Bas itna bata do jiyen ya maren
Posted on: September 27, 2022
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 Bahurani-1950. Films with the same title were made in 1940, 1950, 1963 and 1989. All films had different storylines. Bahurani 1950 was about a bahu who comes to a house after marriage, which is on the brink of breaking relationships due to crumbling family business and subsequent dwindling finances. The story is about how the clever Bahu mends matters to improvement and earlier glory and happiness.
Films made after India’s Independence, especially in the period of 1950 to 1960 dealt with the benefits of joint family, benefits of traditions and culture and ideal bringing up of the children. There was an attempt to glorify, reinvent and reestablish the ideals of togetherness and family value importance. This had become socially necessary because of the disturbed family structures during the Independence struggle of the 40’s. That was also the reason how during this decade i.e. 1950 to 1960, the highest number of religious films (124) were made.
In the subsequent decades i.e. from the 60’s to the 80’s, the family values changed, society structure took another shape and the focus turned from people to money. Because of the expanding money market, job opportunities all over the country, escalating living index, industrialisation and increasing cost of living, the joint family turned into nuclear families with limited progeny. Accordingly, the type of films also changed and they became music and entertainment oriented. The family centred stories diminished (however, they remained only in films made in the South).
This also explains why old people love old films because they want to relive the atmosphere of their younger days. Music in the later period became loud with more instruments and less poetry. But this was accepted and liked by the young generation and it grew by leaps and bounds.
Coming back to today’s film bahurani-1950, it was made by Harishchandra Pictures, Bombay. This was a company floated by harishchandra rao Kadam, who was a stunt film actor, director and producer in the 30’s and the 40’s. He was the one who actually launched C. Ramchandra as a Hindi film Music Director for his film “Sukhi Jivan’-1942. Earlier C.Ramchandra had begun his career with acting as a Hero in film Naganand-1935 and then as assistant to several MDs in Minerva movietone. As a Music director he had given music to 2 Tamil films by then. Harishchandra rao kadam was the hero of film Sukhi Jivan opposite actress Ashalata (Mehrunnisa Bhagat -the first wife of Anil Biswas, MD). His brother Chandra rao kadam also was a stunt actor and a studio owner himself in his later life. His studio is still run by his sons.
Hansraj Behl was the Music director of this film and there were 4 Lyricists – B.R.Sharma, Aziz Siddiqi, Shevan Rizvi and Bharat Vyas. The cast of the film was Sulochana Chatterjee, Shekhar, kaushalya, Amar, Yashodhara Katju, David, Sofia, Ansari, E.Bilimoria and many others.
Heroine of the film was Sulochana Chatterjee-younger sister of Kamla Chatterjee, an actress and wife of Kidar Sharma, the famous writer and Director of Hindi films. Actually, at one time, there were at least 5 Sulochanas operating at the same time in the Hindi film industry. They did not create Same Name Confusion because every Sulochana used her Surname, setting her apart from other Sulochanas. There were 3 actresses- Sulochana Sr aka Ruby Myers, Sulochana Latkar and Sulochan Chatterjee. There were 2 Singers- Sulochana Chavan and Sulochana Vyas.
Born in Chandranagar, Sulochana Chatterjee was the daughter of a military man and the family, five girls, including the late Kamla Chatterjee ( she looked like Geeta Bali, and was Kidar Sharma’s wife), and one boy, used to travel along with their parents to wherever their father was transferred. From Calcutta they moved to Jabalpore and it was here that Sulochana did her schooling. She also took an active part in school dramatics. After some time the family was transferred to Bombay and here her younger sister, Kamla, was spotted by Sohrab Modi, a friend of their father’s, and given a role as a child star in Modi’s picture Jailor (1938).
Once Sulochana happened to visit the sets one day and after watching her sister at work, She was offered a part in Harishchandra Pictures’ “Aina”-44, which she accepted. She co-starred with Trilok Kapoor. She starred in scores of films after that, among them the comedy “Ladli”-50, in which she appeared with Jairaj, and “Grahasti”-48 which was a memorable hit and in which she played with Yakub and Masood.
