Category: Poems and Lyrics

All compositions of songs follow some arrangements of notes or swar to represent the bhaav or the mood of the song. The rhythm is provided by the beat or the taal.

Songs, whose compositions align themselves closely with known raagas (known arrangements of notes or swar) are known by those raagas. For example, Jaikishan (of Shankar Jaikishan music duo) was very fond of Raag Bhairavi. He composed many songs in Bhairavi; sometimes, as many as three to four songs in a movie.

Naushad was reputed to have ushered in raaga based songs in Hindi movies. In the 1952 Vijay Bhatt movie Baiju Bawra, Naushad had all 13 soundtracks based on some raaga or the other.

Gradually, most music directors became fond of raaga based songs in Hindi  movies. In varying degrees of alignment (from loose to pure) they tried to base their songs on raagas. Some raagas, for them, became their favourites. For example, OP Nayyar had Raag Pilu or Peelu as his favourite, Shankar had Shivaranjani, Khaiyyam had Pahadi, and so on.

Raaga based Hindi movies songs have always fascinated me. This blog has hundreds of posts on raaga based songs.

I started learning singing only about two years ago. The purpose was to sing to my wife Lyn (short for Marilyn) suffering from Alzheimer’s. Since raaga based songs fascinated me, I tried to learn these too.

Here, I give you some of these that I have sung.

Song#1
Zara sun haseena e nazneen
Raag Pahadi, Tal Rupaktal

Raag Pahadi refers to songs named after only one Pahad: the Himalayas. Therefore, This raag is the raag of my place in the hills: Whispering Winds, Kandaghat. It is, therefore, no surprise that it hapens to be my favourite raag.

There is no doubt in my mind that the best of any genre’ of music has been sung by the god of songs: Mohammad Rafi.

The best in Raag Pahadi is also by him: Chaudhvin ka Chand, in Taal Kaherava.

By the way, my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni received his first Filmfare Award in 1961 for this song. Shakeel’s association with Ravi resulted in some remarkably beautiful songs sung by Mohammad Rafi. The theme of describing husn (beauty) of the woman was prominent in these songs. Indeed the second song for which Shakeel received his Filmfare Award in 1962 was also a husn song: Husn wale tera jawab nahin for the movie Gharana.

In 1963 movie Kaun Apna Kaun Praya, Shakeel, Ravi and Rafi made yet another enchanting husn song that Vijay Kumar lip-synced to Waheeda Rehman.

You can feel the Pahadi dhun with Rupaktal. Pahadi is a raag as well as dhun. Let me give you a few songs in Rupaktal though not in Pahadi. Before that: Rupak is unique among the taals in that the first beat (ie, the sam) is khali (ie., represented by a wave of the hand).

wave, 2, 3, clap, 2, clap, 2

Some songs in Rupaktal: Aap ki nazaron ne samajha, Ghar aaja ghir aaye badra sanwariya, Haay re vo din kyun na aaye, Kisi raah pe kisi mod par, Piya tose naina laagi re, Tum gagan ke chandrama and Megha chhaye aadhi raat.

It is, indeed, appropriate that the very first raaga based song recorded in my own singing on YouTube happens to be in Raag Pahadi.

Please enjoy: Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen….

ज़रा सुन हसीना ऐ नाज़नीं
मेरा दिल तुझ ही पे निसार है
तेरे दम से ही मेरे दिलरुबा
मेरी ज़िंदगी में बहार है

हुई जब से मुझ पे तेरी नज़र
मैं हूँ अपने आप से बेख़बर
हुआ जब से दिल में तेरा गुज़र
मुझे चैन है न क़रार है

तेरे हुस्न से जो सँवर गई
वो फ़िज़ाएं मुझको अज़ीज़ हैं
तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ से जो लिपट गईं
मुझे उन हवाओं से प्यार है

ये हसीन फूलों की डालियाँ
तुझे दे रही है सलामियाँ
मुझे क्यों न रश्क़ हो ऐ सनम
तेरे साथ फ़स्ल-ए-बहार है

Song #2
Aye dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal
Raag Adana, Tal Kaherava

As I mentioned, this song is composed in Raag Adana, Tal Kaherava.

Raag Adana belongs to Asavari Thaat. Raag Adana resembles Raag Darbari Kanada, with the difference that Gandhar is forbidden in Aaroh in Adana. This Raag is rendered mostly in Madhya and Tar Saptaks unlike Raag Darbari Kanada, which is more deep and hence is rendered in Madhya and Mandra Saptaks (Octaves). In this Raag, Komal Gandhar and Komal Dhaivat should not be repeated (oscillated) otherwise Raag Darbari Kanada makes its appearance. Like Darbari Kanada, this Raag does not employ Meend and Gamak, as this is a flittering dynamic type melodic form. Its Jati is Shadhav-Smapurna Vakra. It is normally to be sung during the second prahar of the night, that is, between 9 PM and midnight. Adana was a major raga in the 17th century and a combination of the then current ragas Malhar and Kanada. In a ragamala painting from Mewar it is depicted as an ascetic man sitting on a tiger skin, however, Somanatha describes him as Kama the god of love. His Adana was quite different from the raga as it is performed today.

The song Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal jahan koi na ho is from the 1950 Shaheed Lateef movie called Arzoo starring Dilip Kumar, Kamini Kaushal and Shashikala. The movie’s story was penned by Ismat Chugtai who later wrote MS Sathyu’s Garam Hawa.

The song was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Anil Biswas. It was sung by Talat Mehmood.

Please enjoy in Raag Adana, Tal Kaherava: Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal jahan koi na ho….

Song #3
Humse aaya na gaya
Raag Bageshri, Tal Dadra

Raag Bageshri is a Raag of the Kafi Thaat and by now all of us know that Raagas of Kafi Thaat are night raagas. The samay for this raaga is madhyaratri (midnight). Bageshri is a raaga that tells the emotions of a woman waiting for her lover. It is reputed that Mian Tansen first sang it in the court of Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

Tal Dadra derives its name from Dadra style of singing prevalent in Dadra. It is a six or three beat Tal:
Clap, 2, 3, Wave, 2, 3; that is two vibhags of three matras each. The theka is:
Dhaa Dhin Naa Dhaa Tin Naa

This is from a farcical comedy: Dekh Kabira Roya, a 1957 Amiya Chakravarty movie.

