House Of The Lord
This article is written by Mr. Devraj M.V
Mohd Rafi, Dilip Kumar
Amar (Dilip Kumar) is an advocate in a typical Indian village. Accidentally he meets the village girl (Nimmi) who innocently falls in love with him. During a village festival Nimmi performs a dance and an appreciative Amar garlands her. To the girl, Amar’s act is symbolically equivalent to marriage and she becomes his devotee although Amar is engaged to Anju, a rich lady (Madhubala).
The plight of the wronged village girl becomes a barrier between the engaged couple. When Anju comes to know of Nimmi’s deep devotion towards Amar, she returns the engagement ring and enjoins the untied relationship of the protagonist with the village girl. The institution of marriage and its core values of trust and faith are very sensitively portrayed in this film “Amar†by Mehboob Khan released in 1954.
[audio:http://www.mohdrafi.com/audio/Amar_InsafKaMandir1.mp3]
Listen to Insaaf Ka Mandir Hai Yeh (Part 1) from Amar
[audio:http://www.mohdrafi.com/audio/Amar_InsafKaMandir2.mp3]
Listen to Insaaf Ka Mandir Hai Yeh (Part 2) from Amar
One song from this film, ‘Insaf ka mandir hai ye’ stands out head and shoulder above everything else in the film. Penned by that great poet, Shakeel Badayuni, the music, with simple violins, temple bells and the choir, has been composed by classy Naushad. But it is the magically moving singing prowess of Rafisaab that propels the song to its ultimate pinnacle. The song based on Bhairavi, a sampoorna raag in which all the sapt surs (seven notes) can be used, gives Rafisaab the scope to display all the vocal scales that he alone could scale.
The film starts with the mukhada of the song and the main song is in two parts. Amar and Anju go to the temple and Amar is reluctant because he is conscious of the wrong done to the village girl. How lyricist Shakeel Badayuni brings the gamut of feelings of Amar into the verse!
Mohd Rafi, Dilip Kumar
Hai khot tere man mein jo bhagvaan se hai door
Hain paav tere,
Hain paav tere phir bhi tu aane se hai majboor
Aane se hai majboor,
Himmat hai to aa jaa ye bhalaayi ki dagar hai
Insaaf ka mandir hai ye bhagvaan ka ghar hai
When there is blemish in your mind you run away from the Lord
Even with legs you hesitate to enter the House of the Lord
If you have the courage, come to the House of Goodness
This is the Temple of Justice; this is the House of the Lord
The song makes the protagonist realize the grave injustice he is doing to his devotee:
Dukh de ke jo dukhiyon se na insaaf karegaa
Bhagvaan bhi usko na kabhi maaf karegaa
Ye soch le,
Ye soch le har baat ki daataa ko khabar hai
Daataa ko khabar hai,
Himmat hai to aa jaa ye bhalaayi ki dagar hai
Insaaf ka mandir hai ye bhagvaan ka ghar hai
The Lord will never pardon the sinner cheating the distressed
Know thee that He has knowledge of all pervasive
If you have courage, come to the House of Goodness
This is the Temple of Justice; this is the House of the Lord.
Rafisaab sings this stanza with so much power and emotion that no true blue Rafi Bhakth will ever want to commit a sin against a distressed soul because his mind will constantly remind him that the Lord from above is overseeing all his deeds of omission and commission. Soch le, bandhe, daata dekh raha hai.
In the second part of the song the scenario is changed. Anju has grasped with the reality that Amar does not belong to her and when she and Amar enter the temple she returns the engagement ring. Again Shakeelsaab brilliantly brings to the fore the emotions of the heroine:
Hai paas tere jiski amaanat use de de
Nirdhan bhi hai,
Nirdhan bhi hai insaan mohabbat use de de
Mohabbat use de de
Is dhar pe sabhi ek hai bandhe ye wo dhar hai
Insaaf ka mandir hai ye bhagvaan ka ghar hai
Give back the posession to its real owner
Give back the love to the impoverished
All are equal in this House, my mate
This is the Temple of Justice; this is the House of the Lord
Then lastly the poet consoles and puts the noble and sacrificing heroine on a pedestal:
Maayoos na ho haar ke taqdir ki baazi
Pyaaraa hai vo gam jismein ho bhagvaan bhi raazi
Dukh dard mile,
Dukh dard mile jismein wohi pyaar amar hai
Wohi pyaar amar hai
Insaaf ka mandir hai ye bhagvaan ka ghar hai
Do not cry over lost game of Fate
Sorrow given by the Lord is great
Love with pain and sorrow is Eternal
This is the Temple of Justice; this is the House of the Lord
Listen to the line ‘duklh dard mile’ sung with feeling, agony and pathos and no human being can avert a tear or two. Just as the film starts with ‘insaaf ka mandir hai’, it ends with ‘bhagwan ka ghar hai’.
