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 Shiv Bhajan is for the 4th Shraavan Monday – as celebrated in south, west and some eastern states of India. This bhajan is from film ‘Shuk Rambha’ (1953), made by Chandrakala Pictures and is produced and directed by Dhirubhai Desai. The lead actors were Anjali Devi (from south) and Bharat Bhushan. In the cast of this film, you will find a name Rajkumar. Most ‘knowledgeable’ sites and writers treat this actor same as the famous dialogue master Raaj Kumar ‘Jaani’. However, this is not correct. This Rajkumar is different.

The pathetically poor documentation of the history of Hindi films has left many gaping holes. One of these is the menace of ‘Same Name Confusions’. Actors, directors and composers having similar names are the victims as well as the sufferers of this phenomenon. When artistes active around the same time share the same names, their filmography is often overlapped and intermixed. The sufferer is usually the lesser known person amongst the group of same name persons. Their hard work is credited unceremoniously to the more famous and well known person of the same name. In my earlier posts, I have dwelt upon this subject in details. Additionally, I ran a 3 part article series “Same Name Confusions”, which has become a reference point at www.anmolfankaar.com

The case of multiple Raj Kumars, however, could not be solved due to its cluelessness. Fortunately, the blog www.maitrimanthan.wordpress.com took it up as a project and spent considerable time and efforts to collect some information in this case. (They had also done this for Sr and Jr Shashi kapoors. May God bless these blog girls !).

There were in all 5 Raj Kumars in the industry at the same time. The first was the Kannada Hero Dr. Rajkumar. However, he never worked in any Hindi film, so no confusion about him.The second was the famous dialogue master Raaj Kumar ‘Jaani’. Third was Rajkumar Gupta (from Ranchi), who was the main character in popular film ‘Jagriti’ (1954). He never worked again in any film. Fourth was Raj(u) Kumar, a junior artist, who did minor roles, that were mostly uncredited, in films like ‘Shri 420’ (1955), ‘Jaagte Raho’ (1956), ‘Dilli Ka Thug’ (1958), ‘Aaj Aur Kal’ (1963), ‘Ziddi’ (1964) etc. The fifth was this Rajkumar, who mostly worked in religious and mythological films. His full name was Rajkumar Khatri.

Rajkumar Khatri was born in or around 1940. He started as a child artiste in films like ‘Janmashtami’ (1950), ‘Jai Mahakaali’ (1951) and ‘Insaan’ (1952). His first film as an adult was ‘Shuk Rambha’ (1953), in which he did the role of young Shukdev. He was a fine actor, not extraordinary, but there was something special about his screen presence. Apart from his boyish looks, he had an unspoken charm and emanated an inherent goodness. In his second film ‘Tulsidas’ (1954) he did the role of Shri Ram. He was hardly 15-16 year old then. This must be the youngest and most boyish looking Shri Ram ever seen on the screen !

Rajkumar Khatri acted in 61 films, mostly religious and mythological films (47 to be precise). Not that he did not work in any social films, but such films were less. He was seen in films like ‘Sautela Bhai’ (1962), ‘Aaj Aur Kal’ (1963), ‘Ustadon Ke Ustad’ (1963), ‘Ziddi’ (1964), ‘Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal’ (1965) etc. Due to his boyish face and young innocent looks, he was generally given roles of the younger brother. As Laxman, he acted in 7 films. His last film was probably ‘Chintamani Soordas’ (1987).

In mid 1980s, when films offers became scarce, he joined Prakash Mehra as an assistant. He used to live in Chembur. He was known as Chhota Rajkumar in the industry. He worked with Prakash Mehra for a long time, as Assistant Director and also as his PA. Reportedly, he died in September 2014. No further information on him is available.

Today’s Shiv Bhajan is from an obscure film ‘Shuk Rambha’. In the period from 1951 to 1960, so many religious and mythological films were made that at times there was a shortage of appealing stories. Popular stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharat epics, were exhausted beyond revival and it was not prudent to repeat them frequently. In this period, Nirupa Roy and Trilok Kapoor, probably were the busiest stars. Besides the usual popular stories, producers made films on rare subjects like Shanidev, Nal-Damayanti, Kach Devyani, Ekadashi, Navnaths, Kaali, Laxmi, Vikram and Vetal etc.

