Lara Lappa Lara Lappa Lai Rakhda – Remembering Vinod

Let me first wish all a Merry Christmas. When I was researching for my series on Lata’s association with lesser known composers, I came across a few of excellent songs by the composer, Vinod. It was a couple of years ago. Though I was planning the post for a long time, I couldn’t get around to doing it until this year.

Today on his 63rd death anniversary, let’s revisit a few of his songs. Even if it’s more than 60 years after his death, he is still remembered for his melodies. His songs had an unmistakable Punjabi flavour. His style of composing songs was also unique and easily showcased his talent as a composer. Unfortunately he was never associated with big banners and didn’t compose for popular actors of the era. He didn’t get his due. But even with a career of just ten to twelve years with around 30 films, he left his own impression on the golden era of HFM.

Image Source: Imprints and Images of Indian Film Music

Vinod was born as Eric Roberts in Lahore on 28th May 1922. He belonged to a Punjabi Christian family. He was fascinated by music even as a young boy. He learnt music from Pandit Amarnath who was elder brother of the duo, Husnalal Bhagatram.
He started composing for Hindi films in Lahore itself. His first film was perhaps Pran, Manorama, Zahoor starrer Khamosh Nigahen (1946) which was directed by Moti B Gidwani. It was his first film with Roop K Shorey, made under Shorey productions, Lahore. The same year saw him composing for Paraye Bas Mein (1946), where Niaz Hussain Shami was co-composer. The film also had Pran, Asha Posley, Ramlal, Zubeida, Zahoor etc, while it was directed by Dawood Chand. It’s mentioned that out of the 7 songs of the movie, Vinod composed a couple of songs. The film was also produced in Lahore.
I’m starting today’s list with the songs from these two movies. I’ve selected one song from each movie.

1. Ab Mujhe Aap Ki Tasveer Se – Khamosh Nigahen (1946) Vinod / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
It was perhaps his first film and it was also the beginning of his association with Shorey productions. The song has a typical Punjabi rhythm, perhaps based on a Punjabi folk style. The video uploader, Kelly Mistry, is Vinod’s son in law and he gives Vinod himself as the singer of the song. His voice was very expressive. Glad to start the list with a song in the composer’s own voice.

2. Apnon Se Shikayat Hai Na Gairon Se Gila Hai – Paraye Bas Mein (1946) Zeenat Begum / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
What a beautiful ghazal! I must say I haven’t heard much of Zeenat Begum. But her mesmerizing voice has compelled me to look for her other songs too. And Vinod was very good right from his early films.

Vinod was working with Roop K Shorey in Lahore. After partition he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) with the team and it’s said that lyricist Aziz Kashmiri also accompanied.
The year 1949 brought him success for the first time. The film Ek Thi Ladki was a spectacular hit of the year. Lata Mangeshkar who was then a newcomer tasted success as the song, Lara Lappa Lara Lappa Lai Rakhda became a nationwide hit. The film was full of good songs. I’ve added a couple of my favourites from the movie.

3. Lara Lappa Lai Rakhda – Ek Thi Ladki (1949) Lata Mangeshkar, G M Durrani, Rafi & Chorus / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
The song was roaringly popular and is considered as one of the top ten all time popular songs of Hindi films. The song is still very popular and will be forever. The song depicts a war of genders and goes well with the bubbly image of Meena Shorey. The song made the film popular nationwide. The song opens with lines in Punjabi which were once thought to be meaningless. But it means, झूठे वादे करना और बेमतलब झगड़ा करना. Enjoy the catchy and foot tapping number.

4. Ab Haal e Dil Ya Haal e Jigar – Ek Thi Ladki (1949) Lata Mangeshkar & Rafi / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
A beautiful duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi. Such a catchy tune.

The next year saw him composing for the film, Anmol Ratan. I don’t know what was the fate of the movie, but the film had beautiful songs, which came to light prominently in the internet era, if I’m not wrong. It was directed by M Sadiq, with Karan Dewan and Meena Shorey in the main lead. The songs were popular.
In addition to the two wonderful duets, Shikwa Tera Main Gaoon and Yaad Aanewale Phir Yaad I’m very fond of Lata’s solos from the movie. Though my all time favourite is, Taare Wohi Hai, for today’s post I’ve selected,

5. Dard Mila Hai Tere Pyar Ki Nishani – Anmol Ratan (1950) Lata Mangeshkar / Vinod – D N Madhok
An absolute gem of a song! The tune is good and the musical arrangement is good too. I’ve no idea if Vinod had an assistant to arrange the songs. The song is said to have inspired a few songs in the later years, Tere Pyar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon is mentioned in this context in the book, Dhunon Ki Yatra.

