Category: Music and Cinema

Beautiful Duet Series

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 #15 – Dum bhar jo udhar moonh phere. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #16
Ye wada karo chand ke saamne

Love in Times of Enmity

Sohrab Modi’s 1956 movie Raj Hath (or Rajhath) revolved around two neighbouring empires whose animosity knows no limits. Their children Madhubala and Pradeep Kumar try to convert their enmity into love. I have already told you that if Love is anywhere, Hasrat Jaipuri is to be called and he’d do the needful in his lyrics.

This movie has, for example, another song penned by him that became one of the best of Mohammad Rafi (there are, indeed, quite a few of Mohammad Rafi’s popular songs songs that were penned by Hasrat Jaipuri. The song was: Aaye bahar ban ke lubha kar chale gaye. Madhubala was sent, dressed as a man into the territory of Pradeep Kumar to recover documents. In addition, she managed to steal his heart too.

Shankar Jaikishan

On one hand, Rajhath was all about Shams Lucknowi’s interesting story. On the other hand, in order to carry the story forward, Shankar Jaikishan composed some really memorable songs. The two songs that I mentioned are the best of the movie.

Madhubala and Pradeep Kumar

Sohrab Modi was a Dadasaheb Award winner. However, the only minus of the song is that he wasn’t able to bring out the kind of chemistry between Pradeep Kumar and Madhubala that should have existed on a Chand song.

One must see how Nandlal Jaswantlal was able to bring out in 1954 movie Nagin (on similar story of feud between neighbouring tribes) the chemistry between Pradeep Kumar and Vyjayanthimala.

I have, lately started looking at each aspect of the song and I think the song lacks good direction here. I saw Zikr hota hai jab qayamat ka and saw similar flaw plus average rendition by Mukesh.

Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh

Here, Mukesh and Lata both have sung it well and have proved that they were great duet singers. Chand as a witness was a common theme for lovers and they confided in Chand whilst talking about their Love.

Please enjoy: Ye waada karo chand ke saamne…

ये वादा करो चाँद के सामने
भुला तो न दोगे मेरे प्यार को
मेरे हाथ में हाथ दे दो ज़रा
सहारा मिलेगा मेरे प्यार को

ये चन्दा ये तारे तो छुप जायेंगे
मगर मेरी नज़रों से छुपना न तुम
बदल जाये दुनिया न बदलेंगे हम
निभाना ही होगा इस इक़रार को
ये वादा करो चाँद के सामने …

बहारों के साये में आ झूम लें
भुला दें ज़माने के ग़म आज तो
ज़माने के ग़म से हमें काम क्या
हमें तुम मिले और क्या चाहिये
कि हम छोड़ बैठे हैं संसार को
ये वादा करो चाँद के सामने …

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #16.

Please await Beautiful Duet #17- Gum hai kisi ke pyar mein.

Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series

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.

I hope you liked my choice for Song #14 – Hum chhod chale hain mehfil ko in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #15.

Songs #15
Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm mein lati hai mujhe

Happy Birthday Talat Aziz 10 Nov

He was born on this date in 1956 in Hyderabad. He started learning music from an early age. Jan Nisar Akhtar and Jagjit Singh were frequent guests to his family’s place.

This song from 1981 movie Umrao Jaan was one of his early successes. This was followed by his Bazaar (1982 movie) Phir chhidi raat baat phoolon ki.

He emerged as a ghazal maestro and has made good name for himself for singing both fiolmy and non-filmy ghazals.

Umrao Jaan – 1981 Movie

This was directed by Muzaffar Ali and is quoted as one of the best roles of Rekha.

The story is of 1840 when a girl named Amiran is kidnapped from Faridabad and sold to the brothel madam Khannum Jaan in Lucknow.

She becomes accomplished in writing shayari, singing and dancing and emerges as Umrao Jaan.

Farooq Sheikh as Nawab Sultan falls in love with her but later reveals that he must marry a gilrl of the choice of his parents.

This ghazal is sung by him to show his gratitude to Umrao Jaan for her love and care. It was penned by Shahryar and composed by Khayyam. Khayyam won both National and Filmfare Awards for the music and Rekha too won both the awards as Best Actress. The other songs of the movie as fondly remembered, if not more are:

1. Dil chhez kya hai aap meri jaan leejiye.
2. In aankhon ki masti ke.
3. Justuju jiski thi.
4. Yeh kya jagah hai dosto.

The Lyrics

ज़िंदगी जब भी तेरी बज़्म में लाती है हमें
ये ज़मीं चाँद से बेहतर नज़र आती है हमें

सुर्ख फूलों से महक उठती हैं दिल की राहें
दिन ढले यूँ तेरी आवाज़ बुलाती है हमें
ज़िंदगी …

याद तेरी कभी दस्तक कभी सरगोशी से
रात के पिछले पहर रोज़ जगाती है हमें
ज़िंदगी …

हर मुलाक़ात का अंजाम जुदाई क्यूँ है
अब तो हर वक़्त यही बात सताती है हमें
ज़िंदगी …

My Own Poetry

Yeh Bhi Jeena Hi To Hai

मरने के बारे में सोच कर,
ज़िन्दगी का ख्याल आ गया।
और जियें या ना जिएं,
फ़िर वही सवाल आ गया।

ज़िन्दगी गुज़र रही थी,
तहरीक ए हयात से मज़ूल।
फकत यही सोच के,
यूं ही उबाल आ गया।

आपको शायद लगता है,
मैं अभी भी जिंदा हूं।
जैसे ही खून ए दिल से,
रुख पे मलाल आ गया।

छोड़िए, रहने दीजिए,
जाने भी दीजिए इसे अब।
आख़िर में वक़्त यूं ही,
थोड़ी तेज़ चाल आ गया।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm mein laati hai hamen…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #14 in the series.

Please await Song #16 –  Insaaf ki dagar pe.

Beautiful Duet Series

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 #14 – Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #15
Dum bhar jo udhar moonh phere, O chanda…

Dedication to the Composers of Millennium – Shankar Jaikishan

Shankar Jaikishan Foundation, Ahmedabad, particularly my friends Chirag Patel, Snehal Patel, Rajan Bedke, and Uday Joglekar are doing an outstanding job to make us forget Corona restrictions and giving us superb programmes of SJ songs to enjoy in Live Fests on Facebook and You Tube.

What is it about Shankar Jaikishan that doesn’t let a day go by when we don’t think of their remarkably beautiful music? The fact is that we can go on and on and still not do full justice to their mastery.

Recently, to them, I commented upon one attribute of theirs that, I think, stands out: it is to do with their imagining, in advance, the effect of their music on the common audiences in the halls.

Take me, for example, I gave you in this series and named a Music Group after what I feel is a perfect duet: Dil ki nazar se. This group is named after another memorable duet of theirs” Yaad kiya dil ne kahan ho tum.

Shailendra

Dil ki nazar se too was penned by him and Yaad kiya dil ne by Hasrat Jaipuri. Hats off to the team that Raj Kapoor made: Shankar Jaikishan, Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra; they never competed against one another but always complemented one another’s efforts. Whereas Hasrat Jaipuri would take you into romance, Shailendra would take you a little deeper until you feel your soul is connected to the emotions of the song. They are so many memorable songs that you sit entranced watching them.

Raj Kapoor and Nargis

He was 26 years old when this movie, Awaara, was shot and she was 21 years old. The way they have enacted the song makes them appear much younger. Of course, she in her ribbons actually gives the appearance of being with her first Love and he is amused that she’d choose an Awaara as her lover!

Look at the mastery of Shailendra; she is the one who wants Chanda (Moon) to look the other way whilst she loves him and he, the Chor (Thief) wants the Chanda to look their way so that he can be witness to their love! Only, Shailendra could have thought of something as unique as this: she as the thief for stealing his heart and he needing someone to stand witness to the act!

Outstanding indeed!

