Category: Music and Cinema

On 27th Aug, we had the death anniversary of this great singer. He died on this day in 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, USA, where he had gone to perform. He didn’t get to perform since he died in the morning, immediately after a shower, due to heart attack.

He got a break in the movies as a playback singer courtesy his distant uncle Motilal. Indeed, among all the songs that he sang for his uncle are two popular ones: Dil jalta hai to jalne de and Zindagi khwab hai.

Mukesh had a limited range of singing. However, after imitating KL Saigal, for example in Dil jalta hai to jalne de (Reportedly, KL Saigal seemed to have reacted to this song sung by Mukesh and composed by Anil Biswas by saying, “I don’t remember having sung this song and yet here it is.”), Naushad encouraged him to have a unique singing style of his own. And he did. He perfected sad songs and songs of melancholy (eg, Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye) and also became adept at non-filmy ghazals. And then Shankar Jaikishan and later Kalyanji Anandji found him (he sang equal number of songs for both the duos). With Shankar Jaikishan he became the singing voice of Raj Kapoor though in the first movie Barsaat he sang for Prem Nath and Mohammad Rafi sang for Raj Kapoor.

Here, I give you a compilation of seven of his songs that I sang. The first two are with Naushad since in his development as a singer Naushad played the most significant role.

Mukesh – Naushad Association

Song #1
Tu kahe agar

Mukesh – Naushad association was limited to just three movies (26 songs) in 1948 – 1949: Mela, Anokhi Ada and Andaz. Each one is a classic.

Many feel that Naushad dropped Mukesh because of limited range of his singing. However, the fact is that once Naushad found Rafi, all other male singers were relegated.

Andaz has some of the great songs of Mukesh composed by Naushad. My favourite is this. It was penned by Majrooh. The movie and this song were shot in my home place Shimla Hills.

Andaz was a 1949 movie (the same year when Raj Kapoor made his Barsaat) directed by Mehboob Khan. Mukesh sang for Dilip Kumar whilst the love of his life (in the movie, that is) Nargis loved Raj Kapoor who didn’t sing any songs.

I have always felt that the song has the exact lyrics I want to sing to my wife Lyn. The main reason that I learnt singing is to sing to her suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Please enjoy: Tu kahe agar jeevan bhar main geet sunata jayun…

Song #2
Husn-e-jaana idhar aa

As mentioned, this is the second song (though from a different movie) that I am giving you of this association.

This song is also representative of ‘All you need is love’. It was shot in Kharghar when Lyn and I were totally without any external help to manage life. Her Alzheimer’s had suddenly taken a turn for the worse and I thought of this song whilst tending to her.

So here we are. Once again, the lyrics are Majrooh’s (wounded or injured). He was the rare lyricist who was awarded the highest award: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. And then we have Naushad who too was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

The song is from the 1968 CV Sridhar movie Saathi starring Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

Please enjoy: Husn e jaana idhar aa, aayina hoon main tera.

Mukesh – Laxmikant Pyarelal Association

Song #3
Gore gore chand se mukh par

Mukesh sang as many as 80 songs for Laxmikant Pyarelal. When his career had started waning, Laxmikant Pyarelal revived it in Milan songs, and songs of the movies Farz, Anita, and Patthar Ke Sanam.

I like this song from Anita because Mukesh has used excellent modulation in it (something, that was somewhat lacking in Zikr hota hai jab qayamat ka). Also, the movie was partly shot in my home station: Shimla hills, which is where I am now. This was penned by Arzoo Lacknavi. Another super song from the movie was shot here and that was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan: Tum bin jeevan kaise beeta.

The 1968 movie Anita was the last of the suspense trilogies of Raj Khosla starring Sadhana as the lead actress; the other ones being Woh Kaun Thi and Mera Saya.

If you tolerate my singing, you may like to subscribe to my channel on YouTube.

Please enjoy: Gore gore chand ke mukh par…

Mukesh – Dattaram Association

Song #4
Aansu bhari hain yeh jeevan ki raahen

Dattaram Shirodkar preferred to be called Darttaram Wadkar. He was an arranger with Shankar Jaikishan. They encouraged him to break out as an independent music director and he did very well.

This 1958 movie Parvarish song was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and soon assumed iconic proportions.

I selected this song on 27 Aug 2021 to pay tribute to Mukesh.

It is composed in Raag Kalyan or Yaman, the basic raag that all aficionados of classical music begin with. The Tal is rarer: Jhaptal.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Aansu bhari hain yeh jeevan ki raahen…

Mukesh – Kalyanji Anandji Association

Song#5
Chand si mehbooba ho meri

Mukesh sang as many songs for KA as he did for SJ, even though he was extensively used by SJ as the singing voice of Raj Kapoor.

I sang this on Lyn’s birthday on 11th Jul, last year, when I started taking baby steps to learn better singing.

Please enjoy: Chand si mehbooba ho meri…

Mukesh – Madan Mohan Association

Song #6
Bhooli hui yaadon mujhe itna na satao

As I wrote earlier, despite the limitation in range, Mukesh actually excelled in two genre’s of songs: One, songs of melancholy, eg, Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye; and two, ghazals, especially non-filmy ones.

Both genre’s being the mastery of Madan Mohan, it is surprising that Mukesh sang only nine songs for MM. Once again, the reason can be traced to MM’s fondness for Rafi and later Talat (eg, Jahan Ara songs like Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai) to sing both genre’s of songs.

Nevertheless, all nine songs that Mukesh sang for Madan Mohan are classics. And my all time favourite is this:

You don’t see Lyn sitting with me for this as I don’t like singing melancholic and songs of regret to her.

Please enjoy: Bhooli hui yaadon mujhe itna na satao…

Mukesh – SN Tripathi Association

Song #7
Aa laut ke aaja mere meet

I published this song on YouTube on the morning of Mukesh’s Death Anniversary, 27th Aug 22.

The song has been my favourite for over 60 years. When I used to visit my maternal grandparents place in Urapur (District Jalandhar, Punjab) for school holidays (I was born there), this was a favourite on Binaca Geetmala until SN Tripathi’s another song Zara saamne to aa O chhaliye pipped it to the post.

Whilst doing my higher command course in Mhow, I wanted to and eventually visited Rani Roopmati Palace in Maandu.

I wrote about it:

MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE ARMY – PART IV

The song was penned by Bharat Vyas and SN Tripathi composed it in Raag Madhumadhavi Sarang.

Please enjoy: Aa laut ke aaja mere meet….

I hope you liked my singing of Mukesh songs. Wait for some more to appear in Part II.

Today happens to be the Birth Anniversary of this favourite singer of mine. Salil Chowdhury had once said about his singing, “If God were to sing to us, He would sing us in the voice of Hemant Kumar.”

That’s exactly the effect of his singing and music on us; it transforms us to a world that is as quiet and peaceful as God’s Paradise. Indeed, this quietude happens to be his theme in many, if not most, of his songs. Taste this, for example:

लहरों के होंठों पे धीमा धीमा राग है
भीगी हवाओं में ठंडी ठंडी आग है
इस हसीन आग में तू भी जलके देखले
ज़िंदगी के गीत की धुन बदल के देखले
खुलने दे अब धड़कनों की ज़ुबाँ, सुन जा…

or

बस एक चुप सी लगी है नहीं उदास नहीं
कहीं पे साँस रुकी है नहीं उदास नहीं
बस एक चुप सी लगी है

Hemant Kumar was born as Hemant Mukhopadhyay on this day, 16th Jun, in 1920.

Hemant Kumar’s first film song in a Bengali movie Rajkumarer Nirbbasan was composed by SD Burman. Later, his best song in Hindi movies: Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan was also composed in Raag Kafi by SD Burman on the lyrics of Sahir Ludhianvi.

I have listened to him in person in a Summer Festival in Shimla in the year 1970. He was loaded with requests from the audience (through written chits) and he knew that even if he would sing for days and weeks without a break he wouldn’t be able to meet all the requests. So he sang one of his own:

या दिल की सुनो दुनियावालों
या मुझको अभी चुप रहने दो
मैं ग़म को खुशी कैसे कह दूँ
जो कहते हैं उनको कहने दो

Even before I could sing any other singer, I had this intense desire to sing Hemant Kumar. So, here I give you a compilation of six of his songs that I have sung:

Song #1
Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge

I learnt singing late in my life and the basic reason for that is to sing to the love of my life: Marilyn or Lyn, my wife. She has been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease since the year 2015. My singing to her brings back flickers of recognition on her face.

I sang this first song of Hemant Kumar in Kandaghat Live Fest in April 2019.

It was penned by SH Bihari. Hemant Kumar sang on his own composition in the movie 1954 B Mitra Shart starring Shyama and Deepak and Shashikala

Please enjoy: Na ye chand hoga na taare rahenge…

आ…, न ये चाँद होगा, न तारे रहेंगे
मगर हम हमेशा, तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…

बिछड़कर चले जाएं तुमसे कहीं
तो ये ना समझना मुहब्बत नहीं
जहाँ भी रहे हम तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…

ज़माना अगर कुछ कहेगा तो क्या
मगर तुम न कहना हमें बेवफ़ा
तुम्हारे लिये हैं तुम्हारे रहेंगे
न ये चाँद होगा…

Song #2
Yaad aa gayin woh nasheeli nigaahen

He sang only 17 songs for Dev Anand, which included 13 solos such as Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan and Hai apna dil to awaara. But they all became very popular.

My favourite is from the 1960 movie Manzil (one of the four movies that Dev Anand did with Nutan, that had the location of Shimla, just like in Tere Ghar Ke Saamne).

The movie Manzil revolved around this song, sung by Hemant Kumar for Dev Anand. He sang it thrice in the movie. In the beginning in Railway Colony, Shimla under happy circumstances and twice more in Bombay when he is separated from her.

The version I am giving you was lip synced by Dev Anand on a stage in an auditorium in Bombay.

It was penned by Majrooh (injured or wounded) Sultanpuri and composed by Sachin Dev Burman.

