Songs of Naiya

16 July 2012

Naav

When I was writing my last post on the Songs of River, I remembered Harvey had done some time back majhi (boatman) songs. Naav or naiya is the link between the two.  As a matter of fact there cannot be a majhi without a naav, whereas a naav can by itself be propelled by the flow of water or breeze. When Kunti placed the baby Karna, born before wedlock, in a basket and set him afloat in a river, it was carried to Adhirath and Radha, who brought him up as their son, condemning him for lifetime to be known as a Sootputra. A baby does not need a boat; basket is good enough, which is actually a baby naav.

That was Dwapar, and you might say it was bit of a stretch. But the naav story goes back several millennia to Treta Yug. When Lord Ram needs to cross the river Ganga, the Kevat (boatman) initially demurs. His main concern is his naav. If the touch by the Lord’s feet can turn stone into a beautiful woman (reference to the story of Ahilya, cursed by her husband unfairly to become a stone, as he suspected her fidelity, all due to Indra’s deception), what would happen to his mere wooden boat, which was his only source of livelihood. So he gives a good wash to the Lord’s feet to clean it of any dust which might have such dangerous magical properties. And finally he refuses to accept payment for his services, because he and the Lord are in the same profession, he ferrying people across the river and He ferrying across the ocean of this world Bhavsagar.

The boat motif runs across faiths. The Noah’s Ark saved him, his family and two of each kind of animal from the great deluge. Noah was the architect and the maker of the boat, as commanded by the Lord. I do not know if he was also the boatman, but the Ark’s role in saving the species so that life-form perpetuates is undisputed.

So you have the river, boat and the boatman – a very powerful metaphor for deeper meaning of life, deliverance and salvation. But at a mundane level, they are also objects of beauty. There was a time when they used to make films titled Jeevan Naiya and Nadiya Ke Paar, songs like Jeevan ki naav na dole, and more lyrically Dole hriday ki naiya sung by Kanan Devi and Prem ki naiya chali jal mein mori, chhoti si naiya chali jal mein by Pahadi Sanyal and Uma Shashi. This romance with the river, boat and the boatman continued till the 60’s.

I am not sure whether there are many nadi, majhi and naiya songs post-80’s, at least none that I could recall immediately. We are constructing bridges over the rivers, so where is the occasion for anyone to sing More sainyanji utarenge par ho nadiya dhएere baho or O re majhi, mere sajan hain us paar, le chal paar. The romantic Parisians would sing Under the bridges of Paris with you or play paper boats in Jardin du Luxembourg. The present day Bollywood might try Pul ke neeche pyar karenge hum dono, which sounds very trite. It is just as well that they have given up creating river songs.

Let us go back to the Vintage and the Golden Era when we had some beautiful naav and naiya songs.

1.  Dole hriday ki naiya, pag dharat darat hai khevaiya by Kanan Devi from Vidyapati (1937), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music RC Boral

For me Kanan Devi was the most beautiful and had the sweetest voice among the female stars of the 30’s. What absolutely delightful lyrics by Kidar Sharma and music by RC Boral. It would not be an exaggeration to say that New Theatres-RC Boral created what can be described as the Gold Standard of the music of the earliest era. The song is so good, it overcomes its poor video quality.

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2.  Na jane kidhar aaj meri naav chali re by Ashok Kumar from Jhoola (1941), lyrics Pradeep, music Saraswati Devi

Songs by Ashok Kumar for Bombay Talkies films composed by Saraswati Devi are often seen as an amusing feature of the times when even non-singer actors were made to sing. In spite of all the ridicule, often by Ashok Kumar himself of his non-existent ‘singing’ ability, there is something magical about these songs. There must be something in them that they are well known to music lovers after more than 70 years. I absolutely love Ashok Kumar songs, and this one is among the most delightful.

3.  Jeevan ki naav na dole by Jayshree from Shakuntala (1943), lyrics Dewan Sharar, music Vasant Deasi

This film marked the coming together of Vasant Desai with V Shantaram. A classic naav song sung by and picturised on Jayshree, wife of V Shantaram and mother of Rajshree.

4.  Prem ki naiya ko mila hai prem nadi ka kinara by Jagmohan and Kalyani from Meghdoot (1945), lyrics Faiyaz Hashmi, music Kamal Dasgupta

From my top favourite Prem ki naiya chali jal mein/ mori chhoti si naiya chali jal mein by Pahadi Sanyal and Uma Shashi from Dhoop Chhaon (1935), which I have used earlier in my post on New Theatres, to as recent as Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani (2009), romantic songs with boat as the metaphor for love have appeared from time to time. In the same genre Prem ki naiya ko maila hai prem nadi ka kinara is an exquisite song by the Sursagar Jagmohan, renowned more for his non-film songs, and Kalyani. The team of the lyricist Faiyaz Hashmi and composer Kamal Dasgupta was also renowned for many iconic non-film songs of various singers.

