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

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 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.

Today’s song is from a lesser known film ‘Pehla Pehla Pyar’ (1958).  Made by National Cine Corporation, it was produced by Daljit and directed by the veteran Nanubhai Vakil.

As we all know, in the early era of films – both silent and talkie, many actresses came from the traditional singing families (read tawaiafs). Average to good looks and ability to sing tolerably were their main qualifications. Many of these girls joined film line for two reasons. One – it gave them name, fame and money and the more importantly second – they tried to catch a big fish to marry. Many of them succeeded in this and we can see many examples of such marriages and live-in relationships of these girls in the film line. Gujarati producers and directors were in the forefront in this matter.

Thus we saw the first heroine of the talkie film, Zubeida marrying Raja Dhanrajgir of Hyderabad, who would camp in Bombay and attend all her shootings. Even her mother Fatima had married the Nawab of Sachin (Gujarat), who was very fond of films. Then, the other actress named Zubeida (of the late 40s – on whose life the film ‘Zubeida’ (2000) was made) married Raja Dhanvant Singh of Jodhpur – who used to follow her like a shadow. Then we have Sohrab Mody and  Mehtab, Sardar Chandulal Shah and Gauhar Mamajiwala, Nanabhai Bhatt and Shireen (parents of Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt), Ramnik Lal and Indurani (real name Ishrat Jehan), Anil Biswas and Mehrunnisa Bhagat aka Ashalata, Shamshad Begum and Ganpatrao Batto, Nanubhai Vakil and Sarojini aka Roshan aka Ranee, Gauhar Karnataki and Bal Gandharva, Amirbai Karnataki and Badrinath Kanchwala etc.  This is only an indicative list to support the assertion.

Gujarat has enriched the Hindi film industry more than any other state, by providing producers and directors. Though the industry was based in Maharashtra, it generally provided actors, actresses and composers in the early era, but not the producers. Obviously money and tremendous hard work was the hallmark of Gujarati community. The Shahs, Desais and the Bhatts, along with other people have enriched various aspects of the industry like film direction, film production, cinematography and studio management. They provided employment to thousands and gave opportunities to the capable. One such person was Nanubhai Vakil.

There was a time when so many people from Valsad region of Gujarat came to films. Nanubhai was also born in Bulsar (Valsad) on 24-12-1904 (as per IMDB). Originally a Desai from Bulsar, Nanubhai’s father was a lawyer. Nanubhai studied in Wilson College, Bombay and earned the degrees of BA and LLB. He became a lawyer, but never practised. Instead he joined films in 1926. In his 45 years career he directed 20 silent films and 70 talkie films.

His speciality was mainly action stunt films, costume dramas and fantasy films. His star cast used to be  Bilimoria, Ishwarlal, Shanta Kumari, Putli, Madhvi etc. for silent films and artistes like Sarojini, Indurani, Navinchandra, Rafiq, Prakash, Gulnar, Daljit, Chitra worked in his Talkie films. It is not that he did not use other artists. Zubeida, Yakub, Jal Merchant, Jaddanbai, Shanta Hublikar, Nimmi, Veena, Jairaj, Shakeela, Nirupa Roy, Nadira, Mehmood etc. also worked in his films.

He was a daring person and gave gave opportunities to many people. He made Sarojini  a Heroine in many of his films. Zubeida too got many roles with him. He helped AR Qureshi (tabla expert Allah Rakha, the father of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain). Amirbai Karnataki was given many roles by Nanubhai. SD Burman sang his first Hindi film song in Nanubhai’s film ‘Taj Mahal’ (1941). Juthika Roy sang  in his film ‘Lalkar’ (1956). Kaifi Azmi wrote stories for his films.

He was a director, writer and producer too. He produced 6 films. ‘Hatimtai Ki Beti’ (1940) and ‘Hatimtai Ki Beti’ (1955), both were directed by him (the ’55 film was also produced by him). He made ‘Alam Ara’ twice – in 1956 and 1973. He took Wazir Mohammed Khan in both versions and even made him sing the original Alam Ara’s song,”De De Khuda Ke Naam” again, in both the films.