Please enjoy: Yaad aa gayin woh nasheeli nigahen…

याद आ गैइ वो नशीली निगाहें
यारों थाम लेना, थाम लेना मेरी बाहें
याद आ गई वो नशीली निगाहें

(जाम कब हमने पिया है
ये ग़म-ए-दिल का नशा है ) – २
क्या जानूँ गिरके सम्भलना
हाँ मेरा संग संग चलना
यारों थाम लेना, थाम लेना मेरी बाहें
याद आ गई …

(है उन्ही आँखों की निशानी
ये मेरी ज़ख्मी जवानी ) – २
मैं इन ज़ख्मों को सीके
क्या करूं होश में जीके
(यारों थाम लेना, थाम लेना मेरी बाहें
याद आ गई वो नशीली निगाहें ) – २

Song #3
Yeh nayan dare dare

Beautiful Lyrics

Lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi who mastered the art of conveying complex emotions in the most laconic way. Take this stanza itself. He talks about beautiful night, beautiful moon and then adds that she is more beautiful than all these.

Others would leave at that. He now asks: And more beautiful than you? Can he actually imagine someone more beautiful than his beloved? Yes, he can! He concludes: Aur tujhase haseen tera pyaar. Is that all? No, he comes up with a clincher: Tu jaane naa! (You don’t know it!)

Simply awesome.

He gives the same treatment to the second stanza. He starts by taking forward the emotions of the first stanza by saying One finds the happiness of one’s life in Love. However, some sad thoughts also lend happiness. And now he comes up with the deepest thought of the song: Even if I admit defeat; you shouldn’t!

Kohraa – the 1964 Movie

If one knows the story of Biswajeet being married initially to his licentious wife and then marrying Waheeda Rehman after the first wife disappears; and Waheeda Rehman staying in the shadow and fear of the first wife, the lyrics would obtain even greater meaning. One wonders how Kaifi Azmi packed such tremendous meaning into those few words.

The movie’s story was an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca, which even Alfred Hitchcock did in his movie Rebecca. The Hindi version was directed by Biren Nag.

My Own Poetry

Tu Nahin To Chandni Raat Ky Kare

चांदनी रात है पर तूं मेरे साथ नहीं,
बात तो कुछ है लेकिन वह बात नहीं।

भीगी फिजायें छू लेती हैं आके रुखसार,
उनसे क्या हो जब दिल में बरसात नहीं।

एक ज़माना था शाम ओ सेहर मिलते थे हम,
अब कभी मिलें ऐसे तो हालात नहीं।

लहरे उठती हैं उठ के चली जाती हैं,
दिल की धड़कन को बढ़ा दें इनकी औकात नहीं।

पेड़ों की छाओं में बैठे भी तो क्यूं हो जादू,
ठहरे कैसे ये समां जब हाथ में तेरा हाथ नहीं।

नज़रें रह रह के ढूंढती हैं तेरी नज़रें,
कहाँ है तू इतनी तो अंधेरी रात नहीं।

कैसे अब प्यार हमारा मुकाम तक पहुंचे,
ना तो तुम से न मुझ से जब शुरुआत नहीं।

हम नहीं मिलते यह ज़माने की है पाबंदी,
क्यूं कहती हो, रवि, तेरे दिल में जज़्बात नहीं।

Please enjoy: Ye nayan dare dare…

ये नयन डरे-डरे, ये जाम
भरे-भरे
ज़रा पीने दो
कल की किसको खबर, इक रात
हो के निडर
मुझे जीने दो

रात हसीं, ये चाँद हसीं
तू सबसे हसीं मेरे
दिलबर
रात हसीं, ये चाँद हसीं
तू सबसे हसीं मेरे
दिलबर
और तुझसे हसीं
और तुझसे हसीं तेरा
प्यार
तू जाने ना
ये नयन डरे-डरे, ये जाम
भरे-भरे
ज़रा पीने दो
ये नयन डरे डरे

प्यार में है जीवन की
खुशी
देती है खुशी कई गम भी
प्यार में है जीवन की
खुशी
देती है खुशी कई गम भी
मै मान भी लूँ
मै मान भी लूँ कभी हार
तू माने ना
ये नयन डरे-डरे, ये जाम
भरे-भरे
ज़रा पीने दो
कल की किसको खबर, इक रात
हो के निडर
मुझे जीने दो

Song #4
Tumhare nain dekh ke suna hai log jogi ho gaye

Laying Bare My Soul

Today, after a long time, I am laying bare my soul.

There are songs that are close to my heart. One is Shakeel – Naushad – Rafi ghazal Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam. The others are Hemant Kumar songs.

I have never put up Mere mehboob tujhe and I am very shy (reluctant) to put up Hemant Kumar songs. If you scan through my posts you’ll realise that I don’t easily put up Hemant Kumar.

Some of you have speculated about the reasons for my reluctance. Even I don’t know fully. Perhaps I feel that if I have to put up these songs close to my heart, the realm that I have built around them in my imagination would be shattered. Incidentally, it used to happen with seeing even videos of the songs close to my heart.

When I was in my late teens, I used to get this feeling in sleep that my soul is flying out of my body and visiting places, providing me aerial view of strange and unknown places. It was such a strong and real feeling that there were times when I tried to hold on to bed in the hope that somehow the soul won’t leave me alone in bed. However, it was beyond me and once I got used to being rid of my fears, I enjoyed the aerial journeys at night.

Our nearest neighbour in Dharamsala was the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) and his family. Once, I disclosed about my nocturnal aerial journeys to his wife. She mentioned that this phenomenon with some people had been recorded in books and is related to Astral. She, however, mentioned that the more people I shared it with, it would go away shortly. It lasted until a few years after I joined the Navy. So, it is perhaps registered in my mind that telling people about matters of my heart make their effect go away.

Rahgir – The Movie

Rahgir literally means passer-by. Some of you may recall how Rahi is what Kishore Kumar depicted in his movies, trying to find the Meaning of Life. To give him due credit he made movies like Door Ka Rahi to satisfy an inner quest and not for commercial purposes.

It is perhaps a Bengali thing; this movie too was first made in Bengali (the 1963 Bengali movie Palatak). Rahgir too was about finding the Meaning of Life. It was a 1969 movie directed by Tarun Majumdar and starring his wife Sandhya Roy (presently a Trinamool Congress pillar) opposite Biswajeet Roy. Biswajeet Roy received critical acclaim for the movie and it is talked about that it is the finest role that he enacted.

The Song

It was penned by Gulzar and sung by Hemant Kumar on his own composition. I rate his rendition here as one of his finest. The song echoes in my mind all the way from my teenager days of having my soul taking nocturnal journeys.

The Lyrics

तुम्हारे नैन देख के
सुना है लोग जोगी हो गए
तुम्हारे नैन देख के
किसी की आँखे गयी
किसी की प्यास गयी
किसी को जान मिली
हमारी साँस गयी
तुम्हारे नैन देख के
सुना है लोग जोगी हो गए
तुम्हारे नैन देख के

दो नीली आँखे
दो नीली आँखे नीली आँखे
जैसे सपनों में खोई हुई है
यह नीली आँखे
यह नीली आंखे नीली आँखे
जैसे राते दो सोयी हुयी है
किसी को साथ मिला
किसी की बात चला
किसी का दिन बिता
हमारी रात चली
तुम्हारे नैन देख के
सुना है लोग जोगी हो गए
तुम्हारे नैन देख के

लोग कहते है कहते है
इन आँखों से साहिल बहते है
लोग लोग कहते है
इन झीलों में शायद
प्यासे दिल रहते है
तुम्हारी आँख लगे
तो रात सोती है
तुम्हारे जागते ही सावेर होती है
तुम्हारे नैन देख के
सुना है लोग जोगी हो गए
तुम्हारे नैन देख के.

My Own Poetry

MERI ZINDAGI AAPKI AANKHON TALE

आपकी आँखों में मुझे वह झलक मिल जाती है,
ज़िन्दगी दफ़अतन और हसीन हो जाती है I

लोग देखते हैं प्यार दिलरुबा की आँखों में,
मुझे तो सारी कायनात नज़र आ जाती है I

ये आँखें नहीं हैं मेरी ज़िन्दगी की रहनुमा हैं,
ज़िन्दगी के मायने यकीनी मुझे समझाती हैं I

कई बार सोचता हूँ कह दूँ इनसे मैं दिल की बात,
क्या कहूं हया मेरी आंखों में छलक जाती है I

सबेरे का सूरज इनकी पलकें खुलने का इशारा है,
रात का अँधेरा पलक झुकने पे ले आती हैं I

ज़िन्दगी में लाखों ग़म इधर उधर बिखरे हों तो क्या,
ज़िन्दगी के सारे ग़म इनकी लौ भुलाती हैं I

मुझे अब इनके सिवा कुछ और न चाहिए, रवि,
जन्नत – ऐ – खुदा खुद बा खुद मिल जाती है I

Please enjoy: Tumhare nain dekh ke suna hai log jogi ho gaye… (No Karaoke is available. So, I used the music of the original song and replaced Hemant Kumar’s voice with my own:

Song #5
Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi hoti hai

Filmistan Movies

Ashok Kumar got in with Bombay Talkies initially owned by Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani and after 1943 (when Himanshu died) owned solely by Devika. Sashadhar Mukherjee, his uncle, was an assistant sounds engineer with Bombay Talkies. When Devika Rani eloped with Najm ul Hassan, her co-star in Jeevan Mrityu, it was Sashadhar who found Devika and brought in a rapprochement with Himanshu. Ashok Kumar became her co-star. Sashadhar and he became co-producers with Himanshu. However, later, they formed their own company Filmistan after Himanshu died.

Anarkali happened to be their first major success in 1953. Later they made such hits as Nagin and Jagriti, Munimji and Paying Guest.

Anarkali

It was directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal and starred Pradeep Kumar as Salim and Bina Rai as Anarkali.

Vasant Prakash became the music director for the movie and recorded one song with Geeta Dutt (Aa jaan e wafa). He fell out of favour with Sashadhar Mukherjee and Chitalkar Ramchandra was taken as MD. The other eight songs including this were composed by him and these became some of the most memorable songs in Hindi movies.

Transience of Life and Love

Ben Johnson wrote this poem in the 16th century around the same time when Anarkali story took place. It was called The Lily of A Day and went like this:

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three-hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sere.
A lily of a day,
Is fairer far in May,
Although it droop and die that night,
It was the plant and flow’r of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures, life may perfect be.

