Suddenly Alone

It’s interesting how some songs stay in our head more than others. Not for their musical merit but for the simple memories one associates with the song. Or sometimes.. how the meaningfulness of the song increases when one personally experiences the feelings that the poet is talking about. Once we relate to the song on a personal level rather than on a musical alone, the song becomes that much closer to our heart. We just dont just listen to the song, we feel it..

Have been listening to one such song.. Gulzar’s evocative lyrics set to a simple and beautiful melody by R D Burman. The questions that life throws at us, ever so innocently.. and the storm of emotions and thoughts that we pass through as a result of it..

Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi hairaan hoon main
Tere masoom sawaalon se pareshaan hoon main

jeene ke liye socha hi nahin, dard sambhaalne honge
muskuraayen to, muskuraane ke karz utaarne honge
muskuraaooN kabhi to lagtaa hai
jaise honTon pe karz rakhhaa hai

aaj agar bhar aai hain, boondein baras jaayengii
kal kyaa pataa inke liye aankhen taras jaayengii
jaane kab ghum hua kahaan khoya
ek aansoo chhupaake rakhaa thaa

zindagi tere gham ne hamein rishte naye samjhaaye
mile jo hamein dhoop mein mile chhaon ke thanDe saaye..

Film: Masoom (1982); Singer(s): Lata Mangeshkar, Anup Ghoshal; Lyrics: Gulzar; Music: R D Burman

When I smile, I feel the smile weigh on my lips like a debt. When the tears flow, I don’t stop them, for my eyes might crave for those very tears tomorrow. Eloquent words that tug at our heartstrings.. This song will always have a special place in my heart.

The music & lyrics give me an out of the world experience and makes you look at life in a different perspective. I cannot say the feelings are somber but definetly more thankful, tells me to take “life as it comes” and gives me a chance to retrospect,look at what life it is now and what its going to be. Music can do that to you, in particular RD Burman’s.

There are so many songs that we just dont just listen to, we feel it.. and start making more sense out of the situation, start looking beyond .. start enjoying the feeling of being in pain maybe?

Thank god for the song and dance routines in “apna pyaara bollywood”, there’s a song made for every possible emotion there is. Although, I am still trying to find that one song which best describes the state of mind that I am in right now. A little bit of rush, a lot of confusion, a wee bit nervous, add some sadness to it. Is there a one word for this set of emotions?

This song is, without a doubt, a gem from the collaborative genius of RD and Gulzar, one that doesn’t lose its charm despite repeated renditions.

Nothing, however, has been discussed on the different versions of the song. Although its hard to pick one from the other, I am personally biased to the male version by Anoop Ghoshal. The way he changes the tone in the line, “Ek ansoo, chupa ke rakha tha”, is frankly brilliant. I don’t know whether this can be attributed to RD’s direction or Ghoshal Babu’s whim, but it imparts a delicious flavour to the song.

Though, I’m really young and wasn’t even born when the film was released, I feel like the song is so perfect for everything I’ve ever been through. Each line of the song makes you remember one thing or another of your life. Treasured are the memories of my childhood years trapped in the lines …”Muskuraun kabhi…toh lagta hai…jaise honthon pe…karz rakkha hai…”. How true can these lines be?

There are many songs that I enjoy listening to or the songs that touch my heart, but this one particular song is just too special. Every line of it has something that touches my heart.

If you haven’t listened to this song, do try to listen to it at least once. It’s a beautiful song sung by a beautiful singer with a great voice.