An unknown gem….

It is very rare that I have not heard gems from the man’s large body of work over the decades of my following him. I discovered a large number of ghazals and nazms from private mehfils and concerts from Kenya posted by S Soni ji, a true treasure trove from nearly half a century ago. Those are sublime and even if studio recordings of the same songs were released later, the freshness of the songs as well as the tonal quality of a young Jagjit Singh sahab is truly heart warming. I’ve heard so many wonderful songs on his channel. Would love to meet him in person some day for sure to thank him on behalf of millions of Jagjit Singh fans who he has obliged forever with his yeoman service.

Last evening as Aruna and I were resting, contemplating nothing in particular, with Mom asleep and Choco snuggled up close to me, the world was perfect. Just then a local radio station threw up this surprise. Neither of us had heard it, Choco included (his musical experience isn’t much more than either of us) so we looked at one other, a quizzical expression on the furrowed brow, and speechless communication happening rapidly. In about 30 seconds I discovered the word string that would qualify for the title. The www did the rest of the detective work.

Turned out to be a real, as yet undiscovered (by us, for sure) gem. Listen to it before I tell you more about the song. A real gem by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The poor guy had to spend 2 years in prison without trial just because he committed the heinous crime of criticizing the autocratic dictator whose enduring and overbearing achievement is the establishment of a dynasty in India. He had been rejected by his own party delegates by nearly 85- 15% vote share but stole the election and Bharat is still paying the price. https://youtu.be/zjQt40Wutrc?si=ud74WWt2Z3Xv4pry

The song, composed by the music director Basu Chakraborty, (of the Basu-Manohari duo with the legendary saxophonist, Manohari Singh) and soulfully rendered by Jagjit Singh. It was part of the soundtrack of the movie Nargis, which is completed but never released. It also features in Jagjit Singh’s album, Ada.

Movie produced and directed by Khalid Mohammed who was Zeba Bakhtiar‘s secretary and Farida Jalal’ s brother. Farida Jalal is the chubby cheeked actress who won the national talent search with Rajesh Khanna. They were paired in Aradhana. I loved her emoting and can’t really explain why she couldn’t make it big. Those were the days where leading ladies still wore their clothes. Her emoting was very good and face expressive. There was no dearth of chubby (even corpulent) leading ladies at the time. Unfortunately the cookie didn’t crumble right for her. C’est la vie.

This Khalid Mohammad is not the famous Film Critic – I loved his columns ( who is Zubeida’s son). He wrote the unbelievable life story on his mother’s life which was made into a wonderful eponymous film.

The secretary turned director/producer Khalid Mohammed made a film titled ” Nargis”. Starring Hema Malini, Naseeruddin Shah, Zeba Bakhtiar and Manzoor Ali (one of the comedian Mehmood’s sons). The film remains completed and remains unreleased. I don’t really know why.

Zeba Bakhtiar is the lady introduced by the greatest showman {who unfortunately later in his career became a voyeuristic show-woman ( ‘s bodies) filmmaker} Raj Kapoor in Henna. She enjoyed a brief spell in India, marrying Javed Jaffrey (who found this Takeshi’s castle too tough to conquer and was left out in the cold in a year or so). The lady’s father was a former Attorney General of the land of the most impure, and had already disposed of her first husband before coming to India. After Javed, she married the famed Keyboardist Adnan Sami (wonder if it were the lightning fingers which enamoured her) before ditching him. She is back in the failed state with a new notional husband.

