Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs

This article is written by Avinash Scrapwala, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.

#the Decade of Seventies – 1971 – 1980 #
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# Special Voices of the 1970s – 1 # Shailendra Singh #
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We have already begun yet another new year full of music and nostalgia on this blog. As we leave the past year behind us, it must have added some memories and moments to cherish for every one of us and in turn adding more memorable moments to our existing ‘nostalgia bank’.

Some may have got opportunities to travel, (I wish one should travel a lot) and meet peoples from different walks of life, enjoy the diversity of our own culture by visiting parts of the country hitherto not visited and enjoy the variety of cuisines across our great country (or may be abroad, if one gets a chance) and leave behind and gather some unforgettable memories and learnings too 🙂

Aadmi musaafir hai aata jaata hai

And that is how days and years pass by and we continue with the journey of our life still missing those beautiful days but enjoying relishing the memories (Beete Huye Lamhon Ki Kasak Saath To Hogi) and the times, which after a gap of some years become more and more nostalgic for us. And ‘nostalgia’ is yet another, or stronger, reason (for me it is) that we enjoy music, movies, and the memories associated and connected with them.

In my childhood days this song “Sabko Mubaarak Naya Saal” used to be played on New Year day and another song “Khush Hai Zamaana Aaj Pehli Taarikh Hai” was a favorite on every first day of a new month. And like this many other songs that we have been listening over the years or that one listens during different stages of life easily become part of our memories. We also keep adding new songs by listening or watching them in new movies around. Or even some old songs which we are listening first time and they were not known to us till this date.

Now if one is associated with a blog called atulsongaday.me and who is aware of that till 1980 only we have around 40,000 songs from Hindi movies, one is surely to get more ‘aware’ of many songs and looking to it as a ‘creation’ and not merely holding one’s list of favorite songs which one has been carrying over the years and had not been aware of the ‘treasure trove’ of ‘movie songs’ one has not listened to.

Some songs continue with their old listeners with new addition of more songs and some older songs/voices tend to find new listeners /fans from new generations too. And as Gulzar Saab has rightly put it in one of his albums ‘Fursat Ke Raat Din’…

geet kabhi boodhhe nahin hote
unke chehron par jhurriyaan nahin girti….

wo palte rehte hain, chalte rehte hain

Beginning of a new year also gives us an opportunity to start new things and make new resolutions too. In one of my previous employment, my boss always said that the first day or ‘pehli taarikh’ is always the best day to start a new thing or take on a new goal if one is wishing to do so. This post was supposed to be there on 1st Jan, but it got delayed due to ‘technical problems’ 🙂 and later on due to ‘unforeseen situations’ – no, no, not ‘acts of God’ 🙂 . Nevertheless, if we listen to the song and what has been said in this song, one can take the words (said in this song) for ones ‘new year resolution’ too 🙂

And as a part of initiating something ‘new’ in this ‘new year’ I am going to share this new series representing my thoughts and songs sung by some ‘special voices’ (I don’t know if I can call them as ‘unique voices’) which were there in the ‘decade of seventies’ and yes in their own way they have left an indelible mark on the minds of music lovers – may be only for those who have grown up during end sixties – to end seventies – or even till early eighties.

I sincerely hope that all of us are going to enjoy these voices who have been part of my growing years and may be of others of my era too.

The voice – Singer Shailendra Singh

Singer and actor Shailendra Singh was born in Mumbai on 4^th October 1952. He came from a Punjabi family but since he grow up in Mumbai he could not talk fluently in Punjabi (even till date, I think).

Shailendra Singh’s father was associated with V. Shantaram ji as a Chief Assistant Director and later on with Rajshri Productions (as a ‘Publicity Officer’ from ‘Dosti’), so he comes from a family having ‘film background’ and it was natural for him to get attracted to movies. After his schooling with ‘Hill Green High School’, Feder Road, Bombay, he joined the St Xavier’s College in Mumbai but later he left his studies in third year as he was interested in acting, and given to his looks he wanted to be an actor. So, he joined the ‘Film and Television Institute’ at Pune when he was around eighteen in 1971 in acting course.

He was also learning music or rather singing from his childhood days but not to become as a ‘playback singer’. He was more interested in singing ‘ghazals’ first and was singing the ‘film songs’ as an ‘amateurish’. It so happened that Raj Kapoor was looking for a new voice to launch Rishi Kapoor in ‘Bobby’ (1973). VP Sathe (of ‘Bombay Publicity’) was a close friend of Shailendra Singh’s father. And VP Sathe and KA Abbas had been working jointly as script writer for Raj Kapoor.

