TRIBUTE TO MOHAMMAD RAFI – MY OWN SINGING – PART IV ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY, 31 JUL 23

Today, 31 Dec 23, is the Death Anniversary of the greatest singer on earth: Mohammad Rafi. We lost him on this day in the year 1980. Forty-three years later, the popularity of his songs and respect and devotion for him among millions of his fans around the world have not abated.

I am putting up Part IV of a post that I published Part III of on 28 Feb 23.

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.

The songs of Part III have been:

1. Aane se uske aaye bahar.
2. Govinda aala re aala.
3. Mittar pyare nu.
4. Nigaahen na phero chale jayenge hum.
5. Aise to na dekho.
6. Mujhe le chalo aaj phir us gali mein.

Lets start with Part IV songs.

Song #19 – Husn waale tera jawab nahin

This song is dear to me. It fetched Shakeel Badayuni, my favourite lyricist, his second out of a hat-trick of Filmfare awards. The first one was also with Music Director Ravi: Chaudvinh ka chand ho.

I sang this to Lyn on our 41st wedding anniversary on 24 Mar 22.

It is from the 1961 SS Vasan movie Gharana starring Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Asha Parekh.

Have a look at the extraordinarily beautiful lyrics:

हुस्न वाले तेरा जवाब नहीं
कोई तुझ-सा नहीं हज़ारों में

तू है ऐसी कली जो गुलशन में
साथ अपने बहार लायी हो
तू है ऐसी किरण जो रात ढले
चाँदनी में नहा के आयी हो
ये तेरा नूर ये तेरे जलवे
जिस तरह चाँद हो सितारों में
हुस्न वाले …

तेरी आँखों में ऐसी मस्ती है
जैसे छलके हुए हों पैमाने
तेरे होंठों पे वो खामोशी है
जैसे बिखरे हुए हों अफ़साने
तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ों की ऐसी रंगत है
जैसे काली घटा बहारों में
हुस्न वाले …

तेरी सूरत जो देख ले शायर
अपने शेरों में ताज़गी भर ले
एक मुसव्विर जो तुझ को पा जाए
अपने ख़्वाबों में ज़िंदगी भर ले
नग़मागर ढूँढ ले अगर तुझ को
दर्द भर ले वो दिल के तारों में
हुस्न वाले तेरा जवाब नहीं …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Husn waale tera jawab nahin….

Song #20 – Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe

This too I sang to Lyn on our wedding anniversary, 24 Mar 22.

This song is rated as one of the most popular duets in Hindi movies. It was sung by Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

It is from the 1966 T Prakash Rao movie Suraj starring the Jubilee hero Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

Here are the lyrics:

र: इतना है तुमसे प्यार मुझे मेरे राज़दार
जितने के आस्मान पर तारे हैं बेशुमार

सु: इत्नना है तुमसे प्यार मुझे मेरे राज़दार
जितने के इस ज़मीन पर ज़र्रे हैं बेशुमार

तेरे सिवा किसी को न लाया निगाह में
लाखों हसीन आये जवानी कि राह में
सदियों से कर रहा था तुम्हारा हि इंतज़ार
इतना है तुमसे …

मैं ने भी तेरे वास्ते कितने जनम लिये
तब दिल के रास्तों पे जले प्यार के दिये
एक दिन ज़रूर पाउंगी इतना था ऐतबार
इतना है तुमसे …

बेख़ुद बना दिया मुझे तेरे सलाम ने
जन्नत अगर मिले तो न लूं तेरे सामने
ये प्यार वो नशा है के जिसका नहीं उतार
इतना है तुमसे …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Itna hai tumse pyar mujhe…

Song #21 – Dil ka bhanwar kare pukaar

Talking about Hasrat Jaipuri; he was voted as Shahenshah e rumaniyat (Emperor of Romance). Here in this heart-warming song, his lyrics were composed by SD Burman.

The entire song has been picturised within the Qutab Minar in Delhi. Dev Anand is seen wooing Nutan by this song from one of their four movies together: Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, a Shimla based movie.

Rafi sahib has sung it with the kind of effervescence that Dev Anand brought to his acting and songs.

