Geeton mein mere Ganga ki dhaara

This article is written by Raja, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog.This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.

Less than a week ago, we remembered our beloved Rafisaab on his death anniversary.
Today happens to the birth anniversary of another of our beloved legends, Kishore Kumar (popularly referred to as Kishoreda). So we very fondly remember him today and pay tribute to him.

Both Rafisaab and Kishoreda died when just in their 50s – both of them could have easily gone for many more years. But life and death matters are not in our hands – we can only thank them for what they have given us, the legacy they have left behind for generations to relish.

As with Rafisaab, I have written a lot about Kishoreda already on this blog. I am extremely fond of him – as I have said many times, it is never a competition for me between artistes. This isn’t an Olympics event where if one has to get gold, the other can at best aspire for silver.

I remember a poll in the late 70s, where people had to vote on who was the better singer, Kishoreda or Rafisaab. I don’t remember who came up with the poll but those were times when Kishoreda was the reigning star. He himself felt so embarrassed by this poll that he conveyed his unhappiness at it and it ended.

Professional rivalry apart, Kishoreda and Rafisaab had great respect for each other and were actually very good friends. Amit Kumar, Kishoreda’s son, has narrated stories about their friendship. So all this petty thinking is in the minds of people and not those who are the topic of discussion.

Personally, I have always stayed away from discussions trying to pull down one artiste to make the other look better. Thankfully, the world of music is like an ocean – it has room for everyone to contribute to, and partake of, its treasures.

Amongst the artistes, sure, there might be competition to be better than the other – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It only makes one strive to be better.

I remember Laxmikant-Pyarelal saying that if RD Burman came out with a hit album, L-P wanted to do better with their next. And RD had the same competitive spirit. But it was never malicious, or to run down the other.

As music lovers, we benefit from this – we get the best of all worlds.

Now let me talk a little bit more about Kishoreda since this post is a tribute to him.

Where do I start?

With his singing of course.

I am fond of Kishore Kumar the actor too. I’ve seen many of his comedy films of the 50s and 60s.

I am also much-impressed by Kishore Kumar, the producer/director. Contrary to his image of being more of a prankster and comedian, his films Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein (1964) and Door Ka Raahi (1971) are thought-provoking, sensitive, films with depth. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to see a different side of Kishore Kumar.

I am also impressed by Kishore Kumar the composer. He composed almost entirely only for his own films – and did a wonderful job at it.

Considering he was also the writer for his own films, it gives us an idea of what a brilliant all-rounder he was. It is hard enough to do one job, but to do so many so effortlessly requires genius.

And Kishoreda definitely qualifies for this. Much like Sir Gary Sobers, former West Indian cricketer, who, as an all-rounder, could do practically anything on a cricket field.

And yet, despite all this, what Kishoreda will be best-remembered for, and what he absolutely excelled in, was as a singer.

Which is why I would like to discuss more about his singing now.

I’ve said this many times before – I grew up with Kishoreda all around me. Those were the early 70s – and Kishoreda was everywhere. You had to live in that time to realize how much he dominated that period. Or, if you want evidence, just check Binaca Geet Mala lists and you will know.

I don’t need any such evidence – I know that every single day Kishoreda dominated song programmes on radio that were based on the latest Hindi film songs. The female voice might have been largely split between Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, but the male voice was Kishore, Kishore and Kishore.

It was often for Rajesh Khanna, but even when it wasn’t, it was Kishore. It could be Kishore for Shashi Kapoor (Sharmilee) or for Dharmendra (Blackmail) or for Jeetendra (Parichay) or Dev Anand (Gambler) but it was Kishore all the way.

Occasionally there’d be a male voice of a “new” song that was not Kishore. That song often stood out as an exception. It could be Rafisaab or Mukesh or Manna Dey. But it was always the exception, not the norm.

So THIS was the environment in which I grew up. My school classmates used to sing a lot of songs – they were invariably Kishore songs. In particular, I remember songs like “o mere dil ke chain” (which was my favourite at one time), “chalte chalte”, “o maajhi re” and “zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain”.

But of course there were many more.

My own favourite would keep changing. I had this concept of a favourite song which I’d sing non-stop (driving others crazy) till another favourite took over.

I remember it was at one time “ye shaam mastaani”, then “sama hai suhaana suhaana”, then “jaane ja dhoondhta phir raha” took over, to be displaced by “o mere dil ke chain” (this was favourite for a very long time) and then “tere bina zindagi se koi” took over. There might have been others too, I can’t remember now. In between, there were umpteen songs that I’d sing while taking a break from my favourite. Obviously, all to myself only – which is why I am still alive.

This post is already getting a bit long but I’ll mention one anecdote from school days. I was in 8th Standard. In those days, we’d often ask our teachers for a “free period” – sometimes a teacher would be nice enough to oblige. Boys would then go up to the front of the class and sing songs.

Once our English teacher gave us a “free period”. The best singer in the class, by name Prasad, went up to sing. Suddenly he announced “I’ll sing this song because it is Raja’s favourite”. Now I was quite a favourite of my teacher, maybe because I was reasonably good in English. She immediately looked at me – I am pretty sure she expected an “English” song. Maybe Carpenters or Rolling Stones, or Beatles, or some such group. She probably had that idea about me.

Prasad started singing “o mere dil ke chain”.

I could see the look on my teacher’s face. It was like she had been hit by a brick. A Hindi song? That too a film song? That too, a romantic song? Bhajan hota to phir bhi chal jaata. I turned red, and immediately averted my eyes, looking down throughout, hoping the earth would just open up and swallow me. I was sitting in the front row, right in front of her, so there was no place to hide. Prasad must have sung very well – he always did – but I couldn’t listen to one word. I was too busy lost in my own “misery” to pay attention to anything else.

Somehow I managed to survive – though I think my teacher never quite saw me the same way again. Prasad has a lot to answer for.

Today, this anecdote suddenly came to mind as I was writing this post. Wonderful memories – of Kishore Kumar songs, enjoyed with my classmates in school.

The point is to emphasise how much of an influence Kishore Kumar had on me at that time. Rafisaab came into my life much later.

By the time the 1980s came along I could not keep track of the latest songs. Partly because I got busy, partly because I didn’t like where music was headed. (“Angrezi mein kehte hain” and “shaayad meri shaadi ka khayaal”, you know I’m looking at you :-)).
Anyway, it wasn’t Kishore’s fault. His voice was always a delight to listen to.

Now onto the song for today.

This is a song I’d never heard before till Avinashji brought it to my attention a few weeks ago. I’d never even heard of the film.

The original idea was to possibly post it as Kishoreda’s 1100^th song on this blog, but since another song took that place, we are posting this as his birthday song. The lyrics are, as usual, by Avinashji.

The song is “geeton mein mere” from Geet Ganga (1982). The film itself makes its debut on this blog today.

It is a pleasant song which grows on me the more I listen to it. I have already listened to it quite a few times.

The lyrics, referring to songs flowing like the Ganga, have a nice feel to them. Anjaan, the lyricist, being a native of Varanasi, had his own style of lyrics, often bringing a Bhojpuri feel to them. And this song referring to the Ganga is in the tradition of other songs written by him which also refer to it – “Ganga kinaare waala”, “maano to main Ganga maa hoon”, “Ganga mein dooba” for example.

The song is picturised on Arun Govil, and as he “sings”, the words resonate with me.

jhoom ke aise ae
geet sunaaun
nafrat mein bhi preet jagaaun
dushman ko bhi meet banaaun
jo dil chhu le ae
geet wo gaaun
swarg utaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

Lovely lines – and it is wonderful to listen to Kishore Kumar singing them. Indeed “jo dil chhu le, geet wo gaaun” suits him – he sang many songs that touched our heart.

I hope you like the song too.

On this note, I will end this post as it has already become somewhat long.

All I will say is, Kishore Kumar will always remain in our hearts as a very special person – one of a kind.

Thank you for everything, Kishoreda.

Patt I

Part II

Song-Geeton mein mere Ganga ki dhaara(Geet Ganga)(1982) Singer-Kishore Kumar, Lyrics-Anjaan, Md-Sapan Jagmohan
Kishore Kumar + Chorus

Lyrics
——————————–
Part I
——————————-

Geeton mein mere ae
ho o o o o o o
Geeton mein mere
Gangaa ki dhaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
geeton mein mere
gangaa ki dhaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

bol bol mein ae ae ae
bol bol mein
Gangaa boley
Chhand chhand mein dhun
Kal kal ki
Prem bhare geeton mein mere
Paawantaa hai Gangaa jal ki
Dukh ki lehar mein aen
Ho o o o o o o o
Dukh ki lehar mein
Sukh ka kinaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

jhoom ke aise ae
ho o o o
jhoom ke aise
geet sunaaun
nafrat mein bhi preet jagaaun
dushman ko bhi meet banaaun
jo dil chhoo le
geet wo gaaun
geeton mein maine ae ae
ho o o o
geeton mein maine
swarg utaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

har pal Gangaa aa
ho o o o o o o
har pal Gangaa ke gun gaaun
nagar dagar mein
alakh jagaaun
paap hare lehren Gangaa ki
main dil ke dukh dard bhulaaun
Gangaa tat ka aa
Ho o o o o o
Gangaa tat ka
Main banjaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
geeton mein mere
gangaa ki dhaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

——————————————-
Part II
——————————————-
Geeton mein mere ae
ho o o o o o o
Geeton mein mere
Gangaa ki dhaaraa aa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara aa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara aa

geeton mein mere
gangaa ki dhaaraa aa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

Jab Gangaa ka naam pukaaraa
doob ke tar gayaa ye jag saaraa
saans saans Shankar ki pooja
har swar mein hari om ka naaraa
mujh ko to mere ae
ho o o o o o o o
mujh ko to mere
geeton ne taaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara

har pal Gangaa aa
ho o o ho o o o
har pal Gangaa ke gun gaaun
nagar dagar mein
alakh jagaaun
paap hare lehren Gangaa ki
main dil ke dukh dard bhulaaun
Gangaa tat ka aa
Ho o o o o o o o
Gangaa tat ka
Main banjaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
geeton mein mere
gangaa ki dhaaraa
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
saat suron mein bahe re jag saara
—————————————————–
Devnagri Script lyrics(Provided by Avinash Scrapwala)
——————————————————

गीतों में मेरे ए
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
गीतों में मेरे
गंगा कि धारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा आ

गीतों में मेरे
गंगा कि धारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा

बोल बोल में ए ए ए
बोल बोल में ए
गंगा बोले ए
छंद छंद में धून कल कल कि
प्रेम भरे गीतों में मेरे
पावनता है गंगा जल कि
दुःख कि लहर में
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
दुःख कि लहर में
सुख का किनारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा

झूम के ऐसे ए
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
झूम के ऐसे ए
गीत सुनाऊं
नफरत में भी प्रीत जगाऊं
दुश्मन को भी मीत बनाऊं
जो दिल छू ले ए
गीत वो गाऊं
गीतों में मैंने ए
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
गीतों में मैंने ए
स्वर्ग उतारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा

हर पल गंगा आ
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
हर पल गंगा के गुण गाऊं
नगर नगर में
अलख जगाऊं
पाप हरे लहरें गंगा कि
मैं दिल के दुःख दर्द भूलाऊं
गंगा तट का
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
गंगा तट का
मैं बंजारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
गीतों में मेरे

गीतों में मेरे ए
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
गीतों में मेरे
गंगा कि धारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा आ
गीतों में मेरे
गंगा कि धारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा

जब गंगा का नाम पुकारा
डूब के टार गया ये जग सारा
सांस सांस शंकर कि पूजा
हर स्वर में हरी ॐ का नारा आ
मुझको को तो मेरे ए
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
मुझ को तो मेरे
गीतों ने तारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा

हर पल गंगा आ
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
हर पल गंगा के गुण गाऊं
नगर नगर में
अलख जगाऊं
पाप हरे लहरें गंगा कि
मैं दिल के दुःख दर्द भूलाऊं
गंगा तट का
हो ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ ओ
गंगा तट का
मैं बंजारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
गीतों में मेरे
गंगा कि धारा आ
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा
सात सुरों में बहे रे जग सारा