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.
Songs to Tickle Your Memory – 28
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It was a dark and stormy night.
OK, okay, I am just making it up. It was not a dark and stormy night. Delhi is well lighted in the nights these days, so it is hard to come by a dark night unless it is a power failure on a moonless night. Plus being the month of November, and the onset of winters, no storms are likely. Ah but how I wish I could start the story with this line. ;)
So it was not dark and stormy, but surely pretty late, and especially for a Sunday night. Arvinder ji landed up at my home just at the stroke of 9:50 pm, day before i.e. Sunday. Generally, people are winding up their weak ends (sorry weekend) at that time and preparing to sleep – to start another week next morning. But then, there are some ‘crazy’ music lovers like him and me, that need to get something done for a song, then all the high waters and all the fearful hells can wait.
The story starts like this. This particular song of the 1957 film ‘Naag Padmini’ – it has been a topic of exchange between Arvinder ji and myself, for 2, 3 weeks now. This lilting enchanting melody is one of his favorites. He has been searching for it online for some time now, without success. So he asked me whether I have it, and unfortunately I didn’t have it in my collection. Then he shared that he has it, but it is on a cassette that was recorded almost a decade ago. Did I have a way to transfer a song from cassette to laptop? Sure, I told him, that kind of gimmickry is just up my alley. So at around 8.30 pm on Sunday, he calls me up (unplanned and unexpected of course), and asks me if I was busy. I said no, except that I still had to get dinner going, plus had to pick up my brother in law from the train station at New Delhi at 10 pm. Of course, without getting into any calculations or analysis, he simply responded that he is coming, within the hour. It is obvious that the question whether I was busy was just a polite rhetoric.
Now mind you, he stays in Ghaziabad, which is outside Delhi in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Granted that his place is right on the boundary line, but still the driving distance would be, let’s say, Borivali to Bandra, maybe somewhat more. I was thinking he might not be serious. Around 9.45 I come out of my home and get into my car to go to the station. Just as I am pulling out my car onto the road, headlights appear, and I recognize the black Honda City that belongs to him. True to his word, he did turn up. I was surprised, but not surprised. Music does things to you that surely are strange.
So I tell him that I am late to reach the station, ask him to park his car, and then join me. He is carrying a small bag. He gets into the car, and we start driving. In the midst of all the “pleasantries” about not bringing sweets from Chandni Chowk, and his response to let us drive there right now, he reminds me that it is Geeta Dutt’s anniversary tomorrow, i.e. 22nd November (i.e.Monday, I mean i.e. yesterday). And so, it was crucial that he should bring this cassette to me tonight (I mean Sunday night), and put me to a time bound homework, to extract the song and to post it on the YouT, and to make a announcement on our blog through an article. And I am thinking, right, that is what friends are for – give them some homework load at near midnight, to be completed by the dawn of next day. Arvinder ji is just such a loveable dear friend. ;)
Anyways, we reach station, pick up my brother in law, drop him at his home, (very close to mine), and then come home. I haven’t had dinner yet, so I get my dinner, as we continue to talk about songs and posts and artists and anniversaries etc. etc. etc. After I finish my dinner, we descend to the basement. He takes out the cassettes. And we play this song that he has been waiting to hear for some months now. Goodness, what a song, and what a reminder.
aaha ji aaha ji ahaa ji. . .
So he wants this song to be posted immediately. Plus the fact that another DHF (die hard fan) of Geeta Dutt is eagerly waiting for this upload. When I asked him who it is, he says that Dr. Mahesh Sagar (of IIT Delhi) is also searching for this song for some time now. Good connect, I said – Dr Mahesh was present at my home few days back when we had the get together for Vijaylaxmi ji.
So that settled, of course as truly crazy persons, we went after more songs. I played some, he suggested some more and we played some more. Around quarter to midnight he got a call from his high command. As it is, I could not hear what was said from the other side, but Arvinder ji responded with a very humble and respectful “I am starting in another five minutes”. And yes, true to our colors of being crazy, he finally left around 1 am. In between we talked about the get together at my place last Friday, at which the chief guest was Veena Solomon ji, daughter of music director Vinod. Arvinder ji had missed that event, and so I told him about the wonderful meeting we had, and the songs of Vinod that we played. (Promise – another post to come soon for this very interesting meeting).
So finally he left with the promise from me that this song will be posted in the daytime (yesterday i.e. Monday). And the usual ‘man proposes, and everyone else disposes’ happened with me on Monday. An unexpected, but important family visitor, reached Delhi early morning, and most of the day was spent with him, as he had to also leave by the night train. So a large part of my Monday was taken care of by providence. I am now racing against time to get this post out today (i.e. Tuesday). Hope that I can make it before the clock strikes the midnight gongs.
