Category: Poems and Lyrics

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 #52 – Mere dushman tu meri dosti ko tarse in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #53.

Song #53
Dil laga kar hum ye samajhe
Theme-word: Zindagi kya cheez hai

Reminds Me of a Funny Anecdote

A very young boy, only 17 years old, died and as expected the hapless mother was inconsolable. During the mourning, she cried, “Abhi to is ne Zindagi bhi dekhi na thi.” At this the 16 years old girl, next door, whispered to her, “Udaas mat hoyiye maan ji; Zindagi to maine dikha di thi.”

Truly, the only Zindagi that you experience is when you are in Love. Look at the difference between us Indians and the English as Ian Fleming wrote in a Jemes Bond novel, “You only live twice; once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.” Whereas, we Indians consider Zindagi as the one spent in love.

This song is by the maestro Shakeel Badayuni. However, even others such as Rajinder Krishan had this to say:

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

The Song

It is from the 1965 movie Zindagi Aur Maut directed by Nisar Ahmad Ansari and starring Pradeep Kumar and Faryal.

The song was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by C Ramchandra. It has two versions, the male one sung by Mahendra Kapoor and the female one sung by Asha Bhosle.

Here are the lyrics of Mahendra Kapoor version:

दिल लगाकर हम ये समझे, ज़िंदगी क्या चीज़ है
इश्क़ कहतें हैं किसे और, आशिक़ी क्या चीज़ है

हाय ये रुख़सार के शोले, ये बाहें मर्मरी
आपसे मिलकर ये दो बातें, समझ में आ गईं
धूप किसका नाम है और चाँदनी क्या चीज़ है

आपकी शोख़ी ने क्या-क्या, रूप दिखलाए हमें
आपकी आँखों ने क्या-क्या, जाम पिलवाए हमें
होश खो बैठे तो जाना, बेख़ुदी क्या चीज़ है

आपकी राहों में जबसे हमने रखा है क़दम -२
हमको ये महसूस होता है कि हैं मंज़िल पे हम
कोई क्या जाने मोहब्बत की खुशी क्या चीज़ है

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Dil laga kar hum ye samajhe..

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #53 in the series.

Please await Song #54 –  Chandni aayi banke pyar.

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 #53 in the series. I hope you liked Song #52 – Din dhal jaaye haay raat na jaaye.

Song #54
Dil ki awaz bhi sun
Theme-word: Din bhi niklega kabhi raat ke aane pe na jaa

OP Nayyar

I had promised you a lot more songs from Omkar Prasad Nayyar and here I am again. You will see that the more you see the range of his songs and quality of his compositions, the more you’ll be convinced that he ranks among the greatest composers and music directors that the Hindi films have seen. His being the Music Director of a movie, invariably assured its success. Take this 1968 movie Humsaya from where I have taken this song and you’ll know what I mean:

“Dil Ki Awaaz Bhi Sun” Mohammed Rafi
“Mujhe Mera Pyar De De, Tujhe Aazma Liya Hai” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
“Badi Mushkil Se Kaabu Mein Dil-E-Deewana Aaya” Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor
“Kitna Haseen Hai Yeh Jahan” Asha Bhosle
“O Kanhaiya Kanhaiya” Asha Bhosle
“Woh Haseen Dard De Do” Asha Bhosle
“Aaja Mere Pyar Ke Sahare” Asha Bhosle

Lyricist – Shevan Rizvi

OP Nayyar’s favourite, SH Bihari, was one of the lyricist of the above songs. Hasrat Jaipuri too. However, this song was penned by Shevan Rizvi.
His song in the 1958 Al Hilal was on everyone’s lips. The song was composed by Bulo C Rani: Hamen to loot liya milke husn walon ne. Another song that I can recall is Jaate jaate ek nazar bhar dekh lo.

Mohammad Rafi

Gradually, people in this group are realising that Mohammad Rafi was the God of Songs. He sang at levels that were unimaginable by others. In every song, including this, his singing was the fastest way to transport the emotions of the song in you.

Here, he sang for Joy Mukherjee in a movie that was produced and directed by Joy. He had two female leads Mala Sinha and Sharmila Tagore for the simple reason that he had a double role in the movie (Humsaya, that is). In one role he was an Indian Air Force Officer and in the other as his Chinese look-alike. Mala Sinha was the Chinese!

The Lyrics

दिल की आवाज़ भी सुन मेरे फ़साने पे न जा
मेरी नज़रों की तरफ़ देख ज़माने पे न जा

इक नज़र फ़ेर ले जीने की इजाज़त दे दे
रूठने वाले वो पहली सी मुहब्बत दे दे
(इश्क़ मासूम है – २), इलज़ाम लगाने पे न जा

वक़्त इनसान पे ऐसा भी कभी आता है
राह में छोड़के साया भी चला जाता है
(दिन भी निकलेगा कभी – २), रात के आने पे न जा

मैं हक़ीक़त हूँ ये इक रोज़ दिखाऊँगा तुझे
बेगुनाही पे मुहब्बत की रुलाऊँगा तुझे
दाग दिल के नहीं मिटते हैं मिटाने पे न जा

My Own Poetry

Main Bewafa Nahin Hoon

इस से पहले के बेवफाई का मुझे दो तगमा,
अपने एहसास में आने दो वह प्यारा नग़मा;
जो दिल की धड़कन के साज़ से जुबां तक पहुंचा,
कहाँ आगाज़ हुआ था और कहाँ तक पहुंचा.
इस से पहले के बेवफाई का …..

