I have done a long stint in the Indian Navy that lasted for nearly thirty seven years; I rose as far as my somewhat rebellious and irreverent nature allowed me to. On retirement, in Feb 2010, the first thing that occurred to me, and those around me, was that I Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (you will find an article with this title in this blog) and hadn't lost all my noodles and hence thought of a blog titled 'This 'n That'. I later realised that every third blog is called 'This 'n That' and changed the name to 'Sunbyanyname'. I detest treading the beaten track. This blog offers me to air 'another way' of looking at things. The idea is not just to entertain but also to bring about a change. Should you feel differently, you are free to leave your comments. You can leave comments even when you agree and want to share your own experience about the topic of the blog post. Impudent or otherwise, I have never been insousciant and I am always concerned about the betterment of community, nation and the world. I hope the visitors of this blog would be able to discern it.
All compositions of songs follow some arrangements of notes or swar to represent the bhaav or the mood of the song. The rhythm is provided by the beat or the taal.
Songs, whose compositions align themselves closely with known raagas (known arrangements of notes or swar) are known by those raagas. For example, Jaikishan (of Shankar Jaikishan music duo) was very fond of Raag Bhairavi. He composed many songs in Bhairavi; sometimes, as many as three to four songs in a movie.
Naushad was reputed to have ushered in raaga based songs in Hindi movies. In the 1952 Vijay Bhatt movie Baiju Bawra, Naushad had all 13 soundtracks based on some raaga or the other.
Gradually, most music directors became fond of raaga based songs in Hindi movies. In varying degrees of alignment (from loose to pure) they tried to base their songs on raagas. Some raagas, for them, became their favourites. For example, OP Nayyar had Raag Pilu or Peelu as his favourite, Shankar had Shivaranjani, Khaiyyam had Pahadi, and so on.
Raaga based Hindi movies songs have always fascinated me. This blog has hundreds of posts on raaga based songs.
I started learning singing only about two years ago. The purpose was to sing to my wife Lyn (short for Marilyn) suffering from Alzheimer’s. Since raaga based songs fascinated me, I tried to learn these too.
Here, I give you some of these that I have sung.
Song#1 Zara sun haseena e nazneen Raag Pahadi, Tal Rupaktal
Raag Pahadi refers to songs named after only one Pahad: the Himalayas. Therefore, This raag is the raag of my place in the hills: Whispering Winds, Kandaghat. It is, therefore, no surprise that it hapens to be my favourite raag.
There is no doubt in my mind that the best of any genre’ of music has been sung by the god of songs: Mohammad Rafi.
The best in Raag Pahadi is also by him: Chaudhvin ka Chand, in Taal Kaherava.
By the way, my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni received his first Filmfare Award in 1961 for this song. Shakeel’s association with Ravi resulted in some remarkably beautiful songs sung by Mohammad Rafi. The theme of describing husn (beauty) of the woman was prominent in these songs. Indeed the second song for which Shakeel received his Filmfare Award in 1962 was also a husn song: Husn wale tera jawab nahin for the movie Gharana.
In 1963 movie Kaun Apna Kaun Praya, Shakeel, Ravi and Rafi made yet another enchanting husn song that Vijay Kumar lip-synced to Waheeda Rehman.
This song and a part of the movie was shot in the picturesque hill station of Nainital.
You can feel the Pahadi dhun with Rupaktal. Pahadi is a raag as well as dhun. Let me give you a few songs in Rupaktal though not in Pahadi. Before that: Rupak is unique among the taals in that the first beat (ie, the sam) is khali (ie., represented by a wave of the hand).
wave, 2, 3, clap, 2, clap, 2
Some songs in Rupaktal: Aap ki nazaron ne samajha, Ghar aaja ghir aaye badra sanwariya, Haay re vo din kyun na aaye, Kisi raah pe kisi mod par, Piya tose naina laagi re, Tum gagan ke chandrama and Megha chhaye aadhi raat.
It is, indeed, appropriate that the very first raaga based song recorded in my own singing on YouTube happens to be in Raag Pahadi.
Please enjoy: Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen….
ज़रा सुन हसीना ऐ नाज़नीं
मेरा दिल तुझ ही पे निसार है
तेरे दम से ही मेरे दिलरुबा
मेरी ज़िंदगी में बहार है
हुई जब से मुझ पे तेरी नज़र
मैं हूँ अपने आप से बेख़बर
हुआ जब से दिल में तेरा गुज़र
मुझे चैन है न क़रार है
तेरे हुस्न से जो सँवर गई
वो फ़िज़ाएं मुझको अज़ीज़ हैं
तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ से जो लिपट गईं
मुझे उन हवाओं से प्यार है
ये हसीन फूलों की डालियाँ
तुझे दे रही है सलामियाँ
मुझे क्यों न रश्क़ हो ऐ सनम
तेरे साथ फ़स्ल-ए-बहार है
Song #2 Aye dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal Raag Adana, Tal Kaherava
As I mentioned, this song is composed in Raag Adana, Tal Kaherava.
The song Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal jahan koi na ho is from the 1950 Shaheed Lateefmovie called Arzoostarring Dilip Kumar, Kamini Kaushal and Shashikala. The movie’s story was penned by Ismat Chugtai who later wrote MS Sathyu’s Garam Hawa.
The song was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Anil Biswas. It was sung by Talat Mehmood.
Please enjoy in Raag Adana, Tal Kaherava: Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal jahan koi na ho….
ऐ दिल मुझे ऐसी जगह ले चल जहाँ कोई न हो
ऐ दिल मुझे ऐसी जगह ले चल जहाँ कोई न हो
अपना पराया मेहरबां ना मेहरबां कोई न हो
ऐ दिल मुझे ऐसी जगह ले चल जहाँ कोई न हो
जा कर कहीं खो जाऊँ मैं नींद आए और सो जाऊँ मैं
नींद आए और सो जाऊँ मैं
जा कर कहीं खो जाऊँ मैं नींद आए और सो जाऊँ मैं
नींद आए और सो जाऊँ मैं
दुनिया मुझे ढूँढे मगर मेरा निशां कोई न हो
दुनिया मुझे ढूँढे मगर मेरा निशां कोई न हो
उल्फ़त का बदला मिल गया वो ग़म लुटा वो दिल गया
वो ग़म लुटा वो दिल गया
उल्फ़त का बदला मिल गया वो ग़म लुटा वो दिल गया
वो ग़म लुटा वो दिल गया
चलना है सब से दूर दूर अब कारवां कोई न हो
चलना है सब से दूर दूर अब कारवां कोई न हो
अपना पराया मेहरबां ना मेहरबां कोई न हो
ऐ दिल मुझे ऐसी जगह ले चल
Song #3 Humse aaya na gaya Raag Bageshri, Tal Dadra
Raag Bageshri is a Raag of the Kafi Thaat and by now all of us know that Raagas of Kafi Thaat are night raagas. The samay for this raaga is madhyaratri (midnight). Bageshri is a raaga that tells the emotions of a woman waiting for her lover. It is reputed that Mian Tansen first sang it in the court of Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.
