Joban kee naiyya doley
Posted on: June 23, 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 82 year old film- Bade Nawab Saheb-1944.
The film , made by Silver Films, was directed by Vedi, lyricist Shams Lucknowi and the music was by Basheer Dehalavi. The cast of the film included Chandra Mohan, Pahadi Sanyal, Kumar, Pramila, Bibbo, Susheel Kumar, Leela Mishra, Ghori and others.
The film was directed by Vedi, a name about which I could not get any information except that he was a director from the Silent era. In the Talkie era, he has 4 films to his credit as director. First film is Bade nawab saheb-44, then Naseeb-45, Room Number-9 – 46, and For Ladies only-51. This is all I know about Vedi. Unfortunately, we do come across few such names from the early era films. This is because we have very poor documentation. Information on big actors etc is available. That is why the task of Hindi film History students (like me, for example) is tough in securing and recording information for the posterity.
The music director was Bashir Dehalvi. Here too, we only know that he gave music to films like Jhankar-42, Kalakar-42, Ujala-42, Koshish-43 and hawai Khatola-46, in addition to today’s film. The 10 songs of the film were written by Lyricist Shams Lucknowi. He seems to be a story and dialogue writer too. Story of the film Andaz-49 was by him. He wrote the dialogues of films like Idd ka chand-33 and Kimiyagar-36. He also acted in the film Parchhain-52. He wrote 104 songs in 15 films from Lal Haveli-44 to Dahej-50. Maybe , then he migrated to Pakistan or what, we do not know.
Most of the so-called Historical (my friend calls them Distortical), Costume dramas, Arabian Night stories films etc have a Muslim background. But ” Muslim Social” films are a separate category. Initially it was considered to be a very sensitive issue to depict the social life of Muslim families in India and so film producers were wary of making such films. When filmmakers with modern thinking came to the industry – like K Asif, Mehboob or Fazli brothers- there was a cautious but slow beginning of Muslim social films. My two friends, shri Kamlakar Pasupuleti ji (originally from Hyderabad and settled later in US) wrote an informative book, ” Forgotten movies on Muslim Culture 1933 to 1947 and shri Isak Mujawar ji wrote (in Marathi) ” Muslim Cinema”. Both these books give good information on this category of films.
Like many other myths in the Hindi film industry, one myth is that Mehboob Khan was the pioneer in making Muslim social films in India. This probably originated because the first film of Mehboob’s own company Mehboob Productions was ” Najma”-43, a Muslim social film starring Ashok kumar, Veena, Sitara, Kumar, Yaqub etc. But the fact is different.
The first Muslim social film was ” Rashida”-35, made by Madon Theatres, Calcutta, featuring Kajjan, Effendi and others. It was directed by a Jew-Izra Mir. The name of the film indicated that it was about a Muslim girl. Somehow, I find a lot of Muslim social films made that had titles of girl’s names, Like Zeenat, Ameena, Najma, Shama, Heena, Zubeida, Salma, Ismat etc etc.
The beginning of serious Muslim social films was done by Fazli Brothers- Hasnain and Sibtain Fazli. They first made a Muslim social film Qaidi-1940, featuring Ramola,Mehtab, B.Nandrekar, Wasti etc. This was a period of struggle for Indian Independence. The fundamentalists in Muslims were active and due to the fear of their reaction, film makers were wary of producing such films.Even Fazli brothers were also afraid that there would be obstruction from these people to their film, so they decided to make the film in Calcutta. Their first Muslim Social film Qaidi-40 was very successful. Encouraged, they made 2 more such films (Masoom-41 and Chauranghee-42) in Calcutta. For film Chowringhee-42, the Fazli Brothers roped in famous Bangla poet (who later on became the National Poet of Bangladesh) Kazi Nazrul Islam- the creator of Nazrul Geeti, as a Lyricist and MD for the film.
After 1942, Fazli Brothers shifted their activities to Bombay and made many Muslim social films like Fashion-43,Ismat-44, Dil-46 and Mehendi 47. So, in true sense, it is the Fazli Brothers who were the pioneers of Muslim Social films in India.