5.  Meri naav padi majhdhaar par karo na karo by Lalita Deolkar from Bhakt Dhruv (1947), music Shankarrao Vyas

I was collecting Lalita Deolkar songs for an exclusive post on her, but this song is too good to be put on hold.

6. Naiya teri majhdhar hoshiyar, soojhe aar na paar by Mohammad Rafi from Awara (1951), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar Jaikishan

Mukesh was the lead singer in Awara, just as Talat Mahmood was in Babul. And just as Naushad gave Rafi a river song Nadiya mein utha hai shor in Babul, Shankar Jaikishan gives him a boat song, which warns its occupants Prithviraj Kapoor and Leela Chitnis to beware of the stormy times that might lie ahead. Amidst the rage created by Awara hun by Mukesh, this song may have gone into oblivion, but coming at the beginning of the film it is significant in taking the story forward. It is beautifully picturised as well.

7.  Chandan ki naiya pe hoke sawaar gori chali us paar by Lata Mangeshkar from Durgeshnandini (1956), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Hemant Kumar

I have not seen a longer musical prelude than this song. You see Beena Rai on a solitary boat and a bevy of girls on another boat having fun throwing flowers and garlands at each other. One of the garlands thrown by Beena Rai perfectly falls on the neck of Pradeep Kumar, and he in turn throws it back to land on the neck of Beena Rai. Then this sweet song follows as a chorus by the bevy of girls to tease Beena Rai. Hemant Kumar-Lata Mangeshkar songs are a class apart. More well known from this film is Kahan le chale ho bata do musafir.

8.  Le chal khevaiya naiya le chal by Lata Mangeshkar from Senapati (1961), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Madan Mohan

Where was this song hidden? Madan Mohan-Lata Mngeshkar’s ghazals have acquired an iconic status. Now I discover this delightful boat song picturised on beautiful Nalini Jaiwant.

9.  Umariya bin khevat ki naiya by Hemant Kumar from Majhli Didi (1967), lyrics Niraj, music Hemant Kumar

Talking about class apart, nothing can be more melodious than Hemant Kumar singing for himself. As the orphaned child is taken to his married sister’s place, after his parents’ death, this poignant song portends the harsh life he is going to face at the hands of his blood-sister Lalita Pawar, to be redeemed by the unrelated Majhli Didi Meena Kumari.

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10. Majhi naiya dhhode kinara by Mukesh from Uphaar (1971), lyrics Anand Baxi, music Laxmikant Pyarelal

Jaya Bhaduri takes forward her Guddi’s innocent charm. Though the film does not specifically say so, Uphaar smells of and looks Bengal. Anand Baxi-LP later became known for trivial lyrics and songs, though getting big commercial success. But here Anand Baxi comes up with a soulful song, and LP captures the spirit of Bengal, majhi and naiya beautifully.

The Ultimate Naav Song

Hey kanha nav karo mori paar by Pandit Omkarnath Thakur.

One should use words like ‘the ultimate’ carefully in arts and music, but I have no hesitation in using this epithet for this out-of-the world bhajan by Pt Omkarnath Thakur.

{ 65 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Ashok Vaishnav July 16, 2012 at 11:58 am

AKji,
You have so masterfully presented the philosophical and musical relationship of Nadi, Naav, Naavik here.
May I add Kinara – the destination – and Musafir – one who travels – as add on to this triumvirate?
As always, the depth of your efforts in the selection of the songs can be seen so cleanly!
So, off I am on this Naav that you have provided, to relish the joy of travel under your able [Naavik] guidance.
Also, as the travel takes its course, one would look forward to some more gems [other Naavs!].

2 AK July 16, 2012 at 3:26 pm

Ashok Vaishnavji,
You are right, kinara and musafir also provide a related theme. Let us think about some songs, may be some day I would be able to write on this as well. Naav or naiya followed naturally after the river. With this, one part of the relationsip – nadi-naav-naavik – is complete. When I was writing this post I also remebered some lines from Jai Shankar Prasad’s Kamayani. I am not sure I understand its meaning, but it is so beautiful it is worth quoting here.

