Most of the songs in the movies being churned out by Bollywood happen to portray feelings of love. One often wonders as to how the heroine and the hero keep changing their outfits in each of the stanzas, keeping the wardrobe designers and producers laughing all the way to their respective banks. The high walls of manmade borders melt away, as they are seen wandering about on different continents of the world without any visa/immigration hassles, proving the age-old adage of Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam. Not to speak of the bevy of choreographers and a 100-piece orchestra which keeps following them scrupulously, without missing a single beat.
But once in a blue moon, we get treated to a love song which is more spontaneous in its depiction. The lyricist and the music director obviously work harder on creating such songs which appear as if these are getting composed by the couple in real time on the screen.
Consider the following songs which fall in this category.
One of the very few love songs which has an office setting as a background.
Even surreptitious meetings between a couple get overshadowed by the heroine’s wish to return home early!
Achha to hum chalte hain…
Movie: Aan Milo Sajna (1970)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
Strictly speaking, only the first portion of this song happens to be dialogue-driven. Nevertheless, overall, it surely has a dash of spontaneity to it!
Sa re ga ma pa…
Movie: Abhinetri (1970)
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Music Director: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
The subtle art of dodging the police by showcasing a clandestine meet as a lovers’ date.
Couplets (dohas) of such Sufi poets as Rahim and Kabir have regaled generations with pristine wisdom, duly laced with an earthy common sense. Trust Rajshri Productions to string some of these together for our sake.
Bade badaai na karen…
Movie: Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978)
Singers: Hemalata, Jaspal Singh
Music Director: Ravindra Jain
Lyrics: Dohas of Rahim and Kabir
Keep the dialogue on and love will soon follow it its wake!
Suniye, kahiye…
Movie: Baton Baton Mein (1979)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist: Amit Khanna
The hero regales a bunch of kids with a juicy story about his encounter with a lion.
Mere paas aao mere doston…
Movie: Mr. Natwarlal (1979)
Singer: Amitabh Bachchan, Master Ravi
Music Director: Rajesh Roshan
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi
The hero and the heroine are cooing to each other like turtle doves. They keep rhyming words and phrases and end up creating an impromptu song!
Kaise ho pagal…
Movie: Chashme Buddoor (1981)
Singers: Raj Kamal, Hemanti Shukla
Music Director: Raj Kamal
Lyricist: Indu Jain
When his six younger brothers fall hopelessly in love, the elder one guides them!
Pyaar tumhen kis mod pe le aaya…
Movie: Satte Pe Satta (1982)
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Bhupinder and others
Music Director: R D Burman
Lyricist: Gulshan Bawra
These are songs which, I believe, showcase a higher level of creativity on the part of our lyricists and music directors. To bring in a spontaneity of this kind is no mean task. Alas, these are very few and far between.
Can you think of any songs which could be added to this list? If so, please leave behind a comment below.
{Note: Inputs from Ms Madhulika Liddle, Mr Sunil Jain and Ms Pooja Agrawal are gratefully acknowledged}.
And the bladders of my life’s oxygen didn’t seem to die.
It later dawned on me that it’s the
Handwriting on my walls that will decide,
For if it’s not yet time for the ferryman
To row me off from the living world,
Across the rivers Styx and Acheron,
Then I still have a purpose
And I still have shed loads of time
To stay alive and shine
And understand there’s no need for suicide.
Vaishnavi Sathish is yet to finish her schooling but has a flair for literature and fine arts. She lives in Pondicherry, India, and has recently published a maiden collection of 39 of her poems under the title Sunflowers of the Dark.
Vaishnavi Sathish is yet to finish her schooling but has a flair for literature and fine arts. She lives in Pondicherry and has recently published a maiden collection of 39 of her poems under the title Sunflowers of the Dark.
Vaishnavi Sathish is yet to finish her schooling but has a flair for literature and fine arts. She lives in Pondicherry and has recently published a maiden collection of 39 of her poems under the title Sunflowers of the Dark.
The cameras didn’t show her tiny silhouette anymore
Because she was as old as the Belle
From his stories now.
As she grew old,
It was not just his stories
She ignored
But also the old man
Of whom she got bored.
Now standing in front of his tombstone,
She let every single tear
Seep down the grass and into his bones,
So that she could give him a part of her
That she ought to have given him
During the last of his years.
Vaishnavi Sathish is yet to finish her schooling but has a flair for literature and fine arts. She lives in Pondicherry and has recently published a maiden collection of 39 of her poems under the title Sunflowers of the Dark.
