GUIDE - Waheeda Rehman, Dev Anand
Music Director: S.D.Burman
Lyricist: Shailendra
S.D Burman, famously known as R.D.Burman’s father, rather unfortunately. Unfortunately why? Because, overshadowed by his son, people forget that this talented Burman Sr. is the man behind some big musical hits such as Jewel Thief, Paying Guest, Sharmilee, Aradhana, Teen Deviyan, Prem Pujari, Sujata, Taxi Driver, and so on. One such unforgettable album is GUIDE.
I think it would be fair enough to say that the main reasons for Guide’s blockbuster status are its enchanting music, stirring lyrics, and some textbook examples of playback singing. Guide is a complete album, in the sense that it has got a little something for everyone - romantic duet, joyous songs, sad songs, and classical songs.
Gaata Rahe Mera Dil - Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar
This is the only song featuring Kishore Kumar in this album. He opens the number with his clear voice and, from then on, Kishore and Lata blend their magical voices with the rhythmic bongo beats to create a classic example of a romantic duet. I particularly like the lines,
’’Pyar karne Vale, Are Pyar Hi Karenge
Jalne Wale Chahe Jal Jal Marenge’’
(Meaning: Those who love will love, although those who are jealous will die of jealousy)
I like them because they rightfully bring out the fierce love, unmarred by the happenings of the outside world, which blossoms in two young hearts. Gaata Rahe is undoubtedly one of Dev Anand’s biggest classics.
10/10 - Deeply Romantic!
Piya Tose Naina Laage Re - Lata Mangeshkar
’’Piya Tose Naina Laage Re
Naina Laage Re
Jaane Kya Ho
Ab Aage Re’’
(Meaning: Honey! My eyes meet yours. I don’t know what’s going to happen now)
The beginning lines create a mood for the entire song - a soft, romantic mood, in which a girl is imagining her lover and, in the form of a solo song, is making clear her undying love for him. Who else could have been a best choice for such a number except the nightingale- Lata Mangeshkar.
Lata’s eloquent vocals so beautifully convey the feelings holed up in the heroine’s heart. I love the way she croons, ’’Oh Oh Oh....Oh’’ Well, sounds stupid in a review I know, but just listen to this song and her melody will stay with you forever. The music provided by S.D.Burman is a classical mixture of jingles, veenas, and tablas. An ideal group stage dance!
10/10 - Great!
Dhin Dhal Jaaye Haaye – Mohd. Rafi
Through this song the lyricist wants to convey the loneliness of the male protagonist and sorrow due to his separation from his ladylove. The helplessness in the cry for love is brought out very well by Rafi’s smooth and, more importantly, expressive voice. Rafi doesn’t try too hard, doesn’t shake his voice too much, and instead effortlessly puts across the depth of the hero’s emotions, so much so that one cannot imagine any other singer for this song!
Of course, the lyrics of Dhin Dhal Jaaye need to be specially mentioned. Shailendra does a good job of penning a verse with the right choice of words in order to further probe into the hero’s wound. I particularly love the line, “Tum Mujhse Main Dil Se Pareshaan, ” (Meaning: You are tired of me. I am tired of my heart) , because the line, by itself, reveals the extent of the hero’s tragedy. One can infer that the heroine is angry with the hero but he still misses her and his darkness never ends. “Dhil Dhal Jaaye Haaye, Raat Na Jaaye!” (Meaning: Daylight darkens, but night never ends) Well-written!
10/10 - Heartrending
4) Saiyan Beimaan – Lata Mangeshkar
This is an out-an-out classical number from the veteran Lata Mangeshkar. Compared to Piya Tose this song is much faster though. Saiyan Beimaan is an entertaining song in which the woman describes the effect of her lover on her.
Lata’s articulate vocals, especially at points when she trills, “Ni Ni Ri Ri…Sa Sa Sa, ” convey the heroines playful mood. Burman’s musical ensemble is perfectly arranged and he succeeds in adding a classical touch to the teasing lyrics of the track.
9.75/10 - Enchanting
Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai – Lata Mangshkar!
The fastest track of the album, Aaj Phir Jeene Ki is also the best one. Just listen to Lata’s mellifluous vocals and her command over rhythm here to realize why she is known as a legend and why she monopolized the industry for a very long time.
Right from the moment she begins with, “Kanton Se Khinchke Ye Aanchal, ” you are filled with a sense of freedom and joy. The main reason for Lata’s success in this song is because she doesn’t sing with the sentiment of a playback singer; she sings with the sentiment of the character. Lata places herself in the heroine’s heart, feels the heroine’s glorious happiness, and then sings. Hence, there is so much passion in her voice and this passion is fully transferred into the listener’s heart. Undoubtedly, Aaj Phir Jeene Ki belongs to her.
Shailendra has contributed ideal lyrics too. For example, the line, ”Dar Hai Safar Me Kahin Kho Na Jaoon; Raasta Naya, ” (Meaning: I am scared that I’ll get lost in this road of happiness, because I have never traveled on it before) by itself completely brings out the sense of newfound happiness in the heroine’s heart. She feels that, for the first time, she is traveling on the road of joy and hence is scared of getting lost! This is just one example. Shailendra has penned each and every line keeping in mind the lady’s joyous mood and creates a winner! Burman, for his part, gives a very fast pace to this song through tablas and the sound of jingles.
When the song ends, you too feel like singing, “Aaj Phir Sunne Ki Tamanna Hai” ( I want to listen to this song again!)
10/10 - The easiest perfect score I have ever given to any song.
CONTD......(comments)