Ek subah ek mod par

Ek subah ek mod par
Maine kaha usse rok kar
Ek subah ek mod par
Maine kaha usse rok kar
Haath bada ai zindagi
Aankh mila ke baat kar
Haath bada ai zindagi
Aankh mila ke baat kar

Roz tere jeene ke liye
Ek subah mujhe mil jaati hain
Roz tere jeene ke liye
Ek subah mujhe mil jaati hain
Murjhati hain koi shaam agar
Toh raat koi khil jaati hain
Main roz subah tak aata hun
Aur roz shuru karta hun safar
Haath bada ai zindagi
Aankh mila ke baat kar

Tere hazaaron chehron mein
Ek chehra hain mujh se milta hain
Tere hazaaron chehron mein
Ek chehra hain mujh se milta hain
Aankhon ka rang bhi ek sa hain
Awaaz ka ang bhi milta hain
Sach puchho toh hum do judwa hain
Tu shaam meri main teri sahar
Haath bada ai zindagi
Aankh mila ke baat kar

Ek subah ek mod par
Maine kaha usse rok kar
Haath bada ai zindagi
Aankh mila ke baat kar
Haath bada ai zindagi
Aankh mila ke baat kar
Ek subah ek mod par
Maine kaha usse rok kar
Maine kaha usse rok kar

Movie: Hip Hip Hurray (1984)
Director: Prakash Jha
Singer: K J Yesudas
Lyricist: Gulzar
Music Composer: Vanraj Bhatia

I love streaming platforms because they allow you to discover movies you hadn’t even heard of. I mean this is the debut of Prakash Jha, the director that one now associates with gritty socio-political dramas like Mrityudand and Gangajal. His socio-political interests are evident here as well, but this is a feel-good movie, a precursor to the Chak De India genre, where a diligent sports teacher turns around not only a flagging team but also the lives of some young boys. The movie has some stereotypes like a coffee table conversation about the female being the nurturer and the male being the provider and protector. But it is also interesting for its look at the role of sports and how teachers who are invested in their students can help shape them; how sports can be a healthy outlet for adolescent energy and keep them out of mischief; how finding adults who care can help children learn to care and work as a team. And as a bonus, Deepti Naval looks beautiful in every frame of this movie. Prakash Jha must have been smitten because they did end up marrying. 😊

This song, in particular, stayed with me after I had seen the movie. It comes at the beginning and establishes the character and extant relationships of the main male protagonist. I am still trying to figure out the last verse (probably something about finding a soul mate) but I like the first and second ones a lot. There is a resilience and hopefulness that is laudable in Gulzar’s lines: the idea of waking up each morning to live this life; of finding that if the day withers, the night might bloom; of starting our journey anew every morning; of looking life in the eye and tackling it head-on. And the music by Vanraj Bhatia is lovely too. So, for my last post of the year, this hopeful number is what I want to sign off with. ~ R