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 #38 in the series. I hope you liked Song #37 – Gumsum nisha aayi.
Song #38
Tum pukaar lo
Theme-word: Khwab chun rahi hai raat, Beqraar hai
Hemant Kumar
Hemant Kumar has been my favourite singer since my boyhood days and yet I am often very shy writing about him; just like I am writing about Mere Mehboob Tujhe.
Anyway, you will probably agree with me that some of the best songs sung by Hemant Kumar are on his compositions. This is one of them. What is more is that the movie Khamoshi of 1970 was also produced by him. He commissioned Asit Sen (not the comedian) to direct it for him.
Many of Hemant Kumar songs are to do with Khamoshi, Chup, Sannata and the like; Bus ye chup si lagi hai comes to your mind straightway and so does Chup hai dharti chup hai chand sitaare.
The fact is that for someone trained in Rabindra Sangeet (there is never a jarring note), Silence and Tranquillity come easily to Hemant Kumar. Picture this, for example:
पेड़ों की शाखों पे सोई सोई चाँदनी
तेरे खयालों में खोई खोई चाँदनी
और थोड़ी देर में थक के लौट जाएगी
रात ये बहार की फिर कभी न आएगी
Do you get the impression that there would be loud music? Or do you get the impression that the song in Raag Kafi would descend upon you like dew does in the night?
So, I think you have got the point: that’s Hemant Kumar for you; not only fond of Silence but asking of you to find your song (and hence your soul) in this Khamoshi. At this stage, I am often inspired to give you Wordsworth:
“The stars of midnight shall be so dear,
For her and she shall lean her ear,
In many a secret place;
Where rivulets dance their wayward round,
And beauty born of murmuring sound,
Shall pass into her face.”
Wordsworth could have written this about Hemant Kumar songs!
Khamoshi – 1970 Movie
This Asit Sen movie starred Rajesh Khanna as the man who has lost his noodles after being cheated in Love. Waheeda Rehman is a nurse at a mental asylum. Whereas, other nurses have found it beyond them to handle such cases, Waheeda Rehman has been the nurse of choice because of her empathy and sensitive handling.
Here the only problem is that closeness to Rajesh Khanna makes her dream too and then in the end, there is…..well….Khamoshi!
This is the main song of the theme of the movie. It was penned with great sensitivity by Gulzar and sung by Hemant Kumar as if playing gently with your own emotions:
तुम पुकार लो, तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है,
तुम पुकार लो
ख़्वाब चुन रही है रात, बेक़रार है
तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है, तुम पुकार लो
होंठ पे लिये हुए दिल की बात हम
जागते रहेंगे और कितनी रात हम
मुक़्तसर सी बात है तुम से प्यार है
तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है, तुम पुकार लो
दिल बहल तो जायेगा इस ख़याल से
हाल मिल गया तुम्हारा अपने हाल से
रात ये क़रार की बेक़रार है
तुम्हारा इन्तज़ार है, तुम पुकार लो
My Own Poetry
I simply called it:
Sound of Silence
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।
The Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Tum pukaar lo, Tumhara intezzaar hai…
I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #38.
Please await Raat or Din Song #39- Raaton ko chori chori bole mora kangana.