शफ़क़ हो, फूल हो, शबनम हो, माहताब हो तुम
नहीं जवाब तुम्हारा, के लाजवाब हो तुम
.
मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन
मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन, तेरा दिल सुने मेरी बात
ये आँखों की सियाही, ये होंठों का उजाला
ये आँखों की सियाही, ये होंठों का उजाला
यही हैं मेरे दिन-रात, मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन
.
मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन, तेरा दिल सुने मेरी बात
ये आँखों की सियाही, ये होंठों का उजाला
यही हैं मेरे दिन-रात, मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन
काश तुझको पता हो, तेरे रूख-ए-रौशन से
काश तुझको पता हो, तेरे रूख-ए-रौशन से
तारे खिले हैं, दीये जले हैं, दिल में मेरे कैसे कैसे
काश तुझको पता हो, तेरे रूख-ए-रौशन से
तारे खिले हैं, दीये जले हैं, दिल में मेरे कैसे कैसे
महकने लगी हैं वहीं से मेरी रातें
महकने लगी हैं वहीं से मेरी रातें
जहाँ से हुआ तेरा साथ, मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन
मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन, तेरा दिल सुने मेरी बात
ये आँखों की सियाही, ये होंठों का उजाला
यही हैं मेरे दिन-रात, मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन
.
पास तेरे आया था मैं तो काँटों पे चलके
पास तेरे आया था मैं तो काँटों पे चलके
लेकिन यहाँ तो कदमों के नीचे फर्श बिछ गये गुल के
पास तेरे आया था मैं तो काँटों पे चलके
लेकिन यहाँ तो कदमों के नीचे फर्श बिछ गये गुल के
के अब ज़िन्दगानी, है फसलें बहाराँ
के अब ज़िन्दगानी, है फसलें बहाराँ
जो हाथों में रहे तेरा हाथ, मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन
मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन, तेरा दिल सुने मेरी बात
ये आँखों की सियाही, ये होंठों का उजाला
ये आँखों की सियाही, ये होंठों का उजाला
यही हैं मेरे दिन-रात, यही हैं मेरे दिन-रात
मैं कैसे कहूँ जानेमन

An amazing discovery that was a pleasant surprise for both of us (To be honest Mom and Choco slept right through and weren’t woken up by Jagjit Singh last night) https://youtu.be/4TdX3AR5-gE?si=SJ42RJ6TGGoCXJxL

Hope you love the song/nazm too. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Hoping for a miracle…

I woke up this morning (in the morning of course, unlike the most famous dimpled dopehead dolt) & found this melody playing inside my head. An amazing piece of verse by Qateel Shifai that’s been rendered by my favourite Jagjit Singh (how I miss him with hundreds of millions of his diehard fans). I had first heard his shorter studio recording on his albums and fallen in love with the verse, the uncomplicated composition and of course the divine singing. A few years ago, I chanced upon a longer rendition from a live program which was digitally restored that sounds just awesome in its languorous, utterly unhurried manner. https://youtu.be/uVLtkELMZpI?si=sjCNqpMN6aI7ydKy

The verse is just sublime. Have a look in its original form. (Most vocal renditions will only include a few ash’aar out of the entire ghazal)

ये मो’जिज़ा भी मोहब्बत कभी दिखाए मुझे :

क़तील शिफ़ाई

ये मो’जिज़ा भी मोहब्बत कभी दिखाए मुझे

कि संग तुझ पे गिरे और ज़ख़्म आए मुझे

मैं अपने पाँव तले रौंदता हूँ साए को

बदन मेरा ही सही दोपहर न भाए मुझे

ब-रंग-ए-ऊद मिलेगी उसे मेरी ख़ुश्बू

वो जब भी चाहे बड़े शौक़ से जलाए मुझे

मैं घर से तेरी तमन्ना पहन के जब निकलूँ

बरहना शहर में कोई नज़र न आए मुझे

वही तो सब से ज़ियादा है नुक्ता-चीं मेरा

जो मुस्कुरा के हमेशा गले लगाए मुझे

मैं अपने दिल से निकालूँ ख़याल किस किस का

जो तू नहीं तो कोई और याद आए मुझे

ज़माना दर्द के सहरा तक आज ले आया

गुज़ार कर तेरी ज़ुल्फ़ों के साए साए मुझे

वो मेरा दोस्त है सारे जहाँ को है मा’लूम

दग़ा करे वो किसी से तो शर्म आए मुझे

वो मेहरबाँ है तो इक़रार क्यूँ नहीं करता

वो बद-गुमाँ है तो सौ बार आज़माए मुझे

मैं अपनी ज़ात में नीलाम हो रहा हूँ ‘क़तील’

ग़म-ए-हयात से कह दो ख़रीद लाए मुझे

An amazing ghazal rendered beautifully by Jagjit Singh. The meaning is pretty straightforward and should not pose too much trouble.

