Pancham and Majrooh-I
Growing up in the late 70’s and 80’s, one of my biggest sources of entertainment was the good ole transistor radio, where i would fiddle around, listening to Vividh Bharati, and then passing away the time, just lazing around listening to my favorite songs. It of course became even more of a habit during the 80’s, considering that the movie songs of that time made me want to tear out my hair in frustration. My only solace was Chitrahaar on TV, and Vividh Bharati on radio. And one common feature whenever i was listening to the songs, was of course the list of people wanting that song, and then “Aur is geet ko likha Majrooh Sultanpuri, aur sangeet diya hai Rahul Dev Burman ne”, not sure if thats the exact wording, but would be something on its lines.
While Pancham and Gulzar’s combination, is something that has been discussed in online groups, Orkut communities, user groups, i think after Gulzar, the lyricists with whom Pancham had an excellent combination were Majrooh and Anand Bakshi. There was this excellent article by Raju Bharatan, some time back, on Pancham, when he had passed away. An excerpt from that article, states how Majrooh felt Pancham had no ear for Hindi poetry, unlike Dada who really understood poetry. It was i guess a general feeling among the lyricists that Pancham was too mod, too westernized to understand the nuances of Hindi poetry. Here is that excerpt from Raju Bharatan’s article.
“I feel sorry to say this, but the boy doesn’t understand poetry at all,” Majrooh told me. To which I replied: “But Majrooh Saab,even Dada Burman did not understand Hindi poetry.” Majrooh’scccounter to that: “Dada Burman might not have understood Hindi,but he understood poetry, which is the same in any language.”
Give RD credit for the fact that he remained wholly undeterred by such innuendo regularly hurled at him. RD had tuned with the same Majrooh to metamorphose the sound of film music with Yaadon ki Baarat. It was the same Majrooh I encountered in RD’s Santa Cruz music room, sheepishly handing over to the composer “a piece of paper that’s not poetry”, to quote his own words.
Majrooh had an equally succesful collaboration with Dada, with songs ranging from light, masti bari numbers like “Chod Do Aanchal, Zamana Kya Kahega”, “Mana Jaanab Ne Pukara nahin” “Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke” to more soulful ones like “Jalte Hai Jis Ke Liye” . In fact Navketan owed its success as much to Majrooh’s wonderful lyrics, which Dada bought to life. And as with the father so with the son, Majrooh had a great combination with Pancham, as they together churned out unforgettable songs. In fact, after Gulzar i would say a large chunk of my favorite Pancham songs, have been penned by Majrooh. So here are some of my favorites.
Ankhiyon Mein Chote Chote Sapne Sajake, Naukar
Naukar was a pretty decent comedy, starring Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and Mehmood. Sanjeev is a rich widower, Mehmood is his driver, and they enter the household of Lalita Pawar, doing a switcheroo. Sanjeev assumes the role of a servant, and woos Jaya who is Lalita Pawar’s step daughter and ill treated by her, while Mehmood assumes the role of Sanjeev’s malik. This song has two versions, one by Kishore and one by Lata. Sanjeev sings this song to his daughter, pretty lovely and sweet lullaby. Majrooh beautifully capturing the father’s affection to his daughter. I guess being a Dad myself, this song has a personal connection to me.
yahii to kalii hai pyaarii merii saarii bagiyaa mein
mainne yahii motii paayaa jiivan nadiyaa mein
mamataa luTaauu.n aisii mach jaae dhuum
chaa.Ndanii re jhuum, ho, chaa.Ndanii re jhuum
Naukar also had another popular song “pallo latake re mharro pallo latake” which was a Kishore-Asha duet.
