Author: Sunbyanyname

I have done a long stint in the Indian Navy that lasted for nearly thirty seven years; I rose as far as my somewhat rebellious and irreverent nature allowed me to. On retirement, in Feb 2010, the first thing that occurred to me, and those around me, was that I Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (you will find an article with this title in this blog) and hadn't lost all my noodles and hence thought of a blog titled 'This 'n That'. I later realised that every third blog is called 'This 'n That' and changed the name to 'Sunbyanyname'. I detest treading the beaten track. This blog offers me to air 'another way' of looking at things. The idea is not just to entertain but also to bring about a change. Should you feel differently, you are free to leave your comments. You can leave comments even when you agree and want to share your own experience about the topic of the blog post. Impudent or otherwise, I have never been insousciant and I am always concerned about the betterment of community, nation and the world. I hope the visitors of this blog would be able to discern it.

OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY SONGS OVER THE YEARS – 2019 to 2022

In the year 2015, ten years ago, the love of my life, Lyn, started showing signs of losing her memory. On that year’s wedding anniversary, on 24 Mar 2015, I wrote Lyn and I – Scene By Scene and consolidated the story of our lives from our courtship days in the year 1979 until our marriage in Coimbatore on 24 Mar 1981, which led to our marriage by our parents on 12 Dec 1982. This story was up to date as on 24 Mar 2015, our 36th wedding anniversary.

We are, therefore, a couple who have two anniversaries of our wedding: one on 24 Mar 1981, and the second one on 12 Dec 1982 consecrated by our parents.

In Feb 2019, I took her to NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) and they confirmed that she was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Moderate stage.

I made a ten-pointer programme to alleviate her condition and, if possible, to heal her. Music became an essential part of therapy for her. I didn’t know ABC of singing (though quite well-versed in music and songs). I tried to learn singing and make myself better.

The basic reason for my singing is to sing to Lyn. When she smiles, laughs, or gestures encouragingly, it is the biggest reward for me. I shall always sing for and to her.

Here is then Part I (24 Mar 2019 to 12 Dec 2022) of my songs to her on our two wedding anniversaries:

Song #1
Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge

I sang it to her on 24 Mar 2019, the very first anniversary of our wedding after NIMHANS broke the devastating news to us.

It is from the 1954 movie Shart starring Deepak and Shyama. SH Bihari‘s lyrics both for the Hemant Kumar and Geeta Dutt versions actually say everything that I wanted to tell her: we shall be together and even death won’t do us apart.

On 03 May 2019, during the fifth edition of Kandaghat Live Fest (a Music Fest of our Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne), for the first time I presented this song in a Fest.

Please enjoy: Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge…

COVID – 2019

At the end of the year 2019, the same year in which she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, our situation got worse. The world was faced with a pandemic: COVID 2019 and we were left to fend for ourselves, just the two of us without any help available. During this period, I developed an advanced stage inguinal hernia and the hospitals nearby declined to take me as a patient (such was the mortal scare of COVID during those early days in the first few months of the year 2000). Finally, when it became excruciatingly painful, I left Lyn at my son’s house and went to the Navy’s hospital for the surgery.

During this period, therefore, I missed posting any anniversary songs for her, both on 12 Dec 2019 and on 24 Mar 2020.

Song #2
Ek pyar ka nagma hai

As I said, we were married on 12 Dec 1982 at Kandaghat by our parents. On 12 Dec 2000, therefore, was our 38th Wedding Anniversary. The following video is in five parts: One, pre-wedding to wedding; Two, today’s prayer with Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji; Three, cake cutting; Four, our song Baby I’m a want you; Five, another song Ek pyar ka nagma hai. Despite, her Alzheimer’s and COVID, Love and Togetherness won.

Please enjoy this video:

Song #3
My Own Composition on the tune of Punjabi Tappe’

More than one year of being cooped up for COVID, and it came to our 40th Wedding Anniversary, on 24 Mar 2021.

I did something special: I penned a song for her and composed it on the tune of Punjabi tappe’.

Have a look at it:

Song #4
Hum ek hamari ek

On the same wedding anniversary, six days later, I made a song entirely by myself, its lyrics, composition, and music.

Here is my own effort:

Song #5
Ye nayan dare dare

By this time, I was singing somewhat regularly to and for Lyn. As is the case with most of us, this then was one of the first songs sung to Lyn. It is from the 1964 movie Kohra starring Biswajeet and Waheeda Rehman. Kaifi Azmi‘s lyrics were composed and sung by Hemant Kumar:

Please enjoy: Ye nayan dare dare:

Song #6
Husn e jaana idhar aa

COVID was still on and I was looking after Lyn all by myself.

I knew it won’t be long before I shall be singing Shakeel Badayuni – Naushad song to her. Shakeel happens to be my favourite poet and lyricist. All these years, I have known that Shakeel said exactly what I want to say to Lyn in her condition.

This song was originally sung by Mukesh for Rajendra Kumar singing to Vyjayanthimala, my favourite actress, in the 1968 movie Saathi. Her situation in the movie was similar to Lyn’s.

Anyway, see it for yourself:

Song #7
Jaane bahar husn tera bemissal hai

Having sung a Shakeel Badayuni song to Lyn, my passion for his songs resurfaced periodically. Indeed, from this point onwards, my main songs to her for our wedding anniversaries invariably happened to be that of Shakeel.

I told you that the basic reason for my learning singing was to sing to her. In addition to my favourite Shakeel Badayuni, I am also fascinated by Raag based songs, something that was ushered into Hindi movies by Naushad Ali.

This is from the 1963 movie Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, the title of the movie taking its name from the mukhada of the 1960 K Asif movie Mughal-e-Azam, put together by Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad Ali.

This was composed by Ravi in Raag Malkauns. The song has this wedding night scene between Shammi Kapoor (a North Indian man) and B Saroja Devi (a South Indian actress) and has similarity between Lyn and I.

