Last month when I was compiling Shamshad Begum list, I came across a couple of songs which were picturised as ‘Street Singer Songs’. It was then very obvious that the subject interested me no end and I quickly started working on it.
Before we go to the list, let me explain the idea of Street Singer Songs. These are the songs which are sung by a character walking on streets, usually alone or with a companion, carrying a musical instrument. The character could be a main lead or a supporting character.
But the songs like, Janewalon Zara Hoshiyar from Rajkumar where there’s a procession won’t be a part of this post. Similarly romantic songs sung by a couple which are picturised on streets or roads, like Pyar Hua Iqraar Hua, Chala Hai Kahan or songs like, Ruk Jana O Jana from Warrant won’t be a part of this post. (How about covering these categories separately? Sounds good to me)
When I went through the collection of songs, I could divide the songs in several categories. I’ll elaborate on those as we travel through the post.
So here’s the list of ‘Street Singer Songs’ from Hindi films.
The first category is of those songs where a character sings the song on streets as a Sadhu or Fakir, with or without playing an instrument . There could be an accompanying person or might be alone. However there won’t be full fledged dancing in this category.
It should be remembered that beggar’s singing on streets would also be a part of this category.
And it could be an occupation of the character to sing on the streets as a means of earning money. These are not exactly beggars in my opinion.
I guess, this category would have the maximum number of songs on today’s list.
1. Babul Mora Naihar Chhuto Hi Jaye – Street Singer (1938) K L Saigal / R C Boral – Wajid Ali Shah
What could be the best option but this one, to open today’s list? An iconic song by Saigal. The song was recorded live, which means he sang and acted at the same time. His voice is full of emotions, very expressive. Listeners break into tears after listening to the heart touching rendition. Wajid Ali Shah was the last ruler of Awadh and was exiled by the British. Though the song sounds like a bidai song, it is said to portray Wajid Ali Shah’s emotions as he leaves the city.
The film has a couple of songs as well that fit today’s theme. But of course I chose the most popular one.
2. Huye Hum Jinke Liye Barbaad – Deedar (1951) Rafi / Naushad – Shakeel Badayuni
Dilip Kumar plays a blind singer in this movie, who remembers his childhood companion all through his life. Poverty forces him to sing on the streets and he keeps on singing soulful sad songs in the memory of his lost childhood love. Naushad has composed melodious songs for this otherwise sad mood film. And a perfect fit for the list.
The next couple of songs have the Street Singers singing professionally.
3. Chup Chup Khade Ho – Bari Behen (1949) Lata Mangeshkar & Premlata / Husnalal Bhagatram – Rajendra Krishan
The song is sung onscreen by Shanti Modak with a couple of girls, one on harmonium, who also sings the cross line and the other on daf. The song is picturised as a song sung by these women with Suraiya and Rehman listening to it along with a few other bystanders.
Bari Behen was yet another breakthrough for Lata Mangeshkar, who became popular after the success of Aayega Aanewala from Mahal. Interestingly, the other Lata Mangeshkar solo from Bari Behen, ‘Jo Dil Mein Khushi Ban Kar Aaye’ is also picturised on Shanti Modak and company.
4. Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar – C I D (1956) Shamshad Begum & Rafi / O P Nayyar – Majrooh
Of course the original inspiration of this post was a couple of songs from the last post and I chose this wonderful street singer song picturised on Sheila Vaz and Shyam Kapoor. The former was a popular dancer of the 50s and the 60s of Hindi cinema and lit up the silver screen with her expressions and graceful dance. Though she does dance in the song, it’s more of an accompanying gesture than a full dance performance. Dev Anand assigns the singers a job to soothe down an agitated Shakeela and with this magical melody the duo indeed makes her smile in the end. The energetic harmonium infuses an electrifying magic in the song which is then carried forward by Shamshad Begum’s equally magical rendition. The orchestration is so apt for such a song.
