Ek mohak sapna aayaa
Posted on: April 11, 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 an obscure and less known film- Miss Devi-1944.
This film had a story revolving around twin sisters who looked alike. The 1940s were replete with such ‘ Look alike’ films, as if there was a great demand for these films. Few days back I wrote about the film Dhandora-1941 which too had ‘Look alikes’ in its story. Another well known film was Muqabla-1942, a film with Fearless Nadia, with such a story. I have always wondered why the film stories get repeated so frequently, as if there is a shortage of imagination. Few years ago, I answered this question.
Some directors like Manmohan Desai and Nasir Hussain made several films on the same basic plot with little changes made here and there. Earlier Master Bhagwan used to make C grade action films on a fixed storyline only changing the names in every film. And surprisingly, all these people were highly successful !
Do we have a shortage of stories for films ? Not only just for films, but overall, the world revolves around only 7 basic plots. In 2004, a book called “Why we tell stories’, written by Christopher Booker was published. It is a book having more than 700 pages-728 pages to be exact. The book says “There are only 7 (Seven) basic plots in the whole world. They are recycled again and again in Novels, movies, Plays and Operas. These are….
1.Overcoming the Monster
2.Rags to riches
3.The quest
4.Voyage and return
5.Rebirth
6.Comedy/Tragedy and
7.Mistaken identity.
After this book was published, there was chaos and criticism started. ‘New York Times’ also jumped in. The author coolly replied to all points and stuck to his statements. If we look at Hindi films, I personally feel that what the author has said is true in our case. Only thing is that our film stories are always a clever mixture of all or some of the above points.
The onset of the second world war from 1939 to 1945 imposed several restrictions on the film industry. One of them was to get an extra quota of raw film, the producer had to make one Propaganda film as a war effort of the British. Many big film houses suffered ( New Theatres actually broke down) due to this. Raw film was available in Black market at an exorbitant price ( many people made millions in such Black markets of essential commodities and they invested in the film industry later).
Film Miss Devi-1944 was one such film of propaganda. Unfortunately, by the time the film got completed, censored and finally got released the war had almost ended, thereby losing the very purpose of the film. Germany had surrendered on 8-5-1945. The USA dropped Atom Bombs on Japan on 6th and 9th August 1945. Japan surrendered on 2-9-1945 and the war ended totally. Miss Devi-44 was censored in 1944, but was released on 10-8-1945 in Capitol Theatres, Bombay. By that time the relevance of war propaganda had lost its sheen and need. This affected the film’s running. Another film released almost at the same time on the same theme was Panna, made by Navyug Films of Acharya Atre. Of course, the lead role of film Panna was done by Geeta Nizami, who was no match to Leela Desai in any way !
According to Film India, october-45 issue the story of Miss Devi was about Twin sisters Rani and Devi (Leela Desai). Rani becomes a spy for Japan, whereas Devi is sober, homely, beautiful etc. Devi falls in love with Dr. Ramesh (Surendra).Being a story of twins, there were many scenes of misunderstandings, comedy, song and dances. In the end Rani gets punishment and Devi gets Dr.Ramesh.
The film Miss Devi-1944 was made byLaxmi productions, Bombay, a banner owned by the film’s director Chiman Lal trivedi. Music was by Ashok Ghosh and the cast consisted of Leela Desai, Surendra, Jagdish Sethi, Agha, Moni Chaterjee and others.
Leela Desai was one of the ‘Same Name Confusion’ group in which there were Leela (Chandragiri), Leela (Sawant) and Leela (Mishra) working in the same period in Hindi films. Leela Desai was born in the USA.(There was another Hindi film heroine-Husn Bano- who was born in Singapore).
Leela Desai was the daughter of Dr. Umedbhai Lalbhai Desai-a Gujarati and his wife Satyabala Devi- a Bengali from Bihar, who was a famous and prominent singer of the 1930s. She was born on 1-1-1909 in Newark,New Jersey, America, where her parents had gone for a 3 year work trip. She grew up in India. She learnt dancing from Amla Devi-who married Uday shanker, as well as from Lachhu Maharaj and Sohan lal. She also learnt music at Marris College , Lucknow.
