Concluding the series on SN Tripathi with his best songs for ‘other’ female playback singers

It is time to conclude the series on SN Tripathi after a comprehensive coverage of his multi-faceted talent in the Vintage Era (1949 and earlier) in Part 1 as a singer, actor, music director and dialogue and story writer; Part 2 (post-50s) about his best songs for Rafi; Part 3 (post-50s) about his best songs for Mukesh and other male singers; and Part 4 (post-50s) about his best songs for Lata Mangeshkar. I also mentioned that during post-50s, while we know him primarily as a music director, he continued to act and added a new talent to his immense portfolio – as a director of famous films, such as Rani Roopmati (1959). While writing on Lata Mangeshkar I discovered that she did not appear much in SN Tripathi’s music in her Tsunami years of 1949 through early 50s. He used several ‘other’ female playback singers, with Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum appearing quite frequently.

Lata Mangeshkar may appear to be a natural fit for SN Tripathi’s music, but any coverage of his music would not be complete without discussing his best songs for the ‘other’ playback singers. These are songs of various hues because female playback singing was very diversified in the styles and tonal quality of the singers’ voices. You come across some absolutely gorgeous songs sung by the ‘other’ female playback singers – some quite well-known, some slipped out of our memory. Let me conclude the series on SN Tripathi with his best songs for the ‘other’ playback singers post-1950.

Uma Devi

1. Dukh dard bhare dil ka kahein kis se fasana, hum apne hi haathon se huye gham ka nishana by Uma Devi from Saudamini (1950), music SN Tripathi

In Saudamini there were four female playback singers. Uma Devi had just one song, but her Dukh dard bhare dil ka is quite impressive. You can’t miss her timbre, and SN Tripathi has captured the pathos in her voice.

Geeta Dutt

2. Mere nainon mein preet, mere hothon par geet, mere sapnon mein tum hi samaaye by Geeta Dutt from Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950), lyrics Anjum Pilibhiti, music SN Tripathi

Geeta Dutt is again the lead singer in this mythological film. The interesting part is a very young Meena Kumari singing this song on the screen. For the fans of Geeta Dutt, it is a delightful song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTGIuMsgTx8

3. Aayi birha ki raat, mora tadpe jiya, mose roothe piya, mere jeene ka sahara nahin by Geeta Dutt from Nav Durga (1953), lyrics Anjum Jaipuri, music SN Tripathi

Now I come to a Geeta Dutt song which has long mesmerised me. Internet seems to be equally divided whether the first word is Aayi or Chhayi. Whatever, this song is in my list of top Geeta Dutt songs.

4. Door desh se koi sapera aya, geet kya gaya, liya man chheen re..Meethi meethi jadoo ki bajaye koi been re by Geeta Dutt from Kavi Kalidas (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Now one of the most famous songs by Geeta Dutt.

Mohantara Talpade

5. Kaali koel bole, matwali koel bole re, chale hawa thandhi thandhi kaliyon ka dil dole by Mohantara Talpade from Saudamini (1950), lyrics Anjum Pilibhiti, music SN Tripathi

Mohantara Talpade had two songs in the film. Her only song I remember is Pahle to ho gayi namaste namaste from Patanga (1949), composed by C Ramchandra, in which there were three other singers. Her Kaali koel bole matwali koel bole is a very pleasant song. It is sad that these songs are now forgotten.

Shamshad Begum

6. Aankh mein jaadu bhar bhar ke, pyar ki baatein kar kar ke, haye sanam ne loot liya by Shamshad Begum and chorus from Alladin Aur Jadui Chiragh (1952), music SN Tripathi

You need not rub your eyes. Yes, the lead actor in the chorus in this fantasy film is  Meena Kumari. She had not yet hit big time to become one of the greatest stars of her time. In this film it is refreshing to see the tragedienne in a frothy dance role. Shamshad Begum is always tops in such songs. In Part 3 we have seen her sing in a duet with Chitragupta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQPk-yxyJQk

7. Hum azaad hon jahan, dil mein pyar ho jahan, zindagi hai wahan by Shamshad Begum and chorus from Haatimtai (1956), lyrics BD Mishra, music SN Tripathi

Haatimtai Is known for the enormously popular Rafi song, Parvardigar-e-alam tera hi hai sahara. In this fantasy adventure film there were superb female songs by several singers. Here is a group song in the open where the women feel liberated, but their joy is cut short by some devils. The women fight them for some time, but they are overpowered when the song becomes very sad. Shamshad Begum again comes up with a superb song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN6ndeIQovc&list=PLpZLHt6c4Ik831iM-86fQnQ_I-06q4u0S&index=10