Here are the lyrics:

दिल का भंवर करे पुकार
प्यार का राग सुनो, प्यार का राग सुनो रे

फूल तुम गुलाब का
क्या जवाब आपका
जो अदा वो बहार है
आज दिल की बेकली, आ गई ज़बान पर
बात ये है तुमसे प्यार है
दिल तुम्हीं को दिया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो रे …
दिल का भंवर …

चाहे तुम मिटाना, पर न तुम गिराना
आँसू की तरह निगाह से
प्यार कि उँचाई
इश्क़ कि गहराई
पूछ लो हमारी आह से
आसमाँ छू लिया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो रे
दिल का भंवर …

इस हसीन उतार पे हम न बैठे हार के
साया बन के साथ हम चले
आज मेरे संग तू गूँजे दिल की आरज़ू
तुझसे मेरी आँख जब मिले
जाने क्या कर दिया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो …

आप का ये आँचल, प्यार का ये बादल
फिर हमें ज़मीं पे ले चला
अब तो हाथ थाम लो, इक नज़र का जाम दो
इस नये सफ़र का वस्ता
तुम मेरे साक़िया रे
प्यार का राग सुनो रे, ऊ ऊ ऊ …

Please enjoy my rendition of: Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar…

Song #22 – Baharon phool barsao

This is the second song from the 1966 T Prakash Rao movie Suraj starring Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

This was rated in a BBC radio poll in 2013 poll as the popular song in Hindi movies. It also happens to be one of the most popular songs of Rafi Sahib.

It was, indeed, a pleasure singing it:

बहारों फूल बरसाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)
हवाओं रागिनी गाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)

ओ लाली फूल की मेंहँदी लगा इन गोरे हाथों में
उतर आ ऐ घटा काजल, लगा इन प्यारी आँखों में
सितारों माँग भर जाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)

नज़ारों हर तरफ़ अब तान दो इक नूर की चादर
बडा शर्मीला दिलबर है, चला जाये न शरमा कर
ज़रा तुम दिल को बहलाओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)

सजाई है जवाँ कलियों ने अब ये सेज उल्फ़त की
इन्हें मालूम था आएगी इक दिन ऋतु मुहब्बत की
फ़िज़ाओं रंग बिखराओ
मेरा महबूब आया है – (२)
बहारों …

Song #23 – Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge

This song is as if penned for Mohammad Rafi’s singing in real life. “How can you, ever, forget my singing?” he seems to be asking us.

These happen to be the most powerful lyrics penned Hasrat Jaipuri. It is from the 1970 Shakti Samanta movie Pagla Kahin Ka starring Shammi Kapoor, Helen, and Asha Parekh. In a media interview Shammi Kapoor brought out that this was the most challenging role that he enacted.

For me the song is dear since the lyrics are well suited for my wife, Lyn, suffering from Alzheimer’s. Through this song I am telling her that she may forget everything but my singing to her.

Here are the extraordinary lyrics:

तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
जब कभी भी सुनोगे गीत मेरे
संग संग तुम भी गुनगुनाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हो तुम मुझे यूँ …

(वो बहारें वो चांदनी रातें
हमने की थी जो प्यार की बातें ) – २
उन नज़ारों की याद आएगी
जब खयालों में मुझको लाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हो तुम मुझे यूँ …

(मेरे हाथों में तेरा चेहरा था
जैसे कोई गुलाब होता है ) – २
और सहारा लिया था बाहों का
वो शाम किस तरह भुलाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूँ भुला ना पाओगे
हो तुम मुझे यूँ …

(मुझको देखे बिना क़रार ना था
एक ऐसा भी दौर गुज़रा है ) – २
झूठ मानूँ तो पूछलो दिल से
मैं कहूंगा तो रूठ जाओगे
हाँ तुम मुझे यूं भुला ना पाओगे

जब कभी भी …

The song was composed by Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Jhinjhoti, Tal Kaherava. Raag Jhinjhoti has always been dear to me because of the best song ever penned in HIndi movies by Shakeel Badayuni: Mere mehboob tujhe meri muhabbat ki kasam.

