Phir Bhi Mera Man Pyaasa

In the last post I wrote about the troika of Anand Bakshi, Pancham & Kishore creating special compositions for Rajesh Khanna starrers, and the effect that flute created in Main Shayar Badnam.Well, as they say, "Mauka bhi hai, dastoor bhi aur mausam bhi". In the season of rain, how could I not play this one - a gem of a composition, from Mehbooba, based on Raga Shivranjani, with such beautiful verse that meets Kishore at his best.

The song was to be used in the movie at two different occassions - once for the heroine and again for the hero. Since the movie was based on the theme of reincarnation, love and classical music & dance, Pancham used a confluence of Dholak & Flute, while complementing the chords of a Guitar - his favourite instrument. The composition also was challenging as it required the singer to display a wide vocal range, and yet having that thehraav for staying true to the notes.

Pancham's natural choice for female version was Lata. However, when it came to male version, Kishore Kumar flatly refused because not being trained in classical music, he found it difficult. I am sure Pancham could have gone to Rafi, but he did not. He insisted, and finally Kishore Kumar relented on one condition - that he will only practice and replicate whatever Lata will sing. This is what he finally did, practising for a week, listening to Lata's version.

Picturised in the rain, the song starts with a bit low key humming and guitar chords, just like a brief calm before the impending storm. That is what Kishore Kumar creates - a storm with this song. Even now, when I listen to this song, and the goosebumps that I get every-time he raises his pitch in between the stanza, making it sound so simple, it seems unbelievable that anyone else could have done better than Kishore da in this song.

And the verse! Sumitra Nandan Pant had written - "Viyogi Hoga Pahla Kavi, Aah Se Upja Hoga Gaan". It required a real empathy with emotions and mastery over language to come up with something like -

Ae Dil Deevane

Khel Hai Kya Jaane

Dard Bhara Yeh

Geet Kahan Se

In Hothon Pe Aaye

Door Kahin Le Jaaye

Bhool Gaya, Ya

Bhool Ke Bhi Hai

Mujhko Yaad Zara Sa.

Phir Bhi Mera Man Pyaasa

Gori Tori Painjaniyaa

Hi All..back again after a brief break...

During this break, the country lost one of its finest & most versatile singers...and last of the male playback legends... Manna Dey! 

Manna Dey, had started his career as an assistant to SD Burman, and sang his first song for him. Quite possibly, that was one of the reasons, RD & him had a special bond. 

While RD's preferred singer seemed to be Kishore, it was Manna Dey, he banked more upon - specially when it came to bringing a variety - either for the composition or purely for balancing the movie's second male voice requirement.

As a result, he utilised Manna Dey's voice for a range of actors - from Mehmood, Pran & Om Prakash to Dharmendra & Rajesh Khanna. The versatile performer that Manna Dey was, he never sounded out of place for any one of them - be it Buddha Mila Gaya's Aayo Kahan se or Padosan's Saawariya or Seeta Aur Geeta's Zindagi Hai Khel.... 

However, my most favourite song of this duo is this one, where RD created a composition that perhaps Manna Dey alone could have done justice to.

Picturised on Rajesh Khanna, this is a classical raga based composition, a medley of Kaamod and Malhar. 

The song has RD creating magic with a fusion of Indian as well as western instruments. Apart from the traditional instruments, one can distinctly hear Veena & Pakhavaz as well as Violin. Since, it was a classical dance composition, the choreography was done by another legend - Gopi Krishna, who set the moves for Hema Malini. This confluence of talent also got something unusual from the lyricist Anand Bakshi also. As a result was created a song which is not only classical in composition, but also a classic by itself.

Here it is..

Ghar se nikalti hai tu, 

Girati sambhalti hai tu
Kuchh aise chalti hai tu
Thumak thumak ke 

Ghaayal jaise koyi hiraniya
Gori tori paijaniya