Prior to partition of the country ,Raja and Sadat Hassan Manto worked together at AIR New Delhi . They were close friends for many reasons ; Both were Punjabis , Both liked Humour ,Both shared love for Literature and both were voracious readers. Manto had been looking for some opportunity to bring Raja to Mumbai’s film world where he felt friendless. In Mumbai ,though Manto enjoyed the company of some close friends like Shyam ( Well known hero Sunder shyam Chadda ) , Pran , Ashok Kumar and many more , he still felt companionless as most of them had nothing to do with literature or poetry. So when FILMISTAN STUDIO’S partner S Mukherjee was in lookout for a song writer , Manto recommended Raja .
In Came Raja and wrote songs for FILMISTAN’s “DO BHAI “ ( 1947 Super hit movie .Music S D Burman starring Ulhaas , Noorjahaan and Rajan Haksar ) and two songs “Mera sunder Sapna beet Gaya ”and “Yaad karoge – Ik Din Hum Ko Yaad karoge “ both sung by Geeta Dutt ( Roy ) turned instant hits . Raja was established .
In Mumbai ,Raja , Actor Shyam and Manto shared accommodation during those troubled days of 1947. About that period Manto writes
“ A Few months before partition , Shyam moved to my place . Those were karki times in Bombaiya language . We were extremely hard up but there was no let up in our drinking which continued unabated .Raja Mehdi Ali Khan was also around . Raja could not sleep on spring mattress beds . Then shyam would fix a huge measure of Brandy in keeping with Raja’s ample proportions and suggest ‘ Drink this and you will sleep like a log ’.
One day shyam had burnt his mattress from a cigarette bit that he had thrown on his bed . The flat was full of smoke and a deep stink too spread all over. When I entered their room, I found Shyam sleeping on the floor and Raja snoring on the other bed in the room. I woke up Raja , which was not an easy job as he had no intention of getting up. When he got up , he said ‘ This shyam is like Hanuman Maharaj. I knew what had happened during night when I saw Shyam getting up from his bed with his tail on fire. I had even tried to wake you up Manto. You did not get up but you opened your eyes when I said that a full crate of scotch whiskey had arrived. But you went to your sleep again. And then Shyam had doused the flame . How did it start again.’
And then one day , Manto decided to move to Lahore ( Pakistan ) leaving Shyam and Raja lonely. They missed him a lot. At that critical juncture , Raja decided to stay put in Mumbai and focused on his work. Many composers took notice of his sweet and cheerful songs that became quite popular during those days. He got offers from some well known Music directors with whom he associated which include Madan Mohan , O P Nayyar , Iqbal Qureshi , Bulo C Rani , Khemchand Prakash, S N Tripathi , Shyam Sunder, Gulam Hyder, Nisar Bazmi , Robin Benerjee ,N Dutta , Dhani Ram Prem,Anil Biswas , Roshan Lal ,S D Burman, Ravi, Roshan, Chitrgupta , C. Ramchandra , Allah Rakha Qureshi , Bipin Babul, Hemant Kumar , Sardar Malik , Usha Khanna , Vanraj Bhatia and Laxmikant Pyarelal .
Working with Madan Mohan was a great experience and achievement for both . When Madan Moan heard his first songs , he told him
“ Tu Har velay Meray Naal Hi Rah Yaara . Or Friend , Be always close by ” .
Started in 1950 , this friendship continued till Raja’s death in 1966. This duo gave some memorable songs to us . I quote some ..