Now being close to Shailendra Singh’s family VP Sathe was aware of Shailendra Singh’s singing abilities. So, when Raj Kapoor was looking for a new voice he suggested Shailendra Singh’s name. At that time Shailendra Singh was pursuing his course in acting at the FTII, Poona and was in second year (of two-year course). He was called for the voice test by Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor took him to Laxmikant-Pyarelal where Laxmikant take his test with four or five musicians (and one them was Rajesh Roshan).

After few days Shailendra Singh was told about his selection and the first song he recorded was “Main Shaayar To Nahin” for ‘Bobby’ (1973). This was also the ‘muhurat‘ song for the film. Lata Mangeshkar was also present there to bless him on the occasion.

Shailendra Singh has very high regards for all the legendary singers – Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Manna Dey, and Mahendra Kapoor – and who were senior to him when he joined the industry. And he get a chance to sing with them which till then was his dream. He is a great fan of Rafi Saab and among the singers Rafi Saab is his idol.  The song “Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain” sung by Rafi Saab is his most favorite Rafi song. So when he got this opportunity to sing with Rafi Saab, it was like a dream coming true for him. The first duet he sang with Rafi Saab is for this movie ‘Chacha Bhatija’ (1977); and the song – “Bure Kaam Ka Bura Natija, Kyun Bhai Chacha, Haan Bhatija”. This song stood at number twenty-one of the annual Binaca Geetmala of that year 1977.

He was spotted by Manmohan Desai to sing for this movie when he was already selected for ‘Bobby’. However, Manmohan Desai assured Raj Kapoor that his movie will be released only after ‘Bobby’ was released. The songs of ‘Bobby’ became very popular then and Shailendra Singh was nominated for the ‘Best Male Playback Singer’ for the song “Main Shaayar To Nahin’. But the he didn’t win for that.

He got his first acting break for the movie ‘Do Jaasoos’ (1975). Later on, he also acted in his father’s home production ‘Agreement’ (1980), and he has had a guest appearance in ‘Naukar’ (1979) and Mehmood’s – ‘Janta Hawaldar’ (1979). He acted in a Bengali film as a hero with Aparna Sen and the movie was ‘Ajosro Dhanyobaad (Many Many Thanks).

I remember watching ‘Do Jaasoos’ with my uncle and its songs are there in my memory since then. And particularly this one song of the movie – “Purvaiyya Le Ke Chali Meri Naiyya’ sung by Shailendra Singh and Lata Mangeshkar is the one which whenever I listen I get transported to that timeline and gives me entirely different nostalgic feeling again.

In my childhood the songs from the movie ‘Bobby’ were also there and they were frequently played on loudspeakers/radio, but may be since I had not watched this movie its songs did not appeal much to my impressionable mind. Whereas songs from the movie ‘Rafoo Chakkar’ and particularly this song “Tumko o Mere Dil Ne” is another one which is my all-time favorite and it brings back memories.

Then there are songs like “Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi Aisa Ho Jaata Hai“, “Gumche Lage Hain Gehne”, “Meri Dilruba Tujhko Aana Padega”, “Mere Bas Mein Agar Kuchh Hota”, “Hum Ne Tum Ko Dekha, Tum Ne Hum Ko Dekha Aise“, “Hoga Tumse Pyaara Kaun’ (from the early eighties). There are many of his songs which I like or which have been popular, however I have mentioned above only those songs which give me ‘nostalgic’ feeling most.

His singing career had been active during the seventies and eighties but later on the new offerings to him got reduced (as told by him in his interview available on YT) as new singers keep coming. So far “Jaipur Se Nikli Gaadi” for ‘Gurudev-1993’, has remained as his last song for the movies.

Coming back to the movie of the song being presented today – ‘Chacha Bhatija’ is a ‘Dreamland’ presentation. It was produced by Baldev Pushkarna and MM Malhotra, and is directed by Manmohan Desai. The star cast includes Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Randhir Kapoor, Yogita Bali, Rehman, Anwar Hussain, Indrani Mukherjee, Jeevan, Roopesh Kumar, Sonia Sahani, Hari Shivdasani, Dev Kumar, Durga Khote, Satyajit, Tuntun, Sunder, Bhagwan, Hercules and Keshto Mukherjee. The lyrics of this movie were written by Anand Bakshi and Laxmikant – Pyarelal composed the music. Asha Bhonsle, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd Rafi and Shailendra Singh gave their voices to the songs in this movie.

