Masterly melody

A respected retired Commissioner of Police sent me the link late last night. I saw it on waking up early today and it set my thoughts in motion.
.
A fantastic melody from a maestro who had Bharatratna Lata Mangeshkar sang for his compositions both in his native Punjabi and Hindi and was referred to as Masterji. A rare genius who was a Doyen of the Punjabi film music and created some unforgettable scores in Bollywood as well. The music director is Hansraj Behl who even went on to make films under his own production house, NC Films after his father’s name, Nihal Chand. Financial success never was in his fate, but his musical compositions are truly sublime. Take a look at this amazing song. https://youtu.be/0tj6m2_w7ew?si=5cABLCxIRsgYA1kO

The movie is Milan made in the late 50s with an unlikely lead pair of the very beautiful Nalini Jaywant & Hamid Ali Khan who we know better by his adoptive screen name of Ajit . A very unusual pairing. Ajit was undeniably handsome but didn’t quite make it to the top, having to change to a more negative, villainous set of roles. The song, based on a divine raag, one of my all time favourites , Darbari .

हाय जिया रोए रोए -२
पिया नाहि आए आए
हाय जिया रोए रोए -२
इक मैं ही जागूँ -२
सारा जग सोए
हाय जिया रोए रोए -२
.
तुमने तो देखा होगा, ऐ चाँद तारों -२
कित गए मोरे सैंया, तुम ही पुकारो
ओ तुम ही पुकारो, जाओ उनको इतना बताओ
हाय जिया रोए रोए …
.
कब तक जिये कोई बिरहा की मारी -२
चँदा तेरी चाँदनी मोहे लागी अँधियारे
आओ सैंया, अब तो आ जाओ

The fabulous lyrics are by Prem Dhawan . Short, succinct and very meaningful. Latadidi is pretty much on her home turf with such emotion charged, extremely melodious songs based on Hindustani Classical Music with just a hint of sadness. I love her divine voice in this mood, best captured by the great composers ( Madan Mohan figures at the top of this list but then most have used this strength of hers that sets her apart from others notionally in her class). She knows how to effortlessly tug at the audience’s heart strings, manipulate them skilfully and put everyone into a sombre frame of mind that she’s set so cleverly.
.
Look at her go up and down the octaves so beautifully without the slightest of stress, an auditory and spiritual roller coaster ride that one wishes would never end.
.
Thank you very much Sharma sahab for sending me the link last night. You’ve set the tune and tone for the morning as I deal with springs and balloons and the sublime sounds play inside my head in a continuous loop.