The same ghazal has also been sung by Mehdi Hassan and has a slightly different flavour. https://youtu.be/o0bP-C6XP_o?si=M5nP2oMVn-w6lAw9

Both great ghazal singers who have devoted themselves to the genre for their lifetimes and elevated it to an art form. Jagjit Singh, ever the large hearted great human being, went to Paapistan to help raise funds for Mehdi Hassan in 2004 when the latter was crippled by a stroke and despite his fame, popularity and large number of albums/ concerts that he had earned from, had managed to land up in dire financial straits, thanks to having 17 children.

“The small gift I gave Mehdi Hassan saab was not from an Indian to a Pakistani but to a great artist from someone who’s been inspired by  him.. ”

 Stay happy, folks and decide which version you like more

The gifted one who enchanted and conquered the world…

This is one of the earliest ghazals by the greatest stars of the genre that I fell in love with (today I would honestly say I pretty much love his entire oeuvre, the entire whatchamacallit of his four decades of celebration of music). The ghazal is direct, without excessive usage of heavy metaphor or innuendo. Simple language…

Straight from the heart..

No beating around the bush…

Could easily be expressed as I love you and want you. But that would be so blasé, so plain vanilla. And so unlike a gifted poet with finely honed wordcraft skills that are so evident in many a creation. So a good wordsmith and a gifted musician decide to make a song out of it to make our hearts dance to the tune. https://youtu.be/2cR_M5NPik8

The verse is sublime, just divine. Check it out . The verse is by Qateel Shifai… He is frequently a partner in crime with the best of the singers in the genre. Here he has teamed up with one of my most favourite singers (after His own idol and guiding light in his chosen area of musical excellence, Mehdi Hassan) to ever use a microphone, Jagjit Singh, who lived up to his adopted name and truly won the ears, minds, hearts and souls of every single soul that ever had the good fortune of listening in to him. He first enchanted the audience(s) throughout the world (Jagmohan) & then, won them over (Jagjit) never relinquishing his hold. And unlike all the conquistadors of the past, there is just no sign nor chance of his popularity ever ebbing.

अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ

क़तील शिफ़ाई

अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ
आ तुझे मैं गुनगुनाना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ

कोई आँसू तेरे दामन पर गिराकर
कोई आँसू तेरे दामन पर गिराकर
बूँद को मोती बनाना चाहता हूँ
बूँद को मोती बनाना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ

थक गया मैं करते करते याद तुझको
थक गया मैं करते करते याद तुझको
अब तुझे मैं याद आना चाहता हूँ
अब तुझे मैं याद आना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ

छा रहा है सारी बस्ती में अँधेरा
छा रहा है सारी बस्ती में अँधेरा
रौशनी को घर जलाना चाहता हूँ
रौशनी को घर जलाना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ

आख़री हिचकी तेरे ज़ानों पे आये
आख़री हिचकी तेरे ज़ानों पे आये
मौत भी मैं शायराना चाहता हूँ
मौत भी मैं शायराना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ
आ तुझे मैं गुनगुनाना चाहता हूँ
अपने होठों पर सजाना चाहता हूँ
हं हं हं

धीमान means gifted, skilled, intelligent. That he certainly was. A great generous disposition helped him sublimate his pain and suffering on the loss of his only son in the most wondrous musical creativity that enthralled, captivated and had billions addicted to his magnificent oeuvre.

Here’s to you, my dear friend in faraway Texas. I don’t know if I will ever meet you in person in this life, but our shared passion will always keep us together on the same note. Hope you like this as much as I do. https://youtu.be/_HF0o9NZ7w0

Stay safe, folks. I will stay lost in balloons, springs and squiggly, crazy lines that go up and down all the time.

