Hindi Film Qawwalis – 2

Last month I started the series on Hindi film Qawwalis and I covered the 40s and the 50s in the first part.
Roshan’s Qawwalis from Barsaat Ki Raat were roaringly popular and it had reverberations in the 60s. The 60s saw a lot of Qawwalis being incorporated in Hindi films. Hence when I started collecting qawwalis from the 60s, I thought of coming up with a separate part dedicated to the 60s.
Jani Babu Qawwal and Shakila Bano Bhopali both had heydays in the 60s and I have one song each picturised on them. Both of them had a hand in popularising Qawwali in general public and also Hindi films.

So today’s post focuses on the Hindi film Qawwalis from the 60s, that is from 1961 to 1970. I hope readers will find this part interesting.

1. Mere Banne Ki Baat Na Poochho – Gharana (1961) Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum & Chorus / Ravi – Shakeel Badayuni
Ravi was awarded the best composer Filmfare trophy for this film. And the majority of the songs were very popular, mostly still are! We have a wedding ceremony in the song. It’s an all female Qawwali. Two teams of women, one from the groom’s family, the other from the bride’s. Both the teams are against each other in praising their respective celebrity. A lot of leg pulling, insults ensue, but all in fun. Very enjoyable and light hearted song!

2. Hum Deewane Tere Dar Se Nahi – Naqli Nawab (1962) Asha Bhosle, Rafi, unknown female voice & Chorus / Babul – Kaif Irfani
Not a popular song I guess! But a beautifully crafted one. Lots of familiar faces! Picturised on Ashok Kumar, K N Singh, Shakeela, Manoj Kumar, Kamal Kapoor, Edwina, Indira Billi etc, the qawwali is a delight to watch. I knew a few more actors by face, but I don’t know their names. A touch of threatening in Indira Billi and Kamal Kapoor’s lines and are addressed to K N Singh.

3. Milte Hi Nazar Tumse – Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963) Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey & Chorus / Ravi – Asad Bhopali
Pradeep Kumar & Sheikh Mukhtar in one group versus Shakila Bano Bhopali in the opposite group. Lots of praise on one side and lots of insults on the other. Johny Walker enjoys all in the audience. Shakila Bano Bhopali was a famous qawwal of her times and appeared in lots of Hindi film songs. But she seldom sang for herself.

4. Phir Tumhari Yaad Aayi Ae Sanam – Rustam Sohraab (1963) Rafi, Manna Dey, Saadat Khan & Chorus / Sajjad – Qamar Jalalabadi
I had this soft qawwali on one of my earlier lists, but couldn’t help adding it on this list too! It is so beautiful! In a bit contrasting to the other qawwalis, this one’s sung with very soft romantic voices. It’s not an energetic peppy qawwali! It has a touch of grief of separation from the beloved, than praising or adorning her. Could be one of the few qawwalis with a melancholy touch.

5. Nigahen Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hai – Dil Hi To Hai (1963) Asha Bhosle & Chorus / Roshan – Sahir
Roshan achieved immense popularity with the spectacular qawwalis from Barsaat Ki Raat. And in the 60s, he composed wonderful qawwalis wherever opportunity struck. This Qawwali is beautifully picturised on gorgeous Nutan and she steals the show with her expressions.

6. Chandi Ka Badan Sone Ki Nazar – Taj Mahal (1963) Rafi, Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Meena Kapoor & Chorus / Roshan – Sahir
One more qawwali by Roshan from the 60s. He composed for a few Muslim socials and historical films in the 60s. His wonderful qawwalis from Bahu Begum were popular too, but for today’s list, I chose one from Taj Mahal. It’s picturised in Minoo Mumtaz, Jeevankala and Khurshid Bawra with Jeevan as chairperson.

7. Hum Unko Dekhte Hain – Benzir (1963) Asha Bhosle, Mubarak Begum & Chorus / S D Burman – Shakeel Badayuni
There are very few qawwalis composed by S D Burman. He composed for a Muslim social film only once and the film has this wonderful qawwali. It’s picturised on Tanuja, Aruna, Lata Sinha and Sheila Ramchandra. I got the information about the on screen performers on ASAD.

8. Tumhe Husna Deke Khuda Ne – Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963) Rafi, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle & Chorus / Dattaram – Anand Bakshi
A power packed Qawwali with Bhagwan, Om Prakash, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Kumkum and Shyama performing on stage, while Geeta Bali and Pradeep Kumar watch from the audience. Four of the greatest playback singers of Hindi cinema came together for this masterpiece. Rafi sang for Shashi Kapoor, while Manna Dey sang for Shammi Kapoor. Lata Mangeshkar sang for Kumkum and Asha Bhosle for Shyama.

