The piano start...and there enters tabla...Rafi Sahab starts the first line...'Kaisi haseen aaj...baharo ki raat hai.....ik chaand aasma pe hai ik mere sath hai'.... here comes Talat Mehmood...'O dene wale...tune to...koi kami na ki.....ab kisko kya mila....ye muqqadar ki baat hai'...! It's a unique jugalbandi of the two legends..two stalwarts of expressions...if one wants to learn the importance of pronunciation and expression of words while singing...then what better way could be, than to listen to these two maestros...learning and joy at the same time!
Mohammed Rafi and Talat Mahmood belonged to the golden era of Hindi Film music...(I guess 'Hindi Film music' is a musical genre of one of its own kind in this world), when some great composers of the likes of MadanMohan, Naushad, Khayyam, SD Burman, RD Burman, OP Naiyer, Roshan, Salil Choudhary and many more, created some unforgettable melodies for the Indian masses...when poets of the likes of Hasart Jaipuri, Majaruh Sultanpuri, Kavi Pradeep, Shakeel Badayuni...poured their hearts out in their poetry... It seems, to match up to such legendary composers and poets...God had to send these beautiful voices in the form of Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Lata, Asha, Kishore da. And as they say, rest is history....a new musical genre was born, like classical, folk,western etc...'Hindi Film Music'! Even today, the music...the melody created by them is alive...those songs still have the very freshness and originality...and people like me (and I am sure there are many more...:-) ) still love to listen those songs.
I was never a fan of Moh Rafi in my college days....I was more for Kishore da's lively and macho voice and free flow singing....but gradually when I was exposed to more of Rafi songs specially composed by SD Burman and OP Naiyer...I started following him more....what versatility..what expressions..a playback singer in true sense! Sure I would need a separate blog solely for him!
Talat Mahmood was another gem of a singer... with his unique vibratory voice..giving a vulnerable texture I would say...don't know how to express it otherwise! His voice..just perfect for Gazal singing... 'Jalte hain jiske liye' is my most favorite.
Let me come back to the song....Naushad sahab always methodical and cultured in his music arrangements...has used western instruments more like piano in this song..but the emphasis is more on singing part as always. He successfully managed to bring these two greats together in an emotional melody...utilizing their uniqueness...giving both of them a stanza each, and keeping the last stanza of the song for both of them. Let me take you through my experience of listening to this song:
1st Stanza by Rafi:
Chhaya hai husno ishq pe..ik range bekhudi...(Typical Rafi harkatein...in 'ik range bekhudi')
Aate hain zindagi me ye..aalam kabhi kabhi....(Observe singing of 'Zindagi' and 'Kabhi kabhi')
Har gam ko bhool jao...khushi ki barat hai... ik chaad aasma pe hai ik mere sath hai..
2nd Stanza by Talat:
Aai hai wo bahar ke....nagme ubal pade (Different dhun from the 1st stanza...in lower notes..perfect for Talat!)
Aisi khushi mili hai...ke aansu nikal pade...(Really results in a drop or two from eyes!)
Hotho pe hai duaayein...magar dil pe hath hai....ab kisko kya mila...ye muqqadar ki bat hai. (Oh..what moving voice...god damn!!!)
If this wasn't enough....the last Stanza by both:
Masti simat ke pyar ke gulshan me aa gai....(Rafi brought in masti..)
Meri kushi bhi aapke daman me aa gai....(Watch how delicately Talat sings 'aa gai' at the end...awesome)
bhavra kali se dur..nahi sath sath hai.....ab kisko kya mila ye muqqadar ki baat hai.
Wow...they used to sing.. totally immersed in the song...Hats off to the legends!
Mohammed Rafi and Talat Mahmood belonged to the golden era of Hindi Film music...(I guess 'Hindi Film music' is a musical genre of one of its own kind in this world), when some great composers of the likes of MadanMohan, Naushad, Khayyam, SD Burman, RD Burman, OP Naiyer, Roshan, Salil Choudhary and many more, created some unforgettable melodies for the Indian masses...when poets of the likes of Hasart Jaipuri, Majaruh Sultanpuri, Kavi Pradeep, Shakeel Badayuni...poured their hearts out in their poetry... It seems, to match up to such legendary composers and poets...God had to send these beautiful voices in the form of Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Lata, Asha, Kishore da. And as they say, rest is history....a new musical genre was born, like classical, folk,western etc...'Hindi Film Music'! Even today, the music...the melody created by them is alive...those songs still have the very freshness and originality...and people like me (and I am sure there are many more...:-) ) still love to listen those songs.
I was never a fan of Moh Rafi in my college days....I was more for Kishore da's lively and macho voice and free flow singing....but gradually when I was exposed to more of Rafi songs specially composed by SD Burman and OP Naiyer...I started following him more....what versatility..what expressions..a playback singer in true sense! Sure I would need a separate blog solely for him!
Talat Mahmood was another gem of a singer... with his unique vibratory voice..giving a vulnerable texture I would say...don't know how to express it otherwise! His voice..just perfect for Gazal singing... 'Jalte hain jiske liye' is my most favorite.
Let me come back to the song....Naushad sahab always methodical and cultured in his music arrangements...has used western instruments more like piano in this song..but the emphasis is more on singing part as always. He successfully managed to bring these two greats together in an emotional melody...utilizing their uniqueness...giving both of them a stanza each, and keeping the last stanza of the song for both of them. Let me take you through my experience of listening to this song:
1st Stanza by Rafi:
Chhaya hai husno ishq pe..ik range bekhudi...(Typical Rafi harkatein...in 'ik range bekhudi')
Aate hain zindagi me ye..aalam kabhi kabhi....(Observe singing of 'Zindagi' and 'Kabhi kabhi')
Har gam ko bhool jao...khushi ki barat hai... ik chaad aasma pe hai ik mere sath hai..
Aai hai wo bahar ke....nagme ubal pade (Different dhun from the 1st stanza...in lower notes..perfect for Talat!)
Aisi khushi mili hai...ke aansu nikal pade...(Really results in a drop or two from eyes!)
Hotho pe hai duaayein...magar dil pe hath hai....ab kisko kya mila...ye muqqadar ki bat hai. (Oh..what moving voice...god damn!!!)
If this wasn't enough....the last Stanza by both:
Masti simat ke pyar ke gulshan me aa gai....(Rafi brought in masti..)
Meri kushi bhi aapke daman me aa gai....(Watch how delicately Talat sings 'aa gai' at the end...awesome)
bhavra kali se dur..nahi sath sath hai.....ab kisko kya mila ye muqqadar ki baat hai.
Wow...they used to sing.. totally immersed in the song...Hats off to the legends!