Rajendra Krishan too wrote his lyrics in the same ilk:

ज़िंदगी प्यार की दो चार घड़ी होती है
चाहे थोड़ी भी हो ये उम्र बड़ी होती है

ताज या तख्त या दौलत हो ज़माने भर की
कौन सी चीज़ मुहब्बत से बड़ी होती है
ज़िंदगी …

दो मुहब्बत भरे दिल खाक धड़कते हो जहाँ
सबसे लम्बी वो मुहब्बत की घड़ी होती है
ज़िंदगी …

I wrote my Amaranth in similar manner; a lifetime existing in just moments of love:

Like a gentle rain
On a placid pond in wilderness
The memory of our tryst forms
Never dying ripples
Each one capturing
Those brief moments of togetherness.
Did you at that time know
That the twinkle in your eyes
The softness of your lips
Your looks, your scent, your laughter
Would remain with me forever?
Indelible…unfading.
And I would search for these
In the pearl drops on lotus leaves,
In yellow flowers of joy
By the gurgling brooks;
In the haunting song of cuckoo
Pervading the silent secrets of woods.
Did you know that I would
Eternalize each whisper,
Each colour, each touch, each look
Each song, and each ditty
And treasure them
As a Life Time’s Achievement Award
For my undying love for you?
Nothing Needs to be said Anymore

So please enjoy: Zindagi pyar ki do chaar ghadi hoti hai…

Song #6
Tum pukar lo, tumhara intezzaar hai

Hemant Kumar

Hemant Kumar has been my favourite singer since my boyhood days and yet I am often very shy writing about him; just like I am writing about Mere Mehboob Tujhe.

Anyway, you will probably agree with me that some of the best songs sung by Hemant Kumar are on his compositions. This is one of them. What is more is that the movie Khamoshi of 1970 was also produced by him. He commissioned Asit Sen (not the comedian) to direct it for him.

Many of Hemant Kumar songs are to do with Khamoshi, Chup, Sannata and the like; Bus ye chup si lagi hai comes to your mind straightway and so does Chup hai dharti chup hai chand sitaare.

The fact is that for someone trained in Rabindra Sangeet (there is never a jarring note), Silence and Tranquility come easily to Hemant Kumar.

Do you get the impression that there would be loud music? Or do you get the impression that the song in Raag Kafi would descend upon you like dew does in the night?

So, I think you have got the point: that’s Hemant Kumar for you; not only fond of Silence but asking of you to find your song (and hence your soul) in this Khamoshi. At this stage, I am often inspired to give you Wordsworth:

“The stars of midnight shall be so dear,
For her and she shall lean her ear,
In many a secret place;
Where rivulets dance their wayward round,
And beauty born of murmuring sound,
Shall pass into her face.”

Wordsworth could have written this about Hemant Kumar songs!

Khamoshi – 1970 Movie

This Asit Sen movie starred Rajesh Khanna as the man who has lost his noodles after being cheated in Love. Waheeda Rehman is a nurse at a mental asylum. Whereas, other nurses have found it beyond them to handle such cases, Waheeda Rehman has been the nurse of choice because of her empathy and sensitive handling.

Here the only problem is that closeness to Rajesh Khanna makes her dream too and then in the end, there is…..well….Khamoshi!

This is the main song of the theme of the movie. It was penned with great sensitivity by Gulzar and sung by Hemant Kumar as if playing gently with your own emotions:

तुम पुकार लो, तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है,
तुम पुकार लो
ख़्वाब चुन रही है रात, बेक़रार है
तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है, तुम पुकार लो

होंठ पे लिये हुए दिल की बात हम
जागते रहेंगे और कितनी रात हम
मुक़्तसर सी बात है तुम से प्यार है
तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है, तुम पुकार लो

दिल बहल तो जायेगा इस ख़याल से
हाल मिल गया तुम्हारा अपने हाल से
रात ये क़रार की बेक़रार है
तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है, तुम पुकार लो

My Own Poetry

I simply called it:
Sound of Silence

शोर ओ गुल में रूह की आवाज़ को भी सुन,
नूर ओ रंग में इस दबे राज़ को भी सुन।

बहुत दिलकश हैं ज़िन्दगी के हसीन नग़मे,
पर दूर कहीं बज रही है यह हल्की सी धुन।

फरेब-ऐ-नज़र है, सराब है, महज़ ग़ुबार है दुनिया,
जागते सोते चंद रोज़ के खवाइश-ऐ-ख्वाब न बुन।

रिश्ते, मुहबतें, याराने सब दिल ओ दिमाग की हैं बातें,
शहनाई की मुबारक धुन, घुंघरू की यह रूण झुन।

हमसफर रहे हैं अभी तक लालच, अना और खुद गर्ज़ी,
दौरान-ए-हयात में अब रहमत ओ रूहानियत भी चुन।

हंगामा-ए-जंगल में आवाज़ें बहुत रही हैं बुलंद,
गौर से, रवि, अब इस नन्हे परिंदे की भी सुन।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Tum pukaar lo, Tumhara intezzaar hai… sung by my sister (Suman Saxena) and me:

I hope you liked my choice of six songs sung by me.

Please await the next six songs.

There has been no singer, male or female, like Mohammad Rafi. With his singing, he conveyed to us, what can one do to lyrics and composition simply by singing with his kind of passion, modulation, range, style and aura. Indeed, he made many songs immortal by just singing them.

Irrespective of the awards and honours bestowed on other singers, more often than not due to political reasons, many like me feel that Mohammad Rafi was beyond awards including Bharat Ratna.

Therefore, to be able to sing the songs earlier sung by Mohammad Rafi is a blessing and honour. This doesn’t, by any stretch of imagination, mean that anyone of us can match his prowess. It only means that we can take lots of joy and pride in the fact that we lived in the era when he was alive and fondly sing his songs to relive their magic.

Song #1 – Aaj puraani raahon se koi mujhe awaaz na de

I have to start with my favourite Lyricist Shakeel Badayuni who together with Naushad, Mohammad Rafi and Dilip Kumar made some of the best songs in Hindi movies.

This is from the 1968 A Bhimsingh movie Aadmi starring Dilip Kumar, Waheeda Rehman and Manoj Kumar.

Have a look at the extraordinary lyrics:

आज पुरानी राहों से, कोई मुझे आवाज़ न दे
दर्द में डूबे गीत न दे, गम का सिसकता साज़ न दे

बीते दिनों की याद थी जिनमें, मैं वो तराने भूल चुका
आज नई मंज़िल है मेरी, कल के ठिकाने भूल चुका
न वो दिल न सनम, न वो दीन-धरम
अब दूर हूँ सारे गुनाहों से

जीवन बदला दुनिया बदली, मन को अनोखा ज्ञान मिला
आज मुझे अपने ही दिल में, एक नया इनसान मिला
पहुँचा हूँ वहाँ, नहीं दूर जहाँ, भगवान की नेक निगाहों से

टूट चुके सब प्यार के बंधन, आज कोई ज़ंजीर नहीं
शीशा-ए-दिल में अरमानों की, आज कोई तस्वीर नहीं
अब शाद हूँ मैं, आज़ाद हूँ मैं, कुछ काम नहीं है आहों से

Please enjoy: Aaj puraani raahon se…

Song #2 – Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj

The 1952 Vijay Bhatt movie Baiju Bawra got for Naushad the only Filmfare Award that he got. Of course, he was given the highest award in cinematic excellence by the Government of India: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He did something in this movie that no other composer or music director has been able to match: all 13 sound tracks of the movie were based on one raaga or the other.

This one is one of the best of Mohammad Rafi. It was composed by Naushad on the lyrics of Shakeel in Raag Malkauns, Tintal. It is one of the best Hindi bhajans ever made in the movies, if not the best.

Please enjoy: Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj…

मन तड़पत हरि दरसन को आज
मोरे तुम बिन बिगड़े सकल काज
आ, विनती करत, हूँ, रखियो लाज, मन तड़पत…

तुम्हरे द्वार का मैं हूँ जोगी
हमरी ओर नज़र कब होगी
सुन मोरे व्याकुल मन की बात, तड़पत हरी दरसन…

बिन गुरू ज्ञान कहाँ से पाऊँ
दीजो दान हरी गुन गाऊँ
सब गुनी जन पे तुम्हारा राज, तड़पत हरी…

मुरली मनोहर आस न तोड़ो
दुख भंजन मोरे साथ न छोड़ो
मोहे दरसन भिक्षा दे दो आज दे दो आज, …

Song #3 – Chhalke teri aankhon teri aankhon se sharaab aur zhaadah

Hasrat Jaipuri is another great lyricist who made some of the most memorable songs for Mohammad Rafi to sing.

This is from the 1965 Ramanand Sagar movie Arzoo starring Rajendra Kumar and Sadhana. Shankar Jaikishan and Hasrat created very popular songs for the movie such as:

1. Ae nargis-e-mastana
2. Bedardi balma tujhako
3. Aji rooth kar ab kahan jayiyega
4. Ai phoolon ki rani baharon ki malika.

This was perhaps the most popular:

छलके तेरी आँखों से शराब और ज़ियादा – ३
खिलते रहें होंठों के गुलाब और ज़ियादा – २

क्या बात है जाने तेरी महफ़िल में सितमगर – ३
धड़के है दिल-ए-खाना-खराब और ज़ियादा – २

इस दिल में अभी और भी ज़ख़्मों की जगह है – ३
अबरू की कटारी को दो आब और ज़ियादा

तू इश्क़ के तूफ़ान को बाँहों में जकड़ ले – २
अल्लाह करे ज़ोर-ए-शबाब और ज़ियादा
खिलते रहे होठों के गुलाब और ज़ियादा

Please enjoy: Chhalke teri aankhon se…

Song #4 – Hai duniya usi ki zamana usi ka

Lets now have a song composed by OP Nayyar on the lyrics of the most underrated lyricist in Hindi movies: SH Bihari. Their team created only hit and super hit songs.

This is from the 1964 Shakti Samanta movie Kashmir Ki Kali starring Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore in her debut role.

Mohammad Rafi brought so much passion into this song that it became a signature tune for Shammi Kapoor.

