Ab Ke Baras Bhej

Do we live in a society where isolation and alienation is rife? This in spite of the innumerable ways that one is ‘connected’ ?  I look at the world busily and constantly ‘communicating’ around me and wonder if it really does make people feel connected! Perhaps it is just me, but all this communication rushes over me like water over a duck’s back. I remain untouched. Isolated. At times even alienated.

My thoughts are triggered by a recent message I received from a batch mate from school. He invited me to join a whatsapp chat group that he is forming. I promptly declined. You see, a few years ago I had joined an email group of school mates,  foolishly expecting a meeting of minds. Instead, most of the mails were just re-distribution of junk mail. The communication on most social media sites follows the same pattern. People call themselves ‘friends’ but seem content to remain the most superficial of acquaintances. Is it only me who clings to the old fashioned meaning of a ‘friend’?

What happened to conversations where one talked of everything with mates, from the very personal to the very public? What happened to sharing of real feelings and emotions? What happened to ‘adda’ sessions when one talked of nothing but felt so connected nonetheless? I honestly don’t remember when I last had a conversation which left me intellectually or emotionally stimulated. What happened to me? Why cannot I not connect with anyone anymore?

In comparison, my husband has a much more nourishing circle of friends. His mates from university are not only in touch on a daily basis via various media, but they talk on the phone and even get together every couple of years. This is not as easy a matter as you may think as his friends are spread around the globe. From what I have observed, they have somehow managed to hold on to a connection which goes beyond the superficial. I am envious! So today’s post is in honour of his friends, especially his ‘Pal’ who I hold in great esteem, and who says he misses my features on Hindi film music.

My song choice of today is a perfect little gem from the Hindi film Bandini (1963). Composed by S.D.Burman with lyrics by Shailendra, it is sung by Asha Bhosle. It is a song from another time when women married and left home, sometimes without being able to go back for years. But even in today’s time of facetime calls and whatsapp chats, it strikes a chord. The song talks of the longing for family, of the sadness for innocence lost, of the grief for a time that will come no more, of the need for re-connection. But under it all, it is a song of alienation. It is a song for all who struggle with the changing roles that life throws on them.

Asha is perfection in this song. Listen to the oh so gently done vibrato over the word ‘talE’, the almost abrupt enunciation of ‘chalkE’ in contrast to the wringing of the word ‘kaskE’, the lovely transition to the next phrase in the word ‘churAyI’…what singing! And while you are about it, look at Nutan’s swan neck and perfect profile..a timeless beauty!

(28/4/2015 : Sorry, the video has been removed for copyright seasons; I found an audio only version below)

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Footnote (Lyrics) :

Language : Hindi

अब के बरस भेज भैया को बाबुल सावन में लीजो बुलाय रे
लौटेंगी जब मेरे बचपन की सखियाँ दीजो संदेशा भिजाय रे  ||

अम्बुआ तले फिर से झूले पड़ेंगी रिम-झिम पड़ेंगी फुहारें
लौटेंगी फिर तेरे आंगन में बाबुल सावन की ठंडी बहारें
छलके नयन मोरा कसके रे जियरा बचपन की जब याद आये रे ||

बैरन जवानी ने छीने खिलोने और मेरी गुड़िया चुराई
बाबुल थी मैं तेरे नाजों की पाली फिर क्यों हुई मैं पराई
बीते रे जुग कोई चिट्ठिया ना पाती ना कोई नैहर से आये रे ||

Transliteration

ab kE baras bhEj bhaiyA kO bAbul sAvan mE.n lIjO bulAy rE
lauTE.ngI jab mErE bachpan kI sakhiyA.n dIjO sandEshA bhijAy rE

ambuA talE phir sE jhUlE paDE.ngI rim jhim paDE.ngI phuhArE.n
lauTE.ngI phir tErE A.ngan mE.n bAbul sAvan kI THanDI bahArE.n
chalkE nayan mOrA kaskE rE jiyarA bachpan kI jab yAd AyE rE

bairan javAnI nE chInE khilOnE aur mErI guDiyA churAyI
bAbul thI mai.n tErE nAjO.n kI pAlI phir kyO.n huI mai.n parAyI
bItE rE jug kOI chiTTHiyA nA pAtI nA kOI naihar sE AyE rE

Translation

O Father (bAbul), do send (bhEj) my brother (bhaiyA) to fetch me (lIjO bulAy) this year (ab kE baras) during monsoon (sAvan mE.n) . When (jab) my childhood (bachpan) friends (sakhiyA.n) return (lautE.ngI), do send (dIjO bhijAy) news (sandEshA).

