Category: Music and Cinema

RRR Songs (Songs of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness)

I started this new series on 17 Jan 21 on my Facebook Group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne. My efforts failed to involve people in writing their own stuff about songs and music rather than copying and pasting from here and there or worse, just sharing url of songs from YouTube. Hence, I had decided to give the group a burial that it deserved rather than making it like thousands of groups on Facebook about songs with nothing unique about them at all.

Hence this series shifted to my page Lyrical.

I hope you liked RRR Song #23: Woh bhooli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi. Here is the next song:

Song #24
Seene mein sulagte hain armaan

Lyrics and Composition Par Excellence

Once in a while, a song comes along and it leaves you stunned by the beauty of its lyrics and composition. This is one of them. Prem Dhawan and Anil Biswas have come up with a combination for an RRR Song that keeps playing in the recesses of your mind long after the track finishes. Another similar RRR song that comes to mind was put together by Indeevar and Timir Baran: Kaise koi jeeye zehar hai zindagi.

Anil Biswas thought of composing this in the simplest of raagas: Raag Kalyan.

Lyrics

At the outset, let’s look at the excellent lyrics by Prem Dhawan:

तलत: सीने में सुलगते हैं अरमां
आँखों में उदासी छाई है
ये आज तेरी दुनिया से हमें
तक़दीर कहाँ ले आई है
सीने में सुलगते हैं अरमां

लता: कुछ आँख में आँसू बाकी हैं
जो मेरे ग़म के साथी हैं – २
अब दिल हैं ना दिल के अरमां हैं – २
बस मैं हूँ मेरी तन्हाई है
सीने में सुलगते हैं अरमां

तलत: न तुझसे गिला कोई हमको
ना कोई शिकायत दुनिया से
दो चार कदम जब मन्ज़िल थी – २
क़िस्मत ने ठोकर खाई है
सीने में सुलगते हैं अरमां

लत: कुछ ऐसी आग लगी मन में
जीने भी ना दे मरने भी ना दे …
चुप हूँ तो कलेजा जलता है – २
बोलूँ तो तेरी रुसवाई है
बोथ: सीने में सुलगते हैं अरमां

How Did the Song Come About?

The song is from the 1951 Ram Daryani movie Tarana starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubala, the movie that ushered in their real life romance that finally didn’t end well.

Here, in this movie, Dr Motilal’s (Dilip Kumar) plane crashes near a village. HGe falls in love with Tarana (Madhubala), a villager Surdas’s daughter. Two things upset their apple-cart: one, a rich man of the village is after her to marry her and Motilal’s father wants him to marry a rich lady Sheela.

The rich man’s machinations end up in the father Surdas doubting the character of his daughter Tarana and setting the house on fire with her in it. She is believed to be dead. Later, of course, all works out well for them.

The song is sung when they are separated at the behest of the village rich man Totaram.

My Own Poetry

SULAGTE AANSU

वो लौटा रहें हैं मेरा सामान,
और जला रहे हैं सब कुछ,
मेरी आरज़ू है सितमगर
मेरे अश्क भी जला दें
ताके दिल के समुन्दर में
वो तूफ़ान फिर ना उभरे;
जो मरहले खड़े थे
उन्हें ठोकर से मिटा दें
काश हम ना होते वो ना होते,
और ये आरज़ू ना होती
तेरी आँखों में जो सरूर था
वो सरूर भी हटा दें
मैं भूल गया हूँ सब कुछ,
तेरे प्यार की नज़र में
मेरी कौन सी है मंजिल
मुझे कुछ तो अब पता दें
अब दिल न हो, प्यार ना हो,
और ना रहे उनकी यादें,
कोई उनसे जाके कह दे,
मेरी हस्ती ही मिटा दें

The Song

Please enjoy Talat Mahmood and Lata Mangeshkar singing for Dilip Kumar and Madhubala respectively: Seene mein sulagte hain armaan…

I hope you liked Song #24 in this series.

Please await Song #25: Humse aaya na gaya.

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 #43 in the series. I hope you liked Song #42 – Zulf ki chhaon mein chehre k0.

Song #43
Mujhe chhu rahi hain teri garm saansen
Theme-word: Mere raat or din mehakne lage

I am Basically a Lyrical Man

You would have noticed, time and again, that I am basically a Lyrics man; the Lyrics of a song are the most significant part of the song for me. Lets say a song with average lyrics became popular simply because of its superb composition, it is unlikely to be among my favourite. I would rather have a song with superb lyrics and average composition than the other way round. Whilst covering Lyricists, for which I started a Page called Lyrical, I have given you many a song that have excellent lyrics but didn’t become very popular due to other reasons. As an example, I consider Raja Mehdi Ali Khan’s Phir teri yaad naye geet sunane aayi as a song among his most outstanding lyrics.

Lets come to this song. It has its lyrics penned by a Sardar who has won more Filmfare Awards than any other person. He won these as Lyricist, Producer, Director, Story Writer, and for Screenplay. I like him best for his lyrics. Have a look at these lyrics:

रफ़ी: मुझे छू रही हैं तेरी गर्म साँसें
मेरे रात और दिन महकने लगे हैं
लता: तेरी नर्म साँसों ने ऐसे छुआ हैं
के मेरे तो पाओं बहकने लगे हैं

रफ़ी: लबों से अगर तुम बुला ना सको तो
निगाहों से तुम नाम लेकर बुला लो
लता: तुम्हारी निगाहें बहुत बोलती हैं
ज़रा अपनी आँखों पे पलके गिरा दो
रफ़ी: मुझे छू रही हैं तेरी गर्म साँसें
मेरे रात और दिन महकने लगे हैं

रफ़ी: पता चल गया है के मंज़िल कहाँ है
चलो दिल के लम्बे सफ़र पे चलेंगे
लता: सफ़र खत्म कर देंगे हम तो वहीं पर
जहाँ तक तुम्हारे कदम ले चलेंगे
रफ़ी: मुझे छू रही हैं तेरी गर्म साँसें
मेरे रात और दिन महकने लगे हैं
लता: तेरी नर्म साँसों ने ऐसे छूआ हैं
के मेरे तो पाओं बहकने लगे हैं

Second version
मुझे छू रही हैं, तेरी नर्म साँसें
मेरे रात और दिन महकने लगे हैं

जिस दिल में बसते थे, तूफ़ान के बादल
वहाँ अब इश्क़ के, दिये जल रहे हैं

गुमराह फिरता था मैं, एक खोया परवाना
तेरे दिल की शमा ने मक़्सद दिया मुझ को

जो सपने थे मुर्दा तारीकी में खोए
इस मोहब्बत की रोशनी से, जीने लगे हैं

काँटों से भरा था, ये सफ़र मेरा
तेरे दम से गुलाबों का, फ़र्श बिछ गया

वो फूल जो कभी भी खिल न सके थे
आज शबनम की बदौलत, मुस्कुरा रहे हैं

वादा है ये मेरा, न छोड़ूँगा साथ तेरा
मरते दम तक तेरा साथ दूँगा

जिस रूह पे लोग तरस खाते थे
आज फ़रिश्ते भी मुझसे इश्क़ करने लगे हैं

मुझे छू रही हैं, तेरी नर्म साँसें
मेरे रात और दिन महकने लगे हैं

You would agree with me that you’d find them great even if the composition was average.

