Fading Memories…. Unforgettable Songs: January, 2018

Jaidev: Brilliant, But Underrated, Composer: Journey from 1955 to 1963

Jaidev (a.k.a.  Jaidev Varma; B: 3 August 1919 – D : 6 January 1987) one hand is the only music director of Hindi Films to have been awarded three national awards and on the other hand the fate, machinations and his propensity for blending classical and folk music into his tunes getting him branded as “too arty” eluded the commercial success. In his entire career, he may not have scored songs for more that 30-40 films (around 100 songs), but he does remain enshrined in the very fond deeper recesses of connoisseur Hind Film fans.  His one of the greatest songs, Raat Bhi Hai Bheegi Bheegi”’s  Sahir’s lyrics probably very easily sits as an apt metaphor:

“Tapte dil par yoon girti hai
teri nazar se pyaar ki shbanam
teri nazar se pyaar ki shbanam
jalte huye junglel par jaise
jalte huye jungle par jaise
barkhaa barse ruk-ruk tham-tham
barkhaa barase ruk-ruk tham-tham”

(Your gaze falls on my red-hot heart like drops of dew just as the halting rains fall over jungle fire…)

Use of harmonium, clarinet and tabla in the song very loudly underscores his brilliance par excellence. In fact, in his first ever exposure to Hind film music world, as an assistant to Sarod Maestro Ali Akbar Khan in Chetan Anand directed Aandhiyaan (1952), he gets a special mention for playing surmandal in the background music.

Probably his musical brilliance and lack of motivation and skills to commercially market it consigned him to such other underrated stars as Sajjad Hussain or Madan Mohan.

We have remembered here songs for his first film as an independent director to probably his last commercially successful film in this first stage of refreshing our memories of the songs that epitomize his sheer brilliance.

Joru Ka Bhai (1955)

Kabhi Bhula ke Kabhi Yaad Aake Pooch Liya, Ye Kya Kiya Mujhe Apna Bana Ke Loot Lliya – Kishore Kumar, Balbir, Shamshad Begum and chorus – Lyrics: Vishwamitra AdilThis was the only film wherein Jaidev has used Kishore Kumar as well as Shmashad Begum.

There appears to be another version of the song as well:

Shamshad Begam, Kishore Kumar and chorus. –

Naina Kahe Ko Lagaye.. Hum Sang Naina Kahe Ko Lagaye – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Vishwamitra Adil

Jaidev has used Asha Bhosle for some of the equally outstanding songs as his songs of Lata Mangeshkar. THowever, not many of his Asha Bhosle songs did not attain as much success as those of Lata Mangeshkar. For example: The twin song penned by Sahir Ludhyanvi– Subah Ka Intezar Kaun Kare in Lata Mangeshakr’s voice and Teri Zulfon Se Pyar Kaun Kare in Talat Mahmood’s voice

Samundari Daku (1956)

Dil Jawaan Hai Aaarzoo Jawaan, Ek Nazar Idhar Bhi Meharbaan, Kab Talak Ye Hamse Berukhi, Kab Talak Rahegi Chup Jubaan – Talat Mahmood, Asha Bhosle – Lyrics Vishwamitra Adil

This is one of Jaidev’s very rare compositions based on western style tune. Talat Mahmood has been known for singing romantic songs of melancholic mood He has been as effective in this happy romantic song too.

Talat Mahmood has rendered this song as a solo version too.

Sama Pyaara Hai….Din Hain Bade Kaam Ke, Aana Aise Mein Dil Ko Zara Thhaam Ke -Asha Bhosle, S Balbir –  Lyrics-Vishwamitra Adil

Here is the song that is based on some Punjhabi folk rhythm.

Anjali (1957)

Kunj Kunj Gunjan Bhanware Ka. . . Buddham Sharnam Gachchhaami – Mohammed Rafi- Lyrics:– Nyay Sharma

Jaidev has very creatively used Lata Mageshkar in the aalaap at the beginning of the song.  The song then follows the Sinhalese original version with all subtle variations in the way song is delivered at different layers.