Please enjoy: Hai duniya usi ki zamana usi ka…

है दुनिया उसी की, ज़माना उसी का
मोहब्बत में जो हो गया हो किसी का

(लुटा जो मुसाफ़िर दिल के सफ़र में
है जन्नत यह दुनिया उसकी नज़र में) – २
उसी ने है लूटा मज़ा ज़िंदगी का
मोहब्बत में …

(है सजदे के काबिल हर वो दीवाना
के जो बन गया हो तसवीर-ए-जाना) – २
करो एह्तराम उस की दीवानगी का
मोहब्बत में …

(बर्बाद होना जिसकी अदा हो
दर्द-ए-मोहब्बत जिसकी दवा हो) – २
सताएगा क्या ग़म उसे ज़िंदगी का
मोहब्बत में …

Song #5 – Paas baitho tabiyat behal jaayegi

A unique thing about Mohammad Rafi was that he gave the same excellent treatment to songs even picturised on minor actors. This song, for example, is picturised on Jagdeep (later the comedian in Sholay) and Ameeta for the 1964 movie Punar Milan.

It was penned by Indeevar and C Arjun composed it.

There was no karaoke available; so, I split the music from the original song and used it to sing along without any clues.

Please enjoy: Paas baitho tabiyat behal jaayegi:

पास बैठो तबीयत बहल जायेगी
मौत भी आ गई हो तो टल जायेगी

धार काजल की तुम और तीखी करो
माँग होंठों की मीठी हँसी से भरो
ज़िंदगी झूमने पर मचल जायेगी
मौत भी आ गई हो तो टल जायेगी …

हम ने माना कि छाई है काली घटा
गोरे गालों से गेसू हटा दो ज़रा
इस अँधेरे में इक शम्मा जल जायेगी
मौत भी आ गैइ हो तो टल जायेगी …

ग़म ने छेड़ा हमें, तुम न छेड़ा करो
जो तुम्हारे हैं उन से न पर्दा करो
मुस्कुरा दो तमन्ना निकल जायेगी
मौत भी आ गई हो तो टल जायेगी
पास बैठो …

Song #6 – Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba

And in the end of this part of tribute to God of Songs: Mohammad Rafi, here is a song composed by Madan Mohan on the same tune that Shajjat Hussain used for Ye hawa ye raat ye chandini. Of course, Madan Mohan gave the credit to Shajjat Hussain for the delightful composition.

Today happens to be the death anniversary of Majrooh Sultanpuri. He was a Lyricist who was awarded the highest: Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Please enjoy: Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba…

तुझे क्या सुनाऊँ मैं दिलरुबा
तेरे सामने मेरा हाल है
तेरी इक निगाह की बात है
मेरी ज़िंदगी का सवाल है

मेरी हर ख़ुशी तेरे दम से है
मेरी ज़िंदगी तेरे ग़म से है
तेरे दर्द से रहे बेख़बर
मेरे दिल की कब ये मज़ाल है

तेरे हुस्न पर है मेरी नज़र
मुझे सुबह शाम की क्या ख़बर
मेरी शाम है तेरी जुस्तजू
मेरी सुबह तेरा ख़याल है

मेरे दिल जिगर में समा भी जा
रहे क्यों नज़र का भी फ़ासला
के तेरे बग़ैर ओ जान-ए-जां
मुझे ज़िंदगी भी मुहाल है

In the first part itself, I have given you a wide range of songs of the greatest singer Mohammad Rafi. I hope you liked my selection.

Please await songs of Part II.

Having been born on 24 Feb 1924, he died on this day, 09 May, in the year 1988.

He was known as the Ghazal King in singing. He made good use of the tremor in his voice. He was so good at it that even the greatest singer on earth, Mohammad Rafi, tried to learn tremor from him.

I have been very fond of his singing from my childhood days.

Since the time my wife, Marilyn, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, I tried to learn singing so as to sing to her. And, I had told myself that if and when I take up singing, I would like to sing as Talat Mahmood did.

Today, on his 24th Death Anniversary, I am giving you here, some of his songs that I sang and put up on the YouTube on my channel by the same name as this blog.

Song #1
Jalte hain jiske liye

It is from the 1959 Bimal Roy movie Sujata starring Nutan in the title role supported ably by Sunil Dutt who enacted singing this to her on telephone.
The beautiful voice that sang it is that of Talat Mahmood and this happens to be one of his most popular songs.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy composition of SD Burman on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri:

जलते हैं जिसके लिये, तेरी आँखों के दिये
ढूँढ लाया हूँ वही, गीत मैं तेरे लिये
जलते हैं जिसके लिये

दर्द बनके जो मेरे दिल में रहा ढल ना सका
जादू बनके तेरी आँखों में रुका चल ना सका
आज लाया हूँ वही गीत मैं तेरे लिये
जलते हैं जिसके लिये

दिल में रख लेना इसे हाथों से ये छूटे न कहीं
गीत नाज़ुक है मेरा शीशे से भी टूटे न कहीं
गुनगुनाऊंगा यही गीत मैं तेरे लिये
जलते हैं जिसके लिये

जब तलक ना ये तेरे रस के भरे होंठों से मिले
यूँ ही आवारा फिरेगा ये तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ों के तले
गाये जाऊंगा यही गीत मैं तेरे लिये
जलते हैं जिसके लिये

Song #2
Dekh li teri khudayi

The original was sung by Talat Mahmood on the lyrics of Nyay Sharma and composition of Jaidev for the 1963 Chetan Anand movie Kinare Kinare starring his brother Dev Anand and Meena Kumari.

I am in love with this song, especially the lyrics:

देख ली तेरी खुदाई, बस मेरा दिल भर गया
तेरी रह्मत चुप रही, मैं रोते-रोते मर गया

वो बहारें नाच उठी थीं, झूम उठी थीं बदलियाँ
अपनी क़िस्मत याद आते ही मेरा दिल डर गया

मेरे मालिक क्या कहूँ, तेरी दुआओं का फ़रेब
मुझ पे यूँ छा गया, कि मुझको घर से बेघर कर गया

Song #3
Raat ne kya kya khwab dikhaye

The fact is that I have sung quite a few of his songs. This one was sung by me on his Birth Anniversary on 24 Feb. It is such a favourite with me that I started my Songs that Tug at Your Emotions series with this.

You can read all about the song here:

Songs that Tug at Your Emotions – Song #1

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.

Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #47 – Aaha rimjhim ke ye pyaare pyaare. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #48
Maine kaha tha aana Sunday ko, Sunday ko

Happy Birthday Helen Anne Richardson, 21 Nov

You would agree with me that such is the persona of Helen that one can have more than one song in tribute to the unique style of acting and dancing that she brought into the movies. So, I have thought of devoting even today’s Beautiful Duet to her and Johnny Walker.

Music Director Ravi

If Shakti Samanta took OP Nayyar for his first movie under Shakti Films banner: Howrah Bridge, for 1962 movie China Town he experimented with Ravi starring Shammi Kapoor, Shakila and Helen and he too delivered beautifully on the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri. When I got my first mobile phone, Baar baar dekho of Ravi was my ring-tone for a few year!

Ustadon Ke Ustaad

I have taken this beautiful and unique duet from the 1963 Brij movie Ustadon Ke Ustad starring Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Shakila and Helen and Johnny Walker.

The lyrics were penned by – hold your breath – Asad Bhopali (the one who gave us Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye; imagine him giving this anglicized song!). composed by Ravi and sung by – once gain hold your breath – Lata Mangeshkar singing for Helen and Mohammad Rafi singing for Johnny Walker. Even the other songs of the movie are great. Sau baar janam lenge is everyone’s favourite.

Have a look at the lyrics:

मैंने कहा था ाना संडे को
संडे को
मंडे को चले आये क्यों
मिलना जो चाहे दिल तुमसे
जो तुमसे जो तुमसे जो
तो बोलो क्या करूँ

मैंने कहा था ाना संडे को
संडे को
मंडे को चले आये क्यों
मिलना जो चाहे दिल तुमसे
जो तुमसे जो तुमसे जो
तो बोलो क्या करूँ

तो रोज रोज आना भी अच्छा नहीं
इतना सतना भी अच्छा नहीं
अरे इसलिए कहता हूँ जाने जिगर
दिल का जलना भी अच्छा नहीं
प्यार किया तो जलाते को
जलाते को डरते हो क्यों
मिलने के झूठे वादे
हमसे भी हमसे भी
हमसे भी करते हो क्यों

मैंने कहा था ाना संडे को
संडे को
मंडे को चले आये क्यों
मिलना जो चाहे दिल तुमसे
जो तुमसे जो तुमसे जो
तो बोलो क्या करूँ

बार बार देती हो जो तना मुझे
समझो न इतना दीवाना मुझे
तुमने अभी तक न जाना मुझे
हा खूब समझ लिया
तुमको भी तुमको भी
तुमसे क्या कहूँ
वादे पे आया करो
अपने पे जी अपने जी अपने जी तुम
फुर्सत नहीं है मुझे
संडे को संडे को
अच्छा तो मैं चालू
मिलना जो चाहे दिल तुमसे
जो तुमसे जो तुमसे जो
तो बोलो क्या करूँ.

My Own Poetry

I have written many a light-hearted anglicized poems. Here is one at random:

Chhodo Aisi Good Morning

Good morning देखते देखते रात के बज गए दस।
और मैंने कहा अब तो करो जी बस।

कई बार ऐसा लगता है मुझे, जैसे झाड़ियों से गुजरना होगा,
कहीं Good Morning का छुपा सांप होगा जो कभी भी लेगा डस।

या यह Internet का घना जंगल है, कॉपी पेस्ट करना है,
हम सब के सब उस में किसी तरह से गए हैं फस।

यहां यह फोटो है, वहां यह teaching है,
सब पे अमल करने को, बस कमर को लो कस।

कितना समय लगता है उसे find या discover करने में,
इतने में इकट्ठे मिल के बातें करते हम लेते हस।

दिवाली में जैसे सोन पापड़ी का डिब्बा मिला हो gift,
हमें भी उन्हें भेजना है, उन्हें भी मिले इसका रस।

सोचो जब वह भी समां था जब Good Morning सिर्फ ग्रीटिंग था,
दूसरों के टाइम पे हमें आता था तरस।

अब तो यूं लगता है सारे Good Morning पढ़ने के लिए,
दिन और महीने क्यूं, बीत जाएंगे कई बरस।

सोचिए कभी आपने अपना कहीं कभी लिखा है क्या,
या net से लेके forward करते आप हो गए हैं बेकस?

