SHAILENDRA WITH UNSUNG COMPOSERS –(NINU MAJUMDAR) ::


Wanted to share an interesting article on the songs of Bhai Saheb(1954)…I personally like this soundtrack very much….
‘Aaye Ho Akele Jaoge Akele,
Shaam Dhale Uth Jaayenge Ye Mele’.
When we look at these lines, we can imagine a picture in our mind what Shailendra must have thought before writing these lines..Imagine we are travellers and we don’t know where is our destination and where we are about to move..We all have come alone in this globe and when we leave this world, again we will be alone..Life will be totally blank, only our soul will remain in this world..Our face and body will be like a ‘Kora Safa’..This is what Shailendra says..
We all are aware of Shailendra’s association with Shankar Jaikishan, Salil Choudhary and SD Burman..But, Shailendra was associated with many other composers too..With some composers, he penned only for one or two movies and with some composers just 1 song..But, even that tiny association has a huge impact atleast on me..
The above lines which I quoted is from the movie ‘Bhai Saheb’..The movie had 10 songs in all, but only 8 songs are available as the other 2 songs were not released in any record..I personally rate this soundtrack as not only one of the all time best of Shailendra, but top 10 soundtrack in hindi movies..The composer of this movie is Ninu Majumdar..This was the last movie for which he composed music and his only movie with Shailendra..
In this movie, CH Atma himself played the lead role. CH Atma was also very closely associated with Shailendra..Before this movie, he sang 2 beautiful songs penned by Shailendra from Nagina, ‘Ek Sitara Hai Aakash Mein’ and ‘Roun Mein Sagar Ke Kinare’.
CH Atma in his Jaimala Program which was aired in 1970, played ‘Roun Mein Sagar Ke Kinare’, ‘Dost Dost Na Raha’ and ‘Koi Lauta De Mere Beete Hue Din’ which were his 3 most favorite songs of Shailendra…
Talking about the movie ‘Bhai Saheb’, through this movie CH Atma associated with Ninu Majumdar…This movie was produced by Pancholi Productions..Because of this movie, many other things happened..First time, Ninu Majumdar associated with Shailendra and after this movie, Ninu Majumdar married Kumudi Munshi who the lead female playback singer for Bhai Saheb along with CH Atma..Apart from this, Ninu Majumdar also sang 1 song and Lata too sang 2 songs in this movie…This was the first time Lata associated with Ninu Majumdar and these are the only 2 songs which she ever sang for him..Unfortunately, the 2 songs were not released in the record.
The songs of this movie were not that popular apart from some of them which were played often in Radio Ceylon..An amazing soundtrack to say the least mainly due to the quality of lyrics penned by Shailendra…
Quoting some of my favorite verses in this movie–
First speaking about the song ‘Raat Phagun Ki Chand Poonam Ka’, CH Atma has soulfully rendered it taking the song to another level, fabulously composed by Ninu Majumdar..Another specality of this soundtrack is that minimal orchestration was used by Ninu Majumdar which is a trend of every CH Atma song since his voice requires only mininal orchestration..CH Atma always rated KL Saigal as his ‘Guru’ and in his intital days, he used to sing like Saigal..
Shailendra says ‘Tod Gagan Ke Taare Laun, In Taaro Ka Haar Banau, Jab Mala Pehnau Piya Ko, Khud Mala Ban Jau’..Comparing the stars with a Garland and then himself becoming a garland..What an imagination Shailendra has…
Here is the song:-
Another favorite is ‘Duniya Tere Rang Nirale’, where Shailendra gives us the message in this world, people change their colour in no-time. When there is money, power and bank balance, we will see flock of people coming towards us and when all these things are lost, we become all alone..During the time of happiness, many will come in our path and when the same person is sad, no-one will come towards us and even if someone tries to console us, they are just trying to have fun with us..Shailendra describes such people as ‘Dasnewale Kaale’..CH Atma has once again beautifully rendered it and an apt composition by Ninu Majumdar…
Here is the song:-
The next song is ‘Nazar Ne Keh Diya Afsana Mere Pyaar Ka’..Shailendra has used number of Urdu words in this song like ‘Raaz-E-Ishq’, ‘Izhar’, ‘Karar’, ‘Aitbaar’, ‘Sabr’, etc..This song is composed by Ninu Majumdar using a fast rhythm compared to other songs of this movie…But, a lovely number and so is the rendition by CH Atma..
