THE BEST RAAGA BASED SONGS IN THE HINDI MOVIES – RAAGA KHAMMAJ

Khamaj is one of the ten Thaats (parent scales) of Hindustani music. It is also a specific raaga within the Khamaj thaat. Raag Khamaj is a late evening raaga and is brought out rather elegantly in the light classical form of thumri. It has been a popular choice for film music as well. Devotion, beauty and the opulence of love are the basis of Raga Khamaj.

Khamaj is meant to be a complete surrender to the ultimate through the beauty of its melody. The beauty of Khamaj lies in the expression of love with the softest touch of heart.

Song #1 O sajana barkha bahaar aayi…

The romantic nature of the raaga is brought out by this delightful composition of Salil ChowdhuryO Sajna Barkha Bahar Aayi (the cover picture song). This song is supposed to have been set to the swishing of the wipers of an Ambassador car when the composer Salil Chowdhury was caught in a torrential downpour. The original version done in Bengali called Na Jeona was also sung by Lata Mangeshkar. She is said to have chosen this song when asked what is the one song she will take with her to a desert island!

The song is from the 1960 movie Parakh and is picturised on Sadhana. Shailendra is the lyricist.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: O sajana, barkha bahaar aayi…..

(o sajanaa, barakhaa bahaara aaI
rasa kii phuhaara laaI, a.Nkhiyo.n me pyaar laaI ) – 2
o sajanaa

tumako pukaare mere mana kaa papiharaa – 2
miiThii miiThii aganii me.n, jale moraa jiyaraa
o sajanaa …

(aisI rimajhima me.n o saajan, pyaase pyaase mere nayana
tere hii, khvaaba me.n, kho gae ) – 2
saa.nvalii salonii ghaTaa, jaba jaba chhaaI – 2
a.Nkhiyo.n me.n rainaa gaI, nindiyaa na aaI
o sajanaa …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSEV7-CqhwI

Song #2 Kuchh to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna…

Salil da was not the only Bengali composer fond of Raag Khammaj. Rahul Dev Burman used the Raag for composing Aayo kahan se ghanshayaam in Buddha Mil Gaya. He used the same Raag twice in 1971 movie Amar Prem in the songs: Bada natkhat hai ye Krishan Kanhaiyya, and Kuchh to log kahenge.

All three are beautiful compositions in Raag Khammaj. Lets take the last one as example. And not just because it is a good example of the Raag; but, also, the essence of the movie is in the song.

Anand Bakshi was the lyricist and the song was sung by Kishore Kumar for Rajesh Khanna. Of course the movie itself was made by a famous Bengali: Shakti Samanta and starred the great grand-daughter of Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore: Sharmila Tagore.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Kuchh to log kahenge….

(kuchh to loga kahe.nge, logo.n kaa kaama hai kahanaa
chho.Do bekaara kii baato.n me.n kahii.n biita naa jaae rainaa ) – 2
kuchha to loga kahe.nge, logo.n kaa kaama hai kahanaa

kuchha riita jagata kii aisii hai, hara eka subaha kii shaama huii – 2
tU kauna hai, teraa naama hai kyaa, siitaa bhii yahaa.N badanaama huii
phira kyuu.N sa.nsaara kii baato.n se, bhiiga gaye tere nayanaa
kuchha to loga kahe.nge, logo.n kaa kaama hai kahanaa
chho.Do bekaara kii baato.n me.n kahii.n biita naa jaae rainaa
kuchha to loga kahe.nge …

hamako jo taane dete hai.n, hama khoe hai.n ina ra.ngaraliyo.n me.n – 2
hamane unako bhii chhupa chhupake, aate dekhaa ina galiyo.n me.n
ye sacha hai jhuuThii baata nahii.n, tuma bolo ye sacha hai naa
kuchha to loga kahe.nge, logo.n kaa kaama hai kahanaa
chho.Do bekaara kii baato.n me.n kahii.n biita naa jaae rainaa
kuchha to loga kahe.nge …

Song #3 Nazar laagi raja tore bangle pe….

We started with our fifth Raag; Raag Khammaj tonight and took the compositions of two Bengali composers: Salil Choudhury and Rahul Dev Burman.

Tonight, lets take another Bengali composer: RD Burman’s father: Sachin Dev Burman. This too is a lovely one from the 1958 movie Kaala Pani starring SD Burman’s favourite hero: Dev Anand with Madhubala and Nalini Jaywant in the role of a courtesan with a golden heart.

