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 #48 – Roja jaan-e-mann in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #49.
Song #49
Laakhon hain nigahon mein
Theme-word: Zindagi ki raahon mein
Remembering OP Nayyar on His Birth Anniversary, 16 January
Have a look at some of his movies: This one, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Kashmir Ki Kali, Sawan Ki Ghata, Kalpana, C.I.D., Mr and Mrs 55, Aar Paar, Naya Daur, Phagun, Howrah Bridge, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Humsaya, Mere Sanam and Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi. It would be easy to conclude that the success of the movies owed a lot to the songs that he composed. Indeed, in all these movies, such was his magic that each one of them had the maximum number of hit and super-hit songs. He was a perfectionist and highly disciplined music director. There were occasions when some of his musicians reached late and he started the recording with those who had arrived and even those songs became super hits.
In addition to his Westernised songs, he made serious and sad songs too and raaga based songs in addition. He excelled.
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon – 1963 Movie
Nasir Hussain placed his bet on Asha Parekh whilst other declined to give her a break (Dil Deke Dekho in 1959) and it paid off handsomely. Most movies with her as heroine became hits. This one too. It starred Joy Mukherjee opposite her.
Just as Kashmir Ki Kali, this too was shot in Srinagar.
Songs were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and these, exuding freshness, are fondly remembered even today:
- “Banda Parwar Thaam Lo Jigar” Mohammed Rafi
- “Lakhon Hai Nigaah Mein” Mohammad Rafi
- “Aanchal Mein Saja Lena Kaliyan” Mohammed Rafi
- “Aji Qibla Mohtarma” Mohammed Rafi
- “Zulfon Ki Chhaaon Mein” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
- “Humdum Mere, Khel Na Jaano” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
- “Dekho Bijli Dole Bin Baadal Ki” Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar
- “Aankhon Se Jo Utri Hai Dil Mein” Asha Bhosle
- “Mujhe Pyar Mein Tum Na Ilzaam Dete” Asha Bhosle
This Song
Guitar, or for that matter, all musical instruments, in Hindi movies are merely fashion statements. Guitars are carried on the shoulders, rotated on the floor (like Zeenie baby did in Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko) or to be thrown away after strumming in the beginning of the song (like Salman Khan in O O jaane jaana dhoonde tujhe deewana).
Joy Mukherjee carries it on his shoulder in this song and never strums it. It probably doesn’t even belong to him. OP Nayyar however composed it as a beautiful guitar based song. But then, Nasir Hussain reckoned that OPN had to worry about it and not his hero.
Joy Mukherjee keeps his eyes firmly on the girls in Shalimar Bagh and to hell with the guitar. He is looking for the love of his life, as per lyrics and finds each one lovely and even alluring but somehow lacking “that something” that he was looking in his beloved:
लाखों हैं निगाह में, ज़िंदगी की राह में
सनम हसीन जवाँ
होठों में गुलाब है, आँखों में शराब है
लेकिन वो बात कहाँ
(लट है किसी की जादू का जाल
रंग डाले दिल पे किसी का जमाल) – २
तौबा ये निगाहें, के रोकती है राहें
देखो ले लेके तीर कमान
लाखों हैं निगाह में …
(जानूं ना दीवाना मैं दिल का
कौन है खयालों की मलिका) – २
भीगी भीगी रुत की छाओं तले
मान लो कहीं वो आन मिले
कैसे पहचानूँ, के नाम नहीं जानूँ
किसे ढूँढे मेरे अरमान
लाखों हैं निगाह में …
(कभी कभी वो एक मह-जबीं
डोलती है दिल के पास कहीं) – २
हैं जो यही बातें
तो होंगी मुलाकातें
कभी यहाँ नहीं तो वहाँ
हाय, लाखों हैं निगाह में …
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Lakhon hain nigahon mein…
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #49 in the series.
Please await Song #50 – Chah barbaad karegi hamen.