A unique change

This is a unique instance where a legendary poet’s verse has been morphed (without his permission for obvious reasons, I am quite sure he wouldn’t have liked the infraction too much and likely would have written a few ash’aar to express his pain and disappointment at the liberty taken by everyone I know of who’s rendered the amazing ghazal)

The legendary Sohrab Modi, who had come to movies from the Parsi/Urdu theater (his background very apparent in his choice of words and manner of dialogue delivery) made some wonderful movies that are landmarks in the evolution of Bollywood. During his career, his production house Minerva Movietone produced several adaptations of classics like Hamlet, Les Miserables and made several movies that were biopics (as we would call them today) . This is one such, Mirza Ghalib. My only issue is the choice of actor for the eponymous role, Bharat Bhushan. At best his emotive abilities would make a doorknob jealous, but not for too long, as the orb would surely catch up. This ghazal has been sung by the lady who just stole the show, Suraiya. https://youtu.be/FmCKNeqYc7A

The music was by Ghulam Mohammad. The choreography is by none other than the legendary Lachchoo Maharaj. The role of the listless (& pusillanimous in real life) Last Moghul “emperor” (a sad joke, this, his writ ran only as far as the ramparts of the walled city) Bahadurshah Zafar was enacted by the man who was a chain smoking police officer of scores of movies, Iftekhar.

A very clever juxtaposition by editing with Rafisaab rendering a few lines enhances the joy and effectiveness. https://youtu.be/DwE6Qfs8Qys

It is interesting to note that this ghazal is popularly sung and known with radiif “hone tak”. However, in the diwan of Ghalib (the original collection), the ghazal is mentioned with radiif “hote tak“. I have therefore reproduced the original verse as written by Ghalib, and not the changed one that’s rendered by everyone.

आह को चाहिए इक उम्र असर होते तक

मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब

आह को चाहिए इक उम्र असर होते तक

कौन जीता है तिरी ज़ुल्फ़ के सर होते तक

दाम-ए-हर-मौज में है हल्क़ा-ए-सद-काम-ए-नहंग

देखें क्या गुज़रे है क़तरे पे गुहर होते तक

आशिक़ी सब्र-तलब और तमन्ना बेताब

दिल का क्या रंग करूँ ख़ून-ए-जिगर होते तक

ता-क़यामत शब-ए-फ़ुर्क़त में गुज़र जाएगी उम्र

सात दिन हम पे भी भारी हैं सहर होते तक

हम ने माना कि तग़ाफ़ुल न करोगे लेकिन

ख़ाक हो जाएँगे हम तुम को ख़बर होते तक

परतव-ए-ख़ुर से है शबनम को फ़ना की ता’लीम

मैं भी हूँ एक इनायत की नज़र होते तक

यक नज़र बेश नहीं फ़ुर्सत-ए-हस्ती ग़ाफ़िल

गर्मी-ए-बज़्म है इक रक़्स-ए-शरर होते तक

ग़म-ए-हस्ती का ‘असद’ किस से हो जुज़ मर्ग इलाज

शम्अ हर रंग में जलती है सहर होते तक

Many decades later, the genius polymath Gulzar wrote and directed a TV Serial based on the life of the poet, and brought out the decadence very well. To me personally the highlights apart from Gulzar’s direction and writing were Naseeruddin Shah in the eponymous role (he had not been seized nor spoilt by a variety of exotic powders sourced from an assortment of locales then) & the amazing (albeit expected) act of choosing Jagjit Singh to compose the musical score (& also sing along with his wife Chitra Singh). I loved at his unhurried, languid interpretation of the ghazals. The effect is truly , sublime! Check this same ghazal as it appears in the TV Serial. I daresay it is much more memorable than the beautiful film version. I thought the TV serial version captures the despair and pathos better. https://youtu.be/TtvnQJsbUG4

Just divine, isn’t it?

