Kho kar bhi sab kuchh izzat na khona
Posted on: October 27, 2019
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 other sites without the knowledge and consent of the web administrator of atulsongaday.me, then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws
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Today’s song is from film Kasauti-41. This was a film made by National Studios, after Sagar Movietone withdrew from it. The film was directed by a protege of Sagar- Ramchandra Thakur. The music was by Ashok Ghosh and the songs were written by Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi (brother of actor Sankatha Prasad-a regular fixture of Sagar. Later on Kanhaiyalal himself became a famous character actor and a comic villain.) and Neelkanth Tiwari. The cast of the film was, Miss Rose, Prahlad, Veena, Sunalini Devi, Satish, Marutirao Pehelwan, Baby Meena, Ansari and many others.
In the early phase of the cinema, there were very few artistes hailing from respected families or who were educated, but as the time went by, slowly and steadily, educated people also started joining films. Most Marathi actresses from the beginning, like Durga Khote, Leela Chitnis, Nalini Tarkhad, Shanta Apte, Snehprabha Pradhan, Vanmala were graduates. Among men, Mohan Bhavnani, Nanubhai vakil, Surendra, Motilal, Dev Anand, Ashok kumar etc were graduates. Surendra was B.A;LL.B and in initial his degrees were flaunted prominently in film credits and advertisements. By the turn of the 30’s decade, majority of artistes were educated.
Ramchandra Thakur – the director of this film was one such scholarly person who was a Postgraduate and a prolific writer on films in English, Hindi and Gujarati, before joining films. Ramchandra Thakur was born in Suver of Sabarkantha district in Gujarat, on 17-12-1908. He moved to Bombay when he was just 9 year old. He pursued his higher education in Bombay and emerged as a scholar of Pali language. When he gave his M.A. final exam, he wanted to become a teacher in a college, if he got First class. If not, he would join film industry as a director. During his college years he had written many articles on films. He had translated Sound Recordist Minu Katrak’s English works in Hindi and Gujarati.
When he did not get First class, he joined Sagar Movietone, in its Marketing department. After few months, Baburao Patel took over from him and he became an assistant director to Chimanlal Luhar for film Dynamite-38. Next, along with Virendra Desai ( Nalini Jaywant’s first husband), he became a co-director of film The Gramophone Singer-38. His first film, as an independent Director was the Debut film of Snehprabha Pradhan – Civil marriage-40.
Then he joined Ranjit Movietone. He directed mythological, Social and Comedy films. Art Director Kanu Desai’s film Geet Govind was directed by him. Thakur directed 20 films. He also wrote script for the popular film Baiju Bawra-52. He produced 5 films. He directed 2 Gujarati films and wrote stories and screenplays for several Gujarati films.
He was an accomplished writer. He wrote 4 novels – Amrapali, Budhidhan Birbal, Prem Diwani and Urmila. He wrote several satirical commentaries too. He wrote a detailed article on Sagar Movietone and Chimanlal Desai in Gujarati magazine ” Jee”. His last Hindi film as a director was Nawab Sirajuddaula-67, which he had produced also. He died on 31-10-1992.
In the early era of silent films, many Anglo-Indian, European and Jew girls joined the films. They were free in behaviour and not averse to intimate scenes or kissing on the screen, hence film makers also preferred them. However they did not/could not speak Hindi or Urdu, but for silent films, this was not a hindrance. For Talkie films, this became a problem for these girls and their number went down considerably.
Among these actresses,there were mostly Baghdadi Jewish women and the rest were from the Bene Israel community, not the Cochini community. That community was small, did not speak Hindi or Urdu, and lived far from the film making cities of Bombay and Calcutta. A single Baghdadi family contributed greatly to Indian films, by giving us the actress-producer Pramila (Esther Victoria Abraham), her sister the actress Romila (Sophie Abraham), and her cousin the starlet Rose (Rose Musleah). Pramila’s son Haider Ali is an actor, who is best known as the co-writer of the blockbuster film Jodhaa Akbar.
Miss Rose Musleah was the heroine of film Kasauti-41 Sometime back our Sadanand kamath ji has provided the life story of Rose on this Blog, so I am not repeating it. Instead of that, let us know something about a ” Cloak and Dagger” personality from Hindi films. His name is N A Ansari.
Nisar Ahmed Ansari was the son of the late Dr. Ameer Ahmed Ansari. He was born on 29-8-1917 at Jhansi. His father had been serving in Military for 11 years and he expired in 1938. He was well known in Jhansi as he practiced there for 40 years.
Ansari matriculated from Allahabad University in 1933. In 1935, he passed his Inter from Aligadh. By 1939 he was a graduate of the Bombay University. He was keen to join films and in this, Mehboob khan helped him by recommending him for film Aasra-40, made by National Studios. It was directed by Mehboob’s assistant Chimanlal Gandhi.
By watching him, no one can ever visualise that a suave and respectable man like him can be a scheming villain . Competition for him was tough,initially when he joined the film industry ,as there were many character actors already there ,who were specialist of negative roles . But young and energetic Nisar Ahmad Ansari had faith in his potentials .
