Meree aarzoo dekh
Posted on: November 20, 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 Daasi-1944.
This film was made by Pradhan films, Lahore.
In the Pre-Partition period, there were some important film centres like Bombay, Poona, Kolhapur, Calcutta and Lahore, as far as Hindi/Urdu films were concerned. Though comparatively Lahore was the youngest center, having made its first silent film only in 1924, experts across the border and in India claim that Lahore had the potential of becoming, if not bigger, but as big a center as Bombay ! In that era Lahore did make a lot of contribution in the field of acting, direction and music. Several experts have written long articles on Lahore’s standing in Hindi and Punjabi film making.
Next to Mumbai and Calcutta, Lahore was the largest movie making center in India. In fact the best known industry in Lahore was the movie industry. Film industry in Lahore is now called Lollywood. It is a mixture of Lahore and Hollywood. During the twenties and thirties, a lot of movies were made in Lollywood, based on the ones made in Hollywood. There was even a big movie studio, named ‘United People’ on Ravi Road. Besides two big studios, Pancholi Arts and Shourie Pictures, that boasted of many super-hit movies, there were a large number of smaller units, which too had quite a few hit films to their credit.
Lahore was considered the ‘launchpad’ for famous singers and musicians. KL Saigal, the legendary singer, acquired fame in Lahore and later moved to Calcutta, and then to Mumbai. The subcontinent’s greatest playback singer Muhammad Rafi lived in Bhati Gate. He was from a family of barbers and ran his own barbershop. Rafi had a beautiful voice and most of his customers would often ask him to sing for them while they got their hair cut or got a shave. A man from the film industry introduced Rafi to the film director of ‘Gul Baloch’ who gave Rafi the opportunity to sing three songs. The film proved a launching pad for Rafi’s film career in Lahore and by the time he migrated to India in the 40s, he was an accomplished singer.
Here are some names of those who came from Lahore. Khursheed Begum from Bhati Gate, Roshan Nagrath, K.K.Anwar, Khayyam, Roshan Ara Begum, O.P.Nayyar, Ustad Fateh Ali, Bade Ghulam Ali, Pt. Amarnath (Batish), Shyam Sunder, Gobind Ram, Lachhi Ram and Dhani Ram. In recent times, this continued in the form of Nusrat Fateh Ali, Sabri Brothers, Adnan Sami, Reshma, Mehdi Hasan, Abida Parveen, Tasavur khanam, Atif Asallam, Ghulam Ali, Rahat Fateh Ali, Shafaqat Aman Ali etc, who sang for Bollywood films.
Among the Lyricists, Sajjad Zaheer, Jaan Nissar Akhtar, Kaifi Azmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri and others had a link to Lahore. Sahir Ludhianvi started from Lahore. Tanveer Naqvi was also in Lahore.
Dalsukh Pancholi (born in Karachi) had a big business in the Lahore film industry. He played an important role in the careers of Nurjehan, Ramola, Om Prakash, Ghulam Haider, O.P.Nayyar and many others who built their careers in Lahore. Among the actors, Pran, Balraj Sahni, Dev Anand, Chetan Anand, Meena Shorey, A.R.Kardar, Manorama and many others began in Lahore.
The year 1944 was a time the world knew that the end of World War II was near. However, till that time, the Raw Film shortage was troubling the filmmakers in India. Black money generated through Black marketing was disturbing the industry. The cost of the filmmaking, which was about a Lakh or so in 1940, had escalated to 5 to 6 lakhs per film. Studio system was weakened due to individual production practices started by black money investors. Star salaries had inflated. Many stars worked on Freelance basis. The law of war promotion movies was now forcefully implemented. Many producers made War propaganda movies to get the Raw Film at controlled rates. The Government had increased the Entertainment Taxes in Bombay, Madras, UP and CP areas, so the cost of Cinema tickets had increased. Prithvi Theatre was launched by Prithviraj Kapoor. Film artistes gathered under the leadership of EVR Naicker in Madras to form DMK party. M. Karunanidhi was a prominent leader.
In Spite of all this, some good Musical films were made in 1944. Saigal, who arrived in Bombay from Calcutta for good, made his second film in Bombay. New composers, New Heros and New heroines brought a variety of Genres of films made in 1944. Some of the major films of 1944 were….
Bhanwara – Second film by Saigal and Khemchand Prakash in Ranjit in Bombay. Made in just 9 days’ shooting for Saigal, by director Kidar Sharma. It was the second film for Monica Desai too (sister of Leela Desai and later, wife of Phani Mujumdar).
Bharthari – Last film in India by singer actress Jahan Ara Kajjan who sang her last 2 songs in it. She migrated to Pakistan in the wake of Partition. Very good songs in the film, especially ” Bhiksha de de maiya” by Amirbai and Surendra.
Chal Chal re Naujawan – First film from newly established Filmistan, by the deserters’ group from Bombay Talkies, led by S.Mukherjee and Ashok Kumar. Ashok Kumar sang 6 songs in it for the first and the last time for Ghulam Haider. His song ” Bolo Har Har Mahadev” was very melodious and popular.
Chand – Debut film of Husnlal-Bhagatram team. They were recommended by elder brother Pt. Amarnath, who was the first choice of D.D.Kashyap. After V.Shantaram and his team left Prabhat, this was an attempt by Prabhat to join the mainstream by opting for the first time, Non Marathi star cast and Punjabi style musicians. 5 singers were used by H-B for 11 songs. A mild success film.
