Manmohan aao jee
Posted by: Atul on: September 30, 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 75 year old film – Janmashtami-1950.
This Mythological film was directed by a veteran in such films, Nanabhai Bhatt. The Music Director was Shyam Babu Pathak and all the 9 songs were by Bharat Vyas, another expert in such films. The cast of the film was Shobhana Samarth, Bharat bhushan, Nirmala Ahuja, Jeevan, Rajkumar khatri Amirbai and many others.
1950 was practically a year of ‘renovation’ of the Hindi film industry. The decades of the 1930 and 1940 echoed with singers like K.L.Saigal, who set new standards to Hindi film music. After the death of Saigal in early 1947 and India’s Partition in August 1947, many film artistes migrated to Pakistan. Artistes from all fields of filmmaking – like Producers, Directors, Actors, Actresses, M.D.s, Lyricists, musicians, cinematographers, lab technicians and others who migrated created a vacuum in the film industry.
However, this also provided opportunities for the waiting list replacements in all these fields and after the initial disturbance, the Indian Film Industry came back to normalcy at a fast pace. Many new MDs like Shankar-Jaikishen, Madan Mohan, Khayyam, S.D.Burman etc. entered the field and soon established themselves. Lyricists like Majrooh, Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Rajendra Krishna etc got more opportunities and singers like Asha, Lata, Rafi, Talat, Kishore, Manna Dey etc enriched the already started ‘ Golden Era’ of HFM.
Some milestone films were made in 1950. The first one was V.Shantaram’s ” Dahej”, based on the ill effects of Dowry. After this film, the Government passed the Anti-Dowry law bill.
Jogan depicted the unsuccessful love story of a female devotee and her admirer (Nargis and Dilip Kumar). It had wonderful songs.
Many musical films like Samadhi, Sargam,Bawre Nain, Mashaal, Muqaddar, Afsar, Babul, Arzoo etc. gave evergreen songs.
Sohrab Modi’s filmSheesh mahal was an expression of the rift between the old and the new set up. Pehla Aadmi was on Subhash Chandra Bose’s Independence struggle. Madan Mohan debuted with his film Aankhen. Daastaan gave good songs.
One of the most famous and memorable mythological films ” Har Har Mahadev”, mfeaturing Trilok Kapoor and Nirupa Roy was based on Satis sacrifice and Shiv- Parvati milan. This film was so successful that the pair of Trilok Kapoor and Nirupa Roy did 12 mythological films together in the next few years.
After the phenomenal success of ‘Ram Rajya-1943’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev-1950’, no wonder religious films got a boost. Having a guaranteed and assured audience, film makers became enthusiastic in producing Mythological films. The Holy Hindu books like Ramayan and Mahabharat and stories from 18 Puranas provided ample source material to make films. Religious films were also cheaper to make. They did not need any famous stars, famous directors or popular Music Directors of social films.
Like Stunt films, religious films too had fixed stars as actors, specialist Directors, Music Directors and Lyricists who were in demand for such films. Right from older actors like Prem Adeeb and Trilok Kapoor to newer actors like Bharat Bhushan and Manhar Desai, from Shobhana Samarth and Meena kumari to Nirupa Roy and Anita Guha and from Shankar Rao vyas and H C Bali to Avinash Vyas and S N Tripathi – a whole range of artistes were ready to carry the torch further. This automatically increased the number of Mythological and religious films made in the decade of the 1950s (1951-1960) to an astounding figure of 124 films in the 10 year period. This worked out to at least 1 new film every month for 10 continuous years.
According to scriptures, there were 10 Avatars or incarnations of God on this earth in various forms. Out of these, the characters of Ram and Krishna attained cult status. No wonder, most films were made in this Genre on stories about these two. Ram appeared on this earth first in Treta Yug, followed by Krishna in Dwapar Yug. In my opinion, Krishna is a more popular God than Ram. Ram depicted the model of a common Prince, without any super powers. He taught us righteousness, sticking to Justice and doing good all times. Ironically, in Ram’s total life, he suffered in more number of years than he ever enjoyed.
Krishna, Hero of many legends was with qualities like Love and Playfulness. He taught us how to be street smart. His philosophy was to use any means to achieve Goals. The common man has respect for Shri Ram, but he loves Krishna. On a cursory count, I found that more films are made on stories involving Krishna than Ram. That is because, the common man feels that Krishna teaches us how to live in today’s world and tackle bad people.
Film Janmashtami-1950 was a film which showed Lord Krishna’s birth, his days in Gokul and Mathura and his departure to Dwaraka. This was a Debut film for Rajkumar Khatri, who did the role of young Krishna. Rajkumar khatri was a case of ” Same Name Confusion”.
There were 5 Raj kumars in the industry at the same time. The first was Kannada Hero Dr. Rajkumar. However, he never worked in any Hindi film, so no confusion about him.The second was the famous Dialogue master Raaj kumar ‘Jaani’. Third was Rajkumar Gupta ( from Ranchi), who was the main character in popular film Jagriti-54. He never worked again in any film. Fourth was Raj(u) Kumar, a junior artist, who did minor roles- mostly uncredited-in films like Shri 420-55, Jagte Raho-56. Dilli ka Thug-58, Aaj aur kal-63, Ziddi-64 etc etc..The fifth was this Rajkumar, who mostly worked in Religious and Mythological films. His name was Rajkumar Khatri.
