Maalaniyaa ban aaun ban mein
Posted on: March 30, 2025
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.
|
Blog Day : |
6099 | Post No. : | 18907 |
भारतीय नववर्ष की शुभ कामनायें l
Today’s song is from the film Rikshawala-1938.
The film was made by Ranjit Film company, Bombay and it was directed by Ezra Mir, Music was by Gyan Dutt for the lyrics by P.L.Santoshi. The cast of the film included Mazhar Khan, Ila Devi, Charlie, Wasti, Waheedan Bai, Dixit and Ghory, Indubala, Tarabai etc.
1938 was an interesting year in the early life of the Talkie films. The film making studios had firm footing with a studio system and they tried a variety of subjects in their films. In the 88 Hindi films produced in 1938, one finds almost every Genre of film subjects, except perhaps the usual Folk stories and Historical themes. Comedy, Tragedy, Fiction, Jungle stories, Costume, Socials, Musicals, Mythologicals, you name it and you had it. Content and technical expertise had improved as films on famous novels were made.
Well known studios like Imperial, Sagar, New Theatres, Prabhat, Ranjit, Bombay Talkies, Praksh, Vishnu Cinetone, Huns Pictures, Wadia Movietone, Saroj Movietone etc. were very active bringing out 3 to 4 films each. Huns and Prabhat continued bilingual films in Hindi and Marathi, while New Theatres made Hindi and Bangla films. Many new actors debuted. Many new actors matured and the old scrap from silent films slowly disappeared giving way to new entrants. The Imperial film company, which had the honour of making India’s first Hindi Talkie film – Alam Ara in 1931, downed its shutters in 1938. The last of the Southern languages, Malayalam, produced its First Talkie film BALAN in 1938. Film Industry celebrated its Silver Jubilee -from 1913 to 1938 and several programmes were held all over India.
Let us take a look at some of the films of 1938….
ABHAGIN – Debut film of actor Chaman Puri (eldest brother of Madan puri and Amrish Puri)
ADHIKAR – Music Director Timir Baran Bhattacharya. After Independence, he was invited to West Pakistan and East Pakistan to give music to their films. Film Adhikar was on the importance of how bringing up makes a person.
BAGHBAN – Debut film of Ram Avtar
BAHADUR KISAN – First directorial venture of Master Bhagwan. During this film’s making he developed a lasting friendship with C.Ramchandra, who assisted Meer Sahab, the M.D.
BHABHI – Renuka Devi’s second film and first with Jairaj.
BILLI – Based on P.G.Wodehouse novel ” Damsel in Distress”
BRAHMACHARI – Debut film of Minakshi Shirodkar. She appeared in a swimming suit, first time in Hindi films. It created a sensation.
DHARATIMATA – Complete film was shot outdoors. Saigal and Pankaj Mullick created havoc with this musical film. The song ” Duniya rang rangeeli baba’ is still popular.
DIVORCE – Minerva’s film on Husband – Wife relations.
DUNIYA KYA HAI – Lalita Pawar’s production. Based on Tolstoy’s ” Resurrection”.
GRAMOPHONE SINGER – Sagar’s musical with Bibbo and Surendra. Zohrabai sings for the first time for Anil Biswas.
GOPAL KRISHNA – Hit film from Prabhat. Trick scenes were superb.Ram Marathe as Krishna,lifting Govardhan Parvat on a finger produced clapping from audience for several minutes.
HIMALAY KI BETI – Bhavnani production with Enakshi Rama Rau-his wife.
JAILOR – Minerva’s film on a Psycho-Neurotic person. Remade in the 50’s again.
MERA LADKA – Story of an unwed mother. Marathi and Hindi versions from prabhat.
MR. X – Stunt film with Rattanbai , from Prakash
Today’s song is sung by R.Wasti and Ila Devi. I knew Wasti, but Ila Devi was a new name. Even after efforts no information was available to me about her. From the question-answer column of the magazine Film India, I learnt that Ila Devi’s original film name was Miss Ilmas. I do not know in which religion or community this name is used. After making her debut in Hindi films in ‘ Nishan -E- Jung ‘-1937, she changed her name to Ila Devi and acted in 6 more films. Four films in 1938 (Billi,Bazigar, Rikshawala and Gorakh Aaya) and two films in 1939 (Adhuri Kahani and Kahan hai teri manzil). After this her name is not found in any films, when I checked.
