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 other sites without the knowledge and consent of the web administrator of atulsongaday.me, then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
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5645 | Post No. : | 18138 |
Songs Repeated in Hindi Films – 29
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This post may likely be the most peculiar one of this series. Here we see a song, or more accurately a song snippet, reused in a most peculiar manner.
The film is ‘Mujhe Jeene Do’ from 1963. Recently, I chanced upon this song snippet, which is part of a song from another film. I have seen this film maybe once or twice earlier, but did not register or remember this song snippet being present in the film. A friend recently brought this to my attention, and I thought of writing this post.
The full song is from the film ‘Cha Cha Cha’. And a very well known and well heard duet it is. The singers in the complete song are Rafi Sb and Lata Mangeshkar. The original verses are penned by the famous Urdu litterateur Makhdoom Mohiuddin. The music of the film ‘Cha Cha Cha’ is from the mind of Iqbal Qureshi. The film includes such all time favorite hits like “Subah Na Aayi, Shaam Na Aayi” and “Wo Hum Na The Wo Tum Na The” (both written by Neeraj). This iconic song has long been a favorite of mine. The song is a description of the emotions of love, longing and intimacy between a man and a woman.
‘Mujhe Jeene Do’ is the story of the dacoit Thakur Jarnail Singh (role played by Sunil Dutt) who falls in love with Chameli (role played by Waheeda Rehman), a dancing girl. The story is about the dilemma that enters their lives when Chameli gives birth to a child. Bringing up a child in an environment of a dacoit gang – that is the dilemma which makes up the theme of this film. And there is a very famous Lata song that beautifully expresses this dilemma – “Tere Bachpan Ko Jawaani Ki Dua Deti Hoon”.
A brief about Makhdoom Mohiuddin, whose poetry also appears in films like ‘Gaman’ (1978) – “Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar”, and “Bazaar” (1982) – “Phir Chhidi Raat Baat Phoolon Ki”. He was born at Andol in district Medak in Hyderabad on 4th Feb, 1908. He belonged to a religious family of teachers and preachers but Makhdoom was more interested in poetry and politics than in religion. He was the leading light of the progressive writers’ movement and as a mark of respect the communist party of India has raised a building called “Makhdoom Bhawan” in Hyderabad. Though Makhdoom is primarily a poet of the nazm, he has also proved his ability as a ghazal writer. In addition, he has displayed his worth in the field of prose as well. His poetical works include ‘Surkh Saveraa’, ‘Gul-e-tar’, ‘Basaat-e-raqs’ (complete works). He passed away in Delhi on August 25, 1969.
Now coming to the interesting twist to the reuse of this song snippet. The film ‘Cha Cha Cha’, which contains the complete song, was released in 1964. And this reuse (?) occurs in a film ‘Mujhe Jeene Do’ which is released in 1963. The release chronology raises the question about which is the original creation. Were these lines composed by Jaidev Sb initially (music director for ‘Mujhe Jeene Do’), and then later developed into a full song by Iqbal Qureshi for ‘Cha Cha Cha’ ? Or that the song is created by Iqbal Sb and the song snippet borrowed by Jaidev Sb for his film ?
Curious thing is chronology. One possibility is that both the films were in production concurrently during maybe 1963, and that the release of ‘Cha Cha Cha’ was delayed whereas ‘Mujhe Jeene Do’ got released timely, and much before ‘Cha Cha Cha’. It is difficult now to get answers to these questions. But surely, an interesting scenario is created – the apparent reuse of the song snippet is appearing in a film that came before the film which contains the full song.
On screen, the lines play in the background in the voice of Lata ji. On screen, we see Chameli waiting for the Thakur in a scene that appear to be their tryst for the first night together. Tahkur enters the scene, sits besides her and touches her face. The voice of Lata ji starts to play in the background as the lovers fall into an embrace. A very delicately picturized scene – conveys all without saying much. Lata ji’s voice says it all.
[Editor’s Note: Additional inputs by Arun ji Deshmukh on the poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin.]
This song has made my memories greener.The writer of this song MAKHDOOM MOHIUDDIN was our family friend in the 50s and 60s till he died in 1969.
Our Hyderabad house was very big and my father had a beautiful garden where there was a big Chameli Mandav on which the Chameli vine was flowering in the seasons. There also was a big Zopala (a well spread jhoola with cushions to seat 3 to 4 people). Whenever Makhdoom Sb used to come, he preferred sitting under the Chameli Mandav on an easy chair. Actor, director and producer Chandrashekhar, who hailed from Hyderabad and knew Makhdoom Sb well, requested for a song for his film and Makhdoom Sb wrote the above song for him. But it came in the movie after a lapse of time only.
Makhdoom was a Poet, Dramatist, Teacher and in the last phase of his life, a Political Leader with left inclinations. He was also an MLA.
His 3 more songs feature in films- 1) “Jaanewale Sipahi Se Poocho” – ‘Usne Kaha Tha’ (1960) 2) “Aapki Yaad Aati Rahi” – ‘Gaman’ (1979), and “Phir Chhidi Raat” – ‘Bazaar’ (1982).
AD
Song – Ek Chameli Ke Mandwe Taley (Mujhe Jeene Do) (1963) Singer – Lata Mangeshkar, Lyrics – Makhdoom Mohiuddin, MD – Iqbal Qureshi
Lyrics
. . .
mandiron ke kiwaadon ne dekha inhen
masjidon ke meenaaron ne dekha inhen
do badan pyaar ki aag mein jal gaye
ek chameli ke mandwe taley
ek chameli ke mandwe taley
. . .
मंदिरों के किवाड़ों ने देखा इन्हें
मस्जिदों के मीनारों ने देखा इन्हें
दो बदन प्यार की आग में जल गए
एक चमेली के मंडवे तले
एक चमेली के मंडवे तले