(1) Meri Yaad mein Tum Na Aansso Bahaana
(2) Hai issi Mein Pyaar Ki Aabroo
(3) Rang Birangi raakhi le ke aayi Behna
(4) Jiya Le gayo ri Mora Saanvariya
(5) Aapki Nazron ne samjha Pyaar ke qaabil Mujhe
(6) Woh Dekho Jalaa Ghar Kissi Ka
(7) Agar Mujh Se Mohabbat hai Mujhe sab apne gham de do
(8) Mein Nigaahein Teray Chehray se hataaon kaise
(9) Jo Hum Ne dastaan Apni Sunaayi Aap Kyon Roye
(10) Lag ja Gale ke phir yeh haseen Raat Ho Na ho
(11) Chorr kar teray pyaar ka daaman
(12) Naina barse rim Jhim Rim Jhim Piyaa Tore Awwan ki aas
(13) Teray pass aa Ke Mera waqt Guzar Jaata hai
(14) Ek Haseen Shaam Ko Dil Mera kho Gayaa
(15) Kayee din Se jee hai Bekal
(16) Maine Rang Li Aaj Chunariya sajna Tore Rang Mein
(17) Jhumka Gira re Bareily ke Bazaar mein
(18) Tu Jahaan Jahaan Chalega mera saaya saath hoga
(19) Aap ke pehlu mein Aa kar ro diye
(20) Naino Mein Badra chhaye
(21) Teray Bin saawan kaise beeta
Some songs with other music directors that come to my mind at the moment are
(1) Mein Pyaar ka Raahi Huun
(2) Aap Yuun Hi Agar Hum Se Miltay rahe
(3) Gardish mein hon Taaray na Ghabrana Pyaare
(4) Phir Teri Yaad Naye Geet Sunaane aayi
(5) Mein Dekhuun Jis Aur Sakhi Ri saamne Meray saanwariya
(6) Gore Gore Chaand ke Mukh Par kaali Kaali aankhein Hain
(7) Desh Ka Pyaara Sab Ka Sahaara Kaun Baneja Hum Didi
(8) Phir Tere Shehr Mein Lutne Ko Chala Aaya Hun
(9) Pichhwaare Buddha Khansta
(10) Qareeb Aa Yeh Nazar Phir Mile Mile Na Mile
(11) Tum Bin Jeevan Kaise Beeta Poochho Mere Dil Se Poochho Mere
(12) Sikandhar Ne Porous se ki Thhi Larrai To Mein Kyaa karuun
(13) Poochho na hamein Hum Unn Ke liye
Raja left behind a great treasure of poetry that he published in his books “ Andaaz e Bayaan Aur and Mizraab “ Apart from writing film lyricist , Raja also wrote for some popular Urdu Magazines like Beeswin Sadi , and Shama . In Lahore and Delhi , he was associated with prestigious urdu literary Journals like Aalamgir , Phool ,and Khayyam . In some poems , Raja combines Humour and satire in his distinct style to expose the hypocrisies of the society that he lived in. I have read some Such poems like “Khud kushi” , “Ek Chehlum Par” , “ Chor ki Dua “or “Aji Pehle Aap “. I quote some lines from his popular poem AJI PEHLE AAP ( After you ,Sir ! )
“Aaj Rakhiye Jannat Ke Dhar mein Qadam”
“ Aaj Pehle Aap “
“ Aaj Wah ! Pehle Na Jaayeingay Hum “
“ Bhai Pehle Aap “
“ Aji Baat iss mein Takaluff ki Kya ,
Qadoom e Mubarak Barraiye zaraa ,
Aji Chaliye Rukk Jaayegi sab jagah “
“Pehle Aap “
Aji Barh Bhi Chukiye Khuda ke liye ,
Sabhi Ab to Jannat Mein Hain Jaa Chukke,
Na Ab Mujh Se kahiye khuda ke liye ,
Aji Pehle aap “
“Move into gates of heaven “
“ after you sir “
“How can I precede , You ever ?
Till You lead , I shall not stir ”
“ Don’t stand on ceremony please ,
Grace the place with your feet .
Hurry Please , make haste ,
Lest they fill up the space .
“ After you, After You! ”
For God’s sake act with speed ,Everyone has had his seat ,
Don’t be formal , waver not ,
Forget this “After you ,” ,My Pal.
Actor comedian Mehmood once worked as his personal Chauffer .
Raja lived like a RAJA in real sense ; Good food , Mannerism , Soft spoken and generous to his friends . So Long so much .
( Autar Mota 04.07.2014 )
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
