On a sad Sunday with a hundred white flowers,
I was waiting for you, my dear, with a church prayer,
That dream-chasing Sunday morning,
The chariot of my sadness returned without you.
Ever since then, Sundays are always sad,
Tears are my drink, and sorrow is my bread…
Sad Sunday.
Last Sunday, my dear, please come along,
There will even be priest, coffin, catafalque, hearse-cloth.
Even then flowers will be awaiting you, flowers and coffin.
Under blossoming trees my journey shall be the last.
My eyes will be open, so that I can see you one more time,
Do not be afraid of my eyes as I am blessing you even in my death…
Last Sunday.
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Pic: Church Of Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception, Goa
Words: English Translation of Laszlo Javor’s lyrics.
Have you ever thought of how does it feel to be Rekha? The Rekha of Amitabh.
Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan were first cast opposite each other in Do Anjaane. Apparently, that’s what Amitabh wants them to be now.
They might have loved each other and while Rekha never denied this, Amitabh never accepted this relationship. And not only this, he walked out of it, married someone else to lead a happy life. Of course at the cost of someone. A castle built on the ruins of someone’s heart. Afraid of fighting, even for himself, he chose the easy path, and an advantageous one too.
Amitabh married Jaya Bhaduri when he was slowly rising to star status and was not actually a super star. During that time Jaya was an established actress and marriage with her helped him a lot with positive publicity and foothold in bollywood. He became the ultimate star, a star far enough for Rekha to reach to.
And what did Rekha got? All she was left with is to try to present herself in a totally different way, hiding all that going on inside and fighting alone, with herself, in those lonely nights and illuminated yet dark days.
She loved him more than anything else in the world, but may be she was just an ego trip for him.
Rekha Ji! Though I wished you a happy birthday but I know its doesn’t make any sense because I know you can’t have one now, or for that matter, ever, you say it or not. However, I don’t need to wish a happy birthday to you too Amit Ji. Because I know you must be having one.
तुम तो अमित बन आगे निकल गए
और हम अकेले यहाँ रेखा बने रह गए
Oh yes! You remember something like this title. Not able to recall completely? Well to help you, this is a Bollywood movie released in 2010. Yes now you are recalling something. Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta – a movie, which made news for the nude scenes by its leading lady, Aruna Shields. However there was not only this, what was offered by the movie. The movie had a very nice and unusual storyline backed up by a few good performances (Prroshant Narayanan, Naved Aslam), along with some awful too (Aruna Shields). But still hats off to the director Pravesh Bhardwaj for making such a bold yet mature movie. Though I feel that the movie was quite slow and becomes dull at some times, but still it has got few moments which were nicely scripted and shot. Things like a man painting the toe nails of a woman are brilliantly portrayed. Another notable thing is that though the title is Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta, the main protagonists of the movie are Mrs. Singh and Mr. Mehta. Now it is unsaid in the movie that the story revolves around these two only because of their respective spouses. This justifies the unusual title for me. Both these characters start off as the cheated victims but later on, they find themselves as the cheaters. But the most notable and appreciable aspect of the movie is the music. It has got some excellent ghazals which do not hold back the already slow movie but actually contribute to the move and mood of the movie. I had not listened the songs before watching the movie but when I encountered them in the movie I pitied on them. Scored by Grammy-nominated sitarist Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan and Shaarang Dev Pandit, son of Pandit Jasraj, the soundtrack of Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta joins the list, where some very good music did not get its deserved acclaim because the movie went unnoticed. The album comprises of 6 vocals tracks and 4 instrumentals and anyone will be hooked to it, at least I am. Add to that the lyrics by Amitabh Verma doubles the delight.
Ai Khuda – Sung by Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan himself, this ghazals reminds of 80s. sung with ease and in a very sophisticated way. Very smooth and once you listen to it 4-5 times you will not realize when it captured your lips. Nice lyrics too. My pick of lyrics is ‘deewangi ki yeh intehaa…tanhaa bhari mehfil mein hain…’
Baarhaan Dil Mein – This has two versions, male and female. The female version, carrying the melodious voice of Shreya Ghoshal, immediately grabs the liking, while it takes some time and repeated play for the male version, sung by KK, to make its way into your heart. Both versions have very less use of instruments to bring up the effect of vocals and lyrics. My pick of the lyrics is ‘dil hai bezaar jism bejaan hai, koi ehsaas hi nahi baaki…na ye aankhein ye soch ke hui nam, humsafar to naa they kabhi tum hum…’
Fariyaad Hai – A good blend of folk and Sufi. Richa Sharma has sung this kind earlier too and this one is no different but still its a good listen.
Behoshi Nasha Khushboo – Aaaah a familiar voice! Is that Udit Narayan, along with Shreya Ghoshal? So good to hear him after a long time. A lovely breezy melody, with the signature voice and style of Udit Narayan. My pick of the lyrics is ‘bheege hain paseene mein…thandi si jalan hai, saanson mein…’
Ajnabi Aankhein – starts with flute in a haunting manner, and then it goes to another league of songs known as ‘Roop Kumar Rathod Songs’. His mature and soothing voice, along with the flute takes the song to a completely different level. The use of guitar just after the mukhda also takes you by surprise but adds only to the goodness of the song.