Tal Dadra derives its name from Dadra style of singing prevalent in Dadra. It is a six or three beat Tal: Clap, 2, 3, Wave, 2, 3; that is two vibhags of three matras each. The theka is: Dhaa Dhin Naa Dhaa Tin Naa
This is from a farcical comedy: Dekh Kabira Roya, a 1957 Amiya Chakravarty movie.
Just like the Jahan Ara songs, this too was sung by Talat Mahmood.
It was penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed by Madan Mohan.
The song is picturised on the middle brother of the trio: Anoop Kumar; the elder being Ashok Kumar and younger being Kishore Kumar (they were together in another comedy: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi). He is singing it to Shobha Khote. He was Mohan in the movie and she was Kalpana.
Please enjoy: Humse aaya na gaya….
हम से आया न गया तुम से बुलाया ना गया
फ़ासला प्यार में दोनों से मिटाया ना गया
वो घड़ी याद है जब तुम से मुलाक़ात हुई
एक इशारा हुआ दो हाथ बढ़े बात हुई
देखते देखते दिन ढल गया और रात हुई
वो समां आज तलक दिल से भुलाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया
क्या ख़बर थी के मिले हैं तो बिछड़ने के लिये
क़िस्मतें अपनी बनाईं हैं बिगड़ने के लिये
प्यार का बाग बसाया था उजड़ने के लिये
इस तरह उजड़ा के फिर हम से बसाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया
याद रग जाती है और वक़्त गुज़र जाता है
फूल खिलता है मगर खिल के बिखर जाता है
सब चले जाते हैं फिर दर्दे जिगर जाता है
दाग़ जो तूने दिया दिल ने मिटाया ना गया
हम से आया न गया …
Song #4 Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj Raag Malkauns, Tintal
Today’s song is in Raag Malkauns or Malkaush and Tal Tintal. Malkaush is another raag dedicated to Lord Shiva like Bhairav. Indeed, it belongs to Bhairavi Thaat. The name Malkaush is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears a garland of snakes; ie, Shiva. It is believed that the raaga was composed by Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati to calm him down. As a matter of interest all pentatonic raagas belong to Shaivait musical school and so does Malkaush.
Now that we know a little more about the Jati of a raaga, it is of pentatonic scale both in ascending and descending scales; that is Audhav-Audhav. The five notes used are: Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. The two notes that are totally omitted are: Re (Rishab) and Pa (Pancham).
Malkaush is a late night raaga and is calming, soothing and even intoxicating. One would use such a raaga in deep and serious meditation. One of the finest examples of Malkauns in Hindi songs is from the 1952 Vijay Bhatt movie Baiju Bawra that starred Meena Kumari as Gauri and Bharat Bhushan in the title role. The movie got Meena Kumari a Filmfare Award for Best Actress and Naushad Ali his only Filmfare Award for composing the song Tu Ganga ki mauj.
Naushad Ali with his favourite singer Mohammad Rafi
Naushad Ali was one of the greatest music directors in Hindi films. He is one of the three music directors (the other two being Pankaj Mullick and RC Boral) who have been given the highest award in cinema: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He has been credited with having introduced Raaga based songs in Hindi movies. Indeed, in the movie Baiju Bawra, each of the 13 songs have been based on some raaga or the other.
This is also one of the best bhajans in Hindi movies ever made and fits well with the description of Raag Malkaush that I have given: serious, meditative, soothing and calming.
Please enjoy: Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj….
मन तड़पत हरि दरसन को आज
मोरे तुम बिन बिगड़े सकल काज
आ, विनती करत, हूँ, रखियो लाज, मन तड़पत…
तुम्हरे द्वार का मैं हूँ जोगी
हमरी ओर नज़र कब होगी
सुन मोरे व्याकुल मन की बात, तड़पत हरी दरसन…
बिन गुरू ज्ञान कहाँ से पाऊँ
दीजो दान हरी गुन गाऊँ
सब गुनी जन पे तुम्हारा राज, तड़पत हरी…
मुरली मनोहर आस न तोड़ो
दुख भंजन मोरे साथ न छोड़ो
मोहे दरसन भिक्षा दे दो आज दे दो आज, …
Song #5 Bhooli hui yaadon Raag Kalyan, Tal Dadra
Lets now make up for not having given you a song in Raag Kalyan, the basic raag of Kalyan Thaat. It is in Tal Dadra.
Madan Mohan with Shekhar and Mukesh; the first recorded song of Mukesh was sung by Mukesh and picturised on Shekhar (Pic courtesy: anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com)
Despite the fact that Madan Mohan‘s first recorded song, in the 1950 movie Aankhen, was sung by Mukesh: Preet lagake maine, Madan Mohan and Mukesh, in 25 years, recorded only nine songs together and were together in just five movies: Aankhen (1950), Samundar (1957), Duniya Na Mane (1959), Sanjog (1961), and Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963). In Sanjog, Madan Mohan gave Mukesh one of the finest song that the latter is remembered by and I am giving you that today.
Raag Kalyan is the basic raaga of Kalyan Thaat. Its Jati is Sampurna-Sampurna, that is, all seven notes in Aaroha and all seven notes in Avaroha. All the scale notes (called swaras) in the raga are Shuddha, the exception being Teevra Madhyam or prati madhyamam. It is sung during the first prahar of the night, that is, between 6 to 9 PM. Raag Kalyan of Hindustani Music is also known as Raag Yaman in Carnatic Music; however, Raag Yaman Kalyan is a totally different raag. Considered to be one of the most fundamental ragas in the Hindustani Classical tradition, it is thus often one of the first ragas taught to students.
