Shailendra’s Songs with Sardul Kwatra and Mukul Roy
Shailendra’s – a.k.a. Shankardas Kesarilal (B: 30-8-1923/ D: 14-12-1966) body of work beyond Shankar-Jaikishan and the other two music directors S D Burman and Salil Chaudhuri remains quite varied and interesting. There have been films where he has just one or two songs too.
Presently we will take up Shailendra’s songs with Sardul Kwatra and Mukul Roy, with who he had two films each.
Shailendra – Sardul (Singh) Kwatra
Sardul (Singh) Kwatra – 1928|2005 – was a master of Punjabi folk songs. His maiden Hindi film Ek Teri Nishani-49. That film failed at the box office. However, Sardul Kwatra composed music for 22 Hindi and 15 Punjabi films during his active career. Sardul Kwatra’s music in Mirza Sahiban (1957) had caught attention of the cinegoers.
Pipili Saheb (1954)
The film had 9 songs of which had three lyricists – Hasrat Jaipuri – 6, Verma Malik -1 and Shailendra 2
Sapnon Ki Duniya Mein Naye Rang Laya O Man Bhaya Fagun Aaya – Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar, Shaminder Pal
A folk tune-based dance song that is set to a very pleasing tune and simple orchestration.
Chand Sitaro Mein Kaun Bulaye Re …. Pahalu Se Dil Uda Jaaye Re – Lata Mangeshkar, Shaminder Pal
Shaminder hailed from a well-to-do agriculturist family of Punjab. After Sardul Kwatra gave him the break, he did get to sing with a few other music directors as well.
When he came to Bombay, it was Shaminder’s dream to sing a song with Lata Mangeshkar. This is Shaminder’s dream come true.
Tees Maar Khan (1955)
The film had 10 songs. Prem Dhawan penned all other songs.
Jinki Nigahon Ne Chheena Hai Dil Mera Dekhoji Unka Nishana KahiN Aur Hai – Lata Mangeshkar
The protagonist happily mulls her love. The song has verve that catches the mood of the lyrics so vividly.
I could not find the other song Dhoondhati Hai Tujhko Nigahein (Asha Bhosle) on YT.
Shailendra – Mukul Roy
Mukul Roy (B: 16-8-1926 to 8-11-2009) was the elder brother of Geeta Roy (Dutt). He composed music in only 3 Hindi films, 2 Bangla films (Grihpravesh and Kay hiner kahini). He also gave music to one Gujarati film.
Sailaab (1956)
Mukul Roy produced the film and Guru Dutt was the director. The other lyricists for the film were Majrooh Sultanpuri (4), Hasrat Jaipuri (2) and Madhukar Rajasthani (1).
Yeh Rut Yeh Raat Jawaan Bekal Dil Ke ArmaaN Aise Mein Tu Kaha Mere Dibar Aa – Geeta Dutt
The song appears to a club dance song, with Geeta Dutt at her usual mellifluous intoxicating mood.
Aa Gayi … Re Raat Rangbhari Aa Gayi…. Bachpan Ka Hath Chhoota – Geeta Dutt
Geeta Dutt comes up with a very different tonal variation.
Detective (1958)
Shailendra was the sole lyricist for this mystery thriller genre film. Shakti Samanta was the director.
Aankhon Pe Bharosa Mat Kar Duniya Jadu Ka Khel Hai – Mohammad Rafi, Sudha Malhotra
Protagonists play tricks to please the lady.
Mohammad Rafi sings for Pradeep Kumar whereas Sudha Malhotra sings for the child artist Daisy Irani.
Kal Talak Hum Thik Tha Aaj Hamien Kya Ho Gaya – Mohammad Rafi, Geeta Dutt
The song is filmed on Johnny Walker and Bimla Kumari (not to be confused with Hawa Mein Udata Jaye Bimala Kumari).
Shailendra has deftly weaved in the colloquial Anglo-Indian diction for the lyrics enacted by Bimla Kumari, befitting her role in the film.
Chhodiye Gussa Huzoor Aisi Narazagi Bhi Kya – Mohammad Rafi
Here is a the then popular roothana-manana genre song.
Aaja Kar Le Muqabla Ye Baji Pyar Ki – Mohammad Rafi, Geeta Dutt
Johnny Walker masquerades as a matador and Bimla Kumari as bull in the stage play as the mystery seems to deepen in the background.
Mujhko Tum Jo Mile, Ye Jahan Mil Gaya – Hemant Kumar, Geeta Dutt
The song comes up as a mandatory duet.
