Fading Memories….Unforgettable Songs: January 2020

Jaidev: Brilliant, But Underrated, Composer:  1971

In the centenary birth year, Jaidev (Varma) – B: 3 August 1919 – D : 6 January 1987 – is remembered more as a music director who could moulid classical or folk tune in his very unique style.He also boldly experimented using emerging singers like Dilraj Kaur, Bhupinder, Hariharan, Chhaya Ganguli, Pinaz Masani or Runa Laila and also classical singers like Parveen Sultana, Bhimsen Joshi or Laxmishankar.

Jaidev is the only Hindi film music director to have won three National Film Award for Best Music Direction, three times for Reshma Aur Shera (1972), Gaman (1979) and Ankahee (1985). But fame and money eluded him. So much so that, no prints of Prem Parbat (1973) – which has two great Lata Mangeshkar songs – are thought to have survived.

We have taken up this commemorative annual series on Jaidev on this platform w.e.f. 2018, wherein we had covered his songs from 1955 to 1963. Next year we followed by taking up Jaidev;s songs from 1964 to 1970. Presently, we will his known, and less known songs from three films for the year.1971. Of these, the two films– Do Boond Paani, and Reshma Aur Shera – are on rural background and the third one – Ek The Reeta – is urban comedy thriller.

Jaidev’s magic in flopped films

1971

Do Boond Paani

Written produced and directed by K A Abbas, Do Boon Paani is set against the backdrop of Rajasthan. The film focused on the scarcity of water, and the eventual building of a dam. Its cast included Simi Garewal, Jalal Agha and Madhu Chanda and was the debut film of actor Kiran Kumar. The film won the Nargis Dutt award for Best Feature film on National integration. The music by Jaidev was stated as a “magisterial score”, however, the film was not a commercial success and flopped at the box office

Banni Teri Bindiya Ki Le Loon Re Balainyyan – Lakshmi Shankar – Lyrics: Bal Kavi Bairagi

Jaidev weaves the song around a simple traditional song. Use of shehnai in the interlude is also in line with the tradional marriage ceremony set up where at two musicians would keep playing shehnai and nagadaa during the ceremony.

The audio version includes both stanzas of the song.

Jaa Ri Pawaniyaa Piyaa Ke Des Jaa – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

Kafi Azmi is at his poetic best in conveying message of

tan-man pyaasaa, pyaasi najariyaa
pyaasi pyaasi gaagariyaa
tan-man pyaasaa, pyaasi najariyaa
pyaasi pyaasi gaagariyaa
ambar pyaasaa, dharti pyaasi
pyaasi saari nagariyaa

(Body and soul are thirsty, thirsty is the gaze; thirsty is even water-carrying vessel. Thirsty are even sky, land and the town too.)

Jaidev has used the Asha Bhosle’s voice in a scale that fully reflects the feeling of the thirst of the wait. Visuals in the interlude integrate the building of the dam along with rural domestic ecosystem.

Peetal Ki Meri Gagari Diladee Se Mol Mangayi Re – Parveen Sultana. Minno Puroshottam – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

Jaidev so effortlessly weaves in Rajashatn rural backdrop visuals with this wonderfully melodious Rajastahni Maand tune based song. Use of Parveen Sultana and Minoo Purushottam also provides a very unique earthen touch to the emotions of the song.

The audio version of the song has much better audio notes and has one more stanza as a bonus.

The song has poignant version, too, as a Parveen Sultana solo.

Apne Watan Mein Aaj Do Boond Paani Nahi = Mukesh, Noor Jahan – Lyrics – Kaifi Azmi

The lyrics and the visuals of the song narrate the tale of exodus of the people from their native village in search of new water resources.

Reshama Aur Shera

Reshma Aur Shera was produced and directed by Sunil Dutt. It was well-acclaimed by the critics internationally. The film was shot in and around Jaisalmer. It is a romeo-Juliet story embeded in the realm of feuding Rajput clans.  Like film’s cinematography, music by Jaidev also adds to the true ethnic tone the film.The film won music director Jaidev, his first National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1972, for the two Lata Mangeshkar so;o songs Tu Chanda Main Chandani (Lyrics: Balkavi Bairagi) and Ek Meethi Si Chubhan (Lyrics: Udhav Kumar).

