Bibi mendhki ri tu to paani mein ki raani
Posted on: May 1, 2013
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
An affable presence, whether it be stage, screen or real life. And a soft and sweet voice – conversations of concern for humanity and society. A man of letters, well read, and well heard too, who continued to write till the end of his stay on this earth. A man of very impressive personality, who had the fortune of working with academic and social luminaries like Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. Zakir Hussain and Mahatma Gandhi. Balraj Sahni, a personality who could empathize with the issues of poverty and unemployment, from personal firsthand experience. And when he passed away, and was placed in state at his residence, besides a copy of Bhagwadgita, there was also placed near him a copy of ‘Das Kapital’ of Karl Marx, and tiny bust of Lenin. A man of the masses, whose roles in films like ‘Dharti Ke Lal’(1946), ‘Hum Log’ (1951), ‘Do Beegha Zameen’ (1953), ‘Heera Moti’ (1959) are a hallmark of simplicity and reality, roles that are a reflection of the mind of a thinker and a sensitive human being. It is more than coincidental that his birth anniversary is today, 1st of May, the day dedicated to the labor class. Today (1 may 2013), we celebrate the century year of his birth.
Be it so that his fascination for books and academics was strong enough. Or else, he would have been drawn into his paternal business of cloth merchants. In his late teens and early twenties, he did spend time with his father, carrying bundles of fabrics on his head, as they went door to door selling their wares. His father’s wish was not to be, and the young Balraj put himself through school and college, coming out with high honors in his bachelors and masters courses. All through his college years, he was very active with the stage and theatre at college. He came to Lahore and started working on the weekly newspaper ’Monday Morning’, published by Shri BPL Bedi (father of the famous actor Kabir Bedi). The newspaper did not do well, and Balraj, then newly married, went to Calcutta, with his wife Damyanti, in search of employment and in search of more academic pursuits.
After a long time of surviving on writings that fetched him Rs. 5 per article, he found employment as a teacher at the Shanti Niketan University, under the guidance of Gurudev. In the early thirties, Gandhi ji started his effort to develop a common link language for the masses, a task that was assigned to Dr. Zakir Hussain. Dr. Hussain, in turn, came to Shanti Niketan, seeking blessings from Gurudev, and also seeking able assistants for his project. At Gurudev’s instance, Balraj and Damyanti joined with Dr. Hussain. The couple came to Sevagram at Wardha, and spent many years in this hub of social and political transformation that was sweeping the country at that time.
During the second world war, an official of BBC London, approached Gandhi ji, and requested for people who could help to develop and run the Hindi service of BBC with special programs for the Indian forces fighting alongside the Allies. Gandhi ji deputed Balraj and Damyanti, and in 1940, the couple came to London to work at BBC. This stint lasted for three years. Getting homesick, Balraj resigned and returned to India.
He landed back in Bombay, with no money and no employment once again. But in Bombay, fortune brought him in contact with a very close classmate from his school years, who was now starting his career in the film industry. Chetan Anand was working on his film ‘Neecha Nagar’, and he offered a role to his old friend. That is how the performing career of this young man from Rawalpindi, took a new turn. During the same period, Prithviraj Kapoor founded the Prithvi Theatres, and KA Abbas founded the IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association). Balraj’s native tendencies of humanity and social concerns found a strong reflection in these movements, and he became an active partner.
An interesting anecdote in his career. It is not well known at all that Balraj Sahni was the first choice for the lead role in Sohrab Modi’s ‘Mirza Ghalib’ (1954). He was the choice of Modi Sb himself, and the contract had been signed. But then, there was some misunderstanding that happened between them, on account of the socialistic thinking of Balraj Sahni, and Modi Sb decided to take him off the lead role and offered it elsewhere.
Balraj Sahni is always remembered for the patient realism that he brought to bear in his performances. For his role in ‘Do Beegha Zameen’, he is said to have watched and studied the film ‘The Good Earth’ (1937) produced and directed by Paul Muni. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Pearl S Buck.
The good human being passed away, untimely, on 13th April, 1973.
