Karo Na Phere Gali Ke Mere
Posted on: May 1, 2020
- In: Duet | Feelings of heart | Geeta Dutt songs | Guest posts | Hindi Songs in Non-Hindi Films | Manna Dey songs | Manna Dey-Geeta Dutt duet | Post by Sadanand Kamath | Song from regional movies | Songs about a place | Songs of 1950s (1951 to 1960) | Songs of 1960 | Yearwise breakup of songs
- 5 Comments
This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. 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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4334 |
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Hindi songs in Bangla Films: 26
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Mumbai has been the leading Hindi film production centre in India ever since Dadasaheb Phalke produced the first silent film ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913. After the release of India’s first talkie ‘Alam Ara’ in 1931, many more film production companies were set up in Mumbai, some of them owning the studios. The outdoor shootings, if any, in the initial stages of talkie films were done mostly in around Mumbai. It was quite natural that stories of some Hindi films would have Mumbai as the background portraying the many facets of the city. Obviously, in such films, there would be scenes from Mumbai and possibly one ‘Bombay-centric’ song.
The earliest Hindi film in which I found a song with Bombay (now Mumbai) as the theme is Bambai Ko Chalo Bambai Ko from ‘Kirti’ (1942) written by Pandit Phani. The song talks about Boribunder station (now Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), dhuen waali ghaadi (steam engine train), Bambai Ki Sethani, Kalkate ke babu, Marwaad ki rani, Kashi ke sadhu etc. In short, the song gives a glimpse of cosmopolitan character of Mumbai.
In the 1950s, there were two songs which, I feel, are quintessential of Mumbai even now. The first is, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahaan Ye Hai Bombay Meri Jaan from ‘CID’ (1956) written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. At the outset, song would appear to be a fun song. But a closer look at the lyrics of the song would reveal that behind the fun, there is sarcasm. For example:
kahin building kahin traame, kahin motor, kahin mill
miltaa hai yahaan sab kuchh ik miltaa nahin dil
insaan kaa nahin kahin naam-o-nishaan
[Everything is available in Mumbai except love and humanity.]
Another example of sarcasm in the song:
kahin satta, kahin patta, kahin chori kahin race
kahin daaka, kahin faaka, kahin thokar, kahin thes
bekaaron ke hain kayi kaam yahaan
[There are many works available like gambling, pick-pocketing, burglary, horse racing etc. There is no dearth of employment for unemployed.]
But at the end, the song turns from the sarcasm to the theory of ‘karma’:
buraa duniyaa jo hai kahtaa aisaa bholaa tu na ban
jo hai kartaa wo hai bhartaa ye yahaan kaa hai chalan
dadagiri nahin milne ki yahaan
[By telling that the world is bad, one does not become good. Here, the motto is that one who works get the fruits of his work. Bullying will not fetch anything.]
The second song of 1950s I am referring to is about the flight of the homeless in Mumbai. The song does not have specific reference to Mumbai in its lyrics but the word ‘Boribunder’ in the lyrics is the indication as to which city the song is referring to. It is an iconic song, Cheen O Arab Hamaara Hindustan Hamaara from ‘Phir Subah Hogi’ (1958) which was written by Sahir Ludhianvi. Just three lines from the song sums of the problems of homeless in Mumbai in a sarcastic way:
rehne ko ghar nahin hai
saaraa jahaan hamaara
Hindustan hamaara
There are also songs like Jiska Joota Usi Ka Sar, Dil Hai Chhota Bada Shahar, Wah Re Wah Re Teri Bambai from ‘Guest House’ (1959) written by Prem Dhawan and Ye Bambai Shahar Ka Bada Naam Hai from ‘Kya Ye Bombay Hai’ (1959) written by Noor Devasi. Both the songs describe the life in Mumbai from different perspectives. Then there is a fun song, Ye Haseen Bambai Apne Ko To Jam Gayi from ‘Holiday in Bombay’ (1963) written by Anjaan and “Bambai Hamaari Bambai Ye Rajdulaari Bambai” from ‘Street Singer’ (1966) written by Hasrat Jaipuri.
As we come to 1970s, with the exponential growth of Mumbai as a business and commercial hub of India, Mumbai became one of the major preferred cities for migrant workers. The problems faced by migrants in Mumbai has been beautifully expressed in the song Seene Mein Jalan Aankhon Mein Toofaan Sa Kyon Hai from ‘Gaman’ (1978) written by Shahryar. The problem of finding homes for the middle class people in Mumbai who spent their bachelorhood in staying as paying guests is depicted in the song Do Deewaane Shahar Mein, Raat Mein Ya Dophar Mein, Aab O Daana Dhoondhte Hain Ek Aashiyaanaa Dhoondhte Hain from ‘Gharoanda’ (1977), written by Gulzar.
