12th December 1927 – 30th December 1987
The rich music of the golden era of Hindi film music was the creation of many artists. Some of them achieved great fame , were honoured and are remembered even today by a majority of music lovers. But there are equally many unsung artists who , despite being equally talented , neither got the recognition during their times , nor are they remembered much now.
Datta Naik or N Datta , as he was known , belongs to the latter category. Born on 12th December 1927 ( there is some discrepancy in his place of birth -few sources attribute to Aroba , near Colvale , a small village in Goa but it is also said in other sources that he was born in Bombay( Mumbai) and then moved to Goa) . Unfortunately his father died when he was young and so he was brought up by his maternal uncle. Right from childhood he had a fondness for music but his uncle was against the same and like many other music directors of that era , the young Datta ran away to Bombay (as Mumbai was known then) to pursue his passion.
After some struggle, he could get some work in the orchestra of Ghulam Haider and even in the noted music composer duo Shankar Jakishan’s orchestra through his friend Chandrakant Bhosle who was already working for S-J. When the veteran music composer S D Burman noticed Datta’s talents, he took him as his assistant and worked with him in many of the early films of S D Burman, like Bahar(1951) , Sazaa, Ek Nazar (1951), Jaal (1952), Jeewan Jyoti (1953) and Angarey (1954), Datta played a key role . The Goanese flavour in many songs of S D Burman’s early compositions could have been the contribution of N Datta.
N. Datta started off as an independent composer with his debut film Milaap in 1955. Jaate Ho To Jaao Par Jaaoge Kahaan sung by Geeta Dutt became a popular song in this film. Then followed the film Marine Drive in the same year in which Rafi’s “ Ab wo karam karen ke sitam main nashe mein hoon” was a superb song. For many upcoming music composers, Rafi had always given his best to their early compositions, helping them in getting their break . In 1956 , N Datta came out with an immortal song that remains one of his best ( and also one of Rafi’s) -the epic Maine Chand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamanna Ki Thi-penned by Sahir Ludhainvi . Sahir and N Datta stuck a great association and had given us some of the best songs of HFM.
When B R Chopra teamed up with N Datta for many of his films like Sadhana, Dhool Ka Phool , Dharmaputra , the latter got a big break with a famous banner to help him in his career. Most of the memorable songs of Datta were for this banner. In his early thirties Datta had a heart attack and that created a constant fear in him on his health and affected his career to some extent. Of course he continued to compose very good songs in his later years also , but BR Films started off later on with Ravi as their main composer. Datta is also one of those few composers for whom Asha Bhosle remained the main female singer as compared to Lata. However Lata has rendered some evergreen songs and one can say even some of her career best songs were under the baton of N Datta like Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko. Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor were the main male singers for N Datta and in my selection we shall be looking at some of the great songs of these singers along with others.
If we observe the songs of N Datta, it is difficult to bracket him with any unique style -he could compose an intensely sad song, a quirky one, a qawwali, a ghazal , a romantic one all with different orchestration and rhythm patterns unlike many other composers , in whose songs we can detect a unique pattern. This is something that is very difficult to explain and one can comprehend the underlying pattern in Naushad/Shankar Jaikishan/O P Nayyar/ C Ramachandra/ Madan Mohan/Roshan/ Ravi ( just to name a few) compositions only after listening to their songs for years. It is my personal opinion that in case of N Datta it is relatively difficult to identify immediately that it is his composition.
Apart from Hindi films, N Datta scored music for some Marathi films also with the lullaby “Nimbonichya jhaadaamaage chandra jhopala” sung by Suman Kalyanpur being one of the most popular.
Despite being so talented, N Datta spent his last years, fighting for his health and success and passed away in 1987. This is my humble tribute to N Datta who would definitely be counted among the top music composers of HFM.
I am listing out few memorable songs of N Dutta mainly from the 50’s and 60’s and a few from 70’s ; songs are listed chronologically, with the song, film,year, singer(s) and lyricist mentioned in that order.
I have to admit that for the sake of brevity , I had to leave out many other songs of N Datta.
- Maine Chand Aur Sitaron Ki Tamanna-Chandrakanta-1956- Mohammad Rafi-Sahir Ludhianvi
Let me begin with N Datta-Rafi-Sahir masterpiece that remains the most recognized song of the composer. As usual Rafi enters into the soul of the song and despite being a song that stretches into almost 6 minutes , one can never get tired of listening to this.
