CHINAR SHADE : THE MELODIOUS TUNES OF VASANT DESAI " SAIYAAN JHOOTHON KA BADAA SARTAAJ NIKLAA "

Sunday, June 29, 2014

THE MELODIOUS TUNES OF VASANT DESAI " SAIYAAN JHOOTHON KA BADAA SARTAAJ NIKLAA "

“ SAIYAAN JHOOTHON KA BADAA SARTAAJ NIKLAA ”

VASANT DESAI ( 1914 -1975 )

He was perhaps the only musician in Mumbai’s film world who had thorough knowledge of film technique and classical music. A tragic lift accident outside his flat , cut short the life of this gifted musician who gave some memorable , haunting and melodious composition . Yes I mean VASANT DESAI ( 1914- 1975 ) ) who joined Prabhat Film Company in 1940 as a music assitant.
To describe his music , I shall only discuss four movies . My mind goes to the 1959 super hit GOONJ UTHI SHEHNAI. Thanks to Vasant Desai , the viewers were also made to enjoy the Shehnai of great Bismillah Khan Sahib apart from a Jugal Bandhi between him and the Sitar mastero Ustad Halim Jaffer Khan . The movie had some classical vocal patches sung by Ustad Amir khan .The comforting tunes are still fresh in my mind . How can one forget the melody of almost all the songs that he composed for this movie ? I quote some
(1 ) Jeevan Mein Piya tera saath Rahe
(2) Tere sur aur mere geet
(3) Akhiyaan bhool gayee hain sona
(4) Haule haule goongat pat Khole
(5) Dil ka Khilona haaye toot gaya
(6) Keh do koyi na kare Yahaan Pyaar

Prior to this he had also scored music for V Shantaram’s DO ANKHEIN BAARAH HAATH ( 1953 ). Can we forget his songs like “ Aey maalik tere bandhe hum “ , “Ho ummad ghumad ke aayi re ghata “and " Saiyaan jhoothon ka bada sartaj nikla ”. For the song “Sainyaan jhoothon ka badaa sartaj notikla” , picturized on talented Sandhya ,he used wonderful Ektaara notes .

( Blessing Vijayantimala )

( With Bade Ghulam Ali Khan sahib)

Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955 ) was purely based on dance theme, so he composed classical dance tunes. He used the voice of great vocalist Ustad Amir Khan for the title song ( Jhanak jhanak payal baaje ) of the film. The movie had talented actress Sandhya and classical dancer Gopi Krishna in lead roles . Some memorable classical tracks that he composed for this film are
(1) Jo tum todo piya
(2) Nain so nain nahin milaao
(3) Saiyan jaao
(4) Murli manohar
(5) Suno Suno Suno Ji

And then the 1968 “ Aashirwaad ” under Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s banner . What a memorable music he scored for this movie? “ Ek thha bachapan ” remains my faourite to this day. Other songs that he composed for this movie are " Hum Ko mun Ki shakti dena " ,“ Rail gaadi chhuk chhuk chhuk “, Jeevan se lambe hain bandhu yeh jeevan ke raste ” and “ Jhir jhir barse saawan akhiyaan saanwariya ghar aa “

He also scored music for many more films that include Parvat Pe Apna Dera (1944), Subhadra (1946), Jivan Yatra (1946), Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Matwala Shaayar Raam Joshi (1947), Uddhar (1949) , Pyaar ki Pyaas, Toofan Aur Diya (1956 ) , Yaadein (1964 ) , Guddi ( 1971 ) and Achanak (1973 ). He introduced Vani Jairam ( Bole Re Papihara )in Guddi.

Though a highly talented musician, Vassnt ji could not market his immense talent in Mumbai's glitter to join the celebrity group. Add to that , he remained away from parties, liquor and tobacco. .This is the story of many a talented artists and musicians in Mumbai's film world. Does work and recognition travel by being a part of the system that operates through networks, brokers and lobbies ? .

( Right to left Vasant Desai , O P Nayyar and mangeshkar sisters )

Like Sahir Ludhinavi , he was a bachelor passionately wedded to his Art and creativity.

Though a Maharashtrian , he was proficient in Gujrati , Marathi , Hindi and Konkani .

I end this brief post on Vasant Desai with a couplet of poet Makhdoom ..

Bazm se door woh gaata raha tanhaa tanhaa
So gaya saaz pe sar rakh ke sehar se pehley

( Avtar Mota)