Main hoon pari ban ki pari
Posted on: October 6, 2012
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The relentless dedication of one man, and his companions on this musical bandwagon, is clearly evident from the consistent pace at which this blog is making progress by the day. A hundred songs are being consistently added every two weeks, give or take a couple of days. It is this consistency that is the most remarkable feature of this effort. The unflagging interest and the singular determination that is exhibited by the entire team, speaks volumes about the leadership and dedication of this one man.
And yes, we are celebrating another century of posts on this blog today.
Greetings and welcome all to the 6800th post on this blog. Many months ago, when I was writing the post for the 5000th song, “Hamen To Loot Liyaa Mil Ke Husn Waalon Ne”, the date was 13th November, 2011. And the thought of future milestones, though always there in the background, was also always somewhat tentative. And yet, looking at the combined effort of the past almost one year, this train has been chugging along at a steady pace, defying almost all tenets of group dynamics. Heads down, and marching forward, one song at a time – I am sure almost everyone on the team will share this exhilaration and sense of accomplishment. And in the depths of my heart, the target of ten thousand songs and beyond does not seem intimidating any more.
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S A L L. 🙂
With this post, I am initiating an effort for a series of posts on Mukesh, and will try to bring online, as many rare songs of Mukesh, as I am able to manage. Some of these are already available online, and some I will be uploading from my collection. My effort is to start from the beginning and progress forward accounting for all Mukesh songs. For the songs that are already posted here, I will refer to them in the order they appear in Mukesh’s career. This is for the sake of completeness. For songs not yet posted, the write up will be about them. E.g. in this post, I complete the reference to ‘Nirdosh’, the first film of Mukesh. One solo song already posted, one duet not released as a record, and one duet released, and covered in this write up. And so more to follow.
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The Voice of Mukesh #1
It is about six weeks ago now, that I participated in a brief program about Mukesh, on Doordarshan. I have read the messages and appreciations, in the comments as well as on email, and I thank all friends on this blog for the same. I know that Atul ji has written about the program in this post, and that Arun ji has posted some photographs that he took. I have now received the video disc of that program. This program was a part of the regular DD show, ‘Good Evening India’. This is a one hour show, and the program on Mukesh was the first 20 minutes or so. The recording of this program is now posted online and the link for the same can be found in the post referred earlier in this para.
This was a case of best laid plans going haywire. At first, Doordarshan producers had approached Nalin ji Shah to appear on this program on the occasion of the death anniversary of Mukesh. Not being in a position to travel to Delhi for this program, he apparently suggested the names of Shikha Vohra and myself instead. Shikha ji is the daughter of Anil Biswas. She is also based in Delhi, and is currently very active in organizing programs related to Hindi film music of yesteryears. This was all happening about two weeks prior. I got a call from the DD producer, Shri Pradeep Mathur, and then a call from Nalin ji also. The planning was put in place, and the set of questions identified, to focus on some very interesting aspects of Mukesh ji’s initial years in the industry, especially the entire episode of the recording of the iconic song “Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne De”. The duration of this conversation was fixed for 30 minutes. On the day of the show, when we arrived at the Doordarshan studios, we were informed that the time for this piece was reduced by seven or eight minutes. A medical conference was in progress in the city, and the PM was to deliver a lecture there the next day. To highlight that conference, another small item was forced on to the agenda for that day’s telecast, reducing the time of the other two items.
Anyway, there was little we could do about that. But what followed was even more dismaying. The questions had been listed already. Prior to the program, Shikha ji and I sat down with Anu Sharma, the anchor for that evening and went over the sequence of questions and video clips etc. We thought we were working to a plan. What we did not realize was that the production team had a set of clips that lasted more than eight nine minutes overall, and they were simply bent upon ensuring that the entire set was used in the program. What suffered instead was the answers that Shikha ji and I had prepared for. The anchor simply cut into the conversation, and would drop in the next question even before we had completed the answer to the previous one. In case of the song “Dil Jalta Hai. . .”, the anchor did not allow Shikha ji to deliver the complete answer. The most interesting part of Mukesh getting drunk before the recording, and Anil Da dragging him by the collar from the bar to the studio, was missed out, and Shikha ji was visibly upset when we talked after the show. As you may see in the video clip, the latter half of the program is full of clips showing Randhir Kapoor, Ritu Nanda (Raj Kapoor’s daughter), and other material. Anyway, lessons learnt as a beginner.
Well the interesting part of this program was that it brought into focus, for me, the initial years of Mukesh in the film industry. And that is where the idea of this series of write ups came from.