Lyrics are by Majrooh Sultanpuri and singer is Asha Bhosle.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Nazar laagi raja tore bangle par….

nazar laage raajaa tore ba.ngale par

jo mai.n hotii raajaa ban kii koyaliyaa
kuhuku rahatii raajaa tore ba.ngale par

jo mai.n hotii raajaa kaarii badariyaa
baras rahatii raajaa tore ba.ngale par

jo mai.n hotii raajaa belaa chameliaa
lipaT rahatii raajaa tore ba.ngale par

jo mai.n hotii raajaa terii dulhaniyaa
maTak rahatii raajaa tore ba.ngale par

Song #4 Dheere dheere machal ai dil-e-beqraar koi aata hai…

We started with our fifth Raaga: Raag Khammaj yesterday and took up the compositions of three Bengali music directors: Salil Choudhury, RD Burman and his father SD Burman.

Lets take the composition of the fourth Bengali music director, my favourite, Hemant Kumar.

It is from the 1966 movie Anupama and the scene is picturised on the actress Surekha singing it for her husband Tarun Bose. You know the story after that. She gives birth to a child and dies. This child grows up into Sharmila Tagore. Tarun Bose, her father, hates her as being the cause of the death of his wife and she grows into a reclusive, introvert person.

Kaifi Azmi‘s lyrics are superb and so is Lata Mangeshkar‘s singing.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Dheere dheere machal ai dil-e-beqraar koi aata hai…..

dhiire dhiire machal ai dil-e-beqaraar
koii aataa hai
yuu.N ta.Dapake na ta.Dapaa mujhe baalamaa
koii aataa hai
dhiire dhiire …

usake daaman kii Kushabuu havaao.n me.n hai
usake kadamo.n kii aahaT fazaao.n me.n hai
mujhako karane de, karane de solah shri.ngaar
koii aataa hai
dhiire dhiire machal…

ruuThakar pahale jii bhar sataauu.Ngii mai.n
jab manaae.nge vo, maan jaauu.Ngii hai.n
mujhako karane de, karane de solah shringaar
koii aataa hai
dhiire dhiire machal…

mujhako chhune lagi.n usakii parchhaaiyaa.N
dilake nazdiik bajatii hai.n shahanaaiyaa.N
mere sapano.n ke aa.Ngan me.n gaataa hai pyaar
koii aataa hai

dhiire dhiire machal…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3RiMIAZ1vY

Song #5 Sajana saanjh bhayi….

Our fifth composer in Raag Khammaj is also Bengali: Anil Biswas, who made one of the earliest compositions in this Raag, in the 1942 movie Roti.

It is sung by Akhtaribai Faizabadi and lyrics were written by Safdar Aah. The song is picturised on Sitara Devi and you will love it!

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Sajana sanjh bhayi, aan milo…..

sajana sanjh bhayi
sajana sanjh bhayi
sajana sanjh bhayi
aan milo aan milo
sajana sanjh bhayi
sajana sanjh bhayi
sajana sanjh bhayi
aan milo aan milo
sajana sanjh bhayi

pihu pihu mor kare
dil mera shor kare
pihu pihu mor kare
dil mera shor kare
hasu piu re
bansi ki madhur taan milo
sajana sanjh bhayi
sajana sanjh bhayi
aan milo aan milo
sajana sanjh bhayi

Song #6 Ham apna unhe bana na sake….

I started with Salil da and then gave you four more compositions in Raag Khammaj of four more Bengali music directors: RD Burman, SD Burman, Hemant Kumar and Anil Biswas.

With Anil Biswas, since we went to as far back as 1942, I am reminded of another contemporary of his: Khemchand Prakash. He was born on 12 Dec 1907 (seven years before Anil Biswas) and died on 10 Aug 1950 (53 years before Anil Biswas). The decade of 1940s is regarded as the best decade in Hindi songs that started with KL Saigal and ended with Lata Mangeshkar coming up on the scene. Khemchand Prakash composed many of KL Saigal’s songs.