Swings (jhUlE) will be set up under (talE paDE.ngI) the mango trees (ambuA) while light showers (phuhAr) will fall (rim jhim paDE.ngI). The cool (THanDI) breeze (bahArE.n) of monsoon (sAvan) will return (lauTE.ngI) again (phir sE) to your (tErE) courtyard (A.ngan), father (bAbul). My eyes (nayan) spill over (chalkE) by the squeeze (kaskE) of my heart (jiyarA) when (jab) I remember (yAd AyE) my childhood (bachpan).

Youth (javAnI), my enemy (bairan), snatched away (chInE) my toys (khilOnE) and (aur) stole (churAyI) my dolls (guDiyA). Father (bAbul), I was brought up tenderly (nAjO kI pAlI) by you (tErE), why then (phir kyO.n) have I become (huI mai.n) an outsider (parAyI)? Ages (jug) have passed (bItE) without my receiving any letter (chiTTHiyA nA pAtI), nor has anyone (nA kOI) come (AyE) from my natal home (naihar sE).

Listening to : Meri Surat Teri Ankhen (1963)

Would anyone reject a child because of its perceived ugliness? I am not convinced. Yes, India is a country where perfect little infant girls have been abandoned or killed in the past. Yes, it is a country where disabled children have also suffered the same treatment. Yes, it is steeped in the racism of skin colour so I am not astonished at the equating of dark with ugly, much as I disagree with it. This has been the cross for the dark skinned Indians to bear from pre-historic times when the light skinned, Causasoid Indo-Aryans migrated into Northern India, displacing the dark-skinned Australoid Dravidian locals. Yet, a first male child of middle-aged parents being rejected just because of skin colour? That wouldn’t happen. Once I accepted that, the rest of the film was easier to digest.

The script is not too bad and has good character development. The climax however is very poorly scripted. The movie’s message आदमी रंग रूप से नहीं, उजले मन से ख़ूबसूरत होता है  (a man is made beautiful not by colour or form but by an enlightened mind) is a good one and the movie is true to this message. At the end, Ashok Kumar says to his mother ‘सच तो यह है की मेरी सूरत को तेरी आँखों से किसीने नहीं देखा’ accounting for the title.

Ashok Kumar is very good at displaying the angst of someone who suffers from low self-esteem and the negative bias of society.   I so love his diction and dialogue delivery! However, at 52, he is much too old to play this part of a 25 year old. In scenes where he addresses his screen parents, he looks older than them!

Asha Parekh is young and glowing in a role which demands little of her.  Pradeep Kumar is adequate as a dissolute (well, not really)  man but I have great resistance in accepting him as the good-looking brother. Again, he is too old at 38 to play a young man. Is that Iftekhar in a non-police-office-or-military-chap role? I can hardly believe my eyes!

The music is by S.D.Burman, with credited support from R.D.Burman. The album is a credit to SD’s genius which is well matched by Shailendra’s lyrics. 

• Poocho Na Kaise – Manna Dey. Based on classical music in Raga Ahir Bhairav, it has become a classic in itself. Manna Dey shines in displaying his roots in classical music in this superb song. See footnote for lyrics. Iconic. 
• Tere Bin Soone – Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar. A slow, meditative song sung perfectly by Rafi and Lata who show that they have a talent equal to Manna’s in classical ragas. This one is set to Raga Piloo.
• Tujhse Nazar Milane Mein – Asha Bhonsle. A club song which has some nice instrumentals but the melody didn’t appeal.
• Naache Man Mora – Mohammad Rafi. Another excellent classically based song in Raga Bhairavi. Asha Parekh displays her dancing talents in this good Kathak number. Its a pity we don’t see much of this lovely classical dance form anymore in films.
• Tere Khayalon Mein – Lata Mangeshkar. A not very scintillating solo.
• Yeh Kisne Geet Cheda – Mukesh, Suman Kalyanpur. I really liked this rather old-fashioned duet. A lovely melody!

Click here to listen to the whole album.

My choice for the day is of course Poocho Na Kaise by Manna Dey.

I have included the song below for the Kathak performance by Asha Parekh.

