Bhaj lo Ram Ram Siyaram
Posted by: Atul on: August 27, 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 Shri Rambhakta Hanuman-1948.
The film was produced and directed by Homi Wadia for his own banner Basant Pictures. The film story was adapted from Valmiki Ramayan by Shivram Vashikar and the dialogues were by P.C. Joshi- who had also acted in the film in the role of Lakshman. The film starred Trilok Kapoor (Shri Ram), Prabhas Joshi (Lakshman), Sona Chaterjee (Seeta), Niranjan Sharma (Ravan), S.N.Tripathi (Hanuman), Dalpat Joshi, Amarnath and many others.The music was by S.N.Tripathi. This was his first role as Hanuman. He went on to do Hanuman’s role 6 more times.
Film Shri Rambhakta Hanuman-48 was the first of the Mythological films Homi Wadia’s Basant Pictures had made. Due to the extraordinary success of religious films from Prakash Pictures, suddenly there was a spurt in making Mythological films. Though Prakash Pictures made hit films like Bharat Milap-42 and Ram Rajya-43, in their films, the entire focus was on Shri Ram and Seeta Mai. They did not give any importance to Hanuman in their films. When I checked the credits of these two films yesterday, I found that Hanuman’s name was not there in the credits and we do not know who did that role ! Sensing this as an opportunity, the business minded Wadia made a film on Hanuman as the central character.
What is the difference between Religious and Mythological films ? Are they the same ? No, there is a difference. Films based on stories from Puranas ( which is a mix of imagination and History in symbolic way) are Mythological Films. Examples are ‘ Ganga Maiyya’ or ” Ram Hanuman Yuddha ” or ” Ram Rajya ” etc. Films based on Bhakti or Upasana , involving Historical stories, persons or happenings are Religious films. Examples are ” Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu”, ” Sant Tukaram” or ” Mahatma Kabeer’’ etc.
Don’t be surprised by seeing the Music Director’s name in the cast. Yes he is the same person. Tripathi was not an occasional actor, but a regular one. As a Music Director, Tripathi gave music to 107 films, composing 863 songs therein. He was an All rounder. He was a story writer, composer, Producer, Director and an Actor. He even sang 13 songs in 7 films, in his early career. Tripathi directed 18 films and acted in as many as 83 films !
Though his music was good, he remained branded as a Mythological, Religious, costume and fantasy film composer. Rarely he got any social film as a MD. Even as a Director he directed only 5 Social films. His role as Hanuman in Mythological films was popular. In films where Mahipal was doing Ram’s role, Tripathi used to be Hanuman. These were mostly Wadia films. Prakash Pictures also produced Mythological films, their films never gave importance to Hanuman. Some unknown actor was used for that role. Basant Pictures gave importance to Hanuman and Tripathi was fixed for it.
Wadia’s action, costume and fantasy films were very popular in the Middle East and Pakistan. When they made ” Rambhakta Hanuman”- in 1948, they had a problem. Partition had taken place and Pakistan was a New Muslim country. Wadia’s were worried if this Mythological film would be received well there. The major role of Hanuman was done by S N Tripathi. How to export this Hindu religious film in Muslim countries like Pakistan and the Middle East, was a major problem. A simple trick solved this problem. Wadias changed the title of this film copy for Export and it was named ” Udta Bandar ” (उडता बंदर ). With this new title the film became a Hit in that Territory !
Now coming to God Hanuman….Lord Hanuman is a Hindu god and divine vanara companion of the god Rama. Lord Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and one of the chiranjeevis. He is also mentioned in several other texts, such as the epic Mahabharata and the various Puranas. Lord Hanuman is also the son of the wind-god Vayu, who in several stories played a direct role in Lord Hanuman’s birth.
The meaning or origin of the word “Hanuman” is unclear. One interpretation of “Hanuman” is “one having a disfigured jaw”. This version is supported by a Puranic legend wherein infant Hanuman mistakes the Sun for a fruit, heroically attempts to reach it, and is wounded in the jaw for his attempt.
