LATA’s Executive Vice President Dan Carlson, center, with LATA’s Corporate Manager of Environment, Safety and Health Robert Hull and Los Alamos Operations Manager Felicia Aguilar at the corporate headquarters. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Los Alamos Technical Associates recently achieved a significant safety milestone at one of its clean-up sites.

LATA’s Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site remediation project in Ohio on Nov. 11 marked 1,000 consecutive days without a lost work day incident.

The employees of LATA/Parallax Portsmouth, LLC, the U.S. Department of Energy’s environmental remediation contractor at the site, have surpassed more than 1.3 million safe work hours.

“LATA is extremely proud of this kind of recognition because experience has taught us that working safely is the key to productivity. This is particularly important as the size and complexity of our projects increase,” said LATA’s Executive Vice President Dan Carlson in an interview at the company’s 999 Central Avenue headquarters Wednesday.

A nightime view of Los Alamos Technical Associates headquarters building at 999 Central Avenue in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Photo

“We owe our dramatic growth over the past three decades to the technical skill and safety-consciousness of our employees. We continue to serve the Los Alamos National Laboratory as a LANS subcontractor, are proud of our deep roots here, and have built upon our work and lessons learned at Los Alamos to become a nationwide project delivery company for government and industrial clients in just about every state.”

LATA, the majority member of LATA/Parallax, is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business founded here in 1976.

The LATA/Parallax scope at Portsmouth encompasses the environmental remediation of groundwater contamination areas, decontamination and decommissioning of inactive facilities, monitoring and reporting of environmental compliance and disposition of radioactive low-level and mixed hazardous/radiological waste.

LATA/Parallax Project Manager Bill Franz said in a recent announcement that he is, “proud of our achievements in safety. As project manager, I want to offer my thanks to the entire team ­— our employees, including the United Steel Workers (USW) and our subcontractors who have made this safety achievement possible.”

Franz further pointed out this is an especially significant safety achievement considering the acceleration of work under the Recovery Act.

The company has hired and trained more than 180 new employees for Recovery Act projects within the last four months.

“We are committed to continuing our excellence in safety and will not let our guard down as we accelerate cleanup activity at the site,” Franz said.

Read the full story in the Los Alamos Monitor.

A lot of old songs from the golden era of Bollywood music was created by lyricists and Music directors who went on to become legends. But they were not the only ones who were creating great music. there were others who were just as talented but who got limited opportunities to show their talent.

S Mohinder is one such name among music directors. He was an extremely talented music director who left in mark on the limited opportunities that he got.

Here is a song from “Naataa” (1955). The song is sung by Lata and it is picturised on Madhubala.

The song is written by Tanvir Naqvi who is not known much today, but he wrote some very nice songs those days.

song- Is bewafa jahaan ka (Naata) (1955) Singer-Lata,Lyrics- Tanvir Naqvi, MD-S Mohinder

Lyrics

is bewafa jahaan ka
dastoor hai puraana
jalte rahe nasheman
hansta rahe zamaanaa
is bewafa jahaan ka
dastoor hai puraana
jalte rahe nasheman
hansta rahe zamaanaa
is bewafa jahaan ka

dil ko jalaane waale
ye bhi na toone jaanaa
dil ko jalaane waale
ye bhi na toone jaanaa
ye dil nahin jalaa hai
ye dil nahin jalaa hai
tera jo aashiyaana
is bewafa jahaan ka

hargiz na muskuraate
itna agar samajhte
hargiz na muskuraate
itna agar samajhte
hai umr bhar ka ronaa
hai umr bhar ka ronaa
pal bhar ka muskuraana
is bewafaa jahaan ka

aa jaa meri muhabbat
aa dil ki baat sun le
aa jaa meri muhabbat
aa dil ki baat sun le
ye baat badh gayi to
ye baat badh gayi to
ban jaayegaa fasaana
is bewafa jahaan ka
dastoor hai puraana
jalte rahe nasheman
hansta rahe zamaana
is bewafaa jahaan ka

Sajjad Hussain was a music director who was not very diplomatic when it came to dealing with people. And he was very demanding of his singers too. He would create songs that would require his singers to give their best, and even then he would not be fully satisfied.

He rubbed influential people the wrong way and that ensured that he got very few assignments despite being the “only original music director in Bollywood” ( as described by Anil Biswas ). Sajjad Hussain got to compose music in only about 100 odd songs, but each and everyone of these songs is a delight to listen to.