‘Garam Coat’ (1955) is a film about a poor postal worker, who has a family of five to support. The film is a poignant display of the realities faced by the poor families, as they try their best to make ends meet. The film is produced by Rajinder Singh Bedi, based on a story written by himself. The title ‘Garam Coat’ comes from a woolen coat that the protagonist very cravingly sees, in the window of a tailor’s shop. He sees that coat everyday as he goes to and returns from his work. He fancies it, and desires to own it, but the reality is that he can never afford it. For the cost of that coat is more than the monthly wages he gets working as sorting clerk in a post office. The story in the film revolves around a specific month, when there is a economic disaster for the family. Somehow, the monthly pay that the clerk gets, is lost or misplaced. The disaster is depicted so movingly, as the protagonist and his family go through one month of no reserves, no money, waiting for the next month’s wages. The wages do come, but the intervening one month is a passage of tribulations and sorrows for the entire family, very movingly depicted on screen. The kind of things that go through the minds of the family members, the kind of things they do to somehow come to each other’s support – it is a very moving and a tender experience.
The cast of actors includes Balraj Sahni, Nirupa Roy, Jayant, Rashid Khan, Baij Sharma, Baby Chand, Baby Indira, Rajratan, Vijaylaxmi etc. Jayant has played a very impressive and well meaning role in this film, as a working colleague of Balraj Sahni, who is equally distressed by his friend’s misfortune.
There are five songs in this film, written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, plus one bhajan originally the creation of Meerabai. The music composition is by Pt. Amarnath Chawla,(not the Pt. Amarnath, elder brother to Husnlal Bhagatram). The singers of this song are not identified. One can make out two female and one male voice, and it is going to be just guess work to identify these voices. The YT reference lists Asha Bhosle as one of the voices, but it is not confirmed.
This particular song appears in the film near the beginning, when things are all still good, and the disaster has not yet happened. It is a Sunday. The parents have slept in late, and the children have taken over the kitchen, and playing it as a game. Then the controversy erupts as to who will go to the well to bring water. One child is busy with fire and cooking, while his elder sisters have an argument as to who will go to fetch the water. It is a fun game that wakes up the parents. They are watching from the partially closed door, and then they join in the fun, signing along with their children. Balraj Sahni makes an entry in the fourth antaraa, posing as a rich seth from Delhi, with a pillow tied to his midriff, for the realistic effect.
Enjoy this wonderful game that children play, and see the fun and kiddish side of this very serious performer. A performer who has embellished the Hindi film screen with over a hundred sterling performances and characterizations across three decades of active career in the film industry. With thick black mole just to the left of his nose, it is a smiling face that will never be forgotten.
Song-Bibi mendhki ri tu to paani mein ki raani (Garam Coat)(1955) Singers-Female Voice 1, Female Voice 2, Female voice 3, Male Voice, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD-Pt Amarnath Chawla
All
Lyrics
bibi mendhki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendhki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
kauwwaa tera bhai bhateeja
cheel teri devraani
kauwwaa tera bhai bhateeja
cheel teri dauraani
bagula tera chhota devar
tu kahaan ki raani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
bibi mendhki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendhki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
kekdaa tera mamma laagey
machhli teri naani
kekdaa tera mamma laagey
machhli teri naani
kachhuaa tera chacha baba
tu kahaan ki raani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
bibi mendhki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
pit jaayegi tu bechaari
daal de thoda paani
pit jaayegi tu bechaari
daal de thoda paani
aaye machheraa lekar kaise
tu kahaan ki raani
aaye machheraa lekar kaise
tu kahaan ki raani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
main hoon seth shehar dilli ka
tu ghar ki sethaani
main hoon seth shehar dilli ka
tu ghar ki sethaani
main hoon raja
tu hai raani
kaun bharegaa paani
main hoon raja
tu hai raani
kaun bharegaa paani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
chal bhar lotey mein paani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
bibi mendki ri
tu to paani mein ki raani
—————————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
—————————————————-
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
कौवा तेरा भाई भतीजा
चील तेरी देवरानी
कौवा तेरा भाई भतीजा
चील तेरी देवरानी
बगुला तेरा छोटा देवर
तू कहाँ की रानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
केकड़ा तेरा मामा लागे
मछली तेरी नानी
केकड़ा तेरा मामा लागे
मछली तेरी नानी
कछुआ तेरा चाचा बाबा
तू कहाँ की रानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
पिट जाएगी तू बेचारी
डाल दे थोड़ा पानी
पिट जाएगी तू बेचारी
डाल दे थोड़ा पानी
आए मछेरा लेकर कैसे
तू कहाँ की रानी
आए मछेरा लेकर कैसे
तू कहाँ की रानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
मैं हूँ सेठ शहर दिल्ली का
तू घर की सेठानी
मैं हूँ सेठ शहर दिल्ली का
तू घर की सेठानी
मैं हूँ राजा तू है रानी
कौन भरेगा पानी
मैं हूँ राजा तू है रानी
कौन भरेगा पानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
चल भर लोटे में पानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
बीबी मेंडकी री
तू तो पानी में की रानी
10 Responses to "Bibi mendhki ri tu to paani mein ki raani"
May 2, 2013 at 10:26 am
He was a person who would like to be left alone. In one of his premier film show as his wont he was alone. His friend came up and asked: Why are standing out. He replied simply: because I am outstanding.
