Zulfon ki sunahri chhaaon tale
Posted on: June 19, 2010
In old Bollywood movies, actors were often seen singing while playing a grand piano. Songs like that to me were unrealistic, because firstly, it is not possible to play that huge instument while singing a song at the same time. And secondly, expecting the lead actors to possess a huge grand piano, as well as a huge mansion to accomodate the said piano was unrealistic to my mind.
The song under question is so realistic in comparison. Here the hero, Pradeep Kumar is seen playing a humble harmonium and singing. Now that is quite a realistic picturisation, I must say. Those were the days when musically inclined people wanted to keep a piano in their house and do their riyaaz (practice of music) while playing the harmonium. Ironically, government broadcasters (All India Radio aka Akashwaani) looked down upon this instrument, and this instrument was in fact was not allowed to be played there.
On the other hand, one cannot expect mushaayraas, bhajans, qawwaalis etc without harmoniums. We have had some fantastic use of harmoniums in Bollywood music.
Of course the discussion of harmonium in Bollywood music is a topic that I will discuss some other time. Here I discuss this song which is sung by Talat Mehmood and it is picturised on Pradeep Kumar. This song is from a movie called “Zindagi Yaa Toofaan” (1958). Nakshab is the lyricist and Naashaad (not Naushad) is the music director.
This is a song that I heard for the first time today. And I liked this song.
Audio
Video
Song- Zulfon ki sunahri chhaaon tale (Zindagi Ya Toofaan) (1958) Singer-Talat Mehmood, Lyrics- Nakshab, MD-Nashaad
Lyrics
zulfon ki sunahari chhaanv tale
ik aag lagi do deep jale
jab pehli nazar ke teer chale
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
zulfon ki sunahri chhaanv tale
ik aag lagi do deep jale
jab pehli nazar ke teer chale
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
jab pyaar huaa do nain mile
jab aayi bahaar aur phool khile
jab baat huyi aur lab na hile
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
itnaa saa hai dil kaa afsaanaa
apnaa na huaa ek begaanaa
nazren to mili aur dil na mile
kuchh unse hamen shiqwe na gile
kyaa khoob mile ulfat ke sile
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
rah rah ke tadapnaa ghabraanaa
har baat pe dil bhar bhar aanaa
aansoo bhi bahe seenaa bhi jale
armaan ajab saanche mein dhale
is pyaar se ham bepyaar bhale
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
zulfon ki sunahri chhaanv tale
ik aag lagi do deep jale
jab pehli nazar ke teer chale
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
mat poochh ke dil par kyaa guzri
Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
June 20, 2010 at 1:43 am
Really lovely song. I agree with you on the piano. The harmonium, on the other hand, was something most musically inclined people had at home (along with a tanpura and tabla). Well, we had these at home–the harmonium was for me. Harmoniums are not expensive, pianos are.
Interesting comment about AIR types. My grandmother, a classical singer in both North and South Indian styles, would never listen or sing movie songs (so I hear). She was the chief music producer at AIR in Delhi. I’m very curious about my gradma but she’s been long dead.
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