I sang to her on our wedding anniversary 12 Dec 2021, still by ourselves during COVID.

Please enjoy: Jaane bahar husn tera bemissal hai….

Song #8
Yeh hawa ye raat yeh chandni

Our 41st Wedding Anniversary, on 24 Mar 22, seemed to turn the tables on COVID situation. After much havoc, deaths, and misery, the light across the tunnel appeared.

We rejoiced by my singing as many as five songs for and to her on this day.

The first one was a Talat Mahmood song composed by Sajjad Hussain. The maestro, Madan Mohan, was so fascinated by Sajjad’s composition that he used the same for his Tujhe kyaa sunayun main dilruba.

This was from the 1952 movie Sangdil starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubala (at one time, reel and real life lovers). Rajinder Krishan penned the lyrics.

Please enjoy: Yeh hawa ye raat yeh chandni:

Song #9
Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi hoti hai

This was the second of the five songs for our anniversary on 24 Mar 2022.

This is from the 1953 iconic movie Anarkali starring Bina Rai in the title role with Pradeep Kumar as Salim, prince to emperor Akbar.

Lyrics are by Rajinder Krishan and the composition is that of C Ramchandra. Hemant Kumar is the singer and the song tells about how a few moments spent in love is better than an entire lifetime.

Please enjoy: Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi hoti hai…

Song #10
Chhalke teri aankhon se

The third of the five songs for that wedding anniversary was from the 1965 super-hit movie: Arzoo. Rajendra Kumar in disguise as an old man sings in the party thrown by Sadhana‘s father.

Lyrics were by Hasrat Jaipuri and composition was that of Shankar Jaikishan. I found that Hasrat Jaipuri’s lyrics were well suited for me to sing to Lyn since these are always romantic melodies. No wonder Hasrat Jaipuri has been crowned as Shehanshah-e-Rumaniyat (the Emperor of Romance).

And then, most of his romantic songs were sung by Mohammad Rafi. I am one of the millions who believe that Mohammad Rafi was simply the best singer that the world had ever seen.

Please enjoy: Chhalke teri aankhon se…

Song #11
Husn waal tera jawab nahin

The fourth of the five songs for that wedding anniversary was by Shakeel Badayuni. He has the only hat-trick of Filmfare awards, ie, from 1961 (the second ever Filmfare award for a Lyricist) to 1963. The first two of these were composed by Ravi. This was the second one.

Mohammad Rafi sang it for the 1961 movie Gharana starring Rajendra Kumar and Asha Parekh.

Please enjoy in my voice: Husn waale tera jawab nahin…

Song #12
Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe

And the final song of that anniversary, ie, fifth one of five, was this duet between Mohammad Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur singing for Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala for the 1966 super-hit movie Suraj.

This was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

Please enjoy: Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe…

12 Dec 2022

And that brings us to the second anniversary of that year, on the 12th Dec. I sang as many as six songs to her.

Song #13
Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai?

The first of the six songs was this gem by Madan Mohan in Raag Jhinjhoti. It was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri by using (by permission) a line of a nazm by Faiz Ahmad Faiz made famous by Noorjehan singing it: Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang.

The song was sung by Mohammad Rafi for the 1969 Raj Khosla movie Chirag starring Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh.

Please enjoy: Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai?

Song #14
Mere mehboob tere dam se hai duniya mein bahar

This is from the 1970 movie Bhai Bhai starring Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh. It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan. It was sung by Sunil Dutt singing to Asha Parekh in a party.

Mere mehboob tere dam se hai duniya mein bahar…

Song #15
Aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai

The third of the six songs sung on the Dec 2022 anniversary has special meaning for me. This is from the first movie (released on 01 Jan) of the year 1966: Nai Umr Ki Nai Fasal. This R Chandra movie starred Rajeev and Tanuja and has some of the best songs sung by Mohammad Rafi. I saw the movie on a portable screen in our colony in Jawahar Nagar in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Indeed, I feel that this ghazal has the best ever lyrics by Neeraj. These were composed by Roshan in Raag Pilu and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai…

Song #16
Tum bin jayun kahan

I have always been impressed with this song sung on separate occasions in the 1969 movie Pyar Ka Mausam starring Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Kishore Kumar sang it for Bharat Bhushan and Rafi saheb sang it for Shashi Kapoor.

The lyrics were by Majrooh Sultanpuri and the composition is that of RD Burman.

Please enjoy: Tum bin jaayun kahan?

Song #17
Ab kya misaal doon main tumhare shabaab ki?

The 1962 movie Aarti starring Pradeep Kumar, Meena Kumari, and Ashok Kumar has some of the most unforgettable songs penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Roshan.

This was composed by Roshan in Raag Khammaj and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

You would notice that by this time I had decided to sing more and more songs of my favourite singer: Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Ab kya misaal doon…

Song #18
Mujhe ishq hai tujhi se

The final day of our wedding anniversary on 12 Dec 2022 saw yet another Shakeel Badayuni song from the 1962 movie Umeed starring Joy Mukherjee and Nanda.

It was composed by Ravi and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

You would see, in this song, Lyn enjoying my singing to her more than in any other song as if she knows how important Shakeel is to me.

Please enjoy: Mujhe ishq hai tujhi se…

I hope you liked my songs sung to Lyn for our wedding anniversaries from the year 2019 to 2022 in Part I of this post.

Please await Part II of songs from the year 2023 to 2025.

DOSTON KI MEHFILEN

कुछ कहने को दिल करता है,
पर सोचता हूं लिखूं क्या?
किसको क्या फर्क़ पड़ता है,
दिल चीर के भी रखूं क्या?