Sulochana acted in two Bengali pictures “Apanaela”, produced by Saroj Mukerjee and directed by Benoy Banerjee with Pradeep Kumar as her leading man, and Benoy Banerjee’s “Minoti” in which she shared stellar honors with Smriti Biswas and Paresh Banerjee. Her well known films are Chaitanya Mahaprabhu-53, Rami Dhoban-53, Shahjehan-46, Veena-48, Nav Durga-53, Jagte Raho-56, Jis desh mein Gaqnga behti hai-60, Saraswatichandra-68 etc. In all she acted in 119 films. Her first film was Shobha-42 and last film was Shabas Daddy-79. After retirement, she settled in Bombay. Sulochana Chatterjee died on 30-8-1999.
Her favorite pastime was playing with her sister’s children. She cooked, too, and knitted off and on. She was fond of English pictures , liked Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck and comedies. Sulochana could play Badminton and drove a car. A gifted linguist, she knew Bengali, her mother tongue, Hindi, English, Marathi, Punjabi, Kutchi and Guajarati. She spoke them all fluently.
Sometime back in one of my posts, I had assured that I will give the biodata of Ansari. So it is here…..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 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 specialists in negative roles . But young and energetic Nisar Ahmad Ansari had faith in his potential .
He believed that it is not necessary that a villain should have thick eyebrows 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 a friendly smile on his face . In his films , he used to be the boss of a criminal syndicate and had 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 used 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 ,he did not disappoint other filmmakers ,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 producers ,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 the 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 & its music. Mangu had predictable Jodi of Sheikh Mukhtar & Mukri ,with Nigar Sultana ,Sheila Ramani & Ansari himself, as a suave villain. Mangu had a breathtaking, thrilling climax, involving the speeding train. Some real shots, a few stock shots & rest studio shots with back projections (Aadhi Haqeeqat ,Aadha Fasana ),made the climax awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, the movie could not be preserved & the present generation has been deprived of witnessing Ansari’s first effort as director. Mangu is one of the most searched movies on 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 a 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.
Beside 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 qualm for working in the 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 forever 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. As an actor he did roles in 77 films, starting with Aasra-41. He directed 11 films, from Mangu-54 to Jurm aur Saza-74.
(Based on information from Filmdom-46 and an article by M.N.Sardana ji, with thanks.)
Today’s song is a female duet sung by Asha Bhosle and Shamshad begum. It is a good song. Enjoy….
Song- Bas itna bata do jiyen ya maren (Bahurani)(1950) Singers-Shamshad Begam, Asha Bhonsle, Lyrics-Aziz Siddiqui, MD-Hansraj Bahl
Lyrics
Bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
Bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
ye chitchor hote hain kitne nidar
ye chitchor hote hain kitne nidar
churaate hain dil
saamne baithhkar
churaate hain dil
saamne baithhkar
taraste hain soorat ko
hum raat bhar
hai kismat ki marzi ke aathhon pahar
hai kismat ki marzi ke aathhon pahar
ya aansoo bahaayen
ya aahen bharen
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
Muhobbat ka chhaayaa hua hai khumaar
Muhobbat ka chhaayaa hua hai khumaar
tumhaari qasam
humko tumse hai pyaar
tumhaari qasam
humko tumse hai pyaar
judaai ne loota hai chain aur qaraar
hai jeene ki mushqil
wahi intezaar
hai jeene ki mushqil
wahi intezaar
kahaan tak kaleje pe patthar dharen
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
bas itna bata do
jiyen ya maren
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
muhobbat jo ho jaaye
phir kya karen
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
September 27, 2022 at 11:29 am
Sulochanas to well dressed villain Nisar Ahmad Ansari, good write up as usual. It is sad to know that prints of many old movies couldn’t be preserved by producers or Film archives.
Apart from movies, I am also looking for some songs deleted by either censors or producers due to unavoidable reasons. Few examples: Jao Re Jogi Tum-Amrapali, Jaata Kahaan Hai Deewane-CID, Poochho Na Hamen-Mitti mein Sona etc.
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September 27, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Thanks.
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