3rd Aug 1918-6th Jan 1987
With three National awards for best music, four Sur Singaar Samsad awards, the Lata Mangeshkar award by Madhya Pradesh government, in a repertoire of just around 40 films , if a music director died in a one-room paying guest accommodation , leaving behind materialistic possessions of a harmonium, few books and some personal effects, but a very rich legacy of songs that linger in our minds even now, it was Jaidev Varma.
My opening sentence may look a bit complicated and difficult-one can say Jaidev’s music was also like that. Very intricate tunes, with lyrics mostly taken from well-known poets that may not fit the regular film-style “easy on ears meter” -these were the strong points of his music.
There have been many artists who were so talented in their craft, but could not achieve much success , sometimes due to fate or in some other cases , due to their own mercurial temperament and inability to have inter-personal skills. But Jaidev’s case is intriguing. He was a simple, unassuming man who had very good relations with all and yet could not get the commercial success in the tough Hindi film music world. That is something very sad.
In order to understand the genius in him , one has to just look at the diverse types of songs he had composed that are popular till today -the romantic “ Abhi Na Jao Chodkar” , one of the most popular bhajans “Allah Tero Naam” , the patriotic “ Ab Koi Gulshan Na Ujde ”, the philosophic “ Mein Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya”, a song that conveys the pain of someone from outside surviving in a city like Mumbai “ Seene Mein Jalan, Aaankhon Mein Toofan Sa Kyun Hai” or trying to find an accommodation in the same city “ Do Deewane Shehr Mein Raat Mein Ya Dopahar Mein”, and last but not least, on a positive side ,seeking strength from the Almighty, there is “ Jaise Suraj Ki Garmi Se ”. The list can go on and on.
If we look at his style of compositions, it was a strong combination of melody based mostly on classical raagas and often blended with our folk music. He will compose a song like Abhi Na Jao Chodkar with a rhythm pattern that does not stop or change even for a second throughout the song and at the other extreme , could compose a song like Tu Chanda Mein Chandini , that has so many twists and turns in both the tune and rhythm pattern. Many songs had intricate mukhda-antara construction and were difficult to sing. He experimented a lot like having five different male singers in one single film ( Kinare Kinare-1963), worked with many lyricists . Just to give a perspective on the numerous lyricists/poets whose songs he had composed, in my selection of around 27 songs, there are 14 lyricists in additional to two traditional compositions! Shows what a genius composer he was to have tuned some very intricate lines with complex structure.
How much unlucky one can be in life is sadly seen in Jaidev’s career , wherein a huge number of 20 odd films never got released ! They were all either shelved in between or like in case of one of his films -Prem Parbhat- the prints were destroyed in a fire and the film is not available anywhere! It had the superb Lata solos Yeh Dil Aur Unki Nigahon Ke Saye and Yeh Neer Kahan Se Barse.
Jaidev was born in Nairobi, Kenya on 3rd August 1918 . His father was an official in the railways in Kenya and his family was affluent and also musically inclined. He learnt initial music from his mother who used to sing folk songs and songs from Ramayan etc. Later his family shifted to India in 1927 and he continued his education and also kept learning music. Like many artists of that era, he tried his hand in films by acting in few , but could not make any mark as an actor. He continued his journey of learning music with some veterans like Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, did some odd clerical jobs, got into a philosophical mode by staying at the ashram of Swami Sivananda and did a stint at the Lucknow All India Radio station by performing some light music. His visit to Jodhpur along with his guru Ustad Ali Akbar Khan gave him lot of insights on classical music .
Then in the year 1952, his Ustad got an assignment to compose music for the film Andhiyan and that is how he got into the role of an assistant music director. Unfortunately for Jaidev , that film and the subsequent Hum Safar made in 1953 , both flopped. He then joined S D Burman as assistant with the film Taxi Driver(1954).
He got his first break as an independent composer with the Chetan Anand film Joru Ka Bhai in 1955. One can say its music was a moderate success. The best was yet to come. His major work was Hum Dono , made in 1961 although in between he composed music for films like Anjali, Arpan, Raat Ke Raahi, Ek Ke Baad Ek etc, the music of which was not that popular.
Hum Dono had excellent music and we can even say one of his most commercially successful film apart from Mujhe Jeene Do. In fact it is said that with the success of that film Dev Anand had assured him that he would offer films to him and to S D Burman also. Sadly this promise was never fulfilled and that film remained the only one for the Navketan banner of Dev Anand. Like many other greatly talented composers of the golden era, Jaidev also had to be contented with low budget , lesser-known films that never had the “ big stars” . And so , in spite of coming out with path-breaking music, he remained in the side lines.