For me, being in the Navy, Nargis had already won my heart by being in a nautical shirt complete with anchors and their choosing to voice their love for the first time in a boat (compare this with another boat in Meena Kumari’s Ajeeb dastaan hai yeh and then Dil apna aur preet prayi.

Can’t let sea and boats get out of Love!

My most memorable in this is my fantasy song’s second stanza: Chand sa mukhada kyun sharmaya, hold your breath, also penned by Shailendra.

The Lyrics

लता: दम भर जो उधर मुँह फेरे
दम भर जो उधर मुँह फेरे, ओ चन्दा
मै उनसे प्यार कर लूंगी, बातें हज़ार कर लूँगी

दिल करता है प्यार के सजदे – २
और मैं भी उनके साथ
चाँद को चन्दा रोज़ ही देखे
मेरी पहली रात, हो … मेरी पहली रात
बादल में अब छुप जा रे ओ चन्दा
मै उनसे प्यार कर …

मुकेश: दम भर जो इधर मुँह फेरे
दम भर जो इधर मुँह फेरे, ओ चन्दा
मै उनसे प्यार कर लूँगा, नज़रें तो चार कर लूँगा

मै चोर हूँ काम है चोरी – २
दुनिया में हूँ बदनाम
दिल को चुराता आया हूँ मैं
येही मेरा काम, हो … येही मेरा काम
आना तू गवाही देने ओ चन्दा
मै उनसे प्यार कर लूँगा, नज़रें तो चार कर लूँगा

लता: दिल को चुराके खो मत जाना – २
राह न जाना भूल
इन कदमों से कुचल ना देना
मेरे दिल का फूल, हो … मेरे दिल का फूल
ये बात उन्हें समझा दे ओ चन्दा
मै उनसे प्यार कर लूँगी …

Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh

He has been the singing voice of Raj Kapoor even in Dil ki nazar se. Lata has sung here for Nargis and Dil ki nazar se for Nutan. The magic is the same.

My Own Poetry

Chand is my most favourite theme and here is why:

Chand Mere Liye Kya Hai?

कैसे बतायूँ किसीको चांद मेरे लिए क्या है,
चांदनी प्यार बन के बिखरी है उसी की तो दुआ है।

होने को ज़िन्दगी में बहुत कुछ हो चुका, लेकिन
जब जब चांद निकला, लगता तभी कुछ हुआ है।

उनकी आंखों में झलक उठती है किरण माहताब की,
मैं कुछ कहूँ तो कहते हैं जाईये यह सिर्फ हया है।

लोग कहते हैं सदियों से ऐसे ही उगता रहा है,
मेरे दिल में नज़र डालो, हर चांद कुछ नया है।

दिल के ख़ज़ाने रौशन हुए यह चांद की खिदमत है,
पूछते हैं वह चांद ने तुम्हें दिया ही क्या है।

तन्हाई में मुझे और मेरी कलम को इक सहारा मिला,
चांद न हो तो जीने में क्या मज़ा है।

डगमगाता हूँ चांदनी रातों में कुछ ऐसे, रवि,
जैसे चांदनी चांदनी नहीं इक अजब सा नशा है।

Please enjoy: Dum bhar jo udhar moonh phere…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #15.

Please await Beautiful Duet #16- Ye wada karo chand ke saamne.

Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series

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.

I hope you liked my choice for Song #13 – Kise yaad rakhun kise bhool jaayun in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #14.

Song #14
Hum chhod chale hain mehfil ko
Theme-word: Jeevan ke safar mein tanhayi, Mujhako to na zinda chhodegi

Ji Chahta Hai – 1964 Movie

This Bibhuti Mehta movie starred Joy Mukherjee and Rajshree in search of a job. They get job with an old couple but have to pretend to be married since the elederly couple cannot trust single people looking after them.

It is the same story as that of 1957 LV Prasad movie Miss Mary starring Gemini Ganesan and Meena Kumari with beautiful songs such as Brindavan ka Krishan Kanhaiya, and O raat ke mussafir Chanda zara bata de.

As a twist from the Miss Mary story it comes out that Joy Mukherjee is actually the son of the elderly couple and that pretensions apart, they actually were married too.

Plenty of scope, if you can imagine, for this song.

This Song

It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Kalyanji Anandji. It is one of my favourites of Mukesh singing for Joy Mukherjee. A number of sites have given credit to Indeevar for having written this song because Indeevar wrote many songs for KA. Perhaps Kishwar Jaipuri behna can confirm if her dad wrote this or Indeevar. Have a look at the lyrics (to me these appear to have been written in the style of Hasrat Jaipuri):

हम छोड़ चले हैं महफ़िल को याद आये कभी तो मत रोना
इस दिल को तसल्ली दे देना, घबराये कभी तो मत रोना
हम छोड़ चले हैं महफ़िल को …

एक ख़्वाब सा देखा था हमने
जब आँख खुली वो टूट गया
ये प्यार अगर सपना बनकर
तड़पाये कभी तो मत रोना
हम छोड़ चले हैं महफ़िल को

तुम मेरे ख़यालों में खोकर
बरबाद न करना जीवन को
जब कोई सहेली बात तुम्हें
समझाये कभी तो मत रोना
हम छोड़ चले हैं महफ़िल को …

जीवन के सफ़र में तनहाई
मुझको तो न ज़िन्दा छोड़ेगी
मरने की खबर ऐ, जान-ए-जिगर
मिल जाये कभी तो मत रोना
हम छोड़ चले हैं महफ़िल को

My Own Poetry

Sab Ajanabee Hain Par Kuchh To Hai Apna

रोने से कुछ न बन सका तो हसने की आयी बारी,
कुछ इस तरह से हमने है ज़िन्दगी गुज़ारी I

वह जब करीब आये तो हम दूर हो गए,
जीती हुयी ये बाज़ी खुद से है हमने हारी I

ज़िन्दगी की कश्म-ओ-कश में यह भी भुला दिया,
फिर कभी न मिल पायेगी, यह ज़िन्दगी हमारी I

साये बढ़ते गए आफताब चले जाने के बाद I
महताब की किरण भी दिखा गयी लाचारी I

दुनिया के शोर-ओ-गुल में परायों से क्या हो शिकवा,
अपने तो जान लेते मेरी यह बेक़रारी I

चमन के फूलों की यादें भी अब मुरझा गयीं हैं,
अब तो खिज़ा ही लेकिन लगती है मुझको पयारी I

सब अजनबी हैं, रवि, पर कुछ तो है अपना,
तन्हाई की यह दौलत मेरी ही तो है सारी I

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Hum chhod chale hain mehfil ko…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #14 in the series.

Please await Song #15 –  Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm mein.

Beautiful Duet Series

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 #13 – Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #14
Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe

Another Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi Duet

We all want newness and hence, after having enjoyed Lata – Rafi duets during our entire life, we want to sound novel by liking other singers. However, we know that some of the best duets in Hindi movies were sung by them. Somewhere, in the layers of our memory these are lying dormant until someone like me re-evokes them. I had given you, on 07 Sep, for example, their Teri duniya se door chale hoke majboor and most of you agreed that that was a classic.

This is yet another one.

Vijay Bhatt’s 1959 Movie Goonj Uthi Shehnai

Vijay Bhatt did it once for the 1952 movie Baiju Bawra whose songs are still fondly remembered. He did it again in this movie that had the Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan playing the Shehnai all throughout in the movie. The 1962 movie Himalaya Ki God Mein and 1965 movie Hariyali Aur Raasta are some other popular movies of his.

Songs of the movies have been a strong attraction in his movies. Baiju Bawra had 13 songs composed by Naushad and penned by Shakeel Badayuni, each one composed in a raag.

