Dil kahe ruk ja re ruk ja

Dil kahe ruk ja re ruk ja, yahin pe kahin
Jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin
Jo baat, jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin
Dil kahe ruk ja re ruk ja, yahin pe kahin
Jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin

Parbat upar khidki khole, jhaanke sundar bhor,
Chaley pawan suhaani
Nadiyon ke yeh raag rasile, jharnon ka yeh shor,
Bahey jharjhar paani
Madhbhara, madabhara sama,
Ban dhula dhula
Har kali sukh pal yahaan,
Ras ghula ghula
Toh dil kahe ruk ja re ruk ja, yahin pe kahin
Jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin
Jo baat, jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin

Neeli neeli jheel mein jhalke neel gagan ka roop,
Bahey rang ke dhaare
Oonche oonche pedh ghanere, chhanti jinse dhoop,
Khade baanh pasaarey
Champayi champayi fiza,
Din khila khila
Daali daali chidiyo ki sada,
Sur mila mila
Toh dil kahe ruk ja re ruk, yahin pe kahin
Jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin
Jo baat, jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin

Pariyon ke yah jamghat jinke phoolon jaise gaal
Sabhi shokh hatilli
Inn mein hain woh alhad jiski hirni jaisi chaal
Badi chhail chhabilli
Manchali manchali ada
Chhab jawaan jawaan
Har ghadi chadh raha nasha
Sudh rahi kahaan
Toh dil kahe ruk ja re ruk ja, yahin pe kahin
Jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin
Jo baat, jo baat iss jagah hain kahin par nahin

Movie: Man Ki Aankhen (1970)
Director: Raghunath Jhalani
Singers: Mohammad Rafi
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi
Music Composer: Laxmikant Pyarelal

The first time I heard this song, it took me back to trips I had taken at different times, when you chance upon a patch of verdant green and a flowing stream, and your heart wants to linger, delaying the return to concrete and glass a little longer. The lyrics resonate so much, dawn peeking out from atop a mountain, the gentle rays of the sun rippling through the leaves of tall trees with outstretched arms, the birdsong!

Except the last verse. And the video was a bit of a revelation on that part. I haven’t ogled local women through binoculars, so have no memory to call on for that last part! And the sentiment of the lyricist and the actor on screen jarred a bit, when Dharmendra callously plucked a couple of flowers and flung them in the air as he mouthed his lines!! But the lyrics and Mohammed Rafi’s voice make this a repeat listen! ~ R