Gungunaati hai geet gaati hai zindagi
Posted on: March 2, 2023
This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, 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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Madhur Bhandarkar, the four-time National Film Award winner, is known to make films on some unusual issues. Some of his films’ titles like ‘Chandni Bar’ (2001), ‘Satta’ (2003), ‘Page-3’ (2005), ‘Corporate’ (2006), ‘Traffic Signal’ (2007), ‘Fashion’ (2008), ‘Heroine’ (2012), ‘Calendar Girls’ (2015) are indicative of the diverse and unusual subjects he has covered in his films. He does not think that his films are exposes but they show what is happening in society without passing value judgement. Usually, he makes films with one or two well-known actors. Rest of actors are usually from the theatre/TV background. Songs in his films are not a priority. Most of the issues he takes up in his film is Mumbai-based.
With this background of his film making, I thought that Madhur Bhandarkar may have come from theatrical background or from FTII. But surfing on the internet including the Radio/T V interviews, for his profile revealed that he came from a humble background, and he had no theatre or filmy experiences. His is one of rags to riches stories.
Madhur Bhandarkar was born in a middle-class Gowd Saraswat Brahmin family staying in Khar in Mumbai suburb. He was a school dropout due to financial reasons. At the age of 16, he started the business of renting film video cassette in his neighboring areas which included all types of his customers – hutment dwellers, politicians, fashion and corporate world, film actors and directors, bar girls, people connected with gangsters and many more category. He himself used to watch many Hindi films which led to developing his interest in filmmaking. He has said in an interview that he is the encyclopedia of Hindi films released between 1970-80 during which period, he watched films in all the theatres located between Colaba and Virar.
After the advent of cable TV, the business of renting film video cassette no longer became profitable. Madhur Bhandarkar, probably through the networking with his customers connected with Hindi film industry, got entry into film industry as assistant to some ‘B’ grade film directors. He graduated to become the Assistant Director to Ram Gopal Varma while he was making ‘Rangeela’ (1995). In this film, Madhur Bhandarkar did a cameo role of Assistant Director. He worked with Ram Gopal Varma for 4 years before venturing into an independent director. While he wanted to make issue-based films, no producer/financier was willing to support him in his maiden film. So, perforce, he had to make his first directorial venture, ‘Trishakti’ (1999), a pure masala film which miserably failed at the box office.
With the failure of ‘Trishakti’ (1999), Madhur Bhandarkar took an issue-based subject for his second film, ‘Chandni Bar’ (2001). However, as it often happens in Hindi film industry, it is difficult to get a producer or a financier for a film with a realistic story. It was only when Tabu agreed to do the film, R Mohan, a Malayalam film producer came forward to produce the film. This film not only became a box office success, but it also got 4 National Film Award for Best Film covering other social issues, best actress for Tabu, best supporting actor for Atul Kulkarni and Best supporting actress for Ananya Khare.
Madhur Bhandarkar made some more issue-based films like ‘Satta’ (2003) – a political drama, ‘Page 3’ (2005) – on the life of a journalist vis-à-vis the business interest of the newspapers, ‘Corporate’ (2006) – on corporate war between two powerful industrialists, ‘Traffic Signal’ (2007) – the life around traffic signals in Mumbai, ‘Fashion’ (2008) – on fashion industry, ‘Heroine’ (2012) – on a career path of a heroine from superstar to a decline, ‘Calendar Girls’ (2015) – the jumping platform from pin-up girls to dreaming about stardoms, etc. However, from 2008 onwards, his films did not fare well on box office though the films were critically acclaimed. Madhur Bhandarkar co-produced along with Gaurang Jalan, his first Bengali film, ‘Avijatrik’ (2021) which was directed by Subhrajit Mitra. The film won the National Film Award for the Best Feature Film in Bengali.
Following the critically acclaimed, commercially successful and strong woman-oriented film, ‘Chandni Bar’ (1999), Madhur Bhandarkar’s next film was about an independent woman who had a strong dislike for politicians. But the circumstances made her to take plunge in the world of murky politics in order to survive in the midst of a political family. The film is a lesser known, ‘Satta’ (सत्ता, 2003). The film’s cast included Raveena Tandon, Atul Kulkarni, Govind Namdev, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Manoj Joshi, Anju Mahendru, Abhay Bhargva, Abhijit Lahiri, Amardeep Jha etc. The gist of the film’s story is as under:
Anuradha Sehgal (Raveena Tandon) is a daughter of a Delhi-based divorced parent who is independent minded and fun-loving girl. She shifts to Mumbai on a job and meets a debonaire, Vivek Chauhan (Sameer Dharmadhikari), son of a leading politician, Mahendra Chauhan (Shri Vallabh Vyas). They fall in love and get married. Anuradha shifts to her husband’s place in Mumbai. Within few days, she discovers the true nature of Vivek who is a spoilt brat, a drunkard, and a womaniser. In the house also, there are restrictions on women on free conversations when men are discussing some matters. Mahendra is planning to make his son, Vivek stand for state assembly election and make him the potential candidate for the Chief Minister.
