The ‘Professional’ Songs

We have weekly bazaar at various places in my city on different days of the week. In my area, it’s on Sunday. A few weeks back I went there with my family, I saw a large mob of people. I was curious and went there to find a hawker selling toys. He was shouting interesting taglines. The audience was getting attracted and children were insisting for the toys. Of course, my daughter wasn’t an exception! A set of kitchen appliances was her demand. Even though I could make out its average make, the seller’s taglines were too good to ignore. It was not very costly, I finally bought the set.
His advertising skills were really good, compelling the customer buy the product. I remembered the incident and my thoughts led me to today’s theme.

The songs that describe one’s profession or occupation. The song may or may not actually mention the profession, but it should be obvious enough to guess. The character is promoting or talking about the profession. The song may be the actual profession of the character, or it may be a part of enacting. The character could be doing it as a part of a plan or trap. For example, to help someone out of a problem, in an act of spying or undercover cop catching criminals.
But I’ve avoided stage performances. So you won’t find, ‘Main Hoon Ek Khalasi’ or ‘Chana Jor Garam Babu’ on the list. Also I have avoided the songs, whose videos are not available. In that manner, I turned down a few songs. For me, the post has to have video songs. Only audio wouldn’t be much exciting!

I think, I have aroused your interest, and you might have started thinking about such songs already. So let’s see if our choices match or not!
Let’s start the song list. As usual the songs are in No particular order.

1. Lelo Ji Lelo Gudiya – Suvarna Sundari (1958) Lata Mangeshkar / Adi Narayan Rao – Bharat Vyas
The woman sells beautiful, cute dolls on the streets. She adores her dolls and talks about their uniqueness. She keeps the toys away from penniless mavericks. I would have bought all the dolls, if I happen to meet her. Such dolls need no advertisement, their delicate appearance and cuteness are sufficient attractions.
I’ll always remember the song for the cute, adorable dolls and Lata’s absolutely wonderful, flawless rendition. The aalap at the end of antara and each verse, is so difficult. But each time, it sounds so easy.

2. Main Rickshaw Wala – Chhoti Behen (1959) Rafi / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
Here’s a Rickshaw wala, who actually carries all the weight of the passengers by himself. It’s not even a cycle rickshaw. It’s such a strenuous physical activity.
He appears to enjoy the ride. He has some regrets about his past, but still he continues his journey. And he is kind enough to donate all his earnings to beggars, though he himself is in need of money. The song has a touch of philosophy too!

3. Sar Jo Tera Chakraye – Pyaasa (1957) Rafi / S D Burman – Sahir
What can I say about the iconic song? The film, Pyaasa is memorable in a number of ways, Johnny Walker’s champiwala, also counts among it.
Champiwala, happily roams around, singing about the advantages his massage offers! He claims it relieves the stress of any type, is also helps to control baldness and dandruff. He even carries a foldable chair, for customers comfort.He Even assures safety,but people appear to run away from him. Finally he gets one customer, who’s expressions don’t appear so favourable! A fun song, enjoy!

4. Mere Phoolon Mein Chhipi Hai Jawani – Anokha Pyar (1948) Lata Mangeshkar / Anil Biswas – Behzad Lakhnavi
The film opens with this lovely song, Bindiya (Nalini Jaywant) sings to herself. She sells flowers and Gajre comparing them to youth. She picks flowers throughout the song and collects in a small basket. She has Champa, Chameli, and Juhi to say a few. Though she is not actually singing to promote her profession, she speaks about it. It metaphorically symbolizes her own youth, or so I think! Nalini Jaywant was a fine actress, but looks very awkward and her movements too appear artificial. I wonder why?
But I absolutely love the song, so I retained it.

5. Zindagi Hai Kya – Maya (1961) Rafi / Salil Choudhari – Majrooh
Maya is a story of Manmohan (Dev Anand) trying to find his own identity in the society. He’s the son of a wealthy man, but on his own birthday comes across a bitter truth. His friends and even his girlfriend are with him only for his money or his position. They don’t really are what they appear to be! Disappointed Manmohan assumes a false identity of a poor man and tries to make money on his own. He tries selling ice-cream and we can see him selling mouth-watering kulfis. He is generous enough to offer it free to poor kids, who don’t have money. He has finally understood the futility of just having a lot of money, and the importance of loving relations.
For me, Dev Anand somehow never really looks poor. He still behaves like Dev Anand. I think, the readers get my point!

6. Hum Matwale Polish Wale – Boot Polish (1954) Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle & Madhubala Jhaveri / Shankar Jaikishan – Shailendra
John Chacha explains to the kids about the presentation of his promotional song. The kids do it perfectly well. When every hawker and seller advertises their product, why should the shoeshine boys be left behind?
The kids are proud of their sincerity and honesty. David, Ratan Kumar and Baby Naaz all make the song more enjoyable.