The movie ‘Naag Padmini’ (1957) opens its account on our blog with this song today. It is also only the sixth song of the music director Sanmukh Babu Upadhyay, on our blog. Again, yet once again, a lesser known artist, a lesser known film – a film that is relegated to the side alleys by the listeners and lovers of music, sitting there in obscurity. And then a crazy person like Arvinder ji, puts a reminder to another crazy person (i.e. yours truly), and then continues to remind and pester till – well, something gotta give. And of course this ‘gotta give’ thing brings about immense pleasure to all DHFs (die hard fans). Gosh, what a song, and what have we been missing, all these years.
With less than 10 films (likely seven or eight only) to his credit, there is no way that one can discount his contribution simply based on numbers. If this song is any evidence, as would be “Nigaahon Se Dil Mein Chale Aayiega” from ‘Hameer Hath’ (1964) sung by Mubarak Begum, or Asha solo “Jaan Na Pehchaan Ghar Aaye Mehmaan” from ‘Amar Singh Rathod’ (1957), or the Mukesh Lata duet from ‘Lalkaar’ (1956) – “Jis Din Se Miley Tum Hum”, one has to say, and say it again, the obscure films and the lesser known artists have created gems and icons that are no less lovely than the better known ones that we have been celebrating again and again over the decades. And then I listened to the other songs of this film that are available. Super songs each one of them, hopefully to soon find their place on this blog.
The words are from the pen of Prem Dhawan. Singing voice, yes, Geeta ji, whose anniversary we celebrated yesterday. A day late, but yes, intended for that anniversary, and at the request of dear Arvinder ji. Such a lovely use of chorus, and the ’suhaaga’ on the ‘sona’ is the voice of Geeta ji. A truly enjoyable segment of music. Listen to this fresh upload, and I am sure you will be clicking the repeat button to listen again.
[PS: The fact of the matter is that Arvinder ji is getting short on his patience with me. The fault is mine of course. There are at least four more songs that he has been after me for past some months, to post, as they are untraceable as yet from other sources. And my promises keep falling behind schedule. I would really love to have a 28 hour day, any day. ;) ]
Song – Ho Naar Albeli Na Jaiyo Ri Akeli (Naag Padmini) (1957) Singer – Geeta Dutt, Lyrics – Prem Dhawan, MD – Sanmukh Babu Upadhyay
Chorus
Lyrics
ho naar albeli
na jaiyo ri akeli
tu jamuna kinaare aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
rut aayi mastaani
main hui deewaani
dil piya milan ko chaah ji
hoo oo oo
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
ho naar albeli
na jaiyo ri akeli
tu jamuna kinaare aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
udi udi jaaye
mori dhaani chunariyaa
laagi re kis ki najariya
laagi re kis ki najariya
gir gir jaaye
mere sar se gagariya
aa ke sambhaalo saanwariya
aa ke sambhaalo saanwariya
kar ke singaar
le ke nainon mein pyaar
main to aayee hun tori nagariya
hoo oo oo
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
ho naar albeli
na jaiyo ri akeli
tu jamuna kinaare aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
thanda thanda paani
hai gehri gehri nadiya
kaise bharoon main gagariya
kaise bharoon main gagariya
kahin kisi jaal mein
mithi mithi chaal mein
na aan phanse dil ki machhariya
na aan phanse dil ki machhariya
main albeli
na jaanun ye paheli
meri to baali umariyaa
hoo oo oo
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
ho naar albeli
na jaiyo ri akeli
tu jamuna kinaare aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
aaha ji
aaha ji
aaha ji. . .
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Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
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हो नार अलबेली
ना जईओ री अकेली
तू जमुना किनारे आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
रुत आई मस्तानी
मैं हुई दीवानी
दिल पिया मिलन को चाह जी
हो ओ ओ
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
हो नार अलबेली
ना जईओ री अकेली
तू जमुना किनारे आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
उड़ी उड़ी जाये
मोरी धानी चुनरिया
लागि रे किसकी नजरिया
लागि रे किसकी नजरिया
गिर गिर जाए
मेरे सर से गगरिया
आ के संभालो साँवरिया
आ के संभालो साँवरिया
कर के सिंगार
ले के नैनों में प्यार
मैं तो आई हूँ तोरी नगरिया
हो ओ ओ
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
हो नार अलबेली
ना जईओ री अकेली
तू जमुना किनारे आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
ठंडा ठंडा पानी
है गहरी गहरी नदिया
कैसे भरूँ मैं गगरिया
कैसे भरूँ मैं गगरिया
कहीं किसी जाल में
मीठी मीठी चाल में
ना आन फंसे दिल की मछरिया
ना आन फंसे दिल की मछरिया
मैं अलबेली
ना जानूँ ये पहेली
मेरी तो बाली उमरिया
हो ओ ओ
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
हो नार अलबेली
ना जईओ री अकेली
तू जमुना किनारे आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
आहा जी
आहा जी
आहा जी॰॰॰
