HINDI SONGS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHAND (MOON)

I am very fond of Hindi songs, especially old Hindi songs. Most of the lyricists of the era when I was small and later young wrote in Urdu. I have brought out elsewhere in this blog that Urdu – A Language of the Heart is best suited to give expression to the emotions of people in love. Indeed, I have often concluded that  poets and lyricists of yore must have been in love themselves to bring out such deep and meaningful thoughts in their poems and songs. For example, Kaifi Azmi’s “Dil ki naazuk ragein toot ti hain, yaad itna bhi koi na aaye” (why should I miss someone to that extent that heart’s tender threads should break down?) or Neeraj’s “Saara aalam hai giriftaar tere husn mein jab, mujhse hi kaise yeh barsaat sahi jayegi; aaj to tere bina neend nahin aayegi” (Complete ambience is as if captivated by your beauty; then how can it be expected that I should go through the rains without being with you? Tonight, I won’t be able to sleep without you)

One of the obsessions of the Hindi lyricist, or rather Urdu lyricist has been Chand (Moon). Some of the finest songs have been written on it.

Having Chand in the lyrics has had various purposes; the commonest one being to describe the beauty of the beloved. It is difficult to pick the best in this category. However, I think my maximum votes would go to the 1960 song Chaudhvin Ka Chand (14th day moon or full moon). Shakeel Badayuni has carved out the words to perfection. I can’t imagine a woman listening to it and not being in a trance (as Waheeda Rehman was when Guru Dutt sang this for her in the movie by the same name). Ravi provided such excellent accompanying music that one cannot imagine the song without it. Finally, Hindi movies best singer ever, Mohammad Rafi sang it in such a way that the words seem to come alive. Sample just one of its three stanzas:

Chehra hai jaise jheel mein hanstaa hua kanval,
Ya zindagi ke saaz pe chhedi hui ghazal,
Jaane bahar tum kisi shayar ka khvaab ho.
Chaudhvin ka chand ho, ya aftaab ho,
Jo bhi ho tum khuda ki kasam lajwaab ho.
(Your face is like a lotus smiling in the lake,
Or you are a melody played on the instrument of life,
The Spring that you are, you are a poet’s dream come true.
Are you are a full moon, or a fairy,
Whatever you are, God knows, you are incredible.

Anand Bakshi penned some exquisite lines describing the beauty of a woman in his 1963 song, “Chand aahein bharega, phool dil thaam lenge, husn ki baat chali to sab tera naam lenge.” (Moon will mope, flowers will feel defeated; when they talk about beauty, all will only think of you). The song was sung by the most versatile singer of that era Mukesh. Another song of the same combine of singer-lyricist was the 1965 number: “Chand si mehbooba ho meri kab aisa maine socha tha; haan tum bilkul vaisi ho jaisa maine soch tha” (I used to wish that I’d have a beloved like the moon; yes, you are exactly like how I had wished)

Here is a variation from the great lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri for the 1967 movie Diwana (Crazy): “Ai sanam jisne tujhe chand si surat di hai; usi malik ne mujhe di to mohabbat di hai” (O’ my darling the one who has given you a moon-like countenance; the same almighty has given me something called Love):

Then, there is nothing like Chand as a witness of the lovers; a friend who can be asked by the lovers to do anything they want in love. There are many songs on this theme. The best is difficult to choose from amongst so many really good numbers. However, I would repeatedly listen to 1960 number sung by Lata Mangeshkar  and Mukesh for the movie Banjaarin (Bedouin). The lyricist was Pandit Madhur and music was provided by Pardesi: “Chanda re meri patiyaa le jaa saajan ko pahuncha de re; vo likh sakein jawab unhe tu mera pata bata de re” (Moon, my pal, take my epistle and deliver it to my Love; so that he should be able to write back, please tell him my address):

