Jaagte Raho (1956) | Salil Chowdhury

Film Information

Language: Hindi

Lyricist: Shailendra
Song JR5: Lyrics by Prem Dhawan

The Bengali version of the film was titled Akdin Raatre. "Jaagte Raho" won the Grand Prix at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (1957), while Salil’s work in Kabuliwaala received special mention at the Berlin Film Festival the same year.

Songs

Nr	Song	Singer(s)	Hnd	Mal	Tam	Tel	Kan	Bng	Oth
JR1	rangi ko naarangi.. zindagi khwaab hai	Mukesh	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
JR2	ThanDi ThanDi saawan ki phuhaar	Asha Bhosle	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
JR3	lo she vai vai, lo she vai vai	Sandhya Mukherjee, Chorus	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-
JR4	jaago mohan pyaare	Lata Mangeshkar, Chorus	✔	-	-	-	-	AR3	-
JR5	oy aiwe.n duniyaa dewe duhaai	Mohammed Rafi, Balbir	✔	-	-	-	-	-	-

Notes & Background

Jaagte Raho (1956) is one of the most important political films of its time. Salil’s music reflects the film’s tension, humanity, and social satire.

Mukesh’s “Zindagi Khwaab Hai” became iconic — later even recorded by Manna Dey in his own distinct style.

JR5 — “oy aiwe.n duniyaa dewe duhaai” is rooted in traditional Punjabi Bhangra. Salil and Prem Dhawan listened to countless folk recordings before shaping the final composition and lyrics. The result is one of the most authentic Punjabi-flavored songs in Hindi cinema.

“Jaago Mohan Pyaare” was adapted for the Bengali version Akdin Raatre, where the melody and choral arrangement took on a more devotional tone.

The film’s international success (Karlovy Vary Grand Prize) further cemented Salil’s role as one of India’s most respected composers on the world stage.