Now we come to the end of the year-wise review going backwards. It was progressively going into more unknown territory. Out of approximately 670 songs from 74 films in 1945, nothing is known about the singers of about 300 songs, i.e 45% of the total. However, a striking feature of this year is the significantly lower number of films produced, and consequently number of songs, compared to the preceding and succeeding years.
| Year |
Number of films |
|
1941 |
78 |
| 1942 | 95 |
| 1943 | 105 |
| 1944 | 86 |
| 1945 | 74 |
| 1946 | 153 |
| 1947 | 181 |
| 1948 | 149 |
| 1949 | 157 |
There is an explanation for the spike in the year 1947. Because of the Partition and the impending movement of artistes across the border in both the directions, there was a frenzy to complete as many projects on the floor as possible. However, this does not explain the trough in 1945.
Accordingly, my list of the number of MEMORABLE SONGS has only 59/60 songs (one song has a female solo and a female duet version). Besides well-known songs from the radio era, I have also included those songs that I heard in the Internet era which have become my great favourites. I also did some deep dredging for this post, and included several songs which stick to you and which I consider worthy of repeat listening. Therefore, I am reasonably sure that not many remarkable songs are left out.
Musical landmarks
In such a narrow field some films have stood the test of time, and their songs are well-known to lovers of old film music. Three Noorjehan-starrers, Badi Ma, Village Girl and Zeenat stand out for her songs. When she visited India in 1982 for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Indian talkies, one of the songs she chose to sing on the occasion was Baithi hun teri yaad ka lekar ke sahara (Village Girl, Shyam Sundar) to tumultuous applause. KL Saigal was always a class of his own. His two films Kurukshetra and Tadbeer are still remembered for his great songs. The remarkable thing was that these were composed by virtually unknown music directors, Ganpat Rao and Lal Mohammad respectively. Besides these films, which gave them everlasting fame, they composed music for just a few other films whose songs are unknown.
Pahli Nazar has become immortal for Dil jalta hai to jalne ne, composed by Anil Biswas, which made Mukesh Mukesh. Though heavily inspired by KL Saigal style, it stands tall on its own merit. This film had some more memorable songs. Naushad’s Sanyasi, sandwiched between his landmark music in the preceding year in Ratan, and Anmol Ghadi and Shahjehan in 1946, did not create any waves, but now we find many songs in the film are worth listening repeatedly.
SoY’s regular readers who have maintained their interest in vintage songs would find many more charming songs in the list. Bulo C Rani’s Moorti had some great songs. Govind Ram and Gyan Dutt, the stalwarts of the vintage era, had a number of memorable songs which are included in the list. The grandfather of Hindi film music, RC Boral, was past the golden age of the New Theatres. Some of his songs find place in the list.
Overall, it was a well-dispersed field unlike in the later years when Naushad would become a runaway winner far ahead of the pack.
Debut, Fact file and Trivia
The year is remarkable for many debuts. Lata Mangeshkar’s first song in Hindi films was in Badi Ma in which she also had a small acting role. The song was a chorus Mata tere charnon mein. She also had another song in the film, Tum ma ho badi ma, with Meenakshi and others. Of course, she was just a beginner before the reigning queen Noorjehan, and these songs had no chance to stand out. At the cost of repetition let me say that Lata Mangeshkar’s debut in Aap Ki Sewa Mein (1947) was as a ‘playback’ singer for others. Her singing career had started still earlier in 1942 with Marathi films.
The qawwali duet Tera jalwa jisne dekha (Laila Majnu) by Rafi with SD Batish, composed by Govind Ram, is Rafi’s first screen appearance in Hindi films. His first recorded song in Hindi films is said to be his duet with GM Durrani, Aji dil ho kaabu mein to dildaar ki aisi taisi from Village Girl, though Pahle Aap, composed by Naushad, was released a year earlier, which had some duets of Rafi with Shyam Kumar.
Talat Mahmood, too, had his first Hindi film song, Jaago musafir jaago, in the year in the film Raj Laxmi, in which he also acted.
Bimal Roy debuted as a director in Hindi films with Hamrahi, which was a remake of his Bengali film Udayer Pathe. These films are known for the first appearance of the National Anthem Jana gana mana in films.
Phool was the first movie K Asif directed.
Moti B.A. started his song-writing career with Kaise Kahun.
Aahein na bharin shikawe na kiye from Zeenat is said to be the first all-female qawwali in films. This song became roaringly popular.