Hope you liked both versions. Do let me know if you concur. Have a wonderful Sunday, folks and hope that the delayed monsoons make up for it.

The thirst that cannot be quenched…..

This is one divine piece of music that my Dad loved. I would watch him get lost in the words, the beautiful composition, the sublime vocals…. Just thinking of those moments makes me tear up even today. I think I inherited the passion for music from him and literature from my mom, who’s a great writer and avid student of the Dnyaneshwari. She’s had many books published encompassing a very wide variety of subjects.

Both he and I have remained great fans of Mehdi Hasan and Jagjit Singh, who he absolutely adored.

Listen to one rendition of this awesome ghazal. Only a stone hearted insensitive soul would refuse to be moved. To me, this is straight from my heart to God, I would have loved to spend a few more days with Him. That’s human nature, isn’t it? Never satisfied with a few decades of staying under the same roof. We cry when we lose a parent, we cry when we lose a child, we are never really prepared for the one inevitable truth that’s part of the life of every single living being in the universe. The physical form will be given up, the atman will change the vestment till the Supreme being welcomes it to merge with Him/Her. Energy is constant in the universe, it may just take different form from time to time. Listen to the captivating song and get a taste of an absolutely sublime gem. https://youtu.be/sB9nBIHkz7o

The soul of the ghazal is its meaningful verse. More than any other vocal musical genre. Rana Akbarabadi was surely blessed with a revelation. He has certainly fulfilled his part of the covenant.

सुनते हैं के मिल जाती है हर चीज़ दुआ से

सुनते हैं के मिल जाती है हर चीज़ दुआ से
इक रोज़ तुम्हें माँग के देखेंगे ख़ुदा से

दुनिया भी मिली है ग़म-ए-दुनिया भी मिला है
वो क्यूँ नहीं मिलता जिसे माँगा था ख़ुदा से

ऐ दिल तू उन्हें देख के कुछ ऐसे तड़पना
आ जाये हँसी उनको जो बैठे हैं ख़फ़ा से

जब कुछ ना मिला हाथ दुआओं को उठा कर
फिर हाथ उठाने ही पड़े हमको दुआ से

आईने में वो अपनी अदा देख रहे हैं
मर जाए की जी जाए कोई उनकी बला से

तुम सामने बैठे हो तो है कैफ़ की बारिश
वो दिन भी थे जब आग बरसती थी घटा से

(कैफ़ = मद, नशा, आनंद)

—-राणा अकबराबादी

Listen to another rendition , the same song, the flavour a little different, but the effect is the same. You become one with the Supreme being. https://youtu.be/s2BMfrxoVUU

Stay blessed folks, take care. The promised landfall of the Cyclone in the Arabian Sea hasn’t happened, I suppose because it read the Met Department’s forecast. In India it is sometimes a very paying proposition to be constantly and consistently wrong …

At first sight……

The internet throws up some rare gems. I was driving back from the hospital earlier today, when after a Gaurav Arya “Offensive Defense” clip, this song played out on the car audio. I had only a faint recollection of the ghazal. I must express gratitude to Sachin Soni who has rendered yeoman service to music lovers in general, specially ghazal lovers and lovers of Jagjit Singh’s singing specifically by uploading his treasure trove of private mehfil renditions from the early 70s that took place in Kenya for everyone to be astounded, enchanted and addicted..

This is one such ghazal. Check it out. https://youtu.be/m6xOCF4GJH8

Dil Lakhnawi is the shayar. Simple, straightforward, easy to understand poetry that cuts straight to the audience’s hearts, evoking appreciation and admiration as well.

