Jaane woh kaise log the

Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila
Humne toh jab kaliyaan maangi, kaaton ka haar mila
Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila

Khushiyon ki manzil dhoondi toh gham ki gard mili
Khushiyon ki manzil dhoondi toh gham ki gard mili
Chahat ke nagme chahe toh, aahen sard mili
Dil ke bojh ko doona kar gaya, jo gham-kwaar mila
Humne toh jab kaliyaan maangi, kaaton ka haar mila
Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila

Bichhad gayaa... bichhad gayaa...
Bichhad gayaa har saathi dekar pal do pal ka saath
Kisko fursat hai joh thaame deewano ka haath
Humko apna saaya tak, aksar bezaar mila
Humne toh jab kaliyaan maangi, kaaton ka haar mila
Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila

Isko hi jeena kehte hain to yunhi jee lenge
Isko hi jeena kehte hain to yunhi jee lenge
Uff na karenge, labh see lenge, aansoo pee lenge
Gham se ab ghabraana kaisa, gham sau baar mila
Humne toh jab kaliyaan maangi, kaaton ka haar mila
Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyar ko pyar mila

Movie: Pyaasa (1957)

Director: Guru Dutt

Singer: Hemant Kumar

Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi

Music Composer: S D Burman

Hemant Kumar for Guru Dutt, especially for songs packed with pathos…I love the combination. I know this is supposed to be a sad song but I cannot help but smile once Hemant Kumar’s voice hits my ears. I think he is a rather underrated singer.

I heard a bit of trivia about this song once. Apparently, Burman dada was asked why this song had such little music. He replied that the poetry was the hero of the song and had to be showcased. And it’s true, the soft tune in the background pushes Sahir Ludhianvi’s words to the forefront and what beautiful words they are. Of course, I had to pull out my Urdu dictionary to figure out what gham-kwar meant (sympathiser).What a lovely depiction of unrequited love! 

Ah, I think I’ll go hear it once again.  ~ R