LIFE LESSONS WITH MANNA DEY

Whenever a voice was needed to show sincerity, pathos, emotions and intensity, Prabodh Chandra Dey, who we all know as Manna Dey, was the one most music directors would turn to. Having to leave a career as wrestler because of weak eyesight, Manna Dey became the wrestling world’s loss and the musical world’s tremendous gain. A career that began in pre-independence India and spanned the years to the start of the 21^st century, Manna Dey is a precious jewel of Hindi film music.

Although Manna Dey is mostly referred to for his brilliant classical songs, here is a look at his songs which teach us about life. Here we go with Life lessons with Manna Dey.

1.    Nirbal se ladaai balwan ki                Toofan aur diya    1956

Fighting for survival against all odds can be exhausting, particularly if one has to do it without hope. This song relates an arduous struggle of a young boy against the most harrowing circumstances, and yet manages to be one of the most redeeming examples of hope. It uses the metaphor of an earthen clay lamp struggling to stay alight in the face of a relentless storm. I remember writing down these lines as a child and thinking that these could well fit into a treasured book of poetry. Sung by Manna Dey and chorus, and composed by Vasant Desai, this song defines everything that is special about Bharat Vyas, an exceptionally talented poet. To read more about Kavi Bharat Vyas on this blog, click HERE . 

Kahin door thaa toofan

Diye se thaa balavaan

Saare jag ko masalane machal rahaa

Jhaad ho yaa pahaad, de vo pal me ukhaad

Soch-soch ke zameen pe thaa uchhal rahaa

Ek nanhaa-saa diyaa, usane hamalaa kiyaa …

Ab dekho leelaa vidhi ke vidhaan ki

Ye kahaani hai diye ki aur toofan ki

2.    Kasme wade pyar wafa                     Upkaar          1967

A cynical look at life which expresses a lot of hard-hitting life truths. Composed by Kalyanji Anandji and written by Indeevar, Manna Dey infuses the deepest of emotions into this song, a song which is believed to have reduced Lata Mangeshkar to tears the first time she heard it.

Sukh mein tere saath chalenge
Dukh mein sab mukh modenge
Duniyaa wale tere bankar
Tera hi dil todenge
Dete hain bhagwaan ko dhokha
Insaan ko kyaa chhodenge

3.    Ae bhai zara dekh ke chalo               Mera Naam Joker 1970

Some of the most painful life truths are woven into this song from Mera Naam Joker by Kavi Neeraj. Manna Dey’s voice gives this song the sincerity it needs to drive the truth home even stronger. The occasional alt voice for Raj Kapoor, Manna Dey songs in RK films are usually the strong light of learning and life lessons. Dil ka haal sune dilwala from Shree 420 is another song that comes to mind. Ae bhai zara dekh ke chalo is seemingly sung for a circus artiste who bumps into Raj Kapoor at the start of the song. The song uses that metaphor all through to tell us to tread carefully in life as it is a precarious place which can be cruel and unsympathetic to people who are struggling. There is a pause after the first two lines when the same circus artiste shoots out of a cannon onto the trapeze net and the line ‘Tu jahan aaya hai’ continues the song. This song is one of Manna Dey’s most wonderful renditions.

Girne se darta hai kyon
Marne se darta hai kyon
Thokar tu jab na khayega
Paas kisi gham ko na jab tak bulayega
Zindagi hai cheez kya nahin jaan paayegaa
Rotaa huaa aaya hai
Rotaa chalaa jaaegaa
Aye bhai ….

4.    Phir kahin koi phool khila     Anubhav       1971

Sometimes we come across songs that do not have a clear-cut single meaning, they are open to interpretation. Phir kahin koi phool khila is among those songs which have many layers. Every time I hear it, depending on where I am in life, it offers me answers. The picturisation of this song is my favourite among all Sanjeev Kumar songs as this goes closest to what one would imagine him to be like in real life. In fact, the entire film shows Sanjeev Kumar as someone we would know in real life. The song shows slice of life shots on a day where Sanjeev has stayed home from work because of a mild fever. The day-to-day routine in a household when the husband is home and the wife’s housework has a certain happy spark of his unexpected company at home. Tanuja chopping vegetables in the room, Sanjeev removing specs and falling asleep, a certain closeness and indulgence of an unexpected break from routine… all of these are beautifully shown on screen by Basu Bhattacharya. Composed by Kanu Roy and written by Kapil Kumar, Manna Dey renders this song in a very calming and introspective manner.  

Mann kaa samundar pyasa hua
Kyun kisi se mange duva
Leharon kaa laga jo mela
Toofaan naa kaho usko
Phir kahi koi phool khila
Chaahat naa kaho usko
Phir kahi….

