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 #30 – Har khushi ho wahan tu jahan in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #31.
Song #31
Aapki nazaron ne samajha
Theme-word: Has ke apni zindagi mein kar liye shaamil mujhe
Anpadh – The Way We Treated Women
This 1962 movie directed by Mohan Kumar (almost all his movies starting with the letter A such as Aas Ka Panchhi, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Aap Ki Parchhayiyan, Aman, Anjana, Aap Aaye Bahar Aayi, Avtar, Amba, All Rounder and Amrit (This is a fad in Hindi films industry; numerology and astrology plays a big role in selecting titles of movies), reflected the way we treated women. Being literate wasn’t considered necessary as long as they were well versed in wifely duties (cooking and embroidery and keeping a good and clean house). In this movie, Balraj Sahni as the brother of Mala Sinha felt that as long as they had enough money, being uneducated wasn’t important.
He was wrong. She married Dharmendra, who himself and his family, laid a great store for education. The moment they found out, after wedding, that Mala Sinha was Anpadh, they looked down on her completely and she became a pariah at home.
Only, Dharmendra was not just educated but kind-hearted too. He took pity on her and started teaching and loving her. And that’s how this song came about.
Madan Mohan and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
Madan Mohan was the Music Director for women. He made some of the most memorable songs Lata Mangeshkar (who was very fond of “Madan bhaiya”). I feel that in the top ten songs of Lata composed by Madan Mohan, these are equally divided between Rajinder Krishan and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan as lyricists; both of them being extraordinarily aligned to the emotions of women. If Raja would have Lag jaa gale ke phir, Rajinder Krishan would have Unako ye shikayat hai ke ham kuchh nahin kehte. Outstanding combinations both.
This one was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Lata Mangeshkar herself has acknowledged this to be among her top songs.
Raag and Tal
Madan Mohan was very fond of Raaga based songs, eg, Lata’s favourite in Bhimpalasi: Naino mein badra chhaye. If at all he was inclined more towards a Raag, I feel it was Dardari. Here is why: In Aap Ki Parchhayiyan, he had two songs on same raag: Agar mujhase mohabbat hai and Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise.
Therefore, it is not surprising, that for this song he chose Adana, which is, the way Madan Mohan composed it, as close to Darbari as possible. Try singing all the three songs and you’ll know what I have brought out.
The Tal here is Rupaktal.
I have given you, in my Raaga based series, two songs in Adana: Manmohan mein ho tumhi (Tintal) and Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal (Kaherava) and you’d know that Aap ki nazazron ne samajha sounds different.
The only thing that I know about Rupaktal I have learnt from Anand Desai who, for reasons known best to him, has distanced himself for the last two years. Whereas Tintal is symmetrical (each vibhag of four is similar; 16 beats symmetrically arranged in four)), Rupaktal has the vibhags different (seven beats in three vibhags and starting one is not Taali but Khaali (Wave and not a clap).
Lyrics
Lyrics for me are even more important than compositions. Here are these penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan (He introduced ‘Aap’ in his songs):
आप की नज़रों ने समझा, प्यार के काबिल मुझे
दिल की ऐ धड़कन ठहर जा, मिल गई मंज़िल मुझे
आप की नज़रों ने समझा
जी हमें मंज़ूर है, आपका ये फ़ैसला – २
कह रही है हर नज़र, बंदा-परवर शुकरिया
दो जहाँ की आज खुशियाँ हो गईं हासिल मुझे
आप की नज़रों ने समझा …
आप की मंज़िल हूँ मैं मेरी मंज़िल आप हैं – २
क्यूँ मैं तूफ़ान से डरूँ मेरे साहिल आप हैं
कोई तूफ़ानों से कह दे, मिल गया साहिल मुझे
आप की नज़रों ने समझा …
पड़ गई दिल पर मेरी, आप की पर्छाइयाँ – २
हर तरफ़ बजने लगीं सैकड़ों शहनाइयाँ
हँसके अपनी ज़िंदगी में, कर लिया शामिल मुझे
आप की नज़रों ने समझा …
My Own Poetry
Aapke Ehsaano Ki Hadd Paar Ho Gayi
आप के एहसानो की हद्द पार हो गयी,
गरीब की यह दुनिया माला – माल हो गयी
तन्हाईयों की दौलत का न था नाम – ओ – निशाँ,
अब यूं मिली है कि शाम शर्मसार हो गयी
यूं तो ज़िन्दगी में ग़म यहाँ वहां पढ़े थे,
तुमने दिए कुछ ऐसे कि ग़म – ए – बहार हो गयी
अपने ही अश्क़ों की कीमत का न था हमें एहसास,
आँख खुश्क हुई तो देखा तंग – हाल हो गयी
मासूमियत – ए – मोहब्बत पे बहुत नाज़ था हमें,
तेरी महफ़िल में जाने क्यों गुनाहगार हो गयी
दिल की धड़कन को अपनी ज़मानत समझते थे,
रफ्ता रफ्ता वह भी तेरी तरफदार हो गयी
सोचता हूँ, रवि, कैसे बचा रखूं इसे,
मेरी ज़िन्दगी की दौलत सर – ए – बाज़ार हो गयी
The Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Aap ki nazaron ne samajha pyar ke kabil mujhe…
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #31 in the series.
Please await Song #32 – Aaja ke intezaar mein.