Just like the Jahan Ara songs, this too was sung by Talat Mahmood.

It was penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed by Madan Mohan.

The song is picturised on the middle brother of the trio: Anoop Kumar; the elder being Ashok Kumar and younger being Kishore Kumar (they were together in another comedy: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi). He is singing it to Shobha Khote. He was Mohan in the movie and she was Kalpana.

Please enjoy: Humse aaya na gaya….

हम से आया न गया तुम से बुलाया ना गया
फ़ासला प्यार में दोनों से मिटाया ना गया

वो घड़ी याद है जब तुम से मुलाक़ात हुई
एक इशारा हुआ दो हाथ बढ़े बात हुई
देखते देखते दिन ढल गया और रात हुई
वो समां आज तलक दिल से भुलाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया

क्या ख़बर थी के मिले हैं तो बिछड़ने के लिये
क़िस्मतें अपनी बनाईं हैं बिगड़ने के लिये
प्यार का बाग बसाया था उजड़ने के लिये
इस तरह उजड़ा के फिर हम से बसाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया

याद रग जाती है और वक़्त गुज़र जाता है
फूल खिलता है मगर खिल के बिखर जाता है
सब चले जाते हैं फिर दर्दे जिगर जाता है
दाग़ जो तूने दिया दिल ने मिटाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया …

Song #4
Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj
Raag Malkauns, Tintal

Today’s song is in Raag Malkauns or Malkaush and Tal Tintal. Malkaush is another raag dedicated to Lord Shiva like Bhairav. Indeed, it belongs to Bhairavi Thaat. The name Malkaush is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears a garland of snakes; ie, Shiva. It is believed that the raaga was composed by Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati to calm him down. As a matter of interest all pentatonic raagas belong to Shaivait musical school and so does Malkaush.

Now that we know a little more about the Jati of a raaga, it is of pentatonic scale both in ascending and descending scales; that is Audhav-Audhav. The five notes used are: Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. The two notes that are totally omitted are: Re (Rishab) and Pa (Pancham).

Malkaush is a late night raaga and is calming, soothing and even intoxicating. One would use such a raaga in deep and serious meditation. One of the finest examples of Malkauns in Hindi songs is from the 1952 Vijay Bhatt movie Baiju Bawra that starred Meena Kumari as Gauri and Bharat Bhushan in the title role. The movie got Meena Kumari a Filmfare Award for Best Actress and Naushad Ali his only Filmfare Award for composing the song Tu Ganga ki mauj.

Naushad Ali was one of the greatest music directors in Hindi films. He is one of the three music directors (the other two being Pankaj Mullick and RC Boral) who have been given the highest award in cinema: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He has been credited with having introduced Raaga based songs in Hindi movies. Indeed, in the movie Baiju Bawra, each of the 13 songs have been based on some raaga or the other.

As was often the case, the greatest songs of Naushad were penned by my favourite lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni. Also, as was often the case, their songs were sung by the best singer that we ever had: Mohammad Rafi (Please also read: ‘The Best Of Old Hindi Songs – Rafi, Shakeel, Naushad And Dilip Kumar Together’).

This is also one of the best bhajans in Hindi movies ever made and fits well with the description of Raag Malkaush that I have given: serious, meditative, soothing and calming.

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 #5
Bhooli hui yaadon
Raag Kalyan, Tal Dadra

Lets now make up for not having given you a song in Raag Kalyan, the basic raag of Kalyan Thaat. It is in Tal Dadra.

Despite the fact that Madan Mohan‘s first recorded song, in the 1950 movie Aankhen, was sung by Mukesh: Preet lagake maine, Madan Mohan and Mukesh, in 25 years, recorded only nine songs together and were together in just five movies: Aankhen (1950), Samundar (1957), Duniya Na Mane (1959), Sanjog (1961), and Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963). In Sanjog, Madan Mohan gave Mukesh one of the finest song that the latter is remembered by and I am giving you that today.

Raag Kalyan is the basic raaga of Kalyan Thaat. Its Jati is Sampurna-Sampurna, that is, all seven notes in Aaroha and all seven notes in Avaroha.  All the scale notes (called swaras) in the raga are Shuddha, the exception being Teevra Madhyam or prati madhyamam. It is sung during the first prahar of the night, that is, between  6 to 9 PM. Raag Kalyan of Hindustani Music is also known as Raag Yaman in Carnatic Music; however, Raag Yaman Kalyan is a totally different raag. Considered to be one of the most fundamental ragas in the Hindustani Classical tradition, it is thus often one of the first ragas taught to students.

Some of the Hindi films songs composed in raag Shyam Kalyan are:

The song Bhooli hui yaadon mujhe itna na sataao is from the 1961 Pramod Chakravorty movie Sanjog that starred Pradeep Kumar and Anita Guha.

The song was penned by Rajendra Krishan and composed by Madan Mohan (Kohli). It was sung by Mukesh, one of the nine of Madan Mohan songs that he sang in 25 years.

Please enjoy in Raag Kalyan, Tal Dadra: Bhooli hui yaadon mujhe itna na sataao….

Song #6
Phir kahin koi phool khila
Raag Desh, Tal Kaherava

Desh, as the name suggests, is a Raaga that is often used for the patriotic fervour such as Vande Mataram. Many of Rabindra Nath Tagore songs (Rabindrasangeet) have been composed in Desh. It is a Raaga that should normally be played during the first quarter of the night.

Phool or flower is often compared to blossoming of Love. The last thing that the lovers want is that it should be called infatuation. This is exactly the theme of this Manna De song.  This ranks amongst his best. The song is from the 1971 movie Anubhav directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja. Lyrics are by Kapil Kumar and music by Kanu Roy. The latter composed it in Raag Desh. You may recall OP Nayyar’s Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye in the same raag.

