And the Award for the Best Male Singer goes to?
1940 was a year of churning in the film world. It came at the transition of the first decade of spoken films, 1930s, and the beginning of the 1940s. It was a churning of musical styles when one kind of music making was coming to an end, and another was showing its sprouts. There was also a churning in established studios like the Bombay Talkies – because of the death of its owner Himanshu Rai; and the New Theatres of Kolkata, which was struck by a fire destroying most of their prints. However, these tragedies did not deter them from creating some great films and outstanding music. I have written about the general scenario in my Overview Post of the best songs in 1940.
Coming to the best male singer, KL Sigal (Zindagi) and Pankaj Mullick (Nartaki) were going great guns. Another male singer of note was Surendra who had aspirations to be known as Bombay’s Saigal. He had some great songs in the film Alibaba and Aurat (precursor of Mother India 1957). These films had outstanding music by the Bhishm Pitamah Anil Biswas.
That gives quite a good number of songs. But Atul Song A Day also gives a bonus in that they have listed many non-film songs in the year. Some of these contain my greatest favourites. I have mentioned that there was an era of non-film songs, also known as ‘private’ songs, and you cannot discuss the best of KL Saigal and Pankaj Mullick without their ‘private’ songs. Later, Talat Mahmood earned renown for both his film and ‘private’ songs. Some like Jagmohan and Juthika Roy were predominantly active in the ‘private’ space. I have to mention here that some scholars make perceptive comments that there was nothing ‘private’ about these songs. They were also consumed through the same channels as radio and commercial records.
All this discussion means that NFS occupy a very important place in the year. After the 48/49 best film songs in the year, I have given a list of 22 NFS in the year which have long been my top favourites. In my category-wise discussion I would also include NFS.
With the above background I counted 19 male solos in the 48 film songs, distributed among the following 10 singers:
Sl No. Name of the singer No. of songs
1. KL Saigal 4
2. Pankaj Mullick 3
3. Arun Kumar 3
4. KC Dey 2
5. Anil Biswas 2
6. Ashok Kumar 1
7. Kavi Pradeep 1
8. Khan Mastana 1
9. Vasant Desai 1
10. Ramesh Desai 1
TOTAL 19 songs
We get an interesting picture when we come to NFS. Out of the 22 NFS we find 21 male solos and one female solo. These 21 male solos are distributed among 7 singers as follows:
Sl No. Name of the singer No. of songs
1. KL Saigal 13
2. Pankaj Mullick 3
3. SD Burman 1
4. KC Dey 1
5. Master Madan 1
6. Mukesh 1
7. Jagmohan 1
TOTAL 21 songs
A few observations are self-evident. While the female film songs outnumbered male songs by a wide margin, in non-film song, the situation was reversed. The second important point is that KL Saigal was very fond of singing bhajans, geets and Ghalib’s ghazals. Not bound by the demands of a film he gave free rein to his imagination in the NFS. Some of these were also written and composed by him. Same with other famous singers of the era, who were active in the film as well as non-film songs. And as I have mentioned some acquired fame predominantly as a non-film singer.
Some of these NFS have acquired an iconic status. Since the blog is now in its 16th year, many of these NFS have figured earlier. Nevertheless, some of these would figure in the Main List. And as usual I have to have a section for Special Songs.
Special Songs
1. Deewana hun deewana hun, raahat se main begana hun by KL Saigal from Zindagi (1940), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Pankaj Mullick
As I am accommodating some non-film songs in the main list, I have to keep this fabulous song in the Special Songs.
2. Main kya jaanun kya jaadu hai by KL Saigal from Zindagi (1940), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Pankaj Mullick
This was the peak period of KL Saigal, and such songs enhanced his aura.
3. Har ek baat pe kahte ho ki tu kya hai by KL Saigal (NFS), ghazal by Ghalib
This ghazal shows KL Saigal’s love for Ghalib’s poetry and Saigal’s unique style of singing his ghazals. Its last couplet has an interesting story behind it:
Hua hai shah ka musahib, phire hai itrata
Vagarna shahar mein ‘Ghalib’ ki aabroo kya hai
Ghalib was a contemporary of Bahadur Shah ‘Zafar’ who was himself a poet and connoisseur of Urdu shayari. He regarded Ghalib’s poetry highly, but Ghalib was then not universally admired. His pet peeve was ‘Zauq’ whom he rated much below him, but somehow the King has made Zauq the poet laureate. Zauq was angry at the first line of the above couplet and thought it was a taunt targetting him: He has become a courtier to the Emperor, and now he walks with a swagger. When Zauq’s complaint reached the Emperor, Ghalib was summoned who immediately recited the second line which means, Otherwise what is the worth of Ghalib in the city. A clever explanation diffused the situation.
