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 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.

Today’s song is from film Naiya-1947. This social film was made by Mohan Pictures of Ramniklal Shah, which normally made C grade stunt films. The director was Aslam Noori and the music was by Anil Biswas. The cast of the film included Mazhar khan, Munawar Sultana, Ashraf khan, Anwar, Shehzadi, Suman, Balakram, Siraz etc etc. The film had 6 songs listed in HFGK, with record numbers. However it also indicates that there could be 3 more songs, about which no information is available. Lyricist’s name is not mentioned in HFGK,but I find that moviepedia.in mentions name of Aslam Noori – the director as its Lyricist also.

Though 1947 was an year of turmoil due to Partition, it is in this year that a Record production of films was registered, with 181 Hindi films in 1947 alone. This record took another 47 years to get broken, when in 1988, as many as 185 Hindi films were made.( ref: Film Index by Harmandir ji ).

It was also that due to Partition, many Muslim composers like G A Chishti aka Babaji, Ghulam Haider, Firoz Nizami, Rafiq Ghaznavi etc. shifted their base to the new country Pakistan. Some of them continued to visit India and do films, for few more years, on and off. Lyricists like Wahzad Lucknowi and Tanvir Naqvi etc, Singers like Nurjehan, Khurshid, and some actors and actresses too migrated to Pakistan. However, their void was filled up, when younger and talented second line of artistes took over and India did not suffer much.

MDs like Sardar Malik and Ramprasad made their debut, as did lyricists Shakeel Badayuni and Rajendra Krishna in 1947. Asha ( in a chorus), M S Subbulaxmi also debuted this year. Films Jugnu, Do Bhai, Dard and Shehnai saw lasting music getting created in them.

The film industry got a shock in early 1947 with Saigal’s death. Alongwith movies with memorable music, we also had Films like Naiya, whose songs failed to make their mark. The movie “Naiyya” came and went almost unnoticed at the box office.

Artistes leaving one country and migrating to another can be understood, because they continue same work in the new place too. But ever thought what must artistes, who retire or leave films, be doing in their after – life ? One day this question came to my mind and I started thinking. The simple answer was that if it was a woman, she would look after her family and be a housewife, and if it was a man, either he would spend life as a retired person or die in penury. I decided to find out if there was any other way people did spend their balance life.
I found at least 4 cases where people who left this industry midway, did something unusual.

The first case is that of an actor called SHASHI KAPOOR. No-No, he is not that Shashi Kapoor, who was famous actor of the 60s and 70s, who acted in films like Deewar, Dharmaputra, Trishul and many films with Nanda and Sharmila and who was the younger brother of Raj kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.

This actor’s name was Shashi chand F. Kapoor. He acted in the 40s and 50s mainly as a child actor. He acted in 21 films in all. His last film was Bhagwat Mahima-1955. He left films, though in demand and pursued studies. He did B.Sc, M.Sc, LL.B. and taught in Wilson and Kirti colleges, Bombay, and also did work in S.B.I. Then he went to USA for further studies, did his Ph.D. from Michigan University. He worked as faculty member of Michigan University from 1967 to 1998. Then he retired and remained in USA. Sometime back, he gave interviews on Cineplot and Maitri Manthan sites.

The second case is of a Music Director-Mukund Rai Trivedi, who was one of the RAI-FRANK jodi of composers. They together gave music to film GOGOLA-1964. Mukund Rai soon realised that his choice of career was wrong and he left. He joined his family business of Mining in Balaghat-MP and became a very rich and powerful person.

The third case is of ARJUN BAKSHI who was Hero of Malhar-51. He acted in some more films, then wrote screenplays and then left films. He shifted to Canada and opened a Music Shop.

The fourth case is very strange !

ASHRAF KHAN was an actor and singer in many films in the period of 30s to 50s. He left films ……..and became……..believe it or not…..a SUFI SAINT !

I had first time written a short note about him somewhere 7 years ago…in 2012 or so. Here is his information again, but in a different format with some more information collected later on. My friend shri Kamlakar Pasupuleti ji had done lot of research on this actor. It was from his Blog, I first learnt the details about Ashraf Khan.

Ashraf Khan shot to limelight with film Baghban – 1938 . He played the role of a mendicant and rendered three lovely songs composed by Music Director Mushtaq Husain . Ro ro nain gavanvun ,sajanva aan milo was the most popular song among the three songs he rendered. The movie was a great hit and all the nine songs in the movie were popular. The movie was directed by AR Kardar. The lyrics were penned by the comedian Mirza Musharraf. He was paid Rs 90 / – for the nine songs he wrote for the movie. It is important to know how Ashraf Khan progressed in his life and attained the spiritual powers with which he helped millions of people across the globe .

