Aaye bhi akela jaaye bhi akela
Posted on: December 19, 2011
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
A wonderful gem from the film Dost from 1954. A very poignant song, which has been rendered so soulfully by Talat Saab. Such a soft and silky smooth rendition, in a manner that only he can accomplish.
Dost of 1954 is produced under the banner of Kuldeep Pictures, Bombay. It is produced by Kuldeep Sehgal and is directed by Rajendra Sharma. The star cast of this film includes Usha Kiran, Suresh, Majnoon, Randhir, Ramesh Thakur, Khairati, Uma Dutt, Kammo, Mohana, S Kapoor, S Nazir etc. There are seven songs in this film, with lyrics contributed by five poets. This particular song is written by Verma Malik. And the music is by Hansraj Behl.
As per Hansraj Behl himself, the music of this song is based on another song he has composed earlier in 1949 for the Punjabi film ‘Lachhi’. That song is ‘Jag Waala Mela Yaaro Thodi Der Daa’, and it has been rendered very beautifully by Rafi Saab.
Enjoy this philosophical and soulful melody in the silky voice of Talat Saab.
aaye bhi akelaa, jaaye bhi akelaa
do din ki zindagi hai, do din kaa melaa
(In this world, in this life, each one of us is)
All alone when we reach here,
And still all alone when we depart
This life is but a stay of two days
A celebration that will last, just two days
(NOTE: The use of ‘do din’ (two days) is metaphorical, indicating that the duration of life is really very short, in the bigger scheme of things.)
(NOTE: The word ‘mela’ literally means a village fair, which is generally associated with a seasonal or local celebration, and which lasts for one or a few days. A lot of people will come, will transact business selling and buying wares, people will enjoy the rides and the goodies, people will be busy managing things – a lot will be happening in the fair. And then when it ends, everybody just ups and leaves, and the locale where the fair was is again empty and lonely. Poets have used the metaphor of ‘mela’ very often to depict the passage of life in this world. There are many songs in Hindi films that use this word when talking about life.)
teri zindagi mol hai do ghadi ki
ye baaten hain nadaan sab jeete jee ki
This life of yours
Is but a trade of a couple of moments
All the things and emotions one is so concerned about
Are but issues, so long as life is
(NOTE: ‘ghadi’ is a unit of time in the Hindu scheme of time and space. A complete day-night cycle is divided into two parts.
‘Din’ (day) – 12 hours of daytime
‘Raat’ (night) – 12 hours of night time
Each Din / Raat period is divided into 30 ‘ghadi’. By calculation, 1 ‘ghadi’ is = 24 minutes.
Each ‘ghadi’ is divided into 60 ‘pal’. By calculation, 1 ‘pal’ is = 24 seconds
Each ‘pal’ is divided into 60 ‘nimesh’. By calculation, 1 ‘nimesh’ is = 2/5 second
Each ‘nimesh’ is divided into 60 ‘lav’. By calculation, 1 ‘lav’ is = 1/150 second
Once again, the metaphor of ‘do ghadi’ is used to express the transient nature of life.
Further, the poet says that all the issues and emotions we are always engaged with, are but relevant for as long as we live. Once the life is over, the relevance of everything that we make effort for, is of no consequence.)
ye duniya hui hai naa hogi kisi ki
wohi ek manzil hai har aadmi ki
jahaan sabko jaanaa padegaa akelaa
This world never belonged to any one
And never in the future it will be
And the humans, all have but a single destination
Whereto each one will travel all alone
ek baar saath de ke saath na chhodnaa
jaan jaaye to jaaye dosti na todnaa
(In this life)
If you join company (with a friend)
Do not desert that companionship
Sometimes life may be difficult, or even at risk
Do not still break the friendship
nazren na pher lenaa, moonh ko na modnaa
duniyaa ko chhod denaa, yaar ko na chhodnaa
dekho mansoor kaise jaan par khelaa
Do never turn away your eyes from a friend
Do never turn your face away from a friend
(And if you have to make a choice, then)
Let go the bindings of this world
But never, o never do leave a friend
The learned Mansoor, sacrificed his life, for the sake of is beliefs
(NOTE: Mansoor (Mansoor Al-Hallaj) was a Sufi poet and teacher in Persia, who lived in the 9th / 10th centuries. His beliefs, his writings and his teachings were beyond the teachings of Islam. He taught ‘mystical universalism’ – that one had to rise above all forms of religious actions and rituals, in search of the divine reality. He believed in the union with the divine, and referred to God as a ‘dear friend’ and a ‘beloved’. A verse by him says, “People formed different beliefs about God; I believe in everything that they believe.” He was denounced as a heretic and a ‘kaafir’ for his beliefs and was imprisoned for 11 years in Baghdad. He never agreed to repent, and was finally executed in a horrible manner – his limbs were cut, his tongue was removed, and then he was hanged. But to the last moment of his ability to talk, he refused to change his beliefs.)