Here is a lovely song from “Sainyaa” (1951). What a fabulous song it is !

The song is sung by Lata and picturised on Madhubala and others as a dance song. Rajinder Krishan is the lyricist. It is a superb song, which is picturised nicely as well.

song-Hawaa mein dil dole (Sainyya) (1951) Singer-Lata, lyrics-Rajinder Krishan, MD-Sajjad Hussain

Lyrics

hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole
daras dikhlaa de balam bhole bhole
ho ho ho
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole
daras dikhalaa de balam bhole bhole
ho ho ho
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole

na chain aaye na neend aaye
badaa naazuk zamaanaa hai
na chain aaye na neend aaye
badaa naazuk zamaanaa hai
hazaaron teer chalte hain
hamaaraa dil nishaanaa hai
ghataayen kaali kaali, ye rut matwaali
sadaayen haule haule
ho ho
ho ho
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole
daras dikhalaa de balam bhole bhole
ho ho
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole

aanaa hai to aa jaao
bahaaren phir na aayengi
ho aanaa hai to aa jaao
bahaaren phir na aayengi
judaa rah kar na tarsaao, neenden toot jaayengi
baahon mein pade jhoole, hamen tum bhoole
balam bhole bhole
ho ho ho
ho ho ho
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole
daras dikhlaa de balam bhole bhole
ho ho ho
hawaa mein dil dole machal kar bole
daras dikhlaa de balam bhole bhole
ho ho ho

“Sazaa”(1951) has a few very nice songs that I was aware of and whicch I have already posted. I stumbled upon another song from this movie about which I was just not aware. The song as well as the picturisation just bowled me over as soon as I got an opportunity to watch this song.

The song is a joie de vivre genre of song. Lata sings this song with gusto and Shyama dances joyously all over the place. This song is one of the most joyful songs that I have come across yet.

Rajinder Krishan has come up with very nice lyrics. S D Burman’s music is just wonderful. Just imagine- I heard a song with was recorded nearly 58 years ago, and I found this song in freshly minted condition. This experience of finding a “new” great song is priceless.

song-Ho gayi re teri ho gayi (Sazaa) (1951) singer-Lata,Lyrics- Rajinder Krishan, MD-S D Burman

Lyrics

ho gayi re teri ho gayi
hahaha
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
pahle hi mel mein
khel khi khel mein
pahle hi mel mein
khel khi khel mein
kho gayi re main to kho gayi
ho ho ho
ho gayi re teri ho gayi

naya naya pyaar hai
pahli pahli baar hai
tera intzaar hai
tera intzaar hai
teri meri preet hai
jeet hi jeet hai
jeet hi jeet hai
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
hoy hoy
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
pahle hi mel mein
khel khi khel mein
kho gayi re main to kho gayi
la la la la
ho gayi re teri ho gayi

khushi khushi jhoomna
ghadi ghadi ghoomnaa
kali kali chhomna
kali kali chhomna
pyaar hai ye pyaar hai
dil bekaraar hai
dil bekaraar hai
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
hahaha
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
pahle hi mel mein
khel khi khel mein
kho gayi re main to kho gayi
hay hay
ho gayi re teri ho gayi

dilon ki ye boliyaan
aankh michauliyaan
meethi meethi boliyaan
meethi meethi boliyaan
din hain bahaar ke
saajan ke pyaar ke
saajan ke pyaar ke
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
dadada
ho gayi re teri ho gayi
pahle hi mel mein
khel khi khel mein
kho gayi re main to kho gayi
hay hay
ho gayi re teri ho gayi

What I knew about “Taraanaa” (1951) was that the movie had Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in lead roles. But was that all ? there was more to it than just these two.

Here is a song from this movie to show what I mean. The song begins with a pretty lady singing a nice song. Close scrutiny reveals that it is a vet young and pretty Madhubala singing in Lata’s voice. After two stanzas, the voice changes, as does the lady. Madubala is replaced by another pretty lady and Lata’s voice gives way to another voice. Close scrutiny reveals that it is a young and Pretty Shyama singing in the voice of Sandhya Mukherji. So a song that I expected to be a Lata song picturised on Madhubala proves to be a double bill, both in audio as well as picturisation. Two of my favourite pretty ladies in the same song picturisation- this is indeed a nice and pleasant surprise. and for that reason, I would regard this song as a special song.

This is a lovely song, written by Prem Dhawan, and its music is composed by Anil Biswas.this song is indeed a forgotten gem.

