In today’s weekend blog, I am back on Bollywood.
Today I am writing about a very talented Music Director who never reached the level of popularity he deserved. He gave wonderful songs in the 1950s and 1960s; friends, I am talking about N DATTA.
His actual name was Datta Naik, but he used N Datta as his name while composing music for Hindi and Marathi films.
He was born in Goa (then under Portuguese rule) on 12th December 1927. He started his career as an assistant to the legendary music director SD Burman in films like Bahar, Sazaa, Ek Nazar (1951) Jaal (1952), Jeevan Jyoti (1953) and Angarey (1954). While working with SD Burman, he also developed a notable career as independent music director. His close association with lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. He also worked with Majrooh Sultanpuri, Jan Nisar Akhtar and others.
His music was very much appreciated for BR Chopra’s Sadhana (1958) and Dhool Ka Phool (1959), lyrics for both the films were penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and the songs which are given below became chartbusters of that era:
- Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko- Sadhana
- Aaj Kyun Humse Parda Hai- Sadhana
- Tere Pyar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon- Dhool Ka Phool
- Dhadkane Lagi Dil Ke Taaron Ki Duniya- Dhool Ka Phool
- Jhukti Hawa Gaati Ghata Sapne Jagaye- Dhool Ka Phool
- Tu Hindu Banega Na Mussalman Banega- Dhool Ka Phool
- Daaman Mein Daag Laga Baithe- Dhool Ka Phool
Then there was one more film of BR Chopra film named Dharamputra (1961) whose songs like ‘ Main Jan Bhi Akeli Hoti Hoon, Tum Chupke Se Aa Jaate Ho’, and ‘Yeh Masjid Hai Yeh Butkhana, Chahe Ye Maano Ya Who Maano’ also became popular. In his case there was always problem, more than him the lyricist of the songs (Sahir Ludhianvi-with whom he did maximum films) got credit for the success of songs.
N Datta’s later years were spent fighting with ill health and commercial failure. The 1981 film ’Chehre Pe Chehra’ was his last Hindi film, and he died on 30th December 1987.
Given below are some of his most popular songs with their YouTube links:
1 Jaate Ho To Jao, Par Jaoge Kahan– Milap (1955). Geeta Dutt (Singer-S) Sahir Ludhianvi (Lyricist-L). On Screen Geeta Bali with Dev Anand.
YouTube link
https://youtu.be/_yBIDOsGhRY?si=daoBohp1Xt8vOqVf
2 Maine Chand aur Sitaron ki Tamanna ki Thi– Chandrakanta (1956). Mohd Rafi (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L).
https://youtu.be/lcFM-dP5OEI?si=vGIh9YnWPXFECLmL
3 Hum Panchi Ek Dall Ke, Ek Daal Ke– Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke (1957). Mohd Rafi (S), PL Santoshi (L). On Screen-Jagdeep
https://youtu.be/vin7-gmwsT8?si=I2q1gv3bgS8VNNo2
4 Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko, Mardon Ne Use Baazar Diya-Sadhana (1958). Lata Mangeshkar (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Vyjayantimala
https://youtu.be/f6SKLOoL_Bc?si=Rj1Km4dXpzAXqNvW
5 Aaj Kyun Mumse Parda Hai– Sadhana (1958). Mohd Rafi and S Balbir (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Jr Artists with Vyjayantimala.
https://youtu.be/3U5fpW_fVR4?si=RZyKQaVfjp2do36s
6 Bachchon Tum Taqdeer Ho, Kal Ke Hindustan Ki– Didi (1959). Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosle (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Sunil Dutt and Shobha Khote.
https://youtu.be/tQ8Mqt7KHLU?si=IeHj0H1iced5sXzH3_2mAE
7 Tu Hindu Banega Na Mussalman Banega- Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Mohd Rafi (L), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Manmohan Krishna
https://youtu.be/FGrXizYFEjI?si=Lzbubq3JOj3_2mAE
8 Tere Pyar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon– Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Lata Mangeshkar & Mahendra Kapoor (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Rajendra Kumar and Mala Sinha.
https://youtu.be/aqgSpLC-ia4?si=-0-ZgYIF0Tz3-fJk
9 Main Jab Bhi Akeli Hoti Hoon, Tum Chupke Se Aa Jaate Ho– Dharamputra (1961). Asha Bhosle (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Mala Sinha
https://youtu.be/xEUtMqGStG8?si=-EaTewWHcZG3CNbX
10 Dil Ki Tamanna Thi Masti Mein-Gyarah Hazar Ladkiyan (1962). Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosle (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L). On screen Bharat Bhushan and Mala Sinha.
https://youtu.be/YmY9aaAmXEQ?si=xNiZK6zdqzmOwcrH
11 Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tum-Kala Samundar (1963). Mohd Rafi & Asha Bhosle (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L).
https://youtu.be/rNYwneo08xQ?si=BscnrfvD88ybrdM6
12 Ponchkar Ashq apni Ankhon Se, Muskurao To Koi Baat Bane– Naya Raasta (1970). Mohd Rafi (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L). On screen Jeetendra with Asha Parekh.
https://youtu.be/zgMnYoWYHXU?si=gs0fZR_tx-BSe13C
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
13th February 2026