From the 40s to the 47, there was a line of Muslim social films lined with pride and confidence. Notable amongst them were Paak Daaman-40 by Rustom Modi, Masoom-41 by Fazli brothers, Muslim ka lal-41 by Mohan Pictures, Fashion -43 by Fazli Brothers, Najma-43 by Mehboob, Salma-43 by Nazir Ahmed, Ismat-44 by Fazli Brothers, Bade Nawab saab-44 by actor Kumar and Pramila, Bhaijaan-45 by United Films, Phool-45 by K.Asif, and Director Mazhar Khan’s Muslim social film ” Pehli Nazar’ in 1945. Amongst these, the film ‘ Elan ‘-47 was a milestone film, produced by Mehboob. It dwelt upon the needs of improvements for Muslim community.
After 1947, India lost a very big market for its Muslim social films, when Pakistan-East and West- was formed. It does not mean that Muslim social films were not made after 1947 in India. Films like Kaneez-49, Nisbat-49, Parda-49, Hyderabad ki Nazneen-52,Darwaza-54, Chandni Chowk-54, Maalik-58, Maa ke aansoo-59, Pahli Raat-59 etc were all Muslim socials. They, however, were not successful, for whatever reasons. But the fun is films of Muslim backgrounds but non social films like Anarkali,Mirza Ghalib,Hatimtai,Alibaba and forty thieves etc were good grossers and ran well. The first Hindi film to win the President’s Gold Medal (the first was Marathi film-Shyam chi Aai ), was Mirza Ghalib-54. This indicated that there was no audience for Muslim social films now. Later on, the conditions changed and Muslim social films like Chaudhavi ka chaand, Barsaat ki raat, Chhote Nawab, Bahu Begum, Mere huzoor, Pakeeza etc became quite successful. However, some opine that these films succeeded due to other reasons like Music, songs etc. One funny thing was that most Muslim social films-from the beginning- showed Lucknow as the background of the story ! (Film names being mentioned are only indicative and not exhaustive, so many names will be missing here.).
The story of the film Bade Nawab Saheb-1944 was…..
Nawab Kokub Mirza had 2 wives, but he loved the younger one so much that he even tolerated her younger brother Mushir, a trouble maker. Sikandar was Mirza’s younger brother and they had an old loyal servant Baksho. Sikandar marries an orphan girl-Anwar from an orphanage. On this count, the younger wife and Mushir are able to throw Sikandar and Baksho out of the house.
Sikandar goes out of Lucknow to look for a job. His wife, unaware of the relations, starts working as Maid in Nawab saheb’s house. Mushir tries to misbehave with the modesty of Anwar and is thrown out of the house. Now the nawab is closer to Badi Begum, who convinces him to recall Sikandar. Nawab calls Sikandar and also pardons Mushir.
Now Mushir wants to poison Nawab saheb. He adds poison to his Kheer. Unfortunately, the Kheer is eaten by his sister, the young Begum. She dies and Police arrest Mushir. Now the 2 couples live happily !
One of the old time actors in this film was Kumar. KUMAR was born in the prestigious family of Syeds of Lucknow-UP in India, on 23-9-1906. His real name was SYED HASSAN ALI ZAIDI. His family used to call him MIJJAN Miyan.
He was a handsome and tall person. He was keen on joining cinema, so he came to Calcutta and joined New Theatres. After doing side roles in Subah ka Sitara-32 and Zinda Lash-32, he was the hero in PURAN BHAGAT in 1933. Even Saigal was also in the film.The film was about to be released and suddenly communal riots broke out in Calcutta.The new Theatre management found it difficult to announce a Muslim name of the hero of PURAN BHAGAT, in the tense atmosphere of Calcutta.The director of the film was Kumar Debaki Bose,a person from a Royal family. He made a decision and told Mijjan,” from today, I am giving you a part of my name. You will become KUMAR now.” This solved the film release problem and thus his name became KUMAR, then onwards. Truly enough, Debaki Bose, thereafter never used his name Kumar again in his life !
