So this particular blog post is peculiar in a way, because here I am going to share something I am passionate about... actually not one but two things... Music & Poetry. Bollywood industry of the yesteryears has produced some of the most talented musicians - Singers, lyricists, composers and even directors who have indeed put those musical gems into an appropriate wrapper of cinema and actors who emoted the languish and the laughter, bringing life to the lyrics. Bollywood is wellknown to give complete entertainment and these songs truly represent that. I, in this particular post, am going to talk about two special songs that describe, what LOVE is! A seemingly simple question has created by far unseemingly huge number of answers in all of human disciplines. This may just be the poetic solution to those all.

 

The first song is picturized on Dev Anand(India's first truly international star) and Wahida Rahman(admittedly one the most beautiful Indian woman of all time). Singers are eponymous Lata Mangeshkar and Kishor Kumar. For the uninitiated in Indian music, these names may not ring a bell, but any Indian will most clearly tell you Lata Mangeshkar is India's true jewel in the crown after Koh-i-noor. And a musical genious like Kishor Kumar comes once every millenium, a natural tallant who is capable of keeping Lata (with her gazillion years of musical training) on tiptoe without any particular musical training to call own at all. No words can properly describe this dynamic duo that, for Indian music's good fortune, came at the same time in history. You have to listen and make your own assumptions. SD Burman, as another stalwarth of his field, is one of the greatest music directors India has ever seen. We will keep him for another day. This song from Prem Pujari shows all that I rhapsodized about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZIqJ4VTVJs

 

The lyrics for the song above in plain english, check out the fluidity of the verse. This is the best translation I found over the net. Lyricist: Neeraj

 

Take a fair amount of mischief,

Some mirth and jokes in liberal showers,

Get the surge of the ocean from a coral reef,

And mix in the radiance of flowers.

Then add a small measure of liquor.

The state of giddy stupor

That you get from all the above

Is what we call love.

 

Love is like a childhood full of laughter.

It is like the weather gone off kilter.

May feel like an ember while you still flirt.

But as soft as dewdrops when you touch it in spurt.

And no matter where you are,

It could be a known place or somewhere far.

You could be in a crowd or all alone,

In the middle of a fete or in solo zone.

What lingers in your mind like a hand in a glove.

That is what we call love.

 

And if one had to identify that loved one,

His colour like molten gold is magnetic, bright,

Warming your world each day like the sun.

Her body would ooze the nectar of life

Softly purging your mind of all strife.

As if a tune buoyant and light

Played softly in the still of the night.

And no matter if it is sunny or gray.

What waits for you each moment while you are away,

With the peace and calm of a dove,

Is what we call love.

 

When you remember your love interest,

Loneliness too passes by with ease.

As if a flute plays and stays abreast

Breathing life into a town like the breeze.

And whatever be your worldly pursuits

The daze that consumes you and refuses to wane,

The intoxication that lightens your routes,

The colour that permeates each lane,

As if cascading from the heavens above,

That'S what we call love.

 

The next song is again a Dev Anand/Kishor Kumar/SD Burman number. And it is about love again. Lyricst: Mira Dev Burman, wife to SD. From the same movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z4iYbxFBZKQ

 

Took some floral tints for a start,

And used the pen of my heart,

To write you a letter each day and vent,

A few words about how you torment

Me each and every moment.

 

I go to sleep dreaming of you.

I wake up and your memory uncurls.

I remain entangled in your thoughts,

Like the thread in a string of pearls.

Clouds and lightening, sandalwood and water.

That is how we are bound together.

There are many storms we have to weather.

We’ll have to take birth many times.

So intoxicating are this love’s rhymes,

So sweet it’s enchanting chimes.

We’ll have to take birth many times….

 

You are the music that I breathe,

The lilt of my heartbeat.

You are the swan song of my dreams-

Precious, one of a kind.

You are the bloom that gleams

And scents the lanes of my mind.

Whether it’s a short journey

Or a long sojourn.

Whether it’s a deserted cranny

Or a vibrant congregation.

The moment I think you out aloud,

My heart is alone in a crowd.

 

North or south, east or west.

Your smile adds zest

to all directions.

And I do try my best,

Using all sense and inflections,

To avoid, evade and desist.

But it becomes more difficult to resist.

Storms stopped me, raging thunders curbed.

The world called me fondly away.

But I went on unperturbed.

A picture was enough to hold sway

For me to leave all and come your way.

We will have to take birth many times.

So intoxicating are this love’s rhymes,

So sweet it’s enchanting chimes….

 

The metaphores used are classical Indian in nature and the language heavily Urdu-laden Hindi. The poetics of these pieces far surpass my level, and I can only feel awed by such marvelous creations. Ofcourse, the english version is somewhat watered down compared to the original, yet still retains it's flavour and beauty unmixed. The question of love will, although haunt you forever, but now hopefully you will have a melody to acompany it. Hugs and Chocolates. Share your thoughts in the comment.