Having been afflicted with asthma at an early age, he decided not to marry and remained a bachelor till his last day. His frugal life style is well-known in the industry and he lived his entire life in a one-room paying guest accommodation offered by one of his admirers. Towards the fag-end of his life , the government provided him an accommodation but as always it was too late.
However these material aspects never bogged him down and he took special interest in grooming several singers , who turned out to be so successful in their careers like Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar, Bhupendar, Anuradha Podwal , Chaya Ganguli, Penaaz Masani etc, just to name a few.
I was a bit apprehensive to write about him despite being a great admirer of his songs , mainly due to the worry that whether I could do at least some justice to the great songs he has left behind. As I always mention in my blogs, I am not an expert on the technicalities of music and hence I can only write about how I experience these songs as a listener.
Till A.R Rehman beat his record , he was the only music composer to have been awarded thrice with our country’s National award for best music direction (1971- Reshma Aur Shera, 1978-Gaman and 1984-Ankahee) , that too with a repertoire of just around 40 films! Truly a great genius!
Let us now look at few of his best songs. I have sequenced them film-wise and in their chronological order based on year of release. Song / Singer(s)/ Lyricist are mentioned in that order.
Hum Dono (1961)
In an attempt to break the monotony of writing about each song, I am trying to sum up Jaidev’s songs , film-wise, wherever there are multiple songs from the same fil. Hum Do was , without any doubt the first major break for him and almost all songs in that film are masterpieces.
In this film Jaidev gave two solos and one duet to Rafi and all turned out to be pure gold. In Mein zindagi ka saath, Jaidev cleverly used the cigarette lighter’s jingle as the starting point of the song. Sahir’s allegorical lines, tries to blow away the worries of life rather than literal cigarette smoke! He even goes on to summarize a deep philosophy “ gam aur kushi mein farq na mehsoos ho jahan, mein dil ko us mukaam pe latha jala gaya,” conveying the idea how one needs to be unmoved either by joy or by sorrow.
Kabhi Khud Pe is a song that seems to be compose just for Rafi-no one else can render the pathos with such feeling and that special touch he can only add-“ Ronaaa aaaya.” And is there any need to write about Abhi Na Jao Chodkar? It has almost become an anthem for romance, sounding so fresh today as it was when composed more than half a century ago. Lata’s Allah Tero Naam is the eternal devotional song that seems to have been tailor-made for her.
Mein Zindagi Ka Saath/Mohammad Rafi/Sahir Ludhianvi
Kabhi Khud Pe/ Mohammad Rafi/Sahir Ludhianvi
Abhi Na Jao Chodkar Mohammad Rafi& Asha Bhonsle/Sahir Ludhianvi
The link given below has both the popular duet version and the rarer Asha ‘s solo version also.
Allah Tero Naam/Lata Mangeshkar/ Sahir Ludhianvi
Kinare Kinare (1963)
This film had more than 10 songs! Jaidev did a fantastic work by giving four different male solo songs to four different singers-Manna Dey, Talat Mehmood , Mukesh and Rafi. All are truly great songs and only for making my blog short, I have to reluctantly include only three of them here. If Mukesh’s Jab Gam-E-Ishq had a very prominent flute right from the start of the song, it was the santoor giving fabulous company to Rafi in Teri Tasveer and in Talat’s Dekh Li Teri Khudayee, Jaidev just took a back seat after creating a superb tune and let Talat do the honors by his soulful singing.
Jab Gam-E-Ishq Sathata/Mukesh/Nyay Sharma
Teri Tasveer Bhi Tujh Jaise/ Mohd. Rafi/Nyay Sharma
Dekh Li Teri Khudai/Talat Mehmood/Nyay Sharma
Mujhe Jeene Do (1963)
If the songs that we have so far heard are starters, we now come to the main course and listen to the quintessential Jaidev. He was well-known for the most intricate tunes ( after maybe Sajjad Hussain) and that was his specialty. Sometimes one wonders if creating such difficult songs turned out in a way to be a hurdle in not becoming popular among the masses. Very few can sing these songs and so they remain un-remembered in singing shows. Anyway that does not take away the great respect he has from the connoisseurs. The song Raat Bhi Hai Kuch Bheegi Bheegi is one such example. Only a Lata could do full justice to this intricate composition. Just listen to that out-of-the -world alaap in the middle of the song!