Trivia: Amitabh Bachchan’s semi-cameo role as speech-impaired younger brother is considered as his one of the unsung role, before he hit pay dirt in Zanzeer.

Jab Se Lagan Lagayee… Umar Bhar Neend Na Aayi – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Neeraj

The song is a sweet compliant for the after-effects of falling in a love-relationship. Asha Bhosle easily recreates the mood of the song.

Tauba Tauba Meri Tauba… Ek To Ye Bharpur Jawani…Us Par Yeh Tanhayee – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics; Rajinder Krishna

This is a full-fledged mujra song, filmed on Padma Khanna.

Zalim Meri Sharaba Mein Ye Kya Mila Diya – Manna Dey and chorus – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna

A full-some qawaali wherein Sanjay Dut, a young boy of 12 then, makes a cameo debut.

Ek Thi Reeta

Ek Thi Reeta is an action comedy thriller, produced and directed by Roop K. Shorey. The film was an adaptation of Shorey’s earlier success Ek Thi Ladki (1949), which had highly successful music score by Vinod. (Remember Lara Lappa Lara Lappa Lai Lakda). The earlier success formula did not work this time, and Ejk Thi Reeta was a commercial flop. The films starred Vinod Mehra, Tanuja and I. S. Johar in lead roles with Lolita Chatterjee, Rehman, Faryal and Manmohan Krishna forming the ensemble cast .

As much as the earlier two films are known, this film and all of its 10 songs are totally unknown, so we have selected here a few representative ones.

Ho Balama Beimaan Na Mane – Manna Dey and Sarala Kapoor – Lyrics: Vikal Saaketi

The song is influenced in Bhojpuri singing style. Jai Dev has introduced a new female voice of Sarala Kapoor in this duet.

Baaton Baaton Mein Baat Badhati Hai…Ye HaiN Pyar Ke Nazare – Asha Bhosle Jagjit Singh – Lyrics: Prem Jalandhari

The song is a teasing song, probably sung in a picnic situation. Jagjit Singh gets introduced in the last stanza of the song. This said to be his first recorded son, wherein we find him in a rare different mood.

Paani Mein Jo Ham Doobey, To Dub Gaye Hairani Mein….Wah Wah Re Lachchi Tera Pallu Latake – Asha Bhosle, Sarala Kapoor – Lyrics: Sarshar Shailani

The song is of mischievous playful young girls got together a river or a talab like waterbody. Jaidev deftly handles the rustic joyous mood of the song.

Non Film Songs

Before we come back to the two songs of Mohammad Rafi from Ek Thi Reeta, to end our episode in our traditional style, we need takenote of two NFS of Jaidev which were recorded in 1971.

Carvan Guzra Kiya Ham Rahguzar Dekha Kiye – Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Faani Badayuni (Original Name – Shaukat Ali Khan)

Jaidev creates sublime mood with Asha Bhosle’s voice.

Jayate Jayate Jayate Satyamev Jayate – Lata Mangeshkar – Idhav Kumar

Jaidev very creatively weaves chorus with Lata’s leading voice to create the spirit of Truth always prevails.

Back to Ek Thi Reeta, with two Mohammad Rafi songs, to end our present episode –

Jo Mere Pyar Pe Ho Shaq To Kar Lo Dil Saaf Beshaq…..Dareech-e-Shaq, Dareen-e-Shaq…Kisi Ko Ho Bhala Kyun Shaq –Ek Thi Reeta 91971) – Asha Bhosle, Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Prem Jallandhari

Both the young players openly confess that now there is hardly any room to create any doubt about the bond of our love.

Ye Shor Hai Gali Gali …Ke Woh Jawan Ho Chali – Mohammad Rafi – Lyrics: Sarshar Shailani

Jaidev creates a playfully throw-of-love youthful joy in Mohammad Rafi’s voice. The song is et to quite a difficult to tune to sing, but Rafi remains very comfortable in the course all the ups and downs and turns of the song.

We end today’s episode on a happy note to record that Jaidev has so effectively used Mohammad Rafi, even in 1971. Our journey of Jaidev’s Hindi Film Music career continues…..

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

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