HO KOI AAYEGA AAYEGA

Song 87:

Asha and Lata together are a delight in this song. What is it about sisters singing in unison? Lends a song a special sweetness. It's almost like music sung by mysterious, mystical 'gene-ies' with a special dna code that connects with your soul. 

What I love even more in this song is the ambience, some picturesque hill station. My guess is it is somewhere in the North East of India with a stunning view of Kanchenjunga as I saw recently in the Darjeeling area. Each state and region in India welcomes visitors with a special flavour and style. I had not seen much of North East until recently. I had heard a lot about it from my father who was posted in very treacherous areas way back in the 80s and 90s. Often due to our school, we had to stay put with Mom in some more hospitable and comfortable city.

But Papa would write us long letters regularly and really motivate us to do well in studies and other activities. Perhaps it was the distance that made my relationship with Papa even more special than it already was. He was always close, yet had to go away when he had to. Fathers have to be gone to places unimaginable but the time they do spend with kids is precious and worthwhile. There was this adventurous and very sturdy streak in him. I for one have never seen him tired or ever saying that something is tough. I have never seen him wanting anything for himself. He would always bring us very exotic gifts from these faraway places. We would imagine days in advance what his bag full of goodies for us would contain.

Once he was posted in Arunachal Pradesh which is almost the Eastern-most tip of India. It was a snow covered, tough terrain. A Himalayan Red Panda that was slightly unwell and injured started coming to him. Papa started giving it some food and tending to him. Soon the panda was healed and some time later Papa got posted out. He had got so attached to the panda that he got him along and we moved to Ahmedabad which was a bustling metro.

Soon our house became full of inquisitive visitors who would walk in to have a look at a Himalayan Red Panda. We would boast about it in school and feel very nice if that gave us extra attention from people we wanted to get it from. The panda would eat bamboo shoots and feel very warm in summer months. We had coolers that time, no a/cs. Soon my brother and I let him have our cooler also so that he was comfortable, we were so enamoured by our special and precious guest from the North-East. Then one day Papa learnt that WWF was getting particularly active in India and any endangered species could not be kept at home as a pet. He firmly told us we had to let the panda go. So very tearfully we donated it to a wild life sanctuary nearby. But the official looking after that place was so touched by our gesture, he gifted us a beautiful Labrador Retriever pup that stayed with us for many years.

Thus at every step, life with Papa was and is exciting. It is to him that I owe whatever little wanderlust I have. The vagabond in me is routed in Papa's thrilling tales. Nothing gives me more pleasure than exploring an all new place with it's cultural diversities, flora, fauna, food and typical lifestyle. No wonder my recent trip to North-East was especially pleasurable as I almost saw it again, recollecting each detail as I had heard from Papa but seeing for myself this time round. Not even for a moment I felt as if I was in a new place as I had heard it all from Papa. Thank you for being you, Papa. Happy Birthday Papa! :)

SANCHA NAAM TERA

Song 86:

Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar too when sang together brought a rare peace, tranquillity and calm to this beautiful bhajan. Wonderful composition by Rajesh Roshan. All songs of this movie were runaway hits and still very hummable. I can listen and listen to 'Julie' and 'My heart is beating' over and over again. Who doesn't want a little romance in life! Out of all those, this song seems forgotten. Yet every song has a mood and setting and time. Early morning, nothing soothes the soul like a bhajan. It is to God or whatever spiritual power that we believe in that we turn to when feeling restless and are unable to find answers.

Women in India are getting immense opportunities in terms of careers and freedom of expression. But that freedom does not give anyone the permission to blatantly flout dignity and decorum and personal space of a woman at will.  It is sad that many men still do not understand that a no is a no is a no. So whether you are in a  powerful position or you are a self -confessed saviour of people on the margins or whatever, you are not above the law of the land yourself. It has been particularly disappointing to discover thought leaders and evangelists developing feet of clay. But this is our collective fight.

The song has a small hint of female power too. When women's voices come together and ask for justice, it has a delicate but convincing effect. When lies and falsities and manipulation take on the world, relief is found only in the truth. A young woman's life and faith in the system is at stake. She has taken a bold step. To those who even hint that different versions can be to an incident, why would anyone concoct such a story in the first place to invite such public scrutiny into her life if it were even in the slightest bit consensual?  In that case she would have played along and been very happy. All we can do is laud the courage of this young woman  to confront the system and pray that she gets justice. No, we will ensure she gets justice!

