Raadha gori Govinda hai kaala
Posted by: Atul on: February 3, 2023
This article is written by Avinash Scrapwala, 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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#the Decade of Sixties – 1961 – 1970 #
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#A tribute to Jani Babu Qawwal-Remembrance Day 28th Jan’2023 #
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As the title of this post suggests this post is in ‘Remembrance of the great Qawwal – Jani Babu Qawwal.
We are paying a belated tribute to him on his ‘Remembrance Anniversary’ which was on 28th January.
I had in my earlier posts in the series of ‘Qawwalis from the Seventies’ mentioned that I grow up hearing these names for ‘singing Qawwalis’, Jani Babu, Shakila Bano Bhopali, Aziz Nazan and Shankar-Shambhu in my childhood days.
I vaguely remember to have attended one such program with my father when I was a child. And, when I get associated with this blog, I was always eager to read about these artistes. I have a big nostalgia with this ‘mehangaayi maar gayi’ song from ‘Roti Kapada Aur Makaan-1974’ and the voice of Jani Babu in it (in fact voices of all in this song). During recent years I was looking for detailed information about his biography and career but could not get to know much about him.
Then I came across his Qawwalis uploaded on ‘YouTube’ by a person in Dhamangaon-Amravati (Maharashtra). I was in Kenya then. In fact, I even spoked to this person on phone but could not get much information or details. I also contacted one senior person in the WhatsApp group from Nagpur and he helped me with a brief write-up. About a couple of days back when I was just going through my book collection, I find this book ‘Swaron Ki Yatra’ (Hindi Film Gaayaki ka Safar). When I checked this book, I find a detailed two-page article on Jani Babu Qawwal. Using this information, I am presenting a brief about Jani Babu as given below.
Jani Babu Qawwal was born as Syed Jaan Muhammad at Hinganghat (a big city in District Wardha, near Nagpur Maharashtra). Details of his date of birth are not available so far.
He mastered in singing Qawwalis at a very young age. He started taking lessons in classical music and Qawwalis from Ustad Mohammad Khan Shamshiry when he was seven years old only. After that he came to Jalgaon (Maharashtra) and took lessons in music from Abdul Rehman Kaanchwaale. Later he came to Bombay (now Mumbai).
In those years Qawwalis were played like ‘kirtans’ in social gatherings. Jaani Babu wanted Qawwalis to be more entertaining with easily understandable language for common people. So, he gave Qawwalis a simple texture, and a new dimension to Qawwalis, like Qawwalis on ‘husn aur ishq’, ‘sawaal-jawaab’ etc. Many film personalities showed interest in his works and motivated him in his efforts to make ‘Qawwalis’ more entertaining. He also got a major support from Shakila Bano Bhopali. They jointly entertained people for years together thereafter. Their concerts always run to packed houses and even the tickets for their concerts used to be sold in ‘black’.
Jaani Babu’s first film song, a Qawwali from the movie -‘Jungle Princess’ – came in 1958 with Shakila Bano Bhopali only. It was ‘adaayen teer hain andaaz barchhi bhaale hain’ which was picturized on Jaani Babu and Shakila Bano Bhopali. Playback for Shakila Bano Bhopali was given by Mubarak Begum. This is said to be the first qawwali of ‘men vs. women’ competition and is considered a ‘modern qawwali’ well ahead of its time as it did contain ‘English words’ into its lyrics as well.
After ‘Jungle Princess’ Jaani Babu’s Qawwalis appeared in ‘Behram Daaku-1959’, ‘Aalamaara ki Beti’, ‘Choron Ki Baaraat’, ‘Diler Haseena’ (all from 1960), ‘Black Shadow’ (1961), ‘Magic Box-1963’, ‘Birju Ustaad’(1964), ‘Chaar Darvesh’(1964), ‘Magic Carpet’(1964), ‘Rustom-E-Rome’(1964), ‘Accident’(1965), ‘Black Arrow’(1965), ‘Chhupa Rustom’(1965), ‘Son of Hatimtai’(1965), ‘Sakhi Lootera’(1969), ‘Truck Driver’(1970), ‘Mere Ghareeb Nawaaz’(1973),
In the movie ‘Son of Hatimtai’ he sang with Mohd Rafi. His qawwali – from ‘Sakhi Lootera’ (meethhi baaton mein na inki aana kabhi) also became very popular then.