Oh Haseena Zulfon Waali, Hokar Meherbaan, Teesri Manzil
Teesri Manzil was a movie that would always be a significant landmark in Pancham’s career. And doubly significant, because Majrooh who earlier had a succesful collaboration with Nasir Hussain for Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, introduced Pancham for this movie. Interestingly Shammi Kapoor was not to keen on Pancham for the movie, who was still not a very big name then. But after the movie was released, he became a big time fan of Pancham. After Teesri Manzil, Pancham formed a succesful combo with Nasir Hussain, Baharon Ke Sapne, Caravan, Yaadon Ki Baarat, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, Pyaar Ka Mausam, Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, all the movies major musical hits. In fact like Navketan-Dada-Majrooh, Nasir Hussain- Pancham- Majrooh would be another great combo. Vijay Anand, in one of the few films he directed outside the Navketan banner, crafts a wonderful thriller, that does keep you guessing till the end. And the movie has one of Pancham’s best score. Each of the songs is a gem, but my favorite for sure is “Oh Haseena Zulfo Waali”, surely one of the best in the 60’s Pop Club numbers genre. The drum beats, the rising crescendo of the music, and the singing by Asha and Md. Rafi, trust me everytime i listen to this song, it just gives that josh feeling. What i loved about Majrooh’s lyrics here are the verbal jugalbandi between Asha and Rafi in the mukhda part.
A : garm hai, sez hai, ye nigaahe.n merii
R: kaam aa, jaayegii sard, aahe.n merii
A: tum kisii, raah me.n, to miloge kahii.n
R: are! ishq huu.N, mai.n kahii.n Thaharataa hii nahii.n A
A: mai.n bhii huu.N galiyo.n kii parachhaaii kabhii yahaa.N kabhii vahaa.N shaam hii se kuchh ho jaataa hai merA bhii jaaduu javaa.n
Incidentally Salim, the other half of the Salim Javed duo, played the role of the drummer in the song.
Tumne Mujhe Dekha, Ho Kar Meherbaan, Teesri Manzil
If Pancham gives us a frenetic Oh Haseena Zulfo Waali and a rock oriented Aaja Aaja, in the same movie, he also comes up with a pretty sombre and soulful number. Slow, melodious, the lyrics by Majrooh again beautifully capture the feelings of the hero, and his love.
o kahii.n dard ke saharaa mein,
rukate chalate hote in ho.nTho.n kii hasarat me.n,
tapate jalate hote meharbaa.n ho gaii, zulf kii badaliyaa.N
Aaja Piya Tohe Pyaar Do, Baharon Ke Sapne
Though Teesri Manzil, was the first movie Pancham did for Nasir Hussain as producer, if one takes the first with Nasir as a director, it would be Baharon Ke Sapne. Contrary to most of Nasir Hussain’s movies, which were fluffy rom coms, this movie starring Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh, was in a more serious tone. Shot in B&W, it was a look at the harsh lives of the factory workers, more of a weepie in tone. It also had Asha Parekh, shedding off her glam image to a more sombre, serious one. I guess due to it’s serious tone, the movie did not really do well commercially, and after that Nasir Hussain, went to back to his more candy floss stuff. This song by Lata though is a real gem, and i would rate it as one of her best. Majrooh again beautifully captures the feelings of the heroine, as she attempts to assuage the hero’s pain.
rahane de re, jo vo julmii hai path tere gaaon ke palakon se
chun DaalU.ngii mai.n kaa.NTe terI raaho.n ke ho,
sukh meraa lele, main dukh tere lelun tu bhii jiye, main bhii jiyun
Jeene Ka Din, Mar Jaane Ka Mausam, Gomti Ke Kinare
This was one of Saawan Kumar Tak’s early movies which had Meena Kumari, Mumtaz and some hero called Sameer Khan. Meena Kumari plays a Nirupa roy type momma to the hero, who falls in love with rich Mumtaz. And the fly in the ointment is that behind her Nirupa Roy facade, momma Meena Kumari had a kothewali kind of past. Typical 70’s weepie stuff, nothing remarkable. The movie though had a good score from Pancham-Majrooh combo. This Kishore-Lata duet, is typically what i call a “lazy afternoon” kinda song, very light, very soothing, something you can listen to while lazing around. Quite a romantic one too.