One day while in the bar, Vivek kills a bar girl for not serving him drink (probably a la Jessica Lal murder case) for which he is imprisoned. This put Mahendra’s plan in jeopardy as Vivek will not get ticket for contesting election. Other party functionaries suggest Mahendra Chauhan that his daughter-in-law, Anuradha should context the election in place of Vivek.Under pressure to contest election, Anuradha wins the election and become MLA. Her father-in-law assings his close confident, Yeshwant Varde (Atul Kulkarni) to Anuradha to guide her in the survival games of politics. Gradually, Anuradha learns of ropes of political games and transforms herself from homely woman into a strong political leader. She introduces reforms to change the complex of party politics in which there is no place for double standard politicians.
After facing some obstacles, like floating the news of her suspected ‘affairs’ with Yeshwant from the opponents of her own partymen, Anuradha is successful in cleansing the system of nexus between politicians, businessmen, underworld, and the policemen. She becomes the kingmaker of her party by playing the same crooked games of politics which were hitherto played by her adversaries. She chooses Anna Saheb Joshi (Hemendra Bhatia), a veteran of the party with a clean image and honesty to be the Chief Minister who believes that ‘satta’ (power) is an opportunity to bring a positive changes in the standard of living of the people.
I had watched Raveena Tandon in her glamourous roles in the mainstream Hindi films. It is the first time that I have watched her in the powerful role of Anuradha. She has truly justified the faith reposed by the director by giving her the best performance in the film. Performances from other main actors have also very good.
‘Satta’ (2003) had six songs (including a multi-version song) written by Javed Akhtar and set to music by Raju Singh. I was not even aware that there were songs in this film until I watched the film recently. Of the 5 songs of the film, I liked only the multiple version song which I am presenting here. The song is ‘gungunaati hai geet gaati hai zindagi’. The song is rendered by Asha Bhosle and Sonu Nigam separately as a solo song on the same lyrics. Asha Bhosle version is a background song picturised on Raveena Tandon and Atul Kulkarni. I could not locate in the film as to where Sonu Nigam version of the song got picturised. I suspect that Sonu Nigam version of the song may have got deleted in the DVD.
The song starts with a beautiful prelude of interplay of piano and flute. Asha Bhosle sings the song with ‘harkat’ on some words which is more noticeable in audio clip than on video clip as latter’s sound quality is not so good. Sonu Nigam’s rendition is also very good.
I have listened to both the versions of the songs many times during the last one week. And each time I listen to this song I get reminded of R D Burman especially in antaras.
Video Clip (Asha Bhosle version):
Audio Clip: (Asha Bhosle version):
Audio Clip (Sonu Nigam version):
Song-Gungunaati hai geet gaati hai zindagi (Satta)(2003) Singer- Asha Bhonsle/ Sonu Nigam, Lyrics-Javed Akhtar, MD-Raju Singh
Lyrics
gungunaati hai
geet gaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
muskuraati hai
khilkhilaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
dil mein ab jaise
kaliyaan si khilti hain
dil mein ab jaise
kaliyaan si khilti hain
gul khilaati hai
mehke jaati hai
zindagi ee ee
tum jo aaye to
gungunaati hai
geet gaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
muskuraati hai
khilkhilaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
bechain ik lahar thhi
ab usse
mil gaye hain
kinaare
ho
bechain ik lahar thhi
ab usse
mil gaye hain
kinaare
betaab ik nazar thhi
ab usse
mil gaye hain
nazaare
dil mein ab jaise
tasveeren banti hain
dil mein ab jaise
tasveeren banti hain
gudgudaati hai
chhed jaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
gungunaati hai
geet gaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
paaya jo dil ne tumko
zindagi ee
har khushi paa gayi hai
paaya jo dil ne tumko
zindagi
har khushi paa gayi hai
mere humsafar ho tum jo
raah mein
raushni chhaa gayi hai
dil mein ab jaise
kirne si chhanti hain
dil mein ab jaise
kirnen si chhanti hain
jhilmilaati hai
jagmagaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
gungunaati hai
geet gaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
muskuraati hai
khilkhilaati hai
zindagi..ee
tum jo aaye to
5 Responses to "Gungunaati hai geet gaati hai zindagi"
March 2, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Thanks for the detailed information /post on Madhur Bhandarkar,
One movie calender girls is pending for viewing,
I do purchased audio cassette of “Satta”,for the sake of Asha ji`s song, but not yet listened to it…….. Cassette to chalne ke kaabil bhi hai ke nahin maaloom nahin……..I did watched this film partially, some scenes of Sameer Dharmadhikar and Atul kulkarni I remember,
Also, I remember Kalpana Lajmi`s Daman(2001) also, it does have some good songs composed by Bhupen Hazarika, and good performances by Sayyaji Shinde,Sanjay Suri….
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March 2, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Prakashchandra ji,
I have yet to watch Madhur Bhandarkar’s films made after 2007. I did not find full movie ‘Daman’ (2001) on video sharing platforms. The film may be available on OTT. Songs of ‘Daman’ (2001) sounded average compositions for me.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
March 2, 2023 at 9:18 am
I am so glad that this song is up on the blog. A song which was visually good and lovely on the ear.
I have loved Raveena’s work through her career. And she was really good in this movie along with Kalpana Lajmi’s ‘Daman’.
It is a pity that these actresses were not given roles to show their calibre. Such movies were few and far between
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March 2, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Peevesie’s Mom,
I agree with your observations about good actresses not getting opportunity to show their acting calibre in realistic films. The main problem is that most of the producers of such films would generally refrain from approaching star actresses because of the commercial consideration.
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