Please enjoy: Phir kahin koi phool khila, chahat naa kaho isako…

फिर कहीं कोई फूल खिला, चाहत ना कहो उसको – २
फिर कहीं कोई दीप जला, मंज़िल ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …

मन का समुंदर प्यासा हुआ, क्यूँ किसी से माँगे दुआ – २
लहरों का लगा जो मेला, तूफ़ां ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …

देखें सब वो सपने, खुद ही सजाए जो हमने – २
दिल उनसे बहल जाए तो, राहत ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …

I have found that the readers are not able to take in more than six songs at a time in one post. Hence, with this song, I complete the songs of Part I. I hope that you liked my choices and my singing.

Please await songs of Part II.

Today, 31 Dec 23, is the Death Anniversary of the greatest singer on earth: Mohammad Rafi. We lost him on this day in the year 1980. Forty-three years later, the popularity of his songs and respect and devotion for him among millions of his fans around the world have not abated.

I am putting up Part IV of a post that I published Part III of on 28 Feb 23.

I have always maintained that 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. The songs of Part I have been:

1. Aaj purani raahon se koi mujhe awaaz na de.
2. Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj.
3. Chhalke teri aankhon se.
4. Hai duniya usi ki zamana usi ka.
5. Paas baitho tabiyat behal jayegi.
6. Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba.

The songs of Part II have been:

1. Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen.
2. Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya.
3. Ajahun na aaye balma sawan beeta jaaye.
4. Jo guzar rahi hai mujhpe use kaise main batayun.
5. Jaan-e-bahar husn tera bemisaal hai.
6. Tum ek baar mohabbat ka imtihaan to lo.

The songs of Part III have been:

1. Aane se uske aaye bahar.
2. Govinda aala re aala.
3. Mittar pyare nu.
4. Nigaahen na phero chale jayenge hum.
5. Aise to na dekho.
6. Mujhe le chalo aaj phir us gali mein.

Lets start with Part IV songs.

Song #19 – Husn waale tera jawab nahin

This song is dear to me. It fetched Shakeel Badayuni, my favourite lyricist, his second out of a hat-trick of Filmfare awards. The first one was also with Music Director Ravi: Chaudvinh ka chand ho.

I sang this to Lyn on our 41st wedding anniversary on 24 Mar 22.

It is from the 1961 SS Vasan movie Gharana starring Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Asha Parekh.

Have a look at the extraordinarily beautiful lyrics:

हुस्न वाले तेरा जवाब नहीं
कोई तुझ-सा नहीं हज़ारों में

तू है ऐसी कली जो गुलशन में
साथ अपने बहार लायी हो
तू है ऐसी किरण जो रात ढले
चाँदनी में नहा के आयी हो
ये तेरा नूर ये तेरे जलवे
जिस तरह चाँद हो सितारों में
हुस्न वाले …

तेरी आँखों में ऐसी मस्ती है
जैसे छलके हुए हों पैमाने
तेरे होंठों पे वो खामोशी है
जैसे बिखरे हुए हों अफ़साने
तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ों की ऐसी रंगत है
जैसे काली घटा बहारों में
हुस्न वाले …

तेरी सूरत जो देख ले शायर
अपने शेरों में ताज़गी भर ले
एक मुसव्विर जो तुझ को पा जाए
अपने ख़्वाबों में ज़िंदगी भर ले
नग़मागर ढूँढ ले अगर तुझ को
दर्द भर ले वो दिल के तारों में
हुस्न वाले तेरा जवाब नहीं …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Husn waale tera jawab nahin….

Song #20 – Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe

This too I sang to Lyn on our wedding anniversary, 24 Mar 22.

This song is rated as one of the most popular duets in Hindi movies. It was sung by Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

It is from the 1966 T Prakash Rao movie Suraj starring the Jubilee hero Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

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

Here are the lyrics:

र: इतना है तुमसे प्यार मुझे मेरे राज़दार
जितने के आस्मान पर तारे हैं बेशुमार

सु: इत्नना है तुमसे प्यार मुझे मेरे राज़दार
जितने के इस ज़मीन पर ज़र्रे हैं बेशुमार

तेरे सिवा किसी को न लाया निगाह में
लाखों हसीन आये जवानी कि राह में
सदियों से कर रहा था तुम्हारा हि इंतज़ार
इतना है तुमसे …

मैं ने भी तेरे वास्ते कितने जनम लिये
तब दिल के रास्तों पे जले प्यार के दिये
एक दिन ज़रूर पाउंगी इतना था ऐतबार
इतना है तुमसे …

बेख़ुद बना दिया मुझे तेरे सलाम ने
जन्नत अगर मिले तो न लूं तेरे सामने
ये प्यार वो नशा है के जिसका नहीं उतार
इतना है तुमसे …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe…

Song #21 – Dil ka bhanwar kare pukaar

Talking about Hasrat Jaipuri; he was voted as Shahenshah e rumaniyat (Emperor of Romance). Here in this heart-warming song, his lyrics were composed by SD Burman.

The entire song has been picturised within the Qutab Minar in Delhi. Dev Anand is seen wooing Nutan by this song from one of their four movies together: Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, a Shimla based movie.

Rafi sahib has sung it with the kind of effervescence that Dev Anand brought to his acting and songs.

