Apne aap raaton mein
Posted on: February 10, 2013
This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
The sheer fusion of the poetry – in verse and in melody, is absolutely astounding in this creation. And folks familiar with Khayaam Sb would not expect any less, and especially when the film is ‘Shankar Hussain’ (1977).
A film that has some of the best and absolutely peerless melodies that have been created by this master of velvet music. Folks are already familiar with the deeply soothing and deeply meaningful “Kahin Ek Maasoom Naazuk Si Ladki”, and “Aap Yoon Faaslon Se Guzarte Rahe” from this film. Both these songs, and the one in this post, have such wonderfully surreal feeling of someone very softy trying to reach out. And touch something ephemeral that always appears to be within reach, but then is always just a little away from the outstretched arms. There is something, someone very close, one can feel it, one can hear the soft sounds, just like the gentle breeze touching the cheeks. Someone seems to be there, but maybe not. Maybe it is just the imagined effects passing through the corridors of mind. And yet the seeking is outside, and the self moves to follow this feeling, this almost existing apparition. It is there, and then, maybe not.
The 1977 film is from the banner of The Great Ganges Film Corporation, Bombay, directed by Yusuf Naqvi. The star cast was mostly new faces in that era, and consisted of Madhu Chhanda, Kanwaljeet, Suheil, Madhumaalini, Dina Pathak, Shatrujeet, Gajaanan Jaagirdaar, Shriram Lagoo, Shahid Bijnori, Anjum, with friendly appearances by Pradeep Kumar, Roopesh Kumar and Jalaal Agha. The film has five songs, and all from the pen of different poets, i.e. Jaan Nissar Akhtar, Kaif Bhopali, Kaifi Aazmi, Kamaal Amrohi, Mir Anis. This priceless gem, this poetical expression at its best, is written by Kaif Bhopali. So many artists you hear of, and one hears very little of them. And then suddenly one comes across an unbelievable creation that goes beyond any expectations and any measures. The music, yes, is by Khayyaam Sb. And the singing voice, who else but Lata ji.
And as has been written about the other two songs, the picturization has been handled very sensitively. The colors and shadows are as soft as the music, and movements and the pace keeps in sync with the soft and slow rhythms of the song. There is an unreal floating feeling as one sees this song. At the beginning of the song, it plays in the background, as the lady (Madhu Chanda) awakens in mid sleep, as if hearing sounds of someone calling, or someone nearby. As the song progresses, the lady walks on, as if following something, seeking something, and somewhere along the way, she picks up the words and sings the latter part of the song – oh so beautifully picturized. At the end of the clip, it is drizzling, and a gentleman (Suheil), joins the lady, as she stands beneath a small portico, partly sheltered from the rain.
The intervening strings of sitar, played oh so softly and slowly, is simply magic. The words will overpower your heart, and the melody will steal it away. Not many songs can do that. Ah yes, many of Khayyaam Sb’s songs can do that. Enjoy.
(NOTE: both audio and video links are given. The song is complete in both, just so that one can enjoy the song with closed eyes, and a better audio play).
apne aap raaton mein chilmanen sarakti hain
chaunkte hain darwaaze, sidiyaan dhadakti hain
In the shadowy silences of the night
The sounds of darkness play, all by themselves
The curtains sway, by themselves
The doors creak, as if surprised
Soft footsteps play on the stairs
Like the silent beats of the heart
ek ajnabee aahat aa rahi hai kam kam si
jaise dil ke pardon par gir rahi ho shabnam si
Unknown, unfamiliar sounds
Hushed and soft
Pass by very softly
Like the echoes of dew
Falling on the leaves of heart
bin kisi ke yaad aaye dil ke taar hilte hain
bin kisi ke khankaaye choodiyaan khanakti hain
No one steps in the mind
Yet the strings of the heart
Strum and sway
No one plays with them
Yet my bangles tinkle and stir
koi pehle din jaise ghar kisi ke jaata hai
jaise khud musaafir ko raasta bulaata hai
The unreal anxieties
Play nervously
Like the first visit (to his home)
Or like an uncertain traveler