9. Husnawale Husna Ka Anjaam Dekh – Qawwali Ki Raat (1964) Asha Bhosle, Rafi & Chorus / Iqbal Qureshi – Shewan Rizvi
Qawwali Ki Raat wasn’t a popular movie. But it had a few wonderful qawwalis, including the title track of the movie. This song is picturised on a young Deven Verma and very young and bubbly Mumtaz, but Kumkum and Kamaljeet were the main leads. The film has a few other good songs including qawwalis.

10. Zindagi Hai To Haseenon Ka – Khufia Mahal (1964) Manna Dey, Suman Kalyanpur & Chorus / Pardesi – Zafar Rahi
Not a popular song. I came across it while I was looking for songs composed by Pardesi. The song is picturised on a couple of groups of flying boats. The film must be a fantasy film, as the cast of the film also underlines. We see Jairaj, Chitra, Tuntun, Indira Bansal and a few more. I couldn’t recognise them all, though a few faces were familiar. A typical male vs female qawwali, and I haven’t come across any other qawwali sung by Suman Kalyanpur.

11. Phirte Ho Kis Gali Mein, Kya Naam Hai Tumhara – Noormahal (1965) Manna Dey, Usha Timothy, Suresh Raghuvanshi & Chorus / Jani Babu Qawwal – Saba Afghani
I don’t think this song is well known either! It’s picturised on Jagdeep, Tiwari, Sarita Joshi, Lalita Desai, Indira Bansal, Jankidas and Jani Babu Qawwal himself. There’s a huge mob around the singers in the song, some of the faces are well known, though I don’t know each of them by name. Jani Babu Qawwal was popular from the late 50s, throughout the 60s and the 70s. He appeared in a number of qawwalis in Hindi cinema during that period. He also tried his hand as a composer in Hindi films. His first film was Noormahal which featured the most popular, Mere Mehboob Na Ja sung by Suman Kalyanpur and picturised on Chitra and Jagdeep. Jani Babu also composed for a couple of Hindi films in the 70s, but without much success.

12. Jab Ishq Kahin Ho Jata Hai – Aarzoo (1966) Asha Bhosle, Mubarak Begum & Chorus / Shankar Jaikishan – Hasrat Jaipuri
Perhaps the only qawwali composed by Shankar Jaikishan. It is said that Jaikishan composed all the solos of the movie, while only this qawwali was composed by Shankar. It’s a kind of fusion song where Shankar incorporated western interludes in the qawwali. Naznin and her friends tease Sadhana and irritate her no end. It all adds to her frustration and annoyance. Naznin doesn’t do it on purpose though she misinterpreted Sadhana’s emotions.

13. Allah Yeh Ada – Mere Humdum Mere Dost (1968) Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus / Laxmikant Pyarelal – Majrooh
One of my favourites by Laxmikant Pyarelal from their early career. What a beautiful song! Great and captivating rhythm. The clapping sounds and the percussion instruments, tabla and dholak are mesmerizing. Not a traditional qawwali, Mumtaz is not reciting it, but performing it with a dance. The supporting singers, dressed traditionally in a qawwali outfit, are sitting on the stage.
Mumtaz wasn’t the main lead yet, though she was in the industry from the early 60s. But she was getting supporting characters in A grade movies. And this one’s one of the best examples. Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore in the audience, with the former in a bad mood! Any attempts to pacify him fail.

14. Kabhi Aye Haqeeqat e Muntazar – Dulhan Ek Raat Ki (1966) Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus / Madan Mohan – Allama Iqbal
Madan Mohan composed a few qawwalis for Hindi films. One of those was a part of the last post, and today as well there’s one. I don’t know if we should call it a qawwali or a Mujra! It has overlapping features and typically has clapping and percussion rhythm of a qawwali. A bit of heavy Urdu to understand and decipher the meaning though!

15. Hum Tujhe Dhoondh Lenge – Mahal (1969) Rafi & Chorus / Kalyanji Anandji – Anand Bakshi
And to end, let me present Dev Anand in disguise reciting a qawwali. Not a very popular song perhaps! But good to listen to. A lot of drama takes place during it, perhaps related to jewelry robbery. Though a bit funny to watch Dev Anand as an old man, absence of typical mannerisms is a plus point in my opinion. You can watch the video here.

Here I end the Hindi film Qawwalis list from the 60s. Please add your choice from the 60s.

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.