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Today’s song is from the film Shiv Bhakta-1955.
This film was made by A.V.M, Madras in their Madras Studio. This is actually the story of Bhakta Kannappa, on whom AVM had made the original Bilingual film in Telugu and Kannada in 1954. This Hindi remake was made in 1955. According to folklore, Lord Shiv ji also blessed Kannappa to be reborn in Kaliyuga as one of his greatest devotees, as Kannappa and to be liberated from birth and rebirth.
I have yet to see a 100 % Atheist in my 85 years of life. Many people claim that they don’t believe in God, but in their difficulties they either blame God or pray to God for relief ! Basically, Indians are born as God fearing and have a religious tendency and mindset from the childhood. Not all people exhibit this sentiment but the increasing crowds in Holy places, temples and Kumbh Melas or Sabarimala yatra, Pandharpur Wari, Char Dham yatra and Mata Vaishno Devi yatra etc are living examples of the religious nature of common Indians. The temples of Indian Gods e.g. Jagannath Puri, Shri Balaji, Kali Mata, Kashi Vishwanath etc. are the richest in India, where devotees offer money and other valuables like Gold, Diamonds etc.
As of today, I personally feel that the Indian culture and the religion is kept alive by Southern states primarily. No wonder then, that Mythological films are extremely popular in the South. Most of the Acting, Direction and Music legends from the South started their careers from acting or being a part of some Religious film in Southern languages.
Famous actor M G Ramchandran also known as MGR debuted in Sathi Leelavathi-1936, Anjali Devi in Raja Harischandra-36, Sivaji Ganeshan in Parasakthi-52, A.Nageshwar Rao or ANR, in Dharma Patni-41. N T Rama Rao or NTR acted either as Rama or Krishna in 52 films from 1950 to 1955 after his debut in 1949.
Both Tamil and Telugu films,in their initial phases, constituted a major chunk of Religious and Mythological films. Hindi films are no match for South films, as far as variety and contents of this film genre is concerned. Unlike Hindi films, South films take a lot of effort in presenting religious films, remaining very close and true to the original stories in Puranas, without depending too much on the fertile imaginations of their ” story departments” like Hindi films.
Many south films are dubbed in Hindi. Famous production houses of the south, like AVM, Prasad productions, Nagi Reddy’s Vauhini or Vijaya Studios, Vassan etc were known to make big Mythologicals in those days. In addition, famous legendary Directors used to direct such films. Today’s film Shiv Bhakta is also directed by one such legend from south- H L N Simha or H. Laxi Nar Simha. His name is not known outside the south, but in the south, especially in the Kannada film world, he was a highly respected personality.
H L N Simha was born on 25-7-1904, at a village Madhalli, in Malavalli in Mandya district of Karnataka. Starting as an actor in Dramas, he soon established his own drama company-” Chandrakala Natak Mandali”,along with a fellow actor Mohd. Peer. His first film was Sanskara Nauka-36,in which he was an actor,writer, screenplay writer and its Director too. He is famous for locating and introducing Dr. Rajkumar into films. Raja Sulochana and Pandaribai are also his discoveries. He was credited for making Dr. Rajkumar work in a Telugu film, under his direction-” Kalahasti Mahatmyam”-54. This was Rajkumar’s only film outside Kannada language !
Mr.Simha served the stage and film industry for nearly half a century. His interest in stage began when he was a young lad and wrote his short play, ‘Destiny Rules Humanity’ and brought it on stage with Mohamed Peer, another renowned stage actor of yesteryears. Later he joined the famous Varadachar Drama Company and began playing minor roles.
Appreciating the stage talent of Mr.Simha, Gubbi Veeranna sent him to Bombay, present Mumbai, for training in film direction. After the training, Mr.Simha joined hands with Mr.Gubbi Veeranna as Assistant Director and produced a silent movie, “His Love Affair”. His major stage play, “Samsara Nouka” (the life’s boat) brought him rich encomiums as a top drama producer and director. It was brought on stage during 1933. Breaking the tradition of Pouranic plays, “Samasara Nouke” tread a new path. It became the first social play in Kannada touching upon the prevailing social issues and conditions like dowry, unemployment and widow marriage. Simha played the leading role as Maadhu, while Peer Sab as Sundara in this play, which was staged in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu also, besides in several places in Karnataka.
His role as Shahajan in the same title play and as Chenna in ‘Gouthama Buddha’ play brought him more laurels. Then leading stage personalities like T.P.Kailasam, Pandit Taranath and Thirumale Thatacharya Sharma were among those who lauded the acting abilities of Mr.Simha, apart from his abilities as a director of Kannada plays.
Simha later set up his own troupe, “Simha’s Select Artistes” and produced dramas like “Abba Aa Hudugi”, “Bamgarada Bara”, “Madhakari Nayaka”. Those who acted in these dramas included Rathnakar and M.V.Narayana Rao (who spoke at the function on July 27), film script writer Sorot Aswath, and M.V.Rajamma.
The next phase in the life of Mr.Simha was that of a film producer. Then famous film producer of Madras, Mr. K.Rajagopala Chettiar invited Mr. Simha to produce his famous play “Samsara Nouka’ as a film. Taking up the challenge of producing a social Kannada film for the first time, Mr.Simha introduced to the film industry B.R.Panthulu, M.V.Rajamma, Dikki Madhava Rao, Tamash Madhava Rao, Hunsur Krishnamurthy and Hanumantha Rao, who later became leading personalities in the Kannada film world.