ले चल मुझे भुलावा देकर
मेरे नाविक धीरे धीरे

जिस अंबर में सागर लहरी
निर्जन के कानों में गहरी
निश्छल प्रेम कथा कहती हो
तज कोलाहल की अवनी रे

ले चल मुझे भुलावा देकर
मेरे नाविक धीरे धीरे

3 Ashok Vaishnav July 16, 2012 at 4:20 pm

WOW! You have played the part of an ideal Navik to the hilt this time, by carrying us [passengers] to point in a Nadi where the humdrum and noise of this world is left behind and the waves of the Maha Nadi [सागर] play the music of PURE [निश्छल] love.
What a सफर , what a नाविक, what a नाव And what a नदी to indent a sense of sublime relief in the mind that only the music in the hands of a gifted artist can provide!!

4 Subodh Agrawal July 16, 2012 at 7:34 pm

AK, another great theme and great post from you, just what we have come to expect from SoY. As usual you have dug up some forgotten gems. What is different this time, at least for me, is that all the songs have an immediate appeal; unlike some of the earlier posts which needed a little time for the older songs to work their charm. As a self-appointed expert on Hemant Kumar, I didn’t believe you could surprise me with an unknown song from him, but you did that with song number nine.

Now for the inevitable mention of songs beyond your list. The Ashok Kumar song from Jhoola is very good. However, if I were making the list I would have a difficult choice between this one and ‘Dol rahi hai naiya meri’ from Shikari. Ashok Kumar sounds more like a regular than part-time singer in the Shikari song, but this one does not have a video on Youtube while the video of the Jhoola song is excellent.

There is also this song ‘Katwa ke naiya’ from Nadiya ke Paar by Chitalkar and Lalita Deolkar. However, if one has to choose only one song from her, the one from Bhakt Dhruv is better.

I would have loved to see ‘Kashti ka khamosh safar hai’ from ‘Girl Friend’ in the list. Its quiet and contemplative mood would have gone well with the rest of the post.

Finally, I would just mention – though I can see it would not fit into this list because of its very different mood – our childhood favourite ‘Nani ki nao chali.’ It was a regular on the Sunday morning children’s program on All India Radio in the voice of Harindranath Chattopadhyay, long before it was taken in the film Aashirwad.

5 AK July 16, 2012 at 10:39 pm

@Ashok Vaishnavji
Nadi-naav-navik is one kind of journey. But with your comments you have suggested another journey musafir-safar/raah-manzil or (पथ-पथिक-पड़ाव), which sounds equally promising and sweet. This theme also has several deep layers of meaning. Some songs have already started flooding my memory. May be some day I should be able to explore that journey. Thanks for your very generous praise, which frankly to a great deal, is owed to you and other readers.

@Subodh Agrawal
I was myself surprised on Hemant Kumar. When you hear this song it sounds so universal, and you feel you were alway aware of it. But you are right, it is one of his hidden gems. Among the top singers I think he has the most hidden gems yet to be discovered.

Na jane meri aaj kidhar naav chali re was an obvious choice, not only because of availability of its video, but also because it is so delgihtful and so very well known compared to the Shikari song. As for the technical quality of music, in case of Ashok Kumar, many of his songs became extremely popular and are known till date, regardless of their musical merit. I am one of the lay persons who simply love his songs.

Lalita Deolkar I stumbled upon was simply too good, even though I was very familiar with Kathwa ke naiya (the wooden boat).

Kashti ka khamosh safar hai should have figured, I guess I was fixated on the word naav-naiya to be present in the song. This reminds me I need to do a post on Sudha Malhotra, a missing singer in the chain of niche singers like Jagjit Kaur I did last year.

Nani ki naav chali frankly I was not aware of and was not on my radar screen at all.

Thanks for your compliments.

6 Anu Warrier July 17, 2012 at 2:42 am

Between you and Harvey, you have mitigated the need for me to make a list of my favourite boat songs. 🙂 Lovely post, AK, and some new (to me) songs.
What about this one?

O goriya re tere aane se saj gayi humri ye tooti footi naav by Yasudas from Naiya

or this? Even though it is in the background?

Sun mere bandhu re by SD Burman from Sujata

and this one –

Purvaiya le ke chali meri naiya by Lata Mangeshkar and Shailendra Singh from Do Jaoos

These may not classify as ‘naiya’ songs, but they are all picturised on a boat.

Chingari koi bhadke to sawan use bujhaye by Kishore Kumar from Amar Prem

Jis gali mein tera ghar no ho balmaa by Mukesh from Kati Patang

and this:

Dil apna aur preet parayi by Lata Manegeshkar

7 AK July 17, 2012 at 12:36 pm

Sun mere bandhu re I love, who doesn’t? This was the titile of Harvey’s post. Then Yasudas song is too good, fits perfectly with my theme. This too from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi is a ‘boat’ song!