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Maine kaha tha aana sunday ko, sunday ko…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #48.

Please await Beautiful Duet #49 – Dhak dhak karne laga.

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 #46 – Na ye chand hoga in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #47.

Song #47
Hasne ki chaah ne itna mujhe rulaya hai
Theme-word: Dil to uljha raha zindagi ki baaton mein

Simplicity Always Wins

This song was penned by Kapil Kumar and composed by Kanu Roy; a combination whose songs fascinated you every time including those memorable songs for Basu Bhattacharya’s sensitive movie Anubhav starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja; songs such as Meri jaan mujhe jaan na kaho meri jaan, Phir kahin koi phool khila, and Koi chpake se aake.

Simplicity of lyrics was followed by simplicity of composition. Music Directors such as Shankar Jaikishan and Laxmikant Pyarelal rolled in money. Even Naushad did. However, Kanu Roy had to perforce have least number of musicians whilst composing songs since he couldn’t afford large orchestras. Hence, in his case, the composition had to stand merely by its own excellence. If he had to put in a few more violinists or pianist, he couldn’t afford them. Simple.

Fortunately, for him, Kapil Kumar could weave magic in simple words such as the kind Kaifi Azmi would. Have a look at these:

हंसने की चाह ने इतना मुझे रुलाया है
कोई हमदर्द नहीं, दर्द मेरा साया है

दिल तो उलझा ही रहा ज़िन्दगी की बातों में
सांसें जलती हैं कभी कभी रातों में
किसी की आहटें ये कौन मुस्कुराया है
कोई हमदर्द नहीं …

सपने छलते ही रहे रोज़ नई राहों से
कोई फिसला है अभी अभी बाहों से
किसी की आह पर तारों को प्यार आया है
कोई हमदर्द नहीं …

Simple but powerful.

The singer is Manna Dey and like always, he has sung with adequate passion to make it a great song.

Aavishkar

This 1979 was the last in a trilogy made by Basu Bhattacharya, which started with 1971 movie Anubhav, had Grih Pravesh in 1979 and had Aavishkar, in between, in 1974. The movie starred Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore. Many critics feel that this movie had the best and most intense role done by Rajesh Khanna. He won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for this. There were only three songs in the movie: this one, Babul mora naihar chhooto hi jaaye (KL Saigal original sung by Jagjit and Chitra Singh here) and Naina hain pyaase mere subg by Asha Bhosle.

My Own Poetry

KAUN SAMAJHA HAI ISE?

ज़िन्दगी में कोई न कोई बात रह जाती है,
दिन गुज़र जाता है तो रात रह जाती है ।

इश्क़ की गर्म ओ गर्मियां चार दिन की हैं,
फिर तो सिर्फ यादों की बरसात रह जाती है ।

तेरी हँसी के फवारे थे मुखतसर लम्हों के लिए,
उसके बाद ग़मों की बारात रह जाती है ।

हम ही हैं जो खुद को जहाँन समझते हैं,
हमारे चले जाने पे भी कायनात रह जाती है।

सारी जिंदगी छोटी नज़र आती है इसके मुक़ाबले,
जब ज़ेहन में छोटी सी मुलाक़ात रह जाती है।

बचपन और जवानी में कितनी हसीन लगती थी,
बुढापे में नाश – ए – हैय्यात रह जाती है।

एक एक पल हमने संवारा था खून ओ पसीने से,
आखिर में तो मजबूरी – ए – हालात रह जाती है।

कोई नहीं समझ पाया ज़िन्दगी के मायने, रवि,
गुज़र जाने पे भी तख्ती – ए – सवालात रह जाती है।

This Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Hasne ki chaah ne itna mujhe rulaya hai…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #47 in the series.

Please await Song #48 –  Roja jaan-e-mann.

I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.

This is the Song #47 in the series. I hope you liked Song #46 – Din hain pyare pyare.

Song #47
Aaj ki raat piya dil na todo

Geeta Dutt in Raag Pahadi

Baazi, a 1951 movie, was yet another movie directed by Guru Dutt who was not yet married to him and hence still Geeta Roy.

She sang for Kalpana Kartik, not yet married to Dev Anand. So this movie had two couples at least two years away from being married. What a Baazi! At that time, the lyricist of this song Sahir Ludhianvi was going through a love affair with married Amrita Pritam and hence the movie had a love affair in reel life and three of them in real life!

The Song

It was composed by Geeta Roy/Dutt’s mentor Sachin Dev Burman who made her sing, as I told you, six songs in 1946 movie Do Bhai. She was totally raw at that time and people wondered how was it that Sachin da gave her so many songs at the age of just sixteen.

We talk about the chemistry between Dev Anand and his heroines. But, the one between him and his would be wife is to be seen in their songs including this one and much earlier I had given you a Beautiful Duet: Aankhon mein kya jee? Rupahla badal.

Let’s go through the lyrics penned by Sahir:

आज की रात पिया
आज की रात पिया दिल न तोड़ो
मन कि बात पिय मान लो
आज कि रात पिय

दिल की कहानी अपनी ज़ुबानी तुम को सुनाने आयी हूँ
आँखों में लेके सपने सुहाने अपना बनाने आयी हूँ
चोड़के साथ पिया मूँह न मोड़ो
मन की बात पिया मान लो
आज की रात पिया

चन्दा भी देखे तारे भी देखे हमको गगन की ओट से
घायल किया है दिल तुमने मेरा मेएठि नज़र की चोट से
थाम के हाथ पिया यूँ न चोड़ो
मन की बात पिया मान लो
आज की रात पिया

My Own Poetry

A very short one called:

Sapne Mere Apne

सपनो का राही हूँ,
सपने ही तो मेरे हैं।
जब सपनो से आगे बढ़ा,
वो दिन फिर क्या तेरे हैं?
सपने ही तो उजाले हैं,
बाकी सब अंधेरे हैं।
तुझे रातों के साये पसंद हैं,
मेरे लिए सपने ही सबेरे हैं।
चंद दिन की यहां खुशियां हैं,
जाने कहाँ फिर डेरे हैं?
ज़िन्दगी के क्या माईने हैं?
दो चार रोज़ के फेरे हैं।
जी लेने दे अपनी ज़ुल्फ़ों तले,
जब तक इनके साये घनेरे हैं।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Aaj ki raat piya din na todo…

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.

Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #46 – Kisi raah pe kisi mod par. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #47
Aaha rimjhim ke ye pyaare pyaare geet liye

Remembering Salil Chowdhury on His Birth Anniversary, 19 Nov

He was born on this day in 1925 in Gazipur village, 24 Paraganas, West Bengal. His dad was very fond of Western Classical music and Salil went through all the records and cassettes of the same kept with his dad. Later, when he became a composer and music director in Hindi movies, he came up with a unique blend of Western classical beat with Hindi songs. Listen to his Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha hai, Jaaneman jaaneman and this song and you would know what I mean.

The fact of the matter is that with this unique fusion, he made for himself an undeniable place in Hindi movies. I am so impressed with his art that when I started with Songs That Tug At Your Emotions, the very first song that I took up was his: Raat ne kya kya khwab dikhaye. The beat that he mastered always had some words or the other repeated: Tadap tadap, Jaaneman jaaneman, Kya kya and so on. Here in this song it is Pyaare pyaare.

All Rain Songs Don’t Have to Be Sensuous

Salil da is credited with some of the best rain songs in the movies and these are romantic and full of longing rather than sensuous. I have already given you the best rain songs in the movies: O sajana barkha bahar aayi. Please pay attention to the repeated words there too in keeping with his unique beat (Pyaase pyaasse mere nain).

This one is a duet and Shailendra has penned it. Shailendra was very fond of the word Rimjhim and even named his residence Rimjhim. He used it in Guide song: Din dhal jaaye Raat na jaaye (viz: Aisi rimjhim aisi phuharen). He used it in a favourite song of mine: Rimjhim ke tarane leke aayi barsaat. He also used it in Bandini song: Ab ke baras bhej bhaiya ko babul (viz: Ambua tale phir se jhule padhenege, Rimjhim padhengi phuhaare).
Naturally, Shailendra has used Rimjhim here too.

The Song

It is from the 1961 movie Usne Kaha Tha starring Sunil Dutt and Nanda. Having been penned by Shailendra and composed by Salil da, it had Lata Mangeshkar singing for Nanda and Talat Mahmood singing for Sunil Dutt:

त: आहा रिमझिम के ये प्यारे प्यारे गीत लिए
आई रात सुहानी देखो प्रीत लिए
मीत मेरे सुनो ज़रा हवा कहे क्या, आ …
सुनो तो ज़रा, झींगर बोले चीकीमीकी चीकीमीकी
रिमझिम के ये प्यारे प्यारे गीत लिए
Then Lata repeats it

त: (खोई सी भीगी भीगी रात झूमे
आँखों में सपनो की बारात झूमे ) – २
दिल की ये दुनिया आज बादलों के साथ झूमे
आहा रिमझिम के ये …

ल: (आ जाओ दिल में बसा लूँ तुम्हें
नैनों का कजरा बना लूँ तुम्हें ) – २
जालिम ज़माने की निगाहों से छुपा लूँ तुम्हें
आहा रिमझिम के ये …

त: (हाथ.ओन में तेरे मेरा हाथ रहे
दिल से जो निकली है वो बात रहे ) – २
मेरा तुम्हारा सारी ज़िन्दगी का साथ रहे
आहा रिमझिम के ये …

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Aha rimjhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #47.

Please await Beautiful Duet #48 – Maine kaha tha aana Sunday ko.

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 #45 – Kya yunhi rooth ke jaane ko Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #46.

I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.

This is the Song #46 in the series. I hope you liked Song #45 – Mera naam chin chin chu.

Remembering Kishore Sahu on His Birth Anniversary

He was born on this day in 1915. He appeared in 22 films between 1937 and 1980 including Guide in which he was the archaeologist Marco neglecting his wife Rosie (Waheeda Rehman). He directed 20 movies between 1942 and 1974. One of the films he directed is a favourite of mine: Dil Apna Aur Preet Prayi. In Hare Rama Hare Krishna, if you recall, he was the Mr Jaiswal neglecting his son and daughter who were to grow up and become Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman.

