Zara sun haseena e naazneen
Posted on: October 10, 2011
This article is written by Raja, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Madness manifests itself in many forms. And not just differently in different people but also differently at different times in the same person. Long before I got to learn of the term OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), I can claim to have exhibited signs that would make an OCD affected person proud.
During my schooldays in the 70s, I would maintain statistics of cricketers’ records on broadsheet pages (the type we would get as exam answer sheets). I’d draw lines to form columns saying “Tests, Innings, NO (not-outs), Runs, HS (Highest Score), Average (batting), 100s, 50s, O (Overs), M (Maidens), Runs (conceded), Wickets, Average (bowling)”. Today all this information is available on the internet on one click on the mouse (or touch on a screen) but in those days, especially given my limited access to the already limited sources of information in those days, any bit of information was precious. I still remember coming across, in my school library, a 1974 issue of Sportsweek (I think it had Jimmy Connors on its cover) where a list of all batsmen with a 50+ average was listed (min. qualification 15 innings). The list was about half a page but I was SO thrilled to see that list! Not only did it give me batting stats for that set of cricketers but it introduced me to a few new names like CS Dempster and E.Tyldesley. Since we were not allowed to take magazines out of the library, I remember copying that entire list in my notebook and then copying it later onto my broadsheet records at home. The first name on the list was obviously Sir Don Bradman but I still remember the last name on that list – DCS Compton, that legendary English batsman of the 1930s/40s/50s.
I can go on and on about my cricket-related OCD experiences but this is a song blog and I will stop discussing cricket now. But the reason it came up at all is because in the last few days I seem to be exhibiting some more OCD behaviour – of a different type.
The last few days I have been humming ONE particular song THROUGHOUT the day, from morning to night. I am just NOT able to get it out of my head. It is a song that I used to hear very occasionally on radio in the 70s but had not heard for ages. And now suddenly, out of nowhere, it’s got into my head!!! Being one of those irritating guys who, oblivious of their surroundings, keep singing songs all the time (very badly too, I may add), I now risk being hauled to the nearest police station as a public nuisance.
I thought there could be only one way to remedy the situation. Go to Atul’s blog, pick up this song, listen to it ten times – and get cured! ?
So that’s what I tried to do – and guess what? It is not even on Atul’s blog yet.
The only way I could think of having a samasya ka samadhaan (solution to the problem) was to get it on Atul’s blog as soon as possible. I could have sent Atul a request (farmaish) but I know he has a backlog and before he’d be able to get this out there, I’d go mad (well, madder than I already am!) and possibly in police station.
So I decided to take things in my own hands – and write this up so that Atul could be persuaded to “do the needful”. 😉
After all this hoopla and bla-bla, you all must be wondering what song this is. Well, it may not be the best-known soft, romantic song of the Rafi-Shakeel-Ravi combo (that would almost certainly be “chaudhvin ka chand”) but it is a lovely, sweet song in its own right.
I am talking about “zara sun haseena-e-naazneen”.
It is from an obscure movie called Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya (1963). At least it is obscure for me. The male actor in the song is new to me but I think it is somebody called Vijay Kumar. The heroine is Waheeda Rehman. The movie is produced by Tony Walker (brother of Johnny Walker). Waheeda was quite a big star already so I am tempted to think that she may have agreed to act in this film, opposite an unknown actor, as a sort of favour to Johnny Walker. Maybe somebody can throw some light on this.
Anyway, I quite like this song (well my OCD behaviour would suggest that I more than just “like” it) and hope Atul gets this up there at the earliest.
Hope you enjoy it too.
Audio
Video
Song-Zara sun haseena e naazneen (Kaun Apna Kaun Paraaya) (1963) Singer-Rafi, Lyrics-Shakeel Badayuni, MD-Ravi
Lyrics
zara sun haseena e nazneen
mera dil tujhi pe nisaar hai
zara sun haseena e nazneen
mera dil tujhi pe nisaar hai
tere dam pe hi mere dilruba
meri zindagi mein bahaar hai
zara sun haseena e nazneen
huyi jab se mujh pe teri nazar
main hoon apne aap se bekhabar
huyi jab se mujh pe teri nazar
main hoon apne aap se bekhabar
huaa jab se dil mein tera guzar
huaa jab se dil mein tera guzar
mujhe chain hai na qaraar hai
zara sun haseena e nazneen
tere husn se jo sanwar gayin
wo fazaayen mujhko azeez hain
tere husn se jo sanwar gayin
wo fazaayen mujhko azeez hain
teri zulf se jo lipat gayin
teri zulf se jo lipat gayin
mujhe un hawaaon se pyaar hai
zara sun haseena e nazneen
ye haseen phoolon ki daaliyaan
tujhe de rahin hain salaamiyaan
ye haseen phoolon ki daaliyaan
tujhe de rahin hain salaamiyaan
mujhe kyun na rashq ho ae sanam
mujhe kyun na rashq ho ae sanam
tere saath fasl e bahaar hai
zara sun haseena e nazneen
mera dil tujhi pe nisaar hai
zara sun haseena e nazneen
26 Responses to "Zara sun haseena e naazneen"
October 10, 2011 at 9:24 am
very good song. but i am impressed with the blog not first part of cricket, but 2nd part of song in which he described his thought process
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October 10, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Sorry, I guess I got a bit carried away with the cricket bit. In future, I should remember to stick to song discussion only. 🙂
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October 10, 2011 at 9:43 am
Raja,
What a co-incidence!