Ajeeb dastan hai ye

Which only means I and Harvey have not relieved you of any need to do another post on this theme 🙂 – so many are still out there. Very clearly I have not included those great boat songs in which the word naav or naiya does not occur.

Coming to your own blog it seems you have made some changes in the configuration recently – I was not able to see the comments nor post one. I have earlier posted comments on your blog. So while we are here I would like to compliment you on your Ma and Baap re Baap posts. Extremely well written. On your Ma’s, someone must have mentioned by now, the one I found missing was the Sautan Ma, who is out to destroy the simple and gullible step son, who adores her, and it won’t be until the last few reels that she would feel remorse when faced with her villainous biological son. Aruna Irani in Beta and recently the Mom Niharikaji in the TV soap Bade Achhhe Lagate Hain.

Time for a Beta post?

1. Ma-main-BA-pass-ho-gaya-Beta – Rajendra Kumar
2. Jaldi-se-kuchh-khana-de-ma-Beta – Dilip Kumar
3. Shadi!-maine-kah-diya-abhi-main-shadi-nahi-karunga-Beta – Shammi Kapoor
4. Tu-kah-rahi-hai-to shadi-kar-leta-hun-ma-Beta – Dilip Kumar
etc.

8 Anu Warrier July 18, 2012 at 1:29 am

AK,

I had meant to post Ajeeb dastan hai yeh and ended up posting the title song, so I’m glad you posted the former. I love that song!

Coming to my blog, I really do not know what is happening. 🙁 Blogger has been acting up for the past week, and I do not even get email notifications when someone comments! That said, I signed out of my blog and checked to see if I could view comments or post them, and found I could. So I do not know if the problem is with blogger, or the browsers or what! I’ve just asked one of my friends to check the blog and see if they are having an issue. (By the way, your last comment posted, and I replied to it too.)

A ‘Beta’ post sounds like a good idea 🙂 But you have already used up my selections!

9 AK July 18, 2012 at 9:59 am

Serial 2 : Shashi Kapoor fits better. In any case you have to find at least six more Beta‘s and write on them. So I am eagerly looking for your Beta post. Some other Beta‘s:

5. Tu badi bholi hai Ma-Beta – Rishi Kapoor
6. Ma dekh main tere liye pari laya hun-Beta – Raj Kapoor
7. Aapko apne business se kahan fursat thi Dad/Pitaji – Beta- Amitabh Bachchan
8. Aapko mujhse jyada is se pyar hai jiske khandaan ka pata nahi-Beta – Prem Chopra

10 Subodh Agrawal July 18, 2012 at 10:08 am

Adding to the Beta dialogue. I have not seen this myself, but a friend of mine swears by it: ‘Maa jaldi roti de de, mere peechhe puls (punjabi pronunciation of police) padi hai’ -either Dharmendra or Dara Singh.

11 AK July 18, 2012 at 11:00 am

I am sure Anu Warrier would come up with several terrific Betas.

12 dustedoff July 19, 2012 at 2:41 pm

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this comment shows up… I posted a comment on your last post too (and this is the second time I’m posting this comment), but both have disappeared into cyberspace.

Great post, and lots of songs that were new to me (I’m still making my way through them), listening as I write this comment. I see that Anu has already posted some of the songs I would have listed as ‘boat songs’, so I won’t repeat them here. But here’s one I think hasn’t been mentioned, so I’ll put it in. Us paar saajan, is paar dhaare from Chori Chori:

P.S. Interesting beginning to the post – it made me think, and I was reminded of another important boat that appears in myth. The ferry across the Styx, rowed by Charon, who had to paid to ferry the souls of the dead to the underworld.
BTW, Noah’s ark was not meant to save the Lord and his family – it was meant to save Noah and his family. It was less a means of transportations and more a sort of safe abode from the floods, so I don’t think Noah would be considered a boatman, per se.

13 AK July 19, 2012 at 8:02 pm

I am surprised how your comment could be lost. Your comments are most valuable. The song you have included is beautiful and has equally beautiful picturisation. Had I made it open to include the songs without word naav or naiya in them, selecting ten would have been impossible.

Charon myth also fits in with other myths. Thanks.

Thanks also for the correction in Noah’s Ark write up.

Hope now the technical glitch should not recur and we see your comments more often.