Some of the Hindi films songs composed in raag Shyam Kalyan are:
(Poster courtesy: fridaycinemas.co)
The song Bhooli hui yaadon mujhe itna na sataao is from the 1961 Pramod Chakravorty movie Sanjog that starred Pradeep Kumar and Anita Guha.
The song was penned by Rajendra Krishan and composed by Madan Mohan (Kohli). It was sung by Mukesh, one of the nine of Madan Mohan songs that he sang in 25 years.
Please enjoy in Raag Kalyan, Tal Dadra:Bhooli hui yaadon mujhe itna na sataao….
भूली हुई यादो मुझे इतना ना सताओ अब चैन से रहने दो मेरे पास न आओ भूली हुई यादो मुझे इतना ना सताओ अब चैन से रहने दो मेरे पास न आओ भूली हुई यादो
दामन में लिए बैठा हूँ टूटे हुए तारे टूटे हुए तारे कब तक मै जियूँगा यूँही ख्वाबो के सहारे ख्वाबो के सहारे दीवाना हूँ अब और ना दीवाना बनाओ अब चैन से रहने दो मेरे पास न आओ भूली हुई यादो
लुटो ना मुझे इस तरह दोराहे पे लाके दोराहे पे लाके आवाज़ न दो एक नयी राह दिखाके नयी राह दिखाके सम्भाला हूँ मै गिर गिरके मुझे फिर ना गिराओ अब चैन से रहने दो मेरे पास ना आओ भूली हुई यादो मुझे इतना ना सताओ अब चैन से रहने दो मेरे पास न आओ भूली हुई यादो
Song #6 Phir kahin koi phool khila Raag Desh, Tal Kaherava
Desh, as the name suggests, is a Raaga that is often used for the patriotic fervour such as Vande Mataram. Many of Rabindra Nath Tagore songs (Rabindrasangeet) have been composed in Desh. It is a Raaga that should normally be played during the first quarter of the night.
Phool or flower is often compared to blossoming of Love. The last thing that the lovers want is that it should be called infatuation. This is exactly the theme of this Manna De song. This ranks amongst his best. The song is from the 1971 movie Anubhav directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja. Lyrics are by Kapil Kumar and music by Kanu Roy. The latter composed it in Raag Desh. You may recall OP Nayyar’s Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye in the same raag.
फिर कहीं कोई फूल खिला, चाहत ना कहो उसको – २
फिर कहीं कोई दीप जला, मंज़िल ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …
मन का समुंदर प्यासा हुआ, क्यूँ किसी से माँगे दुआ – २
लहरों का लगा जो मेला, तूफ़ां ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …
देखें सब वो सपने, खुद ही सजाए जो हमने – २
दिल उनसे बहल जाए तो, राहत ना कहो उसको
फिर कहीं …
I have found that the readers are not able to take in more than six songs at a time in one post. Hence, with this song, I complete the songs of Part I. I hope that you liked my choices and my singing.
आँखों से अब निकल गए हैं जंजाल,
साफ़ नजर आता है उनका ओ अपना हाल l
हम ही क्यूँ हटाएं जो आपस में दूरियां हैं?
हमसे बढ़ के तो उनकी ही मजबूरियां हैं;
बात बात पे उठते हैं हज़ारों सवाल l
रिश्ते एक तरफा तो निभाए नहीं जाते,
रस्ते दलदल में तो बनाए नहीं जाते l
ज़रुरत से ज़्यादा जब बढ़ें परेशानियाँ,
सितम ही लगें जब मेहेरबानियाँ,
तो फ़िर आँखों के पर्दे हटाए नहीं जाते l
जब इरादा हो मुहब्बत को करना हो बर्बाद,
तब निकालनी पड़ती है कोई पुरानी याद l
जिसमें दूसरा साबित हो गुनाहगार,
और हम दिखाई दें मज़लूम और वफादार l
फिर कौन सुनेगा हमारे दिल की फ़रियाद?
ज़ख्म सीने के लिए सुई चाहिए प्यार की,
इल्ज़ाम की नहीं पर रहम के इज़हार की l
अलग अलग होना है बहुत आसान,
एक ही खानदान के बन जाते हैं अनजान,
जिन्होंने मन में ठान ली हो तकरार की l
सुनहरी यादों के रंगीन और प्यारे फूल,
अक्सर नजर आते हैं नाजायज़ और फज़ूल l
पर पिरोए जब इन्हें हमदर्दी के हार में,
तब जाके नजर आयें एहसान के निखार में l
अपनी दिखे इस से पहले देखें औरों की भूल l
Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander had a successful soft landing on the moon at 6:04 PM (IST) on Wednesday, 23 Aug 23. My poem is to mark this event, the best in the lives of any Indian:
आज चाँद की ज़मीन पर उतरा है चन्द्रयान,
फक्र और खुशी में डूबा है हिन्दोस्तान l
चंदा मामा दूर के अब यूँ पास हो गए,
जैसे किसी के घर आया कोई नजदीकी मेहमान l
इस से पहले हम चाँद पर तब पहुंचे थे,
जब सनम ने दे दिए थे हाथों में दिल ओ जान l
पर चांद की धरती हिन्दुस्तानी छू सकें,
यह दिल में ही था बरसों से अरमान l
भारत के लोग सदियों से भा में रहे हैं रत,
वैज्ञानिक, लेखक, कवि और विद्वान l
आज हमारी दृढ़ता और संकल्प ने,
पास कर लिया एक और इम्तिहान l
ऐसी आज़ाद सोच वाले मुल्क को,
बंदूक ओ बारूद ने करवाया गुलामी का गुमान l
बेरहमी करने वाले कई परदेसी यहां आए,
काफिर, ज़ालिम, बेईमान और शैतान l
अब इन्हें भी खबर तो मिल गई होगी,
भारत ही था और रहेगा सबसे महान l
यहां चाँद से बढ़ कर अच्छा समझते हैं,
आदमी का बन जाना एक नेक इन्सान l
पूनम की रात को चमकता चांद यह कहे:
सबसे ज़्यादा रौशन तो है हिन्दुस्तान l
मुझे तकते जो कभी थकते ना थे,
उनके नूर पे हूं आज मैं क़ुर्बान l
चाँद की धरती पर अब ऐसा मंदिर बनेगा,
जिसमें जाएंगे सब धर्म के इन्सान l
यही खासियत रही है सदियों से हमारी,
मजहब हमें नहीं बनाता कभी हैवान l
तिरंगा चाँद पर यूँ लहराता है जैसे,
सारे ब्रह्मांड को कर रहा हो ऐलान l
उन्हें पता है हमारी महानता और विरासत का,
जिसने पढ़े हों हमारे वेद और पुराण l
चाँद, अब हम आते जाते रहेंगे तुम्हें मिलने,
इसलिए खोल के रखना भारतीय चाय की दुकान,
इतने दूर के सफ़र में गर हमें भूख लगे,
ना भूलना देना समोसा, जलेबी जैसे देसी पकवान l
आओ फ़िर से सर ऊंचा कर के चलें,
हिन्दुस्तान ही है सारी दुनिया की शान l
सिर्फ़ चाँद ही क्यूँ हो हमारे कदमों तले,
जब हमारे इन्तेज़ार में है सारा जहान?
