Ham hain mataaye koochaa e o bazaar ki tarah
Posted on: February 4, 2009
Madan Mohan always felt shortchanged by public and media since he never got the credit for his music that he richly deserved.
The closest that he came to public appreciation for his music was a filmfare nomination in 1964, but he missed the award to Laxmikant Pyarelal. And the highest that any of his songs reached in Binaca geetmala was second position for a light hearted song “Jhumka gira re”, while he created many great serious songs which falied to catch public imagination.
The only time his music got recognised was in 1970 and this time the recognition came from the Government of India. Madan Mohan got acclaimed as the best music director of 1970 for his music of “Dastak”. The public continued to fail to appreciate the music of “Dastak”, but one must appreciate the Government officials who actually showed the ability to recognise quality.
Dastak was full of classy songs, even if they were not appreciated much by the masses.
One of the most critically acclaimed song of this movie was “ham hain mataaye kooche bazaar ki tarah”. This was a song where everyone associated with its creation must have felt a sense of fulfilment. Majroh Sultanpuri’s lyrics, Lata’s voice, madan Mohan’s music, everything was very nice.
Here is this gem of a song, that was picturised on Rehana Sultana.
The movie, incidentally was far ahead of its time and failed at the box office.
Audio
Video
Song-Ham hain mataa-e koochaa o bazaar ki tarah (Dastak) (1970) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD-Madan Mohan
Lyrics
ham hain mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar ki tarah
ham hain mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar ki tarah
uthti hai har nigaah khareedaar ki tarah
uthti hai har nigaah khareedaar ki tarah
ham hain mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar ki tarah
wo to kahin hain aur magar dil ke aas paas
wo to kahin hain aur magar dil ke aas paas
dil ke aas paas
phirti hai koi shai nigaahe yaar ki tarah
phirti hai koi shai nigaahe yaar ki tarah
ham hain mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar ki tarah
Majrooh likh rahe hain wo ahal-e-wafaa kaa naam
Majrooh likh rahe hain wo ahal-e-wafaa kaa naam
ahal-e-wafaa kaa naam
ham bhi khade huye hain gunahgaar ki tarah
ham bhi khade huye hain gunahgaar ki tarah
uthti hai har nigaah khareedaar ki tarah
ham hain mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar ki tarah
13 Responses to "Ham hain mataaye koochaa e o bazaar ki tarah"
February 4, 2009 at 11:56 am
I was hoping you will do a posting on this song. The scene at the end of this song when Rehana tosses the tambora at the “customer” is unforgettable. It was a surprise to me that such a movie could be made in Bollywood. Your comments about the composer are right on the mark.
I would also love to read your review of “Bayyan Na Dharo” from this movie. It is a song in which Lata sang in her lowest pitch ever in the films (and it is said that she did not prefer using her low voice, but then it was Madan Mohan she was singing for).
LikeLike
February 4, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Since I requested reviewing one song already, may I ask for one more or two?
Achhaji Mein Haari from Kala Paani and
Mujhe Pyar Mein from Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon
LikeLike
February 4, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I have seen this movie and found the ending a bit vague and open to interpretation.
There is also a gem of a song sung by Rafi saab in the movie—- Tumse kahoon ek baat paron se.
LikeLike
February 5, 2009 at 3:17 am
shontou: You are right about the vagueness at the end. If I recall the story, they show that the weight of the circumstances causes the initially virtuous hero to give in to the corrupt system in the office while his wife feeling frustrated by being a virtual prisoner in their own apartment also steps towards the wrong path. But just before they slip and fall, they decide to take a stand against the immorality that surrounds them.
I am not good at understanding Urdu, but do you think this song spells out the message of the movie? She seems to imply that everything is for sale with the buyers eyeing the merchandise.
LikeLike
February 5, 2009 at 5:16 am
I have not watched the movie. I need to watch it.
LikeLike
July 8, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Atulji or Arun bhai or Nahm bhai, koi tho Dastak ke “Hum hain mataa-e-koocha -o -bazaar”is phrase ka matlab likh sakte hain kya ? I am dying to know the meaning of this phrase from many years. Majroohji radio programme mein is phrase ka zikr kiye the, par iska maayne kya hai nahin bataaye.
regards
prakash
LikeLike
July 8, 2011 at 8:31 pm
The phrase “ham hain mataaye koochaa o bazaar” means “we are (regarded) as objects in the market place”,
LikeLike
July 9, 2011 at 12:18 am
Prakashchandra ji / Atul ji,
About ‘mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar’ :
” objects in the market place ” is a very fine meaning of the term. Thanks, for now i am acquainted with this song. Heard it earlier but the full lyrics never registered. It has that madan mohan signature of sitar. It took me a while to understand why the word ‘ Mat’aa ‘ is used here. “Mat’aa ” technically means material wealth or stock . So the use here is instead of using “maal” , which would look / sound crude. Majrooh’s lyrics whatever i have seen , were never crude. So that explains another one time use of an word.
The video link is incomplete, isnt this better ?
Also the lines are in order as follows:
wo to kahin hain aur magar dil ke aas paas
dil ke aas paas
phirti hai koyi ‘sh’ai’ nigaah-e-yaar ki tarah
phirti hai koyi ‘sh’ai’ nigaah-e-yaar ki tarah
ham hain mataa-e-koochaa-o-baazaar ki tarah
ham hain …
More so because of the rare occassion where the takkhallus “Majrooh’ is used in the last shair.
LikeLike
July 9, 2011 at 12:46 am
Thank you, thank you .”nahm bhai” for the informative write up
with lot`s of love and regards
prakash
LikeLike
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
February 4, 2009 at 7:54 am
Love this movie, love the songs, Madan Mohan was a genius, there is hardly any music he composed that can be called indifferent.
However, I think you are wrong about them not being appreciated. For instance Dastak’s songs might not have been in the Binaca geetmala, but AIR Jalandhar (our local) and the only! radio station around played them continuously.
I think Lata worked really well with him and sang some of her best numbers with him.
LikeLike