Kali Ghata – 1951 Movie

This was one movie in which he had the lead role with Bina Rai. He also directed the movie. In this song that I have taken, she is singing the song to him. Lata Mangeshkar is her playback singer.

The Song

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.

Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #45 – Ek daal par tota. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #46
Kisi raah mein kisi mod par

Raag Charukesi or Charukeshi and Rupaktal

The raag in which this most beautiful duet is composed is called Raag Charukesi or Charukeshi. It is a Raaga not of Hindustani music but of Carnatic Music. It is meant to invoke devotional feelings and pathos in the listener. In Malayalam, one of the all-time greatest songs are in Charukesi: ‘Akale akale neelaakaasam’ (from the movie ‘Midumidukki’, 1968). This was composed by Baburaj and sung by Yesudas and S. Janaki.

Some of my favourite songs in this Raag are Bainya na dharo, Bedardi balma, Chhod de saari duniya kisi ke liye, Chalo sajna jahan tak ghata chale, Shyam teri bansi pukare Radha naam, and Ek tu jo mila.

The taal is Rupaktal. A few hours back when I gave you Na jiya laage na, I told you about another song in Malgunji and Rupaktal: Ghar aaja ghir aaye badra saanwariya.

Kalyanji Anandji, Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh

Hats off to Kalyanji Anandji for having composed the lyrics of Anand Bakshi in this Raag and they became instantly super-hit. It appears to me that were fond of Charukesi.

Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh sang it for the 1970 movie Hamsafar (this was the title song) starring Sharmila Tagore and Jumpin’ Jack Jeetendra.
The use of word Kahin in the song invokes different feelings in different places. For example, she has her doubts in the beginning and she says: Kahin chal na dena tu chhod kar. Then there is more doubt when she says: Mera dil kahe kahin ye naa ho! Mukesh’s use is reassuring: Tujhe aa nazar mein chhupa lun main, tujhe lag naa jaaye kahin nazar! And lo, finally reassured, both sing in unison:

la : kahii.n din ye Dhal jaa_e kyaa pataa
mu : kahaa.N raat ho jaa_e kyaa Kabar
Excellent uses of the same word Kahin!!

My Own Poetry

Kahin Pe, Kabhi To…

ज़िन्दगी महज़ चंद मुलाकातें हैं,
छुप छुप के कुछ धीमी धीमी बातें हैं।
दिन तो तेज़ रफ्तार से गुज़र गए,
अब तो चुप चुप ठहरी ठहरी सी रातें हैं।

चाहने और पाने में कितनी दूरी है,
कदम बढ़ के थम गए न जाने क्या मजबूरी है,
दर्द छुपाकर बहुत घूमते हैं इस दुनिया में,
हमें देखिए जिन्हें जीने के लिए दर्द ज़रूरी है।

सब कुछ गया पर उनका खयाल नहीं गया,
ज़िन्दगी का वो सोया हुआ सवाल नहीं गया,
क्यूं मिले थे उनसे जब मिलना ना था मुकद्दर में?
सांस रुकी है पर धड़कनों का उछाल नहीं गया।

क्यूं फिर से प्यार की राह अनजान लगती है?
क्यूं वो हैं भी पर दुनिया वीरान लगती है?
क्या होना था, अभी तो कुछ हुआ ही नहीं,
क्यूं चौराहे पर खड़ी ज़िन्दगी हैरान लगती है?

समझ आए तो हो सके हमें भी खबर करना,
कुछ लम्हे संग बिताए हुए लम्हों की नज़र करना,
शाम ए तन्हाई गर खत्म ना भी हो, रवि,
धुंधले उजाले में ही ज़िन्दगी की सहर करना।

The Song

Please enjoy in Raag Charukeshi: Kis raah mein kisi mod par, kahin chal naa dena tu chhod kar….

किसी राह में किसी मोड़ पर
किसी राह में किसी मोड़ पर
कही चल ना देना तू छोडकर
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
किसी हाल में किसी बात पर
कही चल ना देना छोड़कर
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र

मेरा दिल कहे कही ये ना हो
मेरा दिल कहे कही ये ना हो
नहीं ये ना हो नहीं ये ना हो
किसी रोज तुझ से बिछड़ के मई
तुज़े ढूँढती फिरू दरबदर
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र

तेरा रंग साया बहार का
तेरा रंग साया बहार का
तेरा रूप आइना प्यार का
तुझे ा नज़र में छुपा लू
मै तुझे लग ना जाए कही नज़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र

तेरा साथ हैं तो हैं ज़िन्दगी
तेरा साथ हैं तो हैं ज़िन्दगी
तेरा प्यार हैं तो हैं रोशनी
तेरा प्यार हैं तो हैं रोशनी
कहा दिन ये ढल जाए क्या पता
कहा रात हो जाए क्या खबर
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
किसी राह में किसी मोड़ पर
कही चल ना देना तू छोडकर
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र
मेरे हमसफ़र मेरे हमसफ़र.

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #46.

Please await Beautiful Duet #47 – Aaha rimjhim ke ye pyaare pyaare.

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 #44 – Tu hi re in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #45.

Song #45
Kya younhi rooth ke jaane ko muhabbat ki thi
Theme-word: Zindagi meri mitane ko muhabbat ki thi

Everyone Deserves Shakeel Badayuni

His poetry, ghazals and lyrics are the best known. He used twists of expression to convey emotions far beyond most. There are not many moments when I don’t think of some or the other song of his or ghazal of his.

Here he is with Ravi, the composer. With Ravi he got two of his three (of a hat-trick) Filmfare Awards: Chaudhvinh ka chand ho and Husnwale tera jawab nahin. Both were describing the beauty of woman.

However, with Ravi he also created songs that were sad, poignant and even desperate. Songs such as Lo aa gayi unki yaad, woh nahin aaye; Naseeb mein jiske jo likha tha, and Mili khaak mein mohabbat.
This is one of the same genre’.

Door Ki Awaz

This 1964 movie was directed by Devendra Goel and starred Joy Mukherjee, Saira Bano and Pran in the lead roles. Its songs are among some of the best made by Shakeel-Ravi:

Husn se chand bhi sharmaya hai.
Hum bhi agar bachche hote.
Dil mera aaj khi gaya hai kahin.
This song.
Toot gayi mere man ki muraliya.
Muqaddar aazmana chahta hoon.
Ek musafir ko duniya mein kya chahiye.
Haathon mein haath honthon pe afsaane pyar ke.
Mohe tirchhi najariya na maro.

This Song

It is not just one of the best penned by Shakeel but is among the best sung by Rafi. There is so much of emotion in his singing voice.

Here are the beautiful lyrics:

बना के मेरा मुक़द्दर बिगाड़ने वाले
जवाब दे ओ मेरा घर उजाड़ने वाले

क्या यूँ ही रूठ के जाने को मोहब्बत की थी -२
ज़िन्दगी मेरी मिटाने को मोहब्बत की थी
क्या यूँ ही …

आँख में आँसू लब पे कहानी तेरी
मुझको तड़पाती है दिन-रात निशानी तेरी
क्या मुझे तूने रुलाने को मोहब्बत की थी
क्या यूँ ही …

ओ मुझे भूलने वाले तू कहाँ है आजा
क्या हुई मुझसे ख़ता ये तो ज़रा बतला जा
या ये कह दे के दिखाने को मोहब्बत की थी
क्या यूँ ही …

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Kya younhi rooth ke jaane ko muhabbat ki thi…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #45 in the series.

Please await Song #46 –  Na ye chand hoga.

I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.

This is the Song #45 in the series. I hope you liked Song #44 – Bheegi bheegi raaton mein.

Song #45
Mera naam chin chin chu

Happy Birthday Helen Anne Richardson

She was born on this day in 1938 in Rangoon, Burma.

The family trekked to Bombay in the year 1943 to escape Japanese occupation of Burma. She quit her schooling to earn for the family as her mother’s salary as nurse wasn’t enough.

The movie Howrah Bridge from where I have taken this song was her first big break at the age of 19 years.

She redefined dancing in the movies as cabaret based. Later she successfully attempted (since she emerged as a natural dancer) other genres of dancing including even classical. That she emerged as a darling of producers and directors would be an understatement. Omkar Prasad Nayyar was very fond of her and – hold your breath – made her enact even a ghazal in a movie!
Of course, OP Nayyar was the composer of this song.

Howrah Bridge – 1958 Movie

It was a Shakti Samanta movie. As I have already told you several times, Shakti Samanta got used to making super hit movies once every two years. After he started Shakti Films, this was the first release under the banner.

The movie starred Asdhok Kumar and Madhubala in a murder mystery with origins in China (the Calcutta based filmmakers had fascination for China).

Qamar (Moon) Jalalabadi penned the lyrics and all the songs of the movie became hits or super hits:

1 “Aaiye Meharbaan” Asha Bhosle
2 “Yeh Kya Kar Daala Tune” Asha Bhosle
3 “Dekhke Teri Nazar Bekaraar Ho Gaye” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
4 “Gora Rang, Chunariya Kaali” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
5 “Mohabbat Ka Haath, Jawaani Ka Palla” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
6 “Main Jaan Gayi Tujhe Saiyaan” Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi
7 “Eent Ki Dukki, Paan Ka Ekka” Mohammed Rafi
8 “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” Geeta Dutt
Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu

Helen would have never thought that the very first song of hers in the movies would be such a super hit song that even after 62 years, it is still a super hit! It has everything: Raat, Chandini, Singapore, Shanghai and other such exotic Eastern places:

मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू
चिन-चिन-चू बाबा चिन-चिन-चू
रात चाँदनी मैं और तू
hello, mister, how do you do?

बाबूजी मैं चीन से आई चीनी जैसा दिल लाई
सिंगापुर का यौवन मेरा शाँघाई की अँगड़ाई
दिल पर रख ले हाथ ज़रा, हो जाए न पागल तू
मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू

ओ बाबूजी मैं और आप, कितना अच्छा हुआ मिलाप
तुझको देख तबीयत भड़की, अलादीन की मैं हूँ लड़की
फूँक दूँ मंतर छू चू चू, सिंदबाद the sailorतू
मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू

Who Does the Song Belong to?

I think besides Qamar Jalabadi, OP Nayyar and Helen, one must give credit where credit is due: Geeta Dutt. She too redefined the way songs were sung in the movies until then.

