Mere praanon mein pag dhunee jaagee
Posted on: December 18, 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 the last and final song from the film Ratnavali-1945.
The film was made by Amar Pictures, Bombay, owned by Chimanlal Desai, who was the owner of Sagar Movietone earlier. The films made by this company were generally directed by Virendra Desai, his son. The life story of Virendra Desai was very bad. While he was at the peak of his career, with a wife and 2 children, he fell in love with his Heroine – Nalini Jaywant, who was 15 years younger to him. After completing the film Adab Arz-1943, both of them eloped to Calcutta and got married there.
After this, Chimanlal Desai’s second son Surendra Desai took over and directed films made by Amar Pictures. I always wondered why Bombay Film industry’s lovers preferred to elope to Calcutta always. Earlier also, in 1936, the Bombay Talkies Heroine Devika Rani and Hero Najmul Hasan had eloped to Calcutta. By coincidence, both the couples had stayed in the same Hotel also. Both these adventurous couples had a sad end to their love stories. During my service period, I visited Calcutta several times (not eloped, but for my official work and alone !). Out of curiosity, I too stayed in that same hotel a few times, where these 2 Love struck couples had stayed.
The music of the film Ratnavali-1945 was given by Pt. Gobind Ram. There were 8 songs and today’s song is the last of them. The cast of the Costume cum Social film included Surendra, Ratnamala, Usha Mantri (she was very beautiful, but never became a Heroine in her short career), K.N.Singh, Leela Mishra, N.A.Ansari, S. Nazir and many others. I called this film a Costume film because it had a story like that.
The story of the film ‘Ratnavali’ was based on a Sanskrit drama written by King Harsh Vardhan. Ratnavali, princess of Lanka is very beautiful. She is blessed with a boon that whosoever marries her, will become the king of the world. So, all kings and maharajas are eager to marry her. They send their representatives to Lanka. Only the minister of the kingdom of Kaushambi succeeds in taking her to his state. The king falls in love with her. However the existing queen resists this marriage and problems arise. After many ups and downs, the queen Vasav Datta agrees and Ratnavali and the king get married.
In the film industry, there were many cases of actresses who joined films after their marriage. Some examples are Leela Chitnis, Meenakshi Shirodkar, Shobhana Samarth, Nirupa Roy etc. Leela Mishra was also one such actress. She was from a good family which had fallen on bad days, so for the sake of family, she joined films.
Leela Mishra (1 January 1908 – 17 January 1988) was a Hindi and Bhojpuri film actress. She worked as a character actor in over 300 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts (Chachi or Mausi). She is best known for her role of “mausi” in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), Dil Se Mile Dil (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Rajesh Khanna films such as Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Aanchal, Mehbooba, Amar Prem and Rajshri Productions hits such as Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Abodh (1984). Her career’s best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received the Best Actress award at the age of 73.
Leela Mishra was married to Ram Prasad Mishra, who was a character artist, then working in silent films. She got married at the very young age of 12. By the time she was 17, she had two daughters. She hailed from Jais, Raebareli, and she and her husband were from zamindar (landowners) families.
Leela Mishra was discovered by a man called Mama Shinde, who was working for Dadasaheb Phalke’s Nasik Cinetone. He persuaded her husband to make her work in films. During those days there was a severe scarcity of women actors in films; this was evident in the paychecks that the Mishras received when they went to Nasik for the shooting. While Ram Prasad Mishra was hired on a salary of Rs. 150 per month, Leela Mishra was offered Rs. 500 per month. However, as they fared poorly in front of the camera, their contracts were cancelled.
The next opportunity that came their way was an offer to work in the movie Bhikarin-1935, which was being produced by a company owned by the Maharaja of Kolhapur. However, Leela Mishra lost out on this opportunity too, as the role required her to put her arms round the actor (who was not her husband) while delivering a dialogue, which she point-blank refused to do.
Their next film was Gangavataran-37, directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. This was his only and the last Talkie film. In this film Leela played the role of Parvati. This became her first film.
She faced a similar problem while working in another film titled Honhaar-1936. She was cast opposite Shahu Modak as a heroine, and was supposed to hug and embrace him, which she again refused steadfastly. Since the company was legally in a weak position, they couldn’t turn her out of the film, which proved to be a blessing in disguise for her. She was offered Modak’s mother’s role in the film and it clicked instantly. This opened the doors for her to play mother roles at the young age of 18.
Early on in her career she acted in notable films such as the musical hit Anmol Ghadi (1946), Raj Kapoor’s Awaara (1951) and Nargis-Balraj Sahni starrer Lajwanti (1958), which was nominated for the Palme d’Or for Best Film at 1959 Cannes Film Festival.
She acted in the first Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1962), which also starred Kumkum, Helen and Nasir Hussain.
Her roles varied from mothers, benign or evil aunts, to comic roles.
She acted in 344 films. Her last released film was Aatank-96. 8 films were released after her death on 17-1-1988. ( Thanks to Ateet ke sitare,muVyz, HFGK and my notes).
Another less known actor in the cast was N.A.Ansari, who did villain’s role in Hindi films. Nisar Ahmed Ansari was the son of the late Dr. Ameer Ahmed Ansari. He was born on 29-8-1917 at Jhansi. His father had been serving in the Military for 11 years and he expired in 1938. He was well known in Jhansi as he practiced there for 40 years.
Ansari matriculated from Allahabad University in 1933. In 1935, he passed his Inter from Aligadh. By 1939 he was a graduate of Bombay University. He was keen to join films and in this, Mehboob khan helped him by recommending him for film Aasra-40, made by National Studios. It was directed by Mehboob’s assistant Chimanlal Gandhi.
