Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs

This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.

Atul ji’s 10K Song Milestone Celebrations – 13
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गाता जाये बंजारा

That is the image that forms in the mind. A distant, unfamiliar scenario. A solitary person trudging along a dusty road that leads through farms and fields, passing through towns big and small.

There is a purpose in the pace. There is a steadiness in the tread. There seems to be an unhurried and patient urgency in the forward movement.

Is he searching for someone, for something? Is he expecting a certain destination? I don’t know. The landmarks, they come and go, the milestones pass by. But he appears not to halt anywhere, never seems to take rest. Just a pause at a milestone, sees it with a searching eye, takes another breath, and then presses on.

He seems to be carrying something, slung on the shoulders. Is that an instrument of music? Or is it something else? What is it, I am not able to make out.

The vision is distant. I cannot see clearly what he does with his hands, or with the thing he carries. All I can make out is the unyielding, the constant and lasting forward move. And the ears continue to pick up things – words, notes, wafts of melodies, strains of music. Some are familiar, have been heard before. Others are unfamiliar, new. And the mind scrambles to capture and become familiar. But before I can assimilate these distant new sounds, he takes another step and the ears hear yet another pleasing tune.

And on and on he moves, not faltering, not stopping, playing out a new song with every stride he puts forward.

I follow him, trying to keep pace, trying to catch up. His constant unrelenting march – I am not able to match.

It is a distant vision – a vision that is now a placeholder in life. Every time I get my personal breather, and am able to raise up my head and look ahead on that dusty road, he is there.

He is always there. The same figure, the same appearance, the same movement – with an ever new refrain of enchanting strains, with an always new refreshing canticle. As if a gift divine – दिने दिने नवम् नवम् । And I sense a rising emotion that I am not able to identify. A pleasing emotion that feels superlative, all encompassing.

Sometimes, I try to call out to him. Sometimes, he will respond. Sometimes, he turns his neck and looks back, where the sound is coming from. I am still far behind to make out his face. The smile that I encounter is more felt than seen. I feel he is smiling, though I cannot see that far clearly. He seems to recognize me, my voice. I can make out – he waves his hand at me, as if beckoning me to follow him. And then, he turns the head, looking forward, and continues his march unabated, undisturbed.

I try to speed up. I try to catch up and be with him. But my pace is not as energetic. I try to speed up. But he always remains ahead, remains distant in front. And then another emotion starts to take shape within. A feeling emerges. The feeling slowly forms into belief. And the belief begets assurance – and a sensation of confidence begins to grow. His momentary wave to me is a connect – his acknowledgement to me that we are together. And that he knows we are. And that he knows that now I know that he knows. And a relief washes down into my being. Maybe distant, but the journey has found an accomplice.

The hours and days now have passed into ages. The beat does not falter. The milestones of amazement have been left far behind now. And yet there is a new amazement at every step. The unexpected is the expected; and the expected is always startling.

