Dedication to the Richest Lyricist of His Times
In my Songs group on Facebook: Yaad Kiya Dil Ne we pay tribute to four people associated with the making of songs: the Lyricists, the Composers, the Singers and the Actors.
However, from amongst these four, the people closest to my heart are the Lyricists, the guys who carry forward the story of the movie, give voice to the emotions of the protagonists and comment upon the situation as per the story-line. All others build up on the foundation of the structure laid by the Lyricists.
And that’s why I have a page on Facebook called Lyrical. My blog has more posts on Lyricists than on any of the other three. And this is not to say I am neglecting others. Take Composers for example; my series on Raaga Based Song of the Day is exclusively on how these really talented artistes compose songs.
Starting from the beginning of this year, I started with a series Hasrat Jaipuri Song of the Week. I soon added Shailendra Song of the Week. And now, Rajinder Krishan is the third and the last one this year. I already have a number of posts on him:
- The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist.
- The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist – Part II.
- The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist – Part III.
- The Best Songs Of Rajendra Krishan, The Rishest Lyricist – Part IV.
Why This Series?
As I said, I started off the year 2020 by starting a weekly tribute to Hasrat Jaipuri because of the excellence of his romantic songs and because of my behna Kishwar Jaipuri.
Come the fourth week, I put up a song: Raat ke hamsafar only to be told that it was penned by Shailendra. So I started another series Shailendra Song of the Day (SSOW).
And now RKSOW because I am very fond of his lyrics and Rajesh Duggal is a member of this group and Rajinder Krishan’s (he used both spellings of his name; the other being Rajendra Krishan) son . In addition to his proud heritage, he is a great singer in his own right and I have often liked his choices of songs.
Why This Song as the First Song?
Today (27 Jan, when I put it up on Yaad Kiya Dil Ne) happens to be the birth anniversary of the actor Pradeep Kumar and I wanted to put up a tribute to him too.
I had to choose between some of their greatest songs and the final choice was this and Wo bhooli dastan. I am keeping Wo bhooli dastan for another day.
Can I Pull off All These Tributes the Whole Year?
Let me repeat what Indira Gandhi told a BBC interviewer once when the interviewer was amazed at what she, Indira Gandhi, could pack in a day, whilst being the PM of India: “Busy people have time for everything.”
Many other so called “Pillars of YKDN” have almost given up whilst they have as much time as they used to have two or three years ago. I, on the other hand, have one tenth of the time I used to have. At one time I used to feel that I have written more than all others put together. A random survey has now revealed that I have written many times more than all others put together.
I am busy. I have time for everything.
This post is almost entirely the same that I wrote on 23rd Sep 2019, the death anniversary of this great lyricist.
Rajinder Krishan with Hemant Kumar
They were together in a number of movies. Their most popular movie was Nagin starring Vyjayanthimala and Pradeep Kumar. Then they were together in Miss Mary. I can remember the unforgettable songs: O raat ke mussafir Chanda zara bata de and Brindavan ka Krishan Kanhaiya. Their Champakali song: Chhup gaya koi re door se pukaar ke is a favourite of mine in Raag Jhinjhoti.
But the song that I have thought of giving you tonight is from Durgesh Nandini and I shall tell you why.
Khamoshi
Khamoshi is a favourite theme with Hemant Kumar and the name of the only movie that he produced. Chup, Khamoshi, Sannata are some of the favourite words in his songs.
With that background, look at the way Rajinder Krishan handles Khamoshi in this song:
ये खामोशियां भी हैं इक दास्तां
कोई कहता है मुझसे मोहब्बत जवां है
You have to agree with me that this is extraordinary imagination! Can you imagine who speaks to her in the Silences? Rajinder Krishan gave a hint about it in his most famous ghazal:
खुद दिल से दिल की बात कही, और रो लिये
That’s what Khamoshi is meant for! To try to find yourself.
