O dilwaale zara sambhal ke mehfil mein aanaa
Posted on: August 8, 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.
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Today’s song is from the film Son of Sindbad-1958. The film was produced by Ram Kamlani (youngest brother of actor Gope) and Balwant Bhatt (elder brother of director Nanabhai Bhatt). The film was directed by the veteran of such films – Nanabhai Bhatt (father of Mahesh Bhatt and 8 other children). Music was by the king of Melody- Chitragupt, ably assisted by Dilip Dholakiya. The cast of the film included Premnath, Jabeen Jalil, Bhagwan, Poornima, Nishi, Kuldeep Kaur, Shammi, Tiwari, Sunder, Cuckoo and many other regulars of such C grade films.
Alibaba, Alladin and Sindbad were popular characters during our school days. Not only books of their stories but also films made on them were the targets of all children in those days. It was a thrilling experience to get a book on one of these Heroes, as a gift on “Happy Birthday” ! I am not very sure if today’s young children read these stories. I doubt if they even know these names. These boys seem to favour Harry Potter stories, while the young girls are lost on reading Mills and Boon novels, I suppose ! The big fat book ‘Stories of Arabian Nights’ was the most sought after book (in spite of 5 copies) in our school library. Stories of Alibaba, Alladin, Sindbad the sailor, Hatimtai, Gul Bakavali etc enchanted us.
Arabian Night stories evolved through a story which took place in Persia. King Shahriyar became a woman hater after he found that his wife was unfaithful to him. He not only killed her, but he started marrying a new girl every time and on the second day of marriage the wife would be killed to avoid unfaithfulness.
The legend says that Scheherazade, the beautiful young daughter of the Vizier, decided to marry King Shahriyar, against wishes of her family. On the first night of marriage, she started telling him a story which she left unfinished. Curious to know the story’s end, the king postponed her killing. On every night Scheherazade employed the same technique-keeping the story unfinished. Thus she continued 1001 stories on 1001 nights. Finally the king changed his opinion and pardoned his wife.
As always, the creative heads in the story departments of filmmakers invented titles like ‘Alladin Ka Beta’, ‘Alladin Ki Beti’, ‘Alladin And Laila’ etc. Similarly son and daughter were gifted to Alibaba and Sinbad and films made on them. The funniest title was ‘Sindbad, Alibaba and Alladin’ (1965) ! On a quick check of HFGK entries for the 1940s decade we find that as many as 9 films were made in 1946 alone on these characters. Added were ‘Baghdad Ka Chor’, ‘Hoor e Baghdad’, ‘Sher e Baghdad’, ‘Arab Ka Chand’ and ‘Shah e Misr’ – in which actor Ajit debuted with his real name Hamid.
Most of these stories took place in the Middle East cities which were land locked. However, one character Sindbad was a sailor and his stories of adventures and voyages to magical, strange and unbelievable places were mind boggling. He was equally popular as Alibaba and Alladin.
The fertile imagination of the members of ‘Story Departments’ of studios must be appreciated. Films like ‘Son of Alibaba’ (1955), ‘Son of Hatimtai’ (1965), ‘Son of Sindbad’ (1958) and also ‘Daughter of Sindbad’ (1958) were made. The original book of Arabian Nights does not have any such stories of their progeny (what’s more, films like ‘Daughters of India’ (1938) and even ‘Son of India’ (1962) were made). The funniest title of a film was ‘Sindbad, Alibaba and Alladin’ which was made in 1965. I did not see that film, because I did not want to spoil my sweet memories of these 3 heroes !
One of the cast members was Shammi. This was one the very few B or C grade films in which she had acted. Nargis Rabadi (24 April 1929 – 6 March 2018), better known by her stage name SHAMMI, was a Parsi actress who appeared in over two hundred Hindi films. Shammi remained a sought-after actress with filmmakers when it came to goofy and comic roles, especially in the period 1949–1969 and later from 1980–2002.
Her famous films as supporting actress included Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Half Ticket, Halaku, Samaj Ko Badal Dalo, Khuda Gawah, Coolie No. 1, Gopi Kishan and Hum Saath Saath Hain and films with Rajesh Khanna like The Train, Aanchal, Kudrat, Red Rose, Awara Baap and Swarg. She had been a leading actress playing main female lead or second female lead in Hindi films between 1949–1955 as well. Later, from 1986 till 1998, she appeared in many popular television serials such as Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar. Shammi was married to film producer and director Sultan Ahmed for seven years, before they were divorced. Shammi was the younger sister of fashion designer Mani Rabadi.
