Ravindra Sangeet in Hindi Film Songs

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had composed over 2200 songs. These songs are popularly known as Rabindra Sangeet. Over the years I found that many Bollywood songs had their origins in Rabindra Sangeet. Most of the popular music directors had been immensely inspired and not been able to resist using their favourite Rabindra Sangeet tune in their music. They often took a note here or a strand there and created their own versions.

SD Burman had great respect for Rabindra Sangeet and though he did not sing any of that he used it many times. In fact, the story is that once he jocularly boasted to his friends that he had even ripped of the national anthem (composed by Rabindranath Tagore) for one of his recent hits!

Guess which song?

Start humming – Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha – and you will end up singing Hum Ne To Jab Kaliyaan… Now was this done intentionally as a cynical response to the idea of living together in the anthem contrasting the state of the mind of the protagonist in Pyaasa? We may never know.

Coming back, the first song that comes to my mind is Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina from Abhimaan. Though he used to be strict person when it comes to others music, SD Burman took the liberty from Rabindra Sangeet in this classic song - https://youtu.be/lUwFGIl6K18?t=5

Over the years, the original Song Jodi Tare Nai Chini Go Sheki has been performed by various artists – Shaan, Anwesha, Shrabani Sen, Shreya Ghoshal, Hemant Kumar and many more - but I liked Kishore Kumar’s version the most

https://youtu.be/izm3X7W9GBc



Hemant Kumar’s version is as usual set in a lower scale suiting his bass heavy voice.

https://youtu.be/oWWit3MqbYM



Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina is set in Rupak taal (that's the name for the beats on the Tabla). Using similar Taal, Bappi Lahiri has set his Chanda Dekhe Chanda from Jhoothi.

https://youtu.be/e2P7RIdd9Yc



The Mukhda of this song is very similar to Ami Tomay Joto from Rabindra Sangeet. Here is Kishore Kumar’s version. This song had become part of 1971 liberation of Bangladesh.

https://youtu.be/G_JiRKt61M4



And Hemant Kumar’s version

https://youtu.be/tLnErrvhao0



While I was researching for this song, I found a very rare version sung by the great K L (Kundan Lal) Saigal

https://youtu.be/AqrgUkR6uDE



Abhimaan and Jhoothi, both were directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. So, it is possible that he may have played a part in getting these two songs in the Hindi movie.

Another Rupak based song from S D Burman was Megha Chhaaye Aadhi Raat from Sharmili. The tune for the antara is very similar to Laho Laho Tule Laho sung (among many others) by Hemant Kumar

https://youtu.be/uVeJ6lPBVC8



And here is Megha Chaaye. The scale and pitch both have been altered. Hemant Kumar’s song is in a lower scale while Lata’s song has higher pitch (and more difficult) notes. SD Burman probably did this to bring out the anguish and helpness of the character. The music is completely different (Was RD in the music room?)

https://youtu.be/L9-s9AY8Png



Going back in time the song Bachpan Ke Din Bhoola Na Dena composed by Naushad for Deedar (1951) was based upon Mone Raabe

https://youtu.be/NTNzuUGMmUY



Here is Mone Rabe Kina Rabe Amaare sung by Hemant Kumar

https://youtu.be/1MrLjeJXK6g



From my memory I find less Bollywood music directors using Rabindra Sangeet or maybe I guess my knowledge of the Burman’s is more than that of other music directors, so I’ll come back to S D Burman.

His Nain Deewane (Afsar, 1950) sung by Suraiyya is another master piece
https://youtu.be/FmXCRHNF0LI



This song is like a copy paste of Sedin Dujane Dulechhinu Bane sung by Hemant Kumar
https://youtu.be/mU1JEg9V0dA




SD Burman won his first Filmfare award for Jayen To Jayen Kahan (Taxi Driver, 1954).

https://youtu.be/_6ZlWLtN0Gk



This song was based on Hey Khoniker Otithi sung earlier by Hemant Kumar

https://youtu.be/EyAB4uQl_VA






Another SD Burman classic Jalte Hai Jiske Liye from Sujata is heavily inspired by Ekoda Tumi Priye

https://youtu.be/kaNR0icNnXo



Moving on to RD Burman. One of his most famous and heart touching song is Zindagi Ke Safar Mein from Aap Ki Kasam. This song takes some strands from Jagorane Jay Bibhabari, but RD’s orchestration and Kishore’s rendition is so different that one really has to listen with apt attention to trace the similarities.

https://youtu.be/QcUYruohamc



Coming towards more recent times, Rajesh Roshan’s Chhookar Mere Man Ko from Yaarana (1981) is an excellent adaptation of Tomar Holo Shuru. He has off course changed the tune of the antara and made Kishore to recite in a softer tone.

https://youtu.be/YDNb3cI2_dk



Just when I had published this blog , I got a note from a friend saying Main Dil Tu Dhadkan from Adhikaar by Bappi is based on Promode Dhalia Dino Mon

 https://youtu.be/SHuienZbwLo

And the original Promode Dhalia Dino Mon
https://youtu.be/dtzUM7b_7Nk


I believe we will have more newer music directors who will continue to be inspired by the awesome works of Rabindranath Tagore and as listeners we will get treated to even more works of the master.

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