*Disclaimer: I am sorry if this review is too long for your liking. But Gulzar and Pancham da are two people, whom I not only admire, but am just passionate about them. I just could not decide what to leave out and what not to. Even then I had to cut out some parts of this wonderful album. Ok and 1 more thing, most of these songs, I have taken from memory. I have listened to these songs, so many times, that the lyrics are just embedded in my brain.
Jan 4, 1994- The day when the world of music, lost one of it’s most brilliant composers, **R.D.Burman a.k.a Pancham. Soon after Gulzar came up with this wonderful album dedicated to his songs. And no other person better than him, because he was Pancham’s closest friend. This is not just a musical album. It also has recollections of memories Gulzar shared with Pancham, and when you listen to it in Gulzar’s own voice, you will understand better how this duo managed to create magic together.
The album starts off with Gulzar reminiscing about the days he spent with Pancham especially during the monsoon. .Yaad hai baarishoN ke din thay woh, Pancham!. And as he finishes it with tum yuN hee do qadam chalkar dhuNdh par paaoN rakhke gum ho gaye. maiN akela hooN dhuNdh meiN, Pancham!, you feel the loss he felt for the death of his friend. And then begins, the first song Qatra, Qatra, Miltee Hai, Qatraa, Qatraa Jeene Do, Zindagi Hai, the magic begins. This Asha solo from Izazat, is simply out of the world. Actually, the song is picturized on two different heroines, and the way Asha changes her voice, to make it appear, as if she is singing for two different people is amazing. Especially listen to the change in tone when she says Zindagi Hai.
As Gulzar continues his tribute saying “Kya tumhe pata tha Pancham ki tum chup ho jaaoge aur maiN tumhaaree aawaaz DhooNDhta phiruNga”, we feel a lump in the throat forming as we listen to the next solo by Lata from movie Doosri Sita, Din Jaa Raha Hain, Ke Raaton Ke Saaye. Quite a nice song, but I would prefer Asha’s Tu Jahan Mile Mujhe from the same movie. We hear Pancham doing a humming of the Qatra Qatra song, and then again Pancham hums the next song, from Izazat again, by who else, the incomparable Asha. Khalee Haath Shaam Aaye Hai, Khalee Haath Jaayege. Unlike the fast paced beat of Qatra, Qatra, this is more of a slow song, but totally soothing.
And Gulzar continues “Yeh sirf mera Nahin Pancham, ab hum sab ka hai”. So true, Pancham would live in the hearts of music lovers all over India. And we listen to next song, Yeh Saaye Hain, Yeh Duniya Hai from the movie Sitara. For me the songs of this movie, were not that great, or maybe I was judging by the high standards of RD-Gulzar. But no such complaints with this song. “Roj, Roj aankhon Tale, ek hi sapna chale, raat bhar kaajal jale, aankhon mein jis tarah raat ka deeya jale”. Wonderful duet by Asha and Amit Kumar. Especially the way Asha pronounces the word sapna, and comparing the kaajal with the lights in one’s eyes, wow only Gulzar could come up with some thing like that. Pity such a wonderful song, went waste in a totally forgettable movie called Jeeva.
Gulzar** recounts the incident, when Pancham once woke up him at midnight, and drove him all around till dawn, as he hummed this song. Yes its one of my all time favorites, and for some time it was my favorite road song too. “Musafir Hoon Yaaron, Na Ghar Hai Na Tikana”, was my anthem, during my carefree, bachelor days, and especially during the times, when I would go on a long drive all by myself. One of Kishore Da’s best songs, and Pancham’s orchestration during the song is awesome. “Ek Raah Ruk Gayi, To Aur Jud Gayi” summed up how I felt, that nothing is the end of the road, another begins from there. Many a time, I longed to just float on as in “Hawa Ke Paron Par Mera Ashiyana”.
Again we hear Pancham’s humming, and Lata weaves that magical spell with this number from Ghar, Aaj Kal Paaon Zameen Par Nahin Padte Mere. But then only Lata Didi, had that ability to touch your soul with that nightingale like voice of hers. Wonderful effort here. As Gulzar again starts off with Pancham’s childish nature, with “Pancham! Ek Bada Masoom sa bacha tha”, we know where he is arriving at. And we listen to the kiddy song from Masoom, Lakdi ki Kaathi. Gulzar took up what was essentially a nonsensical kiddy lyrics, and came out with an unforgettable song from it. And the best thing, was getting kids to sing this song, which makes it so natural and endearing.
We again listen to another Kishore-Lata duet from movie Devata, Gulmohar agar tumhara naam hota. But I would any day prefer Chaand Churake Laaya Hoon, another Kishore-Lata duet from the same movie. It was more catchy and more endearing. If Didi can do, so can I, seems to be Asha’s motto, as she launches into a full scale classical number with Piya Bawaree, Piya Bawaree, from movie Khoobsurat. One of the best classical numbers you would hear in a very long time. In fact Gulzar was the one who showed that RD could come up with wonderful classical numbers in movies like Libaas, Ghar, Izaazat. He was the one who showed that RD could produce more than just dance numbers.
The next song is from movie Ghar, the Asha-Rafi duet, “Botal se ik baat chalee hai”, but for me any day I would have preferred Kishore-Lata’s “Aap Ke Aankhon Mein “. That duet is one of the most romantic I have ever heard, and would make it any day to list of my favorite songs. Just listen to Kishore Da’s superb modulation when he intones “ Lab Khile To Mowgre Ke Phool Khilte Hain Kabhi”, slightly low pitch, “Aap Ki Aankhon Main Kya Saahil Bhi Milte Hain Kabhi”, and then suddenly hits a high pitch with “Aap ki Khamoshiyan Bhi, Aap ki Aawaz Hai”. And Lata not to be outdone, wonderfully matches, and when she finishes with a tiny laugh, at end saying “Aap Ki Badmashiyon Ka Yeh Nayi Andaz Hai”, you are mesmerized. This is a song I never tire of listening to again and again, and I would have wanted this so much in an otherwise wonderful tribute.
Gulzar again shows us the real secret of memorable music “kitne kam logoN ko ye baat samajh meiN aatee hai ki dhun bana lene se hee gaana nahiN ban jaata”. And then Lata’s magical voice takes us to a totally different plane with this number from Libaas. seelee hawa chhoo gayee, seela badan chhil gaya, neelee nadee ke pare, geela sa chaaNd khil gaya. No orchestration, no musical flourishes, just plain melody, soft and slow, mesmerizing and captivating. Listen to this song on a lazy afternoon, you are just lifted to another plane.