Songs That Tug At Your Emotions – Song #31

The thirty-first song in this series.

Mera pyaar woh hai ke mar kar bhi tumako….

I am partial towards songs sung by a couple in a boat in a lake on a moonlit night. I go into another world, another life. Don’t ask me why; it must be something from my previous life. Hindi films have quite a few of these and one of my favourites is from Jaag Utha Insaan picturised on Sunil Dutt and Madhubala (in the second stanza they are in this fantasy scene of mine): Chand sa mukhada kyun sharmaaya. At one point in the scene, there is full moon right behind her competing with her radiance.

This one is different since this has an air not so much of wistfulness as of mystery about it. Just like me going into another world, another life, the story of the movie also does it for you.

The song is from the 1966 movie Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, a movie directed by Brij and starring Sharmila Tagore, Biswajit, and Mumtaz. Now for the mystery part of it; no, not about my boat in a moonlit night fantasy – there is no mystery left in it when I told you that I like those songs. Ye Raat Phir Na Aayegi is a rivetting film about a woman’s two-centuries old skeleton mysteriously coming to life as Kiran, after it was excavated by Reeta (Mumtaz) and her assistant Rakesh (Sailesh Kumar) from a site of archaeological interest. Amid the passage of these surreal events, Reeta and her widower father come to know that Kiran (Sharmila Tagore) has resurfaced after two centuries to claim Suraj (Biswajit), her lover from the past life, who is presently engaged to Reeta as her fiance.

To help build up the story (the director Brij Kaltyal wrote the story himself), as was usual during those days, he took the help of Music Director Omkar Prasad Nayyar; and, like always, he delivered. During those days, movies owed their success to the songs and OP Nayyar has record number of hit songs in all his movies.

OP Nayyar was born on 16 Jan 1926 in Lahore (now in Pakistan). At the age of 23, OP Nayyar composed the background score for the movie Kaneez. Three years later, in 1952, he was a full fledged music director for the movie Aasman. OP Nayyar perfected songs whose beats (often horse-trot beat such as in 1957 movie Naya Daur‘s song Maang ke saath tumhaara) became so popular that people were often heard humming these everywhere. He also delved into raaga based songs although, in all humility, he claimed that he had no knowledge of classical music. Raag Peelu or Pilu, followed by Pahadi, were his favourite raagas in songs.

He didn’t like Lata Mangeshkar sing any of his songs as he didn’t find her voice sexy. Most of his female songs have been sung by Shamshad Begum, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt. He depended heavily on Asha Bhosle and in a television interview he said, “She was almost like a wife to me.” OP Nayyar and Asha Bhosle parted in 1974. Soon after that, in 1974, she received Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award for his song: Chain se hamako kabhi aap ne jeene na diya that was intended to be used for the 1973 movie Praan Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye but didn’t find a place in the final cut.

OP Nayyar paired with major lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri and Sahir Ludhianvi. With the latter he received the Filmfare Award for 1957 movie Naya Daur. However, he also worked with lesser lyricists like SH Bihari for 1962 movie Ek Mussafir Ek Haseena, 1964 movie Kashmir Ki Kali, and as many as three movies in 1966: Sawan Ki Ghata, Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, and Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, 1974 movie Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, and 1978 movie Khoon Ka Badla Khoon.

Shamsul Huda Bihari, born in Arrah, Bihar, must rank amongst the most underrated lyricist in the Hindi films industry. And yet, it is pleasantly surprising to see the range and popularity of his songs. As far as OP Nayyar is concerned, he made all hit songs that include Bahut Shukriya Badi Meherbani, and Mujhe Dekhkar Aapka Muskurana (Ek Mussafir Ek Haseena, 1962); Diwana Huwa Badal, Hai Duniya Usi Ki, Isharon Isharon Mein Dil Lene Waale, Meri Jaan Balle, Phir Thes Lagi Dil Pe, Subhan Allah, Tarif Karun Kya Uski, Kisi Na Kisise Kabhi Na Kabhi, and Balamaa Khulii Havaa Mein (Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964); “Yehi Woh Jagah Hai, Phir Miloge Kabhi, Is Baat Ka Wada Karlo, Aap Se Maine Meri Jaan Mohabbat Ki Hai, Main Shayad Tumhare Liye Ajnabi Hoon, and Mera Pyar Woh Hai Ke (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, 1966); Zara Haulle Haulle Challo Mere Sajna, Zulfon Ko Hata Le Chehre Se, Aaj Koi Pyar Se, Meri Jaan Tum Pe Sadhke, Jo Dil Ki Tadap Na Jane, and Khuda Huzoor Ko Meri Bhi Zindagi De De (Sawan Ki Ghata, 1966); Raaton Ko Chori Chori, Na Jaane Kyon, Mehfil Mein,
Tumhari Mulaqat Se, Yeh Purnoor Chehra, Nazar Nazar Se Milaao, Tum Sab Se Haseen Ho and Kyar Cheez Ho Zaalim (Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, 1966); Chain Se Hamko Kabhi Aapne Jeene Na Diya, and Ek Tu Hai Piya Jis Pe Dil Aa Gaya (Praan Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, 1974); Badan Gora Haseen Jalwe Tumko Deewaana Meri Jaan,Ghar Apna Bangaal Aur Bambai Mein Hai Sasuraal, Gham Yateemon Ke Jaisa Bhi Sansaar Main Koi Bachcha, Kisko Gale Lagaaye Dil Kiska Todiye, Pyaar Bhara Kajara Aankhiyon Mein Daal Ke, Saaqi Ki Nigaahon Seae Jee Hoga Kya Aage and Zulf Lehraayi To Saawan Ka Mahina Aa Gaya (Khoon Ka Badla Khoon, 1978).