Rajesh Roshan

Son of the great music director Roshan who was given a break by Kidar Sharma, Rajesh continued with the magic of old type of songs when people like Bappi Lahiri rotted into pedestrianism. Have a look at some of his compositions that I have liked:

Chhu kar mere man ko.
Jab koi baat bigad jaaye.
Kya mausam hai, ai deewane dil.
Dil kya kare jab kisi se kisi ko pyar ho jaaye.
Uthe sab ke kadam.
Ik raasta hai zindagi.
Baahon mein teri masti ke ghere.
Ye raaten nayi purani.

He has given a similar treatment to this song.

Could Have Been A Beautiful Duet

Yes indeed. This could have been given by me as a great duet between Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar quite late in their lives, for the 1980 movie Swayamvar starring Shashi Kapoor and Moushumi Chatterjee.

My Own Poetry

This was one of my first attempts not to write poetry but lyrics of a song:

Hamare Dil Ka Geet

रातों के ख्वाब दिन में भी लगे आने,
तेरे प्यार में सनम हम हो गए दीवाने।
सांस रुकने लगी,
आंख झुकने लगी,
तन्हाई के पल भी अब बन गए सुहाने।
मुहब्बत की यह धुन,
इसे दिल से सुन।

सेहरा में भी आ गयी बहार,
खिल उठा है मेरा घर संसार।
ठंडी ठंडी हवाएं,
भीगी भीगी फिजायें,
तेरा ही कर रही थी इंतज़ार।
मुहब्बत की यह धुन,
इसे दिल से सुन।

ज़िन्दगी भर रहेगा अपना साथ,
हमेशा रहेगा मेरे हाथों में तेरा हाथ।
बस यूँ ही यूँ है,
हर तरफ तूँ ही तूँ है,
जन्मों जन्मों की हमारी मुलाकात।
मुहब्बत की यह धुन,
इसे दिल से सुन।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Mujhe chhu rahi hain teri garm saansen…

I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #43.

Please await Raat or Din Song #44 – Bheegi bheegi raaton mein.

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 #42 – Phool ahista phenko. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #43
Ichak dana bichak dana

Masterly Children’s Songs by Hasrat Jaipuri

Kishwar Jaipuri, my behna’s dad, wrote a beautiful children’s song for the 1971 movie Andaz, the movie in which his song fetched him the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award (Zindagi ek safar hai suhana). The children’s song was: Hai na bolo bolo.

However, the song in an open air school in a village (the kind that Hemant Kumar sang for Abhi Bhattacharya in 1961 movie Gunga Jumna: Insaaf ki dagar pe) was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri for the 1955 Raj Kapoor movie Shree 420.

Raj Kapoor, in order to get over his indigence, becomes a con man (420) at the behest of Nadira. This of course, is not to the liking of Nargis who had earlier sung a romantic duet with him under an umbrella in rain: Pyar hua ikraar hua. She, therefore, leaves Bombay and goes back to her village and starts teaching children. Meanwhile, Raj Kapoor belatedly discovers that the only person he had been conning was he himself. So he follows her there.

And now for Hasrat Jaipuri’s master stroke:

In this song (Nargis’s way of teaching the kids) she goes about asking riddles from the children and makes it easier for them to answer and learn. The only person who is non-plussed is Raj Kapoor! This is his best imitation of Charlie Chaplin in any movie; a guy who has always been a child!
In the end, he has a riddle to ask. Predictably, the answer is known by all: the children and both Nargis and Raj Kapoor. Love wins over everything! What a masterly stroke from Hasrat Jaipuri.

Raj Kapoor too learns at the end of the movie that he can, at best be 420 (conman) but the respectable high level people in the society are the real conmen and they should be respectfully addressed as Shree 420!

The song

It was, as I said, penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan. As a duet, it was sung mostly by Lata Mangeshkar for the teacher Nargis and in the end Mukesh singing for Raj Kapoor.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Ichak dana bichak dana..

लत : ईचक दाना बीचक दाना दाने ऊपर दाना, ईचक दाना
छज्जे ऊपर लड़की नाचे, लड़का है दीवाना, ईचक दाना

लत : एक जानवर ऐसा जिसके दुम पर पैसा
सर पे भी ताज है बादशाह के जैसा
ओ~
बादल देखे छम-छम नाचे अल्बेला मसताना, ईचक दान
बोलो क्या?
बच्चे : मोर
ईचक दाना, बीचक दाना …

लत : हरी थी मन भरी थी, लाख मोती जड़ी थी
राजा जी के बाग़ में दुशाला ओढ़े खड़ी थी
ओ~
कच्चे-पक्के बाल हैं उसके मुखड़ा है सुहाना, ईचक दाना
बोलो क्या?
राज : बुड्ढी
बच्चे : भुट्टा

लत : छोटी सी छोकरी लाल्बाई नाम है
पहने वो घाघरा एक पैसा दाम है
ओ~
मुँह में सबके आग लगाये आता है रुलाना, ईचक दाना
बोलो क्या? बोलो न
बच्चे : मिचर्ई

मुकेश : ईचक दाना बीचक दाना दाने ऊपर दाना, ईचक दाना
छज्जे ऊपर लड़की नाचे, लड़का है दीवाना, ईचक दाना

चालें वो चलकर दिल में समाया
आ ही गया वो, किया है सफ़ाया
तुम भी देखो बचकर रहना चक्कर में न आना, ईचक दाना
लत : ग़म?
राज : धत! हम!

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #43.

Please await Beautiful Duet #44- Chand jaane kahan kho gaya.

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 #41 – Zulmi zamane ne itna sataya hai in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #42.

Song #42
Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haay
Theme-word: The first word.

Remembering Rajesh Khanna on His Birth Anniversary 29 Dec

Having been born on this day in 1942 in Amritsar (Punjab), Rajesh Khanna (Jatin Khanna at birth) won the national wide Talent Hunt by United Producers of Hindi Films and hence his first movie in 1967 was offered to him as a prize: Aakhri Khat.

Very soon he emerged as a super star and this movie of 1971: Anand, a Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie (written by Gulzar) came at the height of his career as super star.

He was Anand Sehgal (a role meant to be done originally by Kishore Kumar) suffering from lymphosarcoma of intestines and hence terminally ill. His oncologist Bhasker (Amitabh Bachchan; originally meant for Mehmood) and others around Anand notice that he, Anand, had decided to live life to the fullest and share happiness with others rather than the sadness of his terminal disease.

And this song depicts his view of life (in another similar role (Safar, that is, he spread sadness by Zindagi ka safar hai ye aisa safar koi samajha nahin koi jaana nahin. Indeed, he has three excellent Zindagi songs picturised on him; the third one being: Zindagi ek safar hai suhana. They do get typified, don’t they?).

Lyrics

So, at the outset, lets look at the lyrics penned by Yogesh to understand Anand’s views on Life:

ज़िंदगी …
कैसी है पहेली, हाए
कभी तो हंसाये
कभी ये रुलाये
ज़िंदगी …

कभी देखो मन नहीं जागे
पीछे पीछे सपनों के भागे
एक दिन सपनों का राही
चला जाए सपनों के आगे कहाँ
ज़िंदगी …

जिन्होने सजाए यहाँ मेले
सुख-दुख संग-संग झेले
वही चुनकर ख़ामोशी
यूँ चली जाए अकेले कहाँ
ज़िंदगी …

He is by himself on a beach and give out what is there in his mind rather than putting up the act of Joie de’ vivre’.

