Satyamev jayate Satyamev jayate
Posted by: Atul on: January 17, 2026
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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Film Naya Kadam-1958 was a social film stressing the need to teach the children the right things, from childhood. Excessive pampering not only spoils the child but also makes the parents repent when it is too late. In this film,Balraj was paired with Sulochana (Latkar). The film was directed by S P Kalla, who also wrote a few songs for the film. The music was given by the pair of Pt. Shivram and Narayan Datt. The cast of the film was Balraj, Lalita Pawar, Nazir Husaian, Sulochana Latkar, Sunder, Daisy Irani, Bhagwan, Roopmala,Tilak Raj etc. The songs were written by Bharat Vyas, Shailendra and S.P.Kalla.
By his looks, Balraj Sahni was surely not a Hero’s material in Hindi films. He was not a handsome person, which was a necessity in those days. He also never sang a song. However, he was a friend of many people who were already in the film industry and so, he also wanted to try this medium. When I was reading his autobiography, titled Meri Filmi Atmakatha (My Film Autobiography), detailing his journey in Hindi cinema with interesting stories and insights, I was impressed with his style of writing. while a more personal memoir about him, The Non-Conformist, was written by his son, Parikshit Sahni, offering intimate glimpses into his life as a man, actor, and patriot, complete with unseen photos. He also authored travelogues like Mera Pakistani Safar and Mera Rusi Safarnama, winning awards for the latter.
Few years back, when I first wrote about Balraj Sahni, I had said that Balraj Sahni was a different type of person than all other film actors. It is surprising how he came into the film line, in the first place. Basically he was a very sensitive writer and stage actor, but having once entered the film world, he continued for the sake of earning a livelihood, making a lot of compromises on his journey of life. I still stand by what I had said. It is worthwhile to even repeat it.
In the days when not many educated people came into films,Balraj-a double MA in English and Hindi joined the films. In the conventional way he was not a handsome person,but his superior acting prowess compensated for this. In an industry,which is a ‘show business’, he was never counted amongst the Top grade stars, though critics and learned viewers always found him excellent. You can never imagine a Raj Kapoor or a Dev Anand in a film like Seema or Kabuliwala, nor can a Dilip Kumar fit into ‘Do Bigha Zameen’. For such roles Balraj was matchless. After the film Do Bigha Zameen, he and Nirupa Roy became India’s most loved, poor and uneducated, good natured and simple couple for many subsequent films. Together, they acted in 12 films.
Due to this, Balraj never got any romantic or Glamorous roles. However, to earn his daily bread satisfactorily, he compromised and worked in several B grade movies, like Black Cat-59, opposite a Non actress Minu Mumtaz !
Yudhishthir Sahni aka Balraj Sahni was born in Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan) on 1st May, 1913 to a Punjabi family. After completing his Bachelor of Arts (Hindi), and post graduation in Masters of Arts (English Literature), both from Punjab University; he got married to Dayamanti. It was in the late 1930s that both husband and wife moved to Bengal to join Rabindra Nath Tagore’s Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan as English and Hindi teacher. It was about the same time that in 1936 Balraj wrote his first compilation of Hindi fiction called “Shahzadon ka Drink”. It was also in Bengal that Balraj and Damayanti’s son, Parikshit was born. In 1938, Sahni went to work with Mahatma Gandhi for a year and the very next year went to England to join the British Broadcasting Network’s Hindi service as a radio announcer. In 1943, he returned to India.
It was in 1944 that Sahni moved to Bombay and joined the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), a group with which he also started his acting career, albeit through plays. In the same year, he bagged a role in the film “Insaf”, which marked the beginning of his acting career in the Hindi film industry. “Dharti ke Lal” and “Door Chalein” were his next releases in the same year. (In 1947, after doing the Heroine’s role in the film Gudiya-47, Damayanti expired. Two years later, Balraj married his first cousin Santosh Chandhok and they had 2 children.) It was, however, the film “Do Bigha Zameen” that established his strengths as an actor. The movie was directed by Bimal Roy and came out in 1953; it also won the international prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is now considered a classic.
In the years that followed, he played many leading roles in commercial films opposite actresses like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Vyjayanthimala, and Nutan in films “Lajwanti” (1958), “Ghar Sansar” (1958), “Satta Bazar” (1959), “Kathputli” (1957), and “Sone Ki Chidiya” (1958) respectively. These films further established his position as a versatile actor. In the 1961, film “Kabuliwala”, written by Tagore, went on to become another of his classics. To prepare for the role, Balraj lived with kabuliwalas in a Bombay suburb. His character roles with strong performances in films like “Haqeeqat” (1964), “Waqt” (1965), “Do Raaste” (1969), “Ek Phool Do Mali” (1969), and “Mere Humsafar” (1970) further left an indelible mark in the film fraternity and fans alike. The legendary song “Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen” from the film “Waqt”, picturized on Balraj Sahni and Achala Sachdev is still etched deep in peoples’ memories and is loved by the current generation as well. They acted in 3 films.
