Kisee ka koi naheen jag mein
Posted on: March 19, 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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Today’s song is from a social film – Khan Bahadur-1937.
The year 1937 was a year of Revolution for the newly started Talkie Film. Initially the films were mainly based on Folk tales, Parsi dramas and Mythological stories. 1937 was a year in which the Film industry was trying to drop its old skin and don a New Avtar. From this year, a variety of subjects were used to make films. If we briefly look at some path breaking, landmark films using Novel themes, we will understand how the film industry was attempting to change itself.
The newly established Minerva Movietone made a film on the importance and benefits of Celibacy in the film ‘Atma Tarang’.
Some artistes made their Debuts in 1937, like Ghulam Mohd.,MD for film Banke Sipahi, Comedian V H Desai in film Captain Kirti Kumar, Kishore Sahu in fil Jeevan prabhat, the eternal Mausi of Hindi films, Leela Mishra debuted in film Gangavataran. This was also a Debut film for Dadasaheb Phalke in making a Talkie film. David made his Debut in ‘Zambo-the ape man’.
Prakash films tried their hand at Stunt films with ‘ Challenge’ and ‘His Highness’, using Veterinary actors like Dogs, Horses and a Motorcycle. Prabhat’s iconic film ‘ Duniya Maane na’ shook All India audiences with its story. Shanta Apte sang an English song in it. Bombay Talkies made its first and last Mythological film ‘ Savitri ‘ with Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani.
Gangavataran was a film made by Dadasaheb Phalke. It was his First, the only and his last Talkie film too.
Imperial made India’s first indigenously made First colour film-Kisan Kanya. With this film, however, Master Nissar ended his ‘Hero’ ship as an actor.
Wadia Movietone made India’s first songless talkie film,’ Naujawan ‘, facing the ire of its audience for ‘cheating ‘ them !
‘Zambo – The Ape man ‘ became the first Tarzan type Indian talkie film, beginning a new Genre !
Maadan theatres Calcutta pulled its shutters down with their last Talkie film’ Zinda Bhoot ‘.
1937 was real path breaking for 2 solid reasons….One, for the first time, Playback singing started in a Bombay film with ‘Mahageet ‘. The song was sung by Anil Biswas, its MD and it was filmed on Hiren Bose, in the role of a beggar, near a crematorium (Smashan Bhoomi), as per book ‘ Music without Boundaries’ by Dr. Ashok Ranade,pp183-186.
Secondly,for the first time, in an Indian film successful special effects were used in the film ” Khwaab ki Duniya ” -a film by Prakash Pictures, based on the popular novel “The Invisible Man” by H G Wells. A Hollywood film by the same name was made in 1933. The trick scenes in this Indian film were as good as the Hollywood film. Credit goes to Babubhai Mistri for creating the actions of an Invisible man , on the screen. He was nicknamed ” Kala Dhaga ” after this film.
Here are some more films of 1937….
Atma Tarang…. Minerva movietone’s first film. A resounding flop. Only 20 people for the first show !
Anath Ashram….By New Theatres, Calcutta
Asiai Sitara….By Haribhai Desai. Remake of his own silent film of the same name. Jenabai Pawar, wife of actor Zunzar Rao Pawar, an Anglo Indian (Jena Lawson) was Heroine and she sang few Hindi songs also.
Banke Sipahi… Debut of Ghulam Mohd. as M.D.
Bhishma….First remake of a Tamil film of 1936.Music was by Mukhtar begum.
Bulldog….Indurani as heroine and singer.
Captain Kirti Kumar….Debut of comedian V.H.Desai
Dharam veer and Prem Veer….Both films by Huns Pictures of Master Vinayak.
Duniya Na Maane…. Prabhat film on social evil.
Gentleman Daku…Double role of Leela Chitnis.
Guru Ghantal…. Debut of Om Prakash (Uncredited)
Hurricane Hansa…. Nadia in Wadia’s stunt film.
Insaaf…. First film of total 7 films with the same Title.
Wahan….First film by Prabhat on a story from another planet.
Some noteworthy other films were….
Izzat, Jeevan Prabhat, Khan Bahadur, Khudai Khidmadgar, Kisan Kanya, Mahageet, Moti ka Haar, Naujawan, Pratibha, President, Qazzaq ki Ladki, Shadi ka mamla, Toofani Tarzan, Vidyapati .
Film Khan Bahadur -1937 was the second film made by the newly formed Minerva Movietone. It was directed by Sohrab Modi. Music was by B.S.Hoogan and the cast was Sohrab Modi, Prem Adib, Naseem Banu, Sheela, Shareefa (mother of actress Husn Bano), Eruch tarapore, Sadat Ali, Sadiq Ali ( Called ” Prince of Minerva” in his later career) and others.
