Kisine apna banaake mujhko

Kisine apna banaake mujhko muskuraana sikha diya
Andhere ghar mein kisine haske chirag jaise jala diya
Kisine apna banaake mujhko muskuraana sikha diya

Sharam ke maare main kuchh naa boli
Sharam ke maare main kuchh naa boli, nazar ne purdah gira diya
Magar woh sab kuchh samajh gaye hain, ke dil bhi maine gawa diya
Kisine apna banaake mujhko muskuraana sikha diya

Naa pyaar dekha naa pyaar jaana, naa pyaar dekha na pyaar jaana
Suni thi lekin kahaniyaan, suni thi lekin kahaniyaan
Jo khwaab raaton mein bhi na aaya, woh mujhko din me dikha diya
Kisine apna banaake mujhko muskuraana sikha diya

Woh rang bharte hain zindagi mein
Woh rang bharte hain zindagi mein, badal raha hai mera jahaan
Koi sitaare luta raha tha, kisine daaman bichha diya
Kisine apna banaake mujhko muskuraana sikha diya
Andhere ghar mein kisine haske chirag jaise jala diya

Movie: Patita (1953)
Director: Amiya Chakrabarty
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Shailendra
Music Composer: Shankar Jaikishan

Until R told me that March 9 was actress Usha Kiran’s death anniversary, I had no special interest in her. I was aware of her, as her name kept cropping up over the years in my mother’s reminiscences of various songs. 

However, I had not associated any face with the name. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I recognized the face in this wonderful song from Patita. 

More research revealed that she is Tanvi Azmi’s mother. According to Tanvi, Usha was a strong, practical woman. 

In the 1990s, when the lead actress was not much more than a prop, Usha appreciated the women who did such roles. She felt that it required a lot of spunk, guts, conviction, and imagination because such characters cannot be seen in real life.

I am sorry I didn’t know all this earlier. This song dedication is my apology and salutation all rolled into one. ~ S