Raja hamen na nihaaro
Posted on: January 28, 2020
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 the film Nav Jeevan-1939. It was a film made by Bombay Talkies, one of the heavyweight film making companies of those times. Bombay Talkies and Prabhat Film company of Poona were the companies that tackled offbeat and social reform issues through their films. They generally, combined social work with entertainment successfully and therefore their films became popular.
The owners of Bombay Talkies, Himanshu Roy and Devika Rani were Bengali. The company, no doubt, helped and gave opportunities to many capable Bangla artistes in different fields of film making, like cinematography, direction, acting etc. However, they were also known to recognise talents and offered opportunities to right persons irrespective of language, caste or religion – Bangla or non Bangla. Both the owners were foreign educated and Himanshu Roy had been in Germany to make films. Very few people know that his first wife was a German lady !
The couple had a soft corner for Germans because of their personal experiences. This was evident from the fact that Bombay Talkies had employed a team of German Technicians and other specialists like Director, Cinematographer etc. In the early stages of Bombay Talkies, from 1935 to 1939, almost all their films were directed by Franz Osten – a German.
Germany had a very good name in India during the olden days i.e. during the early part of the last century. I remember, my Grandfather ( who expired in 1975 at the age of 91 years) always praising Germany for so many things. In India, all things German were considered the Best- even better than the Vilayati or the British things !
Very few people know that Indian Cinema had a little known connection with the rise of Hitler in Germany in 1932-33. A group of men engaged in Cinema in Germany, flocked to India in the 30’s and played a vital role in Indian Cinema and the arts of that times. After Hitler took over Germany in 1933, the German Cine Studio’s glory days were over and they were turned into Nazi Propaganda Machines !
It was at this time that several of its men ( mostly persecuted Jews) left the studio and some arrived in India, and contributed to Indian cinema’s formative years.
The foremost among them is Frantz Osten, a German whom Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani met at the USA when they went to train there (they worked with Lang and Marlene Dietrich). Osten had already been directing films for the couple since 1925, when he made Light of Asia for them from Germany.
In 1934, he came to India and the next year, after Rai founded Bombay Talkies ‘the legendary film studio in Malad that now lies in ruins,’ Osten directed its first film.
He went on to direct the famous Devika Rani-Ashok Kumar starrer, Achhyut Kanya, without much knowledge of Hindi. The film, which featured the song “Main ban ke chiriya”, was shot by Cinematographer Joseph Wirsching; the sets were designed by Karl von Spreti, the laboratory was headed by Zolle, and the sound recordist was Len Heartley. This was Osten’s team of USA ex-members who worked for Rai’s state-of-the-art studio.
Osten and his fellow Germans directed 16 films for Rai. It was a remarkable feat for people who knew little Hindi mistaking the word “bulbul” once, for a pair of bulls.
“It’s not clear if they had anything to do with the Nazi ideology, either way,” said film historian Amrit Gangar.
“If they did, it did not show in their films. But there were two other people who almost certainly migrated to India because of the persecution of Jews.”
Franz Osten(23-12-1876 to 2-12-1956) Hindi director, was born in Munich as Franz Ostermayer, the elder brother of successful producer Peter Ostermayer. They set up a travelling cinema, Original Physograph (1907) and founded Munchner Kunstfilm (1909) after Osten had been making shorts for Pathé, Gaumont and Eclair. Their first feature: Die Wahrheit (1910). Osten’s début as director: Erna Valeska (1911). War correspondent in 1915. Joined Peter’s company Emelka (later Bavaria Film) in 1918. Made Der Ochsenkrieg (1920) with young cameraman Frank Planer of later Hollywood fame, one of Osten’s several contributions to a budding genre that after WW2 became known as the Heimatfilm. In fact, the Ostermayr/Osten brothers claimed to be the originators of the genre.
When Himanshu Rai and Emelka made a deal to produce Prem Sanyas aka Light of Asia, Osten was assigned to direct. Continued directing Rai’s productions, often shooting in India as well as in Europe, in addition to directing for numerous companies in Berlin. Moved with cameraman Josef Wirsching and set designer Karl von Spreti to India to work at Himansu Rai’s Bombay Talkies (1934).
While in Bombay, became a member of the Nazi Party (1936). He was interned by the British at the outbreak of WW2 while shooting his last film there, Kangan. Released and allowed to return to Germany (1940). Employed by Bavaria Film until 1945, for casting and setting up its film archive. In addition to Indian films, directed 33 silent features and 10 sound films.
