Fading Memories…. Unforgettable Songs: August 2020

Shailendra with S N Tripathi, Anil Biswas and C Ramchandra

Shailendra – a.k.a. Shankardas Kesarilal (B: 30-8-1923/ D: 14-12-1966)’s association – and for that matter of that of Hasrat Jaipuri, too) with Shankar – Jaikishan is so strong that almost 30 to 40 % of his work with other music directors largely remains unnoticed, except for some of his exceptionally well-known films with S D Burman or Salil Chowdhury. Quantitatively, Shailendra’s songs with other music directors may have around 30-40% of Shailendra’s work, but qualitatively, be it in terms of the range of subjects, or moods, or song-genres, Shailendra’s songs with other music directors remains equally noteworthy.

We have taken up Shailendra’s songs with Other Music Directors on this platform every August , w.e.f. 2017, in the memory of Shailendra’s birthday. Till now we have covered

2017 – Shailendra and “Other” Music Directors

2018 – Shailendra and Roshan

2019 – Shailendra with Hemant Kumar, Ravi and Kalayanji (Anandji)

We have also undertaken a separate series of Salil Chowdhury and Shailendra’s Songs Fading From the Memory in our November episodes.

Presently, we will recall Shailendra’s songs with S N Tripathi, Anil Biswas and C Ramchandra.

With S N (Shri Nath) Tripathi

S N Tripathi and Shailendra have worked for together for five films spread over a decade. Dilli Darbar (1956) was history-period film in which Hasrat Jaipuri was in the company of Shailendra. Ram Hanuman Yudh (1957) is a mythological film, where too Shailendra shared lyricist-writer space with Ramesh Chander Pandey. Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962) is again a period-biopic. Shailendra was the sole lyricist for the film to write as many as   songs. Incidentally, S N Tripathi has directed this film as well. Shiv Paravati (1952) is again a mythological film. Kunwari (1966) is a social drama, where again Shailendra had 7 songs and B D Mishra had 2 songs.

Mehfil Mein Kaisi Chaam Chaam….Kiska Hai Ye Tarana – Dilli Darbar (1956) – Lata Mangeshkar

Somehow the song sounds much closer to Shanker Jaikshan style. That may be because the song is based on Arabian dance song composition.

Balma O Balma Chanda Hamare … Taras Gayi Akhiyan Daras Ko Tihare – Ram Hanuman Yudh (1957) – Lata Mangeshkar

Shailendra pens feelings of pathos in the heart of the protagonist who is yearning to meet her beloved. S N Tripathi has used strains of shehnai in the interlude and short pieces of flute in countermelody to reflect the mood of the lyrics.

Suna Tu Man KI Bin Par… Ye Ansu Ki Ragini – Ram Hanuman Yudh (1957) – Lata Mangeshkar

We have here a fast beat song that is steeped in deep pathos. Shailendra has used very pure Hindi in his composition.

Toot Gayi Toot Gayi Mere Man Ki Beena  – Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962) – Poorna Seth, Pandarinath Kolhapure

Shailendra and SN Tripathi has weaved n two contrasting moods in one song.

Kantadha Kantadha Kantdha – Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962) – Manna Dey

S Ntripathi has conjured up a difficult dance tune. One simply wonders how Shailendra would have fitted in the lyrics in such a dance form –

e.g.

Tanan Tanan Tan Tang Naar Dil Ko,

or

Chit Pit Fit Fit Chhanan Chhanan Chhayi Ghata
Chit Pit Fit Fit Chhanan Chhanan Chhayi Ghata
Dhinak Dhinak Rumjhum Bundan Barsayi Ghata
Dhinak Dhinak Rumjhum Bundan Barsayi Ghata
Sagan Kunj Ali Gunj Sang Ali Kunj Manohar
Sagan Kunj Ali Gunj Sang Ali Kunj Manohar

The second line being repeated is by an unidentified female voice.

Dirna Ho Dirna Tana Dir Dirna…. More Laage Re Kisi Se Naina – Shiv Parvati (1962) – Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle

This is only song by Shailendra in the film. Sarasawti Kumar Dipak also had one song. All other 9 songs were written by Prem Dhawan

Kehta Hai Mera Dil Ki Sanam Ke Tum Bhi Kahoge – Kunwari (1966) – Mukesh, Asha Bhosle

We have here a duet wherein the lovebirds express their love for each other. Shailendra uses simple metaphors like – Indrani Mukherejee saying that one look at you told me who you will be in my life, to which Ravindra Kapoor acknowledges that even though this was new tune on their flute.

Dhaani Chunari Meri Dhani Dhani Ho Chundari Meri  – Kunwari (1966) – Mahendra Kapoor, Meenu Puroshattam, Chorus

The song, and the lyrics, basically are set to a rural folk song style. Of course, Indarni Mukherjee and Ravindra Kapoor easily seem to be able to relate their own feelings with the words of the song.

