Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey Songs- Part 2
Duets of Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey:
Yesterday, we took those songs of Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey which had accompaniment of other lead singer(s) and/ or chorus. In this part we will take songs which are their pure duets. Barring a couple or songs, there are no other voices in them. Like last post there are songs which I knew, and some others which I came to know while researching for this post.
Let’s dive into the list straight away.
The Duets of the duo:
1. Tu hai mera prem devta: Kalpana (1960), MD: O. P. Nayyar, Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi
It must be “THE” duet of the legends. The first one that comes to mind. Watch one of the dancers levitating at about 8.08 minutes into the song, giving a literal meaning about how art can uplift you.
And a question regarding the song. Can somebody enlighten me on whose voice it is towards the end, which sings the pure classical piece? It’s for half of the song/ dance and begins around 4.35 minutes.
2. Ab aayi barkha bahar sajni & Sudh bisar gayi: Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962), MD: S. N. Tripathi, Lyrics: Shailendra
As these are the songs that lead to the idea, they had to be listed. Though I have not seen the movie, I am assuming the situation based on the stories of Taansen & Swami Haridas usually heard. So, in the first song Taansen is probably trying to plead forgiveness from his guru Swami Haridas. Manna Dey only sings the sargam towards the end. And I guess the second song immediately follows after Swami Haridas has accepted the apologies of his disciple.
“Sudh bisar gayi”– these words apply when we listen to these two legends as well. Especially, when they sing a line together their voices sound like one and yet different. Such is their coordination. The pauses, the lifting of sur, everything is so amazing, so marvellous. It’s so mesmerising that we forget ourselves.
And a question- is by any chance the person playing Swami Haridas, the music director- S. N. Tripathi himself?
3. Mehfil mein shama chamki: Gunahon Ka Devta (1967), MD: Shankar Jaikishan, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri.
The song is beautiful, but what is special is that almost all of the song is sung by Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey together, in unison. Not one line or antara at a time. Their voices are in such harmony and synchronisation. The song is picturised on Mehmood & Asit Sen.
4. Munh se mat laga: Johnny Walker (1957), MD: O. P. Nayyar, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri.
A fun number, on vices of daaru telling the hero to give up drinking and the hero claiming he is not drunk at all. The advisors however look drunk themselves.
5. Bura hain na gaana: Road No. 303 (1960), MD: C. Arjun, Lyrics: Jan Nisar Akhtar.
This one was new to me. It praises that singing and dancing are arts and one should appreciate them. I wish I could find a video. And I had no idea Jan Nisar Akhtar wrote such funny numbers too.
6. O paise tu bhagwan nahin: Main Shadi Karne Chala (1963), MD: Chitragupta, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri.
This one similar to the qawwali in last post (“Allah meri jholi mein”) praises money. It laments that money may not be God, but lot of it’s qualities resemble Him.
7. Yeh do diwane dil ke: Johar Mehmood in Goa (1965), MD: Kalyanji Anandji, Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi.
It’s but obvious that the post will contain songs picturised on Mehmood. Manna Dey & Mohd. Rafi both have given playback to Mehmood. And there were a lot of songs, but I confined to four. This and, one at no. 3 and two following.
8. Maama o maama: Parvarish (1958), MD: Dattaram Wadkar, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri.
In “Maama o maama” and “Yeh do diwane dil ke”, Mohd. Rafi sings for Mehmood. While in other two, i.e. “Mehfil mein shama chamki” and the next one, Mehmood’s playback is by Manna Dey.
9. Nir ta ta dhanga: Chandan ka Palna (1967), MD: R. D. Burman, Lyrics: Bindadin Maharaj
The combo of Mehmood and Dhumal was, should I say common, or rampant, in movies back then. This is a dual, a dance dual between the two. I must say I was impressed by Dhumal’s dancing. It has one more voice towards the end, like “Tu hai mera prem devta.”
10. Pyar ka mara hun main Julie: Private Secretary (1962), MD: Dilip Dholakia, Lyrics: Prem Dhawan.
This again was new. And such a fun song. Not just in the picturization. You just cannot miss the enjoyment in singers voices.
11. Le lo babu pudiya: Madan Manjari (1961), MD: Sardar Malik, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri.
Vendor songs were pretty common in old movies. This melodious one is about selling a magical remedy of some kind. The claims ought to warn the customers as being full of false promises. Just listen to it, though a video would have doubled the fun.
12. Ek jaanib shame mehfil: Abhilasha (1968), MD: R. D. Burman, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri.
It’s a well known song. So let’s just enjoy it.
13. Kismat ka khel dekho: Chale hain sasural (1966), MD: C. Arjun, Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi.
Every time I hear the fun songs or “masti bhare geet” of Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey, I feel the enjoyment in their voices too. This one is no exception.
14. Duniya jidhar jhuke jhuk ja: Aplam Chaplam (1962), MD: Chitragupta, Lyrics: Prem Dhawan.
Just like the one above. It seems that getting title of the movies from wordings of songs is an old tradition.
15. Main Raavan Lanka naresh: Insaaniyat (1955), MD: C. Ramchandra, Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan.
Another addition to the fun songs of Manna Dey & Mohd. Rafi. It’s a long time since I watched this movie. So, I am assuming that Agha running away from Jayant’s soldiers lands up on the stage where Ramleela is being played.
One more:
This Bhojpuri song simply fits as a wrap-up song for the post.
Sang-sang beete sangi: Nautanki, MD: Chitragupta, Lyrics: Anjaan
Your choices:
What are your favourite duets, qawwalis or duets of Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey? Do add your choices here.
DISCLAIMER: The videos/ songs linked/ embedded herein above from YouTube are only for the purpose of entertainment and pleasure of viewers/ readers. The copyright over the songs/ videos/ films rests with the owners/ producers of the respective movies.
6 response to "Mohd. Rafi & Manna Dey Songs- Part 2"
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Tu hai mera prem devta was the first song that came to my mind, too! 🙂 Thanks for these songs – a lot of them were new to me. But one little-known song which I already knew and liked was Pyaar ka maara hoon main Julie, so was especially happy to see this here!
I am glad you liked my selection. It was so tough to select the best from the range of their duets.
You know I came to know quite late that the Music Director of “Tu hai mera prem devta” is O.P.Nayyar. It was a surprise really.
And “Pyar ka maara hu main Julie” is just plain fun.
For me too, the first song was obviously the one from Kalpana.
There were a lot of new songs on the list, that were new for me.
The ones from Parvarish, private secretary, Sangeet Samrat Tansen, main Shadi karne chala are also good and my favourites.
if I find a good song to add, I’ll add it here.
Anup
Yes, the song from “Kalpana” has to top this list.
It’s great that you liked my picks. 🙂
But where can I find answer to my 2 questions, about the 3rd singer in “Tu hai mera prem devta” & about S. N. Tripathi as Swami Haridas..
The prints of the movie are so bad, we can not make out the known faces as well.
So even if we know S N Tripathi’s face by a photo, it’s not at all possible to confirm it.
Only a expert like ArunKumar Deshmukh would answer it. I’ll ask him. And let you know.
Anup