अक्सर अपने आप को देखा है,
ख़ाक के उड़ते ग़ुबार में l
बहुत लंबी नहीं है ज़िंदगी,
चार पल मिले हैं उधार में l

सेहर को उम्मीद से देखता हूँ,
तो नज़र आती है सूनी रात की तरह l
तन्हाई हरदम सताती है,
नामुमकिन सवालात की तरह l

महफिलें तो दोस्तों की,
ऐसे आती हैं कई दफा उभर l
पर बहारों के मेले कभी,
किसी के लिए कहां जाते हैं ठहर?

सच यही है मेरे दोस्तो,
भीड़ में हम सब अकेले हैं l
कहने को तो महफिलें हैं,
खुशियों के यहां वहां मेले हैं l

हम हैं तो अपने लिए हैं,
कोई नहीं है कहीं हम से l
पर मानता हूँ दुनिया आबाद है,
इसी एक हसीन वहम से l

🎯😥📌

NAYA SAAL HAI AAINA

सब चले गए, यह साल भी रहा है जा,
हमारे माज़ी का नहीं रहता कोई गवाह l
पूरी ज़िंदगी यादों के मरहले बनी है,
फिर भी आने वाले पल की ही मांगते हैं दुआ l

मुस्तक़बिल पर ऐतबार करना है एक जुआ,
कल आएगा या नहीं किस को है पता l
सारी मेहनत तो गए कल बनाने में लगी,
वह वक़्त जो अभी था, अभी गया l

माज़ी पे जिसको कभी नाज़ ही न हुआ,
किस उम्मीद से ताकते हैं मुस्तक़बिल की हवा?
तिनके तिनके से ही आशियाने बनते हैं,
रातों रात किसका कोई महल हुआ है खड़ा?

हर एक याद हमें कल रुलायेगी क्या?
हर एक चोट हमें क्या सताएगी सदा?
या गए लम्हे तबस्सुम लाएंगे लबों पे,
माज़ी ने ही किया मुस्तक़बिल का फ़ैसला l

जिस के संग चले उन यादों का सिलसिला,
जिसमें कभी किसी का कुछ बुरा न किया l
वही “नए साल मुबारक” का हकदार है, दोस्तों,
आने वाली ज़िंदगी से वही मिले जो दूसरों को हमने दिया l

आने वाला पल माज़ी का ही है आईना,
आएगा वही जो है हमारे हाथों से बना l
दुआ मांगता हूँ आपने बनाया हो जितना,
कल आपको मिले उससे दुगना और चौगुना l

MOHAMMAD RAFI – THE GREATEST EVER SINGER

रफी साहब जैसा गायक ना हुआ है ना हो सकता है,
उनकी याद में हर एक सिर्फ पलकें भिगो सकता है l
मुझ जैसा नाचीज़ उनके मोहब्बत के गीत Lyn को सुना के,
कुछ तो दिल के दाग कभी कभी धो सकता है l

सच कहा है, गायकी का जब पूरा हो जाये ज्ञान,
फिर भी हम ज़मीन रहेंगे और वह थे आसमान l
अदाकारी उनकी सिर्फ गीतों में ही नहीं थी,
आदमी तो सब होते हैं, वह थे मिसाली इन्सान l

उनके गीत गाने से रूह को मिलता है सुकून,
हर रफी गायक को रफी का लग जाता है जुनून l
उनकी बुलंद आवाज से गाने की कोशिश में,
साँस तेज़ हो जाती है, चेहरे पे आ जाता है खून l

काश, थोड़ा सा रफी का हुनर हमें भी जाये मिल,
एक अंश उनकी काबलियत का हो जाये हासिल,
हम भी गिने जाएँ लाखों रफी के गायकों में,
उनके मुतरिब-ए-अंदाज़ में हम भी हों शामिल l

☺️😊🙏❤️

MAUT SIKHATI HAI ZINDAGI

मौत ना होती तो हमें
ना आती जीने की अदा,
ज़िंदगी खूबसूरत है
क्यूंकि कहां रहती है सदा l

सबसे हसीन फूल है वह
जो पल में मुरझा जाए,
परवाना अबदी बन जाता है,
शमा पे होके फिदा l

हंस हंस के जो करते हैं,
अपनी खुशियों को विदा,
मर के जीने का तो
उन्होंने सीखा है कायदा l

उम्र गर बहुत लंबी मिले
सोचो क्या हो फायदा l
अपने कानों तक ना पहुंचे
किसी तंग दस्त की सदा l

इस से और क्या होगी
कोई चीज़ उम्दा,
यार की बाहों में मिल जाये
आखिरी साँस की दुआ l

इस मौज ए दरिया में
अपनी है हस्ती क्या?
अपने आप को बड़ा दिखे
पर असल में पानी का बुदबुदा I

CHAND AAYA BHI TO KYAA?

चाँद मेरे जीवन में आया भी तो क्या,
आँखों के करीब ही आके चला गया l

वैसे तो चाँद को समझता हूँ मैं अपना,
चंद लम्हों के लिए लुभा के चला गया l

देखने को लगता था खामोश और पुर-अम्न,
जाने क्यूँ आज हिला के चला गया l

लोग हँसते हैं मेरी मजबूरी ए हालात पे,
क्या खबर थी कि चाँद रुला के चला गया l

मैं उसे समझता था हमनवा और हमज़ुबान,
अब कुछ भी मुझे ना बता के चला गया l

बरसों लगे उस लम्हा-ए-फ़ुसूँ पाने के लिए,
वक़्त नहीं ठहरा, बिता के चला गया l

अपने भी हो जाते हैं पराए, दफ़’अतन,
किस अंदाज़ से चांद जता के चला गया l

उदासी और बेबसी ही हैं मेरे दाएम हमसफ़र,
कितनी खूबी से चाँद समझा के चला गया l

KANDAGHAT LIVE FEST (KLF) 2024 KA AALAM

कई लम्हे ज़िंदगी की यादगार बन जाते हैं,
जिन्हें कभी कभी मिलें, हमेशा के यार बन जाते हैं l

