Arre kahaan chali
Posted on: October 11, 2015
This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, 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.
This is a song from film Jaalsaaz-59. This film was made at a time when Kishore Kumar as a Comedian Hero was in his Top form and people used to go to theatres only to watch his antics and listen to the songs sung by him. Little importance was given by moviegoers to the, plot or histrionics in a Kishore Kumar film. There were other artists and movies to take care of good acting and good storylines, whereas Kishore Kumar movies offered something different, namely good laughs and entertainment, paisa-vasool style !
Actually, sometimes I feel that the decade of the 50s from 1951 to 1960 should be called a decade of good music and comedy. It was in this period that both Kishore Kumar and Johnny Walker were on Top of their acting careers. People simply loved both of them. Their styles were different. I do not think that they ever worked together in any films. Johnny Walker and Kishore Kumar worked in almost 50% of their total films in this decade itself. Kishore Kumar did 43 films out of his 92 and Johnny walker did 92 out of his 190 films in the dace of 1950s.
Writer Sanjit Narvekar described Kishore Kumar as a “Reluctant Comedian”. He never wanted to become an actor. He was more interested in singing, but the producers considered him otherwise. Till the end of 60s, he mainly sang for Dev Anand besides his own songs. Producers found him a good Comedian Hero, who sang his own songs. He could draw crowds to the theatre. To attract and lure him, he was given songs to sing in his own films. Kishore Kumar used to do these acting roles for the sake of these songs that he would get to sing for himself. Moreover it was also a question of survival in the industry for him.
Kishore Kumar’s films were my favourites and I saw almost all his films during the 1950s. His songs of the 50s-both sung for Dev and himself- are simply unforgettable and give me nostalgic joy. Only the other day, I read a beautiful sentence, ” Some times it is not the song that makes you happy or emotional, it’s the people and things that come to your mind when you hear it. ”
How true it is ! I am sure all of us get all those memories of our childhood, college days, Love affairs, friends or even family and parents, when we hear an old song of our liking. For example, whenever I hear a song from film Funtoosh-56, I invariably remember one of my close friends, with whom I had bunked the college to see this film or whenever I hear any song from film Begunah-57, I remember how I had rushed to see the film as there were rumours that the film was to be banned soon. ( and the rumours proved out to be correct).
Film Jaalsaaz-59 was the first of three films with the same title. The second movie by this title came in 1969 and the third in 2000. Similarly even film Jaal was made 3 times- in 52,67 and 86.
Jaalsaaz(1959) was produced and directed by Arbind Sen, who had earlier directed Kishor Kumar in the film Muqaddar-50, and also in Kaafila-52 in which Kishore had sung two memorable songs.
Arvind Sen started as an actor in Jawani ki reet-39 and also Insaaf-46. He was also a producerand director of six films.
The cast of the film was Kishore Kumar, Mala Sinha, Pran, Achala Sachdev, Nazir Hussain, Krishnakant, Asit Sen, Helen etc etc. Mala Sinha had earlier worked with Kishore in film ‘Paisa hi Paisa’-56. Later on she did two more films with him, Bewaqoof-60 and Bombay ka chor-62. By the way, Kishore did most films with Madhubala and Kumkum- 7 films each. On the second number was Vyjayantimala with 6 films.
Mala Sinha came from Calcutta to make a career in Bombay films. In Calcutta she worked in a Bilingual film ‘Chitrangada-54’ in Bangla and Hindi. In 54 itself, she did her first film in Bombay, viz. Badshah-54. Then came Hamlet-54, Riyasat-55 and Ekadashi-55.
In all her interviews, Mala Sinha always quoted “Rangeen Raten”-56 with Shammi Kapoor as her first film in Bombay. She was ashamed of revealing the fact that she had already made her debut opposite lesser heroes. For instance, Mahipal was her hero in the film Riyaasat-55 and Trilok Kapoor was her hero in the film Ekadashi. She always hid this fact.
