Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye

Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Isse khona nahin, kho ke rona nahin
Isse khona nahin, kho ke rona nahin
Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal

Tere girne mein bhi teri haar nahin
Ke tu aadmi hain avtaar nahin
Tere girne mein bhi teri haar nahin
Ke tu aadmi hain avtaar nahin
Jo ho des woh bhes bana pyaare
Chale jaise bhi kaam chala pyaare
Pyaare tu gham na kar

Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Jahaan sach na chale wahaan jhoothh sahi
Jahaan haq na mile wahaan loot sahi
Jahaan sach na chale wahaan jhoothh sahi
Jahaan haq na mile wahaan loot sahi
Yahaan chor hain sab koi saadh nahin
Sukh dhundh le sukh aparaadh nahin
Pyaare tu gham na kar

Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Isse khona nahin, kho ke rona nahin
Isse khona nahin, kho ke rona nahin
Zindagi hansne gaane ke liye hain pal do pal
Zindagi...

Movie: Zameer (1975)
Director: Ravi Chopra
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music Composer: Sapan Chakraborty

Carpe diem! Seize the day! Or in the words of Sahir Ludhianvi, ‘Isse khona nahin, kho ke rona nahin’. I am not a fan of this movie, and I cannot say that this song is a favourite, but it’s a Kishore Kumar number and some of the lyrics are wonderful. For instance, ‘Tere girne mein bhi teri haar nahin, Ke tu aadmi hain avtaar nahin’. This is a good reminder that while it’s ok to try to do our best, failure is not the end of the road. And again in the last verse, Ludhianvi reminds us no one is a saint, although I don’t know if I agree that we must employ lies where truth won’t work and steal what is not given to us rightfully. However, I can see how ceaseless oppression might change my view.

As I embark on a new chapter in my life, this reminder is timely: live life to the fullest and don’t be too hard on yourself. I hope it helps you too.

PS: How perfect is Kishore Kumar’s voice for Amitabh Bachchan in this song and how unconvincing is this set of an apparently typical Mumbai chawl? ~ R