5. Hai Bas Ke Har Ek Unke – Mirza Ghalib (1954) Rafi / Ghulam Mohammad – Mirza Ghalib
Mirza Ghalib’s wonderful couplets and ghazals were not appreciated in the beginning. In the movie, a Fakir recites this ghazal of Mirza Ghalib when the latter is enjoying mangoes with his acquaintances. Surprised and happy Ghalib asks the Fakir who taught him that ghazal? Unaware of his identity, the fakir tells him all about a lady who exclusively sings Mirza Ghalib’s ghazals and has taught him this ghazal too so that he would earn money singing it.
6. Aan Milo Shyam Sanware – Devdas (1955) Manna Dey & Geeta Dutt / S D Burman – Sahir
Paro (Baby Naaz) looking lost, sits on a tree branch, while Nana Palsikar and Dulari sing this beautiful bhajan addressed to Lord Krishna. She can perfectly feel Radha’s emotions as she’s feeling the same after Devdas leaves the village for studies. A beautifully rendered bhajan and Baby Naaz is also good in expressing her grief.
7. Janewalo Zara Mud Ke Dekho Mujhe – Dosti (1964) Rafi / Laxmikant Pyarelal – Majrooh
Dosti was a movie about two friends Mohan (Sudhir Kumar) and Ramu (Sushil Kumar). The former is blind and sings well while the latter is crippled and plays harmonica. They form a team and sing on streets to earn money. To raise money for Ramu’s admission to school, they keep on singing on streets and finally succeed in the task. Inclusion of a song from this movie was a very obvious choice for me. Rafi’s soulful rendition, Laxmikant Pyarelal’s excellent and simple tunes culminated in a hugely successful songs. It also fetched LP their first Filmfare best composer award, when they were still newcomers. Of course later Pyarelal confessed about how they got the award.
8. Ek Paisa De De Babu – Vachan (1955) Rafi & Asha Bhosle / Ravi – Prem Dhawan
One of the popular beggar’s songs of Hindi cinema, it was from the debut film of composer Ravi. A blind man with his son roams around on streets begging for money. Ravi later also composed a few Hindi film songs picturised on beggars. The screenshot in the beginning is from one of those songs.
9. Kya Hawa Chali – Parakh (1960) Manna Dey / Salil Chowdhury – Shailendra
Who will forget this satirical take on hypocrites who will do anything for money? The entire village is astonished on hearing of an anonymous man, who announces giving away a handsome sum of money to the most generous man in the village. The greedy and selfish people, an obnoxious and discriminating pujari, a money-minded doctor, to name a few, make a u-turn overnight, trying to outweigh the other to portray himself as an upright civilian, working in a public interest. But the public knows everything, it’s clever. What a delightful song it is! And Additional information, it’s picturised on dance director Sachin Shankar. (Information courtesy – Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh on ASAD)
While I opened this category with a song from Street Singer (1938), there was another film with the same name which was produced and directed by Chandrashekar, who obviously played the lead role in it.
10. Bambai Hamari Bambai – Street Singer (1966) Rafi / Suraj – Hasrat Jaipuri
Chandrashekhar and company are a group of slum dwellers, who mainly thrive by playing tricks with people travelling in cars and obtaining money from them. He’s a good singer and yet doesn’t get an opportunity to sing professionally. So he tries singing on the streets. Here he’s seen singing with his gang, with a foreigner couple, who’s interested in places worth visiting in Mumbai (then Bombay or Bambai). The audio-visual quality of the clip is average. Music of this film was by Suraj who was mentioned as assistant to Shankar Jaikishan in the credits. It’s said that Shankar Jaikishan actually composed for the movie, but couldn’t risk being mentioned as a composer to a B grade movie.
11. Khiladi Hai Koi Anadi Hai Koi – Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) Manna Dey & Asha Bhosle / R D Burman – Anand Bakshi
While I was hopeful to find a ‘rope walker’ for the list, I wasn’t aware of any. Off hand I couldn’t think of any. Thankfully one day, I stumbled upon this song, picturised on Hema Malini and Dharmendra, where the former plays a street performer, shown to perform the tightrope walking and a few other things like knife throwing. Of course, all the acrobatics are done by body doubles. Quite an enjoyable song!
I was just wondering about the amount of dedication and concentration one might need to put to master such skills.