Hindi Geetmala mentions of solo in Geeta Dutt’s coice, too, which may be a small piece used in the film.
Raahi Chal Sambhal Sambhal Ke Bada Katheen Hai Rasta – Asha Bhosle
On the face of it, this is a street song, but the lyrics are laded with meaning for the ‘The Detective’ to remain guarded against the machination of the villains. Visuals of furtive movements by the villains makes it easier for the lay public in the cinema hall to appreciate this ‘between the lines’ message.
The beloved is whittling out time in clubs and the poor heroine is shedding tears at home. The formula-drama of a Hindi cinema, irrespective of the theme of the screen play is ploy to create a space for a female song of pathos!
Geeta Dutt is her at most expressive best in this song, which is enshrined in the front-row of her top songs.
With curtain call for the present episode, please remember that our journey of the memory lanes of Shailendra’s song for “other” music directors continue…..
We will continue remembering Unforgettable Songs that seem to Fading away from our Memories every second Sunday of the month next year too……..
Disclaimer: All images are sourced from net. All copyrights of the respective image remain with the original owner of the image.
Shankardas Kesarilal , born on 30 August 1923, popularly known to all of us Shailendra ,passed away by living a Chhoti Si Yeh Zindagani, like a comet that lit the sky while it lasted, at (just) the age of 43 on 14 December 1966.
Most of the songs that Shailendra wrote under the batons of Shanker Jaikishan or Salil Chaudhary or S D Burman have already been immortal. In a career[i], spanning around 800 released songs for Hindi films, Shailendra had had opportunity to work with several ‘other’ (than these three) music directors as well. Most of these songs also have been equally live in our memory today.
We will dedicate our August, 2017 episode to Shailendra’s songs with the ‘other’ directors. For this episode, special care has been exercised to cover to select chronologically first film with that music director while casting the net wide enough to cover as broad spectrum of singers as is possible. Also, I have intentionally chosen songs that I have either not heard or those that need a refresher push.
The first set of these songs, coincidentally, have Geeta Dutt as (one of) the singer.Geeta Dutt had hardly any occasion to sing Shanker Jiakishan songs. By the time Shailendra teamed up with S D Burman, S D Burman had switched over to Lata Maageshkar. So is the case with Salil Chudhary’s songs too. Therefore, this has turned out to be good incidence where we can hear Shailendra’s songs in Geeta Dutt’s voice.
The song apparently is meant to divert the chasing British police, but has an apparent message for the inadvertent hurricane the freedom fight is likely unleash. Geeta Bali sings with gay abandon that may also mean the upsurge from the young hearts.
The song is an ideal fit with our image of silken smoothness of Geeta Dutt’s voice.
Teri Chahat Mein Balam, Teri Chahat Mein Sanam Meet Gaye Ham Teri Kasam – Shrimatiji 1952 – Geeta Dutt – Jimmy
This is a dance song that seeks to hoodwink the listeners so as to cover the acts of the partner in the deed. So the lyricist has to not only pack in a meaningful, mind-catching message for the lay listeners and but also has to convey an intended message to the target partner.
The film had 4 songs penned Majarooh Sultanpuri, 1 by Madhukar Rajashathani and 2 by Hasrat Jaipuri . All songs are in Geet Dutt’s voice, except one which had Laxmi Roy.
We now move on to songs that have other playback singers.
Mere Dil Ki Dhadkhan Kya Bole – Anhonee (1952) – Talat Mahmod, Lata Mangeshkar – Roshan
After SJ, SDB and Salil Chaudhary, Shailendra has written most number of songs for Roshan in films like Nau Bahar , Sanskaar (both in 1952), Aagosh and Mashuqua in 1953, Chandani Chowk (1954), one song each in Cofee House (1957 and Aji Bas Shukriya (1958), Deep Jalte Rahe, Heera Moti and Madhu in 1959, and Soorat Aur Seerat in 1962.
Desh Ki Dharti NeLalkara Gunja Aazadi Ka Naara – Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952):- Chitalker, chorus – C.Ramchandra
This song adds genre of patriotic songs in the Shailendra’s arsenal.
Down the career, Shailendra has given several meaningful twin songs. Here is the one early one.
Sapnon Ki Duniya Mein Naye Rang Laya O Man Bhaya Sawan Aaya – Pipili Saheb (1954) – Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar, Shaminder – Sardul Kwatra
Here is the song that has the basic flavor of a very rustic setting that is presented with in its natural simplest form.