कंडाघाट की वादियों का लुत्फ देखिए हुज़ूर,
रंजिश भूल के लोग दिलदार बन जाते हैं l

मौसीक़ी हो गुल की,आवाज़ हो सब की,
यूँ कहिए के दिलों के तार बन जाते हैं l

और जो किसी वजह से KLF* में न पहुंच पाए,
वह अक्सर बेकरार ही नहीं बेज़ार हो जाते हैं l

क्या रंग है, क्या नूर है, क्या अदा, क्या तरन्नुम,
कल के अजनबी हमारा घर संसार बन जाते हैं l

दूर पहाड़ पे जब चांद निकल आता है रात में,
दीवाने ही इश्क ओ वफ़ा का इज़हार बन जाते हैं l

उदासी और बेकसी हमारे करीब नहीं आते,
तबस्सुम ओ हैजान ही सबका रुख़्सार बन जाते हैं l

आलम के बारे बस यह ही कहूँगा, रवि,
दोस्त फ़क़त दोस्त नहीं, कंडाघाट की बहार बन जाते हैं l

*KLF has been held at least once every year since 2016. It is the Live Fest of the Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne.

PANCHHI THA, USE TO UDHNA HI THA

उन्हें अपने दोस्त से क्या मिलवाया,
वह उसी के यार बन बैठे l
हमें भूलने में ना लगा उन्हें वक़्त,
अब वह उसी से प्यार कर बैठे l

मेरे गीत सुनने में उन्हें आता था आनंद,
पर अब वह उसी का वादन सुनते हैं l
उसकी हर पोस्ट पे देके कमेन्ट,
अपने सपनो का जाल वह बुनते हैं l

उसकी शोहरत, उसकी काबलियत है मैग्नेट,
उन्हें ले गई है मुझसे काफी दूर l
आपने परवाने की हालत तो देखी होगी,
शमा की लौ जिसे कर देती है मजबूर l

चलो अच्छा हुआ अपने ओ पराये की,
इससे तो हो गई जल्द पहचान l
कुछ तो वक़्त लगेगा उन्हें समझने में,
जितनी ऊंची दुकान, उतना फीका पकवान l

चाहे कोई किसी के कितना भी हो नज़दीक,
खुदगर्जी ही है दुनिया की बुनियाद l
आमला बहुत ज़बरदस्त फल है दोस्तो,
बड़े अर्से के बाद भी देता है स्वाद l

सालों के बाद फिर मिलेंगे सब,
अपने उस छोटे से आशियाने में l
टूटने को जिसे दफ़’अतन न लगा वक़्त,
बरसों लगे थे जिसे बनाने में l

हमें क्या, हम तो हमेशा ही इसी तरह,
तसव्वुर में, वफाई में, हुनर में रहे हैं अमीर l
दिल के दरवाज़े उसी तरह खुले हैं अब भी,
रुसूख़ ओ शोहरत के लिए, नहीं बेचते हैं ज़मीर l

AMEER BHARAT KI JHALAK

उन्होंने पांच हज़ार करोड़ की करके शादी,
नव विवाहित जोड़ों की यकायक याद दिला दी l

बहुत हौंसला चाहिए इतनी दौलत लुटाने को,
उनके लिए जिनकी अपनी लुटने वाली हो आज़ादी l

राम मंदिर पूरे देश ने चौदह सौ करोड़ का बनाया l
इस शादी ने तो उसकी भी वाट लगा दी l

रामचंद्र चौदह साल बनवास के बाद बने थे राजा,
पचास सौ करोड़ का मंदिर बनाते गर पचास साल रहते वो बनवासी l

कल रात हम एक करोड़ खर्चने की मन में बनाने लगे प्लान,
बस यूँ कहिए कि दस लाख खर्च करने में पूरी रात बिता दी l

एक शहँशाह ने बनवाया था हसीन ताज महल l
नए शहँशाह ने तो इस मकबरे की नींव ही हिला दी l

अंग्रेजो, तुम छोड़ गए थे हमारे गुलाम देश को गरीब करके,
अब देखो कहां पहुँच गया हमारा क्रिकेट बोर्ड और यह शादी l

यह मिसाल हैं आने वाले बुलंद विकसित भारत की,
चाहे अभी भी रोटी को तरसती हो बहुत सारी आबादी l

क्रिकेट के मैदान में देख के छक्के और यहां हुक्म के इक्के,
सच पूछिये तो हमने अपनी औकात ही भुला दी l

यहां ज़मीन पर ही हमने देख लीं सैंकड़ों हूरें,
जिन्हें जन्नत में ढूँढ रहे हैं गुमराह जिहादी l

TRIBUTE TO MADAN MOHAN – MY OWN SINGING – PART III

This tribute to Madan Mohan is in continuation of my Tribute to Madan Mohan – My Own Singing and Tribute to Madan Mohan – My Own Singing – Part II.

Two of the greatest: Madan Mohan with Mohammad Rafi)

Madan Mohan was born on 25 Jun 1924 at Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, where his father Rai Bahadur Chunilal was working as an Accountant General with the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces. Madan Mohan spent the early years of his life in the Middle East. After 1932, his family returned to their home town of Chakwal, then in Jhelum district of Punjab, British India. He joined the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the year 1943. He served there for two years until end of World War II, when he left the Army and returned to Bombay to pursue his musical interests. In 1946, he joined the All India Radio, Lucknow as Programme Assistant, where he came in contact with various artists such as Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Begum Akhtar, and Talat Mahmood.

