Posts Tagged ‘Maya Bannerji’
Bhaiyya hamaaro jee
Posted by: Atul on: February 6, 2019
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.
| Blog Day : | 3855 | Post No. : | 14868 |
Today’s song is a surprise item. Just when we were ( atleast I was) feeling that all available film songs of Noorjehan are covered in the Blog, I came across this song. As a Bonus, even the complete video of this song was traced by me. For a long time, only a short clip of the song was available, but now you can enjoy the full video too.
The song is from film Lal Haveli-44. The film was made by Bombay Cinetone of K.B.Lal, the producer and director of the film. It seems the finance for this film was provided by one Rooplal Mehra, as per comment made by one of our readers. The film story was by R S Chaudhari, dialogues were written by Agha Jaan Kashmiri and Wajahat Mirza and the screenplay was done by the director K B Lal himself.
The cast of the film consisted of the then popular singing pair Surendra and Noorjehan, supported by Ulhas, Maya Banerjee, Badri prasad, Kanhiayalal, Baby Meena(Meena kumari), Alaknanda, Brijrani and few others. The veteran composer Meer Sahab composed the melodious songs written by Munshi Shams Lucknowi.
Noorjehan ( 21.9.1926 – 23.12.2000 ) had a very short span of career in India- 1942 to 1947, as far as Hindi films are concerned. Her first Hindi film was Khandaan-42 as an adult and the last film was Jugnu-47. She acted in only 15 films during this period. They were Khandan-42, Naukar-43, Naadaan-43, Duhai-43, Lal Haveli and Dost in 44, Zeenat, Gaon ki Gori, Bhaijaan and Badi Maa in 45, Hamjoli, Dil and Anmol Ghadi in 46 and Mirza Sahibaan and Jugnu in 47. In these films, as per one source, she sang just 68 songs. 66 songs of these are already discussed on the Blog. Today’s song will be the 67th song.
As long as Noorjehan was in India, people were mad about her singing. After she left India, people became Nostalgic about her. Many composers used to insist the female singers to sing like Noorjehan ( just like after Saigal, his copies were popular), for quite some time. Over a period of course this influence waned. Out of the many artistes-in different categories of film making- who migrated to Pakistan, no one became as successful as Noorjehan. Not because she was extraordinary, but because there was an aura of fame and awe about her singing.
During 1980,Zia Sarhadi, who too had migrated to Pakistan, visited India. While in Bombay, he was asked ” How is our Noorjehan ?” He replied,” the most successful artiste who came from India was Noorjehan in Pakistan.”
” How is her singing?”
” you call it singing because she is singing, otherwise there is no charm in her singing anymore. Shreiking is what she does now, instead of singing. People in India are nostalgic about her. And why not ? Her best songs finished in India only. What she is doing in Pakistan , I wont call that singing ! ”
These words from a poet who wrote songs for her, like ” Diya jalakar aap bujhaya ” and ” Aaa intezar hai tera “,speak a lot about Norjehan’s singing in Pakistan.( from the book ” From Noorjehan to Lata” by Isak Mujawar).
I am not a fan of Noorjehan. In fact, except Mohd. Rafi, I dont consider any singer ( that includes Lata too) versatile and heart touching singer. Of course this is my personal opinion. Every person has his own likes and dislikes. When the tune is lovely, music is appropriate and Lyrics are meaningful, any song by any singer-in general- can become popular, but when Lyrics are meaningless, music is average and the tune is ordinary, to render a song that will touch your heart makes a singer immortal-like Rafi.
Film Lal Haveli-44 had some less known artistes namely Alaknanda and Brij Rani. Let us know more about them.
Brij Rani was born in 1921 at Shikarpur, Sindh province, in a well to do business family. She studied up to Matriculation and also qualified as a Middle School Teacher. However, she opted to join films as an actress. Her first film was Jeewan Jyoti-37, doing an un credited small role to get the feel, followed by Calcutta after Midnight-37, Aurat-40, Wayda-40, Ulti Ganga-42, Daughters of the Jungle-43, Bhagta Bhoot-43, Circus Girl-43 etc . She was getting roles only in stunt films and C grade films. Being from a business community, she started her own company- Bharat productions and herself made stunt films.