I was always wondering how he looked like an English personality with polished style. Sudhirji solved the mystery; he was working with BBC. No wonder. Thank God he felt homesick; our filmdom would have been much poorer. Great personality. Greater person
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May 2, 2013 at 10:38 am
Volumes can be written about Balraj Sahni the man and Balraj Sahni the actor. It is a pity that he went award-less. Sudhirji, a very important omission from the list of Sahni’s films is “Garam Hawa” in which he superbly portrayed the role of a Muslim businessman torn between the demands of the family members to migrate to Pakistan and his own desire to continue to live in India. I think the film won an award; I am not sure. I am long looking for a DVD which I am told is in the offing. The film was also supposed to be restored and was to be released in January this year. Sadly, nothing has happened.
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May 2, 2013 at 11:05 am
He could not see his last movie, Garam Hawa as he died just the next day after dubbing his last dialogue “Insaan kab tak akela jee sakta hai?” (wiki info)
Sudhirji,
If you check the wiki info and under “works based on his life”, it says that there was a program in New Delhi as a tribute on his birth centenary. Did you get a chance to see it?
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The movie won National Award for best film on national integration in 1973.
Kaifi Azmi and Ismat Chugtai won the award for best story.
You can watch the movie with subtitles on YouTube:
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May 2, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Balraj Sahani – I remember him for the immortal roles he played in movies like the ‘Do Beegha Zameen’ and ‘Garam Hawa’. I have seen very few of his films, but know him for the father is ‘Neel Kamal’ too.
These iconic songs were on him:
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/tu-pyaar-ka-saagar-hai/
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/babul-ki-duaayen-leti-ja/
The write up is lot of help in understanding , what made him the compelling performer on screen. Like in this film Anuradha (1960):
Incidentally today is the birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray too.
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May 2, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Balraj Sahani – I remember him for the immortal roles he played in movies like the ‘Do Beegha Zameen’ and ‘Garam Hawa’. I have seen very few of his films, but know him for the father is ‘Neel Kamal’ too.
These iconic songs were on him:
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/tu-pyaar-ka-saagar-hai/
https://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/babul-ki-duaayen-leti-ja/
The write up is lot of help in understanding , what made him the compelling performer on screen. Like in this film Anuradha (1960):
Incidentally today is the birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray too.
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May 4, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Sudhirji ,
An excellent tribute to Balraj Sahani on his birth centenary. Thanks for all those information on Balraj Sahani. Thanks also to other informed readers for providing more information.
There is no end to the variety HFM can offer . I liked the song very much. I can relate it to my childhood days.
Thanks once again
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May 14, 2013 at 10:42 pm
Sudhir ji, beautiful write up…so lovingly written! Thanks a ton!
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December 18, 2016 at 6:55 pm
Is it possible to get the name of the Singers in this song?
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
May 2, 2013 at 9:29 am
Sudhirji,
Thank you for the informative post and remembering Yudhishthir Sahni aka Balraj Sahni, one of the great actor of Hindi cinema. I was surprised when I did not see any single song/post as a tribute on his centennial b’day, even after Raja ji reminded of this occasion in his post. But I also had a faith that someone surely will give justice to this actor by posting at least a song of his. 🙂
I had seen his “Do Bigha Zameen” during my teens on Doordarshan and remember crying so badly. Then it was Waqt and then Seema, Kabuliwala, Laajwanti, Bhabhi ki Chudiyan, Bhabhi, Satta Bazar, Sone Ki Chidiyan, Kathputli, Anpadh, Chhoti Bahen, Haqeeqat, Nanha Farishta, Ghar Ghar Ki Kahaani, Hanste Zakhm, Paraya Dhan, Bindiya, Anuradha, Humraaz, Ek Phool Do Mali, Sunghursh, Talash, Neel Kamal, Pavitra Papi, … List of movies I have seen goes on. Still need to see so many movies of this actor.
I just read on wiki and realized that he never received any award for his many great performances. I wonder who could have done justice to the role of Shambhu in Do Beegha Zameen. He has acted in 12 films with Nirupa Roy as his co-star.
Thank you again.
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