Kaun hai beta kaun hai maata
Posted on: December 21, 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 a much less known film Balyogi Upmanyu-1958.
The film was made by Prakash Pictures, once a famous film company, which made hit films on Mythology, especially Bharat Milap-1942 and Ram Rajya-1943.
The film was produced by Shankar Bhatt and directed by Harsukh Bhatt. Music was by the Master of melody – Chitragupta. Lyricist was Bharat Vyas. The cast of the film was Sulochana (Latkar), Lalita Pawar, Jeevan, Madan Puri, Vinod Kumar (Vinod Mehra in the main child role), Ajeet and many others.
The success story of the famous Prakash Pictures (1934 to 1971) is also a success and hard work story of two brothers-Vijay and Shankar Bhatt. The sons of a railway guard, Vijay Bhatt, along with his elder brother and his lifelong partner, Shankar bhai Bhatt, shared a fascination for theatre and films.
The mid twenties brought them to Bombay, where Vijay Bhatt enrolled in St.Xavier’s college and studied upto Inter-Science. While Shankarbhai took up a job in a store selling readymade garments. In order to secure a steady, lucrative job, he obtained a Diploma in Electrical Lighting and Traction from the International Correspondence School, London. Quitting college, he joined the BEST and worked for 3 years rising to be an officer with the designation of Drawing Office Superintendent.
He quit his job after two months and both the brothers decided to take on the world of showbiz. A flair for writing led him to get involved in a humble way as a storywriter.
It was Ardeshir Irani, the ‘Father of Indian Talkies’ and the maker of ‘Alam Ara’, who would show them the way. At that time, he was the managing director of The Royal Studios. He glanced through the stories, selected one of them and asked the brothers to meet the proprietor of the studio, Seth Aboo Hussein. ‘Show him the story and then come back to me. If it is all right for him, it is all right for me’ they were told.
The story was approved and Ardeshir Irani took it upon himself to teach Vijay Bhatt how to write Screenplay. Every evening after the day’s work and dinner, the Bhatt brothers would make their way to Majestic Cinema, built by Ardeshir Irani in 1918 in partnership with the exhibitor, Abdulaly Yusoofaly. Irani would be here every evening with his friends. And it was here that Vijay Bhatt scripted his very first screenplay, ‘Vidhika Vidhan’, which was made into a film by director K.P.Bhave.
Ardeshir Irani made two more films based on the stories of Bhatt brothers. They were ‘ Paani mein Aag’ and ‘Ghulam’-1929, both of which were directed by Nagendra Muzumdar. Their third film featured a newly recruited actor from Peshavar, Prithviraj Kapoor.
By now, Ardeshir Irani had founded his own Imperial Studios and drawn to it a host of artists and technicians. The Bhatt brothers too had gathered enough experience and ventured to make films on their own.They soon founded the Royal Film Co., in partnership with a cousin and the first film to be produced under this banner was Black Ghost. It starred Master Vithal and Madhuri and was photographed by V. M.Vyas. With Vijay Bhatt at the helm of the creative affairs and Shankarbhai in charge of the business aspect, they made seven silent films under the banner of The Royal Film Company in an open air studio in Juhu. Among them was ‘Heer Ranjha’, where Vijay Bhatt gave A.R. Kardar, a poster maker for foreign film distributors, his first acting assignment.
Then came the year of Talkies and the Bhatts too switched over to this new medium with ‘Alif Laila’-1933, which was based on an Arabian Nights story and made under the banner ofRoyal Cinetone. This was followed by 3 other talkies made under the banner of Kardar Studios. He then founded a film distribution concern, Royal Pictures Corporation, which acquired the distribution rights of ‘Sohni Mahiwal’ for North India for Rs. 11,000 – a sensational amount at that time. For, as he often used to say, “In those days, it cost just about Rs. 8000 to make a film 8 -9 thousand feet in length!”
By now Vijay Bhatt had evolved into a director to be reckoned with. It was time to set up his own production company. And Prakash Pictures was born. Prakash Studios was built in 1934 at Andheri. That time Andheri was an undeveloped suburb of Bombay and not many facilities like roads, Lights etc were available easily there. The place where the studio was to come up was a very big open area. Except for huge open grounds, there was one double storey bungalow. All offices were kept in that. The first film to be made there was the film ‘Actress’-1934 ( Bambai ki Mohini), written and produced by Vijay Bhatt.
After a few more stunt films, a shooting floor was constructed and they made ” Khwaab ki duniya” in 1937. In 1938 they made State Express, Passing show, Challenge and Top ka Gola etc. By that time their reserves for stars included Sardar Akhtar, Pramila, Ratnamala, Ranjana, Jayant, Umakant, Prem Adeeb etc. Harsukh Bhatt and Raja Nawathe were assistant directors. By making stunt films they made good money and completed the second shooting floor also with that money. The famed torch of Prakash Pictures continued to shine over decades and in all, 64 films were made in various Genres, in black and white as well as colour. Vijay Bhatt directed 23 films. He also wrote lyrics for the film Snehlata-1936.