MEMORABLE SONGS
Badi Ma: Music Datta Korgaonkar (K Datta)
1. Aa intezar hai tera – Noorjahan
2. Diya jalakar aap bujhaya – Noorjahan
3. Kis tarah se muhabbat mein chain pa na sake – Noorjehan
Banphool: Lyrics Narendra Nath Tuli; Music Dhiren Mitra
4. Laga us se lau tu madagaar hai wo – Hemant Kumar
5. Maalan bata de kiske liye haar banaya – Unknown male voice and Kanan Devi
6. Koi humein bata de – Kanan Devi, Krishnakant and Kamal Mitra
Chaand Chakori: Music Bulo C Rani
7. Mohe phoolon ke gajre ne, ankhon ke kajre ne poochha ki dil mein samaya hai kaun – Amirbai Karnataki (lyrics Pt. Indra)
8. Jogan bana ke piya chhod gaye galiyon mein – Amirbai Karnataki (lyrics Pt. Indra)
Chhamiya: Music Gyan Dutt
9. Bairan ban gayi nindiya ho koi jaye kaho – Amirbai Karnataki
Ek Din Ka Sultan: Lyrics Wali Saheb
10. Falak ke chaand ka humne jawab dekh liya – GM Durrani (music Shanti Kumar)
Ghar: Lyrics Roopbani; Music AR Qureshi
11. Ye hawaayein salaam kahti hain– Amirbai Karnataki
Hamara Sansaar: Lyrics Ramesh Gupta; Music Govind Ram
12. Kaun jeevan mein samaaye ja raha hai – Zohrabai Ambalewali
13. Ae dil-e-naakam ab jeene ki tamanna chhod de – Rafi
Humayun: Music Ghulam Haider
14. Naina bhar aye neer – Shamshad Begum
15. Main to odhun gulabi chunariya aaj re– Shamshad Begum
16. Rasm-e-ulfat kisi surat se nibhaye na bane – Rajkumari
Hamrahi: Music RC Boral
17. Jana gana man adhinayak jay he – chorus (National Anthem) by Rabindranath Tagore
Kurukshetra: Lyrics Jameel Mazahari, Music Ganapat Rao
18. Kidhar hai tu ae meri tamanna – KL Saigal
19. Ayi hai tu to kaise apna dil dikhaun main – KL Saigal
20. Muhabbat ke gul haye tar goonthata hun – KL Saigal
Laila Majnu: Lyrics Tanveer Naqvi, music Rafiq Ghazanavi & Govind Ram
21. Tera jalwa jisne dekha wo deewana ho gaya – SD Batish and Rafi
Main Kya Karun: Lyrics DN Madhok; Music Ninu Majumdar
22. Aaj hans hans ke do do baatein ki hain sanam ne hamaare – Hamida Bano and Suraiya/Suraiya
Meghdoot: Music Kamal Dasgupta
23. O varsha ke pahle baadal mera sandesha le jana – Jagmohan (lyrics Faiyaz Hashmi)
Moorti: Lyrics Pt. Indra; Music Bulo C Rani
24. Mana ki tum haseen ho ahal-e-shabaab ho – Mukesh
25. Dil jala ke bujha li jawani, meri ansoo bhari hai jawani – Khursheed
26. Badariya baras gayi us paar – Mukesh, Khursheed and Hamida Bano
27. Itana bhi na wo samajha ke gaye – Khursheed
28. Ambua pe koel bole – Khursheed
Pahli Nazar: Lyrics Dr Safdar ‘Aagh’; Music Anil Biswas
29. Tay kar ke badi door purpench nagariya – Mukesh
30. Pahli nazar ka teer re laaga pahli nazar ka teer – Mukesh and Naseem Akhtar
31. Unka ishara jaan se pyara, de gaya dil ko mere sahara – Naseem Akhtar
32. Dil jalta hai to jalne de ansoo nab aha fariyaad na kar – Mukesh
Parinde: Lyrics Rammoorty; Music Govind Ram
33. Upar ho chaand tara neeche jahan sara – Surendra, Smt Ghosh
Prabhu Ka Ghar: Lyrics Pt. Indra; Music Khemchand Prakash and Bulo C Rani
34. Bansiwaale Shyam bansuriya baja ja – Khursheed (Khemchand Prakash)
35. Pardesi dhola kaahe ko jagaya adhi raat re – Mukesh and Mohantara Talpade
Pratima: Lyrics Narendra Sharma; Music Arun Kumar Mukherji
36. Aata labon pe naam tera baar baar kyun – Jyoti
Raj Laxmi: Lyrics Suresh Chaudhary; Music Robin Chatterjee and Dhiren Mitra
37. Jaago musafir jaago kholo man ka dwar – Talat Mahmood
Ratnavali: Music Govind Ram
38. Ratiyan guzaarun kaise haye raam nindiya na aave – Surendra and Zohrabai Ambalewali (lyrics Rammoorti Chaturvedi)
Samrat Chandagupta: Lyrics Pt. Madhur; Music C Ramchandra
39. Jaanewaale kuchh kahta ja kuchh hamri bhi suntan ja – GM Durrani and Amirbai Karnataki
Sanyasi: Lyrics Pt. Buddhi Chandra Agrawal ‘Madhur’; music Naushad
40. Nainon mein Krishna Murari hain – Zohrabai Ambalewali
41. Duniya chadhaye phool main ankh chadha dun – Amar and Zohrabai Ambalewali
42. Sunoji pyari koyeliya bole – Amar and Zohrabai Ambalewali
43. Ek baat kahun Raja kisi se na kahiyoji – Naseem Akhtar
Tadbeer; Lyrics Swami Ramanand; Music Lal Mohammad
44. Baanke nainon se kar ke ishaare, haye mora chhota sa devar pukaare – Naseem Akhtar
45. Janam janam ka dukhiya praani – KL Saigal
46. Main panchhi aazaad mera kahin door thikhana re – KL Saigal
47. Rani khol de apne dwar, milne ka din aa gaya – KL Saigal and Suraiya
48. Hasratein khamosh hain – KL Saigal
49. Main kismet ka mara Bhagwan – KL Saigal
Village Girl (Gaon Ki Gori): Lyrics Wali Saheb; Music Shyam Sundar
50. O pardesi Raja koel kook rahi aa ja – Amirbai Karnataki and an unkown female singer
51. Aji dil ho kaabu mein to dildaar ki aisi taisi – GM Durrani, Rafi and chorus
52. Sajan pardesi balam pardesi man ko sataaye – Noorjehan
53. Kis tarah bhoolega dil unka khayal aya hua – Noorjehan
54. Baithi hun teri yaad ka lekar ke sahara – Noorjehan
Waseeyatnama: Lyrics Zakir Hussain; Music RC Boral
55. Man phoole nahin samaaye – Asit Baran and Bharati Devi
56. Kaahe man bechain sajni – Asit Baran
Zeenat: Lyrics Mir Sahib and Hafeez Khan
57. Bulbulo mat ro yahan ansoo bahana hai mana – Noorjehan
58. Andhiyan gham ki yun chalin – Noorjehan
59. Aahein na bharin shikave na kiye – Kalyani, Zohrabai Ambalewali and Noorjehan
Special songs
Some of the special songs mentioned below do not even figure in the list of MEMORABLE SONGS above, but I am mentioning these because here there is something unique about them. I have kept some ‘Special songs’ for specific categories, i.e. male solos, female solos and duets, that I will take up later.
