O Bhole Balma O More Saajana...

O Bhole Balma O More Saajana-Lata Mangeshkar- Film Poonam 1952-Lyricist Shailendra- Music Shankar Jaikishan

Lata started singing under Shankar Jaikishan baton from film Barsat 1949. However, Poonam released in 1952, under Kayarts production, was the first film , the music of which was totally dominated by Lata's voice. All the nine songs in the film went to Lata. So much so that Hero Ashok Kumar did not have a single song. SJ fully exploited the sweetness of Lata's voice by giving her nine solos. All these Lata songs were raging hit and contributed to the commercial success of the film, despite it's weak plot.

WEalthy Ashok (Ashok Kumar) , is a lonely man and prefers to remain in isolation because of events happened in earlier life. One day while driving through countryside, in order to find some solace for his tormented mind, he gets injured in car accident. A local village Vaid Tripathi (Om Prakash) takes care of him. Next day, while repairing his car, Ashok hears a girl singing . Mesmerised by the sweet voice, he follows the voice only to find that the owner of this golden voice is Chanda (Kamini Kaushal), daughter of Vaid. 

He brings both Chanda and his father to his mansion. Their, Chanda is contented and happy living with Ashok. She loses her heart to Ashok. However, Ashok is interested in her voice and not beauty. Chanda keeps company for him trying to bring him out of his lonely world by her songs. This song is also one of those songs she sings in the mansion, oblivious to Ashok's presence, who is enthralled by her voice. 

ओ भोले बालमा, ओ मोरे साजना, आ ऽ ऽ आ ऽ ऽ

घुँगर बाजे छुन छुन, डुंगर बाजे डुम डुम

कहती है बहार मेरे फूलों को देख,

बाग़ों में डालीयों पे झूलों को देख

उदे उदे बादलों को गले लगा के

झूमे ये आसमाँ, घूमे ये आसमाँ, आ ऽ ऽ आ ऽ ऽ

घुँगर बाजे छुन छुन ...

अम्बुवा की डाल पे कोयल का शोर,

सपनों की छाँव में नाचे मनमोर

भोली भाली तेरी छबी नैनों में ला के,

डोले ये दिल जवाँ, बोले ये दिल जवाँ, आ ऽ ऽ आ ऽ ऽ

घुँगर बाजे छुन छुन ...

ऐसे में अखियाँ भी बोलने लगी,

हँस हँस के राज़ दिल के खोलने लगी

आते जाते छेड़ती है चंचल हवा,

बैरी तेरे बिना, सूना है ये समाँ, आ ऽ ऽ आ ऽ ऽ

घुँगर बाजे छुन छुन ...

Fully engulfed in Ashok's love, Chanda is experiencing the pleasantries of the world in new perspective. The world suddenly becomes a beautiful place to live. The blossoming flowers, the cool breezes carried by clouds pregnant with water, the swinging branches laden with flora...all these things make her ecstatic. 

The chirping of Koyal heralds the arrival of season of love in her heart.  His image is imprinted in her mind, and it makes her so joyous. The mystic transcendence impels her   to dance for expressing her inner feelings. She wants to tell her secret love feelings to breezes carrying fragnance, that without his presence , this world has no meaning.

Shailendra's lyrics is so simple yet conveys the lyrical beauty of world through the lens of a person fully engrossed in love. SJ's music is racy, rhythmic and melodious.  On screen ,Kamini Kaushal, through her fluid dance movements ,brings forth the overwhelming happiness cascading from her heart. Lata's voice here is so sweet to listen to ,that even after the song ends , it lingers in the mind.

Overall another splendid song from SJ's treasure. 

While Ashok repeatedly experiences the bouts of depressions, Chanda tries her best to lift his mood and bring him out of loneliness to enjoy this beautiful world. " Do Din Ki Zindagimein Dukhade Hai Besumaar" is another such song, sung by Lata wonderfully in her tender voice. Here is the song..

दो दिन की ज़िंदगी में दुखड़े हैं बेशुमार

दुखड़े हैं बेशुमार

दो दिन की ज़िंदगी में दुखड़े हैं बेशुमार

दुखड़े हैं बेशुमार

है ज़िंदगी उसी की जो हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

उभरें गे फिर सितारे चमके गा फिर से चाँद

चमके गा फिर से चाँद

उभरें गे फिर सितारे चमके गा फिर से चाँद

चमके गा फिर से चाँद

उजड़े हुए चमन में आए गी फिर बहार

आए गी फिर बहार

है ज़िंदगी उसी की जो हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

है धूप कहीं छया ये ज़िन्दगी की रीत

ये ज़िन्दगी की रीत

है आज तेरी हार सखी कल है तेरी जीत

है आज तेरी हार सखी कल है तेरी जीत

हर साँस तुझ से बस यही कहती है बार बार

कहती है बार बार

है ज़िंदगी उसी की जो हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

मरने के सौ बहाने जीने को सिर्फ़ एक

उम्मीद के शरू में बजते हैं दिल के तार

बजते हैं दिल के तार

है ज़िंदगी उसी की जो हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

हँस हँस के दे गुज़ार

दो दिन की ज़िंदगी में दुखड़े हैं बेशुमार

दुखड़े हैं बेशुमार

She says life is full of miseries and agonies, but one should brave the difficulties with courage and live in happiness to enjoy it. Today's despair and sorrow changes into Joy tomorrow. Today's loss is tomorrow's gain. Nothing is certain in this world. There are hundreds of excuses to die but only one to enjoy , that is hope . She therefore urges him to shed his isolation and start experiencing the pleasantries of this beautiful world. 

The lyrics is full of hope and optimism.  The lyrics of Shailendra effectively lifts the pessimistic mood and shows the world through the feelings of happiness. SJ's music is captivating , and speaking about Lata's rendering....No words to praise.

Poonam 1952

Starcast: Ashok Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Asha Mathur, Sajjan, Om Prakash

Lyrics: Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri

Music : Shankar Jaikishan

Produced by Kayart Productions

Directed by M Sadique