Chhaayaageet #241 - "Tumhara dimaag kharab hai? Ustad Amir Khan ki tulna karne chali ho?"
Have you lost your mind? Are you trying to compare with Ustad Amir Khan?
Work is moving at a frenetic pace on the music and songs of the film. It is the second film in the trilogy that the filmmaker wants to make in the suspense-thriller genre. The music and songs have a haunting character about them.
One evening the composer and the female playback singer decide to attend a classical concert of Ustad Amir Khan. The Ustad is in his element performing Raga Nand. This raga creates its own mood without any difficulty and impresses instantly.
The singer finds herself besotted by the raga so much that she cannot get it out of her mind.
The next day, the singer is at the studio to rehearse and record a song. The composer familiarizes her with the song. She has a habit of making notes in a notebook as she listens. Suddenly she asks him: “Bhaiya, iss gaane ko kya hum Nand mein banaa sakte hain?” Brother, can we compose this song in (the raga) Nand?
The composer is surprised to hear this. He realizes that the concert of Ustad Amir Khan has not left the singer’s mind. He asks her back: “Tumhara dimaag kharab hai? Ustad Amir Khan ki tulna karne chali ho? Kal sun ke aai ho concert woh tumhare dimaag se nahin utar raha?” Have you lost your mind? Are you trying to compare with Ustad Amir Khan? The concert which you listened to yesterday, is that not leaving your mind?
The singer smiles and reveals: “Aapne sahi pakda. Mein bahot jyada usmein doobi hui hoon.” You have caught on correctly. I find myself much too immersed in it.
The singer continues: “Koi zaroori nahin ki hum isse shastriya sangeet ka aadhaar dein, lekin raagdari ki sangati to hum rakh sakte hain. Nand mein bana sakte hain.” It is not necessary that we make this as a classical song, but we can keep some elements of the raga. We can create this in (raga) Nand.
The composer gives in. The entire song is recomposed all over again, the first and the only time in the music career of the composer and the singer.
Lata Mangeshkar sang the song Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega for the film Mera Saaya (1966), music by Madan Mohan, lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The film is directed by Raj Khosla, with Sunil Dutt and Sadhana in lead roles.
Ustad Amir Khan’s bandish Dhoondoon Baare Saiyan in Raga Nand captivated Lata ji to the extent that she requested Madan Mohan if he could recompose the song in that raga.
The film is the second in the trilogy of suspense thrillers that Khosla and Sadhana made together - Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Mera Saaya (1966), and Anita (1967). Mera Saaya is a remake of the Marathi film, Paathlaag (The Chase) (1964), produced and directed by Raja Paranjpe.
Mera Saaya was a big success at the box office. The music and songs are popular to this date and are a testament to the quality of the music composed by Madan Mohan and sung by Lata Mangeshkar (Mera Saaya, Nainon Mein Badara Chhaaye), Asha Bhosle (Jhumka Gira Re), and Mohammad Rafi (Aapke Pehloo Mein).
A short clip of Lata ji singing this song live in concert.
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
*ing: Sadhana, Sunil Dutt
Director: Raj Khosla
Film: Mera Saaya (1966)