5.    Dekhiye to kya ajeeb haal hai                     Kal Aaj Aur Kal        1971

To my great surprise, I have seen that this song is relatively unknown to many Manna Dey fans. That’s grave injustice. This song is an ignored masterpiece and deserves to be right in front whenever any discussion on Manna Dey songs comes up. Filmed in the background on Raj Kapoor, this is one of the only two songs on Raj Kapoor in the film, the other song being Tik tik tik tik which is sung by Mukesh.

Dekhiye to kya ajeeb haal hai
sochiye to kya ajeeb baat hai
ek paav chal raha alag alag dusra kisi ke sath sath hai

Neeraj uses interesting analogies to describe Raj Kapoor’s state of mind as he is torn between his father and his son, as he tries to keep peace between them. Such an unusual pace for the tune. Perfectly reflects the turmoil in RK's mind as he is exhausted balancing the demands of his father and his son. Sometimes, life brings up situations where we realise that trying to agree with everyone just to keep peace does not bring the desired results and we end up being the target of their anger instead.

ek hawa chali ke khil utha chaman
ek hawa chali ke sab ujad gaya
ek kadam uthake raah mil gayi
ek kadam uthake path bichad gaya…

Shankar Jaikishan wielded the musical baton for the last time for RK banner in this film. A swan song for what turned out to be the end of a long partnership, with the sad demise of Jaikishan.

6.    Zindagi kaisi hai paheli                      Anand           1971

The starting notes of the song as Rajesh Khanna releases the balloons and watches them as they rise in the air creates an iconic moment in cinema. Written by Yogesh and composed by Salil Choudhary, the magic of Manna Dey’s voice further transcends this song to sheer magic. The balloons sway upwards into near oblivion and the camera shifts to Rajesh Khanna whose eyes express wonder, curiosity, sadness and awe at the thought of his impending end and what lies beyond. We do not know why a person leaves this world abruptly nor do we know where he goes after that. Deep questions treated with a classic light sensitive touch by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Jinhone sajaaye yahaan mele
sukh-dukh sang-sang jhele
wahi chunkar khaamoshi
yoon chale jaaye akele kahaan…

7.    Tum besahara ho to               Anurodh        1977

This song has two versions, labelled happy and sad in the album but I find both of them equally inspiring. Ashok Kumar sings this to school children as an anthem. The sad version begins with Vinod Mehra thinking of ending his life and halting as he hears the beginning refrain of this song. He turns out to be the poet of these lyrics and his own creation pulls him back from the brink of giving up on life.

Jeevan toh ek jaisa hotaa hai

Koi hasta koi rotaa hai

Sabr se jeena aasan hotaa hai

Fikr se jeena mushkil hotaa hai.

Simple truth of life stated in a very clear manner.

Having limited myself to listing only seven songs, I have not managed to include my favourite Raat gayee phir din aata hai from Boot Polish (You can read about it on my blog post Musical Journey with Boot Polish )

Hope you enjoyed reading about life lessons with Manna Dey. Do comment with any additions that you can think of to this list!

Musical journey with Boot Polish

 Boot Polish 1954

Music Directors: Shankar Jaikishan

 

The film Boot Polish is the heart-rending story of two orphan siblings Bhola (Ratan Kumar) and Belu (Naaz) who are forced to beg by their wicked aunt. A bootlegger John (David) teaches them dignity of labour and shows them how to work for a living with self-respect instead of begging. The songs of this film enhance the emotions that the viewer feels at every stage of Bhola’s and Belu’s childhood. Produced by Raj Kapoor, this film carries the shining unmistakable philosophical tone ingrained in all RK films.

1. Nanhe munhe bacchhe teri mutthi mein kya hai

A song that follows a pattern of questions and answers as John Chacha tries to know how motivated the children are and gets heartening answers from them which make him hopeful about their generation.

Written by Shailendra in 1954, this song presents hope, ethics and perseverance as the beacon showing the way ahead for India at that time. The song is full of optimism and the beauty of Kaviraj’s words is such that we hear this song at any juncture of life and wish that these ethics were upheld by one and all.

John Chacha asks:

"Bheekh mein jo moti miley, logey ya na logey,

Zindagi ke aansuon ka, bolo kya karogey ?

The children reply :

Bheekh mein jo moti miley, toh bhi hum na lengey,

Zindagi ke aansuon ki, maala pehnengey,

mushkilon se ladtey, bhidtey, jeeney mein mazaa hai...

 

2. Raat gayi phir din aata hai      

Written by Saraswati Kumar 'Deepak' , this is an inspiring song steeped in philosophy, sung by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosale.