Goonj Uthi Shehnai’s story revolved around Rajendra Kumar as Kishan having learnt Shehnai on his own until Ulhas as Raghunath Maharaj hones his talent by taking him as a disciple when he was a boy. Raghunath’s daughter Ramkali (played by Anita Guha) adores him and dreams of becoming his wife. However, Kishan is so deeply in love with his childhood friend Gopi (played by Ameeta) that Rami (Ramkali) soon takes up the role of Kishan’s mother/sister to facilitate their love. Postman IS Johar as Kanhaiya is the fly in their ointment and gradually succeeds in separating the couple. In the end they die and only their souls meet.

Of course, Gopi is enamoured by Kishan’s Shehnai and feels that the right combination for them is his Sur (musical notes) and her Geet (songs).

Bharat Vyas and Vasant Desai

This duo of Lyricist – Music Director have given us some memorable songs; eg, Aye malik tere bande hum in V Shantaram’s classic Do Aankhen Barha Haath. Certainly, some of those cherished songs are in this movie:

1. “Teri Shehnai Bole” Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi
2. “Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet” Lata Mangeshkar
3. “Maine Peena Seekh Liya” Mohd. Rafi
4. “Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe” Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi
5. “Haule Haule Ghoonghat Pat Khole” Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi
6. “Akhiyan Bhool Gain Hain Sona” Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt
7. “Mujhko Agar Bhool Jaoge Tum” Lata Mangeshkar
8. “Kah Do Koi Na Kare Yahan Pyaar” Mohd. Rafi
9. “Dil Ka Khilona Hai Toot Gaya” Lata Mangeshkar

The melodious resolve by the lovers to live, love and die together has been brought out beautifully in the lyrics of Bharat Vyas and extraordinarily beautiful composition by Vasant Desai.

The Lyrics

जीवन में पिया तेरा साथ रहे
हाथों में तेरे मेरा हाथ रहे
जीवन में पिया तेरा साथ रहे

जब तक सूरज चन्दा चमके
गंगा जमुना में बहे पानी
रहे तब तक प्रीत अमर अपनी
है ये जनम जनम की दीवानी
ओ रानी याद मिलन
ओ जी हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ रानी याद मिलन की ये रात रहे
हाथों में तेरे मेरा हाथ रहे …

{शृ}ंगार भरा पिया प्यार तेरा
झंकार करे है मेरे कँगना में
लगी जब से लगन मेरे मन में सजन
शहनाई बजे है मेरे अँगना में
ओ पिया याद मिलन
ओ जी हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ पिया याद मिलन की ये रात रहे
हाथों में तेरे मेरा हाथ रहे …

My Own Poetry

Hamare Dil Ka Geet

रातों के ख्वाब दिन में भी लगे आने,
तेरे प्यार में सनम हम हो गए दीवाने।
सांस रुकने लगी,
आंख झुकने लगी,
तन्हाई के पल भी अब बन गए सुहाने।
मुहब्बत की यह धुन,
इसे दिल से सुन।

सेहरा में भी आ गयी बहार,
खिल उठा है मेरा घर संसार।
ठंडी ठंडी हवाएं,
भीगी भीगी फिजायें,
तेरा ही कर रही थी इंतज़ार।
मुहब्बत की यह धुन,
इसे दिल से सुन।

ज़िन्दगी भर रहेगा अपना साथ,
हमेशा रहेगा मेरे हाथों में तेरा हाथ।
बस यूँ ही यूँ है,
हर तरफ तूँ ही तूँ है,
जन्मों जन्मों की हमारी मुलाकात।
मुहब्बत की यह धुन,
इसे दिल से सुन।

Please enjoy: Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #14.

Please await Beautiful Duet #15- Dam bhar jo udhar moonh dekhe.

Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series

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.

I hope you liked my choice for Song #12 – Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #13.

Song #13
Koi dil mein hai, Koi hai nazar mein (Kise yaad rakhun, kise bhool jayun?)
Theme-word: Ari zindagi toone ye kya kiya hai?

Notions of Virtue and Reality

Since the advent of mankind, there has been evolution of the notions of Virtue. Of course, we know that in God’s world, the only Absolute is God Himself and all Virtues are Relative (those of you who are not on conveyor belt may like to read through my essay: Absolute Virtue . I also delve in Philosophy in addition to various other subjects such as Humour, Poetry, and a motley of other subjects.

The fact is that our notion of Virtue goads us to accept One Man – One Woman concept as the bedrock of Goodness. However, human beings are human and are sometimes torn between the love for two; finding each one worthy of their devotion.

This is the thought behind this song.

Anuraag – 1956 Movie

This movie was directed by Madhusudan and had two females in the life of the hero: Mukesh: Pratima Devi and Usha Kiran. Both came into his life at times when he needed them and he was torn between their Love.

This song was penned by Kaif Irfani and was composed by Mukesh himself. Hence, as you can make out, this is one song that has Mukesh all the way.

Here are the lyrics for you to understand the situation:

कोई दिल में है और कोई है नज़र में
मोहब्ब्त के सपने मैं किस पे लुटाऊँ
इसी कश्मकश में जिए जा रहा हूँ
किसे याद रखूँ किसे भूल जाऊँ

उधर दिल मोहब्बत में उनको दिया है
इधर फ़र्ज़ का बोझ सर पे लिया है
अरी ज़िन्दगी तूने ये क्या किया है
किसे याद रखूँ किसे भूल जाऊँ

न बस में है मेरे तुम्हे भूल जाना
न बस में है इनको नज़र से गिराना
मेरी बेबसी का बस इतना फ़साना
किसे याद रखूँ किसे भूल जाऊँ

My Own Poetry

Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum?

हम फिर खुद ही खुद से किनारा कर बैठे,
अनजाने में वही गुनाह दोबारा कर बैठे।

कुछ नहीं मिलता हमें यकीनन पता भी है,
जाने क्यूं आज फिर यादों का सहारा कर बैठे।

बार बार वहीं जाता है दिल नज़र ना भी पहुंचे,
फिर उसी गम, उसी बेकसी का नज़ारा कर बैठे।

ज़िन्दगी है, ज़िंदा रहना जरूरी है अपनों के लिए,
फिर क्यूं आज मौत को इशारा कर बैठे।

ख्वाहिशें थी जन्नत मेरी देहलीज़ पे रखेगी कदम,
अब ग़म ए दिल की हकीकत को गवारा कर बैठे।

दौलत ए एहमियत को रखते थे दिल के करीब,
आज उस खुदी को लाचार आवारा कर बैठे।

मिलेंगे तुझे जब खुदा सवाल तो उठेगा दिल में,
उम्र गुज़री जिसे मेरा कहने में, अब क्यूं हमारा कर बैठे।

The Song

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy: Koi dil mein hai, Koi hai nazar mein…

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #13 in the series.

Please await Song #14 –  Hum chhod chale hain mehfil ko.

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 #13 in the series. I hope you liked Song #12 – Ye nayan dare dare.

Song #13
Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein
Theme-word: Bheegi bheegi raat mein dil ka daaman thaam le

Raat – Chand – Love – Hasrat Jaipuri

If Shailendra did magic in the Awaara song that I had put up on 16th: Dam bhar jo udhar moonh phere, Hasrat Jaipuri wrote this stunningly beautiful song for Chori Chori. Here is the natural succession: Raat leads to Chand, Chand leads to Love and Longing and Love and Longing lead to Hasrat Jaipuri.

Who was Hasrat Jaipuri?

He was simply the lyricist/poet who ruled over the hearts of the lovers. Everyone has loved some time or the others and hence can’t be unfamiliar with Hasrat’s connection with lovers’ hearts. Whatever emotions you go through in Love, he has a song for you including when you shed tears in love or feel sad.

For us, in this group, he is the reason for the title of the group; the song that we consider as the anthem of this group: Yaad kiya dil ne. We, therefore, say with confidence that as long as Love exists, Hasrat Jaipuri lives; even though today is his death anniversary.