पास रह कर भी तुम दूर चले जाते थे,
मेरी मजबूर तमन्ना को और भी तरसाते थे,
दिल की आवाज़ बन के रह जाती थी सदमा.
इस से पहले के बेवफाई का …

ये दीवार मैंने नहीं तुम्ही ने तो बनायी थी,
कहाँ थी तुम जब पास सिर्फ तन्हाई थी?
मेरी खामोशी उस वक़्त थी मेरे दिल की मेहमान,
इस से पहले के बेवफाई का …

अब हम नहीं, तुम नहीं और हयात भी नहीं,
उल्फत की राहों में सुलगते जज़्बात भी नहीं,
सिसकियाँ भर के खत्म हो गए सब अरमान.
इस से पहले के बेवफाई का …

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Dil ki awaz bhi sun…

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 #52 – Ye raatein, ye mausam, nadi ka kinara. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #53
Bahut shukriya, badi mehrbani

OP Nayyar – SH Bihari

Shamsul Huda Bihari, born in Arrah, Bihar, must rank amongst the most underrated lyricists 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).

Ek Musafir Ek Haseena

This 1962 movie was directed by Raj Khosla and starred Joy Mukherjee and Sadhana in the lead roles. During those days, directors, pandering to popular tastes, often, didn’t know how to make well packaged movies. Generally, the second halves dragged. So did this too. However, as was often the case with movies of those times, the songs were greater than the movies.

This movie had super hit songs, as was the case with SH Bihari – OP Nayyar movies:

1. “Mujhe Dekhkar Aapka Muskuraana” Mohammed Rafi
2. “Humko Tumhare Ishq Ne Kya Kya Bana Diya” Mohammed Rafi
3. “Phir Tere Shehar Mein Lootne Ko” Mohammed Rafi
4. “Bahut Shukriya, Badi Meharbaani” Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
5. “Aap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte Rahe” Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
6. “Main Pyar Ka Raahi Hoon” Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
7. “Tumhen Mohabbat Hai Humse Maana” Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
8. “Zabaan-E-Yaar Man Turki, Nami Daanam” Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
9. “Udhar Woh Chaal Chalte Hai” Asha Bhosle
10. “Meri Nazren Haseen Hai, Ke Tum Ho Haseen” Asha Bhosle

The Lyrics

र: बहुत शुक्रिया बड़ी मेहरबानी
मेरी ज़िन्दगी में हुज़ूर आप आए
कदम चूम लूँ या ये आँखें बिछा दूँ
करूँ क्या ये मेरी समझ में न आए
बहुत शुक्रिया…

करूँ पेश तुमको नज़राना दिल का
नज़राना दिल का
के बन जाए कोई अफ़साना दिल का
खुदा जाने ऐसी सुहानी घड़ी फिर – २
मेरी ज़िन्दगी में पलट के न आए
बहुत शुक्रिया…

खुशी तो बहुत है, मगर ये भी ग़म है
के ये साथ अपना कदम दो कदम है
मगर ये मुसाफ़िर दुआ माँगता है – (२)
खुदा आपसे किसी दिन मिलाए
बहुत शुक्रिया…

आ:
मुझे डर है मुझमें ग़ुरूर आ न जाए
लगूँ झूमने मैं सुरूर आ न जाए
कहीं दिल ये मेरा ये तारीफ़ सुनकर – (२)
तुम्हारा बने और मुझे भूल जाए
बहुत शुक्रिया…

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Bahut shukriya, badi mehrbaani…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #53.

Please await Beautiful Duet #54 – Pehla nasha, pehla khumar.

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 #51 – Woh tum na thi woh hum na the in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #52.

Song #52
Mere dushman tu meri dosti ko tarse
Theme-word: Jiye is tarah se tu zindagi ko tarse

Not My Style

A lyricist is different from a poet; he or she writes as per the diktats of the director and the plot. So, considering the large hearted person (he was also a good party singer) that Anand Bakshi was, it is unthinkable that if hurt in love, he’d wish Zindagi for his beloved, which is worse than death.

Shakeel in Dil Diya Dard Liya, in similar circumstances had this to say:

हम वो नहीं जो प्यार में रोकर गुज़ार दें
परछाईं भी हो तेरी तो ठोकर से मार दें
वाक़िफ़ हैं हम भी ख़ूब हर एक इंतक़ाम से

Here is my style:

BEWAFAYI KA INTEQAAM

हरदम खुशी की तमन्ना की थी तेरे प्यार में,
ज़िन्दगी भर के ग़म मिल गए उधार में।
खिज़ा आने का इंतज़ार भी ना किया,
हम तो लुट गए काफिला-ए-बहार में।

मुहब्बत में हो गए रुस्वा कुछ इस तरह,
नज़र आने लगी तौहीन-ए-उल्फत हर जगह,
तेरी महफ़िल में बदनाम होना यकीनन था,
हंसने लगे हम पे सब लोग बेवजह।

ना समझे इस में हमारा क्या था कसूर,
मानते हैं मुहब्बत की थी हमने ज़रूर,
पर इसकी इतनी बड़ी मिलेगी सज़ा,
यह बात तो दिल के बहुत ही थी दूर।

हम लेंगे तेरी बेवफाई का इन्तकाम,
तेरी रुसवाई का भी कर लेंगे इंतज़ाम,
फ़ना हो जाएंगे तेरे प्यार में इस कदर,
के लोग तुझको भी कर देंगे बदनाम।

