Mohabbat Ki Dastan Aaj Suno...

Mohabbat Ki Daastan Aaj Suno- Lata Mangeshkar- Film Mayur Pankh 1954- Lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri- Music Shankar Jaikishan

In the early fifties, the music of Shankar Jaikishan was totally dominated by Lata Mangeshkar's voice. Films like Aurat, Kali Ghata are classic examples of this. Mayur Pankh, written, produced and Directed by actor/producer /Director Kishore Sahu was no exception to this. The film had lead pair of Kishore Sahu himself and Sumitra Devi, supported by Janki Das, Seema Deo, Wajifdar sisters, cuckoo and Helen.

The film revolves around a guide Ranjit (Kishore Sahu), who is on the duty of acquainting of tourist places across India to an English Novelist Joan (Odette Fergussion) and her lover Griffith ( Renigald Jackson) . During their travel across India, Ranjit is infatuated by the beauty and charm of Joan.

The romance between Joan and Ranjit is set against spectacular backdrops of historic places and the story moves from jungle scenes to village melas, through the splendor of Jaipur, the ethereal beauty of the Taj Mahal at Agra and to the pomp and pageantry of an Indian wedding. Interspersed through the story are superb dance sequences each one of which forms a beautiful highlight instinct with grace, melody and artistry.

In view of their love affair, the unhappiness and anxiety of Ranjit's wife Shanti (Sumitra Devi) and Griffith provide a strong sympathetic background to the script. Torn between duty and love both Ranjit and Jaon realise that they must part. They decide to separate, much to the joy of Shanti and Griffith.

While the guide Ranjit is roaming across various tourist places of all kinds, the songs (mostly by Lata Mangeshkar) are filmed on various characters. However there is not a single song in male voice. Lata sang total six solos and one duet with Asha Bhosle. Thus she had almost total influence on the music department. This song, on the the serene background of Taj Mahal is filmed on young and fresh seventeen year old Helen, who looks so cute and adorable , totally different from Helen the dancer which she became famous afterwards.

मुहब्बत की दास्तां आज सुनो ये मुहब्बत की दास्तां सुनो
लो दिल थाम लो ऐ ज़मीं आसमां ये मुहब्बत की दास्तां सुनो
मुहब्बत की...

वो शाहे मुहब्बत वो शाहेजहां
ज़माने का दिल ताजदारे जहां
अजब शान थी जिसकी उल्फ़त भरी
उसे मिल गयी प्यार की इक परी
इश्क़ होने लगा हुस्न पे मेहरबां
ये मुहब्बत की दास्तां सुनो
मुहब्बत की...
गुज़रने लगी चैन से ज़िंदगी
वो मुमताज़ इक रोज़ कहने लगी
धड़कते दिलों पे जवानी रहे
जहां में हमारी कहानी रहे
रख दो दुनिया में अपने प्यार का इक निशां
ये मुहब्बत की दास्तां सुनो
मुहब्बत की...
कहा शहजहां ने मेरी नाज़नीं
तुझे दूंगा तोहफ़ा बड़ा दिलनशीं
पसंद उसने जमुना किनारा किया
मुहब्बत का रोशन सितारा किया
इस तरह ताज का जगमगाया निशां
ये मुहब्बत की दास्तां सुनो
मुहब्बात की...

The lyrics depicts the eternal love story of Emperor Shahjehan & his deceased wife Mumtaj Mahal and creation of mystique Taj Mahal on the bank of Yamuna river by the emperor in memory of his wife. Beautiful words , calm tune of SJ makes this song stand apart from other songs and my favourite one.

Mayur Pankh 1954

Starcast: Kishore Sahu, Sumitra Devi, Odette Fergussion, Renigald Jackson, Seema Deo, Janki Das, Helen, Wajifdar sisters, cuckoo.
lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri.
Music: Shankar Jaikishan
Written, produced and Directed by Kishore Sahu.
A Sahu Film Production Film.