Vasant Desai Part 4 (post-1950s): His ‘other’ female singers

Continuing the series of tributes to Vasant Desai, the final tribute on his 47th Remembrance Day (9 June 2012 – 22 December 1975)

When I started writing my tribute to Vasant Desai to fill up a noticeable gap on SOY, I didn’t know how many articles I would need to cover his career to my satisfaction. I knew it would be more than one, because he straddled both the Vintage Era (1930s and 1940s) and the Golden Era (1950s and 60s) and he was multi-faceted having acted and sang in his early films, besides being a renowned music director. Sometime in the Vintage Era he gave up acting and singing. I have covered all the facets of his enormous talent in the Vintage Era in Part 1 of my tribute. In the post-50s period he confined himself only to music direction and made a mark for himself. This was a period when a hundred flowers bloomed, and to do justice to Vasant Desai, I had to continue my series by writing on his songs for major singers.

Part 2 of my tribute focussed on male singers, including their duets. In male singers he did not have any overwhelming preference for any particular singer, though we discovered that he never used Mukesh. In female singers, Lata Mangeshkar’s dominating presence was obvious. He had so many iconic songs for her that the Part 3 of my tribute was devoted to his best songs for Lata Mangeshkar, which also included her duets with other female singers. A final browsing through his songs revealed that he gave some great songs for the ‘other’ female singers too, which deserved a post. Thus, as a concluding part of my series of tribute to Vasant Desai, here are his best songs for the ‘other’ female singers on his 47th Remembrance Day (9 June 2012 – 22 December 1975). This would also include ‘other’ female singers duets with ‘other’ female singers.

1. Ambua ki daari se bole ri koeliya by Jayshree from Dahej (1950), lyrics Shams Lakhnavi, music Vasant Desai

He had given a song to Lata Mangeshkar in 1949, which was quite melodious, but in Dahej (1950) Vasant Desai made Jayshree, the female lead as its lead singer. This song is so good that I would not accuse Vasant Desai of partiality to his wife.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy54LAUc5zY

2. Ae kaale baadal bol, tu kyun itarata hai by Shamshad Begum from Dahej (1950), lyrics Shams Lakhanavi, music Vasant Desai

But, interestingly, Vasant Desai gave this jhoola song picturised on Jayshree to Shamshad Begum. Shamshad Begum also got to sing an excellent choodiwaali song: Oui! Choodi dheere pahna chodiwali ho, kahin munna sa dil na hachke.

3. Taqdeer banaanewale ne kaisi taqdeer banai hai by Pushpa Hans from Sheesh Mahal (1950), lyrics Ajiz, music Vasant Desai

It is surprising that Vasant Desai seems to have forgotten Lata Mangeshkar altogether in 1950 when she was already emerging as The Female Playback singer. Sheesh Mahal had female songs by Geeta Roy (Dutt), Shamshad Begum and Pushpa Hans. Pushpa Hans would be a new voice for most readers, but here she is singing an outstanding song which seems to be with us forever.

4. Nazron mein samaane se qaraar aa na sakega by Rajkumari from Hyderabad Ki Naazneen (1952), lyrics Shams Wasti, music Vasant Desai

This song by Rajkumari was not known to me, but it is a superbly melodious song, picturised on Nigar Sultana.

5. Nanhe munne raja ki saalgirah aayi re by Shamshad Begum and Asha Bhosle from Aanand Bhavan (1953), lyrics SM Yusuf, music Vasant Desai

This song has everything you expect from a birthday song for a small child.

6. Kahan baaje Kisan tori baansuriya by Unknown Female Singer from Jhansi Ki Rani (1953), lyrics Pt. Radheshyam, music Vasant Desai

The scene is of a carnival on the occasion of Janmashtami (?). A flat stage has been created on one of the bullock carts on which there are a group of dancers and singers singing this excellent song. This YT link wrongly mentions Rafi as the singer; while we are grateful to the uploader, he must have been drowsy while mentioning the details. Far from Rafi, it is sung by an (unknown) female.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsKGE9xwG9I

7. Ughadat navras rang dhang laya gat by Asha Bhosle from Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), lyrics Traditional, music Vasant Desai

In the midst of iconic songs in the voice of Lata Mangeshkar in this film, Vasant Desai gives a wonderful dance song in the voice of Asha Bhosle. The scene seems to depict the familiar scene of the celestial apsara Menaka distracting Vishwamitra from his penance.

