Archive for the ‘S D Batish-Zeenat Begam duet’ Category
This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, 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 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 film Arsi-1947.
Till recently, I was wondering, what was the meaning of this Title word Arsi. I could not find the meaning anywhere and finally I left my attempts. Then one day, I read the review of this film, in the June 1948 issue of Film India and I got a new piece of wisdom that Arsi was a name of the girl in the film. It was for the first time that I learnt that a name such as Arsi could be a girl’s name in India. Out of curiosity, I checked the 3 ” Boys and Girls Names ” books that I have in my collection, but in none of the books this name was found. At last, I decided to surrender to Guru Google ji, and to my surprise, I learnt that the word means ” Mirror ” !
The film Arsi was made by Jeevan Pictures, Lahore. It was directed by Daud Chaand. All the 11 songs were written by Sarashar Sailani. This was his first film as a Lyricist. The owner of Jeevan Pictures, was Motiram Jain and he was a lover of Shayari and poetry. Sarashar Sailani, who was not much educated (not a graduate), but was a school teacher, used to participate in Mushayras. Motiram liked his shayari. When Motiram started his First film Arsi-47, he invited Sailani to write story, song and dialogues for this film. Some songs became popular and Sailani jumped into film line.
Lachhiram called him for his next film Mohini-47 and Shyamsunder called him for Ek Roz-47. Along with director Daud Chaand, Sailani also shifted to Bombay. However, after the Partition, Daud returned to Lahore but Sailani remained in India. He wrote lyrics. generally he got only low budget films, but he worked with some quality composers like Pt. Amarnath, Husnlal-Bhagatram, Roshan, Chitragupta, Jaidev, A R Qureshi, Hansraj Behl etc.
In all, he wrote 150 songs in 32 films. From 1960 onwards, after film ‘ Bade ghar ki bahu’, he stopped song writing and took up only story, dialogue writing, in which he did many good films. Sarshar Sailani died on 10-4-1969.
In film Arsi-47, there were 2 MDs – Lachhiram Tamar and Shyamsunder. Although HFGK is silent on crediting MDs for any song, those who uploaded the songs on YT have indicated MD names as given on the records. Much is written about Shyamsunder, but not much is available on Lachhiram. Last year, in one of posts, I have given information about Lachhiram Tamar already.
The film’s director was Daud Chaand. Dawood Chand was a prominent film director of 1930’s & 1940’s of Indian cinema. He directed Veer Kaisri (1938), Joshe-e-Islam (1939), Sipahee (1941), Jangee jawan (1943), Paraey Bas main (1946), Aaarsee and Aik roze (1947) and Papeeha Re-48 in India.
In Paksitan he was director of first ever released Pakistan film Tairi Yad (1948). Some of his others films were Hichkoley, Mundri (1949), Sassi (1954), Bulbul (1955), Mirza Sahebaan and Hatim (1956), Muraad (1957), Aalam ara (1959), Sapairan (1961), Khaiber Pass and Ghazala (1963), Reshma (1970), and Bahadra (1973).RAZA MIR (Producer/Director)
He acted in Indian film Shaher say door (1946) but in Pakistan he chose other profession. He was Pakistan’s First film Teri yaad’s (1948) cinematographer and director. He also directed some other films like Baiti (1964), Lakhon main aik (1967), Aaasra and Aneela (1969), Parai aag (1971), Naag muni, Vicharya saathi (1973), Professor and Arzoo (1975) Sohni mahiinwal (1976) and Dil keey daagh (1978). Asif Raza Mir film hero of late 1970’s and early 1980’s and a good TV artist is his son. He died on 24-5-1975 at Lahore, Pakistan.
The cast of the film was Meena (Shorey), Al Nasir, Ajmal, Asha Posley, Zahoor Shah, Bheemsain, Ramlal, Pran, Cuckoo etc etc. When I had first come across the name Asha Posley, in my younger days, I was a bit amused, because the name sounded almost like Asha Bhosle ! When I started writing about old films, I realised that her real name was something else and this was a name acquired by her.
Asha Posley was born Sabira Begum in Patiala, Punjab, British India in 1927. She was given the film name Asha Posley by the renowned music director Ghulam Haider. She made her film debut in a Lahore-made Punjabi film Gawandi (1942) as a supporting actress.Later she played just a few female lead roles in some films starting with film Champa (1945) and then Kamli (1946) in British India. Her films in India were Champa-45, Paraye Bas mein-46, Kamla-46, Badnaami-46, Aai Bahar-46, Pagdandi-47, Ek Roz-47, Arsi-47, Sassi-48 (un released), Roop Rekha-48, Papeeha Re-48 and Barsat ki ek raat-48. She also sang 5 songs in 3 films.
