Dekho jee kya samaa hai
Posted on: April 20, 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 the film Sassi Punnu-1946.
This Vasvani Art productions, Bombay’s film was directed by J.P.Gidwani. The Music Director was Pt. Gobind Ram. Lyricist was I.C.Kapoor. The cast of the film consisted of Geeta Nizami, Jairaj, Gope, Yashodhara Katju, Majid, Bibbo, E. Billimoria and others.
1946 was an important year in the history of Hindi films. This was the period when the impending Independence of India was on the Anvil and everyone knew that in the year 1947 it would take place. At the same time when the country was to be divided on the basis of Religion and another muslim country Pakistan was to come into existence. Many of the muslims in the film industry were excitedly awaiting their departure from India to the Utopia. This would, naturally, create a lot of vacancies in every department of film making. However, there was enough talent available in the remaining India to fill up the void. Hence from the year 1946 itself there were several debutantes. This made the year 1946 an year of Debuts of several new actors, directors, MDs, Lyricists etc etc.
The second World War had just ended, which had created inumerable millionaires, fed on black marketing and illegal trades in the war period. Many of them were keen on investing their ill gotten wealth in the film industry. Thus, there was no dearth of finances in the industry. From 1946 to around the early years of the 50’s, some of these ” novo-rich” persons provided finance. Some even tried their hand at directing films or even acting in it. Let us see what other things happened during this period.
By 1946 to 1950 old towers shook hard to crumble. The studio system almost disappeared. Film industry could now boast of people highly educated, talented and hard working. Even artists with International experience and success like Dewan Sharar, Shakuntala Paranjpye, actor Ranjan, Balraj Sahni etc contributed to Indian films. The old horse of Calcutta-New Theatres broke down and actors, directors and Music specialists from Bengal made a Bee-Line to Bombay, thus making it the strongest ever film centre.
1946 was also an year of consolidation, in a sense that due to the iminent Partition of India on the basis of Religion, agreed upon by Gandhi-Nehru combine, made Muslim artistes and filmmakers plan to pack their bags and move over to the new Utopia across the border. Their vacancies were to be filled up by the waiting second line of actors,directors and MDs. The film industry was to have a complete new look within 1-2 years and the beginning was from 1946. Thus the year was very important.
The year 1946 was a year which saw many changes in the film industry. The II world war had just ended. Rationing and control on many items had created Black marketing. This made many people Millionaires. The extra income started getting invested in Film making. The increased cost of Raw Films made filmmaking 7 to 8 times costlier. A film which was made in about 1 Lakh rupees in 1940, needed 8 Lakhs now. Studio system was waning and artiste rates increased in Lakhs instead of thousands.
In 1945, only 74 films were made. This number increased to 153 films in 1946. Further, in 1947, the film industry produced a record number of films – 181, but of course that was due to Partition. The quality of films was sacrificed at the cost of the quantity of films made in 1946. However, some quality films were made in 1946, indicating the changing face of filmmaking.
Film Dharati ke Lal-46 was made by IPTA people and it became the first film to be exhibited in Russia. Neecha Nagar-46 won the Grand Prix award in the French Film Festival. Film Dr. Kotnis ki amar kahani-46 was dubbed in English as ‘ The journey of Dr. Kotnis’. It was shown in the USA and then in the Venice Film Festival. Two musical films- Anmol Ghadi and Shahjahan were made in 1946.
Year 1946 also saw the Debut of several stars and artists ( 35, in different capacities). In fact one can call 1946 as the ” Debut year” of the Hindi film industry. See this….
Nirupa Roy debuted in film Amar Raaj-46
Nasreen (real name Zareena), daughter of Rafiq Gaznavi and Anwari bai had debuted in her first released film ” Shahjahan“-1946.
Geeta Bali debuted with a dance in film Badnami-46
Geeta Roy sang her first film song in film Bhakta Prahlad-46
Balraj Sahni debuted in the film Insaaf-46. It was a small role,though.
K A Abbas-Director, Pt.Ravi Shankar-MD, Balraj Sahni as Hero and Damayanti Sahni as Heroine made their Debut in film Dharti Ke Lal-46
Meena kapoor sang her first released Hindi film song in the film Eight Days-46. She also recorded her first Hindi film song in the film ‘Door Chalen’-1946, which was released later than the film Eight Days-46.
