Chhaayaageet #243 - "Paise mein tab loonga jab aap mujhe poora gaana gaane doge"
I will take the money the day you let me sing a full song
The male singer walks through the busy lanes of Bandra, heading west towards Mehboob Studio. He can see the tall spires of the churches in the vicinity and, of course, the strong sun coming down straight on him at that time of the day. Although in his heart, he is quite cool and light. After all, he is on his way to meet his mentor, the voice he has revered since childhood. The one he often calls Maa Saraswati in deep affection.
He had called her earlier that morning.
“Haan didi, mein aapse milna chahta hoon, agar aapko koi problem na ho,” I wish to meet you, if it’s not a big problem for you, he said softly.
Her gentle voice came through the receiver. It is so melodious even when she is just talking to someone on the phone. “Kal Mehboob Studio aa jaana. Main wahaan recording kar rahi hoon. Wahan tumse bhi mil loongi.” Come to Mehboob Studio tomorrow. I’ll be recording there. I can meet you there.
He steps into the cool corridors of Mehboob Studios. He can hear her rehearsing. Her voice flows through the air like ripples in the water. He stands in the doorway, mesmerized.
She wraps up her rehearsal and notices him.
“Arre, tum aa gaye! Kaise ho?” Oh, you came! How are you?
He bows slightly, folding his hands, almost in reverence.
“Bas Maa Saraswati ke darshan ho gaye, aur kya chahiye.” Now that I’ve had a glimpse of Maa Saraswati, what more could I ask for?
She laughs softly, and they talk about music and his father, whose bhajans echoed through Indian homes each morning. They talk further about his struggles and successes. She encourages him to continue his journey.
Soon, the composers start rallying the orchestra back in place. This is a cue to her that the recording is about to begin. She enters the recording room, bidding goodbye to the male singer. The composers sit behind the console, listening intently, adjusting knobs, but they have been whispering to each other all this time. Something is cooking between them.
The male singer decides to take the cue as well and plans to leave. As he is walking out, one of the composers calls him. “Thoda ruk jao. Recording ke baad, chai peete hain saath mein.” Stay a bit. After recording, let’s have some tea together. The male singer feels honored.
After a few takes, the female singer finishes. She gathers her things and waves as she leaves the studio.
The composers now look at the male singer with curiosity and warmth. One of them gestures him towards a chair. Cups of steaming tea arrive, and they exchange initial pleasantries about the film and the bhajan industry. Then one of the composers leans forward.
“Tumhare pitaji ke bhajan hum bachpan se sunte aaye hain,” We’ve listened to your father’s devotional songs since childhood, he says thoughtfully.
The other composer adds, “Ek chhoti si guzarish hai. Jo gaana abhi record hua hai, uski shuruaat mein do lines aur hai. Hum chahte hain ki woh 2 lines tum gaao.” We have a small request. The song that was just recorded has 2 additional lines in the beginning. We would like you to sing those 2 opening lines.
The male singer’s eyes widen. He is really surprised and excited. The bhajan world knows him well, but he also has deep knowledge of Hindustani classical. Finally, he gets to showcase that.
The male singer gives his approval nod. The composers prepare again. He enters the recording room. His high-pitched voice fills the studio. When the final note finishes, he sees all the smiles all around.
“Bahut khoob!” one composer exclaims. “Tumhari awaaz bilkul alag hai. Gaane ki shuruaat aisi hi chhaiye thi.” Wonderful! Your voice is very different. This is exactly how we were expecting the start of the song.
One of the composers goes back into his office and gets an envelope. “Ye lijiye, humari taraf se iss gaane ke liye.” Here, this is from us for this song.
The male singer realizes he is getting paid. That makes sense. Nobody sings for free. But then this was hardly any effort. Just 2 lines.
He shakes his head gently. “Paise mein tab loonga jab aap mujhe poora gaana gaane doge,” I will take the money the day you let me sing a full song, he says with a smile.
The composers exchange amused looks, impressed by his humility.
Anup Jalota sang the initial few lines along with Lata Mangeshkar for the song Solah Baras Ki in the film Ek Duje Ke Liye. The song was composed by the duo composers Laxmikant Pyarelal, and the lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. The film was produced by LV Prasad, directed by K Balachander, and the song was picturized on Rati Agnihotri and Kamal Haasan.
Anup Jalota grew up in a family where music was part of everyday life. His father, Purshottam Das Jalota, was a respected bhajan singer, and Anup Jalota learned by listening to him rehearse and perform. From a young age, he was drawn to devotional music and started singing bhajans at local events and temples. His training in classical music helped him sing bhajans with different variations. By the 1970s, he was performing regularly on All India Radio and at concerts. Despite his success in the devotional field, Anup Jalota found it difficult to break into the Hindi film industry. Film music circles were small and competitive, and bhajan singers were often not considered for playback work.
Over the years, Anup Jalota developed a close mentor-like relationship with Lata Mangeshkar. He admired her not only for her voice but also for her discipline and deep understanding of music. Whenever he spoke about her, he referred to her with great respect, often calling her Maa Saraswati. She, in turn, treated him with warmth and encouragement, appreciating his sincerity and devotion to music. She was able to connect him with the composers such as Laxmikant Pyarelal and others. Luckily, his career took off like a rocket on the bhajan side, and he didn't have to struggle further within the film industry.
During rehearsals, LV Prasad praised Anand Bakshi’s lyrics, especially the opening lines. That’s when Laxmikant Pyarelal decided that they wanted a male voice to sing them, and it needed to be someone other than SP Balasubrahmanyam. When the composers were introduced to Anup Jalota, they decided to give him a chance.
Ek Duje Ke Liye was a blockbuster musical hit with multiple nominations across the board. Anand Bakshi was nominated for the Filmfare Best Lyricist award for the song Solah Baras Ki.
Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Anup Jalota
Composer(s): Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
*ing: Rati Agnihotri, Kamal Haasan
Producer: LV Prasad
Director: K Balachander
Film: Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981)