After independence of Pakistan in 1947, her whole family migrated to Lahore, Pakistan including her music director father Inayat Ali Nath and her 2 sisters- actress Rani Kiran and Kausar Perveen who later gained fame in Pakistan as a film playback singer. Her father was the music director for the first-ever released film in Pakistan- Teri Yaad (1948) and Asha Posley played the female lead role in the film opposite Nasir Khan who was a brother of famous Indian actor Dilip Kumar.
Later she was mostly cast in supporting roles opposite comedian actors Nazar and Asif Jah in films both in Urdu and Punjabi languages. She acted in 129 films in total in her career spanning over 4 decades (1942-1986). Her last film was Insaf (1986). She also appeared on Stage, TV and Radio and she was also a part-time singer. Asha Posley was awarded a Special Award for Excellence in 30 years of acting by the prestigious Nigar Awards organization in Pakistan in 1982.
Asha Poslay died on March 26, 1998 at Lahore.
Asha Posley’s case is a sad one. The way Pak film industry treated her in her last days, is no different than what Indian film industry did in the past. She and her family spent hard days and she died in poverty. Only the other day, I came across an article written by film journalist of Pakistan- Navaid Rasheed in The Dawn.com in April 2001. In it, he wrote about her house…..” The humble abode is enveloped in depressive atmosphere. The rooms are in ramshackle condition. The main door leads to a very small room which is without a roof. If it was bigger in size, it would be called a courtyard. Things are helter skelter all over the place. Can somebody imagine that this is a place where a glamorous diva lived not too long ago.
Yes, this place was the last abode of Pakistan film industry’s first heroine Asha Posley who died three years ago. Ever since then the family has been living in a dilapidated state. Not that the things were any better when the actress was alive, in fact she herself was dependent on her brother whose house this is. But at least she was there for them, her being there was enough for them.”
Asha Posley was a very attractive, frank, ever smiling and popular actress in Pakistan. Asha Posley was undoubtedly one of the most modern, bold and flamboyant heroine of the local cinema. Those well-arched eye-brows, deep almond-shaped set of eyes, high cheek bones, the square jaw, the curly jet black locks and the mischievous smile is hard to forget. For a woman who once charmed the cinegoers for so long did not have enough money to make her ends meet at her retirement. Such a sad ending is not what she deserved. But that is exactly what happened.
Ever since Asha Posley was forced to sit home by the ruthless film industry that gave her no work for long, there was not a single day when she didn’t wait to be offered even a small role from the industry. When no one came from the industry to help her, she looked towards the public sector. She requested time and again for help but in vain. Such a talented actress of calibre was fast diminishing into oblivion but no one was bothered to save her. So finally she died unsung in March, 1998. Still no one was effected.
Teri Yaad was the first Pakistani film to be released in 1948 and Asha’s hero in it was Dilip Kumar’s brother Nasir Khan. It was directed by Dawood Chand. Asha Posley belonged to Patiala (India) and was born in 1927. She worked in Radio Pakistan as Riffat Aisha and was in possession of a good voice. Before partition she worked for the first time in Kamli (1946) which was not too successful but owing to her looks, her spicy sense of humour and bold style of conversation, she became pretty famous in film circles.
After partition she also worked in films like Ghalat Fehmi, Shahida and Bulbulall of which proved to be failures. However, when she opted to play a vamp in Sassi, it proved to be very successful. Hence onwards began a long journey of vampish roles for Asha. Her occasional pairing with comedian Nazar in certain films too won accolades for her as a comedy star. One of her memorable films as a vamp was Intezaar featuring Noor Jehan and Santosh Kumar
in the lead. Kismet and Dulla Bhatti were other successful ventures where she put in memorable performances. Her dances too were the main highlight of these films.
Asha’s younger sister Rani Kiran was also a film heroine while another of her sister Kausar Parveen was a famous playback singer of the 50s who died very young. Rani Kiran is still alive but leading a pathetic life.
