This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
“Abhi Naa Jaao Chhod Kar, Ke Dil Abhi Bharaa Nahin”.
The manner of expression, the selective emphasis, the slow measured pace of eloquence, the first rendering of this line – and the soft melody simply steals your heart away. And the mind wants to beseech the departed souls, to kindly tarry, and stay for a bit more, for the heart is not satiated as yet. Words from the pen of Sahir Sb, the touching expression in Rafi Sb’s voice, and one can imagine the balding, somewhat simple and frail, bespectacled Jaidev, conducting the instrumentalists, as the song progresses.
Remembering Jaidev Verma on the 94th anniversary of birth today (3rd August 2013).
Jaidev was born in Nairobi, Kenya in the year 1919. The circumstances of how his family was in Africa, are not known. But it is known that the
family returned to their hometown, Ludhiana (in Punjab), when Jaidev was a small child. Besides his primary education, in which he excelled, his father arranged for him to learn music from Prof. Barkat Rai. And another interesting thing happened. At a very young age, he got addicted to a diet of silent films in that era. In 1933, at the age of 15, the young Jaidev, ran away from home to Bombay to become a hero on the silver screen. The circumstances of his stay in Bombay are once again, not clearly known. There is information though that indicates that he worked as a child actor in eight films from the house of Wadia. While in Bombay, he also continued his education in music, and learnt more from the Jaokar brothers, Janardan and Krishna Rao.
After this short stint, he got news from his family that his father has lost his eyesight, and so the hero aspirant grudgingly returned home to shoulder the family responsibilities. After some span of illness, his father passed away. From the sketchy accounts available, it seems that there was no other member of the family, other than a younger sister. In due course of time, he got her married and settled. The wandering soul was now free of encumbrances of the family.
In 1943, he traveled to Lucknow, seeking another teacher. The success he found was when Ustad Ali Akbar Khan took him in as his student. After this, Jaidev’s art and talent blossomed. In 1951, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan was invited by Navketan to Bombay, to take charge of the music for the films ‘Aandhiyaan’ and ‘Hum Safar’. The former released in 1952 and the latter in 1953. Ustad Sb took Jaidev along as his assistant. The second innings of Jaidev’s career in films, now started, as a composer.
After the two films, Ustad Sb called it quits and returned to Lucknow. Jaidev’s relationship with Navketan and the Anand brothers, Dev and Chetan, had developed very well in the three, four years that he worked with Ustad Sb. In 1954, when ‘Taxi Driver’ was planned, SD Burman came into Navketan as the music director, and he continued with Jaidev as his assistant.
Next year, in 1955, Chetan Anand produced and directed ‘Joru Ka Bhai’, and with this film, he gave the first break to Jaidev as an independent music director. The songs of this film became very popular. The dual version song “Subah Ka Intezaar Kaun Karey” in the voice of Lata and “Teri Zulfon Se Pyaar Kaun Karey” in the voice of Talat, became favorites for radio listeners. (The film has other wonderful songs also, one of which is getting on this blog tomorrow. ![:)]()
).
This film was followed by ‘Samundari Daaku’ in 1956 and then ‘Anjali’, another Chetan Anand production, in 1957. The music brought attention and notice of the listening public, but not much from the producers community in the industry.
Then comes 1961, and the release of Navketan’s classic ‘Hum Dono’. The song captioned at the beginning of this post, and the sound of “Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata Chalaa Gayaa” made an overnight celebrity of Jaidev, even if for the moment. This was followed by another Chetan Anand production, ‘Kinaare Kinaare’ in 1963, and once again, the music was acclaimed as fabulous and the songs became very popular – “Chale Jaa Rahe Hain, Mohabbat Ke Maare”, “Jab Gham-e-Ishq Sataata Hai To Hans Letaa Hoon” and “Har Aas Ashqbaar Hai”. These creations of Jaidev still continue to haunt the listeners and lovers of the music.
Around this time, Jaidev was invited by Ajanta Arts and Sunil Dutt, and in 1963 came another classic film, so well remembered for its songs – ‘Mujhe Jeene Do’. The semi classical and folk is so impressively moulded together in the songs.
Beyond this, the career of Jaidev continued to move very slowly, despite the success of his music. He continued to make music for films, some very notable and many less known and obscure. The notables outings include the likes of ‘Do Boond Paani’ (1971), ‘Reshma Aur Shera’ (1971), ‘Prem Parbat’(1973), ‘Parinay’ (1974), ‘Laila Majnu’ (1976), ‘Alaap’ (1977), ‘Ghraondaa’(1977), ‘Gaman’ (1978), ‘Dooriyaan’ (1980) and ‘Ankahee’ (1986) besides others.
