Atkan batkan dahi chatokan
Posted on: June 13, 2013
This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
While selecting songs for this series, I came across this song. The credits of this song said- Lata and Honey Irani. I immediately checked HFGK. There also the same information was there. I knew that Honey Irani had no singing history. I first listened to this song. I found that there are no singing lines to Honey Irani, she just utters 2 or 3 words in the song. However I selected this song because-
1. Since the Video was available, we could watch the curly haired cutie Honey Irani.
2. The Lyrics of this song are like Anokhe Bol and
3. It was a song from 1960, when Lata’s voice still had that magic in it.
In Indian cinema, the contribution by the Irani sisters-Honey and Daisy- is very significant in the 50s and the 60s. Prior to this period, there was no category as Child Artist and whenever there was the need for a small kid, some actor’s kid was used. Even small children of the viewing crowd in the studios were also used. Such children had no dialogues. Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nargis etc have done child roles films of their parents or Godfathers.
Honey Irani (the eldest among the 3 sisters( Honey, Daisy and Meneka), was born on 17-1-1950 in a Parsee family. Daisy Irani was born in 1952. Honey’s first film as a child artist was ‘Chirag kahaan Roshni kahan’-1959. In her film career she worked in 72 films. In one of her interviews she tells that all the money earned by these sisters were taken by their mother and spent on personal luxuries. Both the sisters were very close to Meena Kumari, who treated them with mother’s love and fed them etc.
Honey married Javed Akhtar, when she was just 18 year old and they had two children-Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar who are twins. Both are today well known in Bollywood. After marriage Honey stopped working in films. However, in 1980 Javed left Honey to marry Shabana Azmi, an younger actress. It is to Honey’s credit that she brought up both the children despite financial and mental difficulties.
Meanwhile she looked for work as a Script writer in films. After initial hiccups,s he is today known as a very successful Script writer. Many Hit films are written by her, like Lamhe, Aaina, Darr, Suhaag, Lawaris, Kaho na Pyar Hai, Koi mil gaya, Krissshh etc.
Today Honey is the most sought after Script writer in Bollywood with possibly commanding 40-50 Lakhs per film.
Besides being a good mother Honey has been a very good support to her sister’s children. When actor Director Kamran left sister Meneka, it was Honey who looked after both her children-Farah Khan(Choreographer and Director) and Sajid khan (comedian, Anchor and Director), just like her own children.
Today Honey has no grudge against Shabana for usurping her Husband. In fact her children, Farhan and Zoya are actually very close to ‘Shabana aunty’ and Honey herself considers Javed as a good friend.
The music of Barood-60 was given by Khayyam. before he used his real name Khayyam for giving music he had composed music in some films as ” Sharmaji”.
Rehman Verma who was also an assistant to composer G.A.Chishti, along with Khayyam decided to give music as a jodi. Khayyam met his Guru Pt. Bhagatram of Husnlal-bhagatram jodi. Those were the days of 1947 when partition was looming large. So Bhagatram assured Khayyam that they will protect him and that he should take up the name Sharma ji to rhyme with Vermaji for giving music as a jodi.
Sharmaji-Vermaji gave music to ‘Heer Ranjha’-1948 and few more films as a Jodi. Then Vermaji left for Pakistan. Sharmaji gave music to ‘Biwi’-1950.A Rafi song-Akele me voh to gharate honge’ from this movie became a Hit song.
In 1953, Khayyam was to get Footpath as a composer. Khayyam describes his first meeting with the owner of Ranjit Studio, Sardar chandulal Shah,in an interview,thus….
” When I got Footpath,everyone knew that I was Sharmaji. My meeting with Director Zia Sarhadi and Sardar Chandulal Shah,the Ranjit owner and a legend in his times,was arranged. Sarhadi had already heard my tunes and approved them. It was only a formal meeting before work started. I entered the cabin and saw Chandulal Shah first time. Seth ji was sitting on a big chair. His white shirt,white coat and dark Black colour was showing him as a Photo negative. As soon as I entered,he asked me in a LOUD voice,” Naam Kya Hai ? “. I knew that he had not liked my name Sharmaji. I also replied in a LOUDER voice ” Mohammed Zahoor Khayyam Hashmi “. He was not to be undone. He almost shouted in LOUDER than me ” aaj se Khayyam Likho “.
The interview ended and I came out wiping my forehead ! ”
Vipin and Mehboob were his assistants in this film. Later this Mehboob went to O P Nayyar for working. There were 7 songs in film Barood. 4 songs(including 2 parts of song’ Likhoge padhoge’) are already posted. This is the 5th song.
Here is some information about the film BAROOD-60, from my comments,one year ago-
BAROOD-1960 was a super pictures film, produced and directed by Aspy Irani.
Aspy Irani was never tired of making films on identical stories of his own films, making a few changes in the cast, Scenes, names and situations,-the basic theme remaining a constant.But his direction and pace of the film was such that he had created several admirers and a captive audience, who would see his films, whatever the name of the film. May be they got the pleasure of nostalgia of revising the earlier seen films.
I know atleast 2 fans of Aspy Irani’s films-one is Memsaab and the other is me !
BAROOD-1960 is yet again a story of a socially outcasted, low level poor soul, who is rich in his heart and deeds and his big hearted sacrificial adventures to save an innocent distraught child/girl/woman/man etc.