The M.D.’s name was B.S.Hoogan. Frankly, how many of us have really heard this name ? Maybe only a few. Until about 8 years ago, I was not even aware of this name. When I first came across this name B.S.Hoogan, in the list of Hindi composers,my first reaction was,what is this foreigner doing in Hindi Films ?
Further when I saw his name as MD in 10-15 films of the 30s, I became very curious and wanted to know more about him.As per my experience so far,I usually got information for any -or almost any-Film personality from my notes,Old cuttings,books,magazines,old articles etc ,or even from an obscure,less known Internet site,but in Hoogan’s case I always found myself at a dead end. There was simply NO information about him anywhere ! It was as if no one in India knew about him or as if he was from some alien planet.
I was perplexed.How can anybody from the Film industry,with so many films to his credit,be such an unknown person ? This was a challenge and I decided ,come what may,to find out about this elusive,dodging and unreachable B.S.Hoogan,at any cost.
Almost one year passed and I found a ray of Hope.
I visited the Blog of Mr.Kamalakar Pasupuleti ji. He is a writer on old films, music and an avid collector of old songs,besides having been an active RMIM worker.He is also a mine of information. Incidentally,he too is from Hyderabad-just like me,and being in the same age group,we enjoy discussing matters relating to people and places in old Hyderabad of the 40s and 50s,when we were youngsters.Later on, he migrated to the USA.
On his Blog, he had written about Hoogan. He had located the nephew of Hoogan, in India and contacted him.He got some information from him about Hoogan. Although the info was not exhaustive, it was a great find. Kamalakarji himself had also written about Hoogan,from his interaction with people who had met Hoogan in Hyderabad. I wrote to kamalakar ji in the USA and he very graciously gave me permission to use all that material for this article.
At this juncture, my luck suddenly decided to cooperate and I found some info about Hoogan in a book.I even found out that the same nephew of Hoogan had uploaded 4 songs of Hoogan,(2 from Parakh-37 and 2 from Meetha Zahar-38) on Hamara Forum.
The nephew of Hoogan was one Prakash Raj. Once he appeared on the Internet forum through some member and he gave some more information. In addition Hoogan’s grandson- Mr. David Singh Hoogan, from Chittaranjan, W.B. appeared on Atul ji’s Blog and gave some more information as late as in 2020. With all this additional new information, I revised the old information and made up this revised new one. So it is not the same, as some may think.
B.S.Hoogan was not a foreigner,he was very much an Indian. His name was BALWANT SINGH HOOGAN. He was tall,of wheat complexion and of medium build. He was born in 1901 at Firozpur, Punjab, where his family was settled. Earlier the family was in Lahore. He was a Kashmiri Brahmin. According to C.Ramchandra also,he was originally from Kashmir.
It seems Hoogan was keen to pursue higher studies in England, so he left Ferozpur. After reaching Bombay, he changed his mind and wanted to be in films being a Music Director.Before becoming a music director he seems to have learnt classical music and western music.He played many western instruments.
In the days of silent films,orchestras used to play in the Theatres ,in front of or behind the screen.During the film also they played appropriate music pieces.It would add live pleasure with moving images. Hoogan learnt this music and conducting orchestra from his teacher,Mr.Victor Aimes,an Englishman,from the Albert Music Company. He learnt writing music in notations and conducting orchestra with a baton. He played in his orchestra of 12 musicians.
Hoogan looked impressive with a Black Tailcoat,Bow-Tie and Grey Trousers,as described by a Hyderabad Nawab,who had been personally introduced to Hoogan in Hyderabad in 1930.
B.S.Hoogan started his career as MD with Ajanta Cinetone of Mohan Bhavnani.He gave music to Afzal,Maya jaal,Rangeela Rajput(all 1933)Dard e dil,Dukhtar e Hind,Mazdoor,Sair e Paristan,Vasavdatta(all1934),Pyar ki maar,Registan ki Rani,Sone ka shahar,sherdil Aurat(all 1935), Begunah,khan Bahadur,Parakh(all1937),Meetha Zahar,Vijay marg(all 1938) and Sansar Sagar-1939.
Total films-18. Songs composed- 231.
Music Director C.Ramchandra, in his Marathi autobiography ( माझ्या जीवनाची सरगम ), wrote about Hoogan. When CR was working in Minerva, He worked with several Music Directors like Habib Khan, Bundoo Khan,Hoogan and finally Meer Sahib. CR learned something from every MD. Hoogan joined the company, in place of Habib Khan, the composer. He showed CR how the Desi Raag can be played on foreign musical instruments. He brought in many Goan orchestra players into the company. CR knew writing notations, Hoogan improved this. Hoogan liked CR very much. Hoogan would take CR with him to all big hotels of Bombay. Orchestras would be playing there. CR learned how those tunes could be indianised in his music here only.