1.Tera jalwa jisne dekha by Rafi and SD Batish from Laila Majnu (1945), lyrics Tanveer Naqvi, music Pt Govindfram
This is Rafi’s first screen appearance, singing in beard, though I can’t identify him clearly. In his second appearance in Jugnu (1947) in Wo apni yaad dilane ko he was quite recognisable. He also appeared in Watan ki raah mein watan ke naujawan shaheed ho in the film Shaheed (1948).
2. Mata tere charnon mein guzar jaaye umariya by Lata Mangeshkar, Ishwarlal and chorus from Badi Ma (1945), lyrics Zia Sarhadi, music Datta Koregaonkar
It is a unique coincidence that Lata Mangeshkar, too, had her first ‘screen appearance’ in the year in the film Badi Ma, famous for Noorjehan’s dulcet melodies. This also happened to be her first Hindi song for a Hindi film. I have mentioned earlier that her first Hindi song was in a Marathi film Gajabhau (1944). That, too, started with ‘Mata’ – Mata ek sapoot ki duniya badal de tu. Unlike Rafi’s screen debut above, only the audio of Mata tere charnon mein is available, otherwise it would have been interesting to identify her on the screen.
3. Jana gana man adhinayak jay he in film Hamrahi (1945), National Anthem by Rabindrantah Tagore
Udayer Pathe (1944) and its Hindi version Hamrahi (1945) were debut directorial ventures of Bimal Roy. These films are also famous for the first time the Naitional Anthem was used in films. Here is the full version of the Anthem from the film Hamrahi.
4. Zindagi fareb hai fareb se nibhaye ja by Charlie from Chaand Tara (1945), lyrics Pt. Ramanand, music Gyan Dutt
It is clear from the mukhada of the song that it is a parody of the iconic marching song from Sohrab Modi’s film Sikandar (1941). Parodies try to follow the exact tune, but here the comedian Charlie is off-tune, perhaps as per the requirement of the scene in the film.
Since I am not planning to go back further in the year-wise review, this is a good opportunity to enjoy the original, in two parts. The digitally enhanced video is due to a passionate lover of old Hindi films, Tom Daniel.
Zindagi hai pyar mein pyar se bitaye ja by Khan Mastana, Rafiq Ghazanavi, Paresh Banerjee, Sheela and chorus from Sikandar (1941), lyrics Pt Sudarshan, music Mir Sahib and Rafiq Ghazanavi
Part 1
Part 2
And the SoY Awards for various categories go to?
All the songs included in the list of MEMORABLE SONGS are available on the YT. Those following vintage songs would instantly recall many songs in the list; many would appear unfamiliar but it would be worthwhile checking them up. Among many available I have included only those which linger with you. I place it before the knowledgeable readers for their comments and choice for the:
Best male solo/singer
Best female solo/singer
Best duet
And the
Best music director
Acknowledgements:
1. Surjit Sigh’s article on his site gives a very good overview of the songs of 1945.
2, Atul Song A Day
3. Hindi Film Geet Kosh
4. Hindi Film Sangeet: 75 Varshon Ka Safar by Anil Bhargav
Disclaimer:
The song videos have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog acknowledges that the copyright over these songs vests in the respective owners, such as Saregama India Limited and others.
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
AK ji
Thanks for the post and nice songs.
1945 was the last year of the blood-bath called World War II. So film-making must have been a docile activity.
I was told that almost all films were made on small budgets.
Regards
Tyagiji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. The WW II does seem like a plausible reason. Plus the Independence Movement and the internal politics must have also contributed.
AK ji,
My choices are…
1. Male Solo- Mukesh….Dil Jalta hai to…. film Pahli Nazar
2. Female Sole-Noorjehan….Baithi hoon teri yaad ka….Village Girl
3. Duet/Trio song- Zeenat…Aahen na bhari, shikve na kiye…Kalyani, Zohra and Noorjehan
4. Best MD- Shyam Sundar- Village Girl.
Thanks.
-AD
AK ji,
Music for film Hamara Sansar-45 was given by Pt. Gobind Ram and not GyanDutt. (as per HFGK)
-AD
A good post AK ji. You must have worked very hard to collect all the information. Congratulations! You have done a great job!
As a number of songs are unknown or less known, the choices would be among the known ones.
My picks –
Best female singer – Noor Jahan for Badi Maa (Diya Jalakar Aap) and Noor Jahan for Village Girl (Baithi Hoon Teri Yaad ka)
Best Male singer – Mukesh for Pehli Nazar (Dil Jalta Hai To)
Best Composer – Shyam Sunder (Village Girl)
I couldn’t select a duet, but Badriya Baras Gayi Us Paar is one of my most favourite from the year. But as it’s a trio, final decision is your’s.
But if to select a duet is must, I’ll add, Milane Ka Din Aa Gaya from Tadbeer by K L Saigal & Suraiya
and,
O Varsha Ke Pehle Badal is a great song too, though I can’t select Jagmohan as the best singer of the year.
Anup
🙂
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Your selections are quite natural. I am interested in seeing if the readers suggest some outstanding songs I have missed.
Came across these songs by Amirbai Karnataki from amrapali 1945, music by Saraswati Devi
is duniya ki pagdandi par
https://youtu.be/4uBU9-PTeHo
piya mere saath rahenge
https://youtu.be/vaXqxJEdIOQ
Good songs. Amirbai was superb. I’m completely in love with her voice.
Anup
🙂
And,
This one by Manna Dey
From
Bisavi sadi composed by Pannalal Ghosh
aansoo na bahana
https://youtu.be/z1CZEFUFzRM
And,
A duet by K C Dey and putul Chatterjee from Devdasi
Music by K C Dey himself
https://youtu.be/Bv5pNzzPTCU
And,
I didn’t know, Munawwar sultana ever sang,
She is not mentioned in the cast of the movie. Or was she there? Here’s a peppy song composed by Pandit Amarnath
jawani mastani hai
By munnawar sultana
https://youtu.be/Iq2lijQNZ1E
Zeenat begum from Dhamki
phir barsan lage haye naina
https://youtu.be/NCTPXNNucYE
Oh!
So many unheard songs! And some of them very good.