I heard this song for the first time only a couple of days back, probably the same video link and liked it immensely.
You are probably right in you presumption that it may be out of respect for Johny Walker that Waheeda Rehman may have agreed to do this role opposite Vijya Kumar.
Incidentally, I guess, Vijay Kumar, the main lead actor may be none other than Tony Walker himself. I even matched Vijay Kumar with the photos of Tony Walker and they seems to match. If it is so, then Vijay Kumar is not a new comer to Hindi Film industry. He had small roles in a few films as Tony Walker.
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October 10, 2011 at 9:58 am
Raja,
My compliments for introducing this beautiful song – I do not remember to have heard it earlier.
Now I have a question which I had been wanting to ask some cricket expert for a long time. It always puzzles me the way they compute the batting averages in cricket – the numerator includes all the runs scored whereas the denominator excludes the innings in which the batsman was not out. To the mathematician in me this defied logic. What would be the average of a batsman who plays ten innings,remains Not Out in all of them and scores 1000 runs in all?
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October 10, 2011 at 10:27 am
His average would be indeterminate as per cricket statistics. I’ve had the same view as you many times because a lot of cricketers do have somewhat inflated averages as a result of this method of calculation. Notable cases amongst current cricketers are Chanderpaul and Kallis (this is not to question their quality of course).
I guess the logic is that if you considered a “not out” innings just the same as an “out” innings, it would appear unfair in its own way. Instead of making it complicated, statisticians decided to adopt one approach and stick to it, I guess. 🙂
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October 10, 2011 at 10:11 am
WOW!!! That was very very VERY quick, Atul!!! Thanks SO much!!!
Just listened to this song again – this time on your blog of course. Somehow, watching a video on your blog is a richer experience for me than just watching it on youtube (no disrespect meant to the person who posted it on youtube of course!) because I get to enjoy not just the video/audio but also get to sing along with the lyrics (so I’ve been imagining singing this song to Waheeda, a true “haseena-e-naazneen” ;-)).
SadanandKamathji, I think you may be right. Vijay Kumar and Tony Walker may be one and the same. I think I even read about that somewhere but I am not sure. We have maharathis 🙂 here who I am sure will be able to clarify this. 🙂
It may take me a while to get over my OCD on this song (actually this morning too it was in full swing! :-)). But since it has been posted here now, I think its ghost may have been laid to rest. 🙂
I do love Shakeel’s lyrics here. He is able to weave Urdu so beautifully into his poetry, it is magical. Btw, the last antara has the word “rashq”. What does that mean?
Love Ravi’s soft music here. It brings out the quality of Rafi saab’s voice and Shakeel’s words. Rafi saab’s voice is of course as magical as ever!
This song deserves to be far better known than it is. I hope that now that it is on Atul’s blog, more people get to know it. That is one of the main purposes of his blog anyway.
Thanks, Atul. Never expected the song to come up SO quickly. Just wow!
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October 10, 2011 at 10:57 am
Raja ji,
“Rashq” means jealousy, envy.
Great write up on a wonderful rememberance. (Been tied up for a couple of days, but this post I had to read and listen.)
Thanks 🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
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October 10, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Sudhir ji,
Nice to see your presence here.-
-AD
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October 10, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Thank you, Sudhirji. I love learning Urdu words through film songs. 🙂 I remember learning words like “raqeeb”, “saaghur”, “pashemaan” from different songs. And of course your posts, where you take the trouble of explaining each line – those are absolutely great for learning Urdu!!!
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October 10, 2011 at 10:29 am
Have just listened to this song another 5 times today here. I guess this OCD is not going to go way all that easily. 😉
I just blame it on Rafi saab. How dare he produce such gems for us? 😉
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October 10, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Raja ji,
After a long time we got to read your interesting write up.What is remarkable in your writings is that they glide thru so easily that one feels all the feelings described,himself.Fantastic.I too remembered how crazy we were during cricket matches,and when it comes to gems of songs,the feeling is mutual.
KAUN APNA KAUN PARAYA(1963) was a Golden Film presentation,Directed by Niranjan and the story/s.play and dialogues were by Mushtaq Jalili.
