Main Phoolon Ki Sugandh Bankar Upvan Saara Mehkaaoon
Posted on: August 28, 2018
- In: Ameerbai Karnataki songs | Amirbai Karnataki - NM Adhikari Duet | Aspirations of Love | Devnagri script lyrics by Sudhir | Duet | Feelings of heart | Guest posts | Love song | Lover's tête-à-tête | Lyrics by Sudhir | Lyrics contributed by readers | NM Adhikari Songs | Post by Arunkumar Deshmukh | Song of 1940 | Songs of 1930s (1931 to 1940) | Yearwise breakup of songs
- 9 Comments
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.
| Blog Day : | 3693 | Post No. : | 14608 |
Today’s song is from a film ‘Ek Hi Bhool’ from 1940. It was a film made by Prakash Pictures and was directed by Vijay Bhatt. The lyricist was ‘Anuj’ and the music director was the favourite of Prakash – Shankar Rao Vyas. The film’s cast was Jairaj, Mehtab, Umakant, Amirbai, Prahlad Dutt, Baby Meena (Meena kumari) and also a Dog called Tiger. (I always wonder when people can see that it is a dog, then why the owners name it as Tiger to mislead others ?).
Many people know that actress Mehtab was Sohrab Modi’s wife, having married him against opposition from all, on 28th April 1946. But most people do not know her background. Mehtab was born on 28th April, 1918 in Bombay. Her father Siddee Ebrahim Khan was the Nawab of Sachin (Surat, Gujarat). Her parents named her as Najma. She was the step sister of actresses Zubeida (‘Alam Ara’ fame), Sultana and Shehzadi. She studied up to intermediate. She was fluent in Urdu, Gujrati, English and Marathi. When her father – the Nawab – gave talaaq to her mother, her mother took her to Bombay where her sautan, Fatima, another wife of the Nawab was promoting her 3 daughters to become actresses. Fatima gave her refuge, solace and a promise to promote Najma also as an actress. Her career started as child artist at the age of 12. She did 3 silent films, namely ‘Second Wife’ (1928), ‘Kamal e Shamsheer’ (1930) and ‘Sheroo Sainik’ (1931) – all produced by her mother. Her first talkie film as heroine was Indian Arts Production’s ‘Veer Kunal’ (1932) through which she got her screen name Mehtab. Ashraf Khan was the hero of that film. Subsequently, Chandulal Shah signed her for two films viz. ‘Bhola Shikar’ (1933) opposite E Billimoria and ‘Ranchandi’ (1934) opposite Navin Chandra. None of these films did well, so her mother formed a film company of her own. Meanwhile, Mehtab had got married, at the age of 14 years only and had got a son from that marriage, Ismail. However, no film was completed under their company and they faced heavy losses. Moreover, Mehtab’s marriage also didn’t work out and she took divorce and won the custody of her son.
She started doing films in any role, not only heroine’s. After doing 19 films, she got a call from Calcutta. In 1940, she was offered a film named ‘Qaidi’ (1940) made by Film Corporation of India. Though she was not the leading heroine of the film but her acting was praised all over. She did 3 films in Calcutta. After ‘Qaidi’, she did ‘Masoom’ (1941). The banner signed her again as the heroine for their next film ‘Chitralekha’ (1941) in which she created a sensation overnight by doing a bathing scene aesthetically, something shown for the very first time in a Hindi film. Around 1941 to 1943, Mehtab was among the most famous actresses of Hindi films. Her next three films ‘Sharda’ (1942), ‘Chauringhee’ (1942), and ‘Bhakt Kabeer’ (1942) also proved to be hits.
In 1944, Central Studio signed Mehtab for their film ‘Parakh’ (1944). Sohrab Modi was directing the film. At the time of signing the contract, Mehtab told Modi that she had heard that he only took his own close-ups in his films and ignored the others. He told her that he wasn’t acting in that film. Thereafter, Sohrab Modi again took Mehtab as heroine in his film ‘Ek Din Ka Sultan’ (1945) opposite Wasti under his own banner Minerva Movietone. Slowly, Sohrab Modi fell in love with her and proposed to her. Mehtab agreed only on the condition that she would not leave her son Ismail. Sohrab didn’t find any problem in that and they got married on the birthday of Mehtab, 28 April 1946. Sohrab Modi’s family didn’t approve as they were Parsi and Mehtab was Muslim. Sohrab never interfered in Mehtab’s career or religion. Mehtab had a son from Modi named Mehli who was brought up as Parsi. Modi sent both the sons abroad to study.
Mehtab did few films after marriage like ‘Behram Khan’ (1946), ‘Saathi’ (1946), ‘Shama’ (1946). Her last major film was ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ (1953). She did a small role in film ‘Samay Bada Balwan’ (1969). Sohrab Modi was the producer, director and the hero of the film. It was Sohrab’s first colour film. She acted in total 40 films.
Sohrab Modi died on 28 January 1984 due to cancer of the bone marrow. Mehtab’s both sons were settled abroad, though she spent her life in Cuff Parade, Mumbai till her death. She died on 8-4-1997. She was buried at the Bada Qabrastan, Marine Lines, Mumbai.
