A LISTENING SESSION ON A LESSER KNOWN MUSIC DIRECTOR – AJIT MERCHANT

It must have been a year or more than that since I had been pursuing my desire to meet a living legend, Ajit Merchant. I came to know from the book by Prof. Yogesh Yadav on 150 Music Directors that he is living in Mumbai. From then on, I had been calling him on the number given by Prof. Yadav many a times. Unfortunately, due to his bad health the meeting never took place.

I realized my dream of meeting Ajit Merchant on a Sunday, the 11th. Thanks to Dr. Madhav Rao, who had informed me about the event, where Ajit Merchant was coming as a Chief Guest. The occasion was forming
of a new club for music lovers(My sincere apologies to Mumbaikars of the groups, that even though I was aware of the programme well in advance, in my anxiety to meet Ajit Merchant I forgot to post this in
the Groups).

One of the organisers was Subash Bhatt, who happens to be a record collector too. The venue was Gujarati Seva Mandal, located in Matunga. The Mandal is located inside a gully after passing through
Kabutarkhana. I was a bit late in reaching the place. However, fortunately for me, the programme had not started.

It so happened that the organizers had not expected these many people. There were some 70-75 individuals. I fortunately found seats very close to where all the VIP's were sitting. Ajit Merchant was there with his better half. So were Kishore Parekh, Prakash Purandare, Tarachand Savla, Jeetendra Gala and Gandhi Bhai. I could hardly find people of my age group. This has been a common feature of all events, which I am getting used to now. Anyhow, it was around 10:25 A.M. when the programme finally started. The chief guest, Ajit Merchant started the event, announcing the launch of the musical club `Geet Gunjan' in Gujarathi. I had a little bit trouble in understanding what he was saying. However, I could make out the name of Ardeshir Irani when he talked about `Alam Ara' and Music director Kersi Mistry. Then he talked about New Theatres famous personalities like K.C. Dey and R.C. Boral. He mentioned Zohrabai Ambalewali too and later Pankaj Mullick and Anil Biswas. After Ajit Merchant's foray into the past, there was an introduction of Ajit Merchant by Prakash Purandare. Ajit Merchant has given music in overall 45 films, in both Hindi and Gujarathi. He has been giving music for various stage plays in English, Marathi and Gujarathi too. Mr. Ajit Saraai, a writer by profession presented two books to Ajit Merchant. Later Mr. Ajit Saraai informed me that one of the books was on the plays of Shakespeare and the other on review of two films.

Then it was time to listen to some songs, composed by Ajit Merchant. Subash Bhatt had compiled 20 songs especially for this event.

I am listing the songs below serially. I am adding comments wherever there was a comment on the song.

1). Taraa Aankh No Afeeni Taraa Roop No Bandhaani
Film Name: Deewar Daandi (Gujarathi)
Singer/s: Dilip Dholakia Lyricist: Bal Mukund Dave

2). Vagdavacche Talaavadi Ne
Film Name: Deewar Daandi (Gujarathi)
Singer/s: Dilip Dholakia - Rohini Roy Lyricist: Bal Mukund Dave

3). Panchi Gaane Lage (Indra Leela) [Part One] Year: 1956
Singer/s: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist: Saraswati Kumar Deepak

4). Panchi Gaane Lage (Indra Leela) [Part Two] Year: 1956
Singer/s: Mohammed Rafi Lyricist: Saraswati Kumar Deepak

5). Parbhat Hat Jaa, Dharthi Fat Jaa (Indra Leela) Year: 1956
Singer/s: Asha Bhosle Lyricist: Saraswati Kumar Deepak

6). Sun Lo Jiya Ki Baat (Indra Leela) Year: 1956
Singer/s: Asha Bhosle Lyricist: Saraswati Kumar Deepak

7). Purab Disa Ki Chanchal Badariya (Chandi Pooja) Year: 1957
Singer/s: Sudha Malhotra & Chorus Lyricist: Kavi Pradeep

8). Aji O Ji Kaho (Chandi Pooja) Year: 1957
Singer/s: Shamshad Begum – Mohammed Rafi Lyricist: Kavi Pradeep

Then Prakash Purandare shared some unknown information about the song `Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon'.
Kavi Pradeep wrote this song at Ajit Merchant's house during one of the visits.

Prakash then asked two questions to Ajit Merchant. One was about the selection of Shamshad Begum for the duet and the other was about choosing a lyricist like Kavi Pradeep to sing a song for his film Chandi Pooja.

Ajit Merchant answered the first question by saying that Shamshad Begum's voice suited the song hence she was taken. He went out further to state that Music directors did not have any say in the selection of singers. Further, he said that there was one more song of Shamshad Begum in this film, which was unfortunately, was not in Subash Bhatt's collection. This particular song `Ek Dharthi Ka Rajkumar' was a Radio Ceylon favourite. In fact, Gopal Sharma, an announcer with the station had said that if there was another children's song that was as popular as K.L. Saigal's `Ek Raaje Ke Beta Lekar' it was the Shamshad's song.