Born in Ludhiana (Punjab) in 1923, he grew up into a handsome young man, with an enchanting singing voice. He started to sing as a hobby. In 1940, just seventeen, and becoming known for his singing, HMV got in touch with him, and they published some records of his songs; non filmi of course. Mukesh and Motilal, one of the reigning super stars of that era, were cousins. Motilal was visiting Delhi for a family function, where he heard Mukesh sing. And that was it. Motilal suggested Mukesh to come to Bombay, and for Mukesh, it was a dream invite, for he aspired to be a singing hero, just like his idol KL Saigal Saab. Arriving in Bombay, he soon bagged his first assignment as a singer and actor in the film Nirdosh.
The film was produced under the banner of National Studios, Bombay, and directed by Virendra C Desai. The star cast of the film includes Nalini Jaywant, Mukesh, Satish,Kanhaiyya Lal, Shanta Thakkar, Kamla, Sankatha Prasad, Gulzar, Kayam Ali, Maruti Rao, Tiwari, Shrimati Marathe, Agha Jaani, Kumari Hemlata etc. The music director for this film is Ashok Ghosh, and the lyrics are penned by three stalwarts of that era, Zia Sarhadi, Kanhaiyaa Lal Chaturvedi and Neelkanth Tiwari.
The first solo film song that Mukesh recorded for this film, is already posted on this blog at “Dil Hi Bujha Huaa Ho To Fasl-e-Bahaar Kyaa”. Ah, but what about the remaining songs in this film. There are eleven songs listed for this film. The heroine of this film is Nalini Jaywant, who was also a popular singing star in those years. She has sung a total of six songs in this film, four of which are solo items, and two are duets with Mukesh. And thus started my search for the treasure trove of some very rare songs of Mukesh from his early career. In this film, Mukesh has sung a total of three songs – one solo and two duets with Nalini Jaywant.
As I tried to search for these two duet songs, I find the following information. One of the duet songs is “Tumhi Ne Mujhko Prem Sikhaaya”. The words ring a bell. Yes, because this is a song that has been re used from an earlier film. This song features in the 1936 film ‘Manmohan’, and is originally sung by Surendra and Bibbo. The very same song was re-recorded for the film ‘Nirdosh’, in the voice of Mukesh and Nalini Jaywant. (NOTE: ‘Manmohan’ (1936) is a Sagar Movietone production, directed by Mehboob). The common links between these two films are the lyricist and music director. The music for film ‘Manmohan’ is also composed by Ashok Ghosh, and the lyrics of this song are penned by Zia Sarhadi, credited the same in both films. A foot note in the Geet Kosh states that no record was released for the Mukesh-Nalini Jaywant version appearing in ‘Nirdosh’ (1941). Possibility may have been that since the song was already released and was also on record as belonging to another film (‘Manmohan’), the record for this song as part of this film (‘Nirdosh’) was not made.
And now, coming to the second duet in this film. It is a song so very rare, not yet available online anywhere. Luckily I am able to locate it in my collection, courtesy my collector friend who gave me the recordings of some songs from this film sometimes back. I pulled it out, and posted it online.
This song is from the pen of Neelkanth Tiwari.
Although treated as a duet, the song itself is primarily sung by Nalini Jaywant. Mukesh gets to sing just two lines in the middle of the song. The rest is all rendered by Nalini. (NOTE: besides the singers identified, apparently a feline creature has also lent its voice for one line in this song. 🙂 )
A sense of historical significance accompanies this song. This is the first (or second) duet of Mukesh’s career, recorded with Nalini Jaywant.
Definitely a milestone event.
main hoon pari, ban ki pari
A fairy I am
A fairy of the forest
meri dharti ki hai abaadi hari
hari hari azaadi bhari
My land, it is all green
Green it is, and free
Open and unbounded
kali kali meri gali gali
phoolon pali mein hawaa ki lali
The pathways that I tread
Abound with fresh flowers and buds
Born of the ceaseless breeze
I have grown up with flowers
tu hai pari, ban ki pari
Ah yes, indeed
A fairy you are
A forest fairy
sun re bilaar, ban ke bilaar
meri boli samajh, mere gaane samajh
geeton se daar daar bajti sitaar
Listen (to me), o lynx of the forest
Understand my words
And appreciate my songs
The music of the sitar
Plays along (as I sing)
From every branch in the trees
mein hoon pari, ban ki pari
Oh yes
A fairy I am
A fairy of the forest
Song-Main hoon pari main hoon pari(Nirdosh)(1941) Singers-Nalini Jaiwant, Mukesh, Lyrics-Neelkanth Tiwari, MD-Ashok Ghosh
Lyrics
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
meri dharti ki hai aabaadi hari
meri dharti ki hai aabaadi hari
hari hari aazaadi bhari
hari hari aazaadi bhari
kali kali meri gali gali
haan kali kali meri gali gali
phoolon pali mein hawaa ki lali
phoolon pali mein hawaa ki lali
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
tu hai pari
tu hai pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
sun re bilaar
miaaun, miaaun
khiiaaun, khiiaaun
ban ke bilaar
sun re bilaar
ban ke bilaar
meri boli samajh
mere gaane samajh
meri boli samajh
mere gaane samajh
geeton se daar daar bajti sitaar
haan geeton se daar daar bajti sitaar
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
main hoon pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
ban ki pari
main hoon pari
ho main hoon pari
20 Responses to "Main hoon pari ban ki pari"
October 6, 2012 at 10:00 am
Atulji
Good Morning !
