Mera jeevan kora kagaz

Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya
Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya
Jo likha tha
Jo likha tha aansoon ke sang beh gaya
Mera jeevan
Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya

Ikk hawa ka jhonka aaya,
Ho, ikk hawa ka jhonka aaya, toota daali se phool
Toota daali se phool
Na pawan ki, na chaman ki, kisski hain yeh bhool
Kisski hain yeh bhool
Kho gayi, kho gayi khushbu hawa mein, kuchh na reh gaya
Mera jeevan
Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya

Uddte panchhi ka thikaana
Uddte panchhi ka thikaana, mera na koi jahaan
Mera na koi jahaan
Na dagar hain, na khabar hain, jaana hain mujhko kahaan
Jaana hain mujhko kahaan
Banke sapna, banke sapna humsafar ka saath reh gaya
Mera jeevan
Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya
Jo likha tha aansoon ke sang beh gaya
Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya
Kora hi reh gaya

Movie: Kora Kagaz (1974)
Director: Anil Ganguly
Singers: Kishore Kumar
Lyricist: MG Hashmat
Music Composer: Kalyanji Anandji

So little is known of lyricist and scriptwriter M G Hashmat. In fact, we don’t even know his birthday or if he is still alive or not! So, this week, we have chosen to pay tribute to this enigma who seemed to have almost vanished with only forgettable credits after this one memorable number.

Mera jeevan kora kagaz won Hashmat the BFJA (or Bengal Film Journalists' Association) Award for Best Lyricist in 1975 and a Filmfare nomination for best lyrics too. Unfortunately, he didn’t win the Filmfare but the song did top the Binaca Geet Mala in 1974. The lyrics are simple but meaningful and I am surprised we didn’t see more such gems from Hashmat, but this remains his most remembered song. It is feelingly rendered by Kishore Kumar and Kalyanji Anandji’s music seems apt. The song features Jaya Bhaduri who looks like a little girl playing dress-up, especially in those huge glasses, but she is still very watchable. ~ R