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Footnote (lyrics) :

पूछो ना कैसे मैंने रैन बिताई
इक पल जैसे इक जुग बीता
जुग बीते मोहे नींद न आयी (पूछो)

इक जले दीपक इक मन मेरा
फिर भी न जाये मेरे घर का अँधेरा
तडपत तरसत उमर गंवाई (पूछो)

ना कहीं चंदा ना कहीं तारे
ज्योत के प्यासे मेरे नैन बेचारे
भोर भी आस की किरण ना लाई (पूछो)

pooCHo na kaisE mainE rain bitayI
ik pal jaisE ik yug beeta
yug beetE mohE neend na AyI

ik jalE dIpak ik man mErA
phir BHI na jAyE mErE GHar kA anDHErA
tadpat tarsat umar ganvayI

nA kahIn chandA nA kahIn tArE
jyOt kE pyAsE mErE nain bEcharE
BHor BHI As kI kiraN nA lAyI

Do not ask how the night passed
An eon passed in an instant
But even an eon did not bring me sleep

A lamp burned, so did my mind
still the darkness of my home did not fade
A lifetime passed in suffering, in longing

Nowhere do I see the moon or stars
My poor eyes thirst for light
Even dawn did not bring a ray of hope

Listening to: Dilli Ka Thug (1958)

A recently torn knee ligament and many hours spent on the recliner in front of the telly  has left me with plenty of scribbled notes which I have yet to transcribe. This is the first of them.

It was with great excitement that I sat to watch this film with my husband last weekend. If Kishore’s talent and goofiness wasn’t enough, there was Nutan’s acting prowess & astounding beauty to look forward to. And some fabulous music of course!

We lasted 30 mins. Surely no script-writer can be so illogical? And no editor so inept? Surely the producer should have noticed something? We watched with incredulity as they took perfectly good actors and put them in scene after disconnected scene leading nowhere. Then we gave up and just watched the songs. I read an online review which was all praise for the film. And also that it was a hit! Did we watch the same film? !!!

The music by Ravi is a mixed bag, but a couple of fantastic songs makes it a must-listen album. 

• Kisi Ka Dil Lena Ho – Asha Bhonsle. This is the first time I heard this song. It struck me as similar to some ‘club’ numbers from that era. There is a bit of Been sound and a bit of Arabic sounds thrown in – a strange mixture but I quite enjoyed it.
• O Babu O Lala – Geeta Dutt. I love Geeta Dutt’s voice but this song didn’t appeal at all.
• Yeh Bahar Yeh Sama – Asha Bhonsle.  A lilting number by a young Asha, it has a fresh and happy tune which I like.
• Seekh Le Babu – Asha Bhonsle. Filmed on a stunningly beautiful Nutan in an atrociously bad dress, this song left me quite cold.
• Hum Tho Mohabbat Karega – Kishore Kumar. Just the song to showcase Kishore’s eccentric talent! It is not without reason that this song is so famous!
• Cat Mane Billi – Asha Bhonsle & Kishore Kumar. To watch emotions flit across Nutan’s flawless face is such a treat! Kishore shows off his dancing skills too! Asha does a commendable job. Very enjoyable ! If I was scoring only on watchability, this song takes the prize! 
• Yeh Ratein Yeh Mausam – Asha Bhonsle & Kishore Kumar.  What can I say about this fantastic song except its a ‘classic’? I love Asha’s voice quality here, Kishore woos me as always and Shailendra’s lyrics are very romantic. A melt-your-heart kind of song. ps. A reader points out that there is much to say about this piece of music. There is, and there isn’t. There is a whole generation of Indians who have grown up with this song, thinking of it as THE romantic song. Classic and peerless. And in that sense, it defies description. It is one of the most well-loved songs of Indian cinema, and deservedly so! 

You can listen to the whole album here.

I have no choice but to play Yeh Ratein for you, I’ve loved it for too long !

Post script: Click here for lyrics, translation and analysis of this song by Yves, a fellow blogger and worshipper of Nutan’s extraordinary beauty and talent.

