Manna Dey – Chale Ja Rahein Hai….: 1957-2
Manna Dey, a.k.a. Prabodh Chandra Dey, (1 May 1919 – 24 October 2013)’s classical training and ‘too clear, open’ voice seemed to over-qualify him to be a popular singer. Not that he never sang for the heroes. If he had lent his voice to some of Raj Kapoor’s most iconic songs right from Aawara (1951) till Mera Naam Joker (1970), one can see several songs that had so successfully lent his voice for Rajendra Kumars, Manoj Kumars during their initial years.
The year 9157 can be said to quite unique for HFM. Almost all the major composers of this decade each had one or more films in 1957. The year, 1957, though quantitively being quite productive for Manna Dey, too. The year has quite famous and equally varied mood songs like Kaun Aaya Mere Man Ke Dware (Dekh Kabira Roya – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna – Music: Madan Mohan), Ho Umad Ghumad Ke Aayi Re Ghata (Do Aankhein Barah Haath – with Lata Mangeshkar and chorus – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas – Music: Vasant Desai), Gujariya Katai Jaye Re, Umariya Ghatati Jaaye Re (Mother India – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni- Music: Naushad). These songs are filmed on the lead actor of the film. And yet, Manna Dey still remains type-cast case that never became a hero’s singer. He never made anyone successful. He was always called to sing the song because the song was meant to be sung by him.
Our present series Chale Ja Rahen Hai is our tribute to Manna Dey to refresh the universal appeal of his voice by specifically choosing the so-called less popular, less-heard songs. Till now, we have covered Manna Dey’s less popular, less-heard songs for the years –
1942 – 1946 in the year 2018.
1947 – 1950 in the year 2019.
1951 – 1953 in the year 2020
1954-1955 in the year 2021,
1956 in the year 2022, and
1957 Part 1 in the year 2023.
Presently, we will cover some more films for the year 1957 which have Manna Dey Songs.
Bairan Ho Gayi Raina – Dekh Kabira Roya – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna – Music: Madan Mohan
Manna Dey has one more classical raag – Jayjaywanti – based song. The song may not have been as popular as Kaun Aaya Mere Man Ke Dware, but remains a very high point in Manna Dey’s portfolio.
Asides:
Even for some one like us, not conversant with classical music, it is interesting to listen Narayanrao Shahane render the song in its more traditional style.
In another instance, the mukhda of the song remaining similar, Dr. Prabha Atre has rendered the song in thumri style in Raag Mishra Kanakaangi
Din Holi Ka Aa Gaya Rang Dalo – Ek Gaon Ki Kahani – with Lata Mangeshkar and chorus – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music: Salil Chowdhury
The hero of the film, Talat Mahmood, perhaps not much suited to act in the songs like, the situation is so arranged that other character actors take over the boisterous celebration of the festival.
Salil Chowdhury’s choice of Manna Dey as the male voice is quite obvious.The song is rendered on several male actors, but the background voice remains that of Manna Dey.
Chhuk Chhuk Chhaiya Khub Teri Gadi Wah Dekho Saiya – Laal Batti – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: Salil Chowdhury
The lyrics of the song has heavy dose of socialism, as was the trend those years.
Desi Kya Bideshi Gora Bhi Kitna Achcha Kaala Bhi Kitna Sundar, Yaaron Hui Kaisi Paschhim Ke Man Pe Dala Poorab Ka Jaadu Mantar – Laal Batti – with Shmashad Begum – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: Salil Chowdhury
On one hand if it was socialism, Rock n Roll was another spice to be added to the varied-masala formula of the Hndi films. Salil Chowdhury, too, seems to be comfortable to rise to the commercial demands. Nonetheless, he has created a song that lingers in our mind for its different style of singing…..
Tedhi Tedhi Hamse Phire Saari Duniya.. Har Koi Najhar Bachake Chala Jaye Dekho … Jane Kahe Hamse Kate Sari Dunia – Musfair – with Shamshad Begum – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music: Salil Chowdhury
Even as we recall the aside trivia of the film being maiden directorial venture by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, maiden acting venture for Keshto Mukherjee (playing the role of autistic handicapped person) and the second cameo – quite polished at that – appearance by Shailendra (first being Chali Kaun Se Desh – Boot Polish, 1954), this song also rivets the attention as it is played on the screen. BTW, the actress is Heera Sawant.
Asides:
Surprisingly, Manna Dey and Shmshad begum have only 6 songs together –
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- Phoolon Ke Sapna Dekhnewaale – Girls’ School (1949) – Lyrics: Pradeep – Music: Anil Biswas
- Aisa Chakma Diya Kisine – Chamkee (1952) – Lyrics: Pradeep – Music: Manna Dey
- The present song from Musafir.
