Kaanta Laaga Re Saanwariya Teekha Teekha
Posted on: November 30, 2014
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a 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.
Greetings to Sudha ji on her birthday today (30th November).
The voice behind iconic gems of the likes of “Salaam e Hasrat Qubool Kar Lo. . .” (‘Baabar’, 1960), “Mere Nadeem Mere Humsafar Udaas Na Ho” and “Utth Jaayenge Jahaan Se. . .” (both from ‘Bhai Baen’, 1959), “Ho Ruk Ja Ruk Ja Ruk Ja. . . Laut Kar Aana Hoga” (‘Changez Khan’, 1957), “Mera Jalaa Raat Bhar Diya” (‘Chamak Chandni’, 1957), “Apna Samajh Ke Aankh Milaane Ka Shukriya” (‘Zindagi’ 1956), “Chupke Se Dil Mein Chori Chori Aaya Kaun” (‘Shikaar’, 1955), “Awaaz De Rahaa Hai Koi Aasmaan Se” (‘Gauhar’, 1953). A voice that is always a fresh flow of delight, no matter how many times one may listen to her songs. Contrary to what the words say, it is simply not possible to forget the song and the voice that sings “Tum Mujhe Bhool Bhi Jaao To ye Haq Hai Tumko” from the film ‘Didi’ (1959), a song that is incidentally also composed by her.
Sudha ji was just six years of age, when she appeared on stage in a charity concert in Lahore. (Although she was born in Delhi, her family was based in Lahore before the partition). It was a great opportunity, as the charge of music for that show was under Ghulam Haider Sb. Under his direction, she recalls, she sang the then recently popular song of the film ‘Khandaan’, 1942 – “Tu Kaun Si Badli Mein Mere Chaand Hai Aa Ja” , (originally sung by Noorjehaan). Seeing her performance, Ghulam Haider Sb had blessed her and predicted a very bright future for her in the world of music. After that show, the Lahore station of All India Radio contacted her family, and she became a regular singer on the radio.
After the partition, her family migrated to Bhopal. The year was 1949, and she was just 13 years of age. She was in Bombay on a family visit. Coincidences and fortunes work together sometimes. She was requested to sing at a family party. And incidentally, who would be present at that party, but Anil Biswas, the doyen of music directors, and at the peak of his career at that time. He immediately called upon her, and she got her first break as a singer in Hindi films. The film is ‘Aarzoo’ released in 1950. And the song – a delightful melody – “Mila Gaye Nain Mila Gaye Nain” , which was performed on screen by Shashikala. The song was instantly popular, and the offers for singing assignment started to flow. The interesting part is that Sudha ji till then had no formal training in music. She learnt simply by listening. Music directors Husnlal Bhagatram guided her to get a formal training. And subsequently, in between her singing assignments with the film industry, she completed her graduation in music from Agra, and she also learnt classical music at the feet of Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan of Patiala gharana, and Pandit Laxman Prasad Jaipurwaale.
The decade of 1950s was the most active for her, with the years from 1957 to 1961 being the most prolific and popular. Over a period of little less than a decade and a half, she has sung a little over 225 songs in approximately 110 or so films.
In 1960, she got married and slowly scaled down her film career over the next couple of years. Although the songs recorded by her continued to appear with some regularity in films till 1967. After that, we see only some very sporadic singing – a song in the 1980 film ‘Pehla Qadam’ and another song in the 1982 film ‘Prem Rog’ – “Ye Pyaar Tha Ya Kuchh Aur Tha. . .” . She was specially requested by Raj Kapoor for the song in ‘Prem Rog’. In the 1960s, she also recorded some non film ghazals and bhajans. But after the song in ‘Prem Rog’ it has been a full retirement from singing in films for her.
In a recent interview, she has shared a very interesting trivia. The iconic duet in the voices of Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar – “Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayaal Aata Hai” from the film ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ (1976), was actually planned for a much earlier film by Chetan Anand. In that instant, the song was recorded by Khaiyyaam Sb as an all female duet in the voices of Sudha ji and Geeta Dutt. The film eventually did not get made, and the song sat in waiting for some years before the team of Sahir Sb and Khaiyyaam Sb revived it for Yash Chopra’s ‘Kabhi Kabhi’, whence it was now recorded and released as a Mukesh – Lata duet.
For this special occasion, I present very lovely and a delightful solo song – a very rare availability from an obscure film with an interesting name – ‘Oot Pataang’ from 1955. The words from the pen of DN Madhok have been so beautifully strung together into this mellifluous melody by the genius of Vinod. A song that simply suffered obscurity by association with a B/C grade film. The film is produced by Naveen Chandra Shah under the banner of GM Pictures, and is directed by Chandulal Shah. The cast of actors includes Usha Kiran, Agha, Anwar, Maruti, Jankidas, Indira, Mumtaz Begum, Vaneeta, Rasheed Khan, Shammi Chaudhary, Madhuri, Dubey, Khaja Ahmed, Vijaylakshmi.
The film holds out a sincere promise as a treasure house of delightful songs. In good time I am sure. . . This song is such a pleasure to listen to. In my experience I have not heard the phrase ‘Haaye Ram’ rendered so deliciously and charmingly in a Hindi film song. There is another rendition, this one by Lata ji in the song “Didi Tera Devar Deewaana” from the 1994 film ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun”. But my personal opinion, this rendition by Sudha ji is simply the best. Almost six decades ago, and recorded when she was just past her eighteenth year. What a lovely song this one is. Listen and enjoy.