There are many Heroines who want to hide their struggling days. For example, Kalpana, the heroine of Shammi Kapoor in the film “Professor”-62, tried to hide the fact that she had earlier worked in “Pyaar Ki Jeet”(1962), her debut film, opposite Mahipal.
Similarly, A grade Heroine Meena Kumari also had done several Mythological and costume films before Baiju Bawra took her high up and above other Heroines. Films like Veer Ghatotkach-49, Shri Ganesh Mahima-50, Laxmi Narayan-51, Hanuman Paataal vijay-51 and Alladin aur Jadui Chirag-52 had Mahipal as her Hero. In her later years, she always tried to hide this fact.
Even comedian Johnny Walker, who is supposed to have made a beginning with Baazi-51, had earlier worked in “The last message or Aakhri paigham”-49. However this fact is not told by anyone.
Not only actors, but even singers do this. They hesitate to tell that the first sang for C grade films. Take the case of Sudha Malhotra, who used to declare Arzoo-50 as her first film, under Anil Biswas, but she never revealed that earlier she had sung three songs in the film Aakhri paigham-49, under the baton of composer Abid Hussein Khan.
It is very unfortunate that once an artiste becomes famous, he tends to forget his humble beginning with less known film or a composer. This is because they are ashamed of it. Shri Girdharilal Vishwakarma ji, famous collector and a film Historian, rues this tendency. he feels the blame also goes to people who take their interview, because the interview taker does not do proper homework. Many times they do not know anything and simply listen to whatever is told by the artiste.
Today’s song is in the typical style of Kishore Kumar. The tune is based on “Lavani” songs of maharashtra, with a ji ji re ji ji by chorus. here is the stoty synopsis of this film-
Sunderdas was a perfectionist. If he waited fifteen years to strike, it was with the knowledge that fifteen years was long enough for parents to accept anyone with a striking resemblance as their long lost son.
Sunderdas had been fortunate to came across Shanker, a pavement dweller who took life just as it came to him. Shanker fell a ready prey to Sunderdass slick talk, and was a willing tool in the hands of a cunning craftsman. Shanker duly appeared at Dwarkadass residence in the guise of their son, Kundan, lost fifteen years ago. To the ageing and pining parents, Kundan he surely was And if Vijaya, Kundan’s younger sister had her suspicions she could not accuse him with certainty, nor was she eager to break her parents’ hearts after fifteen long years of unhappiness.
Kundan, as he now was, met the beautiful Meera, and a fairytale romance blossomed between the millionaire’s son and the poor man’s daughter. Meera’s brother Rajesh was another victim of Suderdas’ power and had unwillingly played a bold part in the duplication of Kundan with Shankar. This romance did not fit in with Sunderdas’ plans, and he moved quickly to bring about a serious hitch between the young lovers.
Meera was dropped the hint that Kundan had something to do with her now missing brother. Sunderdas’ plan succeeded as an immediate rift was apparent.
Sunderdas had been patient for fifteen years, but now could wait no longer, with his hireling firmly entrenched both in Dwarkadass residence and in the hearts of Kundan’s parents, Sunderdas demanded immediate action.
The happy-go-lucky lad of yesterday was all of a sudden a tortured soul. The boy who had never even known what the word `Mother’ meant, had now enjoyed all the affection that any mother could ever bestow on him. Yet he was but an impostor a low, mean cheat! Sunderdas finally fixed the time. On the night of the crime. Kundan tossed in his bed trying to settle his disturbed state of mind. If he did not carry out Sunderdas’ orders he would still lose his new-found yearning for mother-love.
Kundan decides to own up to the truth and reveals that he is Shankar and not Kundan. He first opens his mind with Meera. She advises him to go to Police and then accept whatever is the punishment. The police draw a plan to trap Sunderdas,as he is wanted in many other crimes too. Finally Sunderdas is caught red-handed and Shankar is injured in the final fisticuffs with the cronies. While his mother is applying medicine to his back, she finds a birthmark which confirms that he is their real son who was lost 15 years ago. So, all is well and the lovers unite.