Rafi has sung so many patriotic songs and ‘Ab Koi Gulshan Na Ujde’ remains one of his best ever. Just listen to the part “ Mandiron Mein Shank Baaje Masjidon Mein Ho Azaan”-Rafi takes us to a different world with his exquisite singing.
Raat Bhi Hai kuch bheegi/Lata/Sahir Ludhianvi
Ab Koi Gulshan Na Ujde/Mohd. Rafi/ Sahir Ludhianvi
Ek Bulbula Pani Ka ( 1970)
I had never heard this song and only while researching for this blog I came across this rare gem. The film was not released . The song somehow tugs at your heart, with the typical soulful rendering by Rafi and from Rafi’s voice texture, it looks to be even older than 1970 that is mentioned as the year of the film.
Teen taal par naach jawani bachpan aur budhape ka/Rafi/Kaifi Azmi
Reshma Aur Shera (1971)
No wonder Jaidev got his first National award for this film’s score. Tu Chanda Mein Chandini is a song that will remain , I think , for centuries in music lovers’ hearts. One has to get oneself immersed into this song to understand and appreciate how he takes the song through with different raagas, taal …and what a superb use of that santoor, flute and those stunning silent pauses in between. Ek Mithi Si Chuban is one more gem from this film that is a sheer sweet melody. Both these songs also bring to the fore Lata’s exceptional singing skills.
Tu Chanda Mein Chandini/ Lata/Balkavi Bairagi
Ek Meethi Si Chuban/Lata/Uddhav Kumar
Maan Jaiye (1972)
Like many other films for which Jaidev scored music , this was an obscure movie that may have not be remembered by many, but this rare song of Jaidev for Kishore Kumar is a hidden gem. I always felt that Kishore da sounds superb in offbeat songs like this.
Yeh Wohi Geet Hai Jisko Maine/Kishore Kumar/Naqsh Lyallpuri
Prem Parbat (1973)
Prem Parbat is one of those “ lost” films-the prints of the films were destroyed in a fire accident and so this film is lost forever! And what great songs Jaidev composed for this film. The two songs that I have included here are , once again from the golden combination of Lata & Jaidev. The first one is quite popular , with Jaidev using the santoor, flute and the unique percussion instrument “ ghatam” that is popular in Carnatic classical music. Padma Sachdev was a famous poetess in the Dogri language that is prevalent in Jammu region and had been awarded with Sahitya Academy award and Padma Shri. She had written a handful of songs for films . Note how Jaidev creates a superb melody based on the exquisitely written poetry of Padma Sachdev “ Yeh Neer Kahan Se Barse.”
Yeh Dil Aur Unki Nigahon Ke Saye/Lata/Jan Nissar Akhtar
Yeh Neer Kahan Se/Lata/Padma Sachdev
Parinay (1974)
When it comes to composing the best devotional songs in films, Jaidev was a master, non-pareil. Like other films, this one also for Jaidev , remained an obscure film long forgotten , but the song is still remembered .
Jaise Suraj Ki Garmi se/Sharma Bandhu/Ramanand Sharma
Laila Majnu (1976)
The film Lalia Majnu had Madan Mohan as the music director and most of the songs were composed by him and were great hits. The songs gave a major boos to the career of Rafi in the mid 70’s when many music directors had started moving away from him. Madan Mohan was steadfast in his choice of Rafi for a young Rishi Kapoor and this film gave a great boost to Rishi Kapoor’s career also due to the fabulous songs like Mein Tere Dar Pe Aaaya Hoon, Barbaad-E-Mohabbat Ki Dua, Hoke Mayoos Tere Dar Se etc.
However Madan Mohan , unfortunately passed before the completion of the film and it was his very close friend Jaidev who completed few remaining songs( one of which I have listed here) and also the background score.
Kehna Ek Deewana Teri Yaad Mein/ Likhkar Tera Naam Zameen Par-Rafi & Lata -Sahir
Alaap (1977)
In this film , the ‘angry young man’ Amitabh Bachchan had a totally offbeat role, but the film unfortunately flopped. But Jaidev composed one of the many memorable songs for Dasettan as K J Yesudas is known in Kerala. The deep , but at the same time melodious voice of KJY was used so well by Jaidev in composing this song that was written by the well-known poet Dr Harivanshrai Bachchan. The same film had a superb bhajan also that was sung by both KJY and Lata in separate versions-Mata Saraswati Sharada-once again proving that when it comes to composing devotional songs, Jaidev was without any competition.
