Chala aa meri mehfil mein
Posted by: Atul on: August 14, 2013
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Two years, really. Life is so incessant, and so mindless in its pursuit of time. Riding on this train of time, it does not allow any halt or a breather. You are on it, and then one day you are not on it. That’s just it, the train continues to roll. The journey is dotted with countless interchanges, and so many wonderful people that we have known, have left this train, to take on a different journey. We know, we will never see them again. Although the past is always behind us and we can never ever get there. Still it continues to live in our minds. People will leave, never to return. But the memories – they are forever.
Dear Shammi Kapoor, remembering you today, two years after you changed the train and went on to travel a different path. Ah, the wonderful memories of you screen roles, you songs, and your antics. Your innocent Amul baby expressions, when you needed one, 🙂 (sample the song “Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par”(‘Junglee’, 1961). And the electrifying and extremely loud presence, most of the time (sampling anything else in your movies 🙂 ). Once and forever, you changed the image of the hero of Hindi films. The days of the leading man standing still and lip syncing the songs were over, when the songs of ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’ (1957), ‘Uaala’ (1959) and ‘Dil Deke Dekho’ (also 1959) hit the screens. The image of the hero and the imagination of the audiences was turned upside down, and the role of the young hero in the mold of a college student, a dreamy graduate, a rural school teacher, a young farmer was as if hit by an earthquake, and catapulted to a totally new level. And yes, you caught the fancy of the audiences.
Not that such images and role models did not exist before. One can think of Motilal, in the more serene era of 1930s and 40s, express a similar image, but the urbanity of that did not catch the fancy of the common man. Well, not enough to redefine the role itself. Kishore Da enacted the same script in the 1950s. But then Kishore Da was not the top line material in the hero hierarchy, and his energy was pretty much limited to the songs and their enactment on screen. Ten years past the freedom stage post, a whole new generation was coming of age. A generation that was not encumbered by the passions of a struggle, a generation that felt itself more free to define their own destiny, and a generation that was on the lookout for an icon of energy and action. At the turn of the decade of 1950s, the time was just ripe for that energy to make an impact – for you to make an impact.
With fifteen flop films behind you in half as many years, there was very little that was left to gamble away. And so, you obliged that eager generation waiting for the icon, by betting the whole house with the explosive scream of ‘Yaahoo’. Imagine, if the public had not paid attention. I have an uncomfortable squirm in my spine as I think of that. Many a trend in the film industry, that seemed so promising when being prepared and launched, were lost to oblivion for they did not click with the ultimate adjudicator -the film going public. Ah, but the facts, thankfully are different. History was overturned and history was made. And we were feasted to a decade and half of a dose of high energy diet whose effects were guaranteed. And they still are.
It is a phenomena called by your name – Shammi Kapoor.
My romance with this cute and dominating hero vision started way back, when as a pre teen kid, the impressionable mind caught on to your darling on screen antics as a very vigorous and dashing young man, as you broke the trombone in your efforts to serenade the ‘Zulfon Waali Haseena’ in that edge-of-seat-and-your hear-in-your-mouth-murder-thriller called ‘Teesri Manzil’ (1966). After that exhilarating experience, at an age when I did not know the word ‘exhilaration’, your films became a staple diet. Dependent as I may have been on my parents and uncles to oblige, a
Shammi Kapoor release could mean many weeks of pestering by me, till either the film went off the theatres, or till one of the elders agreed. I may have missed quiet a few first runs of your films. But they were all made up for, when in college, I used to often bunk the morning classes of subsidiary subjects to rush off to the cinemas near the university, for the morning show reruns. Why? Because “. . .Ye Dekhne Ki Cheez Hai Hamaara Dilruba. .. Tally Ho”. 😀 :D.
