This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
It was a message earlier in the morning yesterday. It was a reminder email from Khyati Ben, that 25th July 2014 is the 95th birth anniversary of the renowned music director, Sudhir Phadke. This post is on her request. The wonderful and unique song is also her suggestion, and the lyrics are provided by her.
Sudhir Phadke – a name that is forever going to be known for the iconic, very traditional, very homely “Jyoti Kalash Chhalke” . This magical composition, created over five decades ago, has gone down in the history of Hindi film music as one of the all time great songs ever. The verses by Pt Narendra Sharma, and the mellifluous voice of Lata ji, are both strung together into the beautiful tapestry of Raag Bhopali by Sudhir Phadke. A magic of music has never sounded so perfect, so pure, so complete, so fulfilling and so pleasing.
He is a legendary figure in Maharashrtra an Marathi music. He has composed the music for ‘Geet Ramayan’, a simple translation of Sant Tulsidas’ epic into Marathi by the renowned poet, GD Madgulkar. The entire theatrical creation includes 56 songs. In their original presentation on stage and as a radio play, the singers who have sung these 56 songs include Manik Varma, Lalita Deulkar, Lata Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke himself, Vasantrao Deshpande, Ram Phatak, and Usha Atre amongst others.
This creation has made him a household name wherever Marathi is spoken. Stage performances of the program continue to draw huge crowds even today.
The composition of “Jyoti Kalash Chhalke” came in 1961. After the passage of five decades in history, most people are not aware of a minor detail – i.e. 1961 was nearly the end of his career in Hindi films. He did one more film in 1962 (‘Pyaar Ki Jeet’), and then one more after a gap of 10 years in 1972 (‘Daraar’). This song from 1961 stands out as a shining beacon in his career. He is best known for this iconic composition. But if we look back into his career of the prior fifteen years, there is a long list of very melodious and endearing songs that comes to mind. The gleeful “Din Hai Suhaan Aaj Pehli Taarikh Hai” (‘Pehli Taarikh’, 1954), is created by him. Some other very wonderful compositions that have come from his baton are “Main Taaron Ki Odh Chunariyaa” (‘Rukmini Swyamvar’, 1946), “Saawan Ki Ghataao Tum Dheere Dheera Aana” and “Taqdeer Mein Likha Hai Meri Thokaren Khana” (‘Aage Badho’, 1947), “Dil Ro Rahaa Hai Hum Gaa Rahe Hain” (‘Apradhi’, 1949), “Birhaa Sataaye Bairi” and “Aaj Ki Raat Niraali Hai” (‘Jai Bheem’, 1949), “Naino Se Bahe Jal Ki Dhaara, Man Mein Mere Angaare Hain” and “Mann Saunp Diya Anjaane Mein” (‘Maalti Maadhav’, 1951), “Nain Se Nain Mila Lo, Man Se Man Ko Uljha Lo” (‘Gaj Gauri’, 1958), “Matke Pe Matka, Khaali Nahin Jaata Nishaana Natkhat Kaa” (‘Gokul Ka Chor’, 1959) and many more such beautiful melodies that are his creation.
Sudhir Phadke was born in Kolhapur in 1919. His name at birth was Ram Phadke, which is later changed, when he started working with HMV. With the passing away of his mother in 1929, the ten year old moved to Bombay with family. His interest and aptitude for music brought him to Maharashtra Sangeet Vidyalaya, where he received formal education and training. He also learnt at the feet of Pt Wamanrao Padhye of the Gwalior gharana, and Dr Bhajker, another renowned exponent of classical music in his times. In 1943 , he joined the gramophone company, HMV, and worked there till 1945. At HMV, he met with Vasudev G Bhatkar, who would later be more famous as Snehal Bhatkar. This was a lasting friendship, which also brought the young Sudhir in touch with the film industry. In collaboration with Vasudev Bhatkar, his first film as music director was ‘Rukmini Swyamvar’ in 1946. In parallel he also got his first break as an independent music direction with the film ‘Golkul’ also in 1946. In 1949, while recording the songs of ‘Jai Bheem’, a mutual attraction arose between the music director and one of his singers in this film, Lalita Deolkar. They were married the same year.
In a career that lasted a little over 15 years in Hindi cinema, he composed approximately a 120 songs for about 20 films. His mainstay, however has been the Marathi Bhaavgeet and music for Marathi films, that has made him a household name in Maharashtra. Compared to his stint with Hindi films, in Marathi cinema, he has composed music for over eighty films. During the last phase of his life, he was working to produce a biographical film on Veer Saavarkar. This film was not completed, however some songs were recorded.
Sudhir Phadke passed away on 29th July 2002, at the age of 83.
I had mentioned in the intro paragraph of this article that this is a very unique song. In her message, Khyati Ben explained this uniqueness as follows. As per the verses of this song, it is clear that on screen, this song is sung by the character of Devki. Readers are familiar with the history of the birth of Lord Krsna. He is born to Devki and Vasudev as their eighth child, while they have been incarcerated in prison, by Kamsa, the brother of Devki. On the night of His birth, by divine intervention, the baby child is carried in a basket by Vasudev and is deposited in the home of Nand and Yashoda in Gokul. All this while everyone is in deep sleep. Vasudev returns from Gokul carrying back the girl child of Yashoda.
The suffering and hardship of prison life, continue to be the bane of Devki’s and Vasudev’s lives. Their freedom comes when eleven years later, young Krsna comes to Mathura. He pulls down Kamsa from his throne and takes his life with a single blow. This episode is very well known.