That superlative emotion continues to linger in back alleys of the mind. The landscape keeps changing. We have passed the oceans by the beach, with their exuberant waves reaching out to the land, and the faint strains carried in the winds “तू प्यार का सागर है॰ ॰ ॰”. We have passed the mountains, full of trees and flowers. Wafting fragrances please the aroma buds singing “वादियाँ मेरा दामन॰ ॰ ॰”. We have passed the snow laden mountains, lovely shining white scenarios, with a set of footprint tracks in snow, as we walk past the peaks and valleys where the echoes tell us “ये पर्वतों के दायरे॰ ॰ ॰”. We have passed the farmers in their fields, joyful at the sight of “हरियाला सावन॰ ॰ ॰”, and proud of their bounty. Sometimes familiar faces will turn towards us and wave, their feet “नाच रे धरती के प्यारे॰ ॰ ॰”. We have passed the divinity of rivers and the boatmen humming “गंगा आए कहाँ से॰ ॰ ॰”. We have trekked along the dusty roads on and on with a horse carriage going by us, the coachman telling us “आई बहार आज आई बहार॰ ॰ ॰”. Across the fields and the waving produce, sometimes we have seen the steaming plume of a train going by, and the ears catch the faint words “पल दो पल का साथ हमारा॰ ॰ ॰”. At times a powered cycle will pass by, and the rider whizzes away singing “इक रास्ता है ज़िंदगी॰ ॰ ॰”. Sometimes a heavy truck chugs along, and the bearded driver gives a smiling wave and tells us “ले चला जिधर ये दिल निकाल पड़े॰ ॰ ॰”. Sometimes there is a celebration in the village beyond the farmlands; there is color and lights and a group of ladies singing “मनभावन के घर जाये गोरी॰ ॰ ॰”. Sometimes there is a fair; a big crowd is seen in the grounds across the river, and the beating drums announce “आई झूम के बसंत॰ ॰ ॰”. Sometimes under the shade of a tree, a ruffled mendicant is waiting for alms, intoning “सबकी हो खैर बाबा॰ ॰ ॰”. Passing a damaged bridge, there is group of workers singing “साथी हाथ बढ़ाना॰ ॰ ॰”. In the grassland next to the road, children play, and they teach – “नानी तेरी मोरनी को॰ ॰ ॰”. At another place, there is cluster of young ladies, teasing a belle “अखियाँ भूल गई हैं सोना ॰ ॰ ॰”. A jeep passes by, and the rider is humming “यारो नीलाम करो ॰ ॰ ॰”. On a parallel path, a convoy of soldiers marches on, and they are singing “चलते ही जाना ॰ ॰ ॰”. A multitude of such simple to life encounters.

The dusks descend at their usual time every day, and a smattering of lights will start burning across the landscape. The trek continues unabated. There is a lonely figure somewhere nearby, lost in the darkness of trees; is slowly singing, probably to himself “रुक जाना नहीं ॰ ॰ ॰”. Sometimes, in the falling darkness of the night, a flute is heard, that pulls the mind. And from a nearby dwelling, the voice of a belle is softly telling “ये बंसी क्यों गाये ॰ ॰ ॰”. The sky is littered with stars and the ways of the milky clouds. The trudge is incessant, and continues to move ahead unrelenting. Passing by another home, a mother is putting a child to sleep “टिम टिम करते तारे ॰ ॰ ॰”.  A lantern is seen waving in space, and I close in on a bullock cart, plodding along the road; and as I pass by, I catch the straining words “जीवन से लंबे हैं ॰ ॰ ॰”. The night carries on. The darkness goes and comes again. The wind is rustling the leaves, making the sounds of “ओ रात के मुसाफिर॰ ॰ ॰”.

And then on the eastern edge the stars begin to fade slowly. The greying skies tell of the advent of yet another day. That figure ahead of me is still at the same place in sight. In the darkness of night he would have crossed one, maybe two more milestones. The day begins to gather strength, the movement of farms and animals begins, the birds are out of nests and out to gather breakfast. A village belle walks by with a ‘गागर’ of fresh water from the well. She is humming “ज्योति कलश छलके ॰ ॰ ॰”. On a distant hill a temple bell is heard – “॰ ॰ ॰भगवान का घर है॰ ॰ ॰”. A fresh new day is here. There are new melodies that he has taught me over the previous day. The music is still lingering, playing in the mind. He looks back and waves, yet again. And then, as before, he faces ahead and continues to move.

The sounds that were prancing around in the bylanes of the mind all of the previous evening, form themselves into words, and the lips start to hum a familiar aria.