Producer-director Shri Dhirubhai Desai took up a totally unknown and obscure topic from the Vedic ‘Shuk Rambha Samvaad’. I appreciate his guts. I did not see this film and I do not know how many people must have seen this ‘never heard’ type of film. The cast of the film included Bharat Bhushan who had become famous after the blockbuster film ‘Baiju Bawra’ in 1952. Anjali Devi from south was his heroine. There were the other usual artistes of this genre like Lalita Pawar, Krishnakumari, Niranjan Sharma, Tiwari, Kusum Thakur etc. The role of young Shukdev was performed by Raajkumar.

Normally, not many people would know who was Shuk. Of course everybody would know about Rambha, that she was an ‘apsara‘ like Menaka and Urvashi etc. Rishi Shuk or Shukdev has an interesting story about his birth. Once Devi Paarvati wanted to know the secret of being Amar or immortal. Only Shiv ji knew about it. When she was after him to know the secret, he agreed to tell her. While Shiv ji was explaining the details, Paarvati went to sleep, but a bird – Shuk (Parrot), sitting on a tree branch outside listened to all the details. When Shiv ji realised this, the bird flew away in fear, and landed straight into the yawning open mouth of the wife of Maharshi Ved Vyas. It remained there safe for 12 years and then took birth. He was named Shuk. He left home to seek Bramha Gyan. Devarishi Narad took him again to Ved Vyas. He taught him and then sent him to King Janaka, who was supposed to be a ‘Jeevanmukta‘, i.e. free from worldly emotions and attachments, even though he was in a human form. Janak advised Shuk to take up ‘grihasth ashram‘ (life as a married householder), as Bramha Gyan was incomplete without this worldly experience and knowledge. Shuk met Rambha who got interested in him and started to lure him. There took place the famous Vedic ‘Shuk Rambha Samwaad’. She tried to teach him the benefits of spending time with beautiful women and he would argue against her.

Here is some additional information on Shuk (from Wikipedia).

Shuka (also Shukadeva, Shuka deva, Suka, Sukadev, Sukadeva Gosvami) was the son of the sage Ved Vyasa who is credited as the organizer of the Vedas and Puraanas,  and the main narrator of the Bhagvata Puraan. Most of the Bhagavata Puraan consists of Shuka reciting the story to King Parikshit, who had been cursed to die within seven days. Shuka is depicted as a sanyasi, renouncing the world in pursuit of Moksha (liberation), which most narratives assert that he achieved.

According to Mahabharat, Shuka was churned out of a stick of fire after one hundred years of austerity by Ved Vyasa, born with ascetic powers and with the Vedas dwelling inside him, just like his father. The Mahabharata also recounts how Shuka was sent by Ved Vyasa for training to King Janaka, who was considered to be a Jeevanmukta, or one who is liberated while still in a physical body. Shuka asked Janaka about the way to liberation, with Janaka recommending the traditional progression of the four ashramas, which included the householder stage. After expressing contempt for the householder life, Shuka questioned Janaka about the real need for following the householder path. Seeing Shuka’s advanced state of realization, Janaka told him that there was no need in his case.

Stories recount how Shuka surpassed his father in spiritual attainment. Once, when following his son, Vyasa encountered a group of celestial nymphs who were bathing. Shuka’s purity was such that the nymphs did not consider him to be a distraction, even though he was naked, but covered themselves when faced with his father. Shuka is sometimes portrayed as wandering about naked, due to his complete lack of self-consciousness.

A completely different version of the later life of Shuka is given in the Devi-Bhagvat Puraan, considered a secondary Puraana (Upapuran) by many, but an important work in the Shaakt tradition. In this account, Shuka is convinced by Janaka to follow the ashrama tradition, and returns home to marry and follow the path of yoga. He has five children with his wife Pivari (who is actually Rambha) – four sons and a daughter. The story concludes in the same vein as the common tradition, with Shuka achieving moksha.

A place called Shukachari is believed to be the cave of Shuka, where he disappeared in cave stones as per local traditional lore. Shuka in Sanskrit means parrot and thus the name is derived from the large number of parrots found around the Shukachari hills. Shukachari literally means abode of parrots in the Sanskrit language.