This one has been penned by Kedar Sharma and sung by KL Saigal. The name of this 1944 movie is Bhanwara.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Ham apna unhen bana naa sake….

ham apanaa unhe.n banaa na sake -2
kho kar bhii unako paa na sake -2
paa na sake
ham apanaa unhe.n banaa na sake -2

( gulashan se
gulashan se ham ukataaye the ) -2
us daam me.n pha.Nsane aaye the -2
saiyaad ko ye samajhaa na sake -2
samajhaa na sake
ham apanaa unhe.n banaa na sake -2

( yaado.n pe
yaado.n pe nichhaavar karate hai.n ) -2
marate hai.n zaalim marate hai.n -2
do lafz zabaa.N par laa na sake -2
laa na sake
ham laa na sake
ham apanaa unhe.n banaa na sake -2

#‪#‎female‬ voice## : achchhaa misTar pancham
aapane kabhii kisii se mohabbat kii hai

wo bole
wo bole
wo bole mohabbat kii hai kabhii
wo bole
wo bole
bole mohabbat kii hai kabhii
#‪#‎laugh‬##
wo bole
wo bole
wo bole mohabbat kii hai kabhii
kyaa jaan kisii pe dii hai kabhii -2
dil chiir ke ham dikhalaa na sake -2
dikhalaa na sake
samajhaa na sake
ham apanaa unhe.n banaa na sake -2

Song #7 Kaise din beete kaise beeti ratiyan…

How would you like to have the sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar composing in Raag Khammaj?

It happened in 1960 movie Anuradha starring Balraj Sahni and Leela Naidu, one of the earliest movies about recognition of the role of woman in the couple’s well-being.

Lyrics are by Shailendra and the song has been sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Kaise din beete kaise beeti ratiyan….

ha~~ay~
kaise din biite kaise biitii ratiyaa
piyaa jaane na
haay

nehaa lagaa ke mai.n pachhataa_ii
saarii saarii rainaa nindiyaa na aa_ii
jaan ke dekho mere jii kii batiyaa
piyaa jaane na
haay
kaise din biite kaise biitii ratiyaa
piyaa jaane na

rut matavaalii aa ke chalii jaaye
man me.n hii mere man kii rahii jaaye
khilane ko tarase nanhii nanhii kaliyaa.N
piyaa jaane na
haay
kaise din biite kaise biitii ratiyaa
piyaa jaane na

kajaraa na sohe gajaraa na sohe
barakhaa na bhaaye badaraa na sohe
kyaa kahuu.N jo puuchhe mose morii sakhiyaa.N
piyaa jaane na
haay
kaise din biite kaise biitii ratiyaa
piya jaane na

Song #8 Nain ladh jayi hai….

As I have mentioned several times, the best songs in Hindi movies have been put together by the quartet of Shakeel Badayuni as lyricist, Naushad Ali as composer, Mohammad Rafi as singer and Dilip Kumar as actor.

Song #9 Ab kyaa misaal doon main tere shabaab ki…

Every time I listen to Roshan‘s compositions, I am stunned by their beauty.

Roshan’s full name was Roshanlal Nagrath. He was born on 14th Jul 1917 in Gujranwala, Punajab (now part of Pakistan). He was the father of the actor and film director Rakesh Roshan and music director Rajesh Roshan and paternal grandfather of actor Hritik Roshan.

In 1948, Roshan came to Bombay to find work as a Hindi film music director and became Assistant to Music Composer Khawaja Khurshid Anwar in film Singaar. He struggled until meeting Kidar Sharma, who gave him the job of composing for his film Neki aur Badi (1949). While this film was a flop, Roshan emerged as a player on the Hindi film music scene with the film Baawre Nain, released the following year.

Song #10 Shaam dhale Jamuna kinaare….

This one is a favourite of mine from the 1970 movie Pushpanjali starring Sanjay Khan and Naina. It is by the most versatile combination ever of a lyricist and music director: Anand Bakshi and Laxmikant Pyarelal. The song or rather the enchanting bhajan has been sung by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Shaam dhale jamuna kinaare, aaja Radhe aaja tohe Shyam pukaare….

