A big banyan tree gives shelter and protects you from elements. But this may become a trap because one may be deterred from venturing out on one’s own for the risks involved. But a human being also has an urge to venture out and stand on his own. That involves a vertical progression from earning from one’s skill to being an entrepreneur: Mason to a contractor; dancer to a choreographer; instrumentalist/ arranger/ assistant to becoming an independent music director; paid employee to a free-lancer.

Every big music director you name started under some big banyan tree: Ravi under Hemant Kumar, RD Burman under SD Burman, Naushad under Khemchand Prakash, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal going through the whole grind of playing instruments in someone’s orchestra to being arranger for some, and assistant to Kalyanji-Anandji. Once they established themselves on their own, we remember them on their own merit without relating them to their lineage. But you think of Dattaram (Wadkar), and you think of Shankar-Jaikishan. Even after becoming an independent music director, Dattaram continued to be assistant to SJ. He composed many superb songs, but many seemed to reflect SJ’s style and instrumentation. He became famous for his ‘Dattu Theka’. Does it flatter him or limit him as a percussionist? I do not know. His case seems to mirror Ghulam Mohammad in relation to Naushad, but this is merely in terms of their trajectory. Among music lovers Ghulam Mohammad is looked upon with great respect for his many compositions which break from Naushad mould.

Born in a poor family in Goa in 1929, Dattaram learnt to play the tabla in childhood with his mother’s encouragement. They came to Bombay in the 1940s where he worked as a labourer in the docks in his early days. The eminent radio-TV personality Sharad Dutt writes that Dattaram learned to play the tabla from Pandhari Nageshwar and later from Yashwant Kerkar. On the recommendation of Kerkar, he worked with composer Sajjad Hussain for three months. Fond of bodybuilding, he met Shankar of the SJ duo in a gym and under his tutelage he joined the Prithvi Theatres. Joining RK camp to play the tabla and other percussion instruments for SJ was the next natural step. He played the tabla and duff in many iconic songs of RK films, such as Dil ka haal sune dilwala and Mera naam Raju gharana anaam.

He was first credited as assistant to SJ in the film Nagina (1951). He first started as an independent music director with Ab Dilli Door Nahin (1957) in which he gave some superhit songs like Chun chunk arti ayi chidiya (Rafi). He followed this with Parvarish next year which had Mukesh’s iconic Ansoo bharin hain ye Jeevan ki raahein. This film also had Manna Dey-Lata Mangeshkar fast-paced romantic duet Masti bhara hai samaan, hum tum hain dono yahan. He continued creating great songs for Mukesh and Manna Dey, such as Dil dhoondhta hai sahare sahare, Haal-e-dil hamara jaane na jaane bewafa (Mukesh); Pyar bhari ye ghataayein, Boley ye dil ka ishara (Manna Dey, duet with Lata Mangeshkar). His superb songs for these two singers further reinforces in our mind his association with Shankar-Jaikishan.

But to be fair, Dattaram was not limited to Mukesh and Manna Dey. He used all the major playback singers. Therefore, it would not be possible to pay him adequate tribute in one post. Let us remember Dattaram with some of his best songs for Mukesh and Manna Dey.

Mukesh

1. Aansoo bhari hain ye jeevan ke raahein by Mukesh from Parvarish (1958), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

Subodh says he was enamoured of this song in his early days, but gradually he was put off by its melancholy. I can understand what he says, but this is a must song in any Mukesh compilation. As everlasting as ever.

2. Dil ne use maan liya jiska andaaz naya by Mukesh from Santaan (1959), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

If you want to get out of the depressing mood, Dattaram now composes a peppy romantic song, picturised on Rajendra Kumar.

3. Dil dhoondhata hai sahaare sahaare by Mukesh from Kala Aadmi (1960), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

But Mukesh is known for sad songs, and Dattaram started with Aansoo bhari hain. They bring the same mood again, now for Ashok Kumar.

4. Ae dil dekhen hain humne bade bade sangdil by Mukesh from Shreeman Satyawadi (1960), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

Shreeman Satyawadi was the high point of Dattaram-Mukesh association. With Raj Kapoor as the lead actor it was as if you are enjoying SJ music in an RK film. A party song where everyone is having fun, but Raj Kapoor through this song imperceptibly conveys some philosophical message.

5. Haal-e-dil hamaara jaane na bewafa ye zamana by Mukesh from Shreeman Satyawadi (1960), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

From the same film, another great Mukesh song. Picturised on Raj Kapoor with his subaltern friends.

6. Maano ya na maano meri zindagi ki bahaar ho tum by Mukesh and Suman Kalyanpur from First Love (1961), lyrics Gulshan Bawra

First Love also had two Mukesh solos, but this duet with Suman Kalyanpur is absolutely delightful.

Manna Dey

7. Masti bhara hai samaan hum tum hain dono yahan by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar from Parvarish (1958), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

From Aansoo bhari hain ye Jeevan ki raahein, this song is an exact opposite when there is intoxication in the environs, as the two lovers Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha cavort around.

8. Pyar bhari ye ghataayein by Manna Dey and Lata Magngeshkar from Qaidi No. 911 (1959), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

Another fast-paced romantic duet by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar.

9. Boley ye dil ka ishara aankhon ne mil ke pukara by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar from Santan (1959), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri

Rajendra Kumar had earlier serenaded his love ballad solo in the voice of Mukesh, Dil ne use maan liya. Now the lady also reciprocates, and you have this peppy Manna Dey-Lata Mangeshkar duet, three such duets on the trot. Hans Jakhar had mentioned these three fast-duets, highlighting the similarity of their tunes.

10. Bheegi hawaaon mein teri adaaon mein kaisi bahar hai, kaisa khumar hai, jhoom jhoom le le maza by Manna Dey and Suman Kalyanpur from Shreeman Satyawadi (1960), lyrics Gulzar

It seems Dattaram specialised in creating fast-paced romantic duets for Manna Dey. Here is another one.

11. Na jaane kahan tum the na jaane kahan hum the by Manna Dey and Suman Kalyanpur from Zindagi Aur Khwab (1961), lyrics Kavi Pradeep

I end this post with another Manna Dey duet with Suman Kalyanpur. The tempo is a little slower than the previous one, but a very melodious song.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

1. The song videos have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over these songs which vests in the respective owners, such as Saregama India Limited and others.

2. I have got some useful information from Shatad Dutt’s article on Millennium Post, Pankaj Raag’s book Dhunon Ki Yatra, and various articles available on the Internet.

The post Dattaram Part 1: Under the shadow of big banyan tree with songs of Mukesh and Manna Dey first appeared on Songs Of Yore.