Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
Posted on: January 27, 2009
“Maa” (mother) plays a very important role in Bollywood movies. A good son is supposed to be the one who stands by his Maa and a bad son is one who leaves her.
The most memorable dialogue of “Deewar” used the magic word “Maa” as a trump card. The bad son (Amitabh) asks the good son (Shashi Kapoor)- “Today I have a big house, big bank balance, big cars, servants etc etc. What have you got?”. The good son calmly replies “I have Maa”. And this reply totally deflates the bad son.
There have been a few songs praising Maa. And this particular song from ‘Daadi Maa” is one such song. This song in fact is so moving that one can be pardoned for getting a bit moist eyed on listening to this song.
This song is sung beautifully by Mahendra Kapoor and Manna Dey and it is picturised on Maa, her son and servant going to temple on a Tonga. The two men sing this song on the tonga.
Song-Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi (Dadi Maa) (1966) Singers-Mahendra Kapoor, Manna Dey, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD-Roshan
Lyrics
Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
par iski zaroorat kya hogi
ai maa
ai maa
teri soorat se alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi
kya hogi
Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
Insaan to kya devta bhi
aanchal me pale tere
hai swarg isi duniya me kadmo ke tale tere
mamta hi lutaayen jiske nayan ho
mamta hi lutaayen jiske nayan
aisi koyi moorat kya hogi
ai maa
ai maa
teri soorat se alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi
kya hogi
Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
jo dhoop jalaaye dukho ki
jo gham ki ghata barse
ye haath duaaonwale rahte hain sadaa sar pe
tu hai to andhere path me hamen ho
tu hai to andhere path me hamen
Sooraj ki zaroorat kya hogi
ai maa
ai maa
teri soorat se alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi
kya hogi
Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
Kahte hain teri shaan me jo
koyi oonche bol nahin
Bhagwan ke paas bhi mata tere pyaar ka mol nahin
ham to yehi jaane tujhse badi O
ham to yehi jaane tujhse badi
sansaar ki dautlat kya hogi
ai maa
ai maa
teri soorat se alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi
kya hogi
usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
par iski zaroorat kya hogi
ai maa
ai maa
teri soorat se alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi
kya hogi
Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi
——————————————
Translation
We have not seen Him
and it is not even necessary to see him
O ma
O ma
We have seen you and
God may not look any different from you in appearance
We have not seen him
Mankind as well as gods
have been nurtured by you
In your feet lies the paradise
your eyes shower so much affection from them
that no idol even can
O maa
O maa
God may not look any different from you in appearance
We have not seen him
there may be summer of misery
and shower of sorrow
your hands of blessing are always there to shield us
with you around us
Sun is not needed to show us the light
O maa
O maa
God may not look any different from you in appearance
We have not seen him
You cannot be praised high enough
Even God cannot repay your love
we know this for fact
that there is no bigger wealth in this wortld than you
O maa
O maa
God may not look any different from you in appearance
We have not seen him
We have not seen Him
and it is not even necessary to see him
O ma
O ma
We have seen you and
God may not look any different from you in appearance
We have not seen him
23 Responses to "Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi"
January 28, 2009 at 12:09 am
Thanks Atul for playing this song! I hadn’t thought much about this song until after my mother passed away, and that was when it became more meaningful to me. I find myself humming this song often these days and thinking about the lyrics and their meaning. In these days, when we hear about people sending their aged parents to retirement homes, this song is such a welcome reminder of days when people lived in joint families.
Thanks again.
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January 29, 2009 at 11:37 am
“Maa” songs in fact are unique to Desi movies. Having said that, most such songs were created 30-40 years back. I do not recall any memorable “Maa” song that has been composed recently.
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February 1, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Love this song. Thx
Wondering if someone can please post the english translation.
Thx again.
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April 4, 2009 at 6:57 am
I saw this film at the age of 7-8 years (in the year 1966 or 1967 in Patiala). After that it was off my memory. Thanks for reminding us “How to Pay Respect to our Elders” especially Grand Parents. Our new generation must learn from this song.
But would they view it….
Thanks again
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April 4, 2009 at 7:03 am
Mr. Atul Do you have another popular song from this film
“Jata Hoon Main Mujhe Ab Naa Bulana”
Please accept my farmayish.