Rabadi was born on 24-4-1929 in Bombay. Her father was a priest in an agyari (Parsi fire temple) and died when she was around three years old. After her father’s death, her mother used to cook food at all the religious functions organized by the Parsi community to earn money. Rabadi had an elder sister Mani Rabadi, who was a fashion designer and worked extensively with many actresses as their dress designer in Hindi films between 1967 and 1994. Her mother’s younger sister lived with her. They stayed in Tata Blocks in Parel, South Mumbai in 1930–47 period. Her sister joined Johnson and Johnson as a secretary after completing her secondary school education.
In 1942, Johnson and Johnson manufactured tablets and Rabadi was employed in the packing department. Her job was to collect the tablets that were not sealed in the tablet case, and had fallen off from the machine. She had to put them into big bottles which would go to hospitals for free distribution to patients. She was paid Rs 100 per month for doing this job.
Rabadi got into films by chance. A family friend Chinuu Mama was working with filmmaker Mehboob Khan. Chinuu was very friendly with actor and producer Sheikh Mukhtar. At that time, Mukhtar was looking for an actress for the second lead, in a film he was to start with Begum Para as the main female lead. Chinnu Mama asked Rabadi whether she would like to join films and asked her to meet Sheikh Mukhtar in the studios the next day. Mukhtar was concerned about her Hindi-speaking skills as she was a Parsi. Rabadi immediately told a worried Sheikh that she would be talking with him in Hindi itself, and that he should point out any flaw if he was able to find any. Sheikh Mukhtar was quite shocked, but was impressed. The next day, she was called to Mahalaxmi studios for her screen test for a film. She was advised by director Tara Harish to change her name to “Shammi” as there was another actress named Nargis in the industry. Her monthly salary was Rs 500. She was asked to sign a three-year contract with a condition that she couldn’t work outside without their permission. She was just 18 when she signed her first film, Ustad Pedro, in January 1949. Ustad Pedro had Sheikh Mukhtar opposite Begum Para and Mukri as the comedian and it was directed by Tara Harish and this Begum Para-Sheikh Mukhtar starrer was a hit film at the box office in 1951.
She had to attend the studio every day and practice acting even when she had no shoot. Shammi had to read dialogues of other films and Harish, the film’s director, taught her a lot of things since he was an actor himself. Harish was directing another film with Mukesh in the lead as the hero, called Malhar. Shammi was given the main lead in that film. Since the director was the same, Shammi was allowed to work outside the Sheikh Mukthar banner. She got good reviews for Malhar. Malhar’s music was a super-hit and Malhar made Shammi a famous star. Shammi was financially stable now, so they shifted to Bandra. During the shooting of Malhar, she met Nargis Dutt through Jaddan bai, who was the mother of Nargis Dutt. They became good friends. After that meeting, Dutt would frequently call Shammi to her house in Marine Drive. Dutt was her best friend and later, because of their friendship she got a supporting role in the film Miss India. She quoted in an interview “Nargis was the first actor to be paid Rs 1 lakh; even Dilip Kumar did not get that kind of money then. It was the talk of the industry. Actors like me who did supporting roles would get anything around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.”
Her third film was with Dilip Kumar and Madhubala, called Sangdil; it was released late in 1952 and was only a moderate success. Since Sangdil was unpopular with the audience, she did not get work for seven months. Shammi used to play the main lead or second lead in films from 1949 to 1952, but after Sangdil, she started taking whatever work came to her and took a few films with vamp roles. She quoted in an interview: “Many people scolded me when I did that but I was clear in my mind that I had to work. Sitting at home would not help me since I was the breadwinner of the family.” She got roles as the leading heroine opposite heroes such as Mahipal, Manhar Desai and Karan Dewan. After the release of K. Asif’s hit film Musafirkhana, she was flooded with similar roles. Her role opposite comedian Johnny Walker was appreciated in this film.
Some of her successful movies as supporting actress in this period were Ilzam (1954), Pehli Jhalak (1955), Bandish (1955), Azaad (1955), Halaku (1956), Son of Sinbad (1955), Raj Tilak (1958), Khazanchi (1958), Ghar Sansar (1958), Aakhri Dao (1958), Kangan (1959), Bhai-Bahen (1959) and Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960). The rest of her films released from 1952 to 1960 were deemed as commercial failures. In the period 1962 to 1970, her comedy and vamp roles made an impact in successful films such as Half Ticket, Ishaara, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Preet Na Jane Reet, Aamne – Saamne, Upkar, Ittefaq, Sajan, Doli, Raja Saab and The Train.
