Dopaher Ki Dhoop Mein, Mere Bulaane Ke Liye-
Woh Tera Kothe Pe, Nange Paaon Aana Yaad Hain,
Humko Ab Tak Ashiqui Ka Woh Zamana Yaad Hain.
[In the scorching heat of noon, just to seek me out-
The ballad of your bare footfalls I remember,
Those days of love and romance, I remember.]
As the heat of summer peaks with heatwaves passing over the country, ambling on an April noon, I stumbled onto the above lines from an old musical piece that I am very fond of.
Some songs are more than just melody married with words, some are euphonic braids of memory – of merry and misery.
Penned by the melancholic genius Hasrat Mohani and immortalised by the soulful voice of Ghulam Ali, “Chupke Chupke Raat Din Aasoon Bahana Yaad Hain, Humko Aab Tak Ashiqui Ka Who Zamana Yaad Hain” is such a composition, especially its cinematic feature in the 1982 film, Nikkah.
For a 9-year-old, love is a nascent concept, a whisper in the playground. Yet, when I first heard this Ghazal on a winter afternoon at that age, it resonated with an intense feeling that has not only been persistent but also paramount in shaping perspicacity.
Revisiting at different stages of my life, each time I discovered new layers of meaning within its melancholic beauty.
It shaped a young man’s perspective of love as he tries to learn to live with the loss of love and is forced to grow old before his time - introducing the notion that love could coexist with sorrow.
The ghazal's brilliance lies in its masterful use of metaphors.
Starting with a gentle humming and murmur, this Ghazal sets the stage for a narrative veiled in secrecy.
Hasrat Mohani sahab’s words are like whispered confessions, each sher (couplet) a fragment of a bygone love story. The ghazal hinges on the potent imagery of a lament that resonates with anyone who has ever drowned their sorrows in the quiet of aloneness where night and day hold very little difference.
Ghulam Ali sahab’s rendition elevates the ghazal to a new level of emotional depth. His voice, a baritone imbued with an aching tenderness, carries the weight of unsaid words and unspoken yearnings.
His nuanced delivery captures the full spectrum of emotions – the playful innocence, the underlying sadness, and the enduring love.
The melody itself is deceptively simple, a melancholic refrain that mirrors the protagonist's introspective journey.
The opening line, "Chupke Chupke Raat Din Aasoon Bahaana Yaad Hain," painted a poignant picture of a love story etched in sorrow.
Visages of stolen moments, captured in "Chori Chori Humse Tum Aa Kar Milte Thhey Jis Jagah, Muddate Guzri Par Aabtaak Who Thikana Yaad Hain" susurrate of a love that thrived in stolen glances and hushed conversations.
The ghazal's brilliance lies in its masterful use of metaphors.
The beloved’s biting her fingers becomes a symbol of youthful innocence and playful defiance.
As the song progresses, the weight of separation becomes palpable.
Yet, there's no bitterness, only a melancholic acceptance.
Within this simplicity lies a profound complexity - the subtle variations in tempo and the poignant silences between verses create a space for the listener's own memories and emotions to bloom.
The brilliance of this beautiful song about heartbreak lies in its universality - While the lyrics evoke the pangs of lost love, the ghazal speaks to a broader spectrum of human experience.
It captures the quiet desperation of holding onto cherished memories, the bittersweet ache of nostalgia, and the enduring power of love, even in its absence.
Furthermore, the ghazal's appeal transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. The language of heartbreak, longing, and of the poignant beauty of loss is a universal one.
Perfervid emotions laid bare by Hasrat Mohani and Ghulam Ali resonate with listeners across the globe, regardless of their background or spoken tongue.
A testament to the enduring power of music, it is a song that speaks not just to the ears, but to the soul; and lingers long after the last note fades.
Tousef is an aspiring writer and a carpenter of words. He can be reached at Tousef@Ymail.com