This change of name, after using one name in a film, is not unique, though,this seems to be the First such instance. I know, off hand, at least two more such instances in Film industry. Actress Ameeta (Tumsa nahi dekha fame) had used name Jaijaiwanti in her first film Thokar-1953 ( her second film kaafila -52 was released first as Ameeta,however), but she changed it to her name Ameeta from next film onwards. ( her real name was Qamar Sultana). The second example is actress Zeb Rehman who was known first as Preetibala, then she changed her name to Zeb Rehman.
As far as Wasti is concerned, it is a very sad story. Riyasat Ali Wasti was born in 1912,at Naagao in U.P. His father was City magistrate,a judge and Dewan of the state. The family was well known in Bundelkhand area. After graduating from Ambala,Wasti did service for 7 years in the PWD of Punjab. He wanted to join films and he became a Hero in New oriental Films,Lahore’s ” Premyatra”-37. His Heroine was Umarazia Begum,later on the wife of Ghulam Haider.
He acted in Bombay’s films like Baghban,Industrial India,pati patni,rikshawala,Thokar , Qaidi,nartaki,kudmai(Punjabi),Awaz,nai Duniya,Sharda,namaste etc. He was a fixture for kardar films.As a Hero he did many films.
In the 50s he acted in 11 films.In 60s and 70s he did 20 films. Old timer Wasti ,who regaled the audiences with his natural acting in Sanjog , Rattan, Pugree made in the forties and many Punjabi & Hindi movies later on , was passing through a bad phase .
Nasir Hussain honored him by offering the roles of substance in Dil Deke Dekho, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai & Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon. His roles in jab pyar kisi se hota hai and Phir wohi dil laya hoon may be known to many.His last film was kasam-76.Two films, produced by him in 1952 and 56, flopped.
In his 40 years of career, Wasti acted in 63 films, from Prem Yatra-1937 to Kasam-1976. He also sang 5 songs in 2 films namely, Rikshawala-38 and Pati Patni-39.
Last 20 years of his life were spent in penury and anonymity. In his last years,he was often seen begging near Liberty cinema in Bombay. He died on 15th April 1996.
In the early years of Cinema, there was a comedy pair – Dixit and Ghori. They projected themselves on the lines of Laurel and Hardy…Hardy being Dixit. Later, Yaqub and Gope triede to project their image as Laurel and Hardy and still later Johar and Majnu tried to copy Bob Hope and Bing Crosby of Hindi cinema ! Let’s take a look at Dixit and Ghory- a very popular comedy pair of early cinema.
Manohar Janardhan Dixit was born on 12-11-1906 at Sinner in Nashik district,Maharashtra (Bombay state at that time.) His comedy career started with the silent film ‘Sparkling youth’-1930. His first day of work in a film was 14-11-1929. He did 3 more silent films with Navjivan Films and then joined Ranjit studio. Here he met his mate Nazir Ahmed Ghori,born on 11-8-1901 at Bombay.He was the senior of the two,having started in 1927. He worked till 1931 in silent films of various companies and then joined Ranjit studio in 1931 Here too he did 4 silent films.
He paired with Dixit, first time in Char Chakram-1932,directed by Jayant Desai.The film was a terrific hit and the pair did many films together like, Bhutio mahal,Do badmash,Bhola shikar,Bhool bhulaiya,Vishwamohini,nadira etc. They worked together till 1947,doing solo films also in between. Unfortunately none of their films have survived and we know about their acting only through Photographs,interviews and articles. However Dixit’s solo films like Pehle aap-44,Jeevan yatra-46,Aap ki sewa mein-47 and Pugree-47 are still available.In film Pugree,his name was Ramu kaka and the very fat Dixit (222 pounds) carried the world’s smallest dog-Chikoo in the film.Later comedian Omprakash did this role in the remake of the film in Dil Daulat Duniya-1972.