My Own Poetry

I am all about Love only and hence, it is not surprising to find my own views about Zindagi:

ZINDAGI MIL JAAYEGI DOBARA

बारिश कभी रुक जाए,
यकायक बरसते बरसते।
ज़ुबान कभी हो जाए खुश्क,
एक बूंद को तरसते तरसते।

दिल कभी खामोश हो जाए,
ऐसे ही धड़कते धड़कते।
नजरें बन जाएं पथरीली,
दो पल बहकते बहकते।

बादल अचानक छंट जाएं,
चमक के गरजते गरजते।
शमा बुझने को हो तैयार,
सारी रात लरजते लरजते।

आंखों की नमी हो जाए खत्म,
आंसूओं को झटकते झटकते।
मेरे कदम हो जाएं साकिन,
तेरी गलियों में भटकते भटकते।

हाथ थाम लेना मेरा, सनम,
अपने हाथों में थरकते थरकते।
आगोश में मेरे आ जाना,
शर्मा के सरकते सरकते।

खुशी खुशी मर जाऊंगा मैं,
ज़िन्दगी को यूं तरसते तरसते।
जैसे उमड़ के लाए हों सैलाब,
बादल रुके थे जो बरसते बरसते।

My Own Singing

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the song composed by Salil Chowdhury and sung by Manna Dey for the super star Rajesh Khanna on his birth anniversary on 29 Dec: Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haay…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #42 in the series.

Please await Song #43 –  Aanewala pal jaanewala hai.

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 #42 in the series. I hope you liked Song #41 – O sajna barkha bahar aayi.

Omkar Prasad Nayyar

Look at any of his movies songs; these would be either hits or super hits. He had that kind of magic. Some of the most popular and memorable songs in Hindi movies have been composed by him. These would include songs on Western tunes as well as raaga based, romantic songs and duets, sad songs and even ghazals. He had that touch and we all are grateful that we lived in an era whence OP Nayyar composed. Only, he didn’t find Lata Mangeshkar’s voice “sexy enough” and hence his female songs were sung by Asha Bhosle (“almost my wife” is how he described her), Shanshad Begum and Geeta Dutt.

Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon

After Asha Parekh was rejected a role, Nasir Hussain took it upon himself to cast her in his movies and laughed all the way to the bank because of his choice. His first movie with her itself was a super hit movie Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai. He followed the success of it with this movie of 1963 that was produced and directed by him. It starred Joy Mukherjee opposite Asha Parekh together with Pran and Rajendra Nath.

Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi

They have given us some really memorable duets such as Ishaaron ishaaron mein in Kashmir Ki Kali and Abhi na jao chhod kar in Hum Dono. Indeed, I could have given this song too under Beautiful Duet series.

I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 23 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.

Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #41 – Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #42 
Phool ahista phenko

Satire

We have explored various genre’s of duets but I am sure we haven’t explored satire or sarcasm. This was brought about by excellent lyrics from Anand Bakshi, super composition by Laxmikant Pyarlelal and great singing by Mukesh for Rajesh Khanna and Lata Mangeshkar for Mumtaz. At the first instance, please look at the cleverness of the lyrics:

फूल आहिस्ता फेंको, फूल बड़े नाज़ुक होते हैं
वैसे भी तो ये बद्-क़िसमत नोक पे कांटों की सोते हैं
फूल आहिस्ता …

बड़ी खूब्सूरत शिक़ायत है ये
मगर सोचिये क्या शराफ़त है ये
जो औरों का दिल तोड़ते रहते हैं
लगी चोट उनको तो ये कहते हैं
कि फूल आहिस्ता फेंको, फूल बड़े नाज़ुक होते हैं
जो रुलाते हैं लोगों को एक दिन खुद भी रोते हैं
फूल आहिस्ता …

किसी शोख़ को बाग़ की सैर में
जो लग जाये कांटा कोई पैर में
ख़फ़ा हुस्न वालों से हो किस लिये
ये मासूम है बहकता इस लिये
कि फूल आहिस्ता फेंको, फूल बड़े नाज़ुक होते हैं
ये करेंगे कैसे घायल ये तो खुद घायल होते हैं
फूल आहिस्ता …

गुलों के बड़े आप हमदर्द हैं
भला क्यों न हो आप भी मर्द हैं
हज़ारों सवाल.ओं का है इक जवाब
फ़रेब-ए-नज़र ये न हो ऐ जनाब
कि फूल आहिस्ता फेंको फूल बड़े नाज़ुक होते हैं
सब जिसे कहते हैं शबनम, फूल के आँसू होते हैं
फूल आहिस्ता …

Prem Kahani – 1975 Movie

It was a Raj Khosla movie; yes, ladies and gentlemen, the same director who ushered in the career of Waheeda Rehman in C.I,D. and made a trilogy of movies on Sadhana that became very popular: Bees Saal Baad, Mera Saya and Anita. Here, he is trying out a difficult situation between Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz and Shashi Kapoor.

Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz did a number of movies together: Roti, Aap Ki Kasam, Sacha Jhoota, Dushman, Do Raaste, Bandhan, Aayina and Apna Desh.

In this, he is Rajesh and she is Kamini. He is an apolitical poet and brother of a freedom fighter. After finishing his M.A. he returns to his beloved Kamini but her father doesn’t approve of the match as he is working for the British government and Reajesh is Gandhinian. Rajesh’s bosom pal is Dheeraj (Shashi Kapoor) who is a superintendent of police.

When Rajesh’s brother is shot dead by the British in a demponstration, Rajesh too joins the freedom struggle. He sacrifices his love for Kamini.
He plots to kill the British and is running away from them and seeks shelter with Dheeraj, only to find that Kamini is now married to Dheeraj and that’s how this song comes about.

My Own Poem

Waqt Gaya Baat Gayi

बातों बातों में बात निकल जाती है,
वह मिलते नहीं, मुलाकात निकल जाती है।

इंतज़ार करते करते आंख कुछ ऐसे लगे,
खुलते ही देखा हैयात निकल जाती है।

सदियों से पड़े हैं तन्हा और बेकसी में,
लोग क्यूं कहते हैं मजबूरी ए हालात निकल जाती है?

घर के सामने खड़े थे उनकी उम्मीद में हम,
वह नहीं निकले पर बारात निकल जाती है।

सामने होंगें तो ज़रूर पूछूंगा ऐ खुदा,
मुझे अकेला छोड़ के कहां कायनात निकल जाती है?

जब भी भीगने की ख्वाहिश उठी, रवि,
उसी वक़्त देखा बरसात निकल जाती है।

The Duet

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Phool ahista phenko…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #42.

Please await Beautiful Duet #43- Ichak dana bichak dana.

RRR Songs (Songs of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness)

I started this new series on 17 Jan 21 on my Facebook Group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne. My efforts failed to involve people in writing their own stuff about songs and music rather than copying and pasting from here and there or worse, just sharing url of songs from YouTube. Hence, I had decided to give the group a burial that it deserved rather than making it like thousands of groups on Facebook about songs with nothing unique about them at all.

Hence this series shifted to my page Lyrical.

I hope you liked RRR Song #21: Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein. Here is the next song:

Song #22
Phir thes lagi dil ko

RRR Song by a Female Singer

You would have noticed – I can only assure you that it wasn’t by design – that I ended up giving you most RRR song sung by male singers except rare ones such as Kisi ko mukammal jahan nahin milta sung by Asha Bhosle and Woh jo milate the kabhi sung by Lata. I want to remedy that by giving you this beautiful RRR song (she actually uses the word Afsos in the song) from Sharmila Tagore’s debut movie Kashmir Ki Kali in which she acted the title role. Asha Bhosle sang for her since OP Nayyar won’t have Lata sing any of his songs.