Here are the lyrics:

दिल का भंवर करे पुकार
प्यार का राग सुनो, प्यार का राग सुनो रे

फूल तुम गुलाब का
क्या जवाब आपका
जो अदा वो बहार है
आज दिल की बेकली, आ गई ज़बान पर
बात ये है तुमसे प्यार है
दिल तुम्हीं को दिया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो रे …
दिल का भंवर …

चाहे तुम मिटाना, पर न तुम गिराना
आँसू की तरह निगाह से
प्यार कि उँचाई
इश्क़ कि गहराई
पूछ लो हमारी आह से
आसमाँ छू लिया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो रे
दिल का भंवर …

इस हसीन उतार पे हम न बैठे हार के
साया बन के साथ हम चले
आज मेरे संग तू गूँजे दिल की आरज़ू
तुझसे मेरी आँख जब मिले
जाने क्या कर दिया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो …

आप का ये आँचल, प्यार का ये बादल
फिर हमें ज़मीं पे ले चला
अब तो हाथ थाम लो, इक नज़र का जाम दो
इस नये सफ़र का वस्ता
तुम मेरे साक़िया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो रे, ऊ ऊ ऊ …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar…

Song #22 – Baharon phool barsao

This is the second song from the 1966 T Prakash Rao movie Suraj starring Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

This was rated in a BBC radio poll in 2013 poll as the popular song in Hindi movies. It also happens to be one of the most popular songs of Rafi Sahib.

It was, indeed, a pleasure singing it:

बहारों फूल बरसाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)
हवाओं रागिनी गाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)

ओ लाली फूल की मेंहँदी लगा इन गोरे हाथों में
उतर आ ऐ घटा काजल, लगा इन प्यारी आँखों में
सितारों माँग भर जाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)

नज़ारों हर तरफ़ अब तान दो इक नूर की चादर
बडा शर्मीला दिलबर है, चला जाये न शरमा कर
ज़रा तुम दिल को बहलाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)

सजाई है जवाँ कलियों ने अब ये सेज उल्फ़त की
इन्हें मालूम था आएगी इक दिन ऋतु मुहब्बत की
फ़िज़ाओं रंग बिखराओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)
बहारों …

Song #23 – Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge

This song is as if penned for Mohammad Rafi’s singing in real life. “How can you, ever, forget my singing?” he seems to be asking us.

These happen to be the most powerful lyrics penned Hasrat Jaipuri. It is from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka starring Shammi Kapoor, Helen, and Asha Parekh. In a media interview Shammi Kapoor brought out that this was the most challenging role that he enacted.

For me the song is dear since the lyrics are well suited for my wife, Lyn, suffering from Alzheimer’s. Through this song I am telling her that she may forget everything but my singing to her.

Here are the extraordinary lyrics:

तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
जब कभी भी सुनोगे गीत मेरे
संग संग तुम भी गुनगुनाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हो तुम मुझे यूँ …

(वो बहारें वो चांदनी रातें
हमने की थी जो प्यार की बातें ) – २
उन नज़ारों की याद आएगी
जब खयालों में मुझको लाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हो तुम मुझे यूँ …

(मेरे हाथों में तेरा चेहरा था
जैसे कोई गुलाब होता है ) – २
और सहारा लिया था बाहों का
वो शाम किस तरह भुलाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हो तुम मुझे यूँ …

(मुझको देखे बिना क़रार ना था
एक ऐसा भी दौर गुज़रा है ) – २
झूठ मानूँ तो पूछलो दिल से
मैं कहूंगा तो रूठ जाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूं भुला ना पाओगे

जब कभी भी …

The song was composed by Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava. Raag Jhinjhoti has always been dear to me because of the best song ever penned in HIndi movies by Shakeel Badayuni: Mere mehboob tujhe meri muhabbat ki kasam.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge…

Song #24 – Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum

My primary objective of learning to sing is to be able to sing to my wife, Lyn, suffering from Alzheimer’s. The secondary objective is to be able to sing raaga based songs.

This one was penned by Kaifi Azmi and composed by Khayyam in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Dadra.

Goosebumps Song for Me

I don’t know about all of you but it is a song that always brings out goosebumpss in me. Most childhood songs that are sung or heard later in life have that effect on all of us. However, this one is special since she (Lata for Tarla Mehta) joins in after the first stanza sung by Mohammad Rafi for Dharmendra brings up memories of their childhood.

This is what Love is all about; a quiet resolve despite all the odds. I can take adequate pride in saying that Lyn and I represent that kind of Love. Take today for example; the entire day was spent in INHS Asvini, 50 Kms away, trying to find solution to her drooping neck during her Alzheimer’s Disease condition. And yet, at the end of the day, when we return, I choose to put up this song whose lyrics inspire us:

रफ़ी: जीत ही लेंगे बाज़ी हम तुम, खेल अधूरा छूटे न
प्यार का बंधन, जन्म का बंधन, जन्म का बंधन टूटे न

मिलता है जहाँ धरती से गगन, आओ वहीं हम जाएं
तू मेरे लिये, मैं तेरे लिये – २
इस दुनिया को ठुकरायें – २
दूर बसा ले दिल की जन्नत – २
जिसको ज़माना लूटे ना, प्यार का बंधन

लता: मिलने की खुशी ना मिलने का गम, खत्म ये झगड़े हो जाएं
तू तू ना रहे, मैं मैं ना रहूँ – २
इक दूजे मैं खो जाएं – २
मैं भी ना छोड़ूं पल भर दामन – २
तू भी पल भर रूठे ना, प्यार का बंधन …

All that I ever wanted was Lyn, all that she ever wanted was me and so on.