Human beings are social animals. Other than the question about the purpose of life, this is often the second most pertinent (albeit almost invariably unasked) question that occurs to us.
Abraham Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs puts Love and Belongingness midway, between Physiological needs and Safety & Security needs below it, and Self Esteem and Self Actualisation above it.
Out of all these needs, I can argue that Love and Belongingness needs are the ones that human beings are most sensitive about.
So, in order to satisfy this need, what do we require from others?
Is it money? Is it consideration? Is it empathy? Is it, and here many will err, popularity?
I think that the most important thing we need from others is their time. All the others that I mentioned above, even put together, don’t measure up to time from others.
Why is it so important?
Very simple. Unlike what is given in our religion and scriptures, we limit our lives to Time, an invention of Man.
Since self-preservation has been wired into us as a philosophy of, if not life, at least our existence (a fallout from Survival of the Fittest part of Theory of Evolution), we convince ourselves our own time is more important than the time of and for others. This is so even when we are doing and thinking of nothing. Time spent on ourselves is fruitful; time spent on others is wasted.
On social media (Man as social animal has a fascination for it), the one who discovered emojis worked on this principle of Time spent on ourselves is fruitful; time spent on others is wasted.
But why even emojis when we can just ignore others? Well, our need for self-preservation goads us that others spending time for us is important for our realisation of need for Love and Belongingness! So, that one-second-to-click emoji is not so much as appreciation of whatever s__t the others have put up, but also an invitation for them to spare time for us. Don’t agree? Well, haven’t you come across people (hurriedly) liking and commenting upon other people’s stuff just prior to putting up their own?
“Wasted time,” wrote Herman Wouk (The Caine Mutiny), “is as painful in the beginning as in the end. Only, in the end, it becomes more obvious.”
The day we respect the time of others as much as we respect our own is the time when we start rising above the animal part in the moniker that describes us: social animal!
I give you my time, my love,
As much as your time, I seek.
So, whilst dealing with others,
Of selfishness, I don’t reek.
When I send a video for you to watch,
I tell you what it is about.
Whether you have watched it earlier or not,
You are not left in any doubt.
Your hours of hard work and thought,
Is not made to emoji a slave.
Whilst listening to you or reading you,
My own views I don’t promptly rave.
I know my friends and relatives,
Need from me my precious time.
So, I don’t demand they see my forwards,
Sent to them for no reason or rhyme.
I recognise the needs of others,
As much as I think of mine.
That I am bored with what they say,
I don’t ever give them the slightest sign.
I want to be seen as far from being an animal,
As I can possibly get.
If in life it is bad to be mannerless,
How can it be acceptable on the net?
When someone holds the mirror for me,
I don’t plan revenge and hitting back.
Why should I confirm to him or her,
My hard-pressed-for-time is the social skill I lack!
Recently, I was talking with a friend about Time being an invention of Man. Else, in the Creation of God, this universe, that is, there is no Time and hence no Beginning and no End. As our Religion teaches us, there is no Death.
No other event in my life brought back this Truth to me better than my loss of my mother.
She is still with me. I see her. I talk with her. I still seek and get her guidance whenever I feel the need.
Maa hai yahan!
She never left me. She never will.
It has been only six years. It won’t have made any difference if it were sixty years!
मेरी माँ कभी ना जाएगी मुझे छोड़ के,
क्या भगवन जाते हैं कहीं पुजारी का दिल तोड़ के?
खून है, साँसें है, रूह है, जिस्म है, उनकी देन है,
कौन तोड़ेगा जिसे रखा है माँ ने जोड़ के?
मेरे सर पर अभी भी है उनका हाथ,
महसूस होता है अभी भी हैं वैसे ही मेरे साथ l
उनकी ममता ने अभी भी मुझे घेरा है,
मेरे चारों ओर है उनके प्यार की बरसात l
कहती हैं, सुनती हैं, अभी भी देतीं हैं सलाह,
अभी भी माफ़ करती हैं मेरे सारे गुनाह l
मेरी खुशी से उनकी खुशी बढ़ जाती है,
मेरी उदासी में मिलती है उनकी गोद की पनाह l
माँ हूबहू खुदा का ही सुन्दर रूप है,
माँ ही तो चांदनी है, माँ ही तो धूप है l
कुदरत के हसीन जलवे देखने के बाद,
लगता है माँ ही अनमोल है, माँ ही अनूप है l
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.
The makers of best songs in Hindi movies: Mohammad Rafi with Naushad Ali and Shakeel Badayuni
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:
Aaj purani raahon se koi mujhe awaaz na de.
Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj.
Chhalke teri aankhon se.
Hai duniya usi ki zamana usi ka.
Paas baitho tabiyat behal jayegi.
Tujhe kya sunayun main dilruba.
The songs of Part II have been:
Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen.
Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya.
Ajahun na aaye balma sawan beeta jaaye.
Jo guzar rahi hai mujhpe use kaise main batayun.
Jaan-e-bahar husn tera bemisaal hai.
Tum ek baar mohabbat ka imtihaan to lo.
The songs of Part III have been:
Aane se uske aaye bahar.
Govinda aala re aala.
Mittar pyare nu.
Nigaahen na phero chale jayenge hum.
Aise to na dekho.
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.