Rajkumar Khatri may have been born in or around 1940. He started as a child artiste in films like Janmashtami-50, Jai Mahakali-51 and Insaan-52. His first film as an adult was Shuk Rambha-53, in which he played the role of young Shukdev. He was a fine actor, not extraordinary, but there was something special about his screen presence. Apart from his boyish looks, he had an unspoken charm and emanated an inherent goodness. In his second film “Tulsidas”-54 he played the role of Shri Ram. He was hardly 15-16 year old then. This must be the youngest and most boyish looking Shri Ram ever seen on the screen !
Rajkumar khatri acted in 61 films, mostly Religious and Mythological films (47 to be precise). Not that he did not work in any social films, but such films were less. He was seen in films like Sautela Bhai-62, Aaj aur kal-63, Ustadon ke ustad-63, Ziddi-64, Nai umer ki nai fasal-65 etc etc. Due to his young looks, boyish face and innocent looks, he was generally given roles of younger brother. As Laxman, he acted in 7 films. His last film was probably Chintamanee Soordas-87.
In the mid 80s, when film offers became scarce, he joined Prakash Mehra as an assistant. He used to live in Chembur. He was known as Chhota Rajkumar in the industry. He worked with Prakash Mehra for a long time, as Assistant Director and as also his P.A. Reportedly, he died in September 2014. No further information on him was available.
The director of this film was Nanabhai Bhatt ( 12-6-1915 to 24-4-1999). He was a director in many films. He directed mostly Mythological and stunt films only. Nanabhai was born as Yashwant ( pet name – Batuk) at Porbandar. Since he was the younger one he was called Nanabhai ( opposite to Motabhai-elder brother). This name continued till the end. His father was a doctor. After matriculation, he went to Mumbai in 1934, where his elder brother Balwant Bhatt was working. Balwant started with Imperial,shifted to Sagar and now was with Prakash pictures of Vijay and Shankar Bhatt. He got Nanabhai a job as Sound Recordist.Soon he graduated as Production Executive.He also wrote several screenplays.
In 1942 he directed “Muqabala”, for Homi Wadia, as Batuk Bhatt. Homi Wadia became his good friend. When Homi established his own Basant Pictures, Nanabhai joined him and directed his “Hunterwali ki Beti”-43, with Nadia again. He also did mauj, Jee Haan, Chaalis Karod etc. He directed about 50 films of various genres like Stunts, Mythologicals,crime, social, costume etc.
Nanabhai’s first wife was Hemlata. He also married Shirin banu, his Heroine of few films. To circumvent the Bigamy law, he married her in a Temple and that too in the presence of Hemlata ! He had 3 children from Hemlata and 6 from Shirin. Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt are from Shirin. His children and grandchildren married in different religions.Thus his big family was an example of Secularism ! In addition to 9 children Nanabhai also produced 20 films under his own Deepak Pics and Gautam Chitra !
FILMOGRAPHY OF NANABHAI BHATT: 1942: Muqabala; 1943:Hunterwali Ki Beti; Mauj; 1945: Chalis Karod; 1946: Maa Baap Ki Laaj; 1947: Meerabai; 1949: Shaukeen; Veer Ghatotkach; Sudhaar; 1950: Hamara Ghar; Janmashthami; Veer Babruwahan; 1951: Lakshmi Narayan; Daman; Lav Kush; Ram Janma; 1952: Apni Izzat; Baghdad; Sinbad the Sailor; 1954: Toote Khilone; Watan; 1956: Kismet; 1957: Mr X; Ustad; 1958: Chaalbaaz; Son of Sinbad; 1959: Bazigar; Daaka; Kangan; Madam XYZ; Naya Sansar; 1960: Lal Qila; Police Detective; Zimbo Comes to Town; 1961: Teen Ustad; 1962: Baghdad Ki Raatein; Rocket Girl; 1963: Aalapiranthavan; Bhootnath; Cobra Girl; 1964: Samson; 1965: Adhi Raat Ke Baad; Bekhabar; 1966: Shankar Khan; 1967: Arabian Nights; 1968: Jung Aur Aman; 1974: Jeevan Rekha; 1975: Balak Aur Janwar; 1976: Dharti Mata; 1981: Gajara Maru; 1982: Jaya Parvati Vrat.( Thanks to Harish Raghuwanshi ji and Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema for some information.)
Today’s song was sung beautifully by Geeta Roy. Enjoy….
Song- Manmohan aao jee (Janmaashtmi)(1950) Singer- Geeta Roy, Lyricist- Bharat Vyas, MD- Shyambabu Pathak
Lyrics
Manmohan aao jee
Manmohan aao jee
ro ro pukaare ae ae birhan Raadhika
Manmohan aao jee
ro ro pukaare ae ae birhan Raadhika
Manmohan aao jee
aakul man bhayo vyaakul tan bhayo
barsat nain humaar
Murari barsat nain humaar
aas niraas bhayi ab man kee
aas niraas bhayi ab man kee
tum bin kaun aadhaar
Man mohana
tum bin kaun aadhar
Manmohan aao jee
ro ro pukaare birhan Raadhika
Manmohan aao jee
saawan beeta phaagun beeta
beete magh kwaar
Muraari beete maagh kwaar
bachpan beeta yauwan beeta
beete baras hazaar
Muraari beete baras hazaar
baat takat pathra gayin ankhiyaan
baat takat pathra gayin ankhiyaan
darsh bhaaye na tihaar
Manmohna darsh bhaye na tihaar
Manmohan aao jee
ro ro pukaare ae ae birhan Raadhika
Manmohan aao jee
Manmohan aao jee
Manmohan aao jee
Manmohan aao jee
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