Asha’s famous films include Toofaan, Mukhra, Hatim, Ashiana, Hum Aik Hein, Khizaan kei Baad, Son of Ali Baba, Mehandi, Pasbaan and others. She made occasional appearances on various television shows where she reminisced her past glory and mentioned for support too. But apparently nothing happened. Nobody could improve her state of affairs, but at least someone can still help her sister Rani Kiran and save her from going the Asha Posley way, out of this world.
This was the fate of discarded artistes…be it Pakistan or India. We can quote many such cases from our own court yards. Thank God, these days the situation is much much better and no such cases are to be seen since few years. Hope this is so even in Pakistan.
Film Arsi-47 was released on 10-4-1948 at Majestic Cinema in Bombay. The screenplay was by M R Bhakhri. Film India magazine June 48 issue featured a review of this film. As usual Baburao Patel had nothing good to say about the story, acting or even the Music. He surely sympathised with the Director, who could not do much with the weak story. The story,in short, as given in the review (minus criticism) is …
Ramesh (Al Nasir) is the son of the village Zamindar. He loves Arsi (Meena), daughter of Bansi, a poor farmer. Unfortunately, the Zamindar himself wants to marry Arsi. When this proposal is declined, Bansi, with his daughter and young son is driven out of the village. Soon after, Bansi dies and Arsi has to sell a Gold Frame, gifted by Ramesh. However, she is accused of stealing it from the Zamindar’s house and is sentenced to 14 years of Jail term.
Her brother grows up. The Brother Mohan (Ajmal) loves and marries dancer Sharada (Asha Posley). The Zamindar dies. After 14 years, Arsi is released. She is employed as a Maid by Ramesh and later they marry also. The End !!! (Thank God !)
The story is too simple and predictable. No wonder Film India criticised it. Today’s song is a duet by S D Batish and Zeenat Begum. One more interesting Trivia. Sarashar Sailani had also acted in this film, but under the name Bheemsain. This was the only film he ever acted in a film.
Song- Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera (Aarsi)(1947) Singers- S D Batish, Zeenat Begum, Lyrics- Sarshar Sailani, MD- Lachhiram Tamar
Lyrics
Duniya chhoote
ho
Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera
ho teri gali ka phera
Duniya chhoote
ho
Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera
ho teri gali ka phera
gali ka phera kaise chhoote
prem ka bandhan kaise toote
gali ka phera kaise chhoote
prem ka bandhan kaise toote
kaise chhodoon kaise chhoote
teri gali ka phera re
haay teri gali ka phera re
Duniya chhoote
ho
Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera
ho teri gali ka phera
nain milaa ke
mast banaa ke
nain milaa ke
mast banaa ke
jee bharma ke loot liya
haaye loot liya
nain milaa ke
mast banaa ke
jee bharma ke loot liya
haaye loot liya
loot liya sajni ke man ko
loot liya sajni ke man ko
saajan bada lutera re
haaye saajan bada lutera re
Duniya chhoote
ho
Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera
ho teri gali ka phera
kaise jaadoo daala dil par
teri mast nigaahon ne
kaise jaadoo daala dil par
teri mast nigaahon ne
duniya chhod ke aan lagaaya
duniya chhod ke aan lagaaya
teri gali mein dera re
haaye teri gali mein dera re
Duniya chhoote
ho
Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera
ho teri gali ka phera
naav bhanwar mein chhod na dena
preet ke matwaare rasiya
naav bhanwar mein chhod na dena
preet ke matwaare rasiya
preet laga ke tod na dena
preet laga ke tod na dena
naazuk hai dil mera re
haaye naazuk hai dil mera re
Duniya chhoote
ho
Duniya chhoote par na chhoote teri gali ka phera
ho teri gali ka phera
chun chun kankar mahal basaaya
log kahen ghar mera aa re
na ghar tera na ghar mera aa aa
chidiya rain basera aa aa aa
Jaane bhi do jaane bhi do
Posted on: December 28, 2016
This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, 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 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 history of Lahore film industry is as old as the era of silent films. When talkies started getting produced from early 1930s, the Lahore film industry seems to have lost the race to Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) in producing Hindi/Urdu films. Many film artists based in Lahore started migrating to Calcutta and Bombay looking for greener pastures. But the decade of 1940s saw two prominent Lahore based film productions companies holding their own against the big production houses of Bombay and Calcutta viz. Bombay based Ranjit Movietone and Bombay Talkies and Calcutta based New Theatres. They were Pancholi Art Pictures of Dalsukh Pancholi and Shorey Pictures of Roop K Shorey.
Read more on this topic…
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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