Jiski zubaan Urdu ki tarah

'वो जिसकी जुबां उर्दू की तरह, मेरी शाम रात मेरी क़ायनात , वो यार मेरा सैयां सैयां '

The magician behind these words is the timeless Gulzar Sahab. His art of putting together abstract imagery in words  to give us gems such as 'tu hi tu satrangi re', 'mohe shaam rang dai de' is unparalleled. He is the name of a silken thought, the fragrance of the flower Champa, the colours of rainbow, the touch of soft breeze...

His contribution to Hindi Cinema as a film director, dialogue writer, lyricist is exemplary. If we attempt to identify those personalities who made Hindi cinema a relevant medium to reflect either the political climate or web of relationships, Gulzar Sa'ab would be at the top. Movies such as 'Mere Apne', 'Ijaazat', 'Maachis', 'Aandhi' are some examples of his craft. And what can one say about the songs that have his grace? The sensitivity with which he outlines the complexities of relationships is magical. He has kept himself relevant throughout all these years - the mist of his words as fresh now as in 1963 when he wrote his first song 'mora gora ang lai le' in Bandini.

On his birthday today, I am sharing the songs that have mesmerized me for years. Hope these songs fill your day with soft wonders, the way they fill my senses.

Happy birthday Gulzar Sa'ab. Yunhi hamare raat din mehakate rahein aapke shabdon ki khushboo se.

Tere bina zindagi se koi

जी में आता है, तेरे दामन में सिर छुपा के हम रोते रहें , रोते रहें 

तेरी भी आँखों में आंसुओं की नमी तो नहीं 

He is grace and eloquence personified when it comes to presenting the various facets of love. Two individuals who respect and love each other deeply, when they get to meet and spend few moments together, no one else other than Gulzar sahab can describe the eternal moments that they experience. Sung by Lata ji and Kishore da, this song is pure magic. For me, this song has had a momentous influence in life - continues to be part of my daily dosage of music :)

तेरे बिना ज़िन्दगी से कोई शिकवा तो नहीं, शिकवा नहीं 

तेरे बिना ज़िन्दगी भी लेकिन ज़िन्दगी तो नहीं 

तुम जो कह दो तो आज की रात चाँद डूबेगा नहीं, रात को रोक लो 

रात की बात है, और ज़िन्दगी बाक़ी तो नहीं 

Hamne dekhi hai

प्यार कोई बोल नहीं, प्यार आवाज़ नहीं 

एक ख़ामोशी है, सुनती है कहा करती है 

ना वो बुझती है, ना रूकती है, ना ठहरी है कहीं 

नूऱ की बूँद है, सदियों से बहन करती है 

हमनें देखी है उन आखों की महकती ख़ुशबू 

हाथ से छू के इसे रिश्तों का इल्ज़ाम ना दो 

सिर्फ़ एहसास है ये रूह से महसूस करो 

प्यार को प्यार ही रहने दो कोई नाम न दो 

In a world where relationships are boxed in names, how beautifully Gulzar Sahab describes the  experience of love as a divine fragrance and not restrict it to labels. Sung poignantly by Lata ji and composed by Hemant Kumar for the equally sensitive movie 'Khamoshi' in 1969, the song gently yet boldly rejects the social definitions that we impose on this emotion. One can feel the boldness in Lata ji's voice when she sings the first stanza 'pyaar koi bol nahi, pyaar aawaz nahi' and the softness when she sings the second stanza:

मुस्कराहट सी खिली रहती है, आखों में कहीं 

और पलकों पे उजाले से झुके रहते हैं 

होंठ कुछ कहते नहीं कांपते होठों पे मगर 

कितने ख़ामोश से अफ़साने रुके रहते हैं 

Jab bhi ye dil udaas hota hai

From the 1971 movie, Seema that was primarily known for its music by Shankar Jaikishan duo, especially this song sung by Rafi sahab and Tamil singer Sharda Rajan Iyengar. Missing your beloved has never felt this sweet as even when he is not around, his thoughts surround you.

कोई वादा नहीं किया लेक़िन, क्यों तेरा इंतज़ार रहता है 

बेवज़ह जब क़रार मिल जाए , दिल बड़ा बेक़रार रहता है 

जब भी ये दिल उदास होता है, जाने कौन आसपास होता है 

Seeli hawa choo gayi

Gulzar Sahab and Pancham da's association have given us innumerable gems. Together they weaved magic. This song is one such composition. It paints a surreal visual in front of the listener, the soothing notes transport you to a riverside on a full moon night. Sung gorgeously by Lata ji, the song from the unreleased 1988 movie, Libaas is a poetic masterpiece that beautifully describes the inner conflict of a woman in love:

जितने भी तय करते गए, बढ़ते गए ये फ़ासले 

मीलों से दिन छोड़ आये, सालों सी रात लेके चले 

सीली हवा छू गयी, सीला बदन छिल गया 

नीली नदी के तले, गीला सा चाँद खिल गया 

A relationship that she cannot attain due to social restrictions yet it is her anchor:

तुमसे मिली जो ज़िन्दगी, हमने अभी बोई नहीं 

तेरे सिवा कोई न था, तेरे सिवा कोई नहीं

 

Do Nainon mein aansoo 

The 1975 movie Khushboo that was directed by Gulzar Sa'ab with lilting music by Pancham da is one of the best soundtracks that I have heard. The very melodious 'Do nainon mein aansoo bhare hain' sung by Lata ji is another masterpiece from Gulzar Pancham duo. Evocative lyrics describing the never ending sleepless nights spent in wait of her beloved fills days and nights with moments of nostalgia.

झूठे तेरे वादों पे बरस बिताये, ज़िन्दगी तो काटेंगे, रात कट जाए 

कैसे नैनों में निंदिया समाये 

दो नैनों में आंसूं भरे हैं, निंदिया कैसे समाये 

A lifetime has passed, hope this night will too...

Being a huge fan of his poetic genius, I have liked every song by Gulzar Sa'ab and hope this treasure box continues to overflow with his works.

Some of these songs are:

Tum Pukar Lo from Khamoshi

Mera Kuch Saaman from Ijaazat

Naina Thag Lenge from Omkara

Kajraare from Bunty aur Babli

Jaag ke kaati saari raina from Leela

Khamosh sa afsana from unreleased Libaas

Main thak gaya hoon from the unreleased movie Musafir

O Dil Banjaare from Maya Memsahab

Tere Bina Jiya jaaye na from Ghar

Satrangi re from Dil Se

Abke na saawan barse from Kinara

Kya Kare Zindagi isko hum jo mile from Kameene

Ik tha bachpan from Aashirwaad

Aye Ajnabi from Dil Se

Ye Lamha filhaal jee lene de from Filhaal

Chupke se lag jaa gale from Saathiya

Mere Peeko Pavan kis gali le chali from Ghulami

Pani Pani re from Maachis

Jahaan pe savera ho from Basera