shaam Dhale jamunaa kinaare kinaare
aajaa raadhe aajaa tohe shyaam pukaare
kabhii ruke kabhii chale raadhaa chorii chorii
piyaa kahe aa jiyaa maane nahii.n gorii
shaam Dhale …

raadhaa sharamaaye manavaa ghabaraaye
paniyaa bharane ko jaaye na jaaye
haiyaa ho …
kha.Dii soye bR^ijabaalaa bR^ij me.n hai horii
kaanhaa ra.ng de.nge tohe haay barajorii
log kare.nge ye ishaare ishaare
aajaa raadhe aajaa …

ko ii kahe shyaam se naa baa.nsurii bajaaye
chain kisii kaa jo chitachor na churaaye
Dagamag Dole jiyaa kii naiyaa
chale jab puravaiyaa chhe.De ba.nsii kanhaiyaa
jaaduu bhare nainaa Daare nainan kii Dorii
soye saaraa jag jaage ek chakorii
raat kaTe gin gin ke taare taare
aajaa raadhe aajaa …

panaghaTa pe sakhiyaa.n karatii hai batiyaa.n
mohan se laagii raadhaa kii akhiiyaa.N
jo bhii mile yahii puuchhe sun o kishorii
ga ii kahaa.N nindiyaa re bindiyaa torii
raam qasam chhe.De.nge saare saare
aajaa raadhe aayaa …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM9CHdpk-9Q

Song #11 Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya…

How about Jaidev composing in Raag Khammaj. He did it with a very famous song of Dev Anand in the 1961 movie Hum Dono in which Dev Anand had a double role (both as Army officers: a major and a captain having been posted to Burma; he having chosen to become an Army officer in order to prove to his beloved Sadhana’s father that he could become somebody) with Sadhana and Nanda.

Sahir Ludhianvi was the lyricist and the song was sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Main zindagi kaa saath nibhata chala gaya…

mai.n zi.ndagii kaa saath nibhaataa chalaa gayaa
har fikr ko dhu.Ne.n me.n u.Daataa chalaa gayaa

barabaadiyo.n kaa soG manaanaa fizuul thaa – 2
barabaadiyo.n kaa jashn manaataa chalaa gayaa
mai.n zi.ndagii…

jo mil gayaa usii ko muqaddar samajh liyaa – 2
jo kho gayaa mai.n usako bhulaataa chalaa gayaa
mai.n zi.ndagii…

Gam aur khushii me.n fark na mahasuus ho jahaa.N – 2
mai.n dil ko us muqaam pe laataa chalaa gayaa
mai.n zi.ndagii…

This is not a Hindi movie song. But since I just now gave you a Meera bhajan, it would be appropriate to give you the best bhajan composed in this Raag.

Vaishnava Jana To is one of the most popular Hindu bhajans, written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language. The bhajan was included in Mahatma Gandhi’s daily prayer. The bhajan speaks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava Jana (meaning: a follower of Lord Vishnu).

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Vaishnav janato….

Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je

[One who is a Vaishnav]

PeeD paraayi jaaNe re

[Knows the pain of others]

Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye

[Does good to others, esp. to those ones who are in misery]

Man abhimaan na aaNe re

[Does not let pride enter his mind]

Vaishnav…
SakaL lok maan sahune vande

[A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the the entire world]

Nindaa na kare keni re

[Does not say bad things about anyone]

Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe

[Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure]

Dhan-dhan janani teni re

[O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed (dhanya-dhanya)]

Vaishnav…
Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi

[A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and

avarice]

Par-stree jene maat re

[Considers some one else’s wife/daughter as his mother]

Jivha thaki asatya na bole

[The toungue may get tired, but will never speak lies]

Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re

[Does not even touch someone else’s property]

Vaishnav…
Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene

[A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments]

DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re

[Who has devoted himself to stauch detachment to worldly

pleasures]

Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi

[Who has been edicted to the elixir coming be the name of

Ram]

SakaL tirath tena tan maan re

[For whom all the religious sites are in the mind]

Vaishnav…
VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe

[Who has no greed and deciet]

Kaam-krodh nivaarya re

[Who has renounced lust of all types and anger]

BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta

[The poet Narsi will like to see such a person]

KuL ekoter taarya re

[By who’s virtue, the entire family gets salvation]

Vaishnav…

(Since I give you three songs everyday, we are recently two songs short. That happened because I was away to Goa for my course reunion and for two consecutive days I posted only two songs each day instead of usual three.

I shall make up for that by posting five tonight.)

The first one has been very popular but a rare combination. It was penned by Dr Rahi Masoom Reza. He was a poet, novelist, lyricist and even wrote dialogues in Hindi movies. We know him better as the script writer for the popular TV serial Mahabharat.