Meanwhile she continued acting in films like Lal Haveli-44 and acted and directed film Circus King-46 and film Sajni-47. Then there was a gap. probably she looked after her family. In 1951, she directed film Daamaad-51.
You will find one more name in the cast-Alaknanda. In Hindi films, there were many sister-pairs who worked as actresses, but in the history of Hindi films-both Silent as well as Talkie- there have been only 3 sets of 3 sisters who worked as actresses in the same periods. The first set was of Zubeida, Sultana and Shehzadi in the early 30s. Then in the 40s came the second set of Alaknanda, Tara and Sitara Devi. In the 50s, the last Trio of Padmini, Ragini and Lalitha worked in same period. After this, to my knowledge, no such Trio of actresses came on the screen. If you count step-sister also, then Mehtab was the step sister of Zubeida, Sultana and Shehzadi trio. This made them the only Quartet of Sister Actresses in Hindi Film History ever ! Even their mother Fatima acted, directed and Produced films, to boot !! Alas ! Their father did not join films !!!
Alaknanda was born in or around 1910 in a Banares situated Mishra family. Her clan had a tradition of singing in temples for the last 5 centuries. The family had close relations with Nepal and its Royal family. Her Grandfather was a court singer. Her grandmother and mother were from Nepal, so Alaknanda called herself as ‘ half Nepalese ‘.
When her father wanted to train her and her younger sister Tara, in Dancing and music, there was opposition from their society. Therefore the family moved to another corner of Banares and he started a Music school and trained children of Royal families from Bengal. In one of their visits to Calcutta, Sitara Devi was born in Calcutta. Alaknanda’s first Talkie film was Suryakumari-33. She worked in 37 films till late 40s. All three sisters worked together in film Haiwaan-40. She had sung 15 songs in 7 films. She got Cancer and died sometime in or around 1947. Not much information is available about her or her sister Tara/Tara Devi/Tarabai. Vithal Pandya, in his book mentions that in her last days, Tara stayed in Bombay slums and worked as extra in films in her old age( Famous dancer Gopi krishna was her son). Sitara Devi, on the contrary,lived a famous,rich and majestic life, with several marriages. That’s life, anyway.
Film Lal Haveli-44 story was nothing new. It was spun around an old time Thakur- beautiful daughter- cruel creditor etc type story. The story was-
Thakur Ramchand lives in his ancestral Haveli, of which he is very proud. His sister has eloped with an ordinary soldier. He had objected to their love story as the boy was from a lower caste. The soldier dies in war and his sister commits suicide. Thakur is very sad. His daughter Mukta (Noorjehan) is in love with her childhood friend Anand (Surendra). Thakur’s haveli is already mortgaged with seth Laxman singh. When thakur knows about Mukta’s love, he bans Anand from coming to their house, but the lovers meet secretly. Mukta is sent to attend the marriage of the daughter (Maya Banerjee) of Laxman singh. There, Laxman Singh’s son Jawahar (Ulhas) sees Mukta and desires her. On Mukta’s return to Thakur, Laxman singh proposes her marriage with Jawahar in return of his Haveli.
Mukta, to save family pride, agrees to this marriage. Anand is upset and joins Army and goes to the war front. Anand is injured severely. In the meantime Thakur dies and the marriage gets cancelled. Enraged, Jawahar decides to burn the Haveli as a revenge. Anand returns to the village, comes to know this. There is a confrontation of Jawahar and Anand. Finally, Jawahar has a change of heart, seeing the true love of Mukta and Anand and he blesses their marriage with Lal haveli as a Marriage Gift. So, all is well, happy ending.
In today’s video, see Noorjehan, Ulhas, Maya Banerjee, dancing- singing girls and enjoy this melodious song.
