Achhe din aa rahe hain hurra
Posted on: March 21, 2016
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.
I am sure Prime Minister Modi ji will pat me on the back for bringing this song to limelight today. However, rest assured, that was not my aim. I just wanted to discuss a song from the film Mr. Sampat-1952. The song’s first lines are ‘Hurra Hurra, achhe din aa rahen hain’. This is merely a coincidence !
Mr. Sampat-52 was a landmark movie in the career of actor Motilal. One can say that it was the begining of his second innings. Very soon he turned from Hero to a character artiste in films. Motilal is remembered for his natural acting. In fact, we can say that he changed the way actors acted till then in films.
During the early stages of Cinema, movies had a strong influence of Theatre and Drama. people making films were confused about this new medium of moving images on the screen. The acting and later the music too was as if it was a drama on flat screen. Loud , stagey and melodramatic voices,gestures and acting was rampant. It was Motilal who changed these norms and standards of acting. Motilal had no Theatre or drama background anyway. So, he adopted his natural,day to day style and thus Motilal actually redefined the art of acting.
Like Motilal, Ashok Kumar, who was acting in the same period, was the other actor who did natural acting. Later, ofcourse, Sanjeev Kumar also was a natural style actor. Both Motilal and Ashok Kumar became actors by chance. They had not planned to become actors, but circumstances were such that Hero’s roles were offered to them on a platter ! No struggle at all. Initially, Ashok Kumar was a very awkward type of actor. He did not know what to do with his hands. Finally, in the film Anjaan-41, where he played the role of a Journalist,he held a cigarette in his hand and that solved his hands’ problem. His awkwardness disappeared. He truly became a natural actor, but Cigarette became his trademark for ever. Later on, he became a chain smoker too.
With Motilal, this was not the problem. From the beginning, he was quite comfortable. Ofcourse, first few days of his acting he was awkward, but Sagar owner Chimanbhai Desai helped him and taught him the acting skills. Then there was no looking back. From the first film, Motilal was successful.
He was offered a Hero’s role in film, Shehar ka jadoo-1934 in Sagar Movietone. Unknown to him, one person who was hoping to get that role became disappointed. He was Mehboob Khan. In his short film life, this was the second time he lost the chance of becoming a Hero. The first time was when his name was almost finalised for India’s first Talkie film, Alam Aara-1931. However,the producers wanted a sureshot crowd puller, so they took Master Vithal. And now Motilal came in his way. However he did not know that his Destiny had planned bigger things for him and he became a Movie Moghul in Hindi film industry later on.
Motilal did about 15 films for Sagar Movietone and then moved to Ranjit Movietone. There too he gave hits after hits. Though Ashok Kumar and Motilal were Heros, surprisingly, they never worked with each other’s Heroines in their entire career. Ashok Kumar never worked with Shobhana Samart or Khursheed, whereas Motilal never worked with Devika Rani or Leela Chitnis in his career.
In the late 40s and early and middle 50s, there was a spate of films made from Madras, made in 2-3 languages including Hindi. Films like Chandralekha-48, Nishan-49, Mangala-50, Bahar-51 and Ladki-53 were some of the successful multilingual films made in Madras. Similarly, films like Aan and Udan Khatola had their Tamil/Telugu versions made. In 1957 also film Asha was made into Tamil, Miss Mary was another bilingual.
S.S.Vasan or Subramaniyam Srinivasan ( 4-1-1904 to 26-8-1969 ) was an astute businessman. Vasan-owner of Gemini studios and Gemini empire, had tasted success with multilinguals like Chndralekha-48, Nishan-49 and Mangala-50. He wanted to make a Hindi film first and depending upon its success, he would make a Tamil version. He selected R.K.Narayan’s popular English novel-Mr. Sampath-The printer of Malgudi (published 1949) to make his Hindi film. He chose Motilal as its Hero and invited him to madras to make the film. Motilal himself was a very punctual,professional and organised actor. He liked and was impressed with the southern way of professional and planned schedules of shootings. The film was completed ahead of its scheduled period.
Vasan had lot of expectations from this Hindi film. There were rave reviews of critics about Motilal’s natural acting. However, the common public did not support their views and the film flopped miserably. Spectacular scenes-expected from Vasan’s film were absent. Moreover the poor music added to the woes. The film’s Heroine Padmini ( one of the Travancore sisters) was no doubt a famous star of South but in the Hindi speaking belt she was hardly known. She was an excellent dancer, but actingwise she was no match to even ‘B’ grade Hindi Heroines that tie. It was much later that she built her place in the Hindi films, with dubbed dialogues. Out of all the Sothern heroines, I would give full marks to Vyjayanti mala for developing good Hindi quickly.
After this debacle, there was no question of making any Tamil remake of this film. That much business sense Vasan did have. Much later, in an interview, he accepted that the cinematic liberties he took with the original novel was one of the major causes-along with poor music-of failure of Mr. Sampat-52. After this film, it is said that R.K.Narayan refused to allow any film on his novels…till the Hindi film Guide. here too, he is on record that he simply hated the film Guide-65, with so many changes in his novel. The film Guide-65 , however, was a landmark and a successful film anyway.
I had seen film Mr. Sampat-52 and liked it except too many dances and songs of padmini. Though the dances were very well choreographed ( as you can see in today’s Video song), none of the songs were memorable. Here is an adapted review of the film Mr. Sampat-52, from The Hindu….
The famous R.K. Narayan literary character of the gentleman crook became a classic Motilal role. The suave and fast-talking Mr Sampat hit Bombay as the manager of Seth Makhanlal Jhaverimill Gheewalas (Kanhaiylal) municipal election campaign. He opens a bank with assistance from a former prince and the Kalamandir Theatre company to impress the woman he wants to win, Malini Devi (Padmini).
