Gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha
Posted on: April 8, 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 religious film (labelled as ‘social’ film in HFGK) – Alakh Niranjan-1950.
1950 was the final year of the decade of the 1940s and matters which took place in this period had tremendous impact on the coming decade of 1951 to 1960. The rush of Muslim artists to their Utopia- Pakistan, had slowed down and the new entrants to replace them here were in the process of solidifying their presence. The extraordinary success of the Mythological and Religious films in the 1940s decade, with films like Bharat milap, Ram Rajya and Har Har Mahadev gave impetus to such films in the 50s decade, peaking their numbers to 124 in the period 1951 to 1960.
Conversely, Action Stunt and Costume films which had prospered in the 40’s decade went down in the 50s decade, giving way to musical and family drama films. The sudden and unexpected death of Saigal, followed by India’s partition had disturbed the entire film industry.The major centres – Calcutta and Bombay – both had benefited with the songs of Saigal. A large number of Muslim community, working in different departments of filmmaking, had migrated to Pakistan, disturbing the set up. Luckily, India had a very capable second line of talented artistes waiting in the wings. It took 2-3 years for them to show their abilities, thus the period of 1947 to 1950 was full of uncertainties and testing the new entrants.
These 3 years saw the rise and assured performances of the newer Music Directors like Shankar-Jaikishen, S.D.Burman, Roshan, Khayyam, Madan Mohan etc. They were ably helped by the lyricists like Sahir, majrooh, Shailendra, Hasrat, Shakeel Rajendra Krishna, RMA Khan etc. with their meaningful songs. Rafi, Mukesh, Talat, Manna dey, Kishore and Lata, Asha, Shamshad, and Geeta brought the Hindi film music on track and took the industry successfully into the “Golden Era” of HFM.
The film companies made some Milestone movies in 1950.
DAHEJ by V.Shantaram was a powerful comment on the evil custom of Dowry in India. The film- a tragedy- not only conveyed the right message but also paved the way to get an Anti Dowry Law enacted.
JOGAN, a Love story between a Hindu Nun and an atheist lover, made by ranjit movietone had excellent songs and Bhajans.
SAMADHI, by Filmistan brought to light a familial conflict of ideologies between two brothers, with a background of Subhash Babu’s Indian National Army. Its song “Gore gore, o banke chhore’ became an evergreen popular song.
BAWRE NAIN – the second film of the new Music Director Roshan had lovely songs. This tragedy film had Raj kapoor and Geeta Bali.
SARGAM was by Filmistan, but C.Ramchandra’s music made it his film and the songs to remember.
MASHAL, SANGRAM and MUQADDAR, though had good songs, could not save the sinking Bombay Talkies.
The most successful hit film was ” Har Har Mahadev“, a surprise Blockbuster. It heralded a surge of Mythological films for the next 10 years, with 124 Religious films.
Based on a world famous popular strong story ” The Inspector General”, the Hindi film AFSAR could not come up to its level, mainly due to Dev and Suraiyya’s private love affair during the making of this film. However two of her songs in the film became evergreen songs.
The year 1950 brought many Tragedy films and BABUL was one such film.
SHEESH MAHAL, ARZOO and PEHLA ADMI entertained the audience.
Some other good films were Dastaan, Aankhen, Bwqasoor, Anmol Ratan, Dilruba, Gauna, Khel, Khiladi, Lajawab, Nirala, Nirdosh, Pyar and a few others which gave memorable songs too.
Today’s film name is ‘Alakh Niranjan’ aka ‘Raja Gopichand’-1950. We are all aware that “Alakh Niranjan” is the call given by the gossains (गोसाईं) (or followers) of Nath Sampradaya or the fakirs of Kabir Panth, when they visit a fixed number of households to ask for bhiksha (alms). When I was about 6 to 7 years old, during the visits to my Naani’s (maternal grandmother’s) home in a village, I used to hear this call from the gossain, who stood outside the door. Someone from the house used to give uncooked food material like rice, wheat or jowar. Even wheat atta was given. These gossains had a jholi (a spacious carrying bag made of cloth), having 4-5 compartments and they would expertly add the bhiksha to the appropriate compartment. They never took money. These people are also called by the name avadhoot (अवधूत) (a mystic or a saint who is beyond ego-consciousness, duality and common worldly concerns).
Alakh is a term used by Nath Sampradaay for The Creator. It signifies a nirgun (One that is beyond physical attributes) and nirakaar (One that is not bounded by form and shape) manifestation of the Supreme Power. The word alakh also means That which cannot be measured, or perceived by the physical sensory powers and intellect. Niranjan means spotless or pure. Primarily it is a call to identify the Nath Yogi. Niranjan is also another name for Lord Shiva.
A brief description of the Nath Sampradaya . It is likely that some of our readers may not be familiar with the details behind these names. In the Hindu Sanaatan traditions the worship of Lord Shiva is called Shaivism and the worshippers and followers of Lord Shiva are called Shaivs. Nath Sampradaya is a sub tradition within Shaivism. The followers of this tradition consider Adinath or Lord Shiva as their first Lord. The word Nath implies Master. In this tradition, there is a lineage of nine Gurus or Teachers. The form of sadhna practiced by the followers of this tradition is called Hatha Yoga (हठ योग).
The first Guru in this lineage is Matsyendra Nath, who is better known as Machhindra Nath. The traditional history recounts that Matsyendra was born under an inauspicious star. This warranted his parents to throw the baby into the ocean. In the ocean the baby was swallowed by a large fish, and he lived and grew up inside the belly of the fish, for many years. The fish swam to the bottom of the ocean where Lord Shiva was imparting the secrets of yoga to Mata Parvati. Matsyendra overheard this discourse and learnt the secrets of yoga. He began to practice this yog sadhana inside the fish’s belly. After twelve years he finally emerged as an enlightened Siddha.