He directed the first Gujarati talkie film ‘Narsi Mehta’ in 1932, made by Sagar Movietone. He remade most of his silent films as talkie films. He made 17 films with Mohan Studios. Nanubhai had married Sarojini (real name Roshan aka Ranee). Sarojini and Nanubhai’s daughter Azra also became an actress. Her role in debut film ‘Love in Shimla’ (1960) was much acclaimed.

Nanubhai Vakil had remained ‘vakil‘ (lawyer) only in name. He died on 29-12-1980.

The music for this film iwas given by composer BN Bali. He was one of those small time composers, who got only the B and C grade films. First of all, let us find out who this BN Bali is. In the early era of Hindi films, there was another composer Bali. HC Bali or Harish Chandra Bali (20-3-1906 to 24-6-1976), the expert classical singer who became a successful composer, is credited with discovering KL Saigal in the early 1930s. HC Bali gave music to his last film ‘Janata’ (1947) (in this film Vijaya Das had acted. Later, she married Satyajit Ray). He died on 24-6-1976, after a long retirement from films, for almost 30 years.

BN Bali or Baldev Nath Bali, too was a good singer. He was a composer restricted mostly to religious and low budget films. His career starts with the film ‘Bedard’ (1949) and he is active up to ‘Do Dilwale’ (1973), a total of 24 films, including one unreleased film ‘Bahut Door’ (1940s). He also gave music to a Haryanvi film in 1973. Though he composed music with a lot of variety, somehow he lacked what it takes to make it to the big league. And, he is known for copying the popular tunes of other composers blatantly. Some examples –

“Jab Un Ka Khayal Aata Hai”- sung by Rafi in ‘Pehla Pehla Pyaar’ was a copy of Rafi’s “Jin Raaton Mein Neend Ud Jaati Hai” (‘Raat Ki Rani’, 1949) by Hansraj Behl.

“‘Sapne Mein Saiyaan Tum Aaya Na Karo” – an Asha-Manna Dey song from ‘Flying Rani’ (1959)  is a close copy of OP Nayyar’s “Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya” from ‘Phagun’ (1958).

“Tu Uska Kar De Bhala” sung by Rafi in ‘Raja Vikram’, carries the same “Bhagwaan” tune as in “O Duniya Ke Rakhwaale” etc.

BN Bali’s following two songs are absolute Gems – “Mujhko Sanam Tere Pyaar Ne Jeena Sikha Diya“, an Asha – Manna Dey duet in ‘Flying Rani’ (1959); and the Mukesh song “Ae Duniya Ke Maalik Tu Bataa” from ‘Baghdad Ka Chor’ (1955).

Today’s song is sung by Geeta Dutt and chorus. It is a Rock N Roll dance song. 1955 to 1960 was a period when Rock N Roll music played havoc in Hindi films. Most MDs composed songs based on this this music. Some famous Rock N Roll songs like “Laal Laal Gaal” from ‘Mr X’ (1957), “Mister John Ya Baba Khan” from ‘Baarish’ (1957), “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” from “Howrah Bridge’ (1958) and many such songs brought the craze and then almost every alternate film had a song like this. Music is such a thing that it catches on very fast from continent to continent, country to country and people to people. Actually Rock N Roll music began long back, somewhere in 1951 or so. Elvis Presley in vocal and Bill Halley in instrumental made it into a people’s craze. But it took quite some time to to influence the traditional Indian people.

For such songs, the voice and style of Asha and Geeta were most suitable. In fact, most such songs are to their credit. Lata Mangeshkar – the self proclaimed purist, kept herself away from such songs. However, there is one incident worth telling here. most people will find it new.

Film ‘Chacha Zindabad’ (1959) was produced and directed by Om Prakash, the comedian. MD was Madan Mohan. On the insistence of both Lata sang a Rock N Roll song for this film and it was recorded also. But Lata was very much disturbed and uneasy after this. She felt it was a blot on her singing career image. She had very close and homely relations with both Om ji and Madan ji. She treated them as her brothers. Before the film was completed, the Rakhi Festival came. Like every year, Lata went to Om ji’s house to tie the Rakhi. After the ritual was over, she asked him, “As a sister, if I ask you some gift, will you give me ?”  Om ji quietly said, “I will stake my life to give you what you ask for. Just tell me.”

