Of the 122 films for which Sahir Ludhianvi penned lyrics, in a career spanning from 1948 to 1989, the decades of 50s and 60s account for 84 films – 44 films during 1950 to 1959 and 44 films during 1960 to 1979 – which statistically works out to a huge 69%. By the turn of ‘60s GenNext music directors were in the process of taking over the baton from music directors of the earlier generation. The character and importance of Hindi film songs too was undergoing a major shift. In such a transforming scenario of the decade of 1970 to 1979, Sahir Ludhianvi remained active and relevant, by penning songs for 26 films (~21%). His quantitative work during 1980 to 1989 did seem to have thinning out – 8 films (~6+%).
The two leading music directors of GenNext breed, R D Burman and Laxmikant Pyarelal had adapted almost contrasting styles of music direction during the decade of 70s. Our journey of Sahir Ludhianvi’s Romantic songs brings us to Sahir’s association of four films with R D Burman, ,one of these two music directors, in our present episode.
R D Burman, (June 27, 1939 – January 4, 1994) had yet not joined as assistant to his father in Pyasa (1957), the last film, that Sahir and S D Burman did together. However, RD was always part of SDB team, as an understudy of the father. However, when R D Burman teamed with Sahir Ludhianvi in 1973, R D Burman was firmly in his saddle with his own distinct style of rhythm composition, coupled with highly imaginative orchestration.
Tera Mujhse Hai Naata Koi YuNhi NahiN Dil Lubhata Koi…. Jane Tu Ya Jane Na, Mane Tu Ya Mane Na – Aa Gale Lag Ja (1973) – Kishore Kumar
dhuaN dhuaN tha wo sama
yahaN wahaM jane kahaN
tu aur main kahiN mile the pahle
dekha tujhe to dil ne kaha
jane tu ya jane na
dekho abhi khona nahiN
kabhi juda hona nahiN
abke yuNhi milte rahenge dono
wada raha ye is sham ka
jane tu ya jane na
The song has another version, in the voices of Shushma Shreshtha and Kishore Kumar. Sahir Ludhianvi has altered the lyrics in sync with the new situation. This version had earned acclaim of the critics too.
dekho abhee khona nahiN, kabhee juda hona nahin
ab khel mein yuNhee rahenge ham dono
vada raha yeh is sham kaa
yuNhi nahiN dil lubhata koi
vade gaye batein gaiN, jagi jagi rateein gai
chaha jise mila nahi, to bhi hamein gila nahNi
apna to kya jiye marein chahe kuch ho
tujhko to jeena ras aa gaya
jane too ya jane naa
O Thehro Meri Jaan, Waada Karo NahiN Chhodogi Tum Mera Saath , Jahan Tum Ho, Wahan Main Bhi Hoon…..Chhuo NahiN Dekho Mera Haath, Zaraa Peechhe Rakho Haath, JawaaN Tum Ho JawaaN Main Bhi HuN – Aa Gale Lag Ja (1973) – Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
suno meri jaan, haNske mujhe yeh keh do
bheege laboN ki narmi mere liye hai
ho, jawaaN nazar ki masti mere liye hai
hasiN ada ki shokhi mere liye hai
mere liye leke aayi ho yeh saugaat
mere hi peechhe aakhir pade ho tum kyuN
ek main jawaan nahiN hoon, aur bhi to hai
oh, mujhe hi ghere aakhir khade ho tum kyuN
main hi yahaN nahiN hooN aur bhi to hai
jaao jaake le lo jo bhi de de tumhein haath
jahaN sab hai, vahaN main bhi hooN
Kaanp Rahi Main Abhi Jara Tham Jaanam, Baaki Hai Raat Abhi, Haanf Rahi Main, Le LuN Jara Dum Jaanam, Na Kar Ye Baat Abhi – Joshila (1973) – Asha Bhosle
tune, o re mere jaani
jo hai ji mein thani
usse daruN main, daruN main …
tu jo, pass mere aaye
jaan meri jaye
aahein bharuN main
th th trak trak th ra
th th trak trak th ra
jane de re, rok jara hath abhi
kaanp rahi main
abhi, gul hai diye sare
pass aa ja pyare
ban ja diwana, diwana
jara, mast main bhi holuN
to ye tujhe boluN
tu hai nishana
th th trak trak th ra
th th trak trak th ra
main bhi huN, tu bhi hai sath abhi
kaanp rahi main
Maine Tujhe Maanga Tujhe Paya Hai, Tu Ne Mujhe Maanga Mujhe Payaa Hai … Aage Hamein Jo Bhi Mile, Mile Na Mile Gila NahiN – Deewar (1975) – Asha Bhosale, Kishore Kumar
chhanw ghani hi nahiN, dhoop kadi bhi, hoti hain rahoN mein
gam ho ke khushiyaN ho sabhi ko humein lena hain bahoN mein
yuN dukhi ho ke jinewale, kya ye tuze pata nahiN
maine tuze manga, tuze paya hai
jhid hain tumhein to lo lab pe na shikawa kabhi bhi layenge
has ke sahengeN jo dard ya gam bhi jahaN se payengein
tuzako jo bura lage, ayesa kabhi kiya nahiN
maine tuze manga, tuze paya hai
Meri Najhar Hai Tujhpe Teri Najhar Hai Mujhpe Isi Liye Rehate HaiN Dono Khoye Huye…. Tere Bina Jiyra Mane Na Lagi Agan Hai Ye Kaisi Haye Jane Na Manwa, Ho Sajna, Ho Tere Bina Jiyra Mane Na – The Burning Train (1980) – Asha Bhosle
tere liye kaliyaN maiN chunti rahuN
aashaaoN ki malayein bunti rahuN
jage mein bhi sapno mein khoi rahuN
sote mein bhi aahat si sunti rahuN
o sajna balma mujhko kya ho gaya
ho januN na januN na, tere bina jiyra mane na
lagi agan hai ye kaisi haye janae na balam ho sajana
meri najhar hai tujhpe teri najar hai mujhpe
….. …… …… …… …… ….
bichhad ke unse na jab dil kisi tarah bahla
sharabkhane ka rukh
sharabkhane ka rukh ekhtiyar hamne kiya
na aanewaloN ka kyuN
na aanewaloN ka kyuN intajhar kyuN hamne kiya
na aanewaloN ka kyuN intajhar kyuN hamne kiya
kisi ke vade pe kyuN, aitbar humne kiya
If R D Burman has maintained his unique style, Sahir Ludhianvi, too, has, retained the basic character of his poetry, in this era of film songs in the era of more predominance of action over the content, resulting in a unique combination of two different styles blending into a creative association.
In our next episode, we will again change the track from ‘70s to the earlier decades, with Sahir Ludhianvi’s five-film association with O P Nayyar.
The world is too small? or Is it? 