JAB JAB TUMHEIN BHULAYA

Song 91:

You know I always thought Asha and Lata did not sing many songs together. There were always these stories of an intense rivalry between the two sisters. It was surmised that Lata was the manipulator and did not tolerate any music director playing favourites with any other singer. Many brilliant singers such as Suman Kalyanpur and other singers from the South were sidelined as there was an unwritten code of always offering the best songs to Lata. Now I don't know how much truth there is to these conjectures. It happens in every field, I suppose.

But as I go on this journey to explore more songs, I find Lata and Asha did sing many diverse songs together. You have to just scroll back a few past entries to see what a range of duets they have sung. This is a beautiful one from the ghazal genre, composed by Madan Mohan and written by Rajendra Krishan. Both Lata and Asha display depth and hold over this classical tune, with some nice kathak by Minu Mumtaz and a very young looking Aruna Irani. Well, I can't help imagining what level this song could have reached had it been performed by a more accomplished actor. It certainly deserved perhaps a Meena Kumari or a Madhubala or Vyjayanthimala even in terms of cinematic presence.

But art needs to be appreciated for what it is. Each character has a certain place in the film. All I am saying is this song could have been elevated to another level. It's great to listen to still, recreating a golden era, when both kathak and the ghazal flourished in Mughal courts, giving a popular expression to the often over-exaggerated palace intrigues and royal stresses and strains that made for engaging period dramas.  

CHHAP TILAK SAB CHHINI RE

Song 90:

At other times, the two sisters, Lata and Asha, sang together in a spiritual Sufi flavour, singing to Khusro's legendary poetry, Chhap Tilak Sab Chhini from the 13th century, in the rather forgettable movie 'Main Tulsi Tere Angan Ki'. The lyrics are somewhat altered from the original and the video is truly ghastly. It totally escapes me how this spiritual and mystical poetry could have the kind of interpretation it had in the movie or how did it find it's way there in the first place. I will spare you the video. I certainly do not find any cognisance with Raj Khosla School of Film-making. 

Yet nothing can take away from the beauty of the tune, the song composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal and the way the two sisters do justice to the sweet, sublime lyrics. The song describes that state of love when you are somewhat bereft of the effect it has had on you. 

Love can be emboldening, boosting and edifying. It often pushes you to become the best you can be in any field, by giving your dreams wings and that much needed bouyancy.
At other times it may make you feel totally powerless and controlled. 

Here's the original poetry of Amir Khusro with a translation I found on the net, and then the song:

Chhap tilak sab cheeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Chhap tilak sab cheeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Prem bhatee ka madhva pilaikay
Matvali kar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Gori gori bayyan, hari hari churiyan
Bayyan pakar dhar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Bal bal jaaon mein toray rang rajwa
Apni see kar leeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Khusrau Nijaam kay bal bal jayyiye
Mohay Suhaagan keeni ray mosay naina milaikay
Chhap tilak sab cheeni ray mosay naina milaikay


Translation
You've taken away my identity, by just a glance.
By making me drink the wine of love-potion,
You've intoxicated me by just a glance;
My fair, delicate wrists with green bangles in them,
Have been held tightly by you with just a glance.
I give my life to you, Oh my cloth-dyer,
You've dyed me in yourself, by just a glance.
I give my whole life to you Oh, Nijam,
You've made me your bride, by just a glance.

A strong love can make you feel strong. But in some moments it can also make you feel incredibly weak. You feel like a mere shadow of your true self, as if this unseen, unknown figure came, consumed you, hollowed you from within and walked away. The anguish at knowing that you have no control over your own self, your thoughts and feelings is daunting. You almost want to undo the damage and escape it all. Go hide somewhere. Get your old self back. You're coloured in a different hue but some days you want to wash it all off and be your own pure self once again....

AJI CHALE AAO

Song 89:

Asha Bhonsle and Lata singing together always made for a song of kinship and kindred spirits. This is one of the oldest songs they sang together in 1956, from the thriller Halaku, written by Shailendra and composed by Shankar Jaikishan. The lively composition is picturised on Helen and Minoo Mumtaz (who was Mehmood's sister), both rather graceful dancers. I can watch Helen numbers forever and ever, especially when I am feeling low and they always cheer me up. But I notice Minoo Mumtaz matches her moves well here.

This was an era when many Hindi movies were based on tales from the Arabian Nights and beyond, bringing in exotic flavours, costumes and a different lilt in the music.

In this movie, Halaku (Pran), the powerful emperor of Iran, rules the country wisely and with an iron hand. When he comes upon one of his subjects, Niloufer (Meena Kumari), he stakes his claim on her and wants her to be his wife, despite of his wife (Minoo Mumtaz), who opposes his marriage plans. Niloufer, who loves Pervez (Ajit), refuses to submit to Halaku, he turns his wrath on both Niloufer, Pervez, and his wife. Will Niloufer and Pervez survive the ruthless Halaku? Well for that you would have to catch the movie.

For now I love the mood this song creates, with Asha and Lata spelling delicious anticipation and open-hearted invitation.