Punjab mera rahe wasda. Review on Five Best Punjabi Songs

*After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

• Aldous Huxley*

Very true indeed. Music has no language, no borders, no caste no creed. The only thing that music understands is emotions. Be it an emotional song, a romantic number, a bhajan, a sad song - they all have one thing in common. Yes that thing is feelings.

Punjabi music, as it seems to the common man is loud, without any proper feelings and is meant for dancing. In reality, the situation is exactly reverse. I do not say that everything in Punjabi music is good and worth listening. I do understand that the face of Punjabi music has deteriorated a lot and nowadays every third unemployed in Punjab release hi music album. These things have contributed a lot in the downfall of Punjabi music.

I, in this review, have tried to revisit the golden gone days where Punjabi music was at par with any other for of music in terms of seriousness.

I request you all not to think anything bad about any form of music before listening to it. Every form of music is divine. It gives you relaxation, feelings of joy, shares your pains.

One more thing, my list includes artistes from across the line of control as it has failed to control the music genius of these legendary personalities.

So here is my list:

1. Sanjha Chulha

Reshma - Pakistan

Title song of the hit DD serial of the same name, this song is something special.

Let e tell you something about Sanjha Chulha. In the villages of Punjab, Sanjha Chulha means Common Oven. Gurunanak Saheb started this tradition of a common oven for people of all castes and creed. The song beautifully describes the pains of departing, pains of oving from traditional approaches to westernization.

2. Dhai Din na Jawaani Nal

Jagjit Singh

Jagjit Singh's contribution to Hindi Music Industry is huge, especially to the ghazal genre of the music. He has also contributed a lot to Punjabi music. This song is a Chhed-Chhad kind of song with a touch of traditional boliyaan. You will feel that you are attending a Punjabi marriage.

3. Sajna O Sajna

Malkit Singh

Released in the 1988 hit album of the same name, this song is full of traditional Punjabi Bhangara with lots and lots of melody. The song describes the feelings of eternal love from one lover towards his beloved. Not surprising the album crossed the sales of more than 7 million copies.

4. Akhiyaan Nu Chain

Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Movie: Bandit Queen

A song for the parted hearts, this song is a very difficult and a high class composition from the master of music - Ustadji himself. The song describes the pains which distances bring in love.

Ankhiyaan Nu chain Na Aawe Sajna Ghar Aaja

Excellent composition, excellent vocals and excellent lyrics make it into my list.

teri yaad saton di hai

raati neend na ondi hai

doori bahut ravondi hai

kalee jind kurlondi hai

kise daa ve hij naion kareedaa

sajnaa ve rab kolon Dareedaa

karaaN tenu yaad ve

sun fariyaad ve

jhuteyaa ve be-aitabaareyaa

akhiyaaN nu chain na aave .

5. Ye Jo Sili Sili

Hans Raj Hans  Music - Anand Raj Anand

Taken from the album Chorni, this song proved out to be one of the best songs in Punjabi music history. Sung with heart as I can say, this song shows Hans Raj Hans's control over classical music. He freely browses all the difficult notes at the end of Hawaaaa. The lyrics are by Dev Kohli and they are decent enough. Hans Raj Hans has a kind of voice which is imensely soothing to the ears even on higher notes. Anand Raj Anand has taken full advantage of the same and has delivered us a relic.

Ye jo silli silli aaondi ae hawaa kitthe koi rownda howega

The list could have been different as there are a lot of other iracles in Punjabi catelogue - Dil Mera Naal naal - Daler Mehdi, Main Ro Ke Raat Guzaar - Babbu Mann, Punjab Mera Rahe Wasda - Malkit Singh, Apna Punjab Howe - Gurdas Mann, Mera Laung Gawaacha - Traditional, Ankhiyaan Udeek Diyaan - Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghar aaja Sohniya - Shazia Manzoor but I had to confine myself to five.

If you think that my list is wrongly compiled or my song selection is wrong, do give me your valuable comments.

I would like to end this review of mine with a proverb describing the might of music -

      'Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music.' -  Marcel Marceau

Thank You All.