Story of this movie is written by Prayag Raj. Its screenplay and dialogues are written by Salim-Javed. This movie was edited by Kamlakar. It was passed by Censor Board on 08.03.1977.

 I remember watching this movie in my childhood (may be with my parents), and almost all of its songs have remained in my memory since then. The movie has total seven songs in it. And I think that all its songs are nice hummable songs though only one song from this movie make it to the annual list of ‘Binaca Geetmala’ that year in 1977 and the song was – “Bure Kaam Ka Bura Natija, Kyun Bhai Chacha, Haan Bhatija”.

However, today’s song is closer to my heart and very nostalgic for me. Randhir Kapoor is lip syncing for Shailendra Singh’s voice and we can see Yogita Bali, Roopesh Kumar, Rehman and others in the picturisation of this song.

In the video version of this song there are only two stanzas whereas the audio that I had taken from online sources seven-eight years back is having three stanzas. Both versions are provided with the song.

(Sources – Shailendra Singh’s interview on Rajya Sabha TV and Divine Melodies available on YouTube).

Let us now enjoy this wonderful song …

 Maa Ne Kahaa Thaa O Betaa …

Audio (Complete – 3 Stanzas)

Video (Partial – 2 Stanzas)

Song – Maa Ne Kaha Tha O Beta (Chacha Bhatija) (1977) Singer – Shailendra Singh, Lyrics – Anand Bakshi, MD – Laxmikant Pyaarelal

Lyrics (Based on Audio Version)

maa ne kaha tha
o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo
maa ne kaha tha
o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo
deepak baati ban kar saathi
saath kisi ka naa chhodo

maa ne kaha tha
o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo
deepak baati ban kar saathi
saath kisi ka naa chhodo
maa ne kaha tha
o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo

zindagaani mein aa padey
mushkil to
thes lagne se toot jaaye dil to
zindagaani mein aa padey
mushkil to
thes lagne se toot jaaye dil to
maa ne kahaa thaa
o betaa
rasmein kasmein naa todo
lekar dori chori chori
toote rishtey jodo
maa ne kahaa thaa
o betaa
kabhi dil kisika naa todo

jaan lo jag mein
kaun apna hai
kya yahaan sach hai
aur kya sapna hai
jaan lo jag mein
kaun apna hai
kya yahaan sach hai
aur kya sapna hai
maa ne kaha tha o beta
sapnon ke peechhe na daudo
sapne sapne
apne apne
apnon se moonh na modo
maa ne kaha tha o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo

ho sakey gar to
pyaar na tum karna
pyaar ho jaaye to
duniyaa se na darna
ho sake gar to
pyaar na tum karna
pyaar ho jaaye to
duniyaa se na darna
maa ne kaha tha o beta
karke waada kabhi na todo
pyaar ke raste
chalte chalte
waapas kadam na modo
maa ne kaha tha o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo
deepak baati ban kar saathi
saath kisi ka naa chhodo
maa ne kaha tha
o beta
kabhi dil kisi ka na todo
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Hindi script lyrics (Based on Audio Version – Provided by Avinash Scrapwala)
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माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो
दीपक बाती बनकर साथी
साथ किसी का ना छोडो

माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो
दीपक बाती बनकर साथी
साथ किसी का ना छोडो
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो

जिंदगानी में
आ पडे मुश्किल तो
ठेस लगने से ए
टूट जाए दिल तो
जिंदगानी में
आ पडे मुश्किल तो
ठेस लगने से ए
टूट जाए दिल तो
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
रस्में कसमें ना तोड़ो
लेकर डोरी चोरी चोरी
टूटे रिश्ते जोड़ो
माँ ने कहा था
ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो

जान लो जग में
कौन अपना है
क्या यहाँ सच है
और क्या सपना है
जान लो जग में
कौन अपना है
क्या यहाँ सच है
और क्या सपना है
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
सपनों के पीछे ना दौड़ो
सपने सपने
अपने अपने
अपनों से मुंह ना मोड़ो
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो

हो सके गर तो
प्यार ना तुम करना
प्यार हो जाए तो
दुनिया से ना डरना
हो सके गर तो
प्यार ना तुम करना आ आ
प्यार हो जाए तो
दुनिया से ना डरना आ
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
करके वादा कभी ना तोड़ो
प्यार के रस्ते चलते चलते
वापस कदम ना मोड़ो
माँ ने कहा था ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो
दीपक बाती बनकर साथी
साथ किसी का ना छोडो
माँ ने कहा था
ओ बेटा
कभी दिल किसी का ना तोड़ो ओ