My Own Poetry

Here is my own poem representing this resolve, written four and half years ago:

Hum Ek, Hamari Ek…

हम एक, हमारी एक……….. ज़िन्दगी,
कभी एक दूजे की, कभी खुदा की बंदगी I
पैंतीस साल पहले जो मांगी थी दुआ,
उसी का तो अब तक है सिलसिला,
नज़रों का एक होना तो सुनते आये थे,
पर यहाँ तो दिल, ख्वाब, सब एक हुआ I

हम एक, हमारी एक ………….पहचान,
एक दूसरे में बस्ती है अपनी जान I
गरीब थे हम, पर बने रहे अमीर,
हम ही तो थे कल के राँझा और हीर,
दोस्तों ने जिन्हे हमें धनि बनाया,
कहा: “यही तो हैं प्यार की तस्वीर” I

हम एक, हमारी एक ……….. कोशिश,
क्या खूब बनी प्यार की बन्दिश I
ज़िन्दगी में आये कई चढ़ाव उतार,
हम एक संग पहुंचे उनके पार,
ऐसे ही बनी रहे हमारी छोटी सी ज़िन्दगी,
ऐसे ही बना रहे हमारा छोटा सा परिवार I

हम एक, हमारी एक ………. दास्तान,
तू मेरा जहान, मैं तेरा जहान I
कई बरस बाद, हम हवा में समा जाएंगे,
किसी को फिर नज़र नहीं आएंगे,
पर फिर भी देखना लोग भूलेंगे नहीं,
जब प्यार का ज़िक्र हो, हम याद आएंगे I

हम एक, हमारी एक ……… फ़रियाद,
प्यार हमारा बना रहे, मरने के भी बाद I

The Song

This is the main song of the 1961 Ramesh Sehgal movie Shola Aur Shabnam starring Dharmendra, Tarla Mehta and M Rajan as a triangle. Dharmendra and Tarla were childhood lovers. Dharmendra plays Ravi in the movie! Tarla is Sandhya (By herself, absence of Ravi or Sun). They separate.

Many years later Ravi, in his poor condition finds employment with his friend Prakash (M Rajan). Prakash is to be married to Sandhya! And that’s when Ravi comes into their lives again.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum….

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

So as not to make the post longer than 30 minutes of your listening pleasure, I give you only six songs at a time.

Please await songs of Part V.

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 #56 – Mud mud ke na dekh mud mud ke. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #57
Aankhon mein hamne aapke sapne sajaye hain

Khayyam

Mohammad Zahur Khayyam was born on 18 Feb 1927 in the village Rahon, near Nawanshahr. This is only 16 Kms away from where I was born some 17 years later. He became famous and I am writing about him.
He was the gentlest of the Music Directors we had; both in his compositions and in his nature. Raag Pahadi appears to be his favourite and there are movies like Noorie in which there are more than one song that he composed in Pahadi.

Ever wondered what he would have done to a duet? Of course, you know already since I have given you duet composed by him for the 1960 movie Shola Aur Shabnam: Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum. Its gentle notes belie the boast in the lyrics penned by Kaifi Azmi.

Well, in order to quench your curiosity, I have taken a duet from the movie Thodisi Bewafai. It must rank among the gentlest duets ever made.

Thodisi Bewafai

This 1980 movie was written and directed by Esmayeel Shroff

and starred Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles. Her brother rumoured to her that he was seen with another woman. Hence, she, Neema, left him, Arun, totally and went away with their son Abhinandan.

During their heydays, he was so enamoured with her that he dreamt about her even during work and this resulted in the diamond tiara that she wears in the duet breaking. This instantly made his father played by AK Hangal from being wealthy to impoverished.

Anyway, you know the importance of this duet in the movie.

This Duet

As if having Khayyam as the gentlest composer wasn’t enough, this song was penned by Gulzar who has made a name for himself for the sensitivity of his lyrics. The duet was sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar:

किशोर: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं – २
पलकें उठा के आप ने जादू जगाये हैं
लता: सपना भी आप ही हैं हक़ीक़त भी आप हैं – २
बस आप आप आप ही मुझमें समाये हैं
किशोर: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं

किशोर: आँखों का रंग ढूँढा हैं हीरे तलाश कर
दिल में सजायेंगे ये रंग यूँ ही उम्र भर
मुश्किल से ज़िंदगी के
मुश्किल से ज़िंदगी के, रंग हाथ आये हैं
आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं

लता: दोहराये जायेंगे ना ये लमहात अब कभी
सपनों में भी न छूटेगा ये साथ अब कभी
मिलती हैं ज़िंदगी जब आप मुस्कुराये हैं – २

लता: ये दिल कुछ ऐसे आप के सजदे में झुक गया
किशोर: नज़रे उठायी आप ने तो वक़्त रुक गया
लता: ठहरे हुए पलो में
ठहरे हुए पलो में, ज़माने बिठाये हैं
किशोर: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं
लता: आ आ बस आप आप आप ही मुझ में समाये हैं
किशोर, लता: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं

My Own Poetry

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।

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Aankhon mein hamne aapke sapne sajaye hain….

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #57.

Please await Beautiful Duet #58 – Yun hi tum mujhse baat karti ho.

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 #54 in the series. I hope you liked Song #55 – Pyar par bas to nahin hai.

Song #58
Shaam-e-gham ki kasam
Theme-word: Ab to aaja ke ab raat bhi so gayi

Happy Birthday Dilip Kumar, 11 Dec 2020

He is 98 years old today and no doubt the entire country awaits to celebrate his hundredth birthday.

There is no doubt in my mind that he ruled the acting scene of Hindi films for decades. Like Mohammad Rafi, Shakeel and Naushad, there is no one to hold a mirror to him. His acting style was imitated (for example by Amitabh Bachchan). However, Dilip Kumar was and is head and shoulder above others.

Many years ago, I have gone on record in my blog that the best songs in Hindi movies were made by the quartet of Shakeel, Naushad, Rafi and Dilip Kumar.

That doesn’t mean that the others haven’t sung songs for him any less. Take Talat Mahmood, for example. You are bound to instantly agree with me that this song ranks among the best ever.

Talat Mahmood for Dilip Kumar

This is not the only gem that Talat sang for Dilip Kumar. There are, for example, others such as:

• Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal.
• Seene mein sulagte hain armaan.
• Ye hawa ye raat ye chandni.
• Milte hi aankhen dil hua.

This Song

It is from the 1953 Zia Sarhadi movie Footpath that had Meena Kumari opposite Dilip Kumar.

