Japo Raam japo Raam Siya Raam japo bhaiyya
Posted by: Atul on: April 22, 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 Rambaan-1948.
The film was made by Prakash Pictures, Bombay, known for popular Mythological films like Bharat milap-1942 and Ram Rajya-1943. The film was directed by one of the owners-Vijay Bhatt. Music was by Shankar Rao Vyas, an old loyal composer of prakash Pictures. 3 Lyricists wrote 8 songs. Pt. Indra (4 songs), Neelkanth Tiwari (3 songs) and Moti B.A. (1 song). The cast of the film was a tested one with record breaking films earlier. Shobhana Samarth, Prem Adib, Umakant, Chandra Mohan, Ram Singh, Raj Adib (brother of prem Adib), Leela Mishra, Ameerbai Karnataki, Janakidas, Laxman, Seetaram and Thaudi with many others.
This was the period when the studio system was crumbling. Many tall giants like the Imperial, Madan, New Theatres, Bombay talkies, Ranjit, Prabhat etc. were either closed down or were on its way,in a short time. In this scenario, prakash pictures survived for another 20-25 years. This was because of the ” Never say…Die” spirit of the Bhatt brothers. However, their survival had lost the sheen of their earlier glory.
This is what exactly happens when you take your audience for granted and feel that ‘ whatever you make will sell easily ! In the Hindi film industry many well known writers,novelists, drama writers and famous poets came. Most of them were disillusioned with the atmosphere of intolerance with their stories or songs and left the industry disgusted. Offhand I can remember the names of premchand and R.K.Narayan, who were unhappy with the twisting of their works and left the film world.
The same thing happened with Prakash. After 2 highly successful Ramayana story films, they wanted to present the third one with some novelty. And they played with the Ramayana story -which was in people’s hearts for hundreds of years. Tampering with a novel, drama or a song is one thing and meddling and changing the generations old Epic story as per your whims is different and unpardonable. The audience punished the film Rambaan-1948 and madeit a resounding flop !
The lead pair of Prem Adib and Shobhana Samarth had become extremely popular all over the country as Ram and Seeta, after their two films Bharat Milap and Ram Rajya. These two actors came together for the first time in the film Industrial India-1938. After this they worked in 11 more films plus one more film Ramayan-54, which was concocted by joining parts of 3 films made by Prakash Pictures on Ram and Seeta. After this film-Rambaan- Prakash films focused on social and musical films and made memorable films like Baiju Bawra-52 and Gunj Uthi Shehnai-59.
The stories of Rama and offshoots of Ramayana have always inspired filmmakers. Mahabharat too did the same. In Hindi alone, films on Rama stories are around 25 ( not counting obvious other films like Ram aur Shyam, Ram Lakhan or Ram Balram etc.). Practically, in every Indian language and dialects, Nepalese and Sinhalese, Ram films are made. However, the kind of fame, popularity and the Box office returns that the Film Ram Rajya-43 earned is beyond imagination. Calendars from 1944 to 1950 featured Shobhana and Prem as Ram and Seeta. Wherever these stars went they were mobbed and people used to touch their feet, treating them as Ram and Seeta.
Enthused with this fabulous response, Prakash was planning a third film on Ram and Seeta as a last film in the Trilogy of Ramayan Stories. They waited for a good five years and made Rambaan-48.
Ramayan and Mahabharata are the two major Religious Epics for Indians. Ramayana has been popular and widespread all over the Eastern World. There are in all 301 versions of Ramayana. These include the original Valmiki Ramayan and few other major Indian language Versions like Kamban’s Ramavataram in Tamil and Rangnathan’s Ramayana in Telugu. Then there is Ramayan Manjiri in the NE and Bengal version. There is a Jain version too.Besides Ramayana in every Indian language and many dialects with scripts, there are Ramayana Versions in Burma, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam and China. All these versions total upto 300 in number. Then what is the 301st version ?
301st is the version of the fertile imagination of the authors of the ” Story Departments” of Indian film companies. Even Prakash Pictures had its own department. The first two films Bharat Milap and Ram Rajya were mostly based on the original Valmiki Ramayan. For film Rambaan-48, however, the Bhatt brothers gave free hand to the story and dialogue writers, in order to include something new, for which the same audience will come to the theatres. This is where things went wrong. The novel changes and additions that Mohanlal Dave and Pt. Girish brought into the Ramayana story were ridiculous, which were rejected outright and were resented by the Indian viewers. The Cinematic liberty taken for a film is one thing and twisting and distorting an accepted historical story by millions over centuries of generations is another thing.