Koi Gaata Mein So Jata/ K J Yesudas/Dr Harivanshrai Bachchan
Gharonda (1977)
One more great qualities of Jaidev was to introduce and nurture many new voices in HFM. Runa Laila, from Bangladesh, had her major hit with this song Tumhen Ho Na Ho although she had sung Ek Se Badkar Ek for Kalyanji-Anandji in the previous year. Bhupendar’s most famous solo song Ek Akela Is Shehr Main and the duet with Runa Laila -Do deewane shehr mein are popular to this day, thanks to Jaidev’s superb tune and orchestration. When we listen to the songs of Gharonda , we can appreciate how Jaidev adapted himself to the changing times of late 70’s -he still retained his core melody strength , while coming out with modern-sounding tunes that had great orchestration.
Tumhen Hi Na Ho/Runa Laila/ Naqsh Lyallpuri
Do Deewane Shehr Mein/Bhupendra & Runa Laila/Gulzar
Doooriyan (1978)
I have never heard Anuradha Paudwal’s voice so melodious and with so much of depth in any other song. Definitely Jaidev had a magic wand that could bring out the best from many of the upcoming singers. Once again , observe the orchestration that sounds so modern, without in anyway compromising the melody factor. The use of saxophone is relatively rare in Jaidev’s compositions, but in this song, it is very prominent, along with violin, piano , sitar etc. Not to forget one very important factor in Jaidev’s repertoire is his association with numerous lyricists and the fact that he gave prime importance to songs with excellent lyrical & poetical content.
Zindagi Mein Jab Tumhare Gum/ Bhupendra & Anuradha Paudwal/Sudarshan Fakir
Gaman (1978)
After Reshma Aur Shera, Jaidev got his second National award for best music for this film , Gaman. We got to hear many new voices that later on went to become so famous and successful , while Jaidev remained the greatest mentor in HFM. Suresh Wadkar, Chaya Ganguly ( who was working in All India Radio as broadcasting programmer) and Hariharan -all got their major break with this single film. Chaya Ganguly also got her National award for best female playback singer for the song Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi. Personally , I consider Suresh Wadkar’s Seene Mein Jalan as one of his career best songs. In Hariharan’s Ajab Saneha Mujh Par Guzar Gaya we can relive the earlier masterpiece of Jaidev that he created with Rafi-Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi Halat Pe song from Hum Dono. Gaman remains one of the topmost album of Jaidev.
Seene Mein Jalan/ Suresh Wadkar/ Shahryar
Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahee/ Chaya Ganguli/ Makhdoom Mohiuddin
Ajab Saneha Mujh Par Guzar/ Hariharan/ Shahryar
Ankahee (1984)
Jaidev created a record of hattrick by getting his third National award for best music with Ankahee that was later on broken by A.R Rehman . It was after many decades , maybe after Basant Bahar’s Ketaki Gulab Juhi song that we could hear Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in a film song and what a surprise that he goes on to win a National award as best male playback singer for the song Thumak Thumak Pag Dumak! How many singers have got their awards in Jaidev’s music?!!
Tumak Tumak Pag Dumak/Pt Bhimsen Joshi/Traditional
Chand Grahan (1997)
I had never heard about this film that was never unreleased and neither heard the two Mukesh gems that I have listed here. Only while searching for some rare songs of Jaidev, I happened to come across these two forgotten gems. I understand Jaidev earlier recorded these two Mukesh solos and one or two songs by Lata also , but the producer unfortunately passed away and may years later , his son had released only the audio of those songs. Mukesh is simply scintillating in these two songs that are typical of Jaidev-so intricate and unconventional!.
Tujh Ko Yun Dekha Hai /Mukesh|Kaifi Azmi
Tum Hi Ne Dil Ko Dil /Mukesh|Kaifi Azmi
Acknowledgement & Disclaimer
I sincerely thank the publishers of following Internet sources for the information that I could gather for this article:
- You Tube
- Wikipedia
- https://mohannadkarni.org/hello-world/
- http://www.songofyore.com
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been mentioned and embedded here only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. Copyright of any images embedded rest with the respective owners. This blog does not claim any copyright over the songs and images, which rests with the respective owners of the rights
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