Song-Bol papeehe bol re (Taraana) (1951) Singers-Lata,Sandhya Mukherji, Lyrics-Prem Dhawan, MD-Anil Biswas

Lyrics

bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol
hai kaun meraa chitchor kaun meraa chitchor
hai kaun meraa chitchor kaun meraa chitchor
bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol

kuchh ankhiyon se naadaani huyi
main lut gayi re deewaani huyi
main lut gayi re deewaani huyi
ankhiyon ne kahaa
ankhiyon ne kahaa ankhiyon ne sunaa
ankhiyon ne kahaa ankhiyon ne sunaa
kuchh aisi prem-kahaani huyi
meri kaali-kaali raaton mein
meri kaali-kaali raaton mein koyi le ke aayaa bhor
koyi le ke aayaa bhor
bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol

bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol
hai kaun meraa chitchor kaun meraa chitchor
hai kaun meraa chitchor kaun meraa chitchor
bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol

honthon pe taraanaa kiskaa hai kiskaa hai
aankhon mein fasaanaa kiskaa hai
aankhon mein fasaanaa kiskaa hai
saanson mein kabhi dhadkan mein kabhi
saanson mein kabhi dhadkan mein kabhi
ye aanaa-jaanaa kiskaa hai
ye aanaa-jaanaa kiskaa hai
main khushboo hoon kis phool ki
main khushboo hoon kis phool ki
hoon kis chandaa ki chakor
hoon kis chandaa ki chakor
bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol
hai kaun meraa chitchor kaun meraa chitchor
hai kaun meraa chitchor kaun meraa chitchor
bol papeehe bol re tu bol papeehe bol

“Baadal” (1951) was a movie in which Premnath and Madhubala played the lead roles. Yes, Premnath used to be hero of Bollywood movies those days.

“Baadal” was a musical blockbuster and I have already posted as many as four songs from this movie. I am nowhere close to being finished with the songs of this movie though, seeing the songs that I keep unearthing from this movie.

Here is yet another lovely song from this movie. It is sung by Lata and picturised on Madhubala. Shailendra is the lyricist and Shankar Jaikishan composed the music. It is a nice song that is nicely picturised too.

Song-Do din ke liye mehmaan yahaan (Baadal) (1951) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Shailendra, MD-Shankar Jaikishan

Lyrics

do din ke liye mehmaan yahaan
maaloom nahin manzil hai kahaan
armaan bharaa dil to hai magar
jo dil se mile wo dil hai kahaan

ek phool jalaa ek phool khilaa
kuchh apnaa lutaa kuchh unko milaa
ek phool jalaa ek phool khilaa
kuchh apnaa lutaa kuchh unko milaa
kaise karen qismat se gilaa
ham kaise karen qismat se gilaa
rangeen har ek mahfil hai kahaan
do din ke liye mehmaan yahaan
maaloom nahin manzil hai kahaan

duniyaa mein saweraa hone lagaa
duniyaa mein saweraa hone lagaa
is dil mein andheraa hone lagaa
har zakhm sisak ke rone lagaa
har zakhm sisak ke rone lagaa
kis munh se kahe qaatil hai kahaan
do din ke liye mehmaan yahaan
maaloom nahin manzil hai kahaan

jaltaa hai jigar uthtaa hai dhuaan
aankhon se meri aansoo hai rawaan
jaltaa hai jigar uthtaa hai dhuaan
aankhon se meri aansoo hai rawaan
marne se ho jaaye ataa jo
jo marne se ho jaaye ataa
aisi ye meri mushkil hai kahaan
do din ke liye mehmaan yahaan
maaloom nahin manzil hai kahaan
do din ke liye

“Zabak” (1961) was a mythological Arabian Nights kind of movie produced by Homi Wadia. Mahipal and Shyama played lead roles in this movie.

This movie, though not a hit with the mainstream audience, had some very nice songs in it. A few of these songs are remembered even today.

Here is one such song. “Teri duniya se door hoke mazboor” is one such song. This song in fact is one of those songs that people love to hum without being aware of the details of this song. Well, one can now hum this song better informed. This song, sung by Rafi and Lata, is written by Prem Dhawan and its music is composed by Chitragupta. The song is picturised on Mahipal and Shyama.

There is one detail from this movie that escapes me, though. What exactly does “Zabak” mean ? Can someone tell me the meaning of this word ?