First and foremost, Shobhana Samarth was 8 month’s pregnant during the shooting of this film ( with her third daughter Chatura ) and it showed everytime she came on the screen. Could they not wait for another 6 months ? As such she was nearing her middle age-at 33 years- and it was obvious to everyone. Secondly, Prem Adib-two years younger than Shobhana, as it is- had put on a lot of fat and seeing his open body with loose muscles, almost double chin and a face without freshness was a punishment for the senses.
The blue eyed handsome Chandramohan did the role of Ravan in this film. His characterisation of the role was made very ridiculous. Every now and then and in every scene, his ‘Taqia kalam” was rolling eyes like a drunken person shouting ” Main Kaun “. Then giving the reply himself ” Main Ravan “. Actually, according to Valmiki and everyone else, Ravan was a very learned Brahmin, a peerless scientist, Veena player, a scholar on Vedas and a staunch devotee of lord Shiv. To make him look like a clown was very sad and disappointing indeed.
Shoorpnakha was actually married early, but her husband was killed by Ravan, in a battle. Ravan had made her a queen of Dandakaranya. In the film, her Swayamwar is shown. She rejects everyone and remains unmarried. This was indigestible to moviegoers who were familiar with the story of Ramayan.
Shabari katha is similarly distorted. In Valmiki Ramayana, after meeting Ram,Seeta and Laxmana and giving them half eaten fruit, Shabri self immolates and goes to Heaven. In the film she first meets the three and after Seeta is abducted meets Ram again to inform him that she saw Ravan carrying Seeta in his plane. She also introduces Ram to all the Vanar leaders-Sugreev, Hanuman, Jambuwant etc.
There were many such New Discoveries, thanks to the writers, in this film. Baburao Patel of Film India was not one to miss such an opportunity to pull up the director and producer. In the February 1949 issue, he had devoted three pages to the film, mostly tearing it apart, accusing the producers of tarnishing the Hindu religion. He only appreciated actor Umakant, who traditionally did the role of Laxman ( He did this role in 7 films in all) as a good and suitable actor. He even suggested that he be promoted as Ram, in their next film.
In the film cast you must have seen the name UMAKANT (DESAI). I am sure most people would not know anything about him. People remember Dilip kumar for his double role in ‘Ram aur Shyam’ and Triple role in ‘Bairaag’. You also remember Sanjeev Kumar for his 9 roles in ‘ Naya Din nayi Raat’ or Kamal Hassan for his 10 roles in Dashavtar,but hardly anyone knows that Umakant Desai was the FIRST actor to do 3 Roles in the film ” Hukum ka Ikka “-1939 ( Rajkumar, Madari and Common Man).
Umakant Desai was born in Sankheda,near Vadodara (Baroda),Gujarat on 13-6-1908. After matriculation,he came to Bombay and did a job in B.B. & C. I . Railways (Bombay,Baroda and Central India Railway,a private Railway company of pre Independence period). He used to do roles in local dramas.One day Director Chimanlal Desai saw him in a drama called ” Jaya and Jayant”. He was so impressed with him that he took him to act in Gujarat’s First Talkie ” Narsi Mehta”-1932. In this film Umakant did the role of Krishna.
So,the son of a landlord Himmatbhai Jagubhai Desai became a film actor.He joined Prakash Pictures on a salary of Rs.150/- pm,but when he left Prakash,he was drawing Rs.3000/- p.m.. In 1934,he worked in Gujarati film ‘Sansar Leela’.He sang 2 duets with Rajkumari in this film. The film was a Hit and was remade in Hindi as “Nai Duniya”-1934. He worked in Bharat Milap-42. His best remembered role was as LAXMAN in the film ” RAM RAJYA”-1943,which created several records,including that it was the only Hindi film Mahatma Gandhi ever saw in his lifetime !