From a double role by Hema Malini to a double role by Amitabh Bachchan. Any guesses about the song?
12. Ee Hai Bambai Nagariya – Don (1978) Kishore Kumar / Kalyanji Anandji – Anjaan
When the real Don meets his ultimate fate, the DSP makes a plan to send his look alike to his den to track his activities. The look alike is a street performer, who performs on the streets of Mumbai. And what a splendid song it is! Kishore Kumar and Amitabh both have done an excellent job.
Now, let’s move onto the Second category. It includes singing on the streets for Advertising one’s profession. Though this category could also have accommodated a good number of songs, I’ve restricted the list to just a couple of songs.
13. Sar Jo Tera Chakraye – Pyaasa (1957) Rafi / S D Burman – Sahir
The song is picturised on Johnny Walker who plays a malishwala named Abdul Sattar. He offers a few moments of relief in an otherwise serious and intense movie. He strolls on the streets with oils in small bottles kept in a suitable basket in one hand, and a foldable chair in the other, making it easy to offer his services to almost everywhere. He roams around the streets singing about his service with its (a bit too overhyped) benefits.
14. Chukkuwala Chhuriwala – Al Hilal (1958) Shamshad Begum / Bulo C Rani – Shewan Rizvi
Here we see beautiful Shakeela dressed as a man (god knows why) and singing on streets carrying her knife sharpening wheel with her. I wonder if she wishes to be passed as a man, why does a female singer sing the song? Anyway, the song has an infectious rock n roll rhythm and is extremely catchy. You hear it once, it sticks with you for the entire day!
I’ll now present the Third category where there is Singing and full fledged dancing in the song. It may or may not be a commercial activity. I’ve three songs to present. I’m aware, there are many songs that fit the category.
15. Baliye O Baliye – Azaad (1955) Lata Mangeshkar & Usha Mangeshkar / C Ramchandra – Rajendra Krishan
Sai and Subbulakshmi sing and dance on a street adjoining Meena Kumari’s house. From their gestures, it seems both of them want to convey a message to Meena Kumari. Excellent song n dance performance. It was a must and an obvious inclusion in this category.
16. Hey Jamalo – Pooja Ke Phool (1964) Rafi & Asha Bhosle / Madan Mohan – Rajendra Krishan
It’s time now for a beautiful dance performance by none other than Gopi Krishna accompanied by Madhumati. Both dance gracefully. It’s in the second verse that we get to see Pran dancing a bit along with his beloved. Perhaps the only song Pran danced to.
17. Is Jahan Ka Pyar Jhootha – Amardeep (1958) Rafi, Manna Dey & Asha Bhosle / C Ramchandra – Rajendra Krishan
I particularly chose the song for a few reasons. Firstly it’s a street song with good dance by Padmini and Ragini. Off hand it’s perhaps the only song where Dev Anand actually dances. Thirdly both the sisters lip sync to Asha Bhosle’s voice. Finally, Rafi sings for Johnny Walker while Manna Dey sings for Dev Anand. Otherwise Rafi has sung for both in other songs of this movie.
A good sing and dance performance. Vyjayantimala, listening to the song, finally comes out on the balcony and is surprised to see Dev Anand among the performers.
It’s not always that a character sings for money. Here is a song where it’s not so.
18. Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala – Shree 420 (1955) Manna Dey / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
To end the list, let’s listen to the story of Raj. Naive Raj comes to Mumbai in search of a job and in an attempt to find shelter enters a semi slum area. There after a brief fight with the local people, he finally settles there on recommendation from Lalita Pawar, a banana vendor. When others ask him to tell about his life, he breaks into a song, quite to the irritation of a rich man living in an adjoining mansion. So he’s a street singer. And I think, Mera Joota Hai Japani should then also fall in the category. What do you think?
A lot of songs can still be added. Will you add a befitting song?
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Mehfil Mein Meri, claims no credit for any image, screenshots or songs posted on this site. Images on this blog are posted to make the text interesting. The images and screenshots are the copyright of their original owners. The song links are shared from YouTube, only for the listening convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs vests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.