Because of hectic activities in the studio and the traffic to the studio,that part of Andheri became developed with street lights, cement roads, Bus stops etc. Their next film Purnima-38 did excellent business. Bhatt brothers were impressed with Gandhi’s favourite bhajan ” Vaishnav jan to “. They made a film ‘ Narsi Bhagat’ in 1942 with Vishnupant Pagnis and Durga Khote. It ran so well that Prakash made ‘ Bharat Milap’ in Hindi and ( भरत भेट ) in Marathi. The tremendous success made them make ‘Ram Rajya’ ( again in Hindi and marathi) and Prakash became famous all over India, making name, fame and a lot of money.
From 1945 to 1948, Prakash faced a spate of flop films. Bhatta brothers kept silent for 4 years, renting its studio to other producers. Prakash was planning a Love story. Their friend Naushad suggested them Baiju Bawra. They made the film with less famous Bharat Bhushan and Meena Kumari. The film created Box office records.
Goonj uthi Shehnai-59, Hariyali aur Rasta-62 and Himalay ki God mein-65 did well but again few flop films…. Bhatt brothers decided to stop making films from 1971 and sold the studio and all the land.
Vijay Bhatt died on 17-10-1993 at Bombay.
Vijay Bhatt played an important role in the careers of some major stars. He was the person who gave Mehzabeen (Meena Kumari), the name Baby Meena. He also gave her the first major heroine’s role in Baiju Bawra-52. Till then she did roles in B and C grade films.
O K Dhar Kashmiri was given the name “JEEWAN”,when he did Narad’s role in Bharat Milap. Later he did Narad’s role in over 100 films.
Suraiyya got her big singing role in Station master-42. Manoj Kumar was made hero in Himalaya ki God mein-65.
Today on that land many factories are erected. Few Housing societies and a Marriage Hall ” Vishal” came up too. Thus ended a glorious chapter of a film making studio called “Prakash Pictures”- a guarantee for wholesome entertainment !
(information for this article is used from vijaybhatt.com, a book ” तीन भिंतींची दुनिया ” by Bhai Bhagat, with thanks, and my notes.)
The decade of the 1950’s was called “The Golden Era of HFM”. It was also the Zenith level for Mythological films. This decade- from 1951 to 1960 produced 124 Mythological and Religious films, giving an average of 1 New such film every month for 10 continuous years. 1958 was also not an exception. From Balyogi Upmanyu to Teerth yatra, this year, 11 Religious/Mythological films were released.
Who was Balyogi Upmanyu ? This is not a famous name and it is unlikely that our readers knew it. The chapters 34 & 35 in Section 7.1 of Vayaviya-saṃhita of Shiva Purana elucidated the story of Upamanyu.
Upamanyu was son of a great sage Vyaghrapada, who was a great Siddha in his former birth. Once the boy had tasted some quantity of milk in the hermitage of his uncle. He entreated his mother to give cow’s milk. However, the saintly mother, the wife of Vyaghrapada, was not able to provide him milk due to poverty. She informed Upamanyu, If Shiva is not pleased, people do not get those pleasing things viz. kingdom, heaven, salvation or a milk diet. Everything is the result of Shiva’s grace and not that of any other lord. The great lord who is the bestower of wealth and befitting benefits to those who desire them, has not been worshipped by us now.
On hearing the words of his mother, Upamanyu said: — “O mother, do not feel unhappy; if there is Shiva, everything good will result. Sooner or later I shall get an ocean of milk.”
Worship him alone with due devotion. “Namaḥ Shivaya” mantra is directly expressive of Shiva, the bestower of boons. Permitted by her he went to the mountain Himavat and performed penance with purity of mind. He took in only wind (no food). With eight bricks he built an altar and installed Shiva’s phallic image of clay. He invoked the unchanging lord Shiva accompanied by the Gaṇas and Parvati. He worshipped him with the leaves and flowers available in the forest repeating the five-syllabled Mantra with devotion. He performed penance for a long time. Though harassed by Raksasa, he somehow maintained his penance. He uttered “Namaḥ Śivaya” like one in great distress. The whole universe including the mobile and immobile beings became ignited due to the penance of that brahmin, the noble Upamanyu.Then the gods went to Vaikuntha and mentioned everything to Vishnu. Vishnu went to the Mandara mountain and explained Shiva that Upamanyu has burnt everything by his penance for obtaining the milk.
Then, the trident-bearing lord Shiva resolved to go there assuming the form of Indra. Seated on a white elephant Sadashiva in the form of Indra went to the hermitage of the sage. He said: – “O elder brother of Dhaumya, I am delighted with your penance. Mention the boon you wish to have. I shall grant you whatever you desire.” The leading sage when urged in reverence — ‘I request you to grant me the boon of devotion to Shiva’.
