#390

        Song:   aa mohabbat ki bastii basaayenge hum
                is zamiin se alag aasmaanon se duur

        Film:   Fareb (1953)
        Singer: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
        Music:  Anil Biswas
        Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
        *ing:   Kishore Kumar, ?

It's a travesty to see all Lata-Kishore duet compilations stuffed
with   mediocre  grooves  from  the  70s/80s,  when  consummately
haunting melodies like this one exist.  This  song  is  a  recent
addition  to  my  collection, and I simply can't seem to get over
it; it's beautiful !  I think it's  based  on  some  raga  (can't
identify  which  one,  though).   Anilda was a master at layering
deeply classical tunes with lighter strains  without  losing  the
classical  essence, and it shows in this song. And the renditions
(both  Lata's  and  Kishore's),   alongwith   the   soft   violin
accompaniment  pervading  through  all the vocals, all add to the
innate sweetness of this  peerless  melody.  One  of  their  best
efforts ever.

Some curious imagery in the lyrics, too  :   
(Lata)  
main huun dhartii tuu aakaash hai o sanam
dekh dhartii se aakaash hai kitni duur
tuu kahaan main kahaan huun yehi mujhko gham
dekh dhartii se aakaash hai kitni duur
(Kishore)
duur duniya se koii nahiin hai jahaan
mil rahey hain wahaan par zamiin aasmaan
chhup ke duniya se kyuun na mil jaayen hum
is zamiin se alag aasmaanon se duur

In addition to the  strong  "zamiin-aasmaan"  motif,  the  actual
interaction  going on between the two is rather curious. It seems
like she's  very  insecure,  diffident  and  in  general,  rather
negative  on  things,  while  he  is trying his best to offer her
reassurances to the contrary. Seems like a duet where the two are
geographically  separated,  and while she has resigned herself to
her fate, he's trying to draw her out of it.

The film carries another lovely Kishore solo that I  know-  "husn
bhi hai udaas udaas, ishq bhi gham se chuur hai".



Guest Author: Hrishi Dixit