At the end of the film the song remains with the viewer. It keeps ringing in his/her ears, it comes out through his/her vocal chords and stays with him/her for ever. Rafisaab touches very high notes and then comes down and then again explodes but never ever loses balance, smoothness or melody. Rafisaab lords over us throughout the song.
[audio:http://www.mohdrafi.com/audio/Amar_InsafKaMandir1.mp3]
Listen to Insaaf Ka Mandir Hai Yeh (Part 1) from Amar
[audio:http://www.mohdrafi.com/audio/Amar_InsafKaMandir2.mp3]
Listen to Insaaf Ka Mandir Hai Yeh (Part 2) from Amar
As I said earlier the song leaves a lasting impression on us that a Super Power is overseeing all our acts. We read about the prisoner who is about to be taken to the gallows wanting to listen to ‘o duniyake rakhwale’ as his last wish. If only he had heard ‘insaf ka mandir hai’ prior to the heinous crime, there could be no doubt that he would never have committed that crime in the first place.
The trio of music maestro Naushad, poet par excellence Shakeel, and the reverberating Rafisaab seem to have assembled at the House of the Lord and left us with this unforgettable masterpiece constantly goading us to be good human beings. I, for one, have housed them in my House of Heart and frequently say:
Hum yaadonke phool chadaayein
Aur aansooke deep jalaaye
Saansonka har taar pukare
Ye Rafisaab ka ghar hai
Dil ek mandir hai, dil ek mandir hai
Pyar ki jismein hoti hai pooja
Ye Rafisaab ka ghar hai
Rafisaab Amar Hai !
Thank you Bina for your lovely comments.I really appreciate what you said.
Thanks to you too,Cheriyan saab.
Best wishes.
M V Devraj
Devraj Saab:
Insaaf Ka mandir hai yeh, bhagwaan ka ghar hai. …a song, which I would say, belongs first and foremost to the lyricist, Shakeel, aur jise Naushad Ali ne apni jadoo se Rafi Saab se khoob gawaya and the ultimate beneficiary is the listener who, like you say, is the recipient of the strong message of the song. .
No doubt, it is the powerful lyrics in Rafi Saab’s voice that makes this song Amar!
You have really felt this song in its very depth and the effect that this song has had on you is very beautifully mirrored in your writing..aise hi apne kalam se hum subko rijhaate rahiye.
Respectlully,
Bina
Bina
Hello Friends:
My dear Ramnarayan, thanks for your nice words. I will keep your suggestion in mind.It is a tough task especially at my age. Lets see.
Dear Uttara, as always, your comments make me feel elevated. Many thanks.
Sabnaveesji, when friends like you say so many nice things, I am beholden to at least acknowledge them. Is it not? I have only done my duty. Thanks for your lovely words.
Narayansaab, I certainly do not qualify for being called a ‘gyan guru’. Many thanks for being so generous in your complements. It gives me immense pleasure to note that a Rafi connoisseur like you enjoyed reading what I wrote.
Nagesh, wah, what a quality comment you have made. I have to reproduce this:
‘Insaaf Ka Mandir, is not a song but a faith or a belief. A belief if owned, capable of helping the owner sustain and win testing moments of life. ‘
Brilliant. Thanks a ton, my friend.
Best wishes.
M V Devraj
Great article, Devji. Congrats. Keep up the good work.
Hello Devbhai, Aadab Rafi.
Just love the simplicity, honesty and the bhakti you bring, in your write ups.
This one has all of that. For me, it is always the taste of the dish which lasts in my memory than the container it was served in. You have the knack of serving great delicacies in minimally embellished containers.
Insaaf Ka Mandir, is not a song but a faith or a belief. A belief if owned, capable of helping the owner sustain and win testing moments of life.
Lage raho Devbhai.
much regards
Nagesh Sidhanti
Devaraj saab, Adaab Rafi !
When I met you first with Srikant I knew that you are a great Gyaan Guru … and a Rafi encyclopedia .Very happy to note the review my fav song of the Immortal Rafi sahab..
Narayan
AAj purani yaado se koi muje aawaz na de mis another one of this combo
dear sri devaraj,
i really appreciate & thank you very much for your very kind gesture of acknowledging the responce given to your article. you have not forgotten a single name. you have framed beautiful sentences appreciating each person by incorporating their names. really amazing art of drafting devraj. keep on posting such articles.
