Aaye hain ghar mahaaraaj
Posted by: Atul on: July 7, 2024
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 a special film from the early era of the Hindi Talkie films – Mahageet-1937.
In 1645, German Mathematician Ethonius Kircher, during his usual work, accidentally found that unmoving pictures, if seen quickly in a chronicled manner could give the feel of movement. He made a box for this and named it ” Kircher Magic Lamp” aka Kitoscope. This is considered as the birth of the idea of the films. Over a period of 250 years, Edison made his first prototype Kinetoscope in 1891. Its improved version was exhibited on 14-4-1894. However, the French Lumier Brothers made a Cinematograph and it was commercially presented on 28-12-1895. By a strange coincidence, it was done in an ” Indian Salon” in the Grand Cafe Hotel in Paris.
The Americans saw it on 23-4-1896, Russians on 19-5-1896 and finally Cinema came to India on 7-7-1896 in Watson Hotel, Bombay for the First time. Save Dada in Bombay and Heeralal Sen in Calcutta took this art ahead and the first cinema company was opened as ” Elphinstone Bioscope” in Calcutta by J.F.Madon. This was the precursor to their sophisticated Madon Theatres later on.
Finally Dadasaheb Phalke made India’s first ever fully indigenous silent film ” Raja Harishchandra” and it was exhibited on 3-5-1913. The Indian film industry got going quickly after this. Until 1919, silent films were made in single digit every year, but in 1920 a double digit number of silent films were made-16 silent films. It went on increasing till when in 1934 the silent films stopped being made, as Talkie films, introduced in 1931 became regular and popular.
As the number of Talkie films increased, many enterprising producers made films and many firsts were achieved. For example, the first ‘Double Role’ was tried in the film ‘Awara Shehzada” in 1933. The first trick scene of an invisible man came in 1937 (Khwab ki Duniya). And above all, the first playback song in Hindi films, made in Bombay, came in a 1937 film – Mahageet. The Calcutta made Hindi film of 1935 – Dhoop Chhaon, had already achieved the first ever playback song. This facility took few years to get firmly implanted, but it ended the punishment of making non-singers sing the songs in the films !
This was the reason why I called today’s film Mahageet-1937 a Special film. Famous author and Music historian, Dr Ashok Ranade, in his book ” Music beyond Boundaries” said that the song from this film ” Jeevan hai ek kahani” sung by Anil Biswas, was a playback given to Hiren Bose who lip-synched it on the screen, thus becoming the first playback song in a Hindi film made in Bombay. (pp. 183-186). The HFGK also mentions this as a footnote for this film.
The film was made by Sagar Film Company, Bombay. It was directed by Hiren Bose- who had also acted in this film. The Music Director was Anil Biswas, a protege of Hiren Bose. The lyrics were by Zia Sarhadi. The cast included Surendra, maya Banerjee, Hiren Bose, krishna Kumari, Ashalata, Sankata prasad, Sitara devi, Bhudo Advani and others. The name of Hiren Bose is not much known to many people.
While Film Music crossed several barriers, the films themselves proved to be a mix of experts from every corner of India. Hindi films have actors, Directors and composers from almost every state. In this, however, Bengal has taken a lead in providing the raw material.
Several well known actors came from Bengal. Many Directors like Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Nabendu Ghosh, Basu Chaterjee, Basu Bhattacharya, Shakti Samant, Amiya Chakravarty, Gyan Mukherjee etc. enriched the Hindi cinema. Music directors who came from Bengal like, Hemant Kumar, Salil Chaudhari, S D Burman, Anil Biswas, K C Dey, Pankaj Mullik etc provided us wonderful everlasting music. Most of the directors and composers from Bengal are well known to most of us,but there was ONE name that appeared in many categories like Actor, Director, Story writer, S/Play writer, Lyricist, and Composer too, yet that name is as obscure today as it can be !
The name is HIREN BOSE ( Hirendra Kumar Bose).
Born in Calcutta on 26-9-1903,Hiren completed his college education and learnt classical music & Rabindra sangeet to such proficiency that soon he earned titles of “Vidya Bhushan” and “Sangeet Ratna “. He wrote in Bengali papers and for Bangla films too. In the years 1928 to 1932, Hiren had joined HMV as a Music Director. Here he became a close friend of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Dhiren Das. Both Kazi and Hiren wrote lyrics for songs in HMV .
Around 1929, a new, young and attractive singer came to HMV. Her name was KANAN BALA. She came to record songs. Soon the handsome Hiren cast his spell on Kanan and she started considering him as her mentor in HMV. They were a quartet of friends, Kanan, Hiren, Kazi and Dhiren. In HMV Kanan recorded many songs set to tune or written by Hiren Bose. In 1932,this team left HMV, on the issue of Royalty and joined the newly formed Megaphone Recording company. Here too after 2 years, this team left Megaphone and joined Columbia recording company. By 1934,Hiren wrote in his autobiography- JATI SMAR (My memories)-later that he had lost interest in Kananbala.
Hiren’s eyes were now set on a bigger Horizon -BOMBAY. he knew that remaining in Calcutta may not be suitable for him. Meanwhile he had met another Struggler, ANIL BISWAS. Hiren advised him to go to Bombay for a brighter future and also promised him all his help. Although, by then ANIL BISWAS was comfortably placed in Calcutta, he left for Bombay as per Hiren’s advice. Hiren Bose was a highly respected name in the musical circles of Calcutta.