But the fact is that Devki and Vasudev are condemned to spend another 11 years in prison, before being liberated. This song is most likely placed during that period of eleven years, as Devki calls out to her son, asking to be delivered from this life in prison. Going by our awareness of the variety of Hindi film songs abour Krsna, the experience is that almost all songs of motherly love and invocation are sung by Yashoda. In my awareness, this is probably the only song I have come across, which is apparently sung by Devki. That is what makes this song so unique.
The singing voice is that of Lata ji. The verses are from the pen of Pt Narendra Sharma. The melody created by Sudhir Phadke is based on Raag Mishr Maalkauns. Another very touching and very traditional creation from this team of artists.
Listen and enjoy.
(And thanks once again to Khyati Ben, for prompting to write this post on the venerable music director.)
suno . . o o
suno . . o o
suno . . o o
suno . . o o
suno . . o o
suno . . o o
jhan jhanan jhanan
jhan jhanan jhanan
jhan jhanan jhanan
jhan jhanan jhanan
hathkadiyon ki jhankaar suno
dukhiyon ka haahaakaar suno
suno suno Ghanshyaam
suno . . o o
(tum suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(suno suno Ghanshyaam)
peedaa ka kaaraagaar hoon main
mamta ka luta sansaar hoon main
aansoo jal ki majhdhaar hoon main
us paar ho tum
is paar hoon main
tum meri god ke laalan ho
jag ke hey paalan haar suno
jag ke paalan haar suno
hathkadiyon ki jhankaar suno
dukhiyon ka haahaakaar suno
suno suno ghanshyaam
suno . . o o
(tum suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(suno suno Ghanshyaam)
chhalkaa kar ras ki gaagariya
baj chuki bahut din baansuriya
o vaasudev nat naagariya
ab aa jaao na baawariya
hain dase vishaile naag abhi
ye zehr bhari fufkaar suno
zehr bhari fufkaar suno
hathkadiyon ki jhankaar suno
dukhiyon ka haahaakaar suno
suno suno Ghanshyaam
suno . . o o
(tum suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(tum suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(tum suno suno Ghanshyaam)
suno . . o o
(suno suno Ghanshyaam)
—————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
—————————————-
सुनो ओ ओ
सुनो ओ ओ
सुनो ओ ओ
सुनो ओ ओ
सुनो ओ ओ
सुनो ओ ओ
झन झनन झनन
झन झनन झनन
झन झनन झनन
झन झनन झनन
हथकड़ियों की झंकार सुनो
दुखियों का हाहाकार सुनो
सुनो सुनो घनश्याम
सुनो ओ ओ
(तुम सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
पीड़ा का कारागार हूँ मैं
ममता का लुटा संसार हूँ मैं
आँसू जल की मँझधार हूं मैं
उस पार हो तुम
ईस पार हूँ मैं
तुम मेरी गोद के लालन हो
जग के हे पालनहार सुनो
जग के पालनहार सुनो
हथकड़ियों की झंकार सुनो
दुखियों का हाहाकार सुनो
सुनो सुनो घनश्याम
सुनो ओ ओ
(तुम सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
छलका कर रस की गागरीया
बज की चुकी बहुत दिन बांसुरिया
ओ वासुदेव नाट नागरिया
हैं डसे विषैले नाग अभी
ये ज़हर भरी फुफकार सुनो
ज़हर भरी फुफकार सुनो
हथकड़ियों की झंकार सुनो
दुखियों का हाहाकार सुनो
सुनो सुनो घनश्याम
सुनो ओ ओ
(तुम सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(तुम सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(तुम सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
सुनो ओ ओ
(सुनो सुनो घनश्याम)
hi atul being a regular reader of your blog was surprised how could you have missed Mr Kalyanji (KA fame) birthday on 30 th june when you always in your blog mention each and every persons birthday.Just to remind about this i send u this mail..regards dinesh
On Sat, Jul 26, 2014 at 7:15 AM, atul’s bollywood song a day- with full
Oh, thank you Sudhirbhai for very prompt response. I just sent you the lyrics and my request yesterday only and here it is!!! A wonderful post giving all possible known facts about Sudhir Phadke. As I had said in my email, he was known to me only as a one song composer. I had some idea about his more contribution in Marathi Films but was not aware of the fact that he has composed for twenty HFs.
I have seen/heard more of his Marathi geets/bhajans than Hindi…Now I know why. His song Tujhe roop chitti raho…. of Marathi film, Sant Gorakumbhar is very close to my heart.
Thank you Atulji for the post about Sudhir F by Sudhir K. 🙂
Sudhir ji,
Thanks for writing on Sudhir Phadke,a highly respected and popular singer composer in Marathi.
Geet Ramayan was not a simple translation of Tulsidas Ramayan. G.D.Madgulkar (he was popularly known as ga.dee.maa) was a very gifted Marathi poet and Geet Ramayan is own independent set of songs. It ran on A.I.R.Mumbai as a song programme,not as a play on radio and stage, for 52 weeks at a stretch-one song a week. All songs were composed by Sudhir Phadke.
One more thing about Sudhir Phadke. He was a part of a Team of him,G.D Madgulkar and Raja Paranjape. This team has a world record of 11 films featuring them and all films celebrating Silver jubilee. he was the Music Director,Raja Paranjape was the Director and Madgulkar was the script writer/actor/Lyricist for all 11 films in a row.
Arunji
I would like to add a little trivia.
Geet Ramayan is based on Valimiki Ramayan. It has 56 songs. It was released from AIR Poona (now Pune) Its time was from Ram Navmi 1955 to Ram Navmi 1956.One song was being played thrice a week. That year was with ADHIK MAAS and as such there were 56 weeks. That time we were eagerly waiting for a new song every week.
D Samant
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 
July 26, 2014 at 11:01 am
Wonderful to read this. I had no idea Jyoti Kalash Chhalke was by Sudhir Phadke. Amazing.
This blog is growing into WikiSong. 🙂
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