He was very fond of singing, and so in 1947 he got his first chance to record two ghazals penned by Behzad Lucknawi, Aane Laga Hai Koi Nazar Jalwa Gar Mujhe and Is Raaz Ko Duniya Jaanti Hai. Soon after, in 1948 he recorded two more private ghazals penned by Deewan Sharar, Wo Aaye To Mahfil Mein Ithlaate Huye Aaye and Duniya Mujhe Kahti Hai Ke Main Tujhko Bhoolaa Doon. In 1948, he got his first opportunity to sing a film duet Pinjare Mein Bulbul Bole and Mera Chhotasa Dil Dole with Lata Mangeshkar under composer Ghulam Haider (composer) for the film Shaheed (1948 film), though these songs were never released or used in the film. Between 1948 and 1949, he assisted music composers SD Burman for Do Bhai, and Shyam Sundar in Actress and Nirdosh.

As Music Director, he scored his first big break with the film Aankhen in 1950. He was soon to emerge as a music director par excellence especially for ghazals. Indeed, music director OP Nayyar once said about Madan Mohan that two of his ghazals were better than all that OP Nayyar composed. Some of the best songs of Lata Mangeshkar (she fondly called him “Madan Bhaiyya”) were composed by him on the lyrics of Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Rajinder Krishan.

Some of my favourite songs of Madan Mohan are: Aaj soch to aansu bhar aaye, Betaab dil ki tamanna yehi hai, Tum jo mil gaye ho (Hanste Zakham 1973), Aapke pehlu mein aa ke ro diye, Naino mein badra chhaye, Jhumka gira re, Tu jahan jahan chalega (Mera Saya 1966), Aapki nazaron ne samajha, Hai isi mein pyaar ki aabru, Vo dekho jala ghar kisi ka (Anpadh 1962), Aapko pyaar chhupane ki buri aadat hai, Tere paas aake mera waqt nikal jaata hai (Neela Akash 1965), Agar mujhase mohabbat hai, Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise (Aap Ki Parchhayiyan), Ai mere dil mujhe bata de (Bhai Bhai 1946), Ari vo shokh kaliyon muskara dena vo jab aayen (Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai 1967), Baad muddat ke yeh ghadi aayi, Haal-e-dil youn unhe sunaya gaya, Jab jab tumhe bhulaya tum aur yaad aaye, Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko jhain bhulaye huye, Main teri nazar ka saroor hoon, Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhaayi hai, Teri aankh ke aansu pi jaayun, Wo chup rahen to mere dil ke daag jalate hain (Jahan Ara 1964), Hamare baad mehfil mein (Baghi 1953), Bainya na dharo O balma, Ham hain mataa-e-kuchcha-e-bazaar ki tarah, Mai ri main kaase kahun, Tumse kahun ik baat (Dastak, 1970), Bairan neend na aaye mohe (Chacha Zindabad 1959), Basti basti parbat parbat gaata jaaye banjara, Chand madham hai aasman chup hai, Dekh tere Bhagwan ki haalat (Railway Platform 1955), Bhooli hui yaado mujhe itna na satayo, Vo bhooli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi (Sanjog 1961), Chanda ja re ja re, Main to tum sang nain mila ke (Manmauji 1962), Chhadi re chhadi kaise gale mein padhi, Dil dhoondata hai fursat ke, Ruke ruke se kadam (Mausam 1975), Chhod kar tere pyar ka daaman, Jao hamane dastaan apni sunaayi, Lag jaa gale ke phir, Naina barse rimjhim rimjhim, Shokh nazar ki bijliyan (Woh Kaun Thi 1964), Do dil toote do dil haare, Doli chadate hi Heer ne bain kiye, Milo na tum to ham ghabraayen, Ye duniya ye mehfil mere kaam ki nahin (Heer Ranjha 1970), Ham chal rahe the wo chal rahe the (Duniya Na Maane 1959), Ham pyar mein jalane waalo ko chain kahan (Jailor 1958), Hamsafar saath apna chhod chale, Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba (Aakhri Dao 1958), Hamse aaya na gaya, Kaun aay mere man ke dwaare, Meri veena tum bin roye, Tu pyar kare ya thukraye (Dekh Kabira Roya 1957), Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, Hai tere saath meri wafa main nahin to kya (Hindustan Ki Kasam 1973), Hoke majbuur mujhe usne bhualaya hoga, Kar chale ham fida, Khelo na mere dil se, Main ye soch kar uske dar se, Zara si aahat hoti hai (Haqeeqat 1964), Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki saza paane ko, Is reshmi paazeb ki jhankar ke sadake, Tere dar pe aaya hoon (Laila Majnu 1976), Ik haseen raat ko dil mera kho gaya, Kabhi ai haqeeqat-e-muntazar, Sapano mein agar mere (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki 1966), Ishq ki garmi-e-jazbaat kise pesh karun. Mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhase, Naghma o sher ki saugat, Rang aur noor ki baraat (Ghazal 1964), Jaa jaa re jaa saajna, Jaana tha hamse door, Unako ye shikayat hai, Youn hasaraton ke daag (Adalat 1958), Kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin koi na koi to aayega, Mujhe le chalo aaj us jagah, Sawan ke mahine mein (Sharaabi 1964), Koi shikwa bhi nahin koi shikayat bhi nahin (Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhaare 1966), Main paagal mera manwa paagal (Aashiyana 1952), Meri yaad mein tum na aasnu bahana (Madhosh 1951), Na tum bewafa ho na ham bewafa hain (Ek Kali Muskaaye 1958), Sapne mein sajan se do baaten, Do ghadi wo jo paas aa baithe (Gateway Of India 1957), Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai (Chirag 1969), Tumhari zulf ke saaye mein shaam kar loonga (Naunihaal 1967), Tu mere saamne hai teri zulfen hain khuli (Suhagan, 1964), and Vo jo milate the kabhi hamsase deewano ki tarah (Akeli Mat Jaiyo 1963).

When I learnt singing, I soon got to sing Madan Mohan. Here I present six more of his songs that I sang:

Song #13
Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain

Just like J Om Prakash made many his movies’ titles starting with the letter ‘A’, Chetan Anand made many movies starting with the letter ‘H’: Haqeeqat made after the 1962 Indo China War was the first with the letter ‘H’. It ws followed by Heer Ranjha, Hanste Zakhm, and then Hindustan Ki Kasam. The last one is the 1973 movie from where I have taken this song. The movie depicts the role of Indian Air Force in the 1971 Indo Pak War, in the Western Sector.

