Non-films songs I love to listen

I celebrated my entry into 56 th year last week. An occasion to remember and what is the best way to have an event memorable, if not through music !

So, I listed my favourite songs, this year non-film ones, which I could listen in a loop. I thought I'll share the list with my friends. This is  strictly a list of personal favourites, so I thought it fit to document the anthology, which ranges from the grand old lady Begam Akhtar to Sumita  Chakraborty, one of the less-known names.

So here’s the list ( and the songs)




The name of Begam Akhtar was always mentioned in our musically-inclined , urdu-literate family, whenever an appropriate occasion was there. While as a child I found her voice “coarse” ( as compared to “sweet” of Lata Mangeshkar ), as I grew up,  I realised the impact of the rendition on the listener, specially as the song was a high-brow ghazal rather than a light romantic solo !

                                        Kabhi taqdeer ka maatam, kabhi duniya ka gila
                                         Manzil-e-ishq mein,  har gaam pe rona aaya 

Talat Mehmood was another frequently  heard voice. My mother is an avid fan and his film and non-film ghazals were pleasing to the ear ( which is the basic requirement of a good song). To pick up one of his ghzals is really difficult , as there are many vying for the single slot. Amongst his non-film songs, the one I love to hear repeatedly is this gem.

The impact of Jagjit Singh and his simple style of singing amenable lyrics , with more contemporary orchestration got me hooked for ever. His rendition made the most complex words understandable and hummable, at the same time. As with Talat, there are so many of his ghazals, nazms and bhajans that I like to listen a lot. My choice for the all time favourite is the one which  puts him at his melancholic best.

                                        Hamein to aaj ki shab, pau phate tak jaagna hoga
                                         Yahi qismat hamari hai, sitaaron tum to so jao 

With Jagjit Singh, we also heard his wife and companion Chitra Singh. The quality of her voice was unique and I found it very appealing. While Jagjit was obviously the more popular of the duo, their duets ( ghazals, bhajans and tappe) brought home the realisation that she was a perfect foil for his voice.

                                          Zehar peene ki to aadat hai zamaane waalon
                                        Ab koi aur dawaa do, ke main zinda hoon abhi

The next voice that drew me to the radio ( those days , it  was the only source of music:all genres ) was that of Mehdi Hasan. While his ghazals had a classical music -oriented aura due to various intricate alaaps, while on stage, I preferred his straight-lace rendition more. This ghazal is a great favourite.

                                           Maqaam Faiz koi raah mein jancha hi nahin
                                            Jo koo-e-yaar se nikle, to soo-e-daar chale 

Ghulam Ali came as another whiff of fresh air. His voice had a “khanak” and his style of rendition vastly appealing. There was an unexperienced ‘adaa’ in his gayaki , as most of his  ghazals demonstrate amply. His thumris and naats are equally a delight to listen.

This is my most favorite ghazal, which I can hear any number of times

                                          Kuchh to naazuq-mizaaj hain ham bhi
                                                 Aur ye chot bhi nayi hai abhi

The Asha Bhonsle of cabarets and pop-based love-songs is as great as the Asha who sings ghazals. The album of Asha which shows her versatility ( proved in Umrao Jaan, later on) was the one from which this ghazal has been selected.

                                                       

                                          Tu kahaan thi ae ajal, ae naamuraadon ki muraad
                                              Marne waale raah teri, umr bhar dekha kiye 

As I began to collect the cassettes for my music library, I came across Chandan Das. A rooted-to-earth voice and an honest rendition. I found his ‘geet’, presented below as one with a massive repeat value, for which some credit goes to the lyrics too.

Amongst the newer singers, I love the voice of Sumita Chakraborty ( a disciple of Jagjit Singh) and her ghazals leave a yearning  for more !


                                           Toote na ye saanson ka tasalsul mere hamdam
                                                 Ye kaafila -e-umr bahut tez kadam hai 

The advent of internet opened up the world of ghazals and the freshest voice I was able to appreciate was that of actor Ali Zafar, singing Ghalib, who was born almost 200 years before him !  

                                        

This is but a sampling of the songs which I love to listen on loop. There are many others, which will take many more blogs. As  a parting shot, I remember the lines of Gulzar on my birthday, as I always do, year after year


                                              Wo umr kam kar raha tha meri
                                               Min saal apne badha raha tha