With Anil Biswas

Shailendra teamed up with Anil Biswas for the last two films in the latter’s career. Sautela Bhai (1962) was film based on Bengali locale of Saratchandra’s story, Baikunther Will (1920). Chhoti Chhoti Baatein (1965) – the first and the last directorial and production venture of Motilal – was based on an extremely sensitive subject of friendly relationship between two grown up people, form opposite sexes, outside their own families.

Maiya Maiya….. Bole Baal Kanhaiya, Chalat Chalt Pag Dukhan Aaye, Ab To Ghodi Utha Le Maiya – Sautela Bhai (1962) – Pankaj Mitra, Meena Kapoor

As the newly married bride steps in to her ‘new’ home, an infant form the earlier marriage of the bride-groom(!) awaits her. She takes him up in her care. The song is composed in Bengali folk Baul style and uses Krishna and Yashoda, who is the mother who brings him up as his own son.

Bhai Bhai Ka Nata Dekho Re Logo Bhai Bhai Ka Naata  – Sautela Bhai(1962) – Manna Dey, Anil Biswas, Pankaj Mitra

This is song played in a rural drama in the film. The song runs around the story of Ram and Bharat, the stepbrothers, in Ramayana. The main family of the story is there to watch the drama.  Shailendra has constructed the entire sequence in his poem.

Phul Ban Bagiya Khili Kali Kali Aai Dekho Ritu Albeli – Sautela Bhai (1962) – Manna Dey, Meena Kapoor

A precisely orchestrated, public dance song that is now an almost home play for Manna Dey. Meena Kapoor easily complements Manna Dey in the song. Anil Biswas has very creatively a folk tune from the Eastern States. Shailendra had had, perhaps, a difficult task to set lyrics to this predominantly rhythm-oriented song.

Zindagi Khwab Hai Tha Hamein Pata, Par Hamein Zindagi Se Bahut Pyar Tha – Chhoto Chhoti Batein (1965) – Mukesh

This is all the way a Shailendra song where he weaves in the philosophy of life., right from the word go. In the retrospect, we have generally observed that, in his last few years, Shailendra’s such philosophical songs have foreseen the future events. ‘Alvida’ (Farewell for ever) in this song did turn out to be the farewell by Motilal from this world, by the time the film was completed.

Andhi Hai Duniya Matlab Ki Duniya, Dil Ka Kare Na Koi Mol Pyare – Chhoti Chhoti Batein (1965) = Manna Dey

Anil Biswas, Shailendra and Manna Dey are at their individual and collective best in the song.

With C Ramchandra

Shailendra’s association with C Ramchandra in Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) was on the exclusive basis whereas that for Anarkali was for only two songs.

Desh Ki Dharti Ne Pukara Gunja Azadi Ka Naara – Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) – Chitalker, chorus

We have here a marching song. One would wonder how would a song like this would have remained sidetracked even in the periods of when the nation had seen the sea of patriotism at its full tide in the periods of 1962 or 1965 or 1971 wars !

Mujhpe Bhi Reham Mere Maherban Kijiye – – Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) – Rangnath Jadhav, chorus

In a film on the subject of Chhatrapati Shivaji, a qawwali has also been squeezed in !

I have not been able to locate any information on Raghunath Yadav

Aaja Ab To Aaja Mere Kismat Ke Kharidar Ab To Aaja – Anarkali (1953) – Lata Mangeshkar

Shailendra has freely used Farsi words aa can be expected in those days.

Dua Kar Gam-E-Dil Dua Kar, Wafaon Majboor Daman Beechha Kar Khuda Se Dua Kar – Anarkali (1953) – Lata Mangeshkar

Shailendra is at his simple best in the song.

Examples:

jo bijli chamakti hai unke mahal par
wo kar le tasalli, meraa ghar jalaa kar

… …. …. ….

salaamat rahe tu, meri jaan jaaye
mujhe is bahaane se hi maut aaye
karoongi main kyaa chand saansen bachaa kar

… …. …. ….

main kyaa doon tujhe meraa sab lut chukaa hai
duaa ke siwaa mere paas aur kyaa hai

… …… ……… …  … 

magar meri tujhse yahi iltijaa hai
na dil todnaa dil ki duniyaa basaa kar

C Ramchaandra, of course, is at his melodious best in both songs, as he was will all other songs of Anarkali.

In order to traditionally end our post with Mohammad Rafi song, we will have to track back to Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962) –

Sudh Beesar Gayi Aaj Apne Gunan Ki…Aa Hi Gayi Baat Beete Dinan Ki – Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey

Manna Dey and Mohammad Rafi so seamlessly complement each other in the song.

Our journey of Shailendra’s songs for Other Music Director continues….

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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