Congratulations for 6800th song
And Sudhir ji Thanks for the post.
Regards & Love
Prakash
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October 6, 2012 at 10:14 am
Sudhir ji,
Thanks for a Gem from the past.
-AD
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October 6, 2012 at 10:15 am
Atul ji,
Congratulations on yet another Century.
-AD
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October 6, 2012 at 11:06 am
How ruthless and heartless this Doordarshan personnel to have cut short what could have been one of the best programme.
Inke to door se hi darshan bhale
Na yeh doordarshi hain
na to yeh laghu drishiti wale
yaane yeh hain safad kaathiwale
Sudhirji,
Congratulation. Can you upload audio/video of the above programme Do not worry of the merits. Our bloggers will enjoy all the same.
Atulji,
Congratulations for the another milestone that too at a faster clip. Bravo
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October 6, 2012 at 11:29 am
The video of that programme is altready uploaded and link is given in the earlier writeup
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October 6, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Sudhir ji,
As you are planning to find and post rare songs of Mukesh,I draw your attention to the lengthy discussion we had about songs of Mukesh during 40-45 period,which took place 0n 19-2-2011.In this discussion
AK ji had raised some point and in reply to him I had given some details.These may be useful to you in your present exercise.For your convinience,here are the 2 said comments-
7 | AK
February 21, 2011 at 5:28 pm
My compliments to Sudhir for such thoughtful analysis. A small observation though – in the third line, instead of हटाओ it should be हटा, for the sake of proper metre. It is quite ususal in Urdu poetry to alter a word slightly even departing from its correct grammatical form for rhyming and metre. You would find it difficult to sing the line with hataao.
Another interesting point is that you often find Dil jalta hai to jalne de from Pehli Nazar (1945) being mistakenly mentioned as Mukesh’s first song. This came four years later, and surely Mukesh must have sung several songs in between. I am not aware of any song in the interregnum, at least one can safely say Dil jalata hai was the first song that brought Mukesh national fame. But it would be a wonderful exploration for Atul ji to find Mukesh songs of 1941-45.
Reply
8 | Arunkumar Deshmukh
February 21, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Some information about Mukesh songs during1940 to 1945.
Mukesh recorded 3 non-filmi songs in 1940( sanvar yaar/Ab tu hai dilgir/Allah maula dekh jara ).
Mukesh sang “Ab der na kar sajan” in film Dukh sukh(1942) Mukesh sang in Nirdosh(1941).
In addition,there are 115 unreleased songs of Mukesh,but no deatils of their year of recording are availabale.Some of these may be from the period in discussion.
-AD
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October 6, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Arun ji,
Thanks so much for the reminder. Yes, I intend to focus on the songs by Mukesh in 1940s. Your resending of the above comments is very timely.
Thanks
Sudhir
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October 6, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Unreleased Mukesh songs from 40s (out of total 115):
1. O DIL KO HASANE WALO J.S.MADHUP M.L.MASTER/BALDEVNIKE SHATRANJ 1946
2. LUT GAYI HO,LUT GAYI SHAMSHAD BEGUM PD.INDRA HANSRAJ BAHAL CHHEEN LE AAZADI 1947
3. DAL KAMALNI KAR KATI PETAMBARAM KIDAR SHARMA B.BASUDEV NEEL KAMAL 1947
4. AANKH JO DEKHE GEETA ROY,RAJKUMARI KIDAR SHARMA B.BASUDEV NEEL KAMAL 1947
5. AB YAAD NA KAR BHOOL MEENA KAPOOR SHAMSH AJEMABADI ANIL BISWAS ANOKHA PYAR 1948
6.YAAD RAKHNA CHAND TARON MEENA KAPOOR ZIA SARHADI ANIL BISWAS ANOKHA PYAR 1948
7. KABHI DIL DIL SE II SHAMSHAD BEGUM SHAQEEL BADAYUNI NAUSHAD ANOKHI ADA 1948
8. AAJAD HO GAYA HINDUSTAN RAMESH GUPTA RAM GANGULI JALSA / DESH SEWA 1948
9. NA NA NA,TUM LALITA DEULKAR QAMAR JALALABADI C.RAMCHANDRA MERA MUNNA 1948
10. BALLE BALLE JAWANI VISHWAMITRA AADIL DADA CHANDEKAR PHOOL AUR KAANTE 1948
11. MAINE DEKHI JAG KI REET (SAD) SHAMSHAD BEGUM D.N.MA DHOK GYAN DUTT SUNHERE DIN 1949
There are 50 odd songs out of 115 with year of release not available, but most seems to be from the later era (LP, Ravindra Jain, Ravi, Khayyam, Chitragupta, etc)
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October 6, 2012 at 11:52 pm
The above list does not appear correct because several of these songs are available and have been discussed in the blog itself.