Leela Desai was the 4th of the 5 children born to Dr Umedram Desai from Gujarat and Satybala Devi, daughter of a Bengali landlord settled in Bihar. It was a second marriage for both of them as Satyabala Devi lost her husband during childhood while Dr Umedram Desai got married to his first wife in his childhood through whom he had two sons. Later, Dr Umedram Desai married Gunobati Mitter, a Bengali Christian, for the third time with whom he had 6 children. Before her marriage, Gunobati Mitter worked as a tutor for the children of Dr Umedram Desai and Satyabala Devi in Rampur. So apart from her own 4 siblings, Leela Desai had 8 step brothers/sisters.
Leela Desai was trained in the Bhatkhande Music Institute established in Lucknow in 1926. It has played a vital role in training generations of performing artistes, dedicated gurus and gifted composers…Lucknow has contributed music directors, (like Naushad, Madan Mohan, Roshan), actors and actresses (like Kumar, Iftekar, Akhtari Bai, Bina Rai, Yashodhara Katju, Swaranlata), singers (Talat Mahmud, Anup Jalota, Dilraj Kaur, Krishna Kalle), writers (like Amritlal Nagar, Bhagawati Sharan Varma, Achala Nagar), lyricists and dancers. Lachhu Maharaj was a very successful choreographer for many films. Pahadi Sanyal, Leela Desai and Kamlesh Kumari of New Theatres at Calcutta were all trained here.
In one of her stage performances in Lucknow, NT’s Director Hem Chander saw her and invited her to Calcutta for work in films. She worked in the film President-37 as the sister of Kamlesh Kumari, opposite Saigal. It was followed by Vidyapati-37, Dushman-38, Kapal kundala-39 and Nartaki-40. She also did Adarsh Mahila-37 with Ideal Film company.
Leela Desai had been invited by the students of the Intermediate College in 1941. Bangalore had the distinction of holding festivals of films made by New Theatres’ and Prabhat Film Co.
B.N. Sircar’s empire introduced personalities of the stature of P.C. Barua, Bimal Roy, Debaki Bose, Leela Desai, Phani Majumdar, Timir Baran, Umashashi, Nitin Bose, K.. Saigal, Pankaj Mullick, Nemo, Sisir Kumar Bhaduri and Jamuna, all of whom later earned all India fame, under the banner of New Theatres. Among his technical achievements were the bringing of sound to Calcutta for Bengali films, and the introduction of the playback system. The elephant logo of New Theatres acted as a magnet to draw crowds throughout the country.
Chimanlal Trivedi brought her to Bombay to act opposite Jairaj in the film Tamanna-42. She acted in 5 films of Chimanlal Trivedi. After tamanna, Leela Desai acted in films like Sharafat,Paraya Dhan, Nagad Narayan,Inkaar, Mujrim, Miss Devi,Kaliyan, Meghdoot,Maharani Minal Devi,Magadhraj,Kamla, Dev kanya, Soorat and last film Geet Govind-47.
She acted opposite leading actors like K L Saigal, Najmul Hasan, Jairaj, Pahadi Sanyal, Surendra, Chandra Mohan, Khalil, Baburao pendharkar etc etc. She worked under top directors like Debki Bose, Nitin Bose, Kidar Sharma, Phani Mujumdar and others. Her sister Monica Desai ( who married Phani Mujumdar) was also in films. In 1944, Leela also acted in the movie Kaliyan with Ramola. Ramola also acted in the film Lalkar in the same year. In a span of just 10 years, Leela Desai acted in 21 films and then left films.
She settled in Darjeeling with her mother. Lila Desai owned a house in Darjeeling called “Lily Cottage”. Her mother Satyabala Devi lived there until her death. It is possible that Lila knew Manjula or Sumitra Sanyal in Darjeeling. Lila Desai is mentioned in Bollywood actress Sumitra Sanyal’s site.
