How many times have you wondered how it feels to be free as bird?
Does any picture emote so well to be able to convey every element of romance that you fantasize about?
Which of those wonderful creations of human mind touch your soul the most?
Now then, the answers could differ from a cynical-get to the point, I gotta get back to work to the utterly romantic- Love, freedom??..
I do not wish to contemplate on the above for I would keep those answers to myself and leave such points to ponder for you to seek. These things have struck me because of the sheer genius of one of the best known Ghazal singers-Jagjit who evokes the most surreal, the warmest of feelings every time you hear his resonant sincere voice rendering the most beautiful of verses from Nida Fazli to Ghalib himself.
People talk about the pain these poets have had to go through in their personal lives, the starcrossed love they experienced. I can?t vouch for nay of that but their works sure do touch your soul far deeper than most Bollywood numbers can dream to.
The following Ghazals are in no order and never fail to engross fans of Jagjit and Chitra:
Khuli Hawaaon mein- Sajda
Fly away to eternity?.No strings attached. Let your mind free itself from the shackles of thought. Is it that easy? This ghazal explores these thoughts and conveys the essence of freedom and detachment as being deeply related.
Mili hawaon udne ki woh saza yaaron
Ke main zameen ke rishton se kat gaya yaaron
Does breaking free mean detachment from those earthy relationships as well???
As a matter of fact, this album brought together two stalwarts- Lata and Jagjit and what resulted was a collection of some very memorable pieces of music.
Meri Zindagi aur ki- Someone somewhere
Am I myself- what a silly question, right? Well not after you listen to this one?..
Meri zindagi kisi aur ki,
Mere naam ka koi aur hai,
Mera Aks hai, fariyaadiya,
Bas Aiina koi aur hai
My life is someone else?s, someone shares my identity. My reflection is just a thought, the mirror is someone else?s.
This album was sung by Jagjit and Chitra is dedicated to the memory of their son Vivek who passed away at the tender age of eighteen in a road accident. The renditions have been so earnest, it would melt the hearts of one and all. The verses are poignant too.
Garaj Baras pyaasi dharti ko- Insight
The metaphors used in this one convey so much more that the words. Probably the only ambum which is completely philosophical in the choice of ghazals and nazms used, my fav. is the one mentioned above.
Is two plus two always four? It is as rudimentary as that? How about infusing some innocence, naivete, mischief and just a pinch of romance into all sensible people? Not that everyone is a beancounter here always still, we could try, couldn?t we?
Do aur do ka jod hameshaa char kaha.n hota hai,
soch samajh valo.n ko thodi nadani de maulaa
Another Ghazal which was very aptly used in one of the best TV serials of all time- Neem ka Ped. Years of silence, years of survival, will I still be recognized? Will my pain find a remedy. Listen and immerse yourself in the world of immortal poetry.
Mooh ki baat sune har koi, dil ko dard ko jaane kaun,
Awaazon ko bazaaron mein, humein pehchaane kaun
Almost all the ghazals in this album were very philosophical and thought provoking and the way Jagjit has composed those tunes intertwining the beats and sitar to produce some of the rarest jewels of music, this just cannot be missed. The other notable mentions include :
Jeevan Kya hai Chalta phirta ek khilona hai
Badla na apne aap ko Jo the Wahi rahe,
Milte rahe sabhi se magar ajnabi rahe.
No note on Ghazals can be complete without reference to the king of them all-Ghalib. In my opinion this album just cannot be passed off as a mere Ghazal. It goes way beyond letting you enjoy it. It conveys..well naah not this time. You got to hear this one yourself to know what I am talking about.
Chitra and Jagjit have together sung a very beautiful one called :
?Dil hi to hai, na sango keeshth,
royenge hum hazaar baar,
koi hamein sataye kyun? ? Mirza Ghalib
Heart it is, not a brick or stone
Why shouldn’t it feel the pain?
Let none tyrannize this heart
Or I shall cry again and again.
All those who enjoy the rendition more than the words, who belong to music and only music as the religion community, no we have something for you as well. Listen to these by Chitra and you would impressed with the range of curves and pitches this voice can conquer-
Kisi Ranjish Ko hawa do ke main zinda hun abhi
Mujhko ehsaas Dila do ke main zinda hun abhi
Ek-na-ek Shama Andhere mein Jalaye Rakhiye
Subah Hone ka hai, Maahaul Banaye Rakhiye
Do keep some part of you always lit up forever bright; you need to create an atmosphere for a new day, a new bright day. On this cheerful note, I guess I gotta stop.
Note : I just cannot describe many of these in plain and simple English. So those who couldn?t understand these, pardon me.
Keerti
Don?t forget to RRC this review.