CHURA LIYA HAI TUMNE JO & AAP KE KAMRE

Song 85:


Zinnie Baby's B'day and how could I forget this. When it comes to super romantic duets, this one cannot be forgotten.  The movie is long forgotten but this song, the pure white ensemble of Zeenat, the jet black hair, the guitar, R D Burman's music, Asha's silken voice and Rafi's warmth. What's there not to love.

Sang this song in many many college and work place functions. Will admit unashamedly that I have a picture of mine of around 18 years ago where I am singing this song on stage with white loose parallel trousers, a fitting white full sleeved T, straightened black hair, a big hippy style pendant and a guitar in tow. Of course it helped that I had a 24 inch waist back then! Hahaha! I crack up looking at that today. But that is what youth is all about! Experimenting and doing what you love! :-) 

Song 86:


Now from 24 inch Kamar to Kamra!  No, no I am not talking about my kamra. I am talking about this song. I find it very cute. It plays out the whole jealous and inquisitive bit about someone you're interested in. It so nicely describes the stage when you are still making up your mind. You yourself don't want to commit and therefore keep on finding faults and excuses in the other. You imagine your love interest in all types of precarious situations in a closed room with someone else. The very thought is creepy. But since there is no possibility of you being in a room with that person, you choose to make song and dance of it. Zeenat once again looks super hot in a red mini and cool boots! There is a nice jamming feel to the song. Reminds me so much of college auditions when you let go of your inhibitions and find your hidden talents. Here's to youth, here's to youth anthems and here's to everlasting youth icons such as Zeenat Aman!

DUM MARO DUM

Song 84:

So when Zeenat Aman backed by Asha Bhosle's voice announced 'Dum Maro Dum' in 1971 with the amazing alacrity of a bohemian hippy in a movie that essentially had an anti-drug message and also a sharp comment on outcome of kids of broken homes, it became a youth anthem. The song is as powerful today owing to Zeenat's apt depiction of a lost girl straddling two worlds of personal discontent and psychedelic euphoria, R D's timeless music and Dev Anand's nose for avant garde themes. Bold as it was, the theme was handled with maturity and balance which is the reason why Zeenat still remains a sex symbol till date and the song much loved. But the newer version of the same song sadly went into such details of morning ablutions, that Deepika Padukone- hot bod she maybe- couldn't match up! The result of senseless boldness is short term ratings but big loss as far as the longevity of the theme goes. It is bad enough that you are copying a classic blatantly to begin with and on top to give it such a disgusting turn. Showbiz is a lot about glamour and sheen, about gloss and grandeur. Reality is not always picture perfect. For once let's not get so real that it hurts the eyes and ears.

O TUMKO PIYA DIL DIYA

Song 83:

Lata and Asha have another sister Usha Mangeshkar, who too is a singer. She has had some very popular numbers but she could never reach the giddy heights reached by Lata and Asha. But sisters have a way of standing by each other and giving strength to each other. The result is some fabulous duets that Usha Mangeshkar sang with either of the two more successful sisters. Usha's voice which is otherwise a little on the shrill side, somehow blossoms beautifully when supported by Lata or Asha. The effect was always electrifying, in ways even better than say Lata and Asha together.

Those days films also had these typical dance duets where two exemplary dancers would be pitted against each other to win the heart of some Maharaja! In many songs there was some East verses West rivalry going on. These were probably the earliest item numbers. This one such song that became very popular. Even both the dancers, Helen and Ragini (who too was the youngest of the famed Travancore Sisters-Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini) match step to step. I am sure the filming technologies were not so advanced and unlike today where dances are choreographed in a highly digitised, scene by scene, cut by cut format, they often had to execute the dance in one shot. Often they made their own steps on the spot. But at the same time only genuine dancers with either a classical dance training background or with a rare natural dancing talent would perform these numbers. There was a lot more fluidity and synergy in the steps. The kinship and camaraderie was evident.