Anup
🙂
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your addition of songs. All the songs are very nice to hear. I share your fascination for Amirbai Karnataki.
I think Munawwar Sultana the singer was different from the actor of the same name.
May be somebody mentioned this before. ‘PannaDai has several interesting songs. Here is one by Begum Akhtar ‘ Mai Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke ’ https://youtu.be/WRKcPnSICeA
Gaddeswarupji,
I am hearing this song for the first time. Thanks a lot for adding it.
AK,
Village girl Badi ma and Zeenat three notable albums. It’ll be real anticlimax if you plan to make it the last year.
Hope Venkataramanji will dig out some gems to get some spice.
Anup has mad good beginning with Amirbai’s song.
Mumbaikar8,
You are right, Noorjehan had three films which had her landmark songs. I thought the task given to me was only up to 1945, though we all have many favourites from earlier films.
Bhai Jaan 1945
By
Shyam Sunder
Zeenat begum
Aaja bedardi aaja
https://youtu.be/eGHTWHlk3hg
We know about ae baad e Saba by Parul Ghosh,
Bhai Jaan has a song with the same opening lines, by Zeenat begum again.
Equally enchanting in my opinion
https://youtu.be/LEQ7XOjTvUg
And,
I got this female duet, by unidentified singers, appears to be based on Punjabi folk music
https://youtu.be/Wl6QoP781s8
The film also has three duets by Noorjahan and Zeenat begum, though only one is available.
Chup ke chup ke se
The tune seems familiar, Shyam Sunder might have used it again later.
https://youtu.be/3CLjcxpOLMI
Anup
🙂
Chhamia 1945
Gyan dutt
The song was a part of my Amirbai Karnataki posts in March this year,
Still I forgot the year.
Pyar ki bansuriya hui kaleje par
https://youtu.be/fkh3nysXdXM
Very good song, Zohrabai Ambalewali also excells. She sings perhaps for the character of a friend of the heroine.
Anup
🙂
@AKji
Many of the readers including me have requested you to continue the yearwise Song review posts.
If not going back into 1944, move forward from 1954, till may be 1965 or 1970.
Anup
Another Amirbai song, that I forgot to mention,
Topiwale babu ne dil chheena
https://youtu.be/3LpRtpElXAQ
By Rafi and Amirbai Karnataki
Composed by A R Qureshi
Film – Kul Kalank
Anup
AKji:
So many new and wonderful songs! It is sad that the series is ending just when we have reached the edge of the relatively less known ‘wild west’. Here are my nominees for the SOY awards for 1945:
Male solo: Jagmohan (‘O varsha ke’ from Meghdoot; MD: Kamal Dasgupta)
Female solo: Noorjehan (‘Diya jalakar’ from Badi Maa; MD: K Datta)
Duet: Saigal and Suraiya (‘Rani khol de’ from Tadbeer; MD: Lal Mohammad)
MD: Shyam Sundar (Gaon ki gori)
And here is Amirbai singing ‘Jhanan jhanan jhanan mori baaje payalia’ from Chand Taara (MD: Gyan Dutt):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da6LSTDQgGY
Anup @14,
Zeenat Begum is always attractive. If one has to look for full-throated courtesan style song, Zohrabai Ambalewali and Zeenat Begum are at the top (along with Khursheed). Rut hai suhani ayi: There is no difficulty in identifying one of the voices as Noorjahan’s. Therefore, based on pattern in other songs, the other singer oould very well be Zeenat Begum. Chpuke chupke se is also a very good song. I can’t off-hand think of any other song of the same tune.
@15,
Pyar ki bansuriya hui kaleje par is a very nice female duet.
@16,
I personally find doing year-wise reviews satisfying and useful. But the reader who gave the idea long ago mentioned backwards up to 1945. I proceeded on that basis. Other readers too have requested to carry on the series. Let us see how it goes. Going 1944 and backwards would require change in the format because there are not that many songs. 1955 onwards there will be a deluge of songs.
@17,
Topwale babu seems to be a nice song but the audio quality is very poor.
Thanks a lot for the additions.
Canasya,
Your choices are unambiguous. O varsha ke pahle baadal is a great song, but it is pitted against Dil jalta hai and some songs of KL Saigal. Noorjahan seems to be a clear choice but she had many outstanding songs in the year. Amirbai’s Jhananan jhananan jhanan jhanan mori baaje payaliya is an excellent song. Thanks for adding it.
You know my views about the series from my reply to Anup above.
Arunji @3,
Sorry for missing your comments earlier. Your choices are always prompt and unambiguous. In this year most of us will agree with your choice, they are so stand out.
@4,
Thanks for the correction. Since carried out.
Anup @5,
I must clarify duets include two or more than two singers of any gender.
Female Solo:Aandhiyaan gham ki yoon chali/ Noor Jehan/Zeenat.
Akji@ 22
Oh!
I didn’t know it. Then my choice would be Badaria Baras Gayi Us Paar.
Anup
Thanks for placing 1945 for the retrospective view.
Ever since we had entered years 1948 and backwards, Your hard labor at presenting quite informative, and sufficient in itself, overview article.
In the year 1948 itself, I was ready to throw in towel and discontinue the Micro View of songs that I was spurred to pursue on the strength of your overview articles.
The fact also remains that I did continue with my practice also because of the push your overview articles provided.
This year does not seem to be an exception.
I would listen to as many songs as I can lay hand on YT for the year. However, from my experience of the previous two years, any judgements that I may tend to draw will be severely limited to the known few- what you have rightly termed as ‘listened in the radio era’ songs.
I think I should not haste in making even this judgement, before I listen to all that is available on internet at present.
If I have read correctly the first sentence of the article, this one is planned as the last year in this magnificent series !
Ashokji,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Your own follow-up Micro reviews have expanded the yearwise analysis. Since you are an old-timer on SoY you are aware of the background of this being the last year of planned yearwise reviews.
Mukesh song
“Dil Jalta Hai…..” could have been made better if Anil Biswasji had replaced word “JALTE” with extended form “JALATE”.
