Ye khel tamaasha do din ka
Posted on: December 10, 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 Circus ki sundari aka Circus Queen-1941.
This was the first ever Talkie film having a story with a background of a Circus atmosphere. On checking the film list of silent films, I did not find any film title connected with Circus. From 1941 to 2007, I found 6 film titles in which the word Circus is there. They are….
| Name of movie | Year of release | Heroine of the movie |
|---|---|---|
| Circus ki sundari | 1941 | Miss Moti |
| Circus Girl | 1943 | Miss Brijrani |
| Circus king | 1946 | Miss Brijrani |
| Circus wale | 1950 | Fearless Nadia |
| Circus Queen | 1959 | Fearless Nadia |
| Cirkus | 2007 | Jacqueline Fernandes |
The last film, Cirkus-2007 had nothing to do with Circus. I have seen its trailer.
Fearless Nadia working in a film having a Circus backdrop is understandable. She had actually worked in a circus before joining the film line. However, about the other Heroines, I have absolutely no information about the actress Miss Moti ( 13 films from 1934 to 1943) and Miss Brij Rani’s biodata is with me, but she was never connected with any circus in her life.
The film was released on 28-11-1941. As per Film India magazine review, the entire film was shot inside a circus. I wonder how Miss Moti must have managed, when she had no experience of being in the company of wild animals like lions, tigers or elephants ! The story of the film was a typical stunt film story. I will not repeat the story because our Sadanand Kamath ji has already given it in his post in 2018, on one of the songs of this film. The film was produced by Kikubhai Desai – father of the potboiler maker Manmohan Desai. Unfortunately Kikubhai died just 2 days before this film was released.
The film was made by Paramount Movietone, famous for making Stunt films, before Wadia Movieone surpassed it ! Perhaps this was their last film too. The film was directed by Balwant Bhatt – the elder brother of Nanubhai Bhatt, another director of stunt films. Balwant directed only B or C grade films in his career. Balwant Bhatt (13-1-1909 to 7-2-19650 directed 33 films. He also directed many Gujarati films. He was famous in Gujarat for his film Divadandi-1952 in which Dilip Dholakia sang the iconic song ” Taari aankhni affini”. Balwant also helped MD Narayan Dutt by giving him the Debut opportunity for film Mordhwaj-1952.
The cast of the film was Miss Moti, Jal Merchant, Gulab, Agha, Puri, Rekha, A. Kareem and many others. The dialogues and songs were written by P.L.Santoshi and A. Kareem. There were few artistes in the Film Industry who were ‘all- rounders’. These artistes achieved excellence in many departments of film making. A. Kareem was one such artiste. He was brother of Music Director Ghulam Mohammed. He was an Actor, Producer, Director, Composer, Lyricist, writer, s/play and dialogue writer and a Costume designer ! In my opinion, he can be compared with only Badri Prashad, who was Actor, Producer, Director, Composer, Singer, Character artiste and a Choreographer too !..
In the early era, there were many such artistes who did many things-sometimes out of necessity or compulsion or to sustain jobs. But they were known for ONE main activity. Similarly A. Kareem was known as a Lyricist. He started his career with Aaj ki Duniya-40 as an actor. He also acted in Jagat mohini-40, Meri Khwaish-041, and Circus ki Sundari-41. He wrote s/p and dialogues, with P L Santoshi for films Circus ki sundari-41 and Bombay Calling-42. He composed music for 5 stunt films like Kashmir ki kali-46, Toofani Teerandaz-47,Atom Bomb-47,Dhoomketu-49 and Maya Mahal-49. He had composed 35 songs.
He directed 13 films like Kalakar-42,Talash-43,Badmash-44,Jeewan swapna-46,Parbat ki Rani-48,Rangeele Musafir-50,Josh-50,Gazab-51,Char chand-53. Maharani-57,Mehfil-57,Tilasmi Duniya-62 and Mehbooba-65.
As a Costume designer he worked for Naya Daur-57, Dil apna aur Preet Parayee-60, Mere Mehboob-63,Kaajal-65, Main vohi hoon-66 and Dastak-70. As a Lyricist his most famous song was Talat’s “Hai ye vohi aasman, aur vohi zameen, par meri Taqdeer ka ab vo zamana nahin “. He wrote 146 songs in 20 films.
Nowadays, it is impossible to find such All rounders in the film industry. Among the cast members, Jal Merchant was from the Parsee Community. In the 30’s and the 40’s there were many Parsee actors in Hindi films. Initially they rolled over to Talkie films from the silent era, when the silent films stopped being made from 1934. Later on many parsees joing films willinglky too. Some parsee artistes were Sohrab Modi, Billimoria brothers, Shammi etc.
Jal Merchant was a typical Parsi born on 15-1-1920 and brought up in the Parsi Colony area in Bombay. Though his family had a business, he did not join it as he was keen to make a career in films. Bombay being the centre of filmmaking he had plenty of chances. He did not have a masculine, wide chested body, but he compensated with his superb acting skills. He could also sing in his soft voice.