Chetan Anand’s preferred actress Priya Rajvansh was the heroine opposite Raaj Kumar who was an IAF pilot in the movie.

As in Haqeeqat, Heer Ranjha, and Hanste Zakhm, Kaifi Azmi was the lyricist, Madan Mohan the composer.

This song was superbly sung by Manna Dey.

Please enjoy: Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain…

Song #14
Teri Aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai?

This is the kind of song that I would like to sing to Lyn.

Madan Mohan composed it in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Dadra.

The director of the 1969 movie Chirag, from where this song is taken, made the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri take permission from Faiz Ahmad Faiz to use this line from Faiz’s nazm Mujhse pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang made immortal by the singer Noorjehan.

Mohammad Rafi, as he always did, sang the song so well that it became unforgettable.

Please enjoy: Teri aankhon ke siwa duniya mein rakha kya hai…

Song #15
Tum jo mil gaye hao

Ultra Entertainment has blocked this song (containing snippets of original video) to be displayed here. But, you can click on ‘Watch on YouTube’ and it will take you there to watch.

This is from the 1973 Chetan Anand movie Hanste Zakhm starring Naveen Nischol and Chetan Anand’s favourite heroine Priya Rajvansh.

It is one of the most unique compositions of Madan Mohan on the lyrics of Kaifi Azmi.

The singer, once again, is Mohammad Rafi. Just one line has also been sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Please enjoy: Tum jo mil gaye hao…

(In case you read the message Video unavailable, please click on Watch on YouTube. Thank you)

Song #16
Main teri nazar ka suroor hoon, tujhe yaad ho ki na yaad ho

The 1964 Vinod Kumar movie Jahan Ara had some of the best songs (ghazals) of Madan Mohan. These were on the lyrics of Rajinder Krishan. Indeed, the success of this movie was largely due to these songs. Mala Sinha in the title role nearly got the Filmfare Award. She enacted emperor Shahjahan’s daughter through his most beloved of four wives: Mumtaz, in whose memory he erected one of the seven Wonders of the World: the Taj Mahal.

When Mumtaz was dying, she took a promise from Jahan Ara that she would look after the father and not marry. She was in love with Mirza Yusuf Changezi (played by Bharat Bhushan). But, their love couldn’t go further because of Jahan Ara’s promise to Mumtaz.

Hence, this song and many others in the movie portraying their predicament and sob-story; eg, Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai, and Teri aankh ke aansu pi jayun.

In this movie, Madan Mohan favoured Taal Mahmood to sing these songs. Mohammad Rafi sang only one: Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko hain bhulaye huye in Raag Kedar.

Please enjoy: Main teri nazar ka suroor hoon…

Song #17
Yahi hai tamanna tere dar ke saamne

This is from the 1964 Mohan Kumar movie Aap Ki Parchhaiyan starring Dharmendra and Supriya Choudhury.

Madan Mohan stunned us by composing two songs of the movie in the same Raaga and Tal: Darbari Kanada and Dadra. The songs were: Rafi’s Main nigaahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise and Lata’s Agar mujhse muhabbat hai mujhe sab apne gham de do.

Mohan Kumar’s Aap Ki Parchhaiyan suffers from the same malaise that most of the movies of that era did: the second half used to drag on and on without the end in sight. Indeed, whilst watching most of the movies now, one can see the second halves in fast-forward mode. Another such movie was DD Kashyap’s 1961 movie Maya starring Dev Anand and Mala Sinha.

Anyway, most of these had excellent songs.

This was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and sung by Mohammad Rafi.

Please enjoy: Yahi hai tamanna tere dar ke saamne….

Song #18
Tum bin jeevan kaisa jeevan

This was penned by Kaifi Azmi and composed by Madan Mohan in Raag Hemant, Tal Punjabi Theka (Sitarkhani) for the 1972 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Bawarchi with superstar Rajesh Khanna in the title role.

The singer was Manna Dey.

It is one of Madan Mohan’s difficult songs attempted by me.

Please enjoy: Tum bin jeevan kaisa jeevan….

So that this post won’t become too long, I shall end here today. Next time I shall give you another six songs of Madan Mohan sung by me in Part IV.

JANAMDIN MUBARAK RAJ DUTTA

रब्ब ने दुनिया कितनी सुन्दर है बनाई,
पर सबसे सुन्दर है, राज, मेरा भाई l

बचपन का भोलापन अभी भी है रुखसार पे,
जैसे वक़्त की इसने थाम रखी हो कलाई l

ना किसी का बुरा करना, ना सोचना,
जैसे बेहद अच्छाई है इस में समाई l

किसी के साथ ना दुश्मनी, ना रंज, ना नाराज़गी,
लगता है सारी ज़िंदगी है प्यार में बिताई l

इसकी मीठी आवाज़ के गीत सुनके,
दिल की धड़कन लेती है अंगडाई l

मेरी भाभी, मीना, है मशहूर फोटोग्राफर,
खुदा ने कितनी हसीन जोड़ी है बनाई l

बच्चे तो माँ बाप से भी लायक निकले,
जैसे दुध पे आ गयी हो मलाई l

छोटे, स्नेह से भरे दिल से आज हम,
तुम्हारे जन्मदिन की देतें हैं बधाई l

हमारी दुआ है आप खुश ओ तंदरुस्त रहें,
आपके आस पास भी ना आए कभी कोई कठिनाई l

OUR UNFORGETTABLE RAJ MASI JI

Our Raj masi ji was 95 years old. We were looking forward to another five

Raj masi ji and Pal masi ji, the eldest and the youngest

years when we would be celebrating her century; the first in our larger family. It was not to be. An early morning call from Daljit mama ji, on Thursday, 13th June 24, followed a few hours later by a call from our adorable Pal (short for Jaspal) masi ji, confirmed the sad news that Raj masi ji left us. An era ended. Memories remain; these will never die.