14 Subodh Agrawal July 23, 2012 at 7:27 am
15 AK July 23, 2012 at 6:35 pm

Very good song. Jasimuddin, the song writer was a legendary person as a poet and compiler of folk songs and folk lore of East Bengal. SD Burman’s many outstanding Bengali songs were written and composed by him.

16 Rajiv Yadav August 15, 2012 at 5:26 pm

Among the most popular and lovable naiyya song is “Saawan ka maheena , pawan kare shor …..” by Mukesh and Lata ; a melody that brings sweet happiness instead of usual haunt.Let us remember it in saawan ka maheena.

17 Subodh Agrawal October 20, 2012 at 9:10 am

I discovered only now that one of my all time favorites – ‘Pyar par bas to nahin hai’ from ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ is also a boat song, although without the word nao or naiya in it: http://youtu.be/Gtrf3f5weRE

18 ASHOK M VAISHNAV October 20, 2012 at 10:15 am

We have a similar song , which does not have NAIYA used directly in the lyrics, but is filmed with Naiaya as the principal protagonist.
KHO GAYA HAI MERA PYAR – GARIYAL AUR RASTA -Mahendra Kapoor -Hsarat Jaipuri -Shanker Jaikishan

19 ASHOK M VAISHNAV October 20, 2012 at 10:22 am

I regret typo: Please read HARIYALI AUR RASTA

20 ASHOK M VAISHNAV October 22, 2012 at 10:12 am

How the safar of Naiya
Here is one clip – http://youtu.be/wPOXZdHAtf4 – that has ingrained Naiya in the lyrics and has Bachpan Ke Di Bhula Na dina as its base tune.

21 AK October 22, 2012 at 3:30 pm

Subodh, Vaishnavji
Pyar par bas to nahi hai and Kho gaya hai mera pyar are excellent ‘naao‘ songs. Since there are too many, I chose only with the words ‘naav’ in the song. Bhagwan meri naiya us paar is fairly good. It is interesting how tune of film songs come in handy for composing bhajans in praise of all the gods Festivals are a good time for such imitation, the Gods must be pardoning such infringements as it is done by the faithful.

22 mumbaikar8 November 4, 2012 at 4:46 am

I will only say thanks.
Some songs I have never heard before.
I would like to add one naiyya song.
It was my mom’s favourite song and it has stayed with me too.

Dagmag dole naiya by Geeta Dutt from Jogan

23 AK November 4, 2012 at 11:32 am

This is indeed a beautiful song. Thanks for refreshing its memory.

24 jignesh kotadia January 19, 2013 at 12:29 am

since the time i found SOY i m addicted to open it regularly at night and cant resist myself to comment something on the various interesting themes. Thanx mr. Ak to provide a place and great people to talk with on music….class music…also thanx for initiating beautiful themes.

25 jignesh kotadia January 19, 2013 at 12:41 am

Akji…enjoying ur vintage naavs.. i like very much ‘na jane kidhar aaj meri naav chali re’ and ‘dagmag dagmag dole naiya’.
One more.. Milan (1946) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHCjDnbdyV0

26 jignesh kotadia January 19, 2013 at 1:07 am

here is the Kevat’s request (gujarati) to prabhu Ram be4 he can carry them in his boat. ‘Pag mane dhova dyo raghurai’…lemme first clean ur legs properly Ramji…’prabhu mane shak padyo man ma’….i hav heard and hav strong doubt abt ur legs’ dusts that it can turn my naiya to a live lady…if i only loose my naav than its ok i will repurchase it but how can i manage two ladies ?? …. Pag Mane Dhova Dyo Ne – Ramayan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOvyUGWkkGU

27 AK January 19, 2013 at 11:47 am

Jignesh
The strength of SoY is the knowledeable and passionate music lovers like you. You have yourself introduced several unknown gems to us. Since you are going over old posts, you can be a big help. On old posts you would often find YouTube has removed a video. This is a cat and mouse game, whenever I come to know, I try to replace it. If you notice such a case, pl mention it in your comments, and if possible provide YT url of another piece of the same song. I would keep on replacing the removed videos. Thanks for your great support.

28 jignesh kotadia January 19, 2013 at 8:28 pm

Akji…many thanks 4 appreaciation…..i will definately try to relink those yt blanks..
Btw…i found many terrific female solo melodies(most of lata) r missing from wrap up 2 1955…so i want ur consent to extend wrap up 2. There r atleast 40 magnificent songs which r capable to alter anyone’s order of fav’s list.

