#457

        Song:    maahi o maahi o dupatta mera de de
                 dupatta mera de de de de
                 o maahi o maahi o...

        Film:    Meena Bazaar (1950)
        Singer:  Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
        Music:   Husnlal Bhagatram
        Lyrics:  Qamar Jalalabadi
        *ing:    Nargis, ?

And it seems equally befitting to have a Husnlal Bhagatram song in a
Rafi tribute. I'm going to offset the gloom clouding the previous two
songs, though (nuff of the weepies). Here's a song loaded with an
infectious vim and mirth, totally devoid of either somber despair or
despondent philosophizing. HB have beautifully captured the playful
spirit of this song through their merry tune, with Rafi and Lata
contributing the proverbial icing impeccably. One of their sweetest
renditions ever.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The charm of romantic duets
is multiplied several-fold when an informal, simplistic and often
conversational thread runs through the song. It adds a realistic touch
to the situation, and almost always, simple, well-chosen words come
across as very warm and endearing in romantic situations:

isne milaaya hamen, pyaara dupatta tera
ek kinaara tera, ek kinaara mera
aaj donon kinaare milaa de, milaa de
maahi o, maahi o...