Please enjoy my rendition of: Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge…

Song #24 – Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum

My primary objective of learning to sing is to be able to sing to my wife, Lyn, suffering from Alzheimer’s. The secondary objective is to be able to sing raaga based songs.

This one was penned by Kaifi Azmi and composed by Khayyam in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Dadra.

Goosebumps Song for Me

I don’t know about all of you but it is a song that always brings out goosebumpss in me. Most childhood songs that are sung or heard later in life have that effect on all of us. However, this one is special since she (Lata for Tarla Mehta) joins in after the first stanza sung by Mohammad Rafi for Dharmendra brings up memories of their childhood.

This is what Love is all about; a quiet resolve despite all the odds. I can take adequate pride in saying that Lyn and I represent that kind of Love. Take today for example; the entire day was spent in INHS Asvini, 50 Kms away, trying to find solution to her drooping neck during her Alzheimer’s Disease condition. And yet, at the end of the day, when we return, I choose to put up this song whose lyrics inspire us:

रफ़ी: जीत ही लेंगे बाज़ी हम तुम, खेल अधूरा छूटे न
प्यार का बंधन, जन्म का बंधन, जन्म का बंधन टूटे न

मिलता है जहाँ धरती से गगन, आओ वहीं हम जाएं
तू मेरे लिये, मैं तेरे लिये – २
इस दुनिया को ठुकरायें – २
दूर बसा ले दिल की जन्नत – २
जिसको ज़माना लूटे ना, प्यार का बंधन

लता: मिलने की खुशी ना मिलने का गम, खत्म ये झगड़े हो जाएं
तू तू ना रहे, मैं मैं ना रहूँ – २
इक दूजे मैं खो जाएं – २
मैं भी ना छोड़ूं पल भर दामन – २
तू भी पल भर रूठे ना, प्यार का बंधन …

All that I ever wanted was Lyn, all that she ever wanted was me and so on.

My Own Poetry

Here is my own poem representing this resolve, written four and half years ago:

Hum Ek, Hamari Ek…

हम एक, हमारी एक……….. ज़िन्दगी,
कभी एक दूजे की, कभी खुदा की बंदगी I
पैंतीस साल पहले जो मांगी थी दुआ,
उसी का तो अब तक है सिलसिला,
नज़रों का एक होना तो सुनते आये थे,
पर यहाँ तो दिल, ख्वाब, सब एक हुआ I

हम एक, हमारी एक ………….पहचान,
एक दूसरे में बस्ती है अपनी जान I
गरीब थे हम, पर बने रहे अमीर,
हम ही तो थे कल के राँझा और हीर,
दोस्तों ने जिन्हे हमें धनि बनाया,
कहा: “यही तो हैं प्यार की तस्वीर” I

हम एक, हमारी एक ……….. कोशिश,
क्या खूब बनी प्यार की बन्दिश I
ज़िन्दगी में आये कई चढ़ाव उतार,
हम एक संग पहुंचे उनके पार,
ऐसे ही बनी रहे हमारी छोटी सी ज़िन्दगी,
ऐसे ही बना रहे हमारा छोटा सा परिवार I

हम एक, हमारी एक ………. दास्तान,
तू मेरा जहान, मैं तेरा जहान I
कई बरस बाद, हम हवा में समा जाएंगे,
किसी को फिर नज़र नहीं आएंगे,
पर फिर भी देखना लोग भूलेंगे नहीं,
जब प्यार का ज़िक्र हो, हम याद आएंगे I

हम एक, हमारी एक ……… फ़रियाद,
प्यार हमारा बना रहे, मरने के भी बाद I

The Song

This is the main song of the 1961 Ramesh Sehgal movie Shola Aur Shabnam starring Dharmendra, Tarla Mehta and M Rajan as a triangle. Dharmendra and Tarla were childhood lovers. Dharmendra plays Ravi in the movie! Tarla is Sandhya (By herself, absence of Ravi or Sun). They separate.

Many years later Ravi, in his poor condition finds employment with his friend Prakash (M Rajan). Prakash is to be married to Sandhya! And that’s when Ravi comes into their lives again.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum….

In the fourth 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 V.