I’m currently obsessed with old Hindi film music. This is a regular feature with me. I go through phases with my choice of music. I have very recently “recovered” from a beautiful Ilayaraja state of mind. This in turn was preceded by my post- Bestival 2009 phase of music that included Elbow, Florence and the Machine, MGMT and Diplo to name just a few. These are phases I’d readily admit to, along with my Ingrid Michaelson and music from Grey’s Anatomy phases. But, there are some that I am mortified to talk about. But, I shall reveal all in this soul- baring exercise. My “solitary secret music behaviour” or SSMB has at various points included obsessively replaying “ditties” by Taio Cruz (“Come on Girl” comes immediately to mind), Scouting for Girls (“She’s so luvverly, she’s so luvverly”), Timbaland (“The way I are” is still a huge favourite) and The Pussycat Dolls (“Dontcha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?”... No, really... dontcha? :P). And whilst I’m still riding out the high of this strange need to confess my SSMB, I’ll even admit that some of these songs are still on my mp3 player. Gasp! Shock! Horror! But I digress. This post was meant to be about my current obsession i.e., old Hindi film music.
It all started off when a friend posted the lyrics of a song from ‘Anpadh’ as her status message on Facebook. I had called in sick at work because of a cold. I had an empty day spread out in front of me and I decided to fill it up with many cups of tea and a trip down music memory lane. Perfect.
There were three cassettes that were responsible for this life-long on-off relationship with old Hindi film music. “Tribute to Madan Mohan”, “Tribute to S.D Burman” and “Tribute to R.D Burman”. They introduced me to some mind-blowing songs that have stayed with me ever since. I’ve acted out, danced to, attempted to sing and have even memorized the lyrics to some of these songs. After a lot of thought and careful consideration I’ve chosen five of my favourites and will attempt to tell you what they mean to me. So here goes.
Movie: Aandhi (1975)
Music Director: R.D Burman
Lyrics: Gulzar
Singer(s): Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
A common clichéd favourite. But as with all clichés, it is not without reason. The quintessential song not of love unrequited, but of a relationship that couldn’t survive the blows dealt to it repeatedly by circumstance. The lovers meet again when they are old to find feelings resurfacing with the same overwhelming magnitude. The most poignant lines for me are the first few:
“Tere bina zindagi se koi shikva to nahi, shikva nahi
Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi to nahin, zindagi nahi”
“I have no complaints about a life without you
However, a life without you is not much of a life at all”
I feel so inadequate and unprepared to explain those lines. And the translation, like most translations, does it no justice. Someone who is able to write lyrics like that has to be blessed. Hats off.
As circumstances prevent them from being able to meet openly in the light of day, there is an agonizing aching need for the night to last forever.
“Tum jo keh do to aaj ki raat chaand doobega nahi, raat ko rok lo.
Raat ki baat hai, aur zindagi baaki to nahi”
“If you tell it not to, the moon won’t set tonight. Stop the night from leaving.
It’s just for this one night; it’s not like there much more life to live”
Enough said.
Movie: Abhimaan (1973)
Music Director: S.D Burman
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
She sings to placate her angry man by drawing the most beautiful pictures of how the world has lost its lustre when he isn’t talking to her. In the movie, the female protagonist is actually a singer by profession and there are several other references to the loss of music in her life when he is estranged from her. The song begins with her mourning the loss of music from her flute when her beloved is angry:
“Piya bina piya bina piya bina basiya
Baaje na baaje na baaje na”
She talks of how his anger has caused all music to flee from her lips. And any song that she does manage to sing sounds soulless and false:
“Piya aise roothe ki honthon se mere sangeet rootha
Kabhi jab main gaoon lage mere mann ka har geet jhootha.”
The final reference to how there is no music to her life without him is put very poetically in the line:
“Ke chup hai papiha”
Which literally means,
“The cuckoo sings no more.”
To me, she is the songbird who cannot bring herself to sing because she has nothing to be happy about. If I were the man in question, I doubt I’d be able to stay angry for much longer after this song.
Movie: Chiraag (1969)
Music Director: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Singer(s): Mohammed Rafi/ Lata Mangeshkar
A song that can lift the spirit and make you feel beautiful. If you imagine that it is being sung to you. I do that all the time. Yes, I am that vain. The singer is clearly besotted with the person he sings about and is deliriously in love. In the male version sung by Mohd Rafi, he sings of how he sees his destiny writ in her eyes with the kohl of desire, “Chahat ke kaajal se likhee hui meri taqdeer hai”. Goose pimples! In the female version sung by Lata Mangeshkar she sings “Inke siva ab to kuchch bhi nazar mujh ko aata nahin” In modern terms, it’s that feeling of always being aware of where in a room the person you like is, of them being on your radar. But Majrooh Sultanpoori puts it so much more beautifully, don’t you think? If I could sing, this would be the song I’d sing to the man I fall in love with.
Movie: Anpadh (1962)
Music Director: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar
A song completely devoid of any sense of self or ego, the singer is just thankful that the one she loves loves her too. The words “Hanske Apni Zindagi Mein Kar Liya Shaamil Mujhe” reveals almost a sense of surprise that she has been chosen by him. I’m all about equality between the genders and would normally baulk at such servitude, really. But this is too beautiful for such a reaction. To be loved by someone you love is a glorious feeling and to feel overwhelmed by it is, I think, permissible. The singer does hint at a cocky side to her personality when she sings “Aapki manzil hoon main meri manzil aap hain”. Almost like she is telling him in a very matter of fact manner that wherever else he might think of going, he is going to end up with her. So there!
Movie: Hum Dono (1961)
Music Director: Jaidev
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Singer(s): Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhonsle
A song that describes the “can’t-you-stay-just-a-little-longer” feeling, to a tee. The man (played by the inimitable Dev Anand) mischievously suggests that she stays so he can let his gaze wander for a bit more, “Nazar zara behak to le” and so he can get intoxicated by her presence “Nashe ke goont pee to loon”. I love the way she hints at it being night-time and therefore time for her to go, without actually using the word ‘raat’ (night) but instead says “sitaaren jhilmilaa utte, charaag jagmaga utte” (the stars are shining, the lamps have been lit).
My favourite lines from this song are “agar main ruk gayi abhi, to jaa na paoongi kabhi” (If I stay right now, I’ll never be able to leave). I think this also has something to do with the way Asha Bhonsle sings it. With a sort of desperation. It’s not like she doesn’t want to stay. It’s just that she cannot. Sigh.
That’s my list. Here’s hoping we all one day find that gut-wrenching, soul-searing, heart-warming, spirit-uplifting sort of love that makes us want to sing out loud. Even if it’s only in the shower.
3 comments:
Heart-warming. :)
I have my own list of goldies, many of them featuring ever-young Kishore Kumar and a few by Mukesh.
My all-time favourite - once again a cliche, but what the hell - Awara Hoon.
Awara hoon..hmm-mm-mmm, awara hoon. :D
Thanks Sid!
"Aabaad nahin barbaad sahi
Gaata hoon khushi ke geet magar"
Awara hoon is a gem!
I had such a tough time choosing just five :)
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