Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies: Bipin-Babul/Babul

17 August 2021

Bipin-Babul

Who does not remember the songs Baithe hain rahguzar par dil ka diya jalaaye, Naseeb hoga mera meherbaan kabhi na kabhi, Zulfon ki ghata lekar saawan ki pari ayi, Ye phoolon ka gazra ye solah singaar ho, and Humein haal-e-dil tumse kahna hai kahiye? And do we know who composed the music of these songs. And if you know they are composed by Babul or Bipin-Babul duo, hats off to you, but do you know who they are, how they looked like, or anything about them. I don’t, but these songs have been my eternal favourites. These are not vintage songs, but of 1950s and 60s, the period about which the passionate lovers of the golden era of film music presume that they know everything.

There are hundreds of such immortal songs composed by music directors about whom not much was known except their names. The names got registered thanks to the announcement made by the radio which was the main source of listening to songs. The star music directors, their personal foibles, their rivalries, their affairs and break-ups evoked same interest of serious media and the paparazzi as the film stars did. Outside the select group a large number of music directors, some of whom gave everlasting songs, remained in the shadows of anonymity. I have covered a dozen such music directors in the series Forgotten Composers: Unforgettable Melodies. Babul/Bipin-Babul is/are even more unknown than most in this list and are perfect candidates for featuring in this series.

As per ‘Dhunon Ki Yatra’, a massive book on music directors written by Dr Pankaj Rag, Babul’s ambition was to become a singer. After training at Marris College of Music, Lucknow (now grown into Bhatkhande Music Institute) he also worked at Lucknow, Delhi and Lahore radio stations of the All India Radio before the Partition. But as he didn’t get much opportunity as a singer he forayed into music direction. Bipin and Babul started as assistants to Madan Mohan which led to their friendship. They started as a duo with the film Shahi Mehman (1955). Their most successful music as duo was in ’24 Ghante’. Subsequently they separated and gave music independently. Between the two Babul gave some great music in Chaalis Din, Reshmi Roomal, Sara Jahan Hamara and Naqli Nawab. Bipin Dutt too had his share of films, such as Kya Ye Bombay Hai? (1959), Alam Ara Ki Beti (1960), Diamond King (1961) and Baghi Shahzada (1964), but I cannot recall any song of his unless I refer to the Internet. The two got together again after a long hiatus in Daawat (1974), directed by BR Ishara, which had a passable Mukesh-Asha Bhosle duet Aise bhi na rootho tum ki jeena mushqil ho.

This article by Dr Amjad Parvez in The Daily Times, Pakistan mentions that there was aroma of Madan Mohan in their compositions. However, you would notice that Lata Mangeshkar is non-existent in their best songs, who was the mainstay of the music of Madan Mohan. That is a clear sign that they were consigned to ‘B’ and ‘C’ grade films. That their music could rise above their banner is a testimony to their talent. Dr Parvez also mentions that Bipin Dutt was born on 17 August, 1930 and Babul on 30 January 1930. That would make them ninety years old. Wherever they are I present a selection of their immortal songs as a tribute to them on the first-named partner Bipin’s 90th birth anniversary. (Note: If they were born in 1930, Babul would have completed his music education at Marris College, and worked at AIR Lahore before the Partition, all before the age of 17 as per ‘Dhunon Ki Yatra’. The two informations do not seem to be consistent, but that may be due to lack of information. I focus mainly on the songs.)

1. Humein haal-e-dil tumse kahna hai kahiye by Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle from Chaubees Ghante (1958), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Bipin-Babul

This is one of the best duets of Talat Mahmood in a non-blue mood, and it has figured prominently on SoY earlier. It is appropriately picturised on a dashing Premnath and the impish Shakeela.

2. Main deewana mastana mushkil bhed mera pa jana by Mukesh from Chaalis Din (or, Forty Days, 1959), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Babul

The orchestration bears the stamp of Shankar-Jaikishan style. But the song is quite delightful. Premnath again looks very dashing. As hero he had many such roles and songs picturised on him, such as Main gareebon ka dil hun watan ki zuban or Main raahi bhatakanewala hun koi kya jaane matwala hun.

3. Kaho aa ke bahar kare mera singaar mujhe pyar mila by Mukesh and Asha Bhosle from Chaalis Din (1959), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Babul

But you cannot attribute any ‘inspiration’ for one of the best Mukesh-Asha Bhosle duets from the same film. The film had Premnath and Shakila in the lead. Since the lady dancing in joy in love with Premnath is not Shakeela, she must be the ‘other’ woman oblivious of Premnath’s two-timing(?).

