Koi Hungaama To Ho, Shaam Dhale Basti Mein
Posted on: January 1, 2024
This article is written by Sudhir, 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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My first introduction to Ajay was way back when. We met at Golcha, one of the (then) premier cinema halls situated in the Daryaganj main shopping area in Delhi. This place is technically in Old Delhi (or Delhi-6, as it is recognized now by film buffs). Golcha used to be what maybe Maratha Mandir used to be in Bombay. People would visit simply to see the place.
Anyway, so I met Ajay there for the first time. I was in the audience in a large dark hall, and he was on the screen, performing. The song is iconic, by the standards of Atul-Song-A-Day – it is the very first song of this blog’s existence – “Miley Na Phool To Kaanton Se Dosti Kar Li”. So in that sense, I can say that he is the founding actor/hero of this blog.
The film that I had gone to watch with family (I was too young to venture out alone at that time) is ‘Anokhi Raat’. It is a story of a dark and stormy night. Torrential rain is pounding the earth, and it is difficult to venture out in the open, so dark is the ambience. On this fateful night, a motley group of people with varied backgrounds and varied interests and motivations are assembled in a villa, and are stuck there for the night because of the weather. Some people are known to each other, and yes, some persons unknown to the host and known group of guests also have taken a shelter in the villa. In the beginning of the story, it is mentioned by the leading lady, Rama, granddaughter of the house (role played by Zahida) – that the villa has never turned back anyone who came to its gates seeking shelter or help.
The storm continues outside and the threads of the story unfold inside. One comes to know of the difficulties of some characters, and the motivated vested interests of some others. Somehow, the entire group of people, each with its own thread, appears to be knit into a single design that plays itself out during the night. The villa is raided by a gang of dacoits in the night. The gang is led by the dreaded Baldeva (role played by Sanjeev Kumar). Initially, the watchers are led to understand that the dacoits have no reason to be there, other than seeking shelter and food on that stormy night. But as the hours pass, and more folds of the tapestry are removed, it comes to another juncture where Baldeva, although present on the scene by sheer accident, turns out to be very intimately linked with the destiny of the household. The story is quite gripping, not that it is a suspense film. Everything is known to the audience as it happens, and the anxiety is simply to know how this drama would play itself out to reach a conclusion.
Enter Ajay into this scenario that is a smoldering pot of emotions and machinations. The film’s story does not give a name to his character. He is a roving artist and poet, who has no roots anywhere. That is the only introduction we have of his role. He has no motivations of his own, and is just there to save himself from the storm. As the drama develops, he slowly moves in from the periphery towards the middle, and becomes not a central character, but an influencer and an important catalyst as the tale moves towards culmination.
‘Anokhi Raat’ is Ajay’s debut film. He is introduced as a new comer at the very end of the list of actors in the beginning credits. Ajay was 24 years when he stepped into this role of the roving artist and poet. He is a New Year child, having been born on 1st January, 1944 at Muree, a resort town in Punjab, that is now part of Pakistan.
It must be mentioned though, that his first screen appearance is as a child artist in the film ‘Deedar’ (1951) at the age of seven. He appears on the screen, riding a horse behind Tabassum, in the first version of the song “Bachpan Ke Din Bhula Na Dena” – the two child actors playing the younger versions of Mala (role played by Nargis) and Shyam (role played by Dilip Kumar).
Ajay Sahni is the assumed name of Parikshit Sahni, son of the famous thespian Balraj Sahni. During the preparation of the filming of ‘Anokhi Raat’, Sanjeev Kumar suggested him to change his name to a simpler Ajay Sahni for his film career. He did so, and appeared with that name in films for many years. Later he switched back to his original name as he transitioned into character roles.
