Charm of Qawwalis

Film Qawaalis have always been a popular medium to significantly enhance the storyline. Used in many situations to allow the main characters to express the intensity of their love or sometimes the more traditional Sufi flavour, one can experience the rising crescendo not just in the song but also with one's own state of mind. Sung by a group of singers accompanied by instrument player, most popular being the Harmonium, our film music has seen a variety of qawwalis over years. I will start with my favourite five and look forward to hear of more in the comments section. These are my Top 5 picks in no particular order.

1. Na to Carvaan ki Talaash hai and Yeh ishq ishq hai

A masterpiece by the immensely talented Sahir Ludhianvi, composed by an equally talented music composer Roshan, this qawwali will remain a milestone not just for this genre of music but overall Hindi film music for times immemorial. Composed for the 1960 Barsaat ki Raat, this qawwali can take the listener to the realms of the highest form of love - the complete surrender to the one you consider your God. It is a sheer magical qawwali sung by Rafi saheb, Mannade, Asha Bhonsle, Sudha Malhotra, S D Batish and troupe. Almost 60 years later, it still manages to send not just older generations but the young music lovers into rapture. I have always wondered if these were supposed to be two different qawwalis however in the movie, Yeh ishq ishq hai seems to represent the crescendo of this complete qawwali. 

The lover describes to his loved one:

ना तो कारवाँ की तलाश है, अब न तो हमसफ़र की तलाश है 

तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आरज़ू, तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आबरू 

तेरा इश्क़ मैं कैसे छोड़ दूँ, मेरी उम्र भर की तलाश है 

As the female protagonist is escaping the bonds of social norms to be with her lover, he sings:

जब जब कृष्ण की बंसी बाजी, निकली राधा सज के 

जान अजान का ध्यान भुला के , लोक लाज को तज के 

हाय बन बन डोली जनक दुलारी पहन के प्रेम की माला 

दर्शन जल की प्यासी मीरा पी गयी विष का प्याला 

और फिर अरज करि की, लाज राखो राखो राखो 

यह इश्क़ है है इश्क़ इश्क़ 

As she reaches to be one with him, the qawwali reaches the pinnacle where the lovers feel one with God - इन्तेहाँ है ये के बन्दे को ख़ुदा करता है इश्क़ 

अल्लाह रसूल का फ़रमान इश्क़ है 

यानी हदीथ इश्क़ है, क़ुरान इश्क़ है 

गौतम का और मसीह का अरमान इश्क़ है 

ये क़ायनात ज़िस्म है और जान इश्क़ है 

इश्क़ सरमद, इश्क़ ही मंसूर है 

इश्क़ मूसा, इश्क़ कोह-ए-तूर है 

खाक़ को बुत और बुत को देवता करता है इश्क़ 

इन्तेहाँ है ये के बन्दे को ख़ुदा करता है इश्क़ 

Enjoy listening to this magical song here:

2. Teri mehfil mein kismat

Another masterpiece that was also released in 1960 in the cult classic Mughal-e-Azam is तेरी महफ़िल में क़िस्मत आज़मा के हम भी देखेंगे. This qawwali beautifully represented two women expressing their interpretation of love to the same man - Madhubala who plays Anarkali ,the main character, sang about her destiny being the one of surrender, the pain of love that she felt towards her lover Prince Salim whereas the high ranking court dancer Bahar refers to the riches that she described as her destiny. Excellent lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni and composed by none other than Naushad sahab, sung by our nightingale Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum, this qawwali brings a smile on the listener's face as they experience the classic battle between idealistic love and materialism. One representing surrender:

तेरी महफ़िल में क़िस्मत आज़मा के हम भी देखेंगे 

तेरे क़दमों पे सर अपना झुका कर हम भी देखेंगे 

and the other talking of power:

तेरी महफ़िल में क़िस्मत आज़मा के हम भी देखेंगे 

घड़ी भर को तेरे नज़दीक आकर हम भी देखेंगे 

Bahar dreams of enjoying the riches she would get on becoming Prince Salim's queen and talks of staying away from any pains that love may bring as she enjoys life and the power:

बहारें आज पैग़ाम-ए-मोह्ब्बत लेके आयी हैं 

बड़ी मुद्दत में उम्मीदों की कलियाँ मुस्कुराईं हैं 

ग़म-ए-दिल से ज़रा दामन बचा के हम भी देखेंगे 

Anarkali says that if one has not felt the pain and tears in love then one has not experienced life:

अगर दिल ग़म से खाली हो तो जीने का मज़ा क्या है 

न हो खून-ए-जिग़र तो अश्क़ पीने का मज़ा क्या है 

मोहब्बत में ज़रा आंसू बहा कर हम भी देखेंगे 

Enjoy this very popular track:

