Bollywood songs are great, often because the lyricists who pen them are masters of their art. Undoubtedly, the music directors and the singers, too, are out of this world. Yet, most often, it is the words that make these worlds.
One such wondrous wordsmith was Neeraj whose death anniversary was recently observed. This Professor of Hindi Literature wrote songs which appeared in films forgotten by the majority. Yet most all love these songs.
Let me give you two examples. Both " subah na aayi, shaam na aayi/jis din teri yaad na aayi" and "sapne jhare phool se/meet chubhe shul se/ aur ham khade khade/ karwan gujar gaya/gubar dekhte rahe" are passionate pleas of a hurt heart.
Undoubtedly, Rafi's silken voice and the music by Roshan and the lesser known Iqbal Kureishi make these songs unforgettable. Yet, basically, it is the simple but soul-searing words of Neeraj that make the pathos in these two superb songs most memorable.
A well-known poet who made "kavi sammelans" come alive with claps, Gopal Das Saxena, whose pen name was Neeraj, wrote philosophical poems such as "eh bhay jara dekh ke chalo" and "kahta hai joker sara jamana" that capture the bitter truths about life and its travestries.
Personally, I like his love songs a lot. Nothing can be a more lyrical description of love than "phoolon ke rang se" or the songs from "Sharmilee." My favourite one, however, is "jeevan ki bagiya mehkegi."
It is set to great music by Shiv-Hari and S. D. Burman. This Lata-Kishore duet from one of the better Bollywood films, "Tere mere sapne" (which incidentally is based on a most touching novel), is a great celebration of genuine affection.
Endless would be the list of the soulful, simply worded songs penned by Neeraj. They make us assert " dil aaj shayar hai." In brief, to play with his lovely diction a little, "kaise kahen hum/Neeraj ki kawita ne hum ko/kya kya rang dikaye" because they would forever bloom in our hearts.
Pratima@ What is most remarkable is the fact that in an industry dominated by the heavily Urdu-ised "kalam-kari", Neeraj-ji wrote lyrics in simple, clean Hindi which directly captured the listeners' sensitivities.
Quote of the day: Verse is, says Carl Sandberg, a mix of "joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary".
Word of the day: soulful Soulful suggests showing deep feeling.
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