I had my Memories,
You had the Money.
You bought with yours, esteem.
I didn’t have to buy anything.
You built on your M,
More of it got you
More power, comfort, glitter.
I added value to mine.
I could and can relive,
All those memories fondly
And with clean conscience.
So, who is richer now?
Well, Memories don’t require Money.
But, Money can’t buy Memories.
A lifetime of Memories
Can’t be overwhelmed by
Relentless greed and selfishness.
Losing something dear
For lucre
And chicanery
Would always be
Bad bargain.
You’d know it
When you’d stand alone
And not with the crowd
That’s not your true friend.
Punjab, particularly the area around Ludhiana, has given us unforgettable Hindi films personalities like Mohammad Rafi, Sahir Ludhianvi, Jaidev, Sunil Dutt, Khaiyyam, Vicky Kaushal, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Ayushmann Khurrana, Diljit Dosanjh, Johars and Chopras. Among all these, Dharmendra arguably commanded more popularity than anyone. For example, among his 300 films or so, he had more hit and superhit movies than any other. With all this, he was never the recipient of a Filmfare Award for acting. He was like my hero, Mohammad Rafi, in this respect who never coveted awards and honours. In 1997 he finally became the recipient of Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, at the age of 61 years (He was born on 08 Dec 1935 in Nasrali village in Ludhiana). In the year 2012, he was conferred with the third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, by the government of India.
There is a popular anecdote about him that whilst seeing one of Meena Kumari movies in a cinema in Phagwara, Punjab, he boasted to his friends that one day he would act opposite her. It wasn’t easy. He had to struggle when he reached Bombay and at one time, he actually gave up, not getting any break. Co-star Manoj Kumar motivated him to continue his struggle. In 1960, at the age of 24 years, he finally made his debut in Arjun Hingorani’s Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere opposite Kumkum. The movie was a flop. In 1961, he tasted success with Shola Aur Shabnam opposite Tarla Mehta. I sang two songs of his from this movie.
Song #1 Jaane kya dhoondati rehti hain yeh aankhen mujh mein
In his later day interviews, Dharmendra talked about this song from Ramesh Saigal’s Shola Aur Shabnam as his #1 favourite song of Mohammad Rafi.
Kaifi Azmi’s lyrics are powerful. Khaiyyam composed it in his favourite Raag Pahadi.
One associates Dharmendra with his bubbly, carefree and cavalier image. However, his serious acting and reserved should won him many accolades.
Song #2 Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum
Dharemendra paid rich tribute to Mohammad Rafi and said in an interview that Rafi sahib helped him become popular.
This duet of Mohammad Rafi singing for Dharmendra and Lata Mangeshkar singing for Tarla Mehta (she joins in the second stanza after she realises that the person singing this song must be her childhood sweetheart) was also penned by Kaifi Azmi. It was composed by Khaiyyam in Raag Bhairavi:
His Boast About Meena Kumari
She was two years older. In 1965, he finally got an opportunity to act with her in Ram Maheshwari’s Kaajal. She won her last Filmfare Award with this role that was opposite Raaj Kumar (she had won the inaugural Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1954 for Baiju Bawra). However, the best of her songs in the movie (Tora man darpan kehlaye and Chhu lene do naazuk hontho ko) were not with him (He was married to Padmini in the movie.
His dream of acting opposite Meena Kumari came true in 1966 superhit movie (the top movie of that year) Phool Aur Patthar. There was no song to remember them by.
Song #3 Tumhen dekha hai maine gulsitan mein
His boast about Meena Kumari, as seen by me in a song, came true in 1967 movie Chandan Ka Palna. The song was created for him by Anand Bakshi, RD Burman, and Mohammad Rafi. Their histrionics are worth seeing on a honeymoon night:
J Om Prakash’s Aaye Din Bhara Ke was a major success for Dharmendra opposite Asha Parekh. Its best and most popular song for him by Rafi saheb was Mere dushman tu meri dosti ko tarse, which Dharmendra sings for Asha Parekh in a party after a misunderstanding. I don’t sing such negative songs for Lyn.
Song #4 Aya sawan jhoom ke
The kind of songs that I sing for Lyn are, for example, this from 1969 J Om Prakash movie Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, also starring Dharmendra and Asha Parekh. The song was put together by Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Mohammad Rafi, and Lata Mangeshkar:
Song #5 Majhi chal, O majhi chal
Indeed, I sang a second song from the same movie since it is a positive, motivational song. I also liked the picturisation of it:
Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore movies
She is nine years younger to Dharmendra. The first movie that they did together was the 1966 Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie Anupama, the recipient of National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1966. Both of them played their roles with great sensitivity. Sharmila Tagore played the title role of a girl whose mother was lost during her birth and hence her father dislikes her. She grows into a recluse. Later, she falls in love with Dharmendra, a writer and teacher.
Song #6 Yaa dil ki suno duniyawalon
The father, Tarun Bose hates everything associated with his daughter Sharmila and hence dislikes Dharmendra, too.
This song, sung by Hemant Kumar on the lyrics of Kaifi Azmi and composition of Hemant Kumar in Raag Pilu brought out the kind of restrained and serious acting that Dharmendra was capable of.
Indeed, in later years, Hrishikesh Mukherjee claimed that the pairing of Dharmendra with Sharmila Kumar was the best in Hindi movies. They did 10 movies together. The best was their 1969 movie Satyakaam, the winner of National Award for Best Feature Film that year. It also had the most accomplished performance by Dharmendra.
Song #7 Naa jaa kahin ab naa jaa
Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore’s 1968 movie Mere Hamdam Mere Dost became a superhit movie and had superhit songs penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
I sang two of these sung by Mohammad Rafi for Dharmendra.
Here is the first one in very high pitch:
Song #8 Hui shaam unka khyaal aa gaya
This is the second song from the 1968 Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore movie Mere Hamdam Mere Dost that I sang. Because of a misunderstanding between them, the two fall apart in the story of the movie and he goes to Mumbai to be as far away from her as possible. However, he soon realises that he cannot get her out of his mind and after getting himself drunk he sings this. Manohri’s saxophone is the highlight of this song:
Song #9 Gar tum bhula na doge
Yes, Sharmila Tagore is nine years younger to Dharmendra. They have the same birth date, ie, 08 December; as if even God had wanted them to be together.
The movies that they did together are Anupama (1966), Devar (1966), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968), Satyakam (1969), Yakeen (1969), Chupke Chupke (1975), Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1975), Sunny (1984), Chaitali, and Devdas (Gulzar’s).
This song from their 1969 movie Yakeen shows him, yet again, sure of himself. If he had set his eyes on her (with the title song of the movie: Yakeen karlo mujhe mohabbat hai tumse tumse), he must have her for life.
It is a Hasrat Jaipuri, Shankar Jaikishan, Mohammad Rafi song:
Dharmendra’s Madan Mohan Songs
Side by side as his bubbly image was also his sensitive portrayal of roles. Naturally, the composer of choice for songs of such movies was Madan Mohan. The first of such movies for Dharmendra was the 1962 movie Anpadh. This movie didn’t have a song lip-synced by Dharmendra, but the songs featuring Mala Sinha were counted among the best of Madan Mohan, eg, Aapki nazaron ne samajha, and Hai isi mein pyaar ki aabru. Chetan Anand 1964 movie, Haqeeqat, made on the 1962 Indo China War was, hence, the first movie in which Dharmendra gained popularity through Madan Mohan’s songs. The song that really made Dharmendra famous was Kar chale hum fida jaan o tan saathiyo.
Song #10 Main nigahen tere chehre se hatayun kaise?