Punjabis – Strong Likes and Dislikes

You know the song involves Punjabis and they have strong likes and dislikes; they love from heart and if slighted, also hate from heart. Here is what Anand Bakshi wrote for Dharmendra (in this case a misunderstanding in the 1966 J Om Prakash movie Aaye Din Bahar Ke:

मेरे दुश्मन तू मेरी दोस्ती को तरसे
मुझे ग़म देने वाले तू खुशी को तरसे

तू फूल बने पतझड़ का, तुझ पे बहार न आए कभी
मेरी ही तरह तू तड़पे तुझको क़रार न आए कभी
जिये तू इस तरह की ज़िंदगी को तरसे

इतना तो असर कर जाएं मेरी वफ़ाएं ओ बेवफ़ा
जब तुझे याद आएं अपनी जफ़ाएं ओ बेवफ़ा
पशेमान होके रोए, तू हंसी को तरसे

तेरे गुलशन से ज़्यादा वीरान कोई वीराना न हो
इस दुनिया में तेरा जो अपना तो क्या, बेगाना न हो
किसी का प्यार क्या तू बेरुख़ी को तरसे

The object of his hate (erroneously) is Asha Parekh.

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy Mohammad Rafi singing for Dharmendra a composition of Laxmikant Pyarelal on the lyrics of Anand Bakshi: Mere dushman tu meri dosti ko tarse…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #52 in the series.

Please await Song #53 –  Dil laga kar ham ye samajhe.

I am putting up Part III of a post that I published Part II of on his birth anniversary on 24 Dec 22.

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.

Lets start with Part III songs.

Song #13 – Aane se uske aaye bahar

This song is by the most versatile pair of Lyricist Anand Bakshi with Composer Laxmikant Pyarelal. Whilst many such pairs were known to be perennially together by making as many as nineteen movies together, such as Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad, and Sahir Ludhianvi and SD Burman, this extraordinary pair did as many as 302 movies together. The movie from where this songs has been taken is the 1969 LV Prasad movie Jeene Ki Raah starring Jeetendra and Tanuja. The song was one of the most popular songs of that era. As it is the song had superb lyrics and composition. On top of that, Mohammad Rafi sang with unmatched verve.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Aaane se uske aayi bahar…

आने से उसके आये बहार, जाने से उसके जाये बहार
बड़ी मस्तानी है मेरी महबूबा
मेरी ज़िन्दगानी है मेरी महबूबा…

गुनगुनाए ऐसे जैसे बजते हों घुंघरू कहीं पे
आके पर्वतों से, जैसे गिरता हो झरना ज़मीं पे
झरनो की मौज है वो, मौजों की रवानी है मेरी महबूबा

इस घटा को मैं तो उसकी आँखों का काजल कहूँगा
इस हवा को मैं तो उसका लहराता आँचल कहूँगा
हूरों की मलिका है परियों की रानी है मेरी महबूबा

बीत जाते हैं दिन, कट जाती है आँखों में रातें
हम ना जाने क्या क्या करते रहते हैं आपस में बातें
मैं थोड़ा दीवाना, थोड़ी सी दीवानी है मेरी महबूबा

बन संवर के निकले आए सावन का जब जब महीना
हर कोई ये समझे होगी वो कोई चंचल हसीना
पूछो तो कौन है वो, रुत ये सुहानी है, मेरी महबूबा

Song #14 – Govinda aala re aala

If there is one avatar of God that I adore, it is Krishna. My mother was named after the eighth guru of the Sikhs: Herkrishan, who in turn was named after Krishna. In the year 2021, Janmashtami was celebrated on 30 Aug and Lyn and I happened to be in Whispering Winds, Kandaghat. To sing a bhajan on that auspicious day, I couldn’t think of anything better or more popular than this one. This was penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed by Kalyanji Anandji for the 1963 Manmohan Desai movie Bluff Master starring Shammi Kapoor in the title role, supported by Saira Banu. Mohammad Rafi made it as the most popular Janmashtami song of all times.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Govinda aala re aala…

र : गोविंदा आला रे आला ज़रा मटकी स.म्भाल बृजबाला
को : गोविंदा आला रे …
र : अरे एक दो तीन चार संग पाँच छः सात हैं ग्वाला
को : अरे एक दो तीन …

र : आई माखन के चोरों की सेना
को : आई माखन के चोरों की सेना
र : ज़रा बचके स.म्भल के जी रहना
को : ज़रा बचके स.म्भल के जी रहना
र : बड़ी नटखट है फ़ौज कहीं आई जो मौज
( नहीं बचने का ) -२ कोई भी ताला ताला
गोविंदा आला रे …

हो कैसी निकली है झूम के ये टोली
को : हो कैसी निकली है झूम के ये टोली
र : आज खेलेगी दूध से ये होली
को : आज खेलेगी दूध से ये होली
र : भीगे कितना भी अंग ठंडी हो ना उमंग
( पड़े इनसे ) -२ किसी का न पाला पाला
गोविंदा आला रे …

Song #15 – Mittar pyaare nu.

This hymn was written, composed and sung by the tenth guru of the Sikhs: Guru Gobind Singh.

Guru Gobind Singh was the finest example of scholar-warrior in the Indian history. The Gurus were spiritual leaders but, when a war was imposed on them by the cruelties of the mughals, they took up sword to fight for the just cause. When he was told that the mughals outnumbered the Guru’s warriors, he came up with the slogan that each one of his warriors is equivalent to ‘sawa lakh‘ (1.25 lakhs). A few years later, in the Battle of Saragarhi (acknowledged by the UN as one of the bravest battles ever fought in the world (see Wikipedia), his disciples, just 21 in number fought against 10000 Afghans without accepting defeat).

