Chhaayaageet #217 - "Miyan, hum paise to itne hi lenge."
The young film producer decides to turn director. His first film flops very badly. Undeterred he plans his second film.
He approaches the same music composer to write songs for his new film.
The music composer quotes a price. The filmmaker is shocked to hear the number. It is much more than what he had paid the composer for the previous film that had flopped.
He makes a plea to the veteran composer, "Uncle, yeh to bahot zyada hai. Itne paise nahin hain mere paas. Aur pichli film flop bhi ho gayi thi." Uncle, this is a lot. I don't have so much money. And the last film also had flopped.
The composer doesn't budge. Perhaps he doesn't want to take on this film.
The filmmaker continues, "Uncle, iss film mein aapko do hi gaane likhne hain." Uncle, in this film you have to write only two songs.
The composer holds his ground, "Miyan, gaane do ho ya nau, paise to hum itne hi lenge." Whether its two songs or nine songs, I will take this much.
The filmmaker realizes this is a no-go. He takes the composer's leave. While descending the steps of the building, the filmmaker resolves never to climb these steps again. He tells himself he is never going to even step foot in this building.
He is angry, disturbed, upset. The same thoughts keep playing again and again in his mind - never to step foot in this direction, never to come this way to meet this man, ever again after today.
Suddenly a flash of thought comes to him. This could very well be a song in itself. He duly writes the entire song and goes to another music composer. The song is composed. It is recorded in the voice of a veteran singer. It becomes a great hit song.
Saawan Kumar Tak wrote the lyrics of the song Teri galiyon mein for his film Hawas (1974), music by Usha Khanna. The song is sung by Mohammad Rafi. The film stars Anil Dhawan, Neetu Singh, Bindu in lead roles.
Saawan Kumar Tak came to Mumbai with dreams of becoming an actor. However, when he faced rejection from many studios, he decided to turn producer. His first film as producer was Naunihal (1967) which was the debut film of Sanjeev Kumar. Saawan Kumar had seen Sanjeev Kumar doing theater and decided to give him a break. He changed the actor's name from Haribhai Jariwala to Sanjeev Kumar.
His first film as director was Gomti Ke Kinare (1972) starring Meena Kumari. It was upon Meena Kumari's insistence that he became a director. This was Meena Kumari's last film. Undeterred, Saawan Kumar decided to direct his next film, Hawas (1974). He approached Majrooh Sultanpuri for writing the lyrics of the songs, but when Majrooh Sahab quoted an exorbitant amount, Saawan Kumar decided to write the lyrics himself and became a lyricist.
In most of his films, Saawan Kumar wrote the lyrics himself. He has penned some popular songs such as Zindagi pyar ka geet hai (Souten), Barkha rani zara jam ke barso (Sabak), and also a couple of songs such as Pyar ki kashti mein and Chaand sitare phool aur khushboo (Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai).
The song Teri galiyon mein was listed at #10 on the Binaca Geetmala list of 1974.
Lyrics: Saawan Kumar Tak
Music: Usha Khanna
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
*ing: Anil Dhawan
Director: Saawan Kumar Tak
Film: Hawas (1974)