Sudha ji, greetings once again, and best wishes for continued good health and many more returns of this day. And thank you for all the wonderful memories over the years.
Song-Kaanta Laaga Re Saanwariya Teekha Teekha (Oot Pataang)(1955) Singer-Sudha Malhotra, Lyrics-DN Madhok, MD-Vinod
Lyrics
haaye ram
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
haaye ram
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
bolo ji
kahaan se seekha
yun chubh chubh jaana
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
o kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
haaye ram
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
bolo ji
kahaan se seekha
yun chubh chubh jaana
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
is kaante ki peer niraali
ho ji peer niraali
yahaan lagey aur chubhan yahaan ho
ghadi ghadi mere moonh se nikle
piya kahaan ho
piya kahaan ho
arey piya kahaan ho
piya kahaan ho
ye haal huaa hai ji ka
bolo ji
kahaan se seekha
yun chubh chubh jaana
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
haaye ram
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
bolo ji
kahaan se seekha
yun chubh chubh jaana
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
aise kaante aur bichhaa de
aur bichhaa de. . .
aise kaante aur bichhaa de
saajan meri raahon mein
meri raahon mein
haaye saajan meri raahon mein
meri raahon mein
kaanta lagey aur haaye kahoon main
haaye daiyyaa
kaanta lagey aur haaye kahoon
aa jaaun teri nigaahon mein
aa jaaun teri nigaahon mein
varna jeevan pheeka
bolo ji
kahaan se seekha
yun chubh chubh jaana
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
haaye ram
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
o kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
bolo ji
kahaan se seekha
yun chubh chubh jaana
kaanta laaga re saanwariya teekha teekha
————————————————–
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
————————————————-
हाए राम
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
हाए राम
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
बोलो जी
कहाँ से सीखा
यूं चुभ चुभ जाना
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
ओ काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
हाए राम
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
बोलो जी
कहाँ से सीखा
यूं चुभ चुभ जाना
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
इस कांटे की पीर निराली
हो जी पीर निराली
यहाँ लगे और चुभन यहाँ हो
घड़ी घड़ी मेरे मुंह से निकले
पिया कहाँ हो
पिया कहाँ हो
अरे पिया कहाँ हो
पिया कहाँ हो
ये हाल हुआ है जी का
बोलो जी
कहाँ से सीखा
यूं चुभ चुभ जाना
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
हाए राम
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
बोलो जी
कहाँ से सीखा
यूं चुभ चुभ जाना
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
ऐसे कांटे और बिछा दे
और बिछा दे॰ ॰ ॰
साजन मेरी राहों में
मेरी राहों में
हाए साजन मेरी राहों में
मेरी राहों में
काँटा लगे और हाए कहूँ मैं
हाए दैय्या
काँटा लगे और हाए कहूँ
आ जाऊँ तेरी निगाहों में
आ जाऊँ तेरी निगाहों में
वरना जीवन फीका
बोलो जी
कहाँ से सीखा
यूं चुभ चुभ जाना
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
हाए राम
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
ओ काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
बोलो जी
कहाँ से सीखा
यूं चुभ चुभ जाना
काँटा लागा रे साँवरिया तीखा तीखा
6 Responses to "Kaanta Laaga Re Saanwariya Teekha Teekha"
December 1, 2014 at 2:45 pm
“हाय राम”, मार डाला आपने.
Thank you very much, Sudhir ji, for a superb post.
You have recounted almost all the best songs (and my favourites) of Sudha ji. However, I beg your pardon for commiting the transgression of suggesting that “Kishti ka khamosh safar hai, shaam bhi hai, tanhai bhi” (duet with Kishore, Girl Friend, 1960) also deserves to be mentioned in the list of her unforgettable numbers.
Warm regards,
Avadh Lal
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December 2, 2014 at 1:54 pm
Dear Avadh Lal ji,
I am in complete agreement, regarding the song you mention in your comment.
As far as the above article, I am actually remiss in not metioning or discussing any duets by her. I just wrote about her solo songs.
Ah, that gives us the opportunity for another post on her. 🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
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December 4, 2014 at 3:52 am
I do not know whether this was posted before. There is a very nice Sudha Malhotra-Geeta Dutt duet from the same film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyelYEaDNQY
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December 4, 2014 at 10:50 am
Thanks a ton Sudhir Sir for this rare and so beautiful song, heard this song before also but never mind “Haay Raam” rendition style of Sudhaji.
Really, a unique song, no words to describe…
Haay Raam, maar daala…. waakai kaanta chubh hi gaya….bas samajh lo… ham to lut gaye beech bazariya… ya chalat musafir moh liya re… bas thage se rah gaye…
Again many many thanks for this “Haay Raam” post…
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December 4, 2014 at 10:53 am
Alternate audio link with some better audio quality :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyKTEMn7MOo
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 1, 2014 at 12:06 pm
My belated birthday greetings and wishes to Sudha ji.
@ Sudhir ji – many thanks for this detailed post on Sudha Malhotra ji. I hv been fortunate to get to share few songs of her on the blog.
For the past few days I have got very less time to listen and share music. Though I am regularly checking new posts on the blog. Will have to listen to this song later and listen carefully 🙂 to ‘haaye raam’ (after reading this post 🙂 )
Thanks !!
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