Kabhi andhera kabhi ujaala

Phool khila phir murjhaata hai

Khela bachpan hansi jawaani
Magar budhaapa tadpaata hai…
Sukh dukh ka pahiya chalta hai
Wohi naseeba kehlaata hai
Raat gayi phir din aata hai
Issi tarah aate jaate hi
Ye saara jeewan jaata hai…

On a side note, these lines remind me of Shailendra’s lines from Teesri Kasam :

Ladakhpan khel mein khoya

Jawani neend bhar soya

Budhapa dekh kar roya

Yahi kissa purana hai…

 

3. John Chacha tum kitne ache

This song is generally considered as part of ‘Raat gayee phir din aata hai’ but is actually a separate song in its own right with a different theme which flows like liquid gold out of the earlier song. The complete desolate mood of the slum children who feel better after their John Chacha croons the soothing words of ‘Raat gayee phir din aata hai’  creates a change of mood when they start singing ‘John Chacha tum kitne ache, tumhe pyaar karte sab bachhe’. In true essence of this film, this peppy song still delivers punchy hard hitting life questions:

Chacha kya hoti taqdeer,

Kyun hai ek bhikaari, chacha,

Kyon hai ek Ameer…

The unfairness of life in distributing blessings in unequal portions.

4. Badhta chal

This song flows from John Chacha tum kitne ache, effectively making a trilogy of Raat gayee, John chacha tum kitne ache and Baddhta chal. This song culminates with the lines:

‘Yeh raat gayee, who subah nayee’

These lines essentially bring the trio of songs to a full circle as they re-emphasise the opening lines of the first song of the trio ‘Raat gayee phir din aata hai’, persuading the children that there is light after darkness. Always.

 

5. Theher zara o jaanewaale

Penned by Shailendra and sung by Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey, the lines question the disparity between the lower and upper classes in life. Asked in simple language that would be used by children to get some answers, the innocence in the words makes it much more effective.

Panditji mantar padhate hain

Woh Gangaji nahalate hain
Hum pet ka mantar padhte hai

Joote kaa muh chamakate hai…
Pandit ko paanch chavanni hai

Apni toh ek ikanni hai
Phir bhed bhav yeh kaisa hai

Jab sab ko pyara paisa hai
Oonch neech kuchh samajh naa paye

Hum matwale palishwale

On a sidenote, this song appeared in 1951 in background chorus form in Raj Kapoor’s Awara. It was filmed on a young Shashi Kapoor. It was sung by chorus singers and later used in its full form in Boot Polish. Here’s the clip for that chorus version!

 

6. Tumhare hain tumse daya maangte hain

It is a rare soul whose eyes don’t turn moist on hearing this song. Children in tattered clothes, walking the streets of the city, asking for compassion and help from the ones who have it all. Shailendra ensures an ethereal haplessness in the lyrics which makes us feel raw with emotion. Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosale give this song a vulnerable sensitivity which gives the listener goosebumps. The term goosebumps, for me, was always a textbook term till I heard this song. After hearing this song, I finally knew exactly what goosebump feelings are.

Kissi ki na ho, jaisi kismat hai apni,

Dukhi dil sabhi ka bhalaa maangtey hain...

and

Kisi shaam ko, ek pal bhar jaley jo,

Hum aasha ka aisa diya maangtey hain...

 

7. Chali kaunse des

Chali kaunse des is counted as one of the most sensitive songs describing the emotions of a brother and sister. Although the words show a brother singing a bidaai song of farewell at his sister’s wedding, the film uses it in a very different context. Bhola is looking for his lost sister and this song comes on screen at a time when he is feeling extreme despair and losing hope of finding her. He happens to come across a blind street singer (Kaviraj Shailendra himself in a rare appearance) who is singing this at the roadside.  Shailendra excels with the lyrics, sung with ethos by Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosale.

Cannot help mentioning the extra stanza here which unfortunately is not available in any video version of the song. This extra stanza reveals an extra layer in the song where we realise that the poet is talking about something much deeper than bidaai.

" Do din jag mein, dhoom machaaye,

Jaakey koyi, waapas na aaye,

Khoj, khoj thakk jaaye,

Do naina, chaand suraj ke......"

 

Keeping to my theme of seven, I have not managed to include two equally beautiful songs Taron ko dil ki baat and  Lapak jhapak.

Watching Boot Polish is a life affirming cinema experience. The struggle of the children for their survival and respect from society is very moving. Hope you enjoyed the musical journey through this classic film. Do write in with your favourite song of Boot Polish with reasons in the comments below!