AK ji,
Many Thanks for this post. Like others I too would request you to continue with the series please.
Well, jumping the gun, SOY’s best male singer of the year 1945 had three films in 1945 and have been covered already.
One more solo from Moorti in which Mukesh again relied heavily on Saigal style of singing is here.
https://youtu.be/VuRiS0FJaZY
Whilst Moorti triad and Pehli Nazar songs are iconic and are generally considered as his first playback movies, it is worth noting that Mukesh had rendered a duet with Kusum in Uss Paar, the previous year (1944) as playback singer.
My other choices would be
Duet: Mukesh, Khursheed and Hamida Bano from Moorthi (This was the only instance when Mukesh collaborated with Khursheed. I have read somewhere that this song was a craze in those days and was played repetitively in theatres.
Noor Jahan and Shyam Sundar, the other choices please.
Thanks.
Manoj,
I hadn’t noticed that, I always it was ‘jalane de’, but now that you mention it, yes he sings like ‘jalne de’ which would sound better with the stretching.
Mahesh,
You are welcome. Noted your request for continuing the series. Thanks for adding Mukesh’s Haseenon se haseenon ko mohabbat ho hi jati hai. Saigal must have been taken aback by this newcomer.
Mukesh’s first playback song then becomes Us Paar’s duet? HFGK does mention Mukesh-Kusum duet. Incidentally this point was discussed in my post on Bulo C Rani between you and Anup when you mentioned that Mukesh was in the cast of Us Paar. If he was then even if the song was recorded in playback mode I would not call it a playback song. I will follow the simple rule that playback means a singer singing for another actor on the screen. Is there a finality on this whether he was in the cast or not?
AK ji,
You have indeed done a nice work by digging out my earlier comments in the post on Bulo C Rani. Well, my two comments are sort of contradictory in it.
I am still awaiting final confirmation from experts on whether Mukesh acted in Uss Paar or not. Indications are he did not act. And, so the confidence that it was his first playback.
I also request readers of the blog to please help and comment if they are aware of the facts.
mahesh
Mahesh,
Thanks a lot. Till then let us accept that Mukesh’s first playback was in Us Paar in the duet with Us Paar (1944). This is a big information because we have been conditioned to believe his first playback started with Pahli Nazar (1945).
AK ji and Mahesh Ji,
About duet of Uss Paar-44, by Mukesh and kusum mantri, please note that Sudhir ji has already discussed this point and he came to a conclusion that this was his Playback first song. Please visit this post..
https://atulsongaday.me/2012/10/25/zara-bolo-kya-logi-is-dil-ka-kiraaya/
-AD
Arunji,
Thanks a lot for the confirmation. For even knowledgeable people this information will be new. Less said the better of many programmes on old film music which do not seem to be aware that Mukesh started his singing career four years before Pahli Nazar.
Akji,
You did declare that 1945 will be the last year for this year-wise-review. If I am not wrong, I think you also mentioned recently that you have some special plans for the other vintage years. Hope you will reveal it soon. Besides I too join the clamour for the continuation of this series for the left out years of the 50s and progressing forward till 1970. I am sure that it will bring forth some interesting results and debates too.
Your curtain raiser post for 1945 was as good as the previous years’ overviews. The special songs presented are special mainly due to their historical reasons and as you have said, they cannot be called memorable.
I am sure you have fine-combed all the available songs and presented us with a list 58/59 songs. I would listen to the songs and hope to present my choices well before the first wrap-up post appears.
Your explanation for the spike in the year 1947 seems logical. However, the drop in number of films could be noticed from 1936 onwards. After a modest start in 1931, Hindi film production had crossed the 150 mark in 1935 and then the gradual drop began. Only in 1946 the figure again crossed the 150 mark. The figure hovered around eighty for three years between 1938 and 1940, till it touched a low of 70 odd films in 1941. In fact I am surprised at the spike in 1942 and 1943, to drop further in 1944 and 1945.
Tyagiji had cited World War II as the reason. The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945. Raw film stock came from Germany and Japan. Besides, there could be other reasons too. Offhand I am suggesting a few; a thorough analysis is required to pinpoint the factors.
Rise of the regional cinema might have diverted some part of the resources to the regional films and the demand for regional or local language films might have made the investor cautious.
The policing of Indian cinema grew more stringent from the late thirties And to add to the confusion the censor boards were set up in Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, Rangoon and Lahore. To judge the appropriateness of films for release, these boards could have adopted different set of rules.
There could be other factors too and a combination of these factors could be the reason for the downward trend.
Venkataramanji,
I remember that the reader who had put me on the series had suggested pre-Filmfare Award years going back to 1945. This had stuck in my mind. It also happened to coincide with SoY’s tenth year, and frankly I couldn’t visualise the blog going beyond ten years. Everything fitted so neatly, ten years in 2020, coinciding with the end of an important series. But I now realise blogging is not like sports when a player announces hanging up his boots. I do not intend to declare I am done. Since the blog is likely to continue into 2021, and later, as long as there is something to say, we shall have to discuss songs of yore, and yearwise reviews may also continue, in a modified form, as necessary.
I think I have fine-combed 1945, but we never cease to discover new gems. However, I am reasonably sure the list does not miss any song we might be familiar with. I will wait for your comments.
You have made an interesting analysis of varying numbers of films produced in different years. There may not be a specific reason, many times interpretations are post-facto assigning meanings to a data set.
Akji,
Glad to know that you will be reconsidering your earlier decision. No doubt the blog will continue for many more years.
True, I will have to agree with your statement that many times interpretations are post-facto assigning meanings to a data set. Yet an audit may give us some interesting twists and turns.
Out of the 74 films released in 1945, 56 were from Bombay based production houses, 9 from Calcutta, 6 from Punjab & Lahore and 3 from Poona. Songs from 26 films have been selected for the main list; 21 were from Bombay production houses and 5 from Calcutta; 35% of the films released in 1945.
Din Raat was produced by Navyug Chitrapat Ltd. Poona. The solo by Snehalata Pradhan is good.
