Songs to Remember - VII (Dil Abhi Bhara Nahin!)

So far every time I have put my words to the blog, I have only been partial to songs that convey the feelings of pain, anguish, tears, loneliness and frustration but love is not only these - it's also a collection of those beautiful moments that you always wish would have stayed forever - like those beautiful vintage Kodak moments; like those moments when you wanted to caress the face of your beloved, just that one extra time, just linger onto her face for that one instant more, gaze in her deep eyes just that one second more....

It would have been the moment at the airport when you had to leave but you wanted to be with her for that one second more or that moment in the cab before you left her home or that one moment before you left the city on some job or other errand.... it could have been any of those moments.... or it could have been the moment before the farewell too...

Unwittingly, the words that would have come out at that moment would have been somewhat like the ones the great Mohammed Rafi crooned to the melodious Asha Bhonsle as magic was being created  by one of the greatest romantic pairs, Dev Anand and Sadhana on a sylvan evening in 1961 (the film is Hum Dono)

Abhi Naa Jao Chhodkar, Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi

The lover is requesting his beloved to stay back as the cup of the heart has not yet drunk from the loving eyes of the beloved.....In my opinion, this is one of the best and most beautiful of all the romantic duets composed in the history of Hindi film music....

The music is soothing - just like the times when you are in the warm confines of your beloved; the lyrics are so simple and so magical just like the sweet nothings that many mutter to his or her beloved and the picturisation - so romantic one would be transported to one such day in his or her own life

Mohammed Rafi is undoubtedly the God of singers - listen to him the way he sings this song - it's just like a lover putting forth his feelings, his emotions, his frustrations, his pleas in front of that beloved who means the world to him and sometimes more than that... look at the way he caresses the word 'Abhi' and the emphasis he puts on that word, without sounding rude or angry - the words have been sung in a way to make a beloved empathize with the feelings inherent in the words.... look at the way Rafi Sahab goes about increasing the tempo of the feeling and increasing the sense of urgency in the urge - till the last line fully emcompasses the feelings of any lover -

What was is that Albert Einstein said about time being relative? A second with an enemy is equal to an age; an eternity with a beloved equal to a second - I believe every true lover can be a physicist if he decides to be - after all who can understand relativity more than a true lover?

Abhi Abhi To Aayee Ho, Bahaar Ban Ke Chhaayee Ho
Hawaa Zara Mahek To Le, Nazar Zara Bahek To Le
Ye Shaam Dhal To Le Zara, Ye Dil Sambhal To Le Zara
Main Thodi Der Ji To Loon, Nashe Ke Ghoont Pee To Loon
Abhi To Kuchh Kahaa Nahi ;Abhi To Kuchh Sunaa Nahi ..

However, the beloved is not impressed - as normally happens, she has more mundane concerns superficially but actually the real reasons are not far to find - she knows and knows quite well that if she even lingers on for that one second more, it will not be possible for her to leave the side of the lover - after all what is a beloved that does not understand the extent of the love the lover has for her...

Asha Bhonsle was never very close to my heart - I was more given to her sister Lata and of course the great Geeta and Noorjehan .... it was only after hearing this stanza that my heart got to know the power of Asha and till today, I have never felt let down by this great singer

Close your eyes and let the description of the environment seep in, in your psyche... so well has Asha brought it and then concentrate on the duality of her emotions as she struggles with her inner self that wants to stay back and her responsibilities that force her to go on...and then with a majestic strong sweep she decides to leave, declaring rather playfully to her love that their love is not one that would be easily satiated even if she stayed back for the whole night (life)

Sitaare Jhilmeela Uthhe, Charaag Jagmagaa Uthhe
Bas Ab Naa Mujh Ko Tokna, Na Badh Ke Raah Rokna
Agar Main Ruk Gayee Abhi, To Jaa Na Paaoungi Kabhi
Yahi Kahoge Tum Sadaa, Ke Dil Abhi Naheen Bharaa
Jo Khatm Ho Kisi Jagah, Ye Aisa Silasilaa Nahi ..

The lover is not easily convinced and here he puts up all his sly persuasiveness to play; listen to these words and see how the words have been used to great use by the composer and the singer as they play on both the sensual and sexual aspect of the love without lingering onto it... observe how the point of commitment is subtly mentioned and how the beloved is obliquely reminded of the challenges that are a part of any and every love affair....

Just listen to this song and see the way the great Rafi plays with each word, giving each of them an important meaning and richness that can only be done by someone whom the Gods decide to bless with talent.....Listen to how despite being so persuasive, the singer conveys the feeling of not being so by camouflaging his feelings and plaint as nothing but an expression of love

Adhuri Aans Chhod Ke, Adhuri Pyaas Chhodh Ke
Jo Roz Yun Hi Jaogi, To Kis Tarah Nibhaogi
Ke Zindagi Ki Raah Men, Jawaan Dilon Ki Chaah Men
Kaie Makaam Aayenge, Jo Hum Ko Aazmaayenge
Buraa Naa Maano Baat Ka, Ye Pyaar Hain Gila Nahi

Yahi Kahoge Tum Sadaa, Ke Dil Abhi Naheen Bharaa
Abhi Naa Jao Chhodkar, Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi

And then listen to the 'Nahi' that is emphatically repeated by both Asha and Rafi - see the adamancy that's reflected in both the singer's voice and observe the differences between the two - where Rafi is adamant in a very boyish and lover-like manner, Asha is defiant in an responsible but playful manner

Jaidev has not been one of the most popular composers around - his repertoire speaks of a very few movies but the songs are so brilliant that even today, a lover and a beloved often use this songs as and when they feel so.. Such is the power of the music and such is the magic of Sahir that the words resonate on their own.... Where is music of such high brilliance? Where are lyrics that can transcend a simple discussion into such divine overtones? Where are the voices that can make one forget the world? Can any song beat this?

Abhi Dil Bhara Nahin.............................