Sudhir Phadke debuted as MD in film Gokul-46
P L Santoshi as Director, Dev Anand, Rehman, Rehana and Kamala Kotnis debuted as actors in film Hum Ek Hai-46
Chitragupta did his first film as MD in Lady Robin Hood-46
Ram Ganguly became MD with film Maharana Pratap-46
Abhi Bhattacharya debuted in Hindi film Milan-46
Chetan Anand as Director, Uma Anand and Kamini kaushal as actresses debuted in film Neecha Nagar-46
Hansraj Behl debuted as MD with film Pujari-46
Madhubala(as Baby Mumtaz) sang her first song in film Pujari-46
Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote his first Hindi film song in film Shahjahan-46
S D Burman as MD and Kishore Kumar as an actor debuted with film Shikari-46
Snehal Bhatkar as MD in –Rukmini Swayamvar-46
Vinod as MD in- Paraye Bas mein-46
Indivar as Lyricist in –Double Face-46
Actress Tasneem in Kuldeep-46
Actress Shashi in-Neera aur Nanda-46
Baby Tabassum in- Nargis-46
Nigar Sultana in- Rangbhoomi-46
Cuckoo as Co-Heroine, as Kishori in- Sona Chandi-46
So, you will find the year 1946 was truly a year of change. The winds of Partition were already blowing and the second line of supplementary artistes was ready to replace the Migrators, after the Partition.
India is a unique country in the world. ” Vividhata mein ekta” (विविधता में एकता ). A country which has 28 states and 9 UTs, 22 languages mentioned in its Constitution, 30 languages spoken by 30 lakh people each, 122 languages spoken by more than 10000 people each and 1652 languages spoken in all the country. So many religions are living amicably for thousands of years and still the country is ONE unit, when the Nation needs it. Proving all the Pundits of the world saying that India will break into pieces after independence, we are stronger and more developed by the day. So, what is the secret ?
The secret is its Culture, which keeps all faiths and languages bound together. In India, Culture is greater than and a bigger influence than individual religions. The flexibility, adaptability and readiness to make changes by the majority section, is the secret. This makes India the biggest Democracy in the world today. The entire world looks up to us as a final Saviour.
Culture and Folklore have bound Indians together. In every state there are its own Folk tales, Folk Dances and Folk Music. Still, some common Folklore is famous all over the country. Though every region has its own Folklores, Lovers’ Folk lore from Punjab and Sind have been traditionally well known throughout India, e.g. Heer-Ranjha or Sohni-Mahiwal etc etc. Our films have a great contribution in keeping the country United and Together,despite calamities and aggressions. Some of the Folk tales of Love from Punjab and Sindh became well known due to films made on them.
There are 9 Tragic Love stories from Punjab and Sindh,in which both the lovers die without getting united. These 9 Love stories are- Mirza-Sahiban, Heer – Ranjha, Sassi-Punnu, Momal-Rano, Umar-marvi, Sohni-Mahiwal, Lila-Chanesar, Noorie-Tamchi, Dhaj-Rorkumar (Unlike most pairs,in Mirza Sahiban,the Male name comes First !). Dhola-Maru (a story from Rajasthan).
Indian film producers have helped spread these Immortal Love stories by making movies on them,as under-
Heer-Ranjha… Films made in 1931,32,48 and 1970
Mirza-Sahiban… In 1933,35,47 and 1957
Sassi-Punnu… In 1932,33 and 1946
Sohni-Mahiwal…In 1933,46,58 and 1984
Umar-Marvi…in 1942
Noorie-Tamchi…In 1934
Dhola-Maru….1956
Besides these, there are some International Love stories which are popular in India. In addition, our epics Ramayana and Mahabharat also had Love stories which entertained Indians. Some of these are given here. There are films made on most of these Love stories. There were Love stories in the Mughal period too.
