Paaon mein painjaniyaan naache sajaniyaa
Posted on: October 19, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
What a find!! Bless this YouTube, and all the scattered music lovers all over the globe. Somewhere, someone is holding on to some fabulous music and then voila, it appears on the net. A song I have been searching for a long time. I am sure it happens with others also; it starts with the thought – there is something one is missing. At times it will pass through the mind, and then get folded under some other thoughts. When I log in online, there are so many other things to look for, that are the significant need for the current series of posts, that this one (and many other such things) do not readily jump to the front line. And then one day, I am searching for something else, when I bump into this one thing, completely out of the blue, and the only expression I can manage at the moment is “O My God”.
An OMG moment just happened with me a few minutes ago. Working on another post and looking for something else on YouTube, there is this thumbnail image and the first few words sticking in a corner, just too easy to miss. And then, one does miss it in the first read. I saw it, overlooked it and continued browsing; then a click in the head and my eyes zoom back to what I have read just seconds before. I can’t believe it; I just click on the link, put on my headphones, and there it is – a song that I have heard ages ago, and then very rarely after that. Its rhythm and words stuck to my mind forever, but the real sound has been missing for a long long time. And then I had to write this post.
The film is Kunwaari, from the year 1966. I have not heard of this film before today. Just the song. And then a scramble to find more information about it. Produced under the banner of Ravikala Chitra, Bombay, and directed by SN Tripathi, yes the music director, who has also scored the music for this film. Lyrics are by Shailendra, mainly, i.e. out of nine songs, seven are penned by him The remaining two are by another poet BD Mishra. This song is written by BD Mishra. The singing voice is that of Mahendra Kapoor. The star cast of the film is Indrani Mukherjee, Ravinder Kapoor, Prem Chopra, Jeevan, Leela Mishra, Murad, Helen, Tabassum, Shammi, Sunder, Tun Tun, Mumtaz Begum, SN Tripathi himself, Om Prakash, Ameeta, Munshi Munakka, and many more, the list of acting credits is pretty long.
And thankfully there is the original video clip with the YouTube post. As I am seeing it, I realize I am on to something unique here. There are two very rare and unique characteristics of this song. Seeing is believing, so check out the video clip. The song is rendered on screen by a very young and dashing Prem Chopra, dressed nattily in a tuxedo and a bow, and looking every inch a Beatles replica. In fact he reminds me of the young Paul McCartney, from the 60s. Brandishing a guitar, Prem is belting out this song on a stage, in what looks like a college function (maybe), and getting to do a very good job of it. And guess who is keeping company with the dance steps. It is Helen. Again, a rare occasion where Helen is dancing without singing. I tried to locate another instance in my mind, but could not come up with one. The closest I recalled is a dance sequence in OP Ralhan’s song-less film ‘Hulchul’ (1971), which is again a stage performance, no words, just music and Helen’s dance. But not the exact situation, i.e. someone else singing, and Helen is doing the dance steps only. (I would request other readers to add info on this thought). But as always, Helen’s dance steps simply outshine everything else in the frame, even the novelty of Prem Chopra representing the Beatles, and the wonderful verses in this song, and the delightful melody created by SN Tripathi, and not the least, the booming and enveloping sound of Mahendra Kapoor’s voice. Everything combining to make a very very watchable song.
Enough of my spiel; just click on the link and enjoy this wonderful sound, scarcely heard these days.