How was this leadership possible? Simple, by setting a personal and familial example. Guru ji let go of all his personal comforts and fought like any of his other warriors, accepting hardships, accepting despondency and moving on (this is not mythological; this is recorded history). He sacrificed his four sons at tender ages: Jujhar Singh (b. 1691), Zorawar Singh (b. 1696) and Fateh Singh (b. 1699) and Ajit Singh ((b. 1687) in the battle. They were so young when they achieved martyrdom that when I was small, I used to listen to this poem:

“Nanhe nanhe bachche chine’ gaye deewaron mein, Muskraahat bhi na jinaki chheen paaya tha zamaana, Laal aise hi hamaari veer mitti ne jamen hain, Sar kataana theek hai jinake liye galat gardan jhukaana.” (Small, tender children were paved in the walls, The world had not yet stolen their smiles, Lads like that our brave soil had produced, For them it was right to get their heads severed but wrong to bend the neck (in slavery).

And when their mother (an equal partner in this leadership) was told about their sacrifice, she had this to say: “Chaar muye to kyaa huya Jeevat kayi hazaar” (So what I lost four sons, I have thousands more)

I am inspired by this hymn because suddenly whilst listening to this I am raised to that level whence I realise that God as a friend is beyond despondency, beyond all worldly pleasures. He calls you to do your duty (as Lord Krishna directed Arjuna in the Battle of Mahabharat) and not to worry about the results since He would take care of them. Interim trials and tribulations should never shake your faith.

This beautiful hymn by Guru Gobind Singh, was recited in the Machhivara forest when he was separated from everyone after leading them in the Battle of Chamkaur; not everyone because the connection to the Lord remained strong as always.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Mittar pyaare nu…

Mitr piyaare nu haal mureeda da kehnaa ॥ Tudh bin rog rajaaeeaan da oudhan naag nivaasa de rehna ॥ Sool suraahi khanjar piyaala bing kasaaeeaan da sehna ॥ Yaararre da saanoo saathhar changaa bhathh khaerriaa da rehna ॥

Tell the beloved friend (the Lord) the plight of his disciples. Without You rich blankets are a disease and the comfort of the house is like living with snakes. Our water pitchers are like stakes of torture and our cups have edges like daggers. Without You we are like animals at the hands of butchers. Our Beloved Lord’s straw bed is more pleasing to us than living in costly mansions.

Song #16 – Nigaahen na phero chale jayenge hum

This is one of my favourite songs sung separately (not as duet) by Mohammad Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur. 

It is from the unreleased  1959 movie Black Prince.

The song was penned by Upendra and composed by Dulal Sen.

Please enjoy my rendition of Mohammad Rafi version of: Nigahen na phero…

निगाहे न फेरो चले जायेंगे हम
निगाहे न फेरो चले जायेंगे हम
मगर याद रखें के याद आयेंगे हम
याद आयेंगे हम
निगाहे न फेरो चले जायेंगे हम

तुमने जादू किया है नज़रों से नज़रे मिलके
तुमने जादू किया है नज़रों से नज़रे मिलके
आशिया अब तो बना मेरे पहलु में आके
न दामन छुड़ाना बेहक जायेंगे हम
याद आयेंगे हम
निगाहे न फेरो चले जायेंगे हम

भीगा भीगा है शामा हम तुम दोनों है यहाँ
भीगा भीगा है शामा हम तुम दोनों है यहाँ
क्यों न खो जाये सनम दिल की धड़कन है जवा
न तड़पाओ इतना के मर जायेंगे हम
याद आयेंगे हम
निगाहे न फेरो चले जायेंगे हम.

Song #17 – Aise to na dekho

This song from the 1965 Amarjeet movie Teen Devian was sung stunningly beautifully by Mohammad Rafi as he did with most songs that Mohammad Rafi sang for the music director SD Burman. The movie starred Dev Anand and Simi Grewal, Nanda and Kalpana as the three goddesses (Teen Devian).

The lyrics of the song were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. SD Burman composed these in Raag Gara.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Aise to na dekho…

ऐसे तो न देखो, के हमको नशा हो जए
ख़ूबसूरत सी कोई हमसे ख़ता हो जाए (२)
ऐसे तो न देखो

तुम हमें रोको फिर भी हम ना रुकें
तुम कहो काफ़िर फिर भी ऐसे झुकें
क़दम-ए-नाज़ पे इक सजदा अदा हो जाये
ऐसे तो न देखो

यूँ न हो आँखे रहें काजल घोलें
बढ़ के बेखुदी हंसीं गेसू खोलें
खुल के फिर ज़ुल्फ़ें सियाह काली बला हो जाये
ऐसे तो न देखो

हम तो मस्ती में जाने क्या क्या कहें
लब-ए-नाज़ुक से ऐसा न हो तुम्हें
बेक़रारी का गिला हम से सिवा हो जाये
ऐसे तो न देखो

Song #18 – Mujhe le chalo aaj phir us gali mein

Dev Anand made an image for himself as the romantic hero with a tilt in his walk and super chemistry with all his heroines. However, he also perfected his roles and songs of sadness. In the 1964 Raj Rishi movie Sharabi that had Madhubala as the object of his love, Dev Anand got ample opportunity to polish the sad role and songs. Madan Mohan together with Rajinder Krishan created some unforgettable songs such as this one, Sawan ke mahine mein, and Kabhi na kabhi kahin na kahin koi na koi to aayega. This was the most melancholic of them all.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Mujhe le chalo aaj phir us gali mein…

