Koi kisi ka nahin
Posted on: September 15, 2013
This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The third song in “The flavour of the 30s” is from a very rare movie, Miss -1933 (1933) by Ranjit Cinetone. This song is sung by Gauhar Qayoum Mamajiwala, under the music direction of Ustad Jhande Khan. This will be Gauhar’s First song on this Blog.
In this Mayanagari called Bombay, the film industry has seen many love affairs, but no affair is greater in real love, honesty, fidelity, loyalty and truthfulness than Chandulal Shah and Miss Gohar Mamajiwala. There was nothing common in them. She was beautiful, born into a rich family, well educated….he was not at all good looking, a rustic, moderately educated and a Gambler to the core. Still they met, fell in love and spent 48 years together (albeit without marriage).
They remained united in Happy Times when their Ranjit Studios worked like a well-oiled mill churning out huge profits and also remained together when when times were so bad that all the mortgaged property of Chandulal and Gohar had to be sold and Chandulal was spotted standing in Bus queues in Bombay.
They dealt in Crores, employed an army of the best artistes of film Industry and flaunted “Ranjit has more stars than there are in the sky”, and they also digested the the news of Chandulal Shah losing 1 cr. 25 lakhs in cotton trading on one single day while Chandulal was playing cards with his friends ( Chandulal continued his play with nonchalance even after his assistant conveyed this news to him over telephone).
Gauhar Abdul Qayoum Mamajiwala was born on 19-11-1910 at Lahore in a family of Bohra Muslims of Saurashtra in Gujarat. Her family shifted to Bombay. She was beautiful,well educated,soft spoken and liked to read books. Soon she became proficient in Hindi, Urdu, English, Gujarati and Marathi.
When her father’s business crashed and they had financial crisis, Homi Master, one of the family friends suggested that she work in films. Homi was a director in Kohinoor studios. She joined films at the age of 15 years and her first film(silent) ‘Fortune and fools aka Baap ki kamayi’-1925 was a hit film. She had a two year contract with Kohinoor. Many of her films were hits.
Chandulal Shah, who was also directing films for Kohinoor, was attracted by her performance and gave her a role in ” Typist Girl”-1927, in which the Heroine was Sulochana (Ruby Myers). Thus started their partnership. Soon after the contract was over, a few people viz. Gohar, Chandulal, Jagdish Pasta, hero Rajah Sandow and cameraman P.Naik left Kohinoor and established Shree Sound studio making films for Jagdish films. Here they made 10 popular films and in 1929 separated to form their own RANJIT studios.
Their first Silent film for Ranjit(shot in Krishna studios) was Pati Patni. Very soon Ranjit had their own four shooting stages and well equipped studios. Ranjit’s first Talkie was ” Devi Devyani’ in which Gohar acted opposite Bhagwandas as her Hero.
Ranjit studio became very big and films were made at the rate of one film every 16-20 days. They had employed the best Talent of the industry and Chandulal seemed to convert anything into Gold, whatever he did !
Gohar was the partner, manager, Producer and star actress of Ranjit. She maintained very good relations with her collegues and would use the common make up room with all other artistes. Gohar did 28 silent and 19 talkie films in her career. her last film was ” Achhut” -1940, directed by Chandulal and the Hero was Motilal. Chandulal Shah also stopped Directing films for the next 14 years. Gohar now only looked after the Studios and Chandulal Shah.
Though she was with Chandulal for 48 years, they never married. Actually, Chandulal was already married and had a son NAVEEN. His family stayed with him in Bombay, but Gohar never objected to that,
In 1944, Chandulal lost 1.25 crores in cotton trading in one day and their fortunes changed. Every thing ,including their properties had to be mortgaged and sold later. Even in this crisis, Gohar did not leave him and stayed attached till Chandulal Shah died in 1975.
In the early 50s, out of 153 of Ranjit films,of Ranjit all but 7 films were destroyed in fire, without leaving any backup for them.
Gohar Mamajiwala died on 28-9-1985.
In those days of 1930s and 40s, there were many same name artistes operating at the same time causing confusions. There was a Gauhar in silent films, there was yet another Gauhar Karnataki, who was the elder sister of Amirbai Karnataki and was herself an actress/singer in the same period. (we will hear her song also in this series, later). Similarly there were 3 rajkumaris, 3 or more Khurshids, Noorjahans, Neelams,etc etc.