Raj Kapoor and Nargis in 1951 movie Aawara

How about Chand building an atmosphere or trance or enchantment? Once again, there are many on this theme. Here, I don’t have to be confused about choosing the best. My favourite singer Hemant Kumar sang this for the 1952 movie Jaal (Net): “Yeh raat yeh chandni phir kahan, sun ja dil ki daastan” (This night, this moonlight will not come again; tonight listen to my heart’s tale):

Dev Anand in Jaal singing the best song ever on Moon

Talking about Hemant Kumar, there was no one like him to convey an entire ambience through his singing; he easily transported you to the world being talked about in his songs. His “Yaad aa gayin vo nasheeli nigahein” (Memories of those intoxicating eyes haunt me) remains an all time favourite with me. However, I shall talk about it when I write a post on my best Hindi songs on eyes (aankhein).

Getting back to being entranced by the Moon, here is another favourite: “Dil ki nazar se, nazron ki dil se; yeh baat kya hai, yeh raaz kya hai koi humein bata de.” You are bound to ask, where does Chand get into it? Well, here is a stanza: “Hum kho chale, chand hai ya koi jaadugar hai; ya madbhari yeh tumahaari nazar ka asar hai?” (We are being entranced, is it just Moon or a Magician; or is this the hypnotic effect of your eyes?):

https://youtu.be/t8vDu-C7u1Q

How about a combination of wet night with Chand as in: “Yeh raat bheegi bheegi, yeh mast nazaare; uthaa dheere dheere vo chaand pyaara pyaara“. The song is by Lata and Manna De for the 1956 movie ‘Chori Chori‘ with lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri and music by the pair of Shankar, Jai Kishan. The song is one of the memorable duets between Raj Kapoor and Nargis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1DZxkiMjRo

How about Chand being a witness to first expression of love as in “Dekho vo chand chhup ke karta hai kya ishaare; shayad vo keh raha hai, hum ho gaye tumhaar” (Look, the Moon, is beckoning us from its hiding place. Perhaps, it is saying I am yours now). The music director is Hemant, the singers are Lata and Hemant and lyrics are by SH Bihari for the 1954 movie Shart (The Bet):

One lovely Chand number was enacted by Meena Kumari and Sunil Dutt in 1962 movie ‘Main Chup Rahungi’ (I Will Keep Mum); Rajinder Krishan penned the lyrics and music was composed by Chitragupt. Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar sang it very well indeed: “Chand jaane kahan kho gaya? Tumko chehre se parda hatana na tha.“(Where has Chand gone suddenly? You shouldn’t have lifted your veil):

Here is one from 1959 movie Anaadi (Novice) enacted by Raj Kapoor and Nutan and sung by Lata and Mukesh: “Vo chand khila, vo taare hanse, yeh raat gazab ki aayi hai. Samajhne vaale samjh gayen hain, na smajhe vo anaadi hain.” (There Moon has risen and stars are out, this night is really wonderful. Those who know can get the hint (to love) and the others? Well, they are just novices.):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvtU5FYxK-c

How about a proclamation of Love in terms of the age of celestial bodies like moon and stars? Easily the best number in this is, “Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge, magar hum hamesha tumhaare rahenge.” (The Moon will cease to exist, the stars will fade away; but, I shall always be yours). The movie, once again, is 1954 movie Shart (The Bet) and the singers are Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt:

Chand, in Hindi songs, is not always supposed to bring good tidings; it is also a silent spectator when the lovers are pining. Time weighs heavily on the lovers when they are separated and they often measure the Time in phases of moon. For example, this one is an all time favourite with me from the 1957 movie ‘Paying Guest’ starring Nutan and Dev Anand; Majrooh Sultanpuri was the lyricist and music was composed by SD Burman:

Here is a 1977 number for the movie Alaap by Yesudas: “Chand akela jaaye sakhi ri, man mora ghabraye ri” (O’ friend, Moon goes alone and my heart is fearful); though it is mock pining: