By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
डर के बिजली से अचानक वो लिपटना उसका
और फिर शर्म से बलखाके सिमटना उसका
कभी देखी न सुनी ऐसी हो..
कभी देखी न सुनी ऐसी तिलिस्मात कि रात
ज़िंदगी भर नहीं भूलेगी
“Barsaat Ki Raat” (‘A Rainy Night’) featuring Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan, Shyama, is one of the most successful movies of the year 1960 which rubbed shoulders with the likes of “Mughal-E-Azam”, “Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai”, “Kohinoor”, “Ghunghat”, “Kala Bazaar” , “Chaudhvin Ka Chand”, “Love in Simla” & “Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai”. Directed by P. L. Santoshi and produced by R. Chandra the film focused on the life & culture of urban Muslims. The film is remembered for many things including the advent of Qawaalis in Hindi cinema. It was considered a musical blockbuster and influenced other film makers in the years that followed. The presence of enchantress Madhubala indeed was the star attraction drawing cine goers to cinema halls in large numbers.
The story revolves around two lovers Amaan( Bharat Bhushan) and Shabnam (Madhubala ), who accidentally meet on a stormy rainy night & fall for each other. Amaan is a talented but struggling poet. Shabnam has never met him earlier, yet she loves his touching songs. Shabnam is daughter of a rich & influential father Khan Bahadur played by K. N. Singh with aplomb. Mumtaz Begum plays Shabnam’s mother. Shama( played by Shyama) also loves Amaan from the core of her heart.Dame luck smiles on Amaan when he is appointed as a tutor for Shabnam’s younger sister. When Khan Bahadur comes to know they love each other,he gets enraged and orders his servants to throw him out of his house.
The film may not look that appealing to the existing younger- set now, but there is no denying the fact that it proved a blockbuster on its release: Romance & melody playing key factors as at that time cinema was the only source of entertainment. The film did wonders on the box office front (gold price then was 111/- now 59000/-) & was widely and critically acclaimed. It was declared as the second top-grossing film of the year. It was also declared later as the 21st top grossing hit of films released in 1960s and interestingly again, one of the top fifty highest-grossing films of all time. ‘Zindagi bhar nahi bhulegi vo barsaat ki raat’ could well be said the theme song of the film.
ऐसी ख़ुशी आज मिली, आज मिली ऐसी ख़ुशी
आँखों में नाम नहीं नींद का
मुझे मिल गया बहाना तेरी दीद का
कैसी ख़ुशी लेके आया चाँद ईद का
मुझे मिल गया बहना तेरी दीद का
was another melodious song rendered by Lata Mangeshkar.
मैंने शायद तुम्हें
पहले भी कहीं देखा है
मैंने शायद तुम्हें
पहले भी कही देखा है
मैंने शायद तुम्हें
अजनबी सी हो मगर
गैर नहीं लगती हो
In the voice of Rafi was another popular number.” Nigahen Naaz Ke” was a beauty of a Qawaali sung by Asha Bhosle , Shankar Shambhu & Sudha Malhotra –
अदा बिजली, बदन शोला, भँवे खंजर, नज़र क़ातिल
गलत क्या है हमें कहती है ये दुनिया अगर क़ातिल
तो फिर
निगाह-ए-नाज़ के मारों का हाल क्या होगा
न बच सके तो बेचारों का हाल क्या होगा
And not last but least..
जो दवा के नाम पे ज़हर
दे जो दवा के नाम पे ज़हर दे
उसी चारागर की तलाश है
दवा के नाम पे ज़हर दे
दवा के नाम पे ज़हर दे
उसी चारागर की तलाश है
तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आरज़ू
तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आबरू
तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आबरू
दिल इश्क़ जिस्म इश्क़
है और जान इश्क़ है
ईमान की जो पुछो
तो ईमान इश्क़ है
तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आरज़ू
तेरा इश्क़ है मेरी आबरू
तेरा इश्क़ मे कैसे छोड़ दूँ
तेरा इश्क़ मे कैसे छोड़ दूँ
मेरी उम्र भर की तलाश है
The above qawwali rendered by Asha, Rafi Sudha Malhotra & Manna Day continues to be a ‘cult classic’ & was imitated in other films. “Na To Karavan Ki Talash Hai” was placed at the second place in the “Bollywood’s Top 10 qawwalis”.
