Sooni sooni lag rahi hai
Posted on: July 31, 2012
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
Remembering Rafi Saab on the anniversary of his passing away today. And also, remembering Dara Singh ji, who left this earthly abode, nineteen days ago, 12 July earlier this month. This song brings to mind the memories of both these stalwarts together.
So much has been said and written about Rafi Saab. After a point, words fail to express any more. Every sound of his voice, every variation, every flavor, superimposing on a huge variety of players on the screen – the emotions that this voice invokes, eventually go beyond, into the realms where words are neither adequate, nor relevant. This voice literally gets inside your skin, it is almost as if there is no identity of its own, and it will assume the identity of whoever would lip sync this voice on the screen. Watching a film, hearing an actor perform on this voice, one rarely feels the dichotomy between the voice and the performer on the screen. That is the wondrous ability of this voice to morph itself into the identity of any performer. I mentioned that it is almost is if this voice has no identity of its own. But I am wrong. This voice has the probably the most pervasive identity ever – a sound that seems to emanate from everywhere. It has the most tractable, and the most malleable quality amongst the voices that have adorned the music compositions during the last century.
Atul ji mentioned in an earlier write up – 31 years have passed. Yes, time has flown. And yet, Rafi Saab’s voice, and his legacy continues to gain strength, as the most enduring voice that we will hear in our lifetimes. A wonder that happens once, and then maybe.
This wonderful rendition from the film ‘Chaalbaaz’ (1969) is a soft, slow and a very endearing song. In my opinion, this would be probably the best and the most romantic song that Dara Singh ji has performed on the screen. A person with a strongman image, nicknamed the ‘Iron Man’, has had his share of unlikely songs performed on the screen. He has done the regular around-the-tree songs with his leading ladies, he has done qawwalis (“Mehfil Mein Nahin To Dil Mein Sahi”, film ‘Watan Se Door’ (1968)), he has romped on the screen in a lady’s attire for a couple of songs (film ‘Luteraa’ (1965) and ‘The Killers’ (1969), and yes, he has even lip synced melancholic melodies – a sad Mukesh song, played on the piano (“Dekh Sakte Nahin Tum Ko Ji Bhar Ke Hum”, film ‘Ilzaam’ (1970)). This wonderful song here may be another surprise for some, simply because Dara Singh ji has performed it so well and convincingly on the screen – a study in understatement and overflowing emotions just at the edge.
‘Chaalbaaz’ (1969) is a production by Rainbow Films, Bombay, directed by Kaamran. The lead artists in this film are Dara Singh, Sanjana, Tewari, Ulhas, Sham Kumar, Mumtaz Begum, Dhanraj, Meenakshi, Moolchand, Vijay Kumar, Habib, Khursheed Khan, Shahgul etc.
A very soft melody by Lala Sattaar, weaving the bare minimum music around the lyrics by Faarooque Kaiser, the song is an inspired piece of music, created for the lonely nights of the lover, hankering for an interlude with the beloved. The singing voice of Asha Bhosle accompanies Rafi Saab in this song. On screen, it is Sanjana who is performing this song with Dara Singh ji. Listen to this enchanting melody, marvel at the soft rendition by Rafi Saab, and catch a glimpse of the ‘Iron Man’ at his romantic best. Enjoy.
sooni sooni lag rahi hai, chaandni tere b’gair
aa bhi jaa, bechain hai ye zindagi
It looks so desolate, so bleak
This moonlight
When you are not here with me
O please be here
This life, it is so restless
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai, chaandni tere b’gair
aa bhi jaa, bechain hai ye zindagi
Ah, the moon is slowly descending
Sad and desponded
Without you near me
O please be here
This life, it is so restless
ye muhabbat ki nawaazish, ye teri nazar-e-karam
Your love – a kind blessing of benevolence
Your glance – a gentle graceful favor
tu ne aise mod pe laa ke mujhe chhoda ae sanam
And your love
Has brought me
To this sweet juncture in life
dard e dil dard e jigar, hai aaj bhi tere b’gair
This ache in my heart,
This longing in my being
Continues unabated
Without you near me
raat din tera tassavur, raat din tera khayaal
Days and night, passing by
Imbued with your thoughts, your reflections
phir wohi shiqwe shikaayat, phir wohi dil ka sawaal
Ah, once again
The loving complaints,
The fuss, the teasing
And again, the matters of the heart
jaan-e-mann mein kya kahoon, kya hai kamee tere b’gair
O the possessor of my mind
How to express
This life lacks something
When you are not with me
Song-sooni sooni lag rahi hai (Chaalbaaz)(1969) Singer-Rafi, Asha Bhonsle, Lyrics-Farooque Kaiser, MD-Lala Sattar
Rafi + Asha Bhonsle
Lyrics
sooni sooni lag rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
sooni sooni lag rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
aa bhi jaa
bechain hai
ye zindagi
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
aa bhi jaa
bechain hai
ye zindagi
sooni sooni lag rahi hai
ye muhabbat ki nawaazish
ye teri nazar-e-karam
tu ne aise mod pe
laa ke mujhe chhoda ae sanam
dard e dil
dard e jigar
hai aaj bhi
tere b’gair
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
aa bhi jaa
bechain hai
ye zindagi
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai
raat din tera tassavur
raat din tera khayaal
phir wohi shiqwe shikaayat
phir wohi dil ka sawaal
jaan-e-mann
main kya kahoon
kya hai kamee
tere b’gair
sooni sooni lag rahi hai
(haan)
chaandni tere b’gair
(haan)
aa bhi jaa
bechain hai
ye zindagi
haay
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
dheere dheere dhal rahi hai
chaandni tere b’gair
aa bhi jaa
bechain hai
ye zindagi
sooni sooni lag rahi hai
8 Responses to "Sooni sooni lag rahi hai"
August 1, 2012 at 8:18 am
Bahut achhe. Hearing it after a long time. It reminds me of duet of in rain Manoj Nanda in Bedaag. Surprised to see Manoj being amorous with Nanda. He was famous for not touching his heroines. Please visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exBWcPNBvDM Manoj going overboard over Nanda. Thanks
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August 1, 2012 at 9:01 am
Further to my above comments. Manoj’s principle was ” aadmi hu aadmi se pyar karta hu”!!!