29 AK January 20, 2013 at 1:08 am

Yes, you can definitely mention these songs – but you can first check up if the songs are included in the mother post or not. That has a larger list of over 100 songs – including those mentioned by the readers in the comments. In the Wrap-ups I have discussed a shorter list.

30 Bharat J Patwala March 5, 2013 at 10:54 pm

AK
Sticking to Naiya/ Nav theme following songs appear on my mental screen:
1) Jeevan Naiya Behti Jaye..Pankaj Mallick & Chorus..Zalzala,,1952
2) Pawan Chale Zor .. Ditto ,, Ditto
3) Naiya Ka Meri Tu Hi……..Mohd Rafi & Chorus……..Zamana..1956
4) Door Hai Kinara………….. Manna Dey………………….Saudagar..1973
You have ,as always, chosen interesting theme which offers good numbers of lovely songs.If taken together with related words like Mazi,Kinara,Kashti,Patwar,Nadi, Mazdhar etc possibilities would multiply.Nonetheless the subject brought is fascinating.
Thanks a lot.

31 mumbaikar8 March 6, 2013 at 7:39 am
32 AK March 6, 2013 at 10:16 pm

@Bharat J Patwala,
Some very good songs you have added. I have already covered Nadi, Naav, Kinara and Harvey has covered Majhi songs. That leaves Majhdhar. I am on the look out for enough songs to fit this category.

33 Bharat J Patwala March 6, 2013 at 10:41 pm

AK : I think of 1955 film ” Bandish “where MD & singer Hemant kumar rendered this nice Naiya song.
Ye Duniya Ek sagar Hai, Jeevan Hai Ek Naiya Toofano Se Kya Darta Jab Tera ram Rakhaiya…
Words like rakhaiya, Bhaiya, Haiya etc are beautifully rhymed with Naiya. Listening to the song makes you feel you are in a boat
Also 1959 film Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan gave us Manzi song as follows:
Manzi Re Himmat Na Haar, Tere Haath Patwar, Tere Saath Kartar…
Lyrics cover all words like Naiya, Kinara, Manzdhar in antaras.
Singer is Mahendra Kapoor * MD Vasant Desai.Lovely number indeed.

34 ASHOK M VAISHNAV March 7, 2013 at 11:22 am

Dusted Off has mentioned in her comment to “Multiple Versions Songs (6): Both versions by female playback singer(s) (1) : Abhi To Main Jawan Hun” that she was not able to lay hand on a sad version of ‘Saiyan Pyaraa’ from Do Behnen . So I tried my hand at the search. Well, I could not find, as of yet, the intended the sad version song, but did land upon a video clip of “Juk Juk Jola Khaye’. and when I saw the clip ( I had always had listened to this song on audio only previously) , the song is sung on a river by Chand Usmani and her friends – http://youtu.be/-zMql6_9UQg

35 Bharat J Patwala March 9, 2013 at 4:10 pm

AKji, One more good song on Naiya. Sunil Dutta & Vaijayantimala in film Jhoola ” Aag Paani Mein Lgi Kaise ; Ke husn Ki Naav Chali jaise ”
Enjoyanle number indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStpo91rN6U
Thanks.

36 AK March 10, 2013 at 7:36 pm

Bharat J Patwala, Jignesh Khotadi, Mumbaikar 8, Ashok Vaishnav
Enjoyed all the songs you have listed. Thanks.

37 Mohan Lal July 23, 2013 at 3:17 pm

New Delhi, 23rd July, 2013.

Sir,

The blog about “NAIYYA” is really very good and interesting providing glimps into various naiyya songs.

However, I feel a famous gem is left out from this blog which is a song from the film “Tulsi Dass”. The song is:

Naiyya jaldi lé chalo mujhé sajan ké angana jinké liyé daur ké lé aayaa hun mein kangana

sung seprately both by Mohd. Rafi and Asha Bhoslé.

This song could have been included in the Blog. Thanks once again.

Mohan Lal.

38 AK July 23, 2013 at 11:50 pm

Excellent song. Thanks for mentioning it. Sweet music by Hemant Kumar and equally beautiful picturisation..

39 Mohan Lal July 24, 2013 at 10:25 am

New Delhi, 24th July 2013.

Many thanks AK Ji for uploading this song for the lovers of gems and excellent music of Bollywood Hindi Cinema.

Mohan Lal

40 mumbaikar8 February 16, 2014 at 8:05 am

AK,
Beautiful Lata song lost in Suraiya dominated Jeet?

41 AK February 16, 2014 at 2:51 pm

Mumbaikar8,
And beautiful picturisation; so what if Madan Puri is the object of the lady’s (who) romance. Thanks for adding it.