What specific emotions is he conveying here:

Nargis, the daughter of a shipping magnate, jumps from his ship in Bombay harbour and races to meet her lover Pran in Bangalore and marry him. Raj Kapoor, as a reporter helps her perform this journey. Gradually, she falls in love with him. This song is sung on the night before they get into Bangalore and she’d marry Pran.

Now look at the lyrics and see if the lovers are talking about her impending marriage:

म: आ जा सनम मधुर चाँदनी में हम
तुम मिलें तो वीराने में भी आ जाएगी बहार
झूमने लगेगा आसमां – २

ल: कहता है दिल और मचलता है दिल
मोरे साजन ले चल मुझे तारों के पार
लगता नहीं है दिल यहाँ – २

म: भीगी-भीगी रात में, दिल का दामन थाम ले
खोई-खोई ज़िन्दगी हरदम तेरा नाम ले
(ल: चाँद की बहकी नज़र, कह रही है प्यार कर
ज़िन्दगी है इक सफ़र, कौन जाने कल किधर ) – २
दोनो: आ जा सनम मधुर …

म: दिल ये चाहे आज तो, बादल बन उड़ जाऊँ मैं
दुल्हन जैसा आसमां, धरती पर ले आऊँ मैं
(ल: चाँद का डोला सजे, धूम तारों में मचे
झूम के दुनिया कहे, प्यार में दो दिल मिले ) – २
दोनो: आ जा सनम मधुर …

You’ll agree with me that she has freed herself from the burden of marrying Pran.

Incidentally, Hasrat Jaipuri wrote (as seen by me) the top most song of Lata Mangeshkar in this movie: Rasik balma.

Shankar Jaikishan

The other day when I was attending a programme by Shankar Jaikishan Foundation, Ahmedabad, a dear friend remarked that my comments were about the singing prowess of the two female singers and nothing about Shankar Jaikishan. I was shocked. I promptly wrote: Sab kuchh unhin ka to hai!

Take away Shankar Jaikishan and all those beautiful songs mean nothing to us. In this song, for example, we hang on to not just their composition but every note of the background music and interludes. As compared to any other composers/music directors, Shankar Jaikishan’s interludes too were so unique that we often hummed these together with the song!

Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey

They sang for Nargis and Raj Kapoor respectively and became part of the enchantment; the tune is easy and catchy and doesn’t require changing scales or pitches as you would find in, for example, Aji rooth kar ab kahan jayiyega.

My Own Poetry

I have regaled you with several poems of mine about Chand and Chandni. One is currently on my timeline. Here is another:

Sab Chandramukhi Hain Bechare

आजकल के सूरजमुखी सूरज नहीं देखा करते,
चांद को देख देख रात को हैं आहें भरते।

ताकतवर होने से क्या फर्क पड़ता है,
हसीन है उसी पर हैं लोग मरते।

कौन ताके सूरज को, ठीक है ज़िन्दगी देता है,
पर चांद न होता, तो हम तुम क्या करते?

ज़िन्दगी ही नहीं, रंग भी सूरज ने दिए हैं,
पर अब सूरजमुखी, चांद के लिए हैं संवरते।

माना मैं भी रवि हूं, सूरज से नाम मिला है,
इसलिए लिख रहा हूं मैं यह डरते डरते।

कई ख्वाब चांद के मेरे भी ज़ख्म बन चुके हैं,
आज फिर से ताज़ा हो गए उभरते उभरते।

Please enjoy: Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum tum…

I hope you liked my choice of Song #13 in Raat or Din series.

Please await Song #14 – Bhool sakta hai bhala kaun.

Beautiful Duet Series

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.

On 08 Feb 2021, I gave you Beautiful Duet #12 – Aapne yaad dilaya to mujhe yaad aaya. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #13
Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya

Madhubala (Honey Maiden) and Bharat Bhushan (Grace of India)

She was nominated only once for the Filmfare Best Actress Award, ie, for her role in 18 years of her acting (not counting as child artiste) in Hindi movies, from 1947 Neel Kamal (also the debut movie of Raj Kapoor) until the 1964 Sharabi. However, she was so popular that even when she acted with Dilip Kumar (who she wanted to marry but for her father standing in their way), after the shots, people waited in queues just to get a glimpse of her. A complete movie industry depended upon her charms.

Take the 1958 movie Phagun for instance, made 11 years before she breathed her last at the age of 36 years. She was discovered with a hole in her heart (ventricular septal defect) at the age of 21, in 1954. By the time she acted in this movie, her condition had worsened to the extent that she would vomit blood (her heart was pumping unwanted extra blood). However, in between bouts of bloody cough, she would act and deliver her dialogues. And people swooned. As they did with this song.

Bharat Bhushan, on the other hand, won the second Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1955 for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, having wrested it from Dilip Kumar who won the first one for 1954 Daag. However, Dilip Kumar wrested it right back next year for Azaad and denied the same to Bharat Bhushan for Mirza Ghalib.

Phagun – the 1958 Movie

Phagun was a Bhibhuti Mitra production and directed movie that also starred Jeevan, Kammo, Nishi, Cuckoo and Mehmood.

Qamar Jalalabadi penned this song. He also penned songs for Raj Kapoor starrer Chhalia including the popular Dam dam diga diga. His song Din hai suhaana aaj pehli tareek hai used to be broadcast from Radio Ceylone for a number of years on the first of every month. My dad used to hum a popular song of his: Jab raat nahin katati zindagi kaise kategi. He also penned the super hit: Jab tumhaari yaad aayegi sanam. My favourite of his is, however, from Shammi Kapoor’s 1966 movie Preet Na Jaane Reet: Main bewafa nahin hoon tere pyaar ki kasam. Indeed, I titled one of my poems: Main Bewafa Nahin Hoon.

His songs in Phagun were composed by OP Nayyar, the music director who has the record of having most hit/super-hit songs in his movies. Take Phagun’s songs for example:

1 “Teer Yeh Chupke” Asha Bhosle 3:07 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan

2 “Main Soya Ankhiyan Meeche” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:32

3 “Barso Re Haye Bairi Badarwa Barso Re” Asha Bhosle 3:15 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan

4 “Chhum Chhum Ghunghroo Bole” Asha Bhosle 3:32 Madhubala

5 “Piya Piya Na Lage Mora Jiya” Asha Bhosle 3:19 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan

6 “Soon Ja Pukar” Asha Bhosle 3:06 Bharat Bhushan, Cuckoo, Jeevan, Kammo, Madhubala, Nishi

7 “Bana De Prabhuji” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 4:18 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan

8 “Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:53 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan

9 “Meri Chhod De Kalahi” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:12 Mehmood, Dhumal

10 “Tum Rooth Ke Mat Jana” Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle 3:15 Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan

11 “Shokh Shokh Aankhen” Asha Bhosle 4:06 Nishi, Cuckoo, Bharat Bhushan

I am sure, quite a few of your own favourites are in this movie including Piya, piya na laage mora jiya (Jungle ki morni aayi baagon ke mor se milne!), Main soya akhiyan meeche (a most enchanting number) and that beautiful Punjabi sounding duet (that’s how OP Nayyar’s songs sounded): Tum rooth ke mat jaana, in the same class as a beautiful duet from Naya Daur: Ude jab jab zufen teri, in which this actress from the South (Vyjayanthimala, that is) also did a Punjabi dance!

I had found this song as a most suitable song for Valentine’s Day. Why is this a suitable Valentine’s Day song? Oh, come on! She is enamoured by a stranger (pardesi) (Jab Jab Phool Khile came later; else Shashi Kapoor would have warned her: Pardesiyon se na akhiyan milana, Pardesiyon ko hai IK din jaana). Not having known, JJPK, she is madly in love with the Pardesi who gave her मीठा मीठा ग़म when he left. She appears to be in love with gham and Dard since even in her Pyar kiya to darna kya, she sang: इस दर्द को लेकर जीता है, इस दर्द को लेकर मरता हैI She was probably describing her own life!