Along with successfully proving his acting prowess, he also displayed exceptional directing skills through the film Lal Batti (1957), where passengers are forced to spend a night together at the railway platform at the time of India’s independence. Balraj co-directed this movie along with Krishan Chopra. His performance in the film “Garm Hava” (1973) is considered to be the best, till date. Sadly, this was his last film before his death.
Sahni’s writing career began with “Shahzadon Ka Drink” that came out in 1936. This was his first compilation of Hindi fiction. He went on to become an esteemed writer in Punjabi literature. He wrote “Mera Pakistani Safar” shortly after his visit to Pakistan in 1960. After a tour to the Soviet Union in 1969, he wrote “Mera Rusi Safarnama”. This book also earned him the Soviet Land Nehru Award. He also wrote his autobiography called “Meri Filmy Atmakatha”. Sahni even penned the screenplay for the 1951 released film “Baazi”, starring Dev Anand and directed by Guru Dutt. Apart from this, he wrote a number of poems, short stories, and contributed to the Punjabi magazine Preetlari.
Going through depression for some time after his young daughter Shabnam’s untimely death, Balraj Sahni passed away on 13th April, 1973 at the age of 59 following a cardiac arrest. He is survived by his son Parikshit, who is also an actor in the Hindi film industry.
Balraj Sahni received the Padma Shri Award in 1969. Balraj Sahni earned the ‘Soviet Land Nehru Award for his book Mera Rusi Safarnama in 1969. Balraj Sahni starrer movie ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ won the international prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953. Balraj Sahni joined the BBC-London’s Hindi service as a radio announcer from 1939-43. ‘Punjabi Kala Kender’, founded in 1973 at Mumbai by Balraj Sahni, gives away the annual Balraj Sahni Award’. ‘All India Artists Association’ also gives away the annual ‘Balraj Sahni Award’.
The other day,I was reading the Autobiography of Balraj Sahni. His style of narration is very good. He does not miss even the smallest details. The part of his life when he entered the Hindi films is extremely readable.
When he was with BBC, London,he was deputed to attend a seminar in Poona,India. He came down with his wife Damayanti and they stayed with a friend-Appasaheb Pant, the scion and Yuvraj of Aundh-a princely state in British India, in Maharashtra.( He later became the High Commissioner to Britain, post Independence). One evening they all went to see a film “Manoos'(Aadmi-39) of Prabhat, directed by V.Shantaram. After seeing the film,he was terribly impressed with Shantaram’s direction and was all praise for him.
When Balraj left the BBC and returned to India,he was again in Poona. This time he went to see Shantaram, with prior appointment. When he reached the Gate, a person was waiting for him. He was taken to the reception room. That man left. In the room there was one more person with a Black cap-which was very common for Maharashtrians, those days. Balraj thought he too was another visitor like him. After a few minutes, that man asked in excellent English if he was Balraj Sahni. Balraj was astonished and nodded affirmatively. That man got up and said,’I am Shantaram. Nice to see you’. Later Shantaram took him around the studio etc.
Balraj returned to Bombay absolutely mesmerized with Shantaram. While in Bombay they were loitering, when they suddenly met Chetan Anand- his old friend. They were very happy to see each other. Chetan took them to his 4 bedroom spacious flat in Pali Hill,Bandra.They stayed with him for a few days. Balraj had decided to work in films and was negotiating for his role in film Insaf, while Chetan was busy in his Neecha Nagar-46. One evening they went to see the film ‘Shakuntala’, made by Shantaram. After seeing the film Balraj was very much upset and started criticising Shantaram that his standard has gone down, compared to Aadmi-39.
Chetan Anand smiled and said, “Shantaram has made a film for Box office.” Balraj did not understand. Chetan Anand explained, ”’ One can not go on making art films alone. To run the studio, you need money. Shantaram being a good businessman, he makes such films which earn him money. With this money he can make more meaningful films. For example after Shakuntala, Shantaram made Parbat pe apna Dera-44 and then his memorable film Dr. Kotnis ki amar kahani-46. This is how the maths of cinema works”.
There are many such incidents described in his Autobiography which is highly readable,not only for his story but also for glimpse into the film scenario of the 40s and 50s. I can not go on,due to constraints of the length of this article. Maybe some other time I will tell you more from his book.
