Time for some good old songs

It is 11 PM and it is not surprising that I am waiting in office again. My blogs about my late nights in office are probably becoming as irritating as Himesh Reshmiya's songs. But what is true.... is true. But Thanks to my employer's policies, I have internet access which I can use in positive ways. And also for some good TP. So here I am again, waiting... Anyway, when I am waiting like this in office, I like to listen to some songs which are very close to me and which I enjoy listening to. So it is again time for me to indulge in my favorite songs. I find these songs interesting because for some unknown reason, I have some triggers to some memories associated with them. And also, they are not crappy as the songs these days. Dev Anand's films had really good music. It could be the much in love guy urging his gal not to leave, through "Abhi na jao chod kar", the lover who sees his gal everywhere in "tere ghar ke saamne" , a lovers' tiff in "achcha ji main haari", the mischief in "hai apna dil to awaara" or "Jiya o Jiya kuch bol do", or the man who has lost and is leaving everything behind as he moves away in "wahaan kaun hai tera", the songs are soulful and not like mere fillers in the movies these days. My introduction to these songs has been through my parents, both of whom are from the era when songs were art, actresses wore clothes and movies were luxuries, not smoke given out as a factory operates. My dad is a Huge fan (with a capital H for emphasis ) of Dev Anand, and I am thankful that he is so, because I got the chance to listen to all these songs. Madhubala trying to pacify Dev Anand in "achcha ji main haari" is fun to watch. I don't have to worry about some stupid dance steps and I can enjoy the song and Mohd Rafi's antics as he sings.
Other songs that qualify as really good ones are "Chaudhavin ka chaand" and "Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam" and many many more.


I personally believe that after 1995, there have been very few songs which qualify as good. Eras of good songs came and went, making way for new genres, but like a well aged wine, the old songs are still an epicure's delight. Not the rotting orange juice past its expiry date.
Speaking of which, there were some songs now, which even though not up to the level of these, are still OK to hear. They can't hold their own against the songs that I have mentioned, but are still worth listening to. "Yun hi chala chal rahi", "Maa", "Luka Chuppi", "chaiyaa chaiyaa" and "Dil se", the "theme music of Iqbal"
and "Dor"
are some of the good ones. Rehman is one of the few people who is able to make good music, but these days, he is trying to imitate his competition and is forgetting what makes him so unique. The sheer talent of the Genius is visible in how he has used Lata Mangeshkar's voice, who is now well past 80, for the awesome song Luka Chuppi from Rang de Basanti. If you are a guy and you happen to be staying away from home, from your Mom whom you find too pushy at times, but miss her otherwise, you will know. If you are a normal guy and qualify for what I have just said, if you are a hostelite staying away from your home, you are bound to feel really sad when you hear this song for the first time. I know I did, when I heard it after leaving home. And if you happen to be a Mom like my mom, you are bound to be full of tears when you listen to this song. Now that is genius... a song that clears noise, which haunts you when it ends, not something that adds to noise. The only song that stands parallel to this is Maa from TZP. My mom cried after hearing it and I'll be frank, I don't like to listen to it when I am in Bangalore, because I start feeling even more homesick after it.

Songs have the effect of triggering some emotions in your mind, and some memories from a time you probably thought you had no memories of. One such song is "aakashi zhep ghe re paakhara"
, a marathi song, which for some reason always reminds me of my grandfather, or Nana as we all called him. And when I hear that song, all the memories associated with him flood my mind.... and it feels really great. And I am also reminded of how much I miss having him around. I guess that is what the purpose of songs is; to make us remember. To remember that there is a tune for everything in life, for every emotion, for every feeling and that knowing these tunes is what memories are.

Too philosophical? oh well, I just went with the flow of my mind while listening to all these songs in the last 45 minutes. So you know that there is something to it.