Beckoned by the paths of the unknown
paaon jaane kis jaanib be-uthaaye uth’te hain
aur chhamm chammaa chhamm chhamm paayalen chhanakti hain
The feet stepping out
All by themselves
In unfamiliar directions
And the anklets clink
All by themselves
jaane kaun baalon mein ungliyaan pirotaa hai
kheltaa hai paani se tan badan bhigotaa hai
Someone – known, unknown
Runs his fingers through my hair
And plays mischief with the raindrops
Sprinkling my being
With a spray of love
jaane kis ke haathon se gaagren chhalakti hain
jaane kis ki baaton se bijliyaan lapakti hain
I don’t know whose hands are these
That spill over the brimming pitchers
Oh whose words are these
That soar like the bolts of lightning
In the shadowy silences of the night
The sounds of darkness play, all by themselves
Video
Audio
Song-Apne aap raaton mein (Shankar Hussain)(1977) Singer-Lata, Lyrics-Kaif Bhopali, MD-Khayyam
Lyrics
apne aap raaton mein
chilmanen sarakti hain
chaunkte hain darwaaze
seedhiyaan dhadakti hain
apne aap
apne aaaap
ek ajnabee aahat
aa rahi hai kam kam si
jaise dil ke pardon par
gir rahi ho shabnam si
bin kisi ke yaad aaye
dil ke taar hilte hain
bin kisi ke khankaaye
choodiyaan khanakti hain
apne aap
apne aaaap
koi pehle din jaise
ghar kisi ke jaata hai
jaise khud musaafir ko
raasta bulaata hai
paaon jaane kis jaanib
be-uthaaye uth’te hain
aur chhamm chammaa chhamm chhamm
paayalen chhanakti hain
apne aap
apne aap raaton mein
jaane kaun baalon mein
ungliyaan phirotaa hai
kheltaa hai paani se
tan badan bhigotaa hai
jaane kis ke haathon se
gaagren chhalakti hain
jaane kis ki baahon se
bijliyaan lapakti hain
apne aap
apne aap raaton mein
chilmanen sarakti hain
chaunkte hain darwaaze
seedhiyaan dhadakti hain
apne aap
apne aaaap
—————————————-
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
—————————————–
अपने आप रातों में
चिलमनें सरकती हैं
चौंकते हैं दरवाज़े
सिड़ीयां धड़कती हैं
अपने आप
अपने आप
एक अजनबी आहात
आ रही हई कम कम सी
जैसे दिल के पर्दों पर
गिर रही हो शबनम सी
बिन किसी की याद आए
दिल के टार हिलते हैं
बिन किसी के खनकाए
चूड़ियाँ खनकती हैं
अपने आप
अपने आप
कोई पहले दिन जैसे
घर किसी के जाता है
जैसे खुद मुसाफिर को
रास्ता बुलाता है
पाँव जाने किस जानिब
बे-उठाए उठते हैं
और छम छमा छम छम
पायलें छनकती हैं
अपने आप
अपने आप रातों में
जाने कौन बालों में
उँगलियाँ पिरोता है
खेलता हई पानी से
तन बदन भिगोता है
जाने किसके हाथों से
गागरें छलकती हैं
जाने किसकी बातों से
बिजलियाँ लपकती हैं
अपने आप
अपने आप रातों में
चिलमनें सरकती हैं
चौंकते हैं दरवाज़े
सिड़ीयां धड़कती हैं
अपने आप
अपने आप
4 Responses to "Apne aap raaton mein"
March 28, 2024 at 3:54 pm
I came here for the lyrics; ended up reading the wonderful piece about the song. Thank you
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
February 10, 2013 at 9:06 pm
The songs of this film are heavenly. What lyrics, what singing, what words. Can’t say anything about the movie though. Did not see it.
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February 10, 2013 at 9:35 pm
I have seen this movie on T. V. Let me give the story of this film from memory.
Madhu Chanda is lost in a ‘mela’ and found by the old man who raises her as his own daughter. She is names either kusum or kulsum.
Kanwaljeet is the adopted son of Shree ram Lagoo. Suhail is the real son of Shree Ram Lagoo. Kanwaljeet is muslim and falls in love with Kusum. With both families consent, they are engaged.
Suahil is a doctor/psychologist.
It turns out the Kusum was actually born hindu. She is subconsciously attracted to rituals of pooja and mandir. She is sleep walking in both the songs ‘aap yoon faastlon se guzarte rahe’ and this one ‘ apne aap raaton mein ‘ . She is under treatment for the habit of sleepwalking by Suhail. This develops into attraction between the two, as Suhail is also Hindu.
In the climax of the film, the old man decide’s to leave town, with kusum to leave all this controversy. The bullock cart they are travelling is intercepted by Kanwaljeet and there is an accident. This is all i remember, and I dont know the ending of this film.
The conopy where this song is ending is actually a temple.
Regards.
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February 10, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Thanks for the summary Nahm. It sure sounds interesting.
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