4. Baithe hain rahguzar pe dil ka diya jalaaye by Asha Bhosle from Chaalis Din (1959), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Babul

Babul shows his mettle like a top-line music director by composing a number of outstanding songs in the same film. If you list the most soulful songs of Asha Bhosle this will figure alongside best of SD Burman, N Datta and Ravi.

5. Naseeb hoga mera meharbaan kabhi na kabhi by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle from Chaalis Din (1959), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Babul

Now we can put two and two together. Shakeela has joined a group of wandering street singers. In this song she expresses hope that someday her fate would turn around and she would be able to find the traces of ‘his’ footsteps. One hallmark of a great composer is ability to create great songs with a variety of singers. Now Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle sing an excellent soft, melodious duet.

6. Zulfon ki ghata lekar saawna ki pari ayi by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle from Reshmi Roomal (1961), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Babul

Now Babul composes a conventional romantic duet by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle for Reshmi Roomal, picturised on Manoj Kumar in one of his earliest roles, and Shakeela.

7. Gardish mein hon taare naa ghabrana pyare by Mukesh from Reshmi Roomal (1961), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Babul

Manoj Kumar seems to be a jobless youth looking for employment. Disappointment does not dishearten him, and here is a nice Mukesh song of hope in adversity.

8. Jab chhaye kabhi saawan ki ghata by Talat Mahmood from Reshmi Roomal (1961), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music Babul

Babul again tries a variety of singers, and situations and moods to show his versatility. The virahotkanthita Shakeela consoles herself with the photo frame of her lover Manoj Kumar. As her dupatta gets stuck under the frame, she remembers snatches of the happy romantic duet when they were cavorting together – Chhodun na tera daaman. The scene shifts to a lonely Manoj Kumar wandering aimlessly, and singing to himself and also to his beloved long distance to hold together in this moment of sorrow.

जब छाये कभी सावन कई घटा
रो रो के न करना याद मुझे
ऐ जान-ए-तमन्ना ग़म तेरा
कर दे न कहीं बरबाद मुझे

9. Bhare hain aankh mein aansoo by Mukesh and Asha Bhosle from Sara Jahan Hamara (1961), lyrics Anjum Jaipuri, music Babul

Talat Mahmood, Asha Bhosle and Mukesh seem to be favourite singers of Babla. So far Mukesh solos or duets we have seen have all been chirpy and in a happy mood. Now he composes a sad duet for him, which was his favourite ground, with Asha Bhosle.

10. Ye phholon ka gazra ye solah singaar ho koi le ke aya hai sapne hazaar by Suman Kalyanpur from Sara Jahan Hamara (1961), lyrics Anjum Jaipuri, music Babul

But the song that really mesmerises me is this Suman Kalyanpur solo, one of her very best of all music directors. The tabla beats, and the flute in interludes is delightful. Variety of string instruments add to the overall charm of the composition.

11. Tum poochate ho ishq bala hai ki nahin hai by Rafi from Naqli Nawab (1962), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Babul

Babul completes the great male playback singers with this recital style ghazal by Rafi which was his special forte.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
The video links of the songs have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim copyright over them which rests with the respective owners such as Saregama India Private Limited, Eros, Shemaroo and others.

{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Zafar Syed August 17, 2021 at 12:58 pm

Thanks for another informative post, as usual.

A very strange coincidence is that just two days ago, somebody played a lovely Talat solo on their car stereo and asked me to guess the music director. I had never heard the song, so gave a vague answer: “It looks like something from a lesser known MD.”

When I checked, it was from the movie Salaam e Muhabbat and the music duo was Bipin Babul. I think this song can comfortably find its spot in any top ten list by B&B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JkQwoTeCO0

2 Arunkumar Deshmnukh August 17, 2021 at 1:51 pm

AK ji,
Here is some information on this pair from my notes…

Bipin Dutta ( born 17-8-1930) and Babul ( born 22-1-1926) worked as a  pair and gave music to 12 films. Bipin Dutta had started working as an assistant first to Khayyam and then to Madan Mohan, where he met Babul, who too was assistant to Madan Mohan for quite some time. In 1955 they decided to separate from Madan Mohan and became a composer team for the film Salaam E Mohabbat ( original name Diler ). This Costume film made by Kohinoor Films, Bombay was not completed. Its 4 songs were recorded in 1955. The singers were Talat Mehmood, Sudha Malhotra, Shamshad Begum and Madhubala Jhaveri.

