Raghupati Raghav Rajaram Patit Paawan Sitaram
Posted by: Atul on: October 11, 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 a very good Bhajan from the film Achhut-1940.
This film was made by Ranjit Movietone. The director was Chandulal Shah, Lyricist P.L.Santoshi and the M.D. was Gyan Dutt. The cast included Gohar Mamajiwala, Motilal, Vasanti, Charlie, Sitara Devi, Mazhar, Yakub and others.
Hindi film industry’s growth in Bombay in the early years from 1920s to 1940s was contributed to by 2 major communities. One of them was the Gujarati businessmen who immediately identified this business as the future gold mine. The other major community was the local Marathi, who lent their brain and hard work to this industry. As the time went by, people from Punjab, UP, Bengal and other states of India joined hands to help this industry to prosper. However, till the mid 1950s it was the Gujarati Sethias who poured the finances. Financiers like Sampat Sheth, Gokuldas Pasta, Manik Sheth Patel, Chunilal Munim, Mangaldas Parekh, Abdulali Yusufali, Mohd Ali Rangwala, Chimanlal Desai, Bhogilal Dave, Mayashanker Bhatt etc. only supplied the money, but never dabbled in other departments nor did they learn anything about the film making, more than what was needed to get some profits.
The above statements may give some misleading message that the Gujarati people were only the investors in the film industry. It must be clarified that they were businessmen to the core, this is only the half truth. The other part is, in the budding, flowering and the growing stages of the film industry, the Gujaratis have contributed in almost every department of filmmaking. Here are some examples from major departments. These lists are only indicative and not exhaustive.
Directors– Ardeshir Irani, Chandulal Trivedi, J.B.H.Wadia, Dalsukh Pancholi, Nanubhai Bhatt, Nanubhai Vakil, Babubhai Mistry, Vijay Bhatt, Ravindra Dave, Chaturbhuj Doshi, Jayant Desai, Ramchandra Thakur etc.
Actors – Ishwarlal, Umakant Desai, K.Krishnakant, John Cavas, Charlie, Manhar desai, Rashid khan, V.H.Desai etc.
Actresses – Goharjaan, Deena pathak, Nirupa Roy, Mehtab, Neelam, Shammi, Asha Parekh, Aruna Irani etc.
Composers – Ajit Merchant, Ninu Mujumdar, Avinash Vyas, Madholal Master, V.Balsara, Jaikishen, Kalyanji Anandji etc.
Singers – Dilip Dholakia, Saraswati devi, Kamal Barot etc.
Lyricists – Mohanlal Dave, Robin Bhatt, Vithaldas Patel etc.
One person, however, was different. CHANDULAL SHAH. He not only put crores of rupees in film making, but also learnt the technique and art of making films, direction, building organisations of producers, developing political connections and what not. He did everything that was needed to become a successful filmmaker and a leader in the industry. That is why Baburao Patel called him “Sardar”. Chandulal Shah made his company Ranjit Movietone, a force to recon with.
Chandulal Shah belonged to Jamnagar-Gujrat. He was born on 13-4-1898. He was into the cotton trade and used to visit Bombay frequently. Later he started working in Bombay Stock Exchange. He used to visit the Laxmi Film Studios nearby to watch shootings.
On one occasion, the director of a silent film ‘Vimla’ (1925) fell very sick and on the recommendation of a solicitor friend, Chandulal Shah got an opportunity to direct the remaining portion of the film. Impressed by his work style he was offered 2 more films. He left the Stock Exchange job and took up the film line completely.
From Laxmi, he shifted to Kohinoor Film Company, where he met actress Gauhar Jaan Mamajiwala, who became his mate for the next 50 years till he died. Gauhar used to feature in his films. With Gauhar, he did ‘Gunsundari’ in 1927 and in 1934 (silent and talkie respectively).
This film was a tremendous hit and it helped them to establish their own film company, Ranjit Movies in 1929. In the next 3 year’s time they made 39 silent films. After the advent of Talkie, they changed the name of Ranjit to Ranjit Movietone. Chandulal liked to do things only kingsize. Thus he established Ranjit studios with 4 large sound stages. He also hired around 300 people in the beginning. On average, they made 6 feature films every year. His studio was an assembly line production house. At any given time at least 5 to 6 films were being made in his studios. He had a big army of famous actors, writers, technicians, directors, music directors etc. on his payroll.
Actors like Gauhar Jaan, Bilimoria, Nirupa Roy, Motilal, Madhuri, Khursheed, and KL Saigal; music directors like Gyan Butt, Bulo C Rani, Khemchand Prakash etc.; lyricist and writers like Kidar Sharma, Pradeep, Saadat Hasan Manto and many others were on his payroll.
Chandulal was very proud of his empire and used to advertise “There are more stars in Ranjit than in the Heavens”. At the peak time,there were about 700 people employed in Ranjit and the Government had opened a ration shop in the studio premises for the workers’ benefit ! Khemchand Prakash did 20 films in Ranjit, Gyan Dutt 15 films and Bulo C Rani did 10 films here.
From 1929 to 1963 Ranjit made 31 silent films, 120 Hindi talkie films, 1 Tamil and 1 Marathi film. Unfortunately, due to a major fire in the early 1950s, except 7 talkie Hindi films, all other films were destroyed without leaving any backup for them.