Listening to: An Evening in Paris (1967)

I was on holiday in USA when Shammi Kapoor passed away. I’ve waited to come back home to acknowledge it properly. On my return, I rummaged through my recent purchase of 40 odd golden oldies known for their music but to my astonishment, I haven’t selected even one film of Shammi’s! But why? I am puzzled! There are so many entertainers with good music amongst his films…

In my teenage years, I didn’t quite enjoy his films. I think I found his buffoonery annoying.  Plus I registered him in my mind as an overweight middle aged man who acted with women much too young for him – an off-putter for any teenager! I realise now that he wasn’t really old at all. I remember it was my sister who urged me to watch Teesri Manzil in the late eighties. ‘You’ll like it, its fun’ she said. And I did. And it was.

After that I saw many more of his films, all of the masala-entertainer category, with Shammi’s unique touch of exuberant wildness! I never saw him as an actor, merely as a star who acted out a lot. Yet there was an actor within the over-actor, and an attractive man within the I-have-let-myself-go physique.

As an apology to overlooking the value of films which are just fun and nothing more, and in appreciation of all the fun Shammi has provided, I dedicate this post to him. My own in-memoriam to this memorable star of Bollywood. As I live in Switzerland, An Evening in Paris is the appropriate choice for today’s post – it was one of the pioneers of ‘Bollywood in Switzerland’. This brochure issued by Swiss Tourism would be an interesting read for Bollywood fans.

This film  is everything a Shammi entertainer should be and more. Evidently big money was spent on its making – it has been shot in France, Switzerland, Beirut and around the Niagara Falls. There are descents from helicopters, motor boat chases and water-skiing displays. There is much to entertain & please the discerning viewer – Shammi in colourful shirts and colour-coordinated hats, Sharmila in (very) skimpy clothes, Pran with bright orange hair, a dilettante who becomes a nurse at the drop of a hat, Sharmila pretend-waterskiing with beehive hair, Shammi hanging from a helicopter in a striped dressing gown(!), Shetty in a wig, Rajendranath as a madcap Sardar and well-brought up goons who say please and thank you!! And if all that doesn’t tempt you, there are some really good songs too! The music is well composed by Shankar Jaikishen and even though the lyrics by Shailendra & Hasrat Jaipuri don’t stand out and say ‘quote me’, they are quite adequate.

• Aisa Mauka Phir Kab Milega – Mohammad Rafi. Just the song for Shammi’s shimmying, I noticed that the firangi girls just strut about doing much of nothing. Today’s firangis contribute a lot more, don’t they?
• Deewane Ka Naam To Poocho – Mohammad Rafi. Rafi’s magnificent voice makes the best of any song !
• Hoga Tumse Kal Bhi Samna – Mohammad Rafi. I didn’t remember this song, perhaps it wasn’t played much on the radio? Didn’t quite take to it..
• Akele Akele – Mohammad Rafi. Now this is a classic, good lyrics, great music and fantastic singing by Rafi. I was excited to see the Mürren sign, I’ve been hiking there!
• My Name is Suzy – Asha Bhonsle. Never heard this one before, and won’t again.
• Aasman Se Aaya Farishta – Mohammad Rafi. Another unforgettable classic. How did Rafi do it, sounding more like Shammi than Shammi himself?
• Mera Dil Hai Tera – Mohammad Rafi. I had forgotten this song; another upbeat song, its so-so.
• Raat ka Humsafar – Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhonsle. This is the only duet in the film. Its a lovely song to which both Asha & Rafi add lustre. Plus its shot in Paris at night, what could be more romantic?
• Zuby Zuby – Asha Bhonsle. An item number by Sharmila, its refrain is melodious but the rest of the song doesn’t hold it for me.

To listen to the whole album, click here. My choice for today is Aasman Se Aaya Farishta as it is, to me, the iconic song of this film.

Enjoyed the song? Now watch Shammi Kapoor talking about his experience of shooting this – he is a showman incarnate !

Listening to: Amrapali (1966)

I do like historical / mythological films! I don’t see many of them; I am too squeamish to see the likes of Troy or the Gladiator. So when I get to see a historical without too much blood and gore, I am mighty pleased! Anyway, a nicely tied dhoti and lots of man-bling is nicer to look at than short skirts on men, don’t you agree?

The story is based on records from both Buddhist and Jain literature. The makers have used cinematic license and the story as presented differs from recorded versions. The film is about  Ajatashatru, the king of Magadh around 500BC, who falls in love with Amrapali, the royal courtesan and dancer in Vaishali, an enemy state. Interestingly, its ending is anything but typical Bollywood. Perhaps that’s why the movie didn’t fare well?