Pardesi or Stranger as a Song Theme

By the way, Pardesi, is not a favourite theme with Indians alone. When Frank Sinatra sang Strangers In The Night in 1966, it made history as Grammy’s Record of the Year. Look at its lyrics:

Strangers in the night
Exchanging glances
Wondering in the night
What were the chances
We’d be sharing love
Before the night was through?

Something in your eyes
Was so inviting
Something in your smile
Was so exciting
Something in my heart told me I must have you

Strangers in the night, two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment when we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away

And ever since that night
We’ve been together
Lovers at first sight
In love forever
It turned out so right
For strangers…

My Own Poetry

My Good Morning Message #359

Why would anyone love anyone?
Is it just for frolic and fun?
How much of it is sacrifice?
What do you have to pay as price?
How do you know you are in love?
Do you get a signal from God above?

Some say it is a matter of chemistry,
But to most it still remains a mystery.
As to why just one and no one else would do,
If only someone would provide a clue.
Lovers being strangers just a moment ago,
Are suddenly closer than anyone they know.

Everyone knows Love is not a reasoned emotion,
Else, you won’t fall in love but do so in slow motion.
It affects your entire life but it overpowers you,
Without your knowing it totally showers you.
Love doesn’t give you, between several, a choice,
All you can do is to trust God and rejoice.

Love is the only one whence you fall and win,
You glow in its light outside and within.
You’re sure your loved one was born for you
And hence there is no one you can take in lieu.
You suddenly find answers to many a question,
Before long your love is your obsession.

Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi sing one of the most popular songs of that era with the most popular tune: Ik pardesi mera dil le gaya….

आशा: इक परदेसी मेरा दिल ले गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया, हाँ, इक…

रफ़ी: कौन परदेसी तेरा दिल ले गया
मोटी मोटी अँखियों मे आँसू दे गया

रफ़ी: ढूँढ रहे तुझे लाखों दिल वाले
कर दे ओ गोरी ज़रा आँखों से उजाले

आशा: आँखों का उजाला परदेसी ले गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया

आशा: मेरे परदेसिया की यही है निशानी
अँखियां बिलौर की शीशे की जवानी
ठण्डी ठण्डी आहों का सलाम दे गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया, ओय, कौन…
रफ़ी: ओहो, कौन परदेसी तेरा दिल ले गया…

रफ़ी: उसको बुला दूँ सामने ला दूँ
क्या मुझे दोगी जो तुमसे मिला दूँ
आशा: जो भी मेरे पास था वो सब ले गया
जाते जाते मीठा मीठा ग़म दे गया
रफ़ी: ओय, कौन…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #13.

Please await Beautiful Duet #14- Jeevan mein piya tera saath rahe.

Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series

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.

I hope you liked my choice for Song #11 – Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #11.

Song #12
Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye
Theme-word: Zindagi se kaho dulhan ban ke aaj to do ghadi sanvar jaaye

Difficult Being a Woman

I gave you the Raat or Din Song today as tribute to Bhupen Hazarika on his Death Anniversay. The song was picturised on Raveena Tandon who won the National Film Award as Best Actress for her role in 2001 Kalpana Lajmi movie Daman in which Raveena was subjected relentlessly to marital violence, both physical and mental.

This song is from the 1960 RK Rakhan movie Kalpana starring Padmini in the title role. Her sister’s name is the title of the movie and her other sister Ragini (Travancore Sisters) also acts in the movie.

The story is a copy of Nargis’s Adaalat and Suchitra Sen’s Mamta; a poor woman has to take up the role of a courtesan to make both ends meet.

None of the producers and directors would venture into areas wherein women could take up, in their poverty, professions other than prostitution. Mehboob Khan showed the way with Mother India. But that was an exception.

Why This Song Then?

For several reasons. One of the foremost is that a ‘A gentleman is half a lady’ and I am not ashamed of my being a gentleman who would be sensitive towards ladies. This song (not the movie) brings out those pathos (karuna) that I have long associated with Indian women: exploited, made to feel small, and having to choose between wretched life and still more wretched death (Koi ai dil jiye ke mar jaaye).

At one time, I used to regularly borrow Marilyn Ravi’s magazines Femina to read and was shocked to read that Femina touted itself as the magazine: ‘For women of substance’. I have actually seen my mother and her sisters and many other women in our family and I would say these are the ones with substance. These are the ones who won’t give up. We had nothing when my dad died (since he had taken loans to start a project after retirement that never came) and you should have seen my mother, a living copy of Mother India, battling against all odds to make the best of life.

I myself am Sunbyanyname, being my mother’s son. I look at positives. I too don’t look at choice between wretched life and wretched death.

The Song

It was written by Jawed Akhtar’s father Jan Nisar Akhtar. It was composed by OP Nayyar in Raag Desh and Khammaj and Tal Dadra and sung by Asha Bhosle for Padmini who enacted this with her histrionics so well that I have tears in my eyes to see her despondency.

Ladies and gentlemen, please feel for women whilst listening to and seeing the song: Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye…

बेकसी हद से जब गुजर जाए
कोई ऐ दिल जिए के मर जाए

जिंदगी से कहो दुल्हन बन के
आज तो दो घड़ी संवर जाए

उनको जी भर के देख लेने दे
दिल की धड़कन जरा ठहर जाये

हम हैं खुद अपनी जान के दुश्मन
क्यों ये इल्ज़ाम उनके सर जाए

मेरे नग्मों से उनका दिल न दुखे
ग़म नहीं मुझ पे जो गुजर जाए

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #12 in the series.

Please await Song #13 –  Kise yaad rakhun kise bhool jaayun? 

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.

This is the Song #12 in the series. I hope you liked Song #11 – Listen to the pouring rain.

Song #12
Ye nayan dare dare…
Theme-word: Raat haseen, ye chand haseen tu sabase haseen mere dilwar

Beautiful Lyrics

Lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi who mastered the art of conveying complex emotions in the most laconic way. Take this stanza itself. He talks about beautiful night, beautiful moon and then adds that she is more beautiful than all these.

Others would leave at that. He now asks: And more beautiful than you? Can he actually imagine someone more beautiful than his beloved? Yes, he can! He concludes: Aur tujhase haseen tera pyaar. Is that all? No, he comes up with a clincher: Tu jaane naa! (You don’t know it!)

Simply awesome.

He gives the same treatment to the second stanza. He starts by taking forward the emotions of the first stanza by saying One finds the happiness of one’s life in Love. However, some sad thoughts also lend happiness. And now he comes up with the deepest thought of the song: Even if I admit defeat; you shouldn’t!

Kohraa – the 1964 Movie

If one knows the story of Biswajeet being married initially to his licentious wife and then marrying Waheeda Rehman after the first wife disappears; and Waheeda Rehman staying in the shadow and fear of the first wife, the lyrics would obtain even greater meaning. One wonders how Kaifi Azmi packed such tremendous meaning into those few words.

The movie’s story was an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca, which even Alfred Hitchcock did in his movie Rebecca. The Hindi version was directed by Biren Nag.

Hemant Kumar

His voice is the voice of God, as seen by some. His voice is the means of transportation, the quickest way, of us into the world of the song. This happens to be one of his best on his own composition. You don’t even have to see the movie; merely by listening to him you can imagine the complete scene.