Film ‘Shuk Rambha’ is primarily based on the story of Shukdev, from Bhagwat Puraan. The film story was written by Kavi Raghunath Brahmbhatt (1892-1983). Born in Gujarat, Kavi Raghunath was called a Raskavi due to his penchant for writing love songs. He wrote mythological and historical dramas, which became very famous. Taking a clue from Parsi Theatre, he resurrected Gujarati theatre by reviving the tradition of Sanskrit dramas in Gujarati. His autobiography ‘Smaran Manjri’ (published 1955) describes the development of Gujarati Theatre. It is said that the famous song “Mohe Panghat Pe Nandlaal. . .” from film ‘Mughal e Azam’ (1960) was taken from his Gujarati drama ‘Chhatra Vijay’ (1919), which was usurped by Shakeel Badayuni. The case was taken up by Writers’ Association of India, which decided the matter in Brahmbhatt’s favour. However, the credit in the film still goes to Shakeel badayuni only. Kavi Raghunath died in 1983.

Film ‘Shuka Rambha’ has 9 songs. One song from this film has been discussed on our blog, long back. So this is only the second song to be posted here. Today is the 4th Monday of the holy month of Shraavan, in the south, west and eastern states of India. For the rest of India, Shraavan has ended on the 7th August – the day of Rakhi Purnima itself. Next Shiv Bhajan on the 21st August will be the last in this  undeclared mini series. So enjoy this Shiv Bhajan today.

Song – Jaag Re Yogi Jaag Re (Shuk Rambha) (1953) Singer – Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey, Lyrics – Bharat Vyas, MD – Manna Dey
Chorus

Lyrics

jaag re. . .
yogi jaag re. . .
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re yogi jaag re
jaag re yogi jaag re
ye samaadhi anant yogi tyaag re
jaag re
jaag re

ho o o o o
o o o o o
o o o o o
aaa aaa
yauwan ki behnt mein madhu maas aaya
jungle mein mangal hai chhaaya
jungle mein mangal hai chhaaya
jungle mein mangal hai chhaaya
dharti suhagan ne dhaani chunariya se
ban ban ko upvan banaaya
ban ban ko upvan banaaya
ban ban ko upvan banaaya
kaliyon ke mukh choomen
(aaa aaa aaa aaa)
gumche bhramar ke
(aaa aaa aaa aaa)
kaliyon ke mukh choomen
(aaa aaa aaa aaa)
gumche bhramar ke
(aaa aaa aaa aaa)
vrikshon se lipti lataayen
gun gun gun gun gun gun dolen vaasanti
sheetal sugandh hawaayen
kan kan mein praanon ki baaji baansuriya
ho o o o o o
kan kan mein praanon ki baaji baansuriya
goonje hain jeevan ke raag re
jaag re yogi jaag re
jaag re yogi jaag re
ye samaadhi anant yogi tyaag re
jaag re
jaag re

jaag re
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re

tu hai purush aai sanmukh ye prakriti
tu hai karam ye kaamini
nainon ko khol yogi aasan se dol
tere sanmukh hai jeevan ki raagini
jad mein chhupi ye chetanta
jal mein chhupi ye aag re
jaag re
jaag re jaag re
jaag re
jaag re jaag re
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re
jaag re

———————————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————————

जाग रे॰॰॰
योगी जाग रे॰॰॰
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे योगी जाग रे
जाग रे योगी जाग रे
ये समाधि अनंत योगी त्याग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे

हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
आ आ
यौवन की बहंत में मधु मास आया
जंगल में मंगल है छाया
जंगल में मंगल है छाया
जंगल में मंगल है छाया
धरती सुहागन ने धानी चुनरिया से
बन बन को उपवन बनाया
बन बन को उपवन बनाया
बन बन को उपवन बनाया
कलियों के मुख चूमें
(आ आ आ आ)
गुमचे भ्रमर के
(आ आ आ आ)
कलियों के मुख चूमें
(आ आ आ आ)
गुमचे भ्रमर के
(आ आ आ आ)
वृक्षों से लिपटी लताएँ
गुन गुन गुन
गुन गुन गुन डोलें वासंती
शीतल सुगंध हवाएँ
कण कण में प्राणों की बाजी बांसुरिया
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ
कण कण में प्राणों की बाजी बांसुरिया
गूँजे हैं जीवन के राग रे
जाग रे योगी जग रे
जाग रे योगी जग रे
ये समाधि अनंत योगी त्याग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे

जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे

तू है पुरुष आई सन्मुख ये प्रकृति
तू है करम ये कामिनी
नैनों को खोल योगी आसन से डोल
तेरे सन्मुख है जीवन की रागिनी
जड़ में छुपी ये चेतनता
जल में छुपी ये आग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे
जाग रे