Song-Teri duniya se door chale hoke mazboor (Zabak) (1961) Singers-Rafi, Lata, Lyrics-Prem Dhawan, MD-Chitragupta

Lyrics

teri duniyaa se door, chale hoke majboor, hamen yaad rakhnaa
teri duniyaa se door, chale hoke majboor, hamen yaad rakhnaa
jaao kahin bhi sanam, tumhen itni qasam, hamen yaad rakhnaa
jaao kahin bhi sanam, tumhen itni qasam, hamen yaad rakhnaa
ho teri duniyaa se door

aayengi bahaaren to tere hi fasaane sunaayengi hamen
aayengi bahaaren to tere hi fasaane sunaayengi hamen
hogi tanhaayi to aake teri yaaden rulaayengi hamen
rulaayengi hamen, tadpaayengi hamen
kabhi dekhi thi bahaar, kabhi ham se thaa pyaar
zaraa yaad rakhanaa,
jaao kahin bhi sanam, tumhen itni qasam, hamen yaad rakhnaa
ho teri duniyaa se door

lejaa jaanewaale duaayen mere dil ki kisi se kyaa gilaa
lejaa jaanewaale duaayen mere dil ki kisi se kyaa gilaa
teri hi khataa hai naa meri hi khataa hai jo honaa thaa huaa
jo honaa thaa huaa, hai kisi se kyaa gilaa
dekho roye meraa pyaar, kahe dil ki pukaar hamen yaad rakhnaa,
teri duniyaa se door, chale hoke majboor, hamen yaad rakhnaa
jaao kahin bhi sanam, tumhen itni qasam, hamen yaad rakhnaa
ho teri duniyaa se door

In 1950s and 1960s, there were some songs where kids would ask a lady to tell them a story and the lady would sing a sad song. In the song, she would tell the kids about her own sad story. I had posted such songs here from “Gumrah” and “Lajwanti” , where Mala Sinha and Nargis sing such songs.

But they were not the first to sing such songs. As far as I know, the first actress to sing a song like this was Nutan in “Seema” (1955). Here is this song. It is sung by Lata. Hasrat Jaipuri is the lyricist and Shankar Jaikishan composed the music.

Song-Suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani (Seema) (1955) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Hasrat Jaipuri, MD-Shankar Jaikishan

Lyrics

suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani
jaise taaron ki baat sune raat suhaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki kahaani

ho jiski kismat mein gham ke bichaune the
aansoo hi khilaune the
dard hi sakhiyaan thi
dukh bhari ankhiyaan thi
ghar bhi na tha koi
aur dar bhi na tha koi
ghar bhi na tha koi
aur dar bhi na tha koi
ho
aur dar bhi na tha koi
bhare aanchal mein gham chhupaye
aankhon mein paani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki kahaani

dil mein ye armaan the
ek chhota sa bangla ho
chaand si dharti par
sone ka jangla ho
dil mein ye armaan the
ek chhota sa bangla ho
chand si dharti par
sone ka jangla ho
khel hon jeewan ke yahaan
mel hon jeewan ke
khel hon jeewan ke yahaan
mel hon jeewan ke
ho
aur mel hon jeewan ke
gaya bachpan to
aankh bhar aayi jawaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki kahaani

chaand ka dola ho
aur bijli ka baaja ho
dole mein rani ho
aur ghode pe raja ho
chaand ka dola ho
aur bijli ka baja ho
dole mein rani ho
aur ghode pe raja ho
pyaar ke raste hon
aur phool baraste hon
pyaar ke raste hon
aur phool baraste hon
ho aur phool baraste hon
banaa chaahti thi
ek din wo taaron ki raani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki kahaani

ho toote bandhan
sapnon ke moti bhi
lut gayi jyoti bhi
rah gaye andhere
ujde huye sawere
baat ye poori thi
aur phir bhi adhoori thi
baat ye poori thi
aur phir bhi adhoori thi
ho ye phir bhi adhoori thi
hoga anjaam kya
ye khabar khud bhi na jaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki lambi kahaani
jaise taaron ki baat sune raat suhaani
suno chhoti si gudiyaa ki kahaani

Hoy mi día ha sido intenso, ni bueno ni malo, un poco de cada cosa, pero intenso, con una explosión final, como una lata de arenques noruegos que es abierta golpeándola con una tapa de alcantarilla…

Y Diciembre va a llegar lleno de cambios, cambios en el trabajo, cambios en casa, cambios de horarios, comienza el curso de inglés…aunque según la irlandesa mi pronunciación es bastante correcta, aunque yo sé que puedo hacerlo mucho mejor y enriquecer un poco más mi vocabulario…

Pero yo seguiré ahí, siendo el primero para hacer el moñas…

Kapoor khaandaan males were known to romance their would be wives on screen before tying up the knot in real life. Shammi Kapoor has done it, and Rishi Kapoor has done it. In case of Randhir Kapoor’s would be wife, Babita, I found her romancing Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor onscreen instead (Chhee Chhee !).