Audio
Video
Song-Paaon mein painjaniyaa naache sajaniyaa (Kunwaari) (1966) Singer-Mahendra Kapoor, Lyrics-B D Mishra, MD-S N Tripathi
Lyrics
ah haa haa haa
paaon mein painjaniyyaa
naache sajaniyaa
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhum
ah haa haa haa
husn tumhaaraa hai jalti shamaa
ishq hamaaraa hai parwaanaa
husn tumhaaraa hai jalti shamaa
ishq hamaaraa hai parwaanaa
jalaa denaa
giraa denaa
tumhaaraa khel hai zaalim
ah haa haa haa
zaalim adaayen
masti lutaayen
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhum
ah haa haa haa
jalwe tumhaare hain kitne haseen
tumsa jahaan mein hai koi nahin
jalwe tumhaare hain kitne haseen
tumsa jahaan mein hai koi nahin
karo waadaa
naa jaaoge
kabhi dil se hamaare tum
ah haa haa haa
tum ho hamaare
hum hain tumhaare
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhum
ah haa haa haa
paaon mein painjaniyyaa
naache sajaniyaa
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhannana chhum
ghungarwaa boley chhum chhum
ah haa haa
8 Responses to "Paaon mein painjaniyaan naache sajaniyaa"
October 19, 2011 at 3:05 pm
In Dharmatma(feroz khan`s-one snake dance featuring helen without song is there),
Ameer gareeb(1974-Helen dances for the song sung by premnath and dev anand-“Tu mere pyaale mein sharaab daal de)
In 1983 HAADSAA(Akbar khan`s), I do have a vague memory of seeing such a song picturised on Helenji(only music and no singing by helenji), But please correct me if I am wrong.
I searched for it at youtube, but didn`t find it.
LikeLike
October 19, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Another latajis melodious song was there in RAJA JAANI (1972)(starring dharmendra, hemamalini)(music laxmi pyare)
In that song(“Mubaarak ho tujhe ai dil, qayamat ki ghadi aayee, khushi se aankh bhar aayee”)Hemaji sings the song and dances with prem chopra.Side by side Helenji dances beautifully for the song
LikeLike
October 19, 2011 at 3:21 pm
In 1973 Shareef Badmash, one dance sequence is there in which Helen, hemamalini`s dance is there with out any song.
LikeLike
October 19, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Prakash ji,
Thanks for the prompt update and good information on Helen’s dances sans songs.
After posting this, I was also able to recall and locate another such instance from the film ‘Ek Nannhi Munni Ladki Thi’ (1970), in which the Manna Dey song “Ae Nazneen Ae Gulbadan’ is presented on screen by the veteran actor Jayant, accompanied by a Helen dance.
Rgds
Sudhir
LikeLike
October 19, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Dance without song ? Waheeda Rehman snake dance from ‘Guide’ :
Even in ‘Kya se kya ho gaya” Waheeda is dancing on stage even as the song is in progress.
LikeLike
April 11, 2012 at 2:12 pm
hi Sudhirji
i stumbled upon ur this post of yours today a good 6 months after you posted it. sorry for being so slow (this inspite of keeping a regular tab on what comes on in Atuldom; i check once every morning and before retiring for the night)
anyways i just wanted to add to Prakashchandraji’s list —
Mehbooba Mehbooba sung by RD Burman is also one such song where Helen only dances lip synch is by Jalal Agha
LikeLike
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
October 19, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Sudhir ji,
The song and dance is very good.Your guess work is also perfect.It is a college function.
KUNWAARI(1966) was produced by R.N.Mandloi.SNTripathi gave a vital
contribution in this movie.Not only he gave music,but also wrote the story,screenplay and Dialogues and also acted in the film !
This was a story of Col.Dubey(retd.)-omprakash- and his 2 daughters Chhaya-Indrani mukherjee and Chandani-Ameeta,who return to India after many years in London,to look after their hugh property.Prakash-Ravindra Kapoor-is appointed a Tutor for the girls to learn Indian culture.Prakash and Chhaya fall in love,elope and get married.Prakash dies of snakebite on wedding night,leaving Chhaya a Kunwaari.
Chhaya gets hooted out of town,goes to Benares,works as a Sarvodaya worker and also joins college.
She falls in love with Timir-Prem Chopda-,but his mother wants him to marry her sister Chandani.So,Chhaya goes away to facilitated their marriage.
The rest of the story details how matters get straightened out and finally,all is well.
Except 2 songs by bhagwat Dutt Mishra,the rest 7 are by Shailendra.The music was good.
-AD
LikeLike
October 19, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Arun ji,
Thanks so much for the background information on the film. As always, we depend on you to share these nuggets of relevant information, which are not accessible from elsewhere.
🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
LikeLike