It's been a long time since I last wrote a post on this blog. In order to make myself more regular, I've decided to start a new series called 'A Song A Week' which I will hopefully be able to contribute to, every week. This is going to be something besides my other articles, which I will continue to write when I get the time.
The series is not going to be much of a bother to the readers, who will only witness a brief description of the song and the full lyrics, unlike the long articles I usually end up writing no matter how hard I try not to.
Ok, so I'm going to start with a song of a movie I just saw for the first time. The song is Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi from the brilliant directorial venture by Asit Sen, the film Khamoshi (1969).
I really don't know how to not reveal much of the story, but here's the background (without giving away any major spoilers). Arun (Rajesh Khanna in one of his earliest and finest roles) is admitted in a mental asylum as he suffers from acute mania. He was a writer and an artist by profession and was in love with Sulekha (Snehlata). Despite all his love for her, Sulekha dumps him after becoming a major singing sensation after singing a song which Arun had himself written; which causes major paranoia within Arun, who cannot even look at another woman without thinking that she is involved in some conspiracy in partnership with Sulekha against him. In the asylum, nurse Radha (played by Waheeda Rehman in what is one of her best and most underrated performances) takes charge of his treatment and begins to instill the feelings of trust within Arun. As Arun becomes normal again, he falls in love with Radha, mostly due to a misunderstanding.
This song happens when Radha takes Arun out for a day during his treatment, by which time Arun has already fallen for her. He thinks his love is being returned ... unfortunately we, the audience know she's in love with Dev (Dharmendra), which is what makes this song an even bigger tragedy.
A beautiful tune from Hemant Kumar with brilliant, well thought-out lyrics from Gulzar, and marvellously sung by Kishore Kumar; this one is an all-time classic.
You can watch the song online to get a better feel, or preferably, watch the movie to truly appreciate this song.
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi, ye shaam bhi ajeeb hai,
Woh kal bhi paas paas thi, woh aaj bhi kareeb hai.
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi, ye shaam bhi ajeeb hai,
Woh kal bhi paas paas thi, woh aaj bhi kareeb hai,
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi ...
Jhuki hui nigaahon mein, kahin mera khayaal tha,
Dabi dabi hansi mein ek, haseen sa gulaal tha,
Main sochta tha mera naam gunguna rahi hai woh - 2
Na jaane kyun laga mujhe, ki muskura rahi hai woh.
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi ...
Mera khayaal hai abhi, jhuki hui nigaah mein,
Khili hui hansi bhi hai, dabi hui si chaah mein,
Main jaanta hoon mera naam gunguna rahi hai woh - 2
Yahi khayaal hai mujhe, ki saath aa rahi hai woh.
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi, ye shaam bhi ajeeb hai,
Woh kal bhi paas paas thi, woh aaj bhi kareeb hai,
Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi.
If you observe the song, he sings of an evening with his ex, Sulekha, and compares it to an evening with Radha. Each corresponding line in the two antaras of the song is very much alike the other, only with slight variations. I also like the way he says, the earlier time I always THOUGHT she was thinking of me (implied by his name constantly being in her mind), but this time I KNOW she is thinking of me always (which is again not the case ... poor Arun is so mistaken)! Arun honestly thinks there's love between the two, even though it hasn't been said, which is evident in the lines dabi hui si chaah mein.
There's something about a romantic song becoming more beautiful because of the hidden tragedy underlying it.
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