Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi

Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi…

Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi
Raat bhi hai…

Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi
Chaand bhi hai kuch maddham maddham
Chaand bhi hai kuch maddham maddham
Tum aao toh
Tum aao toh aankhein kholein
Soyi hui paayal ki chham chham
Soyi hui paayal ki chham chham
Chham chham, chham chham, chham chham, chham chham

Kisko bataaein, kaise bataaein,
Kisko bataaein, kaise bataaein,
Aaj ajab hai dil ka aalam
Aaj ajab hai dil ka aalam
Chain bhi hai kuch halka halka
Chain bhi hai kuch halka halka
Dard bhi hai kuch maddham maddham
Dard bhi hai kuch maddham maddham

Chham chham, chham chham, chham chham, chham chham

Tapte…
Tapte dil par yun girti hain
Tapte dil par yun girti hain
Teri nazar se pyaar ki shabnam
Teri nazar se pyaar ki shabnam
Jalte hue jangal par jaise
Jalte hue jangal par jaise
Barkha barse ruk ruk, tham tham
Barkha barse ruk ruk, tham tham

Chham chham, chham chham, chham chham, chham chham

Hosh mein thodi behoshi hain
Haye…
Hosh mein thodi behoshi hain
Behoshi mein hosh hain kam kam
Behoshi mein hosh hain kam kam
Tujhko paane…
Tujhko paane ki koshish mein
Donon jahaan se khoye gaye hum
Donon jahaan se khoye gaye hum

Chham chham, chham chham, chham chham, chham chham

Raat bhi hai kuch bheegi bheegi
Chaand bhi hai kuch maddham maddham
Tum aao toh aankhein kholein
Soyi hui paayal ki chham chham
Soyi hui paayal ki chham chham
Chham chham, chham chham, chham chham, chham chham…

Movie: Mujhe Jeene Do (1963)
Director: Moni Bhattacharjee
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music Composer: Jaidev

Waheeda Rehman was born on February 3, 1938, which means she turns 81 today. Picking a favourite Waheeda Rehman song is a tough task. Waheeda Rehman once reportedly commented that the camera was kind to her (I sincerely doubt it could have been kind without something to work with!); there must be something about her that inspired lyricists and music composers as well because film music has been kind to her too!

There have been paeans sung to her by wonderful male voices (Chaudavin ka chand, Zara nazron se keh do ji, Khuda bhi aasman se jab, etc.). She has had the opportunity to showcase her acting skills in some delightful numbers (Bhanvara bada nadaan, Na tum humein jaano, etc.) Some lovely dance numbers have also featured her (Paan khaye saiyan hamaro, Piya toh se, nearly all the songs in Guide, in fact). 

I settled on Raat bhi hain kuch bhegi bheegi because in this number, I love Waheeda Rehman’s close-ups, the way her hands move, and the facial expressions she showcases, which convey so much. She plays a courtesan in the movie and as the song begins, captures the attention of the dacoit played by Sunil Dutt, causing him to stop in his tracks. I am not comfortable with the storyline, with her abduction and then marriage to the man who kidnapped her, but I cannot deny the charm of the song. To this day, when Waheeda Rehman appears on screen, elegant and poised, she captures my attention. ~ R