Umakant worked in 59 Hindi films and 15 Gujarati films. Anmol Moti-48 was his last film as a Hero. Then he shifted to doing character roles. He had worked with Durga Khote,Shobhana Samarth,Pramila,Ratnamala,Ranjana,Sitara,Snehprabha Pradhan,Meena Kumari,Amita,Vyjayanti mala,Nalini Jaywant,Kamini Kaushal etc. For fluency in Hindi and Urdu,he was appointed a Teacher also.
He worked in 26 films of Prakash,in which 8 films were directed by Vijay Bhatt. He mostly worked in mythological and social films. Some of his films were,Miss mala,Chhote Babu,Station master, Amar Asha,Poornima,Anmol Moti,Kavita,Hamara Ghar etc . He did Laxman’s role in 7 films.
Umakant’s son and daughter in law died a tragic death in the Snow Blizzard in the USA in 1975. His wife Kaumudi ben died in 2006 and Umakant died on 25-1-2007. He was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award in 2004. ( Adapted from Shri Harish Raghuvanshi ji,famous film historian,compiler and writer’s Gujarati article on Umakant).
Today’s song from this film is sung by Manna Dey, Phulaji Buwa, R.P.Sharma and Chorus. Who was Phulaji Buwa ? Phulaji Buwa (also referred to as Fulaji Baba) was a Marathi devotional singer and saint known for popularizing bhajans and abhang. His spiritual music is widely celebrated, with recorded performances often credited to “Fulaji Buwa and Party”. Fulaji Buwa’s repertoire focuses on traditional Marathi devotional music.Genres: Bhajan, Abhang, and Kirtan.Themes: His lyrics often revolve around devotion to religious figures and spiritual guidance. Notable Works: Recorded songs include “Dheknacha sange hirajo bhangala” and “Sudama mandir dekh dare”. Recordings of Fulaji Buwa indicate a structured musical group, commonly referred to in archives as “Fulaji Buwa and Party”.
R.P. Sharma was a NFS singer from U.P. in the late 40’s He sang in some other films too like Lakhpati-1948 etc.
The song is shot at the time of building Ram Setu. Enjoy….
Song- Japo Raam Japo Raam Siya Raam japo bhaiyya (Raambaan)(1948) Singers- Manna Dey,Phulaji Buwa, R.P.Sharma , Lyricist- Neelkanth Tiwari, MD- Shankar rao Vyas
Lyrics
Japo Raam
Japo Raam
Japo Raam
Japo Raam
Siya Raam
japo bhaiyya
Shree Faam ke prataap se patthar kee chale naiyya
patthar kee chale naiyya
Siyaa Raam japo
Japo Raam
Siyaa Raam
Raam naam ??
jag ye sindhu apaar
setu chadhe jo bhakti ke
ho bhavsagar paar
Shree Raam naam mantr se paashaan jilaaye
Shree Raam naam mantr se paashaan jilaaye
saagar kee lahar beech mein jhuk jhuk ke uthhaaye
saagar kee lahar beech mein jhuk jhuk ke uthhaaye
saagar kee lahar beech mein jhuk jhuk ke uthhaaye
patthar to phool ban gaye
saagar baney talaiyya
saagar baney talaiyya
Raam japoRaam
Siya Raam japo bhai
Shree Raam ke prataap se
patthar kee chaley naiyya
patthar kee chaley naiyya
Siya Raam japo
japo Raam
Siya Raam
Siya Raam
Siyaa Raam
Sindhu paar Jaankee
maata rahee pukaar
naaree ka apmaan jo karey
usey dhikkaar
apnee maata ke liye
ham denge ?? kaar
apnee maata ke liye
ham denge ?? kaar
bandhan se mukt hum karenge
jaankee maiyya
jaankee maiyya
Raam japo Raam
Siya Raam japo
bhaiyya
Shree Raam ke prataap se
patthar kee chaley naiyya
patthar kee chaley naiyya
Siya Raam japo
japo Raam
Siyaa Raam
Siyaa Raam
Siyaa Raam
Ram Kripa den
ban gaye
hum vaanar nar??
hum to ham hain
poonchh bhee
ban jaaye ??
dushton ko maar maar ke
naachenge tata thaiyya
dushton ko maar maar ke
naachenge tata thaiyya
japo Raam
japo Raam
Siya Raam japo bhaiyya
Shree Raam ke prataap se
patthar kee chaley naiyya
patthar kee chaley naiyya
Siya Raam japo
japo Raam
Siya Raam
Siya Raam
Siya Raam
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