My Own Poetry

Not just Shanghai and Opium, Chinese also exported Corona to us. Here is my light hearted take on that (Can you imagine OP Nayyar composing it?):

To His Beloved “Corona”

लॉक डाउन में रह रह के याद आती है,
रुलाने में तुम करोना से कम नहीं।
कोई और तुमसा नहीं सताती है,
तुम जैसी हो, किसी में दम नहीं।

हो जाता है मुझे भारी बुखार,
सांस मेरी जाती है फूल।
वायरस नहीं, तुम्हारा है चमत्कार,
तुमसे इश्क़ ज़िन्दगी की है भूल।

कहीं से कोई मिलता नहीं इलाज,
करोना वायरस से तो फ़िर भी बच जाऊं।
औरों को तो कई होंगे काम काज,
मैं तो मुहब्बत में ही गंगा नहाऊं।

हाथ धो के पड़ी हो मेरे पीछे,
तुम तो हो सानिटाइजर से परे।
रहता हूं मैं तुम्हारे अंगूठे के नीचे,
जैसे कोई खरगोश शेरनी से डरे।

अगली बार ठीक करूंगा अपना हाइजीन,
कभी तुमसे नहीं करूंगा मैं प्यार।
सांप के आगे कौन बजाता रहे बीन?
करोना से भी ख़तरनाक है तुम्हारी मार।

रिलीज़ करो मुझे अपनी क्वारंटाइन से,
दिमाग पे मेरे हो गया है इफैक्ट।
जाहिल हो क्या मेरे मरने के साइन से,
किसी और को करलो अपना आशिक़ सिलेक्ट।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Mera naam Chin Chin Chu…

I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #45.

Please await Raat or Din Song #46 – Din hain pyare pyare.

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.

Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #44 – Chand jaane kahan kho gaya. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #45
Ek daal par tota bole

A Song that can be COVID 19 Song

Yes, avoidance of COVID 19 is all about social distance and in this song penned by Inderjeet Singh Tulsi and composed by Ravindra Jain, it seems, the guys were far ahead of their times (the movie was 1974 movie Chor Machaye Shor) for they referred to Love being there despite social distance between, say Tota and Maina.

Once again, this beautiful and popular duet was sung by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar for Shashi Kapoor and Mumtaz respectively.

Chor Machaye Shor – 1974 Movie

I was impressed with the songs of the movie, eg, that beautiful Kishore Kumar song in Raag Jhinjhoti: Ghungru ki tarah bajta hi raha hoon, and Le jaayenge, le jaayenge, dilwale dunhaniya that I actually made the mistake of seeing the movie. It was awful and the second half was seen by me in fast forward. Absolute trash. It was similar to watching a Shah Rukh Khan movie – highly rated but actually trash.

There is no point in telling you the story since it didn’t have one. It meandered on to accommodate scenes and songs and fights and comedy.

The Song

Nevertheless, the lyrics are pretty good and composition fine.

Hence, ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Ek daal par tota bole…

एक डाल पर तोता बोले, एक डाल पर मैना
दूर-दूर बैठे हैं, लेकिन प्यार तो फिर भी है ना
बोलो है ना, है ना, है ना

एक डाल पर तोता बोले, एक डाल पर मैना
मैं तेरे नैनों की निंदिया, तू मेरे दिल का चैना
बोलो है ना, है ना, है ना
एक डाल पर तोता बोले

ये क्या मुझको हो गया साजन, कभी रोऊँ कभी गाऊँ
पेड़ से लिपटी बेल जो देखूँ, लाज से मर-मर जाऊँ
ये पागलपन कैसा, कब से हो गया ऐसा
बिन बतलाए समझो साजन, आज नहीं कुछ कहना
बोलो है ना, है ना, है ना
एक डाल पर तोता बोले

आंधी आए, तूफ़ाँ आए या बरसे बरसातें
इक दूजे में खो जाएँ हम, ख़त्म न हो दिन-रातें
ख़त्म न हो दिन-रातें, मीठी प्यार की बातें
होंठ अगर ख़ामोश रहे तो बोल उठेंगे नैना
बोलो है ना, है ना, है ना
एक डाल पर तोता बोले

जनम जनम की प्यास, रे साजन, पल में बुझेगी कैसे
जीवन भर ये संग न छूटे, अंग लगा लो ऐसे
आ मिल जाएँ ऐसे, सागर-नदिया जैसे
सीख लिया है प्यार में हमने मिट कर ज़िंदा रहना
बोलो है ना, है ना, है ना
एक डाल पर तोता बोले…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #45.

Please await Beautiful Duet #46 – Kisi raah pe kisi mod par.

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 #43 – Aanewala pal jaanewala hai in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #44.

Song #44
Tu hi re
Theme-word: Maut aur zindagi tere haathon mein de diya re

Happy Birthday AR Rahman 06 January

The song belongs to its composer Allah Rakha Rahman more than to anyone else. AR Rahman was born a Hindu, Dileep Shekhar, on 06 Jan 1967 and converted to Islam in 1989, at the age of 22. In recent past, no other composer and music director has occupied space in our hearts and minds more than Rahman. Rahman’s films career started with the 1992 Tamil movie Roja, also a Mani Ratnam movie and also starring Arvind Swamy, though with Madhoo and not Monisha Koirala. Roja not just won the National Award for Best Film on National Integration but was later dubbed in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Malyalam. In 2009, when AR Rahman won two Oscars (for Best Song (Jai ho)) and Best Original Score (together with Gulzar)(Slumdog Millionaire) many of us felt that the Roja songs and music were better than the Slumdog Millionaire. His first film Roja won him the National Award for Best Music Director. One of the songs from the movie is a favourite: Bharat hamako jaan se bhi pyaara hai. As of 2016, Rahman has garnered four National Film Awards, 15 Filmfare Awards and 16 Filmfare Awards South, a record for an Indian composer.

Some of my favourite Hindi songs of AR Rahman in are: Vande mataram (non-filmy), Columbus Columbus chhutti hai aayi (Jeans, 1998), Anjali Anjali pushpanjali (Tu hi mera dil, 1995), Ai ajnabi tu bhi kabhi, Ik suraj nikala tha, Jiya jale jaam jale, Kar thaiya thaiya, Tuu hi tuu tuu hi tuu satrangi re (Dil Se, 1998), Awaara bhanvre jo haule haule gaaye (Sapney, 1997), Bharat hamako jaan se bhi pyaara hai, Dil hai chhota sa chhoti si aasha, Roja jaan-e-man, Rukmani Rukmani shaadi ke baad, Ye hasin waadian ye khula aasman (Roja, 1993), Chand aaya zameen par aaj garbe ki raat mein (Dil Hi Dil Mein, 1999), Dil se nikalegi naa mar ke bhi watan ki ulfat, Jogiya jogiya ve, Maahi ve maahi ve (Also sung by him together with Sukhwinder Singh, The Legend of Bghagat Singh, 2002), Dholna dholna, Khamosh raat sahami hawa, Mujhe rang de (Thakshak, 1999), Duur kahin ik aam ki bagiya, Mehaki mehaki hain raahen behaki behaki hain nigaahen (Zubeidaa, 2000), Ek ho gaye hum aur tum, Gumsum gumsum gulchup…kehna hi kya, Kuchi kuchi rakamma sun lo tum (Bombay, 1995), Ekla chalo re (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose – The Forgotten Hero, 2005), Ghanan ghanan ghir ghir aaye badra, Radha kaise na jale, Mitwa O mitwa tujhako kyaa dar hai re, O paalanhaare nirgun aur nyaare (Lagaan, 2001), Haay Rama ye kyaa hua, Ho jaa rangeela re, Kya karen kya na karen kaisi mushkil haay, Tanha tanha yahan pe jeena, Yaai re yaai re jor laga ke naache re, Yaaro sun lo zara (Rangeela, 1996), Jangal mein bole hai koyal ku ku kuu – Kahin aa lage lag jaave, Taal se taal mila (Taal, 1999), Jhuum jhuum naachen ham (Chor Chor), Khamoshiyan gungunane lagi (One Two Ka Four, 2001), Muqaabla muqaabla Laila o ho Laila, Urvashi Urvashi take it easy Urvashi (Humse Hai Muqabla, 1995), Mustafa Mustafa don’t worry Mustafa (Duniya Dilwalon Ki, 1996), O bhanvre dekhi ham deewano ko (Daud, 1997), Piya Haji Ali (Fizaa, 2000), and Ye jo des hai tera (Swades, 2004).

Mehboob, the Lyricist

Mehboob, the lyricist of this song, was born in Nasik (Maharashtra) on 13th Jul 1953. When he was only seven years old, his family moved to Mumbai for good he received education in English and later in Urdu. He was given a break by Ram Gopal Verma in his 1992 Drohi whose songs were composed by RD Burman. His big break actually came with Ram Gopal Verma’s 1996 movie Rangeela, wherein he worked with AR Rahman and for which he received the RD Burman Filmfare Award for Best New Talent. He went on to work for Bombay, One Teo Ka Four, Thakshak, Daud, Dil Hi Dil Mein, and Yuva. He penned AR Rahman’s popular number Maa tujhe salaam (Vande Mataram).

Now about the singers Hariharan and Kavita Krishnamurthy

Hariharan was born on 03 Apr 1955 in Trivanthapuram in Kerala to Tamil parents. The son of renowned Carnatic vocalists, Shrimati Alamelu and the late HAS Mani (full name : Anantha Subramani ), he inherited his parents’ musical talents. However, he went into the Hindustani music stream and emerged as one of the finest ghazal singers, with his idol being Mehdi Hassan. Initially, he started off being a TV artiste. In 1977 he won the All India Sur Singaar competition and that’s how music director Jaidev gave him break in 1978 movie Gaman. His first song in that movie Ajeeb sa neha mujh par guzar gaya yaaron became so popular that it was nominated for National Award. Gradually, his songs have been featured in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bhojpuri and Telugu films. Presently, he is the foremost ghazal singer in India. He was honoured with Padma Shri and he is a two time National Award winner. His association with Lesle Lewis resulted in forming a two member band Colonial Cousins.

