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.
| Blog Day : | 3720 | Post No. : | 14655 |
My affair with Tanuja (one of the many that I had during my school years) started when I first saw her in a film on Doordarshan. If I remember correctly, it was ‘Bahaaren Phir Bhi Aayengi’ from 1966. The song was “Aapke Haseen Rukh . . .”. The way this song is filmed, Tanuja looks such a pretty enchanting young lady, as the camera pans in on her with sunlight behind, the rays of the sun diffracting from her open tresses. At that time, I did not even know her name. Just that face, and the vision of sunlight reflecting from her hair, and I lost my heart to her.
Next meeting with her was probably ‘Jewel Thief’ (1967). Being a supporting role, she was on the screen much lesser than the leading lady. And I still did not know her name – I had not yet learnt to remember the names in the credits at the beginning of the film and then mapping them to the actual people who appeared on the screen.
The encounters were infrequent; but the enchantment would continue for some more time, occasionally reinforced by chance photos in Filmfare or Madhuri magazines, and songs in Chitrahaar. It would be much, much later that I would pick up the earlier threads with films like ‘Hamaari Yaad Aayegi’ (1961), ‘Mem Didi’ (1961), ‘Benazir’ (1964) and ‘Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal’ (1965), ‘Anubhav’ (1971), ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ (1971), ‘Door Ka Raahi’ (1971) and ‘Do Chor’ (1972). In the contemporary mode, I met her again in ‘Imtihaan’ (1972) and ‘Hamraahi’ (1974). And fell in love all over again with “O Mere Dil Ke Chain. . .” – ‘Mere Jeevan Saathi’ (1972); while still struggling to get into my teens. 
Tanuja – the naughty, sometimes ferocious, playful, mischievous – an incisive smile and a twinkling gleam in the eyes. The best image in the mind is when she makes changes to her household in ‘Anubhav’, and Sanjeev Kumar comes home from work, and she opens the door, grabs him by his necktie and pulls him behind her into the house. Or her first encounter with Vinod Khanna in ‘Imtihan’ and she drenches him by mistake, with the garden hose. Many such images overflow in the mind – including the startling somewhat senior role of Padmini Kolhapure’s elder sister in law in ‘Prem Rog’ (1982). That was sure a let down to the discerning teen-end mind, who believed that Tanuja could never, would never grow up from her impish presence. A teen-age heart shattered, and a puppy love story spun off into oblivion. 
Tanuja – the second daughter of Shobhna Samarth, and younger sister of Nutan, was born in Bombay on 23rd Sep, 1943. Into the films as a child artist by 1950, she made her maiden appearance as Nutan’s younger sister on screen in ‘Hamari Beti’ (1950). She continued to appear in films as a child artist. Her first senior romantic role was in 1961 – Kedar Sharma’s film ‘Hamari Yaad Aayegi’. And then a progressive career that continues to be active till the present time. She is 75 years (as of yesterday).
A grand happy birthday to Tanuja, as I remember my puppy crush on her with the lines I used to hum for her – “Yaari Ho Gai Yaar Se Lak Tunu Tunu”. 
You wouldn’t believe it, but I was totally unaware till the time yesterday as I started checking out the available material on her life and career, that she is Kajol’s mother. You can call me anything, but that is the fact that is.
In my opinion, the film ‘Gustaakhi Maaf’ (1969) is one of the best comedies of Hindi screen. I saw this film for the first time on Doordarshan (what else), sometimes in second half of 1970s. Tanuja in a double role, paired opposite to Sanjeev Kumar and Sujit Kumar, playing two artist brothers in the film, who own a photo studio shop.