मुझे ले चलो, आज फिर उस गली में
जहाँ पहले-पहले, ये दिल लड़खड़ाया

वो दुनिया, वो मेरी मोहब्बत की दुनिया
जहाँ से मैं बेताबियाँ लेके आया
मुझे ले चलो …

जहाँ सो रही है मेरी ज़िंदगानी
जहाँ छोड़ आया मैं अपनी जवानी
वहाँ आज भी एक चौखट तज़ा
मोहब्बत के सजादों की होगी निशानी -२
मुझे ले चलो …

वो दुनिया जहाँ उसके नक़्श-ए-कदम हैं
वहीं मेरी खुशियाँ, वहीं मेरे ग़म हैं
मैं ले आऊँगा खाक उस रहगुज़र की
के उस रहगुज़रा की, तो ज़र्रे सनम है -२
मुझे ले चलो …

वहाँ एक रँगेएं चिलमन के पीछे
चमकता हुआ उसका, रुख़सार होगा
बसा लूँगा आँखों में वो रोशनी मैं
यूँ ही कुछ इलाज-ए-दिल-ए-ज़ार होगा -२
मुझे ले चलो …

मुझे ले चलो, आज फिर उस गली में
जहाँ पहले-पहले, ये दिल लड़खड़ाया
वो दुनिया, वो मेरी मोहब्बत की दुनिया
जहाँ से मैं बेताबियाँ लेके आया
मुझे ले चलो …

In the third 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 IV.

We lost Manna Dey on 24 October in the year 2013. With more than 50 years of delightful singing, he left us with some memorable songs.

Having been born on the Labour Day in 1919 in Calcutta, he recorded his first playback song for the 1942 movie Tamanna, a duet with Suraiya that was composed by KC Dey: Jago aayee usha panchhi bole jago.

He soon emerged the singer of choice for raaga based songs. He tried his hand at comical songs too with great success. Some of his duets in the movies are immortal. One of his unforgettable raaga based songs was in Raag Basant Bahar for the movie with the same name: Ketaki gulab juhi. Another unforgettable song of his is from Waqt: Aye meri zohrazabeen. Yet another is Aye mere pyare watan. Needless to say he made a name for himself as a unique playback singer.

He was the recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and finally Padma Vibhushan and to top it all Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

He was endowed with a very sweet voice and hence, difficult to sing. Also, his superb modulation permitted him to sing repeated words and lines with variations. For example, in the song Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain, he sang the line Hum teri aankhon ke deewane hain with almost a dozen variations of “deewane hain”.

For any male singer, Manna Dey continues being a challenge.

Here, I have, over a period of more than a year, tried six of his songs.

Here is the first one.

Song #1
Zindagi kaisi hai paheli

The movie with this song had the most well remembered role of superstar Rajesh Khanna in the 1971 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie: Anand.

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?).

Please enjoy my rendition of: Zindagi kaisi hai paheli…

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 …

Song #2
Aye malik tere bande hum

I saw this 1957 V Shantaram movie, Do Aankhen Barah Haath on a portable screen in our Jawahar Colony in the Himachal town of Mandi. The film had an impressive legacy: it won the 1957 National Film Award. It won a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. It also won a Golden Globe Award for the best film produced outside the United States.

This song was sung in the movie by both Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar and is the song by which the movie is remembered. The lyrics were penned by Bharat Vyas and composed by Vasant Desai.

I added a stanza to the song appropriate to our situation during COVID 19.

Please enjoy: Aye malik tere bande hum…

Song #3
Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain

This song is from the 1973 war movie Hindustan Ki Kasam that was directed by Chetan Anand. Chetan Anand had earlier won fame by his 1964 movie Haqeeqat based on the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Hindustan Ki Kasam was based on Operation Cactus Lilly in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. It starred Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh as the lead romantic duo. Chetan Anand himself acted in the movie together with brother Vijay Anand.

The song was created by Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat team of Kaifi Azmi and Madan Mohan.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Har taraf ab yahi afsaane hain…

हर तरफ़ अब यही अफ़साने हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवानें हैं
हर तरफ़…

इतनी सच्चाई है इन आँखों में
खोटे सिक्के भी खरे हो जायें
तू कभी प्यार से देखे जो उधर
सूखे जंगल भी हरे हो जायें
बाग बन जाए, बाग बन जाए जो वीरानें हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवाने हैं
हर तरफ़…

एक हल्का सा इशारा इनका
कभी दिल और कभी जाँ लूटेगा
किस तरह प्यास बुझेगी उसकी
किस तरह उसका नशा टूटेगा
जिसकी क़िस्मत में, जिसकी क़िस्मत में ये पैमानें हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवानें हैं
हर तरफ़…

नीची नज़रों में हैं कितना जादू
हो गए पल में कई ख्वाब जवाँ
कभी उठने कभी झुकने की अदा
ले चली जाने किधर जाने कहाँ
रास्ते प्यार के, रास्ते प्यार के अंजाने हैं
हम तेरी आँखों के दीवानें हैं – (२)
हर तरफ़…

Song #4
Phir kahin koi phool khila

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 …

Song #5
Kasme waade pyar wafa sab baatein hain

Our late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the nation a motto: Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan. He asked actor Manoj Kumar who enacted the role of Bhagat Singh in Shaheed to make a movie based on soldiers and farmers. Manoj Kumar came up with his 1967 directorial debut movie Upkar that was the top box office hit of that year. It won as many as seven awards at the Filmfare Awards and won the Second Best Feature Film Award at the National level.