2. Sambhal Ae Dil -Sadhna-1958-Mohammad Rafi & Asha Bhosle-Sahir Ludhianvi
The long association of Asha Bhosle with N Datta resulted in many great songs for her similar to the ones Ravi had composed for her . However, she strangely did not acknowledge this much. It is only appreciated by the listeners!
3. Kaho Jee Tum Kya Kya Kharidoge – Sadhna-1958-Lata Mangeshkar-Sahir Ludhianvi
For N Datta , Asha was always the main female singer but he did create some of the best songs for Lata .
4. Aaj Kyon Humse Parda Hai- Sadhna-1958-Mohammad Rafi & S Balbir-Sahir Ludhianvi
Qawwali is a genre that was mastered by the legendary composer Roshan in Hindi films, but it is to the credit of N Datta that he had also created some excellent and memorable qawwalis-you would find few in my selection here.
5. Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko- Sadhna-1958-Lata Mangeshkar-Sahir Ludhainvi
In songs like this, I feel Sahit did not use a pen to write but a whiplash to show the society a mirror to its face. What a powerful song that every man should listen to -N Datta brings out the power in the words by keeping the composition so simple and what to say about Lata-the great singer. Like many myths created about the singers/music composers by many with a narrow mindset, people generally used to comment there is not much emotion in Lata’s singing. Obviously they must be those who might not have listened to this song!
6. Tora Manva Kyun Ghabraye-Sadhna-1958-Geeta Dutt-Sahir Ludhainvi
Geeta Dutt was one singer who could put in so much of emotion in her songs. N Datta creates a superb bhajan for her.
7. Tere Pyar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon-Dool Ka Phool-1959-Mahendra Kapoor & Lata Mangeshkar-Sahir Ludhianvi
Dhool Ka Phool was N Datta’s magnum opus. All the songs were excellent in this film. Tere Pyar Ka is an eternal favourite of good old Vividh Bharati and even if the song is quite long, one can never get bored of this , with Mahendra Kapoor and Lata rendering a brilliant duet. Not to forget Sahir’s superb poetry.
8. Dhadakne Lage Dil Ke Taaron Ki Duniya – Dool Ka Phool-1959-Mahendra Kapoor & Asha Bhosle-Sahir Ludhianvi
The brilliance of this song lies in its orchestration with guitar and accordion set in a lilting melody.
9. Jhukti Ghata Gaati Hawa – Dool Ka Phool-1959-Mahendra Kapoor & Asha Bhosle-Sahir Ludhianvi
Compare this with Dhadakne Lage song and one can appreciate the skill of N Datta to come out two completely different duets in the same film.
10. Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalmaan – Dool Ka Phool-1959-Mohammad Rafi-Sahir Ludhianvi
It is said that Rafi had some issues with B R Chopra and hence sang only few songs in his banner-but Rafi being the legend he was, whatever he sang became gold. This is one of the top songs that talks about harmony , brilliantly composed by N Datta and penned by none other than the great shayar-Sahir.
11. Kase Kahoon Man Ki Baat-Dhool Ka Phool -1959-Sudha Malhotra-Sahir Ludhainvi
Each of the five songs that I have listed here from the film Dhool Ka Phool , amply demonstrate the mastery of N Datta with a versatility in his tunes. This is also one of the most memorable songs of Sudha Malhotra-a singer who was immensely talented but got only few opportunities.
12. Tu meri pyaar ka phool hai- Dhool Ka Phool-1959-Lata Mangeshkar-Sahir Ludhainvi
It is quite strange that some songs are never popularised by radio/ other media. I could listen to this masterpiece only while searching for top songs of N Datta for this blog.
13. Pyar Ka Jahaan Ho -Jaal Saaz-1959-Kishore Kumar & Asha Bhosle-Majrooh Sultanpuri
A rare N Datta & Kishore combination -quite a popular song.
14. Beta Dar Mat Dar Mat -Bhai Bahan-1959-Mohammad Rafi-Sahir Ludhianvi
This is one of those peppy songs that seem to have been designed perfectly for Rafi. He can render such type of songs with the same effect that he could breathe into an intensely pathos-filled song. The most versatile singer. N Datta’s proves he could come out with a fun-filled song with equal prowess.