4. Wo aa ke khwab mein taskeen-e-iztiraab to de by KL Saigal (NFS), ghazal by Ghalib
KL Saigal again singing Ghalib. Various singers have sung it, but Saigal developed a style which entranced people, and became the Gold Standard of ghazal singing those days.
5. Dheere se jana bagiyan mein re bhanwra dhhere se jana bagiyan mein NFS by SD Burman
This must be the best known Hindi non-film song of SD Burman. I understand it is also written and composed by him. Its popularity must have also been enhanced by the irrepressible Kishore Kumar in at least two parodies: One, in the interlude of the song Paanch rupaiya baarah aana from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, and the other, Dheere se jana khatiyan mein khatmal dheere se jana khtiyan mein in the film Chhupa Rustom. Here is the original in the voice of the maestro.
6. Ye kaun aaj aya savere savere by Pankaj Mullick from Nartaki (1940), lyrics Munshi Arzoo, music Pankaj Mullick
This song is a great favourite of Pankaj Mullick fans, but I like his other songs of the year more for their voice modulation and Pankaj Babu traversing the peaks and troughs. Acknowledging its popularity I am including it in Special Songs.
7. Holi khelein Kanhaiya baro ragri NFS by KC Dey
All the three great stalwarts of the New Theatres are present in the year with their best in both film and non-film songs. KC Dey here sings a traditional Holi composition in his divine voice.
8. Gokul nagri jana by Mukesh (NFS), lyrics Naazish Rizvi
I have to thank the Mukesh-expert Mahesh Mamadapur who posted this earliest of songs of Mukesh before he debuted as actor-singer in films in 1941. It seems he was singing songs on the tune of the legends, this one is based on the tune of Pankaj Mullick’s Piya milan ko jana from Kapalkundala (1939).
9. Saanwariya raag se aag lagi NFS by Mukesh
I have to thank Mahesh Mamadapur again for posting this Mukesh NFS, which is based on the tune of KL Saigal’s Karun kya aas nirash bhayi from the film Dushman (1939). We can now appreciate the voice and psychology of a teenager Mukesh (he was 17 in 1940) who wanted to make a mark as a singer.
10. Chane jor garam babu main laya majedar chane jor garam by Arun Kumar from Bandhan (1940), lyrics Pradeep, music Saraswati Devi and Ramchandra Pal
This is a popular vendor song you come across on streets, trains and buses, and in films too it has made its appearance several times. This song may be one of it earliest appearances in the film Bandhan (1940).
BEST SONGS
1. Ye raatein ye mausam ye hansna hansana by Pankaj Mullick (NFS), lyrics Faiyyaz Hashmi, music Pankaj Mullick
If this song is there it as to be at the top of any list. My favourite for ages when I first heard it. Many years later Lata Mangeshkar paid her tributes to him and other singers by singing their songs and brought an LP. Some people like her Shradhdhanjali. I appreciate her sentiments, but iconic songs retain their stature in the original voice. YT has a combined link too, I have selected one with only Pankaj Mullick’s voice.
Here is the great poetry which makes the song great.
ये रातें ये मौसम ये हंसना हंसाना
मुझे भूल जाना इन्हें ना भुलाना
ये बहकी निगाहें ये बहकी अदायें
ये आंखों के काजल में डूबी घटायें
फिज़ां के लबों पर ये चुप का फसाना
मुझे भूल जाना इन्हें ना भुलाना
चमन में जो मिल के बनी थी कहानी
हमारी मोहब्बत तुम्हारी जवानी
ये दो गर्म सांसों का एक साथ आना
ये बदली का चलना ये बूंदों की रुमझुम
ये मस्ती का आलम ये खोये से हम तुम
तुम्हारा मेरे साथ ये गुनगुनाना
मुझे भूल जाना इन्हें ना भुलाना
And here is my English translation (with some inputs from a friend):
These nights
These nights, these climes
These laughters and this merrymaking
And me
You may forget me but forget these not.
These playful glances, these drunken gestures
These clouds immersed in your dark kohl eyes
This ambience
And floating on the lips of air this melody of silence
And me
You may forget me but forget these not
In the meadows when we met
It became a story
My love and your passion
These two hot breaths coming together
These wandering clouds, these dancing raindrops
This state of euphoria and you and me lost in our reverie
This humming of yours with me
And me
You may forget me but forget these not
2. So ja rajkumari so ja by KL Saigal from Zindagi (1940), lyrics Kidar Sharma, music Pankaj Mullick
Pankaj Mullick’s role in making KL Saigal a legend in the New Theatres and India is immense. A great singer himself, as a music director Pankaj Mullick unhesitatingly promoted the actor-singer Saigal. Those were the days of decency and generosity. This lorie is one of the best of Hindi films. YT also has a combined link of KL Saigal’s version and Lata Mangeshkar’s tribute.
