It was an outstanding composition, which years later was copied by composers Lakshmikant-Pyarelal in singer and composer Lata Mangeshkhar’s “Zamane Main Aji Aise Kayi Nadaan” for the film ‘Jeevan Mrityu’. The film ‘Chunria’ is also known for composer Hansraj Behl giving a break to the singer Asha Bhosle as she sang her first ever Hindi film song “Sawab Aaya Re Jaahe More Bhaag Sakhi Ri”, a duet with singer Zohrabai Ambalewali.
In this film, Hansraj Behl also recorded the legendary singer Muhammad Rafi’s song “Sab Kuchh Lutaya Humne Aa Kar Teri Gali Main.”
Asha Bhosle was from a humble family background. She was born in the small settlement of Goar in Sangli, and then in the salute princely state of Sangli, into the musical family of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, who belonged to Marathi-speaking Gomantak Maratha Samaj. Her father was a theatre actor and a classical singer. When she was nine years old, her father died. From her first song her status raised to that of a successful playback singer of Bollywood starting from happy cabaret songs to ultimately a serious ghazal singer like in ‘Umrao Jan’.
Behl’s next film was ‘Shaan’ in 1950. The other films that year were ‘Mitti Ke Khilone’, ‘Pardesi Mehmaan’ and ‘Satya Narayan’, of which Chunariya’s music was a hit. The song which placed Behl among top class music directors was “Sab Kuchh Lutaya Hamne Aakar Teri Gali Me” sung by Muhammed Rafi and written by Mulk Raj Bhaakri. In the year 1949, Behl came out with films ‘Chakori’, ‘Raat Ki Raani’, ‘Zevraat’ and a few more. Lata Mangeshkar sang her favourite song “Haye Chanda Gaye Pardes” in ‘Chakori’ as reiterated above. The popularity of this song was the reason for Behl to gain a fan following. The song “Jin Raaton Mein Neend Urr Jaati Hai” sung by Rafi for the film ‘Raat Ki Raani’ was a super hit. I saw this movie as a child with my family.
As can be realised from this brief repertoire of Behl, he became more successful after the Partition. His complete list of films in which he gave music other than the ones mentioned elsewhere is ‘Duniya Aik Saraei’, ‘Chunariya’, ‘Pardesi Mehman’, ‘Mitti Ke Khilone’, ‘Satya Narayan’, ‘Bhikari’, ‘Karwat’, ‘Zevraat’, ‘Dost’, ‘Khaiber’, ‘Pensioner & Lal Pari’. It seems 1946 was a busy year for Behl. Apart from the films made in 1947 which are mentioned above, he composed music for five other movies namely ‘Duniya Aik Saraei’, ‘Sati Najani’, ‘Andhkar’ and ‘Darbar’. In 1948, Behl composed music for the films ‘Pardesi Mehman’, ‘Mast Qalandar’, ‘Mitti Ke Khilone’, ‘Shah Behram’, ‘Satya Narayan’, ‘Inqilaab’, ‘Bhikari’, ‘Rajdhani’ and ‘Khul Ja Sim Sim’. The movies between 1949 to 1952 were ‘Malikka’, ‘Karwet’, ‘Changez Khan’, ‘Bahu Rani’, ‘Sawan’, ‘Gulnar’, ‘Miss Goodnight’, ‘Mur Mur Kei Na Daikh’, ‘Aik Tha Ali Baba’, ‘Kisi Ki Yaad’, ‘Gul-e-Bakawali’, ‘Raj Rani’, ‘Dara Singh’, ‘Nakhre’, ‘Rustam-e-Hind’, ‘Phoolon Ke Haar’, ‘Sikandar e Azam’, ‘Rajpoot’, ‘Teen Sardar’, ‘Shaan’, ‘Sunehra Jaal’, ‘Jaggu’, ‘Mujhe Seene Se Laga Lo’, ‘Do Ankhain’, ‘Motilaal’, ‘Ali Baba’, ‘Resham’ and ‘Badmashon Ka Badmash’.
If you were to ask me why I wrote this piece on Behl, then it is for his song “Haye Jiya Roye Roye” from the 1958 movie ‘Milan’ starring Nalini Jewent, Ajit, Nishi, Helen and Daisey Irani. This song was written by Prem Dhawan. Not many details are available about the storyline of this film. Another song “Saari Duniya Se Poocha Mila Na Nishan” by Lata is beautiful in which Nalni carries a baby in her arms in search for her beloved. This movie was directed by Kedar Kapoor. It must be mentioned that this film is different from Dilip Kumar’s film of the same name and Nutun’s subsequent film of the same name made in 1967. Dilip Kumar’s film was with Mira Mishra, S Nazir and Ranjana. Reviews attacked it for its slow pace, but generally commended its extensive night shoot.
The other reason for writing on Behl is a Punjabi number “Sari Umran De Pei Gaye Vichore” crooned by Rafi and Shamshad Begum. The movie was ‘Do Lachian’. Indira Billi was the heroine of this film with Daljeet and Krishna Kumari. The movie was directed by Jugal Kishore. It was a very popular romantic drama. Two girls, Lachhi and Chhoti Lachhi, the daughters of Dharmu and Karmu, respectively, are in love with Labhu and Sohna. Labhu and his friend Nathu are alcoholics and thieves and have a crime record. A money lender, Bhainge Shah, also wants to marry Chhoti Lachhi, and for this purpose he manages a fight between Dharmu and Karmu and so between Lachhi and Chhoti Lachhi with the help of Labhu and Nathu. Continued