My Own Poetry
When you let your imagination fly, you can hear such Khamoshi:
शोर ओ गुल में रूह की आवाज़ को भी सुन,
नूर ओ रंग में इस दबे राज़ को भी सुन।
बहुत दिलकश हैं ज़िन्दगी के हसीन नग़मे,
पर दूर कहीं बज रही है यह हल्की सी धुन।
फरेब-ऐ-नज़र है, सराब है, महज़ ग़ुबार है दुनिया,
जागते सोते चंद रोज़ के खवाइश-ऐ-ख्वाब न बुन।
रिश्ते, मुहबतें, याराने सब दिल ओ दिमाग की हैं बातें,
शहनाई की मुबारक धुन, घुंघरू की यह रूण झुन।
हमसफर रहे हैं अभी तक लालच, अना और खुद गर्ज़ी,
दौरान-ए-हयात में अब रहमत ओ रूहानियत भी चुन।
हंगामा-ए-जंगल में आवाज़ें बहुत रही हैं बुलंद,
गौर से, रवि, अब इस नन्हे परिंदे की भी सुन।
Durgesh Nandini
Durgesh Nandini is a 1956 movie directed by B Mitra and starring Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Ajit and Nalini Jaywant and Nigar Sultana.
The story, a historical romance story, and is the name of the first novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1865. It also happens to be the first major Bengali novel.
Mughal – Pathan conflics in the region of West Bengal makes for the backdrop of the story. Raja Man Singh’s son Jagat Singh (played by Pradeep Kumar) is a General in the Mughal army. He meets Tilottama (played by Bina Rai) who is the daughter of Birendra Singha (Bipin Gupta), Mandaran’s (in South West Bengal) and they fall in love. Wedding preparations are on but they are attacked by Katlu Khan (Ajit). Birendra Sangha is killed. Jagat Singh, Tilottama and Bimala (Birendra’s widow) are imprisoned. Ayesha (Katlu Khan’s daughter played by Nalini Jaywant) protects Tilottama from her father’s lust. But, complications start as Ayesha too starts loving Jagat Singh.
Man Singh, loyal to Akbar, signs a pact with Pathans and Jagat Singh is set free. He marries Tilottama with the help of Ayesha; a surprising Hindu-Hindu marriage unlike the recurring theme in Hindi movies of Hindu-Muslim marriages.
The song here is between Jagat Singh (Pradeep Kumar) and Tilottama (Bina Rai) and sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the lyrics of Rajinder Krishan composed by Hemant Kumar. I haven’t seen the movie but it is not difficult to guess that it is the beginning of their relationship.
Please enjoy
Before you attempt listening to Khamoshiyan, please listen to Rajinder Krishan’s superb song: Kahan le chale ho musafir bata do….
Kahan le chale ho bata do musafir Sitaron se aage ye kaisa jahan hai Kahan le chale ho bata do musafir Sitaron se aage ye kaisa jahan hai Khyalon ki manzil ye khvabon ki mahfil Samajh me na aye ye duniya kahan hai Kahan rah gaye kafile badlon ke Kahan rah gaye kafile badlon ke Zamin chhup gayi hai tale badlon ke Hai mujhako yaqin ke ye jannat vahi hai Ajab si fiza hai ajab ye sama hai Kahan le chale ho bata do musafir Sitaron se aage ye kaisa jahan hai Nazar ki dua ka javab aa raha hai Nazar ki dua ka javab aa raha hai Meri aarzu ka shabab aa raha hai Ye khamoshiyan bhi hai ek dasta koi Kahata hai mujhase mohabbat javan hai Kaha le chale ho bata do musafir Sitaron se aage ye kaisa jahan hai Mohabbat bhari is jahan ki hai raahen Mohabbat bhari is jahan ki hai raahen Jinhe dekhakar kho gayin hai nigaahen Ye halki hawa layi kaisa nasha sa Raha hosh itna mera dil kahan hai Kahan le chale ho bata do musafir Sitaro se aage ye kaisa jahan hai
I feel close to the lyrics of Rajinder Krishan.
He was born on the same day as me: 6th of June. He spent his earlier life in Simla (before the spellings were changed to Shimla) before joining the Hindi movies.
I hope you liked my choice.
Please await the next song in the series.