He believed that it is not necessary that villain should have thick eye brows with roving eyes and have a permanent frown on his face. A person having negative traits may have a smiling face also ,to conceal his evil designs . Therefore in most of his movies , he was a well dressed person ,always beaming and had friendly smile on his face . In his films , he use to be boss of a criminal syndicate and have an army of foot soldiers who carried out dirty work on his behalf . To keep a distance between master and servant , instead of calling them by their name he use to call his cronies by their allotted numbers like Number Ten Or Number Five .
With a hit movie ‘Mangu’, he became a director and later directed many successful movies like Black Cat ,Tower House ,Mr Lamboo ,Zara Bach Ke, Wanted etc for various producers and after he established his own banner Bundel Khand Films ,he made many memorable movies . Although, he had to look after his own company and permanent staff ,but he did not disappoint other film makers ,who wanted to have him in their movies in the role of villain. It is a fact, that it was his Black Cat which helped G P Sippy to be a part of the league of big producer ,but it is also true ,Mr Sippy forgot him later and never acknowledged Mr Ansari’s contribution .
Mr N A Ansari ,was essentially a dedicated film maker and had no false illusions about his own capabilities . His movies were never lavishly made and had average production value ,but it did not deter his fans and sizable majority of film viewers ,who adored him and his pictures to patronise his movies . Those who love the movies of golden age ,fondly remember his movies which used to have him in the role of villain ,beside good music, suspense, comedy, ,dance with a plausible story and a strong message for society ,that “Crime Never Pays”.
With producer/actor Sheikh Mukhtar, Nisar Ahmad Ansari had earlier worked as an actor in Dada, Dara & Ustad Pedro. Sheikh Mukhtar, aware of Ansari’s capability ,in 1954,offered him Mangu, to direct. The big success of Mangu was a game changer for Ansari & O P Nayyar. They both were immensely benefited with the favourable outcome of the movie & it’s music. Mangu had predictable Jodi of Sheikh Mukhtar & Mukri ,with Nigar Sultana ,Sheila Ramani & Ansari himself, as a suave villain. Mangu had breath taking, thrilling climax, involving the speeding train. Some real shots, few stock shots & rest studio shoot with back projections (Aadhi Haqeeqat ,Aadha Fasaana ),made the climax awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, the movie could not be preserved & the the present generation has been deprived of witnessing Ansari’s first effort as director. Mangu is one of the most searched movie at youtube.
He again directed Mr Lambu, a big success, for Sheikh Mukhtar. This time with the classic beauty Suraiyya with music by O P Nayyar, but similar tragedy happened, again. No print of the movie is available. In almost all his films N.A.Ansari played the role of an urbane & sophisticated Don. He always appeared, well dressed in impeccably tailored suits, fedora, trade mark pipe between his teeth & walking stick, in his hand.
Besides Sheikh Mukhtar, he directed movies, like Black Cat, Tower House, Jara Bach Ke, Wanted for other producers and playing the main villain. He had no qualms working in movies directed by other film makers & in this category, movies like Private Secretary, Fareb ,Do Thug ,Khota Paisa, Gunda,Ustad 420,Gunahon Ke Raaste can be named. Under his own banner Bundel khand Films he made Wahan Ke Log,Mulzim,Zindagi Aur Maut,Mr Murder, Jurm Aur Sazaa and Noor E Ilahi. The last one being his last production in 1976 & then he decided to hang his boots.It was a big journey for Ansari,who was discovered by Mehboob & given a role in Aasra ,released in 1941.
He could not say “No” to film maker Sultan Ahmad ,when he insisted him to appear in Dharam Kanta (1982 ) & later in Jai Vikranta. N.A.Ansari closed his eyes for ever on 11 Jan 1993, in Canada, thousands of kilometres away from his beloved city Jhansi ,much before the release of his last movie Jai Vikranta in 1995.
Film Kasauti-41 had 13 songs – effectively only 12, as one song was deleted from the film later, for reason not known to us. The Music Director Ashok Ghosh is the ” Mystery Man” of Hindi cinema. That is because, there is absolutely no information about his life story, available anywhere on internet or in any of the several music related books I have with me. All that we know about him is that he assisted MD Pransukh Nayak, while serving in Sagar and that he started independentl composing with film Manmohan-36, in which Anil Biswas was his assistant. The very next year Anil Biswas took over from him as MD for film Jagirdar-37 and spent a long association with Sagar and National studios.
Ashok Ghosh did only 12 films as an MD – Manmohan-36, Sanskar-40, Radhika-41, Nirdosh-41, Kasauti-41, Garibi-42, Sharafat-43, Inkaar-43, Miss Devi-44, Angoothi-44, Aarti-45 and last film Gunjan-48. After this , there is a total black out of information on Ashok Ghosh. Strange !