K: chhuune se mere surK labon kii kaliyaaN nikhariin jaise sulaken
L: aaj talak dil mein jo dabe the aramaaN kah do sajanaa khulake
chupake se kyon baat chale chaahat ke maaron mein
One thing in the mukhda is the way the last words are deliberately elongated, so it comes off like chhune se mere Surk labon ki Kaliyaanm and then when it comes to nikhariin, Kishore goes it like nikhariiiiin, jaiseee sulaken, sort of modulation going high and again comming to normal.
Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko, Yaadon Ke Baraat.
Actually if i were to review the music for Yaadon Ke Baraat, it would be a separate post by itself. Pancham always gave his best for Nasir Hussain , but even by that standards, this is an awesome album. Its just hard to pick out which one is the best, for each and every song is worth its weight in gold here. I must have seen the movie umpteen times just for the songs. The movie is one of the best in the 70’s masala genre, and a good performance from Dharmendra, Ajit. This song though is one of the best when it comes to romantic numbers, the music by Pancham for this is just brilliant. The way Pancham gets the saxophone after Asha emphasizes the “Chura Liya” word, and the guitar strumming. And even the opening beats, so seductive, and when it comes to romantic lyrics, Majrooh again proves why he is one of the best.
bahaar ban ke aauuN kabhii tumhaarii duniyaa mein
guzar na jaaen ye din kahiin isii tamannaa me.n
tum mere ho, haa.N tum mere ho aaj tum itanaa vaadaa karate jaanaa
I really miss those days when the songs had such wonderful lyrics,and were so melodious.
Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, Yaadon Ki Baarat
When it comes to orchestration, music composition nothing to beat this song. Pancham starting off with a kind of sinister, shadowy tone, and then the frenetic beats picking up. Kishore and Asha, then taking it up with their vocals. More than anything else, the musical interludes, between the mukhda and antara, are just mind blowing. What i really love is the setup here, the song is picturized in the backdrop of Dharamendra doing a robbery, so in effect, its also like a background score. The picturization is brilliant too, intercutting between the song, and shots of the burglarly, Pancham here takes you back and forth between the tension and the sheer exhiliration. All i can say for this is “What a fucking awesome song”.
Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aaye, Buddha Mil Gaya
This is actually one of Hrishida’s lesser known movies starring Navin Nischol and Deven Varma. I had seen the movie much later, and in fact its a pretty well directed mystery movie. No this has no relation with the horrendous flick called Buddha Mar Gaya. More of a rom com with a mystery background, the movie is an out and out entertainer. But much before the movie, i used to watch this song many times on Chitrahaar, and it ended up as one of my favorite Kishore da numbers, and even now to date it is. Very soft, very melodious, very soothing, and so romantic. Whenever i used to have my romantic day dreams, this was one song, i always wanted to sing to my girl. One thing i love about Pancham is the way he tunes the music to the situation, so for a Oh Haseena or Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, he brings the orchestra into full effect, but for a light romantic number like this, he firmly puts it in the background. And yes the trademark guitar strumming, that kicks off the song. And Majrooh’s lyrics here, absolutely romantic, you wanna tell your girl how you feel about here, here it is.
yuuN to hasiino.n ke, mahajabiinon ke,
hote hain roz nazaare par unhen dekh ke,
dekhaa hai jab tumhe.n,
tum lage aur bhii pyaare baaho.n mein le luuN,
aisii taman_naa, ek nahiin, kaii baar huii
So next time your girl gets jealous when she sees you talking to some other girl, you know what to say to her.
Achi Nahi Sanam, Dillagi Yeh, Raakhi Aur Hathkhadi
Again pretty much a standard 70’s weepie, this has Asha Parekh in a double role, as a mother and a daughter. This song is picturized on Vijay Arora, and the beti version of Asha Parekh. It does seem odd to watch a much younger Vijay Arora romance an older Asha Parkeh, who inspite of the permed hair cut, and the 70’s style skirt and top, does not really look as young. The song though is a lovely duet by Kishore and Asha , Pancham in fact seems to give his best for pretty random movies.