42 ksbhatia March 22, 2014 at 1:02 am

AK ‘ji , Here are some of my Naushad’s favourites …….” Mera bichhada yaar mela de meri naiya paar laga de ” from Sohni mahiwal …….” Nadi kinare saath hammare lae ke jawani aai ” from Babul …….” more saayin ji utrean ge paar nadiya dhire baho ” from Udan khatola . …….”Meri kahani bhool ne wale tera jahan abad rahe ” from Deedar . ……”Duyai me teri duniya wale sukh chain hamara cheen liya “.from Deedar …….” Dil ki kashti bhanwar mein aai hai” from Palki ……..” sambhal ke khelna dariya se moujon ki rawani hai ” from Udan khatola . ……..” tu ganga ki mouj main nadiya kinaara ” from Baiju baawara and many more . I think Shakeel And Naushad combo gave maximum number of melodious songs involving words like kishti , kinnara , bhanwar and moujen . And surprisingly all the songs were hit .

43 AK March 22, 2014 at 9:10 am

KS Bhatia,
Interesting observation – Naushad and his songs with river theme. I think he had the highest rate of hit songs (we have to ingnore his post-1968 work).

44 arvindersharma May 7, 2014 at 12:52 am

Bhatia Ji,
I have gone through your post with interest immediately and all the songs have remained my all time favourites. I had not gone through ‘Naiya’ previously and at this hour, sleep has eluded me.
Three songs come to my mind immediately and I will list them.
Naiya padi manjdhar, guru bina, kaise laage paar by Mukesh. (I believe it’s a private bhajan)
Radha Ji ke kunwar Kanhaiya ho, meri naiya ka kaun khiwaiya by Rafi and Asha from ‘Tulsidas’, music by Chitragupta and
Kabhi kabhi Bhagwan ko bhi bhagaton se kaam pade, a private bhajan by Anup Jalota. (Kewat ki naav is the reference to this post).
Thanks Bhatia ji, for your kind words.

45 ksbhatia May 8, 2014 at 11:48 pm

Arvindersharma’ji , Thanks for your visit to this blog . The songs mentioned by me were of vintage flavour . There are many hidden songs which needs explorations. Your above songs reminds me of more such songs like …….” Sagar kinare dil yeh pukare ” from Sippy’s ” saagar ” by Kishore & music by R D Burman . ….and…..”Zamane se kaho akele nahin hum ” by Lata’ji -kishore from ” Ganga ki lahren ” music by Chitragupt. With urbunisation and modernisation such beautiful words have fadded out and lingers only to the ears of the elderly . Listening to them is like bowing to them in respect .

46 arvindersharma May 9, 2014 at 2:14 pm

Bhatia Ji,
Thanks for liking my selection.
SoY has certainly added a new dimension to listeners like us who yearn for good music, and more than that, good musical companionship, which is utterly lacking these days.
The SoY ‘ Naiyya’ is going backwards in time and AK Ji, the ‘Khevanhaar’, is doing an excellent job.
We are enjoying the ride.

47 mumbaikar8 September 19, 2014 at 5:25 pm

AK,
Striking philosophical vintage Anil Biswas jeevan naiyya song.
Audio is of poor quality, still the chorus in the background is remarkable.

Upar hai Badariya Kali Maujon me hai naiyya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHCjDnbdyV0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHCjDnbdyV0

48 AK September 19, 2014 at 5:51 pm

Mumbaikar8,
It is an excellent song. Anil Biswas was very good at composing chorus-backed songs.

49 ksbhatia September 24, 2014 at 12:04 am

AKji, Mumbaikar’ji, Arvinder sharma’ji, Here is a beautiful lataji’s song from Jaal ” Pigla hai sona door gagan par ” picturised on Geetabali singing on a boat . The lyrics do not carry any words like kishti/ naiyya/ boat but gives a feeling of floating along the song. Another song ” Dharti se door baadloan ke paar aaja” by Geeta and Aasha[as chorus] from Sangdil is also my favourite The lyrics include wordings in second stanza as ……chand ko nauv banna lehn …… ; the song , however , is picturised in heaven. The third one is also a great one by Hemant and Lataji ” Nain so nain nahin milao ” . The lyrics carries the beautiful wording…….chand naiya hai bijli patwar leh chal humko duniya ke paar…..These songs carries the masterly compositions by the great MD and lyricists of the golden era . The gold seems to have melt down ;though the price is rising . These are few examples other than the Naushad /Shakeel combo who have given numerous songs on naiya as brought on @42.