On hearing that Indra said: — “you do not know me the lord of gods. O brahminical sage, be my devotee. Always worship only me. Welfare be to you. I shall give you everything. Abandon Rudra who is devoid of attributes.”
On hearing that, the sage began to repeat the five-syllable Mantra. He thought that Indra had come there to put obstacles in his holy rites and so said. Upamanyu said: — “You do not know Rudra the lord of the chiefs of the gods, the progenitor of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and who is greater than Prakriti. I desire to get my boon granted by the lord who is separate from Sat and Asat, who is the unmanifest, as mentioned by the propounders of Brahman and who is eternal, single and multifarious. I desire to secure the boon from that lord whom the knowers of truth meditate upon, who bestows the goal of Saṃkhya and Yoga, viz. release. There is no higher truth than Shiva who is the cause of all causes, the creator of Brahma, Vishnu and other gods and who is the lord beyond attributes.”
After saying this, Upamanyu, ready to die himself, eschewed his desire for milk and got ready to kill Indra. He took the ash and reinvigorated it with the Aghorastra mantra. Aiming it at Indra, he cast it off and shouted loudly. Remembering the feet of Shiva he attempted to burn off his body. Upamanyu held the fiery missile ready for discharge. Shiva prevented the missile of the Yogi gently. At the behest of the lord, Nandi caught in the middle the Aghorastra hurled by him. Assuming his own form with the crescent moon for his crest, Lord Shiva revealed himself to the brahmin. The Lord showed to him a thousand oceans of milk, nectar curds, ghee, fruits, foodstuffs and a mountain of sweet pies.
Then Upamanyu, enveloped by the waves of bliss fell at his feet, his mind made humble with devotion. Then the smiling lord Shiva called him nearer, kissed him on the head and granted him boons. Shva said: — “Be my devotee. This goddess Parvati is your mother. You have been adopted as my son. The milk ocean is given to you. So also, the ocean of honey, of rice with curds and ghee and of fruits etc. Your father is lord Shiva. I give you the status of a god; the eternal chieftainship of the Gaṇas. Choose boons as you please. I am delighted. I shall grant you boons. You need not hesitate at all.”
He gave him the Pashupata rite, the Pashupata knowledge and the perpetual ability to propound and discourse. Obtaining the divine boons and the perpetual bachelorhood from Shiva & Parvati he became joyous. The brahmin then requested lord Shiva for a boon: – “O lord of the chiefs of the gods, be pleased. Please grant me devotion to you, great, divine and unflinching. Grant me an abiding faith in persons devoted to you. Grant me the great slavery and the perpetual proximity to you.”
Shiva said: — “O dear Upamanyu, I am delighted. Indeed, everything has been granted by me to you. O brahminical sage, you are of steady devotion. I wanted to test you. Be free from old age, death and misery. Be glorious and endowed with splendour and divine knowledge. Your kinsmen, your family and spiritual lineage shall be everlasting. O excellent brahmin, your devotion to me shall be permanent.”
Thus, granting him the boons lord Shiva who had the lustre of a crore suns, vanished there itself.
(adapted from http://www.dnaofhinduism.com with thanks and my notes).
here is a song, sung by Hemant Kumar, from this film. As usual, the song composed by Chitragupta is very melodious. Enjoy….
Song-Kaun hai beta kaun hai maata (Balyogi Upmanyu)(1958) Singer-Hemant Kumar, Lyricist-Bharat Vyas, MD-Chitragupta
Lyrics
kaun hai beta aa aa
kaun hai maata aa
kaun hai beta
kaun hai maata
chhod de baalak
jag se naata aa
chhod de baalak
jag se naata
kaun pita hai
kaun hai daata
chhod de baalak
jag se naata aa
chhod de baalak
jag se naata
upar ujala bheetar kaala
ye duniya makdee ka jaala
upar ujala bheetar kaala
ye duniya makdee ka jaala
ulajh ulajh kar rah jaata jo o o
ulajh ulajh kar rah jaata jo o o
in taaron mein ghar hai banaata
chhod de baalak
jag se naata
chhod de baalak
jag se naata
man kee trishna mit naheen paaye
jyun jyun bujhaaye badhhtee jaaye
man kee trishna mit naheen paaye
jyun jyun bujhaaye badhhtee jaaye
yogaamrit ka ek hee pyaala aa aa
yogaamrit ka ek hee pyaala
janam janam kee pyaas bujhata
chhod de baalak
jag se naata
kaun hai beta
kaun hai maata aa
chhod de baalak
jag se naata
chhod de balak
jag se naata
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 21, 2025 at 9:40 am
Good Morning,
This is very true.
A great singer and an excellent composer always in my heart. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings
Uma🙏
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