Devrajji, I have not seen this film. But your review was like an audio-visual presentation. Not just the song, your article too leaves a lasting impression. A very informative write-up which takes us through a musical and spiritual journey.
regards
Utthara
This was an eye opener. I have seen the film probably 35 years back, and forgot the context of the song. But with this very well written background, the song becomes whole and that much more meaningful.
Wonderful effort, keep it up. I now suggest that you compile the background for the top 50 or 100 songs which you like – not necessarily restricted to Rafi – you can add Mannada, Lata, Hemant, Mukesh etc to the list and surely you will get 100 gems on which to write the background.
We will go ahead and publish the book for all enthusiasts of the golden period of Hindi film music. Time to start is now!!
All the best.
My dear friends,many many many thanks for all your wonderful words of appreciation.I am humbled.
Murthysaab, the poetic brilliance of Shakeel composing dexterity of Naushad and the singing versatality of Rafisaab can only be experienced.
Many thanks Baruaji.
Yes Mohan,when you know the context, the poetry and the song comes that much more enjoyable and meaningful.Thanks for your nice words.
Dear NRP,a big thank you to you for your wonderful comments. This song is so emotional that it remains with you for long.
Haquesaab,aapko bahut bahut shukriya.I am glad that you liked the write-up.
Guruji,thank you for your comments.Bhagwan ka ghar will definitely remind us of the other song you mention.Both are superb compositions sung superbly by Rafisaab.
My dear Krishnan,such lovely words,make me feel taller.Aana hai tho is definitely another beautiful song.Will see.Thanks for your nice words.
Dear Anoop as always your comments are so charming and lovely that I cannot say sufficient thanks.Bus, thanks my friend.
Thanks Vijay,I am glad you liked what I wrote.
Girishji,how can I thank you for your beautiful complements?Sirf itna hi kehta hoon ki dhanyawaad.
Parvezji,thanks for your link.It is another great song from the house of Rafisaab.
Ajit,I am very happy to note that you liked this review.Oh Yes,Dilip Kumar and Rafisaab were made for each other.O duniya ke rakhwale has already been reviewed brilliantly by my friends and you can access it under the title ‘wide range of
fans for one song’ at:
http://www.mohdrafi.com/2009/04
Best wishes to all.
M V Devraj
JUST LISTEN TO THE BHENTS ( PUNJABI DEVOTIONAL SONGS IN PRAISE OF MAA VAISHNO DEVI ) FROM `BHAKTI MEIN SHAKTI`
1 ) JAG TERE CHARNON MEIN AAYA BHOLI MAA
2) MAA TERE DARBAR
AND ALSO FROM AASHA
1) TUNE MUJHE BULAYA SHERANWALIAN
great write up for a great song. I read the article first , then listened to the song on audio and then saw the video on you tube..
Its amazing, how after reading the article you get a totally different perspective. One suddenly can start hearing the way the music, the voice, the emotion, tone,- everything just changes with the changed scenario in part 2 … Also seeing the video reminded me of how great Dilip Kumar was, his expressions rendered full justice to the great voice.
I would have never known this if it weren’t for the technical nuances that you have beautifully analysed and brought out in the article. Fantastic work again …Big thank u.
Couple of requests – 2 other devotional songs Rafi saab has sung in Baiju Bawra come into mind – “Man tarapath hain” and “o duniya ke rakhwale” – think those are some of the other unparelleled songs sung by this great man ! keep it coming!
DEAR MR DEVRAJ JI I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A DEVOTIONAL SONG THIS SONG IS FROM FILM:NAYA DAUR LYRICS:BY SAHIR SAAB MUSIC BY O P NAYYAR SAAB SANG BY RAFI SAAB THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DEVOTIONAL SONG KINDLY VISIT THIS LINK TO WATCH THIS SONG
http://rafifanblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/aana-hai-to-aa-naya-daur-colour-version.html
Devraj saab
All these days just listening to the song gave me goose bumps. Now after knowing the background and the situation of the song, these bumps will grow even more in their size. It gives new dimensions to the understanding of the song and the context in which the lyrics were written.
for instance take these lines –
Hai paas tere jiski amaanat use de de
Nirdhan bhi hai,
Nirdhan bhi hai insaan mohabbat use de de
Mohabbat use de de
If one hears this phrase without knowing the story / background behind it,
it is difficult to comprehend the intention / context behind writing such lines.