Balraj has done 101 films. His first film was ‘Insaaf’-46 and the last film of Balraj, to be released well after his death was “Amaanat’-77.
The story of this film was….
This is the story of a mother and her son. The story of a mother who in blind wave of affection, completely blighted the life of her son and wrecked the peace and happiness of her home. . Kishen ( Balraj Sahni) an ordinary clerk but an upright god fearing man, was in constant disagreement with his wife Radha ( Lalita Pawar)over the way in which she was bringing up their children Raju and Leela.
He always asserted that the home was the first school of the children and the education that the children received there would shape their destiny. But Radha thought otherwise. She had some very definite views on the subject herself. She believed in indulging and pampering her children. Kishen warned her of the consequences, but Radha paid no heed to his words and when she found her wishes being thwarted,she started persecuting her aged in-laws Shambhu( Nazir Hussain) and Parvati (Sulochana) .This state of affairs made Kishen very unhappy. desperately he sought ways and means of augmenting his meagre income and thereby restoring the former peace and felicity to his home and health. And one night in a fit of desperation he left his home in search of a more lucrative job, which he found at Bahrain for a contracted period of ten years.
The influx of money brought Radha into her elements. Her blind love for her son Raju alienated everybody else from her favour. Raju had become the centre of her world. His wishes were laws. Little did she realise then the cause she had so fiercely to her breast would one day, in a blind impulse sweep aside everything; near and dear to her That one day life would hand her such a heavy bill of fare which her meagre resources would be hard put to meet. That the house of cards which she was building would come down one day, bringing ruin and destruction around her.
Protected by his mothers indulgences Raju became a confirmed liar, cheat and a thief, and over the period of ten years that his father sweated blood at Bahrain, his education was completed. Raju had become the very epitome of vice. Too late Radha realised the enormity of her acts, but by then the water had passed over her head. Raju had crossed the rubicon.
After ten years of blood sweating and back breaking labour, Kishen returned home with his dreams of a happy home and grown up children who would relieve his ageing shoulders of the burden they had long carried. But that was not to be, what he saw around him were the ruins of his hopes and dreams. But being a man he gathered the trouble in an attempt to rebuild the edifice that his hands had one day fashioned. .
He threw Raju out of his house. When he was arrested by Police,he refused to stand a bail for Raju. Raju as well as his mother now realise what has happened due to pampering. Raju was sentenced to 3 months in jail. Kishen went to prison to meet his son. Raju wept and promised to mend his ways. Kishen told him to start a new life and that he will help him in his efforts. Raju learnt technical skills in the jail and after he came out he started his own small business.
After a few years, Raju improved his business. Now his parents were also happy. The Naya kadam that Kishen took for Raju proved to be the right one.
Here is a song – a Marching song – sung by Manna Dey and chorus, nicely composed by Pt. Shivram krishna. Enjoy….
(Thanks to Syed Zafar Shah ji for making this song available to me and Sadanand Kamath ji for uploading it promptly for me.)
Song- Satyamev jayate Satyamev jayate Naya hai din nayi hai raat (Naya Kadam)(1958) Singer-Manna Dey, Lyricist- Bharat Vyas, MD- Pt. Shivram krishna
Chorus
Lyrics
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
Naya hai din
nayi hai raat
lo naya hua prabhat
ik naya hi josh bhar ke
dil mein hum
nayee dagar pe chal pade
naye kadam
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
yaad karo tum Pratap kee kahaaniyaan
Pratap kee kahaaniyaan
har har har Mahadev
yaad karo Laxmi jaisee veer raaniyaan
?? kee veer raaniyaan
Inquilab zindabad
inhone desh per luta dee zindgaaniyaan
yaad karo un shaheedon kee nishaaniyaan
unke laa rakh kee tumhen qasam
nayee dagar pe chal pade naye qadam
aa aa aa
aa aa aa
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
lo zamaana ik naya hee rang la raha
naya hee rang la raha
Satyam Shivam Sundaram
satya ka ye surya mukti mantr gaa raha
swatantr mantr ga raha
Vande Mataram
ab dilon se door andhkaar jaa raha
nayee pawan naya gagan hai muskura raha
aadmee ka ab hua naya janam
nayee dagar pe chal pade naye kadam
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
Satyamev jayate
naya hai din
nayee hai raat
chalo nay hua prabhat
ik naya hee josh bhar ke dil mein hum
nayee dagar pe chal pade naye kadam
Satyamev jayate (aa aa aa)
Satyamev jayate (aa aa aa)
Satyamev jayate (aa aa aa)
Satyamev jayate (aa aa aa)
Satyamev jayate
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
January 17, 2026 at 5:02 am
Suna hai maine
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