Baburao Patel said this about Leela Desai…. “What shall be said of Leela Desai, who acted the part of the President’s sister, the mischievous school-girl, and who always took the active part in the love-making between her and Prakash Babu (Saigal)? I cannot find a single fault with her acting. She played up to Saigal splendidly. Even her eyes were most expressive. What naughtiness was in them? As a shameless hussy she could give points to any of your Hollywood actresses–and win. In the love-duet between her and Saigal it was she who always led. She was the personification of Mr. Bernerd Shaw’s pet notion that, in this eternal amorous game, it is the woman who leads the man on and not, as is commonly supposed, the other way about.
From the moment she jumped down her school garden-wall and almost fell plump into the arms of Prakash Babu, who was sitting below chewing the end of his reflections and his dismissal from his job, she never, in a manner of speaking, left him to himself. She would bring down the house with her: “Uske bad kya hua, Prakash Babu?” The poor man had to dance to her measure ever afterwards. When she found herself with him alone she gave us the impression of having fed on honey-dew and on the milk of paradise. Then, in addition to her sparkling dialogue and supremely ‘alive’ acting, she was gorgeous in her dancing performance. Her whole face was a mirror in which her thoughts were reflected. She was an imp of mischief from commencement to conclusion.”
The Music Director Ashok Ghosh started his music career as an assistant to Pransukh Nayak, for Sagar Movietone film Dr. Madhurika-35. He impressed the company with his work and he was given the film Manmohan-36 as an independent Music Director. He had a new assistant named Anil Biswas.
Anil Biswas came from Calcutta along with his Mentor Hiren Bose. In Bombay, he first worked as a joint MD for the films Bal Hatya-35 and Bharat ki Beti-35. He got his first film Dharam ki Devi-35 as MD. Anil Biswas joined Sagar as an assistant to Ashok Ghosh. The songs of Manmohan became very popular and famous, especially ” tumhi ne mujh ko prem sikhaya” by Surendra and Bibbo. According to Anil Biswas, he made the song, but Ashok Ghosh always maintained that it was his song. To stress his ownership of this song, Ghosh included the same song in film Nirdosh-41, this time sung by Mukesh and Nalini Jaywant.(This song is not available as a record was not made).
After Sagar merged into National Studios, Ghosh gave music to Sanskar-40, Kasauti-41, Nirdosh-41 and Gareeb-42 ( Here again Anil Biswas was his co-MD). Then came Angoothi-43, Sharafat-43, Inkaar-43 and Miss Devi-44 and Aarati-45. His last film was Gunjan -48.Ashok Ghosh left Bombay for Calcutta, where he spent his rest of life.
Here is today’s song from this film, sung by Ameerbai Karnataki. Enjoy….
Song- Ek mohak sapna Aaya (Miss Devi)(1944) Singer- Amirbai Karnataki, Lyricist- not known, MD- Ashok Ghosh
Lyrics
Ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya
ek mohak sapna aaya
ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya aa
ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya
chupke se koi paas mein aa ke
chupke se koi paas mein aa ke
phir nainon se nain milaa ke
apna mujhe banaayaa aa aa
ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya
apne man kee phul bagiya mein
apne man kee phul bagiya mein
prem ka jhoola daala aa
prem ka jhoola daala
baanh galey mein daal ke usne
baanh galey mein daal ke usne
jaadoo sa kar daalaa aa aa
ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya
saagar kee lehron mein aen
saagar kee lehron mein aen
chhod dee jeewan naiyya hamne
chhod dee jeewan naiyya
main usmein bahtee jaatee thhee
main usmein bahtee jaatee thhee
wo thhaa bana khiwaiyya
haan haan
wo thhaa bana khiwaiyya
prem(??) ek ?? sapna dekhoon
wo(?) baanke rasiya ko dekhoon
jo man mein mere samaayaa aa
ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya
ek mohak sapna aaya
na jaane kyoon man bhaaya
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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