Sisters too have a special way of easing out all your worries and being the best stress busters. Often even sharing your clothes, cosmetics and crushes at times, there is no topic or no request that is taboo for sisters! I do not have a real sis but am close to some cousins who, whenever I am getting listless, a day spent with them can be a great stress buster. You can pour your heart out and air those little heartaches! Bonding on food, music, fashion or plain bitching can be cure to many issues. That reminds me of one of my didis who has always nurtured my quest for exploring arts, literature and music. We may not talk everyday even being in the same city but every few weeks she takes me to a concert(one of her own or otherwise) or a mushaira and soon the event is just an excuse to connect sans the families necessarily. Once she had called me for a Jagjit Singh concert and as expected there was huge queue. We waited for almost half an hour in the line so oblivious to anybody else. We were taking snide pot shots at all the distant relatives or friends we find weird or funny besides venting out about the significant others. After about a half an hour of that we noticed there was a newly married lovey dovey couple behind us. But the look on their faces seemed as if they had been chastened all of a sudden. We had certainly exploded their love bubble for a while with our cutting and brutally honest commentary on relationships in general! Hahaha Then we didn't know where to look!

Anyway enjoy this song which is all good. Ooh both these two sets of women I think have outdone each other both in terms of singing and dancing! 

CHORI CHORI MERI GALI AANA

Song 82:


It's not that Lata never sang in the Asha-Geeta mode. In some of her rare happy earlier songs, she sounds remarkably close to Asha. I have always loved Geeta Bali for her exuberance on screen and predictably all her songs were sung by Geeta Dutt. There are a few sad ones sung by Lata such as 'Hum Pyaar Mein Jalne Waalon Ko' which is beautiful but yes, sad. One day I set out looking for a happy Lata song enacted on Geeta Bali relentlessly and chanced upon this. I was stunned by the playfulness, mischief and carefree attitude that Lata has managed to exhibit in the song.

Set in Goa, it shows a typical carnival dance setting. Geeta Bali who was an untrained but natural dancer hailing from Amritsar almost seems metamorphosed into a typical Goan catholic girl. This is one reason I love the magic of movies. How actors let go of their conditionings and aquire new body languages and mannerisms. The creative process is so satisfying and fulfilling that sticking to the conventional norm is not necessary. You can be free of your identity and mould yourself into what you like. You can take on new forms and figures, live the life of another being. I am sure it is very cathartic and stimulating. Quicksilver forays into the unknown. It could be highly edifying or equally catastrophic. This movie too was a complex web of twists and turns where the suave but dangerous Dev Anand fools the gullible village belle Geeta Bali into a vortex of deceit and betrayal. She gets pulled by his magnetic charm into loving him foolishly where she reaches a point of no return but he, he had a life and plan and motive of his own. It was Guru Dutt's first directorial venture and quite an engaging movie.

Enjoy the song that evokes the intoxicating rush of sun, sand, surf and surging emotions on a faraway palm fringed Goan beach, created by Sahir and S D Burman. It is Lata of course but the Asha-Geeta magic is not to be missed! 

JAWAN HAI MOHABBAT

Song 81:

I am sure that both Asha and Geeta and pretty much every female singer in India had a lot to thank for and to learn from Noor Jehan. She was undoubtedly the biggest singing star of the sub continent at one point in time. Even Lata remained in her shadow for years. Although extremely talented , Lata was unable to make the cut for many years. Many music directors found her voice too feeble compared to the robust maturity of Noor Jehan. Lata was probably still very young and her voice was different from the trends that time. Then once Dilip Kumar took Lata aside and kind of snubbed her about her accent that was overpoweringly Maharashtrian. That goaded Lata into taking Urdu pronunciation lessons. And there was no looking back once she sang the memorable Aayega Aanewala from Mahal.

I was somehow not a great fan of Noor Jehan as I had seen her mostly in her later PTV avatar, with heavy unrecognisable make-up and sequinned sarees on a rather bloated figure. But my father would insist that Noor Jehan was something else. In fact earlier in my childhood every year we would go to my (Tayaji) uncle's house in interior Punjab for holidays. Things were very different there from our modern army upbringing. When male guests would come to the drawing room (called Baithak) women would not go in there. My mom would suddenly start covering her head with a dupatta. Urdu newspapers were subscribed daily that all my uncles read. Food was made on chulhas. Some dal or saag would be simmering in a corner all day. There were cows and buffaloes and we would get to see an entire milk processing routine everyday from milking the cows to churning lassi in an earthenware pot with a hand held rope pulley, straining thick blobs of fresh, white butter. We would roast corn ourselves and make a snack.  Or just go out and pluck a mooli (radish) slit it and sprinkle it with lemon and salt and have it. Instead of watching TV all kids would enact Ram-Leela in the huge courtyards.