6. Lakhon Mein Ek Hamare Saiyan – Anmol Ratan (1950) Nirmala Devi / Vinod – D N Madhok
This year I was planning a post on Nirmala Devi, but I couldn’t do it. But when I found this wonderful song, I was more than happy adding it to the list. So beautifully composed!

The same year he composed for the film Wafa, Bulo C Rani was the co-composer. The film features one of my favourite Lata solos. It’s considered as one of the best of their songs together.

7. Kaga Re Ja Re – Wafa (1950) Lata Mangeshkar / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
Though the song has appeared a number of times on the blog, I never get enough of it. Another solo from the movie, Apni Apni Qismat Hai is equally enchanting, though it’s sometimes credited to Bulo C Rani. But it sounds like a typical Vinod melody to me.

However later his songs couldn’t become popular perhaps because the films were not commercially successful. So his excellent compositions in films like Sabz Bagh (1951) couldn’t gain popularity. One song from the movie, Saloni (1952), a duet by Shamshad Begum and Trilok Kapoor is also credited to Vinod while the main composer of the movie was Basant Prakash.

8. Mere Dil Ke Tadapne Ka Tamasha – Sabz Bagh (1951) Lata Mangeshkar / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
Perhaps Meri Barbadiyon Par Muskurane is the best known and the most popular song of the movie. But I had it on one of my earlier lists, on the yearly review of Lata Mangeshkar songs. So I decided to highlight this equally beautiful solo. Though it’s a very slow paced song, it creates an aura of pathos.

9. Mera Man Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Lehraye – Titli (1951) Talat Mahmood & Asha Bhosle / Vinod – Sahrai
A playful, bright song! It is very melodious. It feels a little surprising that many of such melodies couldn’t be well known. Asha Bhosle has sung for Vinod quite frequently, though the songs may not be as popular as his songs with Lata Mangeshkar. Asha’s voice sounds so different in the song, her style of singing sounds certainly a bit different than her later years.

Vinod’s association with Roop K Shorey continued for a few more films after Ek Thi Ladki (1949). Unfortunately the songs couldn’t recreate the same magic. The prominent films were, Mukhda (1951), Aag Ka Dariya (1953), Ek Do Teen (1953), Jalwa (1955) etc. Today if we listen to his songs even from obscure films like, Mukhda, Aag Ka Dariya, we find some fine songs. The film Ek Do Teen was perhaps thought to recreate the same magic as Ek Thi Ladki. But it wasn’t the case.
Today I’ve highlighted a few songs from these films.

10. Hamari Gali Aao Shyam – Mukhda (1951) Zeenat Begum / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
I’m obviously not aware of the situation in the song, but it sounds as if a lady is requesting her beloved to visit her. For me the musical arrangement was strikingly different, beautiful piano pieces are so subtle. In all it’s a very good song. And I must plan a post on Zeenat Begum’s film songs.

11. Ek Dil Hazar Gham – Aag Ka Dariya (1953) Talat Mahmood / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
I wasn’t aware of the song at all, I confess I was ashamed. While I was expecting a typical Talat Mahmood song in a blue mood, I was bowled over by the impressive orchestration. This song also reminds of yet another song, which I couldn’t place.

12. Kehta Tha Zamana Magar – Aag Ka Dariya (1953) Asha Bhosle & Rafi / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
The song is good with excellent rendition by the singers. The lyrics mention the name of the film, making it the title track of the movie. It’s very unfortunate that these songs were lesser known and didn’t become popular.

13. Thumak Thumak Chali Kamini – Ek Do Teen (1953) G M Durrani & Asha Bhosle / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
I loved the song the moment I heard and watched it. Not only is it rendered perfectly, but its picturisation as a stage song is also very impressive. I appreciated the way the scenes are changed with a simple technique and also the entire concept and story portrayed in the song. The misunderstanding between the two lovers, its immediate solution in a simple way and their reunion. The chorus dancers actually do a good job and participate in the story. The film was expected to revive the memories of the successful Ek Thi Ladki, though I think the film couldn’t recreate the same magic.

Perhaps Vinod was typecast as a composer for comedy films. He later got restricted to a number of films which had comedy as a central theme. He composed for Laadla (1954), Ha Ha Hee Hee Hoo Hoo (1955), Oot Pataang (1955), Shrinakad Narayan (1955), Makkhi Choos (1956), Sheikh Chilli (1956), Garma Garam (1957) etc. I’ve included a few songs from these films. Not that all the selected songs are comic.