In 1974 his voice was again very well appreciated by all, in the qawwali ‘mehangaayi maar gayi’ (for me this song is pure nostalgia) (it stood at no.1 in the annual ‘Binaca Geetmala’ of 1975).
There after Jani Babu’s voice featured in ‘Shankar-Shambhu-1976’, ‘Do Khilaadi-1976’ (raat abhi baaki hai, baat abhi baaki hai’ (again a pure nostalgic song for me), ‘Mandir Masjid-1977’, ‘Do Dilwaale’ (1977), ‘Mastaan Dada’ (1977), ‘Aulia E Islaam-1979’. In ‘Shirdi Ke Sai Baba-1977’ his voice appeared in the song ‘Saibaba bolo’.
(There must be many more which did not find mentioned above. We need to compile the total list of his songs in HFM. I would be happy to share the list of his songs in HFM in future whenever I get an opportunity for that.)
Jani Babu also took lessons from Shabbir Hussain (Pakistani Ghazal Singer?) in singing Ghazals and he started moulding ghazals into qawwali format which again tells us how innovative he was.
Some of his ghazal-qawwalis like ‘seenaa dhuaan dhuaan hai, ishaare kahaan gaye’ and ‘is tarah gardish e ayyaam se baatein ki hai, kabhi taubaa kabhi jaam se baatein ki hai’ became very popular.
His devotional qawwali ‘aasaar -e -qayaamat’ created new records and its ‘records’ were sold in many thousands.
As a music director he gave music for the movies ‘Noor Mahal-1965’ and ‘Aulia-E-Islaam-1979’.
Jani Babu Qawwal passed away on 28th January’2008.
He will be always remembered for his pioneering works in Qawwali and for giving new dimensions to qawwali singing. Qawwalis which were hitherto restricted to Sufi Saints and to singing in Dargah’ only became popular and reach out to common man because of Jani Babu Qawwal.
***
In remembrance of Jani Babu Qawwal I am presenting a song from the movie
‘Noor Mahal – 1965’.
“Noor Mahal-1965” was a costume drama movie directed by Naushir Engineer for ‘Ratan Productions, Bombay’.
It had Chitra, Jagdeep, Tiwari, Lalita Desai, Wazeer Muhammad Khan, Madhumati and others.
This movie had six songs written by Saba Afghani (four songs), Aziz Ghazi and Noor Dewasi (one song each).
Music for this movie was composed by Jani Babu Qawwal.
In the singers’ list, for the songs of this movie, HFGK Vol-IV (1961-1970) mentions the names of Mohd Rafi, Manna Dey, Suman Kalyanpur, Suresh Rajwanshi, Kamal Barot and Krishna Kalle.
The most well-known song from this movie ‘mere mehboob na jaa, aaj ki raat na jaa’ was posted on the blog on 04.01.2009 and one more song – a qawwali– has been posted from this movie on 14.12.2021. (I was under the impression that the Rafi song from this movie has already been posted by Atul ji, but it seems that we still have to wait or it further 🙂 ).
Today’s song is sung by Manna Dey and lyrics are by Aziz Ghazi. Music is composed by Jani Babu.
In the movie this song happens in the back ground of a stage-act where, I guess, a dance troop is playing a show where they play a typical ‘radha-krishna’ love song.
We can see people watching this play in the movie and some ‘conspiracy’ going on behind the scenes in the movie.
I am unable to identify the actors and actresses performing on this song.
