Duniya Ye duniyaa toofaan mail
Posted on: June 9, 2009
When one listens to old songs and watches their picturisation, one often gets to know about that era. That way, these songs serve as good historical references.
For instance, just listen to this song from a very old movie called “Jawaab” (1942). Now, 1942 was 67 years ago, which is some four generations ago, and things were much different in those days from what they are today.
This song must have been a very “modern” song by the standards of 1942. It goes “duniya ye duniya Toofaan mail”. The interesting lyrics has been written by Pt Madhur. Kanan devi has sung ( and acted) this song and as was the case those days, she has acted in the picturisation too. Music is by Kamal Dasgupta.
The picturisation shows a steam locomotive hauling a train (Toofaan Mail). This tells me that there was a train called Toofaan mail in India at that time, and I am sure people were quite impressed with a train named like this. In India, mail trains were regarded as the highest form of rail travel those days, and travelling in them was considered a privilege. And as the name suggests, Toofaan (Typhoon) mail surely must have the reputation of being a fast running train.
I do not think this train was still running when I was growing up. But I recall travelling in Toofaan Express in 1980s. But unlike its name, it was a less than impressive train running between Howrah and Delhi and it used to run slower than most trains in its route.
Coming to the song itself, this song is a gem from 1942. This is the year when Indians had passed a resolution asking the British to quit India. Yes, this song is that old, when India was a British colony. None of the present day Bollywood legends had even appeared on the Bollywood scene and industry itself was in its infancy, trying to find its feet.
It is a lovely song, which is rare as well as interesting. And this song must be one of the oldest “rail” song in a Bollywood movie. What a rare treasure this song is !
Audio
Video
Song-Duniya ye duniya toofaan mail (Jawaab) (1942) Singer-Kanan Devi , Lyrics- Pt Madhur , MD-Kamal Dasgupta
Lyrics
toofaan mail
duniyaa ye duniyaa, toofaan mail
iske pahiye zor se chalte
aur apnaa rastaa tay karte
iske pahiye zor se chalte
aur apnaa rastaa tay karte
sayaane is se kaam nikaalen
sayaane is se kaam nikaalen
bachche samjhen khel
toofaan mail
duniyaa ye duniyaa, toofaan mail
koyi kahin kaa ticket kaataataa
ek aataa hai ik hai jaataa
koyi kahin kaa ticket kaataataa
ek aataa hai ik hai jaataa
sabhi musaafir bichhd jaayenge
sabhi musaafir bichhd jaayenge
pal bhar kaa hai mel
pal bhar kaa hai mel
toofaan mail …
duniyaa ye duniyaa, toofaan mail
jo jitni poonji hai rakhte
usi mutaabiq safar wo karte
jo jitni poonji hai rakhte
usi mutaabiq safar wo karte
jeewan kaa
jeewan kaa hai bhed bataati
jeewan kaa hai bhed bataati
gyaani ko ye rail
toofaan mail
duniyaa ye duniyaa, toofaan mail
5 Responses to "Duniya Ye duniyaa toofaan mail"
November 18, 2009 at 9:31 am
Fantastic!!! One doesn’t find such an old song..Thanks
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December 10, 2009 at 8:08 am
Yes AICC passed “Quit India Movement” in 1942, a clear message to British to leave India. But only lasted 1 year or so.British forces were facing reverses in Burma and the Japanese were advancing towards India. Mahatma Ghandhi personally annouced the cancellation of the movement. Mr. Jinnah and Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel of AICC were very upset.
Ghandhiji cleared the entire issue with one single line. “I cannot replace one Master with another one” meaning British might go but could easily be replaced by Japanese.
Comming to the song, poet co-relates out life with the Toofan mail.Our Karmas decide how far we will travel on the path of life, punji is karmas. And the eternal truth is that eventually everyone will seperate and leave the mortal world for ever.
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January 30, 2011 at 3:00 am
this one is a much better version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z-2nABGWq0
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
June 10, 2009 at 4:44 pm
This is the year when Indians had passed a resolution asking the British to quit India.
That is really old song…man I sometimes forget how way back our Film Industry goes to.
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