When the Talkie films started, there were some offbeat films also made and in the jumble of fantasy, mythological and weeping socials, the audience jumped on such different storyline films. Ranjit had made MISS 1933 in 1933 for which music was given by Ustad Jhande Khan.
Ustad Jhande Khan was from Gujranwala, 40 miles from Lahore and was a trained classical singer form kasoori Gharana. He was associated with Parsi and Gujarati Theatre and had composed hudreds of songs,including on Mahabharat also.
He entered films with Ranjit’s first Talkie “Devi Devyani”-1931. He gave music to several Ranjit films till 1936, like, Char Chakram, Radha rani, Sati Savitri, Bhutia Mahal, Bhola Shikar, Bhool bhulaiyya, Pardesi preetam, Shailbala, Miss 1933, Vishwamohini, Veer babruwahan etc. After Ranjit he did films for Ajanta, Eastern, Vishnu cinetone etc. Though he did not do many films as composer, his name was highly respected. Begum Akhtar and master Nissar learnt from him. Naushad, Shyamsunder, Hemant Kumar and Ghulam Mohammad worked as his assistants.
He died in 1951 at his residence Kader mansion in Dadar, Bombay but was buried in Gujranwala.
The cast of Miss 1933 was Gohar, Mehtab, Adjania, E.Bilimoria, Yakub, Ghori, Dixit etc. The story was-
Kusum(Gohar) is an orphan staying with her greedy uncle who has plans to sell her off/marry her to an old but rich sethji. Kusum resists and leaves the house. She is given shelter and is adopted by a kind man Seth Kisandas(Adjania). His son Jayant(Bilimoria) is studying in the city. When he comes home on a holiday ,with his friends Ramesh (Yakub) and Kishori(Mehtab), she falls in love with Jayant. However the crooked Ramesh also has an eye on her and at one time, he tries to molest her. In self defence,K usum fights with him and hits him with a heavy object. he is seriously injured. Kusum is arrested for attempt to murder.
Jayant knows that she is not guilty. He and Kishori collect enough evidence and after the case, Kusum is aquitted honourably.
Ramesh also repents and all is well with the two couples.
(I have used material from cineplot, Indian cine wiki, beete hue din, Dhunon ki yatra, swaron ki yatra, listener’s bulletins and special thanks to Shishir Sharma ji for certain clarifications. My Thanks to all of them.)
Now let us hear the voice of Gohar Qayoum Mamajiwala in a song composed by Ustad Jhande khan……
Song-Koi kisi ka nahin (Miss 1933) (1933) Singer-Gauhar Qayyum Mamajiwala, MD-Ustad Jhande Khan
Lyrics
aa aa aa
aa aa
koi kisi ka nahin
koi kisi ka nahin
koi kisi ka nahin
sakhi dil ra’n
koi kisi ka nahin
is duniyaaa aa mein
haan haan aa aa
aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa
is duniya mein
badi bewafaayi dekhi ee ee
koi kisi ka nahin
wo harjaaai
tadpat nis din
aa aa aa
aa aa
koi jaaye
ye haal sunaaa aa aawo
koi kisi ka nahin
is zamaane ko aazmaa dekha
jisko dekha
wo bewafa dekha
haal e dard ka shareek e duniya mein
na biraadar
na aashna dekha
sach hai ke waqt e pal mein
kisi ka koi nahin
patte bhi bhaagte hain
khizaan mein
?? sukoon
koi kisi ka nahin
preetam tum mat jaanro
ke tum bin aur kya hoon
jaise(?) ki ladki
tumse kahoon din rain
jo main aisa jaanti
ke preet kiye dukh hoye
nagar dhindhora peet’ti
ke preet na kariyo koi
koi kisi ka nahin
koi kisi ka nahin
koi kisi ka nahin ee ee
koi kisi ka nahin ee ee
koi kisi ka
aaa aaa aaa aaa
koi kisi ka nahin
koi kisi ka nahin
—————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
—————————————-
आ आ आ
आ आ
कोई किसी का नहीं
कोई किसी का नहीं
सखी दिन रैन
कोई किसी का नहीं
इस दुनिया में
हाँ हाँ आ आ
आआ आआ
आआ आआ
आ आ आ
इस दुनिया में
बड़ी बेवफाई देखी॰॰ई॰॰ई
कोई किसी का नहीं
वो हरजाई
तड़पत निस दिन
आ आ आ
कोई जाए
ये हाल सुना आवो
कोई किसी का नहीं
इस जमाने को आज़मा देखा
जिसको देखा
वो बेवफा देखा
हाल ए दर्द का शरीक ए दुनिया में
ना बिरादर
ना आशना देखा