- Sun Sun Ri Gore Mukhdewaali – Miss Punjab Mail (1958) – Lyrics: Zaibunnisa – Music: B N Bali
- Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re Bhaiya – Mother India (1957) – with Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: – Shakeel Badayuni – Music: Naushad
- Peeli Peeli Sarson Phooli Peeli Ude Patang – Upkar (1967) – with Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Gulshan Bawra – Music: Kalaynji Anandji
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Allah Nigehban Safar Hai Ummido Ki Nishani Nain Manzil Hai Naya Danapani – Jahaji Lutera – with Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Sartaj Rahmani – Music: Bulo C Rani
Even though music director is of no less caliber, the film being a B/C grade subject film, most of the songs remain obscure.
Tan Ke Tambure Mein Do Saso Ke Taar Bole, Jai Radhe Shyam Shyam, Jai Sita Ram Ram – Janam Janam Ke Phere – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas – Music: S N Tripathi
Even as one would not like make a comparison, it is difficult to resist the mileage that Mohammad Rafi background solo, Ye Hai Janam Janam Ke Phere did get in the public view.
Rang Birange Phulo Ki Jhume Re Daliya Kali Kali Aankho Ke Chhalke Re Piyaliya Tu Pyar Ka Taar Tod KahaN Chale Re, Aisi Pyari Dunia Ko Chhod KahaN Chala Re – Janam Janam Ke Phere – with Geeta Dutt – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas – Music: S N Tripathi
Mohammad Rafi – Lata Mangeshkar duet Jara Samne To Aao Chhaliye was the chartbuster song of the year. And yet, it did not help the career graph of S N Tripathi. So why rues fate of Manna Dey!
Peepal Tale Ghar Mera Kabhi Bhule Se Maro Saajan Phera – Jeevan Saathi – with Sudha Malhotra – Lyrics: D N Madhok – Music: Bulo C Rani
Unlike Jahaji Lutera, this a social theme film movie. The star cast – Ashok Kumar,Usha Kiran, Anoop Kumar, Pratima Devi, Daisy Irani, Shammi, Murad, Jabeen Jalil, Amarnath etc- was formidable enough. But, if the fate has decided to be of no help, nothing seems to work.
Ding Ding Daiya Chale Purwaiya Chale Wahiya Wahiya ho …. Kali Ghataye Aakash Mein Ghir Ghiir Aai Naiya Meri Dagmag Hoke Dole ji – Jay Ambe – with Lata Mangeshkar – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas – Music: Shivram
This is certainly a pleasant to listen composition
Matlabi Yaar Kiske, Khaya Piya Aur Khiske – Jasoos – with Asha Bhosle – Lyrics: Indeewar – Music: Anil Biswas
This is a rather too complicated a composition to be even remembered even after the song was over as the film was being screened in the theatre.
Since most of the songs are quite less known, we will pause our present episode here so as to allow the songs of the present episode to soak in.
We will continue remembering Unforgettable Songs that seem to Fading away from our Memories every second Sunday of the month ……..
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Hasrat Jaipuri (born Iqbal Hussain) – B: 15 April 1922 – D: 17 September 1999 – was a natural poet. His first ever, and the only, song for the films was for Shayar (1949) under the baton of Ghulam Mohammad. But luck seemed to have some other plans for him. That song never found the place in the film. Perhaps because the history was waiting to be created with his being associated with Raj Kapoor, and in turn with Shankar Jaikishan and Shailendra,
Talat Mahmood (24 February 1924 – 9 May 1998) as a singer had a magical spell over the listeners in the 50s. The career of this velvet-voiced singer ran parallel to his other cotemporary singers like Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Monna Dey and Kishore Kumar. Talat Mahmood sang 747 songs in 12 Indian languages and starred in 13 films.
Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle, apparently look like singers of different styles. Their career graphs also ran high in different slots of the time. However, as we had seen in the last episode in this series, their voices forge a very distinctive synthesis in the duets.
Jaidev – B: 3 August 1919 – D: 6 January 1987 – is respectfully regarded as poet’s music director. He would build his composition such that poetry would remain the foreground, while basing his compositions in classical or folk styles, If his music can be said to have lost the mass popularity touch, by mid-‘70s he had made a strong come back where his music unfailingly got class approval as well as liking from the discerning common listeners. The annals of Hindi film music history would record the years 1977 to 1980 as having Jaidev’s best score in the second innings. Emboldened by such an encouraging response, Jaidev could boldly experiment with new singers as well.
To commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of Mohamad Rafi [B: 24-12-1924 – D: 31-7-1980], as a natural sequel to 
Hasrat Jaipuri (a.k.a. Iqbal Hussain) [B: 15-4-1922 | D: 17-9-1999], Shankar Jaikishan (a.k.a. Jaikishan Dahyabhai Panchal) – B: 4 November 1929 | D: 12 September 1971] and Shailendra combination had steadily gained a very strong fan base during the 50s, mainly on the strength of meaningful yet simple lyrics and innovatively rich and multi-instrument orchestration that still was pleasing to the ears. They would book anything from five to eight films a year with each film having six to eight songs. However, no one had any reason to complain about the effort put in for each song and the resultant overall quality.
The world is too small? or Is it? 