Raj masi ji was the eldest of the six surviving children (out of ten) of our Pita ji and Beeji (my maternal grandparents); five sisters and a brother. In Indian middle class families and particularly in Punjabi families, a male child was a sought after asset (many years ago I was shocked to read a news item about female fetuses having been discarded in a well in Patiala). Pita ji’s and Beeji’s family is a proud exception. All of us were and are in awe of Raj masi ji and her sisters. Indeed, we the children bonded in the family largely due to the sisters. I don’t remember a single occasion when one of them was heard talking ill of the other(s) even in private. Some of us have tried (purely in jest), but we soon learnt that driving a wedge between them was more difficult than climbing the Everest.

Picture of my Pita ji and Beeji at Urapur

With the present focus (of education) on acquiring as many degrees as possible, particularly from abroad, lets pause to look at the upbringing and education imparted by my ostensibly anpadh Pita ji and Beeji. I would wish that the kind of values and character that they imparted in their children would be a national pursuit. It is not my aim to go into each one of them. I would take just three that my Raj masi ji and her sisters and brother epitomise: One, being forever truthful (in the most holistic meaning of the word); two, finding and implementing solutions to problems; and three, never shirking responsibility.

The entire family was grief stricken when Beeji died. That’s the time when Raj masiji told her siblings: “Maa tanh meri gayi hai; thuade layi tanh main haan (I am the only one who has lost a mother; for all of you I am still here).” This was far from being a vain promise. Throughout her life, Raj masi ji was a mother to her siblings and a godmother to all of us. This particular sense of responsibility was not restricted towards her siblings but towards the larger family of her husband, too. Indeed, the number of people that she nurtured would easily run into hundreds. And when, all of us could stand on our feet, her attention turned to the grandchildren; they received even more love and care than all of us did. A very, very large family got used to the assurance that individual and collective problems conveyed to Raj masi ji were considered resolved.

Through all this, if you are picturing a sad, burdened, and stodgy person, then you don’t know my Raj masi ji. She, with her joie de vivre, wit, and deep-rooted affection for all who came in contact with her, was easily the life of any gathering. This was to be seen at its best during wedding parties. During Lyn and my wedding, for example, she broke into boliyan and gidda with her sisters; our most cherished memory. Her presence at any family gathering promoted laughter, positivity, warmth, and kindheartedness. Raj (Rule) didn’t rule with a heavy hand; but always gently and with enormous compassion.

Picture of my masad ji and masi ji as found in her parent’s house in Urapur

My masad ji, Inder Jeet Singh, was the most blessed and proudest person. Having Raj beside him was so heavenly that all of us felt it all the time. Their loving togetherness was legendary. They easily found ways and means of supporting each other in every which way. We compared them with the best in Indian history and folklore: Radhe Krishna, Heer Ranjha, and Sassi Pannu. An anecdote comes to mind when our family visited them in Pathankot from our town in Mandi (HP) in the year 1961. There were signs of early morning altercation and commotion between them with such clarion calls as: Masad ji: “Main chhadna nahin hain ajj (I am not going to leave (her) alive)”; and Masi ji: “Main bhi nahin chhadna (I, too, am going to kill (him).” Our family crouched in fear that the unthinkable had taken place with our most beloved couple. It, soon, came out that the target of their rage was a cat who used to enter the kitchen and polish off their milk for the day and they were in hot pursuit of the wily feline.

Incidentally, visiting them was a veritable pleasure next only to visiting Pita ji and Beeji in Urapur. In addition to all the familial gup-shup, and fun and frolic, we used to see movies in special boxes of cinema halls (masad ji was a respected Excise and Taxation Officer). In addition to the movies, we used to be served mouth watering snacks and cold Coca-Cola. Two of these movies left quite an impact on me: Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anuradha that we saw with them in Phagwara, and DD Kashyap’s Dulhan Ek Raat Ki that we saw in Dalhousie (at that time in Punjab). The first had music by the Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar and the second had music by the maestro, Madan Mohan.

My mother (L) with Raj masi ji (R) on her bed in Ludhiana

I am sure that the hundreds of people who were helped in need by Raj masi ji must be talking about their personal, one-to-one relationship with her (masi ji always made each one of us feel special and the only one); but I would like to think that masi ji had the warmest place in her heart for her sister (my mother) Herkrishan and family. I was the first male in the family who cut off my long hair (now many have); something that Sikhs ain’t supposed to do. After that, when I planned to visit Raj masi ji, I was cautioned by relatives to desist from it. Else (knowing what a devoted Sikh she was), she would launch me into outer space like a rocket. I still went to see her. She was as loving and warm as before after I confirmed when she asked, “Nitnem karda hain ki nahin (Do you (still) say your daily prayers as a Sikh)?”

All hell broke out in the family when I married a Catholic girl from the South. Her name, Marilyn, suggested ultra-modern, self and beauty conscious woman. As I said, masi ji attended the wedding. But, my parents were fearful that after the festivities would get over she would pass her judgment that was expected to be severe and taunting. We went together to India Coffee House at Solan. She had the occasion to see Lyn at close quarters as also to engage her in conversation. After we returned home, and when we were expecting the worst, she simply said, “Mainu pata si Ravi di choice galat nahin hovegi (I knew that Ravi’s choice won’t be wrong).”