In the same year, 1964, Dharmendra lip-synced two of the best songs of Rafi saheb for the Mohan Kumar movie Aap Ki Parchhaiyan starring the doe-eyed Supriya Pathak. The first one is a favourite of mine with the above title. The lyrics were penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Madan Mohan composed it in Raag Darbari Kanada. Indeed, he composed a similar Lata Mangeshkar song, too, of the same movie in the same raag: Agar mujhse muhabbat hai mujhe sab apne gham de do.
Here, then is Main nigaahen…
Song #11 Yahi hai tamanna tere ghar ke saamne
The second song of the same movie that I sang was the song in which Dharmendra was wooing Supriya in his signature style:
Song #12 Aakhri geet mohabbat ka suna loon to chalun
The 1965 movie Neela Aakash had, once again, his heroine of Anpadh acting opposite him. Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Madan Mohan created for Rafi saheb singing for Dharmendra an unforgettable song that saw Dharmendra coming up with remarkably serious acting.
Have a look at the song:
Song #13 Ik haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya
Four years ago, this was the first Dharmendra song that I sang. It is from the 1967 DD Kashyap movie Dulhan Ek Raat Ki. Nutan was his heroine.
This, too, was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and composed by Madan Mohan:
Dharmendra’s Only Movie with Sadhana
The 1970 Ramesh Saigal movie Ishq Par Zor Nahin was the only movie that Dharmendra did with Sadhana. He was the only hero of olden days who could withstand the onslaught of the superstar Rajesh Khanna who, too, joined the movies after an All India Talent Competition in which he won the first position. Earlier, Dharmendra had won the second position in a similar contest (the first one was Suresh Puri who hardly made it big).
Song #14 Mehbooba teri tasveer kis tarah main banayun?
Anyway, this movie with Sadhana was a flop. However, everyone loved this song that Dharmendra lip-synced. It was penned by Anand Bakshi and composed by SD Burman:
Handsome and He-Man Image
Dharmendra was widely regarded as the handsomest man in the Hindi films. Indeed, whilst giving him the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2012, Dilip Kumar rued that stars like him were jealous that Dharmendra was so handsome. He didn’t have to woo his heroines by falling head over heels. They were the ones who would do it.
Song #15 Aaj mausam bada beimaan hai
Have a look at this song from the 1973 A Bhim Singh superhit movie Loafer. The movie was a superhit primarily because of the carefree, he-man acting of Dharam paaji. Mumtaz was sent by the villains to get him to a secluded spot so that they could then kill him. Dharmendra was unruffled, at his coolest and handsomest. In the song when he sings that the mausam is beimaan (rogue), she playfully points that not the mausam (weather), but he was beimaan!
The song was put together for him by Anand Bakshi, Kaxmikant Pyarelal, and Mohammad Rafi. It is one of my favourites. You can watch it by clicking on ‘Watch on YouTube’:
Song #16 Kaliyon ne ghunghat khole
The 1966 CL Rawal movie Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya had a love triangle between Dharmendra, Nutan, and Rehman (a handsome man in his own right). There is this famous song that all three sing in a boat rowed by Dharmendra: Rafi saheb singing for him, Lata Mangeshkar singing for Nutan, and Mukesh singing for Rehman; the title song of the movie.
However, the song that I love is a honeymoon song between the handsome Dharmendra and a little shy Nutan. You can make out as to why she would be in love with him.
The song was penned by GL Rawal, composed by Sonik-Omi and sung for Dharmendra by Rafi saheb:
Wooing Actresses from the South
Wooing actresses from the South was and is a typical Punjabi fascination. Take Raj Kapoor, for example. He was a hard-core Punjabi born in Peshawar (now in Pakistan). He was romantically involved with Padmini and did movies with Vyjayanthimala (who finally married another Punjabi, Dr Bali) and Hema Malini. In his own production, Sangam, he chose Vyjaynthimala.
Dharmendra enacted Kaajal with Padmini, wooed Vyjayanthimala in movies, and finally acted with and married Hema Malini even though he was already married to Prakash Kaur at the age of 19 years. It is rumoured that he, on paper at least, converted to Islam so as to marry Hema Malini whilst still married to Prakash Kaur.
Indeed, from the time he acted with Hema Malini in their first movie together, the 1970 movie Tum Haseen Main Jawan, he was drawn to her despite being a married man. They finally married on 02 May 1980 after ten years of love affair. They acted in 33 movies together until their last one in 2011 Tell Me O Khuda, which was directed by Hema Malini.
Their most popular song together is: Main jat yamla pagla deewana, an Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelal song from their 1975 movie Pratiggya. Sadly, I haven’t sung any of his songs for her.
Song #17 Main kabhi kavi na ban jayun tere pyaar main
However, I have sung two of his songs for another South Indian actress Vyjayanthimala. The first one is a favourite of mine.
It is from the 1968 movie Pyaar Hi Pyaar. It was penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Shankar Jaikishan and sung by Mohammad Rafi:
Song #18 Dekha hai teri aankhon mein pyaar hi pyaar
This is the title song of the 1968 movie Pyaar Hi Pyaar and also penned by Hasrat Jaipuri, composed by Shankar Jaikishan, and sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Proud Poor Man/Middle Class Image
Dharmendra did many such movies wherein he represented an honest, poor or middle class man. He won many a heart through this portrayal especially when he exposed the wrong-doings of the rich or the super rich.
For example, in the 1968 T Prakash Rao movie Izzat (Dharmendra had a dual role in this wherein he wooed both Jayalalitha and Tanuja together. The song in the movie in which he made fun of the rich was: Kya miliye aise logon se jinki firat chhupi rahe, nakli chehra saamne aaye asli surat chhupi rahe.
Song #19 Mujhe dard-e-dil ka pata na tha
A similar situation is there in the 1965 Phani Majumdar movie Akashdeep. He works as an ordinary labourer in the mill run by Ashok Kumar whose sister Nanda falls in love with him because of his ideals. However, the same ideals keep him from accepting her love when he learns of her reality.
This song was put together by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Chitragupt, and Mohammad Rafi wherein he bemoans that he ever fell in love with a rich man’s sister:
Dharmendra’s End
Like a typical Punjabi, Dharmendra was passionate about everything that he did. Sadly, this included hitting the bottle hard. One of the rumours said that he could drink up to 12 bottles in a day.
From the turn of the century, all this had a telling effect on his health. In the year 2001 he developed serious back problems and went through prolonged hospitalisation. His loneliness resulted into his writing poetry. Probably, the inspiration to fine tune his poetry came from Meena Kumari who, too, heavily drank and wrote poetry.
In the year 2010, having become aware of the fact that drinking would eventually kill him, he left drinking altogether. However, he continued his poetry. Rather than writing, he used to video record his poetry and share it with his friends.
Here is a poignant example:
Recently, on 31 Oct 25 he was hospitalised in Breach Candy Hospital due to respiratory problems. However, he was discharged within a few hours.
Within ten days, he was again admitted with respiratory problems. The very next day, many of the news channels and media declared him dead so as to be among the first to give out the authentic news. Knowing him, he would have probably told death, “Kutte, main tera khoon pi jayunga.” It appeared to us that death had run away scared.
However, the end finally came on Monday, 24 Nov 25.
It was very sad to see him go. His acting and life represented two ends of the spectrum: a comic, lively, bubbly, disdainful romantic at one end, and serious, intense, sensitive actor on the other end.
Most actors had buckled under when Rajesh Khanna swept the audiences away. However, Dharmendra kept coming up with one superhit movie or the other even at the height of Rajesh Khanna era.
Song #20 Yeh dosti hum nahin
One of his most successful movies was the 1975 Ramesh Sippy blockbuster Sholay. His acting was almost totally comic even in the face of danger and death.