Audio
Video
Song-Bhaiyya hamaaro jee (Laal Haweli)(1944) Singers-Unknown female voice, Noorjahaan, Lyrics-Shams Lucknowi, MD-Meer Sahab
Chorus
Lyrics
bhaiyyaa humaaro ji ee
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
aayi hain bahne aas lagaaye
aayi hain bahne aas lagaaye
dekho khadi hain duaar
dekho khadi hain duaar
bhaiyaa humaaro ji ee
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
haathon mein pahnungi sone ke kangan
haathon mein pahnoongi sone ke kangan
heere kaa pahnoongi haar
haar
heere kaa pahnoongi haar
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
pahanoongi main to dhaake ki saadi
pahanoongi main to dhaake ki saadi
bambay kaa gotaa kinaar
bambay kaa gotaa kinaar
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
na mohe chaahiye kangan naa saadi
na mohe chaahiye kangan naa saadi
naa teraa gotaa kinaar
naa teraa gotaa kinaar
ik bol kehde ae mere bhaiyaa
ik bol kehde ae mere bhaiyaa
pyaar se behna pukaar
pyaar se behna pukaar
bhaiyaa humaaro ji ee
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
aayi hain behnen aas lagaaye
aayi hain bahnen aas lagaaye
dekho khadi hain duaar
dekho khadi hain duaar
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
bhaiyaa humaaro ji
Hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
Posted by: Atul on: November 8, 2018
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.
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Blog Day : |
3765 | Post No. : | 14738 | Movie Count : |
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Today’s song is from the first decade of the Talkie films, viz 1930s. This song is from “Hum,Tum aur Woh”(1938). This was a film made under the banner of Sagar Movietone, a highly prestigious and famous film company of the times. This company was riding on waves of popularity and fame during those days of 1938.
Shri Biren kothari ji has written a wonderful book on Sagar Movietone. It is based on interactions with the surviving members of the Desai clan as well as several contemporary documents and is regarded as an authentic volume on Sagar Movietone. However, oday’s article is based on another book, “Mehboob Khan” written by Shashikant Kinikar, published in 2015, 2 years after Kothari ji’s book. This 300+ page book, in Marathi, has plenty of original photos and articles on Mehboob Khan written by Anil Biswas, Sitara Devi, Shamshad Begum, P.K.Nair, Wazahat Mirza, Naushad and Shakeel Badayuni and therefore it is full of several anecdotes which are unknown to many. The book also contains 4 articles by Mehboob Khan himself. The book is an excellent treatise on Mehboob Khan-the Director and the Human Being, with 230 pages dedicated on him and his films.
However, Mehboob’s story is incomplete without Sagar’s story.
Hindi film industry has produced some great directors who, besides having a commercial outlook, also served the society by making films on burning social issues. On their parts, they contributed their “Two Cents” to serve the Nation. Such directors included Raj Kapoor, V.Shantaram, Guru Dutt, Satyajit Ray and Mehboob Khan-to name a few.
Born as Ramzan Khan in 1907 in Bilimora, Gujarat, Mehboob was from a Gujarati Muslim family. He never got a formal education in his young age, but he was keen on two things-5 times Namaz and seeing films. His father being in Police Department, films were free for him. One day he ran away to Bombay to become an actor. However his father found him out and brought him back. He was immediately married off, with a belief that he would improve.
Two years after marriage and one child, he ran to Bombay again and worked in Imperial film co. as an extra for Rs.30 pm. This too after he worked without any pay for 5 months due to the mistake of the clerk ! He worked in crowd scenes and sundry roles-without a dialogue, of course, starting as one of the 40 thieves of Alibaba. He worked in several films uncredited. His first, big and credited role came in the film “Shirin Khushru”-1929.
In 1927, after the Talkie film “The Jazz Singer” was shown in US, the world started making Talkie films. India too jumped into the bandwagon. In 1931, Imperial-competing with Madon Theatres of Calcutta- wanted to make a Talkie and started work fast. Mehboob Khan was almost finalised as the Hero. Even his costumes were made ready, but he was destined for something different, and Master Vithal was made the Hero of India’s first Talkie. Ardeshir Irani’s safety valve of minimizing the risk of the first venture by selecting the existing popular Hero, scuttled Mehboob’s dream.
Meanwhile, Imperial started a new company,’Sagar Movietone’, along with Dr. Patel and Chiman Desai. Some artistes and techies were shifted to Sagar-including Mehboob- from Imperial. Mehboob continued to work in 12 silent films. Here, he met Faredoon Irani, Cinematographer and they became thick friends. Irani was with Mehboob till the end.
