Today’s second post is the analysis of the song, Mera gadha ghadhonka leader, from the Bollywood movie, Meherban (1967). The song has been analyzed on the basis of its context and visualization.
Movie – Meherban (1967)
The song, Mera gadha ghadhonka leader, was featured in the AVM Productions’ famrama Meherban (1967) produced by A V Meiyappan and directed by A Bhim Singh. The movie starred Ashok Kumar, Sulochana, Sunil Dutt, Nutan, Mahmood, etc.
Madhu (Mahmood) ran away from home when he was a child because he wanted to join a circus. But he ends up flattering different circus owners to get noticed. At this point, he sings this song, in the quest to get friendly with donkeys because no other animal in the circus was ready to be friends with him!
Song – Mera gadha ghadhonka leader
The lyrics of the song, Mera gadha ghadhonka leader, were penned by Rajinder Kishan and they were set to tune by Ravi.
The song goes, “My donkey is the leader of all donkeys.” The man puts forward demands on behalf of his donkey’s entire community.
Video – Mera gadha ghadhonka leader
Director of Photography is A Vincent. Photography is by A Venkat. Dance choreography is by Chinni-Sampath.
The video opens with the camera focussing on placards, standing on the road. As one of the placards move to the left and a donkey begins to bray, Mahmood looks around and then, shaking the head of one donkey, begins to sing the song.
There are several donkeys around him and a crowd has collected surrounding them. Mahmood also begins to perform a few dance steps. Then, he visits a laundrymen’s community.
Previously, laundrymen or the dhobis in India uses donkeys to carry the clothes that they have washed for their clients. Mahmood seems to have taken up the cause of the donkeys, who are considered to be the beasts of burden.
Several other actors join him in the endeavor, with as many donkeys. He goes to other places like construction sites where again donkeys were used to carry building materials. The song peters out and the video ends as Mahmood brays like a donkey, close to the camera.
Artists
Mohammad Rafi has sung this song for Mahmood. Other actors are also seen in the video.
Cultural Influence
There is no influence of any culture on this song. The song and the artists are good. The video is watchable for Mahmood’s antics.
