RMIM Archive Article "278".
From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian
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# RMIM Archives..
# Subject: Ek Hi Film Ke Geet - 4 - "Raahi"
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# Posted by: malhotra@bedford.progress.com (Neeraj Malhotra)
# Author: Neeraj Malhotra
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EK HI FILM KE GEET - 4
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RAAHI
MD : ANIL BISWAS
LYRICS : PREM DHAWAN
*NG : NALINI JAYWANT, DEV ANAND ACHALA SACHDEV ( She is listed as only
Achala in the credits ), MANMOHAN KRISHAN, BALRAJ SAHNI, DAVID
Based on a Novel by Mulk Raj Anand. PRODUCED & DIRECTED by K.A.
ABBAS.
Could not help noticing the name 'Mohan Rathore' as the Editor :)
The singers list is missing because there wasn't any in the
credits. So will have to rely on our RMIM junta to fill-in.
A couple chitrahaars ago - Kalyan included a song from this
movie, thanks to him --> which in turn thanks to Vish for
suggesting this movie to Kalyan, I re-discovered some old
memories as well as more gems. The music of this movie is in one
word - mesmerizing !
The story is set in ASSAM Tea Plantations and represents a
message against the British rule and their poor treatment of the
workers. The music is true to the Assami folk music and lyrics
true to the voice of the 'junta'. The entire story is interwoven
with the music that the songs becomes an integral part of the
story.
I won't go deep into the story this time, because I think many of
you would like to see this one - if interested in Anil Biswas's
music.
ye zindagi hai ek safar, kabhi idhar kabhi udhar,
jaha.n talak hai dum mein dum, karo na gham,
chale chalo, chale chalo...
ye zindagi..
SINGER: I am assuming - Hemant Kumar.
This is the opening background song as the credits go by and we
see Dev Anand coming into focus.. somewhat liek the opening of
Platoon.
The song is like one of those marching songs that were sung
around 26th Jan. years ago. Perhaps they are still played on AIR
but not living there any more, I don't know.
Has a patriotic feel to it. A very smooth flowing voice.
As Dev Anand is going through this village... you hear a few
lines of local singing here and there just as you would if you
had gone to a real village.
You also get a glimpse of a beautiful lori to come later. That
is another thing special in this movie, you get these glimpses,
and you say to yourself, oh why did that stop ? Why not continue
and give the whole song..
chaand so gaya, taare so gaye, so jaa mere laal, saare so gaye
Achala Sachdev ( A young Achala here ) is singing to her baby
prob. in MEENA KAPOOR's voice.
That is all you hear - longing for the rest - which comes much
later
Another scene opens - morning - all the workers are in the
'bagans' Not only thr music is superb, the lyrics in this song
say it all - as to what the movie is all about.
A Chorus song with 3 female singers.
LATA, MEENA KAPOOR & ?
NALINI JAYWANT ( LATA's voice ) opens this beauty describing the
beautiful scenery and how the tea leaves are part of their life -
ye ik kaliyaan do patiyaan, jaane humari sab batiyaan
humari sab batiyan, ho rama sab batiyaan.
ye ik kaliyaan do patiyaan, jaane humari sab batiyaan
bagiya mein lehraaye aanchal pawan chali matwari
ho rama re raama
.........
And with the beautiful scenery, the reality sinks in too as
ACHALA joins in MEENA KAPOOR's (?) voice
mere man ki bagiya chooti, kabki roothi kabki ....,
........ humari phir wohi durgatiyaan
( The sound was very poor in this section so I could not get all
the words )
ek ek lafz is gaane ka sunane laayak hai...
music stops.
In a slow pace, Another local joins in the song
3RD FEMALE VOICE
ek kali aur do patiyaan, jaane humari sab batiyaan
kyaa kyaa julam hum pe dhaaye re bidesiya..
The song takes another turn here.. Part of Dev Anand's job is
keep these people in check and working. He uses a whip here and
there if needed as ordered by his British employers. As he
cracks a whip...
An older person - in a very hoarse voice - the song changes : In
a very slow tune...
Zulam dHa le, tu sitam dHa le,
humaare bhi to din hain aane waale
( The voice is very similar to 'tan jale man jalta rahe'
from MADHUMATI )
The tempo picks up in ANOTHER MALE voice and another actor.. who
has somewhat of a leader role amongst the workers.
lagaaye ja tu koDe humein tan tan ke
har ek ghav bolega zubaan ban ke
hothon pe rahenge, kab tak taale
humaare bhi to din hain aane waale
Zulam dHa le, tu sitam dHa le,
humaare bhi to din hain aane waale.
NALINI joins in too ( LATA again )
ye kali kali tere liye khaar banegi
ye patti patti tez talwar banegi
ye daali daali leke aayegi bhaalen
humaare bhii to din hain aane waale ......
Needless to say the mood changes here - the lyrics are superb and
so is the music ! You get engrossed in the scene and the workers
plight comes right through.
We move on to glimpses of
'ek pal ruk jaana, ho, jaane wale raahi,
ek pal ruk jaana, ruk jaana ho'
and the workers at night singing together with a dholak and
dancing - not a song per se - but a typical gathering for some
folk music voicing their dissatisfaction with these phirangees.
The night time also brings back the complete lori
'chaand so gaya, taare so gaye'
There are two versions of 'ek pal ruk jaana' in the movie, one
somewhat fast and another slow. I personally liked the slow
version more.
The fast one comes up next with a romance developing between Dev
and Nalini.
The slow is sung later - Dev at one point decides to leave his
naukri and is packing.
It is a beautiful song with very little orchestra in the
background. One of those that you rewind over and over again.
LATA's voice is very soft and very crisp at the same time.
Holi is here and the villagers start with a typical folk song of
Holi - There is also folk dancing to go along with.
MALE voice starts it - LATA joins later
holi khele.n nandlaala biraj mein, holi khele nandlaala
holi hai...
In between these lines - you also hear the women singing "ye ik
kaliyan do patiyaan, jaane humri sab batiyaan" but to a different
tune.
This is what catches you in this movie - the songs, the music it
seems is part of these people's lives and gives a very realistic
picture.
NALINI ( LATA ) joins ..
ramba kaahe ko bajaaye, tarsaaye jiyara, rambhaa kahe ko
What they are playing is 'dhaphli' as I know it. Perhaps rambha
is another word for it.
A wonderfully choreographed chorus song.
Back to business at hand - The British have stopped the water
because of the workers' protests.
Another couplet is presented to you with that leader playing
'kind of a tabla beat' on his empty stomach..
bhookh ka maara pet humaara, maange roti roti
bhai maange roti roti aur jab na pet mein roti ho to,
saari baatein khoti
ab na chakka chaale humse, ab na gaiyaan haale
tu zulam dHa le, tu sitam dHa le,
humaare bhi to din hain aane waale
We have more of the above song later as their group voice against
the Bristish which is also the last song of the movie.
Definitely worth watching both for the movie and the music.
Neeraj Malhotra
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From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian