Tu Ganga Ki Mauj Mai Jamnaka

Tu Ganga Ki Mauj Mai Jamnaka- Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar-Film Baiju Bawra 1952-Lyricist Shakeel Badayuni-Music Naushad

The film Baiju Bawra ,released in 1952, merges  the legend of a singer Baiju with historical setting of Mughal Emperor Akbar's court in India. It starred Bharat Bhushan as Baiju, with Meena Kumari playing his love interest Gauri. Meena made her acting debut in Bhatt's Leatherface (1939) as a seven-year-old. Surendra portrayed Tansen, one of the Navratnas in Akbar's court. Kuldip Kaur played the role of the dacoit queen Roopmati. The rest of the cast included Bipin Gupta, Manmohan Krishna, B. V. Vyas and Baby Tabassum.

Baiju Bawra was essentially a musical film based on concept of vendetta. However this is not usual vendetta involving blood and gory. Believing that Sangit Samrat Tansen, who was one of the Navaratnas in the court of Emperor Akbar, is the cause of his father's death, Baiju is determined to avenge the death. Hoever learning that music has no place for hate and jealousy, he sets out for preparing himself for defeating Tansen in musical duel. Baiju Bawra was a film about how he achieves his goal. Being a musical film , clasical Indian music had governing role in the story. Therefore all the songs in the film were based on different Indian Ragas. The song "Tu Ganga Ki Mauj" is not different. It is based on Raag Bhairavi.

The song comes in the film, when child Baiju is brought to a village nestling besides river Jamna. Gauri (Meena Kumari), is a daughter of a boatsman. When they grow young, love blossoms between them. Gauri wants to keep it secret from the prying eyes of villagers, but Baiju, eager to put forth his affinity towards her, calls her from the bank of the river, in which Gauri is sailing in a boat.

By the time the song ends, all villagers converge on the bank of the river, mesmerised and totally immersed in his beautiful rendering. Thus the love between Gauri and Baiju becomes an open secret.

अकेली मत जइयो राधे जमुना के तीर ओ जी ओ तू गंगा की मौज मैं जमुना का धारा हो रहेगा मिलन, ये हमारा हो हमारा तुम्हारा रहेगा मिलन ये हमारा तुम्हारा अगर तू है सागर तो मझधार मैं हूँ, मझधार मैं हूँ तेरे दिल की कश्ती का पतवार मैं हूँ, पतवार मैं हूँ चलेगी अकेले न तुमसे ये नैया, न तुमसे ये नैया मिलेंगी न मंज़िल तुम्हे बिन खेवैया, तुम्हे बिन खेवैया चले आओ जी, चले आओ जी चले आओ मौजों का ले कर सहारा, हो रहेगा मिलन ये हमारा तुम्हारा रहेगा मिलन, ये हमारा तुम्हारा भला कैसे टूटेंगे बंधन ये दिल के, बंधन ये दिल के बिछड़ती नहीं मौज से मौज मिलके, है मौज मिल के छुपोगे भँवर में तो छुपने न देंगे, तो छुपने न देंगे डुबो देंगे नैया तुम्हें ढूँढ लेंगे बनायेंगे हम, बनायेंगे हम बनायेंगे तूफ़ाँ को लेकर किनारा, हो रहेगा मिलन ये हमारा तुम्हारा रहेगा मिलन, ये हमारा तुम्हारा

In this song, Baiju is expressing his feelings towards her, telling her they are inseparable from each other. They are embraced in an unbreakable bond. The life without each other is unimaginable. He tells that she can't run away from his love and wherever she hides ,his love will find her. They will brave the storms and upheavals in their life with the help of  each other and make their life happy and full of joy. Their unfathomable love is bound to win.

The lyrics by Shakeel, very well brings forth the affection and conviction of Baiju about his love. The ardent rendering by Rafi and Lata ads beauty to the lyrics. The heaveny wonderful and hummable tune by Naushad based on Raag Bhairavi creates an ambiance of romance. The song created a sort of record in respect of popularity. Naushad bagged his first and only Filmfare award for the music. 

Baiju Bawra 1952

Starcast: Bharat Bhushan, Meena Kumari, Suresh, Kuldip Kaur,Manmohan Krishna, Baby Tabassum etc.
Shakeel Badayuni (lyrics)
Music by Naushad
Screenplay by R. S. Choudhury
Story by Ramchandra Thakur
Written by Zia Sarhadi (dialogues)
Directed by Vijay Bhatt
Produced by Prakash Pictures