The composer for this song was Jaidev and singer Yesudas. It is from the 1977 movie Alaap, most of whose songs are based on classical raagas.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Chand akela jaaye sakhi ri….

chaa.Nd akelaa jaaye sakhii rii
kaahe akelaa jaaye sakhii rii
man moraa ghabaraaye rii
sakhii rii, sakhii rii, o sakhii rii
chaa.Nd akelaa …

vo bairaagii vo manabhaavan
kab aayegaa more aa.Ngan
itanaa to batalaaye rii
sakhii rii, sakhii rii, o sakhii rii
chaa.Nd akelaa …

a.ng a.ng me.n holii dahake
man me.n belaa chamelii mahake
ye R^it kyaa kahalaaye rii
bhaabhii rii, bhaabhii rii, o bhaabhii rii
chaa.Nd akelaa …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P7a9wYW_hQ

Whenever I have put up this song in the past I have brought out the spontaneous chemistry that existed between Dev Anand and all his heroines. All of them gave their best performances with him.

Here, in this song, the heroine with him is Suchitra Sen and the name of this 1960 movie is Bambai Ka Babu. Lyrics are by Majrooh Sultanpuri and the composer is SD Burman.

The duet is between Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi singing for Suchitra Sen and Dev Anand.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Deewana mastaana hua dil, jaane kahan hoke bahaar aayi….

aashaa: aaaa aa aa …
pa ma ga ma re ga pa ma ga ma, aaaa aa …
saa nii dha pa ma ga re saa nii nii nii …
diivaanaa, mastaanaa, huaa dil,
jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii

tan ko chhue, chhue ghaTa kaalI
chhe.De lahar, lahar matavaalI
tan ko chhue …
o ho tan ko chhue, chue ghaTa kaalI
chhe.De lahar, lahar matavaalI
baat koI anjaanaaa
diivaanaa, mastaanaa, huaa dil,
jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii

o ho ho kuchh anakahii, kahe, merii chitavan
bole jiyaa, likhe merii dha.Dakan, kuchh anakahii …
o ho ho kuchh anakahii, kahe, mere chitavan
bole jiyaa, likhe merii dha.Dakan
ek nayaa afasaanaa …
rafii: diivaanaa, mastaanaa, huaa dil,
jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii
o o oo
jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii
% pa ma ga ma ri ga pa ma ga ma.

%aashaa(mockingly:)
% pa ma ga ma ri ga pa ma ga ma.

%rafii: aaa aa aa aa aa..
% sa ni da pa ma ga re sa ni ni ni
% diivaana, mastanaa hua dil
% jaane kahaan hoke bahaar aaii

rafii: o ho o saavan lagaa, machal gae baadal
aashaa: dekhuu.N jise, huaa vahii paagal
rafii: saavan lagaa, machal gae baadal
aashaa: dekhuu.N jise, huaa vahii paagal
rafii: kaun huaa diivaanaa …
aashaa: diivaanaa, mastaanaa huaa dil
rafii: diivaanaa mastaanaa huaa dil
aashaa: jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii aa aa aa …
rafii: jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii
ho oo, jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii
aashaa: aa aa aa, jaane kahaa.N hoke bahaar aaii

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7PBnFrH5A

It would have occurred to you so far that the best songs composed in Raag Khammaj have been composed by Bengali composers. There are more.

This one too is by SD Burman and this too is from a Dev Anand movie, his classic: Guide based on a story by RK Narayan. This time the lyricist is Shailendra and singer Lata Mangeshkar singing for Waheeda Rehman.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Piya tose naina laage re…..

piyaa tose nainaa laage re, nainaa laage re
jaane kyaa ho ab aage re, nainaa laage re
piyaa tose nainaa laage re, nainaa laage re

ho, jag ne utaare ho, dharatii pe taare,
par man meraa murajhaaye
ho, un bin aa_ii ho, aisii dIvaalii
milaneko jiyaa tarasaaye, aa saajan paayal pukaare
jhanaka jhan jhan jhanaka jhan jhan, piyaa tose
piyaa tose nainaa …

bhor kii belaa suhaanii, nadiyaa ke tiire
bhar ke gAgar jis gha.Dii mai.n chaluu.N dhiire dhiire
tum pe nazar jab aa_ii, jaane kyo.n baj uThe ka.nganaa
chhanaka chhan chhan chhanaka chhan chhan, piyaa tose
piyaa tose nainaa …