3. Nigaahein milane ko

1960's is not called the Platinum Era of Hindi film music just like that. The decade saw the unmatched zenith of creativity by lyricists, music composers and singers. Another popular track released in 1963 Dil Hi To Hai is a beautiful rendition of Sahir Ludhianvi's lyrics by Asha Bhonsle and composed by Roshan - the much liked qawwali - निग़ाहें मिलाने को जी चाहता है. It is sung by the main female character played by Nutan. She starts with expressing her joys of being in love:

निगाहें मिलाने को जी चाहता है 

दिल-ओ-जान लुटाने को जी चाहता है

वो तोहमत जिसे इश्क़ कहती है दुनिया 

वो तोहमत उठाने को जी चाहता है 

And for those who love, everything is centered around the one they love. Even the mere glimpse of him calls for a celebration. She sings:

जिस घड़ी मेरी निगाहों को तेरी दीद हुई 

वो घड़ी मेरे लिए ऐश की तम्हीद हुई 

जब कभी मैंने तेरा चाँद सा चेहरा देखा

ईद हो या के न हो मेरे लिए ईद हुई 

Oh the agonies and ecstasies of being in love :) Enjoy this very sweet intoxicating qawwali here:

4. Phir tumhaari yaad aayi

Again a gem from the Platinum era, this was a qawwali that spoke volumes of longing for your loved one. Composed by Sajjad Hussain for 1963 Rustam-e-Sohraab, written by Qamar Jalalabadi and sung by Rafi saheb and Manna de, this qawwali beautifully describes the pain of separation from the loved one:

फिर तुम्हारी याद आयी ए सनम 

हम ना भूलेंगे तुम्हे अल्लाह क़सम 

How does one even describe that longing for your beloved:

हाल-ए- दिल यार को लिखूं कैसे 

हाथ दिल से जुदा नहीं होता 

किस तरह उनको बताएं अपना ग़म, ए सनम 

Remembering the moments when even a glimpse of your lover made life seem so insignificant:

जब से देखी सूरत उनकी, हम शमा जलाना भूल गए 
रुख़सार की सुर्ख़ी क्या कहिये, फूलों का फ़साना भूल गए 
बस इतनी कहानी है अपनी, जब आँख मिली बेहोश हुए 
दामन से हवा तुम कर न सके, हम होश में आना भूल गए 
कितने प्यारे हैं मोहब्बत के सितम, ऐ सनम 

To the one who is miles away yet near:

5. Piya Haji Ali

This choice is a deviation from the platinum era and brings us to this century. Released in 2000 in the movie Fiza, this was beautifully composed by A.R.Rahman and sung by A.R.Rahman along with Kadar Ghulam Mustafa, Murtaza Ghulam Mustafa and Srinivas. This was a more traditional sufi form of qawwali written by Shaukat Ali in the praise of Piya Haji Ali - the dargah of Peer Haji Ali. This track describes the power of love for your God and praising him for the strength HE bestows upon his followers. We all are one in front of that God. HE is the only one.

पिया हाजी अली, पिया हाजी अली 
यहां हिन्दू मुस्लिम सिख ईसाई फैज़ पाते हैं 
ये समंदर रोज़ दर पे देता है पेहरा 
है सरापा नूर वाला आपका चेहरा 

We all have experienced calling out to HIM in those moments of desperation. 

पिया हाजी अली, पिया हाजी अली 
आप पर सारी ख़ुदाई नाज़ करती है 
बिगड़ी क़िस्मत आपके दर पर सँवरती है 
जब तलक़ उम्मीद मेरी बर न आएगी 
ज़िन्दगी देहलीज़ पर आंसूं बहायेगी 
पिया हाजी अली, बाबा जो भी आपका हो चुका 
उसे क्या गुमान होगा 

The qawwals sing in his praise that HE is the supreme and we just need to surrender to him, find him within us:

कोई भी मायूस इस दर से नहीं लौटा, बाबा कोई नहीं लौटा 

किसके दिल में क्या छुपा है सब तुम्हे मालूम है 

आपके फैज़-ओ-करम भी अर्श पर भी धूम है 

सुनो हम गरीबों की इल्तिज़ा, हम पर करम कीजे 

पिया हाजी अली, पिया हाजी अली 

The intensity of this sufi rendition takes you to a world where you realize that there is nothing beyond that GOD whatever form HE may be in. Even when Rahman sings this live, you are transported to a surreal world filled with lightness of being. Experience that all encompassing feeling by listening to this qawwali here:

Hope you enjoyed my first post. Please leave me comments on more qawwalis that you have enjoyed over the years. Let us talk the language of music :)