So I was having this discussion with a friend, and I was asked
which my favorite song was. As hard a choice it was to make, it set me off on a
journey across the many musical masterpieces I had heard to date. I cruised
past the very temporary and catchy songs, and then maybe hung back a bit or two
around the songs I hear the most, stopped and stared and longingly left behind
the Pink Floyds and the Bhimsen Joshis, the Kishore Kumars and the Asha
Bhosales, till I finally landed at a particular Mohammed Rafi song. I don't
know why or how I landed on this particular one, but well, it has so many
reasons to be my favorite song, that since the time I made the choice, the more
I think of it, the more perfect it seems.
The song discusses a very basic life lesson, i.e. 'to let go'.
The lyrics explain that you have no control over the things which happen in
your life, so why must we despair over such things.
The words are penned by the Sant Tulsidas. They were later adapted
into a song by Sahir Ludhianvi, which Rafi sahab sang in the movie Chitralekha.
The great singer has done a fantastic job as always with this song. The very
simple yet pure emotion and thought in this song, both in terms of music and
lyrics leave the listener spell bound. The song is based on Raag Yaman Kalyan
to a Teen Taal beat.
Manaa Tu
Kaahe Na Dheer Dharat Ab - Sant Tulsidas
Manaa Tu Kaahe Na Dheer Dharat Ab
Dheer Dhare Sab Kaaraj Sudharat
Jaa Ke Sar Raghunath Biraajat
Vaa Ke Sab Hi Kaaraj Saadhat
Tulsidas Raghunath Kripa Tein
Bighan Sab Tarat
Mann re tu
kahe na dheer dhare – Sahir Ludhianvi
Mana Re, Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare
Wo Nirmohi Moh Na Jaane, Jinka Moh Kare
Wo Nirmohi Moh Na Jaane, Jinka Moh Kare
Is Jeevan Ki Chadhti Dhalti Dhoop Ko Kisne Baandha
Rang Pe Kisne Pehre Dalle, Roop Ko Kisne Baandha
Kahe Ye Jatan Kare
Rang Pe Kisne Pehre Dalle, Roop Ko Kisne Baandha
Kahe Ye Jatan Kare
Utna Hi Upkar Samajh Koi Jitna Saath Nibha De
Janam Maran Ka Mel Hai Sapna, Ye Sapna Bisra De
Koi Na Sang Mare
Janam Maran Ka Mel Hai Sapna, Ye Sapna Bisra De
Koi Na Sang Mare