Dixit acted in 66 Talkie films and 8 silent films in 17 years. He died on 29-6-1949 due to a massive heart attack. His partner Ghori migrated to Pakistan and did 8 films there till 1960,without much success. He too died on 9-12-1977 at Karachi.
One name in the cast list is that of Waheedan Bai. Not much information is available on Waheedan Bai. Her younger sister Sitara Bai aka Jyoti and her own daughter Nawab Banoo aka Nimmi were actresses. Waheedan Bai was from a Tawayef family. Her daughter Nimmi, had always denied this-understandably too, but Waheedan Bai’s name gave away the true story.
Waheedan Bai belonged to a small town Fatehabad, near Agra. Her father’s name was Basheer Khan. She was second amongst 4 sisters. The youngest was Sitara Bai aka Jyoti. Waheedan was a trained and good singer, but Tawayafs did not get social status, so she got married early to one Abdul Hakeem from Nasirabad, settled in Meerut. He had met Waheedan in a shrine in Agra, where she recited verses from the Koran.
Soon after their marriage, His father, a contractor with Military, died and Hakim inherited the business. He was a novice and was cheated by his manager and they lost everything. The family moved to Calcutta to start a Leather business. Here also he failed. In Calcutta, their neighbour was director A.R.Kardar. Through his wife, Bahar, Kardar was contacted and he gave a small role to him in a film. Here again he got terrified and ran away, at the time of shooting.
Waheedan came forward and after hearing her singing, she was given a song in the film and it was recorded. Meanwhile, Chandulal Shah offered her roles in his films. They shifted to Bombay and she joined Ranjit Movietone. Her first film was Toofani Toli-37. Prithvi Putra-38 was the second film. Her songs in her films were liked and became famous.She worked in other films like Prof. Waman, M.Sc.-38, Rikshawala-38, The Secretary-38 and Thokar-39.
She got acquainted with Mehboob Khan and he offered her the lead role opposite Surendra in film Alibaba-40, a Sagar Movietone film initially, but later on sold to Ranjit of Chandulal Shah, in a game of gambling. Film Alibaba-40 was made in Hindi and Punjabi. The film songs became very popular. When Sagar merged into National Studios, she worked in the film Sanskar-40.
Waheedan contracted T.B. and left films. She acted in only 8 films and sang 26 songs in 11 films-including her 8 films. She died in 1942.
Let us now enjoy this 87 year old duet by Wasti and Ila Devi….
Song- Maalaniya ban aaun ban mein (Rickshawaala)(1938) Singers- Ila devi, Wasti, Lyricist- P.L.Santoshi, MD- Gyan Dutt
Both
Lyrics
Malaniya ban aaun ban mein
Malaniya ban aaun
Malaniya ban aaun ban mein
Malaniya ban aaun
mere swaagat mein koyaliyaa
daal daal par gaaye
mere swaagat mein koyaliyaa
daal daal par gaaye
mujhe dekh ke roop kaa raajaa
mujhe dekh ke roop kaa raajaa
phhoolon mein muskaaye
phhoolon mein muskaaye
Malaniya ban aaun
bhanwre se tum aaj seekhh lo
madhur prem ka gaanaa
bhanwre se tum aaj seekhh lo
madhur prem ka gaanaa
kalee kalee se phhool phhool se
hansnaa aur muskaanaa
kalee kalee se phhool phhool se
hansnaa aur muskaanaa
maalee main ban aaun ban mein
maalee main ban aaun
Malaniya ban aaun ban mein
Malaniya ban aaun
champa phhoole chamelee phhoolee
phhoolaa pyaaraa belaa
champa phhoole chamelee phhoolee
phhoolaa pyaaraa belaa
prem dor se goonthhoon sabko
haar baney albelaa
prem dor se goonthhoon sabko
haar baney albelaa
phhoolon ka singaar sajaa kar
preetam ko pahnaaoon
phhoolon ka singaar sajaa kar
preetam ko pahnaaoon
Malaniya ban aaun ban mein
Malaniya ban aaun
Malaniya ban aaun ban mein
Malaniya ban aaun
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
Leave a comment