Although, this ATMJH series  includes  some  famous  (now  and/or
then)  songs,  today  I  am  making an exception and presenting a
'Bhule Bisre' (what Vividh Bharati plays in Bhule Beesre Geet  is
not  Bhule  Bisre)  song.  Hope  you will bare it; for there is a
definite purpose behind it

#159
        Song: Tarkaari Le Lo, Maalan To Aayi Bikaaner Se

        Film:   Zamaane Ki Hawa (1950?) or 1952
        Music:  Khan Mastaana
        Lyrics: Wali Saheb
        Singer: Asha Bhonsle, Khan Mastana
        *ing:   ?

Tomorrow is Khan Mastaana's death anniversary. He was rated to be
front  line  playback singer after G M Durrani in mid 1940s, when
concept of playback was sweeping across. I suppose, he was senior
to Durrani. It's also said he, ruined his carrier in wine bottle.
His was a sad story and in  the  end,  we  lost  a  good  singer-
composer.  He has composed films with two names. One Khan Mastana
and other Hafiz Khan (which seems  to  be  his  first  name).  In
today's  song,  it's  Asha who does majority of singing, where as
Khan Mastana, sings few lines. Song has nothing that it can claim
as  an  excellent,  however,  it  has nice composition and sounds
fresh to ears, mainly due to young Asha's sweet voice.

Both these singers sung one more duet, 'Wale Qurbaan' too.  Talat
Mehmood  also  sung  a  good solo that I don't remember now (as I
have heard it only once) :(

The only other number I remember from this film is  by  two  more
obscure  singers  pairing  in  'Dekho Dekho Garbad Gotila'. Well,
this one is surely a typical Bhule Bisre and forgettable. But  it
belongs  to a category where, what looks like an acceptable limit
of song copying is done. I don't remember the  original  song  in
this case, but this presents an interesting thing. And that is in
good old days -- when moral values used to fetch more than  money
--  too  copying was allowed to certain degree! In this song last
antara is totally different from entire  song,  and  is  copy  of
another  famous  duet.  I  will followup tomorrow to let you know
which one. Now let me explain here what type of copies they  used
to  be  ?  The meter/tune/rhythm/style were retained, only lyrics
would change in such cases. I guess, this must have been done  in
low  budget/second  grade films to attract people and/or just for
fun. One classic case that I remember is a copy  (in  this  case,
whole song!!) of famous Naushad creation

        Jab Tum Hi Chale Pardes
                Laga Kar Thes
        O Preetam Pyaara
                Duniya Me Kaun Hamaaa

sung by Karan Diwan in  Ratan  (1943).  This  one  is  copied  as
following one

        Jab Tum Hi Chale England
                Bajaa Kar Band
        O Mohantaara
                India Me Kaun Hamaara

:))) Now here one can see it's purely a case where it's done  for
fun  and  is  an  evidence  that  it was healthy practice, unlike
today. I would request people having access to Geet Kosh  Vol  II
(1941-1950)  to  let  me  know which film is this from and who is
singer. My guess for singer is G M Durrani.

BTW, duet from Zamaane Ki Hawaa is sung by  Sulochana  Kadam  and
Gulraja.   This  man  has  some  good  songs  with  Pt.  Husnalal
Bhagatram, but that's later.

Finally, one let me mention one  memorable  film  of  Hafiz  Khan
'Mastana':  Lakeeren (1952). Has some great Talat and Geeta songs
in it. Will talk about it in ATMJH- 161.


 
Author: Snehal B. Oza