Balam Harjaai, Jaavo Ji Main To Preet Kiye Pachhtaai
Posted on: September 17, 2016
This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, 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.
In the late 50s and early 60s when I got interested in Hindi film songs, I used to identify the popular songs only with the playback singers who had rendered them. It never came to my mind that I should also know as to who wrote the lyrics and who composed the music for the songs. In the next stage of my interest in Hindi film songs, I was keen to know as to who composed the music for the songs that I liked very much. It was only when I heard some of the songs from films such as ‘Pyaasa’ (1957), ‘Kaaghaz Ke Phool’ (1959), ‘Anaadi’ (1959), ‘Barsaat Ki Raat’ (1960) etc, I felt that need to know as to who wrote the lyrics of the songs as well.
When I look back, I realise as to how ‘narrrow minded’ I was in regard to the film music. For instance, in respect of music directors, if I had to think of the names of the music directors, only the names like C Ramchandra, Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, Roshan, SD Burman, OP Nayyar etc, would register in my mind. I was almost blank in my memory about other music directors. It was only when I started collecting 78 RPM records of songs during 1969-72, I came to know about a few of the popular music directors of the 40s and also some lesser known music directors.
I became aware of music director Mohammed Shafi only after joining this Blog in July 2011. I wrote an article on “Koi Pukaare Dheere Se” in January 2012 for the Blog. However, I did not pay the type of attention Mohammed Shafi deserved in the article for composing such a sweet lullaby. I also missed to mention in the article that Mohammed Shafi introduced Suman Kalyanpur as a playback singer in Hindi film industry with this song. Later, I wrote an article on the song “Baazooband Khul Khul Jaaye” in October 2012 for the Blog. Again I missed to mention the contribution of Mohammed Shafi in composing this Bhairavi thumri.
Recently, I came across a couple of rare songs from the film ‘Shikarpuri’ (1947). The music director was none other than Mohammed Shafi. It was a revelation to me that Mohammed Shafi has been associated with Hindi film industry since 1937 and his first film as an independent music director was ‘Haqdaar’ (1946). I came to know very recently that this gifted music director, music arranger and sitar player had lineage with Kirana gharana of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Mohammed Shafi’s father Majid Khan was the grandson of Ustad Bande Ali Khan who was the uncle of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan.
Following is an extract from the article written by Shri Arunkumar Deshmukh setting out the filmy career of Mohammed Shafi with some minor additions editing:
Mohmmed Shafi (25/12/1925 – 30/04/1980) was one of those talented artist of Hindi Film Music who was only used by others and never got enough credit for his work. He is honoured as “The Original Arranger” in the industry. He was an excellent Sitar player. He started with Imperial Film Company where he played Bulbul Tarang. In 1937, he went to Calcutta and joined New Theatres. He was an assistant to Pankaj Mullick and K C Dey in the music direction of films ‘Kapal Kundala’ (1939) and ‘Aandhi’ (1940). He played sitar in film ‘Ujaala’ (1942). In this film, the main actor, Prithviraj Kapoor was shown as a Sitar player and the expertise of Shafi was fully utilised in this film.
Starting with film ‘Haqdaar’ (1946), Mohammed Shafi composed around 125 songs in 20 Hindi films, his last film being ‘Daayar e Madeena’ (1975). He also composed songs for 2 Marathi films. He worked with Naushad, as his assistant and arranger for 14 years. He was considered an expert in background music. He gave background music to about 70 films (for Naushad and others). For ‘Mughal e Azam’, K. Asif used to send his personal car to fetch him to the studio. It was Shafi who gave the first break to Suman Hemmadi (Kalyanpur) in ‘Mangu’ (1954) and Hemlata in ‘Iraada’ (1971).
It is said that the entire music of ‘Sohni Mahiwal’ (1958) was composed by him. Naushad was sick during this period and did not attend even one recording. “Do Hanson Ka Joda” and “Dhoondho Dhoondho Re Saajna” in ‘Ganga Jamuna’ (1961) were his creations. He used to give tunes to many composers too whoever asked for help.
Shafi had bought his first car when he was just 15 year old. He had a posh flat in Shivaji Park area of Dadar in Bombay. In the end , everything was gone. He had helped the families of Shakeel Badayuni and Ghulam Mohammed after they had passed away. However, in his last difficult days, except Rafi Sb, no one came to his help. In the final few months, his memory had gone. His Begum ruefully said, ‘Good that he does not remember anything. All took the advantage of him and gave him nothing. There were more things to forget than to remember”.
Today, I present the first song (out of 10 songs) “Balam Harjaai Jaavo Jee” from the film ‘Shikarpuri’ (1947), a duet sung by Razia Begum and Mohammed Shafi himself. The song is written by A Shah Aziz and set to music by Mohammed Shafi. The song is a teasing one.
I am hearing the name of Razia Begum for the first time. I find that this was the only song she sang for a released Hindi film. In addition, she sang a song each for two unreleased films of 1948. I find that the male voice resembles that of Mohammed Rafi in the first part of the song. It is only in the latter part of the song that I get a feeling that the voice is not of Mohammed Rafi. HFGK has identified the voice as that of Mohammed Shafi in which case, this was the only song he rendered for Hindi film.