‘Jabse Hua Hai Tera Ishaara,
Bas Mein Nahi Hai Dil Bhi Hamara,
Kasam Gayi Karaar Toot Gaya,
Khuda Ka Aitbaar Toot Gaya,
Sabr Toot Gaya,
Bahar Boli Ye Mauka Nahi Inkaar Ka’.
Here is the song:-
Shailendra showed his command over Urdu language again in the song ‘Naghma-E-Dil Suna’..This song starts with a beaitiful couplet ‘Dil Ki Lagi Khel Nahi, Dil Ka Lagana Hai Bura, Tauba Karli Ke Sholo Se Nahi Khelunga’..Shailendra penned many Urdu words in this song like ‘Mausam-E-Bahar’, ‘Rabab’, Shabab’, etc…Another excellent song rendered beautifully by CH Atma and Kumudi Munshi…Superbly composed by Ninu Majumdar..The most interesting thing in this song is that CH Atma has only sung the couplet, rest of the entire song is rendered by Kumudi Munshi with female chorus singers…What a beauty of a song…Such songs can only be created in heaven…
Here is the song:-
The next song is ‘Girta Hai Gar Andhera’..Soulful rendition by CH Atma and touching lyrics penned by Shailendra…But, the speciality of this song is the way Ninu Majumdar has used 2 tunes in this song…The tune changes after the 1st antra and the song goes to completely another level, what a wonderful number…When the antra ‘Ye Sitare Jal Ke Bhi Khush Hai Raat Ke Angarey’ starts, the tune varies…
‘Man More Haye Tu Kahe Gabraye,
Kahe Tu Dare Kahe Nindiya Na Aaye,
Rakh Tu Sambhal Ke Dil Ki Ye Daulat,
Aasuo Ki Moti Kahe Ko Gabraye’..
Here is the song:-
The next song is ‘Raaton Ko Chori Chori, Sapno Mein Aana Chodo’..SH Bihari got inspired from these lines and penned the song ‘Raaton Ko Chori Chori, Bole Mora Kangana’ for the movie Mohabbat Zindagi Hai years later…This particular song has 2 versions..The 1st version starts with a couplet ‘Hazar Rang Hai Teri Haseen Aankhon Mein, Hamse Bharti Nahi Tasveer Apne Khawbon Ki’..In this version, Ninu Majumdar too sings few lines along with CH Atma and Kumudi Munshi..I liked the second version of the song which is sung by CH Atma and Kumudi Munshi, especially these lines–
‘Jaldi Dikhana, Chupna Chupana,
Isi Mein Hai Lagi Ka Maza,
Hai Badi Pyaari Ye Pyar Nikla,
Dil Ko Tadpane Mein Aata Hai Maza,
Dil Lagane Ki Mili Hai Ye Sazaa,
Jaante Hain Phir Bhi Woh Anjaan Hai,
Ek Dil Mein Saikdon Toofan Hai.
Here is the song:-
Shailendra has given the message when you love somebody be careful and do not give stress to it..There are number of waves dancing in the heart..When we love somebody and when we fight later in our life, even that person will be a stranger for us…That’s why whatever we do in life, one has to be very careful while taking every step forward…
The next song is ‘Manzil To Hai Badi Door’…The song starts with ‘Oonchi-Neechi Dagar Jeevan Ki, Pyare Sambhal Ke Chalna Manzil To Hai Badi Door’…As every coin has 2 sides, in life too there is sometimes happiness and sometimes sadness…To reach our destination, we have to cross all the paths carefully..There may be many persons we will come across who will try to spoil our plans and will give us wrong advice so that we will turn back…If we take their advice and listen to them, we will become their victim..So, we have the right to choose the correct path and walk along with that and take our decisions with our own ability or by asking a person who really cares for us…
Here is the song:-
This song is one of the finest rendered by CH Atma, heart-touching lyrics by Shailendra and an immortal composition by Ninu Majumdar…
In the song, ‘Aankhon Aankhon Se Jataya Dil Ka Dard’ which was rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, Shailendra has penned the line, ‘Ambuva Ki Daali-Daali Kya Gaaye Koyal Kaali’. Shailendra has penned the same reference in the songs, ‘Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke’ from the movie Do Bheega Zameen & Also in ‘Preet Nibhani Balma Tum Kya Jano’ from the movie Sanskar.
