It’s a monthly ritual for the average middle-class individual – juggling salaries and expenses to make ends meet. However, there’s one day when they can’t help but splurge a little, and that day is the first of the month, or payday. A popular chocolate brand once capitalized on this feeling for their promotional campaign, coining the catchy phrase “meetha hai khana, aaj pahli tarikh hai” (life is sweet on the first day of the month). But what many don’t know is that this advertising slogan was actually inspired by a classic song from the 1954 film “Pahli Tarikh.” The song, also titled “Pahli Tarikh,” was sung by the legendary Kishore Kumar and had lyrics that went: “Din hai suhaana, aaj Pahli Tarikh hai, khush hai jamaana, aaj Pahli Tarikh hai” (the day is beautiful, today is the first day of the month, the world is happy, today is the first day of the month).
This iconic song was penned by the talented lyricist Qamar Jalalabadi, a man who spent his life behind the scenes, crafting beautiful melodies that continue to captivate audiences today. For years, this song was played on Radio Ceylon every first day of the month, and it remains a nostalgic reminder of simpler times. But who was qamar Jalalabadi, the mastermind behind this timeless classic?
Qamar Jalalabadi’s journey in the film industry began in Lahore, where he worked as a journalist for publications like “Daily Milap” and “Nirala.” His foray into film music started with the 1942 movie “Jamindar,” composed by the renowned Master Ghulam Haider. Jalalabadi wrote three songs for the film, but Haider struggled to compose the tunes. One fateful night, Haider snuck into his own studio through a window and worked tirelessly to create the melodies for Jalalabadi’s songs. The outcome was the iconic song “Duniya mein garibon ko aaram nahin milta” (the poor don’t get any rest in this world), which became a massive hit.
Jalalabadi’s success with “Jamindar” led to him working with the iconic music director duo Husnlal-Bhagatram, who were making their debut with the film “Prahbat” in Pune. The movie’s soundtrack featured songs like “Do dilon ko ye duniya milne hi nahin deti” (the world doesn’t allow two hearts to meet), which gained immense popularity. Jalalabadi’s collaboration with Prabhat Film Company continued with films like “Ramshastri,” “Gokul,” and “Lakhari,” all of which were released between 1944 and 1945. The songs from these movies also became hits, and Jalalabadi’s popularity eventually led him to Mumbai, where he would go on to write songs for numerous iconic films.
Born on March 7, 1917, in the village of Jalalabad in Amritsar, Qamar Jalalabadi’s real name was Om Prakash Bhandari. He developed a passion for poetry at a young age and adopted the pen name “Qamar” (meaning moon) with the suggestion of his childhood friend Amar Chand “Amar.” Jalalabadi began writing poetry at the age of seven and composed his first song at just nine years old. The 1920s were a time of great social change in India, with the freedom struggle gaining momentum. Jalalabadi’s early song reflected this sentiment, with lines like: ” Dekho ki parinde bhi chahte hain aazadi ko, koi nahin chahta apni barbadi ko, har waqt yahi dhun rahti hai Qamar Jalalabadi ko…” (look, even birds desire freedom, no one wants their destruction, this melody always stays with Qamar Jalalabadi).
Years later, in an interview, Jalalabadi would chuckled and admit that these lines were actually incorrect. Nonetheless, he continued to hone his craft, and his talent eventually took him to the film industry. In Mumbai, Jalalabadi worked on the 1948 film “Pyaar Ki Jeet,” which featured the hit song “Ek dil ke tukde hazar hue, koi yahan gira-koi vahan gira” (one heart has broken into a thousand pieces, some fell here, some fell there). The song “Itne door hain huzoor, kaise mulaaqat ho” (you are so far away, how can we meet) from the same film also became extremely popular.
The story goes that Jalalabadi was once waiting for a train at Dadar railway station when a handsome young man, who introduced himself as Raj Kapoor, approached him and began humming the tune of “Itne door hain huzoor.” Kapoor, who was just starting his career, asked Jalalabadi to write songs for his upcoming film. Jalalabadi, however, was too busy with other projects and politely declined, saying he didn’t have the time. Kapoor would often tease Jalalabadi about this incident in their subsequent meetings, saying “you never have time for me.” It wasn’t until the 1960 film “Chhalia” that Jalalabadi finally got the chance to work with Kapoor, composing songs like “Mere toote hue dil se” and “Dam-dam diga-diga,” which have become timeless classics.
Qamar Jalalabadi’s illustrious career spanned over four decades, during which he wrote songs for more than 150 films, including over 700 individual tracks. Many of his songs, such as “Mera naam Chin Chin Chu” from “Howrah Bridge” and “Aiye meherbaan, baithiye jaan-e-jaan,” continue to be widely popular today. Other notable songs from his discography include “Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya” from “Phagun” and “Dono ne kiya tha pyaar magar” from “Mahua.” Jalalabadi passed away on January 9, 2003, but his legacy lives on through the countless melodies he created, which remain an integral part of Indian film history.