Hansnewalo Ko Rulaoge Ye Malum Na Tha, Din Raat, Snehalata Pradhan, lyrics Santokh Nadim, music Dada Chandekar
The Audio version at the google .com makes a better listening, but the full song is not there. The song is at #3 of the following link. You may also listen to the song “Ankhe Mila Gaye ho” by Paresh Banerjee at #2, which is also listenable.
https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tw2ogslbtrjkecdzkehsttem7gq?play=1&u=0
The YT version of Snehalata Pradhan’s solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyccADBdHRg
Akji,
Posting a song from Gulami, a film by Shalimar Pictures, Poona.
Jaagi….Rag-Rag mein Jaagi Umangen, Gulami, Renuka Devi, lyrics Akhtar-ul-Imaan, music S K Pal
https://gaana.com/song/rag-rag-mein-jagi-umangen?autoplay=true
Mann ke meet mere sunle geet mere, Shree Krishna Arjun Yuddh, music Jagannath Prakash, lyrics Yashodanandan Joshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrFjytSipo
I have a feeling that this song was rendered by Bela Mukherjee, wife of Hemant Kumar. Can anybody confirm. Arunji could be of help.
Arunkumar ji @33,
Many Thanks for reminding the post by Sudhir ji. It was on the back of my mind as I have posted 2 comments for the post.
It was so behind, that I forgot. 🙂
However, I am still in touch with a couple of friends for more concrete evidence.
Anyway, for all practical purposes, it has to be taken as his first playback.
Thanks
Mahesh
Best Male Solo: Dil Jalta Hai (Pehli Nazar) by Mukesh Saab.
I hope you continue with the series. It could be one year going forward say 1956 or whatever and the next year could be 1944, then 1957, then 1943… but I understand it involves a lot of hardwork so it is your call.
Two beautiful duets that I did not see in the lists above (sorry if they have already been mentioned in the comments):
Kya Sitam Hai, Zulm Hai (Amirbai Karnatki/ Rafiq Ghaznavi -Laila Majnu)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0qp6Zf200U
Bhoolaane Wale Humein Bhi Na Yaad Aaya Karo (Zahur Raja/ Naseem Akhtar – Ghazal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3LDy3xJoV8
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Love this series, so many absolutely wonderful voices to be (re)discovered. Thank you so much for taking all this trouble.
Neeruahaf,
I know you are one of those who sincerely want the series to continue. Let me see what shape it takes in future.
I am happy your choice for the the best male solo endorses the general choice. Last year you really went very unconventional. The two duets you have added are very pleasant to listen to, especially the first one. The lyrics of the two duets bear some similarity to two other iconic songs. The first one to Tera jahan aabad hai mera jahaan barbaad hai, and the second one to Bhoolnewale yaad na aa, bhoolnewale yaad na aa.
And here are two beautiful songs sung, respectively, by Zeenat Begum and Amirbai Karnatki, not mentioned in the lists above:
Mere Dil Ki Duniya Se Jao to Janu (Champa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7YWUYUUb3w
Ro Ro Ke Sunati Hain Aaankhen Mera Afsana (Chand Tara)
youtube.com/watch?v=FO_g7-cGKY4
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And providing link for the mesmerizing: Ye Hawain Salam Kehti Hain (Ghar) mentioned in the list above so that everybody can enjoy this song by Amirbai Karnatki:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmamfcxZcyY
“Ho Mubarak ye aaj ka milna, ye nigahen salam kehti hain…”
AK ji, thank you for liking the duets. I love how this series provides us the opportunity to explore the off-beaten tracks. The two songs that you have mentioned are of course wonderful. One could hear these songs repeatedly.
It seems the link to the Amirbai song couldn’t be pasted properly. Providing it once again. it is a beautiful song and I love it. Hopefully this time I’ll get it right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO_g7-cGKY4
Neeruahf,
Thanks for adding this beautiful song by Amirbai Karnataki. She starts with a long prelude before starting the main song. She never disappoints.
Oh Oh, you have started declaring the results, so here are my favorite songs in the other categories:
Best Female Solo: Amir Bai Karnatki
Ro Ro Ke Sunati Hain Aankhen Meri Afsana (Chand Tara)
Hon. Mention: Hasnewalon ko Rulaoge Ye Malum Na Tha – Snehprabha Pradhan (Din Raat)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyccADBdHRg
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Best Duet: Amir Bai Karnatki/ Rafiq Ghaznavi
Kya Sitam Hai, Zulm Hai (Laila Majnu)
Hon. Mention: Bhulane Wale Humein bhi Na Yaad Aaya Karo (Zahoor Raja/ Naseem Akhtar) (Ghazal)
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Best Music Director: Anil Biswas
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Really hoping that you’ll continue with this series. Such gems just waiting to enchant us once again.
Neeruahaf,
Thanks for posting your other choices. I must in these you are unconventional, unlike the best male solo.
AK ji @48
Well, the purpose of this great exercise is to discover voices that have fallen on the way-side.
And here’s another Hon. Mention for the Female Solo:
Naina bhaye more banware -Snehprabha Pradhan (Preet)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmYCLn9T9aY
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The singer is absolutely new to me and this song of hers is even better than the one I mentioned earlier in my Hon. Mention for Female solo.
Neeruahaf,
Naina bhaye more bawre is a beautiful song. Thanks a lot for posting it.
History can be cruel at times and more so the historians. Otherwise there is no reason for a film like Bimal Roy’s Humrahi/Udayer Pathey to be known today only for using Jan Gana Mana, much before it became our national anthem. At its time of release, Humrahi was voted as the best Hindi Film of the year ( It was the only Hindi Film that Baburao Patel gave 4 stars to, in the period between 1944-46!!) and was widely acclaimed for its soundtrack too, even though the songs of the film were not really as popular as NT songs used to be. But then, when did popularity became an benchmark for quality.