Aside:

The song that would probably come to our memory first would be Anil Biswas Meena Kapoor – Manna Dey composition from Angulimal(1960) : Buddham Saranam Gachhami , when we first see the key lyrics Budhdam….

[N.B.: By any means, I have not presented this song for any sort of comparison between the two songs or any music aspects thereof.]

Lo Chori Pakdi Gayee – Asha Bhosle, Sudha Malhotra, Usha Mangshkar, Meena Mangeshkar – Lyrics: Nyay Sharma

As simple tune and orchestration as the one here has a variation in the beginning of each antara. Nonetheless, the earthen sweetness befitting the situations – four friends going about their domestic chores – of the tune remains intact.

Raat Ke Raahi (1959)

Two out of five songs have been composed by Jaidev. The other three were composed by Bipin Babul.

Pau Baarah Pau Baarah Pyaar Mein Pau Baarah – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Vishwamitra Adil

Commensurate with meanings of the lyrics,the song manifests the energetic tempo and mood.

Hum Dono (1961)

Perhaps, commercially the most successful film in so far as popularity and critics acclaim for Jaidev’s musical score. However, he was on some meagre payroll of Naketan when he had composed the songs.  The commercial success of the songs too came up as big roadblock to Jaidev’s career graph. It is said that, for Navketan’s next film he already had composed two songs, but the inner wheels so moved that he was summarily shown the gates, forever.

Prabhu Tero Naam,Jjo Dhyaaye Phal Paaye, Sukh Daaye Tero Naam – Lata Mangeshkar – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhyanvi

For various reasons, the other bhajan “Allah Tero Naam, Ishwar Tero Naam’ has been  the more heard one of the two.

Kinare Kinare (1963)

The film had 11 songs of which only 5 or 6 were retained on the final editing table, and this 11^th song is just out of the box:

O Mast Nazar Tu Chaahe Agar – Vinod Desai -Lyrics: Nyay Sharma

And the two songs from the other 10 gems:

Chale Ja Rahe Hain Mohabbat Ke  Maare Kinare Kinare – Manna Dey – Lyrics: Nyay Sharma

This song has been considered to be one of the greatest solo song of Manna Dey.

Teri Tasvir Bhi Tujh Jaisi Hasi Hai Lekin, Is Pe Kurban Meri Jan-e-Hazin Hai Lekin,, Ye Meri Jakhm-e-Umango Ka Madaawa No Nahi – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Nyay Sharma

A complicated poetry that Jaidev has so subtly translated into a soft song.

Mujhe Jeene Do (1963)

A film from a big banner production house (Sunil Dutt’s Ajanta Arts) that did very well on the ticket window collections, The songs also got all round acceptances. However, this time the success again was not destined to boost Jaidev’s career graph – Something that transpired between the two resulted into break up with Sahir Ludhyanvi, with whom every association of Jaidev had resulted into highly successful outcomes.

Maang Mein Bhar Le Rang Sakhi ri Aanchal Bhar Le Tare Milan Ritu Aa Gayi  –Asha Bhonsle,- Lyrics:Sahir Ludhianvi

Jaidev has used Asha Bhosle, as well as Lata Mangeshkar, for widely varying mood songs in Mujhe Jeene Do

Mohe Na Yoon Ghoor Ghoor Kar Dekho Najar Lag Jaayegi – Lata Mangeshkar – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi

Lata very lightly renders this thoomari-style folk –toned song. The song seems have been truncated out in the film.

Here is the full song in the audio mode:

Jaidev’s brilliance was not totally missed hereafter, even if commercial success never peaked to this level. But, probably that was what destiny had chalked out for him, as composed by him in Sahir’s words:

Kaun Rotaa Hai Kisi Aur Ki Khaatir Aye Dost,

Sabko Apni Hi Kisi Baat Pe Ronaa Aayaa

[No one weeps for someone else, my friend. Everyone does weep for his own tales only.]

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.