S N Tripathi: Unremembered music director of remembered songs :1957 – 1960
S N Tripathi (a.k.a. Sri Nath Tripathi) – B: 14-3-1913 / D: 28-3-1988 – after having 
toiled in the initial years, broke the glass ceiling in 1957 by taking up the Top Post in Binaca Geetmala in 1957. The song was Zara Samne To Aa Challiye, Chhup Chhup Chhalane Mein Kya Raz Hai (Janam Janam Ke Phere). If it sounds not so astounding, look at what was the coemption like: Naya Daur, Hum Sab Chor Hain (OP Nayyar), Pyaasa, Nau Do Gyaarah, Funtoosh, Paying Guest (SD Burman), Miss Mary, Champakali (Hemant Kumar), Chori Chori, Begunah, Basant Bahar, New Delhi (Shankar-Jaikishen) and Asha (C Ramchandra).
The roaring success of songs from a mythlogical film Hatimtai (1956) – Pavardiagr-e – Alam Tera Hi Hai Sahara and Jhoomati Hai Nazar Jhuumata Hai Pyar, followed by Janam Janam Ke Phere did not really lift the position of S N Tripathi to the A-grade elites. In an industry that thrives on its mercurial values, talent has never been a password for opening the vault of success, this has been the rule of averages that ruled the roost.
We have been following the career of S N Tripathi, on this platform, every March since 2017. We have covered S N Tripathi’s unremembered songs from 1941 to 1950 in 2017 and then, from 1951 to 1956 in 2018. In this episode we will listen to S N Tripathi’s unremembered songs from the films that we may or may not remember for the years 1957 to 1960.
1957
S N Tripathi created music for all C – grade films, Khuda Ka Banda, Paristan, Ram Hanuman Yudhdh and Janam Janam Ke Phere in 1957. Of these, Janam Janam Ke Phere got fame because of Zara Samane To Aao Chaaliye (a Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar duet)and Ye Hai Janam Janam Ke Phere.(a Mohammad Rafi and chorus title song).
We will listen to Tann Ke Tamboore Mein Do Saanson Ke Taar Bole Jay Radheshyam – Janam Janam Ke Phere, (1957) – Manna Dey – Lyrics :Bharat Vyas
S N Tripathi has chosen Manna Dey for this bhajan-styled song. The song is set to a not-easy-to-sing tune, but Manna Dey easily does full justice.
Falak Bola Khuda Ke Noor Ka Mai Aashiyaana Hoon – Khuda Ka Banda (1957) – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Shewan Rizvi
This is also a prayer song, so it is set to a qawwalli style tune. Qawwalli, in essence, is Sufi Islamic devotional songs.
Aside: The song seems to have been strongly influenced by a Nashad composition Badi Mushkil Se Dil Ki Beqaraari Ko Qaraar Aaya (Naghma, 1953, Shamshad Begum, Lyrics: Naqshab Jharavchi). This song has gone onto become one of Shamshad Begum’s all-time-great, whereas Khuda Ka Banda song has sunk into a bottomless pit, along with the film.
S N Tripathi did not compose music for any film in 1958.
1959
S N Tripathi composed music for Jagaa Daku, Pakshiraj, Kavi Kalidas and Rani Rupmati in the year 1959.
Kavi Kalidas had 10 songs. Of these, Unpar Kaun Kare Jee Vishwaas (Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar duet) and Shaam Bhayi Ghanshayam Na Aaye (Lata Mangeshkar solot) had become very popular. S N Tripathi has also directed this film. We will listen to Naye Naye Rango Se Likhati Dharati Nayi Kahani (Manna Dey- Lyrics: Bharat Vyas) from this film.
The song is filmed as the poet recounts the lyrics of his poem form the dream-like sequence running in his mind. The pensive depth and dreamy softness of Manna Dey’s voice fully convey the mood of the song.
The year 1959 had another period film, Rani Rupmati. AA Laut Ke Aa Ja Mere Meet (Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar’s solo twin versions), Baat Chalat Nayi Chnari Rang Dari (Mohammad Rafi, Pt. Krishnarao Chonkar classical duet), Ud Jaa Bhanwar Maayaa Ka Pinjara Tod Ke (A Manna Dey Claasic solo) are remembered as hugely popular songs. We have picked up Aankhon Mein Surma Dal Kar Jab Aayegi Dulhaniya (Usha Mangeshkar, Lyrics: Bharat Vyas), for which an audio version is available.
There is a very short video version too, which confirms that song has been filmed in a mujra style in the film.
1960
The year 1960 also has mixed bag in so far as popularity of the songs is concerned. S N Tripathi composed music for Chandramukhi, Do Aadami, Laal Quilla, Rani Chandravati (UR), Sinahldeep Ki Sundari. And Veer Durgadas.
Mukesh solo Nain Ka Chain Chura Kar Le Gayi (Chandramukhi), two of Mohammad Rafi’s all-time-great solos, Lagata Nahin Hai Dil Mera Ujade Dayaar Mein and Na Kisi Ka Aankha Ka Noot Hoon (Laal Quilla) and A Rajasthani folk-styled Lata Mangeshkar – Mukesh duet Thaane Kaajaraiyo Bana Loon (Veer Durgadas) remain very high landmarks of S N Tripathi’s career.
Chaandni Jhilmil Kare Taaron Bhari Ye Raat Hai – Chandramukhi (1960) – Sudha Malhotra, Lata Mangeshkar – Lyrics-Bharat Vyas
The suet song has been creatively used to manifest two opposing moods. Sudha Malhotra sings to an ebullient dancing mood to which Lata Mangeshkar reflects in a mood of pathos/
Piye Jaa Jaam e Ulfat Zindagi Mushqil Se Milti Hai -Veer Durgadas(1960) – Sudha Malhotra, Mubarak Begam – Lyrics-Bharat Vyas
This is a traditional courtesan dance wherein two courtesans try to please the king.
To explore the depth of variety in S N Tripathi’s compositions we have picked up two more songs from not-so-known films of 1960:
Bheegi Bheegi Mehki Mehki Raat Hai – Do Aadmi (1960) – Geeta Dutt – Lyrics-Prem Dhawan
The song is set to a playful Mid-west-Asian tune. S N Tripathi has used five different female playback singers for five songs in the film. This song has Geeta Dutt, possibly because this a song of seduction.
Ho Beenwaale Teen Sur Tere Been Ke Le Gaye Dil Mera Chheen Ke – Sinhaldweep ki Sundari (1960) – Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
What would have been the context in which this song which has a pungi / been and a beenwala in the center is not known, but the song does have a distinct folk effect in the composition.
We have picked one more song from the year 1957 and two from 1960 that fits into our tradition of ending each of the episode with Mohammad Rafi Song.
Dunia Mein Sab Kuch Paisa Hai Sab Paise Hi Ka Jalwa Hai – Khuda Ka Banda (1957) – with Amirbai Karnataki – Lyrics: Shewan Jarvchi
The official records do not positively confirm that singers are Mohammad Rafi and Amirbai, so I have relied on the information available with the uploaded version.
Nadi Kinare Koi Pukare … Pas Hamare Aa – Chandramukhi (1960) – with Geeta Dutt – Lyrics: Nharat Vyas
This is a beautiful folk-tune based duet, which I have heard for the first time.
San Sanan San San Sanan Chale Pawan, Jan Janana Jan Janana Zoome Pawan – Chandramukhi (1960) – with Suman Kalyanpur– Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
I remember the song from my radio-listening days.
We will end our present episode here, to continue with listening to some more of unremembered songs of S N Tripathi next this month.
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.
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