Ajit Merchant answered the second question by saying that Kavi Pradeep was not averse to singing. He had been singing since his early days with New Theatres. He also informed that Kavi Pradeep and Ajit Merchant had an argument over the song `Koi Laakh Karein Chaturaayi'. Khayaal Gaayki inspired this song.

9). Suno Sunaao Tum Ek Kahaani (Chandi Pooja) Year: 1957
Singer/s: Kavi Pradeep Lyricist: Kavi Pradeep

10). Koi Laakh Karein Chaturaayi (Chandi Pooja) Year: 1957
Singer/s: Kavi Pradeep Lyricist: Kavi Pradeep

Ajit Merchant informed us that out of the two instruments used in the song, Shehnaai and Majeera, Ramlal had played the Shehnaai.

Then there was an announcement for an intermission. Most of the audiences were reluctant to go for a break. They were willing to sit out for the next one-hour or so. However, the organisers requested everyone to co-operate and since tea and light snacks was ordered for, it would be better if everybody had the same. I decided that I could make the best of this opportunity to meet Ajit Merchant and have a chat with him. Therefore, as soon as the crowd left for tea, I made my way gradually towards Ajit Merchant. Before meeting him, I decided to introduce myself to Subash Bhatt. He was pleased to know that I had come from Dombivli, which was according to him a sufficiently long distance. After that, I stood in the queue, which consisted of people wanting to talk with Ajit Merchant. Agreed that, others might wonder what was so special about meeting a lesser-known Music Director like him, but to me it was a pleasurable experience. He invited me to his house, now that he was feeling better. After meeting him, I went to have snacks and tea. There I met Jayanti Chheda. He has a shop in King's Circle by the name of `Musicraft'.

Before I had finished my tea and returned, the post-interval part had already begun. The organisers introduced Nanjibhai Bahadur. He is an 86-year-old veteran Assistant Music Director. He had assisted Roshan, Anil Biswas & O.P. Nayyar to name a few. Along with that, he had sung as chorus for some legendary artists like Kundan. Lal. Saigal and Suraiyya. Nanjibhai Bahadur set the tunes to the popular `Bade Armaanon Se Rakha Hain Balam'. Bahadur had a good collection of English songs in the form of EP's and LP's.

11). Roop Tumhara Aankhon Se Piluun (Sapera) Year: 1961
Singer/s: Manna Dey Lyricist: Indeevar

12). Raat Ne Ghesu Bikhraaye (Sapera) Year: 1961
Singer/s: Manna Dey-Suman Kalyanpur Lyricist: Indeevar

13). Main Hoon Sapere Tere Jaadu Ke Desh Mein (Sapera) Year: 1961
Singer/s: Suman Kalyanpur Lyricist: Indeevar

A lok geet had inspired the last song, as told by Ajit Merchant.

Tarachand Savla then introduced us to Kishore Desai. He was the Maanas Putra of C. Ramchandra. It was in fact Kishore Desai, who was with C. Ramchandra in the hospital during his last few days.

14). Bairi Ched Na Aise Raag (Sapera) Year: 1961
Singer/s: Suman Kalyanpur Lyricist: Indeevar

Prakash Purandare went on to say that, some Music Director/s had offered 10,000 Rs. Ajit Merchant in exchange for giving him/them the tunes composed by him. Even Raj Kapoor had asked for tunes from Ajit Merchant, but Ajit Merchant never parted with his tunes.

15). Bholo Bholo Bholo Piya (Sapera) Year: 1961
Singer/s: Suman Kalyanpur & Chorus Lyricist: Indeevar

This song was based on Gorakh Kalyan Raag.

16). O Ri Piya, Mora Tadpe Jiya (Sapera) Year: 1961
Singer/s: Suman Kalyanpur Lyricist: Indeevar

17). Kuch Tum Ne Kahaan, Kuch Humne Sunaa (Challenge) Year: 1964
Singer/s: Asha Bhosle Lyricist: Prem Dhawan

18). Main Bhi Hoon Majboor Sajan (Challenge) Year: 1964
Singer/s: Mukesh-Asha Bhosle Lyricist: Prem Dhawan

In his early days in Mumbai, Mukesh was staying in a flat donated by Ajit Merchant. Shanta Apte had sung her swan song for the film `Chandi Pooja'

19). Badle Re (3) Rang Badle Zamana Kahin (Challenge) Year: 1964
Singer/s: Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus Lyricist: Prem Dhawan

20). Main Ho Gayi Re Tere Liye Badnaam (Challenge) Year: 1964
Singer/s: Asha Bhosle Lyricist: Prem Dhawan

Nanjibhai Bahadur then informed all that during his early years with HMV he had sung a solo `Tune Agar Pee Tho' and a duet with Snehlata. This was for a film `Bhaisahab' under Ninu Majumdar's compostion.

Thus concluded the programme.