Posts Tagged ‘Gujrati’

Two rare Gujrati non-film songs discovered

Saturday, November 23rd, 2013

Geeta Dutt

Another special on the eve of Geeta ji’s birth anniversary. We are presenting two rare Gujrati non-film songs, recently shared with us by our dear friend Shri Archisman Mozumder.

1) Jeevdo dolto jaaye

2) Koi rang lyo

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

Sweetness of Pooran Poli in this melodious love song !

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Avinash Vyas - Geeta Dutt
Not many music lovers are aware of the fact that Geeta Dutt has sung close to a hundred songs in Gujrati. Her association with Gujrati film (and some non-film music) is not as prolific as with the Hindi film songs. Still it is a fact that she has sung more songs in Gujrati as compared to her mother tongue Bengali. She was the number one playback singer for Gujrati films for 3-4 years and many of the films starring Nirupa Roy had songs by Geeta Roy, many of which had music composed by the great Avinash Vyas. The reason behind this is that the Gujrati films were being made in Mumbai (then Bombay) and young Geeta Roy was a favorite singer of composer Avinash Vyas.Young Geeta was extremely talented and very good at picking up new languages. She must have picked up Hindi, Gujrati and Marathi during the initial years
of struggling life in Mumbai before getting the break in the year 1946. This part is described very aptly and in great details in the book “Geeta Dutt : The Skylark” written by Haimanti Banerjee.

Coming back to this song “Oh rang rasiya”! It is more like the celebration of womanhood where she describes how she is going to shower her love on the man she wishes to chose her life partner. This song is all about the declaration of love this lady has for the man she wishes to marry, to be a wife and homemaker. it is about how she will take care of him. For her, it is not about the riches and materialistic joys of the world but the simple little pleasures of life and care she desires to give to her “prince of dreams”.

The simplicity of Avinash Vyas’s lyrics coupled with his mesmerizing tune makes it a memorable song. The song is so traditional (note the references to the “Ghoonghat”, fetching water from the river, singing like a Koyal) yet so contemporary (expressing the feelings for her would be life partner, weaving dreams of her lover, serving Paan). The reference to pooranpoli (which are the sweet rotis made with tuar dal and jaggery/sugar) is the highlight of this song. The universal truth “A way to man’s heart goes through his stomach” is used here to describe how she will take care of her man. In general a young man will relish this sweet made by his mother, and this girl is promising to her lover that I will take care of you just like your mother used to. Serving freshly made hot pooran poli with ghee
(clarified butter) is (or at least was) considered the best treat! The lyricist is so musically inclined that he has captured the feelings of a young (probably teen aged) girl with so much of ease. Though not a native Gujrati speaker, Geeta glides through the tune leaving her magical touch to the song.

We are thankful to our friend Bhavita for help with understanding the meaning of this lovely song and the transliteration.

Original song in Gujrati script:

ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને
હું તારી શું છઉં
તું મારો વર ને હું તારી વહુ

નથી થવું મારે રાજાની રાણી
મારે મન આટલું બહુ
કે હું તારી વહુ

ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને….

બની તારા ઘરની રાણી
ઘૂંઘટડો તાણી હું પનઘટ
પાણી ભરવા જઈશ રે

તુજને ભાળી નૈના ઢાળી
મારા એ આવ્યા, એ આવ્યા
એવું કહીશ રે

છાનું રે છપનું સપનું સરજું
તને કહું કહું ને રહી જઉં
કે હું તારી વહુ

ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને….

પૂરણપોળી ઘીમાં ઝબોળી
તને જનની જેમ જમાડીશ

થઈ નટખટ નારી
લ્યો પાનસુપારી,
કહી સંગે રંગ રમાડીશ

તારા મન ઉપવનની કોયલ થઈ
તને ટહુકી ટહુકી કહું
કે હું તારી વહુ
ઓ રંગ રસિયા કહે ને….

English transliteration :

O rang rasiya
keh ne hoon tari shu thau?
Tu mharo war ne hoon tari wahu

O rang rasiya
tell me – what am I to you?
You are my beloved
and I your wife…

Nathi thavu mhare
rajani raani
mhare man aatlu bahu ke
hoon tari wahu

I do not wish to be a king’s queen
as for me it is enough that I am your wife

Bani taari gharni raani
ghunghatdo taani
hoon panghat paani bharwa jaish re

As the queen of your house
donning the veil
I will go to the river bank
to fetch water

Tujhne bhali naina dhali
mhara ‘e avya, e avya’
avu kahish re

And when I see you
through my downcast eyes
I will softly utter “he has arrived, he has arrived”