The audio version of this song is longer version. The song picturisation in the movie doesn’t have the first stanza. (I am not aware if the movie video available on internet is an edited one or complete version).
Listening to this composition reminds me of the ‘holi song’ from the movie ‘Navrang-1959’.
Let us now enjoy the today’s wonderful composition by Music Director Jani Babu ‘Qawwal’…
(Source of Information about Jani Babu Qawwal is– ‘Swaron Ki Yatra’– Hindi Film Gaayaki Ka Safar- (1931-2010), by Shri. Anil Bhargava)
Audio
Video
Song-Radha gori Govinda hai kaala (Noor Mahal)(1965) Singer-Manna Dey, Lyrics-Aziz Ghazi, MD-Jaani Babu Qawwaal
Lyrics
hei ee ee ee ee ee ee brijbala aa aa
hei ee ee ee ee ee ee brijbala aa aa
aa aa aa aa aa aa
hei ee ee ee ee ee ee brijbala re
baala aa aa
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
chhede radha ko
radha ki sakhiyaan aan
gori hamse chhupaa
tu na batiyaan aan
chhede radha ko
radha ki sakhiyaan
gori hamse chhupaa
tu na batiyaan aan
pyaar kaise huaa
ye bataa de zaraa
kab andhere mein dekha
ujaala re
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
brij mein khelta hai wo holi
rang mein doobi hai
radha bholi
brij mein khelta hai wo holi
rang mein doobi hai
radha bholi
saamne jo gaya uske
wo naa bachaa
badaa natkhat hai wo
murliwaala re
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
isko tokaa wahaan
khatpat kii
khaaya maakhan
kahin phodi matki ee ee
isko tokaa wahaan
khatpat kii
khaaya maakhan
kahin phodi matki ee ee
maa yashode zaraa
dekh le tu bhi aa
raah chalne naa de
tera paala re
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala
naam uske jape
sab zamaanaa
shyam govinda
giridhaari kaanhaa aa aa
naam uske jape
sab zamaanaa
shyam govinda
giridhaari kaanhaa aa aa
man ko chain aaye naa
usko dekhe binaa aa
aisaa jaadoo hai kuchh
usne daala re ae
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala
pyaar jhaala re ae
jhaala
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
radha gori
govinda hai kaala aa
4 Responses to "Raadha gori Govinda hai kaala"
February 3, 2023 at 11:05 pm
Dear Avinash ji,
Many thanks for the Post on the famous Qawwal, Jani Babu. My Dad too was a great fan of Jani Babu and lost no opportunity in having him and his group over for Public Functions during Festival Occasions for the Officers and Workers of the Colliery that he was heading in Orissa, way back in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Like you, I too would be enthralled by his performances.
On a related matter, do watch this Song from the Film “AAS” (1953)
For those not in the know, the Lady for whom Lata ji had given playback in this Song, was SHAHIDA, then an upcoming dancer actress and who went on to become MRS. JANI BABU QAWWAL shortly after this Film and left the Industry.
With warm regards
PARTHA CHANDA
February 4, 2023 at 8:04 pm
Thank you Sir ji. Your comments made my day today.
I was waiting to watch the video shared by you, before I reply on your comments.
Thanks for sharing the information about Shahida and her becoming Mrs. Jaani Babu.
I enjoyed the song shared by you. Thanks,
Regards,
Avinash
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
February 3, 2023 at 7:50 pm
Madhumati(the famous dancer as Dancing Krishna)
and
the Radha is famous character artiste Aashoo aka Lalita aka Lalita Desai(her name was credit for this movie as LALITA DESAI)(she was the artiste who lip syncs for the famous song(onscreen) of Yaadon ki baaraat-Lip syncs for Lata ji`s song)
other artistes I can indentify is Habib,Indira Bansal(in men`s attire)
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February 3, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Thanks Prakash ji for the actors/actresses’ names.
Regards,
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