Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Oct 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
I hope you liked my choice for Song #38 – Kahan jaa raha hai tu aye jaane wale in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #39.
Song #39
Duniya mein agar aaye hain to jeena hi padhega
Theme-word: Jeevan hai agar zehar to peena hi padhega
Remembering Naushad on His Birth Anniversary 26 Dec
Shakeel and Naushad managed to make not just the best but the most memorable songs in Hindi movies. Each one is full of meaning. Each one carries forward the story of the movie.
This one from the 1957 Mehboob Khan’s iconic movie Mother India that nearly (lost by one vote) won the Oscar.
Romantically, the best remembered picture of Nargis is with Raj Kapoor under the umbrella in the song: Pyar hua iqraar hua. However, as far as her most iconic image is concerned, there are no two opinions about it; it is her carrying a plough in the poster of Mother India.
And this is the song of that image! This song describes what Mehboob Khan wanted to project as the image of Indian Woman as opposed to what Katherine Mayo did in her 1927 book Mother India that vilified her. Mehboob Khan wanted to project her as an intrepid woman who’d stand firm against all odds and circumstances.
I totally agree with this image since after my dad’s death by accident in 1984, my mother fought bravely against her circumstances (by herself in Kandaghat). At her death on 09 Aug 2017, they compared her to a Sherni (Lioness) who feared only God.
Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad, Lata Mangeshkar and Her Sister Usha
I think what Mehboob Khan wanted to achieve with Nargis as Mother India, he did very ably. Two others who helped him in this were Shakeel and Naushad; their songs are still as fresh as they were 63 years ago. This was sung by Lata Mangeshkar for Nargis and Usha Mangeshkar as chorus for the two of her boys in the film. In addition to the exquisite composition, I think the lyrics too contributed towards this song finding a place in the Hall of Fame and Greatness:
दुनिया में हम आये हैं तो जीना ही पड़ेगा
जीवन है अगर ज़हर तो पीना ही पड़ेगा
दुनिया …
गिर गिर के मुसीबत में सम्भलते ही रहेंगे
जल जाएं मगर आग पे चलते ही रगेंगे
ग़म जिसने दिये हैं बही ग़म दूर करेगा
दुनिया …
औरत है वही औरत जिसे दुनिया की शर्म है
संसार में बस लाज ही नारी का धर्म है
ज़िन्दा है जो इज़्ज़त से वही इज़्ज़त से मरेगा
दुनिया …
मालिक है तेरे साथ न डर ग़म से तू ये दिल
मेहनत करे इन्सान तो क्या काम है मुश्किल
जैसा जो करेगा यहाँ वैसा ही भरेगा
दुनिया …
The Song
Hats off to you, Naushad; hats off to you, Shakeel.
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Duniya mein hum aaye hain to jeena hi padhega….
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #39 in the series.
Please await Song #40 – Zindagi kuchh to bata.