Firstly,TONY WALKER and VIJAY KUMAR are one and same person.That should also exlain Waheeda’s inclusion in the cast.
I remember having seen this movie.
On a ship called ‘Ram Navami’ are travelling Seth Jagjeevan Ram with wife Maya(Dulari) and small son Anil.Also trvelling are Mangala(Nirupa Roy) and her small son Ramu.There is a shipwreck and everybody dies except Maya and Ramu.Maya takes Ramu with her and he grows up as Anil(Vijay Kumar).After 20 years….
Anil is employed by Seth Sampatlal (Amar) whose daughter Asha (Waheeda Rehman) loves Anil.His son Champatlal(Johnny Walker) loves Lata(Shammi),d/o wrestler Mathu(Shyam Kuamar) who declares that whosoever defeats wrestler Saudagar Sigh,will marry Lata,so Champatlal does exercises etc.
When Anil and Asha’s marriage is on the anvil,suddenly Mangala(Nirupa Roy) appears.She knows that Anil is actually her son Ramu.
After many twists and 5-6 reels,evrything settles down to everybody’s satisfaction and all give a nice Group photo,in the end.
-AD
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October 10, 2011 at 3:50 pm
thank you Arunkumarji for the story. and i like the last sentence in you r write up. wow! how all our movies end. even these days i love to see that kind of ending—- the one with group photo!!!!
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October 10, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Thank you Arunji. This is very informative. I had read somewhere that Tony Walker and Vijay Kumar are one and the same person but I was not sure. That surely explains why “Vijay Kumar” was acting in a movie, produced by “Tony Walker”. 🙂 And also why Waheeda is in the cast.
I am amazed that you know the storyline of so many movies. And more than storylines, you also know the context in which many movies were made. That is absolutely invaluable information and we are very lucky and priviliged to know all this from you. Thank you SO much.
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October 10, 2011 at 3:52 pm
hullo Raja ji
hope your OCD never cures if its going to give us this type of write ups and songs. and thank you Atulji for a lovely song
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October 10, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Oh, thank you. I can assure you my OCD is very much alive. I may get over this song but there will probably be another song that will come in its place soon. 🙂
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October 10, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Whoa! What a write up, Raja sahib! Talking of making lists of statistics in sports, I know another such person – my second son! I used to find these scraps of paper in his room, filled with tons of statistics about football (the American variety) players, and now he doesn’t even have time to follow the sport. Maybe the two of you should get together and analyze this practice. He will probably say he got the gene from his mother, who used to write down song lyrics on scraps of paper!
Though it has obviously been ages, I remembered this song as I heard it. I think there was another song in this movie, sung by Rafi – Kaun apna kaun paraya …, also a very soft and melodious song, and I am sure all our song pundits will be able to tell me whether or not my memory is playing tricks.
Thanks, Atul, for the post and thanks again, Raja, for an entertaining post along with a wonderful song!
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October 10, 2011 at 8:13 pm
You used to write song lyrics on scraps of paper? Atul used to do that too. He used to also write cricket scores. When I met him last year in Nagpur, he showed me his diary from 1976 where he had cricket scores/song lyrics in his handwriting. I suddenly felt that I was not alone in my madness. 😉 Now I see that it goes beyond just Atul and me. 🙂
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October 11, 2011 at 12:21 am
This just proves what I have always knows – misery loves company, and so does madness!
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October 10, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Thanks
Raja ji, Atulji ,Arunji
for everything about the melodious song
regards
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October 10, 2011 at 8:34 pm
You’re welcome, Prakashji. I enjoy your contributions here too. I think this blog is close to all our hearts and we need to collectively build it from strength to strength.
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October 11, 2011 at 5:14 pm
What about Rohan Kanhai from the west Indies…..
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October 12, 2011 at 9:58 am
He didn’t make the cut. His average is under 50. But a player like him certainly does not deserve to be judged on average – he did not play for averages.
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January 5, 2014 at 11:46 pm
Doesn’t this lovey song has the same tone as “tujhe kya sunaoon”?
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June 4, 2018 at 1:11 am
(I like this song very much. It was included in a compilation titled ‘Rare Hits of Mohd Rafi’ which I had in my collection, but lost this cassette – may be in shifting from one place to other)
Thanks,
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
October 10, 2011 at 7:23 am
This song has such sensual feeling and is my favorite too. I am so happy that some one else appreciates the softness, melody and the lyrics like I do. Hua jab se dil me tera guzar, mujhe chain hai na qarar hai”. Great feeling.
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October 10, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Oh, this song is really lovely. Shakeel’s lyrics are beautiful. Ravi’s composition is very soft and Rafi saab’s voice is heavenly. I am very surprised this song is not all that well-known.
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