Baadal dal sa nikal chalaa
Posted on: July 7, 2012
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Anil Biswas, a name that is associated with the Hindi film music, almost from its inception in the early 30s – an association that lasted all the way into the decade of 60s. It is almost as if the golden age of film music came to an end when this hugely talented composer decided to call it a day, and retired from film music in the late 60s. Today is the 98th birth anniversary of this doyen of Hindi film music.
When Mehboob Khan’s film ‘Roti’ was released in 1942, on hearing the song “Sajnaa Saanjh Bhayee. . .” sung by Sitara Devi, an equally brilliant peer music director, Ghulam Haider commented that he would offer all the music that he has ever created for this one song.
Born on this date in 1914, at Baarisaal in what is now called Bangladesh, the young child was singing to folk music with confidence at the age of 4, had mastered the tabla at the age of 6, and was performing on stage at the age of 10. The early formative years of his life almost read like a battle zone. At the age of 12, he joined the freedom movement. Before he was 14, he had already been to jail six times, and spent a lot of time underground. Two weeks before his matric examinations, he returned home, only to know that his father had passed away while he was in hiding.
On account of his revolutionary activities, the police was always after him, and he could never stay for long at one place. After his matric exams, he left home once again, and through a torturous route, he finally arrived at the home of Panna Lal Ghosh, his brother in law. His elder sister, Parul Ghosh, was glad to see him, and took good care of him. But after all of four days, young Anil decided to move out yet again. He found a job as a waiter in a restaurant. With the help of one of the customers at the restaurant, he found a job teaching music to children in a couple of families. But his revolutionary record with the police never allowed him to settle down at any one place. He secured a job as a musician at the ‘Rangmahal Theatre’. And he was also introduced to Qazi Nazrul Islam, who was associated with ‘Megaphone Records’ as a song writer and singer. He was employed as a music trainer at ‘Megaphone’ and this is where he cut his first record – “Aarzoo Hai Dum Mein, Jab Tak Dum Rahey”.
After three years of such jobs, the next turn came in his life when he got introduced to Hiren Bose, the famous filmmaker, who offered him a job in Bombay. And so, the next phase of his life started off as a composer in the production house ‘Kumar Movietone’, Bombay. And he was not yet 20 years old.
His first film as an independent music director is listed as ‘Dharam Ki Devi’, (1935). And it was not long before his talent and his fame brought him contracts from many companies. From Kumar Movietone to Eastern Arts Company to Daryaani Productions to Saagar Movietone to National Studios to Bombay Talkies to Mehboob Productions, Anil Da worked with a variety of producers and production houses. The list of successful films and songs is too long to be sampled here. A more interesting sampling would be of the artists that he introduced into the industry. Names like Zohra Bai, Sitara Devi, Parul Ghosh, Mukesh etc. as singers, and Ashok Ghosh, C Ramchandra and Pannalal Ghosh as music directors – these artists got their initial opportunities and lot of encouragement from Anil Da. Anil Da was also instrumental in making actor-singer Surendra recover his career and build a distinct image and identity for himself.
There is a handful of songs that Anil Da has rendered himself. This song is from the film ‘Hamaari Baat’, a 1943 social drama from the production house of Bombay Talkies, directed by MI Dharamsey. The lyrics for this film are written by Pt. Narendra Sharma. The star cast of this film includes Devika Rani, Jairaj, Suraiya, Shah Nawaaz, Mumtaz Ali, David, Prabha, Rajkumari Shukla, Kamta Prasad, Uday Kumar, Arun Kumar, Dulari, Raj Kapoor.
Listen to this rare recording, an inspirational song of encouragement, that is rendered by Anil Da himself, along with a chorus. The words of the song a wonderful exhortation to arise and accomplish. A very uplifting song.
baadal dal sa nikal chalaa ye dal matwaala re
hum maston se aan miley koi himmat waala re
Like an imposing assemblage of thick dark clouds
So this, our group of self assured inspired ones
Is on the move (towards its targets)
Let those who may be strong and confident
Have the courage to come a face us
bijli ki tadpan nas nas mein, aaj nahin hum apne bas mein
naye khoon mein lehar le rahee jeewan jwaala re
The fervor of lightning
Races through our nerves
Our passions are racing ahead of us
The blaze of life weaves anew
Through the blood in our veins
toofaanon se takkar lein hum, parbat ko do took karen hum
bahut dinon anyaaye ka hum ne bojh sambhaala re
We are raring to take on any thunderous tempests
And to crush mountains (to dust)
It has been a long time
That we have carried and withstood
The burdens of injustice
Song-Baadal dal se nikal chala (Hamaari Baat)(1943) Singer-Anil Biswas, Lyrics-Pt Narendra Sharma, MD-Anil Biswas
Chorus
Lyrics
baadal dal sa nikal chalaa
ye dal matwaala re
chalaa ye dal matwaala re
heyy ae ae
hum maston se aan miley
koi himmat waala re
miley koi himmat waala re
miley koi himmat waala re
baadal dal sa aa
baadal dal sa nikal chalaa
ye dal matwaala re
chalaa ye dal matwaala re
bijli ki tadpan
aa aa aa aa
bijli ki tadpan nas nas mein
aaj nahin hum apne bas mein ae ae
bijli ki tadpan nas nas mein ae ae
aaj nahin hum apne bas mein ae
naye khoon mein lehar le rahee
naye khoon mein lehar le rahee
jeewan jwaala re
le rahee jeewan jwaala re ae ae
hum maston se aan miley
koi himmat waala re
miley koi himmat waala re ae ae
baadal dal sa
toofaanon se takkar lein hum
toofaanon se ae ae
toofaanon se
toofaanon se takkar lein hum
parbat ko o o
parbat ko do took karen hum
toofaanon se takkar lein hum
toofaanon se
toofaanon se
bahut dinon anyaay ka hum ne
bahut dinon anyaay ka hum ne
bojh sambhaala re
hum ne bojh sambhaala re
hum maston se aan miley
koi himmat waala re
miley koi himmat waala re ae ae
baadal dal sa
aa aa
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
July 7, 2012 at 8:36 am
Great to know so many things about Anil Biswas. Thank you Sudhirji
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