Coming to the soundtrack of Humrahi, there is much more to it than just Jana Gana Mana. The film has 4 very fine female solos, apart from a rousing marching song. These songs are as follows-
1.) Jigar ke Daag Naye by Binota Bose- A Fine Ghazal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upbho78NeJg
2.) Hasi Chand Ki Aaj Nirali By Binota Bose- Romancing the moon, RC Boral style!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYgTg9rb-iA
3.) Gaye Ja Tu Apna Geet by Rekha Mullick- RC Boral was the master of preludes and sweetness, and this song gives ample evidence of the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjG8p0IVp64
4.) Din Hai Bahaar ke by Binota Bose- I just pointed out that RC Boral was the king of preludes and here he comes up with such a modern stylized prelude that seems to have had a clear influence on OP Nayyar and to an extent C.Ramchandra. The Tune too is so delectable that it comes as no surprise that this song was a favourite with none other than Anil Biswas, who choose this song as one of the 3 best songs of RC Boral in his Rasikeshu Program with Tushar Bhatia. At a personal level, I rate this song as the second best female solo of the year 1945 after Noorjehan’s Aa Intezar Hai Tera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIzg1xlJh6E
5.) Badhte Chalo by Chorus- Fine Protest/Marching Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17tPFau6Pos
RC Boral’s second soundtrack of the year- Wasiatnama ( based on Bankim Chandra’s Krishnakanter Will) too had some really gorgeous numbers, apart from the ones mentioned in your list above. These songs include-
1.) Gaye Ja Tuu by Utpala Sen- Typical RC Boral magic at play
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmmws0jFZWQ
2.) Payam-e-Mohabbat by Utpala Sen- A moving Ghazal of its time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NVsCbawX1Q
3.) Guzar Gayi Hai Chaman Ki Bahar by Ila Ghosh- A stunning Ghazal, as good as any other produced during that time. Ila Ghosh has sung it really well and it features in my personal ten best female solos of the year 1945.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tOtRwZAxdY
Apart from the above mentioned songs from the two Boral soundtracks of the year 1945, there are some more songs from 1945 that I would like to add here. They go as follows-
1.) Prem Ki Naiyya Ko Mila Hai ( Meghdoot- Kamal Dasgupta)- O varsha ke pehle badal maybe this soundtrack’s piece de resistance, but this song too is absolutely brilliant. The song perfectly captures the mood and essence of a lovers night out on a boat, with a soft romantic tune aided fabulously well by Kamal Dasgupta’s orchestral excellence. Like O Varsha ke Pehle Badal, this song too is fabulously arranged, esp in the climactic portions of the song. I rate it as the duet of the year 1945.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-0xzgWM3ck
2.) Gori Karle Humse ( Phool- Ghulam Haider)- Ghulam Haider was really good at chorus songs. And this song shows exactly why he was so well regarded when it came to such songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Q1ADO29OA
3.) Yeh Dil Gaya ( Phool- Ghulam Haider)- Sweet Suraiya shines in this number from Masterji’s Phool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MQ-FgakwQ0
4.) Fasl-e-Gul ( Pannadai- Gyan Dutt)- Begum Akhtar works her magic once again in this Ghazal by the underrated Gyan Dutt. The song is in two versions- Happy and Sad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pYG3gk_R2Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK5Ic8pLjgo
5.) Chali Pawan Purvai ( Dharam- Sajjad Hussain)- Maverick Sajjad creates this delicious duet between Naseem and Rattanbai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AH0Q9b1KfI&t=75s
6.) Mori Galiyon ki Pipul Nishani ( Preet- Bulo C Rani)- A Snehprabha stunner composed by another underrated giant-Bulo C Rani.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH5r_6JOWB0
8.) Hain Gagan mein Badal thehre ( Vikramaditya- Shankar Rao Vyas)- A rare but nonetheless beautiful duet between Rajkumari and Manna Dey in one of his earlier outings as a playback singer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becRyTrfnak&t=196s
Pardon me if my comment went on for too long. It’s just that I am a big fan of your work here and it’s not everyday that I get an opportunity to comment here on time 🙂
Raunak Joy,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your very insightful comments. You have really thrown a great deal of light on Hamrahi. I had generally read some very nice things about the film, but didn’t give much though to it, except that its association with Jana Gana Mana stuck in my mind. I intend to follow it more. I have soft copies of some back issues of Filmindia. Can you please give me the reference of the issue of the magazine in which Baburao Patel chose to be nice to a film.
All the songs except two were new to me. The ones whom you especially praise are really excellent and worth listening again. About two Bengali ghazals, or the ghazals sung by NT-Bengali lady singers – Jigar ke daag naye by Binota Bose (Hamrahi) and Payam-e-mohabbat by Utpala Sen (Wasiyatnama) – both are excellent. There is nothing wanting except that I can’t help feeling that the ladies do not belong there. If you compare these with Fasl-e-gul by Begum Akhtar, you would appreciate what I am trying to say.
Your observation about RC Boral’s mastery over preludes is so apt, and noticing Dil hain bahar ke prelude’s influence on OPN/C Ramchandra is brilliant. One can clearly see it as a possible inspiration for OPN. The song is indeed very good and it grows on you.
Talking of RC Boral’s prelude I remember Ek bangala bane nyara mainly for its very long prelude (about 1:43 minutes). I would say the same thing for Pankaj Mullick’s Mahak rahi phulwari, for me its main charm is its beautiful prelude.
Lastly, your name rings a bell, and I feel I have read you earlier. Do you write a blog, or have your articles been published in some compilation?