The second world war started from 1939, but its effects started being felt in India after 1940 only. The Government became alert and sensitive. Lots of restrictions were put on Imports and Exports. All exports to Germany and Japan were banned. Foreign travel came under Government microscope. Imports were restricted to only essential goods. Raw film stock came under Government control (and naturally became available freely in black market at exorbitant price). Taking advantage of the situation, the Government declared that those film production houses who help the Government in its war efforts, by making films with pro Govt. themes, would get raw film on priority.
Most production studios made films with Patriotic themes accordingly, spicing it with pro Govt dialogues to claim favours. Mahatma Gandhi ji too upped his efforts to Govt. in distress as much as possible by undertaking different Satyagrahas like the Salt Satyagraha, Burning of Foreign goods, Quit India Movement etc. At the same time Gandhiji took up movement against social evils to attract public support to his main cause.
One of the social evils Gandhiji took up was the entry of Harijans in Hindu temples. He did satyagraha in Kerala, Nashik, Banares and some other places. The Hindi film industry was alive to what was happening in the country and films on untouchability were made by big studios. Bombay Talkies produced ‘Achhut Kanya’ in 1936 followed by Ranjit Movietone with their film ‘Achhut ‘ in 1940. While ‘Achhut Kanya’ had a sad ending, the film ‘Achhoot’ had a happy ending.
Here is the story of the film Achhut-1940….
In Shanti Nagar, Laxmi (Vasanti) lives with her parents. They are all untouchables. When there is a water shortage, the villagers prevent the family from taking water from the only well, which is reserved for the upper castes. Disgusted and frustrated, Laxmi’s father embraces Christianity.
Laxmi is adopted by a rich businessman, who takes her to the city and gives her education. She (Gauhar) becomes modern and acceptable in high society. She is very friendly with the daughter of the businessman – Savita (Sitara). Problem arises when both girls fall in love with the same boy. To find a solution, the businessman sends Laxmi back to her village.
She returns and meets her childhood friend Saheli (Rajkumari) and boyfriend Ramu (Motilal). They are agitating for equal rights for harijans. Laxmi jumps into this and fights for harijans entry into the village temple. There is a riot in which Ramu dies.
Villagers repent after Laxmi delivers a touching speech and as a redemption for their blunder, villagers open the doors of the Temple for Harijans. Laxmi wins the battle.
Today’s Bhajan is sung by Gohar, Vasanti and chorus. about 12 days ago, i.e. on 29th September 2024, actress-singer Vasanti died. The news appeared in The Times of India after 2 days. She was 101 year old .
Vasanti Vinayakrao Ghorpade was born on 23-3-1923 in Kolhapur. Her father’s sister Tanibai was a famous classical singer. Married to Bapusaheb Kagalkar, Tanibai was active in films till 1931 in Kolhapur.
Vasanti was trained by Pt. Vamanrao Sadolikar and Ustad Bamman Khan. V.Shantaram was her neighbour. He saw her and offered a role in films. She first acted in Dharmatma-35 as a child artist. Then came Amarjyoti-36 and Duniya na maane-37. Her songs in these films were popular. She left Prabhat in 1939 and joined Ranjit. She was so popular that she was called Shirley Temple of Hindi films.
She did Sant Tulsidas-(1939), Aapki Marzi-(1939), Musafir-(1940), Diwali-(1940), Achoot-(1940), Beti-(1941), Sukh Dukh-(1942), Bhaktaraj-(1943), Kurbani-(1943), Meena-(1944), Bhagya laxmi-(1944) and Bachhon ka Khel-(1946) also. She sang 56 songs in 14 films. She did not sing in BhagyaLaxmi-(1944) and Meena-(1944), but sang in Holi-(1940). Her last film was Bachhon ka khel-(1946),which was the first film of Meena Kumari, as an adult.
In 1944, during the shooting of film Bhagya Laxmi-(1944), she married the already married Indubhai Patel and settled in Bangalore. After husband’s death, she shifted to Hyderabad and lived there happily, with her 3 sons and a daughter. Later she moved to Pune.
Enjoy this Bhajan….
Song- Raghupati Raghav Rajaram Patit paawan Sitaram (Achoot)(1940) Singers- Gohar Mamajiwala, Unknown male voice, Vasanti, Lyricist- P.L.Santoshi, MD- Gyan Dutt
Chorus
All
Lyrics
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Sitaram
Sitaram
Bhaj pyaare tu Sitaram
Sitaram
Sitaram
Bhaj pyaare tu Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram
Tan mein Ram
man mein Ram
Tan mein Ram
man mein Ram
Jag ka kan kan tera dhaam
Tan mein Ram
man mein Ram
Tan mein Ram
man mein Ram
Jag ka kan kan tera dhaam
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram
Jal mein Ram
thhal mein Ram
saare jag mein tu hi Ram
Jal mein Ram
thhal mein Ram
saare jag mein tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
tu hi Ram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Sitaram
Sitaram
Bhaj pyaare tu Sitaram
Sitaram
Sitaram
Bhaj pyaare tu Sitaram
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patit paawan Sitaram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram Ram Ram Ram
Tu hi Ram
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