Pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani
Posted on: July 11, 2013
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
A natural talent that made a significant impression when launched, but eventually could not compare to the range and versatility of its peers.
Another reason often mentioned is the simplicity and the lack of awareness of the machinations of the film world. An innocent contravention, and the anchor support was taken away. And then the talent transmogrified into another role. And the resulting fun and laughter, then lasted a good half a century.
Remembering Uma Devi on the anniversary of her birth today – 11th July, 2013.
Most people of the later generations who are familiar with the plump, bouncy, round faced, full of mischief comedienne, remember her only by the name Tuntun – a name that was given to her by Dilip Kumar, in jest. But the name stuck and the persona became ever so popular by this name that the memories of the original artist faded away slowly. Most people now, seeing her on the screen as the mother of a half a dozen kids with a Johnny Walker, or a Mukri, or a Rajendranath or a Maruti in tow, would have a hard time believing that this roly poly bundle of mischief and hilarity, is actually the voice that has rendered the iconic songs like “Afsana likh rahi hoon dil e bekaraar ka”
(‘Dard’, 1947) and “Dilwaale, DilWaale. . . Jal Jal Hi Mar Jaana” (‘Naatak’, 1947).
Uma Devi was born this day in 1923, in a village in a village called Alipur, near Mathura (in Uttar Pradesh). She lost her parents in childhood and she was brought up by her Chaacha (father’s younger brother). She did not attend any school, but determined as she was, she taught herself to read and write. She was interested in music right from childhood. She wanted to become a singer, but of course her foster family would not have any of this. Once she traveled alone to Lucknow, on hearing that Naushad Sb was visiting. She met him and expressed her desire to be a singer. After hearing her, Naushad Sb said that if Kardar Sb would approve of her voice, then he can give her a chance. Naushad Sb at that time was working with Kardar Productions. He thought this proposition might discourage this plucky young lady. So he returned to Bombay, thinking that was the last he would see of her.
The intervening episodes and anecdotes are conflicting, coming from different sources. One version is that she left home and came to Bombay. She met Naushad, who agreed to take her on as a mentor. He helped her get her first break in the 1946 film ‘Waamiq Azraa’, under the baton of Allah Rakha Qureshi, the famous tabla player. He also arranged for an audition in the presence of AR Kardar. The audition happened, and her voice pleased Kardar Sb enough to give a nod to have her sing in the current film under production – ‘Dard’. And so came a set of four fantastic songs – “Afsaana Likh Rahi Hoon”
, “Aaj Machi Hai Dhoom”, “Betaab Hai Dil Dard-e-Mohabbat Ke Asar Se”
and “Ye Kaun Chalaa, Hai Ye Kaun Chalaa”.
Another version is that she left home and came to Bombay, and for some time she worked as a housemaid in the home of a family from Uttar Pradesh. Allah Rakha Qureshi was known to this family, and he became familiar with this young girl who had a desire to become a singer in the film industry. He agreed to give her a break in the 1946 film ‘Waamiq Azraa’. Her song in this film was not impressive and did not make any waves. Qureshi Sb introduced her to AR Kardar, who became so impressed with her singing voice that he recommended her to Naushad Sb, who was then creating the music for Dard’, a Kardar Productions film. The result was the four sensational songs sung by her for this film, that launched her as a singing sensation.
She immediately got more assignments to sing in films like ‘Dillagi’ (1949), Anokhi Adaa’ (1948), ‘Naatak’ (1947), ‘Chandni Raat’ (1949) etc. Her talent was immediately recognized by other producers, and SS Vasan of Gemini Studios, brought her in to sing 4 songs in the magnificent ‘Chandralekha’ 1948). Uma Devi did not know, she did not realize what she was stepping into. The fact that she sang for the film ‘Chandralekha’, displeased AR Kardar very much, and he cancelled her contract with Kardar Productions. And somehow that signaled the decline of her career, almost as immediately as it had become a success. She never did blossom beyond that as a singer.
NOTE: what intrigues me is, fine, AR Kardar disliked her singing for Gemini Studios, but what about Naushad Sb. As he continued to work with so many producers other than Kardar Productions, he could have continued using her voice for other films. Was it that his own preference was more towards the other new singing sensations i.e. Lata Mageshkar and Geeta Dutt, besides the well established Suraiyyaa? Maybe. Still, my thought is that the manner in which other singers got so many opportunities to sing and improve their art, it is possible that Uma Devi could also have progressed and expanded her singing skills. But, who knows.
So just within 3 years of her debut, her desperation to be employed, and not having to back to her foster family, brought her to a point where she took the offer of working as a comedienne in the film ‘Baabul’ (1950). In fairness, it should be mentioned that it was Naushad Sb who gave this break as a performer, that launched her onto another orbit. She continued to get singing assignments also, but these were few and far between. As a comparison, in her career spanning a little over four decades, she sang approximately 120 songs in 42 films, and as an on screen performer she appeared in 200 films. With the new name of Tuntun, she caught the fancy of the audiences and became a household name in the 50s and 60s as a comedienne. Providence sure deals out some strange hands in unexpected ways.
Her last film as a performer is ‘Ek Aadmi’ released in 1988. She breathed her last on 24th November, 2003.
