“Paa Laguu Kar Jori” is a rare and historical gem from the 1947 film Shadi Se Pehle. This track is particularly significant as it features a very young Lata Mangeshkar (only about 18 years old at the time) in one of her earliest playback assignments. In this period, Lata was still under the mentorship of Datta Davjekar, the music director of this film, who played a crucial role in giving her early breaks in both Marathi and Hindi cinema.
The song is a traditional “Hori” (a song themed around the festival of Holi), depicting the playful and sometimes forceful interactions between Radha and Krishna (Shyam mose na khelo hori). It showcases Lata’s classical roots, featuring the intricate “harkats” and fast-paced melodic patterns characteristic of semi-classical Indian music. The lyrics by Mahipal capture the quintessential “nok-jhook” (playful banter) of the festival, with the protagonist pleading with Shyam to stop his mischief.
This song is also notable for the presence of Mohammed Rafi and Mohantara Talpade. In 1947, both Lata and Rafi were rising stars, unaware that they would eventually become the two pillars of the Indian music industry. Listening to this track today offers a fascinating glimpse into the “raw” but already brilliant talent of a teenage Lata Mangeshkar, before she became the legendary “Nightingale of India.”
Paa laguu kar joda lyrics | Lata Mangeshkar | Shadi se pehle | 1947
Paa laguu kar joda lyrics :
pa laagu kar jori re
shyam mose na khelo hori
ho shyam mose na khelo hori
pa laagu kar jori re
shyam mose na khelo hori
mere shyaam, mere shyaam
mose na khelo hori
karat barajori jori ho shyam mose
mose na khelo hori
chhin jhapat more hath se gagar
chhin jhapat more hath se gagar
todke baiyaa marodi
ha ha ha baiyaa marodi
dil dharkat hai, saans chadhat hai
dil dharkat hai, saans chadhat hai
deh kaanpat gori gori
ha ha ha deh kaanpat gori gori
ho shyam mose na khelo hori
ho shyam mose na khelo hori
mose na khelo hori re shyam
mose na khelo hori re shyam
mose na khelo
mose khelo na shyam
mose khelo na shyam
mose na khelo, mose na khelo
mose na khelo hori, na khelo hori