Shammi became pregnant two times, but both times she miscarried, and therefore she and Sultan Ahmed did not have any children. This had an adverse effect on their marriage, which lasted for seven years. During that period, the couple had bought a house and her husband wanted to put the house in her name, but Shammi was of the opinion that since her sister-in-law was not doing anything, Ahmed should put the house in his sister’s name. Ahmed’s brother in law’s family resided with them. Sultan’s brother’s wife was uneducated, so Shammi took care of the child. Shammi admitted the child to a school in Shimla. Due to some differences, she broke up with her husband in 1980. She walked out of the house without any cash in hand, and left without her car too. She had the old house where she stayed with her mother in Bandra, so she shifted there. Nargis Dutt was upset when Shammi separated from her husband. Dutt helped Shammi get a role in The Burning Train within 8 days after Shammi had left her house. Her friend Rajesh Khanna helped her get small roles in films with him in the lead from 1980 such as Red Rose (film), Aanchal, Kudrat, Awara Baap and Swarg. These films again got her noticed as a supporting actress and hence revived her career.
To help her recover from the losses, Rajesh Khanna, who was producing television series then, helped Shammi get a few shows to produce on Doordarshan. She was getting paid well for her roles in the films and in television serials and she started saving money. From her very first movie, she never went asking for work—the work came to her through some close friend. Her performances in serials such as Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar were appreciated. She was very much in demand from 1990 to 2000, appearing in many successful films such as Coolie No 1, Hum, Mardon Wali Baat, Gurudev, Gopi Kishan, Hum Saath-Saath Hain and Imtihaan. Her portrayal of the role of a drug addict in Mahesh Bhatt’s Lahu Ke Do Rang had stunned the audience. Movie offers, however, stopped coming to her after 2002 since she was aging. She was rarely approached for roles from 2008 to 2011. In all, Shammi acted in 222 films, directed 1 film (Pighalta Aasman-87) and sang 2 songs in 2 films.
She made a comeback with Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi in 2013; as Bela Sehgal, the director, wanted her to do it because it was the role of a Parsi woman. She died in her sleep on 6 March 2018, from natural causes at the age of 88.
The story of the film Son of Sindbad-1958 was…..
Towards the end of his life, Sindbad decided to settle down to Public Service and Meditation. He was a man of Justice. His only son Yusuf was adventurous and daring. He wanted to become as famous as his father, if not more. Once during an altercation, his opponent gets killed. Yusuf is arrested for murder and brought before his father. Sindbad sentences his son to death. Meanwhile Yusuf’s beloved admits that not Yusuf but she murdered the man and Yusuf was trying to shield her. She is asked to leave this country by the next morning or get a death sentence. Yusuf objects and he too is sentenced to leave with her the next day.
Next day, before Yusuf leaves the country, Sindbad gives him 3 pieces of advice – never to be proud, never to forget God and never trust women. After they leave the next day, that night one of the cousins of Yusuf – Shahnaz – comes to Sindbad and tells him that Yusuf was being cheated by the killed person and his beloved, who were the actual lovers. They wanted to kill Sindbad and Yusuf to become the King of their country. Hearing this, Sindbad asks, then why she killed him. The cousin, Shahnaz, tells that it was Shahnaz who killed him and not his lover.The king recalls Yusuf and his lover. After interrogation the lover accepts everything. The king awards the death sentence to the lover girl and Yususf is married to Shahnaz.
Enjoy today’s 67 year old song, sung by a 25 year old Geeta Dutt….
Song- O dilwaale zara sambhal ke mehfil mein aanaa (Son of Sindbad)(1958) Singer- Geeta Dutt, Lyricist-Prem Dhavan, MD- Chitragupt
Chorus
Lyrics
shokh adaayen
ho ho
mast nigaahen
ho ho
in zulfon mein lehraatee hain
laakhon balaayen
o dilwaale zara sambhal ke
mehfil mein aana
is mehfil mein bada hai mushqil
dil ko bachaana
oh dilwaale zara sambhal ke
mehfil mein aana
is mehfil mein bada hai mushqil
dil ko bachaana
nazren uthha ke dekho
jalve hazar hain
baahen galey mein hain ya phoolon ke haar hain
nazren utha ke dekho
jalve hazar hain
baahen galey mein hain ya phoolon ke haar hain
kaise na ho
bhala koi
mera deewaana hoye
o dilwaale zara sambhal ke mehfil mein aana
is mehfil mein bada hai mushqil dil ko bachaana
duniya ko bhool ja tu
mastee mein jhoom le
nazren mila ke zara
nazron ko choom le
duniya ko bhool ja tu
mastee mein jhoom le
nazren mila ke zara
nazron ko choom le
ho ja pyaare zamaane se zara begaana
o dilwaale zara sambhal ke mehfil mein aana
is mehfil mein bada hai mushqil dil ko bachaana
shokh adaayen
ho ho
mast nigaahen
ho ho
in zulfon mein lehraatee hain
laakhon balaayen
o dilwaale zara sambhal ke
mehfil mein aana
is mehfil mein bada hai mushqil
dil ko bachaana
oh dilwaale zara sambhal ke
mehfil mein aana
is mehfil mein bada hai mushqil
dil ko bachaana
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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