The Micro View of Best Songs of 1944 @ SoY : Female Solo Songs – Shamshad Begum + Sitara + Leela Chitnis

Solo Songs of Shamshad Begum

For the year 1944, Shamshad Begum’s quantitative presence apparaently seems limited to two films, if we do not consider the songs from Panna, which HFGK notes Rajkumari clarifying that the songs were rendered by Shamshad Begum in the film but were recorded in her voice.

Memorable Songs of 1944 has two Shamashad Begum solos Main Jogan Ban Jaungi….Mere Devta Lo Meri Aarti (Chal Chal Re Nujawan) and Jao Sajan Mere Harjai , Balam mohe sajan more chhedo na (Daasi, Music: Pandit Amarnath).

Here are some more songs to relish –

Laaye … Balamva Mere Liye PhooloN Ke Haar – Chal Chal Re Naujwan – Pradeep – Ghulam Haider

Ho Gori Pyar Bhara Dil, Preet Ke Naina, Koi Chhupaye….Apne Balam Se Apne Sajan Se Mil Ke Aayi Ho  – Chal Chal Re Naujwan – Pradeep – Ghulam Haider

So Ja Meri Ladli So Jaa – Chal Chal Re Naujwan – Pradeep – Ghulam Haider

Solo Songs of Sitara

Memorable Songs of 1944 has one solo song of Sitara – Mere dilruba aa ja mere dilruba (Chand). Since this ias a dance number, one would conclude that singer is Sitara Devi.

Chupake Chupake Mere Dil Mein Aaye Hai Murari – Chand – Qamar Jalalabadi – Husnlal Bhagatram

HFGK has has five songs of Man Ki Jeet credited to Sitara, but it is not clear if she is Sitara Devi, the dancer or Sitara Kanpuri, the playback singer. Two of these five – Nagri meri kab tak yun hi barbaad rahegi and Pardesi kyun yaad aata hai –  are also found in Memorable Songs of 1944.  From all other indications one would conclude that she is Sitara Kanapuri. With that disclaimer, the other songs available on YT are included here.

Man Kahe Gabaraye…– Man Ki Jeet – Josh Malihabadi – S K Pal

Aye Chand Na Itarana, Aate Hai Mere Sajan -Man Ki Jeet – Bharat Vyas – S K Pal

Aye Chand UmmidoN Ko Meri Shama Dikha De – Man Ki Jeet – Josh Malihabadi – S K Pal

HFGK records Nagri Meri Kab Tak YuN Hi Barbad Rahegi as a different version of the song. The YT link here covers both version –

Solo Songs of Leela Chitnis

Most of our generation has seen Leela Chitnis as a (grief-stricken) mother on the screen. Here we get see her in her vintage era version of a youthful actress-singer heroine.

Hamein Yaad Aa Rahi Hai Unaki, Bah Rahi Hawa Fagun Ki – Char Aanken – Narendra Sharma – Anil Biswas

Do Aise Vardan Prabhu, Mere Sapne Sach Ho Jaye – Char Aanken – Narendra Sharma – Anil Biswas

Main RouN Tu Rulae Jaa, Jo Chahe Jhulm Dhaye Ja – Char Aanken – Narendra Sharma – Anil Biswas

Hum KyoN Bataye Kisaka Hamein Intazaar Hai – Char Aanken – Narendra Sharma – Anil Biswas