As my friend Ashwani Sharma has brought out earlier, there is debate about how come the song is credited to be written by both Ali Sardar Jafri and Majrooh Sultanpuri. Here are the outstanding lyrics, the kind that leave you stunned:

शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम आज ग़मगीं हैं हम
आ भी जा आ भी जा आज मेरे सनम
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम
दिल परेशान हैं रात वीरान हैं
देख जा किस तरह आज तनहा हैं हम
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम

चैन कैसा जो पहलू में तू ही नहीं
मार डाले न दर्द-ए-जुदाई कहीं
रुत हंसीं हैं तो क्या चाँदनी है तो क्या
चाँदनी ज़ुल्म है और जुदाई सितम
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम

अब तो आजा के अब रात भी सो गई
ज़िन्दगी ग़म के सेहराव में खो गई (२)
ढूँढती हैं नज़र तू कहाँ हैं मगर
देखते देखते आया आँखों में ग़म
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम

My Own Poetry

Woh Tum Na Thi

तुम वह नहीं हो जिस से मैं प्यार करता था,
आँखों में आँखें डाल के इज़हार करता था.

मेरी जुबां – ऐ – नब्ज़ पे था तेरी वफ़ा का नाम,
शौक – ऐ – ज़िन्दगी को सलाम सौ – बार करता था.

क्या आलम था वह अब भी दिल को खबर है,
सेहर से ही शब – ऐ – हुस्न का इंतज़ार करता था.

नाज़ुक लबों पे गर्मी – ऐ – जज़्बात थरथराते थे,
तेरी मासूमियत – ओ – नज़ाकत से न मैं इंकार करता था.

सुबह को जब तुम शाम कह के सुनाती थी,
तेरे सजदे में झुक के मैं इकरार करता था.

उल्फत -ऐ -ज़िन्दगी में वो मक़ाम भी आये,
जब तुम थी नहीं फिर भी तेरा दीदार करता था.

काश मैं समझ सकता तेरी दगा – बाज़ी का हुनर,
तुम वह कभी थी ही नहीं जिस से मैं प्यार करता था.

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Shaam-e-gham ki kasam…

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 #55 – Achha ji main haari chalo. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #56
Mud mud ke na dekh mud mud ke

Remembering Nadira on Her Birth Anniversary 05 Dec

She was born on this date in the year 1932. Her full name was Florence Ezekiel Nadira. As the name suggests, she was a Jew (of a Baghdadi Jewish family).

Aan, the first technicolor Indian movie, of 1952, made her suddenly have limelight. The movie was made by Mehboob Khan and she acted as a Rajput princess who would eventually fall in love with a commoner Dilip Kumar.

The movie was the first Indian movie to be released worldwide. Naturally, the movie relied heavily on the lyrics of Shakeel and Music of Naushad.

Shree 420

However, the Beautiful Duet that I have taken for you is from the 1955 movie Shree 420, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. Main lead of the movie were Raj Kapoor and Nargis; Raj Kapoor coming into the city of Bombay from a village but soon learning that being a con man (420) was earning him good life.

The one person who helped him become a card-sharp was the high-society woman Nadira.

This Song

Raj Kapoor’s love with Nargis reminds him over and over again that he must leave his crooked ways and return to being a straight guy. However, such is not in Nadira’s interest. More so, since it is a New Year eve and lots of money van be made in card sharping.

Shailendra penned the excellent lyrics and it was composed by Shankar Jaikishan as a Waltzing number, appropriately for that night.
The song was sung by Asha Bhosle for Nadira and Manna Dey for Raj Kapoor.

The Lyrics

मुड़ मुड़ के न देख, मुड़ मुड़ के
ज़िंदगानी के सफ़र में तू अकेला ही नहीं है
हम भी तेरे हमसफ़र हैं

आये गये मंज़िलों के निशाँ
लहरा के झूमा झुका आसमाँ
लेकिन रुकेगा न ये कारवाँ
अह ह ह आ~~
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …

मुड़ मुड़ के न देख, मुड़ मुड़ के
ज़िंदगानी के सफ़र में तू अकेला ही नहीं है
हम भी तेरे हमसफ़र हैं, हे!
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …

नैनों से नैना जो मिला के देखे
मौसम के साथ मुस्कुरा के देखे
दुनिया उसीकी है जो आगे देखे
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …

दुनिया के साथ जो बदलता जाये
जो इसके ढाँचे में ही ढलता जाये
दुनिया उसीकी है जो चलता जाये
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …

My Own Poetry

Zindagi Kya Kya Sikhati Hai?

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।

Finally, the Duet

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Mud mud ke na dekh mud mud ke…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #56.

Please await Beautiful Duet #57 – Aankhon mein hamne aapke.

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 #54 – Chandni aayi banke pyar in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #55.

Song #55
Kaise koi jeeye zehar hai zindagi
Theme-word: In the mukhada

Baadbaan – 1954 Movie

In the last two weeks, I have given you quite a few of the movies directed by Phani Majumdar. This 1954 movie Baadbaan (Shelter from Storm). The movie starred Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Usha Kiran, Mehmood and Leela Chitnis.

Indeevar penned the lyrics of this song and Timir Baran composed it. The song has two versions: the female version by Geeta Dutt and the male version by Hemant Kumar.

Not just that the lyrics are very beautiful (yes, Indeevar wrote these before Bappi Lahiri ruled his life for as many as 500 trash songs), but the composition makes it very suitable as RRR Song. The kind of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness that you experience with the song makes it very soulful.

I am going to give you both versions. The lyrics are the same in both Geeta Dutt and Hemant Kumar versions:

कैसे कोई जिए ज़हर है ज़िन्दगी
उठा तूफ़ान वो…
उठा तूफ़ान आस के सब बुझ गए दिए~~~
कैसे कोई जिए

बादल है या धुआ आग लगी कहा
जलता ना हो कही मेरा ही आशिया
अंगारे थे आंसू नही वो दिल ने जो पिए
कैसे कोई जिए
ज़हर है ज़िन्दगी
उठा तूफ़ान वो….