For example
Chheen Le Aazaadi song
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/lut-gayi-laajo-beech-bajariyaa/
Anokha Pyaar songs
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/ab-yaad-na-kar-bhool-jaa-ae-dil-wo-fasaanaa/
Anokhi Ada song
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/kabhi-dil-dil-se-takraayaa-to-hogaa/
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October 7, 2012 at 1:06 am
Yes, I’m aware some of these songs have been already discussed on this blog. I saw this list on hamaraforum, and they are saying that some of these songs are available in DVD/VCD, but were not released as part of the soundtrack hence are considered unreleased songs, or some of them are version songs and hence considered unreleased, etc. You can look it up online and in several places u will see this list of 115 songs. I have no idea how accurate it is, but since 115 is the number everyone seems to be talking, I assumed it must be the authentic list.
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October 7, 2012 at 1:22 am
In fact if everyone is repeating the same figure then it means that they are all copying and pasting blindly from the same source without bothering to check the authenticity of the information.
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October 7, 2012 at 1:52 am
http://www.singermukesh.com/list/unreleased.htm
—seems like this is the main source.
On Hamaraforum, same list is repeated, and someone claimed to have helped Raghuvanshiji compile the list of all these songs, so I thought this information is coming from published works of Raghuvanshiji.
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October 6, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Thanks for uploading again for me, Atulji. Somehow I missed this clip.
Sudhirji,
I really enjoyed the programme with whatever so called trutiya which I did not noticed. You were superb. You have a teherau(equanimity), poise, aplomb and serenity in your voice and personality. You must be the coolest person. Thanks for the treat
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October 6, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Nitin ji,
I am really floored by your words, and I am not sure I am worthy of them. Thanks for your appreciation, I am glad you liked this program.
I have just recieved an email today from Shikha ji. She will be appearing on the next edition of Total Recall on Times Now, in a program about her father Anil Biswas. As soon as I get more firm schedule information, I will share it here.
Thanks again and regards
Sudhir
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October 6, 2012 at 7:02 pm
My compliments to Atul and his entire team for this milestone.
Congratulations Sudhirji for an excellent write up. What you are setting about to do is monumental and of immense interest to music lovers. About media, they do control the process, and the final product would be rarely what you had thought of. I hope you get over this disappointment.
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October 6, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Thanks a lot.
With nearly 500 Mukesh songs already discussed in the blog, this unitiative by Sudhir Ji will enable us to close in to the remaining Mukesh songs that he sang in his career.
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October 6, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Sudhirji,
Please; I do not generally praise unnecessarily. You deserve every word and more.
I shall look forward to with abated breath your next programme. Thanks
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10 | Pradeep Sharma
October 18, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Being An Ardent Fan Of Mukesh, This Is A Great Start By Sudhir Ji In This Blog, In A Live Show By “Jan Gayak Mukesh Manch” I Have Mentioned The Association Of HMV With Mukesh Before Leaving To Bombay. In The Same Show I Was Also Willing To Talk With Shikha Ji On The Same Episode Of “Dil Jalta Hai To jalne De” But She Was Not Feeling Well And Was In Hurry To Leave. Sudhir Ji Has Done A Great Job To Start The Series On Mukesh Ji’s Songs.
Regards
Pradeep Sharma
Founder Member “Jan Gayak Mukesh Manch” Delhi.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
October 6, 2012 at 9:44 am
Nice one. I can imagine Naliini Jaywant singing with her sparkling eyes. Yet there is innocence in her voice. I find that the two lines Mukesh got to sing in this song, there was no trace of K L Saigal in his voice.
Congratulations Atul for reaching 6800.
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October 6, 2012 at 9:47 am
Thanks a lot. This century was achieved in exactly two weeks (14 days).
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