Basa le apne man mein preet
Posted on: April 9, 2013
This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Baaghbaan means Baghwaan or a Gardener, one who tends the Gardens. To most readers, the name will remind of a film of same name, released in 2003.
Baghbaan-2003 was a poignant story of Senior Citizen and also a very meaningful commentary on the effects of present nuclear Family Structure. The story of Raj and Pooja Malhotra was very touching for two reasons. One ,the storyline itself was very strong and two Amitabh and Hema made the roles come alive on the screen with their superlative performance.( BTW, it was a Remake of a Marathi film-OON-PAUS-1952, in which Raja Paranjape and Sumati Gupte had acted as the main lead).
Today’s song for discussion is from a film also called BAAGHBAAN made in 1938. Though the name is similar, but the story is not the same, because the social set up in the 30s was yet to disintegrate into smaller families-causing problems for the elders in the family. The Joint Family trend was still existing. Social norms and Traditions were followed meticulously.
Baaghbaan-38 was remarkable for the songs rendered by Ashraf Khan (This film made him very famous), as described by our Mr. Sadanand ji Kamath in his recent post on this Blog. By now, most of us know that Ashraf Khan became a Sufi Saint in his last days, renouncing all worldly matters and is respected by Millions in India, Pakistan and from all over the world.( please see my post ” Roti Roti Roti” on 15-10-2012, on this Blog for detailed information on Ashraf Khan)
Baaghbaan-38 had music by Mushtaq Hussain, who was considered an Ustaad in Classical Music in those days. Naushad, who became a well known Music Director later was assistant to Mushtaq Hussain in Baaghbaan and Industrial India-1938. Hussain started with Aurat ka pyar-1933 and went on to give music to films like, Step Mother, Balaa ki Raat, Zalzalaa, Bhedi trishul, Baaghbaan, Industrial India, Pati patni, Kkanyadaan etc, a total of about 30 films. His last film as Music Director was Bombay-1949. Hussain’s forte was Semi-classical songs, Thumaris and ghazals.
Baaghbaan -38 was produced by General films and directed by A R Kardar( who became a staunch devotee of saint Ashraf Khan at a later date). Music was by Mushtaq Hussain for lyrics written by Mirza Musharraf,who became a wellknown comedy actor in his long career. The cast was, B.Nandrekar ( one of the most Handsome actors of all times), Bimla Kumari, Sitara Devi, Mirza musharraf, Yasmin, Putlibai, Ashraf Khan, Nazir, Yakub, K N Singh, Wasti,Ram Avatar(Debut film) etc.
The story was-
SARUP (Nandrekar) is a disciple of Sadhu Bhagat Ram(Ashraf Khan). One day the Sadhu starts singing a devotional love song, but Sarup, without understanding its real meaning gets lost in thoughts of love. Seeing his condition, the Sadhu sends him to a janmashtami fair. In the fair also Sarup walks thinking about love, not knowing where he is going or what he is doing. The police suspect him, arrest him and he is sent to jail.
In the jail, Sarup is given the gardener’s job at the Superintendent’s bungalow. In one jail riot, he is injured. Seeing this,Durga ( Bimla Kumari),the jail Superintendent’s daughter, along with her friend Shanta(Sitara Devi) takes Sarup inside the house and Dr. Hansraj, father of Shanta is called. On arrival Dr. Hansraj suspects that Sarup is his long lost son, feared drowned, after marriage to Durga. Since then Durga is treated as a widow, but no one knows this. Durga takes care of Sarup, who is now a free man also. Slowly they develop love. The parents of Durga want to remarry Durga to somebody now. Ranjit (Yakub),a spent young man, wants to marry Durga. he spreads the news that Durga is a widow, so that no one will marry her.
As expected his marriage is fixed with Durga, much to the ire of his earlier lover kammo (Yasmin). Durga asks Sarup to go back. Sarup comes to Sadhu Bhagat Ram and tells everything. The Sadhu reveals that actually Sarup is Durga’s long last Husband and son of Dr. Hansraj.
They hurry up to Durga’s house, where the marriage ceremony has started. The Sadhu enters the mandap and utters Bollywood’s famous Dialogue- ” Yeh shaadi nahin ho sakti “. There is a great commotion. Then the Sadhu explains that Sarup is the long lost husband of Durga. As a proof, he produces the locket which Sarup had in his childhood.
Suddenly Kammo enters the mandap and shoots at Ranjit, killing him. She then kills herself also.
The long lost Husband and wife reunite and all are happy !
Let us now hear the song which the Sadhu(Ashraf Khan ) was singing. It is in Thumri style and has many Murkis too.
Song-Basa le apne man mein preet (Baagbaan)(1938) Singer-Ashraf Khan, Lyrics-Mirza Musharraf, MD-Mushtaq Hussain
Lyrics
man mein ae ae ae ae preeeeet
apne man mein preet
basa le
apne man mein preeeet
man mandir mein preetam basaaaa le
man mandir mein preetam basa le
o moorakh o bhole bhaale
dil ki duniya kar le raushan
apne ghar mein jyot jaga le
preet hai teri reet puraani
bhool gaya o bharat vaasi
preet hai teri reeet
basa le
apne man mein preeeet
bharat mata hai dukhiyaaaari
aa aa
aa aa aa aa aa aa aa
bharat mata hai dukhiyaari
dukhiyaare hain sab nar naari
tu hi uthha le sundar murali
tu hi ban ja Shyaam muraaari
tu jaage to duniya jaage
jaag uthhen sab prem pujaari
gaayen tere geet
basaa le
apne man mein preet
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 9, 2013 at 12:05 pm
It is an unique genre of song sung in the godly voice of Sufi saint Ashraf Khan. It is a semi-classical song, a devotional song at the beginning – the devotion towards Bharatmata and then it turns into an inspirational song in the last stanza.
Thanks for bringing this rare song to the notice of the readers.
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