Lata coolly asked Om Prakash to remove that song from his film. Without any hesitation, Om Prakash not only removed the Rock N Roll song from the film, but also the recording was destroyed, despite the expenses incurred !. That is why that song is not available unlike many other ‘ removed’ or ‘ excluded’ songs available from other films. (From the book ‘चित्रपट संगीताचा सुवर्ण काळ’, लेखक –  इसाक़ मुजावर).

Ok, now enjoy this rocking tune song by Geeta Dutt. Don’t forget, it is composed by BN Bali- you may have heard this tune somewhere !

Song – Akka Bakka Tin Tila, Dekho Mausam Hai Khila (Pehla Pehla Pyaar) (1958) Singer – Geeta Dutt, Lyrics – Madan Mohan, MD – BN Bali
Chorus

Lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)

akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila
jaley ko jalaa ke chal
nazren milaa ke chal
duniya se darta hai kya

akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila
jaley ko jalaa ke chal
nazren milaa ke chal
ghaayal banaa ke chal
duniya se darta hai kya. . .
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila

shehri babu akela hai
pyaar ka khel bhi khela hai
dost na kahin piyela hai
arre ye dil tujh pe marela hai
ye dil tujh pe marela hai
hans ke hansaa ke chal
masti mein gaa ke chal
apna banaa ke chal
jeene ka le le mazaa. . .
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila
jaley ko jalaa ke chal
nazren milaa ke chal
ghaayal banaa ke chal
duniya se darta hai kya
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila

duniya ek jhamela hai
dil to nahin jalela hai
tujh ko pyaar milela hai
ya bekaar padela hai
ya bekaar padela hai
sun ke sunaa ke chal
gham ko bhulaa ke chal
ye to bataa ke chal
jeene ka kya hai silaa. . .
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila
jaley ko jalaa ke chal
nazren milaa ke chal
ghaayal banaa ke chal
duniya se darr kaahe ka
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila

ab tu nahin akela hai
ye dil tera bikela hai
kismet teri khulela hai
ab kya wahaan khadela hai
ab kya wahaan khadela hai
bigdi banaa ke chal
dil mein basaa ke chal
mann ko lubhaa ke chal
karo na jawaani se gilaa. . .
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila
jaley ko jalaa ke chal
nazren milaa ke chal
ghaayal banaa ke chal
duniya se darta hai kya
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila
akka bakka tin tila
dekho mausam hai khila

———————————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————————
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला
जले को जला के चल
नज़रें मिला के चल
दुनिया से डरता है क्या

अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला
जले को जला के चल
नज़रें मिला के चल
दुनिया से डरता है क्या॰ ॰ ॰
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला

शहरी बाबू अकेला है
प्यार का खेल भी खेला है
दोस्त ना कहीं पीएला है
अरे ये दिल तुझ पे मरेला है
ये दिल तुझ पे मरेला है
हँस के  हँसात के चल
मस्ती में गा के चल
अपना बना के चल
जीना का ले ले मज़ा॰ ॰ ॰
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला
जले को जला के चल
नज़रें मिला के चल
दुनिया से डरता है क्या
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला

दुनिया एक झमेला है
दिल तो नहीं जलेला है
तुझको प्यार मिलेला है
या बेकार पड़ेला है
या बेकार पड़ेला है
सुन के सुना के चल
ग़म को भुला के चल
ये तो बता के चल
जीने का क्या है सिला॰ ॰ ॰
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला
जले को जला के चल
नज़रें मिला के चल
दुनिया से डरता है क्या
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला

अब तू नहीं अकेला है
ये दिल तेरा बिकेला है
किस्मत तेरी खुलेला है
अब क्या वहाँ खड़ेला है
अब क्या वहाँ खड़ेला है
बिगड़ी बना के चल
दिल में बसा के चल
मन को लुभा के चल
करो ना जवानी से गिला॰ ॰ ॰
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला
जले को जला के चल
नज़रें मिला के चल
दुनिया से डरता है क्या
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला
अक्का बक्का तिन तिला
देखो मौसम है खिला