Song-Aaye bhi akela jaaye bhi akela (Dost)(1954) Singer-Talat Mehmood, Lyrics-Verma Malik, MD-Hansraj Bahl
Lyrics
aaye bhi akelaa
jaaye bhi akelaa
do din ki zindagi hai
do din kaa melaa
do din kaa melaa
aaye bhi akelaa
jaaye bhi akelaa
do din ki zindagi hai
do din kaa melaa
do din kaa melaa
teri zindagi mol hai do ghadi ki
ye baaten hain nadaan
sab jeete jee ki
sab jeete jee ki
ye duniya hui hai naa hogi kisi ki
wohi ek manzil hai
har aadmi ki
har aadmi ki
jahaan sabko jaanaa padegaa akelaa
do din ki zindagi hai
do din kaa melaa
do din kaa melaa
aaye bhi akelaa
jaaye bhi akelaa
do din ki zindagi hai
do din kaa melaa
do din kaa melaa
ek baar saath de ke
saath na chhodnaa
jaan jaaye to jaaye
dosti na todnaa
dosti na todnaa
nazren na pher lenaa
munh ko na modnaa
duniyaa ko chhod denaa
yaar ko na chhodnaa
yaar ko na chhodnaa
dekho Mansoor kaise
jaan pe khelaa
do din ki zindagi hai
do din kaa melaa
do din kaa melaa
aaye bhi akelaa
jaaye bhi akelaa
do din ki zindagi hai
do din kaa melaa
do din kaa melaa
9 Responses to "Aaye bhi akela jaaye bhi akela"
December 24, 2011 at 7:18 pm
I didn’t know that background about Mansoor. How enlightening!
I did not also know so much about Verma Malik. I only remember hearing his name a lot as a lyricist in connection with a lot of songs composed by Kalyanji Anandji.
Everytime I come here and read a write-up/comment from Sudhirji or Arunkumarji, I learn something. Thank you SO much, Sudhirji and Arunkumarji.
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December 24, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Raja ji,
Thank you for your kind words.
Everytime I read Sudhir ji’s write up,I wonder how much efforts must have gone behind all that info.Many times,something new comes up and I get enlightened,for example,about Mansoor.I knew that Mansoor was a sufi poet of Persia,in the early centuries,but did not know details of his end.
So,thank you Sudhir ji.
-AD
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December 26, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Raja ji, Arun ji,
Your words mean a lot to me. What more can I say.
And the feelings are very mutual. Getting to read about films that are obscure and forgotten, which is your speciality Arun ji – filling in gaps in information that is literally impossible to find. And getting a feel of emotions, writing about personal experiences with film songs, that is so vividly reflected in your writings Raja ji, is such a delight.
A line from a Rafi song comes to my mind.
“. . . Ye Dil Tumhaare Pyaar Ka Maaraa Hai Dosto . . . .”
What more can I say. 🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
December 19, 2011 at 10:53 am
Sudhirji,
Aap to mujhe 35 saal pahele ki yaadon me le gaye. Radio Vividhbharti pe yeh gaana suna tha. Aaj to aapne woh sunehari yaaden tazaa kardi. Thank you so much. I was so surprised to know that Verma Malik wrote this song in 1954. My knowledge was limited to only few of his songs
1)aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai-aadmi sadak ka
2)haai haai yeh majboori – roti kapada aur makaan
3)mehngayi maar gayi – roti kapada aur makaan
4)do bechhare bina sahare – victoria no. 203
5)dekha maine dekha – victoria no. 203
6)hum bolega to bologe ki bolta hai – kasauti
7)kar le dil ki baat, aaj mauka hai – pehchan
8)jai bolo beimaan ki jai boli – beimaan
9)o padosan ki ladki yujhe dekh tabiyat – heeralaal pannalaal
and so many other songs mostly from 1970’s with a different style than the song you have posted. Hope he is the same Verma Malik.
-Khyati Bhatt
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December 24, 2011 at 2:10 am
Khyaati ji
Yes, he is the same Verma Malik.
Sometimes the poets create something from inspiration and then it gets used in a film. Other times, the producer / director create the situation and then demand a song from the poet. 🙂
Rgds
Sudhir
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December 24, 2011 at 2:37 am
Thanks Sudhirji. I think that a creation of a poet from a situation will be excellent than the one where he has to create something from the created situation by others. In 1st case, he has a total freedom of expressing his feelings/imagination whereas in the 2nd case, he is limited by the situation. Well, these are my thoughts.
-Khyati Bhatt
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December 24, 2011 at 11:01 am
Khyati ji,
VARMA MALIK(13-4-1925-15-3-2009) was born in Phirozpore(now in Pakistan).He first started writing Bhajans.He was a staunch freedom fighter and wrote many patriotic songs.After Partition,he came to India and wrote songs in Punjabi films.
His first Hindi song was in Phoolon ke Haar-1951.Then he wrote for Raajput-51,Dost-54,Changez khan-57,Nagad Narayan-58,Taqdeer-58 and 10 o’clock-58.After this, he wrote in Hindi only when Manoj Kumar gave him a break in Yaadgar-1970,with “Ek Taara Bole” which became a super hit and then there was no looking back.
He wrote songs in 150 Hindi films.besides private Bhajans and Punjabi films.
His some famous songs are-
1) Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai which has become a Marriage Anthem and is a MUST in all Baraats.
2)Hai hai ye majboori (Roti Kapda aur Makaan)
3)Do bechare..(Victoria 203)
4)Kaan mein jhumka chaal mein thumka (Saawan Bhaado) etc etc.
He received 2 Filmfare awards,Pehchan and Beimaan.
He was a simple and happy man who was proud of his work.He could blend Shayari with folk songs.
he died contented on 19-3-2009,at his juhu residence in Mumbai.
-AD
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December 24, 2011 at 11:57 am
Thanks Arunji. After joining this blog, (amazing creation of Atulji and then support from all of you), I learned so much about the life of these people from Hindi Cinema. And reading the story of their passion for the Hindi cinema, amazes me very much. Admire your contribution of time and knowledge to all of us.
-Khyati Bhatt
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