Among the seven Filmfare Awards won by the movie was the Best Supporting Actor Award given to Pran. With this movie Pran shifted from bein a villain to character actor. Pran as Malang Chacha won all around appreciation.

In this song Malang Chacha brings out a bitter but undeniable truth of life. I have seen many saints using the song as a hymn.

The lyrics were penned by Indeevar and composed by Kalyanji Anandji.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Kasme waade pyar wafa…

कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या
कोई किसी का नहीं ये झूठे
नाते हैं नातों का क्या
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या

होगा मसीहा….
होगा मसीहा सामने तेरे
फिर भी न तू बच पायेगा
तेर अपना खून ही आखिर
तुझको आग लगायेगा
आसमान में….
आसमान में उड़ने वाले
मिट्टी में मिल जायेगा
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या..

सुख में तेरे साथ चलेंगे
दुख में सब मुख मोड़ेंगे
दुनिया वाले….
दुनिया वाले तेरे बनकर
तेरा ही दिल तोड़ेंगे
देते हैं….
देते हैं भगवान को धोखा
इन्सां को क्या छोड़ेंगे

कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या
कोई किसी का नहीं ये झूठे
नाते हैं नातों का क्या
कसमें वादे प्यार वफा सब
बातें हैं बातों का क्या..

Song #6
Tu pyar ka sagar hai

I have taken the song from the 1955 Amiya Chakraborty movie Seema starring Nutan and Balraj Sahni.

Incidentally, both the movies won Nutan Best Actress Awards, as did three other movies: Sujata, Milan and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki.

I hope you liked my choices of songs and their rendition.

Shall post more in the next part.

This tribute to Madan Mohan is in continuation of my tribute to him exactly two months ago: Tribute to Madan Mohan – My Own Singing.

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

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

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

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

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

7.  Humse aaya na gaya.

The song is from a 1957 farcical comedy Dekh Kabira Roya directed by Amiya Chakravarty. Three artistes: a singer, painter and writer, ie, Anoop Kumar as Mohan, Daljit as Pradeep, and Jawahar Kaul as Ranjit, have their talents mixed up as they fall in love with three girls: Ameeta as Geeta, Anita Guha as Rekha and Shubha Khote as Kalpana. Their feigned talents as per the liking of their girl friends lead to the farcical comedy.

This song was enacted between Anoop Kumar and Shubha Khote. The beauty of the songs of this movie, composed by the maestro Madan Mohan is that notwithstanding a hilarious comedy, he composed most songs in serious raagas. This was composed by him in Raag Baageshri/Bhimpalasi.

The original was sung by Talat Mahmood. The beautiful lyrics are those of Rajinder Krishan who paired with Madan Mohan to give us some of the most unforgettable songs in Hindi movies.

Please enjoy my own rendition of 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 …

8.  Kaise kategi zindagi tere bagair.

This ghazal by the Ghazal King Madan Mohan is from an album called Tere Bagair that was released in 2009. Songs in this album including this one were sung by Mohammad Rafi. Then there are others that were sung by Lata

Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle. There is one by Kishore Kumar too.

The song was penned by Rajinder Krishan. It was originally used in the 1968 Pakistani hit movie Jahan Tum Wahan Hum.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Kaise kategi zindagi tere bagair…

कैसे कटेगी ज़िन्दगी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर
पाउँगा हर शै में कमी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर

फूल खिले तोह यु लगे
फूल नहीं यह दाग हैं
तारे फलक पे यु लगे
जैसे बुझे चिराग हैं
आग लगाये चाँदनी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर
कैसे कटेगी ज़िन्दगी

चाँद घटा में छुप गया
सारा जहाँ उदास है
कहती है दिल की धड़कने
तू कही आस-पास है
ा के तड़प रहा है जी
तेरे बगैर तेरे बगैर
पाउँगा हर शै में कमी.

9.   Rang aur noor ki baraat.

This ghazal is from the 1964 movie Gazal directed by Ved Madan and starring Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari. The movie revolves around this ghazal. It was first sung in the movie by Lata Mangeshkar and picturised on Meena Kumari singing in the mehfil of her female friends. Sunil Dutt is passing by her house and falls in love with her voice and the ghazal. Later, he uses the same tune to sing in a mushaira organised by her father Prithviraj Kapoor. Of course, that seals the love between Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari.

But, then, before their love would result in nikah (wedding) she loses her voice and doesn’t want Sunil Dutt to go through wedded life without hearing her. So, she agrees to marry the bad and persistent guy Rehman. Rehman is so thrilled with it that he asks Sunil Dutt to sing a sehra (wedding tribute) on his wedding with Meena Kumari.

Sahir excelled in the lyrics on all three occasions. Its lyrics and extraordinary composition by Madan Mohan made it into one of the most iconic songs of its era.

