Shankar- (Jaikishan) and Shailendra’s Songs Fading From the Memory 1949 – 1953

We are now running a series on Shailendra’s songs with other than Shanker Jaikishan songs, similarly the songs of Hasrat Jaipuri with other music directors too. We have also taken up Shamker-Jaikishan’s songs written by Hasrat Jaipuri, which essentially focus on Jaikishan’s compositions. So the only one person who does not seem to have received his due was Shankar (Singh Raghuvanshi) October is the month of Shanker’s birthday (25 October 1922 — 26 April 1987). So, we cannot have a better occasion to institute a series on Shanker(-Jaikishan)’s compositions that have been penned by Shailendra.

Top: Left Shanker, Right – Jaikishan;
Bottom: From L to R: Hasrat, Shailendra, Dattaram, Sebastian

Shanker-Jaikishan debuted with Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat in 1949. By the time fate would bring in Shailendra in this team, all except two songs were ready. Shailendra is said to have first written, fatefully or as his wont, meaningfully

Barsat Mein… Sajan Ham Se Mile Tum.. Barsat Mein – Lata Mangeshkar

The other one that Shailendra wrote was

Patli Kamar Hai Tirchhi Nazar Hai – Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar

That seems to set the tone of Shanker-Jaikishan’s approach to what they will present as their unique identity in a highly completive word – innovative orchestration to essentially Indian tunes..

Even as Mohammad Rafi had his entry in the team in Barsaat itself, for the purpose of the scope of our present series, we will have to wait till 1951 to make the big picture complete.

Naiya Teri Majdhar – Awara 1951 – Mohammad Rafi, chorus

From Awara onwards, Mukesh shall be the playback voice of Raj Kapoor was a settled affair. However, Shanker Jaikishan invariably had one Mohammad Rafi song in each of RK Films till Mera Naam Joker, except of course, Aah, and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Baheti Hai.

Pavitra Sitamai Ko Tune Diya Banwas – Awara (1951) – Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, chorus)

This songs metaphorically sets the stage for the film’s narrative, by drawing from Ramayana, wherein Ram tells Sita to leave Ayodhya, knowing fully well that she in the advanced stage of pregnancy. The story of “Awara’ has one more agenda – to prove that a progeny of the upper class will always remain upper class and vive versa.

Anmol Pyaar Bin Mol Bike – Badal (1951) – Lata Mangeshkar

Whether by design or by the circumstances, Shanker Jaikishan’s first few films have a very high degree of skew tilting towards Lata Mangeshkar.

Illa Belle..Din Hai Pyare Pyare – Kali Ghata (1951) – Lata Mangeshkar

Shailendra deftly weaves fil title in the song, if not in the first couplet (mukhada), then in the first stanza. Interestingly Kishore Shahoo has carried the accordion to, probably, bring in a sense reality to the presentation of the song!

Dekho Aaya Yeh Kaisa Zamana – Daag (1952) – Lata Mangeshkar, chorus

Here we have a song that is set to classic Marathi folk tune.

Kya Bataoon Mohabbat Hai Kya – Parbat (1952) – Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt

There are not as many songs of Geeta Dutt from Shankar-Jaikishan’s stable, and then a trio of Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi is even rarer. The film itself is far less heard of. The soft composition of the song adds to the rarities.

O O My Dear Aao Near – Nagina (1952) – Mohammad Rafi, Shamshad Begum

To the most of Nagina was film where Nutan was not permitted entry during the premier because she was not yet an adult, that this was the first film after Nasir Khan had returned from a highly unsuccessful move to permanently migrate to Pakistan, that Shanker Jaikishan had dared experimenting the lead male song in the voice of C H Atma and had also presented their maiden haunting melody in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice. SJ also have successfully risen to the challenge of simultaneously presenting very light songs as well, the other one being Humse Koi Pyar Karo Ji. Both these light-tones songs are filmed on Gope and Mohana.

The year 1953 has as many as 9 films within the scope of our series, which in itself would be able to provide the material for one independent post. However, I have chosen to include three films here, because one song from each of the two films provides us variety – of singers and of the song situation. Third one has two great Mohammad Rafi songs that would fit into our tradition of ending each our post with Mohammad Rafi song related to the subject of the post.

Chhoti Si Yeh Zindagani Re Char Din Ki Kahani Teri – Aah (1953) – Mukesh

Mukesh also plays a caeo role of the horse cart driver in this song. The clip here is the one in which the films ends on a happy note. Originally, at the end of the song the hero passes away and is not able to meet her beloved.

This is what is supposed to be the original end.

Chahe Naina Churao Chahe Daman Bachao Pyar Ho Ke Rahega – Aas (1953) – Talat Mahmood, Lata Mangeshkar

When the main protagonists cannot directly communicate what they want to convey to each other, the hind films would adopt a set of street players to come in and convey that thing through a song. Here is on such song.

And here are those two Mohammad Rafi songs:

Nanhe Munne Bacche Teri Mutthi Mein Kya Hai – Boot Polish (1953) – Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle, chorus

Here is a song that fits like T to a traditional proverb – to get a slope when you want to run. Mohammad Rafi gets free hand in enacting an old man, Asha Bhosle gets to enact an adolescent girl, Shailendra gets to dream of future that he would like the new generation to enjoy and Shankar Jaikishan have a situation that naturally bends their inherent composition style.

Tumhare Hain Tumse Daya Maangte Hain – Boot Polish (1953) – Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle, chorus

Beggar songs has been one of the most experimented genre in Hindi Film songs. However subtle use of pieces of flute lifts the songs from an ordinary orphanage fund collection tune. Mohammad Rafi depicts subtle pathos in delivering the song’s message but when it comes to express their necessities he depicts an unmistakable spirit of not begging something but expecting to share what the haves have.

We will continue our journey of refreshing Shanker (Jaikishan)’s songs of Shailendra on once year basis article every October.

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.

Author: ASHOK M VAISHNAV

In July 2011, I opted to retire from my active career as a practicing management professional. In the 38 years that I pursued this career, I had opportunity to work in diverse capacities, in small-to-medium-to-large engineering companies. Whether I was setting up Greenfield projects or Brownfield projects, nurturing the new start-ups or accelerating the stabilized unit to a next phase growth, I had many more occasions to take the paths uncharted. The life then was so challenging! One of the biggest casualty in that phase was my disregards towards my hobbies - Be with The Family, Enjoy Music form Films of 1940s to mid-1970s period, write on whatever I liked to read, pursue amateur photography and indulge in solving the chess problems. So I commenced my Second Innings to focus on this area of my life as the primary occupation. At the end of four years, I am now quite a regular blogger. I have been able to build a few very strong pen-relationships. I maintain contact with 38-years of my First Innings as freelance trainer and process facilitator. And yet, The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. View all posts by ASHOK M VAISHNAV