Omkar Prasad Nayyar

OP Nayyar was born on 16 Jan 1926 in Lahore (now in Pakistan). At the age of 23, OP Nayyar composed the background score for the movie Kaneez. Three years later, in 1952, he was a full fledged music director for the movie Aasman. OP Nayyar perfected songs whose beats (often horse-trot beat such as in 1957 movie Naya Daur’s song Maang ke saath tumhaara) became so popular that people were often heard humming these everywhere. He also delved into raaga based songs although, in all humility, he claimed that he had no knowledge of classical music. Raag Peelu or Pilu, followed by Pahadi, were his favourite raagas in songs.

He didn’t like Lata Mangeshkar sing any of his songs as he didn’t find her voice sexy. Most of his female songs have been sung by Shamshad Begum, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt. He depended heavily on Asha Bhosle and in a television interview he said, “She was almost like a wife to me.” OP Nayyar and Asha Bhosle parted in 1974. Soon after that, in 1974, she received Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award for his song: Chain se hamako kabhi aap ne jeene na diya that was intended to be used for the 1973 movie Praan Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye but didn’t find a place in the final cut.
OP Nayyar paired with major lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri and Sahir Ludhianvi. With the latter he received the Filmfare Award for 1957 movie Naya Daur. However, he also worked with lesser lyricists like SH Bihari for 1962 movie Ek Mussafir Ek Haseena, 1964 movie Kashmir Ki Kali, and as many as three movies in 1966: Sawan Ki Ghata, Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, and Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, 1974 movie Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, and 1978 movie Khoon Ka Badla Khoon.

Shamsul Huda Bihari or simply SH Bihari

Shamsul Huda Bihari, born in Arrah, Bihar, must rank amongst the most underrated lyricist in the Hindi films industry. And yet, it is pleasantly surprising to see the range and popularity of his songs. As far as OP Nayyar is concerned, he made all hit songs that include Bahut Shukriya Badi Meherbani, and Mujhe Dekhkar Aapka Muskurana (Ek Mussafir Ek Haseena, 1962); Diwana Huwa Badal, Hai Duniya Usi Ki, Isharon Isharon Mein Dil Lene Waale, Meri Jaan Balle, Phir Thes Lagi Dil Pe, Subhan Allah, Tarif Karun Kya Uski, Kisi Na Kisise Kabhi Na Kabhi, and Balamaa Khulii Havaa Mein (Kashmir Ki Kali, 1964); “Yehi Woh Jagah Hai, Phir Miloge Kabhi, Is Baat Ka Wada Karlo, Aap Se Maine Meri Jaan Mohabbat Ki Hai, Main Shayad Tumhare Liye Ajnabi Hoon, and Mera Pyar Woh Hai Ke (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, 1966); Zara Haulle Haulle Challo Mere Sajna, Zulfon Ko Hata Le Chehre Se, Aaj Koi Pyar Se, Meri Jaan Tum Pe Sadhke, Jo Dil Ki Tadap Na Jane, and Khuda Huzoor Ko Meri Bhi Zindagi De De (Sawan Ki Ghata, 1966); Raaton Ko Chori Chori, Na Jaane Kyon, Mehfil Mein, Tumhari Mulaqat Se, Yeh Purnoor Chehra, Nazar Nazar Se Milaao, Tum Sab Se Haseen Ho and Kyar Cheez Ho Zaalim (Mohabbat Zindagi Hai, 1966); Chain Se Hamko Kabhi Aapne Jeene Na Diya, and Ek Tu Hai Piya Jis Pe Dil Aa Gaya (Praan Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, 1974); Badan Gora Haseen Jalwe Tumko Deewaana Meri Jaan,Ghar Apna Bangaal Aur Bambai Mein Hai Sasuraal, Gham Yateemon Ke Jaisa Bhi Sansaar Main Koi Bachcha, Kisko Gale Lagaaye Dil Kiska Todiye, Pyaar Bhara Kajara Aankhiyon Mein Daal Ke, Saaqi Ki Nigaahon Seae Jee Hoga Kya Aage and Zulf Lehraayi To Saawan Ka Mahina Aa Gaya (Khoon Ka Badla Khoon, 1978).

Lyrics

Please look at the beautiful lyrics SH Bihari wrote for Asha to sing (incidentally he excelled in all songs of KKK including Deewana hua badal, Ishaaron ishaaron mein dil lene waale, and Ye duniya usi ki.

फिर ठेस लगी दिल को, फिर याद ने तड़पाया
फिर बहने लगे आँसू, दिल दर्द से भर आया
फिर ठेस लगी…

दुनिया तेरे गुलशन से इक फूल चुना हमने
अफ़सोस कि दामन को काँटों से भरा पाया
फिर ठेस लगी…

इक वो हैं ख़ुदा रखे जो भूल गए हमको
इक हम हैं कि होंठों पर शिक़वा ना कभी आया
फिर बहने लगे…

My Own Poetry

Phir Yaad Ne Tadpaya…

आज फिर तसव्वर में उनका दीदार हो गया
खुदा की रहनुमाई पे फिर से ऐतबार हो गया

ना मेरे करीब हैं वो ना मुझसे दूर रहते हैं
फिर से दिल की अफरा तफरी का आसार हो गया

ज़िन्दगी सेहरा बनी थी उनकी अलैहदगी में
उनके मिलते ही आलम गुलज़ार हो गया

हमने माना करामात-ऐ- ख्याल ही था लेकिन
चंद लम्हों के लिए दिल खुशगवार हो गया

मुझे यकीन है तग़ाफ़ुल मुझे वह नहीं करते
उनकी खामोशी से ही इश्क़ का इज़हार हो गया

हैरत तो उनको खूब होगी मेरे अंदाज़-ऐ-वफ़ा पे
अब मुझे अपनी तन्हाई से भी प्यार हो गया

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Phir thes lagi dil ko….

I hope you liked Song #22 in this series.

Please await Song #23: Woh bhooli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi.

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 #40 – Zindagi kuchh to bata in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #41.

Song #42
Zalim zamane ne itna staya hai
Theme-word: Rone lagi zindagi, gham muskraya hai

Ending Year with a Soulful Song

Year end is normally a period for pausing and doing some deep thinking. I am fortunate that I have very good friends (a family) in this group. My good fortune is multi-fold because of my sisters on this group particularly the two who kept the group alive: Manik Lakhkar Chava and Evani Leela.

Here is what Manik Lakhkar Chava told me when I told her about the excellent posts she and Evani Leela are posting, “We are indirectly trying to tell you not to close down the group.”

With Evani Leela, I am on a different plane. She put up the song Tum hi mere rehnuma and made me cry at the way we treat women. I had already thought of the year ending song and knew I would give her a return gift (if one can call the misery of a woman a gift!)

I hope this shakes you, Evani Leela as much as your song did to me. I hope you love this Manik Lakhkar Chava behna.

I wouldn’t mind being reborn a woman if only the humanity would learn how to treat her, particularly in India.

The Movie of the Song

It is from the 1960 Mohammed Hussain movie Delhi Junction starring Ajit, Shakila and Pran. It is picturised on Shakila.

It was penned by Gulshan Bawra who gave us some exceptionally beautiful and poignant songs. The other day, most of you agreed with me about the beautiful poignancy of Har khushi ho wahan tu jahan bhi rahe and Kasme waade pyar wafa sab baaten hain. As luck would have it, all of these were also composed by Kalyanji Anandji, the composer of this song.