When Mr. Simha was looking for a suitable person for his ‘Bedara Kannappa’, he saw Mutthu Raju, now Dr. Rajkumar, who has now become a household name in the film industry, at Nanjangud and gave him the new name in the lead role. This film became a hit and brought Dr.Rajkumar to limelight. Apart from Dr.Rajkumar, Mr.Simha introduced several other famous personalities like G.V.Iyer, Narasimha Raju, Raja Sulochana, Honnappa Bhagavathar, Raja Shankar, B. Hanumanthachar to the film world.
Mr.Simha’s last film was “Anugraha” in 1970, had a song written by his son, Mr.Sheshachandra. But unfortunately, Mr.Simha was not alive to see the film, when it was released. He passed away on July 3, 1972, leaving a legend behind him, which, unfortunately very few remember today.
Film Shiv Bhakta-1955 was made by AVM, Madras. The MD was the Melody King – Chitragupta. He was very popular with Southern Producers and many opted for him in the 1950’s decade – which was the Golden decade for Religious films. 121 Religious films were made from 1951 to 1960, averaging to 1 new religious film every month for 10 continuous years !. The cast of the film consisted of Shahu Modak, Padmini, Anant Kumar ( brother of Ram Marathe- initially a child artiste in films but later on a famous classical singer), Ragini, Pandari Bai and many southern artistes. Pandhari Bai acted in many Hindi films.
Pandari Bai (18-9-1928 to 29 January 2003) was an actress of South Indian languages films, mostly in Kannada language during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. She was born on 18-9-1928 at Bhatkal, Karnatak, to Kaveri Bai and Ranga Rao. She is considered Kannada cinema’s first successful heroine. She has acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Rajkumar, M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan. She was the heroine in Rajkumar’s debut movie Bedara Kannappa and also Sivaji’s debut movie Parasakthi. She has acted in over 1,000 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Bai was honoured by Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu government.
Pandaribai began her career in acting in plays based on mythological stories before making her film debut in 1943 with the Kannada language film, Vani. She appeared in the 1954 Kannada film Bedara Kannappa opposite Rajkumar. In the film, she played Neela, wife of Kanna (played by Rajkumar), a hunter. She established herself as a lead actress portraying a woman with a “progressive” image assuming the burdens of a feudal patriarchy in films such as Sant Sakhu (1955) and Rayara Sose (1957). In 1959, she appeared in Abba Aa Hudugi, with her sister Mynavathi. The film is considered a landmark in Kannada cinema.
Later in her career Pandari Bai played the mother of stars older than her, most of whom had played the lead with her in her earlier years. She worked in 27 Hindi films. Her first Hindi film was Bahar-52, in which Vaijayantimala made her Debut in Hindi films. Pandharibai’s Hindi pronunciation initially was typically south indian, but over a period, she improved her diction. Her last Hindi film was Time Bomb-1996. However, after her death on 29-1-2003, 3 more delayed Hindi films were released. She came to be known to Hindi audiences mainly due to her role in the film Bhabhi-57. Some of her famous Hindi films were Panchayat-58, Paigham-59, Rakhwala-71, Apna desh-72 and Sampoorna Ramayan-1973.
The story of today’s film Shiv Bhakta-1955 was….
Manimant and Alka are a happy couple in Gandharva Lok. Due to a curse by Indra, they have to take birth on Earth. They are found in the jungle by a Hunter who adopts them and brings them up. When they are young, they are married as Deena and Neela. They live a happy life, but some bad elements in their tribe spread rumours about them and they are thrown out of the village. Deena is very angry and becomes a nastik (atheist) because, for no fault of theirs, god has punished them. Neela however has deep faith in God.
One day when Deena could not get any animal for hunting, tired he sits at a place, which happens to be a Shiva Temple. The priest Kashinath finds out about him and asks him to repeat the mantra “Om Namah Shivay” continuously till he gets an animal. Deena, without knowing anything about it, starts the Japa and after some time his heart is filled with bhakti Rasa and love for God.
The chief Priest Kailashnath is a bogus person. He steals God’s jewellery and gives it to his dancer girlfriend Rani. When the theft comes to light, Deena is accused of the theft as he was in the temple. For the second time he has to suffer for no fault. Deena and Neela continue the Japa of Om Namah shivay and are ready to give the supreme sacrifice with their lives, when Lord Shiva appears before them and takes them to Gandharvalok again.
Now let us enjoy today’s video song, sung by Asha Bhosle and Rafi with Chorus……
Song- Laaj lage ghoonghat naa khol baalmaa (Shiv Bhakt)(1955) Singers- Asha Bhonsle, Rafi , Lyricist- G.S.Nepali, MD- Chitragupta Shrivastav
All chorus
Female chorus
Lyrics
o o
ho ho ho
ho ho ho ho ho
piyaa ho
ho ho ho ho
ho ho ho o o
goriya ho
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom jhannjhan
jhoom re jhumaa
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol baalma
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol baalma
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
mukh se jo bologe sun lengi sakhiyaan aa
mukh se jo bologe sun lengi sakhiyaan
ankhiyon ki boli mein bol baalmaa
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom jhannjhan
jhoom re jhumaa
o o o
mere sapnon ki pari
kyun mujhko dekh dari
shaadi ki rang bhari raat hai
haaye chhedo mujhko na sanam
pooree hone do rasam
dil tujhse teri kasam maat(?) hai
dede mere mukhde ka mol baalma
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol baalma
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom jhannjhan
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom jhannjhan
jhoom re jhumaa
o o o
oonchee neechi hai dagar
dekho lachke na kamar
mera tumhaara safar door ka
haaye
kaanon mein baat karo
haathon mein haath dharo
tab jaake saath karo door ka
tu bhi zara dil ko tatol baalma
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol baalma
laaj lage ghoonghat na khol
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom jhannjhan
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom re jhumaa
jhoom jhannjhan
jhoom re jhumaa