During this period, Mehboob wrote a film story and convinced the owners to allow him to direct this film. Owners were hesitant, naturally, to allow this young extra actor to direct a film. Lastly a deal was struck, that Mehboob and Faredoon should be allowed to shoot one reel film. If they like it, continue or else, scrap it and recover money from these two chaps. After one reel shooting the owners realised that they had struck Gold in the process and Mehboob completed his first Directorial venture ” Al Hilaal “-35. The film was a great success and Mehboob ‘chal pada’. Mehboob went on to direct 7 more films for Sagar. All his films were successful.
From film Jageerdar-37 Mehboob and Anil Biswas pair teamed up for 8 films-till Roti-42.
When Mehboob was making arrangements for his next film, Alibaba, the sudden news that Sagar is closing down hit them. Mehboob Khan contacted Imperial to allow him to shoot for his film in their studio, which Ardeshir gladly permitted. The film shooting proceeded til Sagar became National studios. Mehboob made 3 important films of his career in National studio, namely Aurat-40, Behan-41 and Roti-42.
When National studio also closed down all workers came on road. However, Mehboob decided to start his own company. One Mr. Lalaji of Manoranjan Distributors of Delhi promised capital. National studio was renamed as Central studio by the owner, K.K.Modi-elder brother of Sohrab Modi. He allowed Mehboob to use the studio till his own studio came up. Mehboob took a place nearby to start his office. In this period there was a rift between Mehboob and Anil Biswas and they separated for ever-albeit bitterly.
Mehboob wanted a Logo for Mehboob Productions. He selected a sher written by Agha Jani kashmiri for film “Al Hilal”….” Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai, vahi hota hai jo manjur e Khuda hota hai”. It was recorded in the voice of Rafiq Ghaznavi with appropriate prelude music and sound of lightening and clouds. He also took Sickle and Hammer for the Logo, and clarified that because he respected workers and certainly he was not a communist.
His first film Najma-43 ( his daughter’s name was Najma), with Ashok Kumar and Veena was a Hit film. It was followed by Taqdeer-43, Humayun-45,Anmol Ghadi-46, Elaan-47, Anokhi Ada-48, Andaaz-49, Aan-52, Amar-54 and his Magnum Opus Mother India-57. After the high of Mother India, Mehboob aimed to fly even higher with Son of India (1962) but the film was a total misfire and, in fact, his weakest film. Mehboob had been neglecting health inspite of suffering Heart attacks. In May 1964, he suffered another attack but survived. His financiers were after him for repayment and he was worried. He called Rajendra Kumar and asked for a loan of 4 lakh rupees against his studio to be made in his name. Rajendrakumar refused to take the studio and promised to give him the amount next day at 11 am, without any mortgage. In the evening, news of Nehru’s heart attack came. Mehboob became restless. Soon the death news came and Mehboob became grief stricken. Akhtar gave him sleeping pills, but he had to be admitted to Nanavati Hospital. He too died at 2 am on 28th May 1964. At the time of his death, Mehboob Khan was harboring ambitions to make a film on the life of Habba Khatoon, the 16th century poetess-queen of Kashmir.
Mehboob Khan directed 8 films for Sagar, 3 films for National and 11 films for Mehboob productions.( based on information from Upperstall, Mehboob Khan by Shashikant Kinikar and my notes).
One advantage of reading a Biography is that you get to know the person’s version on controversies. As far as Mehboob and Anil Biswas’s split is concerned, Mehboob’s version is 180 degrees opposite to what Anil Biswas gave. Difficult to side anyone. But this split did help first Rafiq Ghaznavi and then Naushad.
In the cast of the film, one finds a name Sunalini Devi. Now let us know something about Sunalini Devi, the actress. She was born on 1-1-1896 in Hyderabad Deccan. Her father, Aghornath Chattopadhyay-a Bengali settled in Hyderabad – was a Sanskrit scholar, was proficient in 27 languages and was the first Indian to get the D.Sc. honour. Sunalini was the elder sister of Sarojini, who became Sarojini Naidu after her marriage, and Harindranath Chattopadhyaya-renowned poet.
