I heard an old Manna Dey – Geeta Dutt bhajan from the film Devdas after a long time. It found a reference in Dustedoff’s impressive post on her top 10 songs featuring string instruments.

As is the case, often memories are triggered – due to a word, a sound or a song. In this case it was the reference to Shyaam Saanvare and ofcourse the voice of Geeta dutt.  I remembered and made it a point to first listen to and then watch one of my favourite bhajans.

Na Main Dhan Chahun Na Ratan Chahun is from the charming 1960 film Kala Bazaar. Starring Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman and Nanda, it had outstanding music by Sachin Dev Burman. This particular song was sung by Geeta Dutt and Sudha Malhotra and was picturised on Leela Chitnis and Nanda. Vijay Anand has written and directed this movie and has a rather endearing cameo in the movie.

Unlike Raj Kapoor who (tried to) play the lovable innocent tramp in most of the movies of the fifties (pardon me, I am not fond of Raj Kapoor), Dev Anand played the charming, greyish rogue with much elan. In this movie, he plays a poor guy who becomes a black marketer as he is unable to make his ends meet. His mother is ailing and he has a couple of siblings to fend for as well.

Vijay Anand was brilliant when it came to his song picturisation and while this may not be one of his best, it is captivating.

In this particular song, he is trying to smuggle his loot (either hiding it or taking it away )from his home. At the very time, when his mother and sister are having a small pooja and singing this bhajan.

The song opens with a shot of Lord Krishna’s statue and then pans to Leela Chitnis and the gathering and moves on to Dev Anand who stumbles and falls. The lyrics by Shailendra are perfect as they highlight the irony of the situation. The pious mother and good sister do not want any gems or jewels or money; while the son has gone astray and has fallen prey to the moh-maaya of wealth. Ofcourse he shall be reformed. I vaguely remember the ending – he does get arrested (think he surrenders) and goes to jail as his lady love assures him that she shall be waiting for him to be back – totally reformed and good..The song brings out the dilemma and conflict in Dev’s character and reflect the irony.

Dev Anand looks very charming in this song though!

An interesting bit of trivia about this song is that it was composed by Jaidev, who was SDB’s assistant at that time. Jaidev’s bhajans from Hum Dono (1961) are remembered to the day  – Allah Tero Naam, and Prabhu Tero Naam.

na main dhan chaahoon, na ratan chaahoon

na main dhan chaahoon, na ratan chaahoon

tere charnon ki dhool mil jaaye
tere charnon ki dhool mil jaaye
to main tar jaaun, shyaam tar jaaun
he Ram tar jaaun

moh man mohe, lobh lalchaaye
moh man mohe, lobh lalchaaye
kaise kaise ye naag lahraaye
kaise kaise ye naag lahraaye
isase pahle ke dil udhar jaaye
main to mar jaaun, kyun na mar jaaun
na main dhan chaahoon, na ratan chaahoon

laaye kya the jo leke jaanaa hai
laaye kya the jo leke jaanaa hai
nek dil hi tera khazaanaa hai
nek dil hi tera khazaanaa hai
saanjh hote hi panchhi aa jaaye
ab to ghar jaaun apne ghar jaaun
tere charnon ki dhool mil jaaye
to main tar jaaun, Shyaam tar jaaun
he Ram tar jaaun

tham gayaa paani, jam gayi kaayi
tham gayaa paani, jam gayi kaayi
bahti nadiyaa hi saaf kahlaayi
bahti nadiyaa hi saaf kahlaayi
mere dil ne hi jaal phailaaye
ab kidhar jaaun, main kidhar jaaun