The song equally belongs to Mohammad Rafi for its outstanding rendition. It is one of the most difficult of Rafi songs.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Rang aur noor ki baraat kise pesh karun…

रंग और नूर की बारात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

मैने जज़बात निभाए हैं उसूलों की जगह (२)
अपने अरमान पिरो लाया हूँ फूलों की जगह
तेरे सेहरे की …
तेरे सेहरे की ये सौगात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

ये मेरे शेर मेरे आखिरी नज़राने हैं (२)
मैं उन अपनों मैं हूँ जो आज से बेगाने हैं
बेत-आ-लुख़ सी मुलाकात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

सुर्ख जोड़े की तबोताब मुबारक हो तुझे (२)
तेरी आँखों का नया ख़्वाब मुबारक हो तुझे
ये मेरी ख़्वाहिश ये ख़यालात किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

कौन कहता है चाहत पे सभी का हक़ है (२)
तू जिसे चाहे तेरा प्यार उसी का हक़ है
मुझसे कह दे …
मुझसे कह दे मैं तेरा हाथ किसे पेश करूँ
ये मुरादों की हंसीं रात किसे पेश करूँ, किसे पेश करूँ

रंग और नूर की …

10.   Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai

This ghazal is from the 1964 Vinod Kumar movie Jahan Ara starring Prithviraj Kapoor as Shah Jahan and Mala Sinha as his daughter from his favourite wife Mumtaz. At her death two things happened: One, of course, was that Shah Jahan built one of the seven wonders of the world: Taj Mahal and the second was that Mumtaz loved Shah Jahan so much that she took a promise from Jahan Ara that she would, after Mumtaz, look after her father Shah Jahan and not get married.

Jahan Ara wanted to keep the promise but she fell in love with Mirza Yusuf Changezi (Bharat Bhushan). Because of JaHan Ara’s promise at her mother’s death bed, Jahan couldn’t get married to Mirza Yusuf Changezi and that led to a number of poignant songs in the movie, including this one, based on historical story.

The movie was a huge success thanks to its songs composed by Madan Mohan and penned by Rajinder Krishan. Indeed, this ghazal has the best lyrics of Rajinder Krishan as highlighted by me:

फिर वोही शाम वही ग़म वही तनहाई है
दिल को समझाने तेरी याद चली आई है

फिर तसव्वुर तेरे पहलू में बिठा जाएगा
फिर गया वक़्त घड़ी भर को पलट आएगा
दिल बहल जाएगा आखिर ये तो सौदाई है
फिर वोही शाम …

जाने अब तुझ से मुलाक़ात कभी हो के न हो
जो अधूरी रहे वो बात कभी हो के न हो
मेरी मंज़िल तेरी मंज़िल से बिछड़ आई है
फिर वोही शाम …

फिर तेरे ज़ुल्फ़ के रुखसार की बातें होंगी
हिज्र की रात मगर प्यार की बातें होंगी
फिर मुहब्बत में तड़पने की क़सम खाई है
फिर वोही शाम …

This ghazal was originally sung by Talat Mahmood.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Phir wohi shaam wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai…

11.   Woh jo milte the kabhi

Here is a ghazal of Lata Mangeshkar that I sang because I was so fascinated by it. Indeed, with this song I paid my own personal tribute to four of the greatest in the making of songs: the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri who was awarded the highest award by the government of India: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Madan Mohan the composer, Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar – the singer, and finally the actress Meena Kumari whose superb acting made it into an unforgettably beautiful song.

The song is from the 1963 Nandlal Jaswantlal movie Akeli Mat Jaiyo starring Rajendra Kumar and Meena Kumari.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Woh jo milte the kabhi…

वो जो मिलते थे कभी हम से दीवानों की तरह
आज यूँ मिअल्ते हैं जैसे कभी पहचान न थी

देखते भी हैं तो यूँ मेरी निगाहों में कभी
अजनबी जैसे मिला करते हैं राहों में कभी
इस क़दर उनकी नज़र हम से तो अंजान न थी
वो जो मिलते थे कभी …

एक दिन था कभी यूँ भी जो मचल जाते थे
खेलते थे मेरी ज़ुल्फ़ों से बहल जाते थे
वो परेशाँ थे मेरी ज़ुल्फ़ परेशान न थी
वो जो मिलते थे कभी …

वो मुहब्बत वो शरारत मुझे याद आती है
दिल में इक प्यार का तूफ़ान उठा जाती थी
थी मगर ऐसी तो उलझन में मेरी जान न थी
वो जो मिलते थे कभी …

12.   Main pagal mera manwa pagal.

This song is a favourite of mine. Its beautiful rendition by Talat Mahmood fascinated me. It is from the 1962 movie Aashina starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis, one of the 16 movies that they did together.

Its lyrics were penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed in Raag Kedar by the maestro.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Main pagal mera manwa pagal…

मैं पागल मेरा मनवा पागल
पागल मेरी प्रीत रे
पगले-पन की पीड़ वो जाने
बिछड़े जिसका मीत रे
मैं पागल मेरा मनवा पागल …

कहे ये दुनिया मैं दीवाना
दिन में देखूँ सपने
दीवानी दुनिया क्या जाने – २
ये सपने हैं अपने – २
घायल मन की हंसी उड़ाये
ये दुनिया की रीत रे, मैं पागल …

छुपी हुई मेरी काया में
राख किसी परवाने की
ये मेरा दुखिया जीवन है
रूह किसी दीवाने की
मन के टूटे तार बजाकर
गाऊँ अपने गीत रे

मैं पागल मेरा मनवा पागल
पागल मेरी प्रीत रे, मैं पागल …

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

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 #52 in the series. I hope you liked Song #51 – Ajj din charya tere rang warga.

Song #52
Din dhal jaaye haay raat na jaaye
Theme-word: In the mukhada

Remembering Dev Anand on His Death Anniversary 03 Dec

Dev Anand died young on this day in 2011, at the age of 88 years. Before dying, he had wooed women who were not even born at the time when he had reached half his age.

Forever being young was, of course, his biggest achievement.