Here finally Randhir Kapoor lives up to the family tradition. This movie “Jeet” (1972) has Randhir Kapoor and Babita together- perhaps for the first (and definitely for the last) time.
PS-This was the second such movie where they were together. The first such movie being “Kal, aaj aur kal”. My thanks to Bollywooddeewaana for this information.

Here is a romantic tonga song from this movie where Randhir Kapoor is the tonga walaa and he would play hard to get when Babita wants to ride with him.

This song is sung by Rafi and Lata. It was quite a popular song in its days. Anand Bakshi is the lyricist and Laxmikant Pyarelal composed the music.

Despite such lovely song (this movie was full of nice songs), this movie flopped at the box office. Randhir Kapoor in fact had the dubious distinction of being one Kapoor khaandaan actor who had a reverse midas touch. Whichever movie he acted in turned to dust. Earlier generation heroes like Rajendra Kumaretc had succesful careers riding piggyback on the music of their movies, but Randhir Kapoor could not even manage this feat. And that is a pity !

Song-Chal Premnagar jaayegaa batlaao taangewaale (Jeet) (1972) Singers-Lata, Rafi, Lyrics-Anand Bakshi, MD-Laxmikant Pyarelal

Lyrics

o ho ho ho ho
o taangewaale
oye ki gal hai kudiye he
chal prem nagar jaayega
batlaao taangewaale
prem nagar jaayega, kyun prem nagar jaayega
batlaao taangewaale
mera taanga nahin hai khaali
o jhaanjharwaali matwaali dilwaali bholi bhaali
mera taanga nahi hai khaali, kisi aur se bol bithaale
chal prem nagar jaayega batlaao taangewaale
mera taanga nahi hai khaali, kisi aur se bol bithaale

thoda tera bhaari wajan saamaan bhi jyaada hai
raste pe main baithi rahoon kya tera ye iraada hai
arri thoda tera bhaari wajan saamaan bhi jyaada hai
raste pe main baithi rahoon kya tera ye iraada hai
thak jaayungi chalte chalte
thak jaayungi chalte chalte
pad jaayenge paanv mein chhaale
o chal prem nagar jaayega batlaa re taangewaale

ho ho ho ho
jaaungi main tere hi saath warna mujhe jaana nahi
mujhko teri meethi meethi baaton mein ab aana nahi
arre jaaungi main tere hi saath warna mujhe jaana nahi
mujhko teri meethi meethi baaton mein ab aana nahi
main to hoon ek sawaari
main to hoon ek sawaari
loge (?) paise thahra le
mera taanga nahi hai khaali, kisi aur se bol bithaale

karta hai tu inkaar kyun
sach sach bata kyaa baat hai
ik to safar lamba dooje honewaali barsaat hai
karta hai tu inkaar kyun
sach sach bata kyaa baat hai
ik toh safar lamba dooje honewaali barsaat hai
phir saath akeli ladki
phir saath akeli ladki
dil kaise koyi sambhaale
chal prem nagar jaayega batlaao taangewaale
mera taanga nahi hai khaali, kisi aur se bol bithaale

There are songs with similar opening lines in “Ziddi” (1948) and in “Private Secretary” (1962). Both these songs are sung by Lata and both are superb songs.

I was not familar with the “Chandaa jaa” song of “Manmauji” (1962). I became aware of this song only because of farmaish of this song by Lalitha. When I searched for this song and listened to it, I was awestruck.

This song too is sung by Lata. She has sung it beautifully. Rajinder Krishan’s lyrics are superb, as always. In fact, in my opinion, he was perhaps the most versatile lyricist of that era, who could write superb songs on any genre.

What what does one say about Madan Mohan ! In this same movie, he came up with the music of “Zaroorat hai zaroorat hai” and “main to tum sang nain milaake”. And then this song !

What creative geniuses we had those days.

And I have not yet talked about the picturisation. The song is picturised beautifully on Sadhana and Kishore Kumar. sadhana is singing about her love in private, certain that she is alone. But Kishore Kumar is also there, eavesdropping on her.

