Main jo dinan ki thhoree
Posted on: September 11, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Kidar Sharma ‘Hasrat’, the famous lyricist, writer and filmmaker, recounts his association with Saigal Saab, while working on the film Tansen and Bhanwara. It was early 40s, and Saigal Saab was still associated with the New Theatres in Calcutta on a contract basis. Chandulal Shah of Ranjit Movietone (Bombay) planned the film Tansen, and the obvious choice for the title role was Saigal Saab. After some negotiations with New Theatres, Chandulal Shah obtained permission for having Saigal Saab work temporarily with Ranjit Movietone. The understanding was for a fixed period of time, and not for completing an assignment.
The production team at Ranjit Movietone planned well, and they were able to complete the shooting for Saigal Saab’s role, well in advance of the time limit. The owners of Ranjit Movietone, Gauhar Bai and Chandulal Shah now had Saigal Saab available for another 9 to 10 days, before the contract period expired. Kidar Sharma, who was with Ranjit Movietone at that time, was consulted, for a project that can be completed within 9 days. Kidar ji had a story in the making, and it was quickly developed into a full screenplay. And the entire shooting of Saigal Saab’s role was completed within nine days. The film Tansen was released in 1943, and the second production that was completed in a short order, was the film Bhanwara that got released in 1944.
Kidar ji tells about an incident that happened during this time period. Juhu, the famous residential locality in Bombay, used to be a remote and deserted area, far from the city of Bombay. Some rich people had built bungalows there, and would go there once in a while only. One evening, during the production of Tansen and Bhanwara, a party of film people was held at one such bungalow in Juhu, near the sea. Saigal Saab and Kidar ji were also invited. The party was in full swing, when Saigal Saab seemed to become restless and anxious. He pulled Kidar ji to one side, and said ‘koi bhairavi gaa rahaa hai”, and motioned Kidar ji to follow him. In all the noise of the party, and with no apparent nearby source of such music, it was Saigal Saab alone who had picked up the faint sounds of someone singing, away from the bungalow. The two friends left the bungalow, and followed the sound. A fakir was sitting on the beach and singing. As Kidar ji describes, the fakir was in raptures, and was soulfully singing the famous ghazal of Ghalib, ‘Nukta Cheen Hai Gham-e-Dil. . .’. Saigal Saab sat down near his feet, and listened, with tears streaming from his eyes. When the singing ended, Saigal Saab paid his respects to fakir. He put his hands in his pocket, and placed all the money he had at the feet of the fakir.
When the two returned to the party, other friends enquired about their absence, and Kidar ji shared briefly what had transpired. And a friend commented, ‘But Saigal Saab, you had five thousand rupees in your pocket, did you not count the money’. Saigal Saab’s reply was, ‘Do you think He who gives to me, does He count’.
This offering is the third of three Hori song by Saigal Saab, whose recordings are available. The other two, “Hori Ho Brijraaj Dulaare” and “Jin Jaao Ree Gori. . .”, are already posted on this blog. This is another delightful piece of folk poetry in which a very young gopi is addressing Krsna. She tells him that, “I am is too young to play Holi with you. I am not mature, and still am under my mother’s supervision. This year, I have promised my mother that I will stay home during the festival of Holi, but watch out for next year, when I will show you how Holi is played. So please consider my age and excuse me for this season”.
The traditional play of Holi, first time after the betrothal of a girl or a boy, is an important family gathering of fun and joy. Especially in the northern states, the event of ‘Pehli Holi’, the first time this festival occurs after engagement/wedding or after birth of a child is an important occasion. So the gopi is telling Krishna that she is not yet of the age to be betrothed, and is still under the supervision of her mother. She will not be able to play with Him this year. But then she also leaves behind a promise of the next year, that she will play Holi with Him, ‘barjori’, with full enthusiasm. The simplicity and the innocence that is communicated through words, is very endearing.
The author and composer of this song is not listed, and in all probability, it’s origins are in the folk traditions of Braj, the land of Krsna. Enjoy this wonderful reprisal of this folklore.
Song-Main jo dinan ki thhoree (Saigal NFS) (1940) Singer-K L Saigal
Lyrics
aaa
main jo dinan ki thhoree
piyaa morey maanat naahin
main jo dinan ki thhoree
piyaa morey maanat naahin
main jo dinan ki thhoree
kaachi kali ras nahin morey balmaa
khol dekho mori choli
aeyyyyy
kaachi kali ras nahin morey balmaa
khol dekho mori choli
jo ras hovey piyaa pe main chhidkoon
jo ras hovey to piyaa pe main chhidkoon
piyaa chatur main to bholi
piyaa morey maanat naahin
main jo dinan ki thhoree
arrey piyaa morey maanat naahin
main jo dinan ki thhoree
piyaa kahat tum chalo rangmahal mein
mori umar abhi bori
piyaa kahat chalo rangmahal mein
mori umar abhi bori
ab ko phaag mohey maan ko diyo re
par key ladoongi barjori
piyaa morey maanat naahin
jo dinan ki hoon main thhoree
4 Responses to "Main jo dinan ki thhoree"
October 29, 2011 at 6:44 pm
K L Saigal was music personified. They do’nt make musicians of that kind any more.
R P sinha
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March 20, 2014 at 10:09 pm
K L SAIGAL has lifted Rag Kafi to such heavenly heights with his golden voice that no body has ever since reached nearby.
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September 8, 2017 at 1:50 pm
hanks ATUL ji for uploading a rare song that I had not heard before. K. L. Saigal had inimitable style that several singers tried to imitate. I have heard almost all Saigal songs but this one escaped my attention. You have made my day.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
September 11, 2011 at 10:08 pm
It is these stories that tell us about his humanity, his humility, his appreciation of music, wherever it is from, these are the traits that endear hm to us, more than the music itself. Music is still the foundation, but the character of the person is the icing on the cake.
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