The fact that lyrics play as important a role in the beauty of a song as the music composition, is underlined by the popularity that Gulzar enjoys amongst music lovers. Like stringing pearls onto a necklace, he weaves the most exquisite words into a sublime art form where prose and poetry merge into each other. His lyrics frequently face the unfair accusation that they are extremely metaphysical and beyond the common man’s interpretation but that’s not really true. Point to reference’ Saara din sadkon pe khali rickshe sa peeche peeche chalta hai’ from Satya. Gulzar- RD Burman was a pairing made in heaven, but after RD, he still goes on to create sheer magic with Rehman and Vishal Bharadwaj. Here are 10 of my favorites in no particular order.
Khamosh Sa Afsana(Libaas): Gulzar’s last effort with RD Burman, this movie never really saw a regular theatrical release. But it had some of the finest gems. “ Khamosh Sa Afsana, Pani Pe Likha hota. Na tumne kaha hota, Na humne suna hota” The lines speak for themselves.
Katra Katra(Ijaazat): Another Gulzar- RD gem, it crystallizes a beautiful philosophy of living life as it happens and never looking back, in it’s mukhda “Katra Katra milti hai, Katra Katra jeene do. Zindagi hai. Behne do. Pyaasi hoon main pyaasi rehne do.”
Ye Saaye hain Yeh Duniya hai(Sitara): From a lesser known movie, this one sums up a lifetime in one of it’s hard hitting lines. Bhari bheed mein khali tanhaiyaan hai”
Baadalon se Kaat kaat ke(Satya): Bhupinder sings for Gulzar after ages in this romantic solo filled with amazing visual imagery of a guy listless in love. “Jaamunon ke narm daal pe, naakhunon se naam khodna. Yeh mujhe kya ho gaya?”
O Babua, Yeh Mahua(Sadma): Lust, Passion, Longing, Arousal. This song reflects the rising fires in the sultry Silk smitha in it’s enchanting mukhda. “O babua, Yeh Mahua mehekne laga hai. Aa mere saans jalte hai. Badan pe saanp chalte hai.” Sensuously vocalized by Asha of course.
Juthe tere nain(Dil Padosi hai): The scorned wife accusing the husband of infidelity. the concept of nain(eyes) being jutha(not to be confused with Jhootha as in false) because. “Sauten ke chhab chhoo ke aaye. Sauten sang bitayi rain.” Novel wordings.
Chhod aaya hum(Maachis): The hurt and longing of leaving one’s home state comes across wonderfully in this one. I simply love the imagery of a beautiful mother in “ Teri kamar ke bal pe nadi muda karti hai. hasi teri sun sun ke fasal paka karti hai.”.
Ek akela is shaher mein(Gharonda): Urban angst has never before or after been so beautifully expressed. In umr se lambi sadkon ko, manzil pe pahunchte dekha nahin. . .Jeene ki wajah toh koi nahin, marne ka bahana dhoondta hai.”
Dil dhoondta hai(Mausam): Reflective longing for those days gone by. “Jaadon ki narm dhoop aur aangan mein lait kar, thandi safed chaadaron pe jaage der tak.’ Wonderfully picturized with an older Sanjeev kumar walking around and seeing his younger past flit by. Amazingly sung by Bhupinder and Lata.
Tere Bina Zindagi se koi(Aandhi): Rekindled emotions and undercurrents between a couple long separated. The desire to stretch that stolen moment together to it’s very limit. Ably worded in . “Tum jo kehdo toh aaj ke raat Chaand doobega nahin. Raat ko rok lo. Raat ki baat hai, aur zindagi baaki toh nahin.”
Quite a list but I take the liberty of adding an extra one.
Mera Kuchch Saaman(Ijaazat): Can a list of Gulzar’s best be ever complete without this one? RD Burman had jokingly cribbed that after this he would probably hand him a paragraph from the ‘Times of India’ and ask him to set it to tune. Amazing format of a letter asking back for those intangible possessions(memories and experiences shared) left behind with an ex-lover. Fitted in so well with Anuradha Patel’s character in the movie.
There are of course songs and songs left out of this list. Each one a classic, a fossilization of thoughts and moments wonderfully expressed and etched for posterity.