Chhaayaageet #9 - "Poorey pachaas hajaar"
A full fifty thousand rupees.
It is a big-budget film, and fifty thousand rupees is a non-trivial sum in those days.
Big stars with the charisma to drive mass hysteria. Big-time music composer, big-time playback singers. The film has a buzz about it.
Music and songs are being composed and recorded. Everyone has a feeling that the songs are going to be a hit.
The sticky point is compensation. Isn’t it always? After some back and forth, 50,000 rupees is agreed upon as compensation for the music composer and his orchestra.
The producer grudgingly agrees. I think I am paying more than I would have wanted to. But don’t have a choice.
He goes around telling everyone within earshot how he is paying a full fifty thousand rupees for the music. Money flowing like water. No stone left unturned.
“Poorey pachaas hajaar.”
“Poorey pachaas hajaar kharcha kiye.”
“Poorey pachaas hajaar.”
This irks the music composer and the lead singer to no end. Of course, they are worth every bit of it, and then some. This music and these songs are going to live forever.
The mischievous duo that they are, they decide a prank is well deserved.
Cut forward to the day of the recording of the song. They are in the studio, the orchestra is well set. The lead singers and chorus ready.
The orchestra begins. It’s a peppy foot-tapping duet.
The music rises to a crescendo as the song progresses toward its finale.
That's when the lead male singer decides to ad-lib. Whoa!
He addresses the orchestra and exhorts them to play every little penny's worth of the 50,000 rupees that they are being paid.
Arre bajao re bajao
Imaandari se bajao
Arre bajao
Pachaas hajaar kharcha kar diye
Everyone is stunned. Everyone. But they decide to keep it. The prank is recorded...For eternity. The song becomes a hit.
Jai Jai Shiv Shankar
Kaanta Lagey Na Kankar
Ke Pyaala Tere Naam Ka Piya
All the other prosaic words such as “O Bansi bhaiya” and “Aa mere raja” in the song are voiced by Kishore, imitating the voices and styles of members of the orchestra!
The song is shot in the picturesque valleys of Gulmarg with the beauty of the lavender and white flowers, the green grasslands, and the backdrop of snow-clad mountains.
We must have heard the song hundreds of times prior to this but probably weren't aware of these gems from Kishore da. It requires careful listening and knowing this story as the backdrop. We’ll never listen to the song the same way again!
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music: RD Burman
Producer/Director: J Omprakash
Film: Aap Ki Kasam (1974)
Credit: Anand D, Neena P (India)