[Comments from Atul-The lyrics of the song contain words from Marathi and Bangla. Knowledgeable readers with familiarity of these languages are requested to point out the missing words/ corrections in the lyrics in these languages.]
Audio
Video
Song-Arre kahaan chali (Jaalsaaz)(1959) Singers-Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhonsle, Lyrics-Majrooh Sultanpuri, MD-N Datta
Male chorus
Female chorus
Lyrics
ruk kahaan chali ee
arre kahaan chali
ae kithhe chali
ae kuthhe saali
o kothaai chol’li re
o o o
o o o
ho o o
aa meri jaan
deepak bina
kaise patanga naachegaa
kaise patanga naachegaa
jee jee re jee jee
jee jee re jee jee
jee jee re jee jee re
jee jee jee
ho tak dhin dhina
sun saajna
aise patanga naachega
aise patanga naachega
jee jee re jee jee
jee jee re jee jee
jee jee re jee jee re
jee jee jee
ag paatla chaa
ag patla cha
pori zara japun japun
zara japun japun
beegi beegi ?? sheta madun
ya sheta madun
ag patla cha
zara patla cha pora
?? naku magun
tula ghetla paahun
?? tonda dhoun
zara tonda dhoun
zara patla cha pora
ye bhi deewaali jaaye na khaali
baahon se baahen milne de
koi takega to kya kahega
ag bai ag bai ag bai
koi takega to kya kahega
jalta hai dil to jalne de
jalta hai dil to jalne de
o phuljhadi
main chal padi
geli geli geli
o phuljhadi
main chal padi
waah naina to milaa ke jaa
o o o o
ho o o
aa meri jaan
deepak bina
kaise patanga naachegaa
kaise patanga naachegaa
jee jee re jee jee
jee jee re jee jee
jee jee re jee jee re
jee jee jee
raadhe
o raadhe
tumi aamaay chhede kothaai jaabe
o raadhe
oikhaane daadaaiya aacho keno
maan ghorgo
oikhaane daadaaiya aacho keno
maan ghorgo
tumaar poornomaashi
mukho shoshi
keno raahu graase kyun
thhaak thhaak thhaak thhaak
doore thhaako
kaache aamaar aisho na
thhaak thhaak thhaak thhaak
doore thhaako
kaache aamaar aisho na
tomar rong kaalo
aain
mon kaalo
aain
kaalo mukhe henso na
oikhaane daadaaiya aacho keno
maan ghorgo
oikhaane daadaaiya aacho keno
7 Responses to "Arre kahaan chali"
October 11, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Yogesh also hid the fact that first he wrote for C grade movies.
Nitu Singh hid the fact she did her schooling in Matunga(E) Hindi medium school whose uniform was white and pink pinaform. I would see her daily crossing the Matunga Road bridge with her mother in tow with shades. She claims that she was studying in Walshingham School, Nepean Sea Road. Bah!!
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October 11, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Arun ji,
Kishore Kumar and Johnny Walker appeared together in the following films:
a. Lehren 1953
b. Chaar Paise 1955
c. Naya Andaaz 1956
d. Chandan 1958
e. Hungama 1971
Rgds
Sudhir
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October 11, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Sudhir ji,
Thank you for this information.
Actually I have seen these films,except Leheren,but I did not recollect their names,while writing,hence I cautiously said,’I do not think’……
-AD
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April 14, 2016 at 9:51 am
A similar Kannada song which was quite a hit is “Naavu Bandeva”. Sung by Nageswara Rao from the film Paapa Punya. Youtube link is
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December 1, 2019 at 10:50 am
I wanted the lyrics of the entire song, which is 6:09 mins long, can someone help me with it?
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
October 11, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Marathi lines are like this-
4th line……Ae kuthe chalali
25th line onwards…..
aga patala chya
aga patala chya
pori jara japun japun
jara japun japun
bigi bigi tu jaatis sheta madhun
yaa sheta madhun
aga patala chya…
jara patala chya pora
yevu nako maagun
tula ghetala paahun
dhar waat gharchi, ye tond dhuvun
jara re tond dhuvun
Jaa re patala chya pora…
-AD
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