Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho, meri jaan
Meri jaan, meri jaan
Mujhe jaan na kaho, meri jaan
Meri jaan, meri jaan

Jaan na kaho anjaan mujhe
Jaan kahaan rehti hain sada
Jaan na kaho anjaan mujhe
Jaan kahaan rehti hain sada
Anjaane kya jaane, jaan ke jaaye kaun bhala

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho, meri jaan
Meri jaan, meri jaan

Sukhe saawan baras gaye
Kitni baar in aankhon se
Sukhe saawan baras gaye
Kitni baar in aankhon se
Do boonde na barse, in bheegi palkon se

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho, meri jaan
Meri jaan, meri jaan

Honthh jhuke jab honthhon par
Saans uljhi ho saanson mein
Honthh jhuke jab honthhon par
Saans uljhi ho saanson mein
Do judwa honthhon ki, baat kaho aankhon se

Meri jaan, mujhe jaan na kaho, meri jaan
Meri jaan, meri jaan
Mujhe jaan na kaho, meri jaan
Meri jaan, meri jaan

Movie: Anubhav (1971)
Director: Basu Bhattacharya
Singers: Geeta Dutt
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music Composer: Kanu Roy

As the daughter of Shobana Samarth, niece of Nalini Jaywant, and younger sister of Nutan, it was probably not surprising that Tanuja became an actress too. She started work in films in 1950 and starred in a Marathi movie last year. That is 68 years of acting! It’s impressive, to say the least.    

Tanuja in black and white, as she is here (and in “Aap ke haseen rukh pe,” already featured on the blog), I find particularly alluring. And this is the year she also acted in Haathi Mere Saathi where she looks so different! This song is written by Gulzar (who is a perennial favourite) and reminds me of “Ek hi khwab” from Gulzar’s Kinara. It is rendered in a similar style, hummed rather than sung, and like a love letter of sorts. The music, the cinematography by Nando Bhattacharya, the lyrics, all suggest a sense of intimacy, so much so that one feels almost as if one is intruding on a private moment. And Geeta Dutt! She is teasing, seductive, sad and happy all in one song; her voice is as (or even more) alluring as Tanuja on screen and the songs of Anubhav mark some of her last work since she passed away the year after this movie released. What better song to wish Tanuja a very happy birthday (23 September). ~ R