Hiren started working in Bombay. His fame as a versatile film person had already reached Bombay and he had no difficulty in getting work there. Hiren directed Dharam ki Devi-35, followed by Piya ki Jogan-36 and then Mahageet 1937. As per his promise he gave a chance to Anil Biswas to give music,independently to DHARAM KI DEVI-1935. As such earlier he had composed a song in Bharat ki Beti-35- “Tere poojan ko Bhagwan” sung by Rattan bai. But then he had shared the Music direction with Zande Khan. That song had become quite popular then.
Hiren Bose was very fond of acting in films and he also acted in MAHAGEET-1937. It was in this film that Anil Biswas FIRST introduced playback singing in a Bombay film. (In Calcutta R C Boral had started playback in 1935 itself). The FIRST ever Playback song in this film was ” Jeevan hai ek kahani, Duniya bhi hai ek kahani ” . It was sung by Anil Biswas and was filmed on Hiren Bose on the screen. Thus Hiren Bose’s name became a Historical name in the Bombay film industry. This was, Anil Biswas repaid the debt of Hiren Bose, in helping him to get established in the Bombay Music field.
(Ref- ‘The early composers- Music beyond Boundaries by Dr. Ashok Ranade pp 183-186).
After Mahageet, Hiren Bose got an offer from Madras to direct a Telugu film- Bhakta Jaydev-1938,which he did successfully.
Hiren Bose kept on shuttling between Bombay and Calcutta, doing some films here and some there. He also acted in some Bangla films during that period. He was so versatile in many departments that he did acting, directing, lyrics, singing, and composing. His complete Filmography is not available but some details are available.
As a Director 15 films are to his credit- Chup-31, Mahua-34, Dharm ki Devi-35, Piya ki Jogan-36, Mahageet-37, Bhakta jaidev-38, India in Africa-39, Amar Geeti-40, Kabi Joydeb-41, Daasi-44, Banjarey-48, Sree Tulsidas-50, Ghungroo-52, Raami Dhoban-53 and Ektara-57.
He acted in Rishir prem-31, Chup-31, Udayer pathe-44, Towards the Light-44, Sesh Raksha-44 and Mahageet-37. As a writer- Meerabai (s/Play and story)-32 and Rajrani Meera(story)-33. As a composer- India in Africa-39, Kabi Joydeb-41, Raami Dhoban-53.
After directing his last film Ektara in 1957, Hiren Bose lived a retired life. His last few years were mostly unhealthy and he spent time writing lyrics for geets in Bangla which were usually sung by Hemant Kumar, Kanan Bala and Suprova sarkar. Hiren Bose died on 18-6-1987 and one of the most versatile, multifaceted and multilingual artiste disappeared forever….
The story of the film Mahageet-1937 was….
Prashant (Surendra) is a very brilliant research scholar and a pet of his Professor, Roy. Prashant has invented a technique to prove that sound waves do not die. As a proof he has also rediscovered 5000 year old Veda chanting. The world was stunned. He was also due for a scholarship to go abroad for further research and the Professor wanted him as his Son in Law.
Unfortunately, Prashant loves Maya (Maya Banerjee) from his village, so he refuses the professor’s proposal. The professor is very angry and ensures that his scholarship is cancelled and job taken away. Prashant goes back to the village and marries Maya. Prashant’s widowed sister- Shanti- is a crook and troubles Maya always.When Prashant goes back to Town to search for a job, Shanti makes Maya’s life miserable and Maya leaves the house. When Prashant learns about it, he comes back,traces Maya and brings her back.
Again Prashant has to go looking for a job in the city. In the city, he meets with an accident by Aruna’s car. Aruna (Ashalata) is the professor’s daughter. She takes him home and nurses him, falling in his love also, side by side. Prashant is already frustrated. He does not know what to do. He goes back to his home. Shockingly, he finds Maya in the arms of his best friend Ranjit. Dejected, he returns to the city and marries Aruna. The professor is very happy.
One day Ranjit comes to meet him and tells him that Maya was a pure girl. She did all this drama only to ensure that Prashant should leave her as,because of her,Prashant’s career was spoiled.
On learning this Prashant and Ranjit come to the village only to find Maya dead.
The film ends with a song filmed on Hiren Bose, sung by Anil Biswas.
Here is a duet by Maya Banerjee and Surendra. The style, tune and the music is typically stage drama style which was common in films of those times.
Song- Aaye hain Ghar Maharaj (Mahageet)(1937) Singers-Maya Banerjee, Surendra, Lyricist-Zia Sarhadi, MD- Anil Biswas
Both
Lyrics
Aaye hain Ghar Maharaj
main jaaun
phoolon ke haar banaaun
Aaye hain Ghar Maharaj
main jaaun
phoolon ke haar banaaun
koyal ban ka
amuwaa kee daaree se
koyal ban ka
amuwaa kee daaree se
maang rahee ??
maang rahee ??
maang rahee ik ??
maanj rahee ik ??
maang rahee kah sunaao
o o
maang rahee kah sunaao
main jaaun
phoolon ke haar banaaun
aaye hain Ghar Maharaj
main jaaun
phoolon ke haar banaaun
hahahahaha
baadal ban kar
charan mein uske
baadal ban kar
charan mein uske
prem kee gangaa bahaaun
prem kee gangaa bahaaun
prem kee gangaa bahaaun
prem kee gangaa bahaaun
main jaaun
phoolon ke haar banaaun
aaye hain Ghar Maharaj
main jaaun
phoolon ke haar banaaun
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
July 7, 2024 at 5:39 am
Hi Atul,
Where are you getting these details. Thanks Kumar
On Sat, Jul 6, 2024, 6:31 PM Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of
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July 7, 2024 at 8:04 am
The author Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh jee has given sources for the information contained in this article.
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