My Own Poetry

Tu Nahin To Chandni Raat Ky Kare

चांदनी रात है पर तूं मेरे साथ नहीं,
बात तो कुछ है लेकिन वह बात नहीं।

भीगी फिजायें छू लेती हैं आके रुखसार,
उनसे क्या हो जब दिल में बरसात नहीं।

एक ज़माना था शाम ओ सेहर मिलते थे हम,
अब कभी मिलें ऐसे तो हालात नहीं।

लहरे उठती हैं उठ के चली जाती हैं,
दिल की धड़कन को बढ़ा दें इनकी औकात नहीं।

पेड़ों की छाओं में बैठे भी तो क्यूं हो जादू,
ठहरे कैसे ये समां जब हाथ में तेरा हाथ नहीं।

नज़रें रह रह के ढूंढती हैं तेरी नज़रें,
कहाँ है तू इतनी तो अंधेरी रात नहीं।

कैसे अब प्यार हमारा मुकाम तक पहुंचे,
ना तो तुम से न मुझ से जब शुरुआत नहीं।

हम नहीं मिलते यह ज़माने की है पाबंदी,
क्यूं कहती हो, रवि, तेरे दिल में जज़्बात नहीं।

Please enjoy: Ye nayan dare dare…

ये नयन डरे डरे, ये जाम भरे भरे
ज़रा पीने दो
कल की किसको खबर, इक रात होके निडर
मुझे जीने दो
ये नयन डरे डरे ...

(रात हसीं ये चाँद हसीं
पर सबसे हसीं मेरे दिलबर ) - २
और तुझसे हसीं, और तुझसे हसीं तेरा प्यार
तू जाने ना
ये नयन डरे डरे ...

(प्यार मे है जीवन की खुशी
देती है खुशी कई गम भी ) - २
मै मान भी लूँ, मै मान भी लूँ कभी हार
तू माने ना
ये नयन डरे डरे ...

I hope you liked my choice of Song #12 in Raat or Din series.

Please await Song #13 – Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein.

Beautiful Duet Series

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.

On 07 Feb 2021, I gave you Beautiful Duet #11 – Teri duniya se door chale hoke majboor. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #12
Aapne yaad dilaya to mujhe yaad aaya

Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar Again

There is no race. There is no competition. The songs that you put are the ones that you beautiful memories of. My memories are related, to a large extent, with Rafi and Lata. They took me to places I never wanted to come back from. Since the others are contributing to the series and since #3 appeared twice (my fault): once for Milte hi aankhen dil hua and then, next day, for O neend na mujhako aaye, this is my 12th duet and I haven’t given you the pair more than four times. Favourites don’t keep me from giving you others.

This Duet

It is different in one respect; she doesn’t join him till the third stanza. There are many such duets in Hindi movies. Madhumati’s Dil tadap tadap ke is one example.

Aarti – the 1962 Movie

It was a Rajshri Production (such as Hum Aapke Hain Kaun), produced by Tarachand Barjatya and directed by Phani Majumdar. The movie starred Pradeep Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari and Shashikala, the complete cast that was repeated in Bheegi Raat with another great song: Dil jo na keh saka wohi raaz-e-dil kehne ki raat aayi.

Majrooh Sultanpuri and Roshan

The following plot enabled them to come up with some of the most melodious songs of that era:

“An unemployed young man named Deepak (Pradeep Kumar) saves Aarti Gupta (Meena Kumari), a hardworking and dedicated doctor, from drowning, and the two eventually fall in love with each other, although her parent have already engaged her to marry Dr. Prakash (Ashok Kumar). Although Aarti’s father firmly disapproves of this relationship, Deepak and Aarti marry. She moves in with him and his family, which includes his father (Jagirdar), elder brother, Niranjan (Ramesh Deo), sister-in-law, Jaswanti (Shashikala) and their three children. Prakash (Aarti’s former fiancé) happens to be a friend of this family, as also of Aarti’s natal family, and he keeps up his visits to both families. This brings a discord in Aarti’s marital life, so much so that Deepak asks her to leave, and she returns to her father’s house. This is followed by Deepak having a serious accident, when Prakash is the only surgeon who can operate on him. He agrees to operate on him only if Aarti promises to come back to him and forget her husband.”

The above plot enabled the following songs:

1. “Bane Ho Ek Khaak Se” Lata Mangeshkar
2. “Kabhi To Milegi, Kahin To Milegi” Lata Mangeshkar
3. “Ab Kya Misaal Doon Main Tumhare Shabaab Ki” Mohammed Rafi
4. “Aapne Yaad Dilaaya To Mujhe Yaad Aaya” Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
5. “Baar Baar Tohe Kya Samjhaaye Paayal Ki Jhankaar” Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
6. “Na Bhanwara Na Koi Gul” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
7. “Woh Teer Dil Pe Chala” Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi

All very good songs. Kidar Sharma is the one who gave a break to Roshan in the 1949 movie Neki Aur Badi. After the next movie, the 1950 movie Bawre Nain, there was no looking back for Roshan.

Majrooh was good from his very first movie in 1946: AR Kardar movie Shahjehan starring KL Sehgal whose songs were composed by Naushad such as Jab dil hi toot gaya, Gham diya mustaqil, and Chaah barbaad karegi hamen maloom na tha.

This song makes us majrooh (injured or wounded)!

The Lyrics

आप ने याद दिलाया तो मुझे याद आया
के मेरे दिल पे पड़ा था कोई ग़म का साया
आप ने याद दिलाया  ...

मैं भी क्या चीज़ हूँ खाया था कभी तीर कोई
दर्द अब जा के उठा चोट लगे देर हुई
तुमको हमदर्द जो पाया तो मुझे याद आया
के मेरे दिल पे पड़ा था कोई ग़म का साया ...

मैं ज़मीं पर हूँ न समझा न परखना चाहा
आसमाँ पर ये कदम झूम के रखना चाहा
आज जो सर को झुकाया तो मुझे याद आया
के मेरे दिल पे पड़ा था कोई ग़म का साया ...


लता:
मैं ने भी सोच लिया साथ निभाने के लिये
दूर तक आऊंगी मैं तुमको मनाने के लिये
दिल ने एहसास दिलाया तो मुझे याद आया
के मेरे दिल पे पड़ा था कोई ग़म का साया ...

My Own Poetry

I am going to give you a very different poem:

Apna Apna Dil, Apni Apni Yaad

तेरा ज़ुल्फ़ों का झटकना,
और आंखों का मटकना,
अभी तक याद है।

बिजली में मुझ से लिपटना,
दफ़अतन फिर से चिपटना,
अभी तक याद है।

गले में आवाज़ अटकना,
रात को बेचैन भटकना,
अभी तक याद है।

शर्मा के चेहरे का भड़कना,
नज़रों का रह रह के फड़कना,
अभी तक याद है।

पूछो क्या हुआ, उस पर झिझकना,
होंठों का अंदर पिचकना,
अभी तक याद है।

फिर…

तेरे जाने पे मेरा तड़पना,
तेरे लिए लोगों से झड़पना,
क्यों तुझे नहीं याद है?

तेरे हिज्र में मेरा सिसकना,
आते ही तुझ से सिमटना,
क्यों तुझे नहीं याद है?

याद कर ना….

Please enjoy: Aapne yaad dilaya to mujhe yaad aaya…

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #12.

Please await Beautiful Duet #13- Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya.

 

Zindagi or Jeevan Songs Series

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.

I hope you liked my choice for Song #10 – Dil ye bechain ve in Zindagi or Jeevan Songs series. Let’s start with Song #11.

Song #11
Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye
Theme-word: Gham-e-zindagi ke andhere mein hamne Chirag-e-mohabbat jalaaye bujhaye

Remembering Laxmikant on His Birth Anniversary 03 Nov

Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar was born on this day in the year 1937 in Bombay. He died on 25 May 1998 at the age of 60 years.

Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar was the find of Lata Mangeshkar. She was impressed by his Mandolin playing in her concert at Radio Club, Colaba when Laxmikant was only ten years old. When still a child, he met Pyarelal and both of them started playing musical instruments together. Lata Mnageshkar, seeing how poor were they, recommended their names to established music directors like Naushad, SD Burman and C Ramchandra.

Parasmani, a 1963 movie, was the debut movie of the duo as Music Director. They ruled the Hindi films music world from that year to 1998 when Laxmikant died.

They have been nominated for Filmfare Awards more number of times than any Music Director.

