Songs are remembered but not the Lyricist

Film songs are integral part of our life. The 50's were ruled by stalwart musicians like Naushad, SD Burman, MadanMohan, Roshan, C.Ramchandra, the 60's introduced famed duos like Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant Pyarelal and Kalyanji Anandji. Also the firebrand OP. The seventies had fresh air to the music with the greatly talented RD "Pancham" Burman. The 80's brought us Amitabh Bachhan and with him ruling real music was pushed back save for rare gems from RD in the early genre of AB's films. It was only in the late nineties that AR Rehman entered the scene and brought melody back in reckoning.

Whenever we remember the great music directors we remember some of them by their association with their pet singers like Naushad-Rafi, RD-Kishor, SJ-Mukesh, OP-Asha and MM-Lata combination.

We all like to sing when alone. We hum songs which are close to our hearts.

I was recently thinking upon why we are humming a particular song.

Do I hum "Tere Mere Sapne Ab ek Rang hai..." because of great interludes on saxophone by - the one and only Manohari Singh or the honeyed voice of Rafi or the great composition by Dada Burman.

Do I hum "Mera kucch Saman tumhare paas pada hai...." because of the ultimate longing in the voice of Asha or the gread melody composed by RD or the combined magic of RD + Asha.

Do I hum "Aap ki Nazaron ne samaza pyaar ke kabil muzhe...' for the serenity and pureness of Lata's voice or the great medoly and heavenly music of the Great Madan Mohan or the famed combination of Lataji and her Madanbhaiya.

Do I hum "Kahi door jab din dhal jaye........" for the honesty in Mukesh's voice or great music by the underutilised (by Hindi industry) Salil Chowdhury.

Do I hum "Tum Bin Jaoon Kahan...." for the naturally talented Kishore or great tune by the LP duo.

or more recently "Aye Ajanabi Tu bhi Kabhi aawaj de Kahin se..." appeals for the excellent rendition by Udit Narayan or because of great composition by "The" AR Rehman.

Enough of the list of songs which come to mind instantly ... the list is endeless.

We remember the singers and musicians of these songs immediately......... but do we realise that it is really the emotions in these words which appealed to us... it struck a cord somewhere in our hearts. Thats the reason that we remember these great compositions by great lyricists like Shailendra, Gulzar, Yogesh, Rajendrakrishna etc.

If you observed just like the singer/composer duos there are lyricist/composer duos also in the industry. Like Naushad & Shakil Badayuni, LP with Anand Bakshi, KA with Indivar, SD-Shailendra, SD/RD-Gulzar, OP with SH Bihari.

Two very special combinations that come to mind here. Majority of Madan Mohan compositions are Rajendrakrishna or Raja Mehandi Ali Khan. In fact RMAK has almost 90% of his creations composed by MM. In Marathi music, the amazingly talented Hridaynath Mangeshkar (composer and also a singer) has put to music some poetry of Suresh Bhat and Grace.

Whenever we remember our favourite song we tend to forget the entire poetry but remember only the mukhada. My attempt here is to help you enjoy the entire song.... word by word.

Sing to yourself .... not loudly.... but man hi man me ........ marathit manaatlya manaat.

I will be posting here some good poetry from Hindi/Marathi music. Whenever possible I will give all details like singer,film name, musician............... and of course the lyricist.

Help me with your suggestions, corrections, demands, orders whatever. Aap jaise sangeet or kavita premi ka hukoom sar aankhopar............

Keep humminnnnnnngggggggg...................

musically yours...................abhay