Linguistic variations of “Hanuman” include Hanumat, Anuman (Tamil), Hanumantha (Kannada), Hanumanthudu (Telugu). Other names include:Anjaneya, Anjaniputra, Kesari Nandan, Vayuputra, Bajrangbali, Sankat Mochan, Maruti, Kapishwara, Ramdoot etc etc.
In Valmiki’s Ramayana, estimated to have been composed before or in about the 3rd century BCE, Hanuman is an important, creative character as a simian helper and messenger for Rama. The character evolved over time, reflecting regional cultural values. It is, however, in the late medieval era that his profile evolves into a more central role and dominance as the exemplary spiritual devotee, particularly with the popular vernacular text Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas . According to scholars , during a period of religious turmoil and Islamic rule of the Indian subcontinent, the Bhakti movement and devotionalism-oriented Bhakti yoga had emerged as a major trend in Hindu culture by the 16th-century, and the Ramcharit Manas presented Rama as a Vishnu avatar, supreme being and a personal god worthy of devotion, with Hanuman as the ideal loving devotee with legendary courage, strength and powers.
According to Hindu legends, Hanuman was born to mother Anjana and father Kesari. Hanuman is also called the son of the deity Vayu (Wind god) because of legends associated with Vayu’s role in Hanuman’s birth. One story mentioned in Eknath’s Bhavartha Ramayana states that when Anjana was worshiping Vayu, the King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was also performing the ritual of Putrakameshti yagna in order to have children. As a result, he received some sacred pudding (payasam) to be shared by his three wives, leading to the births of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. By divine ordinance, a kite snatched a fragment of that pudding and dropped it while flying over the forest where Anjana was engaged in worship. Vayu, the Hindu deity of the wind, delivered the falling pudding to the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it, leading to the birth of Hanuman.
The Ramayana locates the birthplace of Hanuman in Kishkindha. Anjaneri Anjanadri (Near Hampi) in Gangavathi Taluk Koppal District, Karnataka is one of a number of places that claim to be the location of Kishkindha. ( Collated from information from the book ” The primer of Hinduism” by Dr. D.S.Sarma, pub.1922 and wiki, with thanks.)
One of the cast members was Amarnath. Amarnath (Bharadwaj) is one of the “same name confusions” victims. There were two Pt. Amarnath Music Directors, 1 actor Amar, 1 actor Amarnath and 1 actor/Director (K.) Amarnath. I have discussed all of them in my books.
Amarnath was born in Hafizabad, in Gujranwala district of Punjab (Now in Pakistan) on13-10-1923. After Matriculation, he joined a Bank. However after some time he left the bank job and joined the film industry. He started acting in 1939 with Kidar Sharma’s “Dil hi to hai”. From Calcutta, he came down to bombay and did a small role in the film Naghma E sehra-1945. Then he shifted to Lahore. Graduating from doing small roles he was made the Leading Man in Dalsukh Pancholi’s film “Patjhad”, started in 1947 opposite Meena (Shorey). Pancholi had to flee Lahore due to Partition riots, but he carried the negatives of Patjhad. Though the film was censored in India in 1948, it seems it was never released.
Amarnath starred as Hero/ side Hero in many other films,like Papiha re-48, Shri Rambhakta Hanuman-48, Barsat ki ek raat-48, Swayam sidha-49, Nai Bhabhi-50, Kamal ke phool-50, Sheesh Mahal-50, Jalte Deep-50, Johri-51, Nai zindagi-51 , Lachak-51, Nirmohi-52, Nirmal-52, Izzat-52, Bahu Beti-53, Nav Durga-53, Toofan-54, Danka-54, Gun Fight-60 etc. Then he switched over to side roles. In all, he worked in 81 Hindi films. In addition he also acted in many Punjabi films, initially as a hero and later in other roles. His first Punjabi film was Kamli-1946. Some other Punjabi films were Murtiyan-50, Posti-51, Vanjara-54, Lara Lappa-53,Astalli-54,Jagga-64 etc. His last Hindi film was Sajan ki Saheli-1980. In all, he acted in 79 films.