After doing Yahudi ki Ladki, Kumar came to Bombay. First he worked in Sagar ( 3 films) , Imperial (2 films)and then joined Ranjit Studios.
He married another actress PRAMILA , who was actually a Jew, Esther williams. Pramila was later India’s FIRST Miss India in 1947.They got a son and a daughter Naqi Jehan (who too became a Miss India in 1967,exactly 20 years after her mother.) Naqi acted opposite Rajesh Khanna in Aakhri Khat, as a Heroine. Later she married into the business family of Kamdar of Bombay and became Mrs.Nandini Kamdar. Kumar had 3 sons from his earlier marriage. His first wife and children shifted to Pakistan after the Partition.
Kumar did many films in Ranjit,but in 1942, he was removed from Ranjit. At the same time, his friend, CHANDRAMOHAN also left Minerva Movietone (reason-despite PUKAR-39 being a blockbuster, his salary was not increased in spite of a promise by Sohrab Modi).They both decided to launch own company and on 16-3-1942, SILVER FILM CO. was launched. Its first film was Jhankaar-42. They produced Bhalai-43, Bade Nawab Saab-44, Devar-46, Naseeb-45, Dhun-53 and Bahana-60. Kumar acted in these films. He also directed Dhun and Bahana.
He produced and directed Aap-Beeti-1948 under his own company, Kumar Studios.Then under Shama Productions, he made Nehle pe dehla, Dhoom Dham and Dilbar. Later in life he made Badal aur Bijli and Jungle King under Artists United films. Kumar worked in 73 films as an actor from 1932 to 1963.
From Najma in 1943, Kumar did only character roles in films like Bhishm Pratigya, Dayara, Mahal, Shri 420, Khiladi, Maalik, Baiju Bawra, Yahudi ki Ladki. His memorable role was in Mughal e Azam, that of the sculptor and a famous song-‘Aye mohabbat zindabad’ was shot on him. His last film was Raat aur Din (released in 1967)
In 1963, Kumar migrated to Pakistan, and started to work in Pakistani films without any delay. His son, S. A. Hafiz, who made the film Tauba, later became one of the best and well known directors of the country. Later he settled in the USA. Kamal and Zeba played the lead in Tauba, which became a grand success. Kumar worked in 22 Pakistani films, including Head Constable, Azad, Shabnam, Naela, Saiqa, Sajda (his own film), Hum Dono, Nadya Ke Paar, Ik Musaflr, Ik Hasina, Baalam etc. He gave 1 Superhit and 3 Hit films in Pakistan. Interestingly, he continued to act in the name of Kumar only, without using his original Muslim name there. Kumar died on 4-6-1982. ( based on some information from wiki,Film India magazine-1949 issues, beete hue din Blog and my notes, with thanks.)
Here is a song from today’s film, sung by Ameerbai Karnataki. Enjoy….
Song- Joban ki naiyya doley (Bade Nawab Saheb)(1944) Singer- Amirbai Karnataki, Lyricist- Shams Lucknowi, MD- Basheer Dehlavi
Lyrics
Joban ki naiyya doley
zara hauley haule haule re
Joban ki naiyya doley
zara hauley haule haule re
haan haul haul haule re
ho haule haule haule re
Joban ki naiyya doley
zara hauley haule haule re
cholee mandkaaye(?) re
kare na mohey haay re
cholee matkaaye(?) re
kare na mohe haay re
moh mora sab ghabraaye re
kaun man mein boley
zara haule zara haule
moh man mein boley
zara haule zara haule
haan zara haule haule haule
Joban ki naiyya doley
zara hauley haule haule re
soonee sejariya
kaanan na khabariya
tarse najariya
haay raam
soonee sejariya
kaanan na khabariya
tarse najariya
tarse najariya
moh man mein boley
zara hauley
zara hauley
moh man mein boley
zara haule haule haul re
joban kee naiyya doley re
haan haule haule haule re
joban kee naiyya doley re
haan haule haule haule re
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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