Fading Memories…. Unforgettable Songs: April, 2018

Hasrat Jaipuri – Beyond Shanker Jaikishan: 1953 – 1955

Hasrat Jaipuri (15 April, 1922 – 17 September, 1999) kept his literary soul alive by attending the poetry concerts even when he bodily served as a bus conductor in his early Bomaby days.  Similarly he maintained a live contact with Urdu poetry even when the burden of earning his family’s daily bread kept him tied up writing the lyrics for Hindi Films.

With around 350 films and 2000 recorded songs, Hasrat Jaipuri’s last releases were Saazish with Jatin-Lalit and Sher Khan (with Bappi Lahiri) in the penultimate year of his life. At the time of his death he was working on a few small films and a book of shaayari. “I never discriminated between small and big films and composers. I have the biggest list of music directors among any lyricist – from SJ and Sajjad down to Anand-Milind, Nadeem-Shravan and Jatin-Lalit,” says the man who was master of romance even amidst his versatility.

Hasrat Jaipuri is invariably remembered for his songs composed by Shanker-Jaikishan. But the hard core fans of Hasrat Jaipuri do treasure his songs composed by ‘other’ music directors as well. In April, 2017 we had put together some of his less-remembered songs composed by ‘other’ music directors, starting from the beginning of his career in 1949 till the most remarkable two-some songs of Anarkali in 1953.

Presently, we continue with Hasrat Jaipuri’s some more songs composed by ‘other’ music directors in 1953 till 1955.

Aaye The Thodi Der Ko Betaab Kar Gaye – Khoj(1953) – Ashima Banerjee – Music: Nisar Bazmi

The film had Raja Mahendi Ali Khan’s 4 and Anjum Pilibhiti’s 1song against two by Hasrat Jaipuri. His song, in Jagjit Kaur’s voice – Mera Chanda Mein Teri Chandni – does not seem to be available on net.

Nissar Bazmi is remembered for Chanda Ka Dil Toot Gaya Hai (Mohammad Rafi) from this very film. He then migrated to Pakistan, where he created Ranjish Hi Sahi Dil Ko Dukhane Ke Liye Aa, in Mahendi Hasan’s voice, for ‘Mohabbat’ (1968).

Aa Jaane Bahar Aaja – Paapi(1953) – Asha Bhosle – Music: S.Mohinder

The film had Surjeet Singh Sethi, Rajinder Krishna, Butaram Sharma, Sharshar Sailani having 1 song each, whereas Raja Mahendi Ali Khan and Hasrat Jaipuri had 2 each.

Incidentally, the use of Dholak for rhythm of the tune seems to resemble Shanker-Jaikishan’s style.

Aa Jaao Mere Pyare Arma Tujhko Pukare Dil Dhundh Raha Hai Tujhko, Hum Pyar Ke Hai Mare Hum Pyar Ke Hai Mare – Hamlet (1954)- Asha Bhosle – Music: Ramesh Naidu

The song does seem to have a little difficult tune, but the lyrics maintain the simplicity, creating a very soft, expectant atmosphere while awaiting the arrival the beloved.

Jaoon Mein Kahan Data Jo Apanaa Kaam Hai Vah Kiye Jaa Rahi Hun Main, Ab Tere Dar Ki Khaaq Liye Jaa Rahi Hun Main – Pipli Saheb (1954) – Lata Mangeshkar  – Music: Sardul Kwatra

The film has two songs by Shailendra, 1 by Verma Malik and 6 by Hasrat Jaipuri.The present song is a classic pathos song.

Aaye Toh Kaise Aaye, Majbur Kar Diya Hai
Duniya Ne Do Dilo Ko, Phir Dur Kar Diya Hai

Mil Jaye Tumse Aake, Sahara Nahi Koi – Sangam(1954) – Geeta Dutt, Talat Mahmood – Music: Ram Ganguly

I have chosen this duet over its rather more popular one – Raat Hai Armaan Bhari – simply to highlight the prelude couplet, In Geeta Dutt’s mellifluous voice that does remain a distinguishing feature of Hasraj Jaipuri’s songs.

Mara Re Mara Re Aanke Katar Dekha Mera War, Tera Dil Kiya Hai Para Para -Aab-E-Haayat(1955) (Music: Sardar Malik)

The film had 1 song each by Raja Mahendi Ali Khan and Kaif Irani, 2 by Qamar Jalalabadi and 6 by Hasrat Jaipuri

This is a (the then) club genre song that sets the tone of mid-east Arabian culture. These songs always had lyrics that carried a subtle message to the Hero.

Mohabbat Bane Hai Vo Din Suhane, Ghadiyan Milan Ki Dil Ke Tarane – Aaj Ki Baat(1955) – Talat Mahmood –  Music: Snehal Bhatkar

Hasrat Jaipuri has once again collaborated with Raj Baldev Raj and Kaifi Irani (3 songs each).

The song has Talat Mahmood at his soft peak, that seems to have been facilitated by Hasrat Jaipuri’s simple lyrics, which continue to retain the poetic charm, well complemented with soft orchestrarion.

Jhanak Jhanak Paayal Baaje – Jhanak-Jhanak Paayal Baaje(1955)  – Ustad Aamir Khan, chorus – Music: Vasant Desai

It must have been quite a challenge to pen lyrics for a song that appears in the credit titles of the film, and yet  must measure up to status of a classical singer of Ustad Amir Khan Saheb’s class.

Raag Malika – Jhanak-Jhanak Paayal Baaje(1955)  – Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar –  Music: Vasant Desai

Jhanak Jahank Payal Baje was a pure art film, in which songs had to support the dances, filmed on highly artistic sets.

I have picked up this song as one more example of Hasrat Jaipuri’s ease to pen lyrics for a song that runs different classical raags.

Hasart Jaipuri had written one song – Raat Aayi Hai Javan (Singers: Mohammad Rafi, Shamshad Begum) under the baton of Bipin Babul for ‘Shahi Mehmaan’ (1955) (Music: Bipin-Babul), which unfortunately does not seem to available on YT. One can find some other songs from this film on YT. If the song would have been on YT, it would have made an ideal end to the present episode.

Since we do end each of our episode with a song by Mohammad Rafi, I would go back to Pipli Saheb (1954) for this song –

Lo Aaye Jhoomti Pilpili Are Chal Dhal Hai Gilgili – with Lata Mangeshkar

Hasrat Jaipuri has very deftly rhymed seemingly nonsensical lyrics (Pilpilli – Gilgilli) and weaved the title of the film in the song, while still making the song retain its natural playfulness.

We will continue remembering Unforgettable Songs that seem to Fading away from our Memories every second Sunday of the month……..

Disclaimer: All images are sourced from net. All copyrights of the respective image remain with the original owner of the image.