After WW2 became manager of a Bavarian spa. His Indian films, following UFA tradition, were huge Orientalist spectacles with elephants, camels and expansive vistas often shot in deep focus. Effective authorship shared by producer Rai and scenarist Niranjan Pal. Adopted European conventions to introduce main actors, e.g. backlit mid-shots in soft focus gradually becoming more contrasted; also used mobile outdoor shots as in the railway-crossing sequence of Achhut Kanya. Strongly influenced younger Bombay Talkies film-makers Amiya Chakrabarty and Gyan Mukherjee, though they used his techniques for very different purposes.
Filmography-1925: Prem Sanyas, 1928: Shiraz, 1929: Prapancha Pash, 1935: Jawani Ki Hawa, 1936: Achhut Kanya, Janmabhoomi, Jeevan Naiya, Mamata, Miya Bibi, 1937: Izzat, Jeevan Prabhat, Prem Kahani, Savitri, 1938: Bhabhi, Nirmala, Vachan, 1939: Durga, Kangan, Navjeevan
In addition to the German team in Bombay Talkies, there were three more Germans who also came to India and worked in Hindi films. One was Walter Kauffman (1-4-1907 to 9-9-1984). The other was Wilhelm Haas (18-6-1915 to 30-3-1979), who was a writer. Both were Jews and friends. Kauffman, Haas and Bhavnani worked together in Premnagar (1940), Naushad’s first film as music director. Kauffman composed the background score; Haas wrote the screenplay.
“It is debatable, but Kauffman is probably also the person behind the All India Radio signature tune. Haas was a member of the Indian chapter of PEN,” Gangar said. Haas also wrote the script for Bhavnani’s Jhooti Sharam (1939).
The third German was Paul Zils ( 1-6-1915 to 30-3-1979 ). Zils, believed to be a Nazi sympathizer, turned up in India under strange circumstances: he was bound for Indonesia in a steamer that got torpedoed by an Indian naval ship during World War II and he was taken prisoner.
After his release, because of his film experiences, the leadership of the sales department in Ezra Mir led government documentary production company called him to join Information films of India. End of October 1945, he came to Bombay and started his work. Following the closure of the Information Films of India, Zils was freelancing and in 1948 founded his own company Documentary Films of India; in 1949 India created new state production company Films Division. To popularize the documentary he was supported in 1949 among others by Mulk Raj Anand , B.K.Karanjia , Vikram Sarabhai , Frene Talyarkhan and Jagmohan.
1950-1952 is Zils tried as a feature film director, turning three films with Dev Anand. Paul Zils directed 3 Dev Anand films, according to the documents. Hindustan Hamara-50 and Zalzala-52 are found in HFGK, but the third film called ‘ Shabash”, though listed in 1949, gives no details, except the film name.
Paul Zils was also active in organizations of filmmakers. From 1957 to 1959 he was president of the Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA). In March 1959 he returned to Germany.
As the studio system came to an end and individual producers took over, the days of the Germans in Indian cinema were over. Many, including Osten, went back to Germany. Set designer Spreti was appointed German ambassador to Guatemala and was later shot dead by terrorists.
Most of the others remained associated with the film world abroad.
Film Nav Jeevan-39 had music by Saraswati Devi (a Parsee). Amongst the first 3 women Music Directors of India – the first being Ishrat Sultana aka Bibbo, the second was Jaddanbai and then came Saraswati Devi (1912-10.8.1980) – she was the most consistent and prolific composer. She gave music to 31 films, composing 262 songs. She also sang 10 songs in 6 films.
The cast of the film was Hansa Wadkar, Rama Shukul, V H Desai, Mumtaz Ali, P F Peethawala, Lalita Deulkar and many others. Today’s song is written by J.S. Kashyap and this duet is sung by Lalita Deulkar and Balwant Singh.
LALITA was born in Bombay in 1924.She was not interested in acting or singing, but poor family conditions and father’s T.B. forced her to earn a living by singing and acting. During 1940-45, she recorded many songs. One Mr. Dulerai Pandya, a Gujarati, owned “The National Recording Co.Ltd.” in Bombay’s fort area. There was a Tricolour shown on the labels of the records,hence this company was known as Jhandewali record co.. V.Shantaram was also on its Board of Directors. Initially Prabhat and later Rajkamal film songs were issued on this Jhanda Chhap records only. The company had hired Datta Davjekar for Marathi and Avinash vyas and Lallubhai Bhojak for Hindi and Gujarati songs. She recorded many Darya songs and Bhavgeets in this company.Along with her, Gajanan Watwe, Jyotsna Bhole also recorded songs here. Some records named her as Lalita Devi. Once Saraswati Devi heard her and gave her chance to do small roles and sing in chorus of songs of Bombay Talkies films. Her Debut was made with the song ” Raja hamen na niharo”. It was a duet with Balwant Singh, in film Navjeevan-39.