Here are the most poignant lyrics:

ज़ालिम ज़माने ने इतना सताया है
रोने लगी ज़िन्दगी ग़म मुस्कुराया है -२
ज़ालिम ज़माने ने …

फूटी मेरी क़िस्मत टूटे सभी सपने -२
गैरों से शिक़वा क्या करें लूट गए अपने
अपना जिसे समझे उसने मिटाया है
रोने लगी ज़िन्दगी …

आँसू मेरे कब तक देंगे सहारा मुझे -२
तू ही सहारा ऐ मौत दे रो-रो पुकारा तुझे
जीने से भी अब तो जी घबराया है
रोने लगी ज़िन्दगी …

My Own Poetry

I have written one about Zamana and quoted my favourite Shakeel in it:

ZAMAANE KA EK AJAB ROOP AUR RANG

ज़माने का अजब रूप और रंग देखा है,
धूप और छाँव को मैंने संग देखा हैI

रिवाजों की जो हरदम हामी भरते थे,
हैरत से उनको बदलते ढंग देखा है।

ज़मीन पे जिनके पैर उठते ही ना थे,
आज उनको उड़ती पतंग देखा है।

वह जो बेकसी के आलम में पढ़े रहते थे,
उनके चेहरे पे ख़ुशी की उमंग को देखा है I

आज नज़दीकी दोस्त बने फिरते हैं जो,
कल उन्ही की मैदान – ऐ – जंग देखा है I

जशन – ऐ – महफ़िल जिनकी कभी ख़त्म न होती थी,
आज उनकी भी ज़िन्दगी को बेरंग देखा है I

शकील ठीक ही कहते थे, जाएंगे वह अकेले,
जिन्हें ज़िन्दगी के मेले में संग देखा है I

यह तो वक़्त वक़्त की बात है, रवि,
ज़माने का यह रूप और वह रंग देखा है I

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, lets end the year with: Zalim zamane ne itna sataya hai….

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #41 in the series.

Please await Song #42 –  Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haay.

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 #40 in the series. I hope you liked Song #40 – Ek woh bhi diwali thi.

Song #41
O sajna barkha bahaar aayi
Theme-word: The last line: Akhiyon mein raina gayi, Nindiya na aayi

Everyone’s Favourite Rain-Song

What Suhani raat dhal chuki is to Mohammad Rafi, this song is to Lata Mangeshkar; in that, if you join a new group on songs and music and you want to impress people with your excellent taste, you’d, as quickly as possible, put up Suhani raat dhal chuki and O sajana barkha bahar aayi.
Anyone could have put up this in this series. However, it has come to me to actually do so.

Parakh – 1960 Movie

Parakh was produced and directed by Bimal Roy on a satire or farcical story penned by Salil Chowdhury who also composed the songs including this one.

I loved the satire. The postmaster in the small village receives a cheque of Rupees 5 Lakhs (during those days, a really princely sum) to be given to a person of the village who’d use it for the good of the people. Indian democracy is all about greed and “coming to power” and so was the case with greedy village authorities vying with one another to receive the grand cheque.

In the midst of this is Sadhana and her lover Basanta Chowdhury.

This rainy-night song is sung by her pining for him.

The Song

The song was penned by Shailendra who also penned Madhumati songs for Salil da.

Lata Mangeshkar has sung some of her best songs for Sadhana and we have already taken up Lag jaa gale (another Raat song).

This song was composed by Salil da in Raag Khammaj (otherwise composing songs in Western classical tunes such as Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha hai and Jaaneman jaaneman tere do nayan). The taal is the commonest taal Kaherava. Some of the background music was thought of by him by listening to the swish of the wiper of his Ambassador car.

Here are the lyrics:

(ओ सजना, बरखा बहार आई
रस की फुहार लाई, अँखियों मे प्यार लाई ) – २
ओ सजना

तुमको पुकारे मेरे मन का पपिहरा – २
मीठी मीठी अगनी में, जले मोरा जियरा
ओ सजना …

(ऐसी रिमझिम में ओ साजन, प्यासे प्यासे मेरे नयन
तेरे ही, ख्वाब में, खो गए ) – २
सांवली सलोनी घटा, जब जब छाई – २
अँखियों में रैना गई, निन्दिया न आई
ओ सजना …

My Own Poetry

Phir Barsaat Chali Aayi

आज फिर भीगने का दिल करता है बरसात में,
कुछ शोख़ हवा चली है सुहानी रात में I

यादों की बूंदे दिल के आँगन में गिर रही हैं,
और दस्तक दे रही हैं देहलीज़-ऐ-जज़्बात पे I

मेरे रूखे जहान पे सावन को भी तरस आ गया,
लगता है रो रहा है वह भी मेरे हालात पे I

घने धुएं में रौशनी की किरण जगमगाई है,
कुछ और लौ बची है शमा-ए-हयात में I

सावन क्या आया, बस यूँ लगता है,
हल चल सी मच गयी है कायनात में I

हवाएं उनकी बज़्म से लायी हैं खुशबू,
उधर उठ के देखता हूँ बात बात पे I

सोचता हूँ, रवि, यह कहीं सरआब तो नहीं,
कुछ हकीकत तो होगी ख्याल-ए-करामात में I

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: O sajna, barkha bahar aayi…

I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #41.

Please await Raat or Din Song #42- Zulfon ki chhaon mein chehre ko.

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 #40 – Aaja re ab mera dil pukara. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #78 (#41 of mine)
Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi

Remembering Sanjeev Kumar on His Death Anniversary 06 Nov

He died on this day in 1985. Having been born in Surat Gujarat on 09 Jul 1938, he was just about 57 years old when he died. There are many actors who are missed not just because they died relatively early but also because their acting made us miss them when they went away. Surely, Sanjeev Kumar was one of them.

Some of us would recall his roles in Dastak, Khilauna, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Sholay, Mausam, Parichay, Aandhi and Koshish.

He won two National Awards for his acting; one for Dastak and one for Koshish.

Mausam – 1975 Movie

This movie was released in the same year as Sholay in which he acted as Thakur. This movie was directed by Gulzar and had lyrics too by him. The songs were composed by Madan Mohan who also composed songs of Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Dastak.

Mausam starred Sharmila Tagore with him. Just as Dev Anand and Mumtaz starrer Tere Mere Sapne, this movie too was based on a novel by AJ Cronin: The Judas Tree.

Sanjeev Kumar was Dr Amarnath Gill who fell in love with Chanda (Sharmila Tagore) and promises that he would meet her later. Twenty five years go by and now he returns to Calcutta as a wealthy man and looks for Chanda. She is married to a crippled old man. The rest of the story is not really required because this part serves as the scene of the song.
The song was sung by Bhupinder Singh for Sanjeev Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar for Sharmila Tagore.

Yesterday, I saw a movie ’45 Years’ in which a couple, about to celebrate 45 years of their wedding, discover that the body of the girl that the husband used to love had been found in the snowy mountains of Switzerland, rather intact.

The fact of the matter is that old flames never die!

