This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
One of the more easily recognizable figures on the Hindi film screen. There are two hallmark identifications, with which we can easily pick out Asit Sen (the actor). The first one is his size. It is remarkable that he maintained his figure through the entirety of his career. One can see him in his earliest appearances in films like ‘Do Bigha Zameen’, playing the role of a seller of sweets and savories, and then also see him in films after three decades – ‘Mera Karam Mera Dharam’ (1987), playing the role of school headmaster. There is no change in his physique. For the number of years one sees him on screen in the same physical dimensions, the thought almost comes into the mind – maybe this is how he was born.
The second most distinguishing feature of his personality is his dialogue delivery. A busy, hurried person would certainly miss his train, or flight, waiting for Asit Sen to complete one dialogue. The measured slowness simply cannot be a result of practice. Asit Sen had an natural-ness about his leisurely and well, almost painstakingly deliberate pace of conversation. His one spoken word has the capacity to stretch on for a few seconds. Such an exchange would cause irritation under normal circumstances. But with Asit Sen, this ended up with such comic effects that he was a comedian in very high demand. In a career that spans almost three and a half decades, he appeared in no less than 450 films, in supporting roles of all shades and hues. So effective was his on screen presence that the audience were quite well tuned to his entry into a scene – with his pudgy frame and chubby features, he would enter a frame, and audience would already start to chuckle, knowing well that a funny interlude was about to follow.
He would have been a director, but he chose to become a comedian, leaving the lightweight Asit Sen (the director) a clear space. I once read in one issue of ’Filmfare’ magazine long ago – the reference to these two contemporaries was given as ‘Chhote Asit Sen’ (the director) and ‘Motey Asit Sen’ (the actor).
I reproduce below a brief bio sketch presented by our dear Arun ji, from his article on the ‘Anmol Fankar’ blog in the series of ‘Same Name Confusions’. (http://www.anmolfankaar.com/features/blog/317-same-name-confusions-part-1.html).
The roly poly, slow speaking, heavily built comedian would have actually been an A-class Director, but for his laziness. Born in Gorakhpur (UP) on 13th May, 1917, his photographer father put him in New Theatres camera department. Doing small bit roles, he slowly became an assistant to Bimal Roy and shifted to Bombay in 1950. He was the production executive for ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ (1953) as well as the asst. director for ‘Parineeta’ (1953) and ‘Biraj Bahu’ (1954). He directed two films – ‘Pariwar’ (1956) and ‘Apradhi Kaun’ (1957). Unfortunately, these two well directed films of roly poly Asit Sen are mistakenly often credited to the other Asit Sen. Though his work was appreciated, perhaps due to his heavy body, he preferred to work as actor than a director.
After doing small roles in Bimal Roy’s films like ‘Sujata’, ‘Parakh’, ‘Anuradha’, ‘Mem Didi’ and ‘Kabuliwala’, he did his first significant comic roles in Junglee (1961) and Sautela Bhai (1962). It was here that he perfected his slow dialogue delivery style.
He worked in almost 450 films in all languages. He also tried doing serious roles, like in ‘Chetna’, ‘Zaroorat’, and ‘Aradhana’, but he was rejected. The audience wanted him as a comedian only.
I present this song and article today – today’s date is listed as the anniversary of passing away of this comic actor (in 1993). As I check IMDB and Wikipedia, this is the date that those web pages also carry. Arun ji’s article on ‘Anmol Fankar’ carries a different date. I request dear Arun ji, to please check and clarify for us about this date discrepancy.
Seeing Asit Sen perform songs on the screen, is kind of a switch-hit – the batsman changing his mind while shaping up for a cover drive, switching stance, and dispatching the ball to mid wicket boundary with a reverse flick. What I mean to say is that one is so used to Asit Sen’s dawdling and sluggish dialogue delivery, that one is taken by complete surprise watching him lip sync a song, which necessarily has a regular pace and tempo – characteristics that one simply does not associate with him. And so, the song turns out to even more fun as Asit Sen is now seen playing catch up with the playback singer, at times with some funny effects, as his actions appear to be late by many fractions of a second, behind the spoken word. There is this male duet song (Rafi Sb and Manna Dey) from the film ‘Gunaahon Ka Devta’ (1967) – “Mehfil Mein Shama Chamki, Parwaane Chale Aaye” (not yet posted on the blog), which is performed on screen by Asit Sen and Mehmood. It is such fun watching the antics of these two – Mehmood’s actions are quite in sync with the sung lyrics, and Asit Sen, although lip syncing the same lines, is quite discernibly lagging in his lip movement and actions, by some fraction of seconds. Just that discrepancy is so hilarious, as Asit Sen, with his oversize bulk, is trying keep pace with Mehmood.
