This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
The twinkling eyes and the arresting smile get to your heart when she sings “Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teer e Nazar”. An accomplished dancer, who has the capability to take a song, many levels higher. Witness that in “Diya Na Bujhe Ri Aaj Hamaara” (‘Mother India’, 1957), “Dagaa Dagaa Wai Wai Wai” (‘Kaali Topi Laal Roomaal’, 1959), “Tera Jalwa Jisne Dekha Wo Tera Ho Gaya” (‘Ujaala’, 1959), “Tera Teer O Bepeer Dil Ke Aaram Paar Hai”, (‘Sharaarat’, 1959), “Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re” (‘Kohinoor’, 1960), “Rang Rangeela Saanwra Mohe Mil Gayo Jamna Paar” (‘Baarood’, 1960), “Ab Na Chhupo Re Chhalia” (‘King Kong’, 1962), “Kaanha Jaa Re Teri Murli Ki Dhun” (‘Tel Maalish Boot Polish’, 1962), “Zulmi Hamaare Saanwariya Ho Ram” (‘Mr X In Bombay’, 1964), “Tujhse Wo Neha Lagaaye” (‘Shreeman Funtoosh’, 1965), “Door Kahin Door Hamen Le Chalo Sanam” (‘Ek Sapera Ek Lutera’, 1966), “Main To Khadi Re Khadi Re, Aankh Ladi Re Ladi Re” (‘Sab Ka Ustad’, 1967), “Mera Naam Hai Chameli, Main Hoon Maalan Albeli” (‘Raja Aur Runk’, 1968), and many more. Once again request Atul ji to create a new category – ‘Kum Kum Dances’.
Greetings to Kum Kum on her birth anniversary today (22nd April).
Yes, takes the entertainment value of a song many notches higher. That is the ‘abhinaya kala’ that she has mastered as an accomplished Kathak dancer. Her Guru – the legendary Shambhu Maharaj of Lucknow gharana. Nothing more to be added for her art, other than to say, take a view of the sampler list of her dance songs given above. And you will know. All that she communicates with the minutest of twitching eyebrows, the slight curl of the lips, and the graceful steps across the dance floor. The performance itself is the statement enough.
She was born Mehru-nisa, in Husainabad in Bihar. She did her schooling in Benaras and Lucknow, and then trained in Kathak in Lucknow. Much else is not known about her early life. She started her career in Hindi films in the early 1950s. After brief appearances in ‘Aansoo’ (1953) and ‘Mirza Ghalib’ (1954), Guru Dutt gave her an opportunity for a song in his film ‘Aar Paar’ (1954). The performance caught the attention, and Kum Kum was a busy actress after that. Her dancing prowess is well documented in the sampler list given above. She would soon begin to appear in leading roles, well through the better part of 1960s, albeit she was never able to successfully break into the A grade cinema. ‘Bombay by Night’ of 1976, opposite to Sanjeev Kumar, is probably her last film. She got married and left for Saudi Arabia, taking a final bow out of the film industry. There are references that say she is currently back in India and living a retired life in Bombay.
Today’s song is an off-the-mainstream Hindi cinema, from the Bhojpuri film ‘Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo’ (1963). This is the first Bhojpuri film that was made in India. An interesting anecdote behind its creation. At an film awards ceremony in late 1950s, the then President of India, Babu Rajendra Prasad, who hails from Bihar, spoke with Nazir Hussain, the renowned character actor, also from Bihar. The president queries why not make films in Bhojpuri language. In fact Nazir Sb was already preparing a script for a Bhojpuri film, with this title. He promised the president that it will happen soon.
Nazir Husain discussed the script with Bimal Roy, but he did not express any great amount of interest in the project. A later chance meeting with Bishwanath Prasad, a businessman and a film distributor and exhibitor in Bihar, led to a more interested commitment, and the film was launched with financing from the businessman. The film was completed in 1962. A special screening was arranged for the President, before the public release. The film was released to public in 1963.
The title of the film refers to a tradition in Bihar that says, ‘Mother Ganga, I will offer you the auspicious yellow sari’. The word ‘piyari’ represent the yellow sari. The tradition is that people will pray to Mother Ganges, and place their wish to her, in their prayers. On the fulfillment of their wishes, they will make an offering the auspicious yellow sari, to Mother Ganges.
The song is a lovely melody that has remained in memory from the radio listening days. The song is created by Shailendra and the music is by Chitragupt. The singing voice is that of Lata Mangeshkar.
Ah yes, we have a century celebration today, attached to this song. Music director Chitragupt completes 300 songs on the blog. That is a superlative achievement, for an artist who never really got into the grade A cinema. And yet, this number here is a testimony to the quality of his music. The pleasing melodies that are his handiwork have a lasting characteristic that have kept alive his songs in the minds of music lovers.
A superb song that will tug at the heart strings. The words are simple, and the song is very hummable. View, listen and enjoy.
Song – Kaahe Bansuriya Bajaule Re Sudh Bisraule (Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo) (1962) Singer – Lata Mangehskar, Lyrics – Shailendra, MD – Chitragupt
Lyrics
kaahe bansuriya bajaule
re sudh bisraole
gayil sukh chain hamaar
kaahe bansuriya bajaule
re sudh bisraole
gayil sukh chain hamaar
kaahe bansuriya bajaule
kantvaa kankaria
kuchh naahin dekheli
ho kuchh naahin dekheli
kantvaa kankaria
kuchh naahin dekheli
ho kuchh naahin dekheli
khojat khojat tohe
ihaan chali aayli
kaahe ke matiya phiraule
re dagari bhulaole
gayil sukh chain hamaar
kaahe bansuriya bajaole
gaon giraamin
maarela boliya
ho maarela boliya
gaon giraamin
maarela boliya
ho maarela boliya
sang ke sahelia
karela thitholia
kaahe ke naam dharaule
re dagiya lagaule
gayil sukh chain hamaar
kaahe bansuriya bajaole
tori baansuriya mein
ginti ke chhedwaa
ho ginti ke chhedwaa
tori baansuriya mein
ginti ke chhedwaa
ho ginti ke chhedwaa
manwaa hamaar piya
chhalnee bhailwa
kaahe peereeti badhaule
re agiyaa lagaule
gayil sukh chain hamaar
kaahe bansuriya bajaole
re sudh bisraole
gayil sukh chain hamaar
kaahe bansuriya bajaole
——————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
——————————————
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
रे सुध बिसरौले
गइल सुख चैन हमार
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
रे सुध बिसरौले
गइल सुख चैन हमार
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
कटवा ककरिया
कुछ नाहीं देखेली
हो कुछ नाहीं देखेली
कटवा ककरिया
कुछ नाहीं देखेली
हो कुछ नाहीं देखेली
खोजत खोजत तोहे
इहाँ चली आईली
काहे के मतियाँ फिरौले
रे डगरी भुलौल्रे
गइल सुख चैन हमार
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
गाँव गीरामिन
मारेला बोलिया
हो मारेला बोलिया
गाँव गीरामिन
मारेला बोलिया
हो मारेला बोलिया
संग के सहेलिया
करेला ठिठोलिया
काहे के नाम धरौले
रे दगीया लगौले
गइल सुख चैन हमार
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
तोरी बांसुरिया में
गिनती के छेदवा
हो गिनती के छेदवा
तोरी बांसुरिया में
गिनती के छेदवा
हो गिनती के छेदवा
मनवा हमार पिया
छलनी भइलवा
काहे पीरीति बढ़ौले
रे अगिया लगौले
गइल सुख चैन हमार
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
रे सुध बिसरौले
गइल सुख चैन हमार
काहे बंसुरिआ बजौले
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