एक सवाल मैं करूँ ?

Nandkishor Desai | 23rd Mar 2024

Life is complicated. Don't try to find answers because when you find the answers, life changes the questions.

~ Unknown

Truly, life's throws up many questions and songs in Hindi Films look at this position from various sides of the human spectrum. Happiness, sorrow, anger, frustration, helplessness, love, hatred and many other emotions have been spoken about by lyricists in their songs as questions and this is what Nandkishor Desai (popularly known as NKD) touched upon in his presentation. 

Golfers are known to have a sense of purpose, honesty to the boot, passion & confidence about the craft and above all humility in their demeanor. NKD is an avid golfer and displays all of these characteristics both in life and in his passion for Film Music. A true connoisseur that he is, NKD, like the Single Malt he loves, gets better with age :)  

His songs feature questions that the characters in them ask to different people, sometimes to themselves. The big question that NKD himself faced while choosing the 10 songs was - which ones to leave out?

Here's the listing of his songs. 

1. NKD starts with whom I believe is his favorite composers- Shankar-Jaikishan and what a start.   Man Re Tu Hi Bata from the film Hamrahi is a Kaviraj Shailendra masterpiece. As NKD points out Kaviraj gives दिल an entity distinct from the body that it resides in. Lines in this song which emphasizes this point is - नींद में जब यह जग सोता है , में रोती हूँ दिल रोता है . A Shailendra song never fails to invoke introspection from within.
2. A simple straight from the heart melody is the style of Composer Ravi. NKD's choice of  Uljhan Suljhe Na from the film Dhund reiterated this style. Simple Piano based melodic strokes painted this song with varied kaleidoscope of human emotion when confronted with despondency. Sahir's lines - ना मरना रास आया | ना जीना मन भाया | जाऊँ कहाँ मैं  - deal the death blow to the one faced with this situation.
3. Duniya Kare Sawaal from the film Bahu Begum is an all-time classic. Sahir's pointed questions to the beloved who chose to not endure society in the fulfillment of his love leaves you pondering - रातों को जागने की सज़ा कौन दे गया | कहने से हो मलाल तो हम क्या जवाब दें
4. Bol Mere Maalik Tera Kya from the film Halaku is a lesser heard showpiece from the magnificent duo of Shankar-Jaikishan. A pacy start leaves you wondering on the mood of the song until all of a sudden, the vocals bring out the pathos of a someone who has been left alone the face the travails of life. Hasrat Jaipuri's words बोल मेरे मालिक क्या ये ही तेरा इन्साफ | जो करते हैं लाख सितम उनको करता तू माफ़  tell it all. 
5. Ek Sawaal Main Karoon from the film Sasural is what everyone expected would be part of the playlist today and sure enough NKD did not disappoint. Shailendra's question as a response to a question is a unique style of writing which SJ tune in their usual flair leaving one gasping in astonishment at the final creation.
6. Dil-E-Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai from the film Mirza Ghalib is a delectable beauty, popular yet enduring to this date. 
7. Kya Tum Wohi Ho from the film Man Ki Ankhen was the surprise pick of the show. A lost-in-oblivion song from the combo of Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Sahir Ludhianvi . Love is truly a blessing and anybody who's been through it will agree with the experience that Sahir is talking about - ख्यालों मैं जो मुस्कुराती रही है | धानक बांके नज़रों मैं छाती रही है | मेरे दिल के सुनसान आँगन मैं अक्सर | जो रातों को पायल बजती रही है . A question that every lover wants to seek answers to
8. Main Tumhi Se Poochti Hoon from the film Black Cat, though a run of the mill love utterances song still leaves you wondering why is that those in love have unwavering trust in each other, why is it that they can't see anything else except their beloved everywhere. 
9. Main Nigahein Tere Chehre Se from the film  Aap Ki Parchhaiyan is a continuation of the previous song, where the one in love can't get the imagery of his beloved out of his mind and she's all pervasive in his world. NKD makes a mention of the antara which is unavailable in the audio versions - मेरी आखों मैं गीले शिकवे है , प्यार भी है | आरज़ूय भी है, हसरत-ए-दीदार भी है | इतने तूफ़ान मैं आपको छुपाऊं कैसे | मैं निगाहें तेरे चेहरे से हटाऊँ कैसे 
10. Naghma-O-Sher Ki Saugaat from the film Gazal is a woman's perspective of being in love ... not frequently seen / heard in HFM till the 80s or later. Trust Sahir to get under the skin of a lady in love and come up with such meaningful lyrics - गर्म सासों मैं छुपे राज़ बताऊँ किसको | नरम होटों मैं दबी बात किसी पेश करूँ. The metaphors of warm breath and soft lips is just breathtaking. For somebody who, it is believed, never wished to fall in love (frightened of the commitments that come with it) this is imagination at its creative best. 

Take a bow NKD!!!. 

An unexplored topic, engrossing narration, excellent choice of songs made me hear all the songs again the next day with renewed interest & intent.