15. Main Tumhi Se Poochti Hoon -Black Cat-1959-Mohammad Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar-Jan Nissar Akhtar
One of the most popular N Datta compositions for Lata , that she renders with her typical style.
16. Aye Dil Zubaan Naa Khol -Naach Ghar-1959-Lata Mangehskar-Sahir Ludhianvi
It is said that N Datta used to offer soulful numbers to Asha and peppy ones to Lata , which was just a contra in the industry!
17. Tum Mujhe Bhool Bhi Jao -Didi-1959- Mukesh & Sudha Malhotra-Sahir Ludhianvi
Mukesh had that uncanny ability to make even those few songs that were offered to him by some composers , who , otherwise preferred him to a lesser extent. The combination of Mukesh and Sudha Malhotra is also a rare one-this is a superb tune by N Datta.
18. Main Jab Bhi Akeli Hoti Hoon –Dharmaputra -1961-Asha Bhosle- -Sahir Ludhiyanavi
Dharmaputra was also from the banner of B R Chopra with somewhat similar story line as that of Dhool Ka Phhol and the songs by N Datta for this film were also equally good. Asha renders this so nicely.
19. Aaj Ki Raat Nahin Shikwa Shikayat -Dharmaputra -1961-Mahendra Kapoor-Sahir Ludhianvi
It is a sheer delight to hear Mahendra Kapoor sing with such a soft voice at lower notes, who usually can go to the highest octave with so much of ease. N Datta truly did lot of innovations in his approach to composing music.
20. Meri tasveer lekar kya karoge-Kala Samundar-1962-Mohammad Rafi, S Balbir & Asha Bhosle-Anand Bakshi
No one would have thought Anand Bakshi could come out with such an impressive qawwali-It is a rare combination of N Datta working with Anand Bakshi!
21. Ashkon Ne Jo Paya Hai-Chandi Ki Deewar-1964-Talat Mehmood-Sahir Ludhainvi
Talat Mehmood had a great innings during the 50’s but after 60’s he sang infrequently. This rare combination of N Datta and Talat is a superb ghazal and there is no doubt why he was always the ghazal king. The texture of Talat’s voice fits so aptly for this song. There is one more sang that he sang for N Datta even later-Yadon Ka Sahara Na Hota that is also a good song-for the sake of brevity I could include only this song.
22. Ishwar Allah Tere Naam -Naya Raasta -1970- Mohammad Rafi-Sahir Ludhianvi
After a long gap , when N Datta was having his health issues and a decline in his career, the film Naya Raasta came like a whiff of fresh air. Three songs from this film are simply outstanding-all sung by the one and only Rafi sahab. Sahir’s words are eternal.
23. Maine Pee Sharab Tune Kya Piya-Naya Raasta -1970- Mohammad Rafi-Sahir Ludhianvi
It is an amazing feat by Rafi that whenever he had to sing like an inebriated character on screen, he could do it with so much of ease, despite being a teetotaller all his life. The modulation in his voice is unbeatable.
24. Poch Kar Ashq Apni Aankhon Se-Naya Raasta -1970- Mohammad Rafi-Sahir Ludhianvi
Out of the three songs from this movie I had listed out here, two are full of positivity and one a typical Sahir’s angst towards the society-Main Pee Sharab. Poch Kar Ashq is a rare song that was earlier played frequently in radio, but now almost forgotten. Once again , Sahir’s pen drips with philosophy in a language everyone can understand, brilliantly composed by N Datta.
25. Tere Iss Pyar Ka Shukriya -Aag Aur Daag-1971-Mohammad Rafi-S H Bihari
I do not know how I had missed out this song for so many years! I always keep thinking my decision to write about the great artists of the golden era of Hindi film music was a great one for me personally-else I would have not been able to listen and appreciate so many gems.
With this song , I conclude my small tribute to the great music director Datta Naik who passed away at the age of 60 in 1987 leaving behind a great number of songs and sadly remained an under-recognized artist.
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
I sincerely thank the publishers of following Internet sources for the information that I could gather for this article:
- You Tube
- Wikipedia
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been embedded here only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognizing the full copyrights for the same to the original creator or the site where they were originally displayed .This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.
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