There are other ‘Bombay-centric’ songs in Hindi films which are mostly fun songs. One of the popular songs under this category is Ee Hai Bambai Nagariya Tu Dekh Babuaa from ‘Don’ (1978) written by Anjaan. I have not checked much about the songs on Mumbai in the 1980s and thereafter. But one song whose lyrics stand true to most of the migrants to Mumbai including those who came here to fulfil their dream of becoming artist in Hindi films is from an ‘off the mainstream’ film ‘Sankat City’ (2009). The apt song is “Mumbai One-Way Nagari Hai”.
All the ‘Bombay-centric’ songs I have enumerated above are from Hindi films. It was a pleasant surprise for me when I found one such Hindi song in Bangla film ‘Dui Bechaara’ (1960). The ‘Bombay’ song is “Karo Na Phere Gali Ke Mere Hanso Na Bolo Ji” sung by Geeta Dutt and Manna Dey. The song is written by Gulzar which is set to music by Bhupen Hazarika.
The film is not available for viewing. So it is difficult to visualise the situation of the song in the film. Probably, it could well be a stage song.
Audio Clip:
Song – Karo Na Phere Gali Ke Mere Hato Na Bolo Jee (Dui Bechaare) (Bangla) (1960) Singers – Geeta Dutt, Manna Dey, Lyrics – Gulzar, MD – Bhupen Hazarika
Both
Lyrics
karo na phere gali ke mere
hato na bolo ji
haay
jigar jalaa ke nazar churaa ke
kahaan chale ho ji
arre karo na phere gali ke mere
hato na bolo ji
aji jigar jalaa ke nazar churaa ke
kahaan chale ho ji
bahaane lagaaye toone
dekhi na Bambai teri
bahaane lagaaye toone
dekhi na Bambai teri
bura hai bigadna hamse
chalo aise roothho na
chalo dikhaa doon tumhen ghumaa doon
badaa shahar Bambai
puraana hai Boribunder
adda chor uchakkon kaa
puraana hai Boribundar
adda chor uchakkon kaa
badaa naam chori chakkar
rela dhool aur dhakkon kaa
badaa naam chori chakkar
rela dhool aur dhakkon kaa
aji chalo dikhaa doon
tumhen ghumaa doon
badaa shahar Bambai
o o o
anokhe tamaashe iske
kaisi ye Bambai teri
chalo dikhaa doon
tumhen ghumaa doon
badaa shahar Bambai
kinaare pe chaupati ke filmy pariyaan ghoomen
kinaare pe chaupati ke filmy pariyaan ghoomen
kahaan ko chale tum itni pahan ke oonchi patloonen
kahaan ko chale tum itni pahan ke oonchi patloonen
aji chalo dikhaa doon
tumhen ghumaa doon
badaa shahar Bambai
o o o o
anokhe tamaashe iske
kaisi ye Bambai teri
chalo dikhaa doon
tumhen ghumaa doon
badaa shahar Bambai
sharam bhi yahaan sharmaaye phere maari maari
sharam bhi yahaan sharmaaye phere maari maari
samundar mein dooben jaake maari baari baari
samundar mein dooben jaake maari baari baari
chalo main haari nakal hai saari
ajab shahar Bambai
ajji kaha thhaa hamne suna na tumne
chalo chhodo Bambai
chalo chalo chhodo Bambai
chalo chalo chhodo Bambai
chalo chalo chhodo Bambai
5 Responses to "Karo Na Phere Gali Ke Mere"
May 1, 2020 at 8:07 pm
As regards the Bombay-centric songs, I remember one melodious song from the film “Chand Aur Suraj (1965)”, MD-Salil Chaudhari. The song is “Meri Aur unki preet purani, Bali Bali jaoon main Mumbai la”, which has a mention of picturesque places of Mumbai like “Aare Milk Colony”, Powai etc.
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May 1, 2020 at 10:16 pm
Thanks for reminding me about the song from ‘Chaand Aur Suraj’ (1965). This was a popular song with one line in Marathi.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
May 1, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Dear Sadanand ji,
As a Bangalee, one has been following with avid interest your Articles on the use of Hindi Songs in Bangla Films. One more proof, as if proof was required, of the level of integration in our Nation. Surely there would be Hindi Songs in Films in other Regional Languages as well, though not as many.
As you would be aware, the latest crop of Bangla Films has a fair sprinkling of Hindi Songs in them. Hope you’ll cover them later.
BTW, when you have the time, do try to spare a few words for Bangla Songs in Hindi Films. Perhaps the earliest example is Bimal Roy’s “HUMRAHI” (1945), the Hindi version of “UDAYER PATHE”, which had a Rabindra Sangeet. There are a few other later films which have a Bangla Song or two.
Looking forward to your next Post.
With warm regards
PARTHA CHANDA
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May 1, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Partha Chanda ji,
I have taken note of your suggestion about Bangla song in ‘Humraahi’ (1945). I will do the needful.
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