Tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa
Posted on: April 6, 2012
This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
In my native place in Mangalore district (and perhaps other places in India specially in villages), it was a tradition in almost every house that all family members would assemble in the Pooja Room soon after the dusk for singing some devotional songs. In a joint family system, this tradition also worked as a means of creating bonding among large family members. After shifting to Mumbai in early 50s, with a nuclear family and a city culture, this tradition slowly got discontinued. But my mother would sing at least a couple of devotional songs every day after dusk while doing her kitchen chores. One of the devotional songs which I had often heard in my childhood was in the Konkani language, my mother tongue. I was very much impressed by the lyrics and the tune of the song.
Years passed and I was now more into listening to music –Hindi film songs, non-filmy songs and classical songs in that order. With this background, I felt that the Konkani song I referred to above was an unusual devotional song in terms of its lyrics and tune. That made me more eager to know about the creator of the song. I asked my mother and aunts about this but all they could tell me was that they picked up this song from some religious gathering in my native place. My father being a fan of classical music and Hindi film songs and involved in musical drama theater locally as a hobby would have known as to who wrote and composed this song. But he had left us for heavenly abode when I was just 8 year old.
More years passed and I forgot about this song for a longtime. It was only when my mother expired about 7 years ago, I started remembering the things associated with her and this devotional song along with many other songs were also a part of such memories. Once again, I started my quest for the creator of this devotional song. But I got no answer to my questions even from my relatives in the native place. In fact they were not even aware of this devotional song. Last Sunday in a family gathering, I asked my aunt once again who is now 83, whether she could recall anything about this song, banking on the assumption that in old age, people suddenly start remembering even the minor events of their early life. Unfortunately, she could not recall as to who wrote and composed the song. She said that she just remembers the first line of the song ‘turaak prabhu lok vibhu aamka sarvaan ka’ ( O God, Almighty, please protect all of us).
Yesterday, I accidentally came across a parody song from film‘ Viswas’ (1943) which was based on some popular songs from the films of early 40s. When I heard one of the songs, I was taken aback when the tune of that song perfectly matched with that of the Konkani devotional song I used to hear in mychildhood days. I then searched for the original song which to my surprise was ’tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa’ from film KHANDAN (1942). In all these years, I never thought of the possibility of the tune of a popular Hindi filmy song being used for a devotional song. In those days, it was blasphemy to sing a devotional song based on the tunes of popular Hindi film songs. I am very happy that my search for the details of the Konkani devotional song led me to a beautiful Hindi film song of the early 40s which I was unaware of all these years.
The song ‘ tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa’ was sung by Noor Jehan on herself on the lyrics of D N Madhok which was composed by Master Ghulam Haider. Noor Jehan in her very first film as a lead actor-singer sang this song beautifully with her teenager’s voice. I believe,this song is based on a classical raag. Three songs of this film have already been discussed in the blog. I have now heard almost all the songs of KHANDAN (1942) and in my view, this song is the best among them. No wonder,the best tune was lifted for the devotional song. One must admire the reach of the popular Hindi film songs even in those days, that too in a non-Hindi speaking region.
The video clip of this song is available. However, I have also given the link to the audio clip where dholak and tabla beats can be heard better.
Audio
Video
Song-Tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa (Khandaan)(1942) Singer-Noorjahaan, Lyrics-D N Madhok, MD-Ghulam Haider
Lyrics
tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa
tu kaunsi badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa
taare hain mere zakhm-e-jigar
in mein samaa jaa
taare hain mere zakhm-e-jigar
in mein samaa jaa
tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa
dil dhoondh rahaa hai
dil dhoondh rahaa hai
ke meraa chaand kahaan hai
dil dhoondh rahaa hai
dil dhoondh rahaa hai
ke meraa chaand kahaan hai
chhoti si jhalak deke meri eid banaa jaa
chhoti si jhalak deke meri eid banaa jaa
taare hain mere zakm-e-jigar
in mein samaa jaa
taare hain mere zakm-e-jigar
in mein samaa jaa
tu kaunsi badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa
pehloo mein liye
haaye
pehloo mein liye baithi hoon
main dard bharaa dil
pehloo mein liye
haaye
pehloo mein liye baithi hoon
main dard bharaa dil
mar jaaun yaa jeeti rahoon
ye to bataa jaa
mar jaaun yaa jeeti rahoon
ye to bataa jaa
taare hain mere zakhm-e-jigar
in mein samaa jaa
taare hain mere zakhm-e-jigar
in mein samaa jaa
tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa
6 Responses to "Tu kaun si badli mein mere chaand hai aa jaa"
April 8, 2012 at 3:48 am
Sadanand ji
As I read your post, I can relate to the emotions and the drive you felt as you searched for the information behind the song. Touching sentiments – thanks for sharing.
Ah yes, a lovely song, this one. Thanks for posting.
Rgds
Sudhir
LikeLike
April 8, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Thanks for finding this lovely song and posting it. I am amazed at the quality of audio and video. It is so clear and each and every word’s pronunciation is a testimony to Noorjehaan ‘s talent. The youthful voice is indicating that she is not classically trained, or was not till then. I wonder how many films she appeared and how many songs she has in hindi films, before she left for Pakistan. Or if she gave playback to anyone else in india.
LikeLike
March 14, 2014 at 6:33 pm
I was reading articles on Tamancha Jan (real name Gulzar), a courtesan of Hira Mandi, Lahore, also referred to as ‘nightingale of Lahore’. In one of the articles, it has been mentioned that the HMV’s record version of this song was sung by Tamancha Jan. Fortunately, I could get the audio clip the version song :
Except for the first line, rest of the lyrics are different in the version song.
LikeLike
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 7, 2012 at 6:58 am
Sadanand Ji,
Liked your post.Loved the nostalgia. Very lovely song.Probably first time i am appreciating a Noor Jahan song. 🙂
K S Shenoy
LikeLike