Like the one above, some of the best male songs of OP Nayyar have been sung by Mohammad Rafi. However, after a disagreement with Mohammad Rafi (OP Nayyar was a strict disciplinarian), OP Nayyar had Mahendra Kapoor sing his male numbers. That’s how this number has been sung by Mahendra Kapoor.

Mahendra Kapoor was born on 09 Jan 1934 very close to where Mohammad Rafi was born, in Amritsar, Punjab. Indeed, he considered Mohammad Rafi as his mentor. He died on 27 Sep 2008 in Mumbai and was active playback singer from 1956 to 1999. Some of Mahendra Kapoor’s most notable songs were the ones he performed in B.R. Chopra’s films (Dhool Ka Phool, Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaz, Dhund and Nikaah) and for Manoj Kumar (Upkaar, Purab Aur Paschim). Many of his songs became very popular such as for Gumraah: Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabee ban jaayen hum dono, Aap aaye to khayaale dil-e-nashaad aaya, and Tujhako mera pyar pukaare.

Besides the song that I am giving you, the movie Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi had other beautiful songs too. As I mentioned, SH Bihari – OP Nayyar combine ensured that all were hit songs:

1	“Meraa Pyaar Woh Hain Ke Mar Kar Bhee Tumko”	Mahendra Kapoor
2	“Huzurevaalaa Jo Ho Ijaazat To”	Asha Bhosle, Minoo Purushottam
3	“Phir Miloge Kabhi Is Baat Ka Vada Karlo”	Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
4	“Mai Shaayad Tumhaare Liye Ajanabee Hoon”	Asha Bhosle
5	“Aapase Mainne Meri Jaan Muhabbat Ki”	Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
6	“Har Tukda Mere Dil Ka Deta Hai”	Asha Bhosle
7	“Mohabbat Chiz Kya Hai”	Asha Bhosle
8	“Yehi Woh Jagah Hai, Yahi Woh Fizaye”	Asha Bhosle

Please enjoy Mahendra Kapoor sing a composition of OP Nayyar on the lyrics of SH Bihari a song from the 1966 Brij movie Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, the song having been picturised on Biswajit singing his heart out to Sharmila Tagore:

मेरा प्यार वो है के, मर कर भी तुम को (slow)
जुदा अपनी बाहों से होने न देगा
मेरा प्यार वो है के, मर कर भी तुम को
जुदा अपनी बाहों से होने न देगा
मिली मुझको जन्नत तो जन्नत के बदले
खुदा से मेरी जां तुम्हें मांग लेगा
मेरा प्यार वो है

ज़माना तो करवट बदलता रहेगा
नए ज़िन्दगी के तराने बनेंगे
मिटेगी न लेकिन मुहब्बत हमारी
मिटाने के सौ सौ बहाने बनेंगे
हक़ीकत हमेशा हक़ीकत रहेगी
कभी भी न इसका फ़साना बनेगा
मेरा प्यार वो है के …

तुम्हें छीन ले मेरी बाहों से कोई
मेरा प्यार यूं बेसहारा नहीं है
तुम्हारा बदन चांदनी आके छूले
मेरे दिल को ये भी गवारा नहीं है
खुदा भी अगर तुमसे आके मिलेगा
तुम्हारी क़सम है मेरा दिल जलेगा
मेरा प्यार वो है के …

Now, what’s it about the song that tugs at my emotions. First, as I mentioned about my fantasy of a boat song in a moonlit night, performed by a couple in love. Secondly, I am Sunbyanyname but Chand (Moon) affects me in a huge manner. Thirdly, the powerful lyrics (I am but a Lyrical man) including the ultimate: Khuda bhi agar tum se aake mile to khuda ki kasam hai mera dil jalega. And finally, the picturisation: Full mean to provide wistfulness and then mist to shroud it with enigma. That really gets you.

Mahendra Kapoor has sung it with passion too.

I hope you too enjoyed it.

Please await the next song in the series.