बे-इरादा नज़र उनसे टकरा गई

बे-इरादा नज़र उनसे टकरा गई 

ज़िन्दगी में अचानक बहार आ गई 

रूख़ से पर्दा उठा चाँद शर्मा गया 

ज़ुल्फ़ बिखरी तो काली घटा छा गई 

वो जो हँसते हुए बज़्म में आ गए                          

मैं ये समझा क़यामत क़रीब आ गई

उनकी ज़ुल्फ़ों में पड़ते हुए ख़म देखकर 

शेख़ जी की तबीयत भी ललचा गई

मौत क्या चीज़ है मैं तुझको समझाऊँ क्या 

इक मुसाफ़िर था रस्ते में नींद आ गई

दिल में पहले सी ऐ ‘दिल’ वो धड़कन नहीं 

मोहब्बत में शायद कमी आ गई

-दिल लखनवी 

बज़्म = महफ़िल, सभा,

ख़म: टेढ़ापन, वक्रता, घुमाव, झुकाव

The imagery is vivid and extremely romantic. Truly love at first sight.

Check out this longer digitally restored version from a live concert. The composition is so different from the Kenya concert (posted above), and very enjoyable. The mood is quite different. https://youtu.be/5aXoSbbTKEk

Do listen to both the renditions. Stay happy, healthy and well hydrated as the heat heightens.

The way to your heart…..

I’ve been listening to Jagjit Singh’s unique musical oeuvre for more than 4 decades and with passage of time, the number of previously unheard ghazals by the one man who is singularly responsible for the popularity of the genre in India is dwindling. Just when (like Alexander) I feel there isn’t one left to hear anew, I am pleasantly surprised by a hitherto undiscovered gem.

This is one such lustrous and priceless gem that I got from a collection by a dedicated Jagjit Singh fan, Sachin Soni. He has managed to create a treasure trove of absolutely beautiful melodies over the years and many of them date back to the early days of the Maestro’s singing career, from the 70s, many of them recorded during his live concerts in Kenya. I just can’t thank Sachin Soni ji’s efforts in putting together this precious, precious cache.

Listen to pure vocal magic, an intricate magical web woven by the master craftsman already at the top of his skills. The rendition is accompanied by just his harmonium, a tabla and a tanpura. You don’t really miss the lack of instrumental accompaniment, as the meaningful verse and the divine voice are more than adequate to transport me to a blissful stupor. https://youtu.be/ecFA2amKLuA

The beauty of the verse is unmissable and should not pose much of an issue to the listener. Jagjit Singh cruises through languorously through the lines, helping me savour every word, every nuance. Check out the beauty of the verse.

ये राह-ए-मोहब्बत है इसमें ऐसे भी मक़ाम आ जाते हैं

ये राह-ए-मोहब्बत है इसमें ऐसे भी मक़ाम आ जाते हैं
ये राह-ए-मोहब्बत है इसमें ऐसे भी मक़ाम आ जाते हैं
रुकिए तो पसीना आता है चलिये तो क़दम थर्राते हैं

नब्ज़ें हैं के उभरी आती हैं तारे हैं के डूबे जाते हैं
वो पिछले पहर बीमारों पर कुछ ख़ास करम फ़रमाते हैं

वो मस्त हवाओं के झोंके कुछ रात गए कुछ रात रहे
जैसे ये कोई रह रह के कहे घबराओ नहीं हम आते हैं

शबनम की नुमाइश माथे पर खिलती हुई कलियाँ होंठों पर
गुलशन में सवेरा होता है या बज़्म में वो शरमाते हैं

(शबनम = ओस), (बज़्म = महफ़िल, सभा)

ये राह-ए-तलब है दीवाने इस राह में उनकी जानिब से
आँखें भी बिछाई जाती हैं काँटे भी बिछाए जाते हैं

कहते नहीं बनता क्या कहिये कैसा है ‘नज़ीर’ अफ़साना-ए-ग़म
सुनने पे तो वो आमादा हैं कहने से हम ही घबराते हैं

-नज़ीर बनारसी

The next clip is from another live program, recorded much later, and digitally restored. The difference in the tonal quality is clear, more mature, fuller. https://youtu.be/xuOZD_2zm1c

Hope you enjoy both renditions, the best versions of this ghazal by the great man. Have a great day ahead and stay healthy.