Sunalini learnt Music and Dance from her third year of age itself. Due to her sweet voice, she was called ‘ Kokila ‘. It is to be noted that her younger sister Saojini naidu was called ‘ Nightingale of India’ ! It is unfortunate that the film industry did not use Sunalini’s music skill in her films and she sang just one song in her career in film ‘ Raja Rani-42’.
Sunalini started acting in stage dramas from 1918. her first movie was ” Light of Asia”-released initially in Germany and Poland in 1925 ( its restored version was released on 5th July 2001, in India. This film was made by Himanshu Rai. The film was shot in Lahore. It was a silent film on Gautama the Buddha. Her first Talkie film was ‘ veer Kunal-32’. She acted in 56 films. Mostly she was known for motherly roles only. She had, like her more eminent sister, married a south Indian- mr.A.S.Rajan, a writer from Madras.
Some of her more known films are, Aurat, Lalaji, Inkaar, Nai roshni, Talaash, Bairam khan, Tamasha, Dilruba, Malhar etc etc. She retired from films in 1956.
Let us now listen to the song of today. It is sung by Maya Banerjee and Harish. The music was by Anil Biswas. I find the tune of this song a little unusual. It looks like the lady is stressing her point with fists hammered on a desk.
With this song, this film “Hum Tum aur Woh” (1938) makes its Debut in the Blog.
Song-Hamen preet kisi se nahin karni (Ham Tum Aur Wo)(1938) Singers-Maya Banerjee, Harish, MD-Anil Biswas
Lyrics
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet ki reet bataao nahin
hamen preet ki reet bataao nahin
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen likh likh chithhiyaan mat bhejo
hamen likh likh chithhiyaan mat bhejo
hamen jamuna kinaare bulaao nahin
hamen jamuna kinaare bulaao nahin
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
ham likhh likhh chithhiyaan bhejenge
tumhen apne paas bulaayenge
ham likhh likhh chithhiyaan bhejenge
tumhen apne paas bulaayenge
ham roothhenge
ham jhagdenge
ham roothhenge
ham jhagdenge
ham dor se kheench ke laayenge
ham dor se kheench ke laayenge
in baaton se hamko daraao nahin
in baaton se hamko daraao nahin
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet ki reet bataao nahin
hamen preet ki reet bataao nahin
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
hamen preet kisi se nahin karni
Baanke bihaari bhool na jaana
Posted by: Atul on: October 14, 2017
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 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 the film Jagirdar-1937. The film was made by Sagar Movietone.
In the first decade after the Talkie Era started, Sagar Movietone was one of the major film making companies in Bombay. The Desai family, along with Dr. Ambalal Patel, were originally in Film Distribution business, but decided to enter the actual film production. Sagar Film Company, which had produced 12 silent films, was converted to Sagar Movietone in 1931, after Desai and Patel joined it.
Read more on this topic…
Aa ri sakhi main tohe preet sikha doon
Posted by: Atul on: April 11, 2013
This article is written by Arunkumar Deshmukh, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog. This is his 100th writeup in the blog.
I just cant believe that I am writing this 100th post today !
Read more on this topic…
Aankhon mein basa ke baalam ko
Posted by: Atul on: March 30, 2013
“Laxmi” (1940) was produced by Circo Productions, Bombay and directed by Mohan Sinha. The movie had Kumar, Bibbo, Maya Bannerji, Jeevan etc in it.
Read more on this topic…
Bhool sakoongi kaise saajan
Posted by: Atul on: March 28, 2013
Timir Baran (10 july 1904- 28 march 1987) was a pioneer of Indian movie music. He was one of those who brought Indian movie music out of the influence of theatre music and enabled it to acquire its own distinct identity. He was a classically trained musician. Trained under Ustad Allauddin Khan of Maihar Gharana, Timir Bran was an expert in playing Sarod, Clarinet and banjo.
Read more on this topic…
Ab kaun hai meraa
Posted by: Atul on: September 28, 2010
Sajjad Hussain is regarded as one of the most talented music directors of Hindi movie industry. But he failed to have a long career in Hindi movies, because he tended to rub people the wrong way with his behaviour. As a result, he got very few assignments in his career lasting nearly two decades in which he got to compose only about 100 songs.
Read more on this topic…
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
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