8. Meri aan Bhagwan kan kan se ladi hai to tumse bhi ladegi, to tumse bhi aaj ladegi, meri baat tumhein rakhni padegi by Geeta Dutt from Toofan Aur Diya (1956), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Vasant Desai

This is a unique song addressed to Bhagwan. The child commands Him that his pride has always fought for itself, he will fight with You, too, to make sure You do for him what is right. No cringing for this boy!

9. Kanha na chhedo na chhedo bansuri mai to aa gayi by Asha Bhosle from Do Phool (1958), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

I thank myself for looking up Vasant Desai’s songs by the ’other’ female singers. We are all aware of many Radha-Krishna songs. This sweet song by Asha Bhosle must rank very high.

10. Ek do teen gin bhai gin, ye duniya badi kathin, Is duniya mein hote hain hansne ke bhi din, rone ke bhi hain din by Aarti Mukherjee from School Master (1959), lyrics Pradeep, music Vasant Desai

If you are looking for sarcasm in songs, this must rank very high. A nice song by Aarti Mukherjee who had come with great potential through a music competition, but didn’t go far.

11. Tohri ungli se Krishna kaisi re jhar rahi rakt ki dhara by Suman Kalyanpur from Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Vasant Desai

There is no Lata Mangeshkar in Ladki Sahyadri Ki. Asha Bhosle has sung a number of good songs in the film. Suman Kalyanpur has sung only one song in the film. Blood is flowing from Krishna’s finger. The woman sings this song in a mood of pathos. Suman Kalyanpur has sung it in the style of non-film bhajans she is renowned for.

12. Valmiki ke mahakavya ki..Dharti ki paavan putri ki hum katha sunaate hain by Asha Bhosle and Usha Timothy from Ram Rajya (1967), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Vasant Desai

I have mentioned earlier that every screen adaptation of Ramayan story has this type of stock song depicting Lav-Kush narrating the story in Ram’s court from the perspective of Sita who was banished to the forest second time on some calumny against her chastity, having been abducted by Ravan and lived in Ashok Vatika in Lanka. She was given shelter by the sage Valmiki where she gave birth to the twins. Vasant Desai’s Sampoorna Ramayan had the Lata Mangeshkar-Asha Bhosle duet Bharat ki Sitaaon ke dukhde jab tak honge choorna nahin/ Hey Ram tumhari Ramayan tab tak hogi sampoorna nahin. In this one Asha Bhosle and Usha Timothy sing this beautiful song which starts with the recital:

Valmiki ke mahakavya ki sun lo amritvaani
Ramchandra ki amar katha Sita ki karun kahani

This sets the context and the pathos-filled story which stirs the heart of Ram and the people.

13. Bol re papihara by Vani Jairam from Guddi (1971), lyrics Gulzar, music Vasant Desai

Now we come to Guddi (1971) in which the two songs by Vani Jairam – Humko man ki shakti dena; and Bol re papihara – set off tremors of gossip that the new singer would dethrone Lata Mangeshkar from her pedestal. It seems Vani Jairam had a third song, too, Hari bin kaise jiyun re in the film, but that is not remembered today. Bol re papihara is a traditional bandish in Raag Miyan Ki Malhar. The antaras are Gulzar’s creation.

14. Meha barasane laga hai aaj ki raat by Asha Bhosle from Shaque (1976), lyrics Gulzar, music Vasant Desai

I end this post with this beautiful song by Asha Bhosle from Vasant Desai’s last film. Vasant Desai did give some absolutely great songs by ‘other’ female singers.

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
1. The YT links of songs have been embedded only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over the songs, which belongs to the respective owners.

2. I am greatly helped by the material on different sites.