Picture shows, from L to R: Lyn, Pal masi ji, Raj masi ji, and my mom (Arjun is the centre of attraction as the newborn boy, two weeks after my dad died)

When my dad died suddenly and tragically of a jeep accident on 01 May 1984, the kind of support that we got from Raj masi ji and my cousins was many times more than what she had earlier done for us. We were totally shattered. She visited us many times in Kandaghat all the way from Ludhiana and provided succour in the form of soft loans, use of her car, physical and moral support. There was a time when I went to her house in Ludhiana to obtain one such loan. Whilst I was there a police raid took place (I learnt later that it was masterminded by someone as political vendetta. The ostensible cause, later proved to be totally unfounded, was that her driver had contacts with terrorists). Neither Raj masi ji nor my cousin lost cool even though it was so humiliating and disturbing as the police went around rummaging and chucking things around. As soon as the posse of policemen left, here is the first thing that Raj masi ji said smilingly, “Shukr hai, Ravi, tere loan de paise safe rahe (thank God, Ravi, your loan money is safe).” On my return bus trip with the loan money, I cried; all through the raid, she could only think of my mother and our dire need.

A small mention about the gifts that were showered on us by her. In addition to buying new things for us, I was the recipient of all the clothes that my cousin (six months elder to me) grew out of. My favourite was a woolen sleeveless sweater. It was given to me when I was just 15 years old. I used it for the next 15 years, first as a pullover and later when it faded, as an inner warm vest. It has, now, holes in it. But, a sweater knitted by my Raj masi ji is more dear to me than the three great honours I received in my naval career; so, it is still with me. Finally, when I meet her in God’s house, I am going to tell her to knit me another.

Raj…what an apt name. All through my life she had raj (rule) over my heart and over hundreds of other hearts. It is unlikely to change.

P.S. I am writing this from Mumbai whereas all the albums with my masi ji’s pics are in Kandaghat (Shimla Hills). I have retrieved some of these pics from the Facebook.

P.P.S. More pics for this piece would be put up when I visit Kandaghat.

WOH HAIN TO JANAMDIN BHI HAI…

कहानियाँ बनतीं हैं लहरों की तरह,
झूम के उठती हैं चली जाती हैं l
और हम साहिल पे खड़े सोचते हैं,
चंद यादें हैं जो मन्द मन्द मुस्कराती हैं l

लफ्ज़ साँसों में फंसे यूँ दिखते हैं,
जैसे सूखी ज़ुबाँ कुछ कह ना पाती है l
कोई तो हो जिसे ज़िंदगी बता सके,
रह रह के जो राज़ हमें समझाती है l

अब ना तो वह तूफान, ना वह फ़िज़ायें,
दूर दूर तक गर्म रेत ही नजर आती है l
और वह हसरतें जो उभरती थीं दिल में,
ना वह गाती हैं, ना लुभाती हैं l

खुदा, मेरी जान, मेरे प्यार को रखना सलामत,
मेरी धड़कने उन्हीं से ही थरथराती हैं l
मेरी उम्र मेरी ज़िंदगी भी उन्हें दे देना,
उनके बगैर तो मुझसे एक शब भी ना जीई जाती है l

GOOD FOR NOTHING!

Nearly forty-weeks of labour,
Three trimesters of increasing pangs,
Anxiety, hopes, desires, and dreams,
And then one fine morning,
In the month of June,
At the Angel Number 666,
The umbilical was finally cut
Between me and my God:
Mother.
Dad said, “He is a Bubble of joy.”
Mom said, “He is the Sun god, Ra.”
The Eleventh Guru
Confirmed the name:
Ravinder or Ravi.

Born in the likeness of God?
Like everyone else?
Ha…
…..and not Ra.
He is…different,
Almost “a maverick.”
Nothing seemed to have
Put him in any known mould.
He can even think
In a world where brilliance
Of learning past knowledge by rote
Counts.

He isn’t just different.
He is evil,
Supercilious,
Egotistical,
Megalomaniac,
Even dangerous.
Actually…..
…..good for nothing.

How can he think
As if he is the only one?
How can he see beyond,
Hear unheard voices?
Travel to places no one dreamt about?

He spurns
Friends, family, society.
We can’t let him live
In a world he calls his own.
He breaks our walls.
He shatters our images.
He is detached, distant, aloof.
Unsociable.
Even anti-social.

It has taken us eons
To build something
We can be proud of:
This society.
This bedrock of civilization.
This paradigm of virtue.
No one,
Not even in the name of creativity
And innovation
Can go beyond.
In our derived and set standards
He is and will always be
A failure..
He will always be…
….good for nothing.

My prayer:

God, in my next life
Don’t give me
A mind that can think,
A heart that can feel.
Just make me a clone,
Of Survival of the Fittest Theory.
And send me on Life’s highway,
Like any other remotely piloted car,
Going generally
In everyone’s direction.
Admired
Loved
Respected
Idolised
Even remembered.
I shall respect all their rules,
And they shall adore me.
From nothingness we emerge,
And into nothingness we go.
But, this way,
The only way,
Tested and tried,
We shall be
Anything, but…
….good for nothing.

Alas.

THE WORLD AND….I

Most of us have
Nothing to say.
Silence is gold, and we have
Discovered a mine.
Nay, many mines.
But, look closely.
Our calm and quiet
Are only when others
Suffer and are in pain.
Those tales don’t touch us.
Waters down the mackintosh
Without a moist spot within.

But, own pain is real.
That blood drips agony.
Those piercing nails
Torment more than
Even Christ on the cross.
Every moment is torturous.
I am the world.
When I suffer
My world suffers.
The same world
Whose pangs and woes
Left me untouched.
Nary a whisper of dew
On the petals of my cheeks.

Love is that magic wand.
Me becomes they.
They become us.
There are no pains
Separate and different:
One real and the other imagined.
You feel, you cry.
On the cross you die.
Even when He is the one
Who is nailed.
Everything is real
Within and without.
You own his or her pain.
His world is yours.
Your world is his.
You own the universe.
You’ve never been so rich.
How bizarre it can get:
I am
When I am not.

P.S. The featured image is courtesy: https://seelenkompass.medium.com/we-are-all-connected-in-the-universe-ab1d354feec8