Most people have heard and some have experienced the idea of soulmates, of two people working in perfect harmony, living their lives as if they are a unified identity;in business parlance-a perfect merger creating synergies of a unique kind. Amazingly when it comes to work and especially art, people usually identify one person with a piece of art. Very rarely are duos credited with the kind of glory that one artist/his or her work is identified with.
I am going to focus on the work of such a duo, two amazingly gifted artists-one a lyricist who happens to a rare combination of levelheadedness and imagination very evident from his work, be it the zest for life-Thodi si Zameen or one of realities of life-Fursat ke raat din-that’s Gulzar for you and the second artist is known more more for his indepth understanding of music as a means of expression more than that of just the tunes he composed. The way R.D.Burman managed blended emotions with melody, interweaving the unspoken with the most strongly felt.
Secondly these songs happen to be from a different era-one that might be unheard of but once heard or given a glimpse of will remain cherished forever.
Some people might not agree with my idea of restricting my revu to those songs of Gulzar which have been composed by RD. Fair enough.I liked the songs which were a combined effort of this duo while you could go ahead and revu those which were not.
With this clarification, let me get to the point.
1) Musafir Hoon Yaaron-Parichay
Sung by Kishore
A song that makes you feel neither sad nor happy, kind of suspended. Just one of those things that happen. No one asked why. No one expected it to happen.
“Ek Raah rook gayi to aur jud gayee,
Main muda to saath saath raah mud gayee
Hawa ke saath saath hai mera dostana”
Btw not only were the lyrics well suited to the song, absolutely situational that is; our very own Jumping Jack for one gave just the right expressions to the way this song progresses. A treat for your ears.
2) Thodi si zameen Thoda aasmaan- Sitara
Sung by Lata and Bhupendra
Just a little bit of ground, a little bit of sky, a ray of warm sunshine, guess that would sum up your idea of perfect home, perfect life right? Just a note- your truly did not come up with this. Its Gulzar at his finest.
“Thoda si Zameen Thoda Aasmaan
Tinkon ka bas ek Aashiyaan,
Maanga hai jo tumse w o h, Zyaada to nahin hai
Dene ko to Jaan de doon, vaada to nahin hai
Koi tere vaadon mein Jeeta hai Kahan”
One of the best compositions of RD as well.
3)Do Nainon mein Aansoon Bhare hai-Khushboo
Sung by Lata
Life is not always fair. Its not even neutral. At times one might get more than his/her fair share of grief or happiness for that matter. Result- Sleepless nights, Tears, Silence, Choked breath. Beautifully described in this number.
“Do Nainon mein Ansoo Bahre Hain
Neendiya Kaise samaye
Jhoote tere vaadon se baras beetaye,
Zindagi to kate nahin, raat kat jaye”.
Emoted amazingly well by Hema Malini in the movie.
4)Sili Hawa Chhoo gayi-Libaas
Sung by Lata yet again
OK Before there are any unfair comparisions to be made with Gila Gila or some such horrendously moronic number from movies made today, this is from a really old movie and has lyrics which are diametrically opposite from such gibberish. An utterly romantic number that touches you deep within without being wordy.
“Jaane Kahan Kaise shahar, Leke Gaya yeh dil mujhe
Milon se raat chhod aaye Saalon se Raat Leke Chale”.
5)Tere Bina Zindagi se koi-Aandhi
Sung by Kishore and Lata
I might not need you but Life isn’t exactly life without you. A lovely extremely subtle number which expresses one’s feelings for that someone special like nothing does.
“Tere Bina Zindagi se koi Shikwa to nahin
Tere Bina Zindagi Bhi koi zindagi to nahin hai”
6)Aapki ankhon mein kuchh-Ghar
Sung by Kishore and Lata
What do you do when your spouse sings this in Kishore kinda voice? You feel like a princess walking on the clouds. All teenyboppers searching for a readymade lovenote this is the best secondary source you could lay your hands on.
“Aaapki Aankhon mein kuchh mehke hue se Khwab hain
Aapse bhi khoobsurat Aapke Andaaz hain.
Lab hi len to mogre ke phool khilte hain kahin.
Aapki aankhon mein kya Sahil bhi milte hain Kahin”
7)Bechara Dil kya karen-Khushboo
Sung by none other than Asha Bhosle
An incorrigibly restless, ever emotional heart one that keeps pining for everything.
Asha’s voice added to the meaningful lyrics there, mischeivous but so true!
“Bechara Dil Kya Kare
Saawan Jale, Bhaado Jale
Do Pal ka Chain Kahan
Ek Pal Chale Ek Pal Ruke”
8)Phir Se Aiyo Badra Bidesi-Namkeen
Folk touch, magnetic almost mystical kind of https://lyrics. Once you listen to a few lines, you want to know the entire song’s context, meaning as well as those latent thoughts that get provoked –those thoughts about you flying among clouds, do those seemingly impossible things.
“Phir Se Aiyyo Badra Bidesi Tere Pankhon pe Moti Boonungi”
Simply beautiful.
9)Dil Dhoondhta Hai-Mausam/ Gharonda
Sung by Bupendra and Lata/ Bhupendra
Absolute laziness or shall I say relaxation- Cold winter days with soft sunlight rays, Sultry summers with cool shade, Instant relief!Instant peace. Fursat Ke Raat Din.
“Jaadon ki Narm Dhoop Aur Angan mein Let kar.”
“Dil Dhoondhta hai phir wahi fursat ke raat din.”
10)Golmaal hai bhai Sab Gol maal hai-Golmaal
Sung by Kishore
Hmm I don’t think I need to let everybody know how and why this is so true. Convoluted, long winding routes to every destination, solutions that confuse and trick the living daylights of one and all- be it your doing or someone else’s. Life just confounds you in more ways that one.
Did I as well?
Hope not.
Keerti