लोग हैरान हैं इतना क्यूँ करता हूं आपसे प्यार,
कैसे बताऊँ मेरी ज़िंदगी है आप ही का उधार l
पता है कभी ना खत्म होने वाला सिलसिला है यह,
चाहे इस पार से चले जाएँ हम दोनों ही उस पार l
दो जहान की खुशियां हैं आपकी मुस्कान में,
फरिश्तों की खूबियां किसे मिलती हैं इन्सान में l
आपकी सलामती इसलिए है मुझे ज़रूरी,
क्यूंकि मेरी जान बस्ती है आपकी जान में l
जन्मदिन मुबारक, मेरी जान ऐ वफा,
ऐसे ही मुस्कराती रहो मेरे संग सदा l
मेरी उम्र भी आपकी उम्र में हो शामिल,
खुदा करे हम दोनों ना हों कभी जुदा l
जन्मदिन आपके लिए लाए खुशियों के फव्वारे,
बहारें ही बहारें, नजारे ही नजारे l
ग़म नहीं हम अकेले हैं इस जन्मदिन में,
सबको मालूम है हम हैं एक दूजे के सहारे l
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 #58 Raat dhalne lagi, chand chhupne laga, aa aa bhi jaa Theme-word: The first word of the song
Remembering Raj Kapoor and Shailendra on Their Birth and Death Anniversaries Respectively, 14th Dec
Raj Kapoor at the back and Shailendra at right most
What a coincidence that one was born this day and the other died? Did the one who was born ensured the death of the other one. However cruel it may sound but it appears to be the case.
This song is from the only production of the Lyricist Shailendra: Teesri Kasam that was released in the year of his premature death on 14 Dec. He and Hasrat Jaipuri were the finds of Raj Kapoor and gave delightfully beautiful song in all Raj Kapoor movies that were composed by the “house-musicians” of Raj Kapoor: Shankar Jaikishan.
Shailendra thought he had everything good going for him. He had got Basu Bhattacharya to direct the movie. Yes, of course, it won the National Award for Best Feature Film that year.
However, Raj Kapoor wanted to ensure the success of his 1964 movie Sangam by itself and hence delayed the release of Teesri Kasam. As a producer, it affected Shailendra’s money situation so much that he almost became bankrupt. In addition, this classic wasn’t a commercial success despite Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman being the lead actors and memorable songs composed by Shankar Jaikishan on the lyrics of mostly Shailendra (7 out of 10), the others being those of Hasrat Jaipuri.
Teesri Kasam – 1966 Movie
The movie had a story based on a story Mare Gaye Gulfam by Hindi novelist Phanishwarnath Renu. I am not going into the three wows as almost everyone knows about them. Suffice it to say that Waheeda Rehman as Hirabai traveling with a Nautanki had more than adequate opportunities for song and dance. This too is a nautanki dance and song just as Paan khaye sainyan hamaro, Mare gaye gulfaam, and Haay ghazab kahin tara toota.
The Lyrics
Here are the remarkably beautiful lyrics penned by Shailendra:
रहेगा इश्क़ तेरा ख़ाक में मिलाके मुझे
हुए हैं इब्तेदा में रंज इन्तेहाँ के मुझे
आ आ आ…
आ आ भी जा
रात ढलने लगी
चाँद छुपाने चला आ आ आ
आ आ भी जा
रात ढलने लगी
चाँद छुपाने चला आ आ आ
हो आ आ भी जा
तेरी याद में बेख़बर
शमा की तरह रात भर
तेरी याद में बेख़बर
शमा की तरह रात भर
जाली आरज़ू दिल जला
आ आ भी जा
रात ढलने लगी
चाँद छुपाने चला आ आ आ
आ आ भी जा
रात ढलने लगी हो
चाँद छुपाने चला आ आ आ
हो आ आ भी जा
उफ़क पर खड़ी है सेहर
अन्धेरा है दिल में इधर
उफ़क पर खड़ी है सेहर
हो अन्धेरा है दिल में इधर
वहीं रोज़ का सिलसिला
आ आ भी जा रात ढलने लगी
चाँद छुपाने चला
आ आ भी जा
रात ढलने लगी हो
हो ओ चाँद छुपाने चला
हो आ आ भी जा
My Own Poetry
Na Jaane Tum Kab Aaoge?
हसीं चाँद है, फ़िज़ा है, रुत भी है लेकिन,
न तू आयी, न तेरी ख़बर आयी।
चांदनी चुभती है, फ़िज़ा जलती है,
रुत भी बेकसी की लहर लायी।
तेरी मदहोश आंखों के जाम नहीं भूले,
पर आज वो सिर्फ ज़हर लायी।
वो खुशबू नहीं है शाम – ए – बहार में,
जैसे होके खिज़ा के घर आई।
तू न आई न जाने क्यूं लगता है,
ज़िन्दगी यादों के मरहलों पे ठहर आयी।
आते आते कई सदियां बीत गयीं, रवि,
शब-ए-ज़िन्दगी की न सहर आयी।
The Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Raat dhalne lagi, Chand chhupne laga, aa aa bhi jaa…
I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #57.
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 23 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
Last time, I gave you Beautiful Duet #56 – Mud mud ke na dekh mud mud ke. So here, then, is the next one:
Song #57 Aankhon mein hamne aapke sapne sajaye hain
Khayyam
Mohammad Zahur Khayyam was born on 18 Feb 1927 in the village Rahon, near Nawanshahr. This is only 16 Kms away from where I was born some 17 years later. He became famous and I am writing about him.
He was the gentlest of the Music Directors we had; both in his compositions and in his nature. Raag Pahadi appears to be his favourite and there are movies like Noorie in which there are more than one song that he composed in Pahadi.
Ever wondered what he would have done to a duet? Of course, you know already since I have given you duet composed by him for the 1960 movie Shola Aur Shabnam: Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum. Its gentle notes belie the boast in the lyrics penned by Kaifi Azmi.
Well, in order to quench your curiosity, I have taken a duet from the movie Thodisi Bewafai. It must rank among the gentlest duets ever made.
Thodisi Bewafai
This 1980 movie was written and directed by Esmayeel Shroff
(poster courtesy: en.wikipedia.org)
and starred Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles. Her brother rumoured to her that he was seen with another woman. Hence, she, Neema, left him, Arun, totally and went away with their son Abhinandan.
