This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog. This is his 600th post in the blog
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The Voice of Mukesh #33
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I am sure the readers are kind of wary by now, of the delays and gaps between the posts that I am able to prepare and send to Atul ji for publication. Multiple reasons I can ascribe to this irregularity, but I depend on the indulgence of all of you, and the joys of uncertainties too.
🙂
Specially with this series, the significant concern is the availability of some of the more rare songs rendered by Mukesh. We are now approaching the end of 1948, and are pretty near the end of lists of songs for this year. But it is these remaining songs that are not so easily accessible and available. Given the list of songs that I can pull from the Mukesh Geet Kosh, before this post, it is three songs pending for 1948. And these are turning out to be elusive. Readers will recall that we are still waiting for one song from the 1947 film ‘Laakhon Mein Ek’. The interesting part is that I have been able to locate this song, and have recently been able to hear it too, but the sole owner (so far) of this song is not yet willing to post it on the net. (And I assure you, we are missing out on a gem of a Mukesh – Shamshad duet – a very fast paced and foot tapping number).
This post, besides being the Mukesh series, is also markinging another memory for today – the anniversary of passing away of Trilok Kapoor, one of the senior actors on screen in the 1930s and 40s. Trilok Kapoor is the younger brother of Prithviraj Kapoor. Born in Multan on 3rd March, 1912, Trilok was associated with the activities of the freedom movement from a very young age. His elder sibling had already moved to Calcutta to make a career in films in the latter part of 1920s. The year was 1932. There was a large rally held in Multan, advocating prohibition against liquor. The rally turned violent, resulting in the death of some people. Trilok Kapoor was also in the rally. His father, fearing for his son’s life, wrote to Prithviraj in Calcutta, to desist young Trilok from participation in such violent movements. He also implored him to have his younger brother join him in Calcutta. Under family duress, Trilok left Multan and joined his elder brother in Calcutta in early 1933. It was natural for him to start working in films, under guidance from his elder brother. His first screen appearance is a small role he played alongside his elder brother, in the film ‘Seeta’. He also worked as an assistant to producer director Hem Chander for some years. He played small roles in about ten films during his stay in Calcutta.
During late 1930s, Prithviraj migrated to Bombay, and Trilok also moved with him. Immediately on arrival in Bombay, he got associated with Ranjeet Movietone. His career got a fillip when he got associated with Vijay Bhatt. In the 1940s, Vijay Bhatt had become a household name with the release of films based on Ramaayan, viz. ‘Bharat Milap’ (1942) and ‘Ram Rajya’ (1943). The interesting thing to happen was that through these films, Trilok Kapoor got so well type cast in the role of Bhagwan Shiv, that well through the 1940s and 1950s, every producer wanted him to play that role only. His pairing with Nirupa Roy in the role of Mata Parvati became a staple feature of religious films in those years. His film ‘Har Har Mahadev’ celebrated a diamond jubilee in Bombay, and golden jubilee in many other centers.
In a career that lasted a little over five decades, Trilok Kapoor performed in more than 250 films, mostly small roles. Besides the religious films, the high point of his career was his lead appearance opposite to Noorjehaan in the film ‘Mirza Sahiba’ (1947). He passed away in 1988 (or ’89).
Coming back to the Mukesh song series. For the year 1948, search continues for the remaining three songs, one of which I am able to get and post one of them for today’s episode of this series. And an interesting story behind my efforts to get this song.
The film ‘Shri Ram Bhakta Hanuman’ from 1948, is available on the net for download. Somehow the songs of this film are not all available. As I was trying to track this song, I had to eventually download the film and then edit this song out. Now the interesting part about the identity and completeness of this song. This is a short song, and is less than 2 minutes in duration. In the sequence of events of the saga of Sri Ram’s incarnation on this earth, this song belongs to the time just after when Raavan, the King of Lanka, has forcibly kidnapped Seeta ji. Sri Ram and Sri Laxman are shocked to see their hutment abode deserted and are very sad to hear the news of kidnapping from Jataayu, the king of vultures, who had made a brave attempt to stop Raavan in his undesirable deed. Other smaller episodes pass. Sri Ram visits the abode of Shabri Mata, who guides the two brothers towards Rishyamook Parvat where she foretells of the meeting with Sri Hanuman. The two brothers reach the indicated place, meet with Sri Hanuman, who introduces them to Sugreeva, the deposed king of Kishkindhaa, who has had a falling out with his elder brother Baali, and now hides at this mountain in fear. Sri Ram helps Sugreeva by slaying Baali, and getting the kingdom of Kishkindha reverted to Sugreeva. In return, Sugreeva promises to make all efforts to help search for the whereabouts of Seeta ji.
The monsoon season is nigh, and the two brothers settle down in the vicinity, to allow the rainy season to be over. Meanwhile Sugreeva seems to have forgotten his promise. Being given the reins of the kingdom, he immerses himself in enjoyment and luxuries. Meanwhile, the grief of Sri Ram as he pines and waits for his beloved, is increasing. In the film the entire episode is presented as a tandem of four songs one after the other.