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August 1, 2012 at 9:25 am
Sadhna ke saath , doing camp fire and singing “door rehkar na karo baat karib aa jaao…”
With Nanda he has another rain song ” Jaane chaman shola badan…..” in Gumnaam.
Mausam ka koi to asar padta hai na!!!!
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August 1, 2012 at 10:46 am
Khyati ji
(Without any wrong intentions of hurting Manoj Kumar Fans` feelings)
Par Manoj Kumar ji ne apne movies mein(especially under his Direction),
Ladkiyon kaa khoob sahaaraa lete the(Yaa ladkiyon ke appeal ka explotation karne mein koyee kasar nahin chhodthe the), (eventhough through esthetically picturised & directed scenes and dance sequences)
For example:
1)Upkaar:(Laxmi Chhayaa`s “Gulaabi gulaabi raat gulaabi” dance, to show the poverty effectively)
2)Purab aur paschhim:Saira baano ki westernized role & upbringing ke aad mein- unnke dress code ko dekhte hi bantaa hai
3)Shor(Baarish ka gaanaa-Leena Daas gupta ko bheegoke-“Paani re paani teraa rang kaisa”)(Jaya bhaduri ke asahakaar aandolan ki wajah ke kaaran)
4)Roti Kapda aur Makaan mein:
a)Zeenat ko paani mein bheegoke dance karwaanaa(nahin chhookar yaa paas aakar,Door Hi se dekhthe –munh ko haath se dhakte huye)(“Haaye haaye ye majboori”)
b)Aruna Irani ko pilaake dance karwaanaa(“Pandit ji mere mane ke baad”)
5)Kranti:
a)Touch me not Hema malini ko toh ship mein paani mein bheegoke, aisa gaane ko
Picturise kiyaa, unnka jawaab nahin(“Zindagi kin a toote ladi”)
b)Parveen baabi ka “Maara tumkaa,badal gayee chaal mitwaa”-just watch her outfits and dance movements
6)Kalyug aur Ramayan
a)Madhavi(South) & Huma khan(“all bare fame”) ko swimming pool ke aas paas bikini mein(sabhi dancers bhi bikini mein hi…..)
(Lata ji ke gaanaa- “Chal bhaag chale purab ki ore, pyaar meraa na chori kar le, ye paschhim ke chor re”)Khud Manoj ji ko chhedthe huye(jo Hanuman ji ka aadhunik roop hai movie mein)
b)Aur ek climax dance mein Madhavi ka outfits(“kyaa kyaa na situm dhaathi hai choodiyaan”)
Jai hind(Manisha Koirala)Clerk(sonu walia,anita raaj)Deshwasi(Mandakini,Poonam Dhillon),Painter babu(Neelima aur Meenakshi sheshadri ke dresses ki toh baat hi karo mat)
Ab yeh mat poochho 🙂 ke, ye sab maine kyon dekha hai ????
🙂
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August 1, 2012 at 11:32 am
Are baap re! Mujhe pata tha Prakashji, ki aap ke under “ujaala” hai lekin itna prakash hai ki sabhi ko gyaan ki roshni se mohit kar do ge ye aaj hi maaloom pada!!! Kya “baarish” ki hai aapne MK ki film ke yaadgaar gaano ki! Pata nahin aapki is baarish mein kaun kaun bhiga hai. Wish someone would take movie of it. 😆
My intention was/is also not to hurt anybody, it’s just a matter of “observation” 🙂
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August 1, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Hee heee
🙂
“Koyee PATTHAR” na maare” (mujhe- meri deewaangi ke kaaran)
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
July 31, 2012 at 7:40 pm
What a beautiful song!!! First time I am hearing it. I feel like I am completely lost in the beauty of this song. Somehow it reminds me of Mehdi Hassan saab’s “rafta rafta wo meri hasti ka saamaan ho gaye”. 🙂
Thank you so much for this, Sudhirji. A lovely song and a lovely tribute to the one and only Rafi saab.
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