The film’s twin role is Tanuja’s handiwork. Twin sisters separated at childbirth. One remains in the town, and the second one is taken away to another destination. Fate would have it, that after twenty years, the sister living away, returns to visit this town. In the town, the other sister is already quite fitfully romantically involved with Sujit Kumar, the elder of the two brothers. The appearance of the twin sister of course creates numerous hilarious problems, but the high point comes when the out of town sister falls for Sanjeev Kumar, the younger brother. These scenes are some of the best in the film – Tanuja is trying to woo Sanjeev Kumar out of genuine interest, and Sanjeev is horrified and appalled that his future sister-in-law, and the bride to be of his elder brother, is playing romantic hooky with him. With nobody the wiser, the situation creates confusions galore, as all well wishers get together and carry off the in-town sister to a mental asylum in a straight jacket, believing whole heartedly that the young lady is struck with the split personality syndrome. And when the senior doctor at the asylum turns out to be V Gopal, one can imagine what twists and turns the situations will take. By a directorial intervention, the out of town sister also appears at the asylum – she is in search of someone else. With both the twins now present in the hospital, and everyone still unaware of what the crux of the problem is, it does carry all the ingredients to carry the situation towards a hilarious climax extremum. Happy ending of course, all sorted out and the two brothers get twin sister wives.
The song presented with this post is from the passage that the out of town sister is trying to woo Sanjeev Kumar, who is completely convinced that his future sister in law is making an ‘illegal‘ pass at him. The lady wants a portrait to be done in a scenic setting. Convinced that his future sis in law has lost it, Sanjeev tries to humour her by going along with the charade. But once reaching the scenic spot, when the lady breaks into a song of longing, that is too much for Sanjeev, and he tries to wriggle his way out of the situation.
Seriously, if you have not yet watched this film, then add it your list of things to do before departing from the planet. Till about a couple of years ago, this film was extremely unavailable, and a rare possession. But today, it is available on YT, so the rarity angle is gone. However, the humorous confusions angle is still the prime draw for this film.
Song is written by Naqsh Lyallpuri, with music by Sapan Jagmohan. Singing voice is that of Asha Bhosle. And the fun part is watching Tanuja’s antics and expressions as she, armed with this song, tries to take on the fortifications of a bewildered young man. A real treat to watch.
Many happy returns of the day, Tanuja ji – may the laughter never cease.
Song – Sajna Mera Jiyara Jaley (Gustakhi Maaf) (1969) Singer – Asha Bhosle, Lyrics – Naqsh Lyallpuri, MD – Sapan Jagmohan
Lyrics
hmmmm mmmmm
mmmmmmm mmmmmmmm
la ra la ra laa
la ra laa..aa..aa
sajna mera
haaye
jiyara jaley
aa jhoom ke
badra taley
ik baar tu
lag ja galey
sajna mera
jiyara jaley
aa jhoom ke
badra taley
ik baar tu
lag ja galey
sajna mera
jiyara jaley. . .
chanchal pawan zulfen
bikhra gayi
daali mere tan ki
mehka gayi
mann mein agan
bhadka gayi
sajna mera
jiyara jaley
aa jhoom ke
badra taley
ik baar tu
lag ja galey
sajna mera
jiyara jaley. . .
aankhen kahen pyaara. . .
sapna hai tu
dil ye kahe mera. . .
apna hai tu
apna hai ya sapna hai tu
sajna mera
haan haan sach
jiyara jaley
aa jhoom ke
badra taley
ik baar tu
lag ja galey
sajna mera
jiyara jaley
aa jhoom ke
badra taley
ik baar tu
lag ja galey
sajna mera
jiyara jaley. . .
———————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————–
हम्मममम म्ममममम
म्ममममममम म्ममममममम
ला रा ला रा ला॰॰॰
ला रा ला॰॰आ॰॰आ
सजना मेरा
हाय
जियरा जले
आ झूम के
बदरा तले
इक बार तू
लग जा गले
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले
आ झूम के
बदरा तले
इक बार तू
लग जा गले
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले॰ ॰ ॰
चंचल पावन ज़ुल्फें
बिखरा गई
डाली मेरे तन की
महका गई
मन में अगन
भड़का गई
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले
आ झूम के
बदरा तले
इक बार तू
लग जा गले
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले॰ ॰ ॰
आँखें कहें प्यारा॰ ॰ ॰
सपना है तू
दिल ये कहे मेरा॰ ॰ ॰
अपना है तू
अपना है या सपना है तू
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले
आ झूम के
बदरा तले
इक बार तू
लग जा गले
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले
आ झूम के
बदरा तले
इक बार तू
लग जा गले
सजना मेरा
जियरा जले॰ ॰ ॰