Aaj teraa gunahgaar bandaa
Posted by: Atul on: November 9, 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 the film Khul Ja Sim Sim-1956.
This is a story involving the legendary, imaginary story of Ali Baba and 40 thieves, from the book ” The Arabian Nights aka One Thousand and One Nights”. The story of Arabian Nights goes into the 17th century in Arabia. King Shahryar comes to know that his wife as well his brother’s wife are not faithful. In a rage, he kills both the women and then decides that to punish women of the world, he would marry a new virgin, enjoy her in the night and then have her killed the very next day to avoid unfaithfulness.
After exhausting almost all the virgins of his kingdom, his vizier’s daughter Scheherazade gets married to him, by choice and against the father’s will. In the night, before sleeping, she starts telling the king an interesting story, but does not complete it. The king, being very anxious to know the remaining story, postpones her killing. She does the same for successive 1001 nights. The king keeps on listening and finally pardons her, abandoning his plan to kill all virgins.
Actually, like all the stories in the book, even the King’s story is imaginary. Factually, it is a collection of Folk tales from Arabia and surrounding countries, even including India. A French writer Antoine Galland translated these stories in the 18th century. He included many new stories in it as told to him by the Syrian storyteller Hanna Diyab, during her Paris visit in 1709.
Ali Baba, Alladdin and even Sindbad stories were added in the book in the 18th century. Since then these stories have become very popular. One point of interest is that the original name in the full story was Ali Baba and NOT Alibaba. But later on it became popular as Alibaba only. Hundreds of films in hundreds of languages, all over the world are made on these stories – India not being an exception. The first Talkie film on this story was made by Mehboob Khan as Alibaba in 1940 and the last film was Alibaba and the 40 thieves in 2004.
There are plenty of variations in the Alibaba story all over. Today’s film ‘Khul ja sim sim’-1956 was made by Golden Movies. It was produced by Mulkraj Bhakri and directed by an expert in such films, Nanubhai Vakil. The music was composed by the melody specialist Hansraj Behl. The cast of the film was Shakila, Mahipal, Heeralal, Maruti, Krishnakumari, Nazi, Helen and many regular costume/action film artistes. Actor Al Nasir was the ‘ Guest Artiste’ in this film. Like most other films, this film too had a cooked up story, possibly by the ‘story department’ of the studio !
The story of this film was….
The story of KHUL JA SIM SIM (1956) starts from when the thieves and their Sardar Behramkhan(Heeralal) is killed.Alibaba(Mahipal chand Bhandari) throws the dead body of the Sardar,in front of two jobless youths.The sardar,who is seriously wounded and not dead,manages to reach the Jungle.Just before dying,he meets an old saint(Niranjan Sharma) with whom he leaves a message for Alibaba that he should give up the wealth earned by thieves as it is bad.
The saint conveys this to Alibaba,who ignores it as he is busy enjoying life with Margina(Shakila),who loves him.She too advises Alibaba,but he does not listen.
Once Alibaba saves the life of princess Zar Nigar(Naazi) from evil Vazir.She starts loving him.He too falls for her.Alibaba throws Margina out,she goes to Jungle and meets the Saint.
Alibaba’s face is burnt in an accident and the Princess leaves him. Margina returns to tend him. He repents and distributes his wealth to poor people.
In all these years I have hardly seen any information on producers. They are usually behind the scenes all the time. The producer of this film was Mulkraj Bhakri . Mulkraj Bhakri was born on 13 December 1913 in Gujranwala in Punjab, undivided India, now in Pakistan. His father, Mool Chand Bhakri was a storekeeper in Indian Army Service Corps (IASC) at Pathankot. He went to school in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) in Pakistan. He was married to Sarita and was father of Gudi Manon. M. R. Bhakri had three brothers Lekhraj Bhakri, Deshraj Bhakri & Rajkumar Bhakri. All brothers were associated with the Hindi film industry. Lekh Raj Bhakri who started with Kuldeep Pictures as Controller of Production for ‘Chunariya’ (1948) eventually became a producer-director.