Chanu re chapnu sapnu sarju
tane kahu kahu ne rahi jau
ke hoon taari wahu
o rang rasiya

Secretly I weave a dream that I will be your wife,
and I try, my beloved, to share it with you
but refrain…
O rang rasiya

pooranpoli ghee ma jhaboli
tane janani jem jamadish
thayi natkhat naari
lyo paan supari
kahi sange rang ramadish

pooranpoli (a dessert), dipped in ghee (clarified butter)
I shall feed you like a mother
and then, like a naughty lass
playfully serve you paan supari…

Thara man upavanni koyal thayi
tane tahuki tahuki kahu
ke hoon taari vahu

In the gardens of your heart / soul / mind
I will become the koyal (cuckoo)
and like the koyal I will sing
that I am your wife / beloved…

The magic of maestro Avinash Vyas and the two Roys..

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

Trio

Avinash Vyas is one of the most famous composers in Gujarat. Nirupa Roy, born as Kokila Kishorechandra Balsara is a famous actress. Geeta Dutt (nee Roy) is a legendary playback singer famous for her “Bhaav Gayaki”. These three great artists came together for some wonderful collaborations in Hindi and Gujrati film music.

On our website, we already have a detailed discussion about the songs of Geeta Dutt composed by maestro Avinash Vyas here. We have also briefly talked about “Gujarat’s unlikely love affair with Geeta’s voice” on our website here. The fact that she has sung more songs in Gujrati (close to a hundred) than her mother tongue Bengali (close to 75 odd) is itself a great indication of her affection for the fondly Gujrat.

Avinash Vyas had the unique combination of being a poet and composer. His music and poetry ranged from a variety of geet, bhajan, ghazals, raas, garba, gujarati folk songs. He touched hearts of millions with the simplicity of his words and tunes that were a reflection of the present social-cultural and religious milieu. He also wrote ballet’s and plays (music and dance form). Some of the most popular ones were Dadi Maa Ni Dikari and Putaliwaalo (for Children).

As per an article by Shri Harish Raghuvanshi published in Dainik Bhaksar in 2008 (Gujarati), Avinash Vyas learnt Hindustani classical music from Ustad Allauddin Khan in 1940 after moving to Mumbai. After this training, he worked with HMV and Young India Recording Company as a player. It was during this time that his friendship blossomed with Ustad Allah Rakha (also known as A R Qureshi). National Gramophone Company released his first song in 1940. There after his compositions started getting aired on All India Radio. He was made the President of the Music Department at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan by Shri K.M.Munshi.

Avinash Vyas

One will be actually surprised to know that Avinash Vyas’s music career actually began with Hindi films, the first film being Mahasati Anasuya (1943) which starred Durgha Khote, Shobhana Samarth and Shahu Modak. In this film, music was composed jointly by Ustad Allah Rakha. However, initially, Avinash Vyas did experience his share of trouble and struggle as his music did not get as successful or popular. In 1948, he composed the music for Ratibhai Panatar’s Gunasundari. This film was the stepping stone of his popularity and fame.

It is right from his first Gujrati film, the musical association began with the new and fresh voice of young Geeta Roy. Incidentally, Nirupa Roy was the leading actress of this film and Geeta Roy sang several songs for this film. A fact which can not be overlooked at this point in time is that Geeta did not know any language other than her mother tongue Bengali at this juncture. She used to write the songs in Bengali script in her diary. In spite of this limitation, she was singing songs in Hindi, Urdu, Khadi boli, Braj and Gujrati effortlessly. This special talent and genius of Geeta Roy is often overlooked by the music lover community.

Coming back to the maestro Avinash Vyas. He composed approximately 1200 odd Gujarati songs for close to 190 films. Most of these songs were also penned by him. Additionally, he composed 500 odd compositions for 60 odd Hindi films. His first popular Gujarati film Gunasundari had Nirupa Roy in the leading role. Interestingly, among all of the Hindi Films that he composed music for, Nirupa Roy acted in 15 or so of these films. Those who know Nirupa Roy as the famous mother in the film “Deewar” would probably not know some facts about her. That Geeta Roy sang several dozens of songs for Nirupa Roy in the forties and early fifties would probably come as a surprise to many.