Another name one can see in the cast is that of Prahlad Dutt. He was actually a foreign trained photographer and cameraman, and an expert in trick photography. He was working in Lahore in the early 1940s. Pancholi’s film ‘Shirin Farhad’ (1945) was getting ready and Prahlad Dutt was its director and trick scenes master. His work was applauded by everyone. The scene where Farhad digs out a canal from a big mountain single-handed, was done by Prahlad with astounding results. After the partition, he ran away from Lahore to Bombay. He soon got work here as his name was well known and famous.
He was working in Ranjit directing a film ‘Mitti Ke Khilaune’ (1948). It was in early 1948. Gandhiji was assassinated on 30th January. 4-5 days after that, Ranjit studio workers were shocked to find a police jeep entering the studio, in speed. Out jumped an inspector and asked, “Where is Prahlad Dutt?”. Ranjit Manager asked “Why?” the answer was “We have his arrest warrant in connection with Gandhi killing”. While the manager offered to call him here from another floor where he was shooting, the police ran towards that place. As soon as Prahlad saw the police, he started running, with police chasing him and shouting at him to stop. He tried to climb the wall and disappear, but the inspector warned him first and then shot him with his pistol in his thigh. He fell down. He was arrested and taken away.
He was charged with various crimes and a case was put on him. However, he was released unblemished after 4 months. Ranjit management helped him quite a lot in those days. Prahlad Dutt acted in only one film – ‘Ek Hi Bhool’. He directed 5 films in all – ‘Shirin Farhad’ (1945), ‘Piya Ghar Aa Jaa’ (1947), ‘Mitti Ke Khilaune’ (1948), ‘Nazaare’ (1949) and ‘Madhubala’ (1950).
One more name in the cast is that of Umakant (full name Umakant Desai). I am sure most people would not know anything about him.
People remember Dilip kumar for his double role in ‘Ram Aur Shyam’ (1967) and triple role in ‘Bairaag’ (1976). People also remember Sanjeev Kumar for his 9 roles in ‘Naya Din Nayi Raat’ (1974) or Kamal Hassan for his 10 roles in ‘Dashavtaar’ (2008), but hardly anyone knows that Umakant Desai was the FIRST actor to do 3 roles in film ‘Hukum Ka Ikka’ (1939) (as the rajkumar, as a madari and as a common man).
Umakant Desai was born in Sankheda, near Vadodara (Baroda), Gujarat on 13-6-1908. After matriculation, he came to Bombay and did a job in BB&CI Railways (Bombay,Baroda and Central India Railway), a private railway company of pre Independence period. He used to do roles in local dramas. One day director Chimanlal Desai saw him in a drama called ‘Jaya Aur Jayant’. He was so impressed with him, that he took him to act in Gujarat’s First Talkie ‘Narsi Mehta’ (1932). In this film Umakant did the role of Krishna.
So, the son of a landlord Himmatbhai Jagubhai Desai became a film actor. He joined Prakash Pictures on a salary of Rs 150/- pm, but when he left Prakash, he was drawing Rs 3,000/- pm. In 1934, he worked in Gujarati film ‘Sansaar Leela’. He sang 2 duets with Rajkumari in this film. The film was a hit and was remade in Hindi as ‘Nai Duniya’. He worked in ‘Bharat Milap’ (1942). His best remembered role was as Laxman in film ‘Ram Rajya’ (1943), which created several records, including that it was the first and the only film Mahatma Gandhi ever saw in his lifetime !
Umakant worked in 59 Hindi films and 15 Gujarati films. ‘Anmol Moti’ (1948) was his last film as a hero. Then he shifted to doing character roles. He had worked with Durga Khote, Shobhana Samarth, Pramila, Ratnamala, Ranjana, Sitara, Snehprabha Pradhan, Meena Kumari, Amita, Vijayanti Mala, Nalini Jaywant, Kamini Kaushal etc. For fluency in Hindi and Urdu, he had appointed a teacher also.
He worked in 26 films of Prakash, in which 8 films were directed by Vijay Bhatt. He mostly worked in mythological and social films. Some of his films were ‘Miss Mala’, ‘Chhote Babu’, ‘Station Master’, ‘Amar Asha’, ‘Poornima’, ‘Anmol Moti’, ‘Kavita’, ‘Hamara Ghar’ etc . He did Laxman’s role in 7 films.
Umakant’s son and daughter-in-law died a tragic death in a snow blizzard in USA in 1975. His wife Kaumudiben died in 2006 and Umakant died on 25-1-2007.
He was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award in 2004.
While going through the title index by Harmandir ji for films from 1931 to 2012, I found that the word ‘EK’ is the most used word in Hindi film Titles. As many as 206 films are made, beginning with the word ‘EK’. Amongst these, there are 32 film titles starting with ‘Ek Aur ….’. Films with title ‘Ek Hi Bhool’ were made 3 times – 1940, 1981 and 2005.
