RAAT AUR DIN SONG #55 – PYAR PAR BAS TO NAHIN HAI

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…