Asha Bhosle

8. Dekho ji chaand nikla peechhe khajoor ke by Asha Bhosle from Alibaba & 40 Thieves (1954), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, music SN Tripathi-Chitragupta

Chitragupta who had worked as assistant to SN Tripathi in several films and by then had also gave music independently, gets joint billing with his mentor. This must be the only case where they have given music as a duo. This film had several superhit songs, such as Rafi-Asha Bhosle duet Ae saba unse kah zara, kyun humein beqarar kar diya and Rafi-Shamshad Begum duet Chalo chalo chalein hum babool ke tale. Asha Bhosle had two solos also in the film; Dekho ji chaand nikla peechhe khazoor ke is a nice performance song to entertain the ‘guests’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJUyZsndst4

9. Itihas agar likhna chaaho azadi ke majmoon se by Usha Mangehskar from Rani Roopmati (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music SN Tripathi

Usha Mangeshkar’s voice was closest to her great sibling Lata Mnageshkar. I find it impossible to distinguish the two voices. Rani Roopmati had another interesting song in her voice, Aankhon mein surma daal ke jab ayegi dulhaniya. But the war chant song Itihas agar likhna chaaho to is  remarkable because we see Nirupa Roy is battle-ready with body armour and is arousing her soldiers with an inspiring marching song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAH5qeK0XTY

Suman Kalyanpur, Mubarak Begum, Shyama Hamedi

10. O pyar bananewale, mera bichhada pyar mila de by Suman Kalyanpur from Mayajaal (1962), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music SN Tripathi

This song from a B-grade movie is very melodious – a characteristic of Suman Kalyanpur.

11. Abhi aye nahin dil dhadakane laga jab aaye sajanwa to kya hoga by Suman Kalyanpur and Kamal Barot from Nag Devta (1962), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music SN Tripathi

A perfect female duet and quite an oft-heard song during the radio era.

12. Jaye kahan ye piya ki joganiya by Asha Bhosle from Nag Devta (1962), lyrics Qamar Jalalabadi, music SN Tripathi

By 1962, Asha Bhosle had completely given a new makeover to her voice to make it as distant from Lata Mangehskar as possible. But for SN Tripathi she switches to a very melodious singing suitable for a semi-classical song.

13. Main to naachun tore age, tose laage nainwa by Suman Kalyanpur from Been Ka Jadoo (1963), lyrics BD Mishra, music SN Tripathi

Suman Kalyanpur was the lead singer in Been Ka Jadoo all the six songs having her voice (including two duets with Mahendra Kapoor. In Part 3 on Mukesh and other male singers, I have included one of her duets – Janam Janam ka saath tumhara  – because it is a note by note copy of Rafi-Lata Mangehskar duet from Rani Roopmati (1959), Phool bagiya mein bulbul bole daal pe bole koeliya. Main to naachun tore aage tose laage nainwa is an extremely sweet song typical of SN Tripathi/ Chitragupta. It starts with an attractive instrumental prelude which is dominated by the flute.

14. Nigahon se dil ka salam aa raha hai by Suman Kalyanpur and Mubarak Begum from Cobra Girl (1963), lyrics Prem Dhavan, music SN Tripathi

Now I come to a duet which you will instantly recognise. One of the best examples of a superhit song in a B-grade fantasy film. It ticks all the boxes: garish sets, female duet by equally gaudily dressed dancers entertaining the chieftain of the court.

15. Kaahe ko byahi bides re, lakhi babul more by Suman Kalyanpur and Shyama Hamedi from Nadir Shah (1968), lyrics Amir Khusro, music SN Tripathi

Amir Khusro’s traditional song of the pathos of a girl at her parting from her parental home upon marriage has been sung by several non-film singers. It has also been used in several films. Here is an excellent version, not so well-known, sung by Suman Kalyanpur and Shyama Hamedi (Suman Kalyanpur’s sister?) in the film Nadir Shah (1968). Though SN Tripathi continued giving music till mid-70s, Nadir Shah is the last film of his career which had songs that are famous till date.

Note:
Geeta Dutt’s maiden name pre-marriage was Geeta Roy. But I have not made any distinction and uniformly used Geeta Dutt for convenience.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
YouTube links of the songs have been given only for the listening pleasure of music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over them which vests with the respective owners.

The post SN Tripathi Part 5 (post-50s): His best songs by other female payback singers first appeared on Songs Of Yore.