Diwana Hua Badal

Yeh Dekh Ke Dil Jhooma, Lee Pyaar Ne Angraayi

Song Duet By Asha Bhonsle & Mohammad Rafi

Movie : Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)

The first words of the song are "Oho Ho Oho Ho Aahaha...Yeh Dekh Ke Dil Jhooma".

Kya dekh ke dil jhooma? That "kya" is painted by the opening piece on Sitars, Mandolin, and Sarangi/Cello, the sitars depicting bountiful nature in Kashmir with slightly overcast skies, the mandolin has a bit of nasal sound which signifies wet weather or wetness as in nami in the air. The sarangi/cello represent the virginal feel about the fresh Kashmiri beauty both as in nature and as in the heroine.

Note the way the "maaaa" in jhooma is said in the second instance in the song. Listen carefully it will touch you to tears almost. The sitar piece that follows has two sitars, one of which plays straight while the other gives variations. the notations are simple because two sitars are playing and because nature has to be depicted with simplicity, the thrust being on the punch generated by two sitars. The follow up by the straight but longish piece on flute and cello is for the camera to explore the depth of the landscape in the yonder, again sitar to bring one back to base, followed by "aisi toh meri taqdeer......" the tone of Rafisaab's voice is as if he is still wondering as to whether he deserves someone as good as the heroine, as if it is all a dream, so much in awe and happy at the same time, with an attitude of gratitude.

The Taarshehnai piece that follows expresses extreme pain and pleasure at the same time, like losing something and gaining something, like the delivery of a child by a mother who experiences extreme pain while delivering and bliss on beholding the child, like a rock being torn apart by a stream of water springing from within the rock, the pain that the rock feels and the bliss on beholding the gushing divine, pure water.

Ashaji then sings for the heroine and expresses the other side of the feelings. the lyrics say it all "sailaab mere roke na ruka, jeevan mein machi hulchul aur bajne lagi shehnai" sailaab is like a tidal wave which destroys everything that comes in its path. Shehnai is symbolic of happy feelings, marriage as in finding new, never before felt feelings. Ashaji always tries to pack something extra in the sense that the second time she says "tinake ki tarah main beh nikli" she tries to make her voice and harkats as much in sync with the sitar as possible.

In the last antara the dexterity with which Rafisaab has changed the tone of his voice is just superb. In a sad tone he says "barson se khiza ka mausam tha, viran badi duniya thi, (twice) and then "haathon mein tera aanchal aaya ke bahaar aayi" in a very happy, positive tone. Very smooth, supple, quicksilver shift in gears. Would do even a Schumacher proud!

Diwana Hua Badal.m...