After singing songs in films like Parbat pe apna dera-44,Valmiki-46 and Eight Days-46,she got a good break in film Saajan-1947. Her duet with Rafi, ” Humko tumhara hi aasra” is remembered even today. Film Nadiya ke paar-48 also had a duet with Rafi,”More raja ho,le chal nadiya ke paar” which was very popular. C.Ramchandra was MD for both these films. She sang in several other films like Bhakta Dhruv,Khidki,Jalan,Shaheed,Shakti,Vidya,Bedard,Daulat,Girls school,Jai Bheem,Roshni,Sanwariya,Shabnam,Apni Chhaya,Malti Madhav,Pahli Tarikh,Sajni etc.
In all she acted in 5 films and sang 79 songs in 36 films.
She got married to Composer Sudhir Phadke (25-7-1919 to 29-7-2002),on 29-5-1949 at Poona. Their common friend Mohd. Rafi sang a specially prepared and meticulously rehearsed ” Mangalashtak ” ( an eight stanza marriage song in Marathi), in their marriage. After marriage she sang only in films of Sudhir Phadke. After Sajni-56, she stopped singing completely and became a devoted housewife. She died on 25-5-2010. Their son Shridhar Phadke is a well known Marathi singer and composer.
The male voice in this duet belongs to Balwant Singh. BALWANT SINGH was born in Pandoga village of Hoshiyarpur on 9-12-1918 in a Jahagirdar’s family. He was quite rich.
After a training from Pt.Bhishmadev in classical music, he came to Bombay and joined Bombay Talkies at the age of 18 years. He first gave Playback in Jeevan Prabhat-37. In Nirmala-38 he acted and also sang a song. Then came Durga-39 where also he acted and sang.
V.Shantaram cast him in Padosi-41 and his songs in this film were hits.
He was Hero in Darpan, Swapna, Malan, Naukar, Paraya Dhan, Ashirwaad, Collegian, Dr.Kumar, Bhanwar, Hip hip hurray and Apni chhaya-50 etc. As a hero he sang less songs. His songs with Shanta Hublikar(Malan) and Parul Ghosh and Khan Mastana(Bhanwar) were very popular. He also acted in Nirmala,Vachan and Kangan.
In all, he acted in 18 films, sang 20 songs in 10 films and also wrote 6 songs in film Sumitra-1949.
He married a girl from the royal family of Palanpur, Gujarat. After leaving films, he worked in All India Radio for 4 years. The signature tune played just before the morning broadcast was composed by Balwant Singh, for A.I.R.
Then he settled in Ahmadabad, directing Dramas and Teaching music. Finally, he shifted to Ludhiana where, after a long illness, he died on 4-12-1985.
With today’s song, film Nav Jeevan-1939, makes its Debut here.
( Some information used herein is from the book ” The music that rings every dawn ” by Historian Amrit Gangar ji, The Record news Bulletins of S.I.R.C , Prof. Yogesh yadav ji’s book ” Hindi film singers ” and Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. My thanks to these sources.)
Audio
Video
Song-Raja hamen na nihaaro (Navjeevan)(1939) Singers-Lalita Deulkar, Balwant Singh, Lyricist- Jamuna Swarup Kashyap ‘Natwan’, MD-Saraswati Devi
Both
Lyrics
Raja hamen na nihaaro
o raja hamen na nihaaro
hamen to lag jaayegi najariya
ho raam
hamen to lag jaayegi najariya re
tirchhi najariya patri kamariya
tirchhi najariya patri kamariya
chhedo hamen na sanwariya
haan haan
chhedo hamen na sanwariya
haan haan
chhedo hamen na sanwariya
hamaari baali umariya
ho raam
hamen to lag jaayegi najariya
ho raam
hamen to lag jaayegi najariya re
kaun des se aayi gujariya
kaun des se aayi gujariya
ka matki bhar laayi gujariya
ka matki bhar laayi gujariya
brindawan ?? aayi gujariya
prem preet ras aagi gujariya
brindawan ?? aayi gujariya
prem preet ras aagi gujariya
daasi tihaari rasiyaa
haan haan
daasi tihaari rasiyaa
haan
daasi tihaari rasiyaa
sang sang beete umariya
ho raam
hamaari beete umariya
ho raam
hamaari beete umariya re
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
January 28, 2020 at 3:39 pm
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