Best male solos of 1939: Wrap Up 1

In the Vintage Era review of songs, we have reached the end of the 30s. In a stark reminder of our poor record of preserving our legacy, our Resident Scholar, N Venkataraman, gives a stark figure that only 4 Hindi films – Pukar, Aadmi, Dushman, Durga – are available in public domain for viewing. These are from famous production houses: Minerva; Prabhat; New Theatres and Bombay Talkies. Talking of Venkataraman ji, he is a great asset to SOY. In addition to songs, he was very prompt in correcting any inaccuracy in historical (general history) details.

It appears some good quality video links of songs beyond the above four films are available on the YouTube. In my Overview Post, I had given a broad statistics that of the total number of songs in which song titles are known in the year, in less than 40% of the songs singers are known. It is not surprising that so much of our music is just not available. That is no reason for the mental barrier some music lovers feel in accessing the Vintage Era music. But they all have a sense of discovering never heard before gems.

The comments veered over great deal of history of that period, sometimes with a generous dollop of opinions. Overall, a very satisfying discussion. I thank all the participants for their active participation.

Coming back to the Wrap Up 1 about Best Male Solos, this was the era of KL Saigal (Dushman) and Pankaj Mullick (Kapalkundala) and they did sing everlasting songs which are remembered till date. I find Jagmohan’s Mujhe na sapnon se bahlaao is also from this year. This has to be one of his earliest non-film songs, and it is among his most recognizable songs.

In the Overview Post, I had given 9 Special Songs, some of these are clearly solos. Most of these were immensely liked by the readers. I have to explain “clearly solos”. This is a definitional problem. If a song has one distinct voice and rest chorus, or has some brief interjections, for convenience I count it as a solo.

Barjori kar ke sainya ne bainya marodi meri: I had mentioned it as a 12-year Ram Marathe giving playback to Shanta Hublikar. This was purely based on my memory of this meta film, in which Shahu Modak and Shanta Hublkar on the run bump into a live filming scene, and become casts in the film. Venkataraman ji corrects me that Ram Marathe gave playback to Narmada Shankar and not Shanta Hublikar. I have no means of disputing his assertion.

It appears Brandy Ki Bottle was a significant film of the era with message on ill effects of alcohol in a funny manner. We can also say, though in the initial years of the talkies era, silent films continued to be made with talkies, silent films were long dead by 1939. Besides, Venkataraman ji, all the readers made valuable comments. I would especially like to mention the name of Raunak Joy, who by dissertation-level comments introduces us to unheard gems, and enhances our understanding of the Vintage Era music.

Special songs

1. Sawan aye ya na aye jiya ghar aye sawan hai by Harish from Sadhana (1939), lyrics Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi, music Anupam Ghatak

This song ticks several boxes to figure at the top of the Special Songs. The lyricist is our familiar slimy Lala in several films. The singer Harish is unknown but the song is extremely melodious. Lastly, it has to be traditional lyrics as we know this song very well from the film Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), sung as a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, and composed by Naushad. The lyricist of the latter song is Shakeel Badayuni. There are many such traditional bandishes whose writers are unknown. Therefore, our films have, without any qualms, followed the practice of crediting such traditional songs to the lyricist of the film. Except the mukhada, they change some words in the antara. Thus, the same traditional song with another set of changes in the mukhada becomes the creation of another lyricist. Our fellow blogger Anita first mentioned this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COVJ16mGvlQ&list=RDCOVJ16mGvlQ&start_radio=1

2. Premnagar mein prem pujari prem sandesha laye hain by Mirza Musharraf from Gharib Ke Lal (1939), music Sagir Asif

This film had a superb duet Tujhe Bibbo kahun ki Sulochana, Uma Shashi kahun ya ki Jamna which had been discussed on this forum earlier as the referential song which mentions the greatest number of famous actors of the era. I have included this song among Special Songs in the Overview Post. This film has another outstanding solo, Premnagar mein prem pujari prem sandesha laye hain. The credit for discovering this song goes to N Venkataraman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGD2Y_vZUfY&list=RDEGD2Y_vZUfY&start_radio=1

3. Tu dekh zara dil ka darpan by Anil Biswas from Ek Hi Rasta (1939), lyrics Pt. Indra, music Anil Biswas

Anil Biswas did not miss a chance to sing in films for which he composed music. In this film in the cast, we find the names of Arun (should be Arun Ahuja, Govinda’s father) and Harish, who was no mean singer himself, but Anil Biswas is the sole male singer. The song is quite melodious though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRHrwYyCr60

4. Humein hua hai desh nikala by Surendra from Comrades (1939), lyrics Zia Sarhadi, music Anil Biswas

Bombay’s Saigal Surendra under the baton of Anil Biswas routinely sang songs of a good quality. You can notice Saigalesque voice inflection in Surendra’s singing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QA-Dr4snWo&list=RD0QA-Dr4snWo&start_radio=1