This is not a movie/music review and frankly speaking I am not expert at it too. This is just a small effort to make people aware of some very good movie/music which got lost due to insufficient promotion and unawareness. Do watch this movie for the director Pravesh Bhardwaj, who took the courage to break the ice and made such a bold and sensuous movie on infidelity. Do watch the movie for Prroshant Narayanan, who gives yet another brilliant performance. Imagine a husband who knows that his wife is cheating on him but yet he loves her so much that he find himself helpless and cannot discuss this with her. Such complexity of the character is essayed simply by Prroshant Narayanan. And above all, do watch the movie for its background score and perfectly timed and equally brilliant songs. An album you can just listen on and on and on for its melody, lyrics and the effect it creates when you are listening to it…alone!
Note: This post was written sometime ago and just transferred here.
Going by the title, this post would have published on first of this month, but for me the ‘Pehli Tareekh‘ comes on fourth day of month. This is the day when the figures in my bank account arise a bit i.e. something known as salary in the corporate world, gets credited to my account. So on this important day, it has become a ritual for me to listen and sing the most appropriate song for the situation that is ‘Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai‘. Everybody must have watched the current advertisement of a chocolate with the song ‘Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai‘. And I am sure all those must have liked and enjoyed it too because of the simplicity and retroness in it.
But very few people will be aware of the fact that this is actually a song from an extremely little rather rarely known bollywood movie named ‘Paheli Tarikh‘(pronounced as ‘Pehli Tareekh’). The movie was released on January 1, 1954 and was directed by Raja Nene, who was also in the lead role opposite Nirupa Roy. Yes you read it right! Nirupa Roy, the ‘Queen of Misery’ and our very own stereotype bollywood mother, was the female lead of this movie. The other starcast included Agha, Ramesh Kapoor and some others. The music was of renowed music director Sudhir Phadke aka ‘Babuji’ and lyrics by Qamar Jalalabadi. The song was sung by none other than Kishore Kumar.
An interesting fact about the song is that this song is used to play on Radio Ceylon(now Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) on first day of every month in a program of old hindi songs between 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM. Its also amazing to know that it is played on the same program till date. The song is not just what used to telecast in the ad but is much lengthier than that. Infact this is one of the lengthiest bollywood song. Usually on first of every month the mukhda and first antara of the song is played but on the first of January, complete full song is played.
The song beautifully captures the feeling of common people, at that time, on the first day of every month, when people get their salary after working for a complete month. Here are the complete lyrics of the song:
Din Hai Suhaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Din Hai Suhaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Biwi Boli Ghar Zaraa, Jaldi Se Aana,
Jaldi Se Aana…
Shaam Ko Piyaaji Hamein, Cinema Dikhaana
Hamein Cinema Dikhaana…
Karo Naa Bahaana, Haan Bahaana Bahaana
Karo Naa Bahaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Kisne Pukaara, Ruk Gaya Babu
Lalaji Ki Jaan Aaj, Aaya Hai Kaabu
Aaya Hai Kaabu…
O Paisa Zaraa Laana…
O Paisa Zaraa Laana, Laana Laana Laana
O Paisa Zaraa Laana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Banda Bekaar Hai, Kismat Ki Maar Hai
Sab Din Ek Hain, Roz Aitbaar Hai
Mujhe Na Sunaana, Haan Sunaana Sunaana
Mujhe Naa Sunaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Dar Ke Saamne, Aaye Mehmaan Hain
Bade Hi Shareef Hain, Puraane Meherbaan Hain
Bade Hi Shareef Hain, Puraane Meherbaan Hain
Arrey Jeb Ko Bachaana, Bachaana Bachaana
Jeb Ko Bachaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Dil Beqaraar Hai, Soye Nahi Raat Se
Sethji Ko Gham Hai Ki, Paiso Chalo Haath Se
Arrey Lootega Khazaana, Khazaana Khazaana
Lootega Khazaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Ae Cinema Waalon Aao Aao, Khel Mazedaar Hai
Ho Khel Mazedaar Hai Ji, Khel Mazedaar Hai
Agha Hai, Bhagwaan Hai, Kishore Kumar Hai
Nimmi, Geeta Baali Hai, Ashok Kumar Hai
Nargis, Raj Kapoor Hai, Dilip Kumar Hai
Geeton Ka Toofaan Hai, Naach Ki Bahaar Hai
Naach Ki Bahaar Hai…
Paanch Aane Ka Dus Aana…
Paanch Aane Ka Dus Aana…
Paanch Aane Ka Dus Aana…
Arrey Waapas Nahi Jaana, Jaana Jaana
Waapas Nahi Jaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Mil-jul Ke Bachchon Ne, Baapu Ko Gheraa
Baapu Ko Gheraa…
Kehte Hain Saare Ki, Baapu Hai Mera
Baapu Hai Mera…
Khilaune Zaraa Laana…
Khilaune Zalaa Laana, Aaj Peli Taleekh Hai (the spellings in this line are intentional, no typing error)
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
Din Hai Suhaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Khush Hai Zamaana, Aaj Pehli Tareekh Hai
Pehli Tareekh Hai Ji, Pehli Tareekh Hai
PS: I tried a lot but could not find a video of this song 😦 If anybody happens to find one, please share it with me too. However this is an audio version of the song. Enjoy!!!
kartikulations 