Pal do pal meri kahaani hai

During the initial days of blogging, my friend Pallavi and I were discussing music composers and singers whom we both loved and wanted to include in my posts. We unanimously agreed on Khayyam Sahab, as we both loved his music and had many a times enjoyed his timeless classics together.

Today, as we pay our last respects to him, I wanted to write this post as a tribute.

Khayyam Sahab grew up in a family environment filled with books and education. I read somewhere that he was so interested in music and sher-o-shayari that his aim was to become K L Saigal! As a result, he was thrown out of his home. It was during this time that he underwent classical music training.

He was highly influenced by the works of Allama Iqbal and the bravery and principles of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. That influence stayed with him throughout his career and he never compromised with his ethics even when he did not get any film music to compose. His humility, his child like simplicity and serene smile stood out in his interviews. It was this simplicity that made his music so soothing and sublime.

After starting his career in Lahore before partition, he later moved to India. An interesting tidbit is that for 5 years, he partnered with another music director and they composed under the name of Sharmaji- Varmaji. His talent was soon recognised by the poets such as Kaifi Azmi, Jan Nisaar Akhtar, film directors such as B R Chopra and Yash Chopra. However the heights of success continued to elude him until Phir Subah Hogi, Kabhi Kabhi and then later Umrao Jaan. Credit to my elder brother for reminding me about Phir Subah Hogi which was his first major break and beginning of a lifelong association with the prolific poet Sahir Ludhianvi.

Even if one is not an ardent follower of Hindi Cinema music, one would still have heard Umrao Jaan's songs. This movie is a milestone in the world of Hindi film music and each composition of this movie a gem, an institution by itself. Even though it was films such Kabhi Kabhi, Umrao Jaan, Razia Sultan that made him known all over, I think he has composed some of the most beautiful songs even before these movies were released.

Revisiting my all time favourites and some of the most melodious songs from Hindi fims:

Jaane Kya Dhoondti Rehti hain

I had first heard this song as a 8-9 year old when my brother had gotten an audio cassette recorded with songs from  the 1961 movie Shola aur Shabnam. Even in that young age, the songs of this movie had mesmerised me. Apart from a handosme young Dharmendra, Rafi Sahab's singing created wonder. I believe this song is one of his finest performances. The brooding lyrics by Kaifi Azmi sahab aptly expressed the conflict of a young man tormented by memories of childhood love. This was a complex composition and Khayyam sahab just made it sound so simple.

अब न वो प्यार, ना उस प्यार की यादें बाकी 

आग यूँ दिल में लगी, कुछ न रहा कुछ न बचा 

जिसकी तस्वीर निगाहों में लिए बैठी हो, मैं वो दिलदार नहीं , उसकी हूँ खामोश चिता 

जाने क्या ढूंढ़ती रहती हैं ये आँखें मुझमें, राख़ के ढेर में शोला है न चिंगारी है 

Kaahe ko byaahe bides

I must admit that it is impossible to compare the songs of Umrao Jaan. Every single compositon is a masterpiece be it 'Yeh Kya Jagah hai doston' or 'Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm mein'. I chose this song for its rustic singing by Jagjit Kaur (Khayyam Sahab's wife) and the traditional rural lyrics sung for a bride. Jagjit Kaur's voice was a class apart and even though she sang few songs, each song is known as a classic melody. This song was penned by Amir Khusro.

हम तो बाबुल तोरे बेले की कलियाँ 

अरे घर घर मांगे हैं जाएँ 

अरे लखिया बाबुल मोहे, काहे को ब्याहे बिदेस 

Tum Apna Ranj-o-gham

This is the first Hindi song by Jagjit Kaur for the movie Shagoon released in the year 1964. Even though the movie did not do well commercially, the songs were highly appreciated and brought Jagjit Kaur and Khayyam Sahab together, not just as working partners but also life partners. This song was my anthem for ages and I played it on a loop. This was also that one song that my parents loved to hear me sing. It continues to be my favourite companion among others while driving or travelling.

वो दिल जो मैंने माँगा था मगर, ग़ैरों ने पाया था 

बड़ी शह है अगर, उसकी पशेमानी मुझे दे दो 

तुम अपना रंज-ओ-ग़म, अपनी परेशानी मुझे दे दो 

तुम्हे ग़म की क़सम, इस दिल की वीरानी मुझे दे दो 

Dekh Lo aaj humko jee bhar ke

'Bazaar' movie is another example of Khayyam sahab's craft. Every song from this movie, be it 'karoge yaad to' or 'dikhayi diye yun' is supremely melodious. And for this song, I fall short of words. In this highly sensitive movie, a young girl drinks poison on the evening of her forced wedding to a much older man. She sings this song to her lover as she gets ready to leave him.  Jagjit Kaur's poignant singing moved many to tears.

फिर हम उठने लगे, बिठा लो तुम 

फिर बिगड़ जाएँ हम, मना लो तुम 

देख लो आज हमको जी भर के, कोई आता नहीं है फिर मर के

 

Aap yun faaslon

A lovely romantic number sung by Lata for a not so known movie Shanker Hussain. The beautiful lyrics by Jan Nisaar Akhtar (Javed Akhtar's father) and the soft composition by Khayyam Sahab makes this song an ideal one for any season, any time of the day. Another song that I can listen to endlessly. The poor filming of this song does not do justice to this great composition and it should not be viewed but just listened to.

आप यूँ फ़ासलों से गुज़रते रहे, दिल से क़दमों की आवाज़ आती रही
आहटों से अँधेरे चमकते रहे, रात आती रही रात जाती रही
गुनगुनाती रही मेरी तन्हाईयाँ, दूर बजती रही कितनी शहनाईयाँ
ज़िन्दगी ज़िन्दगी को बुलाती रही

In an interview Khayyam Sahab had said that this 'sher' by Allama Iqbal was his life's motto:

'खुदी को कर बुलंद इतना की हर तक़दीर से पहले
ख़ुदा बंदे से खुद पूछे के बता तेरी रज़ा क्या है'

Translated in English as

"Make yourself so able to such an extent that even before your destiny or fate is decided, God has to ask you, "what is it that you wish for"?"

Thank you Khayyam Sahab for several golden moments.

There are many songs of his that I would have loved to include:

1. All songs of Kabhi Kabhi
2. All songs of Bazaar
3. All songs of Umrao Jaan
4. Aye Dil-e-nadaan from Razia Sultan
5. Sham-e-gham ki kasam from Footpath
6. Kahin ek masoom nazuk si ladki from Shankar Hussain
7. Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum from Shola aur Shabnam
8. Bahaaron mera jeevan bhi sanwaaro from Aakhri Khat
9.Chaand tanha hai from I Write, I Recite album by Meena Kumari
10. Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahaan nahi milta from Ahista Ahista