After this inauspicious beginning, they gave music to another 11 films….Shahi mehmaan-55, Sultana Daku-56, Baadal aur Bijli-56, Taaj Poshi-57, Silver King-57, Chandu-58, Chaubees Ghante 58, Jungle King-59, Raat ke Raahi-59, Bus Conductor-59 and Daawat-74. Film Jungle King, though censored in 1959 was released in 1969 and film Daawat was Censored and released in 1974. By this time, not only had the pair separated but Babul had already migrated to Pakistan in 1963 itself. Babul died in Pakistan.

After splitting they did not have any better luck as independent composers. Bipin Dutt gave music to ‘Kya ye Bambai hai’-59, Alam Ara ki beti-60, Diamond king-61 and Baghi Shehzada-64.

Babul gave music to Forty days-59, Reshmi Roomal-61, Sara jahan hamara-61, Naqli Nawab-62 and Mujrim kaun khooni kaun-65.

3 D P Rangan August 17, 2021 at 3:43 pm

AKji you can churn this ocean of none too well known class of music directors and come up with gems like this one. It does require the ability like a mole to delve into the vast ocean of Hindi film music. Let me contribute some dry statistics about this music duo.

They had composed 69 songs in 12 films in which they gave music as a team. (muvyz.com)

4 Mahesh August 17, 2021 at 5:22 pm

Gosh…heard this Talat saab solo after ages. What a beauty. Lyrics, composition and the velvet voice, each tower over the other.

Thanks Zafar Syed ji.

Ak ji,

Many Thanks for this post. With Arunkumar ji’s detailed write up, I suppose their films can be split under 3 composers. Each individually and the duo.

A few more Mukesh numbers are definitely on the anvil. Let me come back later.

The Talat solo made me rush in. 🙂

Mahesh

5 Mehfil Mein Meri August 17, 2021 at 6:05 pm

A good post as usual AKji. The duo had a few memorable songs, but it seems Babul alone had given more gems than the combo.
I had come across the duo during my research for Lata Mangeshkar with lesser known composers and I think there’s just a duet or two. I think from sultani daku.
I like Reshmi roomal, 40 din, naqli nawab songs. Thank you for the post.
And
Thank you Arunji for the information about the duo.

Anup
🙂

6 KB August 17, 2021 at 6:13 pm

Compositions are really good especially the sad song Bhari hai aank mein aansoo and songs from Reshmi Rumal and 40 days which were all time favorites and have brought back memories. Thanks for bringing the duo into limelight !

7 Mehfil Mein Meri August 17, 2021 at 6:17 pm

Oh
Found a good Shammi Kapoor song from Raat ke Rahi

Very different orchestration.
Maine pee hai by Rafi

https://youtu.be/eHEQQoLK6es?list=TLGG1sTVvQKkDecxNzA4MjAyMQ

And,
One more from the same film, Raat ke Rahi

Ek nazar ek ada by Rafi.

A good song with Tonga beats. One remembers Shammi Kapoor teasing Amita in TND after listening to it.

https://youtu.be/I76m7GxykgY

8 Mehfil Mein Meri August 17, 2021 at 6:20 pm

And I had this Asha Bhosle number from Raat ke Rahi on one of my lists of songs picturised on sea shore

Aa bhi ja bewafa

https://youtu.be/5OcpVafyogs

9 Mehfil Mein Meri August 17, 2021 at 6:44 pm

Even Jungle King has some of the good songs.

Is pyar ki basti mein

Sung by Babul himself and Suman Kalyanpur

https://youtu.be/74W2I30fhzk

And a typical Geeta Dutt song from the same movie, Jungle King

Banke Bahar Aayi Hoon

https://youtu.be/JWocu_nHyKk

The style of compositions sounds so familiar, though I’m sure I’m listening to these songs for the first time.
It’s more like O P Nayyar’s style than Madan Mohan’s.

Anup 🙂

10 Mehfil Mein Meri August 17, 2021 at 6:57 pm

Raat kitni haseen by Talat Mahmood and Mubarak Begum

https://youtu.be/Stt4EjF0Yyo

And,
Found the solo by Lata Mangeshkar from Sultana daku

Hai qismat ka khel

https://youtu.be/5C1e8GFC6mw

A good melody. Full of pathos. Here there orchestration sounds somewhat like Madan Mohan’s.

This one frim 24 ghante was there on my long list of the post, Paisa Paisa Paisa, but I dropped it.

