Hindu-Muslim Unity In The Bollywood Of Yore
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
9 March
2024
In these
times of Hindu-Muslim conflicts, old-timers would rue that the Hindi film
industry of yore was indeed above all this (religious and communal) pettiness
of today. An anecdote will make you realise this. Way back in 1957, a film hit
the marquee. Its name was Changez Khan, starring Prem Nath and Bina Rai.
It was composer Hansraj Bahl's home production. Though the movie didn't do very
well, one of its songs, 'Muhabbat Zinda Rahti Hai, Muhabbat Mar Nahin Sakti'
is still one of the favourite numbers of all those who love old Hindi songs. It
was penned by Qamar Jalalabadi (Om Prakash Bhandari; did you know this?) and
composed by Hansraj Bahl.
Om Prakash Bhandari, better known as Qamar Jalalabadi
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Hansraj
came up with one of Rafi's landmark songs, based on Raag Sohoni with a
fabulous chord's progression rising to the climatic refrain "Chali Aa,
Chali Aaaaa" in a musical crescendo. Qamar was writing the song but
Hansraj didn't like the Antaras (stanzas) written by Qamar. He wanted to
switch to Naqsh Layallpuri (Jaswant Rai Sharma), retaining the words of the '
Mukhda '. Bahl's logic was that even Qamar had lifted the 'Mukhda' from the poetry of an Ustaad Shayar.
Naqsh refused, saying that he'd rather write a new song instead of tampering
with the words of Qamar and wrote an alternative ' Mukhda' for the song,
"Muhabbat Mit Nahin Sakti Zamane Ke Mitane Se/ Ye Aisi Aag Hai Jo Aur
Bhadkegi Bujhane Se." The alternative 'Mukhda' fitted the
situation equally aptly, but Hansraj still wanted to retain the earlier ' Mukhda.'
The
composer and the lyricist fell off, not to work together for quite some time.
Qamar eventually completed the song, thanks to Rafi's intervention and persuasion.
Rafi dispelled the misunderstandings among the three; Qamar, Hansraj and Naqsh.
Qamar requested his friend Rafi with these words, "Ab Aapki Akhlaaqi
Zimmedaari Hai Ke Aap Mere Iss Naghme Ko Amar Kar Dein" (Now it's your
moral responsibility to immortalise this song of mine). Needless to say, Rafi
immortalised it.
Where has
that bonhomie gone? I'm really sad. By the way, Qamar Jalalabadi was born on
March 9. Does today's generous know him? I can bet, even those few who've
heard Qamar and Naqsh's names are not aware of their real names. Hansraj Bahl
is also not known to today's youngsters. I hope, they know Rafi!
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has
contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages
including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/hindu-muslim-unity-bollywood/d/131880