Woh Phir Nahin Aate

Aap Ki Kasam was quite a well made movie, with reasonably good performances from all the three lead performers. Rajesh Khanna, as an excessively jealous husband doubting his wife forever, and in the bargain ruining the entire relationship, portrayed the role amazingly well, though the movie was preceded by a number of flops.

Of course, the movie had everything going for it, as far as its music was concerned. Another song of the movie, on a forlorn note, starts with the close-up of Rajesh Khanna, and the pain on his face can almost make one understand how closely he must have related to the lyrics – not only due to the story of the movie, but also of the turmoil he himself must have been going through with a number of flops.

While the lyrics, penned by Anand Bakshi, are simple & yet profound, it is the composition – based on Raag Bihaag –which is brilliant.

It begins with a beat – resembling a train journey – that remains constant through the song, with a number of instruments that keep adding the sound, before a very brief pause, and then the vocals start. As the song progresses, the structure & the instruments used in the composition also change – to denote the passage of time and the seasons.

There is a well created fusion of western as well as Indian instruments, with Santoor & Flute used judiciously to bring out the melody. Each of the interludes has such a distinct identity that it can be a part of an independent composition. Post each interlude, to bring the composition back to the main theme, ensuring that they are not perceived to be out of place is the hallmark of a genius. Of course, that is what Pancham was, and he was accompanied by another genius – Kishore Kumar – whose rendition ensured that the song has remained to be an all time classic – even after four decades.

Here it is:

Subah Aati Hai, Shaam Jaati Hai 

Waqt Chalataa Hi Rahataa Hai, Rukataa Nahi

Ek Pal Me Ye Aage Nikal Jaataa Hai

Aadami Theek Se Dekh Paataa Nahi

Aur Parade Ka Manzar Badal Jaataa Hai

Ek Baar Chale Jaate Hai Jo Din-Raat Subah-O-Shaam

Woh Phir Nahi Aate, Woh Phir Nahi Aate

Jai Jai Shiv Shankar

Lutf-e-Maye tujhse Kya Kahoon Nadaan

Hai Kambakht, Tune to Pee hi Nahin

Well, playing Holi without having a couple of glasses of Bhang - the drink favoured by no less than Lord Shiva himself, could be considered a sacrilege. And so would be not playing this song - another of Pancham's evergreen composition. This is from Aap ki Kasam of 1974, the movie where J Omprakash (Rakesh Roshan's father-in-law) turned from a producer to a director.

The movie itself was not a hit, rather proving to be just another step in superstar Rajesh Khanna's climbdown from stardom. The music however turned out to be super-hit with this bhang induced song & dance sequence ruling the chart for most of the year - ranking second on Binaca Geetmala's annual list of hits for that year. 

Rajesh Khanna had once mentioned in an interview that he had gone to a temple with Pancham. The clanging bells had a distinct sound and a peculiar rhythmic beat which caught Pancham’s attention, and were used by him in the beginning of the song. Of course, as the song moves on, the number of instruments keep getting added, reaching a finale, which has an unmatchable chaotic rhythm & energy to it.

There is another reason to listen to the finale of this song, an interesting story recently recounted by Mr. Annu Kapoor on his Big FM programme.

Apparently, due to the number of instruments used by Pancham for this song, the budget of the song recording had gone haywire - reaching a figure of 50000 - an astounding sum for a song recording in early 70s. Upset with this, Mr. J Omprakash, at the time of rehearsal kept complaining to Pancham & everyone else - "pachaas hazar kharch ho gaye, par mazaa nahin aaya". This constant barb naturally affected RD, and he shared his anguish with one of his best friends in the industry & the male singer of this song - Kishore Kumar. 

Of course, a friend in need is friend indeed. Kishore Kumar did not let the matter go unheeded. In the final version of the song, as the instruments are reaching a crescendo, you can hear him shouting - Bajao re Bajao imandari se bajao Pachas hazar kharch kiye hain.