Chhan chhan karti Daulat

https://youtu.be/yoyU55ik5NY

Anup
🙂

11 AK August 17, 2021 at 7:23 pm

Zafar Syed @1,
You are welcome. What an interesting coincidence! And thanks for posting this beautiful song from their first film as a duo.

12 AK August 17, 2021 at 7:27 pm

Arunji 22,
Thanks a lot for the detailed information on Bipin and Babul. Now our information on Bipin matches, I am happy that I took his birthday as 17th August. Babul seems to have been more famous as a solo composer.

13 AK August 17, 2021 at 7:29 pm

Mr Rangan @3,
Thanks a lot for your nice words. Your data of 12 films as a team matches with the detailed information given by Arunji. We have to treat Bipin-Babul whther solo or a team as one unit to get their best songs.

14 AK August 17, 2021 at 7:32 pm

Mahesh @4,
You are welcome. We will await Mukesh songs from you. Bipin individually does not seem to have composed any song which i on our lips. It is more viable to treat Bipin, Babul individually and Bipin-Babul team as one unit.

15 AK August 17, 2021 at 7:42 pm

Anup @5,
Thanks a lot. You are right, Lata songs, if any by them, would be quite inconspicuous. Their preference for Asha Bhosle and other female singers was quite pronounced.

@7,
Both songs are too good. One of a drunkard and the second with tonga beats.

@8,
Typical Asha Bhosle song. Nice one.

@9,
You discovered a song sung by Babul himself. Nice one. geeta Dutt’s song is very good.

@10,
Raat kitni haseen is a song I had heard before. And finally you discovered the Lata Mangeshkar solo, Congratulations!

I liked Chhan chhan karti daulat.

16 AK August 17, 2021 at 8:52 pm

KB @6,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I am happy you enjoyed the post.

17 Shalini August 18, 2021 at 7:41 am

Very nice post, AKji. I have a fondness for B-grade/C-grade Hindi films so am fairly familiar with Bipin-Babul and have a generally good opinion of their work.

You’ve mentioned most of their well-known/popular [relatively speaking :-)] but here are a couple more that I’m rather fond of:

Dil se main mujhse dil takra gaya – Bus Conductor/Asha Bhonsle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ood7KiDusGA

Tu kya samjhe tu kya jaane – Raat Ke Raahi/Asha Bhonsle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag6aR3DZi7k

18 AK August 18, 2021 at 9:54 am

Shalini,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You sure know Bipin-Babul’s music. Both the songs are very good. Their preference for Asha Bhosle is very pronounced.

19 Mahesh August 18, 2021 at 12:35 pm

@14, AK ji,

Mukesh’s collaboration with the duo and the two individuals is as follows.

1. Bipin Babul
a) Chaubees Ghante (58), 1 solo
b) Daawat (74), 1 duet with Asha

2. Babul
a) 40 Days aka Chaalis Din (59), 1 solo and 1 duet with Asha
b) Reshmi Romaal (61), 1 solo and 1 duet with Asha
c) Saara Jahan Hamara (61), 1 solo and 1 duet with Asha
d) Nakli Nawab (62), 1 solo

3. Bipin Dutta
a) Diamond King (61), 1 solo

I think there are a couple of NFS too, but am not so sure. Let me check again.

IMO, it will be much better if we make a table of all their films, attribute as above and insert in the main body of the post.

It will give some idea as to when they worked as duo and individually, even though there could be inordinate delays in the release of the films which were basically not A grade.

Mahesh

20 AK August 18, 2021 at 1:38 pm

Mahesh ‘Mukesh’,
This is impressive. Taking them as a unit, they gave 7 songs in all for Mukesh. The three I have included in the post confirms Mukesh’s high strike rate. All these songs, #2, 3, and #7, are quite well-known. All happen to be done by Babul individually. I checked up Bipin Dutta’s composition from Diamond King (1961).
Main hum apni lagan ka mara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy7z8a4gl0M

The song is quite hummable, but rarely heard. I don’t remember to have heard it earlier, I can’t put my finger why it is so.

21 Canasya August 18, 2021 at 10:20 pm

AKji:

Thanks for this wonderful post on Bipin-Babul duo. Reading about forgotten composers feels so nice, uplifting, and almost noble because it is like rooting for the underdog, taking up the cudgels (vicariously) against the big bad Bollywood, where ability is frequently secondary to connections, and quality is often unfairly measured by commercial success alone.