Parikshit Sahni continues to play in current cinema, now at the age of 79. Over a period of 55 years he has appeared in more than 140 films and more than 30 serials on the small screen. He has played many a memorable role during his career. His first appearance in ‘Anokhi Raat’ was a notable performance. In the 1970 film ‘Pavitra Paapi’, he played the role of Kedar, a jobless youth who unintentionally ends up creating chaos in the life and family of Pannalal (role played by his father, Balraj Sahni), and then he makes good for his unintended intrusion at the cost of his own career and aspirations, and yes, his love for the daughter of Pannalal.
He continued to play lead roles, albeit for a short time – ‘Samaj Ko Badal Dalo’ and ‘Aansoo Aur Muskaan’ (1970),’ Preet Ki Dori’ and ‘Lagan’ (1971), ‘Vandana’ (1974) etc. In 1972 he played the title role of the poet in the biopic ‘Shaayar e Kashmir Mahjoor’.
In the years of 1973-74 he started to transition into character roles with films like ‘Hindustan Ki Kasam’, ‘Mili’ and ‘Kabhi Kabhi’. In 1977, he played the pivotal role of Sardar Udham Singh in the film ‘Jalianwala Bagh’. A delayed release of Rajinder Singh Bedi’s film ‘Nawab Saheb’ in 1978 again brought him to the screen in a lead role. But of course that was just a one off appearance. By the end of 1970s he was firmly entrenched in the industry as a character artist. Going by his career portfolio he has been quite much in demand as a character artist. His roles were noticed and appreciated in films like ‘Vishwanath’ (1978), ‘Kaala Pathhar’ (1979), ‘Kasturi’ (1980), ‘Agni Pareeksha’ (1981), ‘Desh Premee’ (1982), ‘Boxer’ (1984) – the list goes on and on.
We see him continue playing the roles in more recent films – ‘Umro Jaan’ (2006), ‘Eklavya’ (2007), ‘3 Idiots’ (2009), ‘Na Jaane Kyon’ and ‘Maalik Ek’ (2010), ‘Boss’ (2013), ‘PK’ (2014), ‘Desi Munde’ (2016), ‘Cypher’ and ‘One Day Justice Delivered’ (2019) and ‘Hawaayein’ (2021) etc.
Coming to today’s presentation – a song from the 1987 film ‘Shubhchintak’. From all appearances this film was not released on the big screen. Its VHS and VCDs were released in 1989, but it seems this film did not see the light of a cinema projector.
The film is produced by J Jagdish, who is also the music director of the film. The film is directed by Subhash Shah. The list of cast of actors includes Parikshit Sahni, Arun Govil, Deepika Chikhaiia, Shobha Khote, CS Dubey, Shashi Puri, Kunika Sadanand, Rohit Chandan, Anita Chopra, Moolchand, Ramana, Alpana, Mushtaq Merchant, Beena, Barkha Pandit, Master Nishit, Pranav, Baby Pinki etc.
The film has 3 songs, all written by different songwriters. One iconic song in the voice of Mukesh – “Maana Ke Tere Pyaar Mein Rusvaaian To Hain” is written by Anjaan. This song is already showcased on our blog. The other two songs are written by Suroor Lakhnawi and Qaiser ul Jaffery. Individual songs by specific poets are not credited. Another song – “Tum To Shaayar Ke Khayaalon Ki Dulhan Lagti Ho” is sung by a singer named Sushil Kumar. The third song is the one being presented today It is sung by Amber Kumar, and performed on screen by Parikshit Sahni.
In the film, Parikshit Sahni plays the role of a retired army colonel, who owns and runs a paying guest facility. The film’s tale is about his fatherly relationships with his young tenants and how he helps them to navigate the problems of life. The lyrics of the song are good, and is well sung by Amber Kumar. However, the picturization leaves something to be desired. It is filmed as a party song whereas the words and the pace of the song does not lend itself to a party situation.
Regardless, heard without the visuals, it is a very nice listen. Performed by Parikshit Sahni , when he would have been about 42 or 43 years old.
Wishing Ajay – Parikshit Sahni, a very Happy Birthday, with best wishes for continued good health and continued presence on the cinema screen.
All the best, and wishes for a great New Year to all readers and friends.