There is a list of Nine Nath Gurus, who are called Navnath. The first Nath Guru is Machhindra. The complete list is as follows..
Machhindranath
Gorakhnath
Jalandhar Nath
Kanif Nath (Kanhoba)
Gahini Nath
Raja Bhartrihari Nath (Bharthari)
Revan Sidha Nath
Charpati Nath and
Naag Nath.
The stories surrounding every Nath Guru, especially the earlier ones, are very exciting, thrilling and entertaining. One must read them from the original Nath Puraan or Nav Nath Pothi. I have read all of them. These stories are in no way less than any Arabian Night stories. Due to their entertainment value, several films in several languages have been made on the early Gurus like Machhindranath and Gorakhnath. Films on Machhindranath were made as ‘Maaya Machhindra’ in Hindi, in 1932, 1951, 1960 and 1975. Films on Gorakhnath as ‘Alakh Niranjan’, were made in 1940, 1950 and 1975. Films on Bharthari were made in 1932 and 1944. Films on other Naths were made as ‘Raja Gopichand’ in 1933, 1938 and 1950. Similarly films on Naths in Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and other languages were also made.
Raja Gopinath was ruling in Bengal. The film’s story shows how the king’s mind changes and he becomes a member of the Navnath Sampradaya.
Made by Super Pictures, Bombay, the film was directed by Dada Gunjal and the Music Director was Premnath (not the actor Premnath). Both these names may not be well known. The cast of the film included Nirupa Roy, Durga Khote, Sapru, Ulhas, Trilok Kapoor and many others.
Director Vishnupant Mathaji Gunjal or simply Dada Gunjal, was born in Kolhapur in 1904. He was not interested in education, so after passing his Matriculation, he joined the film industry. Initially he worked in various capacities, but concentrated on Directing the films. He established his own Gunjal Production company at Bombay and directed his first silent film Collegian in 1929. Soon ,realising that producing films was not his cake, he shifted to Directing films for Vishwesh film company, Bombay. Making silent films like Bharati, The Bandit, Vijeta, Bewafa qatil, khabardar, Bhedi khanjar etc.
When Talkie films started, he directed Bhakta ke Bhagwan and Ambarish in 1934. Dada Gunjal directed in all 37 films. Some of his films were, Bhakta dhruv, Panihari,Aparadhi, Ekadashi, Mata, Mamta, Tulsi, Bhakta ke Bhagwan, Noorjehan, Baraat, Kirti, Pati patni, Alakh Niranjan, Mother India -1938 etc.
Dada Gunjal died in 1968.
PREMNATH the Music Director was born on 5-7-1918 in Gujranwala, Punjab. He learnt music from experts in Amritsar, Multan and Lahore.He acted in films like Shahr-e-khamoshi and also sang in Sohni Mahiwal-1938.
After marriage, he moved to Bombay. His first film as a Music Director was Rangbhoomi-1946. In this film ,a novice Mohd. Rafi sang many songs for him. His other films were Dharti-47, Chandrahas-47,Sagar’s Pehla pyar-47. He then produced a film ” Chand sitare”-48 under the banner of Ravindra Art productions. Mukesh,Lata and Geeta Roy sang in it. In the film ‘Alakh Niranjan’-50,he used Mohd. Faruqi, Sulochana kadam and Rajkumari.
Premnath gave music to many films of Super pictures of Aspy Irani like Bade Bhaiya-51 and Maya Machhindra-51, in which Surendra, Geeta,Rafi and Shamshad sang. His another film ‘Qatil kaun’ in late 50s was not released. For this film, Rafi, Asha, Manna Dey, Mubarak Begum and Shamshad had given songs.
His films diminished. Sati Vaishalini-59,Main hoon Jadugar-65 and Tarzan in Fairyland-68 were his last films.
After he stopped work as MD,he devoted his time for the welfare of Cine Artists as a trade union leader. As a Secretary, he served in the music Directors Association for 30 years.
He died on 27-4-1993 at the age of 75 years.
Here is today’s song, sung by Rafi and chorus. Enjoy….
Song-Gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha (Alakh Niranjan)(1950) Singer-Rafi, Lyrics-M.L.Khanna, MD- Prem Nath
Chorus
gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha
gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha
gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha
sab sakhiyaan mil gaao
gaao jee
sab sakhiyaan mil gaao
ganga jamuna godaavaree se
ganga jamuna godaavaree se
sheetal jal bhar laao
laao jee
sab sakhiyaan mil gaao
gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha
o dhartee ke nirmal hirnon
o dhartee ke nirmal hirnon
jhoom jhoom lahraao
o o o jhoom jhoom lahraao
surya chandr kee ujjwal kirnon
mangal deep jalaao
jalaao jee
sab sakhiyaan mil gaao
gopichand raaja nahaane ko baithha
gopichand raaja
nahaane ko baithha
gopichand raaja
nahaane ko baithha
ek boond paanee tapka
ye paanee kahaan se aayo jee
paanee thha ya angaara
jis komal badan jalaayo jee
gopee ne maa ko dekha
jis nainan neer bahaayo jee
lo maa ke mukh chandr pe ek chinta ka baadal chhaayo jee
chakit bhaye sab daas daasiyaan
kuch na samjh mein aayo ji
gopichanda vyaakul ho ke maa kee oar uthh dhyaayo jee
maa kee oar uthh dhyaayo jee
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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