This song of the movie describes his essence as a loyal friend, a typical Punjabi trait.
I used this song to pay homage to another friend Jaswant Lagwal as passionate in everything and very heavy drinker.
The song was penned by Anand Bakshi, composed by RD Burman, and sung by Kishore Kumar for Dharmendra and Manna Dey for Amitabh Bachchan:
Dharmendra ruled our hearts for decades since 1960 movie Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tera until the 2024 movie Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya wherein he did a small role as Jai Singh Agnihotri.
His last recorded song is reported to be from his own 1999 production Dillagi starring his son Sunny and Urmila Mantodkar and of course, Dharmendra.
However, the song that aptly describes the way he lived is from the 1972 movie Lalkar, put together by Indeevar, Kalyanji Anandji, and Mohammad Rafi:
Kandaghat Live Fest or KLF is the biannual Music Fest of the Facebook Group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne or YKDN. Since the inception of YKDN (named after the Patita song: Yaad Kiaya Dil Ne kahan ho tum, we have been regularly having online Music Fests on the Facebook itself. From the year 2015, we started meeting physically in Kandaghat (Shimla Hills, Himachal Pradesh) and now are very close to KLF #14 (It has been named Live Fest as opposed to the virtual online fests.
She was my mother and actually mother to the members of YKDN and KLF. Her house, Whispering Winds, Kandaghat, has been the venue (the only venue of the first KLF in 2015) for at least one of the nights of the KLFs. As the oldest member of YKDN and KLF, she shared cutting of the cake of YKDN with the youngest member for three consecutive KLFs.
She left us on the 09th of Aug 2017. She had formed one to one bonds with all members and everyone was sad to let her go.
Here is what I wrote about her within a week of her leaving us:
Now that, our mother, you reside with God,
And physically are a world apart,
There are voids in our home and life,
And an unfillable hole in our heart.
‘Whispering Winds‘ was made with your blood & sweat,
You made it a heaven on earth;
Not just we, your children, family & friends,
Even gods and goddesses know your worth.
So, adieu, mom, in the physical sense only,
You will always be there in our thought;
We promise you that the world you made,
Shall never be reduced to nought.
May you guide us with your kind hand,
From your seat in the Heaven above,
May gods shower on you now and always,
Their special care, peace and love.
Jaswant Singh Laghwal
After retiring from the Indian Navy, Jaswant settled down in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh with his wife, Kavita. He was an active member of the YKDN group. The descriptions of his songs were comprehensive and interesting.
He attended the KLFs in 2016 and 2017.
Unfortunately, he suddenly passed away on the 25 Mar 2020.
Here is what I wrote about him at his passing:
Yaaron mein yaar mila Jaswant Lagwal, Halanke uske sang bitayen hain thode hi saal, Par mere dil mein basa hai gehra khayal, Apne dil ki ameeri se usne hamen kiya malamaal.
Uske chehre pe hansi har waqt rehti thi khil, Dilkash raushni ubharti thi jab woh jaata tha mil, Tum bagair jeena hamara hua hai mushkil, Tumhara andaz raha hai suhana aur kaatil.
Hamari hansi tumse thi ab aansu dekho hamare, Apni hi baat nahin kar raha, mujh sang hain saare, Yaad rakhenge tumhen jab tak hain chand aur sitare, Kisi tarah jee lenge tumhari yaadon ke sahare.
Gaye ho to sun lo hamari chhoti si fariyaad, Wohi muskarata chehra dikhana jab tum aao yaad, Dosti to rahegi azeez dost jaane ke bhi baad, Har YKDN mein bana rahega tumhare hone ka swad.
The following video has a lot of pictures of Jaswant and his wife Kavita:
Sreehari
Sreehari Chava was my sister, Manik’s husband. He was a rare DLitt. Because Manik is a pillar of YKDN, Sreehari, too, took interest in YKDN and KLFs. Both of them attended the KLFs in 2018 and 2019.
Sreehari formed warm relationships with many members of YKDN and many participants of KLFs.
He stayed with us in Whispering Winds and even sat with me in our prayer room. Even during our first visit to their house in Nagpur, it didn’t look like we were meeting for the first time.
He left us last year on the 21st of September; a demise both sudden and shocking.
We shall miss him like anything.
JP
Jatinder Pal Singh Hanspal was my Punjab Engineering College (PEC Chandigarh) batchmate. I don’t recall having met him in the college because my stream was Mechanical and his was Electrical (He retired as the Chief Electrical Engineer of Punjab). However, once we came in touch with each other on 21 Apr 2021 because of our mutual love for music and songs, we became inseparable within a week.
He attended his first KLF in Nov 2022.
There is a separate and comprehensive write-up about him in JP Singh Hanspal – A Musical And Poetical Journey With Me. The fact is that he was the most talented member of our group. I have written more poetry on him than on any other member.
After attending the last KLF, ie, KLF #13, from 14 to 16 April 25, he left us suddenly at about 10 AM on 27 April.
The KLF #14 is being held from 03 to 05 Oct 25 to pay homage to him and Vipan Kohli. His wife, Renu Hanspal and his elder son Maninder (Sunny) shall be attending the Fest.
We made sure and Renu recorded her maiden performance in KLF. Even Maninder is a fine singer and would pay tribute to his late father through a song:
Here are glimpses of JP’s participation in KLF:
Vipan
God has made on earth very few people as warm-hearted and as gentlemanly as Vipan Kohli. He was, simply, my right-hand man in YKDN and KLFs. Indeed, when I mooted the idea of KLF in 2015, Vipan made sure that the idea saw the light of the day. He mustered all like minded people and was instrumental in motivating them to travel all the way to Kandaghat.
Vipan was the gel that kept the group together. He remembered everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries. His own descriptions of songs in YKDN were thoughtful, detailed, and apt. Other than JP and I, he was the only other member of the group who commented on everyone’s posts both on Facebook and on WhatsApp.
He suddenly left us on the 05 Aug 25.
We shall miss him. The KLF #14 is being held to pay homage to him together with homage to JP.
Participants of KLF #14
Achla, Anita, Anupam, Ashwani, Dolly, Gurbinder, Gurdeep, Hem Nalini, Maninder (Sunny), Meena, Nikki, Nutan, Ravinder, Rekha, Renu, Sharanjit, Surekha, Suresh, Surinder Grewal, Surinder Oberoi, and Toya have decided to participate together with our maestro musician (on keyboard), Gul.
As always, a welcome message (curtain opener) from me for our Fest from 3rd to 5th Oct (both days included):
परिंदा हूं, पतझड़ का भी हूँ शुक्रगुज़ार,
तिनके कहाँ से लाता अगर हरदम होती बहार?
दोस्तों ने तमन्नाओं से भी बढ़कर दिया है,
मांगा भी ना था मोती, मिला है पूरा मीना बाज़ार l
दोस्तों के आने पर सब होते हैं खुश,
पर किसी को मेरे जैसा नहीं रहता इंतज़ार l
खुदा ने भी क्या मालामाल किया है मुझे,
दोस्तों का नाज़ दिया और बहनों का प्यार l
आपके हुनर की तो दाद देनी पड़ेगी,
आती है आपके आने से नगमों की बहार l
नूतन जी और डॉली जी की तारीफ़ तो बनती है,
Whispering Winds में देखेंगे उनके किचन का चमत्कार l
Josen और Sharanjit तो हमेशा ही रहे हैं,
हमारी सब की शुक्रगुजारी के हकदार l
बस अब आने को दस दिन ही बचे हैं,
Kandaghat के आलम को अपने जादू से करें गिरफ्तार l
मेरी भूल- चूक दोस्तो, माफ़ करना,
मैं हूँ अनाड़ी, लेकिन आप हो समझदार l
💕🙏🎶🍾🎊👌
दोस्त हैं तो ज़िंदगी है,
दोस्त हैं तो जान है l
हैरानी है कई लोग,
इस बात से हैरान हैं l
दोस्तों की चाहत से
यारों, हम तो कुर्बान हैं l
दोस्त नहीं तो कुछ भी नहीं,
दोस्त हैं तो जहान है l
लोगों की क्या क्या हैं ख्वाहिशें,
मेरे लिए दोस्त हीरों की खान है l
ज़िंदगी में मेरी अपनी नहीं कामयाबी,
बस दोस्त ही पहचान है l
खुशी जो आती है हर साल,
दोस्तों का ही एहसान है,
बाकी, Surinder, और क्या कहूं,
किस बात से आप अनजान हैं?