Song – Koi Hungaama To Ho, Shaam Dhale Basti Mein (Shubh Chintak) (1987) Singer – Amber Kumar, Lyrics – [Unattributed], MD – Jagdish
Lyrics
koi hungaama to hi
shaam dhale
basti mein
koi hungaama to hi
shaam dhale basti mein
kuchh nahin hai to mera
ghar hi jale
basti mein
koi hungaama to hi
shaam dhale basti mein
gaaon jaana ho to
do phool chadha ke aana
gaaon jaana ho to
do phool chadha ke aana
dafn hoon main wahin
peepal ke taley
basti mein
dafn hoon main wahin
peepal ke taley
basti mein
mera anjaam hi roney ke liye kaafi hai
mera anjaam hi roney ke liye kaafi hai
ab mohabbat ka koi
naam na le
basti mein
ab mohabbat ka koi
naam na le
basti mein
chaandni mere dareeche se
na utri yaaro
chaandni mere dareeche se
na utri yaaro
chaand har raat
nikalta ho bhale
basti mein
koi hungaama to hi
shaam dhale basti mein
kuchh nahin hai to mera
ghar hi jale
basti mein
koi hungaama to hi
shaam dhale basti mein
——————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
——————————————
कोई हँगामा तो हो
शाम ढले
बस्ती में
कोई हँगामा तो हो
शाम ढले बस्ती में
कुछ नहीं है तो मेरा
घर ही जले
बस्ती में
कोई हँगामा तो हो
शाम ढले बस्ती में
गाँव जाना हो तो
दो फूल चढ़ा कर आना
गाँव जाना हो तो
दो फूल चढ़ा कर आना
दफ्न हूँ मैं वहीं
पीपल के तले
बस्ती में
दफ्न हूँ मैं वहीं
पीपल के तले
बस्ती में
मेरा अंजाम ही रोने के लिए काफी है
मेरा अंजाम ही रोने के लिए काफी है
अब मोहब्बत का कोई
नाम ना ले
बस्ती में
अब मोहब्बत का कोई
नाम ना ले
बस्ती में
चाँदनी मेरे दरीचे से
ना उतरी यारो
चाँदनी मेरे दरीचे से
ना उतरी यारो
चाँद हर रात
निकलता हो भला
बस्ती में
कोई हँगामा तो हो
शाम ढले बस्ती में
कुछ नहीं है तो मेरा
घर ही जले
बस्ती में
कोई हँगामा तो हो
शाम ढले बस्ती में
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
January 2, 2024 at 8:57 pm
record company audio link:
I don`t know how much right the record company credits, but this audio link(record label Weston but later on all the Weston records are purchased by Tips Industries I think…..) displays the singer`s name as Sushil Kumar and the lyricists` names as Dev Kohli and Mohin Khan Rahi,
Just want to draw your attention towards this Sudhir Ji, Hope you don`t mind….
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January 2, 2024 at 10:14 pm
Thanks Prakash ji for your inputs.
Yes, regarding the lyricist names, I have also seen the same references online. But I also have the video of this film, which does not contain the two names indicated in these sources. I have taken the names of lyricists from the film credits.
Regarding the singing voice, three names are listed in film credits – Mukesh, Sushil Kumar and Amber Kumar. Mukesh song is unmistakably identified. I am not a good judge of the voices of Amber Kumar and Sushil Kumar, and I depended on the inputs from a couple of friends.
Here is also the link to the third song.
“Tum To Shayar Ke Khayaalon Ki Dulhan Lagti Ho”
The link identifies the singer as Sushil Kumar. If both non-Mukesh songs are sung by Sushil Kumar, then why is Amber Kumar’s name in credits.
Decidedly, the voices in the two songs are different. Please help to identify the singing voices in these two songs.
Rgds
Sudhir
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January 3, 2024 at 10:52 pm
Sorry for bothering you unecessarily, Sudhir ji Thanks for writing back to me,
Regards
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