In the Common Room of Government College, Dharamsala (Himachal) whereat I studied in Pre-Engineering in the year 1969-1970, there was a group picture of his class with him being one of the standees. When I joined the Engineering College, Chandigarh after that, my roommate had pictures of Dev Anand all over his side of the room whereas I had pictures of gods on the walls (knowing that my dad could suddenly visit me on surprise) and kept Dev Anand’s pictures in my table drawer. Of course, my roommate even displayed his Dev Anand cut hair. I couldn’t match that because I was a turbaned Sardar at that time!

Guide – 1965

Seeing Dev Anand movies was a favourite pastime with all of us; eg, I haven’t come across any of my friends who hasn’t see the 1965 movie Guide. The three Anand brothers were in the movies: Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand and Dev Anand and in their own ways left marks. This movie was produced by Dev Anand’s Navketan Films and directed by Vijay Anand. It starred Waheeda Rehman having been married to Kishore Sahu an archaelogist who had more interest in ruins than in his wife. And hence, Waheeda fell for Raju Guide Dev Anand.

It would have been an ordinary story but for RK Narayan on whose book the movie was based. Suddenly, when he was running away from tinsel world and Waheeda (the successful dancer Nalini), greatness was accidentally thrust upon him. He was taken as a saint who would solve the famine problem of that area by keeping a Fast Unto Death for desperately needed rain. RK Narayan gave a new meaning to the title Guide.

Shailendra and SD Burman

They paired together from the days of 1951 movie Buzdil. It is in the 1963 Bimal Roy movie Bandini that they developed a rift and thus Sampooran Singh Kalra was brought in by SD Burman to write songs and we all gained from his lyrics (later to emerge as the most successful lyricist Gulzar).
Shailendra was very fond of the word Rimjhim and used it any number of times in his songs such as Rimjhim ke tarane leke aayi barsaat, Ab ke baras bhej bhaiya ko babul (Rimjhim padhengi phuharen), O sajana barkha bahaar aayi (Aise rimjhim mein O snama) and Aha rimjhim ke ye pyare pyare geet liye. When he made his house in Bombay, he called it Rimjhim. In this song, here is how he used Rimjhim:

दिन ढल जाये हाय, रात ना जाय
तू तो न आए तेरी, याद सताये, दिन ढल जाये

प्यार में जिनके, सब जग छोड़ा, और हुए बदनाम
उनके ही हाथों, हाल हुआ ये, बैठे हैं दिल को थाम
अपने कभी थे, अब हैं पराये
दिन ढल जाये हाय …

ऐसी ही रिम-झिम, ऐसी फ़ुवारें, ऐसी ही थी बरसात
खुद से जुदा और, जग से पराये, हम दोनों थे साथ
फिर से वो सावन, अब क्यूँ न आये
दिन ढल जाये हाय …

दिल के मेरे तुम, पास हो कितनी, फिर भी हो कितनी दूर
तुम मुझ से मैं, दिल से परेशाँ, दोनों हैं मजबूर
ऐसे में किसको, कौन मनाये
दिन ढल जाये हाये …

This Song

SD Burman never acknowledged the contribution of Mohammad Rafi to his own success and popularity. However, the fact is that like this song, Rafi sang many memorable songs for him. This is as much a classic as the movie.

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: Din dhal jaaye haay raat na jaaye…

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 #51 – Itna to yaad hain mujhe. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #52 of mine
Ye raatein, ye mausam, nadi ka kinaara

Ravi and not OP Nayyar

Many of Ravi’s songs are similar to those of OP Nayyar and it amazes us no end since the forte’ of Ravi was sitar based serious songs (such as Tora man darpan kehlaye and songs that were dripping with despondency (Lo aa gayi unki yaad woh nahin aaye). Two songs that come to mind are: One, from China Town, ie, Baar baar dekho (Lyrics by Majrooh who, as I told you today itself, often paired with OP Nayyar), and this one penned by Shailendra.

Cult Song

This duet assumed proportions of being a cult song. Husband – wife pair of singers or even those in love often sing this song even today. The song draws heavily from OP Nayyar’s Udhar tum haseen ho idhar dil jawan hai (which Evani Leela gave as a Beautiful Duet #29) and yet, as in a Xerox Ad: “Copy better than the original”, this song became far more popular than OP Nayyar’s.

Dilli Ka Thug

This 1958 movie was written, produced and directed by SD Narang and starred Kishore Kumar and Nutan in the lead with Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle providing the playback for them. Here are the lyrics:

कि: ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा
आ: कहा दो दिलों ने, की मिल कर, कभी हम न होंगे जुदा
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

आ: ये क्या बात है आज की चांदनी में – २
के हम खो गये प्यार की रागिनी में
कि: ये बाहों में बाहें, ये बहकी निगाहें
लो आने लगा ज़िंदगी का मज़ा
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

कि: सितारों की महफ़िल ने करके इशारा – २
कहा अब तो सारा जहाँ है तुम्हारा
आ: मुहब्बत जवाँ हो, खुला आसमाँ हो
करे कोई दिल आरज़ू और क्या
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

आ: क़सम है तुम्हे तुम अगर मुझसे रूठे – २
कि: रहे सांस जब तक, ये बंधन न टूटे
आ: तुम्हें दिल दिया है, ये वादा किया है
सनम मैं तुम्हारी रहूँगी सदा
कि: ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा
(दोनो): कहा दो दिलों ने, की मिल कर, कभी हम न होंगे जुदा
(दोनो): ये रातें, ये मौसम, नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Ye raatein ye mausam nadi ka kinara…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #52.

Please await Beautiful Duet #53 – Bahut shukriya, badi meharbani.