7. Le Lo Chudiyan Main Laya – Ghar Ki Laaj (1960) Rafi / Ravi – Rajendra Krishan
An entertaining chudiwala awaits us! When we’ve Johnny Walker playing a character and Rafi singing for him, a perfect song is guaranteed. The song isn’t an exception! If the film was in colour, we could have enjoyed the vibrant colours of the bangles.

8. Muliram Aur Bhindimal Ka Nikal Gaya Hai Diwala – Dulhan (1958) Rafi / Ravi – S H Bihari
One of the important persons in our everyday routine is ‘Bhajiwala’. Agha plays a green grocer, who calls himself pride of the Ahmadabad city. He has a collection of vegetables, from across famous cities of India. He sells carrots, which are from Patna. The snake gourd is from Surat, tomatoes from Delhi, potatoes from Mumbai, bitter gourds from Meerat. Fenugreek comes from Moradabad, and aubergines from Calcutta (now Kolkata). Such a dynamic person he is. His vegetables are fresh and affordable, and every husband should buy vegetables from him before going home, to make the wife happier.

9. Phoolon Ke Haar Le Lo – Inspector (1956) Hemant Kumar / Hemant Kumar – S H Bihari
Ashok Kumar, plays an undercover police officer. He pretends to be a garland seller, to solve a murder. He says he hails from Banaras, and adds that his garlands are made of carefully picked tender buds, very suitable for the occasion. He visits kothas, where women are dancing. He particularly checks the pockets of men enjoying the dance.
It was a pleasant surprise to watch, Ashok Kumar, dancing a bit, and Hemant Kumar singing in such a carefree mood! H K has sung very few of such songs.

10. Lelo Ji Hamare Gubbare – Bandish (1957) Rafi / Hemant Kumar – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
Here’s the next song, with a balloon seller. He calls them the flowers on the earth and stars of the sky. He declares the balloons, a faithful friend of children. Balloons are definitely better than humans, he further adds, as these would stay with you. See how a simple balloon is glorified! That’s a good advertisement.
Bhagwan Dada selling balloons, Rafi matching his singing style perfectly. I think, my list has maximum of Rafi songs and he has excelled in all. Such an open throated, powerful voice, yet gentle.

11. Kehta Hai Joker Sara Zamana – Mera Naam Joker (1970) Mukesh / Shankar Jaikishan – Neeraj
Raj Kapoor announces himself a Joker attracting audience to his circus. He always appears happy and bubbly no matter how he’s feeling inside. The song also uses clips from ‘Shree 420’, in Charlie Chaplin style. The kids watch it, as the Joker continues his song. In a way, it’s heart touching!
I’m not sure if Joker is to be taken as a profession. But it should be, as it’s quite courageous to portray oneself as a funny chap and let others laugh at your expense, or at times at one’s physical appearance or shortcomings. Hats off to all those who work as a clown or Joker in a circus.

12. Chakku Chhuriya Tez Kara Lo – Zanjeer (1973) Asha Bhosle / Kalyanji Anandji – Gulshan Bawra
The film, Zanjeer had Jaya Bhaduri is a different role. She plays a knife sharpener, who’s advertising her skill and on the spot demonstrating the same. Just look at the way she advertises! The knife, she sharpens is no less than a sword. The sharpened knife looks like silver, that too in just ten paisa! Moreover she explains the advantages of carrying a knife by women. They help teach a very good lesson to teasing men. She gives an example of her own, where she brought a hoodlum to his senses with the knife she was carrying. Really a great advertiser. She declares the homes with knife as safe, as no thief dares to enter it.
Really a unique song, portraying such a different kind of profession.

Bonus track

§§ Hai Naam Mera Ramzani – Alladin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952) Chitragupt & Shamshad Begum / S N Tripathi – Shyam Hindi §§
And to end the list, let’s go to the fantasy world. Here’s a song, where the wicked magician wants to get hold of the magic lamp. The lamp is now with Aladdin, but Jasmine knows nothing about its magical powers. When the magician appears as a seller of lamps, she allows the exchange.
It’s such a unique idea to have a song at this point. The magician calls himself Ramzani from Iran, and he exchanges old lamps for the brand new ones.
“तादिर हूँ ईरानी, हैं नाम मेरा रमज़ानी, काला लेकर उजला देना, सौदा हैं सुलतानी”
He speaks very highly of his lamps, and the ladies pull his leg a lot. They call him, goat with funny beard, give him a hard time. But he tolerates everything, as he identifies the lamp in the hands of a maid servant from Aladdin’s palace. Though it’s not a great song it’s definitely a good one and fits the bill.
Is it B M Vyas, playing the magician?

Would you add a song?

Disclaimer –
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 rests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.