सच है के वक़्त ए पल में
किसी का कोई नहीं
पत्ते भी भागते हैं ख़िज़ाँ में
(?) सुकूँ
कोई किसी का नहीं
प्रीतम तुम मत जानरो
के तुम बिन और क्या हूँ
जैसे (?) की लाकड़ी
तुम से कहूँ दिन रैन
जो मैं ऐसा जानती
के प्रीत किए दुख होए
नगर ढिंढोरा पीटती
के प्रीत ना करियो कोए
कोई किसी का नहीं
कोई किसी का नहीं
कोई किसी का नहीं॰॰ईsss
कोई किसी का नहीं॰॰ईsss
कोई किसी का
आ आ आ आ
कोई किसी का नहीं
कोई किसी का नहीं
10 Responses to "Koi kisi ka nahin"
September 16, 2013 at 11:20 am
Arif ji,
Thanks for your comments.
It is not mentioned anywhere that Chandulal Shah lived in penury,but surely,he could not afford cars anymore. His waiting for bus comment is taken from an article on him by Shirish kanekar who is very credible.
As far as your mention of Ashraf Khan,a pathan,it is very true. Ashraf khan,who was also a known singer actor in Hindi films,was acting in several Gujrati plays and was very popular also. In his last days,he became a Sufi saint and has thousand of devotees all over the world,including famous artistes of Bollywood,who regularly visit his grave. I have written a full article on him ,on this Blog,which you can read,if interested.It was posted on 15-10-2012.
-AD
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September 17, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Thanks Arunkumar! Much obliged…I will follow your blog on Ashraf Khan. I have a friend in Mumbai who sings Asraf Khan’s songs (from his plays) to this day. As to Chandulal Shah, I believe (but am not certain) that film actress Azra was also related to him through his matrimonial alliance/s.
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September 17, 2013 at 10:30 pm
Arunkumar, I read your blog on Ashraf Khan. Just wonderful. I have sent a link to my Ashraf Khan fan-friend in Mumbai. Ashraf Khan’s pir status is quite extraordinary. Thanks for the blog.
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September 17, 2013 at 1:26 am
Arun ji,
What a fabulous reminder.
What a wonderful classical rendition, unbelievable that Gauhar Jaan was such an accomplished classical singer
Thank you so much for this series, wonderful encounters.
Rgds
Sudhir
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September 17, 2013 at 6:49 am
Gauhar Jaan’s was the first Indian voice to be recorded. 🙂 A digitised recording of that first song is still available. I have heard it.
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September 17, 2013 at 6:52 am
But I am not sure if she is the same Gauhar Jaan.
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September 17, 2013 at 7:02 am
This article discusses Gauhar Qayyum Mamajiwala (1907-1985), who was different from Gauhar Jaan (1873-1930). Gauhar Jaan was dead by the time this movie and its songs were created.
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September 17, 2013 at 12:51 pm
my conrdulations Arun for such a deep &rare information.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
September 15, 2013 at 8:45 am
Thanks to Arunkumar for taking us back in time! I am curious to ascertain if Chandulal Shah and Gauhar (Mamajiwala) had any children. As far as I have heard in the sixties, they did have two or three daughters, two of who are in the US. This info needs to be researched. This part of Chandulal’s family lived in Santa Cruz, a suburb of Mumbai. That aspect of Chandulal’s later penury is subject to verification, as there are doubts as to its occurrence.
Ustad Jhande Khan must have given music to Gujarati plays enacted in Bhaang Wadi, a now defunct theater at Kalbadevi, an area near Dhobi Talao in Mumbai. Ashraf Khan, a Pathan with an incredible mastery over Gujarati, played the lead roles in those plays.
Thanks again Arunkumar, and thanks Atul for posting!
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