Janam janam ka dukhiyaa praani
Posted on: August 2, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Saigal Saab and Suraiyyaa were to be paired together in 3 films between 1945 and 1947. Tadbeer (1945) was the first such film in which these two singer-star sensations came together. Tadbeer is a social drama produced and directed by Jayant Desai. The film presented an impressive star cast that includes Saigal Saab, Suraiyyaa, Mubarak, Jillobai, Rehana, Salvi, Reva Shankar, Amina, Shalini, Raja Joshi and Shashi Kapur. (This last name is not the Shashi Kapoor that we are all familiar with).
The story line of this film is a tragic portrayal of the life and tribulations of Dr. Kanhaiyyalal, a very religious and kind hearted person. And yet, the fate, the passages of life, the people in his life, have been heartless and cruel to him.
This song is sung twice in the film. The first time, it is picturized on the actor Shashi Kapur – for this version, the singer’s voice is not known. The song then appears once again near the end of the movie, this time picturized on Saigal Saab and also sung by him. The song is a heartfelt and intense imploration to God, of a soul that is burdened with the sorrow of many lifetimes. In a metaphorical way, it is a supplication of every soul – sometimes once during all its existence, across multiple lifetimes, the soul finally gives up in the face of the despair and anguish. It realizes that it neither has the faculties to find all the answers, not does it have the capacity to weather all the hopeless failures and the sorrow these failures cause. The entreaties to the Almighty are intensely passionate; requesting Him to burn down the sin in the world, and to save this soul. It may sound very self centered and imprudent, and yet it represents an extreme form of appeal, to deliver oneself from this world of misery.
The lyrics are by Swami Ramanand and the music is composed by Lal Mohammed. And the voice of Saigal Saab is a note to note and emotion to emotion match with the melancholy and despair enclosed in these words.
Yet again, if sorrow could be enjoyed, then here is another rendition from Saigal Saab, to enjoy.
Song-Janam janam kaa dukhiyaa praani (Tadbeer) (1945) Singer-K L Saigal, Lyrics-Swami Ramanand, MD-Lal Mohammad
Lyrics
janam janam kaa dukhiyaa praani
janam janam kaa dukhiyaa praani
aayaa sharan tihaari
aayaa sharan tihaari
bhagwan aayaa, main aayaa
kadam kadam par ghor museebat
kadam kadam par ghor museebat
sar pe bipdaa bhaari
janam janam kaa dukhiyaa praani
aayaa sharan tihaari
aayaa sharan tihaari
bhagwan aayaa, main aayaa
uthhi hai chaaron or se aandhi
uthhi hai chaaron or se aandhi
bujhe na deepak teraa
mere jeewan ki kutiyaa mein
mere jeewan ki kutiyaa mein
chhaa na jaaye andheraa
chhaa na jaaye andheraa
tez hawaa se isey bachaa ke
tez hawaa se isey bachaa ke
karna ab rakhwaari
janam janam kaa dukhiyaa praani
aayaa sharan tihaari
aayaa sharan tihaari
bhagwan aayaa, main aayaa
soyi huyi
soyi huyi jwaala ko jagaa do
paapi jag ko aag lagaa do
jaley huye mere mann ki aashaa
bhagwan aaj pukaari
aayaa sharan tihaari
bhagwan aayaa, main aayaa
janam janam kaa dukhiyaa praani
aayaa sharan tihaari
aayaa sharan tihaari
bhagwan aayaa, main aayaa
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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