My Own Poetry

I have selected one of several on the subject:

Koi Lauta De Woh Din

मुझे याद आते हैं बचपन के वो पल,
लगता न था कभी आएगी कल,
मासूमियत में कह देते थे दोस्तों को:
मैं आता हूँ तेरे पीछे, तूँ चल।

एक एक करके होने लगे वो विदा,
जो रात को भी न होते थे जुदा,
हमारी फुसफ़साहट भी वो सुन लेते थे,
अब नहीं पहुंचती उन तक मेरी सदा।

आती हैं वो सब शरारतें याद,
पेड़ से तोड़े आम का अलग था स्वाद,
क्या लुत्फ था उन हरकतों का,
हालांकि बहुत मार खाई उनके बाद।

क्या अजब खेल था लुकन छिपाई।
कब दिन शुरू हुआ और कब रात आयी,
सब सांझेदारी में बराबर के हकदार थे,
न कोई चीज़ अपनी, न कोई चीज़ परायी।

लगता न था वो प्यारे दिन गुज़र जाएंगे,
तिनके तिनके से बनाये घरोंदे बिखर जाएंगे,
ज़िन्दगी की ऊंचाईयां चढ़ने की ख्वाइश में,
जहां चढ़े बैैठे थे वहीं से उतर जााएंगे।

काश रोक लेते वो दिलकश समां,
हम सब संग संग थे उस जगह जहां,
ढूंढते फिरते हैं उस बीते ज़माने को,
कोई तो बता दो वो बचपन गया है कहां।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Dil dhoondta hai, phir wohi, fursat ke raat din…

दिल ढूँढता है फिर वही फ़ुरसत के रात दिन – (२)
बैठे रहे तसव्वुर-ए-जानाँ किये हुए
दिल ढूँढता है फिर वही फ़ुरसत के रात दिन…

जाड़ों की नर्म धूप और आँगन में लेट कर – (२)
आँखों पे खींचकर तेरे आँचल के साए को
औंधे पड़े रहे कभी करवट लिये हुए
दिल ढूँढता है फिर वही फ़ुरसत के रात दिन…

या गरमियों की रात जो पुरवाईयाँ चलें – (२)
ठंडी सफ़ेद चादरों पे जागें देर तक
तारों को देखते रहें छत पर पड़े हुए
दिल ढूँढता है फिर वही फ़ुरसत के रात दिन…

बर्फ़ीली सर्दियों में किसी भी पहाड़ पर – (२)
वादी में गूँजती हुई खामोशियाँ सुनें
आँखों में भीगे भीगे से लम्हे लिये हुए
दिल ढूँढता है फिर वही फ़ुरसत के रात दिन…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #41.

Please await Beautiful Duet #42- Phool ahista phenko.

RRR Songs (Songs of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness)

I started this new series on 17 Jan 21 on my Facebook Group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne. My efforts failed to involve people in writing their own stuff about songs and music rather than copying and pasting from here and there or worse, just sharing url of songs from YouTube. Hence, I had decided to give the group a burial that it deserved rather than making it like thousands of groups on Facebook about songs with nothing unique about them at all.

Hence this series shifted to my page Lyrical.

I hope you liked RRR Song #20: Toote huye khwabon ne. Here is the next song:

Song #21
Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein

RRR Songs (Songs of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness)
Song #21
Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein (Sad version)

Already 21st RRR Song

It is like a gun salute being the 21st. However, rarely Sunbyanyname thinks of the sad part of life and hence it is as if a funereal gun salute. Sadnesses, in life, transform themselves into happinesses. However, until they do, excellent lyrics are born.

Majrooh Sultanpuri

For quite some time he was the only Lyricist winner of Dadasaheb Phalke Award and see how much he deserved it.

He made this song in two versions. One was the happy version sung by Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle for Bharat Bhushan and Mala Sinha respectively. The sad version was sung by Rafi for Bharat Bhushan on the same stage as the happy one. Have a look at the poignant lyrics:

दिल की तमन्ना थी मस्ती में मंज़िल से भी दूर निकलते
अपना भी कोई साथी होता, हम भी बहकते चलते-चलते

साथी मिला, यूँ तो मगर, रस्ते में था चाँदी का नगर -२
चाँदी की नगरी भाई उसे हम, रह गए आँखें मलते-मलते

यादों की धूल आँखों में है, दामन की हसरत हाथों में है -२
ख्वाबों के वीराने में तन्हा, थक गया राही चलते-चलते

The middle stanza is missing and it is missing in all sites that I have seen (because they just copy-paste from one another). I have reconstructed this stanza by listening to the song:

उसने यह दिल ठुकरा दिया, शीशा ही था वो मय तो ना था – 2
सिक्कों की झनकार में खो गए, गीत वफा के ढलते ढलते

Composition – N Dutta

N Dutta composed it as a waltzing number; the happy duet version and then made Rafi’s solo into a slower waltz. Rafi has kept his voice subdued as if impressing on the regret and rpentance. It has been superbly done.

Gyarah Hazaar Ladakiyan

Yes, that was the name of this 1962 movie directed by KA Abbas and starring Bharat Bhushan as the lawyer Puran who defends Mala Sinha as Asha, facing a murder trial. Why was this name given to the movie? I have no idea. However, as Bharat Bhushan lip-syncs this beautiful RRR song and Mala Sinha in the hall looks uncomfortable, you will see the hall is full of girls only.

My Own Poetry

CHALO INTEZAAR KARTE HAIN

तू भी देखना एक ऐसा भी दिन आएगा,
आंसुओं से मेरे तेरा दिल पिघल जाएगा
मेरी ना श से तुझे कोई शिक्वा ना होगा
तेरे दिन तो क्या जहान संवर जाएगा

प्यार और इश्क़ मुझे करना ही ना था
घुट घुट रोज़ मुझे मरना ही ना था
अब सोचता हूँ क्यों चला गया वहां
तेरी राहों से मुझे गुज़रना ही ना था

सोचा था ज़िन्दगी का हमसफ़र मिला है
मेरी तनहा रातों का सहर मिला है
हम जिसे पीते रहे दवा जान के, ऐ दिल,
अब पता चला के ज़हर मिला है

खैर ग़म- ऐ-इश्क़ की कोई तो होगी मंज़िल
यह बेवफा निकली, यह हर वक़्त रही संगदिल
यह ज़िन्दगी तो रो रोके गुज़ार दी हमने
आने वाली ज़िन्दगी शायद ना हो मुश्किल

चलो इंतजार करते है! चलो इंतज़ार करते हैं!
ठोकर खा चुके हैं फिर भी प्यार करते हैं
तेरे वादे पे तो तमाम उम्र गुज़र गयी लेकिन
हम अब मौत की वफ़ा का ऐतबार करते हैं|

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein…

I hope you liked Song #21 in this series.

Please await Song #22: Phir thes lagi dil 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 #39 – Duniya mein agar aaye hain in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #40.

Song #39
Zindagi kuchh to bata

Happy Birthday Salman Khan 27 Dec

After having done his first lead role in 1988 Sooraj Barjatya movie Maine Pyar Kiya, there was no looking back for Salman Khan; one of the three Khans who was always in demand and who made more money than the other two.

His structured and strong body (reportedly he is so fond of his body that he loses his shirt very quickly in any role like the song O O jaane jaana, Dhoonde tujhe deewana (a favourite of mine)) is matched with the softness of his looks; a super combination.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

I like to see his movies on the day of his release and so on 17 Jul 2015 you could have seen me in I-Max watching this movie. The movie was his own production together with Kabir Khan and Rockline Venkatesh. He had Kabir Khan direct the film. It had a story which too was written by Kabir Khan.