During their heydays, he was so enamoured with her that he dreamt about her even during work and this resulted in the diamond tiara that she wears in the duet breaking. This instantly made his father played by AK Hangal from being wealthy to impoverished.
Anyway, you know the importance of this duet in the movie.
This Duet
Gulzar
As if having Khayyam as the gentlest composer wasn’t enough, this song was penned by Gulzar who has made a name for himself for the sensitivity of his lyrics. The duet was sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar:
किशोर: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं – २
पलकें उठा के आप ने जादू जगाये हैं
लता: सपना भी आप ही हैं हक़ीक़त भी आप हैं – २
बस आप आप आप ही मुझमें समाये हैं
किशोर: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं
किशोर: आँखों का रंग ढूँढा हैं हीरे तलाश कर
दिल में सजायेंगे ये रंग यूँ ही उम्र भर
मुश्किल से ज़िंदगी के
मुश्किल से ज़िंदगी के, रंग हाथ आये हैं
आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं
लता: दोहराये जायेंगे ना ये लमहात अब कभी
सपनों में भी न छूटेगा ये साथ अब कभी
मिलती हैं ज़िंदगी जब आप मुस्कुराये हैं – २
लता: ये दिल कुछ ऐसे आप के सजदे में झुक गया
किशोर: नज़रे उठायी आप ने तो वक़्त रुक गया
लता: ठहरे हुए पलो में
ठहरे हुए पलो में, ज़माने बिठाये हैं
किशोर: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं
लता: आ आ बस आप आप आप ही मुझ में समाये हैं
किशोर, लता: आँखों में हमने आप के सपने सजाये हैं
My Own Poetry
Sapne Mere Apne
सपनो का राही हूँ,
सपने ही तो मेरे हैं।
जब सपनो से आगे बढ़ा,
वो दिन फिर क्या तेरे हैं?
सपने ही तो उजाले हैं,
बाकी सब अंधेरे हैं।
तुझे रातों के साये पसंद हैं,
मेरे लिए सपने ही सबेरे हैं।
चंद दिन की यहां खुशियां हैं,
जाने कहाँ फिर डेरे हैं?
ज़िन्दगी के क्या माईने हैं?
दो चार रोज़ के फेरे हैं।
जी लेने दे अपनी ज़ुल्फ़ों तले,
जब तक इनके साये घनेरे हैं।
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Oct 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
Song #56 Chalte chalte mere yeh geet yaad rakhna Theme-word: In last stanza: Aur sooni si lage tumhen jeevan ki ye dagar
Bhisham Kohli
He was a nephew of Dev Anand and had the screen name of Vishal Anand (Dev Anand’s sister was his mother). He produced the 1976 movie Chalte Chalte and decided to act as the hero of the movie opposite Simi Garewal. This was one of the 11 movies that he either produced, directed or acted in.
He appeared to be competing with Bozo for the Award of Worst Acting and realised that Bozo was miles ahead of him. Bozo also had the best of the songs picturised on him. Vishal had only this and Pyar mein kabhi kabhi aisa ho jaata hai.
Goes to prove that if someone in your family knows how to act, that doesn’t automatically make you a good actor. Kumar Gaurav too realised that his father Rajendra Kumar being Jubilee Hero didn’t have those attributes transferred to him like property inheritance.
Chalte Chalte – 1976 Movie
Kohli produced the movie and he had Sunder Das direct it. He as Vishal Anand tried to act in the movie with Simi Garewal.
The songs of the movie were penned by Amit Khanna. He gave us delightful songs in Baaton Baaton Mein too including: Uthe sab ke kadam Taara ram pam and Suniye, kahiye, kehate sunaate baaton baaton mein pyar ho gaya.
Have a look at the lyrics of this popular song composed by Bappi Lahiri:
चलते चलते, मेरे ये गीत याद रखना
कभी अलविदा ना कहना
कभी अलविदा ना कहना
रोते हँसते, बस यूँही तुम
गुनगुनाते रहना
कभी अलविदा …
प्यार करते करते, हम तुम कहीं खो जाएंगे
इन्ही बहारों के, आँचल में थक के सो जाएंगे
सपनों को फिर भी, तुम यूँही सजाते रहना
कभी अलविदा …
बीच राह में दिलवर, बिछड़ जाएं कहीं हम अगर
और सूनी सी लगे तुम्हें, जीवन की ये डगर
हम लौट आएंगे, तुम यूँही बुलाते रहना
कभी अलविदा …
(slow)
चलते चलते …
रोते हँसते …
अलविदा तो अंत है
और अंत किसने देखा
ये जुदाई ही
मिलन है जो हम ने देखा
यादों में आकर
तुम यूँही गाते रहना
कभी अलविदा … Of course, Kishore Kumar sang it superbly.
My Own Poetry
ALVIDA!
वक़्त की आंधी में क्या क्या हुआ बर्बाद,
सुहाने प्यार की फ़क़त रह गयी है याद I
उनकी मायूसी को मैं खुशग्वार करता गया,
रफ्ता रफ्ता मेरी ही ज़िन्दगी बन गयी नाशाद I
मेरी वफाओं ने आखिर मान ली हार अपनी,
उनकी जफ़ाएं रहीं बुलंद और ज़िंदाबाद I
मैंने सोचा था उनकी खुदी आजज़ी में बदल जायेगी,
मेरे होते न सही, कम अज़ कम मेरे जाने के बाद I
अलविदा मेरे हसीन हमसफ़र ओ हमनवाज़,
जहाँ भी रहो, रहो खुशदिल और मवाद I
रुख़सत के वक़्त यह दुआ उनके साथ रहे, रवि,
हर ग़म, हर उदासी, हर बेकसी से वह रहें आज़ाद I
This Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Chalte chalte mere yeh geet yaad rakhna (haha, as if you would…just forget it)…
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #56 in the 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 #58 Shaam-e-gham ki kasam Theme-word: Ab to aaja ke ab raat bhi so gayi
Happy Birthday Dilip Kumar, 11 Dec 2020
He is 98 years old today and no doubt the entire country awaits to celebrate his hundredth birthday.
There is no doubt in my mind that he ruled the acting scene of Hindi films for decades. Like Mohammad Rafi, Shakeel and Naushad, there is no one to hold a mirror to him. His acting style was imitated (for example by Amitabh Bachchan). However, Dilip Kumar was and is head and shoulder above others.
