*Amar gaaner swaralipi lekha rabey
Pantha pakhir kujano kakoli ghirey
Agami prithibi kaan petey tumi shuno
Ami jodi aar nai ashi hetha phirey
Tobu. Amar gaaner swaralipi lekha raabey*
The chords of my songs will be preserved
In the tunes of the flying birds
The future world may listen to the tune of my melodies.
Even if I do not return here.
The chords of my songs will be scored
Lyrics from one of Hemant Da’s bengali songs. Though I never heard this song but I found them while browsing and couldn’t help giving them here.
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The renowned musician Salil Chowdhury once said ‘if heaven had a voice of its own, it would have been Hemant Da’.I am sure those who have listened to his heavenly voice would be full of admiration for Salil Chowdhury for saying what he said about this talented singer/musician. Be it the pain drenched piece * Ya dil ki suno duniya vaalon* or the bubbly, romantic number * Jara najron se keh do jee*, the man delivered it beautifully.
Hemant though a very popular name in Bengali cinema didn’t get the deserved fame till late 1940’s when he was introduced into hindi cinema. The famous snake charmer tune which we conceive as some ancient classic being passed to snake charmers by their ancestors is actually composed by none other then Hemant da for the movie Nagin.He sang many hindi and Bengali songs but I would keep the list limited to hindi numbers only. Lets get on to te Herculean task of narrowing down the list to ten best.
* Cchupa lo man mein yun pyar mera
Ke jaise mandir mein lau diye ki
Movie: Mamta, music: Roshan, lyrics: Majrooh*
A beautiful duet based on Raaga Yaman which is basically an evening raga. Somehow I never could get enough of this song. Together Hemant and Lata weaved magic in this one.
* Teri duniya mein jeene se,
To behtar hai ki mar jayen
Movie: House no.44, music: SDB, lyrics: sahir*
Sahir the master of tragedy lyrics, the legendry musician SDB and Hemant Da’s golden voice. Now put these three magicians together and what you get is a song which never cease to leave its effect on your heart everytime you listen to it.
* darshan do ghanshyam nath,
Mori ankhiyan pyasi re
Movie: Narsi Bhagat, music: Ravi*
Romantic songs…wow! then tragedy songs ….amazing! As if this was not enough the man has equally proved himself in religious songs too. He is one man who promoted Ravindra Sangeet in Bengali movies so sans doubt he is capable of delivering them in any language.
*Nain so nain naahi milaao
Movie: Jhanak jhanak payal baje, music: Vasant Desai*
He was often criticized of singing low pitched songs, at times he was criticized for digressing from ragas too. I dunno how could one say so after listening to this pure raga malgunji based song from the musical hit Jhanak jhanak payal baje.
* Jane vo kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila
Humne to jab kaliyan mangi, kaanto ka haar mila
Movie: Pyasa, Music: SDB*
Another marvelous piece of music by SDB and once again Hemant proved that he can make people visualize the pain of rejection these lyrics depicts.
- Isko hi jeena kehte hain to yun hi jee lenge
Uff na karenge mgham seh lenge, aansu pee lenge
*Ye nayan dare dare
Movie: Kohra, music: Hemant Kumar*
A singer par excellence as he was, as a composer too he was a master of his trade. Nagin, Sahib bibi aur ghulam, Anandmath are few examples to show his prowess as a composer. This one sung and composed by Hemant himself could spellbind masses.
Ye Nayan Dare Dare, Ye Jaam Bhare Bhare, Zara Peene Do
Kal Ki Kisko Khabar, Ik Raat Hoke Nidar, Mujhe Jeene Do
* Ya dil ki suno duniya valon
Ya mujh ko abhi chup rehne do
Movie: Anupama, music: Hemant, lyrics: Kaifi Azmi*
Kaifi Azmi one of the few lyricists who dared to remain as a poet rather then becoming professional lyricists couldn’t have done better in writing this one and as usual Hemant Da at his best while giving voice to tragedy. Its one of mi most favorite piece sung by him.
* Tum pukar lo
Movie: Khamoshi, music: Hemant, lyrics: Guljar*
What made him different from the contemporary composers was his idea of giving importance to voice and https://lyrics. Music was always sublime and it only accentuated the song instead of overpowering it . The finest example is this song. Any doubts?
*Jara najron se keh do jee
Nishana chook na jayen
Movie: Bees saal baad, music: Hemant, lyrics:Shakeel*
Versatility: If you have listened to this number you would know what I mean . He sang all kind of songs and was able to leave his mark in all categories. This bubbly and spontaneous and romantic number explains a lot .
*Ye raat ye chandni fir kahan
Sun ja dil ki dastan
Movie: Jaal, music: SD Burman, lyrics:Sahir*
A voice which spelled magic. Listen to this one and you would instantly feel that you are being lifted from where you are and taken to a place where the moon is shining and a soft breeze is flowing.