Remembering the one who has gone afar…..

I remembered this amazing melody early today when Choco woke me up. I’ve always felt an eternal melody is created by the combination of great verse, a wonderful composition and matching vocals.

I have been a huge fan of Jagjit Singh, and his amazing oeuvre. His large body of work is awe inspiring enough. What is even more amazing is the consistently and enviably high standard and quality he managed to maintain throughout the 5 decades he was active as a performer par excellence. Listen to this ghazal, written by Seemab Akbarabadi. https://youtu.be/YFkwraaQ6a0

The depth of emotions that the poet and the singer are able to put together for the friend (presumably not as close geographically as desired) are just amazing. I am reproducing the lyrics with an explanation of some words that some of you may not be very familiar with

ना हो ग़र आशना नहीं होता

ना हो ग़र आशना नहीं होता
बुत किसी का ख़ुदा नहीं होता

(आशना = मित्र, प्रेमी या प्रेमिका)

तुम भी उस वक़्त याद आते हो
जब कोई आसरा नहीं होता

दिल में कितना सुक़ून होता है
जब कोई मुद्दआ नहीं होता

(मुद्दआ: मतलब, अभिप्राय, इच्छा)

हो न जब तक शिकार-ए-नाकामी
आदमी काम का नहीं होता

(शिकार-ए-नाकामी: विफल प्रयास, encounter with failure)

ज़िन्दगी थी शबाब तक ‘सीमाब’
अब कोई सानेहा नहीं होता

(सानेहा = आपत्ति, मुसीबत, दुर्घटना)

–सीमाब अकबराबादी

Truly wonderful, uncomplicated verse embellished by divine vocals and a very pleasant composition. One of my very favourite ones by the maestro (sharing that space with a few hundred ones).

I am sure you’ll like to hear it once again. As with all the great ghazal singers, Jagjit Singh also has the habit of making his live concert renditions interesting and unique even for those who’ve heard the ghazal before, by introducing new ash’aar. This one has a bunch of them. Gives you a different feel every single time. https://youtu.be/VruMSfO551s

Stay happy and healthy, folks. We are told we will get rains this week (as we have already been getting for 7 to 8 weeks when without being told) . Enjoy both versions (and many others by Jagjit Singh that exist on YouTube)

Better late than never….

I must’ve first heard this ghazal maybe three decades ago. My favourite non-film, non-classical vocalist in an expectedly soulful rendition.

A narration of help/soulmate coming very late and holding out hope almost against hope. Of relief after seemingly unrelenting disappointment for an odiously long time.

Listen to Jagjit Singh sing Andaleeb Shadani, a poet geographically from what is Bangladesh today. https://youtu.be/XsCk5Ot1zLM

The rendition of the ghazal is largely based on Yaman . A wonderful, melodious raag that has devotional and spiritual elements. A raag of the early evening. Sounds great in vocal and instrumental versions.

देर लगी आने में तुम को शुक्र है फिर भी आए तो

देर लगी आने में तुम को शुक्र है फिर भी आए तो
आस ने दिल का साथ न छोड़ा वैसे हम घबराए तो

शफ़क़ धनक महताब घटाएँ तारे नग़्मे बिजली फूल
इस दामन में क्या क्या कुछ है दामन हाथ में आए तो

चाहत के बदले में हम तो बेच दें अपनी मर्ज़ी तक
कोई मिले तो दिल का गाहक कोई हमें अपनाए तो

क्यूँ ये मेहर-अंगेज़ तबस्सुम मद्द-ए-नज़र जब कुछ भी नहीं
हाए कोई अंजान अगर इस धोके में आ जाए तो

सुनी-सुनाई बात नहीं ये अपने उपर बीती है
फूल निकलते हैं शो’लों से चाहत आग लगाए तो

झूट है सब तारीख़ हमेशा अपने को दोहराती है
अच्छा मेरा ख़्वाब-ए-जवानी थोड़ा सा दोहराए तो