ho, aa, ho, aaI holii aaI ho, sab ra.ng laaI
bin tere holii bhii na bhaae, ho
bhar pichakaarii, ho, sakhiyo.n ne maarii
bhiigii morii saarii hay hay,
tan-badan meraa kaa.npe thar-thar
dhinaka dhin dhin dhinaka dhin dhin, piyaa tose
piyaa tose nainaa …

raat ko jab chaa.Nd chamake jal uThe tan meraa
mai.n kahuu.N mat karo cha.ndaa is galii kaa pheraa
aanaa meraa saiyaa.N jab aae
chamakanaa us raat ko jab
mile.nge tan-man mile.nge tan-man,
piyaa tose
piyaa tose nainaa …
piyaa
ho ho piyaa ## (chorus) ## …

The last song was one of the best dancing numbers of Guide with Waheeda as the dancer. That reminds me of the dancing queen Asha Parekh and how one of her best dancing numbers is also composed in Raag Khammaj.

It is from the 1966 movie Aaye Din Bahar Ke, a movie that she did with Dharmendra as the hero. The song was put together by Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelal and Asha Bhosle.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Khat likh de saanwariya ke naam babu….

ye saavan kii raate.n
dekh le merii ye bechainii
aur likh de do baate.n …

khat likh de saa.nvariyaa ke naam baabuu
kore kaagaz pe likh de salaam baabuu
(vo maan jaae.nge, pahachaan jaae.nge
kaise hotii hai subah se shaam baabuu ) – 2
khat likh de …

saare vaade nikale jhuuThe
saamane ho to koii unase ruuThe
le gaI bairan shahar piyaa ko
raam kare ki aisii naukarii chhuuTe
unhe.n jisane banaayaa gulaam baabuu
kore kaagaz pe likh de salaam baabuu
vo jaan jaae.nge, pahachaan jaae.nge
kaise hotii hai subah se shaam baabuu

jab aae.nge sajanaa mere
khan khan khanake.nge ka.Nganaa mere
paas galI me.n ghar hai merA
us din tU bhI AnA a.Nganaa mere
kuchh tujhako mai.n dU.NgI InAm bAbU
kore kAgaz pe likh de salAm bAbU
vo jAn jaae.nge, pahachaan jaae.nge
kaise hotii hai subah se shaam baabuu
khat likh de …

aur bahut kuchh hai likhavaanaa
kaise bataa duu.N tujhe tuu begaanaa
sharm se aa.Nkhe.n jhuk jaae.ngii
dha.Dak uThegaa moraa dil diivaanaa
bas aage nahii.n teraa kaam baabuu
kore kaagaz pe likh de salaam baabuu
vo maan jaae.nge, pahachaan jaae.nge
kaise hotii hai subah se shaam baabuu
khat likh de …

If you have been alert, you would have noticed that even though I have come to the end of the most popular songs in Raag Khammaj (we are on the last 18th song now), I haven’t given you a song composed by Shankar Jaikishen.

This was deliberate. I wanted to give you this from the 1966 movie Amrapali right in the end so that the flavor stays with you. The movie starred Vyjayanthimala in her most sensuous role and Sunil Dutt.

It was based on the life of Amrapali (Ambapali), the nagarvadhu (royal courtesan) of Vaishali in present day Bihar, the capital of the Licchavi republic in ancient India around 500 BC and Ajatashatru, the Haryanka dynasty king of the Magadha empire, who falls in love with her. Though he destroys Vaishali to get her, she in the meantime has been transformed by her encounter with Gautama Buddha, of whom she becomes a disciple and an Arahant herself. Her story finds mention in old Pali texts and Buddhist traditions.

Lyrics are by Shailendra and voice is that of Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy in Raag Khammaj: Jaao re jogi tum jaao re….

jaao re, jogii tum jaao re
ye hai premiyo.n kii nagarii
yahaa.N prem hii hai puujaa
jaao re …

prem kii pii.Daa sachchaa sukh hai
prem binaa ye jiivan dukh hai – 2
jaao re …

jiivan se kaisaa chhuTakaaraa
hai nadiyaa ke saath kinaaraa – 2
jaao re …

GYaan ki to hai siimaa GYaanii
gaagar me.n saagar kaa paanii – 2
jaao re …