🎯💕☺️😊🥰
Achla
She joined KLF in April 2023. It would be right to say that she came into the group like a breath of fresh air. To say that she is a very fine singer is an understatement. Her interest in singing competes with her teaching skills. She is fond of Lata Mangeshkar, Madan Mohan, and Talat Mahmood. She sings them with great ease and elan.
Have a look at her debut participation:
Anita & her husband Anupam
Anita and Achla made their debut appearances in KLF 2023 together since they are good friends. Anita is actually Ranjana’s sister. We were privileged to have Ranjana and her husband, Shyam also attending KLF 2023. She has an equally fine taste in songs. Indeed, she warmed the cockles of my heart by singing my favourite lyricist Shakeel and that too, in Raag Darbari Kanada.
Being a fan of Mohammad Rafi, she is quite comfortable with high pitch.
Her husband, Anupam Kunal, would be attending for the first time. Here is Anupam Kunal. He is a practising Chartered Accountant. He loves music, old as well as new songs. His favorites are Rafi, Madan Mohan, Lata and Kishore:
Have a glimpse of Anita’s singing:
Ashwani & Meena
Ashwani Sharma is my batchmate from PEC. He is justifiably called the Bhishma Pitamah of aeronautical engineering. Having won various awards and honours in his lifetime, he has now taken upon himself to mentor and mould young minds in his profession.
He is a linguist. He is well versed in a dozen languages including from South India. His mastery of Urdu and Urdu poetry leaves us stunned. He is to Urdu what Shashi Tharoor is to English. He knows, by heart, lyrics of 10000 old Hindi songs. He is a lively singer. When he breaks into Punjabi, he often brings the house down.
He is also a great Master of Ceremonies for various events.
I was honoured to have foreword of my book of poems, Dhanak (Rainbow) penned by him. He introduced my book at its book launch on 07 Apr 2023 in Kandaghat.
His wife, Meena, would be attending for the first time.
Here are glimpses of Ashwani’s performance:
Dolly & Sharanjit
Dolly is the inspiration behind Sharanjit emerging as the country’s top glass maker (GCS Industry). He has the proud privilege of being the pioneer in indigenous production of toughened glass. From a scratch he not only built an enviable industry, but is justifiably credited with having established NOIDA into an industrial hub, very close to New Delhi.
Music is in his veins, especially percussion instruments. He forayed into singing at a late stage of life, but can proudly hold his own in Fest after Fest. KLF inspired him into founding a Fest of his own in his Greater NOIDA villa. As of Feb this year, he has completed three such annual Fests called DKM or Doston Ki Mehfil.
Dolly has been a worthy judge in many of KLF contests. Personally, I couldn’t have been honoured better than by having her launch my book of poems, Dhanak on 07 Apr 2023 at Kandaghat. She is filled to the brim with the milk of human kindness and because of her innate self-sacrificing nature, she has earned my highest respect.
Here are glimpses of Sharanjit’s debut performance in KLF in Nov 2022:
Gurbinder
Gurbinder Riar is the newest participant of KLF. She is the wife of Late Col. Bhupinder Riar. She earned a lot of regards from her students as a teacher and has some corporate experience, too, in Public Relations.
She is a close friend of our regular Surekha Saini.
Here is wishing her a rollicking time in this KLF and future ones.
Gurdeep & Surinder
Gurdeep is a rare singer (the only one) who made her appearance in Sharanjit’s Doston Ki Mehfil (DKM-2) before performing in KLF #13. She fitted into the KLF family like a glove. Everyone thinks that she is one of the best finds in Fests.
She is a great singer with excellent stage presence. Even after having oodles of singing talent, she is very rooted and warm-hearted. Her geniality is infectious. Everyone is involved.
Here is her debut performance in KLF:
She is married to Col Surinder Oberoi, the gentlest of human beings. I won’t have it that Surinder won’t sing in KLF. So, here he is performing with me in KLF:
Hem Nalini
Hem Nalini is an advocate. She is totally into old songs many of which would be challenge for all of us except perhaps Ashwani.
She has, however, one thing in common with us: she loves to meet people and have fun together.
Nikki
Nikki is the wife of Late Commodore HS Bajwa, a very fine Electrical Officer in the Indian Navy.
She looks after two companies started by her husband. She is a painter of great repute. Her house in Mohali, with all her paintings, is nothing less than an arts gallery.
She has abiding interest in songs and music and has attended many KLFs almost from the beginning.
In the last KLF, ie, KLF #13, I made her record her own debut performance in singing:
Nutan and Ravinder
Nutan and RPS Josen are two of the most sought after people in KLFs. He is a great singer especially of Mukesh songs though other singers like Rafi, Manna Dey, and Hemant Kumar also he sings with equal ease and excellence.
He is an alumnus of Thappar Engineering College, Patiala and served as an Air Engineer in the Indian Navy.
Nutan had been watching her husband setting the stage on fire from the sidelines until she, too, came on her own in KLF #13. Here is her debut performance:
And here are glimpses of Ravinder’s performance in KLF:
Rekha and Suresh
Having given this list alphabetically, Rekha and Suresh have appeared so far down. However, she is a top-notch singer and he isn’t far behind.
I discovered her at Safdarjang Club in New Delhi when Rajendra Kumar Tandon, a music enthusiast and friend, organised a Music Fest there for us visiting New Delhi on the way back from Kandaghat to Mumbai.
Suresh, an engineer, held the post of Executive Director of BHEL before retiring and settling down in Green Park in New Delhi. Indeed, their house garden there has won the Best Garden award year after year.
In recent years, Suresh has contributed substantially in pictures and videos going into YouTube posts.
Here are glimpses of Rekha’s performance in KLF:
Not to be left behind, even Suresh made his debut in KLF as follows:
Surekha
Surekha has been attending the KLFs from the first one in 2015. She has been a very active member of YKDN.
She has been blessed with a large family of children and grandchildren and she is forever looking after one or the other. The best part is that she is the same age (spiritedly) as the oldest as well as the youngest members of the family.
If there is one word that describes her fully, it is bindaas.
Her choice of songs, both Hindi and Punjabi, often involves everyone in either singing with her or start dancing.
Here are glimpses of her performance in KLF:
And see this at minute 57:13:
Surinder Grewal
He has been attending KLFs from the very beginning.
He is a doctor who graduated from Medical College, Amritsar. He divides his time between Ludhiana and United States.
He has been a very active member of YKDN.
His baritone voice has put a lot of us under his spell.
Here are glimpses of his participation in KLF:
Toya
Toya is the youngest and newest to join KLF this year.
She is as shy as she is accomplished singer. She has the voice and singing talent that comes closest to Lata Mangeshkar. She calls herself an untrained singer. However, she would put even highly trained singers to shame.