Another less known actor was Dalpat Joshi. He was a stunt artist. A tall, sophisticated and suave person mostly appeared in negative roles . Dalpat was a part of Wadia’s unit since its inception and played the role of villain in the stunt movies ,which used to have Fearless Nadia and John Cawas or occasionally some other hero, apt in performing stunts .
Owing to the unprecedented popularity of Miss Nadia , other filmmakers also cast her along with Mr John Cawas and Mr Dalpat in their similar type of stunt movies for which she was known . After her era was over ,Basant Pictures concentrated their energy in making Mythological and Arabian Night movies ,in which Dalpat always had a role . Later in the 50s, the studio system came to an end and actors and technicians who learned their art from their benevolent master Homi Wadia , looked for assignments from other producers.
One may call it destiny or lack of initiative on the part of Mr Dalpat Ram , he was offered only costume /stunt/religious movies by outside producers . Dalpat, who did a stint as production controller for a few movies, was reverentially called Dalpat Kaka owing to his age ,seniority and status by film folks. Age did not affect his appearance and he looked as suave as he was many decades earlier. He started his career by acting first in Hoor E Baghdad-1934. He worked in 120 films. His last film was Toofani Takkar-1978. ( Thanks to M.N.Sardana ji in Voh Din Yaad Karo for some information and my notes ).
The story of the film was…..
Ravana (Niranjan Sharma) orders Maricha to turn into a deer to entice Sita (Sona Chatterjee) with the notion of kidnapping her. Rama (Trilok Kapoor), Lakshman (Prabhash Joshi) and Sita are in the Panchavati forest for their fourteen-year exile. Espying the golden deer sent by Ravana to lure Rama away, Sita asks Rama to get it. On hearing a cry of pain she sends Lakshman after his brother thinking he’s hurt. Ravan comes in the guise of a hermit begging alms and makes Sita step over the Lakshman Rekha (line), Lakshman had drawn around their cottage for her safety, asking her not to step beyond it. In their search for Sita, Ram and Lakshman meet Hanuman (S. N. Tripathi) whom they help in the fight between Sugriva and Bali. Hanuman then helps in finding Sita. He goes through several challenges in his devotion to Ram. Hanuman becomes a major factor in the battle between Rama and Ravana resulting in the victory of Rama and Shri Ram’s subsequent return to Ayodhya.
Here is a 77 year old song sung by the young Mohd. Rafi. Enjoy….
Song-Bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam (Shri Rambhakt Hanuman)(1948) Singer-Rafi, Lyricist- Pt. Indra, MD-S N Tripathi
Chorus
Lyrics
Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
Ram naam hai pyaara sabka
wahee ek rakhwaara
bhaiya bhajo Ram ka naam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
Ram naam kee mahima nyaaree
Ram naam kee mahima nyaaree
door kare maya andhiyaaree
maaya andhiyaaree
door kare maya andhiyaaree
door kare maya andhiyaaree
patthar bhee utraate jal mein sun ke Seeta Ram
patthar bhee utraate jal mein sun ke Seeta Ram
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
Ram naam hai pyaara sabka
wahee ek rakhwaara
bhaiya bhajo Ram ka naam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
Shiv ne naam yahee apnaaya
yahee naam rishiyon ne gaaya
Shiv ne naam yahee apnaaya
yahee naam rishiyon ne gaaya
Valmilki tar gaye Ram ka ulta jap ke naam
Valmilki tar gaye Ram ka ulta jap ke naam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
Ram naam hai pyaara sabka
wahee ek rakhwaara
bhaiya bhajo Ram ka naam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhavsaagar kee bheeshan dhaara
bhavsaagar kee bheeshan dhaara
Ram naam hee khevan-haara
khevan-haara
Ram naam hee khevan-haara
Ram naam hee khevan-haara
karo paar bhav sindhu baavre bhaj ke Seeta Ram
karo paar bhav sindhu baavre bhaj ke Seeta Ram
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
bhaj lo Ram Ram SiyaRam
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