14. Pyar Nahi Chhupta Chhupane Se – Laadla (1954) Talat Mahmood & Asha Bhosle / Vinod – Kaif Irfani
Quite an enjoyable song! Talat is at his best with his silken voice. Asha complements so well. To judge a song by its film is very unfair.

15. Hay Re Baj Gaye Raat Ke Barah – Laadla (1954) Shamshad Begum & Rafi / Vinod – Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
I knew this song for a few years as it was a part of one of my earlier lists. It is representative of the genre of the film. A full fun song! Shamshad Begum and Rafi sing it so wonderfully. Vinod was sort of typecast for comedy films.

16. Meri Ulfat Soyi Hai Yahan – Oot Pataang (1955) Lata Mangeshkar / Vinod – D N Madhok
Oot Pataang was Lata Mangeshkar’s last film with Vinod. She had a couple of wonderful solos to her credit. One of the solos was a part of my last post, so I didn’t want to repeat it immediately.
Even in a film like Oot Pataang, Vinod had two masterpieces with Lata Mangeshkar. Though the songs are excellent, I don’t know if I can call them popular or well known. They surely deserve to be!

17. O Arabpati Ki Chhori – Makkhi Choos (1956) Geeta Dutt & Talat Mahmood / Vinod – Pandit Indra Chandra
I love this one picturised on beautiful Shyama and handsome looking Mahipal. Have you ever seen him in a three piece suit? It has a good tune and beautiful rendition by the singers. But these films perhaps didn’t allow Vinod to showcase his real talent. And it’s possible that the commercial failure of such films didn’t allow the songs to get a wider popularity.

18. Jhoothe Ka Moonh Kala – Sheikh Chilli (1956) Rafi / Vinod – Pandit Indra Chandra
A philosophical song presented in a light hearted way! All of the songs picturised on Bhagwan were sung by Rafi. G M Durrani was chosen for Mahipal. And the female front was represented by Geeta Dutt and Sudha Malhotra.

But he couldn’t get many opportunities to showcase his talent. For films like Ramman (1954), Jalwa (1955), Mumtaz Mahal (1957) he did compose good songs. But the films didn’t click.

After his initial association with Lata Mangeshkar in Ek Thi Ladki, Wafa, Sabz Bagh etc, Vinod couldn’t offer her many songs. Zeenat Begum, Shamshad Begum were his choices in pre Lata Mangeshkar era, while Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt, Sudha Malhotra were his female playback singers in the later years of his career. Talat Mahmood and Rafi were his preferred male playback singers. In the later years he also offered songs to G M Durrani. In a film like Sheikh Chilli, where Rafi sings for Bhagwan, Mahipal gets G M Durrani for his songs.
He had a long association with the lyricist, Aziz Kashmiri who was said to accompany the team of Roop K Shorey to Mumbai. Majority of the songs on today’s list are penned by Aziz Kashmiri. His other lyricists were D N Madhok and Pandit Indra Chandra.

He died on 25th December 1959 when he was in his late 30s. It’s said that he had a cut while shaving. I remember reading about his death by tetanus, which is fortunately not common nowadays. It’s said that he also had diabetes which was undiagnosed and further led to complications and his untimely death. He was survived by his wife, Sheela and two daughters, Veena and Veera. .

His films Miss Hunterwali (1959), Dekhi Teri Bambai (1961), Ek Ladki Saat Ladke (1961) were released posthumously.

19. O Topiwale Babu – Dekhi Teri Bambai (1961) Geeta Dutt, Sudha Malhotra, S Balbir & ? Manna Dey / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri
Certainly an enjoyable song! I hadn’t even heard of the movie, but I found the songs on Kelly Mistry’s YouTube channel. Though not a great song, I included it as a song from one of his last films.

It is mentioned that a few of his Hindi films couldn’t be released. Such films include, Kamini, Nagin, and Amar Shahid.

In addition to Hindi films, he also composed for a few Punjabi films. Wikipedia mentions his five Punjabi films as Chaman, Bhaiya ji, Mutiyar, Ashtalli and Nikki. I want to add a song from one of these films.

20. Ae Gham Mujhe Jaane De – Mutiyar (1951) Talat Mahmood / Vinod – Aziz Kashmiri

Please add your favourites by Vinod

My post is based on the book, Dhunon Ki Yatra, Wikipedia, and a post on Vinod and comments on the post on SoY. I got the details of his movies from the year 1946 on Atul’s blog and on Cinemaazi.

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 convenience of music lovers. The copyright of these songs rests with the respective owners, producers and music companies.