Hoogan would make tunes and ask CR to write the notations. CR would hum those tunes and then improve the tunes. Hoogan would not know. Thus many of his tunes were used by Hoogan without knowing it. In the film Meetha Zehar-1938, Naushad was Hoogan’s assistant. Actors like Nissar, Bibbo, Sheila and Naseem Bano sang for him.
Hoogan had only one son-Avtar Singh. In Bombay, Hoogan contracted Tuberculosis. He started treatment and on doctor’s advice, left for hometown Ferozpur, with family. Soon his illness took a serious turn and B.S.Hoogan died in Ferozepur in September 1938, at the age of 37 only. In another few months, his wife too died and his son was taken care of by his maternal Uncle. The son Avtar singh got a job in Railways at Chittaranjan, W.B. and he moved there. He converted to Christianity. He had a son David who also settled in W.B. only. After conversion his family in Ferozpur broke off all contact with them. His story ends thus.
Khan Bahadur-37 was the Debut film for Prem Adib, as a Hero. In later years, he became famous in the role of Shri Ram, along with Shobhanaq Samarth in the role of Seeta, in films made by Prakash pictures. While he was in Minerva, a special teacher was appointed to teach him singing. It was here that he fell in love with actress Indurani and they had a Love child.
Prem Adib and Naseem Banu were the cutest and most beautiful couple on screen in those days. Prem Adib was a Kashmiri Bramhin and Naseem had earned a title “Pari Chehra” (face of a Fairy) and truly so. However, both were singers by force. They were not singers but made to sing. Actually, at that time Hero and Heroines had to sing their own songs ( exception- Jairaj. That was because everyone, including the MD and directors, dreaded his terrible singing. He was probably the only Hero from the 30s and 40s, who never ever sang own songs !).
Prem Adib sang 26 songs in 9 films, from Industrial India-38 to Police-44. None of his songs became popular. Thank God, he was not asked to sing a song in the role of Shri Ram. Probably Prakash pictures were well aware that making him sing in Bharat Milap-42 or Ram Rajya-43 would surely kill the film ! Naseem was more dangerous than him in this matter. She actually sang 39 songs in 13 films – from Vaasanti-38 to Mulaqat-47. Luckily for her, one song – just one song – from the film Pukar-39 ( zindgi ka saaz bhi kya saaz hai, baj raha hai aur be aawaaz hai), sung by her had become popular in those days. However, for this song, in my opinion, the MD- Meer Sahib should get the credit for its tune.
After starting Minerva Movietone, Sohrab Modi’s first film was ” Atma Tarang”-1937, based on the importance of Celibacy. The film was a resounding flop, with only 20 people in the audience, for the first show. Naturally, Modi was disappointed, but he learnt a lesson that he should not make a film onn what HE likes, but a film should be made on what the Audience wants.
His second film was Khan Bahadur-37, based on the bravery and generosity of a Muslim king who became famous for his bravery. The English rulers gave him the title of Khan Bahadur. The film did a reasonable business. This incident infused him with new hopes and enthusiasm. This changed his life. Initially he focused on making films on social evils like Drinking (Meetha Zehar-38), Husband-wife separation ( Divorce-38) and Incest ( Bharosa-40 ). Enthused with this experience, he made successful films and took his company to the Top.
What does Khan Bahadur mean ? Is it a name or a Title or a popular decoration ? 1937 was a British Raj period. In those days the British awarded different titles to Public Achievers, kings and those who were Loyal to the crown. As such ” SIR ” and ” KNIGHTHOOD ” were the highest decorations already, but they were given to highly educated or the members of Royalties of India only. So, the British introduced 3 level Titles for the other public and small kings etc.
First Grade level…. Nawab Bahadur ( for Muslims) or Dewan Bahadur (For Hindus)
Second Level…. Khan Bahadur (Muslims) or Rai Bahadur (North Indian Hindus) or Rao Bahadur (South Indian Hindus) and
Third level….Khan Sahib (Muslims) or Rai Sahib or Rao Sahib (Hindus).
Here is the 4th song from this film, sung by Naseem Bano. The song may not sound so good, but being almost 90 year old, it has a historical value. Enjoy ….
Song- kisee ka koi naheen jag mein (Khan Bahadur)(1937) Singer- Naseem Bano, Lyricist- Not known, MD- B.S.Hoogan
Lyrics
kisee ka
koi naheen jag mein
kisee ka
koi naheen jag mein
ke sab dhan maan na ho ?? mein
ke sab dhan maan na ho ?? mein
kisee ka koi naheen jag mein
??? man mein
?? man mein
?? bhee na rahe ?? mein
kisee ka koi naheen jag mein
kisee ka koi naheen jag mein
phool khile dekhat gulshan ke
daud aaye bhanware
phool khile dekhat gulshan ke
daud aaye bhanware
loot loot ke ras phholan ke
loot loot ke ras phholan ke
aur phir udd bhaage
bhanwra hai matlab ras ras mein
kisee ka koi naheen jag mein
kisee ka koi naheen jag mein
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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