Ah, Shammi, Shammi. What a dream you have been? And what a lively vision you conferred upon an eager generation hungry for some meaningful and respectful action. The hero guy who always does the right thing, who is always honest, dutiful and kind (ah, yes except when it came to Pran. . . :D). Whose songs were a rage with the young men of those generations, and one would again and again to the theatre, simply to see you perform the songs.
“Seene Mein Dil Hai, Dil Mein Tumhi Ho, Tum Mein Hamaari Chhoti Si Jaan Hai” – a gem of a performance, of controlled tiny movements, that changes with every half a verse, keeping in sync with the emotions and message within. Wow, what a dream you have been. Thankfully, the memories, and their pleasures are forever. You may not be on the train with us anymore, but these pleasures will remain ours – forever.
Shammi Kapoor made his debut in Hindi films in 1953. That year, in one go, five of his films were released. The films, in the order of their censor certificate dates are ‘Rail Ka Dibba’ (May 1953), ‘Thokar’ (Jul 1953), ‘Jeevan Jyoti’, (Aug 1953), ‘Gul Sanobar’ (Nov 1953) and ‘Lailaa Majnoon'(Dec 1953). As we look through the list of songs for these films, we find the following.
The male voice appears in two songs in ‘Rail Ka Dibba’, both duets. One song “Duniya Jawaan Hai”
is performed on screen by Sajjan and Cuckoo. There is a second duet “Laa De Mohey Baalma”. As I checked the VCD for this film and also from other sources, I could not locate the video footage of this song. It is more than likely that this song is performed on screen by Shammi Kapoor, but this information cannot be confirmed as yet.
The film ‘Thokar’ has the iconic Talat Mehmood rendition of “Ae Gham-e-Dil Kyaa Karoon”. The video clip of this film has become untraceable, but by all accounts, this song is performed on screen by Shammi Kapoor.
PS: AK ji of Songs of Yore reminded us that this film is also from 1953, the debut year for Shammi Kapoor.
In the film ‘Jeevan Jyoti’, again there is just one duet where a male voice appears. This song “Lag Gayeen Akhiyaan Tumse Mori”, onscreen is a roadside tamasha song. In the video clip we can see Shammi Kapoor watching this performance from the window of his house.
PS: Shekhar ji Gupta has reminded us through his comment that in this film, there is one more song in which Shammi Kapoor has performed the last few lines on screen. In fact he has actually sung the said lines in his own voice. The song is “Tasweeren Banti Hain”.
Coming to ‘Gul Sanobar’ , there are two songs with male voices. One is a duet “In Aankhon Mein Hai Pyaar” which is performed on screen by Agha and a lady partner. And then there is this song, which is a three singer song. And yes, at last we find a video clip in which Shammi Kapoor is performing a song. The three singers are Ira Majumdar, Ashimaa Bannerjee and Shankar Das Gupta. The song is written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and the music is by Bulo C Rani.
‘Gul Sanobar’ is a fantasy film, based on the tales of Arabian Nights. The following synopsis is adapted from the information provided by Arun ji, our dear in house encyclopedia.
‘Gul Sanobar’ (1953) is a Super Pictures release produced and directed by Aspi Irani. Music is by Bulo C. Rani and Khayyam. The lyrics are by Kaifi Irfani, Naazim Panipati and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The cast includes Shammi Kapoor, Shyama, Rajani, Agha, Habib, Jillo Bai, Kailash etc. The story, dialogues and screenplay was by JBH Wadia.
The story is one of the best in Arabian Nights, full of passion, romance, and intrigue. The story is based in Persia. A beautiful princess is to be married. The condition is that she will marry a person who will answer the question ‘What Gul did to Sanobar ?’. If a suitor wants to try and is not able to give the correct answer, he is summarily killed. Prince Badr (role played by Shammi Kapoor) travels to the kingdom of Sanobar. Here he finds the most beautiful princess Gul (Shyama), whose tears turn into pearls and laughter turns into flowers. She is chained and whipped by slaves. The entire story details how Badr rescues Gul and what the answer to the question is.