Here are glimpses of her very fine talent:
Gul
Finally, our music maestro: Gul Mohammad, the ace keyboard player. One feels blessed to have him in the group.
Not just in playing keyboard with great dexterity, he is also a very good singer.
Have a look:
Uday Thakur on Tabla and Harsh on the Octapad shall be accompanying him. They are the local Solan talent.
It is easy to say that with such diverse talent available, we are in for a most incredible Kandaghat Live Fest from Friday, 03 Oct to Sunday, 05 Oct 25.
Being your hosts, Lyn and I wish you an exciting, fun-packed, highly satisfying and enjoyable KLF.
We travel all the way from Mumbai to Kandaghat to be with you for KLF. In short, tumne pukara aur hum chale aaye!
If everything was to fill Man with guilt,
A very weird world, He’d have unknowingly built.
Was it to help Religion gain power?
Faced with his sin, Man would cower.
Life on Earth was to be His gift,
Not a punishment stunning and swift.
If pleasure was always to be denied,
Then why was this coveted life glorified?
The Good vs Evil, Right vs Wrong,
Hasn’t it carried on far too long?
Why didn’t we develop it into commonsense?
What would make Man regain innocence?
Are we to always turn to Him,
Before using our fancy or whim?
Or is there anywhere a trace of Free Will,
I-am-on-my-own kind of thrill?
Is it only a to-be-crossed-over ocean,
Is Man to examine his every emotion?
Until he finally draws his last breath,
And falls into the claws of fearful death.
Is God his strength or makes Man weak?
Leaving things to Him, isn’t that meek?
Why would this world such meek would inherit?
Is God’s mercy based on any merit?
Should we helplessly to faith resign,
Or reason and question His plan and design?
Are there for blind loyalty, extra marks,
As on his gifted journey, Man embarks?
Is it time to look at this concept afresh?
Wherein not just for the soul but a role for the flesh?
If God has made Man in His likeness,
Why would He want him to always suffer in contriteness?
Am I the first man faced with this dilemma?
Am I the only one to question the dogma?
There can’t be just one time in history,
When God came to us to resolve the mystery.
My body is mine, and so is my soul,
Together they make my life a whole.
No making my earthly life a passing phase,
A better life in heaven I don’t chase.
I stand alone, blazing my own trail,
Religion and God don’t make me frail.
Life’s meaning I don’t relentlessly seek,
Sin and guilt forever don’t make me weak.
I don’t intentionally do any evil or wrong,
But on my lapses, I don’t dwell too long.
After death, for me, there is no surprise.
For I regard my life on earth, my paradise.
No one has said and meant
More than when she said:
Nothing.
She wrapped a whole universe
Around it
Like a thin membrane
Protecting life from
Known and unknown threats.
Nothing? I asked incredulously.
Nothing, she responded with conviction,
As if she had discovered
The most meaningful manta
That would set her soul free.
Still, I tried, one last chance,
Like a drowning man
Clutching at straws,
There has to be
For God’s sake
Something.
And yet, like a stylus
Struck in a record’s groove
She said: Nothing.
Nothing, I insisted,
Is what our babus do
In government offices
Or what years of enquiries
Into missing public wealth discover
Or most of our batsmen score
On foreign tours.
Do you mean
That Nothing, I sought confirmation.
She repeated with
Equal enigma
And conviction:
Nothing.
After hours of my doubts
Confusion and helplessness
I became quiet
Cleared my mind
And closed my eyes
And allowed Nothing to overwhelm
All those somethings
Ostensibly wise
And clever
That had assailed me.
And bowed my head
And agreed wholeheartedly
That Nothing mattered,
That Nothing was, indeed
The right answer.
I learnt nothing from her;
I learnt everything.
I prayed to God
To make me equally wise
When someone meaning
To do nothing
Asks me: What’s wrong?
I, too, should stare
Vacantly
With a trace of meaningfulness
And quietly whisper: Nothing.
Nothing is
And will ever be
More profound.
Life is at a standstill;
The flaming hurry,
The forever race,
The relentless crescendo,
Are in a distant past,
Like the light of stars,
Still not reaching us,
Though travelling at the fastest known speed.
All is quiet,
All is rested.
Thrills and excitement
Have given way to
Watching sunsets,
Stars and moon,
And pitter patter of
Rain on the
Frosty panes of memory.
I look at the old man
Neither with pity nor pride,
Nor sadness, joy,
Regret and snide.
But, I am curious to know
If He achieved
What He wanted me to
Or He merely left
Everything to me
To notch up place
In the history
Of His universe.
Was it all preparation
For a final exam?
A marathon in which
The top ten or twenty
Or even hundreds and thousands
Would be taken to
Another world,
Serene and heavenly
And given
The ultimate reward.
I watch the sunset,
Moon and stars,
All quiet, all dumb
But, still able
To tell me
All I need to know.
And then, suddenly
It dawns on me:
I belong.
Years shared with them,
And with mountains,
Rivers, lakes, and trees.
Surely, they’d remember
Me
Who shared time and space
With them.
Trees grew with me,
Flowers blossomed,
Birds tweeted,
Nights and days
That added up
To make Life.
It would be difficult
To just forget
Me and the old man
Who is achieving
Merely by being
A part of His plan.
Nothing is wasted
After all;
Nothing is lost.
हम सोचते हैं कभी तो वक़्त जाएगा थम,
और दूसरों के लिए हम इसे पाएंगे निकाल l
कभी तो पीछे रहेगा हमारा चहेता अहम,
कभी तो आँखों के सामने से हटेगा जंजाल l
लेकिन यह कल का और बाद का है भ्रम,
फंसे हैं हम इसमें, यह ऐसा है अजब जाल l
कौन समझता है अपना किसी और का ग़म?
किसके हाल से हम होते हैं बेहाल?
तुम तो सिर्फ तुम हो, पर हम तो हैं हम,
हमारे हालात का तुम्हें नहीं है ख़याल l
हमारे अपने लिए है वक़्त इतना है कम,
कैसे औरों के लिए नेकी करके दरिया में दें डाल l
वक़्त निकालने का हम छोड़ देते हैं वहम,
जिंदगी के क्या हैं मायने, छोड़ो जाने दो सवाल l
JP was my dearest friend. Suddenly, on the morning of Sunday, the 27th of April this year, at about 10 AM, he closed his eyes for the last time in the front seat of our friend Harish Duneja’s car. He went so peacefully that for a few minutes Harish didn’t even know that he had left us. He never complained about anything in his life; there was not a whisper of complaint when he left.
My immediate, dazed, shocked, and sad response was this:
कैसे करें यकीन हमारा दोस्त नहीं है अब,
लुका छुपी खेली पर उसे ढूँढ नहीं पाए l
सौ तक गिनती की, अब कहाँ है तू?
खेल के यह नियम हमें समझ नहीं आए l
कौन अब मुझे कहेगा “Dear dost Ravi”?
कौन इन्तेज़ार करेगा मेरा हाथ फैलाए?
किसकी बाँसुरी की धुन सुनने को,
लोग बैठे रहेंगे कान लगाये?
थिरकती उंगलियों से कीबोर्ड के स्वर,
इतने हुनर से अब कौन बजाये?
किसके चेहरे के नूर से माहौल हो रोशन,
जैसे अंधेरी रात में कोई चाँद निकल आए?
किसकी हमदर्दी और हौंसला अफजाई ने,
हम सबके दिलों में चिराग जलाये?
