So jaa laadley
Posted on: March 17, 2026
This article is written by Satyajit Rajurkar, 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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In Hindi films, a lori refers to a lullaby song sung within the story to soothe a child or express tender emotions such as maternal love, longing, protection, or sacrifice. These songs became a recognizable musical motif in Hindi cinema, especially from the 1940s through the 1980s, when film narratives often included strong family and motherhood themes.
Lullabies in Hindi films are rarely just songs to put a child to sleep; they often carry dramatic or emotional significance. They can serve several purposes such as:
– Expression of maternal love
The most common use is a mother singing to her child, expressing hopes for the child’s future or her deep affection.
– Emotional foreshadowing
Sometimes the lyrics hint at tragedy, separation, or danger that will affect the child later in the story.
– Symbol of sacrifice
A lori may be sung by a mother who is poor, separated from her child, or facing hardship, emphasizing the emotional depth of the scene.
– Connection across separation
In melodramatic stories, a lullaby may later be remembered or repeated when the child grows up, symbolizing lost family bonds.
-Film lullabies tend to share certain musical traits:
* Slow tempo and gentle orchestration (often with strings, flute, or soft percussion).
* Simple melodic lines that resemble traditional folk lullabies.
* Use of Indian raag associated with calmness or devotion, such as lullaby-like modes related to Khamaj or Bhairavi
* Soft vocal delivery, often by female playback singers.
Famous Lori Songs in Hindi Cinema include (but not limited to):
Dheere Se Aaja Re by Lata Mangeshkar from Albela (1951)
Chanda Hai Tu Mera again by Lata Mangeshkar from Aradhana (1969)
Main Gaaon Tum So Jaao by Mohd Rafi from Brahmchari (1967)
Nahhi Kali Sone Chali by Geeta Dutt from Sujata (1959)
Lori songs reflect the Indian cultural ideal of motherhood, often portraying the mother as loving, protective, and self-sacrificing. In classic Hindi cinema, these songs could become deeply sentimental highlights of the film.
They also connect film music with Indian folk traditions, since many melodies and lyrical images—such as the moon (chanda), stars, sleep, dreams, and divine protection—come directly from traditional lullabies sung in homes across India.
From the 1990s onward, lullabies became less common in mainstream Hindi films as storytelling styles changed and family melodrama became less central. However, when used today, they still evoke nostalgia and emotional warmth.
Today’s song is a soft lullaby “So Ja Laadle So Ja Laadle” sung by Lata Mangeshkar, written by Qamar Jalalabadi and composed by Kalyanji Anandji. The song is from the 1967 movie “Mera Munna”.
“Mera Munna” (1967) was a Ranglok Films production. This movie was directed bhy Madhusudan. The movie had Rehman, Nutan, Kanhaiyyalal, Raj Mehra, Manorama, Jagirdar, Sudhir Kumar, Asit Sen, Master Moppet Suraj, Manju, Babloo etc in it.
“Mera Munna” tells the story of a devoted woman whose greatest dream is to have a child and raise a loving family. After marrying the man she loves, she finally gives birth to a son. Her happiness revolves entirely around the child, whom she affectionately calls “Munna.”
However, tragedy strikes when the child becomes seriously ill. The mother’s intense love and determination to save her son form the emotional core of the story, leading to a series of hardships and dramatic situations that test the family’s strength and devotion.
Story in detail:
The film follows a young, kind-hearted woman (played by Nutan) who falls in love with a gentle and responsible man (played by Rehman). After overcoming some family and social obstacles, the two marry and begin their married life with hope and happiness.
For a long time the couple longs for a child. When their wish is finally fulfilled and a baby boy is born, the mother becomes deeply attached to him. She devotes her entire life to caring for the child, dreaming of a bright future for him.
The boy, affectionately called Munna, becomes the centre of the household. The mother’s love for him is unconditional and almost spiritual, and the film depicts many tender moments between mother and child, including lullabies and emotional scenes typical of family melodramas of the era.
But their happiness is threatened when Munna falls gravely ill. The illness brings the family to the brink of despair. Doctors struggle to save him, and the mother undergoes emotional turmoil, praying and sacrificing everything for her child’s life.
The remainder of the film focuses on the mother’s courage, faith, and determination during this crisis. The story builds toward a dramatic emotional climax that emphasizes the strength of maternal love and the bond between mother and child.
One out of the five songs have been posted in the blog. This is the second song. On screen we see Nutan lip syncing to this song.
Video Link:
Audio Link:
Song-So jaa laadley (Mera Munna)(1967) Singer-Lata, Lyricist-Qamar Jalalabadi, MD-Kalyanji Anandji
Lyrics:
so ja laadley ae
so ja laadley
so ja laadley ae
so ja laadley
so ja re so ja mere munne
nindiya chain se
tu mere jeevan ka sapna
jyoti nain kee
ke nindiya aaja re ae
nindiya aa
main tere paass hoon oon
so ja laadley
main tere paass hoon oon
so ja laadley
dheere dheere raat chalee
taaron kee baaraat chalee
jaag raha hai tu hee kyun
soyee hui hai kalee kalee
soyee hui hai kalee kalee
tu so o ja
main tere paass hoon oon
so ja laadley
main tere paass hoon oon
so ja laadley
laakhon sitaare ambar mein
laakhon hain motee saagar mein
ek hee deep hai tu mera
jyot jaley teree jug bhar mein
jyot jaley teree jug bhar mein
tu so o ja
main tere paass hoon oon
so ja laadley
main tere pass hoon oon
so ja laadley
so ja laadley
so ja laadley
so ja laadley
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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