Many years ago, I have gone on record in my blog that the best songs in Hindi movies were made by the quartet of Shakeel, Naushad, Rafi and Dilip Kumar.
That doesn’t mean that the others haven’t sung songs for him any less. Take Talat Mahmood, for example. You are bound to instantly agree with me that this song ranks among the best ever.
Talat Mahmood for Dilip Kumar
Talat Mahmood
This is not the only gem that Talat sang for Dilip Kumar. There are, for example, others such as:
Ai dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal.
Seene mein sulagte hain armaan.
Ye hawa ye raat ye chandni.
Milte hi aankhen dil hua.
This Song
(Poster courtesy: en.wikipedia.org)
It is from the 1953 Zia Sarhadi movie Footpath that had Meena Kumari opposite Dilip Kumar.
As my friend Ashwani Sharma has brought out earlier, there is debate about how come the song is credited to be written by both Ali Sardar Jafri and Majrooh Sultanpuri. Here are the outstanding lyrics, the kind that leave you stunned:
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम आज ग़मगीं हैं हम
आ भी जा आ भी जा आज मेरे सनम
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम
दिल परेशान हैं रात वीरान हैं
देख जा किस तरह आज तनहा हैं हम
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम
चैन कैसा जो पहलू में तू ही नहीं
मार डाले न दर्द-ए-जुदाई कहीं
रुत हंसीं हैं तो क्या चाँदनी है तो क्या
चाँदनी ज़ुल्म है और जुदाई सितम
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम
अब तो आजा के अब रात भी सो गई
ज़िन्दगी ग़म के सेहराव में खो गई (२)
ढूँढती हैं नज़र तू कहाँ हैं मगर
देखते देखते आया आँखों में ग़म
शाम-ए-ग़म की क़सम
My Own Poetry
Woh Tum Na Thi
तुम वह नहीं हो जिस से मैं प्यार करता था,
आँखों में आँखें डाल के इज़हार करता था.
मेरी जुबां – ऐ – नब्ज़ पे था तेरी वफ़ा का नाम,
शौक – ऐ – ज़िन्दगी को सलाम सौ – बार करता था.
क्या आलम था वह अब भी दिल को खबर है,
सेहर से ही शब – ऐ – हुस्न का इंतज़ार करता था.
नाज़ुक लबों पे गर्मी – ऐ – जज़्बात थरथराते थे,
तेरी मासूमियत – ओ – नज़ाकत से न मैं इंकार करता था.
सुबह को जब तुम शाम कह के सुनाती थी,
तेरे सजदे में झुक के मैं इकरार करता था.
उल्फत -ऐ -ज़िन्दगी में वो मक़ाम भी आये,
जब तुम थी नहीं फिर भी तेरा दीदार करता था.
काश मैं समझ सकता तेरी दगा – बाज़ी का हुनर,
तुम वह कभी थी ही नहीं जिस से मैं प्यार करता था.
The Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Shaam-e-gham ki kasam…
I hope you liked my choice of Raat or Din Song #56.
Please await Raat or Din Song #57 – Raat dhalne lagi chand chhupne laga.
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 23 Aug 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
Remembering Nadira on Her Birth Anniversary 05 Dec
She was born on this date in the year 1932. Her full name was Florence Ezekiel Nadira. As the name suggests, she was a Jew (of a Baghdadi Jewish family).
Aan, the first technicolor Indian movie, of 1952, made her suddenly have limelight. The movie was made by Mehboob Khan and she acted as a Rajput princess who would eventually fall in love with a commoner Dilip Kumar.
The movie was the first Indian movie to be released worldwide. Naturally, the movie relied heavily on the lyrics of Shakeel and Music of Naushad.
Shree 420
However, the Beautiful Duet that I have taken for you is from the 1955 movie Shree 420, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. Main lead of the movie were Raj Kapoor and Nargis; Raj Kapoor coming into the city of Bombay from a village but soon learning that being a con man (420) was earning him good life.
The one person who helped him become a card-sharp was the high-society woman Nadira.
This Song
Raj Kapoor’s love with Nargis reminds him over and over again that he must leave his crooked ways and return to being a straight guy. However, such is not in Nadira’s interest. More so, since it is a New Year eve and lots of money van be made in card sharping.
Shailendra penned the excellent lyrics and it was composed by Shankar Jaikishan as a Waltzing number, appropriately for that night.
The song was sung by Asha Bhosle for Nadira and Manna Dey for Raj Kapoor.
The Lyrics
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख, मुड़ मुड़ के
ज़िंदगानी के सफ़र में तू अकेला ही नहीं है
हम भी तेरे हमसफ़र हैं
आये गये मंज़िलों के निशाँ
लहरा के झूमा झुका आसमाँ
लेकिन रुकेगा न ये कारवाँ
अह ह ह आ~~
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख, मुड़ मुड़ के
ज़िंदगानी के सफ़र में तू अकेला ही नहीं है
हम भी तेरे हमसफ़र हैं, हे!
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …
नैनों से नैना जो मिला के देखे
मौसम के साथ मुस्कुरा के देखे
दुनिया उसीकी है जो आगे देखे
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …
दुनिया के साथ जो बदलता जाये
जो इसके ढाँचे में ही ढलता जाये
दुनिया उसीकी है जो चलता जाये
मुड़ मुड़ के न देख …
My Own Poetry
Zindagi Kya Kya Sikhati Hai?
खुशी बढ़ती है बांटने से,
दर्द बांटने से घटता है,
गमगीन हों तो वक़्त बोझ है,
मुस्कराते बस यूं ही कटता है।
लेने से दौलत नहीं बढ़ती,
देने से हम होते हैं अमीर,
वो क्या गरीब जो किसी का ग़म खरीदे,
वो क्या अमीर जो बेच डाले ज़मीर?
क्या फायदा उस सच का,
जो किसी की ले ले जान,
क्यूं नफ़रत करें उस झूठ की,
जो आदमी को बना दे इंसान?
बहुत बोझ मिलते हैं उठाने को,
उठता नहीं बोझ गुनाहों का।
लोगों से तो नज़रें बचा लोगे,
क्या करिए अपनी अंदरूनी निगाहों का?