Daasi – it was a musical from Lahore by Pt. Amarnath- with his favourite Zeenat Begum.
Film Dost produced the evergreen Noorjehan song ” Badnam – muhabbat kaun karen” composed by Sajjad Hussain. This one song alone made them both immortal.
Draupadi – a feeble attempt by Baburao Patel to make a Heroine out of his secretary Sushila Rani.
Gaali – Another film by Sajjad, but with only 3 songs to him and 9 to Hanuman Prasad.
Iraada – Pt.Amarnath brought Hemant Kumar as a Debutant singer, for Hindi films.
Ismat – The first and the only film of the brothers Pt. H.P.Sharma and Pt. Govardhan Pershad, as a composer team.
Jwar Bhata – Devika Rani’s discovery- Dilip Kumar’s first film. He was the side Hero and the Hero was Agha. Actress Mrudula also debuted as Dilip’s Heroine.
Krishna Bhakt Bodana – The only film of the Revolutionary Poet singer Master Vasant from Surat. Avinash Vyas, Shankar rao Vyas composed music, while S.N.Tripathi gave background music.
Musical film Lal Haveli – Only time when Noor Jehan and Surendra sang together under Mir Saheb.
Mann ki Jeet – W.Z.Ahmed brings new Heroine Neena, who sings in the voice of Debutante Sitara of Kanpur in all her films. Neena was a Non-Singer.
My Sister – Saigal goes back to Calcutta to complete a Musical film ” My Sister”. Pankaj Mullick gives excellent songs by Saigal and others.
There were two films “Panchhi” and “O Panchhi” with average songs.
Panna – A war propaganda film based on the “Mata Hari” story, with a new Heroine Geeta Nizami. MD Amir Ali dies before the film is released. The credits in the film dedicate the film to Late Amir Ali.
Perhaps the best music by Vasant Desai was to film “Parbat pe apna dera”. Vanmala and Ulhas excel in acting in a story of sexual repression. All songs are excellent, especially Amirbai’s song ” Pareshan hoon main” is simply divine.
Lastly, the Best one. Record breaking musical “Rattan” gave superlative songs by Naushad. Barring 2 songs by manju, the other 8 songs were all Hits. Rattan gave 200% returns on the film and song records, to the Producer.
Pradhan Pictures was owned by Sanjay Pradhan from Orissa, Director Hiren Bose from Bengal and M.D. Pt. Amarnath, a Punjabi, together made the film Daasi-1944 a grand success. The biggest contribution to its success was from the music of the film. Some scenes of landmark areas of Lahore like Punjab Assembly building and Mall Road were seen in this film. I have not seen this film, but various sources indicate that the story of this film is about a person who goes to a big city to seek a job, meets with an accident and loses his memory. He is tended by a beautiful woman and they fall in love. He is a married man. His wife comes to the town searching for him and learns everything. She works as a maid in that house and tries to revive his memories. Finally he recovers his memory and remembers everything. They live happily thereafter. Many Hindi and other language films were made on this story, with variations, in later years.
Today’s song is a video. In this video, you can see the Hero-Najam, his friends Khairati and Charlie. Above all, you can see the young Om Prakash (in banyan and thick moustache). This is a bonus in this song. Enjoy….
Song- Meree aarzoo dekh (Daasi)(1944) Singer- S.D.Batish, Lyricist- Nazim Panipati, MD- Pt. Amarnath (Batish)
Chorus
Lyrics(Provided by Prakashchandra)
meree aarzoo dekh
meree aarzoo dekh
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
daandaa daandaa daaaan
o meree aarzoo dekh
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
mari aarzoo dekh
mazaa jab hai
ke dil ke daa..aag sab
akhrot ho jaayein aen
jo bill aayein saverey
shaam ko woh note ho jaayein
meree..ee ee
aarzoo dekh
meree ee
aaaaarzoo dekh
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
daandaan daandaa daaan
o meree aarzoo dekh
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
kyaa chaahtaa hoon main
maree aarzoo dekh
?al paisaa naheen..een
hamdard koyee ee
haaayye…aey ae ae
bebason ko jo..oo udhaa..aaaar
de dey ae ae aey
hamein denaa hai jo..o o
bhagwaan dey de ae ae
haayye aey ae aey
varnaa haijaa yaa khansee bhukhaa..aar dey de ae
o koyi lailaa ko telephone kar dey aey ae
koyi majnoo ko jaa ke
taar de dey ae ae
Chandidaas kahey aey aey ae aey
nadheer dhi dhaam thaadeer ghar dhhaa
dhann dhaa thhaaatt
jinn mukhadan par malaa thhaa powder
unn pe raakh malee hai
Raamaa unn pe raakh malee hai
jin jeban mein katey dharey thhey
unn mein moongphalee hai
siyaawar raamchandra ki jai
haan kheesaa jeb khaali buree
jalwon kee taalee buree
joroo buree bhaali buree
budhiyon ko laalee bureee
jeejaa ko saalee buree
kheer bin thaalee buree
kheer koyi laa dey rey ae ae
laa dey
kheer koyi laa dey rey ae ae
paanee saarey gadhey gadhey
saarey gadhey
saarey gadhey
saarey gamaa padha nisaa saaaa
saarey gamaa padha ni saa saa
saarey gamaa pa dha ni saa saaaa…aaaaa…aaa
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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