Raat or Din Songs Series
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.
Song #1
Saari saari raat teri yaad sataye
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, my behna Manik Lakhkar Chava and me jointly start another daily songs series. I shall put up one day and Manik Lakhkar Chava shall put up the next day.
Why Her?
I can never forget the first time she came to Kharghar to visit us. Of course, from the time we picked her up at Bombay VT station, she mingled with Lyn and I like sugar in water. At home, she went straight to my mom’s room. Within five minutes they were talking, as they squatted on bed, as if they knew each other for ages.
They say busy people have time for everything. She and I are two of the busiest people in the group with our circumstances. And yet, we are the only two who have time to put up daily posts.
Can You Too Join the Series?
Of course, you can. The moment you realise that this group is our family and you have something to share in the family, please do join after checking up with Manik Lakhkar Chava and I. Say, you want to put up your favourite Raat or Din song one day, please ask Manik Lakhkar Chava or me on WhatsApp and there you have that slot on the next day. As simple as that.
Not in Any Order or Ranking
I am at pains to always bring out that songs put up by us are not in order or ranking; eg, it is not intended that Song #23 is better than Song #27 or worse than Song #1 or all that came before it. These songs are totally at random and of course do reflect our mood and liking of that day.
Saari Saari Raat Teri Yaad Sataye
This song is from the 1958 Mohammad Hussain movie Aji Bas Shukriya starring Geeta Bali, Suresh, Johny Walker, Shobha Khote, Tun Tun, Shammi, Mukri, Anwar Hussan, and Agha. Geeta Bali (later, in real life, to be Shammi Kapoor’s wife) was Geeta in the movie who maintained her entire family by working as a typist. Of course, you know the real life stories of both Meena Kumari and Madhubala who looked after their entire families by working in the films from their child artiste days.
Lyricist
The song was penned by Farooq Qaiser (also written as Faruk Kaiser) whose moments of glory included such songs as the Parasmani song Hansta hua noorani chehra and 1963 Shikari song Chaman ke phool bhi tujhako ghulab kehte hain.
His education was in Bombay and he developed a taste for creative writing. Faruk’s love for poetry and his friendship with neighbour Kamran Khan (father of Farah Khan and Sajid Khan) were instrumental in his developing an enthusiasm for the creative works of Hindi Cinema. While Kamran Khan produced and acted in films, Faruk was introduced into the Hindi films as an assistant director. He went on to direct several movies until he found his niche as a lyricist.
Until his death on 20 Nov 1987, he wrote approximately 400 songs for over 100 movies.
Music Director and Composer
Roshan Lal Nagrath, born on 14 Jul 1917 in Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan). He died at the age of only 50 years on 16 Nov 1967 in Mumbai whereat he arrived in 1948 to try his hand at becoming a Music Director.
He became assistant to Khwaja Khurshid Anwar for the 1949 movie Singaar. Of course, those of you who get time to read my daily posts on Lyricists would know that he made it big only when Kidar Sharma gave him a break in 1949 movie Neki Aur Badi. It failed but so much was the trust that Kidar Sharma placed in him that he took him again for his next movie Bawre Nain. He was a total success and people still fondly remember Bawre Nain songs including Khyalon mein kisi ke is tarah aaya nahin karte.
He became the composer of choice for qawwalis and the Hindi movies’ best qawwali ever: Na to karvaan ki talaash hai was composed by him. My behna Manik Lakhkar Chava’s favourite lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi’s most beautiful numbers were composed by him. He was instrumental in getting Sahir his first award for Taj Mahal songs.
Lata Mangeshkar
She happens to be my favourite female singer (it is never intended to say that your favourite is the best in a competition of singers). A favourite is often the one who arouses memories of your earlier days and Lata ji does it for me very well. Many of my favourite songs were sung by her including this.
Importance of Yaad
There is nothing like Yaad in the night (Raat). In this song she goes about saying that one is that Yaad is troubling her and then she has to reckon with Chand too; my favourite theme. Have a look at the lyrics:
सारी सारी रात तेरी याद सताए
प्रीत जगाए हमें नींद न आए रे
एक तो बलम तेरी याद जलाए,
दूजे चंदा आग लगाए आग लगाए
तेरी प्रीत जगाए रे, नींद न आए
तेरी लगन बनी रोग सावरियां,
कैसे बीते बाली उमरियां
बाली उमर मोरी बड़ा तड़पाए रे, नींद न आए
प्रीत लगा के हुए तुम तो पराए,
प्यास जिया की कौन बुझाए कौन बुझाए
कोई ये समझाए रे, नींद न आए
My Own Poetry
TERI YAAD NE RULA DIYA
ज़िन्दगी में अब भी तेरे नाम ने रुला दिया,
सुबह चली गयी पर शाम ने रुला दिया।
प्यार का आगाज़ हंसते हंसते हुआ था मगर,
यकायक प्यार के अंजाम ने रुला दिया।
तेरे इश्क़ में सैकड़ों मुकाम आये राह में,
सोचा न था पर आखरी मुकाम ने रुला दिया।
ज़िन्दगी की कशमकश में हम खुशमिज़ाज़ थे मगर,
पर क्या खबर थी ज़िन्दगी के आराम ने रुला दिया।
तेरी आँखों की कसम पीते रहे और जीते रहे,
बेखुदी तब बढ़ गयी जब एक जाम ने रुला दिया।
तेरे होंठों से होता था इज़हार-ए-उल्फत बार बार,
आखिर में तेरी नज़रों के पैगाम ने रुला दिया।
Please enjoy: Saari saari raat teri yaad sataye…
I hope you liked my choice of Song #1 in Raat or Din series.
Please await Song #2.