The movie stars Harshaali Malhotra as Shahida ‘Munni’ Rauf Ali Khan, a mute Pakistani girl who gets lost in India (separated from her family visiting India from Pakistan) only to bump into Pawan (Salman Khan; a devotee of Hanuman), who makes it his mission to take her back home in Pakistan. Whilst there, they run into a kind hearted Pakistani reporter Chand Nawab played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

The Song

I immediately took to this song when I saw the movie. Neelesh Mishra’s lyrics (I have already given you his Jaadu hai nasha hai earlier once) were composed by Pritam and sung by Jubin Nautyal, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pritam himself and Rekha Bhardwaj. More than anything, I love the lyrics:

इक दिन मोहब्बत ओढ़ कर
इक दिन गली के मोड़ पर
तेरी हथेली पर लिखूं
मेरा नाम, तेरे नाम पर
फिर तु तक़ल्लुफ़ छोड़ कर
फिर तु झुका कर के नज़र
रखना मेरे काँधे पे सर
ज़िन्दगी
कुछ तो बता ज़िन्दगी
अपना पता ज़िन्दगी

तारों भरी इक रात में, तेरे ख़त पढ़ेंगे साथ में
कोरा जो पन्ना रह गया, एक कांपते से हाथ में
थोड़ी शिक़ायत करना तू, थोड़ी शिक़ायत मैं करूँ
नाराज़ बस ना होना तू ज़िन्दगी
कुछ तो बता ज़िन्दगी
अपना पता ज़िन्दगी…

(तू है तो मैं हूँ, तू है तो मैं हूँ
तू है तो फ़लक, तू है तो ज़मीं)

कोई रस्ता, कोई डगर
कोई निशाँ तो दे मुझे
कुछ तो बता ज़िन्दगी
ज़िन्दगी

My Own Poetry

ZINDAGI KYA KYA SIKHATI HAI?

क्या अजब हकीकत है यह दोस्तो:
खुशी बढ़ती है बांटने से,
दर्द बांटने से घटता है,
गमगीन हों तो वक़्त बोझ है,
मुस्कराते बस यूं ही कटता है।
लेने से दौलत नहीं बढ़ती,
देने से हम होते हैं अमीर,
वो क्या गरीब जो किसी का ग़म खरीदे,
वो क्या अमीर जो बेच डाले ज़मीर?
क्या फायदा उस सच का,
जो किसी की ले ले जान,
क्यूं नफ़रत करें उस झूठ की,
जो आदमी को बना दे इंसान?
बहुत बोझ मिलते हैं उठाने को,
उठता नहीं बोझ गुनाहों का।
लोगों से तो नज़रें बचा लोगे,
क्या करिए अपनी अंदरूनी निगाहों का?
जो दूसरों के चुराएं ख्यालात,
वो तो बहुत मकबूल हैं,
वो बेचारे अकेले फिरते हैं
जिनकी अपनी तखील और असूल हैं।
सुनने देखने पे भी दोस्तो,
न करना कभी उसका यकीन,
जो मीठी मीठी बातें करे,
पर हो सांप ए आस्तीन।

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Zindagi kuchh to bata….

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #40 in the series.

Please await Song #41 –  Zindagi kaisi hai paheli haay.

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 #40 in the series. I hope you liked Song #39 – Raaton ko chori chori bole mera kangana.

Song #40
Ek woh bhi diwali thi
Theme-word: Samajho na ise raat yeh hai gham ka savera

Nazrana – 1961 Movie

It was a CV Sridhar movie (in direction and story). It starred Raj Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala, Usha Kiran and Gemini Ganesan (who has to be there in movies directed by Sridhar).

Songs and dialogues were penned by Rajinder Krishan and the songs were composed by Ravi. Diwali was quite important in the movie, Beside this song, there was another song on Diwali: Mele hain chiragon ki diwali sung by Lata Mangeshkar. There was a beautiful duet in the movie sung by Mukesh and Lata: Bikhra ke zulfen chaman mein na aana, And then there was a superb Mohammad Rafi number: Baazi kisi ne pyar ki.

How Did This Song Come About?

Raj Kapoor (Raj) was in love with Vyjayanthimala (Vasanti). However, her sister Usha Kiran (Geeta) too falls in love with him and Vyjayanthimala sacrifices her love for her sister’s sake. Later, after Vyjayanthimala engineers it, Raj Kapor marries Usha Kiran and they have a child. When Vyjayanthimala visits them, it doesn’t take Usha Kiran much to find out her husband and her sister were former lovers. She dies of guilt in breaking up their love. And now Raj Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala are back together and a Nazrana from her sister: her son.

The Lyrics

एक वो भी दीवाली थी
एक ये भी दीवाली है
उजड़ा हुआ गुलशन है
रोता हुआ मालि है
एक वो भी दीवाली थी
एक ये भी दीवाली है
उजड़ा हुआ गुलशन है
रोता हुआ मालि है

बाहर तो उजाला है
मगर दिल में अँधेरा
समझो न इसे रात
ये है ग़म का सवेरा
बाहर तो उजाला है
मगर दिल में अँधेरा
समझो न इसे रात
ये है ग़म का सवेरा
क्या दीप जलाएं हम
तक़दीर ही काली है
उजड़ा हुआ गुलशन
है रोता हुआ मालि है

ऐसे न कभी डीप
किसी दिल का बुझा हो
मैं तो वो मुसाफ़िर हूँ
जो रास्ते में लूट हो
ऐसे न कभी डीप
किसी दिल का बुझा हो
मैं तो वो मुसाफ़िर हूँ
जो रास्ते में लूट हो
ऐ मौत तू ही आ जा
दिल तेरा सवाली है
उजड़ा हुआ गुलशन
है रोता हुआ मालि है

एक वो भी दीवाली थी
एक ये भी दीवाली है
उजड़ा हुआ गुलशन है
रोता हुआ मालि है
एक वो भी दीवाली थी
एक ये भी दीवाली है
उजड़ा हुआ गुलशन है
रोता हुआ मालि है.

My Own Poem

Here is another contrast between two Diwalis:

HAPPY DIWALI

She, a girl of five,
In tattered clothes,
And shattered hopes,
Tugged at her mother’s torn sari nervously.
Diwali; it was their big day..
For begging along the Marine Drive.
Rich people who came here
To burst crackers, huge bombs and rockets
That burst and filled the sky
With myriad colours
Were always in good mood
To let the beggars have
A miniscule part of the money
That went up in flames and sounds.
Each bomb, rocket, cracker, flower-pot
Cost several times Montek’s Thirty Two Rupees,
That separated them from becoming rich.

Seventy three rupees and fifty paise
They had already collected
And three empty whisky bottles
And two un-burst bombs
And two empty boxes of sweets
Empty for the rich but..
With remnants of sweets still sticking on edges
Enough for the girl and mother
To have a Happy Diwali feast.
Tonight was the night when
They could collect enough
For the next few days
Even after paying half to the beat-cop on duty.

In the din of crackers
And daze of sparklers
The little child and mother
Couldn’t help thanking
Lord Ram for having returned to Ayodhaya
Several centuries ago
And given them reason
To rejoice;
And sleep, after days
With stomachs nearly full
“Shubh Deepawali, maa” the child whispered.
“Shubh Deepawali, Lakshmi”, the mother responded,
“Let’s await Christmas, to have more….fun ”.

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Ek woh bhi diwali thi…

I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #40.

Please await Raat or Din Song #41- O sajana barkha bahar aayi.

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 #38 – O shama mujhe phoonk de. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #40
Aaja re ab mera dil pukara

Remembering Jaikishan on His Birth Anniversary 04 Nov

My dad loved parties; both attending and organising. I recall sing-song sessions were always essential parts of those parties. My dad’s younger brother is the only surviving sibling of my dad. When dad organised a party to receive him and his American wife Connie, she sang Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan!