The recognitions also came. He was honored with the National Film Award for best music thrice – for ‘Reshma Aur Shera’ (1971), ‘Gaman’ (1978) and ‘Ankahee’ (1986). Besides these national recognitions, he was honored four times with the ‘Sur Singaar Samsad’ awards, a recognition for excellence in classical music. On December 14, 1986, when he stepped on the stage to receive his fourth S’ur Singaar Samsad’ award for his classical music in ‘Ankahee’, he looked weak and strained, but also appeared healthy enough to last for a long innings yet. The sparkle in the tired lines on his face was probably the last flash of a passing comet. But the next news was very unexpected. On January 6, 1987, he passed away suddenly, at the age of 68. The industry that had consistently neglected him, grieved maybe a little, for this remarkable talent.
Most of his latter part of the life was just a string of lonely years one after the other. Having no family, and no home of his own, he seemed to have aged much earlier than his years. Three decades of struggle and continuous stay on the sidelines, despite the honors and recognitions, took their toll verily on his health. Another creature of the art who sought comfort in the drink, and even that was prohibited in later years, on health grounds. I wonder whether he would sit and muse when alone, humming his own creation – “Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi Halaat Pe Ronaa Aaya”.
The music from the films that we know as successful, and even from the ones that are obscure and done with, tells us that here was yet one more talent that was wasted in the system.
This song is another of his melancholic creations, and is rendered with such poignant depth by Talat Mehmood. And very suitably so. The film is
‘Hamaare Gham Se Mat Khelo’ from 1967, Produced and directed by Kanwar Shankar Singh Tomar, it comes from the banner of Himachal Pictures, Bombay. The cast of actors includes Kunwar Shankar Singh Tomar himslef, and Bharti, Nazeer Hussain, Murad, Mukri, Maruti, Madan Puri, Bela Bose, Sajjan, Niranjan Sharma, Amarnath, Tarun Bose besides others. Lyrics for the six songs of this film are penned by three poets –Shireesh, Asraar and Nyaya Sharma. This song is penned by Shireesh. This film makes a debut on this blog today. And once again, there are real wonderful songs in this film that are awaiting entry here.
A song of dejection and despair, it seems like a letting go song, as the protagonist is overcome with gloom and anguish, bemoaning his being. The lines and words will pierce the heart and raise a pain.
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
khoon-e-jigar piyaa karoon
aahon bhare jahaan mein
majboor mein jiyaa karoon
Holding back and hiding the tears in my eyes
I am but just drinking from the cup of sorrows that my heart is.
In a world that is made up of grief and regret
It is a dreadful helplessness that I am still alive.
jaltaa huaa charaag hoon
par ab wo roshini kahaan
jo aandhiyon mein raat bhar
roshan jahaan kiyaa karoon
A burning lamp that I still am,
but not for light any more
This burning is the pain and the misery of desolation.
Those days are no more,
that I would put up this blaze
And light the whole world,
no matter what winds or storms were around me.
manzil ki chaah mein meri
raahen badal badal gayeen
har mod par rukaa rukaa
khud se giley kiyaa karoon
In the search for a destination of my desires,
The pathways of life have changed so often
And I pause at every turn,
At every corner in the paths of life,
Complaining – just to myself.
Ah, what a painful expression, what despair, what dejection. Must rate as one of the best melancholia rendered by Talat Sb. And the melody by Jaidev.
Song-Aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein (Hamaare Gham Se Mat Khelo)(1967) Singer-Talat Mehmood, Lyrics-Shireesh, MD-Jaidev
Lyrics
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
khoon-e-jigar piyaa karoon
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
khoon-e-jigar piyaa karoon
aahon bhare jahaan mein
aahon bhare jahaan mein
majboor mein jiyaa karoon
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
jaltaa huaa charaag hoon
par ab wo roshini kahaan
jaltaa huaa charaag hoon
par ab wo roshini kahaan
jo aandhiyon mein raat bhar
jo aandhiyon mein raat bhar
roshan jahaan kiyaa karoon
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
manzil ki chaah mein meri
raahen badal badal gayeen
manzil ki chaah mein meri
raahen badal badal gayeen
har mod par rukaa rukaa
har mod par rukaa rukaa
khud se giley kiyaa karoon
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
khoon-e-jigar piyaa karoon
aahon bhare jahaan mein
majboor mein jiyaa karoon
aansoo chhupaaye aankh mein
———————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————-
आँसू छुपाए आँख में
खून ए जिगर पिया करूँ
आँसू छुपाए आँख में
खून ए जिगर पिया करूँ
आहों भरे जहान् में
आहों भरे जहान् में
मजबूर में जिया करूँ
आँसू छुपाए आँख में
जलता हुआ चराग़ हूँ
पर अब वो रोशनी कहाँ
जलता हुआ चराग़ हूँ
पर अब वो रोशनी कहाँ
जो आंधीयों में रात भर
जो आंधीयों में रात भर
रौशन जहान् किया करूँ
आँसू छुपाए आँख में
मंज़िल की चाह में मेरी
राहें बदल बदल गईं
मंज़िल की चाह में मेरी
राहें बदल बदल गईं
हर मोड पर रुका रुका
हर मोड पर रुका रुका
खुद से गिले किया करूँ
आँसू छुपाए आँख में
खून ए जिगर पिया करूँ
आहों भरे जहान् में
मजबूर में जिया करूँ
आँसू छुपाए आँख में
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