According to the November 41 issue of Film India magazine, film Kasauti-41 was released on 11-10-41 at Pathe Cinema in Bombay. In its review of the film, Baburao Patel had hardly anything good about it. He only appreciated the acting of Sunalini Devi, as the mother of the hero. He says that the film was a tear jerker story. Raju (Prahlad) tries to prevent the suicide of a woman, who anyway dies. This is witnessed by the victim’s sister Meena (Veena), who is a vamp. She starts blackmailing him . She, calling herself now as Manjula announces her love for Raju. Raju is slated to marry Madhuri (Miss Rose). After some time, she tries to force Raju for her marriage with him. Raju’s mother comes to know all this. As a true mother she goes to Manjula’s house, gives her poison and kills her. Thus a dutiful mother saves the life of her son.
Today’s song is sung by Marutirao pehelwan. A Pehelwan and a song ? Matter for laughing or serious thinking ?
Marutirao Pehelwan also acted in this movie. He was originally from Kolhapur. In the early era of talkie films, many wrestlers joined film companies. They worked mostly in action films. Some such actors were Baburao Pehelwan (he was the hero of Master Bhagwan’s stunt films; later on worked as a stuntman with fight master Azim Bhai), Vasantrao Pehelwan (he was the one who brought Indurani from Poona to Bombay; was a popular villain in stunt films), Nandram Pehelwan (very popular in silent films but fell on bad days in the talkie era), Sadiq Pehelwan, Maane Pehelwan, Amir Khan Pehelwan etc
Marutirao Pehelwan was different. He was handsome, tall, well built, could act and sing well. He was selected for the hero’s role in first Gujarati talkie film ‘Narsi Mehata’ (1932), made by Sagar Movietone. He acted as hero and other roles in about 40 films and sang 56 songs in 17 films. His first Hindi film was ‘Lanka Dahan’ (1933) and last his film was ‘Apna Ghar’ (1942)
He married his co-star of many films – Tara (sister of Sitara Devi and Alaknanda). They left films and settled in Dhule, Maharashtra. Marutirao started a dairy business there. Famous dancer Gopi Krishna was their son. After Marutirao’s demise Tara had a terrible time. She stayed in Bombay slums and did any extra role in films.
From 1946, there was another comedian actor named Maruti (Marutirao Parab), active in Hindi films. Initially, he too was billed as Marutirao, creating confusion. He was the father of comedienne Guddi Maruti.
So, here is the philosophical song.
( I thank Biren kothari ji for his book ” Sagar movietone” and shri M N Sardana ji for some information about N A Ansari, used in this post)
With this song, “Kasauti”(1941) makes its debut in the blog.
Song-Kho kar bhi sab kuchh izzat na khona (Kasauti)(1941) Singer-Maruti rao Pehelwan, Lyrics- Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi, MD-Ashok Ghosh
Lyrics
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh a a
izzat na khona aa
zuroori hai ae ae ae ae
jeewan mein ae ae
izzat ka hona
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh
izzat na khona
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh
izzat na khona
zuroori hai
jeewan mein
izzat ka hona
zuroori hai
jeewan mein
izzat ka hona
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh
izzat na khona
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh
izzat na khona
pareeksha ho jis dam
hansna na rona
pareeksha ho jis dam m m
aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa
aa aa aa aa
pareeksha ho jis dam
hansna na rona
kasauti pe utre jo sachcha
wo sona
kasauti pe utre jo sachcha
wo sona
kasauti pe utre jo sachcha
wo sona
kasauti pe utre jo sachcha
wo sona
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh
izzat na khona
Kho kar bhi sab kuchh
izzat na khona aa
5 Responses to "Kho kar bhi sab kuchh izzat na khona"
November 1, 2019 at 6:55 pm
Arunji,
My compliments for a well-researched post. I liked the geneology mentioned in passing – Marutirao Pahalwan married to Tara Devi (sister of Sitara Devi) and their son was Gopi Krishna. I remember you traced even more detailed genealogy of Nimmi, Nanda, Shirodkars, some of which may be new to the younger generation of those family trees. I hope some day we would see that compiled in one place.
AK
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November 1, 2019 at 10:06 pm
AK ji,
Thanks for your appreciation. I try to give as much information as possible, of the people associated with the song or film concerned. There are matters which people think trivial, but they give out important bits of information. At times they are the keys to many puzzles too.
Thanks again.
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October 27, 2019 at 8:51 am
Arun Ji,
Though I had heard about N A Ansari, I did not know anything about his journey in films.. I remember vaguely his stills wearing a hat and a pipe between his lips. A suave image :))
Thanks for the post
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October 27, 2019 at 10:32 am
Satish ji,
Thanks for your comments.
Most people see and remember character actors, even with names, but hardly any information is made available to them, about these actors.
Atul ji has provided us a platform from where such information on obscure, little known or unknown artistes can be presented to our readers.
This makes this Blog unique. Of late, it has become the most reliable reference point for those interested in old films and old songs etc. I often see,on different Blogs, sites and Fb groups, people quoting from this Blog,as authentic information.
I feel proud to be a part of this Blog.
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