Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai..

On one of my recent road journeys, while listening to the music, I realised there are very few road or journey songs in Hindi movies. Amongst those which come to mind immediately, there are a couple of songs which have Gulzar, RD & Kishore in common. 

To take you to one such journey songs, we need to travel back from Ghar of 1978 to the first movie where RD & Gulzar joined hands together - Parichay. The movie, though based on a Bengali story, had a structure similar to that evergreen musical hit Sound of Music. Naturally, it was essential that it was sound in music department - in its Indianised version too. 

RD achieved not only that, but in the process also created the song which got Lata & Bhupendra a National Award. I have played this song - Beeti Na Beetai Raina - already.

However, the song I was talking about is the one which movie opens with - a sequence just like the one Sound of Music opens with - the journey of the main protagonist. Gulzar wrote the verse that create a strong imagery of a journey, with hero travelling on a tonga. Straying away from a well-trodden path of using typical Indian instrument to create the sound of tonga-ride, RD created a composition - apparently while in the shower - which has a strong guitar influence - backed by other instruments including accordion and resso. 

And then the icing - Kishore's rendition - that feeling of being in love with the journey itself, when he sings:

Ek Raah Ruk Gayee to Aur Jud Gayee

Mai Muda To Saath Saath Raha Mud Gayee

Hawaaon ke Paron par Meraa Ashiyana

Musaafir Hoon Yaaron

Na Ghar Hain Na Thikana

Mujhe Chalte Jaana Hai

Bas, Chalte Jaana