Songs of River
In an interesting coincidence when this site carried Subodh’s article on music from the mountains, Harvey was doing songs of clouds. Mountains and clouds share a very intimate relationship. Their union gives rise to rivers. With this pedigree, it is no wonder some of the most beautiful songs are based on river, though no Raga is named after her, unlike her parents who have Raga Pahadi and Megh after them (or is there a Raga Nadi, Subodh?).
River has a magical beauty, and it lends itself to a variety of imageries. Its timeless flow is like jeevan ki dhara. It is incredibly romantic – lovers can hold hands and sit quietly by the side of the river in moonlit night. Then the mystery about the other side of the river – Harivansh Rai Bachchan is unsure about it –Is paar priye madhu hai tum ho, us paar na jane kya hoga. But SD Burman is sure, and makes a plaintive appeal to the boatman to ferry him across because his saajan is us paar. If the boatman is like Sunil Dutt who not only ferries Nutan across for her college, but also teaches her folk song on the way, Sawan ka mahina, this would lead to eternal love in several births and rebirths.
Here are some of my favourite नदी songs.
1. Nadi kinare baith ke aao by Motlal and Maya Banerjee fromJagirdar (1937), lyrics Pt Indra, music Anil Biswas
One of the earliest superhits of Anil Biswas. Jagirdar and this romantic Nadisong would set him on the path to becoming one of the founders of the Hindi film music.
2. Nadi paar hai aam ki bagiya by Devika Rani from Durga (1939), lyrics Pt Narottam Vyas, music Saraswati Devi
Saraswati Devi’s hallmark was making even actors like Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar sing. With this caveat I find this half-song extremely cute with Devika Rani singing about mangrove across the river and playing joyously with her puppy.
3. Ek tu hai ek main hun ek nadi ka kinara hai by Suraiya fromKanoon (1943), lyrics DN Madhok, music Naushad
Naushad would achieve spectacular popularity a year later with Rattan, but this less known Suraiya song is extremely pleasant, its beauty enhanced by the river theme.
4. Kyon man dhhodhe prem nadi ka kinara by Surendra from Lal Haveli (1944), lyrics Munshi Shams Lukhanvi, music Mir Sahib
Among the actor-singers of Bombay in late 30s and 40s Surendra was perhaps the best. His style and voice was very reminiscent of KL Saigal, and for some time he was being built up as Bombay’s answer to Saigal, till the latter himself shifted to Bombay. One of the quintessential Surendra songs, filled with pathos.
5. Nadiya kinare Ram bagiya mein nagar paan by Bharat Vyas from Chandralekha (1948), lyrics Pt Indra, music S Rajeshwar Rao
Though the mukhadaa starts with the word ‘nadiya’, it is more of a bullock cart song. I heard it only recently and completely fell for it. And the singer Bharat Vyas! I believe he is the same person who would achieve great fame as a lyricist. What a full throated arresting voice he has. Takes you back to the era of KC Dey.Chandralekha was the biggest blockbuster of its time. And you have this fantastic folk song. Too tempting to pass up. (PS. Please see comment #32)
6. More raja ho le chal nadiya ke paar by Mohammad Rafi and Lalita Deolkar from Nadiya Ke Paar (1948), lyrics Moti B.A., music C Ramchandra
Those were the days when if you had a BA degree, you proudly flaunted it! So we need not find the lyricist name amusing. This was the time when Dilip Kumar had acquired the status of a lover boy par excellence. His romance with Kamini Kaushal had caused a good deal of turbulence in those conservative days. When the actors are in love both on and off-screen and the song is a river song, you get this magic.
7. Nadi kinare saath hamare by Mohammad Rafi, Shamshad Begum and Talat Mohammad from Babul (1950), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
Rafi for boatman, Shamshad Begum for Munawwar Sultana and Talat Mahmood for Dilip Kumar – the era of actor-singers was giving way to independent playback singers. Naushad was still trying between Mukesh, Talat Mahmood and Rafi (so also Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar) for his lead singers. Thus you have Rafi for boatman singing Nadiya mein utha hai shor chhayi hai ghata ghanghor jana door hai. But Rafi being Rafi, this creates tremendous impact. The boatmen’s chorus is chinkola chinkola chinkola rather than Haiya ho. A beautiful Naushad song picturised equally beautifully.
8. More saiyanji utarenge paar ho nadiya dheere baho by Lata Mangeshkar from Udankhatola (1955), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, musis Naushad
Naushad again. When a genius like Naushad is at his peak of creativity you get a musical masterpiece like Udankhatola. Lata Mangeshkar starts the first line in slow tempo without any music, then the regulation Haiya re haiya ho followed by the incredibly beautiful river song in folk-classical style. Haiya re haiya homust have occurred in dozens of songs, but none could match the prominence given in this song as a countermelody throughout the song.
9. Ye ratein ye mausam nadi ka kinara by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle from Dilli Ka Thug (1958), lyrics Shailendra, music Ravi
It is amazing, Kishore Kumar who sang crazy songs like CAT cat mane billi andHum to mohabbat karega in this film, sings such melodious romantic song – naturally, it is a river song.
10. Ye hawa ye nadi ka kinara by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle fromGhar Sansar (1958), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Ravi
The same year you have this gem by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle composed by the underrated genius Chitragupta, picturised on Rajendra Kumar and Kumkum.Haya re haiya is too common, so Chitragupta tries La ra ru la la lalla lallaa with great effect.
An eternal song
I have done 10 songs, for which with great reluctance I had to leave out many of my favourites. But there is one which is so special I have to add it as a bonus song. Though ‘river’ is not there, but there are ‘bridges of the Seine’, and ‘hold you tight’ ‘far from the eyes of the night’ – a well deserved international acclaim for over 80 years now. First composed by popular and prolific French composer Vincent Scotto in 1931, it became popular throughout England and France, and later everywhere. The English lyrics are by Dorcas Cochran. The French lyrics are by J. Rodor. (Information based on the internet). Enjoy the lyrics and the song by Dean Martin (he sings only the last two stanzas, I have not been able to locate a full rendition on the YouTube).
Under the bridges of Paris with you
My darling why I sing this song
Is easy to explain
It tells what happens all along
The bridges of the Seine
Is easy to explain
It tells what happens all along
The bridges of the Seine
The vagabonds go there at night
To sleep all their troubles away
But when the moon is shining bright
My heart wants to sing it this way
To sleep all their troubles away
But when the moon is shining bright
My heart wants to sing it this way
How would you like to be
Down by the Seine with me
Oh what I’d give for a moment or two
Under the bridges of Paris with you
Down by the Seine with me
Oh what I’d give for a moment or two
Under the bridges of Paris with you
Darling I’d hold you tight
Far from the eyes of night
Under the bridges of Paris with you
I’d make your dreams come true
Far from the eyes of night
Under the bridges of Paris with you
I’d make your dreams come true
Under the bridges of Paris with you by Dean Martin