Posts Tagged ‘Comic’

The spirit of Mumbai from 1949

Monday, October 22nd, 2012

Mangal Phera

There have been several songs capturing the mood of arguably the greatest city of India, Mumbai. Here is one refreshing, simple yet light hearted song on the city of Mumbai.

The song practically touches & connects every Gujrati person of yesteryear i.e roughly from the time frame between 1940 to 1965. Those were the days when some one from a family will come to Mumbai from native and struggle to settle in. It is the song “Aame Mumbai na rehwaasi” from the film Mangal Phera (1949). This film had several other hit songs including the divine bhajan “Raakhna ramkadaa ne” and the evergreen Garba song “Taaliyon naa taale”.

Though this song is a trio featuring the voices of young Geeta Roy, A R Oza and Chunnilal Pardesi (singing the Marathi stanza), it is essentially a Geeta song all the way.

The pic above shows a poster of this super hit Gujrati film Mangal Phera (1949) starring Nirupa Roy and Manhar Desai.

Here is the film version of the song:


The 78 rpm record version is here

We have also provided the lyrics of the song in English script and its translation for appreciation and enjoyment of all the music lovers who may not be familiar with the language.

Lyrics in Gujrati script:

અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી
ચર્નિરોડ પર ચંપા નિવાસમાં, રૂમ નંબર નેવાસી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

પેટલાદમાં પિયર મારું, સાસરું સુરત શહેર
વર ને વહુ અમે મુંબઈ રહેતા, કરતાં લીલા લહેર
મોકલ્યા સાસુ-સસરા કાશી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

સાડી પહેરી શોપિંગ કીધું, પાઈનેપલનું પીણું પીધું
બીલના રૂપિયા બાકી રાખ્યા ઉધાર પેટે પંચ્યાસી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

હું ગાડાનો બેલ !
શાકભાજી, દાતણ લઈ આવું, લાવું તલનું તેલ
હું પરણ્યો પણ સંન્યાસી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

પગાર રૂપિયા પંચોત્તેરમાં સાડી શેં પોષાય
મોદી ભૈયો ધોબી ઘાટી પૈસા લેવા ધક્કા ખાય
મને થઈ ગઈ થઈ ગઈ ખાંસી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

રામા,
રામા, આજે રવિવાર છે, નાટક જોવા જાશું
રાંધી નાખજે પૂરી બટાટા મોડા આવી ખાશું
કાલના ભજિયા તળજે વાસી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

આમચા રામાચા યુનિયનને અસા ઠરાવ કેલા
ઐતવારચી સૂટી પાઈજે, નહિ કામ કરાયચી વેળા
આજ માઝી મરૂન ગેલી માઉસી !
લો બોલો
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

વ્હાલે વિપદ આ શું કાઢી, રામા તું ન જાતો નાસી
નહિ તો મારે વાસણ ઘસતાં, રહેવું પડશે ઉપવાસી
અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી, ઓ અમે મુંબઈના રહેવાસી

Here is a picture of the great maestro composer-lyricist Avinash Vyas ji.

Avinash Vyas

Lyrics in English script:

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

Petlaad Ma Piyer Maru
Sasru Surat Seher
Var Ne Vahu Ame Mumbai Rehta,
Karta Lila Leher, Mokalya Sasu Sasra Kashi,

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

Sari Pehri Shopping Kidhu,
Pineapple Nu Pinu Pidhu,
Bill Na Rupiya Udhaar Rakya,
Baaki Pethe Panchyaasii

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

Hun Gaada No Bail,
Shak Bhaji Daatan Layee Aavu,
Lavu Tal Nu Tel ,
Paranyo Toye Hu Sanyaasi,

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

Pagaar Rupiya Panchoter Ma
Saadi Se Poshay,
Modi Bhaiyo Ghobi Ghati
Paisa Leva Dghaaka Khay,
Mane Thay Gayee Thaye Gayee Khansi,

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

Rama,
Rama Aaje Ravivaar Chhe
Natak Jova Jashu,
Raandhi Nakhje Puri Batata
Moda Aavi Khashu,
Kalna Bhajiya Talje Vashi,

Aamchya Ramachya Union Nee
Assa Tharav Kela, Aikaa
Aitvaar Chi Sutti Pahije
Nahi Tar Kaamachi Vela,
Aaj Maji Marun Geli Mausi, Lo Bolo,

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

Vahle Vipad Aa Shu Kadhi,
Rama Tu Na Jato Naasi,
Nahi To Maare Vasan Dhota
Rehvu Padse Upaasi,

Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi, Aame Mumbai Na Rehwasi,
Charni Road Par Champa Niwas Ma Room No Newasi

English translation:

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

My Mother”s Town Is Petlaad And My In-Law’s Place Is In Surat
We Both Husband And Wife Are Stayin In Mumbai And Enjoying Life
We Have Sent Our In-Laws To Kaashi

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

I Wore The Sari And We Did Shopping
We Drank Pineaple Drink, We Kept Bill Pending For Rs.85/-

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

I Am An Ox Of Our Bullock Cart, One Who Buys Vegetables
And Neem Sticks, Also Brings Teel Oil, I Am Married But Stayin As Sanyaasi

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

My Salary Is Just Rs 75 And I Can’t Afford Sari,
Grossarywala Milkman, Laundrywala,
Servant Comes Daily For Their Salad
And Now I Have Caught Cough And Cold

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

O Rama,
Rama Today Is Sunday We’ll Be Out For Watching A Drama,
Please Cook Puri & Potato Curry
We’ll Come Late And Have It
Also Don’t Forget To Refry Yeserdays Bhajia

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

Our Servants Association Has Passed A Resolution
We Want A Holiday On Every Sunday
Otherwise At The Time Of Working
I Will Loose My Aunt (And Then I Will Go Away On Vacation )

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

Oh Lord Why This All Happens To Me, I Appeal To The Servant
Please Don’t Run Away Dear
And If You Do Do So, Then I Will Have To Remain On Fast (Hungry)

We Are Residents Of Mumbai,
We Are Staying In Charni Road In Champa Nivas Room No 89

Acknowledgements:

Original Gujrati lyrics source courtesy:

http://tahuko.com/?p=11747

We are thankful to our dear friend Shri Bhartendu Desai ji for helping us with the lyrics and translation of this wonderful sweet song.

* This article was originally posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011