Mr.Sampat “Commission Agent and Business Consultant” is a versatile gentleman. As we see him first he is busily lecturing away on the National Transport Problem in a third class compartment in which he is a “Standing room” passenger. Malini is a modest young girl whose accomplishments as an actress have won the admiration and affection of her colleagues at Kalamandir Theatre where she is an artist. Kalamandir is dedicated to the cause of cultured entertainment and is directed by a young man who Symbolizes the dignity and idealism of the theatre. Malini has more than ordinary admiration for her director, but the directors interest in her has only been that between a director and his protege.
Into the life of Mr.Sampat comes Seth Makkhanlal Jhaverimull Gheewallah a ghee merchant, who wants to get elected to the local municipality. Mr. Sampat appoints himself the ghee merchants manager, and to launch his election campaign he lures the innocent Malini to a Tea Party- all at the ghee merchants expense of course ! Makhanlal wins the elections, but finds himself short of two lakhs of rupees (which includes generous sundry expenses drawn by Mr. Sampat!) While the ghee merchant is contemplating this sad state of affairs Mr. Sampat breezes in like a breath of a fresh air and a few minutes later Makhanlals troubles seem to be over. Mr. Sampat decides to start a new bank. “Friends Bank”, which boasts of a 20 p.c. interest per month! An ex-prince named Raj Mohan whom Mr. Sampat has cultivated as a juicy source of fund, is the chief parton.
Friends Bank makes a big start, but mere redistribution of customers money as interest is bound to stop sooner or later and before long the Bank faces bankruptcy ! But Mr. Sampat has another of his brain waves. There is Prince Raj Mohan and there is Malini!…. . Mr. Sampat visits Malini’s house again. The innocent Malini is swept away by his fast talking methods and before long. Mr. Sampat has planted the seed of vanity in Malini’s mind. He promises her that Mr. Sampat can make her great by her own right. Malini’s mind refuses to be poisoned, but her youthful innocence tempts her. Meanwhile the director of Kalamandir has begun to notice the distraction in Malini’s interest and one day he admonishes her for being irregular in her work.
This leads to a misunderstanding and Malini gives up Kalamandir and starts a new company called “Malini Devi Theatrical Company” of which Mr. Sampat becomes the Managing Director. With the money that comes in at the theatre, Bank Manager Makkhanlal tries to balance his accounts at Friends Bank. Even this, however is not sufficient and one day when Malini refuses the advances of his highness Raj Mohan at a party in her honour at his palace, the upset prince withdraws all his money from Friends Bank.
This starts a run on the Bank and it faces collapse –Makkhanlal is in trouble and runs frantically to his friend– but Mr. Sampat leaves him cold, saying after all as manager of the Bank it is really Makkhanlal’s problem not his ….. . Trouble brews at the Malini Devi Theatrical Company also. One day at the height of a scene, there are some unexpected visitors on stage, – a bailiff, some creditors and a Court Summons -Server –They are there to inform Malini that her house and her properties are to be auctioned ! Malini is left dumbfounded. She realises now that the great Mr. Sampat has been nothing but a shark, after all ! . As for Mr. Sampat. Bombay got too hot for him! He leaves the city and his whereabouts are not known.
The film had two Music Directors, namely Balkrishna Kalla and E. Sankar Sastry. There were 13 songs in the film. 2 songs are already posted here. Today’s song is the third song from the movie. It is sung by Shamshad Begam, M L Basant Kumari and chorus. The song is written by Pt. Indra. Music is composed by Balkrishna Kalla.
Part I
Part II
Song-Achhe din aa rahe hain hurrah (Mr Sampat)(1952) Singers- Shamshad Begum, M.L.Basant Kumari, Lyrics-Pt Indra Chandra, MD-Balkrishn Kalla
Lyrics
———————————–
Part I
———————————-
hurra hurra hurra hurra
hurra hurra hurra hurra
hoye
achhe din aa rahe hain hurra
achhe din aa rahe hain hurra
hurra hurra
gareeb aur dukhiyaaron ke
bekas aur bekaaron ke
achhe din aa rahe hain
achhe din aa rahe hain
hurra hurra hurra hurra
hurra hurra hurra hurra
bade aadmi madad karenge
haan madad karenge
bade aadmi madad karenge
gareeb aur mohtaazon ?? karenge
wo hargiz nahin maanenge
bade aadmi madad karenge
hargiz wo nahin maanenge
jee haan kabhi na maanenge
bade aadmi madad karenge
hargiz wo nahi maanenge
jee haan kabhi na maanenge
mahlon mein baithhe baithhe
galiyon ka dukh pehchaanenge
mahlon mein baithhe baithhe
galiyon ka dukh pehchaanenge
hargiz wo nahin maanenge
jee haan kabhi na maanenge
tararararampam
tararararampam
hurra
tararararampam
tararararampam
hurra
———————————-
Part II
———————————-
hurra hurra hurra hurra
hurra hurra hurra hurra
kami nahin hai aaj desh mein
kami nahin hai aaj desh mein
baat banaane waalon ki
baaten banaane waalon ki
gareeb logon per
jhoothha ehsaan jataane waalon ki
hamdard kahaane waalon ki
tararararammpam
tararararampam
hurra
tararararampam
tararararammpam
hurra
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
March 24, 2016 at 8:50 pm
Arun Ji, liked the post immensely. What a find (of song ) when ‘ ache din..’ are in everybody’s wish list. 🙂 Thanks for the post.
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March 25, 2016 at 7:31 am
Thanks.
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