Laxmikant Pyarelal started off with 1963 movie Parasmani and they made such popular songs for their very first movie that these are fondly remembered even today:

1.”Hansta Hua Noorani Chehra” Asad Bhopali Lata Mangeshkar, Kamal Barot

2.”Mere Dil Mein Halki Si” Asad Bhopali Lata Mangeshkar

3.”Ooi Maa Ooi Maa Yeh Kya Ho Gaya” Asad Bhopali Lata Mangeshkar

4.”Salamat Raho Salamat Raho” Indeevar Mohammad Rafi

5.”Woh Jab Yaad Aaye” Asad Bhopali Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar

6.”Chori Chori Jo Tumse Mili” Faruk Kaiser Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar

The duo that started off so outstandingly well in their very first movie had indeed great future ahead for them. They received their first Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for the 1964 Satyen Bose movie Dosti. Dosti was only their sixth movie (they did a total of 635 movies between 1963 to 1998) after Parasmani (1963), Harishchandra Taramati (1963), Sati Savitri (1964), Sant Gyaneshwar (1964) and Mr X in Bombay (1964). All these movies too had excellent and memorable songs; eg, Main ek nanha sa main ek chhota sa bachcha hoon and Suraj re jalte rehna from Harishchandra Taramati; Tum gagan ke chandrama ho main dhara ki dhool hoon, Jeevan dor tumhi sang bandhi, Sakhi ri pi ka naam naam na poochho, and Itni jaldi kya hai gori saajan ke sang jaane ki from Sati Savitri; Jaago re prabhat aaya, Jyot se jyot jalaate chalo, and Ek do teen chaar bhaiya bano hoshiyar from Sant Gyaneshwar; Mere mehboob qyaamat hogi, Khoobsurat haseena jaan-e-jaan jaan-e-mann, Chali re chali re gori paniya bharan ko, and Julmi hamaare saanwariya ho Raam from Mr X In Bombay.

Asad Bhopali – The Lyricist

Asad Bhopali, the lyricist of this song was born as Asadullah Khan on 10 Jul 1921 in Bhopal.

Asad Bhopali wrote two songs for Fazli Brothers’ Duniya (1949): Rona hai to chupke chupke (sung by Mohammad Rafi) and Armaan lute, dil toot gaya (sung by Suraiyya). The next year, he wrote songs for a couple of films; these songs were sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum. Bhopali’s big break was BR Chopra’s Afsana (1951), for which he wrote 5 songs.

He received his only Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist very late for the 1989 movie Maine Pyar Kiya’s song: Dil deewana bin sajna ke maane na.

The song Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye made him very popular. After Parasmani, L-P and Asad Bhopali were together for another ten movies: Mr. X In Bombay (1964; with such delightful songs as: Mere mehboob qayamat hogi, Zulmi hamare saanwariya ho Ram, Chali re chali re gori paniya bharan ko, and Khubsoorat hasina); Aaya Toofan (1964; Hum pyaar kiye jaayenge koi rok sake to rok le); Shreeman Funtoosh (1965; he wrote only one song. The others were penned by Anand Bakshi); Lootera (1965); Hum Sab Ustaad Hain (1965; Ajnabi tum jaane pehchane se lagte ho, Pyar bantate chalo); Boxer (1965; Khudaya khudaya mohabbat na hoti); Naag Mandir (1966; Ek manzil ek safar hai hamara aap ka); Chhaila Babu (1967; Tre pyar ne mujhe gham diya); Nirdosh (1973; Tujhe khanjar se kya maru ek nazar hai kafi); and Ranbhoomi (1991; Pee ke Shankar ji ki booti).

Parasmani – The Movie

this song is from the 1963 Babubhai Mistri movie Parasmani. Lets look at the story penned by Pandit Madhur and Babubhai Mistri to see how this song came about in the movie:

The actor Mahipal plays Paras in the movie from whom the title is derived. Son of a Senapati, he is lost at sea when his ship passes through a cyclone. He is found and brought up by a villager and because of his genes becomes an accomplished swordsman and singer.

One day, he encounters the princess ( Rajkumari played by Gitanjali) and falls in love with her. His fame as a singer soon reaches the palace, and the Emperor summons him to sing for him. Pleased with his singing, the Emperor asks him for a wish, and Paras asks for the hand of his daughter. Enraged, the Emperor decides to punish Paras, but Paras escapes.

Appearing defeated, the Emperor asks Paras to seek a rare gem called a Parasmani, because he is under a curse that as soon as his daughter marries, it will be the last day for the Emperor. If Paras can find the Parasmani, the life of the Emperor can be saved. Only then can Paras marry the princess. Paras agrees to this and leaves on the search with his sister and brother.

Paras receives clues from various places and is directed to a cave. From this point, the film that is black and white earlier becomes Eastman Color. Fighting various magical creatures and volcanic lava, Paras meets the Sorceress Mayanagri (Jeevan Kala), who falls in love with the brave Paras. Taking him in confidence, she shows him her real self, which is an old woman. The Sorceress shows him the Parasmani, which Paras gains after killing a giant spider-like creature. Soon the old sorceress also meets her end. Paras and his siblings fly back to their kingdom where, after some crucial fights, he meets his father, Senapati, and is married to the princess.

The song comes about when the lovers are separated.

The Song

Laxmikant Pyarelal composed the song in Raag Kalyan, Tal Kaherava.

Please enjoy a composition of Laxmikant Pyarelal in Raag Kalyan or Yaman, Tal Kaherava on the lyrics of Asad Bhopali this unforgettable song sung by Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar for Mahipal and Gitanjali in the 1963 Babubhai Mistri movie Parasmani: Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye…..

वो जब याद आए बहुत याद आए
ग़म-ए-ज़िंदगी के अंधेरे में हमने
चिराग-ए-मुहब्बत जलाए बुझाए

आहटें जाग उठीं रास्ते हंस दिये
थामकर दिल उठे हम किसी के लिये
कई बार ऐसा भी धोखा हुआ है
चले आ रहे हैं वो नज़रें झुकाए

दिल सुलगने लगा अश्क़ बहने लगे
जाने क्या-क्या हमें लोग कहने लगे
मगर रोते-रोते हंसी आ गई है
ख़यालों में आके वो जब मुस्कुराए

वो जुदा क्या हुए ज़िंदगी खो गई
शम्मा जलती रही रोशनी खो गई
बहुत कोशिशें कीं मगर दिल न बहला
कई साज़ छेड़े कई गीत गाए

I hope you enjoyed my choice for Song #11 in the series.

Please await Song #12 –  Beqasi hadd se jab guzr jaaye. 

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.

This is the Song #11 in the series. I hope you liked Song #10 – Haay re woh din kyun na aaye.

Song #11
Listen to the pouring rain…
Theme-word: Let it rain all night long; Let my love for you go strong. As long as we’re together, Who cares about the weather?

The Joy of Listening

Here is what Wordsworth had to write about it in ‘Three Years She Grew By’:

The stars of midnight shall be dear,
To 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.

It is really unfathomable. How much is it? We don’t know. However, one thing is certain: for those who discover it, the joy of listening is far more than that of talking.

Why ‘Listen to the pouring rain?

I knew that the song is by Jose Feliciano. I used to listen to it with great interest. Soon, it became almost similar to the devotion I had for Lyn and my song (by Bread) ‘Baby I’m a want you’.

However, much later than originally listening to the song I discovered why Jose Feliciano urged us to Listen and not See the pouring rain. He was born blind and is blind!

He was born on 10th Sep (yesterday) but in the year 1945 in Lares (Puerto Rico). By the age of three years he had picked up more than average interest in music. By the age of nine years he made his first public appearance.

“Feliciano’s knack for music became apparent when at 7, he taught himself to play the accordion. About two years later, when he was 9 years old, his father gave him his first guitar. He would play his guitar by himself in his room for up to 14 hours a day, and would learn by listening to 1950s rock and roll.”

