It was the year 1953. Composers Shanker Jaikishan’s wish was granted when they were signed as the composers of “Daag”; starring Dilip Kumar.
In their prior 4 years of experience in film industry, they had recorded several hit songs with Mukesh in Barsat, Awara, Badal, Aah and they wanted Mukesh to sing the “Daag” songs for Dilip Kumar.
Producer director Amiya Chakravati and the production unit wanted Talat Mehmood. The reason they gave was that “even the top composers like Naushad and Anil Biswas engage Talat’s golden voice, which suits Dilip Kumar well”.
Reluctantly, Shanker agreed with a thought that there is always a next time. Four beautiful solo songs of “Daag” were filmed on Dilip Kumar which are still popular. Who can forget “Ae Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal”
For this “next time”, Shanker had to wait for 5 long years. In 1958 the duo was signed again for the Dilip Kumar starer “Yahudi”. The great Bimal Roy wore the cap of the director. Shanker’s dream was shattered when he found that the script did not have a single song on the hero Dilip Kumar.
Shanker’s request to Bimal Roy to keep at least one song to be sung on screen by Dilip Kumar was rejected by the Director as well as the screenplay writer, Nibendu Gosh. The reason behind this was that Dilip Kumar was playing the role of a prince and singing would not suit his character in the movie.
Shanker left no stone unturned and finally managed to convince them both to make changes in the script. He promised that he and the song writer Shailendra would create such magic in the song that it would be the highlight of the movie and it would remain a timeless classic.
The song has really created magic and besides keeping his promise, Shanker’s dream of lending Mukesh voice to Dilip Kumar was fulfilled.
Most songs are remembered or known after the name of films they were in, but there are few songs that make their own identity such that films are remembered by the songs in them. I put this song in the latter category. As they say, Classics never die. Long live:
” Yeh mera deewana pan hai, ya mohabbat ka suroor
Tu na pehchaane to hai ye teri nazron ka kusoor“
Compiled by:
A K Bagha
