This article is written by Mr.H.V.Guru Murthy

When we were young, we used to frequently listen to “Chun Chun Karti Aayi Chidiya” from AB DILLI DOOR NAHIN which used to be played on the Radio almost daily. The other hit song in those days was “Nanne Munne Bachhe Teri” with Asha in BOOT POLISH. The later especially had good lyrics and moral lesson for young children.

When we grew up we had a wonderful Lori “Main Gaoon Tum So Jao” from BRAHMACHARI. This song I consider as one of the best Lori to be ever recorded and picturised on Indian Film Industry. Filmed on Shammi Kapoor, the song was in two parts, one happy and the other sad version.

“Tu Hoke Bada Banjana” from KHANDAAN was another lovely song where a poor and invalid father sings to his infant son and tells him how unfortunate that the lucky child is born in his poor house, how to manage life, how he has to struggle and fight in his life with his two hands, how to treat his neighbours, how he should take care of his mother, etc. etc. Picturised on Sunil Dutt, one can easily become emotional while listening to this song.

Mohd Rafi with his grand daughter Tasneem and wife Bilquis

What was the common factor in all these above songs, of course, the Singer was our beloved Rafiji. In fact Rafiji came into prominence only with a children song “Tera Khilona Toota Balak” in the forties.

Dilip Kumar in Aayin Hein Bahaaren Miten Zulm-o-sitam
Courtesy: MohdShafeeq@Youtube

The other Rafi songs in this category were “Aaj Kal Me Dhal Gaya” from BETI BETE, “Aayee Hai Bahare” from RAM AUR SHYAM, “Hum Bhi Agar Bachhe Hote” with Asha from DOOR KI AWAAZ, “O Nanne Se Farishte” from EK PHOOL DO MALI, “Tumhare Hai Tumse” with Asha in BOOT POISH, “Chacke Me Chacka” from BRAHMACHARI, “Sunlo Sunata Hun” from ANDAZ, “Aao Tumhe Pyaar Karna Sikhandu” from SHATRANJ, “Yeh Kaisi Maine” from RAKHWALA, “Gori Jara Hansde Tu” from ASLI NAQLI, “Zindagi Hai Kya Sun Meri Jaan” from MAYA, “Taare Taare Kitne Neela Gagan Pe Taare” from AAP AAYE BAHAR AAYEE, “Chirag Kisake Ghar Ka Hai” from EK NAARI EK BRAHMACHARI, “Bish Chacha” from YARAANA, etc. etc.

“Meri Awaaz Suno” from NAUNIHAL was another beautiful song for an award winning movie, especially listen to the line “Thak Gaya Hun Muzhe”. When Rafiji sings the word “Thak” he actually shows his tiredness in his voice itself and that is called putting meaning into each and every word. Another song with message for children was “Hum Laye Hai Toofan Se” from JAGRUTI. Of course, the song “Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalaman Banega” from DHOOL KA PHOOL has been discussed, debated and appreciated very much including in the present web site.

“Bache Me Hai Bhagavan” from NANHA FARISHTA with Rafiji, KK and Mannadey was one of the few songs, where three stalwarts came together. This song is so beautifully written that each religion sees his Bhagavan or Jesus or Allah in the child and also sees Geetha, Bible and Quran. Alas, now a days, such lyrics are hardly written.

Mohd Rafi with his children

Rafi and Mehmood came together for a wonderful song “Sazi Rahi” in KUNWARA BAAP. Usha Mangeshkar and Saathi sang “Chanda Ko Dhoondane Sabhi” in JEENE KI RAAH, a few lines of which was sung by Rafi also. Another unique song in this category was “Haina Bolo Bolo” form ANDAZ sung by Rafi, Suman and others. TUM HASEEN MAIN JAWAN, had a wonderful song by Rafi “Mamta Ki Ho Tum Koi Moorat” in which movie KK also sang the hilarious “Munne Ki Amma” which used to be aired on Radio regularly in those days.

Other good songs sung by other Singers which can be bracketed with the above category of quality songs are “Muskura Ladale Muskura” from ZINDAGI by Mannadey, “Raat Gayi Phir Din Aata Hai” and “Tahar Jara O Jaanewale” from BOOT POLISH by Mannadey and Asha, “Saare Ke Saare” from PARICHAY by KK and Asha, “Insaaf Ki Dagar Pe” from GANGA JAMUNA by Hemant Kumar, “Tuzhe Sooraj Kahun Ya Chanda” by Mannadey in EK PHOOL DO MALI, “Teri Bachapan Ko Jawani Ki Dua Deti Hai” in MUZHE JEENE DO, one of Lataji’s best songs of her illustrious career, “Jeevan Me Tu Darna Nahin” from KHOTE SIKKAY by KK, Suman Kalyanpur’s “Nanhi Si Kali Meri Ladli” in DIL EK MANDIR, Lataji’s “Sunle Bapu Ae Paigam” in BALAK, ”Mere Paas Aao” by AB for MR. NATWARLAL, Mukesh and Lataji’s “Ichak Dana” in SHREE 420, Talat and Asha’s “Chali Kaun Si Desh” in BOOT POLISH, “Teethar Ke Do Aage Teethar” by Asha and Mukesh in MERA NAAM JOKER, “Daadi Amma Daadi Amma” from GHARANA, Lataji’s “Tumhi Ho Mata” from MAI CHUP RAHOONGI, Aarti Mukherjee’s “Naani Teri Morni Ko” from MASOOM, Geeta Dutt’s “Nannhi Kali Sone Chali Hawa Dheere Aana”, “Rona Kabhi Nahi Rona” by KK and Saathi for APNA DESH, “Chupa Chupi” by Mannadey and Lata, KK and Lata’s Do Pehlu song in LAKHON ME EK - “Chanda Ho Chanda Kisne Churayi Teri Meri Nindiya”, KK and Lata’s “Aari Aa Ja” from KUNWARA BAAP, “Nannha Munna Rahi Hun” from SON OF INDIA, “Desh Ka Pyaara Subka Sahara” by Asha, “Duniya Ke Log Kitne Ache Hote” from DREAM GIRL by Asha, Lataji’s “Chanda Hai Tu” from ARADHANA, “Gudiya Humse Roothi Rahogi” from DOSTI and “Apni Apni Biwi” from DO RAASTE, “Bache Manke Sache” by Lataji from DO KALIYAN were also popular songs in those days.

Mohd Rafi with a baby

I wish the children of today are able to appreciate and enjoy such above songs which are especially meant for them. I also wish the MDs, Lyricists, Singers and actors put in efforts to give some such above songs for Children of the present generation.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 6:15 am and is filed under Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.