नादानी और मजबूरी में यारो कुछ तो फ़र्क़ करो
इक बे-बस इंसान करे क्या टूट के दिल आ जाए तो

…… अंदलीब शादानी

I never tire of listening to these great ghazal singers. Every single of their renditions in their many concerts are so very different from the others, in evoking varied moods and feelings, and of course the time that they spend on each ash’aar may vary, they could actually include different ash’aar by the same or even a different poet. Check this one ,it sounds so different from the earlier one: https://youtu.be/53DFpixS_S8

Have a wonderful weekend, folks and take care to hydrate yourself well in the summer. The heat is, well and truly, on….

All about flowers….

I love the rejuvenation that nature undergoes every spring. The ancient sages in India (& the closely allied Zoroastrians) were wise in having their new year begin with the onset of Spring. The recurring cycle of new creations in spring through the summer, autumn and winter with the even more refined six seasons that Indians follow, epitomises the eternal cycle of life, we must have birth, maturation, procreation, senescence and ultimately, the eternal truth, death.

Spring is just so exuberant in its very construct all around us, new life emerges and the sheer optimism and colour that new vegetation and flowers represent is both uplifting to the soul and also calming as well as pleasing to other senses. All our potted plants have joined in the exuberant celebration of spring and the sheer numbers of, and variety of flowers makes our home a very happy place to be, this time of the year, filling it with a panoply of colours, shapes and ever changing fragrances. After the day’s collection of flowers exceeded the capacity containers meant for them, it was only natural that I would think of this amazing ghazal. https://youtu.be/4YI5EqoOOM0

फूल ही फूल खिल उठे मेरे पैमाने में

फूल ही फूल खिल उठे मेरे पैमाने में

आप क्या आये बहार आ गई मयख़ाने में

आप के नाम से ताबिन्दा है उन्वान-ए-हयात

वरना कुछ बात नहीं थी मेरे अफ़साने में

(ताबिन्दा = चमकनेवाला, रौशन), (उन्वान-ए-हयात = जीवन का परिचय)

मुस्कुराते हुए चेहरे से झटक दो ज़ुल्फ़ें 

रंग-ओ-अनवार की बरसात हो वीराने में 

(अनवार = रोशनियाँ, “नूर” का बहुवचन)

हम हर इक शोख़ का अंदाज़-ए-नज़र जानते हैं 

हमने इक उम्र गुज़ारी है सनमख़ाने में 

आप कुछ यूँ मेरे आईना-ए-दिल में आये

जिस तरह चाँद उतर आया हो पैमाने में

-सलीम गिलानी 

The ghazal shows the outburst of joy that results from the entry of a beloved into the vicinity of an otherwise morose lover who seeks to drown his sorrows and loneliness in a tavern. Khansaheb Mehdi Hassan Sahab has rendered this multiple times for varying lengths of time and with altered verse as well. Check this one out: https://youtu.be/Ib-dKTFNbQ0

Check out also this rendition by my favourite male singer of all genres, and the one man who gave every wannabe ghazal singer in India an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood by his amazingly sustained efforts to popularize the genre over decades, Jagjit Singh, undoubtedly a great singer and even more undoubtedly, a truly great human being. https://youtu.be/nD8wkPWpLB0

This amazing recording dates back to 1972 from a private mehfil in Kenya. Jagjit Singh’s voice is clearly so very fresh and young and tonally different from what we are usually accustomed to our hearing when he sings.

This is one ghazal where I must confess it is tough to pick the better singer, despite the very clear influence of Khan saheb on Jagjitji’s singing. Jagjit ji always admitted to being influenced by Khan Saheb and even went out to help an ill Khansaheb financially during his last days when he needed the support (his own countrymen and/or family were found wanting to a certain extent). Jagjit ji comes very close to the maestro. Very very close if not matching him note for note.

Have a wonderful day and weekend ahead, folks. Enjoy all the 3 renditions, stay happy and healthy.