ले कर दिल का इकतारा
बस्ती बस्ती पर्वत पर्वत
गाता जाये बंजारा

And with that also arises again that unnamed superlative emotion that has been playing hide and seek in the mind since many a day. Who are you, I ask of it. All I get to feel as if there is a smile behind a cloud of smoke. A smile that is beckoning me, a smile that is urging me to follow and find out more, and to know. The words are not heard but are felt inside the heart. Who is it, what is it, I am not able to pin point. A young village lad goes past riding a bullock cart, and he is singing “॰ ॰ ॰ पूर्वा के झोंकवा में आइओ रे संदेसवा॰ ॰ ॰”. I turn and face ahead once again – that figure walking ahead of me, looks back and I can feel the same smile once again. Yes, he is there, he continues to move ahead, and continues to share the music. The path crosses a patch of blooming flowers. I strain and in the winds I can pick up the words “फूलों से दोस्ती है॰ ॰ ॰ कैसे मज़े की प्यारे ज़िंदगी हमारी है॰ ॰ ॰”. With every sound, with every ditty, there is a bump in the heart and a lump in the throat. I look up ahead. He is not looking back at me now. But I know. He is smiling. And he is enjoying.

The emotion swirling inside seems to take a diffused shape, and momentarily diffuses again. Eyes espy a young man and a belle, walking along the hedges of the wheat fields. They are seen at distance, and the words carry through “गुम है किसी के प्यार में॰ ॰ ॰”. Something familiar stirs inside. And a bevy of thoughts gather, vying with each other to fly the open skies. The feminine voice goes by prancing “अर्र रर पायल मोरी खनके हो॰ ॰ ॰”. And the young male voice presses for a tryst by the river “गोरी मिलना हो मिलना हो नदिया के पार॰ ॰ ॰”. Momentarily, the voices team up and the winds carry the words “॰ ॰ ॰मैंने दिल तुझको दिया॰ ॰ ॰”. The pathway skirts a shallow ravine. A row of young lasses is walking by, singing. I can decipher the strains faintly “चले जा चले जा चले जा, जहां प्यार मिले॰ ॰ ॰”. It all appears to be pulling together. The emotion rises again, and washes my being with a very pleasant fragrance.

I call out to him again. Loudly this time. For once, he turns his head and looks at me. “कहाँ ले चले हो॰ ॰ ॰”, the question forms on my lips. A big smile appears to cover all of his face. The words travel back to me “॰ ॰ ॰ जहां तक घटा चले॰ ॰ ॰”. He turns, and continues on, this time with a vigorous wave of his hand, pressing me to keep following.

I look up ahead. He is in the same mood, in the same mode. And I see him drop something. I quicken my pace, just to see. I try to call him. He continues moving, but responds with a wave of his hand. I reach that thing he has dropped. I pick it up. It is a piece of paper. On it are scribbled some words. It is a short and a simple message that is probably for me. The paper has the words “प्यार बांटते चलो॰ ॰ ॰”. I read. The swirling effusion rises to realization – oh yes, this is the purpose he walks on and on. I look up ahead. He is facing forward and moving on. In my mind’s eye, that smile appears once again.

The elation almost lifts me off my feet. It is love. It is that feeling of affection that rises and spreads to cover the world. The mind is free, the heart is joyous, and this world is the most beautiful place to be. The memories of all the thousands of milestones passed, suddenly appear and pass through the mind like a storm. Every melody that we shared across time and space. Every emotion that was spawned by the melodies. Every little molecule of joy and happiness that came with these emotions. Every stop of the journey flashes by in the portals of the mind. Ah, this journey, this detachment from the desires of reaching a destination, this freedom to keep going till we reach the “घटा” at the edge of the horizon. The ecstasy is so rejuvenating. And the mind remembers – “ये हंसता हुआ कारवां॰ ॰ ॰ तमन्ना है ये साथ चलते रहें हम ना बीते कभी ये सफर॰ ॰ ॰”. It seems all that is life, is here and now with us. I look up again towards him. And this time, again, he turns his head, gives a big smile and, as if reading my mind, nods in the affirmative.