Here are Talat & Asha in ‘Taajposhi’ singing ‘Tum ho kahin ke’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY-BcQIhobs

22 AK August 18, 2021 at 10:41 pm

Canasya,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Asha Bhosle was by far their most favourite singer, relatively more than Ravi or N Datta. In a very small output they gave some superb song. Thanks for Talat-Asha Bhosle duet Tum ho kahin ke, hum hain kahin ke.

23 ANITA August 20, 2021 at 7:30 pm

AKji, a wonderful compilation of memorable songs of a duo oft forgotten. May I add here that in Song # 11 Tum poochate ho ishq bhala hai ki nahin hai the word is not bhala भला (good). It sounds more like bala बला(or calamity). I had written about this song in one of my posts.
https://anitamultitasker.wordpress.com/2021/03/07/songs-that-shun-love/

24 AK August 20, 2021 at 11:15 pm

Anita,
Thanks a lot for the correction. I just took the more common word. And also thanks for the appreciation.

25 Dr. Rajesh Deshpande August 23, 2021 at 11:48 pm

AKji,

An excellent post on a music composer duo who is hardly ever mentioned during any discussion or article on HFM.

Your series Forgotten Composers Unforgettable Melodies is a wonderful tribute to all those composers who are barely remember today even though their songs are Stillwell-know,

One is of course familiar with the names of Bipin-Babul thanks to HFGK and other sources. Babul is more known among the two, due to the wonderful songs of Chaalis Din and Reshmi Roomal. The DVD of Chaalis Din is part of my movie collection thanks to the songs.

The songs list here is interesting. Of the 11 songs, only one song of Bipin- Babul duo has made it to your list, despite their composing for 12 films. And among the remaining 10 songs of Babul, 7 songs are from 2 movies indicating the limited number of films that were offered to them.

Special thanks to Arunji for providing more information on Bipin and Babul. Looks like we still don’t have the full name of Babul. Just wondering if it was his real name or pseudonym. And no photographs of them are available, I suppose.

I am also curious about their last film Daawat, made in 1974, considering the fact that Babul migrated to Pakistan in 1963.
A BR Ishara film starring Satish Kaul would not have been made in early 60s. Were the songs composed much earlier and then used in this film? If not, did the duo actually work together after Babul’s departure to Pakistan?

Here’s a reasonably good song sung by Rafi for the first released film of Bipin-Babul:
Shahi Mehmaan 1955 Lyrics – Anjum Jaipuri
Rukh se parda to hata zara nazrein to mila

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWstI5q16_Q

26 AK August 24, 2021 at 12:59 pm

Dr Deshpande,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and your very comprehensive comments. Bipin-Babul is more Babul-centric. I was aware of the asymmetry in my song selection. But these are the best of Babul/Bipin-Babul. It is surprising that their pictures are not available anywhere.

Daawat (1974) is very much a Bollywood film. You have raised an important question whether Babul came back from Pakistan to compose the songs of this film. Incidentally, one song from the film is available on the YouTube. Does it sound like early 60s or 70s. Difficult to conclusively say.

Tadap tadap ke guzari hai zindahi humne by Asha Bhosle from Daawat (1974), lyrics NL Puri, music Bipin-Babul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axskDKLZIak

27 Ashok M Vaishnav August 24, 2021 at 3:53 pm

Bipin / Babul indeed remain unforgotten music directors of some of the most remembered songs, of which the main post and other comments have covered quite a few.

Naqli Nawab (9162) – by Babul- have two Rafi solos that remain my top favorites:

Tum Pucchate Ho Iahq Bahala Hai Ki Nahi Hai

https://youtu.be/UPUeOql3w0g

and

Chheda Jo Dil Ka Fasana Hasa Kyon Jhor Se Jamana –

https://youtu.be/-fA0DJSGRXY

On the occasion of the memorable post, I would like to re-vist some other songs from the film:

Ham Jispe Hai Fida- Asha Bhosle

https://youtu.be/jrfEkV82dlQ

Mast Ankhein Hai Ke Paymane Hai – Talat Mahmood, Asha Bhosle

https://youtu.be/T9vLRIqaYQI

PhooloN Se Rangeen Yeh Zameen Hai – Mukesh

https://youtu.be/tESEtsEwk9c

Three playback singers for one actor in a film may be goes on th=o validate the staement that the music director could not rise above B or C grade films, even in a full-fledged social theme film, with so enchanting songs !

28 AK August 24, 2021 at 9:16 pm

Ashokji,
In your list Chheda jo dil ka fasana is a real find. Great song. Surprisingly it remained unknown. Thanks a lot. Babul/Bipin-Babul gave their best in a limited number of films, and the songs became enormously successful.

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