Today’s song is another wonderful presentation from the 1970 film ‘Begunaah’. The film is the regular Sheikh Mukhtar genre, which also includes NA Ansari for good measure. The six songs in this film are attributed to two songwriters – Asad Bhopali and Manohar Khanna. However, the specific songwriter for this song is not identified. Music is by Usha Khanna. (Intresting note – Manohar Khanna is the father of Usha Khanna).
The song is picturized as a villain’s den song. In the beginning of the clip we see a person tied to a chair, making efforts to release himself. One cannot make out the face clearly, but I am guessing it is Dev Dutt, the male lead actor in the film. And then the song starts – it is a dance song. The lead dancer is Shahida, and Asit Sen is the companion. I have this film, but have not yet watched it. Apparently, the hero has been imprisoned by the gangster boss, and the heroine, along with the side kick has come the gangster hideout, disguised as dancers, in an effort to rescue the hero. That is how this situation seems to be designed.
And so, paying tributes to one of the most likeable and endearing comic persona of the Hindi film screen, on the anniversary of his passing away. Always to be remembered as a 78 rpm record being played on a player that seems to be low on power. The extended drawl as the words coming from his lips take their own time to form and be heard.
Asit Sen – the portly funny man, who found his way into our hearts – slowly, quite slowly.
Song – Antul Maahboobi Antul Maahboobi (Begunaah) (1970) Singer – Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Lyrics – (unknwon), MD – Usha Khanna
Rafi+ Asha
Lyrics
aaaaaa
aaaaaa
antul mahboobi
mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
(?) hasan ta alaiqaa
(?) hasan ta alaiqaa
main teri rukhsaana
tu mera parwaana
ae mere humdum
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
jalwe hain andaaz hai mai hai masti hai
duniiya ki har cheez yahaan mil sakti hai
teri surat chaand se pyaari surat hai
tere dum se aaj ye duniya jannat hai
tu haseen hai
dil-nasheen hai
maahtaab jaisi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
aaaa aaa
aaaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa
aaaaa aaaaa aaaaaaa
aaaaaa
aaaaaaa
aaaa aaaaa aaaaa
jab jab tere saath nigaahen milti hain
dil mein kitni shokh bahaaren khilti hain
aaj nazar ke saamne mera qaatil hai
tauba jee ab hosh mein rehna mushkil hai
mere pyaar par
aitbaar kar
ae haseen saathi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
o deewaane kaun tujhe ye samjhaaye
jaane ik pal baad yahaan kya ho jaaye
har afsaana khwaab mein dhalta jaata hai
rang e mehfil aur badalta jaata hai
mere meharbaan
apni dastaan
jaan le na koi
ho antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
(?) hasan ta alaiqaa
(?) hasan ta alaiqaa
main teri rukhsaana
tu mera parwaana
ae mere humdum
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
antul mahboobi
mahboobi
———————————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————————-
आssss
आssss
अनतुल माहबूबी
माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
(?) हसन ता अलइका
(?) हसन ता अलइका
मैं तेरी रुख़साना
तू मेरा परवाना
ए मेरे हमदम
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
जल्वे हैं अंदाज़ है मय है मस्ती है
दुनिया की हर चीज़ यहाँ मिल सकती है
तेरी सूरत चाँद से प्यारी सूरत है
तेरे दम से आज ये दुनिया जन्नत है
तू हसीन है
दिल-नशीन है
माहताब जैसी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
आsss आss
आssss आsss आsss आsss
आssss आssss आssssss
आsssss
आssssss
आsss आssss आssss
जब जब तेरे साथ निगाहें मिलती हैं
दिल में कितनी शोख बहारें खिलती हैं
आज नज़र के सामने मेरा क़ातिल है
तौबा जी अब होश में रहना मुश्किल है
मेरे प्यार पर
एतबार कर
ए हसीन साथी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
ओ दीवाने कौन तुझे ये समझाये
जाने इक पल बाद यहाँ क्या हो जाये
हर अफसाना ख्वाब में ढलता जाता है
रंग ए महफिल और बदलता जाता है
मेरे मेहरबान
अपनी दास्तान
जान ले ना कोई
हो अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
(?) हसन ता अलइका
(?) हसन ता अलइका
मैं तेरी रुख़साना
तू मेरा परवाना
ए मेरे हमदम
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
अनतुल माहबूबी
माहबूबी