Today’s song is sung by Amirbai Karnataki and NM Adhikari. I have not been able to get any information about this male singer. It seems this was the only film in which he sang. He sang 1 solo and 1 duet. With this song, the film ‘Ek Hi Bhool’ of 1940 and the singer NM Adhikari make their debut on our blog.
(Credits- Sapnon Ke Saudagar by Vithal Pandya, Harish Raghuwanshi, HFGK, MuVyz and my notes.)
Song – Main Phoolon Ki Sugandh Bankar Upvan Saara Mehkaaoon (Ek Hi Bhool) (1940) Singer – Amirbai Karnataki, NM Adhikari, Lyrics – Sampatlal Shrivastav ‘Anuj’, Music – Shankar Rao Vyas
Lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
main phoolon ki
main phoolon ki
sugandh ban kar
upvan saara mehkaaun
main phoolon ki
sugandh ban kar
upvan saara mehkaaun
main phoolon ki
main bhaunra
main bhaunra ban kar
chupke se phoolon ka ras le jaaun
main bhaunra ban kar
chupke se phoolon ka ras le jaaun
main madmaati koel ban kar
birha ka geet sunaaun
main madmaati koel ban kar
birha ka geet sunaaun
main premi ke aansu ban kar
birha ki aag bhujaaun
main premi ke aansu ban kar
birha ki aag bhujaaun
aao hil mil
armaanon ki duniya nai basaayen
aao hil mil
armaanon ki duniya nai basaayen
is neeras jeevan
mein phir se
is neeras jeevan
mein phir se
hai nai umangen laayen
hai nai umangen laayen
———————————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————————-
मैं फूलों की
मैं फूलों की
सुगंध बन कर
उपवन सारा महकाऊँ
मैं फूलों की
सुगंध बन कर
उपवन सारा महकाऊँ
मैं फूलों की
मैं भौंरा
मैं भौंरा बन कर
चुपके से फूलों का रस ले जाऊँ
मैं भौंरा बन कर
चुपके से फूलों का रस ले जाऊँ
मैं मदमाती कोयल बनकर
बिरहा का गीत सुनाऊँ
मैं मदमाती कोयल बनकर
बिरहा का गीत सुनाऊँ
मैं प्रेमी के आँसू बन कर
बिरहा की आग बुझाऊँ
मैं प्रेमी के आँसू बन कर
बिरहा की आग बुझाऊँ
आओ हिलमिल
अरमानों की दुनिया नई बसाएँ
आओ हिलमिल
अरमानों की दुनिया नई बसाएँ
इस नीरस जीवन
में फिर से
इस नीरस जीवन
में फिर से
है नई उमंगें लाएँ
है नई उमंगें लाएँ
9 Responses to "Main Phoolon Ki Sugandh Bankar Upvan Saara Mehkaaoon"
August 29, 2018 at 4:15 am
What an article! Depth and wide. Certain things would not have been known, if I do not read all your articles. Thanks for sharing. Pradip from Sydney, Australia.
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August 29, 2018 at 10:52 am
Thanks Pradeep ji, for your kind words. Such comments work as further motivation.
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August 29, 2018 at 7:15 am
Ramesh Desai is credited with singing this other song from EK HI BHOOL (1940):
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
August 28, 2018 at 11:44 pm
Arun G , once again a nice informative post .
From Ur write – up I found Mehtab’s real life story was no less dramatic than a story shown on the reel.
I remember having seen her as Rani Laxmibai when the movie ” Jhansi ki rani ” was telecasted on DD.
Suraiyya had also given her playback in some other movie , am I right ?
The song was a nice one.Amirbai Karnataki seemed to b a very prominent singer in the forties.
Arun G , thnx for this post.
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August 29, 2018 at 7:13 am
Suraiya provided playback for Mehtab in SANJOG (1943). Here is a nice duet between Suraiya and Noor Mohammad Charlie in the film:
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August 29, 2018 at 7:49 am
Thank U Shalin G for this song of Suraiyya . It had cleared my doubt.
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August 29, 2018 at 10:55 am
Shalin Bhatt ji,
Thanks for posting this song.
Please see the details of Suraiya’s playbacks, given by me, here.
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August 29, 2018 at 10:50 am
Pramod Godbole ji,
Three points…
1. Thanks for your appreciation, this is very satisfying.
2. When you call me Arun G, I believe you actually want to say Arun ji, like everyone else calls me. However Calling me Arun G may mean my surname is also Godbole like yours. Better to use the common method.
3. Yes, you are right. Suraiya did give playback initially and then in some exceptional cases. Here are the details…
a. Playback in films Sharada-42, Kanoon-43 and Sanjog-43 ( all for actress Mehtab0
b.Nimmi in film Shama-61 ( Suman kalyanpur did not turn up for recording) and
c. Shyama in film Taqdeer-58 ( Songs recorded for unreleased films used here)
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August 29, 2018 at 11:37 am
Noted point no.2 .
Yes , I should follow the common method.
Arun ji , thnx for the reply .
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