Mehfil Mein Kaisi Chaam Chaam – Dilli Darbaar (1956) – Lata Mangeshkar – S N Tripathi
Shailendra has teamed up with S N Tripathi for more than one film – like mythological Ram Hanuman Yudh (1957) or Shiv Parvati (1962) to a period film Sangeet Samtrat Tansen (1962) to a social film Kunwari (1966).
Chal Ri Ameeren Bhai Chal Re Fakire – Dilli Ka Thug (1958):- Kishore, chorus – Ravi
This is one more example of Shailendra’s comfort in dealing with unusual situations. Here is the song that is a traditional dance song attributed to street-performances of a monkey trainer with his pet monkey. Compare this song with another song of the film, a Kishore- Asha duet – Ye Raatein Yeh Mausam Nadi Ka Kinara.
Chhupa Chhupi O Chhupi Agad bBagad Jai Re, Chuhe Mama O Mama Bhag Billi Ai Re – Savera (1958) – Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar – Shailesh Mukherjee
The lead protagonists become young children in the company of the children and so does Shailendra.
Ho Choonva Moonva…. Deke Daam Lele Maati Ka Khilauna Kaisa Khel Khele Ye Maati Kholauna – Naya Kadam (1958) – Shailesh Mukherjee – Shivram–Narayan
Shailendra deftly uses a traditional street performance to deliver a strong philosophical message. I am not sure that singer of the song, Shailesh Mukherjee, is the same person as music director Shailesh Mukherjee.
Nani Teri Morni Ko MorLe Gaye, Baaki Jo Bacha Tha Kaale Chor Le Gaye– Masoom (1960) – Ranu Mukherjee – Robin Banerjee
The film had 5 more songs – 4 by Raja Mahendi Ali Khan and one by Sahir Ludhyanvi. So, obviously Shailendra has been allotted this situation wherein the child artistes perform the song on the screen. The song had been quite popular.
Hai Re Woh Din Kyon Na Aaye, Ja Ja Ke Ritu Laut Aaye Re – Anuradha (1960) – Lata Mangeshkar – Pt Ravi Shankar
In an otherwise an experimental social film, the songs filmed on the heroine, Anuradha (lela Naidu) help strongly develop the characterization of the role. Here is a song that is coposed on a fairly difficult Carnataki Classical Raag – Jansammohini, also known as Shiv Kalyan or Madh Kalyan.
Asides:
The piece that is considered to have inspired the song is Ganpat Vighanharan :
Jhoomte Sharabhi Zara HoshMein Aa– Kaanch Ki Gudiya (1961) – Asha Bhosle – Suhrid Kar
KaanchKi Gudiya invaribaly would conjure a Mukesh and Asha Bhosle duet – Saath Ho Tum Raat Jawan. However, the song that we have selected presents a very different Asha Bhosle to us.
Paisa Nahin Hota Jo Kuchch Nahin Hota – Sautela Bhai (1962) – Anil Biswas, Manna Dey – Anil Biswas
In an otherwise a very serious social subject, Anil Biswas teams with Shailendra to come up with a satirical song.
Their next association is 1965’s Chhoti Chhoti Batein.
Daaton Ka Zamana Pyare Dant Bachana – Begana (1963) – Mahendra Kapoor – Sapan Jagmohan
The obvious reason for picking this song for the present episode is it has Mahendra Kapoor. In the process, we also get the benefit of listening to a very light-hearted song from Shailendra.
Chand Tale Jhoom Jhoom Thirak Rahi Hain Ghoongherwaliyan, Mastiyon Ki Aaj Dhun Baja Rahi Hai Taaliyaan – Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963):- Subir Sen, Suman Kalyanpur – Dattaram
As we know well, Dattaram was one of the very important links on the Shankar Jaikishan team. The song has very prominent us of what was popularly known as Dattu Theka – a typical stroke that Dattaram would invariably conjure up in his the accompanying base instrumentation.
Rahi Tu Ruk Mat Jaana Toofan Se Mat Ghabharana, Kahin To Milegi Teri Manzil Kahi Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein – Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964):- Hemant Kumar (in three parts) – Kishore Kumar
One the most respected song- be it from the singer’s perspective or music director’s perspective, from the perspective of a song that includes the film title or from the perspective of the delivery of song writer’s message
I have lined up songs that have Mohammad Rafi in the end of the episode. Incidentally each one represents a very different point of a spectrum of Shailendra’s vast repertoire
Ja Ja Na Ched Maan Bhi Ja – Satta Bazar(1959) – Mohammad Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur – Kalyanji-Anandji
This is the only song that Shailendra has penned for the film. Hasrat Jaipuri and Indeevar had two songs each, whereas Gulshan Bawra had 3 songs. This also gives us one more of a Johnny Walker song to accompany one of the most illustrious one – Jangal Mein Mor Nacha Kisi Ne Na Dekha
Gham Ki Badli Mein Chamakta Ek Sitara Hai Aaj Apan Ho Na Ho Kal Hamara Hai – Kal Hamara Hai (1959):- Mohammad Rafi, Sudha Malhotra – Chitragupt
As the name of the films suggests, the film essentially would be based on the Patriotism theme. Therefore, it is not quite surprising to see Shailendra being easily able to handle the songs that befit the theme.
