Kahna Hai Aaj Tumse Yeh Pahli Baar

He was a man with multiple skills, who knew his limitations and working around those, optimized his capabilities. Beginning his career as an Anti Hero, he was the original Angry Young Man of Hindi Cinema – much before the phrase became a synonym for Amitabh Bachchan. He also could portray the character of a lover – even a jilted lover – with ease. His sensibilities made him produce & direct movies that, within the grammar of a mainstream cinema, were socially relevant in their own way.

There was only one facet of his acting that remained under-utilised – and that was - comedy. Only one movie really offered him that opportunity, and surprisingly, he was not the first choice. It was only after the movie’s music director’s refusal to play the role, he landed up this role. The movie went on to be an all-time classic comedy, and notwithstanding the presence of a cast like Kishore Kumar and Mehmood, an equal share of credit also was to movie’s hero – Bhola, who was in love with his Padosan – Sunil Dutt, in one of his finest performances.

On his birth anniversary today, here is a gem composed by Pancham for Padosan. While Ek Chatur Naar, and Mere Samne wali Khidki went on to be super hits, the composition of this song is much more subtle and rhythmic – akin to a classical western. Beginning with the slightly echoing vocals, this achingly romantic song has Kishore Kumar’s vocals matching Pancham’s composition like a well-choreographed Waltz. Listening to that slight nano-secondish pause just about at the beginning of each stanza before the composition starts rising with a different tempo, it is easy to fall under another spell that only RD could create with his magical music.

So here it is, one of my most favourite numbers of Pancham, with superb verse by Rajinder Krishan:

Kab Se, Dil Ne Mere, Maan Liya Hai, Tumko Apana

Aankhe Meri Dekh Rahi Hain Jaagte Sote Yeh Sapana

Mere Gale Men Daal Rahi Ho 

Tum Bahon Ka Haar

Tum Hi, To Lai Ho, 

Jivan Me Mere, Pyar Pyar Pyar 

Kahana Hai, Kahana Hai, Aaj Tumse Ye Pahali Bar