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June 5, 2009 at 3:27 am
I can not say enough thanks to you for putting this song. I loved this song when I was growing . It used to make me cry and to go back to my mom and just seeing her would make me feel good. Now I can not see her any more this song has become very very meaning full. Thanks again. Ya it is true you can not get another Mom in this world.
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June 9, 2009 at 7:20 am
Indeed, one takes “maa” for granted and misses her only when she is not around.
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October 24, 2009 at 5:49 am
Ek gujarish hai aap sabhi se, yah gaana mujhe bhi chaiyiye mp3 mien, agar kisi ke paas ho to, pls yahan link post kijiyega.
Shat shat dhanyavaad !
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January 2, 2010 at 9:18 am
Hi Atul,
I loved this blog of yours. It contains all those old melodies which have a special place in my heart. BTW, I wanted the video URL of this song, Usko nahi dekha hamne kabhi from the movie Daadi Mai for posting in Orkut. You Tube, for some reason, has removed this song. Very sad. Can you help me?
Keep up the good work. You are doing a gr8 job Atul!
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May 4, 2010 at 6:22 am
Hi ATul:
Will you please post a word by word translation of this song? It’d be a nice gesture for the upcoming Mother’s Day.
—
Ramesh
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May 4, 2010 at 8:21 am
I have now provided a functional translation of the song.
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May 8, 2010 at 7:31 am
Thanks to you, Atul, I have created a Hindi script version in http://music-krbabu.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-post.html.
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February 7, 2011 at 9:56 pm
This song is the greatest song in the world for it gives mother her rightful place. Every one knows that there cannot be anything greater than a mother in this world indeed. What a wonderful tribute to the mother! The greatest saints woe their lives to their mother. Who can love or bless her children than the mother.Who can give lives to us than our mother. Whether the son is good or bad & wicked still the mother loves him for ever and protects him.When a mother departs from this world you loose the living god. Everyone should feel proud of this song. It has no words for its praise. I feel like listening to it again and again, still I am not satisfied!May the person who composed it be ever blessed!
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March 3, 2012 at 6:21 pm
can somebody tell me who the actors are? Other than “maa” Bina rai, of course .
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October 29, 2012 at 12:16 pm
@ Nandini – I know one is Dr.Kashinath Ghanekar – the ‘beautiful blue eyed prince’ of Marathi films. Have not watched its video for years, shall confirm the other actor once i go through the video again.
@ Atul ji – Thanks for the post and the translation !!! its simply great !!!
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October 29, 2012 at 12:31 pm
One is Kashinath(he was also there in Abhilasha starring sanjay khan, Nanda-R.D.Burman)
and another is Dileep raj(Who starred in Kanyadaan-1968-Shashi kapoor,Asha Parekh & Sayeeda Khan)(& Badi Didi-1969 starring Jeetendra,Nanda, Mehmood)
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October 30, 2012 at 1:37 am
Prakash ji
Dileep Raj also played the lead role in two KA Abbas films – ‘Shehar Aur Sapna’ (1963) and ‘Aasmaan Mahal’ (1965).
Rgds
Sudhir
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October 30, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Seems like he has acted as recently as in Khoya Khoya Chand (2007). I dont think he ever tried to do stunt/action – sword fighting type of movie like his famous father.
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October 30, 2012 at 1:40 am
Atul ji,
I revisited this post, following the comments trail.
Totally agree with you – about getting moist in the eyes listening to this song, probably the best song in praise of the mother.
Rgds
Sudhir
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October 30, 2012 at 11:04 am
Thank you Sudhir ji
For updating my knowledge about the other movies of Dileep Raj.
Yeh jaankaari mere paas nahin thi.
Regards
Prakash
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
January 27, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Very nice song. When I heard this for the first time as a young boy, I just loved it.
Btw, noticed only now that you have category “praising a person”. 🙂
Clicked on that and find a whole lot of songs.
Good category – am sure there are many more songs that are waiting to join this. It seems to be a favourite subject in Hindi movies. “Teri husn ki kya tareef karoon” types.
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