The story and screenplay is by C.J.Pavri and the dialogues are by Akhtar ul Iman.
In this case, Munna(Honey Irani) is an orphan, who runs away from his foster parents, who have adopted him from an orphanage run by Rekha Devi(Kumkum).
Munna is rescued by Shankar(Sheikh Mukhtar)-a kind hearted Truck Driver and both become thick friends. Later on Rekha devi discovers Munna and asks Shankar to return him to the orphanage as Shankar has no family.Meanwhile Ramu(Hiralal) a clerk in the solicitor’s(Uma Dutt) office notices the resemblance between Munna and the lost son of a Millionaire. He starts his plan to prop up Munna as the lost son and earn money from the rich man.
The film details how Shankar and Rekha devi, along with Shankar’s friends save Munna and foil the attempts of Ramu to hold the child to ransom and make unlawful money.
There are plenty of fights and drama(courtesy of Sheikh Mukhtar) and songs and dances(courtesy of Kumkum) to make the film an entertaining one.
The loyal audience who came to the theatres got what they expected from Sheikh Mukhtar and Aspy Irani. PAISA VASOOL !
Let us listen to this song now. The song is picturised on Kumkum, Honey Irani and Sheikh Mukhtar, with Sudhir and a dog also visible in the picturisation.
Song-Atkan batkan dahi chatokan (Barood)(1960) Singers-Lata, Lyrics-Hasrat Jaipuri, MD-Khaiyyam
Honey Irani
Lyrics
Atkan batkan dahi chatokan raajaa gaye Dilli
saat katori laaye
ek katori toot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
chandaa ki gend tujhe laa doongi munnaa
laa doongi munnaa
bijli kaa ballaa mangaa doongi munnaa
mangaa doongi munnaa
munnaa meraa le legaa
phir to ghar mein khelegaa
phir to ghar mein khelegaa
gend loge yaa ballaa
ballaa
jug jug jiyo mere lallaa
atkan batkan dahi chatokan raajaa gaye Dilli
saat katori laaye
ek katori toot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
munne kaa dil loout gayi
baadal kaa haathi
hawaaon kaa ghodaa
hawaaon kaa ghodaa
baithegaa munnaa
lagaayega kodaa
lagayega kodaa
haathi phir to jhoomegaa
desh desh mein ghoomegaa
desh desh mein ghoomegaa
ghodaa logey yaa haathi
haathi
main munne ki saathi
atkan batkan dahi chatokan raajaa gaye Dilli
saat katori laaye
ek katori toot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
aaron ki jhilmil topi banaa ke
topi banaa ke
shabnam ke moti usmein lagaa ke
usmein lagaa ke
tujhko main pahnaaungi
teraa byaah rachaaungi
teraa byaah rachaaungi
moti loge yaa taaraa
taaraa
meraa laal badaa hi pyaaraa
atkan batkan dahi chatokan raajaa gaye Dilli
saat katori laaye
ek katori toot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
atkan batakan dahi chatokan raajaa gae Dilli
saat katori laaye
ek katori toot gai
munne kaa dil loot gayi
munne kaa dil loot gayi
7 Responses to "Atkan batkan dahi chatokan"
June 13, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Please note that Honey was the youngest among 3 sisters. Maneka was the eldest. Daisy started her filmy career in 1955 with ‘Bandish’ & Honey joined her 2-3 years later. Daisy had done her 1st ‘adult’ role in ‘Arzoo’ in 1965. Maneka had also acted as heroine, in one film (Bachpan), opposite Salim, father of Salmaan!
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June 13, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Thanks for the info.
I have as reference the Wiki.
Maneka’s info is very valuable.
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June 13, 2013 at 5:03 pm
nayan ji,
Can you please give me the source of your information ?
I will be obliged.
-AD
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June 13, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Dear Arunji,
Sorry, I don’t have any official source of information but whatever I have mentioned about Irani sisters is just from my personal knowledge & I am sure that I am correct. I was very fond of films from 1954 to about 1970. Daisy started with ‘Bandish’ (Directed by Great Satyen Bose) in 1955 & her name was mentioned as ‘Tomato’ at that time in ads. Later, after the release of the film, her name was changed to Daisy. I don’t remember first film of Honey. It may be ‘Didi’ or ‘Zameen ke Taare’. You just see these films, in which both sisters were acting & you will realise Daisy is older than Honey.
‘Bachpan’, starring Maneka & Salim was released around 1963 & it had at least 2 excellent songs, composed by Sardar Malik.
Just check these details with some other knowledgeable film-enthusiast for correctness.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
June 13, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Honey Irani also directed independently 2003 movie ARMAAN(starring Amithabh bachchan,Anil Kapoor,Gracy Singh,Preity Zinta,Randhir Kapoor),which was jointly written by her hubby Javed Akthar.The story of this movie ARMAAN, got many resemblances with the story of Dil apna preet parai(1960-Raj kumar,Meena Kumari,Nadira-Kishore Sahu)
Honey Irani also assisted the director Ramesh Talwar for Duniya(1984-a Yash Johar production)and Sawaal(1982-a Yash Chopra production)
Recently in a magazines, she spoke about why she left Yash chopra camp,as a screenplay writer.
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June 13, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Thanks for additional info.
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