This song is picturized similar to a dream sequence, and it reminds very strongly of the dream song from ‘Aawaara’ (1951) – “Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi”. In his travels to search for the answer to the puzzle, Prince Badr comes to a place where the temptations of the dark side allure him and entice him. At the same time, the virtuous forces of goodness try to hold on to him and protect him. And then, he is left by himself, and his personal struggles of the good vs. the bad that are actually happening inside his mind. In this last part of the song sequence, we see Shammi Kapoor performing the part of the song sung by Shankar Das Gupta.
What we see in this clip is the one of the earliest songs lip synced by Shammi Kapoor on screen. The facial structures, the expressions and the histrionics, appear to be very raw and untrained, as yet. See the look of bewilderment on the face. It seems it is not so much only because of the situation, but actually it seems he is feeling – gosh, where am I. The face somehow does not look convincing at all. Or maybe we have been fed too much of the later visions of Shammi Kapoor. But yes, it is really interesting to watch, the place where it all started.
Shammi ji, your din and your vigor will remain with us, till the time there is need for joys of thrill and excitement.
Just yahoo in chaos, wherever you are. (I cannot dare to pray for an RIP, for that simply is not your nature. 😀 )
(NOTE: Request other friends and readers to kindly help to decipher some words that I have not been able to catch correctly. They are marked with (?). Thanks.)
PS-Harmandir ji has helped to fill in the correct words and phrases and now the lyrics are all complete.
Song-Chala aa meri mehfil mein (Gul Sanobar)(1953) Singers-Ira Majumdar, Aashima Bannerjee, Shankar Das Gupta, Lyrics-Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, MD-Bulo C Rani
Chorus
Lyrics
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
tere daaman ko bhar doongi
wafaaon se
adaaon se
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
tere daaman ko bhar doongi
wafaaon se
adaaon se
bulaata hai tujhe dil paas
kitni iltejaaon se
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
tere daaman ko bhar doongi
wafaaon se
adaaon se
uttha nazren
milaa nazren
nasha chhaaye mohabbat ka
kahin aisa na ho armaan
reh jaaye mohabbat ka
na rakh anjaam par nazren
aur aghaaz-e-wafaa kar le
ye mausam hai khataaon ka
koi rangeen khataa kar le
jawaani ruk nahin sakti
mohabbat ki khataaon se
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
tere daaman ko bhar doongi
wafaaon se
adaaon se
oo aaaaaa
aaaaaa
aaaaa
ae rasta bhoolne waale
tahe manzil na lut jaana
main tere dil mein baithi hoon
hai mera farz samjhaana
badi rangeen duniya hai
badi rangeen baaten hain
magar jo is ki zulfen hain
wohi dozakh ki raaten hain
agar meri sunega tu
bachaa loongi khataaon se
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
tere daaman ko bhar doongi
wafaaon se
adaaon se
ulajh kar reh gayaa hoon main
na manzil hai na rastaa hai
ye kaisi dil ki kismet hai
ujadta hai na bastaa hai
samajh mein kuchh nahin aata
samajh mein kuchh nahin aata
kidhar jaaun kahaan jaaun
andheraa chhaa gayaa yaarab
kahin thokar na khaa jaaun
kahin ae zindagi le chal
mujhe gham ki fizaaon se
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
(chalaa aa meri mehfil mein
tere daaman ko bhar doongi
wafaaon se
adaaon se)
aaaaa
aaaaa
chalaa aaa
meri. . . .
