Chhaayaageet #150 - "Agar logon ne ye gaana pasand kiya to phir muh maangi fees aapse loonga."
"If people like this song then you will pay me whatever I ask for as my fees."
The music composer has composed an exquisite tune for the Hindustani classical song in the film. It is in Raag Hameer, a rather difficult raag to sing. The composer shares the tune in a sitting with the singer, the director and the producer. The singer is joyfully excited to hear the tune, more so because it is in Raag Hameer. The artist in him loves the challenge. However, that joy is cut short by the producer.
"Yeh gaana log pasand nahin karenge. Bahot mushkil raag hai", the producer's words pour cold water. People will not like this song. It is a very difficult raag.
The singer pleads his case, "Huzoor mujhe ek dafe gaane dijiye. Aur mein iski koi fees aap se nahin loonga. Agar logon ne ye gaana pasand kiya to phir muh maangi fees aapse loonga." Sir, please let me sing this once. I will not charge any fees to sing this song. If people like this song then you will pay me whatever I ask for as my fees.
"Manzoor hai", the producer agrees to the wager.
Emboldened by the conversation between the singer and the producer, the composer also throws his weight behind the singer, "Is jagah ke liye mein koi doosra gaana nahin banaunga, yehi gaana rahega." I will also not compose any other song for this situation, it will only be this song.
They go ahead with the recording of the song. The singer puts his heart and soul into singing the very classical number.
The director decides he will film this song early in the shooting schedule. The actor is now in the mix of things. He is known to fully immerse himself and become one with the character he portrays in order to give the role complete authenticity.
The music composer informs the actor, "Dekhiye ismein sitar ke kuch mushkil pieces hain. To Halim Jaffar sahab ne sitar bajaya hai to mein unke haathon ka close up le loonga". See, there are some difficult pieces of sitar in this song. Halim Jaffar has played the sitar in the song, so we will take the closeup of his hands playing the sitar.
The actor bristles at this suggestion, "Wah to baat kya hui? Mein practice karoonga. Mein seekhoonga. Aur mein apne haath ke close up doonga." How can this be? I will practice. I will learn to play the sitar. And I will give the closeup shots of my hands.
The actor requests the director, "Dekhiye isey pehle mat shoot kijiye. Is gaane ko hum log picture ke aakhir mein picturize karenge, taaki hum riyaaz karte rahen." See, please don't shoot this song in the beginning. We will picturize this song last, at the end of the schedule, so that I can keep practicing until then.
The actor starts to learn to play the sitar and practice regularly with complete dedication and commitment. It takes over a year for the rest of the film to be completed. The actor keeps his sitar practices going consistently over that time.
Finally, it is now time to shoot the song, with the actor playing the sitar and giving closeup shots of his hands moving fluidly over the instrument.
The composer reaches the studio where the set is put up. He wants to see the song being filmed. When he reaches the studio, everyone has just taken a break for lunch. The composer reaches over to the actor, who is very pleased to see him.
"Aaiye, khana mere saath kha lijiye", the actor invites the composer to have lunch with him. Come, please have lunch with me.
But what does the composer see? He sees the actor's fingers all taped up with bandage. He enquires with concern, "Arre ye kya hua?" What happened?
"Woh aapne jo museebat mere sar daal di. Itne sitar ke difficult piece, to usmein ye karte karte taar se ungliyan cut gayi hain", the actor informs his predicament. You have created this big problem for me, with such difficult sitar pieces. My fingers have been cut by the strings while playing them.
The composer is struck with awe by the actor's dedication and commitment.
The film releases to much acclaim and becomes a huge box office success. This song in particular is loved by the public. The producer is forced to accept that he has lost the wager with the singer.
"Bhai aap jeet gaye, mein haar gaya. Boliye kya fees aapko pesh karun?" You have won, I have lost. Please tell me your fees that I can present to you.
The singer replies, "Meri fees mujhe mil gayin". I have already gotten my fees.
The producer is confused, "Lekin maine to kuch nahin diya." But I have not given anything.
The singer replies, "Awam ne ye geet pasand kiya yahi meri fees thi. Mein aapse kuch nahin loonga." The public has loved this song. Those are my fees. I will not take anything from you.
The singer continues pointing to the composer, "Taarif inki kijiye jinhone ismein kamal kar diya." Praise him, who has created magic in this song.
It is the composer's turn to respond, "Huzoor maine kya kamal kiya. Maine to purani sharab ko nayi botlon mein bhar ke aapke saamne pesh kar diya. Kamal to Raag Hameer ka hai." Sir, what magic have I done? I merely served old wine in new bottles and presented it in front of you. The magic is that of this Raag Hameer.
Mohammad Rafi Sahab sang Madhuban mein Radhika nache re in his melodious voice in the film Kohinoor (1960), music by Naushad Sahab, lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni, and performed on screen by the inimitable Dilip Kumar. Dilip Sahab learned to play the sitar and insisted on having closeup shots of his hands playing over the sitar. Kohinoor was a big box office hit. The film was directed by SU Sunny, and produced by VN Sinha. The taan picturized on Mukri in the song is credited to Niyaz Ahmed Khan.
Dilip Kumar had gone into a depression following a string of tragic roles and was advised by his psychiatrist to do some light roles. Kohinoor was one of the films he decided to do after receiving that advice. Meena Kumari, also known as the tragic queen, performs a light-hearted role in this film.
One can see total modesty and complete dedication by the stalwarts to their art and craft, as seen by Rafi Sahab putting his soul into the singing and refusing to accept any remuneration, Naushad Sahab deflecting all credit away from him, and the superstar Dilip Kumar refusing to let someone else give close up shots of playing the sitar, and approaching the role with complete dedication and commitment to learn the instrument and practice consistently.
This song is a cult favorite due to its soul stirring musical composition by Naushad Sahab and the singing of Rafi Sahab. Watch Rafi Sahab singing this song live on the Doordarshan program, Aarohi.
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
Singer: Mohammad Rafi, Niyaz Ahmed Khan
*ing: Dilip Kumar, Mukri
Director: SU Sunny
Producer: VN Sinha
Film: Kohinoor (1960)