5. Maran re tu hi mero Shyam samaan by Kantlal from Kangan (1939), lyrics Pt Narottam Vyas, music RC Pal

The film had a dozen songs which included several songs by its lead actors Ashok Kumar and Leela Chitnis, some by Arun and some by Pradeep. In this cornucopia of songs, there is a solo song by Kantilal which I liked immensely. It is said to be based on a Bangla song by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ziCYVzI2uI&list=RD5ziCYVzI2uI&start_radio=1

6. Jawani sab ko dhokha de by Najmal Hussain from Jawani Ki Reet (1939), lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi, music RC Boral

Youth did played havoc in the life of the singer Najmal Hussain. I understand he was the one who was the hero opposite Devika Rani in Bombay Talkies inaugural film Jawani Ki Hawa (1935). During this period Devika Rani fell in love with Najmal Hussain. During the shooting of their second film Jeevan Naiya (1936), she eloped with him to Calcutta. In the current times Najmal Hussain would have been prosecuted for ‘love jihad’. This was a major social scandal in the elite Bengali society. Sashadhar Mukherjee, then still with Bombay Talkies, was despatched to Calcutta to persuade and fetch Devika Rani back. Bombay Talkies doors were shut for Najmal Hussain. The portion already shot with the pair was scrapped, and the film was reshot with a new actor. That led to the fortuitous entry of Ashok Kumar, who was content to work as a lab technician, as an actor. This gawky tall person with square cheek-bones went on to become the most successful superstar of Bombay Talkies and the country. Jawani Ki Reet was made by New Theatres, which shows not all Bengalis were furious at the misdemeanour of Najmal Hussain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5bSaznEleM&list=RDs5bSaznEleM&start_radio=1

7. O mrignayani O chandramukhi by Master Nissar from Taqdeer Ki Topi (1939), lyrics Pt. Bhushan, music Brijlal Sharma

We have heard a wonderful song about middle-aged romance from the film Rang Birangi (1983) sunng by Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande and Kumari Faiyaz. I had not included the above song in my Master List. The credit for discovering it goes to N Venkataraman. Since the tunes are different, I would not call it the inspiration for the later song, but the audio is very good and I am happy to include it in the list of Special Songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSQJCzYnlHU&list=RDtSQJCzYnlHU&start_radio=1

Best male solos of 1939

1 Karun kya aas niraas bhayi, diya bujhe phir se jal jaye by KL Saigal from Dushman (1939), lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi, music Pankaj Mullick

The song starts with Awaz ki duniyo ke doston. Obviously, it is shot in a radio station. Saigal also addresses his radio listeners about the reason for his sadness and sings this beautiful song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTDtfzljb3U&list=RDmTDtfzljb3U&start_radio=1

2. Preet mein hai jivan jokhon ki jaise kolhu mein sarson by KL Saigal from Dushman (1939), lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi, music Pankaj Mullick

This song too starts with Awaz ki duniya ke dosto. Now KL Saigal’s lungs are in bad shape, and in the midst of this he completes this sad song. Pankaj Mullick was a great singer in his own right, and a wonderful music director. Dushman amply shows his selfless role in promoting KL Saigal as the iconic actor-singer of our films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vI3AFWPUz4&list=RD4vI3AFWPUz4&start_radio=1

3. Piya milan ko jana, jag ki laaj man ki mauz donon ko nibhana from Kapalkundala (1939), music Pankaj Mullick

Now we get a song sung by the great doyen himself. This song became his signature song, and most of us recognise Pankaj Mullick by this song. I should also mention, you would find the film mentioned as two different words, but my recollection is I had read the Hindi translation of Bankim Chandra’s novel titled as one word ‘Kapalkundala’. I request our Bengali Bhadralok N Venkataraman to throw light on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7hB1lnUbiU&list=RDL7hB1lnUbiU&start_radio=1

3B. Piya milan ko jana by unidentified female voice and unidentified chorus from My Sister (1944), music Pankaj Mullick

YouTube is a wonderful place. Who could imagine this song has been referenced in My Sister (1944) which came five years later. By that time, KL Saigal had shifted to Bombay. This film was already on the floor in Calcutta made by New Theatres. Saigal promised that he would come back to complete this film. The uploader says he came back for his friend Pankaj Mullick. Pankaj Mullick in turn composed some of the most unforgettable songs for KL Saigal, including Ae qatib-e-tadeer mujhe itna bata de, Chhupo na chhupo na and Do naina matware tihare hum par zulum karein, in My Sister. But Pankaj Babu could not resist the temptation of referencing his own iconic song Piya milan ko jana. The scene starts with KL Saigal exclaiming to the lady (Sumitra Devi?), Gazab ho gaya, tumhare pitaji ko sab pata chal gaya hai. She coolly replies, Pata hai, we tumse milna chahte hain. Then she pulls him into another room full of people, and he is surprised Itne log? “”Haan, aaj mera janmadin hai”, and you can guess what her Saheli and friends sing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiCx_z-q6eA&list=RDfiCx_z-q6eA&start_radio=1

3C. Notun phagune jabe by SD Burman (a classic song composed by Himangshu Dutt, written by Ajay Bhattacharya/ Binoy Mukhopadhyay?)