Romeo Juliet (1947), Laila Majanu (2 films in 1931,1945,1953 and 1976), Shirin Farhad (1931,1945,1956), Uttara Abhimanyu (1946), Subhadra Arjun (1932,1964,1974),
Usha Anirudha (1940,1946), Jodha Akbar (2008), Salim Anarkali ( MEA-1960,1935,1953), Bajirao Mastani (1955, 2015), Amrapali Bimbisar (1945, 1966), Prithviraj Sanyogita(1933,1946), Wamik Azra (1935, 1946).
Mumal Mahendra- No film was made.
Today’s film is on a Sindhi Folk Love story of Sassi and Punnu. Sassi was the daughter of the King of Bhambore (located in the present day Sind province of Pakistan). Astrologers had predicted that she was born with a curse which would eventually destroy the kingdom of Bhambore. So the King ordered that the child should be put in a casket and thrown in the Sindhu river. Instead of getting a watery grave, the child in the box was picked up by a washerman from the river. Taking it as a gift from God, the washerman adopted the child.
Sassi grew up into a beautiful girl. Since Bhambore was located on an ancient trade route, many caravans would pass through it and the stories of the beautiful Sassi would get passed on by word of mouth. Punnu, the prince of Makarna (in the present day Balochistan in Pakistan), got to know about Sassi and decided to travel to Bhambore to see her for himself. Both fell in love with each other. When Punnu went to the washerman with a proposal to marry Sassi, he refused as Punnu was not from his caste. However, later on he gave his consent when he came to know that Punnu was from a royal family. They got married.
Now it was the turn of Punnu’s father to reject the marriage as Sassi was not from the royal family if one goes by her adopted father’s vocation. He sent his other sons to Bhambore to bring back Punnu to Makarna. His brothers planned a plot of celebrating Punnu’s marriage and made him drink to get sufficiently intoxicated. They carried him on a camel and returned to Makarna.
When Sassi came to know as to how Punnu was deceived by his brothers, she could not overcome the grief of separation. She walked barefoot many days crossing the desert to reach Makarna. On the way, she felt thirsty and asked for some water from a passing shepherd. He gave her water but got attracted to her. Watching his dirty intentions, Sassi ran away from him and prayed to God for a hiding place to save her. God heard her prayer. The valley split into two burying her in it.
When Punnu regained consciousness at Makarna, he ran towards Bhambore, calling for his beloved Sassi. On the way, he met the same shepherd who narrated to him as to what happened to Sassi. Hearing the story, Punnu prayed to God to take him back to Sassi. God heard his prayer. The valley again split, burying Punnu alongside Sassi. (Thanks to Sadanand Kamath ji).
Here is a duet, sung by Shamshad Begum and G.M.Durrani, from this film. Enjoy….
Song- Dekho ji kya samaa hai (Sassi Punnu)(1946) Singers- Shamshad Begum,G.M.Durrani, Lyricist- I.C.Kapoor, MD-Pt. Gobind Ram
Both
Lyrics
dekho jee kya sama hai
dekho jee kya sama hai
chaman pe fiza hai
daalee daalee koyal gaaye
dekho jee kya sama hai
dekho jee kya sama hai
chaman pe fiza hai
daalee daalee koyal gaaye
ho o o
mera chhota sa dil lalchaaye
ye husn kee haya hai
zulfon kee ye ghata hai
ye husn kee haya hai
zulfon kee ye ghata hai
chaand baadal mein sharmaaye
chaand baadal mein sharmaaye
dil kaheen se nikla jaaye
dil kaheen se nikla jaaye
aa dil kee jo haalat hai tujhe aaj sunaaoon
aa dil kee jo haalat hai tujhe aaj sunaaoon
ban jaaoon tumhaaree main tumhen apna banaaoon
ban jaaoon tumhaaree main tumhen apna banaaoon
dil dil ke paas aaye
dil dil ke paas aaye
ik dooje se mil jaayen
ik dooje se mil jaayen
phir ga ke ye hai sunaayen
phir ga ke ye hai sunaayen
kya
o o o
mera chhota sa dil lalchaaye
dekho jee kya samaa hai
dekho jee kya samaa hai
chaman pe fiza hai
daalee daalee koyal gaaye
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
April 20, 2026 at 6:20 am
I love this song. Very informative post Arunji. Enjoyed reading it.
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