तारे ना जाने ऊंचाई गगन की
आंखे ना समझे गहराई मन की
गहराई मन की..तारे ना जाने
प्यासे पपीहे ने आस थी बाधी
उड़ गए बादल अI गई आंधी
हमने जो छेड़ा दिल ने हसी से
होठ सी लिए
कैसे कोई जिए ज़हर है ज़िन्दगी

My Own Poetry

TOOFAN SE HOON ANJAAN

बात कहने से बात निकल आती है,
न कहूं तो बात बन जाती है।
बाहर तूफ़ान आने को है लेकिन,
अंदर धड़कन खामोश हुई जाती है।

इश्क़ की हवाएं तेज़ हुआ करती थीं,
लहरें उमड़ कर उनका ही दम भरती थीं।
दिल की रगें मेरी तो थीं लेकिन,
लगता था वह उनसे कुछ डरती थीं।

और फ़िर वह मुकाम भी आया,
ज़िन्दगी ने इस कदर हमें आजमाया।
जैसे दोनों के बीच आ गया हो,
भूले हुए ज़ख्मों का कोई साया।

क्या खबर उनको हो गया हूं दूर तूफ़ान से,
जैसे साहिल पे पत्थर पड़े हों बेजान से।
इन्सान तो इन्सान है लेकिन,
मैं तो बेरुख हुआ हूं भगवान से।

रहने दो यादों के शोलों को राख में,
पड़ा रहने दो मुझे वक़्त की ख़ाक में।
नहीं लगते हैं वह फूल कभी दोबारा,
एक बार टूट जो गए उस हरी शाख से।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy both versions of: Kaise koi jeeye, zehar hai zindagi…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #55 in the series.

Please await Song #56 –  Chalte chalte mere yeh geet.

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 #54 in the series. I hope you liked Song #54 – Hain sabse madhur woh geet.

Song #56
Pyar par bas to nahin hai mera lekin phir bhi
Theme-word: Poochh kar apni nigahon se bata de mujhako, Meri raaton ke muqaddar mein sehar hai ke nahin

Sahir Ludhinavi and My Behna Manik Lakhkar Chava

This morning, quite early, behna rang me up and I am flying since then. Here is what she said that converted me into an aviator like my Chhote Raj Dutta: “The best that the YKDN group did to me was to have given me you as my brother.”

Honestly, ladies and gentlemen, tell me how else would I have received this news. I hope by evening I shall land!

Sahir Ludhianvi, her favourite poet and lyricist is about 37 Kms from the place where I was born (Village Urapur). His poetry and lyrics have, as was the case with most poets and lyricists of that era, a lot of Urdu in them. Now, I studied Urdu in my school. But, then, have someone like behna to appreciate such poetry is delightfully amazing. I have been always inclined towards Love (and not Socialism or even Communism). Hence, by my own inclination, I am more for Shakeel’s poetry than of Sahir. However, I would still place Sahir as an outstanding poet and lyricist. Ye mehlon ye takhton, ye taajon ki duniya, for example, would stay as top-notch poetry for me, if I were to move away from pure Love and into social inequities.

This is a Love Poem

This one that I have chosen to give you is a Love poem with doubts, the kind that Sahir always had in reel and real life. Amazingly, he made Sudha Malhotra, the woman he loved, sing Tum mujhe bhool bhi jao to yeh haq hain tumako, Meri baat aur hai maine to mohabbat ki hai! He always had doubts about Love; even, for example, in Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khyal aata hai!

In this Love poem, therefore, he has his characteristic doubts. But, has addressed her only to clarify! Please go through the extraordinary lyrics:

प्यार पर बस तो नहीं है मेरा, लेकिन फिर भी
तू बता दे के तुझे प्यार करूँ या ना करूँ

मेरे ख़्वाबों के झरोखों को सजाने वाली
तेरे ख़्वाबों में कहीं मेरा गुज़र है के नहीं
पूछ कर अपनी निगाहों से बता दे मुझको
मेरी रातों के मुक़द्दर में सहर है के नहीं
प्यार पर बस तो नहीं है …

कहीं ऐसा न हो पाओं मेरे थर्रा जाएं
और तेरी मरमरी बाहों का सहारा न मिले
अश्क बहते रहे खमोश सियाह रातों में
और तेरे रेशमी आंचल का किनारा न मिले
प्यार पर बस तो नहीं है …

Sahir, OP Nayyar and Talat Mahmood

You would have noticed that I am trying my best to give you the compositions of this great (but presently neglected) composer OP Nayyar. This is a rare composition by him that, even if I repeat myself, tugs at your emotions. The requisite tremor is provided by Talat Mahmood.

Sone Ki Chidhiya

This 1958 movie was directed by Shaheed Latif and starred Talat Mahmood himself in the lead role. Nutan acted opposite him. The title is taken from the destiny of Nutan; as impoverished woman she was neglected by her family. As soon as she became wealthy, they treated her as Sone Ki Chidhiya.

My Own Poetry

Here are my own doubts in Love Poetry:

YEH KAISA PYAR HAI?

जो कुछ भी हमारे बीच में है,
क्या इसी का नाम प्यार है?

बढ़ते बढ़ते कदम रुक गए,
यह दिल क्यूं यूं बेकरार है?

ज़रा अपने आप से पूछ के बता,
यह इज़हार है या इनकार है?

वक़्त थम क्यूं नहीं जाता,
क्यूं इतनी तेज़ इसकी रफ्तार है?

क्या इसके हाथों में कुछ भी नहीं?
क्यूं आदमी इतना लाचार है?

यह जो खंडहर खड़े हैं खामोश,
क्या इन्हीं का नाम बहार है?

इतने साल बीत गए हैं, चांद,
अभी भी मैं इधर और तू उस पार है?

कई बार सोचता हूं लौटा दूं उसे,
यह जो ज़िन्दगी उसकी उधार है।

क्या पता वो दिन आएगा के नहीं,
हमें कब से जिसका इन्तज़ार है?