However, in all local parties, the songs that I heard most were Shankar Jaikishan songs. Sad songs were more welcome during those days than happy ones and this song made a sort of Jubilee!

I didn’t know Hasrat Jaipuri at that time; Kishwar Jaipuri behna, do forgive me since I was only a boy of about seven to eight years old. However, we were still aware of Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar and Shankar Jaikishan, the guys who gave us the most popular and memorable songs in Hindi movies.
Of course, I was unaware of Prithvi Theatre. However, in my later life, Prithvi Theatre became an essential part of my off working hours in the Navy. Other than seeing excellent plays there, we used to look forward to Irish Coffee during the Interval with adequate lacing with Whiskey.
We should be grateful to Prithvi Theatre and the doyen of Kapoor family: Prithviraj Kapoor (whose birth anniversary was yesterday) and his son Raj Kapoor for having brought together Shankar Jaikshan for us.

Aah – 1953 Movie

Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat, a 1949 movie, was the first movie of Shankar Jaikishan and the first movie in which Lata Mangeshkar was credited on screen as playback singer (for both Nargis and Nimmi).

What a team leader Raj Kapoor was. Raja Nawathe had worked as an assistant director to Raj Kapoor in Aag (1948), Barsaat (1949) and Awaara (1951). In this movie, Raj Kapoor as the producer, took Raja Nawathe as full fledged director!

Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra divided the nine songs of the movie between themselves and these were composed by Shankar Jaikishan. And what beautiful and unforgettable songs these were:

1. Sunate the naam jinaka bahaar se.
2. Raja ki aayegi baraat.
3. Jaane na nazar.
4. Ye shaam ki tanhayiyan.
5. Jo main janati unke liye.
6. Aaja re ab mera dil puakara.
7. Chhoti si ye zindagani.
8. Raat andheri door savera.
9. Jhanan jhanan jhanan.

This film was a flop because initially the movie was to have a tragic ending (inspired by Devdas) but Raj Kapoor insisted on a happy ending, which killed the movie.

The Song

Fortunately, the sad and melancholic songs didn’t get killed and are therefore among the best remembered songs of Shankar Jaikishan.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy Lata Mangeshkar and Manoj Kumar singing for Nargis and Raj Kapoor: Aaja re ab mera dil pukara..

आ जा रे
आ जा रे, अब मेरा दिल पुकारा
रो रो के ग़म भी हारा
बदनाम ना हो प्यार मेरा
आ जा रे

हो ओ ओ घबराये हाय ये दिल – २
सपनों में आके कभी मिल – २
मौत मेरी तरफ़ आने लगी
जान तेरी तरफ़ जाने लगी
बोल शाम-ए-जुदाई क्या करे – २
आस मिलने की तड़पाने लगी
आ जा रे …

आपने बीमार-ए-ग़म को देख ले
हो सके तो तू हमको देख ले
तूने देखा ना होगा ये समा – २
कैसे जाता है दम को देख ले
आ जा रे …

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #40.

Please await Beautiful Duet #41- Dil dhoondta hai phir wohi.

RRR Songs (Songs of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness)

I started this new series on 17 Jan 21 on my Facebook Group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne. My efforts failed to involve people in writing their own stuff about songs and music rather than copying and pasting from here and there or worse, just sharing url of songs from YouTube. Hence, I had decided to give the group a burial that it deserved rather than making it like thousands of groups on Facebook about songs with nothing unique about them at all.

Hence this series shifted to my page Lyrical.

I hope you liked RRR Song #19: Tumhen zindagi ke ujaale mubarak. Here is the next song:

Song #20
Toote huye khwabon ne

Bimal Roy’s Madhumati

Many of Bimal Roy’s films had the female as the main protagonist and so was the 1958 film Madhumati that was produced and directed by him.
Bimal Roy received his Filmfare Award Nos. 5 and 6 (out of 11) for this movie: Best movie and Best Direction. He also got the President’s Silver Medal for the Best Feauture Film for it, at the National level.
Sujata, Bandini and Parineeta, also films with female protagonists won similar awards.

Madhumati had story and screenplay written by Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi. It won seven more Filmfare awards: Best Music Director (Salil Chowdhury), Best Female Singer (Lata Mangeshkar with her best song Aja re pardesi), Best Dialogue (Rajinder Singh Bedi), Best Art Direction (Sudhendu Roy), Best Cinematography ( Dilip Gupta), Best Editing (Hrishikesh Mukherjee), , Best Supporting Actor (Johnny Walker).
Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress, Dilip Kumar lost to Dev Anand in Kala Pani and Vyjayanthimal lost to her own role in Sadhna.

All in all, it would be right to say that Madhumati is among the most iconic movies of Hindi cinema. It was also the first Indian film to be released abroad after its release in the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in Czechoslovakia.

The story dealt with reincarnation and it was one of the earliest films in India to deal with this subject (the story however didn’t figure in the awards). Another omission from the awards was the lyricist Shailendra for some of the most beautiful lyrics including Ajha re pardesi (viz, Main nadiya phir bhi main pyaaasi). Once again, like Vyjayanthimala, Shailendra lost to himself only with the Yahudi song: Ye mera deewanapan hai, making him the first recipient of Filmfare Award for a Lyricist.

Lyrics

This song is lip-synced by Dilip Kumar after the love of his life Vyjayanthimala, a tribe-woman in the neighbouring area of Shyamnagar Timber Estate, where Pran was the Raja Ugra Narain (and Dilip Kumar as his estate manager) was killed whilst being raped by the Raja.

Have a look at the lyrics:

टूटे हुए ख़्वाबों ने, हमको ये सिखाया है
दिल ने, दिल ने जिसे पाया था, आँखों ने गंवाया है
टूटे हुए ख़्वाबों ने

हम ढूँढते हैं उनको, जो मिलके नहीं मिलते
रुठे हैं न जाने क्यूँ, (मेहमान मेरे दिल के – २)
क्या अपनी तमन्ना थी, क्या सामने आया है
दिल ने, दिल ने …
टूटे हुए …

लौट आई सदा मेरी, टकरा के सितारों से
उजड़ी हुई दुनिया के, (सुनसान किनारों से – २)
पर अब ये तड़पना भी, कुछ काम न आया है
दिल ने, दिल ने …
टूटे हुए …

Salil Chowdhury composed the song in Raag Darabari Kanada and it was sung by Mohammad Rafi.

My Own Poetry

KHWABON KA KYA BHAROSA?

उनको हाल-ए-दिल क्या सुना बैठे,
लगता है खुद को खुद से गंवा बैठे।

तब तक ज़िन्दगी में सब कुछ था मुझे याद,
अब तो ज़िन्दगी का सब कुछ भुला बैठे।

जान का सौदा किया था उनको पाने के लिए,
होश आया तो अपनी हस्ती मिटा बैठे।

कहा था सबने नज़रें बचा के रखना,
नज़रें मिलते ही क्या क्या लुटा बैठे।

मेरा दिल मुझसे ही दगा कर बैठा,
नाज़ुक लबों से जब वह मुस्करा बैठे।

थम गया समां बंद हो गयी दिल की धड़कन,
तसव्वुर में जब वह पास आ बैठे।

दिल्लगी उन्होंने की, हमें लगा सच ही होगा,
जागते सोते हज़ारों ख्वाब सजा बैठे।

उनके जाने का ग़म न होता मुझे, रवि,
ग़म तो यह है हम दिल पे लगा बैठे।

This Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Toote huye khwabon ne…

I hope you liked Song #20 in this series.

Please await Song #21: Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein.