Humne To Dil Ko Aapke

Humne To Dil Ko Aapke Kadmon Mein Rakh Diya

Song Duet By Asha Bhonsle & Mohammad Rafi

Movie : Mere Sanam (1965)

The song begins with four notes played on the guitar, followed by a 10 second violin piece which is repeated. In all 22 seconds piece. The beauty of this piece is the neatly concealed flute. The flute is not easily audible in the first 10 second piece on the violin because it is playing alongwith the violin. One can make out a layer alongwith the violin but the flute is not individually audible. Then in the repeat violin piece the flute plays the contra thus separating out from the violin, therefore, audible. A careful listening reveals that the guy playing the flute has played it as if his life depends on it, i.e. perfect.

The flute guy has only 10 seconds to play each time, a very insignificant role, yet he plays it to perfection. In those ten seconds he has surpassed "time". On most occassions all of us feel that ten seconds is too insignificant, too short, too less and so we give less than our 100%. So, we allow time to run our life. On rare occassions like this one, an unknown artist has given 100% to something insignificant, less and short, thus going beyond time, adding Godliness to the whole thing. Instead of himself becoming insignificant he has made time insignificant. One may need repeated (gaur se) listenings of the opening piece to fully appreciate this aspect.

Later, as the song progresses, the voice takes over the role played by the violin and the violin plays the role of the flute. When the singer is singing, the violin plays the lead and contra alternately. The scale of the violin is altered to contrast the male and female voice of the singers. All well thought out and executed delicate intricacies and balances. A rare composition, allowing full expression of the wonderful lyrics, set in waltz, the effect of the brush (3-6) on the drumset giving variation to waltz, the santoor contrasting the sitar, the two sets of tablas to get the right depth of tonal quality to the bass, and Ashaji trying to sound like the violin at the end of the second antra for variation and to add to the continuity of the song ! Amazing !

Enjoy !

Humne To Dil Aapke...