Mulkraj Bhakri was an ardent fan of films. He watched almost all the films, which were shown in the theatres of his place. His memory was so sharp that he used to recite important dialogues from the films and also remembered most of the songs. It was natural that after completion of his Matriculation examination in 1931, he was keen to join the film industry. The only prominent Punjabi film produced between 1954 & 1958 was by Mulkraj Bhakri.
Mulkraj Bhakri started his career as a Cinema Manager. But it took a long time to get his first break in the film ‘Arsi’ (1947) as a story and dialogue writer. After the success of the film, he got two more films ‘Barsaat Ki Ek Raat’ (1948) and ‘Papiha Re’ (1948) for which he wrote story, dialogues, screenplay and lyrics. Both these films were being produced in Lahore studios. Unfortunately, these two films became victims of partition and were temporarily abandoned. These films were later released in some parts of India.
After arriving in Bombay, he devoted his time to bring together most of the displaced actors and technicians from Lahore some of whom were associated with his films and helped the creation of a film production banner ‘Nigaristan (India) Films’. Simultaneously, he wrote story, dialogues, screen-play and lyrics for films like ‘Chunariya’ (1948), Saawan Baadhon (1949), ‘Naach’ (1949), ‘Roomal’ (1949) ‘Chakori’ (1949) and ‘Lachhi’ in Punjabi (1949). ‘Bansariya’ (1949) was his first film as a producer under the banner of Nigaristan (India) Films, for which he also wrote story, dialogues, screenplay & lyrics.
In the 1950s, he produced films like ‘Moti Mahal’ (1952), ‘Shah Behram’ (1955), ‘Alladin Leila’ (1957), ‘Guest House’ (1959) and ‘Bhangra’ (Punjabi, 1959). Thereafter, he was associated with films mostly as screen-play and dialogue writer. His last film as a screen-play and dialogue writer was ‘Sansaar’ (1971).
Some of the films which Lekhraj Bhakri produced & directed were mostly under the banner of Kuldeep Pictures, Jubilee Pictures, Golden Films and Tasveeristan. His notable films as director were ‘Rajput’ (1951), ‘Resham’ (1952), ‘Daak Babu’ (1954), ‘Naqaab’ (1955), ‘Fashion’(1957), ‘Sahaara’ (1958). ‘Panchaayat’(1958), ‘Shama’ (1961) and ‘Banarasi Babu’ (1962). Desh Raj Bhakri looked after the film production side & Rajkumar Bhakri was a Cinematographer. Mulkraj Bhakri’s son, Mohan Bhakri was also a producer and director, who was mostly connected with about a dozen ‘B’ Grade horror films made during 1980-2000.
This film was directed by an expert in such films – Nanubhai Vakil, who was actually an advocate by education and family tradition, but he chose films as a profession. Nanubhai Vakil was born in Valsad in Gujarat in 1904. In his family there were many Advocates including his father, so their family name itself became Vakil. Nanubhai came to Bombay to study Law. He completed his B.A. LL.B from Wilson College, Bombay but he did not join his family profession. Instead he was attracted towards the film world.
He joined Sharada films as a screenplay writer and later joined Ranjit films as a Director. He directed 18 silent films for Ranjit studios. However, it was Sagar Movietone which gave him the first opportunity to direct his first Talkie film. It was the First Gujarati Talkie film, “Narsimh Mehto” in 1932. After this there was no looking back. He selected and became expert in directing only Fantasy,Stunt and Costume films.
In his career from 1929 to 1973 period, he directed 20 silent and 70 Talkie films -all stunt and fantasy films, except one social film Kya yeh Bambai hai in 1959.
He was associated with Mohan pictures for a long time and directed 18 films for this company. During this period he also married his Heroine Sarojini ( real name Roshan Jehan alias Ranee), sister of another actress – Indurani. They had one daughter-AZRA, who too became an actress. Unlike most of his colleagues ,who had no formal school education ,Mr Vakil was highly educated ,being B.A.L.L.B. in those days.
Since beginning, he was attracted to Fantasy & Arabian Night movies.He believed that,the audience visits the cinema hall, to experience some thing, which he has not seen in his real life. He wants to be entertained & to forget the harsh realities of the outer world. Fantasy/ Costume movies transports him to an imaginary world of King & Queens, where beside the crafty Vazir, he finds gorgeous girls dancing, the handsome, manly & brave hero, rescues the pretty damsel from the clutches of evil magician. The movie comes to an end and the viewers come out from the theater, happy & satisfied, since evil doers have been eliminated & brave man are living happily with the petite gal, in their fairy land.
