Ulfat ka adhoora afsaana
Posted on: March 28, 2013
“Neeli” (1950) was a Ranjit Film Company production. It was directed by Ratibhai Punatkar. The movie had Dev Anand, Suraiya, Agha, Shyama, Dulari, Cuckoo etc in it.
Here is a song from this movie, This forgotten gem is a pleasure to listen to. I heard this song for the first time only now and I loved it.
Surjeet Sethi is the lyricist. Music is composed by S Mohinder.
Lyrics of this song were sent to me by Nitin Shah.
Song-Ulfat ka adhoora afsaana (Neeli)(1950) Singer-Suraiyya, Lyrics-Surjeet Sethi, MD-S Mohinder
Lyrics(Nitin Shah)
ulfat ka adhoora afsaana kuchh bhool gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
saahil se lehar ka takraana kuchh bhool gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
ulfat ka adhoora afsaana kuchh bhool gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
tere ahde wafa ne ye kaam kiya aa aa
mera shauk o junun badhata hi gaya
tere ahde wafa ne ye kaam kiya
mera shauko junoon badhata hi gaya
afsos bulandi per laa kar
khud tune hamko gira diya
lipta ke gale yoon thukraana
kuchh bhul gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
ulfat ka adhoora afsana kuchh bhool gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
ham aag se khele jal bhi gaye ae ae
woh aankh chura kar chal bhi diye ae ae
ham aag se khele jal bhi gaye
woh aankh chura kar chal bhi diye
ham unko bhulaayenge kaise
jo ek ghadi mein badal bhi gaye
ek dard mila hai nazraana
kuchh bhool gaye kuchh yaad bhi hai
ulfat ka adhoora afsaana
kuchh bhool gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
saahil se lehar ka takraana kuchh bhool gaye
kuchh yaad bhi hai
6 Responses to "Ulfat ka adhoora afsaana"
March 29, 2013 at 2:38 am
Arun ji,
As always, the amount of detailed information coming from you never ceases to amaze.
Here is a little more history to the origins of this storyline. The original storyline is from the famous stage play ‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw. ‘Pygmalion’ is a persona form the ancient Greek mythology. He is a sculptor who falls in love with one of his creations, Galatea, that providentially comes to life. This theme has been a popular subject for playwrights also, through the history, and many versions of stories and plays exist in many languages, across the centuries.
When GB Shaw wrote and published this in 1912, it immediately caught the attention of the connoiseurs, and in 1913 the play successfully made a debut on the stage, in multiple languages in UK, Europe and USA. Subsequently, it has been adapted for the screen many times over the last century – ‘Pygmalion’ in 1935, again as ‘Pygmalion’ in 1938, ‘Pretty Woman’ (1990), ‘She’s All That’ (1999). But of course, the most famous adaptation was the stage play in 1956 and the corresponding film version in 1964 – ‘My Fair Lady’. The popularity of this theme does not go away. This play has been produced as stage and film versions in many languages, in many countries, across the decades.
In India, ‘Man Pasand’ (1980) is the best known adaptation. And actually Rex Harrison, the star of the stage and film versions of ‘My Fair Lady’ was invited as an advisor for the filming of ‘Man Pasand’. It is very interesting to know that this film ‘Neeli’ is also on the same theme, and very possibly the insipiration for Dev Anand to produce ‘Man Pasand’.
A very interesting aside to this entire enterprise that got generated from the play written by GB Shaw’s. The author’s original version does not have a happy ending, in that the main protagonists part ways at the end of the play. And GB Shaw was at loggerheads with all the producers of the plays and films. Much to his chargin they all wanted to make it a happy ending. To the extent that he even wrote a complete postscript for one of his print versions, meant for the directors and producers, in which he propounded at length, the reasons and logic as to why the main protagonists cannot be together at the end of the play. But of course, as history records it, apparently none of the producers / directors took his advice. 🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
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March 29, 2013 at 11:25 am
Sudhir ji,
Thanks for your detailed additional information.
I have read the play by G B Shaw ‘Pygmalion’ also.
To add some more information-
The famous dramatist of Marathi stage-Pu La Deshpande- had written an adaptation of this play in Marathi,titled ‘ TEE FUL RANEE ‘ ( That flower princess).This drama was staged and actress BHAKTI BARVE (who had done the role of the Editor,in the film ‘Jane bhi do yaron’-83)
had done the central role of the flower girl.This drama ran for record number of shows in Maharashtra,till Bhakti Barve (wife of actor Shafi Inamdar) died in a road accident on Pune-Mumbai Expressway,early in last decade.
-AD
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March 29, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Arunji,
Is this Bhakti Barve the same one who was a Marathi news reader on Bomay Doordarshan in late 70s and 80s?
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March 29, 2013 at 2:11 pm
Khyati ji,
yes . She is the same Bhakti Barve.
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December 8, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Well, for this particular post , now I have to thank all – Shah Saheb for the lyrics, Atul ji – for the post, and Deshmukh Sir & Sudhir Sir – for sharing the detailed valuable information.
Thank you all …!!!
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
March 28, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Atul ji,
NILI-1950 was a Ranjit Movietone film,directed by Ratibhai Punathar,who was Chandulal Shah’s nephew and a renowkned director in those days.
The MD was S.Mohinder and the Lyrics were by Surjit Sethi.
The cast included Dev Anand,Suriaya,Agha,Shyama Dulari,Cuckoo etc.
The story was based on a famous Hollywood film.
Kumar (dev) is a famous sculptor and he mingles with the elite of the town.Once he is in the midst of a party when they hear commotion outside.On enquiry,it is found that a beggar girl has stolen some bread and people were after her.The elite who are in the party start talking ill of the poor in the society so much that Kumar is very angry.He leaves the party with his friend Kant(Agha).Outside they find the beggar girl hiding in Kumar’s car. She is brought to his house and fed properly. Kumar decided to make a fashionable and royal girl out of the beggar girl and teach the hypochratic elite people a lesson that it is not the birth but upbringing that makes a man.
he starts working on NILI (Suraiya) and in a short time makes her a fine beautiful princes.he makes many statues of her too.She falls in his love but he treats her only as an object of his adventure.
Once he takes her to the party and introduces her as Princess Nilima.All the people honour her .When they come back from the party,Nili fires him for treating her only as a tool for his purpose and leaves the house.
Kumar realises his folly and his love for her. He and Kant go and get her back for a sweet end.
This was in 1950. Exactly 30 years after this film,Dev Anand made MANPASAND-1980,with Tina Munim as a flower girl – Kamali-and Girish karnad as Kashinath-his friend,with the same story.
there were 9 songs in the film.
-AD
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