Sunil Dutt as the blood-thirsty warmonger is reasonably good. Though he has the physique to pass off as a soldier, there is something intrinsically soft about his face which makes me question his suitability.  Vyjayanthilamala, on the other hand, is perfect as the courtesan. Not just the beauty and the dancing skills, but something lush about her makes her look just the part. There are some supporting characters who too aren’t very convincing.  On the whole, though, the movie is entertaining.

The music by Shankar-Jaikishen is memorable. There are only four songs, all sung by Lata but what lovely songs! Neele Gagan is penned by Hasrat Jaipuri, the rest by Shailendra.

• Neele Gagan ke chaon mein – Lata Mangeshkar. A lovely song, Lata does it justice. I find it rather sombre as a dance number but Vyjayanthimala carries it off. She looks like a lovely temple sculpture in her period costume!  Once Sunil Dutt enters the screen, the dance becomes fast and cheerful with many traditional Bharatnatyam steps executed very well by Vyjayathi. An auditory & visual treat.
• Tumhe Yaad Karte Karte – Lata Mangeshkar– Another soulful number with a simple tune which Lata sings hauntingly. Haunting also are Vyjayanthi’s eyes.
• Tadap Yeh Din Raat Ki – Lata Mangeshkar– Moonlit night, a lake, a boat and Lata singing. It should have been perfect but something in the tune doesn’t appeal to me. 
• Jao Re Jogi Tum Jao Re – Lata Mangeshkar – With what ease Lata sings this beautiful little song! I remember it vividly playing on the radio a lifetime ago. Unfortunately its not included in the edited version of the film on Youtube; I would have liked to see the picturisation.

To listen to the whole album, click here.

Neele Gagan has Vyjayanthi dancing so that’s my choice for the day :

Listening to: Anarkali (1953)

Anarkali holds a special place for me as all during my childhood I had heard my mum humming these songs to herself. She must have been eighteen or nineteen when this film came out; she learnt the songs then and remembered them for a lifetime. And left me with this beautiful inheritance.

Remembering the songs but not the movie, I sat to watch it recently. Oh, I wish I hadn’t! Bina Rai looks beautiful in the scenes where she smiles. Unfortunately there are only two such smiles hidden within 2 hrs and 28 mins of on-screen misery for her. And Pradeep Kumar, was there ever a more unlikeable or un-admirable protagonist?  Our prince Salim is cowardly at the start, mean when he rescues our heroine from a slave market and then tortures her by pretending to be someone else, unkind when he – at last – is firm with nautch girl Gulnar, petulant when he declares his love and starts a rebellion, and spineless almost all of the time! Now if it were Dharmendra looking like a Greek God in his heydays, I could have sympathised with Anarkali…… As it stands, I would advice Anarkali to wash her hands off this prince and take up a job as a playback singer, she could have gone places!!

Joking aside, the music by C.Ramachandra is indeed beautiful, my mother chose well.  The music is like a showcase for Lata’s talents. What a wonderful find she was to the Hindi movie industry!!

• Yeh Zindagi Usi ki Hai – Lata Mangeshkar. This was the iconic song of Anarkali, very touchingly sung by Lata 
• Aa jane wafa – Lata Mangeshkar. 
• Aaja ab to aa ja – Lata Mangeshkar. Good picturisation, when the heroine is being sold off on the slave market. Beautifully rendered by Lata.
• Mujh se mat pooch – Lata Mangeshkar
• Dua kar ghame dil – Lata  Mangeshkar.  I love the Arabic touch to this music!! 
• Jag darde ishq jag – Hemand Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar. Hemant Kumar is not a personal favourite  and I dislike his pronunciation in this song but the music is good enough to earn a smile 
• Mohabbat aisi dhadhkan hai – Lata  Ah….so beautiful! The lyrics by Shailendra please me especially.
• Zindagi pyar ki do char ghadi – Hemant Kumar
• Zamana yeh samjha ki hum pee ke aye –  Lata Manageshkar
• O Aasman wale – Lata Manageshkar

For those who want to listen to the whole album, here is a link. I could not make up my mind as to which of my two favourites I should show you, so I present for your viewing pleasure both songs below. Happy viewing!

Dua Kar Ghame Dil–Lata Mangeskhar

Mohabbat Aisi Dhadkan–Lata Mangeshkar