The ‘Bedardi’ Songs

I am in habit of making a list of songs with a particular word in it. I’ve so far created lists of songs that have a certain word or phrase. Today I’m presenting a list having word ‘Bedardi‘. It means a heartless and cruel person, unaware that his actions could be agonizing to others and make their life a living hell. Going through these songs I realized this word is used in both sad and happy songs and situational songs like Mujra.

Bairi Piya Bada Bedardi

Many times in Mujra songs the dancer calls someone in the audience Bedardi (Mostly the villain, or occasionally the Hero) In this context, it represents a pretend anger towards that person, in a sensuous way. He is supposed to have acted in brutal way to the concerned dancer.
Sometimes the heroine calls the hero Bedardi, to make him realize pretend anger or agitation because of a certain incident. Such songs are happy ones. The person in question is somewhere else,but is expected soon.Sometimes, while waiting she gets frustrated and sings to ask him to come back .
Mainly this word is used in sad songs. The heroine is heart broken and calls the hero Bedardi as he has been heartless to her and rejected her, or left her for some unknown reasons. The heroine unaware of his helpless situation unnecessarily calls him Bedardi.
Oh! The word appears to be everywhere. No points for guessing, there is no male voice in any of the song.
Now, let me start my list, before you think of me as Bedardi for going on and on about the word
As usual the songs are from pre70s films and are in No particular order.

1. Bedardi Balma Tujhko – Aarzoo (1966) Lata Mangeshkar / Shankar Jaikishan- Hasrat Jaipuri
Picturised in a lovely garden in Kashmir, with the picturesque landscapes in the background, Sadhna sings in agony. She has a valid reason to call him Bedardi. He is now a physically challenged and doesn’t want her to be a part of his misery. But she is unaware of this and curses him to be cruel. She thinks of him as brute, who played with her emotions and later refused to continue the relationship. She bitterly remembers the gardens, where they used to meet, now in ruins. The breeze drifts her dupatta away, but she thinks he is pulling it. She is badly missing him, but feels totally let down by him. She has every right to call him cruel.
All the songs of Aarzoo were penned by Hasrat Jaipuri, and it is said that all the songs but one (Jab Ishaq Kahin Ho Jata Hai) were composed by Jaikishan alone. Not to mention about excellent rendition by Lata. My most favourite from the movie, though it wasn’t there in ‘Binaca Geetmala’ that year. The film was a huge musical success. In fact for me, Sadhna & songs are the main attractions.

2. Kadar Jane Na Mora Balam Bedardi – Bhai Bhai (1956) Lata Mangeshkar / Madan Mohan – Rajendra Krishna
It’s a punishment to watch Nimmi crying on screen, in my opinion. She is void of any expressions and if she has any! Well, she makes them appear funny and irritating at the same time. I wonder there are any cheerful, playful songs picturised on her. Kishore Kumar is seen leaving her, but he turns back eventually ,I would think by Lata’s soulful voice full of pain, and not Nimmi’s expressions. This AVM production film was a typical melodrama, with many sobbing scenes by Nimmi and Nirupa Roy.
One of the greats by Lata-Madan Mohan combo. She is feels helpless and thinks he doesn’t know her worth.She is trying her best to make him understand the situation.

3. O Bedardi Aa Mil Jaldi – Heera Moti (1959) Lata Mangeshkar / Roshan – Shailendra
Shubha Khote dancing and enjoying herself in a typical Indian countryside. She is waiting for her prince charming and wants him to come at once. She comes across a wedding procession and thinks about her friend’s wedding and her loneliness. She has been waiting for him for long and is wondering how is she considering a stranger as her partner. She has been looking for him like a crazy all around her village, but that heartless hasn’t turned up yet. She is calling him cruel in an obviously pretend anger, that actually shows how egar she is for his love and affection.

4. Aaja Bedardi Balma – Shahid (1947) Geeta Dutt / Master Ghulam Haider – Qamar Jalalabadi
One of Geeta’s earlier songs. Her tender voice is full of anguish and she manages to come out with a mature performance. She is regretting his absence and asking him to join at once. She is totally disturbed and feels hopeless without him. She is trying hard to get on without him but her heart is not in it.

5. Bedardi Nazare Milake Keh De – Aji Bas Shukriya (1958 ) Lata Mangeshkar / Roshan – Faruq Kaiser
Perhaps a lesser known song from the movie. A mujra song picturised on graceful Minu Mumtaz. She doesn’t seem to address a particular person. An enjoyable song.
Roshan’s tune takes the expected turns necessary for a mujra song.

6. Bedardi Dagabaz Ja – Bluff Master (1963 ) Lata Mangeshkar / Kalyanji Anandji – Rajendra Krishna
A classical based song, picturised on Saira Banu, playing a string instrument (Sitar I guess). I haven’t seen this movie, but she appears to be aware of Shammi Kapoor’s disguise.The latter is making funny faces as if he is knowledgeable about the classical songs.( He reminds me of Raj Kapoor in Dil Hi To Hai). Here again the word means admiration rather than to hate. She mentions about his presence there in disguise, the latter is frightened when someone turns up.

7. Bedardi Mere Saiyan – Choudhavi Ka Chand (1960) Asha Bhosle / Ravi – Shakil Badayuni
Yet another mujra song on the list featuring Minu Mumtaz. Johny Walker in disguise is her actual obliquely mentioned heartless person. She dances with her usual finesse and expressions. She describes him as a brute who acts to be innocent while actually he is wicked. Again this is not to be taken literally, it’s actually his praise than a curse. This is actually an average song but Asha’s voice makes it fantastic along with the dancer’s typical Adas for a mujra.

8. Haye Rasiya Tu Bada Bedardi – Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) Asha Bhosle / Naushad – Shakil Badayuni
A typical mujra again.In my opinion, this time the Bedardi himself steals the show than the courtesan. Pran’s expressions are just excellent, he was really very good at playing evil characters. The dancer seems worried more about choreography and forgets to act .Again it’s only Asha’s voice and Pran that add vigor to this otherwise flat song. Here the dancer warns him for his undue pride, which she is sure to ruin himself. She curses him throughout the song and the element of admiration seems missing for a change. This song might be there in the movie to establish Pran’s image as a villain at the beginning of the movie.

9. Chale Jana Nahin – Badi Behen (1949) Lata Mangeshkar / Husnalal Bhagatram – Rajendra Krishna
Geeta Bali’s cute screen presence makes this song sweeter than ever!She is demanding his total commitment. She wants him to be with her forever and to keep their love as a secret from the wicked world. Of course I would never have believed someone like Pran having those expressions on his face. Pran seems to have forgotten he is supposed to be good for once. Lata’s tender voice is full of expressions and complements Geeta Bali’s acting. This was one of Lata’s earlier hits that helped her establish herself in the industry. Here, her voice stands out against Suraiya’s voice who was a popular & established singer actress that time.

10. Humein Ho Gaya Tum Se Pyar Bedardi Balma- Madhosh (1952) Lata Mangeshkar / Madan Mohan – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
A song about confession of love. I included this as I felt, it’s not a typical Madan Mohan song and no song about confession of love on the list. Not a particularly great song I must say. She asks him to love her back and put her mind to rest because she is worried that he might not love her. Her mind is completely occupied with him and she is unable to think of anything else. She is totally enchanted by him and requests him to accept her love. I had no idea, this song is picturised on Usha Kiran, who appears to be in a completely different role than her usual on screen image. She looks beautiful and tries to seduce the hero, Manhar Desai. The latter imagines Meena Kumari in her place.

 

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