किसकी वीडियो कॉल की रिंग टोन,
हम सबको हमारी नींद से जगाए l
JP ने तो परायों को भी बनाया है अपना,
लोग अपनों को भी समझते हैं पराए l
खुदा, हमारे दोस्त को बहुत सम्भाल के रखना,
हमारे अरमान रखे थे इस फ़रिश्ते ने सजाये l
I was a student of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh from May 1971 until I joined the Indian Navy two years later. I was a student in the Mechanical branch and JP was in the Electrical branch. For 50 years, as it happened with quite a few of us, we drifted into our own worlds. And then, on 20 Apr 2021, JP being one of the seven administrators of the PEC Music Lovers group added me as the 17th member of the group (the group was started on 10 Oct 2020). Two more members have been added since then. Meanwhile, I ran a Fest Operating Group (FOG) of my Facebook group Yaad Kiya Dil Ne and added JP and a few more PEC music lovers to my group on reciprocal basis. Both the group were almost dormant until JP and I reignited these.
A day after joining the group, I put up two of my poems that I had composed into songs: One, Jab hui hai maut se guftugu; and two, Unako haal-e-dil kya suna baithe. JP was one of the few who liked these. I thanked him and this is what he wrote, “I am very particular about pressing the like button of my friends’ videos. No need to thank me.”
Very soon I learnt that other than me and another member in FOG, Vipan Kohli, JP was a member who would assiduously go through all posts of friends and like and put up detailed comments on them. So much so that, say, he hadn’t seen posts for about a fortnight, he would go back to Day #1 and start commenting from there onwards without omitting a single one. Unlike others, he never played favourites.
With his very first post after I joined the PEC Music Lovers group, ie, Jadugar sainyan, chhodo meri bayiyan, ho gayi aadhi raat played by him on his keyboard on 22 Apr 21, I indicated to him that I was his fan, “Rajinder Krishan and Hemant Kumar and my favourite Vyjayanthimala. You have excellent talent JP. I am your fan.”
Very soon, JP started regaling us with his frequent renditions on the flute, keyboard, or singing with, “Boojho to jaane, gaa kar bhejo to maane” or “Suniye aur batayen.” We would respond on his personal number (rather than in the group) so as to keep the suspense alive for others. With my knowledge of old Hindi songs, to recognise the song was never a challenge for me. The song was, once again, picturised on Vyjayanthimala: Tumhe yaad karte karte, jaayegi rayn saari. I was soon to learn that he had an excellent taste in old Hindi songs.
Within a week, JP started playing songs suggested by me especially in Raag Pahadi. At a very early stage, he played my favourite: Dhoondo dhoondo re sajana more kaan ka bala picturised on Vyjayanthimala in Dilip Kumar’s only production: Gunga Jumna; the song having been put together by my favourites: Shakeel Badayuni, Naushad, and Lata Mangeshkar. I put up a post regarding the song.
Here is what JP wrote on my post:
“Ravinder Pal Singh Nick named, Ravi ji,
I read your full post and every paragraph of your post opened my eyes wide and wide apart.
Dear, I am sure that you can write a voluminous book on the three legends, Shakeel, Naushad, Vyjayantimala, the Indian film industry has produced, the book containing beautiful aspects of Indian films, Music, Lyrics and Dance.
Don’t you get inspired by yourself?
You might have written many pages on soft and hard pages earlier in your life.
Just start compiling all these from today itself.
Best of luck.”
JP warmed the cockles of my heart by playing a few notes of Vyjayanthimala’s Devdas song, also suggested by me, “Jise tu qabool karle wo ada kahan se laayun.” Indeed, without my suggestions, JP went about playing all my favourites. An early favourite of mine that I sang in Apr 2021 was in Raag Pahadi: Jaane kya dhoondati rehti hain. JP played it on Harish Duneja’s keyboard on 26 Apr 25, less than a day before he left us.
I introduced the group to raagas and taal and JP was the most avid learner in addition to having vast knowledge of his own. Here is what he wrote on 02 May 2021: “Prabhu, Aap ke paanv kahan hain? I feel envy to your so much knowledge of Raagas. 61 Raagas with their names and details. Unbelievable. I am reading many names for the first time. Ravi ji, it appears that you have done PhD in Indian filmy music. Jai ho.”
At my suggestion, the very first song that he played on flute was in Raag Sohani: Jhoomati chali hawa yaad aa gaya koi.
At this stage, a fortnight after getting in touch with JP, I put up my rendition of Na yeh chand hoga na taare rahenge, the first song that I sang for Lyn in KLF (Kandaghat Live First). These are JP’s first comments about Lyn and I:
“Dear Ravinder ji,
Sorry, I couldn’t see your post as I was reciting my morning Path.
I do not have the suitable words to express it all. Your clean and clear sincerity of love towards your life partner and the depth of heart with which you bring out your feelings in your songs and poetry, has already been conveyed by dear Ashwani and Duneja above. Lyn is very lucky to have you as her life partner.
God bless you all.
Very nicely sung.
I request Indu to sing the female version of the song and post it.
I am also posting below another song sung earlier by Indu which is so soothing that one loves to listen and sing it again and again.”
He played this song on keyboard:
And now, I started writing poetry to/for him. This was the first:
“हुनर आपका है हुज़ूर,
कहते हो अदा है हमारीl
टॉप फैन हम हैं ज़रूर,
पर ज़र्रा-नवाज़ी है तुम्हारीl”
JP put up on flute: Poochho na kaise maine rayn bitayi in Raag Ahir Bhairav.
Here is what I wrote:
“आप के लिए जितना भी लिखूं कम है,
आपके हुनर से इस ग्रुप में दम है l
आपकी शान में अच्छा कहना चाहता हूं,
पर अपनी छोटी पहुंच का मुझे ग़म है l”
After I sang Talat’s Sham e gham ki kasam, JP played it so well that I dubbed him maestro.
The first video chat between Renu, JP and I was on 17 May 2021 when I put up my rendition of Hemant Kumar’s Ye nayan dare dare. Here is what JP wrote: “Myself and Renu were really overwhelmed to listen to this lovely number sung so beautifully that we got a big impulse to talk to you….”
A testimony to JP’s fine taste in songs was this on keyboard: Hum pyar mein jalne walon ka. He topped it up with a Noor Jehan song: Awaaz de kahan hai. JP was experimenting on his keyboard changing from piano to clarinet and beat to waltz.
JP, at my request, played on flute: Mere mitwa, mere meet re, aaja tujhko pukaren mere geet re.
In my comments on his rendition, I invited JP, for the first time to KLF:
“Dear JP,
This is the best so far. When I requested you to play it on flute, I knew that many of Kalyanji Anandji songs are flute based. This is the title song of Geet and even the posters have Rajendra Kumar playing flute.
This is not in any raag, but, I know KA just loved Charukeshi and the best in that raag is from them: Kisi raah pe kisi mod par mujhe chal ns dena tu chhod kar.
Please please if you can play that too on flute, you will find similarity with this.
You are fast becoming a genius, if not already there.
Incidentally, at one time, flute was a prominent note in Hindi films songs, especially those sung in the freshness of the hills. So much so that flute reminds me of hills.
Very very well done JP. I can imagine you playing it in Whispering Winds, Kandaghat!”
So, two things happened: One, he attended KLF; and two, Kisi raah pe kisi mod par became his favourite song.
Indeed, JP, through his first vocal song, indicated to me that whatever I asked him to sing or play, he would. Taste this:
Knowing my devotion to Shakeel Badayuni, JP put up on flute: Jaane bahar husn tera bemisaal hai:
When JP played Koi pyar ki dekhe jaadugari on keyboard and I told him how stunned I was with the magic of his fingers, he wrote:
“Thanks Ravi dear,
रवि,
मैं अपना magic आप को दे दूंगा, पर तुम अपना knowledge का जादू मुझे दे दो।”
Two days before my birthday on 06 June 2021, JP recorded Kisi raah mein kisi mod par on flute – hold your breath – early morning. I was very touched by this gesture of his. Here is what I wrote:
“Just listened to it, JP, and honestly I was transported to another world.