By watching him, no one can ever visualise that a suave and respectable man like him can be a scheming villain. Competition for him was tough,initially when he joined the film industry, as there were many character actors already there, who were specialists in negative roles. But young and energetic Nisar Ahmad Ansari had faith in his potential .
He believed that it is not necessary that a villain should have thick eyebrows with roving eyes and have a permanent frown on his face. A person having negative traits may have a smiling face also ,to conceal his evil designs . Therefore in most of his movies , he was a well dressed person ,always beaming and had a friendly smile on his face. In his films, he used to be the boss of a criminal syndicate and had an army of foot soldiers who carried out dirty work on his behalf . To keep a distance between master and servant , instead of calling them by their name he used to call his cronies by their allotted numbers like Number Ten Or Number Five.
With a hit movie ‘Mangu’, he became a director and later directed many successful movies like Black Cat, Tower House, Mr Lamboo, Zara Bach Ke, Wanted etc for various producers and after he established his own banner Bundel Khand Films, he made many memorable movies. Although he had to look after his own company and permanent staff, he did not disappoint other filmmakers, who wanted to have him in their movies in the role of villain. It is a fact that it was his Black Cat which helped G P Sippy to be a part of the league of big producers, but it is also true, Mr Sippy forgot him later and never acknowledged Mr Ansari’s contribution.
Mr N A Ansari, was essentially a dedicated film maker and had no false illusions about his own capabilities. His movies were never lavishly made and had average production value, but it did not deter his fans and sizable majority of film viewers, who adored him and his pictures to patronise his movies. Those who love the movies of the golden age, fondly remember his movies which used to have him in the role of villain, beside good music, suspense, comedy, dance with a plausible story and a strong message for society, that “Crime Never Pays”.
With producer/actor Sheikh Mukhtar, Nisar Ahmad Ansari had earlier worked as an actor in Dada, Dara & Ustad Pedro. Sheikh Mukhtar, aware of Ansari’s capability ,in 1954,offered him Mangu to direct. The big success of Mangu was a game changer for Ansari & O P Nayyar. They both were immensely benefited with the favourable outcome of the movie & it’s music. Mangu had predictable Jodi of Sheikh Mukhtar & Mukri, with Nigar Sultana, Sheila Ramani & Ansari himself, as a suave villain. Mangu had a breathtaking, thrilling climax, involving the speeding train. Some real shots, a few stock shots & rest studio shots with back projections (Aadhi Haqeeqat, Aadha Fasana ) made the climax awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, the movie could not be preserved & the present generation has been deprived of witnessing Ansari’s first effort as director. Mangu is one of the most searched movies on youtube.
He again directed Mr Lambu, a big success, for Sheikh Mukhtar. This time with the classic beauty Suraiyya with music by O P Nayyar, but a similar tragedy happened, again. No print of the movie is available. In almost all his films N.A.Ansari played the role of an urbane & sophisticated Don. He always appeared, well dressed in impeccably tailored suits, fedora, trade mark pipe between his teeth & walking stick, in his hand.
Beside Sheikh Mukhtar, he directed movies, like Black Cat,Tower House,Jara Bach Ke,Wanted for other producers and playing the main villain .He had no qualm for working in the movies directed by other film makers & in this category, movies like Private Secretary,Fareb, Do Thug ,Khota Paisa, Gunda,Ustad 420,Gunahon Ke Raaste can be named. Under his own banner Bundel khand Films he made Wahan Ke Log,Mulzim,Zindagi Aur Maut,Mr Murder, Jurm Aur Sazaa and Noor E Ilahi. The last one being his last production in 1976 & then he decided to hang his boots.It was a big journey for Ansari,who was discovered by Mehboob & given a role in Aasra ,released in 1941.
He could not say “No” to film maker Sultan Ahmad, when he insisted him to appear in Dharam Kanta (1982 ) & later in Jai Vikranta. N.A.Ansari closed his eyes forever on 11 Jan 1993, in Canada, thousands of kilometres away from his beloved city Jhansi, much before the release of his last movie Jai Vikranta in 1995. As an actor he did roles in 77 films, starting with Aasra-41. He directed 11 films, from Mangu-54 to Jurm aur Saza-74.
(Based on information from Filmdom-46 and an article by M.N.Sardana ji, with thanks and my notes.)
Here is the last and final song from the film Ratnavali-1945, which makes the film YIPPEED ! It is sung by Rajkumari. Enjoy….
Song- Mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee (Ratnavali)(1945) Singer- Rajkumari, Lyricist- Not known, MD- Govind Ram
Lyrics
Mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
haan jaagee
mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
kisee preetam rasiya kee
kisee preetam rasiya kee
haan
mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
haan jaagee
mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
kiske anjaane sapnon(?) se
main itnee anuraagee
hey mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
haan jaagee
mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
chup chup aa ke
murlee bajaa ke
chup chup aa ke
murlee bajaa ke
koi kyun chhup jaata
chup chup aa ke
murlee bajaa ke
chup chup aa ke
murlee bajaa ke
koi kyun chhup jaata
mujh Radha ko kaun Kanhaiya
baar baar tarsaata
mujh Radha ko kaun Kanhaiya
baar baar tarsaata
hey main to khadee prem mein ??
haan main to khadee prem mein ??
hey mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
haan jaagee
mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
mere chaaron oar doltee
aaj kisee kee kaaya(?) aa aa
mere chaaron oar doltee
aaj kisee kee kaaya(?) aa aa
kaun sunehra sapna ban kar
nainan beech samaaya
kaun sunehra sapna ban kar
nainan beech samaaya
hey meree kisee se preet laagee
haan meree kisee se preet laagee
hey mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
haan jaagee
mere pranon mein pag dhunee jaagee
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 22, 2025 at 10:23 pm
Good Evening,
Very beautiful song.
Thanks for sharing this jewel.
Blessings
Uma🙏
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