We continue moving forward. We pass many, many more stops and the melodies are acknowledged. The heart is in delight, the steps are springy and light, and the only desire is “॰ ॰ ॰ ना बीते कभी ये सफर॰ ॰ ॰”. After so many more milestones, he drops me another note. I quicken my pace to pick it up again. The words, they bring a thrill into my being. His note says “॰ ॰ ॰ ये प्यार हमारा हमेशा रहेगा॰ ॰ ॰”. A feeling of love with a touch of divinity, steals through the labyrinths of the mind. And the heart knows, this is one promise that is forever. The journey, the companionship, the melody – nothing much more remains to be desired in life. The ‘Fiddler’ is walking ahead of me. All I know now is that I follow him. He has this thing slung on his shoulder. There is music and there is a song, wafting in from practically everything, every person we meet and see on this trek. And the images in the mind only get stronger.

ले कर दिल का इकतारा
बस्ती बस्ती पर्वत पर्वत
गाता जाये बंजारा

गाता जाये बंजारा

[SK – The words of this song say it all, I will add no more. Except that, Atul ji, I have run out of hats to doff at your achievements.]

Song – Aap Ka Shukriya Aap Ki Meharbaani (Anokhi Pehchaan) (1972) Singer – Mohammed Rafi, Lyrics – Anand Bakshi, MD – Kalyanji Anandji

Lyrics

aap ka..
shukriyaa
aap ki.. meharbaani
aap ki.. meharbaani
aap aaye na aate
to dil toot jaate
aap aaye na aate
to dil toot jaate
rooth jaati ye shaam suhaani
aap ka..
shukriyaa
aap ki.. meharbaani

aap jis raah chal phir rahe hain
phool us raah pe gir rahe hain
aap jis raah chal phir rahe hain
phool us raah pe gir rahe hain
kya suhaana samaa hai
ye mausam jawaan hai
aaj har cheez pe hai jawaani
aap ka..
shukriyaa
aap ki.. meharbaani

aap bin chaar pal bhi hamaara
ab nahin hai jahaan mein guzaara
aap bin chaar pal bhi hamaara
ab nahin hai jahaan mein guzaara
aap ki yaad aaye
to dil behal jaaye
dijiye aisi koi nishaani
aap ka..
shukriyaa
aap ki.. meharbaani

pyaar hum ne hamesha kiya hai
har janam mein tumhen dil diya hai
pyaar hum ne hamesha kiya hai
har janam mein tumhen dil diya hai
yaad rakhna ye baaten
nai hain mulaqaaten
ye mohabbat magar hai puraani
aap ka..
shukriyaa
aap ki.. meharbaani
aap aaye na aate
to dil toot jaate
rooth jaati ye shaam suhaani
aap ka..
shukriyaa
aap ki.. meharbaani

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Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
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आप का॰॰
शुक्रिया
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी
आप आए ना आते
तो दिल टूट जाते
आप आए ना आते
तो दिल टूट जाते
रूठ जाती ये शाम सुहानी
आप का॰॰
शुक्रिया
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी

आप जिस राह चल फिर रहे हैं
फूल उस राह पे गिर रहे हैं
आप जिस राह चल फिर रहे हैं
फूल उस राह पे गिर रहे हैं
क्या सुहाना समा है
ये मौसम जवां है
आज हर चीज़ पे है जवानी
आप का॰॰
शुक्रिया
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी

आप बिन चार पल भी हमारा
अब नहीं है जहां में गुज़ारा
आप बिन चार पल भी हमारा
अब नहीं है जहां में गुज़ारा
आप की याद आए
तो दिल बहल जाये
दीजिये ऐसी कोई निशानी
आप का॰॰
शुक्रिया
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी

प्यार हमने हमेशा किया है
हर जनम में तुम्हें दिल दिया है
प्यार हमने हमेशा किया है
हर जनम में तुम्हें दिल दिया है
याद रखना ये बातें
नई हैं मुलाकातें
ये मोहब्बत मगर है पुरानी
आप का॰॰
शुक्रिया
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी
आप आए ना आते
तो दिल टूट जाते
रूठ जाती ये शाम सुहानी
आप का॰॰
शुक्रिया
आप की॰॰ मेहरबानी