Music and LYRICS

Watching Rangoli on Sunday mornings during early 90’s would have been part of most of our lives. To be frank I really wasn’t greatly interested in the program initially except if it was some song in east-man colour or some famous tune. It was a widely used cliché at my place that bollywood (from late 80s and later on) no more produces songs with class that their older counterparts were composed of. I used to think “obviously they grew listening to those songs, so the current songs would never be on their fav list”. Then gradually I got hang of hindi and urdu to an extent. Poems and shayari always captivated me and made me enjoy the language more than mother tongue telugu. Thanks to uncle upstairs for exposing me to some of these songs when he used to play for himself in kitchen and I could hear it downstairs and learn it!

Once you have that inclination of language and start appreciating the playfulness of language, truly, the lyricists of that 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s are the one’s you want to adore. Ofcourse nothing to take away from the exceptional music directors whose tunes have eternally carried the golden words which provide blissful experience. The following are some of fantastic works.

Movie: Aap Ki Kasam,1974. lyricist: Anand Bhakshi, music: R.D.Burman

Singer: Kishore Kumar

Song: “Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain Jo Makaam

Vo Phir Nahin Aate, Vo Phir Nahin Aate
Phool Khilte Hain, Log Milte Hain, Phool Khilte Hain, Log Milte Hain Magar
Patjhad Mein Jo Phool Murjha Jaate Hain Vo Baharon Ke Aane Se Khilte Nahin
Kuchh Log ek Roz Jo Bichhad Jaate Hain Vo Hazaron Ke Aane Se Milte Nahin
Umra Bhar Chahe Koi Pukaara Kare Unka Naam
Vo Phir Nahin Aate, Vo Phir Nahin Aate”

Movie: Teesri Kasam, 1966. music: Shankar –Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra ,

Singer: Mukesh

Song: “Sajan Re Jhooth Mat Bolo, Khuda Ke Paas Jaana Hai , Na Haathi Hai Na Ghoda Hai,, Wahan Paedal Hi Jana Hai

Tumhare Mehel Chaubaare , Yahin Reh Jayenge Saare, Akad Kis Baat Ki Pyaare, Yeh Sar Phir Bhi Jhukaana Hai, Sajan Re Jhooth...

Bhalaa Kije Bhalaa Hoga, Buraa Kije Buraa Hoga, Wahi Likh-Likh Ke Kya Hoga, Yahin Sab Kuch Chukana Hai, Sajan Re Jhooth...

Ladakpan Khel Mein Khoya, Jawaani Neend Bhar Soya, Budhaapa Dekhkar Roya, Wahi Kissa Purana Hai
Sajan Re Jhooth...

Ofcourse there are these two from Mera Naam Joker: “Jeena yahan marna yahan, iske siva jaana kahan” and “ Jaane kahan gaye wo din…”. I feel connected to a song if it’s the voice of Mukesh.

Movie: Pyaasa,1957, music: S.D Burman, Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi, singers: Hemanth Kumar and Mohammed rafi respectively.

Songs: “ Jaane Woh Kaise Log The Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila, Humne To Jab Kaliyaan Maangi Kaaton Ka Haar Mila ..” and “ agar yeh duniya mil bhi jaaye tho kya hai”

Movie: Amar Prem 1971,music:R.D Burman, Lyrics: Anand Bhakshi, Singer: Kishore Kumar from song “kuch tho log kahenge..”

“…kuch reet jagat ki ayisi hai har ek subah ki shaam huyee, tu kaun hai tera naam hain kya sita bhi yahan badnaam huyee..” 

M ovie: Boond Jo Ban Gaye Moti,1967, music: Satish Bhatia, lyrics: Bharat Vyas,

Singer: Mukesh.

Song: “ Hari Hari vasundhara pe neela neela yeh gagan…yeh kisko baadalo ki paaliki udha rahan pawan, dishaayen dekho rangabharee, chamak rahi umang bharee

ye kis ne phool phool pe kiya singaar hai, ye kaun chitrakaar hai, ye kaun chitrakaar

ye kaun chitrakaar hai..”

Movie: Anaadi,1959. music: Shankar-Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra,

Singer: Mukesh

Song: “kisi ki muskuraahaon pe ho nisaar, kisi ka dard mil sake to le udhaar, kisi ke vaaste ho tere dil men pyaar, jeena isi ka naam hai..

maana apani jeb se fakeer hain, phir bhi yaaron dil ke ham ameer hain, mite jo pyaar ke liye vo zindagi, jale bahaar ke liye vo zindagi, kisi ko ho na ho, hamen to aitabaar
jeena isi ka naam hai

rishta dil se dil ke aitabaar ka, zinda hai hamin se naam pyaar ka, ke mar ke bhi, kisi ko yaad aayenge, kisi ke aansuon men muskuraayenge, kahega phool har kali se baar baar
jeena isi ka naam hai”

This could go on for ever by digging up the songs. Absence of songs from 1990’s and later shouldn’t be treated as my lack of appreciation for songs during that time but I do not find them philosophically as rich as older ones’. Oflate, anytime I try to pick a song with very good style, the song which spontaneously comes to me is “ radha kaise na jale” from movie Lagaan written by Javed Akhtar. The finesse of the language (pronounciation of the words) used surprises me when I realise that it was penned by a man who comes from religiously and culturally different background. Perhaps this song which describes the conversation between Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha, written and composed by people who practice different religion is a fine example that music knows no boundaries! Apart from renowned Gulzar and Javed Akhtar; Prasoon Joshi looks promising in present times with “lukha chuppi..” from rang de basanti and poetic “dil gira dafatan” from Dilli 6. Though not being my initial impression, though not belonging to that generation, I can still be proud of placing myself in the category who believe (w.r.t music) that ‘Old is gold!’. Can anybody notice a common thing from the above songs which talks about my inclination to listening to...?