The first song is a song of revelry and merrymaking, in the court of Sugreeva, where he is enjoying his royal ambience. The second song is based in the Ashok Vatika in Lanka, the land of Raavan. In this song, Seeta ji sings the verses of sadness, and of the futility of life without her husband, Sri Ram. Then we have this short song that Sri Ram sings, bemoaning the rainy season and the fact that no one has been able to give him any information about his missing spouse. Then the fourth song in sequence cuts back to the court of Sugreeva, where the jolly merry making is still progress.
This brief song of two paragraphs is penned by BD Misra and the music is composed by SN Tripathi. On screen, the song is performed by Trilok Kapoor, playing the lead role of Sri Ram. In this clip, we also see Sri Hanuman and Sri Laxman, as they witness the expression of grief by Sri Ram. In the sequence of events, at the end of this song, Sri Laxman and Sri Hanuman proceed to the court of Sugreeva, to challenge him and warn him of the consequences of having forgotten his promise to his benefactor, Sri Ram.
The star cast of this film includes Trilok Kapoor, SN Tripathi, Sona Chatterji, PC Joshi, Niranjan Sharma, Dalpat, Amarnath, Shri Bhagwan. I request other readers to kindly help to identify the actors who perform the roles of Sri Laxman and Sri Hanuman on screen in this film.
Once again, without failing to impress and without needing to emphasize, the soulful voice of Mukesh rings so true with the sadness that is inherent in this situation. A song that could have been possible only his voice. And so it is.
Song-Beet chali barkha ritu seete (Shri Ram Bhakt Hanuman)(1948) Singer-Mukesh, Lyrics-B D Mishra, MD-S N Tripathi
Lyrics
beet chali barkhaa ritu seete
sudh na mili tumhaari
beet chali barkhaa ritu seete
sudh na mili tumhaari
jwaala ban ke mujhe jalaati
birhaa ki chingaari
sudh na mili tumhaari
beet chali barkhaa ritu seete
sudh na mili tumhaari
chhoot gayaa
chhoot gayaa hai jab se saath tumhaara
toot gayaa praanon ka dheeraj saaraa
kaun sunegaa tum bin seete
mann ki vyathaa hamaari
sudh na mili tumhaari
beet chali barkhaa ritu seete
sudh na mili tumhaari
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Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
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बीत चली बरखा ऋतु सीते
सुध न मिली तुम्हारी
बीत चली बरखा ऋतु सीते
सुध न मिली तुम्हारी
ज्वाला बन कर मुझे जलाती
बिरहा की चिंगारी
सुध न मिली तुम्हारी
बीत चली बरखा ऋतु सीते
सुध न मिली तुम्हारी
छूट गया
छूट गया है जब से साथ तुम्हारा
टूट गया प्राणों का धीरज सारा
कौन सुनेगा तुम बिन सीते
मन की व्यथा हमारी
सुध न मिली तुम्हारी
बीत चली बरखा ऋतु सीते
सुध न मिली तुम्हारी
Sudhirji,
Badhaayi ho!!!! 600 posts, sorry, not just posts, but very valuable and informative posts for all Hindi music lovers. Hats off to your contribution.
Dear Sudhir ji,
Congratulations on your 600th post. We are really grateful to you for the painstaking efforts selflessly made by you for enthralling us with the rarest of songs and the most insightful information provided about and in the making of the musical gems.
Once again thanks & regards,
Avadh Lal,
P.S.: Can you please also enlighten me about the exact relationship between Prithviraj Kapoor & Trilok Kapoor. Were they real brothers? I always thought they were cousins. Of course, during that time (and even till my generation 65-70 years ago), due to the prevalent joint family system there was not much distinction between real brothers and cousins as 2/3 generations used to live together in the same dwelling.
Avadh Lal
Heartiest congratulations for your 600th post.
Thanks for giving us not only Gems from the past but also very informative and enlightening write ups on varied subjects,from time to time.
Wishing you a continued writing spree to reach 1000 and yet not stopping there !
-AD
Sudhir Ji, main kya kahoon jo baaki sabhi ne na kaha ho? Seriously, I guess we were so engrossed and in awe of all the information that you have been so lovingly feeding all of us. Chalte chalte, 600 articles ho gaye .. which is a monumental milestone and effort. Hats off Sudhir Ji. Wishing you all the very best to reach the next milestone of 1000 :). Thank you so much Sudhir Ji, we love you :).
Khyati Ben, Arun ji, Nitin ji, Prakash ji, Mahesh ji, Avadh Lal ji, Pradeep ji, Sheshadri ji, Avinash ji,
Thanks so much for the wonderful messages of congratulations. The friend circle on this blog is really a special for me, and your words of appreciation mean a lot to me.
And yes, me too am so eager to get to the 1,000. 🙂
This blog discusses Bollywood songs of yesteryears. Every song has a brief description, followed by a video link, and complete lyrics of the song. This is a labour of love, where “new” songs are added every day, and that has been the case for over SEVENTEEN years. This blog has more than 19700 song posts by now. This blog is active and online for over 6000 days since its beginning on 19 July 2008.
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
September 23, 2013 at 9:07 am
Generally SNT donned the role of Hanuman especially in films where he gave music. Not sure this time around; he was on the plumper side.
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