With this song, the film ‘Shikarpuri’ (1947), Razia Begum and Mohammed Shafi as playback singers make their debut on this blog.
Song – Balam Harjai, Jaavo Ji Main To Preet Kiye Pachhtaai (Shikarpuri) (1947) Singer – Razia Begum, Mohammed Shafi, Lyrics – A Shah Aziz, MD – Mohammed Shafi
Lyrics
balam harjaai
jaavo jee
balam harjaai
main to preet kiye pachhtaai
o main to preet kiye pachhtaai
balam harjaai
balam harjaayi
jaavo jee
balam harjaayi
oo oo rootho na ham se sajni..ee
oo oo rootho na ham se sajni
kisi ne jhooti baat lagaai
kisi ne jhooti baat lagaai
balam harjaai
jaavo jee
balam harjaai
nadi kinaare kis se jaa kar milte ho tum saajan
nadi kinaare kis se jaa kar milte ho tum saajan
kis se nain ladaate ho
aur kis pe atkaa hain mann
kis se nain ladaate ho
aur kis pe atkaa hain mann
tumko banaana aataa hai
tumko banaana aataa hai
main to doongi ram duhaai
o main to doongi ram duhaai
balam harjaai
jaavo jee
balam harjaai
nadi kinaare pooja karne jaata hoon mein teri
nadi kinaare pooja karne jaata hoon main teri
saanch baat yehi hai sajni
tum ho tedhi medhi
saanch baat yehi hai sajni
tum ho tedhi medhi
tumko tadpaana aata hai
tumko tadpaana aata hai
sun leti ho baat paraai
o sun leti ho baat paraai
balam harjaai
javao jee
balam harjaai
main to preet kiye pachhtaai
o main to preet kiye pachhtaai
balam harjaai
———————————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————————-
बलम हरजाई
जावो जी
बलम हरजाई
मैं तो प्रीत किए पछताई
ओ मैं तो प्रीत किए पछताई
बलम हरजाई
बलम हरजाई
जावो जी
बलम हरजाई
ओ ओ रूठो ना हम से सजनी॰॰ई
ओ ओ रूठो ना हम से सजनी
किसी ने झूठी बात लगाई
किसी ने झूठी बात लगाई
बलम हरजाई
जावो जी
बलम हरजाई
नदी किनारे किससे जा कर मिलते हो तुम साजन
नदी किनारे किससे जा कर मिलते हो तुम साजन
किससे आँख लड़ाते हो
और किस पे अटका है मन
किससे आँख लड़ाते हो
और किस पे अटका है मन
तुमको बनाना आता है
तुमको बनाना आता है
मैं तो दूँगी राम दुहाई
ओ मैं तो दूँगी राम दुहाई
बलम हरजाई
जावो जी
बलम हरजाई
नदी किनारे पूजा करने जाता हूँ मैं तेरी
नदी किनारे पूजा करने जाता हूँ मैं तेरी
साँच बात यही है सजनी
तुम हो टेढ़ी मेढ़ी
साँच बात यही है सजनी
तुम हो टेढ़ी मेढ़ी
तुमको तड़पाना आता है
तुमको तड़पाना आता है
सुन लेती हो बात पराई
ओ सुन लेती हो बात पराई
बलम हरजाई
जावो जी
बलम हरजाई
मैं तो प्रीत किए पछताई
ओ मैं तो प्रीत किए पछताई
बलम हरजाई
4 Responses to "Balam Harjaai, Jaavo Ji Main To Preet Kiye Pachhtaai"
September 18, 2016 at 8:37 am
Such is Life! That happened and still happens in all walks of life but specially so in Bollywood! All left Shafi Saab when he did not leave them in their hour of need. Good article, Kamath Saheb!
Interesting to note poster says it is a Charolia presentation. Charolias are Gujarati Muslims but nothing more is known of this particular Charolia? Also, the poster announces “Jyoti Studios, Kennedy Bridge, Bombay” Today Jyoti Studios is no more; all that is left is a bunch of workshops and factories! Actually the location is closer to Nana Chowk but because it is at the foot of the bridge that takes one to Opera House, it is mentioned as Kennedy Bridge. On the other side of the bridge are the singing girls’ kothas!!
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September 18, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Unfortunately he has this only song so way to compare
A Shah Azeez
Bolo Chhum Chhananan Chhai
Naushad A Shah Azeez Nai Duniya (1942)
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
September 18, 2016 at 7:11 am
Sadanandji,
Are you positive the singer is not Rafi?
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September 18, 2016 at 7:31 am
Ashraf ji,
As I mentioned in the write-up, the first part of the male voice sounds like that of Rafi to me. But in the second part, I have some doubt. Since I have no way to compare the male voice in the song with the voice of any other song sung by Mohammed Shafi, I have accredited the male voice as of Mohammed Shafi as per HFGK.
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