जो दूसरों के चुराएं ख्यालात,
वो तो बहुत मकबूल हैं,
वो बेचारे अकेले फिरते हैं
जिनकी अपनी तखील और असूल हैं।
सुनने देखने पे भी दोस्तो,
न करना कभी उसका यकीन,
जो मीठी मीठी बातें करे,
पर हो सांप ए आस्तीन।
Finally, the Duet
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Mud mud ke na dekh mud mud ke…
I started this series on my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne on 18 Oct 20. Since then, many other members have put up these songs. Here, I shall be giving you one of my own, per day.
Song #55 Kaise koi jeeye zehar hai zindagi Theme-word: In the mukhada
Baadbaan – 1954 Movie
(Poster courtesy: en.wikipedia.org)
In the last two weeks, I have given you quite a few of the movies directed by Phani Majumdar. This 1954 movie Baadbaan (Shelter from Storm). The movie starred Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Usha Kiran, Mehmood and Leela Chitnis.
Indeevar penned the lyrics of this song and Timir Baran composed it. The song has two versions: the female version by Geeta Dutt and the male version by Hemant Kumar.
Not just that the lyrics are very beautiful (yes, Indeevar wrote these before Bappi Lahiri ruled his life for as many as 500 trash songs), but the composition makes it very suitable as RRR Song. The kind of Regret, Repentance and Ruefulness that you experience with the song makes it very soulful.
I am going to give you both versions. The lyrics are the same in both Geeta Dutt and Hemant Kumar versions:
कैसे कोई जिए ज़हर है ज़िन्दगी
उठा तूफ़ान वो…
उठा तूफ़ान आस के सब बुझ गए दिए~~~
कैसे कोई जिए
बादल है या धुआ आग लगी कहा
जलता ना हो कही मेरा ही आशिया
अंगारे थे आंसू नही वो दिल ने जो पिए
कैसे कोई जिए
ज़हर है ज़िन्दगी
उठा तूफ़ान वो….
तारे ना जाने ऊंचाई गगन की
आंखे ना समझे गहराई मन की
गहराई मन की..तारे ना जाने
प्यासे पपीहे ने आस थी बाधी
उड़ गए बादल अI गई आंधी
हमने जो छेड़ा दिल ने हसी से
होठ सी लिए
कैसे कोई जिए ज़हर है ज़िन्दगी
My Own Poetry
TOOFAN SE HOON ANJAAN
बात कहने से बात निकल आती है,
न कहूं तो बात बन जाती है।
बाहर तूफ़ान आने को है लेकिन,
अंदर धड़कन खामोश हुई जाती है।
इश्क़ की हवाएं तेज़ हुआ करती थीं,
लहरें उमड़ कर उनका ही दम भरती थीं।
दिल की रगें मेरी तो थीं लेकिन,
लगता था वह उनसे कुछ डरती थीं।
और फ़िर वह मुकाम भी आया,
ज़िन्दगी ने इस कदर हमें आजमाया।
जैसे दोनों के बीच आ गया हो,
भूले हुए ज़ख्मों का कोई साया।
क्या खबर उनको हो गया हूं दूर तूफ़ान से,
जैसे साहिल पे पत्थर पड़े हों बेजान से।
इन्सान तो इन्सान है लेकिन,
मैं तो बेरुख हुआ हूं भगवान से।
रहने दो यादों के शोलों को राख में,
पड़ा रहने दो मुझे वक़्त की ख़ाक में।
नहीं लगते हैं वह फूल कभी दोबारा,
एक बार टूट जो गए उस हरी शाख से।
The Song
Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy both versions of: Kaise koi jeeye, zehar hai zindagi…
I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #55 in the 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 #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
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?
Malkaush is a late night raaga
Phool or flower is often compared to blossoming of Love. The last thing that the lovers want is that it should be called infatuation. This is exactly the theme of this Manna De song. This ranks amongst his best. The song is from the 1971 movie Anubhav directed by Basu Bhattacharya and starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja. Lyrics are by Kapil Kumar and music by Kanu Roy. The latter composed it in Raag Desh. You may recall OP Nayyar’s Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye in the same raag.
आज चाँद की ज़मीन पर उतरा है चन्द्रयान,
इस से पहले हम चाँद पर तब पहुंचे थे,
भारत के लोग सदियों से भा में रहे हैं रत,
ऐसी आज़ाद सोच वाले मुल्क को,
अब इन्हें भी खबर तो मिल गई होगी,
पूनम की रात को चमकता चांद यह कहे:
चाँद की धरती पर अब ऐसा मंदिर बनेगा,
तिरंगा चाँद पर यूँ लहराता है जैसे,
चाँद, अब हम आते जाते रहेंगे तुम्हें मिलने,
आओ फ़िर से सर ऊंचा कर के चलें,
It is from the 1961 SS Vasan movie Gharana starring Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Asha Parekh.
It is from the 1966 T Prakash Rao movie Suraj starring the Jubilee hero Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.
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.
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.
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.
The movie had a story based on a story Mare Gaye Gulfam by Hindi novelist Phanishwarnath Renu. I am not going into the three wows as almost everyone knows about them. Suffice it to say that Waheeda Rehman as Hirabai traveling with a Nautanki had more than adequate opportunities for song and dance. This too is a nautanki dance and song just as Paan khaye sainyan hamaro, Mare gaye gulfaam, and Haay ghazab kahin tara toota.
Mohammad Zahur Khayyam was born on 18 Feb 1927 in the village Rahon, near Nawanshahr. This is only 16 Kms away from where I was born some 17 years later. He became famous and I am writing about him.
He was a nephew of Dev Anand and had the screen name of Vishal Anand (Dev Anand’s sister was his mother). He produced the 1976 movie Chalte Chalte and decided to act as the hero of the movie opposite Simi Garewal. This was one of the 11 movies that he either produced, directed or acted in.
Kohli produced the movie and he had Sunder Das direct it. He as Vishal Anand tried to act in the movie with Simi Garewal.
He is 98 years old today and no doubt the entire country awaits to celebrate his hundredth birthday.
She was born on this date in the year 1932. Her full name was Florence Ezekiel Nadira. As the name suggests, she was a Jew (of a Baghdadi Jewish family).
However, the Beautiful Duet that I have taken for you is from the 1955 movie Shree 420, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. Main lead of the movie were Raj Kapoor and Nargis; Raj Kapoor coming into the city of Bombay from a village but soon learning that being a con man (420) was earning him good life.
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 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.