In the horizon dark clouds of anxiety, problems and doubt gather, My brow is furrowed and I don’t feel cheery when in the morning I lather;
Shaved and clean I put on my old and worn kurta and slip into my favourite chappals, Solace I try to get by ringing some of my favourite Facebook penpals;
Unfortunately peace and calm eludes my worrying brain, It causes me so much of worry and I can feel the pain;
Before I know it wearily I pick up Summer Lightning and sit on my armchair, Very soon I come to the spot where Galahad clarifies on a part of his memoir;
I now realise anxiety and worry has been replaced by good cheer, Energy fills my body as if I have drunk from a Mulliner elixir and have been blessed by a holy seer;
Next I am into where Ronald pinches the Emsworth prize pig, Suddenly all my problems and worries don’t seem to be so big;
Very soon all is well with Ronnie and Sue, The dark clouds have vanished and are replaced with a rosy hue;
As I near the end where Ronnie has given the Pilbeam a black eye, I think Plum gives as much comfort as a malt with rye;
Before I know it lunch has been served with a tasty dessert, No problem is so big that a reading of Jeeves, Psmith, or Blandings cannot make one’s feeling inert.
(Pradeep Swaminathan needs no introduction to fans of P G Wodehouse, upon whom he had recently unleashed a whodunit called ‘Enter Mrs Bertie‘. His consent to publish the above composition here is gratefully acknowledged.)
Creative persons often respond to crises in their lives with a renewed enthusiasm and vigour for their art and craft. Creative juices help them to not only retain a state of mental equipoise but also pour out some strikingly positive thoughts. The shadow of a deep sorrow within eventually decides to part company and move on to some other soul which happens to be more vulnerable. A pale parabola of joy becomes visible on the horizon, leading the tormented soul from an abyss of darkness to a brighter and cheerier environment. Goddess Saraswati provides a healing touch.
Late Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan lost his first wife at a young age. One of the poems he penned at the time is a great composition which could enthuse anyone who is grappling with the sudden loss of a loved one.
Translation skills of yours truly are indeed debatable. However, the essence of the poem entitled, say, ‘What has happened has happened‘, is pregnant with some relevant lessons from one’s environment. But before we come to that, let us savour the original first.
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
जीवन में एक सितारा था
माना वह बेहद प्यारा था
वह डूब गया तो डूब गया
अम्बर के आनन को देखो
कितने इसके तारे टूटे
कितने इसके प्यारे छूटे
जो छूट गए फिर कहाँ मिले
पर बोलो टूटे तारों पर
कब अम्बर शोक मनाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
जीवन में वह था एक कुसुम
थे उसपर नित्य निछावर तुम
वह सूख गया तो सूख गया
मधुवन की छाती को देखो
सूखी कितनी इसकी कलियाँ
मुर्झाई कितनी वल्लरियाँ
जो मुर्झाई फिर कहाँ खिली
पर बोलो सूखे फूलों पर
कब मधुवन शोर मचाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
जीवन में मधु का प्याला था
तुमने तन मन दे डाला था
वह टूट गया तो टूट गया
मदिरालय का आँगन देखो
कितने प्याले हिल जाते हैं
गिर मिट्टी में मिल जाते हैं
जो गिरते हैं कब उठतें हैं
पर बोलो टूटे प्यालों पर
कब मदिरालय पछताता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
मृदु मिटटी के हैं बने हुए
मधु घट फूटा ही करते हैं
लघु जीवन लेकर आए हैं
प्याले टूटा ही करते हैं
फिर भी मदिरालय के अन्दर
मधु के घट हैं मधु प्याले हैं
जो मादकता के मारे हैं
वे मधु लूटा ही करते हैं
वह कच्चा पीने वाला है
जिसकी ममता घट प्यालों पर
जो सच्चे मधु से जला हुआ
कब रोता है चिल्लाता है
If you had a star in your life which was bright and beautiful, the day it fell from the sky, it just fell. The sky does not grieve over it. When fragrant flowers fall, the forest of honey does not wallow in sorrow. The vessels of mud, containing tissue restoratives, fall and break. But those in a merry making mood move on with their celebration of life. There is not much point in mourning over the loved ones who have parted company for ever.
Life goes on. Look forward to tomorrow with some uplifting thoughts and ideas. Do not grieve over a lost opportunity.
A profound message, indeed.
(PS: If you liked this post, and happen to be a fan of P G Wodehouse, you may like to check this out as well:
ashokbhatia 