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Pyaar par bas to nahin hai mera lekin phir bhi…

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 #54 – Pehla nasha, pehla khumar. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #55
Achha ji main hari chalo maan jaayo na

Chemistry Between the Actors

Duets are songs sung by a pair of playback singers for a pair of actors. Whilst singing, coordination of a very high order is required. Lata Mangeshkar informed us how in the final recording of Piya piya piya mera jiya pukaare, she accidentally started singing the line when Kishore was to sing. Kishore covered for her lapse by covering the mouth of his co-actor Chand Usmani when the song was being enacted; Kishore being the male singer and the male lead!

Now, there are actors who evoke such chemistry. Dev Anand was the best in male actors and brought out this chemistry in all his heroines.

Madhubala was able to bring out this chemistry in all her heroes such as Sunil Dutt (eg, Chand sa mukhada kyun sharmaya), Bharat Bhushan (eg, Do ghadi wo jo paas aa baithe), and Ashok Kumar (eg, Ye kya kar daala tune?). However, she failed to evoke this in Pradeep Kumar (eg, Rajhath song Ye waada karo chand ke saamne). Pradeep Kumar seemed to have such chemistry only for Meena Kumari (eg in Aarti and Bheegi Raat songs).
So here we have Dev Anand having chemistry with all his heroines (without exception) and Madhubala having with all except Pradeep Kumar. Naturally, we want to see some fire-works when they come together; as they did in this song.

Kaala Pani – 1958 Movie

This was the name of the movie produced by Dev Anand’s Navketan Films and directed by Raj Khosla.

Dev Anand’s dad was, by design of the evil lot, sent to prison erroneously and Dev Anand was there to unravel the mystery.

SD Burman – Majrooh Sultanpuri

Post 1957 movie Pyaasa when SD Burman developed a rift with Sahir Ludhainvi (after working together for 19 movies), Majrooh moved in with SD Burman to fill the gap. In this movie and this song, therefore, Majrooh’s lyrics were composed by SD Burman, the MD of choice for Dev Anand movies; so much so that Sachin Dev Burman used to insist that his own name had his favourite hero’s name as the middle name.

Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi

This pair has given us a number of Beautiful Duets. Their best was also picturised on Dev Anand with Raj Khosla’s favourite actress Sadhana: Abhi na jao chhod kar.

Lyrics

आशा: अच्छा जी मैं हारी, चलो मान जाओ ना
रफ़ी: देखी सबकी यारी, मेरा दिल जलाओ ना

आशा: (छोटे से क़ुसूर पे, ऐसे हो खफ़ा
रफ़ी: रूठे तो हुज़ूर थे, मेरी क्या खता ) – २
आशा: देखो दिल ना तोड़ो
रफ़ी: छोड़ो हाथ छोड़ो
आशा: देखो दिल न तोड़ो
रफ़ी: अरे! छोड़ो हाथ छोड़ो
आशा: छोड़ दिया तो हाथ मलोगे समझे?
रफ़ी: अजी समझे!

आशा: (जीवन के ये रास्ते, लम्बे हैं सनम
रफ़ी: काटेंगे ये ज़िंदगी, ठोकर खाके हम ) – २
आशा: ओय! ज़ालिम साथ देले
रफ़ी: अच्छे हम अकेले
आशा: ज़ालिम साथ देले
रफ़ी: अरे अच्छे हम अकेले
आशा: चार कदम भी चल न सकोगे समझे?
रफ़ी: हाँ समझे!

आशा: (जाओ रह सकोगे ना तुम भी चैन से
रफ़ी: तुम तो खैर लूटना जीनेके मज़े ) – २
आशा: क्या करना है जीके
रफ़ी: हो रहना किसी के
आशा: क्या करना है जीके
रफ़ी: अरे, हो रहना किसी के
आशा: हम ना रहे तो याद करोगे, समझे?
रफ़ी: समझे!

आशा: अच्छा जी मैं हारी, चलो मान जाओ ना
रफ़ी: देखी सबकी यारी, मेरा दिल जलाओ ना

My Own Poetry

Isn’t it amazing that I have a poet on every topic?

Main Kadam Kadam Pe Haara

तुम रूठो तो मेरी गलती, मैं रूठूँ तो मेरी I
दोनों रुख़ से जीत हुई है, ऐ सनम अब तेरी I
जीत के तुझे वह मिल गया जो हार के मुझे मिल न पाया I
फिर भी लगता है तेरे दिल पे पढ़ा है कोई ग़म का साया I
तुम चाहो तो चाहत है, मैं चाहूँ तो भूल है मेरी I
दोनों रुख़ से जीत हुई है, ऐ सनम अब तेरी I

काश जो अब तुम समझ रही हो, वह पहले ही समझती I
कदम कदम पे बात बात पर मुझसे ना उलझती I
गाली गलोज और इल्ज़ामों की तुमने लगाई थी ढेरी I
दोनों रुख़ से जीत हुई है, ऐ सनम अब तेरी I

मैं मायूस उदास ज़रूर हूँ, लेकिन हूँ नहीं तनहा I
याद है मुझको संग बिताया हर एक अनोखा लम्हा I
मेरी मुहब्बत साथ रहती है, बनके याद सुनहरी I
दोनों रुख़ से जीत हुई है, ऐ सनम अब तेरी I

मुझे तुमसे कोई शिकवा नहीं, ना है कोई शिकायत I
इक तरफ़ा प्यार की, तेरी महफ़िल में थी रिवायत I
तुम्हें ज़िन्दगी की खुशियां मुबारक, मेरे लिए चोट है गहरी I
दोनों रुख़ से जीत हुई है, ऐ सनम अब तेरी I

इक डोर थी जो अब टूटने को है , सजाई थी ख़्वाबों की जन्नत I
इक सांस है जो अब झूटने को है, मांगी थी ज़िन्दगी की मन्नत I
तेरी कामयाबी पर, कबूल हो बधाई अब मेरी I
दोनों रुख़ से जीत हुई है, ऐ सनम अब तेरी I

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Achha ji main haari chalo maan jaao na…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #55.

Please await Beautiful Duet #56 – Mud mud ke na dekh mud mud ke.