It was a colorful stellar team that Jal Merchant formed with Zubaida in the early talkies. But it was in mythological roles, and not romantic parts, that they first won the hearts of cinegoers. The first picture that made them a rage everywhere was Sagar’s “Veer Abhimanyu,” in which Jal played Abhimanyu to Zubaida’s Uttara. In the next one- Subhadra Haran-32, Jal was Arjun, Abhimanyu’s father, while Zubaida played Subhadra.
Like Zubaida, Jal Merchant joined films in the “silent days”. It was a change of medium for him, for he had been playing female roles on the Gujarati stage! His performance as the heroine of “Shankit Hriday,” a Gujarati play, proved a hit, and Nagendra Majumdar, who directed the play, induced him to switch over to screen acting. Jal joined the Imperial Film Company, and among his early films the most notable was “Vasant Bengali,” a social picture directed by R.S. Chowdhury. In those days, the screen hero generally had more brawn than brains, but the lead player of “Vasant Bengali” was called upon to show more intelligence than physical prowess. Jal did just that – and won instant fame.
After the advent of sound, Jal’s first four films for Sagar were mythologicals – “Veer Abhimanyu-1931,” Subhadra Haran-1932,” “Pandav Kaurav-1933” and “Mahabharat-1933”. For close-ups of these pictures, Jal used to wear trousers and only the upper part of his body was made up for his role. But in one close-up his pants were also visible! The shot was cut on the first day of screening in Bombay.
Gifted with a fine voice, he also delighted cinegoers with his singing. He sang 33 songs in 7 films-Meerabai-32, Pandav Kaurav-33, Mahabharat-33, Grihalaxmi-34, Aaj kal-34, Sone ka Shahar-35 and Toofan Express-1938.
In “Zarina,” written and directed by Ezra Mir, he was the tongawallah who falls in love with a dancing girl at a carnival. This poignant romantic tragedy won plaudits for both Jal and Zubaida. It was their last picture together for Sagar. Zubaida left Sagar and Sabita Devi took her place. Sabita and Kumar were the first stars imported from Calcutta. Sabita co-starred with Jal in “Phantom of the Hills,” directed by Ezra Mir, in which he played a dashing Pathan riding a white charger. In “Educated Wife” (Grihalaxmi), directed by Sarvottam Badami, he played a modern educated youth. In this role the versatile Jal revealed a genial personality. Sabita was again his co-star.
Jal and Zubaida played stellar roles together once again in “Aaj Kal,” directed by R.S. Chowdhury. This was the last important picture for both stars. Jal acted in about n15 Silent films and 29 Talkie films. His first Talkie film was Veer Abhimanyu-1931 and his last Talkie film was Armaan 1953.
Jal Merchant, who already had a family flourishing business, retired from the screen. Later, he started to live a quiet life in Bandra. Jal was an excellent shikari in his younger days. His screen associates also remember his soft voice, gentle manners and sensitive, handsome face. His pairing with Zubeida and Sabita Devi was very popular. He had all the gentle Parsee manners and was a popular co-star for the heroines.
I have read somewhere that Jal Merchant died in 1963 in Bombay. He was unmarried till the end, like many Parsis. ( information from an article by V.P.Sathe in Screen, ‘Screenplay’ by Isak Mujawar, Harish Raghuwanshi ji, HFGK, muVyz and my notes have been used in this post, with thanks.)
Today’s song is sung by Khan Mastana, Miss Kamal and chorus. I do not know who this Miss Kamal was. The music was by Khan Mastana. It is a good song.
Song-Ye khel tamasha do din ka (Circus Queen)(1941) Singers- Khan Mastana, Miss Kamal, Lyricist- P.L.Santoshi and A.Kareem, MD- Khan Mastana
Khan Mastana + Miss Kamal
All chorus
Male chorus
Female horus
Lyrics
Ye khel
Ye khel tamaasha do din ka
bhai khel tamasha do din ka
ye khel
Ye khel tamaasha do din ka
bhai khel tamaasha do din ka
ye taana baana do din ka
ye hansna gaana do din kaa
ye taana baana do din ka
ye hansna gaana do din kaa
ye raunaq pyaari do din ki
ye mehlen ataari do din ki
ye raunaq pyaari do din ki
ye mehlen ataari do din ki
kya thhaur thhikaana hai in ka
kya thhaur thhikaana hai in ka
ye khel
Ye khel tamasha do din ka
bhai khel tamasha do din ka
ye khel
Ye khel tamasha do din ka
bhai khel tamasha do din ka
chalte phirte saudaagar hum
chalte phirte saudaagar
chalte phirte saudaagar hum
chalte phirte saudaagar
jahaan daal den apna dera
wahin basaa den ek nagar
jahaan daal den apna dera
wahin basaa den ek nagar
hum panchhi ee ee
hum panchhi hain parde par(??) khelen
jaate hain chun chun kar ke
hum panchhi hain parde par(??) khelen
jaate hain chun chun kar ke
apna apna tinka tinka
apna apna tinka tinka
ye khel tamaasha do din ka
ye khel tamaasha do din ka
ye khel
ye khel tamaasha do din ka
bhai khel tamaasha do din ka
ye khel
ye khel
ye khel
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 11, 2022 at 8:20 am
Loads and loads of authentic information about artist’s contribution in early 40s. Arun ji, we are highly benefitted with your good research work. Thanks
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December 11, 2022 at 10:58 am
Thanks for your appreciation.
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