Song starts off in a kind of cheed chaad mode
Kishore( accusingly): achchhii nahii.n sanam dillagii dil-e-beqaraar se
Asha(mockingly): kyon ro rahe ho chheDaa thaa hamane tumako to pyaar se
K: khel hii khel me.n jaaegii ek jaan
And the music again is slow, subdued, and melodious. One of Pancham’s best romantic duets, with Majrooh again doing the honors.
ki: kahate ho tum to yuu.N hii sahii ki ai mere hasiin
ki: saarii Kataa javaanii kii hai, qusuur aapakaa nahii.n kar jaate ho sharaarat jab milate ho pyaar se
Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si, Anamika
Anamika was quite a decent thriller flick with Sanjeev and Jaya in the lead roles. Sanjeev playing an author, and Jaya takes refuge in his home, fleeing from her tormentor. Sanjeev gives her the name of Anamika, meaning literally the one with no name. One of the best songs in the Kishore-Pancham combo, this is more of a sad song, dealing with the hero’s anguish at the betrayal of his beloved. One thing i really loved was in the start of the song when Kishore da hums, and then Pancham goes into a furious strumming mode. Again at end of antara it follows “Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si”, Pancham using a high tone, sligtly mournful, and the musical interludes again, having a sombre tone. In fact if one notes the mukhda Pancham again uses the strumming here, its like “Tujhe bin jaane”, followed by strumming, “Bin Pehchaane” again strumming. Lyrics by Majrooh here beautifully capturing Sanjeev’s agony.
aag se naataa, naarii se rishtaa kaahe man samajh na paayaa
mujhe kyaa huaa thaa, ik bevafaa se haay mujhe kyo.n pyaar aayaa
terii bevafaaii pe, haNse jag saaraa galii, galii guzare jidhar se
Baahon Mein Chale Aa, Anamika
Well its not often that Lata gets seductive in her singing, but when she does, boy its just hard to resist. In fact two of Lata’s most seductive numbers, “Baahon Mein Chale Aa” and “Do Ghunt Mujhe bhi pila De Sharaabi” have been penned by Majrooh. But then Majrooh does seem to revel in this genre, be it “Yeh hai Reshmi Zulfon ka Andhera” from Mere Sanam or “Raat Akeli Hai” from Jewel Thief, he does articulate a women’s feelings beautifully without being vulgar. This was not a seductive song per se, it was more of a ched chaad song, with Jaya teasing Sanjeev here, but the way Lata sings it, you feel that seductiveness, especially in the way she intones “sh, sh, sh” at end of mukhda. It was a favorite song of my ex gf too. And lyrics by Majrooh so beautifully articulate the heroine’s feelings
kabhii kabhii kuchh to, kaho piyaa hamase e,
kam-se-kam aaj to khulake milo zaraa hamase
hai raat apanii, jo tum ho apane, kisii kaa phir hamen Dar kyaa
Well Lata , Pancham, Majrooh, in tandem, very very hard to resist such an allure.
I guess i really have to split this post into more than 1 part, as there are so many songs of the Pancham-Majrooh combo, which are my favorites, so before you begin to wonder, where are the songs of other memorable Pancham-Majrooh flicks like Caravan, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Kudrat, well sir “thoda tho intezaar kijiye, aakhir intezaar ka phal hamesha meeta hota hai”.
Tags: hindi movie songs, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Nasir Hussain., Pancham, Teesri Manzil, Yaadon Ki Baarat
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Tum Bin Jaaon Kahan
Ke Duniya Mein Aake…
Kuch Na Phir Chaha Kabhi
Tumko Chahke..
Dekho mere gam ki kahaani..kisise mat kahna
Kahin meri baat chale to… sunke chup rahna
Mera kya hai… kat jaayegi kahin
Ye zindagi… tumako chaah ke ..
Great write up on Majrooh-Pancham…
Very good post! My response to your list and details ranged from confirmation to surprising revelation. I wish you had inserted links to video/audio so that I didn’t have to search for some of the songs that I have either forgotten or never heard of (like that one from Gomti Ke Kinare, for instance).