this is talent, that is their personal life. Well, that is true, but one’s heart does not think like one’s mind :).
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April 16, 2011 at 3:54 pm
It is a very buautiful song by asha & o.p. nayyar. But it is strange that indian government forced to delete two lines from first ANTARA. what was objectionable, i don’t know. these lines, after “tadapa jayegi” were,
pyarake jalte jakhmonse jo dilmain ujala hai
ab to sulagkar aur bhi jyada badhanewala hai,
then aapane jo hai…..
June 15, 2021 at 8:50 pm
These lines can be heard in below version on Asha Bhosle Live Doordarshan on youtube.
August 9, 2011 at 9:35 pm
After reaching the pinnacle of success Asha dumped O P Nayyar for reasons not for us to delve into, as they lie in the realms of their personal lives.
But what strikes one is the ingratitude shown by Asha. I am quoting from Julius Caesar, which aptly describes this ingratitude.
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,
Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey’s statua,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O! what a fall was there, my countrymen;
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.
O! now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity; these are gracious drops.
(3:2)
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January 30, 2012 at 8:08 am
one of the most melodious songs of Asha-OPN combination. It is heart rending to read through the history of their soured relationship soon after. Filmdom has many instances like this.
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August 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Precisely its today, 5th of August 1972, they broke off for reasons best known to them after recording this song….
Observe the lyrics of the song, like Kaash naa aati apni judai maut hee toh aa jatee and aapne joh hain diyaa, woh toh kisine na diya…Really, what OP Nayyar gave to Asha ji, no other composer gave it to her, RD came later on in her life when she was already estblshd becoz of OP…
OP is a true rhythm king….
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January 23, 2018 at 5:27 pm
I am hearing this song from my childhood all three lyrics , music & voice are wonderful .I have not seen the film so I don’t know about picturisation of this song .Now people knew about Asha ditching OPN after taking full benefits from him when she is nobody . By using her clouts to remove this song from film also shows her low mentality .
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 28, 2008 at 8:52 am
Beautiful song Atul, one of Asha’s best songs. I am a big OP fan and songs like this one just make me like his music more.
He gave us so many lively, fun songs but for someone with no formal music training this is a tremendous song with a classical music touch.
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