50 devendra March 9, 2015 at 12:26 am

Another nice song is .. More saiyanji uterenge paar ho ..nadiya dhire baho. ( film UDAN KHATOLA.) very delightful to listen . devendra

51 AK March 9, 2015 at 7:48 am

Devendra,
An all time great song. But fits in ‘river’ songs more.

52 PRAVEEN March 9, 2015 at 3:44 pm

AKji

Thoroughly enjoyed this post – Naiya, River, Majhi – all are very romantic concepts. Loved the pre-48 songs – all new to me.

But the top favourite for me is the Hemant Kumar’s very poignant
“Umariya bin khevat ki naiya”

As an aside – the movie Upkaar is a crappy visualisation of Tagore’s Samapti. Particularly when you have a light hearted, yet beautifully lyrical version from Satyajit Ray (as part of Teen Kanya series)

As mentioned in your comment 27 (though addressed to Jignesh), may I point out that the following links are not-working?

Currently working links given beneath each song

Na jane kidhar aaj meri naav chali re by Ashok Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UjoYxWgxXo

Umariya bin khevat ki naiya by Hemant Kumar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvJrPCMhuRU

The bhajan “Hey kanha nav karo mori paar by Pandit Omkarnath Thakur” has also been removed from You tube

53 AK March 9, 2015 at 5:46 pm

Praveen,
Thanks a lot for the links. Umariya bin khevat ki naiya is indeed an incredibly poignant song.

Pt Omkarnath Tahkur’s link works fine. Please try again. This is a class apart.

54 PRAVEEN March 9, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Still no luck with Omkarnath Thakur link – says the video is private

Your comments makes me desperate to listen to that 🙂

Let me try somewhere else

55 ksbhatia March 9, 2015 at 8:38 pm

Ak’ji ; Visiting this site after a long time and enjoying the contribution of each and every one of SOY family . Like Naushad – Shakeel combo who mastered the theme of Naiya, kinaara, uspaar , majhdaar , bhanwar [ ref @42 and 49] etc. I was looking for SDB – Shailendra combo. and found two of their ever hits……. 1 O Mere majhi Morey Sajaan hain Us paar. 2. O Jaane waale ho sakey to laut aana.[both from Bandini] . Similarly Hemant’s compositions ….1. Kashti ka khamosh safar hai . 2 Hum laye hain toofan se kashti nikaal ke . 3. EK safar hai yeh zindgani aaj suhani kal toofani [ from Ferry { Kishti} ]……. to be contd .

56 ksbhatia March 9, 2015 at 9:41 pm

……. When the theme is nadiya I can’t omit mentioning ” Ganga aye kahan se ganga jaaye kahan re ” ; my fav of Salilda’s creation with beautiful lyrics by Gulzar ji…… ‘ Kaanch koi maati koi rang birange pyaale … pyaas lagi to dono barabar jis mein paani daale re ‘ really beautiful and thoutful .

57 AK March 9, 2015 at 10:34 pm

Praveen,
It was my fault. Now please try again, let me know your views. If it does not work, I would send it to you by mail.

58 devendra March 9, 2015 at 11:48 pm

No offence meant ,but as Praveen mentioned, nadi- naiya are in same concept. this song has a line that goes this way …: jal thal nadiya naav purani”.. tanks Devendra

59 PRAVEEN March 11, 2015 at 2:51 pm

Ak sir – thanks a lot for activating the link (and for mailing it). Listened to the Bhajan today morning – it was wonderful

60 D P Rangan September 25, 2015 at 8:37 am

If a dispensation is allowed for songs sung aboard a boat under this head then the duet from Pocketmaar (1956) Dev Anand – Geeta Baali starrer, Madan Mohan creation sung by Talat and Lata would qualify.

https://youtu.be/6jVdfGM6Kss

61 AK September 25, 2015 at 7:46 pm

DP Rangan,
Ye nai nai preet hai is an outstanding song, and the boat scene is very beautiful. My criteria was that the word ‘naao’ or ‘naiyya’ has to figure in the song. That was just to make the selection manageable.

62 Ritesh November 9, 2017 at 11:02 pm

Old song ,full of monitony,,,,in sea,,some people are on boat,,,pls tell which song is that

63 AK November 10, 2017 at 5:52 am

Ritesh,
Welcome to SoY. We would need a little more information to locate the song.

64 Naghma September 30, 2020 at 7:55 pm

The first song which comes into my mind, though its an obscure movie, but a fabulous song, surprisingly no one mentioned it.

65 Naghma September 30, 2020 at 7:55 pm

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