Shailendra, in this song has beautifully captured the essence of true love or love at first sight and the girl wants to hide about her love with her friends but her friends keep asking her.
Look at the below antra,
‘Ghadi Ghadi Mose Pooche Sang Saheliyan,
Bujhega Kaun Tere Dil Ki Paheliyan,
Naam Ye Batau Kaise, Raaz Ye Chupau Kaise,
Samaj Na Paaya Balma Bedardi’
Sometimes it happens what we dream during the night time, becomes a kind of day-dreaming & we sit all alone wondering is it happening in reality or is it a dream. Shailendra has penned these thoughts so beautifully in the below verse:-
‘Baitu Akele Mein Tho Dil Gabraye Re,
Raaton Ka Sapna Din Mein Aake Sataye Re,
Unse Mein Kyon Sharmau- Kahe Ankiyan Churau,
Samaj Na Paaya Balma Bedardi’
Now, Lets talk about the next Lata song- ‘Chaman Jal Raha Hai Luta Aashiyan’.
Shailendra writes, ‘Mili Hai Dil Ko Dard, Par Mili Nahi Zubaan, Kahe Tho Kaise Apne Ranj-O-Gham Ki Dastaan’.
‘Ranj-O-Gham’ is a favorite word of Shailendra. He has used the same word in many other songs like ‘Ja Ja Ja Re Ja Re Ja’ from Naya Ghar, Zameen Bhi Chup Hai from Mashkooka, Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala from Shree 420 & Jeenewale O Matwale from Sanskaar.
Shailendra also expresses that you believe or not, but life is for you or dances for you. How beautifully Shailendra has expressed this thought in the below verse,
‘Tu Maane Ya Na Maane Zindagi Tujhi Se Hai, Bujhi Shama Magar Roshani Tujhi Se’.
Shailendra has expressed similar thought in the song, ‘Tu Maane Ya Na Maane, Balam Anjaane, Bedard Tere Liye Naache Meri Zindagi’ from the movie Kismat Ka Khel. Mukhda line which Shailendra has penned, ‘Chaman Jal Raha Hai, Luta Aashiyan’. He has also expressed similar thought in the song, ‘Gulshan Mein Jal Raha Hai, Ulfat Ka Aashiyan’ from the movie Shikast.
The song creates lots of pathos too where Shailendra references something like, ‘Tu Pher Le Nazar Magar Hai Iltija Yahi, Mita De Tu Apne Haath Se Apna Ye Jahan’. Shailendra writes similar line in the song, ‘Teri Yaad Dil Se, Bulane Chala Hoon, Ke Khud Apni Hasti Mitane Chala Hoon’ from the Movie Hariyali Aur Rasta.
The urdu word, ‘Iltija’ is another favorite of Shailendra and he has penned this word in many other songs like, ‘Dua Kar Gham-E-Dil’ from Anarkali, ‘Naam Mera Nimmo’ from Sapan Suhane & ‘Jadoo Bura Bangal Ka’ from Chandni Chowk.
Overall Bhai Saheb, is one of the best of all time..Each and every song is the best of the best…
Few days back I was walking in the road around 8-30 pm and the road was empty..I suddenly turned back and could not see anyone and no one was there in front too…I was alone when a person came from back who was fully drunk and started murmuring as he was not in his sense…But, I ignored him and walked the other way.. At that time, these lines came to my mind–
‘Soone Safar Mein Lakho Chor Milenge Tohe,
Karni Karenge Zaroor,
Dharam Karam Ki Joli,
Kahan Pe Ganwai Tune,
Poochenge Tere Huzoor’..
Sambhal Ke Chalna Pyare,
MANZIL TO HAI BADI DOOR’