Now my uncle was a bit of a terror. He rarely smiled. Perhaps the partition, losing all material belongings and later re-setting up and supporting an entire family all over again with limited resources had left him a bit battle weary. When he would return from his office in the evening, he would just clear his throat loudly outside the main door once. That was a signal for all us kids to stop doing whatever we were, promptly take out our books and attempt a charade of studying very seriously. All the ladies would cover their heads and enter the kitchen. Uncle's room was spic and span. We couldn't enter and untidy it or touch his proudest possession, his transistor. Frankly I found his fixation with his transistor very irritating but we would dare not say that in front of him. Maybe after a drink or two he would loosen up and show his affection to us by ordering some nice tandoori chicken. And then on his transistor he would listen to Noor Jehan songs with a wistful look in his eyes.....at that time you could ask him for anything and your wish would be granted!

My uncle is long gone now. One day remembering him recently, I searched for Noor Jehan on Youtube and finally saw this song. What a performer and what a beauty. That day I knew what the fuss about that transistor in my uncle's household was all about! :-)

TUM MUJHE BHOOL BHI JAO

Song 80:

There are long forgotten singers who may not have acquired cult status but in one or two of there songs shone so bright that they paved the way for the 'Asha-Geeta' style of singing. In fact Sudha Malhotra almost sounds like a young Asha Bhosle in this song, perhaps a tad bit sweeter even. Her sweetness of course came from real love. What a pleasure it would have been to sing a song, the lyrics of which were penned by her amour Sahir Ludhianvi! Yes, amongst the many loves of Sahir, Sudha Malhotra was one. He also had a much deeper relationship with Punjabi poet Amrita Pritam. Unfortunately both the alliances did not get the consent of the respective girls' parents as he was from the other religion. Which is a pity because Sahir was in fact an atheist.

Yet so hopeful and optimistic was his poetry:

Nafraton ke jahan mein humko pyaar ki bastiyaan basaani hain
Duur rehna koi kamaal nahin, paas aao to koi baat bane...

This song too has a mood of reconciliation. There is a sense of loss at not getting your love. But it is done with a certain grace and gratitude. There are times in life when you know the other person is committed to his cause more than any person. There are issues larger than love. There are definite shades of that other masterstroke of a ghazal-'Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat' by Faiz Ahmed Faiz'. This is almost like a female reply to that song. Women often tend to make their love their everything. Men on the contrary consider love to be one little aspect of life. Which is fine. Extreme of anything is bad. The energies of Yin and Yang balance the universe. Once you see the bigger picture, it is best to let go. It is best to feel fulfilled with what you experienced.  You know you wouldn't have wanted it any other way or with anyone else.

Full marks to Sudha Malhotra for rendering this song perfectly, assisted by Mukesh aptly too.
 

MERE PIYA GAYE RANGOON

Song 79:

Perhaps the foundation of the Asha-Geeta school of singing had been already laid by spirited, spunky singers such as Shamshad Begum, Suraiya and many more. These were the girls who made song and dance of everything. They were natural performers, crooners and divas. They saw the positive in the grimmest of situations. Shamshad Begum was the voice of many a memorable lady, played well here by the beautiful Nigar Sultana. She was neither sugary sweet nor subservient. She was nuanced and vain, confident and fun. When her beau was out on a business trip to a foreign land, instead of moping around singing 'dard bhare geet' she turned that occasion too into a reason to celebrate. She created and belted out a song that would be remembered for it's piquant ambience of long-distance love, feted for its wired vibrancy. This song was avant garde for sure.