mehfil. . . mein
tere daa. . .man ko
bhar doongi
(chalaa aa meri mehfil mein)
(chalaa aa meri mehfil mein)
———————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
तेरे दामन को भर दूँगी
वफाओं से
अदाओं से
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
तेरे दामन को भर दूँगी
वफाओं से
अदाओं से
बुलाता है तुझे दिल पास
कितनी इल्तजाओं से
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
तेरे दामन को भर दूँगी
वफाओं से
अदाओं से
उठा नज़रें
मिला नज़रें
नशा छाए मोहब्बत का
कहीं ऐसा न हो अरमान
रह जाये मोहब्बत का
ना रख अंजाम पर नज़रें
और आग़ाज़ ए वफा कर ले
ये मौसम है खताओं का
कोई रंगीन खता कर ले
जवानी रुक नहीं सकती
मोहब्बत की खताओं से
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
तेरे दामन को भर दूँगी
वफाओं से
अदाओं से
ओsss आsss
आsssss
आsss
ए रास्ता भूलने वाले
तहे मंज़िल न लुट जाना
मैं तेरे दिल में बैठी हूँ
है मेरा फर्ज़ समझाना
बड़ी रंगीन दुनिया है
बड़ी रंगीन बातें हैं
मगर जो इसकी ज़ुल्फें हैं
वोहों दोज़ख की रातें हैं
अगर मेरी सुनेगा तू
बचा लूँगी खताओं से
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
तेरे दामन को भर दूँगी
वफाओं से
अदाओं से
उलझ कर रह गया हूं मैं
ना मंज़िल है ना रस्ता है
ये कैसी दिल की किस्मत है
उजड़ता है ना बसता है
समझ में कुछ नहीं आता
समझ में कुछ नहीं आता
किधर जाऊँ कहाँ जाऊँ
अंधेरा छा गया यारब
कहीं ठोकर न खा जाऊँ
कहीं ए ज़िंदगी ले चल
मुझे ग़म की फिज़ाओं से
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
चला आ मेरी महफिल में
(चला आ मेरी महफिल में
तेरे दामन को भर दूँगी
वफाओं से
अदाओं से)
आsss
आsss
चला आ
मेरी ॰ ॰ ॰
महफिल ॰ ॰ ॰ में
तेरे दा ॰ ॰ ॰ मन को
भर दूँगी
(चला आ मेरी महफिल में)
(चला आ मेरी महफिल में)
6 Responses to "Chala aa meri mehfil mein"
August 14, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Wonderful post, Sudhirji. Indeed, two years have gone by just like that! You have captured what Shammi meant to us very well. Thank you.
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August 14, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Sudhirji,
Lovely write up on a man liked by so many. In 1953 he had at least one more film Thokar which had one of the best ever Talat Mahmood songs picturised on him – Ae gham-e-dil kya Karun. Wikipedia lists one more film Khoj in the year. HFGK mentions Shammi – I am not sure it is him or the lady Shammi.
AK
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August 15, 2013 at 11:52 am
It’s worth a mention here that in the Jeevan Jyoti (1953) number Tasweeren banti hain kirnon si chhanti hain, Shammi Kapoor joins Asha Bhonsle (who sings for his heroine Chand Usmani) in singing the last stanza towards the end. The audio of this number is on this Blog at https://atulsongaday.me/2011/09/04/tasweeren-banti-hain-kirnon-si-chhanti-hain and video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/zSAv5wUd0z8.
Are there other instances when Shammi Kapoor lent his vocals to himself in a song?
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August 16, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Raja ji, Stepney ji, Ak ji, Shekhar ji
Thanks so much for your appreciation.
AK ji,
Thanks for pointing out the film ‘Thokar’ from 1953, that I missed mentioning in the write up.
And Shekhar ji,
Thanks for the reminder for the song from Jeevan Jyoti. Yes, isn’t is a surprise that he sang (even if just one verse) for himself in his first film. And then, we find not another single instance of him lending his voice to any other song. I tried to make a search, but am unable to locate another such instance.
With Atul ji’s help, I have updated the write up above, to include both these pieces of information. Please see.
And thanks again
Rgds
Sudhir
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
August 14, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Great post Sudhir ji…
And we must not forget Brahmchari – Mai Gaaoon Tum So Jaao and Dil ke jharoke 😀
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