It is a very nice and beautifully picturised song. They do not make songs like this now a days.

Song-Chandaa jaa Chanda jaa re jaa (Manmauji) (1962) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Rajinder Krishan, MD-Madan Mohan

Lyrics

laa laa laa laa laa laa
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re
kaahe aayaa hai akelaa tujhe maanuu.N alabelaa
mere piyaa ko bhii sa.ng le aa
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re

aa tujhko pahchaan bataa doon wo lagtaa hai kaisaa
nadiyaa mein mukh dekh le apnaa wo bhi hogaa waisaa
vo jo aaye to bindiyaa sajaa doon
kaali-kaali ye lat bikhraa doon
meraa itnaa sandesaa de aa
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re
kaahe aayaa hai akelaa tujhe maanoon albelaa
mere piyaa ko bhi sang le aa
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re

dekh use kahnaa meri nindiyaa ho gayi sautan meri
mere sang-sang bairan hogi baat takat hai teri
chandaa denaa tu meri gawaahi
ham donon hain pyaar ke raahi
bas itnaa to saath nibhaa
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re
kaahe aayaa hai akelaa tujhe maanoonN albelaa
mere piyaa ko bhi sang le aa
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa re
chandaa jaa chandaa jaa re jaa

It is often said that one needs to use heavy duty Urdu words to come up with romantic ( as well as other kinds of) songs, and people agree. But the facts are, most of the lyricists in the formative years of Bollywood movie songs were more familiar with Urdu and they created such songs using words they were more comfortable with. Listeners who were not familiar with Urdu were often clueless about many words in these songs. Many listeners, such as yours truly, did not know what words like “ulfat”, fitrat” etc meant. People would guess about the meanings of these words in the context of the topic. Sometimes their guess would turn out to be correct, and sometimes not.

When it came to studying Hindi language, which is an important language in most Indian schools, school goers studying Hindi as a subject studied words that were much different from the words that one came across in Bollywood movie songs. In the schools, you would not learn words like “Husn”, “Harkat”, “Yaar” etc. One would instead be taught words like “Sundarta”,”Gati”,”Mitr” etc.

Even today, when it comes to formal occasions, where Hindi is to be spoken or written, such as functions, examinations etc, the language used there is different from the language of Bollywood movies.

Bollywood has created many myths around its movies, like Bandits raiding villages on the horseback, village belles assembling in village panghat, etc. Similarly, it is a myth that people in India speak the language spoken in Bollywood movies and that a boy sings a song promising the moon to a girl when he wants to express his love to her. Real facts are, if a boy seriously wants to impress a girl, then many of the words used in movies, viz “Husn”, “Shabaab”,”Haseena” etc are strict no no. Such words cannot be used in family gatherings and indeed they are not used in the Hindi TV serials that have proliferated these days.

I have come round to the view that Hindi words would have been quite appropriate for expressing romantic thoughts. Hindi (and its ancestor Sanskrit) is rich in words expressing romance. In fact, many Sanskrit stories of the past, viz Kalidas’ “Meghdoot”, “Abhigyaan Shakuntalam” , and Bilhan’s “Rajtarangini” etc are examples of superb stories written in words that are extremely sensuous and impressive.

In Bollywood too, we have had some examples of songs written in Hindi (different from the usual fare). For instance, I have posted the well known “Jyoti Kalash chhalke” (Bhabhi Ki Choodiyaan) in this blog. I have posted a few other songs as well.

Here is a song that I came across only recently. After listeneing to this song once, I was simply floored. What an amazing song ! This song is written in pure Hindi, and I found that I understand every word of it ! It is written by Bharat Vyas, who was one of the few lyricists in Bollywood who were Hindi experts ( others being Pradeep and Pt Narendra Sharma).

C Ramchandra has composed this amazing song. And just listen to Lata’s voice. Divine voice with impeccable rendition!

This song is an amazing song in all respects. Just because this song is not better known does not detract from its quality. This is one of the highest quality songs that Bollywood has ever produced. It is amazing stuff. I consider myself privileged that I managed to stumble upon this superb song.

The song is from “Stree” (1961). It is picturised on Sandhya and others. V. Shantaram was the hero of this movie.

Song-O nirdayi preetam (Stree) (1961) Singer-Lata,Lyrics-Bharat Vyas,MD- C Ramchandra

Lyrics

ye kyaa
tum sab dekh rahi ho

achchaa
ye le

hmm hmm
hmm hmm
hmm hmm hmm