Aam Chhum Taam Chhum Haar Ho Ki Jeet Ho Khel Mein Rahe Magana – Chhote Nawab (1961) Mohammad Rafi – R D Burman
Here is the song that depicts the mental state of a grown-up prince.
Illahi Tu Sun Le Hamali Duva, Hame Sirf Ek Asara Hai Tera. Teri Rahamate Rah Roshan Kare, Salamat Rahe Saya Man-bap Ka – Chhote Nawab (1961):- Mohammad Rafi – R D Burman The song was the game changer in the film. In his maiden venture, RDB, on one hand succeeds in providing just the right platform to Mohammad Rafi to fully express the emotions of the song and on the other hand has lived up to the challenge of the Shailendra’s very poignant lyrics.
When we look back now, we see one most glaring association missing at the core career path years of Shailendra – with Madan Mohan. Similarly, if we see the presence of R D Burman from the (so-called) next generation of music directors, one may note absence of Laxmikant Pyarelal.
We will continue our search for 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.
Chot Padi Dil Pe Aisi Ke Bas Yaad Karen – Ek Teri Nishani (1949) – Raja Gul- Sardul Kwatra – Sarshar Shalani
As it happens I had also identified 1949 – Sardul Kwatra song for my Micro Review, under Other Female Singer group.. And this is an Asha Bhosle song!.
Chupke Chupke Mast Nigahein–
There is another Asha Bhosle song from the same, but composed by Pandit Amarnath.
Teri Kafir Jawani Ko Jawani Kaun Kahata Hai
Do these songs sound bells for future specialization by Asha Bhosle……
And this was enough to kindle enough interest about Sardul Kwatra. Till now I have certainly heard a song here or a song there that were composed by Sardul Kwatra, but had really that name registered in my mind as a the music director who ought to be explored. So, I went on to search for Sardul Kwatra (1928-2005) on Google and YT.
Among some good references, here is one that should be of interest – Sardul Kwatra and his Soulful Music – Harjap Singh Aujla.His filmography records 20 films to his credit, of which Ek Thi Nishani is his debut film.
So, here we go over to taste some of the Sardul Kwatra’s compositions.
Dil De Ke Pachchata Gaye Hum – Ek Teri Nishani (1949) – Uma Devi
I have selected the songs at random, only taking care to pick up song of different singers.
Kyon Khel Preet Ka Kheli – Goonj (1952) – Suraiya – Lyricist : D N Madhok
None these songs I had heard previously, so I have no comment to make on any of these songs…..
Jaaun Main Kahan – Pipli Saheb (1954) – Lata Mangeshkar – Lyricist : Hasrat Jaipuri
Jhoom Le Gaa Le Khushiya Manaa Le – Son of Alibaba (1955) – Geeta Dutt , Shaminder: Lyricist: Prem Dhawan
O Jadugar Na Mujh Pe Kar Ye Jhoota Jadoo– Air Mail (1960 – Sudha Malhotra – Lyricis: Anand Baxi
Sun Meri Faryad – Air Mail (1960) – Suman Kalyanpur .
Sardul Kwatra, obviously, has composed several songs for Punjabi films. Here is one representative song from Heer Sayal (1960)rendered by Mohammad Rafi Asha Bhosle, Shaminder, Mubarak Begum, Sudha Malhotra
I have retained Saardul Kwatra’s Mohammad Rafi songs for now traditional ending of our each episode:
Jalte Deep Bujh Gaye – Jalte Deep (1950) – Lyrics : M A Taj
Shaam Suhani Ho – Kala Chor 1956) – Lyrics- Verma Malik
Chhod Ke Teri Duniya – Mirza Sahiban (1957)
If you have songs to share, you are most heartily welcome…..
Shailendra’s – a.k.a. Shankardas Kesarilal (B: 30-8-1923/ D: 14-12-1966) body of work beyond Shankar-Jaikishan and the other two music directors S D Burman and Salil Chaudhuri remains quite varied and interesting. There have been films where he has just one or two songs too.
The world is too small? or Is it? 