Nirupa Roy

Here is a list of films for which Geeta would have sung for Nirupa Roy (since videos of many movies are not available, it is not certain if a song sung by Geeta for these films was indeed filmed on Nirupa Roy or not)

Gunsundari (1948) – Gujrati and Hindi versions
Nanand Bhojai (1948) – Gujrati and Hindi versions
Mangalphera (1949) – Gujrati and Hindi versions
Hip Hip Hurray (1948)
Garibi (1949)
Hamari Manzil (1949)
Gadano Bel (1950) – Gujrati Film
Har Har Mahadev (1950)
Man Ka Meet (1950)
Veer Bhimsen (1950)
Dashavtaar (1951)
Jai Mahakali (1951)
Kashmir (1951)
Lav Kush (1951)
Maya Machhindra (1951)
Shri Ganesh Janma (1951)
Shri Vishnu Bhagwan (1951)
Rajrani Damayanti (1952)
Shiv Shakti (1952)
Raj Ratan (1953)
Shuk Rambha (1953)
Shiv Kanya (1954)
Raj Darbaar (1955)
Shri Ganesh Vivah (1955)
Bajrang Bali (1956)
Sati Naag Kanya (1956)
Do Roti (1957)
Janam Janam Ke Phere: Alias Sati Anapurna (1957)
Krishna Sudama (1957)
Laxmi Pooja (1957)
Naag Mani (1957)
Ram Hanuman Yuddha (1957)
Chaalbaaz (1958)
Baazigar (1959)
Dr. Z (1959)
Kangan (1959)
Kavi Kalidas (1959)

Apart from Gujarati films, Nirupa acted in many Hindi films, initially as a leading lady and then moved on to take on a variety of roles. One such role was that of the Hindu Goddesses. Tagged as the “Queen of mythological films”, it is said that people actually would line up to take her blessings. Young Geeta Roy sang many songs filmed on Nirupa Roy and this young singer had almost achieved a status of “Audio Goddess”. The film Har Har Mahadev (1950) starring Nirupa Roy and Trilok Kapoor with music by Avinash Vyas and as many as seven songs by Geeta Roy must be the most successful film by this team.

This is a divine bhajan sung by Geeta Roy and Badrinath Vyas for this film. Was the male singer related to the composer?

Here is another lovely song where Goddess Parvati is searching for Lord Shankar.

A classical case of a sweet and soft romantic number in a mythological film. The song “Rum jhum rum jhum chali jaaon main” is a sublime experience in its sweet composition, simplicity in words and effortless singing. In fact these qualities more or less summarize the careers of the composer and the singer here!

The icing on the cake is of course the famous song “Gun gun gun gun gunjan karta bhanwra, tum kaun sandesaa laaye”. The effect of humming of a bee is so well crafted by Geeta in her tender and sweet voice that is truly captivates the heart of the listener.

Coming back to the Gujrati films, the songs of Mangal Phera (1949) can be considered the “Creme de la creme” from this team of composer, singer and actress. Here are two songs that Geetaji sang for Avinash Vyas for the film Mangal Phera. Raakh na ramakda (khilone maati ka, toys of ashes…) sung along with A R Oza. It is said that V Shantaram’s eyes were filled with tears on hearing the song! The second song – a garba – Taliyon na taale. Two totally contrasting songs, and yet so wonderfully rendered. One an immortal “bhajan” Rakh na ramakda is a song that speaks of life and death, human existence, and of human frailty. The other is a fun filled song.

Mangal Phera

Here is the video of the first song followed by its English transliteration:

English transliteration:

Toys of ashes….
the creator sent mortals to play on earth
Made from mud, they were named human beings

New games played everyday
Abusing one another, quarreling over worldly possessions
and over ‘yours’ and ‘mine’
The human body coloured with Maya (attachments)

The worldly life has just begun….even before life flourishes,
it is snuffed away by the storm

The circle of life and death never ends,
The games remain incomplete
Matters of body and soul end the way they start

The other song Taliyona Tale has a magical quality to it. A song that is sung during festivities and gaieties, inimitable Geeta Dutt does justice so beautifully in emoting the playfulness, fun and frolic, transporting the listener to another realm where one can actually experience the gently flowing winds and the full moon night, with the ladies dancing away to the tunes of music.

English transliteration:

On this full moon night,
fair ladies are dancing to the tune and rhythm of their clapping hands,
their sky blue lehariya odhni flowing…this full moon night

The moon beautiful and bright,
My beloved draws me towards him
It seems as if this night is disclosing the secrets of my heart….this full moon night

Come closer O fair lady
The moon oscillates your heart strings
The heart gently swaying in beautiful full moon night…

Dance away, beautiful ladies
It seems as if Lord Krishna himself is dancing
On the banks of the river Yamuna this full moon night….

References:

1. Dhunon Ki Yatra (By Pankaj Raag)
2. Shri Harish Raghuvanshi’s article in Dainik Bhaskar

Credits:

We are thankful to our friend Bhavita for putting together this special article for us.
Also special thanks to our friend Chetan who has been helping us from the inception of this site.