Ashraf Khan was born in Indore in 1901. He lost his father at a young age of seven. The burden of taking care of his widowed mother and a young sister fell on his shoulder . Indore was a famous city for wrestling and the wrestling competitions were held for all ages including children. He took up wrestling as a profession for some time . He later became a Shepard boy and guarded the sheep .

He had a good voice and used to sing while taking the sheep in and out of the city. One evening while returning home from the outskirts he started singing loudly. A Gujarati drama company was stationed in a near by bungalow. The owner of the drama company heard his song and he was called inside. The owner asked the boy if he is willing to work for the drama company. The boy replied Yes. There upon the owner asked him if he can play the role of a girl. The boy daringly replied No, will play the role of a boy . The owner was impressed and he got into the Gujarati drama company.

He started playing small roles and as he grew up was given the role of a hero . His salary increased gradually and by the time he was playing hero roles he was paid Rs 600 / per month. He used to give away his entire earnings to his mother. His mother used to give him four annas a day as his allowance as he had the habit of eating Paan( betal leaf ), but Ashraf Khan used to return back the four annas to his mother in the evening.

Ashraf Khan’s mother tongue was Urdu and Pushtu but he learnt to speak Gujarati with ease and he rendered his dialogues fluently. He gave record breaking performances in Malopati Manjh ( Prithvi Vallabh ). He played the role of a hero Prithvi Vallabh in three thousand shows. Prithvi Raj Chauhan was another stage performance in which he played the hero role of Prithviraj Chauhan in two thousand shows. Ashraf Khan was associated with the Gujarati stage even after joining the films .

With the advent of talkie he moved over to Bombay in 1931. His first film was Shakuntala-31 ( made in Bombay.There was another film Shakuntala made same year in Calcutta by Madon Theatres) With his experience in stage he was hired for three movies Bhartruhari, Gul-e-Bakavali and Veer Kunal. He played the role of a hero initially and later in life played character roles. He acted in more then two dozen movies. Mehboob Khan portrayed him as a mad professor in his famous film Roti – 1942. It was during the filming of Roti that he came in contact with Peer-o-Murshid ( Spiritual Guide) Ghulam Sarvar. Ghulam Sarvar belonged to Lahore and was employed in railways as a guard. He had many followers in Bombay. Ashraf Khan’s devotion towards his spiritual guide was so great that when ever he visited Bombay he used to carry his luggage on his head and escort him home .

Large crowds used to gather to meet Peer-o-Murshid Ghulam Sarvar in the 1940’s and among the film personalities the notable were A R Kardar, Mehboob Khan, Yaqub, Prithviraj Kapoor , Trilok Kapoor, Sardar Akhtar, Akhtari Faizabadi, Jaddan Bai etc etc to name a few. Akhtari Faizabadi and Jaddan Bai used to sing devotional songs during the assembly .

Taking care of the visitors foot ware was the first duty assigned to him by his Peer and Ashraf Khan never thought it was a menial job He knew that the peer is shedding his ego by assigning such tasks. Peer-o-Murshid Ghulam Sarvar was so pleased with his devotion that he handed over his Gaddi ( seat ) to Ashraf Khan. Ashraf Khan became a Peer .

His association with the Gujarati stage lasted till his end. In 1962 after his last stage show at Dharoji in Gujarat he returned to the Durgah where he was stationed with his family . It was the ninth day of the Gyarhvi Sharief ( the eleventh month of Islamic calender ). He lied down on his bed and spoke few words to his wife and fell unconscious, but his lips started moving as if he is narrating verses from Ayat Sherief. This situation continued the whole of that night and the next day. His wife , family members and devotees remained at his bed side reading verses from Ayat Sherief He opened his eyes in the evening. His devotees asked him how he was and he replied that where ever he is, he is doing well .

He was brought to the hospital at Rajkot in this condition. Ashraf Khan passed away at eleven PM on the eleventh day of the Gyarhvi Sherief, the eleventh month of Islamic calendar. His mortal remains were brought for funeral to the residence of Dr Malik who was a friend and a devotee. His devotees were chanting holy verses from Ayat Sherief and Darood Sherief . Around 4 O’ clock in the morning he opened his eyes once again, looked all around him with a smile and closed his eyes. This was a surprising moment for all those who were present around him. A dead man opening his eyes and smiling was some thing strange. The crowd shouted Hazrat is alive, Hazrat is alive, call the doctor. There are several people alive today who witnessed this strange incidence. Dr Malik examined him and pronounced him dead. He was buried at a place which is located on the highway . The Urs is celebrated every year and lakhs of devotees all across the globe visit his Mazaar ( Tomb ).

There are hundreds of families in Hyderabad whose vows were fulfilled by the spiritual powers of Hazrat Ashraf Khan. Each family has a different story to narrate. Many sickly people got cured, many got rid of financial troubles, rivals became friends, many women became mothers after best efforts by doctors failed .

Amirbai Karnataki rendered a couple of devotional songs in his praise. Some disc collectors of Hyderabad had them in their collection .