Bulbul E Bagh, Rashk E Laila, Fakhr E Islam, Gulshan E Alam, Kumud Kumari were his earlier movies. In 50s & 60s,few of his movies were, Shan E Hatim, Khul Ja Sim Sim, Shan E Khuda, Idd Ka Chand, NoorMahal, Flying Rani, Alam Ara Ki Beti, Bansri Bala, Hatim Tai Ka Beta etc. He made remakes of many movies like Lal E Yaman, Alam Ara (Twice, in 1956 & !973) & Hatim Tai Ki Beti in 1940 & 1955. During his five decades long career, he made movies with a small budget, with less paid actors and was known as the fastest film maker !
Nanu Bhai Vakil had two production Companies viz. Desai Films & Vakil Production. All his movies had no connection with the present. Elite & pseudo intellectuals avoided even discussing his movies, but Vakil Sahib had a dedicated audience consisting of the common public, less privileged & so called front benchers, who enjoyed his brand of cinema.
His films included less known stars like Sarojini, Navin Chandra, Rafiq, Prakash,Gulnar,Daljit, Chitra etc. He also worked with Zubeida, Yakub, Jal Merchant, Jaddanbai, Shanta Hublikar, Nimmi, Veena, Jairaj, Shakila, Nirupa Roy, Nadira, Mehmood, Shobhana Samarth, Nirmala, her husband Arun Ahuja etc. His MDs were also little known. However, Music Director A.R.Qureshi ( the famous Tabla Nawaz Alla Rakha-father of Zakir Hussain) gave music to 18 of his films.
He never mixed with film folks and spent his life aloof. He died quietly on 29-12-1980 at Bombay.
Today’s song, as per Geet Kosh, is sung by Rafi, Geeta and Shashi Raj. I do not know anything about who Shashi Raj was. But enjoy their song….
Song- Aaj tera gunahgaar banda gham se ghabraa ke sajde mein aayaa (Khul Ja Sim Sim)(1956) Singers- Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Shashi Raj, Lyricist- Asad Bhopali, MD- Hansraj Behl
Rafi+ Geeta Dutt
Chorus
Lyrics
aaj tera gunahgaar banda
gham se ghabraa ke sajde mein aaya
kamlee waale ke sadke mein ya rab
o daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
aaj tera gunahgaar banda
gham se ghabraa ke sajde mein aaya
tu hai sabse badee shaan waala
toone girte huye ko sambhaala
tu hai sabse badee shaan waala
toone girte huye ko sambhaala
bhoola bhatka huaa ik musaafir
bhoola bhatka huaa ik musaafir
laut ke apnee manzil pe aaya
laut ke apnee manzil pe aaya
kamlee waale ke sadke mein ya rab
ho daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
tera insaaf apnee jagah hai
ye hamesha se hota raha hai
jisne dil se pukaara hai tujhko
jisne dil se pukaara hai tujhko
uskee bigdee ko toone banaaya
uskee bigdee ko toone banaaya
kamlee waale ke sadke mein ya rab
ho daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
sun le ab tu hamaaree duaayen
baksh de iskee saaree khataayen
sun le ab tu meree duaayen
baksh de meree saaree khataayen
har saza mil chukee ab karam kar
har saza mil chukee ab karam kar
isne jaisa kiya waisa paaya
isne jaisa kiya waisa paaya
kamlee waale ke sadke mein ya rab
ho daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
aaj tera gunahgaar banda
gham se ghabraa ke sajde mein aaya
kamli waale ke sadke mein ya rab
ho daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
daal de ispe rahmat ka saaya
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
November 10, 2024 at 3:24 pm
Arun Sir,
Fantasy tales like Ali Baba in early cinema not only offered thrilling adventures but also captivated audiences with enchanting music.
These stories combined imaginative worlds with melodies that added depth, making the films unforgettable across generations.
The song itself is worth a listen, adding a unique charm to the storytelling.
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November 10, 2024 at 10:12 pm
Yes, agreed.
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LikeLiked by 1 person