However, if one gets to know that –
“Anju has grasped with the reality that Amar does not belong to her and when she and Amar enter the temple she returns the engagement ring”
Then the listener is in a position to put things in a clear perspective and appreciate the beautiful lines rendered by the most beautiful voice of Rafisaab.
Devraj saab , a big thank you for this lyrical write-up
Dear Periappa (Raju Uncle),
As always, you have penned an exceptional article on an exceptional song!!!
Keep up the good writing !!!!
Bless
Vijay
Extremely well written Devbhai.
This is one of Rafi’s great songs, and for people like me who have neither seen the movie, nor the video, it was a lot of learning.
Thanks for this wonderful review. Keep them coming.
Cheers
Anoop
Dear Raju,
I endorse Guru Murthy Saab’s view about the Naya Daur song. Aana hai tho
aa always reminds me of Insaaf ka Mandir and vice versa. Though composed by different composers these two great songs evoke the same feelings of reverence from the listener and the lyrics of both sahir and shakeel are peerless. Probably Murthy saab had ‘Aana’ in his mind when he mentioned about Sahir. Mehboob Khan, Naushad , Shakeel, Rafi and Dilip Kumar gave us this great inspirational song Insaaf Ka Mandir!
You are scaling great heights in writing skills and this memorable review of this immortal song is indeed a great treat to all Rafi saab admirers. Looking forward to further reviews and if possible treat us to a review of AANA!
JAI HO
M V Krishnan
Devraj Bhai,
Some how, this song from “AMAR” reminds me of another song from again Dilip Kumar starrer “NAYA DAUR” – ‘Aana Hai To Aa Raah Me’, so beautifully rendered by Rafi Saab and music by OPN, where also the hero Dilip is torn between his lady love Vyjayanti and his friend Ajit and for solution to the problem, both the friends come to the temple.
“Jab Tuzhese Na Sulze Tere Ulze Hue Dande
Bhagwan Ke Insaaf Pe Tu Chodade Bande
Jo Kuch Hai Tere Dilme Bas Usko Khabar Hai
Bande Tere Har Haal Pe Malik Ki Nazar Hai”
“Kehne Ki Zaroorat Nahin Aana Hi Bahut Hai
Is Dar Pe Tera Sheesh Jhukana Hi Bahut Hai
Jo Tu Nahin Kar Paya Wo Bhagawan Karega”
Simply wonderful.
Dear Devraj ji,
A very beautiful article on a great song.
I love this whole song very much, but I can not express my feelings for the beautiful rendering by Rafi Sahab for phrase “Piyar amar hai” in line “Dukh dard milen jis mein wohi piyar amar hai”. This phrase is sung twice, but I am talking about the first one which is really awesome. The way Rafi Sahab has sung this phrase, it is impossible to describe in words. It can just be felt.
Any way, many congratulations for such a nice article.
Thanks and best regards.
Anwar-ul-Haque
it is really a marvel as to how one single song can encompass the divergent predicaments of three individuals, all at the alters of the Lord. Devrajji, the way you have brought out their respective plights is truly remarkable. Quite often we listen to good music, withought going deeper into its true meaning and insight that it offers beyond the obvious. thanks for the commentary. More power to your pen.
Padmanabhan NR
rafi foudation, Hyderabad Chapter.
Dear Devraj ji,
Excellent analysis of a great song. Oftentimes, the true import of a song has to be understood in the context of the movie: and you’ve done that very well in this review. Thank you, for it makes me want to not only listen to sign the song again, but also to watch the movie.
Also, your technical knowledge comes through, and adds to the quality of the review. Thank you for a wonderful article…
Gan (Mohan)
RESPECTED DEVRAJ JI
BEAUTIFUL ANALYSIS OF a great devotional song by rafi saheb. he was with full of devotion to Lord in the song.
thanks & regards
biman
today i was fortunate to read these two great articles on two of the best known songs of all times ‘insaaf ka mandir hai yeh – amar” and “kal raat zindagi se mulaqaat ho gayi – palki”. the reason why I am referring both the songs here is because just about an year back at a regular musical mehfil, i had met a music enthusiast who preferred rafi sahab’s songs and when introduced to me, i asked him if i can ‘farmaish’ two songs and these two were the same songs. the singer could only oblige with the first one, as the palki song is much more difficult for any singer to attempt in public. great article though devraj sahab on one of the finest songs from the ‘inspirational songs category’ and it beats me how an athiest like sahir ludhianvi could pen such quality social message songs depicting the almighty in such beautiful words. the icing on the cake has however been rafi sahab’s impeccable rendition.