Along with being so talented, you are truly a great human being. Friends’ suggestions and requests are considered by you important, which says a lot about your humility.
आपके दोस्त होने का हमें फक्र है,
आपके हुनर का खुदा का शुक्र है l
आपकी काबिलियत की दाद देनी होगी,
हर महफिल में आपका ही ज़िक्र है l
You are your own competition! Your keyboard and flute are taking turns to compete with each other. Right now, Flute is on top!”
On my birthday, I recorded Mukesh’s Husn e jaana idhar aa for my wife, Lyn. JP responded by playing it flawlessly on keyboard.
At this stage, ie, on 07 Jun 21, JP played on flute at my request a Phagun song: Piya o piya na laage mora jiya. Those were the days of Hindi movies when flute was the most adorable musical instruments of lovers and hence I had suggested the song to him. Indeed, as I recall, JP was playing almost all the songs at my request; a great honour for me.
I gave him our biggest award at that stage: PEC Ratna, our equivalent of Bharat Ratna!
I told JP that Husn e jaana idhar aa was one of the only 9 songs that Mukesh sang for Naushad and then I mentioned about Mehboob Khan’s Andaz wherein Mukesh sang two unforgettable songs for Naushad: Tu kahe agar, and Jhoom jhoom ke naacho aaj. JP obliged me by playing Tu kahe agar so well that I was amazed for the nth time.
In the group, then, I threw at friends a question as to why a particular song starts impinging on our memory suddenly one fine day. JP’s response to it is very important in the early stages of our rejuvenated friendship:
“Dear Ravi,
As per me, hundreds of thousands of songs keep humming in the back of mind of a musical person. At a particular moment of being in a happy, sad or gloomy mood,/ situation, the song linked to that situation surfaces at the top of one’s mind and one start singing.
I tell you, when my dear wife is upset/ angry with me, I start playing/singing songs suiting her mood whereby she gets emotional and forgets her sad mood. This is however disclosed by her at a later date.
Your songs manage your mood.”
Brilliant and unpretentious response.
Impressed by Sharanjit reminding of the brilliance of the song: Woh subah kabhi to aayegi, JP played it both on piano and flute. Renu ji liked it on flute.
And then he played on flute: Jaane kahan gaye woh din.
I also requested him to play Mere Sanam song: Jayiye aap kahan jayenge. As always, he obliged.
The brilliance of his playing these songs was so overwhelming that I tried my hand at penning a poem in Punjabi for him:
Let me now cut to 22 June 21, the first birthday of JP’s wife Renu after I joined the group on 20 Apr 21. JP played a song for her suggested by Harish. As always, it was played by him outstandingly. I couldn’t help making a poem about it (Aapke haseen rukh pe aaj naya noor hai):
“JP का दिल आपके लिए अभी भी मचल रहा है,
वल्ला, रेणु जी क्या असर है आपके प्यार का?
लगता है आपके लिए ही यह संगीतकार बना है,
क्या अंदाज चुना है अपने इश्क के इजहार का?
बहारें आती रहें आपकी जिंदगी में हमेशा,
रौनक रहे आपकी दुनिया हज़ारों साल l
खुशहाली और कहकशां आपके चूमे कदम,
घर आपका बना रहे सुन्दर और मालामाल l
आप दोनों का प्यार ऐसे ही बना रहे हरदम,
आपको मिलने के लिए दोस्तों की हों कतारें,
आपकी जिंदगी में कभी कोई ना आए ग़म,
आपसे ही रहें रौशन सितारे और नजारे l
जन्मदिन की आपको, रेणु जी, हो मुबारक,
हर लम्हा बरसाये संगीत और गीत l
कभी बांसुरी से, कभी बाजे से, कभी गा के,
JP बना रहे आपके मन का मीत l
Happy birthday Renu ji. Have a melodious day and year
🎼🎂🌹🌻🎼”
JP responded to it by:
“रवि dear,
To be very frank, I do not have the words to express my sincerest gratitude on the way, you thought of sending your Birthday Greetings in the form of a beautiful poem.
Your beautiful Lyrics have conveyed so many good wishes to both of us.
I read out your poem to many of Renu’s close associates in her School while enjoying the B’day party and there were all clappings.
You are truly blessed with the art of good writing, dear.
Keep on blessing the group and us.”
At the end of June, 2021, JP played a Shakeel, Naushad song: Phir teri kahani yaad aayi and followed it up with a Madhumati song picturised on Vyjayanthimala: Zulmi sang aankh ladhi.
On the early morning of 28 June 21, JP touched the chords of my heart with a song on flute: Tere sur aur mere geet. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and I wrote:
“Excellent JP,
सुरों और गीतों के आप हैं सरताज,
सुबह उठते ही सुनते हैं आपका साज l
संगीत की दुनिया में और भी हैं लेकिन,
लगता है हर तरफ आपका है राज l
दिन तो अपना तभी शुरू होता है,
जब कान में आती है बांसुरी की आवाज l
सुबह का समां वैसे पूजा का है,
लेकिन आपको सुनना है हमारी इबादत का आगाज l
हमारी तो जैसे किस्मत खुली हो,
आपके टॉप फैन होने पर हमें है नाज़ l
आप यूँ ही हमें लुभाते रहिए बजा के,
आप सुनाने से और हम सुनने से न आयेंगे बाज l
Proud of you, JP. You are the bestest of the best, Bismillah!”
And then, for the first time, JP wrote a verse of his own:
Dear रवि,
आप की मान भरी कविता पढ़ कर मेरा कवी भी कुछ कहना चाहता है …
रवि प्यारे, अगर आप ने मुझे पहनाया है इज्जत का ताज,
तो आप भी कम नहीं, आप भी हो लिरिसिस्टों के बाप।
रवि, I am truly feeling elated.
I am really indebted to you for writing for writing words of praise in the shape of poems or otherwise.
Lot many thanks, dear”
Friends, the above is less than ten percent of the musical and poetical interactions between JP and I for the first two months of re-knowing each other after 50 years. These are meant to just give you glimpses of the intensity of our relationship. Some of you know about how close JP was to me and vice-versa. These glimpses would tell you about how inseparable we had become. We were connected all the while one way or the other.
I can write hundreds of adjectives about his personality as felt by me. However, these interactions would most ably bring out, without any prejudice, the kind of person that JP was.
One last word: you would be thinking as to how I have all these with me after four years when you yourselves cannot locate anything even of four days ago. Here is the answer: when you love, you have it all!
I am fond of Mohammad Rafi; indeed, so fond of him that I consider him the best, the most accomplished, and most versatile singer that the world ever produced. A few years ago, when I started to learn singing at a very late stage in my life (I am 71 years old now and I started to learn singing only about three to four years ago), I realised that there is no better singer to learn from than Rafi saheb. Such is the aura of his singing that if an ordinary, amateur, and untrained singer like me can sing at about five percent of his ability, I can start patting myself on the back. Rafi saheb was the A to Z of good singing. When a great contemporary, Manna Dey, was asked to rank Rafi as a singer, Manna Dey’s prompt and thought provoking response was, “I rank Mohammad Rafi as #1 to #10.” By this, he obviously meant that all other singers were and are ten ranks below.
Raag Pahadi is the raag of my place in the hills, the Himalayas: Whispering Winds, Kandaghat. It is not related to any other hills. It is the most adorable raag of the Hindi films music director, the only raag that is also a dhun. Most of the songs composed in this raag are romantic melodies. But, there are some that are also sad and even melancholic numbers.
