Aye Bhai Zara Dekhke Chalo ...this is an ajeeb song in Shanker Jaikishan's annals. It is unusual in many ways ... let me state some I know.If you know more about this song please do add to the thread.First the background which I state based on a newspaper interview ofTejnath Zar- producer of many films including Vachan and Garam Khoon which were scored by SJ. Durig the making of Mera Naam Joker, Raj Kappor once visited Shanker and told him that he has one dhun in mind and hummed it out. Shanker said he will think about it and get back in two days. He then wentoff to Matheran telling Zar that if anyone calls including RK theyshould be told he is out of station. This continued even after Shanker returned four more days all calls were being blocked. The next afternoon, Shanker called Raj Kapoor over to the music room. Many musicians were around. Shanker hit the piano keys and played out the entire song - again using gaalis as dummy words. There was absolute silence till Shanker completed the song ... Raj Kapoor instantly got up and fell at Shanker's feet saying the words ... "Genda Maharaj, tera jawaab nahi, issipe to hum tum pe marte hain ! "The song went on to become a raging hit ...Now keep this incidence at the back of your mind and ponder overthis ...I do not recall where I read this part but I am quite sure it is itis true. Manna Dey had not sung for an RK production for many years. And Shanker called him over. Manna Dey was extremely excited and in fact did riyaaz for two days as preparation ...When he reached the studio he was taken aback by the song and refused to sing. After much persuasion by Shanker, Raj Kapoor and everyone he agreed and the song was recorded. The song went on to become a raging hit ...There is more ...At the Filmfare awards function that year ... this song went on to win the award for best male playback. And Manna Dey was flabbergasted. Despite a lot of applause by the audience he refused to go up to the stage and sing the song. His arguement was that so many of his clasical based gems never got the award then why of all the songs should he get for this one? Finally, Raj Kapoor took the mike and sang the song on stage !I may be incorrect on this one but that is the only Filmfare award that Manna Dey won.(Someone please confirm or refute.)The words Aye Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo were by Neeraj. And they were good too.(But still I wonder how Shailendra would have handled this one... sadly it appears he was not around anymore !) Even today the song is to date hailed by many as a rap number which was way ahead of its time in the early 70s !There is also one more point about this ...Often in many discussions, Filmfare awards as taken as some kind of abenchmark. More often than not these awards are absurd and I feel that is theway they should be taken... but that is another point which I would soon bring up ...For now, if you have this song on your comp savour it and also pleaseADD anything you know aboutAye Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo ...SK
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