Prem Shankar Dubey: Encyclopedia of old Hindi film songs

This song is from 1961 flick ‘Jadoo Nagari’. Hasrat Jaipuri is the lyricist, S N Tripathi is the music director and Lata Mangeshkar is the singer. This is just one among the gems collected by Prem Shankar Dubey, an ardent lover of music. In fact, he has a collection of over 20,000 songs, making it a record. “I am not just a collector of ancient records of music, but I am a passionate lover of Hindi music right from my childhood,” says Dubey, whose collection has songs from all Hindi films released between 1948 and 1973. Dubey belongs to Jabalpur and retired as Superintendent Engineer from MP State Electricity Board. He is now settled in Nagpur.

A passionate lover of Hindi music, he has a collection of over 20,000 Hindi songs in the form of records, cassettes, CDs and even in pen drives. In an interview to ‘The Hitavada’ Dubey showed his collection of records and cassettes as he talked about his passion for music. He summed it up in just one song, “Yeh Mera Deewanapan Hai”, a Mukesh number from the film ‘Yehudi’. Born in January 1947, Prem Shankar, son of IPS officer with British Government Biharilal Dubey, was a law graduate and Principal of Police Training School in Sagar (now in Madhya Pradesh). He was also RTA secretariat in Ravishankar Shukla Government of CP & Berar. He can tell details of any song from his collection within seconds. “You name any song between 1949 and 1973, I have original songs of all films released during this period. I have spent huge money. I have worked hard in my life to get all original records and songs. I don’t want to show my collection because I don’t seek fame from it.

I have collected this for happiness and pleasure in life,” he says. “Radio Ceylon had a great contribution in popularising Hindi music. It’s Hindi service was launched in early 1950. Binaca Geetmala first broadcast in 1952 and Lipton Ke Sitaare were the two most popular programmes in those days. Our family had one big Murphy radio in those days. On 25 meter band we used to get Radio Ceylone, which was broadcasting Hindi songs. My father was also a music lover. He also had number of music records,” Dubey recalls.

“I purchased my own music record in 1952,” Dubey says as he recollects the incident. “I was just seven. I wanted to purchase one music record of my own. My Nanaji was living in Hoshangabad. I asked my Nanaji to take me to the market to get music record. Along with my Nanaji, I went on a bicycle. I purchased one 78 RPM record of film ‘Babul’ for just four Annas. When I was coming with the same I fell down, but I held the record intact over my head. The 78 RPM record had only two songs, Chhod Babul Ka Ghar, Mhoe Pi Ke Nagar, Aaj Jaana Pada sung by Shamshad Begam and Panchi Ban Mein Piya Piya Gane Laga sung by Lata Mangeshkar.” Dubey, being an engineer, has complete knowledge about music records. He can explain the technical details and difference between the old records like 78 RPM, SP (single play), EP (extended play), and LP (Long Play). As a good listener, he can also judge vibrations of sound. Dubey not only recalls film and its song, but also narrates the history of making of the film, situation of the song, sentiments of lyricist, emotions of music director and the singer’s voice. He also tells entire story of film making to music composition. He is a living encyclopedia who can tell on screen and off screen stories of singers and music.

“Hindi songs composed during 1948 to 1970 had divine touch. Take any song of this period, take any singer and just listen to the song, you will get a spiritual feeling. The music had strong vibrations, strength and capacity to calm down the mind. Unfortunately, after 1970 Indian film music started losing its divinity,” he feels. Dubey is a great fan of Lata Mangeshkar. “Lata Mangeshkar is my favourite singer. I cannot imagine Indian music without Lata Mangeshkar,” he says as his face reflects the sense of devotion, love and dedication for Lata Mangeshkar. Interestingly, Dubey was reluctant to hear her songs in initial days. “I am a fan of Lata Mangeshkar since my childhood but I was reluctant to hear her songs in early days. She started good singing after 1951-52 when her voice matured. Also she had sharpened her skills. On the contrary, Asha Bhosale’s initial voice was excellent,” Dubey says and illustrates different songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale from 1949 to 1973. The living encyclopedia has similar tales not known to the music lovers. “Suhani Raat Dhal Chukki, Na Jaane Tum Kab Aaoge, sung by Mohammad Rafi from film ‘Dulari’ released in 1949, is the most effective song where the music director Naushad used very few instruments and gave emphasis on the words and emotions.

“‘Ae Pyase Dil Bezuban Tujhko Le Jau Kaha’ is another song sung by Mukesh from Beguhan in 1957. The film was never released. The effect of voice, sound and musical instruments is a classic example of how the word, musical instruments and vocal voice of a singer could produce a harmonious effect,” Dubey narrates. Dubey has so many interesting tales to tell about his musical journey where he went out of the way to purchase records. “In those days, there were very few companies producing records like Colombia, Twins, HMV and EMI. Purchasing musical records was a costly affair. Still, I managed to purchase the original records. In 1964-65 music companies brought LP records. Music of films like Rajhat, Safar, Pocketmaar, Mein Nashe Mein Hu, Mughal-e-Azam, An Evening in Paris, Madhumati, Patita, Nagin, Saranga, Jine ki Rah, Jal Bin Machali was very popular. There was one theater ‘Shyam Talkies’ in Jabalpur behind our school.

The songs were so loud in those days, that we students used to bunk the school and gather near talkies. I used to watch the films at least for three to four times just to hear the songs,” he recalls. The first tape recorder came in 1973 and the era of cassettes started. Music lovers started purchasing cassettes or getting the songs recorded in blank cassettes. There was a shortage of blank cassettes. Copying and recording the songs from records to cassettes was illegal. “I had paid Rs 25 to record one original song from 78RPM record in 1973. I spent most of the amount I earned from my salary to collect original songs. Still I am searching original songs from film Nadan (1951), Duniya Rang Rangili (1957), Chandirani (1953) etc. I thank my wife, who supported me to pursue my passion and love for music,” Dubey concludes.