While on a discovery trip, I tried to look up the original Bengali classic song composed by Himangshu Dutt (information courtesy Raunak Joy), I could find much later versions sung by different singers; therefore, I settled for this SD Burman rendering of 1936. Enjoy the original Bangla song which is clearly the inspiration for Piya milan ko jana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ1PAr3t3KY

4. Mujhe na sapnon se bahlaao by Jagmohan Sursagar (NFS 1939), lyrics Faiyyaz Hashmi, music Kamal Dasgupta

Jagmohan debuted as Bengali singer about the same year when he sang under his real name Jaganmoy Mitra. His melodious voice instantly created an all-India sensation, and soon he started singing Hindi geets and bhajans as Jagmohan Sursagar. If this song is listed in the year it is impossible not to include it in the top ten of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myqmVeR2SdU&list=RDmyqmVeR2SdU&start_radio=1

5. Yun dard bhare dil ki aawaz sunayenge hum by Pankaj Mullick from Kapalkundala (1939), lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi, music Pankaj Mullick

Next we come to another unforgettable song from Kapalkundala in the baritone voice of Pankaj Mullick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHP_Avuvhkw&list=RDOHP_Avuvhkw&start_radio=1

6. Pyari pyari surato, moh bhari murato by KL Saigal from Dushman (1939), lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi, music Pankaj Mullick

This song also starts with Aawaz ki duniya ke dosto, like the other songs of KL Saigal. He is a radio singer, and his voice reaches the person to whom it is intended. Now he is cured of his lung ailment, and there is a cheer in his voice. The video is of poor quality; therefore, I am giving an audio link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz7UJ3B_m4s&list=RDSz7UJ3B_m4s&start_radio=1

7. Ban chale Ram Raghurai, aur sang Janki maai by Vishnudutt Phagnis from Sant Tulsidas (1939), lyric Pt. Indra, music Gyan Dutt

Sant Tulsidas was a significant bilingual (Marathi and Hindi) saint film. Vishnudutt Phagnis literally lived the role of Sant Tulsidas. This is a memorable song from the film deserving to be among the best ten male solos of the

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC8dKyxXRnQ&list=RDqC8dKyxXRnQ&start_radio=1

8. Bahati Ganga Kashi teerath aya by Sureshbabu Mane from Sach Hai (1939), lyrics Pt. Niranjan Sharma, music Suresh Babu Mane

Suresh Babu Mane was trained in Kirana gharana by the doyen of Kirana and his father, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan himself. Note the stress on ‘ha’ in the first word. The normal pronunciation of the first word is bahti. Sureshbabu Mane earned fame as a great musicologist of his time, but not so much as a concert performer. It was rare to find his name as a music director, and even rarer to find his name listed as a singer. I am happy to include this song in the main list of the best male solos. The erudite readers can comment whether they see any signs in his singing of his great pedigree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6-FFmSs10U&list=RDE6-FFmSs10U&start_radio=1

9. Bhai hum pardesi log humein kaun jaane by Anil Biswas from Ek Hi Rasta (1939), lyrics Pt. Indra

I have included a song sung by Anil Biswas from this film in Special Songs. I find Anil Biswas’s this solo from the film good enough for inclusion in the best ten of the year. My view is now changing. Singing for Anil Biswas not only a fad, he was quite melodious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0bUcAp_FqU&list=RDT0bUcAp_FqU&start_radio=1

10. Yaad teri aayi hai kali ghata chhayi hai, mere sajan aa ja by Gyan Dutt from Nad Kinare (1939), music Gyan Dutt

For the last song to make up the Best Ten, my choice was between two songs of Nadi Kinare, composed y Gyan Dutt – one sung by Gyan Dutt himself, and the other by Kantilal, whom I have started admiring. Finally, I have selected this song, sung ang composed by Gyan Dutt. That showcases his talent; it is sad that they faded away with the arrival of the Golden Era greats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTKMJcZ2-X4&list=RDlTKMJcZ2-X4&start_radio=1

In conclusion,

The SOY Award for the Best Male singer of 1939 goes jointly to KL Saigal and Pankaj Mullick

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer
1. Hindi Film Geet Kosh
2. YouTube
3. Atul Song A Day
4. Arunkumar Deshmukh’s notes
5. The song links have been given only for the listening pleasure of music lovers. This blog has no commercial interest and it does not claim directly or by implication, any copyright over these songs which vests with the respective right owners.