3. Madbhari rut jawan hai by Pankaj Mullick from the film Nartaki (1940), lyrics Munshi Arzoo, music Pankaj Mullick
In Nartaki, Pankaj Mullick shows his multifarious talents – actor-singer and music director. One of his best, this song offers you a roller-coaster ride with peaks and troughs, flats and prose style recitals. Every line is composed in a different tune.
4. Hairat se tak raha hai jahan-e-wafa mujhe by Master Madan (NFS ghazal, 1940) lyrics Sagar Nizami. Music Pt. Amarnath
In SOY’s 7th Anniversary post, I paid a tribute to Master Madan. A child prodigy, he unfortunately passed away very early at the age of 14. It Is to his credit that this song is remembered even after 85 years.
5. Maan na kar ab sajni kaahe ko mukh mode by KC Dey from Aandhi (1940), lyrics Arzoo Lakhnavi, music KC Dey
1940 is a very important year music-wise which has the third stalwart from New Theatres giving great songs. KC Dey has given music too for Aandhi which had this fabulous song sung by him. Another nice song by him in the film was Chala gaya toofan, aa kar chala gaya toofan.
6. Duniya mein hun duniya ka talabgar nahin hun by KL Saigal, NFS ghazal by Akbar Allahabadi (Seemab Akbarabadi)
Some sites mention Akbar Allahabadi as the poet. So far I believed Seemab Akbarabadi was the poet after checking with many authentic sources. With this new information I checked with Rekhta.org which I regard as the source of last resort for Urdu poetry. That site too mentions Akbar Allahabadi. To be doubly sure I checked up with Sudhir Kapur, a master researcher and one of the mainstays of Atul Song A Day. He says, “The book compiled by Sonthalia and Beriwal gives the poet’s name as Akbar Allahabadi. But the book compiled by Hamraaz ji and Raghuvanshi ji mentions the name as Seemab Akbarabadi. So there is a definite reason for confusion. I will check some more and respond again shortly.” Subsequently, he confirmed from Akbar Allahabadi’s compilation and some knowledgable friends that the shair is Akbar Allahabadi.
7. Ruk na sako to jaao, tum jaao by Arun Kumar from Bandhan (1940), lyrics Pradeep, music Saraswati Devi and Ramchandra Pal
Arun Kumar’s asset was his melodious, pathos-filled voice. A brother-in-law of Ashon Kumar, his voice had an uncanny resemblance to Ashok Kumar’s voice. In several films of Bombay Talkies which had Ashok Kumar in the lead role, Arun Kumar was a regular presence often giving playback to him. Sometimes, the film’s video had the voice of Ashok Kumar, but the commercial record was made in Arun Kumar’s voice. In this song, it is neither; it is picturised on a street vendor beseeching a leaving Ashok Kumar to reconsider. A very poignant song. There are two music directors but HFGK credits the songs to one or the other. This one is credited to Saraswati Devi.
8. Piu piu bol piu piu bol pran papeehe piu piu bol by Pradeep from Bandhan (1940), lyrics Pradeep, music Saraswati Devi and Ramchandra Pal
Kavi Pradeep established himself as no mean singer from his debut with Bombay Talikes a year earlier. This song is very pleasant.
9. Panghat pe ek chhabili pani bharan ko aayi by H Khan Mastana from Main Hari (1940), lyrics Kamal Amrohi, music Mir Saheb
Before Rafi arrived on the scene, Khan Mastana was an important singer. He belonged to the famous Etawa (or Imdadkhani) Gharana of Sitar/ Surbahar players. This gharana has produced legendary sitar players like Ustad Vilayat Khan and Imrat Khan, and later Ustad Shujat Khan and Shahid Parvez. But Khan Mastana was fascinated by film music. His father would treat him as gone astray, therefore, he camouflaged his name by adding Mastana in is name. Unfortunately, his last days were spent in penury and he died unsung and anonymous. This is one of his best songs.
10. Nacho nacho pyare man ke mor by Arun Kumar from Punarmilan (1940), lyrics Kavi Pradeep, music Ramchandra Pal
Now there is no doubt about the caliber of Ramchandra Pal. He is the sole music director of the film. And what a melodious voice Arun Kumar is endowed with! Though video is not available, the song was picturised on Kishore Sahu.
In conclusion, the SOY Award for the Best Male Playback Singer goes jointly to KL Saigal and Pankaj Mullick
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
Song links have been given only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog has no commercial interest, and does not claim or suggest any copyright over these songs which vests with the respective copyright holders.