I completely get the point you are making about those two NT ghazals and I do share your opinion that when compared with say, Fasl-e-Gul; something does seem to be amiss with those two songs. Most of the numbers that I posted above except for those which I praised highly, are songs which I felt are worth a listen even though they may not fall in the category of the thirty best songs of the year 1945. My personal choices for the year 1945 -If I am allowed to do that, will be as follows-
A.) Ten Best Female Solos in descending order- 1.) Aa Intezar Hai Tera ( Noorjahan- K Datta from Badi Maa)
2.) Din Hai Bahar ke ( Binota Bose- RC Boral from Humrahi)
3.) Unka Ishaara Jaan se Pyaara ( Naseem-Anil Biswas from Pehli Nazar)
4.) Diya Jalakar ( Noorjahan- K Datta from Badi Maa)
5.) Fasl-e-Gul ( Begum Akhtar- Gyan Dutt from Pannadai)
6.) Guzar Gayi Hai Chaman Ki Bahar ( Ila Ghosh- RC Boral from Wasiyatnama)
7.) Kis Tarah Bhoolege Dil Unka ( Noorjahan- ShyamSundar from Gaon Ki Gori)
8.) Mori Galiyon Ki Pipul ( Snehprabha Pradhan- Bulo C Rani from Preet)- Infact the other two solos from the same film that Neeruji has mentioned in the comments can easily feature here in place of Mori Galiyon Ki Pipul.
9.) Jogan Bana Ke Piya ( Ameerbai Karnataki- Bulo C Rani from Chaand Chakori)- I am pretty much convinced that SJ took liberal inspiration from this song for their number ‘ Sawa Lakh Ki Lottery Bhejo Apne Naam Ki Bhi’ from Chori Chori.
10.) Bairan Ban Gayi ( Ameerbai Karnataki- Gyan Dutt from Chhamia)
Honorary 11th Spot- Bulbule Mat Ro by Noorjahan from Zeenat
Female Singer of the year- Noorjahan
Ten best Duets/ Multi-Singers song of the year 1945 in descending order-
1.) Prem Ki Naiyya Ko Mila Hai ( Kalyani Dasgupta & Jagmohan – Kamal Dasgupta from Meghdoot)- My personal choice for the duet of the year.
2.) Mann Phoole Nahi Samaye ( Asit Baran&Bharati Devi- RC Boral from Wasiatnama)
3.) Laga Pehli Nazar Ka Teer ( Naseem Akhtar&Mukesh- Anil Biswas from Pehli Nazar)
4.) Milne ka Din Aagya ( KL Saigal&Suraiya-Lal Mohammad from Tadbir)
5.) Piya Ki Bansuria ( Ameerbai&Zohrabai-Gyan Dutt from Chhamia)
6.) Chali Pawan Purvai ( Naseem-Rattanbai- Sajjad from Dharam)
7.) Hain Gagan mein Badal Thehre ( Rajkumari&MannaDey-ShankarRao Vyas from Vikramaditya)
Other than that, even though technically, these songs aren’t duets, in my opinion these 3 songs just have to be there in multi-singer songs. These include Gori Karle Humse Pyaar ( Phool-Ghulam Haider), Badariya Baras Gai ( Moorti-Bulo C Rani) & Aahein Na Bhare ( Zeenat).
Top 5 Albums of the year in descending order- 1.) Hamrahi ( RC Boral)- For the sheer variety of songs cutting across different genres like Ghazals, Western style songs, Romantic Songs, Marching song, Rabindrasangeet etc.
2.) Pehli Nazar ( Anil Biswas)
3.) Badi Maa ( K Datta)
4.) Gaon Ki Gori ( Shyam Sundar)
5.) Moorti ( Bulo C Rani)
Special Mention: Dhamki by Pandit Amarnath
Composer of the year: Bulo C Rani, who across 3 albums in Moorti, Preet & Chaand Chakori gave us atleast a dozen memorable songs. Next comes in RC Boral for his work in Hamrahi & Wasiatnama. But Bulo C Rani for me was the composer of the year for me, though if Non-film songs were taken into consideration, Kamal Dasgupta would have given him tough competition!!
Oct 1945 issue of Filmindia is the one you are looking for, where Baburao Patel praised Humrahi quite lavishly. In those years of 1944-46, Filmindia would also provide yearly recap of all the films and theatre shows that they had reviewed along-with the stars that they gave to each of these films and shows. These star ratings can be found in the November and December issues of the years in question. Very few films managed to get 3 stars ( which was good rating) from Baburao Patel and Hamrahi was one of the rare ones that got 4 stars ( which was very good rating).
Coming to Baburao Patel, its a common perception that he was harsh and very critical when it came to his reviews. And while this perception does hold some weight, its not entirely true that Baburao Patel never gave or seldom gave any film a good review. Many films like Apna Ghar, Padosi, Hamrahi, Raja, Adhikar, Pagal, Admi, Vidyapati, Badi Didi etc, did get glowing reviews from Filmindia. Yes, most films were thrashed left, right and center by Patel & co, but then fact remains that most of our films then and even now, are supremely crappy and rightfully deserve all the criticism that comes their way!!
As far as Boral & Mullick’s mastery over preludes is concerned, the preludes of Ek Bangla Bane Nyara and Mahek Rahi Phulwari, as you have correctly pointed out, are magical indeed. There are few more songs of Boral and Mullick with magical preludes that I can remember as of now. While Zindagi’s Main Kya Janu Kya and Nartaki’s Prem Ka Naata – Both by Mullick, are very well known songs; there are two songs of Boral with fantastic preludes that I find particularly enchanting. These are-
1.) Mast Pawan Shakhen Lahraye ( Haarjeet-1940)- The prelude here extends a freaking 1.32 minutes!! And seems to have again served as the inspiration for OP Nayyar’s violin solo piece just before the Antara in Ankhon hi Ankhon mein ( CID)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VX1vlNS8-A
2.) Ek Boner Shimul Shakhen ( Anjangarh-1948)- This is a bengali song from Bimal Roy’s second film Anjangarh, whose prelude I just adore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgBismj22Yw
PS: I am a frequent visitor of blogs I like and also comment, albeit infrequently on blogs that I love- Yours is one of them. I am an occasional blogger too, blogging at my own site or at some of my friends. It’s quite probable that you may have encountered me in any of these above mentioned capacities in the past. 🙂 🙂
Beautiful post
I was born in October 1945 more than 77 years ago.
Heard these songs of 1945 and loved them
God bless you.
Mr Devasis Chowdhury,
Welcome to SoY and thanks a lot for your compliments and good wishes. I am happy that my post helped you connect with your favourite songs of 1945.