Perhaps it was the precursor to the robust social media of today that connects lovers and friends doomed with distance. We are far, we are separated by borders, continents, time zones but at least we have a common TL we can peep into and get a dekko of what the other is upto. We can connect the dots and decipher the plot. We can surmise if the other person is gallivanting on a beach with sarong clad beauties or actually downing lonely shots at a bar in your memory. We can take calculated guesses and decide if we should be waiting anxiously for someone or take each day as it comes. We can conjecture and contemplate.  Unless of course the other person has gone for a holiday behind the iron curtain.

As the world becomes more complicated and distant, these few and glittering beams of communication sent across the seas by a loved one can often decide the pace, mood and flow of our day. Viva La connectivity!

TUMHE HO NA HO

Song 78:

So if there were an 'Asha-Geeta' school or style or 'gharana' of singing, then over the years many singers tried adopting it and adding new, forbidden flavours to Hindi songs. I feel these were all the singers who challenged the status-quo, who did not conform to the high-pitch, sedate and classical expectations. These singers etched out characters that were vulnerable, fragile, quirky, faulting, flawed and therefore deliciously interesting. I don't think Lata or her many clones could do justice to these characters. The very first condition for these characters was non-conformity.

These singers and these songs talked of imperfections and disappointments, of hope and despair, of the shadows that lurk behind formality and convention. These songs opened a Pandora's box of images and impressions. They were not black and white. They delved into the inner recesses of human nature, the truths, the half truths, the lies, the make-believes, the self denials and the assurances. They were not so boring and mundane as to say 'I love yous' in so many words. They said the 'I don't love yous' and the 'I don't miss yous' and the 'I don't need yous' and the 'I am not god-awful crazy about yous'! While meaning exactly the opposite. Runa Laila is one such name that comes to mind. What a voice! As if made out of textured honey. Of the silver lining in a grey cloud, of candyfloss induced candour, of the longing for mangoes in mid February or the wait at a crowded pani puri/chaat stall, of the first high heels bought for prom night. This song takes me to a different zone and thought process. I just love it. But this song does not remind me of you. And of course I don't love you and I never never miss you! :)

ANKHON SE JO UTARI HAI DIL MEIN

Song 77:

And then some days the dawn was brighter than others. Everything was crystal clear. The fog had cleared. There were no ambiguities. No confusions. The early rays of the morning sun itself had given her the unmistakable message. The clouds had dissipated. She no more wanted to fool herself with 'testing' and 'trying'. It would be a waste of time and energies to even look elsewhere. The crooner knew she had found her ultimate soul mate. Her eyes had seen the splendour of his form once. His warmth had left a glow on her face even if her soul was a bit scathed. But then some scars are so appealing. She was ready to live with those scars. As long as he promised to caress them once in a while. As long as he promised to come and renew their warmth again. As long as he would kindle that spark every time she set eyes on him. She was nothing without him. Maybe a vague shadow of herself. Her beauty remained un-encashed without him. She had loved him inside out. Loved every nuance, every expression, every mission he had accomplished. She was smitten by his quietly self-assured manner, the depth of his commitment to issues, the way he walked into a room and started owning it by his sheer presence. 

Her life would never be the same again. Yes, there was pain! But at the same time there was so much gain. She did not regret anything. He had given her more than she could have ever asked for. She would forever thank him for all his love, all his warmth, the stamp of his special attention, his special indulgence.  She was blessed to be his.  

AE DIL MUJHE BATAA DE

Song 76:

Then there were times when the crooner was restless and excited. She needed no intoxication as in the previous song. The times were intoxicating enough. The now hot now cold weather played on her mind. It was the best of seasons after all. Neither too hot to sweat and pant, nor too cold to turn blue. The cool breeze filled her parlour with the scent of anticipation. Her flowing gown billowed with joy and mischief. Her sparkling eyes hid many secret plans and her tresses yearned to ensnare him. The million dollar smile was but for him and her arms ached to embrace him. While he silently watched her from afar, she went berserk unaware of his attention. She couldn't wait to be with him. Her heart seemed to leap out of her bossom and her tiny waist did a jig of it's own. Her feet wouldn't stay still and broke into a dance time and again. Oh only to get a glance of him. She knew it would be a sleepless night. And the day would be special. Her dreams led her on. One day they would celebrate each day with abandon. For now she was happy greeting each day even if with a hint of the giddy passion and ardour of her dreams.