Most of you would have heard his best-selling Christmas song: Feliz Navidad played around the world endlessly during the Holidays.

In the year 2011 he was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Eleven years before that he was inducted in International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

The Song – The Lyrics

Jose Feliciano wrote the lyrics. In 2013 he was inducted into Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame:

Listen to the pouring rain
Listen to it pour
And with every drop of rain
You know I love you more
Let it rain all night long
Let my love for you go strong
As long as we’re together
Who cares about the weather?
Listen to the falling rain
Listen to it fall
And with every drop of rain
I can hear you call
Call my name right out loud
I can here above the clouds
And I’m here among the puddles
You and I together huddle
Listen to the falling rain
Listen to it fall
It’s raining
It’s pouring
The old man is snoring
Went to bed
And bumped his head
He couldn’t get up in the morning
Listen to the falling rain
Listen to the rain

My Own Poetry

If Jose Feliciano displayed very high imagination in his Listen to the pouring rain, I want you to gauge the imagination in my:

Journey Of A Raindrop

It arose from the sea,
As vapour,
Still not fully formed as a drop.
There was unbound excitement
At being born, created
A separate entity
Proud to be by itself
Rather than mixed in the salt of the sea.
As it took shape,
Amongst millions others,
It was conscious,
As do all of us
That it would be carried
By forces beyond its control
To far places and people
To lose its identity again when it’d fall.

“Where would fate take me?”
It mused as winds carried it landwards,
“Will I fall on a tree and hang
On to the leaves for dear life?”
“Or will I fall in a pot hole on the road
To be cursed by drivers and walkers alike?”
“Or worse, on a heap of rubbish,
Carrying stench in the air?”

“If I am lucky,
I may fall on the Ganesha idol
In a procession
But then, I shall be quickly
Back into where I was born and arose:
The vastness of the sea.
My friends and I may also fall in the milkman’s pot
And he’d rejoice for increased sale.”
“I have no choice
But, I don’t want to be part of a gutter.

God, I am small and feeble,
Be kind to me,
Let me be valued,
By myself and not
As part of the gang
Together called ‘rain’.”

The cloud that carried him,
Deposited him
On the cheek of a small child,
Naked and hungry,
On a street in Mumbai;
Where it mingled with a single tear
That shot from her eye
On the death of her mother in a bomb attack.
“God”, it said,
Let a hundred drops fall
To wash the sin of
What man has done to man.
But, they should never
Forget that single tear from her eye.
I don’t want to be born again
And again, and again, and again.”

Please enjoy: Listen to the pouring rain..

I hope you liked my choice of Song #11 in Raat or Din series.

Please await Song #12 – Ye nayan dare dare.

Beautiful Duet Series

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.

On 03 Feb 2021, I gave you Beautiful Duet #10 – Hum tum ek kamre mein band. So here, then, is the next one:

Song #11
Teri duniya se door, chale hoke majboor, hamen yaad rakhna

My Dedication to Manik Lakhkar Chava Behna

To start with, ladies and gentlemen, please pray for her to get better. She has a chest congestion and homeopathy hasn’t helped much. As I write, she is now with an allopathic doctor.

Today is her turn to post both the songs but she is unwell.

My sisters mean the world to me. There was an occasion when I wrote something sarcastic about one of her posts. She rang me up and asked a direct question, “Bhaiya, are you my bhaiya or not?” And that’s the time it occurred to me that it can’t be mere words.

And don’t get carried away about my being “Ladaku” with Surekha Saini. None of you understand her more than me. She has gone through very bad times concerning her immediate family; eg, she lost her sister Rekha. With such bad luck, won’t she want to spend as much time as possible with her family? There will never be time when I start loving her any less.

This Song

I have taken this song from the 1961 movie Zabak that was produced and directed by Homi Wadia. Mahipal (of the Parasmani song with Geetanjali: Woh jab yaad aaye bahut yaad aaye) and Shyama were the lead cast.

The song was penned by Prem Dhawan (Shaheed songs, for example) and composed by Chitragupt.

Today, I gave you a super Yaad song at the demise of S Mohinder; an all time favourite Raja Mehdi Ali Khan song: Phir teri yaad naye geet sunane aayi. As I mentioned, I opted for it at the expense of Guzra hua zamaana.

This song would then tell you that two of the best Yaad songs in Hindi movies were picturised on Mahipal: Woh jab yaad aaye and Hamewn yaad rakhna.

In this song, as in Parasmani song, Mohammad Rafi sang for Mahipal and Lata Mangeshkar sang for Shyama.

Why and When This Song?

“Hajji (Mahipal) is a carefree young man in love with the princess Zainab (Shyama). His father is a middle class man who runs a Hamam (Bath house). He is not happy with his son’s relationship with the princess because of their social inequality. The minister Qasim Beg has Hajji and his father arrested. The father’s hair is shaven off as punishment while Hajji is whipped. The father, out of shame for his situation, commits suicide. Hajji is thrown out of the city gates (this is where the song occurs), where he saves Saudagar (merchant) Usman Shah’s daughter from being kidnapped. Usman Shah (B. M. Vyas), though posing as a merchant, turns out to be a dacoit. Hajji, now Zabak joins the dacoits, albeit unwillingly. When Usman plans to attack and loot Zabak’s home town Isbahan, he goes along as he finds out that Qasim Beg will marry Zainab. During the dacoity, Zainab is abducted by one of Usman’s men. Qasim, who was in a fight with Zabak and left for dead, kills the Sultan and takes his place. Zabak goes through being misunderstood by his beloved and his mother, but with help from his friends he succeeds in righting all the wrongs committed by Qasim and marries the princess.”

My Own Poetry

KAUN SAMAJHA HAI ISE?

ज़िन्दगी में कोई न कोई बात रह जाती है,
दिन गुज़र जाता है तो रात रह जाती है ।

इश्क़ की गर्म ओ गर्मियां चार दिन की हैं,
फिर तो सिर्फ यादों की बरसात रह जाती है ।

तेरी हँसी के फवारे थे मुखतसर लम्हों के लिए,
उसके बाद ग़मों की बारात रह जाती है ।

हम ही हैं जो खुद को जहाँन समझते हैं,
हमारे चले जाने पे भी कायनात रह जाती है।

सारी जिंदगी छोटी नज़र आती है इसके मुक़ाबले,
जब ज़ेहन में छोटी सी मुलाक़ात रह जाती है।

बचपन और जवानी में कितनी हसीन लगती थी,
बुढापे में नाश – ए – हैय्यात रह जाती है।

एक एक पल हमने संवारा था खून ओ पसीने से,
आखिर में तो मजबूरी – ए – हालात रह जाती है।

कोई नहीं समझ पाया ज़िन्दगी के मायने, रवि,
गुज़र जाने पे भी तख्ती – ए – सवालात रह जाती है।

Please enjoy: Teri duniya se door, chale hoke majboor, hamen yaad rakhna…,

तेरी दुनिया से दूर, चले होके मजबूर, हमें याद रखना
जाओ कहीं भी सनम, तुम्हें इतनी क़सम, हमें याद रखना

१) आएंगी बहारें तो तेरे ही फ़साने सुनाएंगी हमें
होगी तन्हाई तो आके तेरी यादें रुलाएंगी हमें
रुलाएंगी हमें, तड़पाएंगी हमें
कभी देखी थी बहार, कभी हम से था प्यार
हमें याद रखना,
जाओ …

२) लेजा जानेवाले दुआएं मेरे दिल की किसी से क्या गिला
तेरी ही खता है ना मेरी ही खता है जो होना था हुआ
जो होना था हुआ, है किसी से क्या गिला
देखो रोए मेरा प्यार, कहे दिल की पुकार हमें याद रखना,
तेरी …

I hope you liked my choice of Beautiful Duet #11.

Please await Beautiful Duet #12- Aapne yaad dilaya to mujhe.