Just as it is in all genre’s of songs, Rafi saheb sang the best and the most memorable songs in Raag Pahadi. The first song for which my favourite lyricist, Shakeel Badayuni, received his Filmfare Award was composed by Ravi in Raag Pahadi: Chaudvinh ka chand ho and sung by Rafi saheb.
With this, lets start our journey into a dozen songs sung by Rafi saheb in Raag Pahadi.
Song #1 Zara sun haseena – e – nazneen
I sang this on 03 Aug 2021 on the birth anniversary of my favourite lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni. Ravi composed it in Raag Pahadi. Shakeel and Ravi combine made many songs together describing the husn (beauty) of the beloved; indeed, the best in this genre’.
It is from the 1963 Niranjan movie Kaun Apna Kaun Praya starring Vijay Kumar and Waheeda Rehman.
Please enjoy: Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen…
Song #2 Jaane kya dhoondati rehti hain
After the romantic melody in Raag Pahadi, lets straightway get to a sad song in the same raag.
One thing that would hit you about it is that even though it is among the difficult songs of Rafi saheb, I sang it at a fairly early stage of my learning to sing.
Khayyam utilised the complete range of Rafi saheb in this song from Mandra to Teevra. These very powerful lyrics are by Kaifi Azmi with the most telling line: Jo bik gaya woh khareedaar nahin ho sakta.
It is from the 1961 Mohan Saigal movie Shola Aur Shabnam starring Dharmendra and Tarla Mehta.
Satyen Bose’s 1964 movie Dosti was only the second movie (after Parasmani) of a new music director duo: Laxmikant Pyarelal. The movie won six of the seven Filmfare Awards for which it was nominated: Best Movie: Trachand Barjatya and Best Music Director Laxmikant Pyarelal.
This song and Jaanewalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe were composed by LP in Raag Pahadi. Indeed, it is among the most unforgettable Raag Pahadi songs in Hindi movies.
The song won Rafi saheb another Filmfare Award and also for Majrooh Sultanpuri, the lyricist.
Please enjoy: Chahunga main tujhe saanjh savere…
Song #4 Parbaton ke pedon par shaam ka basera hai
This was my first duet in Raag Pahadi. Rafi saheb sang it with Suman Kalyanpur.
This is from the 1964 movie Shagun starring Kamaljeet and Waheeda Rehman. Ten years after doing this movie, they got married.
This was penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by Khayyam. At this stage, let me tell you that Pahadi was the pet raag of Khayyam. In the movie Noorie, for example, he composed as many as three songs in Pahadi.
Please enjoy: Parbaton ke pedon par….
Song #5 Chal udd jaa re panchhi
(Poster courtesy: Wikimedia)
This is from the AVM production, the 1957 Krishnan – Panju movie Bhabhi starring Balraj Sahni, Pandhari Rai, and Nanda.
This is, indeed, an iconic song. It occurred in the movie in various parts. The song was penned by Rajinder Krishan and composed by Chitragupta.
Mohammad Rafi’s alaaps at various parts of the song, especially at the end, are out of this world.
Please enjoy: Chal udd jaa re panchhi…
Song #6 Suhani raat dhal chuki
This is, perhaps the most iconic song of Mohammad Rafi in Raag Pahadi. Last year, being the birth centenary year of Mohammad Rafi, I sang 100 of his songs. This was the first, on 01 Jan 24.
It is from the 1949 AR Kardar movie Dulari starring Madhubala, Geeta Bali, and Suresh.
The song was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad.
Please enjoy: Suhani raat dhal chuki…
Song #7 Tukde hain mere dil ke
This is from the 1965 Amar Kumar movie Mere Sanam starring Biswajeet and Asha Parekh. The movie was a remake of Come September starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida.
The song was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by OP Nayyar.
The picturisation of the song was widely appreciated.
Please enjoy: Tukde hain mere dil ke…
Song #8 Do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan aaj ki raat
The 1960 FU Sunny movie Kohinoor was devised to be a happy and lively movie since Dilip Kumar had gone into depression by acting in such melancholic movies as the 1957 movie Devdas. Meena Kumari acted opposite him.
The song was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and coomposed by Naushad. Being a duet, the female part of it was sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
Please enjoy: Do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan aaj ki raat…
Song #9 O door ke mussafir hamko bhi saath lele re
This, too, was penned by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by Naushad.
It is a sad Pahadi.
It is from the 1955 movie Udan Khatola starring Dilip Kumar and Nimmi.
Please enjoy: O door ke mussafir…
Song #10 Janewalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe
Laxmikant Pyarelal
This, too, is a sad Pahadi. I mentioned it above in Song #3 from the 1964 Satyen Bose movie Dosti, which won six out of the seven awards it was nominated for.
This, too, was penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Please enjoy: Janewalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe…
Song #11 Chaudhvin ka chand ho
This is, by far, the best and most popular song in Raag Pahadi. As I said earlier, it won the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni the first of the hat-trick of Filmfare Awards. Ravi composed the song.
This was the title song of the 1960 M Sadiq movie Chaudhvin Ka Chand starring Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman.
Please enjoy: Chaudhvin ka chand ho…
Song #12 Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega
The 1963 movie Taj Mahal was also directed by M Sadiq. It starred Pradeep Kumar as Emperor Shajehan and Bina Rai as Mumtaz.
The song won Sahir Ludhainvi his first Filmfare Award as the Best Lyricist. The composer, Roshan, too, won the Filmfare Award for the sound track of this movie.
I sang this song to Lyn on our anniversary on 12 Dec 2024. Being a duet, the female part was sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
Please enjoy: Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padhega…
I hope you liked my rendition of the top twelve songs of Mohammad Rafi in Raag Pahadi.
Please keep accessing this blog for the best in Hindi songs.
I am fond of Mohammad Rafi; indeed, so fond of him that I consider him the best, the most accomplished, and most versatile singer that the world ever produced. A few years ago, when I started to learn singing at a very late stage in my life (I am 71 years old now and I started to learn singing only about three to four years ago), I realised that there is no better singer to learn from than Rafi saheb. Such is the aura of his singing that if an ordinary, amateur, and untrained singer like me can sing at about five percent of his ability, I can start patting myself on the back. Rafi saheb was the A to Z of good singing. When a great contemporary, Manna Dey, was asked to rank Rafi as a singer, Manna Dey’s prompt and thought provoking response was, “I rank Mohammad Rafi as #1 to #10.” By this, he obviously meant that all other singers were and are ten ranks below.
I sang this on 03 Aug 2021 on the birth anniversary of my favourite lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni. Ravi composed it in Raag Pahadi. Shakeel and Ravi combine made many songs together describing the husn (beauty) of the beloved; indeed, the best in this genre’.
One thing that would hit you about it is that even though it is among the difficult songs of Rafi saheb, I sang it at a fairly early stage of my learning to sing.
This is from the 1964 movie Shagun starring Kamaljeet and Waheeda Rehman. Ten years after doing this movie, they got married.
It is from the 1949 AR Kardar movie Dulari starring Madhubala, Geeta Bali, and Suresh.
This is from the 1965 Amar Kumar movie Mere Sanam starring Biswajeet and Asha Parekh. The movie was a remake of Come September starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida.
This is, by far, the best and most popular song in Raag Pahadi. As I said earlier, it won the lyricist Shakeel Badayuni the first of the hat-trick of Filmfare Awards. Ravi composed the song.
The 1963 movie Taj Mahal was also directed by M Sadiq. It starred Pradeep Kumar as Emperor Shajehan and Bina Rai as Mumtaz.