Ashraf Khan acted in 30 films in all. Some of his films were- Aaiye 1949, Phool 1945, Roti 1942, Baghban 1938, Ajamil 1934, Roop Basant 1933, Malati Madhav 1933, Husn Ka Gulam 1933, Veer Kunal 1932, Gul-e-Bakavali 1932, Bhartruhari 1932. He sang 59 songs in 14 films. Some of songs rendered by Ashraf Khan were in movies …..Baagbaan 1938, Baaghi 1939, Aazaadi-E-Vatan 1940, Roti 1942, Pagli Duniya 1944 and Naiya-1947. His last film was Arab ka sitara-1961.

Noted Record Historian, and President of S.I.R.C., Dr. Suresh Chandvankar also wrote about Ashraf Khan in his book in Marathi ” पूर्वसूरींचे सूर “. He says that after the death of his parents, Ashraf khan was looked after by his father’s Hindu friend Baburao. He learnt Gujarati so well that people thought that he was a Gujarati. He entered Gujarati stage. Due to his good singing, in later period he was called Saigal of Gujarat. In 1960, he was felicitated by the President of India. In Bombay he had a bungalow in Girgaon. From 1950 onwards, he inclined towards Sufism, while still working on stage and films.

After his death, his Darga is set up at Dana Limdi, on the Bombay-Gujarat highway, where every year an Urs is held and lakhs of visitors come.

Truly, reality is stranger than fiction, indeed !

Another interesting name in the list of the cast of film Naiya-47 is that of Shiraj or Master Shiraj. He was one of the most popular and very famous Hero in the silent era. Like many others, when the Talkie era began, he too was relegated to the background and with great difficulty could get character roles in films. His first Talkie film was Mast Faqir-1934. He sang one song each in 2 films- Baghdad ka chor-34 and Chalta Purja-34. He continued doing roles in films.

During his good times, he had learnt the art of Massaging, as a Hobby and this became his last straw for survival. When film roles were not available, he used to roam about with his kit and do Massaging to earn a living. After doing about 26 films, till Naiya-47, he stopped getting credited in the cast. Now he worked as an extra.

He was last seen in film Guddi-1971- doing massage to Omprakash in one scene. In that film, Dharmendra tells Jaya Bhaduri (Guddi) that Master Shiraj was a star in silent film era. Director Hrishikesh Mukherjee ensured that Shiraj got his name in the film credits of Guddi-71.

Master Shiraj was just one of those unfortunate film artistes who spent their end-time in a very pathetic manner. Some other examples are- actor/singer Parshuram died on road as a beggar, Singer Vatsala Kumthekar died on road as a mad beggar,Wasti was seen begging near Liberty cinema and Rattanbai was seen begging near Haji Ali. There are many more such stories. The world of films is the most unpredictable and unless the artiste is wise to secure his future, there is no light at the end of the tunnel !

Today’s song from film Naiya-47 is a typical old time style song. Nothing special about the song, but the singer was special.

Song-Siyaram ram Siyaram(Naiyya)(1947) Singer- Ashraf Khan, Lyricist- Safdar Aah Sitapuri, MD- Anil Biswas
Chorus

Lyrics

Siyaram ram siyaram ram
Siyaram ram siyaram ram
Siyaram ram siyaram

Pran ka panchhi ud gayo raam
tan ka pinjra soona soona aa
Pran ka panchhi ud gayo raam
tan ka pinjra soona soona
Siyaram ram siyaram ram
Siyaram ram siyaram ram
Siyaram ram siyaram

janam janam ki sangi saansen aen
pawan pawan mein mil gayi jaan
Siyaram ram
siyaram
janam janam ki sangi saansen aen
pawan pawan mein mil gayi jaan
Siyaram ram
siyaram
tod ke naata maat pita khud
chita maan chola rakh diya aaj
Siyaram ram
Siyaram
raamnaam chhut kahu na apna
raam
siyaram
raamnaam chhut kahu na apna
sumran kar man raam ka naam
tan ka pinjra soona soona
pran ka panchhi ud gayo raam
tan ka pinjra soona soona
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram ram Siyaram

mahal domahle sona chaandi ee
raaj paat jag ka sukh chain aen
mahal domahle sona chaandi ee
raaj paat jag ka sukh chain
jaise sapna dekh rahe thhe ae
aankh jo moondi khul gaye nain
Siyaram ram Siyaram
jaise sapna dekh rahe thhe ae
aankh jo moondi khul gaye nain
Siyaram ram Siyaram

kaunn bharam maan phansa thha man re
kaunn bharam maan aan
kaunn bharam maan phansa thha man re
aise bharam ko sau parnaam
tan ka pinjra soona soona
pran ka panchhi ud gayo raam
tan ka pinjra soona soona
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram
Siyaram ram Siyaram ram