Mat poochh mera hai kaun watan
Posted on: May 19, 2009
when a movie by the name “Mr India” is mentioned, everyone thinks of the movie of 1987 where Anil Kapoor and Sridevi played the lead roles.
There was another movie by this name, which was a small budget movie and that was released in 1961. Just how small budget a movie that was can be gauged from the fact that I S Johar was the hero of that movie.
What about the music of that 1961 movie ? Common sense may suggest that the music of this movie may not compare favourably with the music of the movie of 1987. Wrong !
Music of “Mr India” (1961) was given by a debutant music director called G S Kohli. He may not be a well known name today, but he was second to none when it came to creating gems out of every opportunity that he got as a music director.
Here is this song “mat poochh mera hai kaun watan”. This song is written by Anjaan and it is sung by Rafi. What a song it is. I have listened to this song for the first time only today and this song has already grown upon me.
And it is not a fluke. G S Kohli created many such gems in his career as a music director. For instance, one can listen to his gems in his subsequent movie “Shikari” viz “tumko piya dil diya kitne naaz se” and “chaman ke phool bhi”.
G S Kohli unfortunately failed to get opportunities that he so richly deserved. That is the way life often is. But I am sure we can certainly get a glimpse of his talent in this song.
Song-Mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan (Mr India) (1961) Singer-Rafi, Lyrics-Anjaan, MD-G S Kohli
Lyrics
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan aur main kahaan kaa hoon
saaraa jahaan hai meraa main saare jahaan kaa hoon
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan aur main kahaan kaa hoon
saaraa jahaan hai meraa main saare jahaan kaa hoon
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan
main Cheen mein hoon Cheeni Jaapaan mein Jaapaani
London mein hoon Angrez India mein Hindustaani
main jis ghadi jahaan bhi hoon samjho wahaan kaa hoon
saara jahzan hai meraz main saare jahaan ka hoon
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan
saathi hoon main sabhi ka dushman nahin kisi kaa
mere liye baraabar ho Roos yaa America
auron ke lut jaaye jo us carwan ka hoon
saara jahaan hai meraz main saare jahaan ka hoon
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan
main pyaar kaa hoon jaadu jo sar pe chadh ke bole
ik phoonk se udaa doon sau atomon ke gole
qismat jo badal de duniyaa ki us aasmaan kaa hoon
saara jahan hai mera main saare jahaan ka hoon
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan aur main kahaan kaa hoon
saaraa jahaan hai meraa main saare jahaan kaa hoon
mat poochh meraa hai kaun watan
laralala o o laar lalal
aahaa aahaa
6 Responses to "Mat poochh mera hai kaun watan"
May 19, 2009 at 2:27 pm
There were quite a few talented music directors those days who unfortunately could not get the opportunities that they deserved.
I can think of a few more names, viz S Madan, S Mohinder, Daan Singh etc.
I have posted a few songs from each of these music directors.
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June 26, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I have a request 🙂 I just saw Faulad for which GS Kohli did the music also, and it is beautiful. I particularly loved this song picturized on Minoo Mumtaz and would love to have the lyrics when you have time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyHnV6NAB9o
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
May 19, 2009 at 2:04 pm
You said it, Atul! His soundtrack for Shikari is one of the BEST EVER…every single song in it is a gem. I have not heard much else from him, only one song (“Dekha Na Jaaye” sung by Geeta Dutt, which has a lovely flamenco flavor to it—danced by Helen too!) also from Mr. India; and a song from a film called Lambe Haath, which I haven’t seen (made in 1960). Look forward to seeing more here 🙂
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