For this post, I have uploaded a rare song from the 1949 film ‘Hamaari Kismet’. It is a mischievous and fun filled song, that tells about the persuasions of a young heart, that is thinking of her loved one, and talks about the messages of love that are carried in the winds. A lovely song with superb lyrics by Rajjan. The music composition is by Nisaar Bazmi. The singing voice is that of Uma Devi accompanied by a chorus.
‘Hamaari Kismet’ is a production from the banner of Justice Pictures, Bombay. It is a stunt film directed by Naari Ghadyaali. The cast of actors includes Agha, Prakash, Shanta Patel, Dalpat, S Azeem, Mustafa, Ali, Sheikh, Radha, Afghan Sandow, Muhammad Sandow etc.
Listen to this wonderful obscure gem from sixty five years ago. Feel the freshness of youth in this bubbling voice that was just coming on board in the industry. This is a song, that I would not hesitate to include in the list of her best renderings. Enjoy.
Song-Pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani (Hamaari Kismat)(1949) Singer-Uma Devi, Lyrics-Rajjan, MD-Nisaar Bazmi
Uma Devi + Chorus
Lyrics
pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani
phir bhi na sharmaaye
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani
phir bhi na sharmaaye
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
dil mein aasha jot jagaaye
nain andheraa chhaaye
andheraa chhaaye
dil mein aasha jot jagaaye
nain andheraa chhaaye
andheraa chhaaye
yaad piyaa ki
yaad piyaa ki haath pakad ke
beech dagar le jaaye
yaad piyaa ki haath pakad ke
beech dagar le jaaye
oye phir bhi na sharmaaye jawaani
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani
phir bhi na sharmaaye
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
dil ki umangen
aankhon ki shokhi
dil ki umangen
aankhon ki shokhi
dhoondhti kya hain
kya hain khoti
kya hain khoti
dhoondhti kya hain
kya hain khoti
kya hain khoti
dekhne waale
dekhne waale tuk tuk dekhen
poochh na koi paaye
dekhne waale tuk tuk dekhen
poochh na koi paaye
oye aur bhi machli jaaye jawaani
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani
phir bhi na sharmaaye
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
pee ki boli bol papihaa
bhed jiyaa ke khole
koyaliyaa boley
pee ki boli bol papihaa
bhed jiyaa ke khole
koyaliyaa boley
san san san san
san san san san aaj hawaa bhi
preet ka raag sunaaye
san san san san aaj hawaa bhi
preet ka raag sunaaye
hoy mann hi mann itraaye jawaani
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani
phir bhi na sharmaaye
jawaani pag pag thokar khaaye
——————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
——————————————-
पग पग ठोकर खाये जवानी
फिर भी ना शरमाये
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
पग पग ठोकर खाये जवानी
फिर भी ना शरमाये
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
दिल में आशा जोत जगाए
मन में अंधेरा छाए
अंधेरा छाए
दिल में आशा जोत जगाए
मन में अंधेरा छाए
अंधेरा छाए
याद पिया की
याद पिया की हाथ पकड़ के
बीच डगर ले जाये
याद पिया की हाथ पकड़ के
बीच डगर ले जाये
ओए फिर भी ना शरमाये जवानी
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
पग पग ठोकर खाये जवानी
फिर भी ना शरमाये
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
दिल की उमंगें
आँखों की शोख़ी
दिल की उमंगें
आँखों की शोख़ी
ढूंढती क्या हैं क्या हैं खोती
क्या हैं खोती
ढूंढती क्या हैं क्या हैं खोती
क्या हैं खोती
देखने वाले
देखने वाले टुक टुक देखें
पूछ न कोई पाये
देखने वाले टुक टुक देखें
पूछ न कोई पाये
ओए और भी मचली जाये जवानी
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
पग पग ठोकर खाये जवानी
फिर भी ना शरमाये
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
पी की बोली बोल पपीहा
भेद जीया के खोले
कोयलिया बोले
पी की बोली बोल पपीहा
भेद जीया के खोले
कोयलिया बोले
सन सन सन सन
सन सन सन सन आज हवा भी
प्रीत का राग सुनाये
सन सन सन सन आज हवा भी
प्रीत का राग सुनाये
मन ही मन इतराये जवानी
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
पग पग ठोकर खाये जवानी
फिर भी ना शरमाये
जवानी पग पग ठोकर खाये
4 Responses to "Pag pag thokar khaaye jawaani"
July 13, 2013 at 10:15 am
Sudhir-ji, many thanks for bringing this rare song by Uma Devi to limelight. Pity that she didn’t sing more songs
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July 13, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Sudhirji,
Excellent writeup to a very deserving singer. Like a suspense novel, the first para forces readers to dwell into the main article for more.
In your write up you have talked about Naushad’s preference for Lata Geeta, Surraiya et al. However to the best of my limited knowledge, Naushad used Geeta only for the iconic Dillagi duet ( Not released on records / Film version has Surraiya) and for Son of India.
Any reasons why such an established singer was so very sparingly used by Naushad who was known for including dozens of singers in his long career.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
July 12, 2013 at 10:56 am
Thank you dear sir for the rare song and information on lovely lady, Tun Tun.
A few points:-
(1) She sang about 81 songs in 43 movies (myswar lists 73 songs).
(2) Her last movie was Kasam Dhandhe Ki (1990).
(3) She acted in way more than 200 movies. 317 to be precise.
(4) Most likely her b’day comes in December 1926 and not in July 1923, as confirmed once in this blog itself by esteemed Mr Deshmukh.
Regards.
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