Hawa mein udta jaaye

Hawa mein udta jaaye mora laal dupatta malmal ka
Ji mora laal dupatta malmal ka, ho ji, ho ji
Idhar udhar lehraaye mora laal dupatta malmal ka
Ji mora laal dupatta malmal ka, ho ji, ho ji

Sar sar sar sar hawa chale
Hai jiyara dagmag dole, jiyara dagmag dole
Sar sar sar sar hawa chale
Hai jiyara dagmag dole, jiyara dagmag dole
Phar phar phar phar uddey chunariya,
Ghunghat mora khole, hai ghunghat mora khole

Hawa mein udta jaaye mora laal dupatta malmal ka
Ji mora laal dupatta malmal ka, ho ji, ho ji
Idhar udhar lehraaye mora laal dupatta malmal ka
Ji mora laal dupatta malmal ka, ho ji, ho ji

Jhar jhar jhar jhar jharna behta
Thhanda thhanda paani, thhanda thhanda paani,
Jhar jhar jhar jhar jharna behta
Thhanda thhanda paani, thhanda thhanda paani,
Ghunghru baaje thunnak thunnak
Chaal hui mastaani, hai chaal hui mastaani

Hawa mein udta jaaye mora laal dupatta malmal ka
Ji mora laal dupatta malmal ka, ho ji, ho ji
Idhar udhar lehraaye mora laal dupatta malmal ka
Ji mora laal dupatta malmal ka, ho ji, ho ji

Movie: Barsaat (1949)
Director: Raj Kapoor
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Ramesh Shastri
Music Composer: Shankar Jaikishan

Not much is known about Ramesh Shastri, the lyricist of this song. Two differing accounts of his life are presented in a Google groups discussion. There seems to be no way to ascertain which one is correct, which is unfortunate.

What we do know is that this rather popular song was penned by a gentleman named Ramesh Shastri. Barsaat seemed to have a number of lyricists and this song is among the few that remain popular even today. In fact, it was even remixed sometime in the past decade or so by the group Bombay Vikings. It is a very hummable track and the onomatopoeic lyrics are probably responsible, at least to some extent. It is beautifully picturized, showcasing beautiful scenes from India’s hills, including a rather majestic waterfall. The actress on whom the song is picturized, Bimla Kumari, also seems to have been largely forgotten like the lyricist because I could find hardly any information about her on the Internet, except that she is the ‘Lal dupatta girl’ apparently. In memory of its forgotten stars, let’s listen to this number again. ~ R