Yeh kya jageh hain doston

Yeh kya jageh hain doston,
Yeh kya jageh hain doston, Yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,
Yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,
Hadd-e-nigaah tak jahaan,
Hadd-e-nigaah tak jahaan, ghubaar hi ghubaar hain
Ghubaar hi ghubaar hain
Yeh kya jageh hain doston

Yeh kis maqaam par hayaat,
Yeh kis maqaam par hayaat mujhko leke aa gayi
Mujhko leke aa gayi
Na bas khushi pe hain jahaan,
Na bas khushi pe hain jahaan, na gham pe ikhtiyaar hain
Na gham pe ikhtiyaar hain

Yeh kya jageh hain doston, yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,
Yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,

Tamaam umr ka hisaab,
Tamaam umr ka hisaab maangti hain zindagi
Maangti hain zindagi
Yeh mera dil kahe toh kya,
Yeh mera dil kahe toh kya, ke khud se sharmsaar hain
Ke khud se sharmsaar hain

Yeh kya jageh hain doston, yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,
Yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,

Bula raha hain kaun,
Bula raha hain kaun mujhko chilmanon ke uss taraf
Mere liye bhi kya koi
Mere liye bhi kya koi udaas bekaraar hain
Udaas bekaraar hain

Yeh kya jageh hain doston, yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,
Yeh kaun sa dayaar hain,
Hadd-e-nigaah tak jahaan, ghubaar hi ghubaar hain
Ghubaar hi ghubaar hain
Yeh kya jageh hain doston

Movie: Umrao Jaan (1981)
Director: Muzaffar Ali
Singers: Asha Bhosle
Lyricist: Shahryar
Music Composer: Khayyam

I have always admired Rekha. She has had to struggle for every inch of space in the industry she found herself in. Her foray into acting would have received a huge boost if her father had acknowledged her (It was possible she wouldn’t have had to, at a young age, take up acting as a means of livelihood if her father had provided for the family!) but it was a long time before Gemini Ganesan would publicly admit she was his daughter. When she first started acting in Hindi films, she was not the right colour or the right shape and she didn’t wear the right clothes. When she worked hard to change all of this and became successful in the teeth of criticism, she garnered male admirers and somehow became responsible for not only hers but their behavior as well, being vilified for the suicide of her husband, for the ‘adultery’ of her co-star and who knows what else. But Rekha has persevered. Her film choices have sometimes stumped even her well-wishers but she continues to be someone who demands admiration, open or reluctant as it may be.

For me, this song seems to tell Rekha’s story as well and not only that of Umrao Jaan Ada. Shahryar’s wonderful lyrics make every song in this movie worthy of close attention but especially this one seems to reflect Rekha’s real life. This movie was a triumph for so many, notably for Rekha, for Asha Bhosle, for Khayyam (all of whom won National Awards for this movie) and for Muzaffar Ali (who won a Filmfare), all of whom won great critical acclaim. What better way to remember her on her birthday (October 10) Wishing Rekha health and happiness always! ~ R