The Slumdog Millionaire Faux Pas!

Slumdog Millionaire was after all flawed in more ways than one.  A question was asked for Rs. 250,000 about the poet of the bhajan “Darshan Do Ghanshyam”.  Jamal answers “Surdas”.  I had thought it was Mirabai.  But it turns out that it was neither!

In fact this song/bhajan first appeared in the movie Narsi Bhagat in 1957.  The lyrics were written by well known Hindi poet Gopal Singh Nepali.  Music was directed by Ravi and it was sung by Hemant Kumar and Sudha Malhotra composed in Rag Kedar.

Some believe that Nepali might have fashioned one of Narsi’s own bhajans into this one.  Here are the complete lyrics of the bhajan btw.  The bhajan that Surdas wrote was “Akhiyaan hari darsan ki pyaasi” – which is what Vikas Swarup’s original novel “Q and A” mentions.  The script based on the movie on the other hand initially used “Chalo Ri Murali” – another Surdas bhajan.  So, somewhere tampered with the original story AND the original script!

So the Director changed the bhajan and used this one instead.. not checking the authenticity of the answer as they did it! 🙂

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Darashan Do Ghanashyam Nath Mori, A.Nkhiya.N Pyasi Re
Man Ma.Ndir Ki Jyoti Jagado, Ghat Ghat Basi Re

Ma.Ndir Ma.Ndir Murat Teri
Phir Bhi Naa Dikhe Surat Teri
Yug Bite Na Ai Milan Ki
Puranamasi Re …

Dvar Daya Ka Jab Tu Khole
Pa.Ncham Sur Me.N Gu.Nga Bole
A.Ndha Dekhe La.Nga.Da Chal Kar
Pahu.Nche Kasi Re …

Pani Pi Kar Pyas Bujhau.N
Naino.N Ko Kaise Samajhau.N
A.Nkh Michauli Chho.Do Ab
Man Ke Basi Re …

Niba.Rl Ke Bal Dhan Nidha.Rn Ke
Tum Rakh Vale Bhakt Jano.N Ke
Tere Bhajan Me.N Sab Sukh Pau.N
Mite Udasi Re …

Nam Jape Par Tujhe Na Jane
Unako Bhi Tu Apana Mane
Terii Daya Ka A.Nt Nahi.N Hai
He Dukh Nashi Re …

Aj Phaisala Tere Dvar Par
Meri Jit Hai Teri Har Par
Har Jit Hai Teri Mai.N To
Charan Upasi Re …

Dvar Kha.Da Kab Se Matavala
Ma.Nge Tum Se Har Tumhari
Narasi Ki Ye Binati Sunalo
Bhakt Vilasi Re …

Laj Na Lut Jaye Prabhu Teri
Nath Karo Na Daya Me.N Deri
Tin Lok Chho.D Kar Ao
Ga.Nga Nivasi Re …