Beautiful Duet Series
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 23 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
On 05 Dec 20, I gave you Beautiful Duet #5 – Jhilmil sitaaron ka mausam hoga. So here, then, is the next one:
Dil ki nazar se
No. 1 Beautiful Duet in Hindi Movies
As seen by me this is the #1 romantic duet in the Hindi films and all of us deserve it to recall how it was decades ago when we fell in love: the muted (during those times) excitement, the magic, the awe of going into unknown journey (Hrishikesh Mukherjee in his debut directorial attempt has made them go in a boat rowed by him into unknown waters! Just imagine the excellence of his Direction!), and the overwhelming feeling that the celestial bodies: the sky and the moon are rejoicing in your love. Can’t think of a better and more beautiful duet.
Closest to My Heart
Lyrics with Preludes, Interludes and Coda
I need to explain it slightly more about this finality. The first two stanzas have been sung by them separately. The third stanza has been sung by them together but with separate lines. However, just before the end piece they have finished asking questions and sing the mukhada together. Remember they say the family that prays together stays together. Here, the couple that sings together sticks together! Please notice the effect of this coda. They ain’t now looking at the chand, akaash, or anything else. They are just looking into each other’s eyes wherein not just the akaash and chand exists but the entire universe.
Prelude First
Prelude is so beautifully enacted by Nutan that it leaves me totally stunned. She is a woman. Earlier, in another Chand song she had teased him for being Anari (Naive): समझने वाले समझ गये हैं, न समझे, न समझे वो अनाड़ी हैं I Elsewhere, I had already brought out that this song is an extension of those emotions. NOW, she has suddenly understood that he isn’t Anari anymore and that this is the love of her life. The prelude with the notes of accordion starts with joyous feeling but with shyness (of her being a woman; those were not the days when women could express love openly) and the fear of the unknown. These are mixed feelings depicted in the prelude though you feel that probably the joy is more in focus than other emotions. He too has his doubts which are in prominence in the second part of the prelude. His doubts are naturally about his being poor and she being a millionaire’s daughter. At this juncture, let me tell you how confidence builds up for him as the song progresses. So at the end of the second stanza when he says the following (hats off to Shailendra for having thought of that), it doesn’t sound as a ridiculous boast:
सब कुछ हमारा, अब है तुम्हाराI
M1, M2, M3
Now for M1. The origin of this duet is: Seene se uthkar honthon pe aaya. Superb picturisation in words by Shailendra. The notes are indicating muted joy at the discovery of their love and at the next moment the awe of having moved into unknown (and as deep as the sea) territory.
And Shailendra’s lyrics seamlessly fit after M1:
क्यों बेखबर, यूँ खिंचीसी चली जा रही मैं (being physically also rowed by him)
ये कौनसे बन्धनों में बंधी जा रही मैं (deep and unknown territory; no earlier experience)
कुछ खो रहा है, कुछ मिल रहा है
ये बात क्या है, ये राज़ क्या है (the discovery of this secret)
कोई हमें बता दे, दिल की नज़र से
M2 is so typically S-J that if someone was to play this anywhere, without even knowing the song, you would say S-J. It is leading to second antara. It has to be magical; the sheer ecstasy of true love and perhaps a little intoxication too. The notes of M2 say it clearly. Listen to the entire song as an instrumental and you would know what I am saying. The words that follow have enormous meaning because of S-J’s M2 here. You are in another world even before he opens with:
हम खो चले, चाँद है या कोई जादूगर है
या, मदभरी, ये तुम्हारी नज़र का असर हैI
The third interlude or M3 is playful. I would hand it over to Hrishikesh Mukherjee more than to anyone else. Look at the words:
आकाश में, हो रहें हैं ये कैसे इशारे
क्या, देखकर, आज हैं इतने खुश चाँद-तारे
A lesser director would, at this stage, actually take you to the sky and the moon and the stars. Hrishikesh doesn’t let the focus shift from the lovers at all. You want to see the sky? Look into Raj Kapoor’s face. You want to see the moon? Look into Nutan’s eyes!
M3 superbly builds up to this excellent direction and cinematography (I had brought it up several times that S-J were the duo who took into account these aspects whilst composing and giving music to their songs.
Every which way you look at it, this is a perfect romantic duet.
Please enjoy: Dil ki nazar se..
I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #6.
Please await Beautiful Duet #7- Tasveer teri dil mein.