Some of my favourite songs of Hariharan are: Bharat hamako jaan se bhi pyaara hai (Roja, 1993), Apni zulfen mere shaano pe bikhr jaane do (Taj Mahal, 2005), Chappa chappa charkha chale, Chhod aaye ham vo galiyan (Maachis, 1996), Dheemi dheemi bheeni bheeni khushbu hai tera badan (1947 Earth, 1999), Gungunaayi hawayen guunshi dishayen (Non-Film, with Alka Yagnik), Haay Rama ye kya hua (Rangeela, 1996), Ham bhool gaye hain rakh ke kahin (Aks, 2001), Ham tumase na kuchh keh paaye (Ziddi, 1997), Jhonka hawa ka aaj bhi (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999), Kabhi chand ki tarah tapaki atthanni si zindagi (Jahan Tum Le Chalo, 1998), Khilli chandini hamen keh rahi (Priyanka, 1995), Likha hai ye in hawayon pe (with Lata Mangeshkar, Darr, 1993), Mil gaye mil gaye dilbar mere (Love Birds, 1996), Mujhe phir wohi yaad aane lage hain jinhe bhulne mein zamaane lage hain (Khumar Barbankwi’s famous ghazal composed by Hariharan and sung by him), Naghme hain shikwe hain kisse hain baaten hain (Yaadein, 2001), Pehle bhi jeete the magar jab se mili hai zindagi (Nida Fazli’s ghazal with Asha Bhosle), Phuulon mein jo khushbu hai kaise wo aayi hai ajuuba (with Sadhana Sargam in Jeans, 1998), Sawan barse tarse dil (with Sadhana Sargam in Dehak, 1998), Sun ri sakhi meri pyari sakhi (Hum Se Hai Muqabla, 1995), Ye duniya ik dulhan (Pardes, 1997), and Youn hi chala chal rahi (Swades, 2004).

Kavita Krishnamurthy was born Sharada Krishnamurthy in a Tamil Iyer family in New Delhi on 25 Jan 1958. Her father TS Krishnamurthy was an employee in Education Ministry. She began her music training upon insistence of her aunt, Ms. Protimma Bhattacharya who enrolled her to Ms. Suruma Basu, who taught her Rabindra Sangeet. She began her formal training in Hindustani classical music under Balram Puri, a classical singer. At the young age of eight, Kavita won a gold medal at a music competition.

She was given a break in Hindi movies by Laxmikant Pyarelal who were impressed by her Hindutani Classical singing. To start with she used to dub for Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. But later, in 1980, a song Kaahe ko biyahi was recorded in her own voice for the movie Maang Bharo Sajana. She became famous for Hawa Hawaii and Karte hain hum pyaar in 1986 movie Mr. India. She has been awarded Padma Shri by the government of India and she has won four Filmfare awards so far.

Some of my favourite songs of Kavita Krishnamurthy are: Aankhon ki gustakhiyaan maaf hon, Albela sajan aayo ri, Dholi tharo dhol baaje, Hum dil de chuke sanam (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 1999), Aaj main ooper aasman neeche (Khamoshi, 1996), Are karte hain ham pyaar Mr India se, Hawa hawaii (Mr India, 1987), Chalon chale mitwa (Nayak The Real Hero, 2001), Ho chhal chhal chhalke in aankhon ki hgagariya (Janam Janam, 1988), Dhol bajane laga koi laut ke aaya hai (Viraasat, 1997), Deewana deewana ye dil tera deewana (with Abhijeet, Jung, 1996), Dil chura liya (with Abhijeet in Qayamat 2003), Dil ne kaha chupke se (1942 A Love Story, 1993), Dola re dola re, Maar daala (with Shreya Ghoshal and KayKay in Devdas, 2002), Ganpati bappa morya (Agnipath, 1990), Har karam apna karenge (Karma, 1986), Jaise ik chand ka tukada (Inteqaam, 1988), Jo main aisa jaanati preet kiye dukh hoy (Batwara, 1989), Koi mil gaya (Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai, 1998), Kuchi kuchi rakamma (Bombay, 1995), Tu mujhe qabool main tujhe kabool (with Mohammad Aziz in Khuda Gawah, 1992), Mera piya ghar aaya (Yaarana, 1995), Nayak nahin khalnayak hoon main (Khalnayak, 1993), Nazaron ke milane se kyun hoti hai halchal (Vishwavidhata, 1997), O baalam kesariya (Bhairavi, 1995), Pal do pal ka ye safar pal do pal ka saath (with Udit Narayan in Hadd Kar Di Aapne, 2000), Raja ki kahani purani ho gayi (with Usha Uthup in Godmother, 1998), Tu cheez badhi hai mast mast (with Udit Narayan, Mohra, 1994), Tu hi tu satrangi re (with Sonu Nigam, Dil Se, 1998), Ye duniya ik dulhan (Pardes, 1997), and Na jaane kahan se aayi hai – ye ladaki (with Amit Kumar in Chaalbaaz 1989).

The Movie

Bombay was a 1995 film directed by Mani Ratnam. The film starred Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala as Shekhar Narayanan Pillai and Shaila Bano respectively. The film, made in Tamil (later dubbed in Hindi and Telugu with the same title), is centered on events that occurred particularly during the period of December 1992 to January 1993 in India, and the controversy surrounding the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, its subsequent demolition on 6 December 1992 and increased religious tensions in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) that led to the Bombay Riots. It is the second one of Mani Ratnam’s tiriology on human relations in the backdrop of events that shook India; the first one being Roja in 1992 and third one being Dil Se in 1998.

The Hindi dubbed film had the following songs, all penned by Mehboob and all composed by AR Rahman:

1.”Hamma Hamma”Remo Fernandes, Swarnalatha & Suresh Peters5:10
2.”Kehna Hi Kya”K. S. Chithra, A. R. Rahman & Chorus5:52
3.”Tu Hi Re”Hariharan & Kavita Krishnamurthy7:14
4.”Kuchi Kuchi Rakkamma”Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, G. V. Prakash Kumar & Sharadha5:07
5.”Kuch Bhi Na Socho”Pallavi, Shubha, Anupama, Noel James & Srinivas5:53
6.”Bombay Theme”Instrumental5:18
7.”Aankhon Mein Ummeedon”Sujatha Mohan & Chorus2:43
8.”Apna Zameen Yeh”Sujatha Mohan, Noel James, Srinivas, Sivanesan, Ganga Sreenivasan, Renuka & Anuradha Sriram3:28

The Song

Please enjoy Hariharan and Kavita Krishnamurthy singing: Tu hi re, tu hi re, tere bina main kaise jiyun….

तू ही रे, तू ही रे तेरे बिना मैं कैसे जियूं
आजा रे, आजा रे, यूं ही तड़पा ना तू मुझको
जान रे, जान रे, इन सांसों में बस जा तू
चाँद रे, चाँद रे, आजा दिल की ज़मीन पे तू
चाहत है अगर आके मुझसे मिल जा तू
या फिर ऐसा कर, धरती से मिला दे मुझको
तू ही रे, तू ही रे तेरे बिना मैं कैसे जियूं
आजा रे, आजा रे, यूं ही तड़पा ना तू मुझको
इन सांसों का देखो तुम पागलपन के
आये नहीं इन्हें चैन
मुझसे ये बोली मैं राहों में तेरी
अपने बिछा दूं ये नैन
इन ऊँचे पहाड़ों से जां दे दूंगा मैं
गर तूम ना आई कहीं
तुम उधर जान उम्मीद मेरी जो तोड़ो
इधर ये जहाँ छोड़ू मैं
मौत और, जिन्दगी, तेरे हाथों में दे दिया रे
आई रे, आई रे, ले मैं आई हूँ तेरे लिये
तोड़ा रे, तोड़ा रे, हर बँधन को प्यार के लिये
जान रे, जान रे, आजा तुझमें समा जाऊं मैं
दिल रे दिल रे, तेरी सांसों में बस जाऊं मैं
चाहत है अगर आके मुझसे मिल जा तू
या फिर ऐसा कर, धरती से मिला दे मुझको
तू ही रे, तू ही रे तेरे बिना मैं कैसे जियूं
आजा रे, आजा रे, यूं ही तड़पा ना तू मुझको
आ …

सौ बार बुलाए मैं सौ बार आऊं,
इक बार जो दिल दिया
इक आँख रोये तो दूजी बोलो,
सोयेगी कैसे भला,
इन प्यार की राहों में पत्थर हैं कितने
उन सब को ही पार किया
इक नदी हूँ मैं चाहत भरी आज मिलने
सागर को आई यहाँ
सजना, सजना, आज आँसू भी मीठे लगे
तू ही रे, तू ही रे तेरे बिना मैं कैसे जियूं
आजा रे, आजा रे, यूं ही तड़पा ना तू मुझको
जान रे, जान रे, इन सासों में बस जा तू
चाँद रे, चाँद रे, आजा दिल की ज़मीन पे तू
पल पल पल पल वक्त तो बीता जाये रे
ज़रा बोल ज़रा बोल वक़्त से के वो थम जाये रे
आई रे, आई रे, ले मैं आई हूँ तेरे लिये
जान रे, जान रे, आजा तुझमें समा जाऊं मैं

Comparison with Shakeel Badayuni

The song is dear to me because of the intensity of emotions of a lover for a beloved. It reminds me of my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni’s best song with Naushad: Mere mheboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam. Look at the similarity, especially in this stanza:

सामने आ के ज़रा पर्दा उठा दे रुख़ से
इक यही मेरा इलाज-ए-ग़म-ए-तन्हाई है
तेरी फ़ुरक़त ने परेशान किया है मुझको
अब तो मिल जा के मेरी जान पे बन आई है
दिल को भूली हुई यादों का सहारा दे दे
मेरा खोया …

And in both the songs, the lover had seen the beloved only from a distance. Can love get to be so strong between virtual strangers? Are there vibes that are only later converted into lyrics but at that time when they strike the lovers, they are just vibes that cannot be described? And can these vibes make Love become so intense that one feels that one cannot live without seeing the object of love? It happened in 1963 Mere Mehboob, it happened in various other movies after that and in happened in 1995 Bombay.

I get goose pimples thinking of this kind of love. When I listen to the song, I get answers to all my silent questions. Even after that it keeps tugging at my emotions.

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #44 in the series.

Please await Song #45 –  Kya yunhi rooth ke jaane ko.