Genius lies in simplicity! Most complicated things, if we care to observe, are a result of failed attempts in the quest for simplicity. Herein lies the essential quality that sets apart Hemant Kumar from other often heard, but more mundane singers.
Hemanta Kumar Mukherjee popularly known as Hemant Kumar was not a trained singer. He lacked the classical touch. But he sure had that uncanny ability to render even seemingly ordinary lyrics in his extra-ordinary style and make them memorable numbers. He more than made up for the deficiency in his classical singing, and his reluctance to sing in a high pitch, by getting into the soul of the song and singing it with all his heart never bothering about the nuances of ‘Raag’or ‘Bandish’.
Any song could be perfectly rendered by a singer who lays too much emphasis on technicalities. But not all such perfectly rendered songs touch our hearts. There is something missing that fails to arouse our deepest feelings. The reason could be that the singer has dwelled too much on the art of singing rather than let his heart and soul take over.
Every song must have a life of its own, it must, also, have a soul that touches a chord somewhere deep inside us. We tend to forget even well rendered songs too soon for the simple reason that, though, they were good to listen for a while, such songs don’t touch us deeply. There are some songs that are quite simple in their rendering, but leave a lasting impression on us. In fact, they become a part of our life without our knowing it. Hemant Kumar’s songs are simple and easy on the ears. It’s his deep, sonorous voice that portrays the ecstasy of love, and the agony of parting so beautifully that it immediately takes us to a totally different plane of ‘ehsas’.
There is so much to write about this honest and sincere singer and composer that a mere 8K’s of MS space is simply not enough. That being the case, I hasten to cut short my tribute to this inmitable singer, lest, space should run out.
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“Na ye chand hoga, na taare rahenge,
magar hum hamesha tumhare rahenge”:
Whenever I listen to this song I get completely immersed in the soulful lyrics and
the magical quality of Hemant Da’s voice. The song’s strong message is that love is eternal and indestructible, and outlives the universe itself. This song has that unforgettable quality about it; it keeps haunting me all the time…
“bichhadkar chale jaayen tumse kahin,
to ye na samajhna mohabbat nahin,
jahan bhi rahen ham tumhaare rahenge…”
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“Ye nayan dare dare, ye jaam bhare bhare,
zara peene do kal ki kisko khabar,
ik raat hoke nidar mujhe jeene do;
ye nayan dare dare.”:
Fear is the key, and we need to conquer it if we have to lead a meaningful life. The fear of the unknown and the hidden is so strong that the singer perceives that his death is inevitable. Here, he tries to draw solace and courage from the one thing that he can trust his life with – a blissful drink. One striking feature of this song is the sane advice given by the lover to his lady love…
“pyaar mein hai jeevan ki khushi,
deti hai khushi kayi gham bhi,
main maan bhi loon,
main maan bhi loon kabhi haar,
tu maane na”.
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“raah banee khud manzil,
peechhe rah gayee mushkil;
saath jo aaye tum”:
No matter how aimlessly we lead our life, sometimes our meaningless little quests themselves may lead to the most important destination in our life, if we have the right partner by our side. All problems and obstacles seem to vanish and the future looks promising. The best verse of this song is…
“panchhee ud gaye sab ga ke nagmaa pyaar ka,
lekin dil ne ayesa jaal phenka pyaar ka,
udane na paaye tum”.
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“Beqarar karke humein yoon na jayiye,
Aapko humari kasam laut aaiye”:
Love is the quintessence of life for the romantic minded. For the person deeply in love no world exists beyond the existence of his beloved. Each moment of parting
is a restless one and the lover begs his beloved to come back. This song is all about the way the lovesick man woos his lady love to accept him as her partner for life. Needless to say, such a lovely song with its deep emotional inferences can melt even the most stonehearted female. The part in this song that touches me most is…
“zindagi ke raaste ajeeb hain,
in mein is tarah chalaana kijiye
khair hai isi mein aapki huzoor,
apna koi saathi dhoond lijiye
sunke dil ki baat yoon na muskuraiye,
aapko humari kasam laut aaiye.”
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“Zara nazron se keh do ji nishaana chook na jaye,
zara nazron se keh do ji;
Maza jab hai tumhari har ada qaatil hi kehlaye,
zara nazron se keh do ji;”:
The language of eyes is more profound than mere words. Quite often, the female sex use their eyes to convey subtle but meaningful hints. It is the eyes that convey the truth despite the coy girl using words to deny her true feelings. Where words fail miserably, the eyes seldom miss their mark. This song brings out beautifully the pivotal role eyes play, especially, in romance. My favourite verse in this lovely song is this…
“qaatil tumhe pukarun ke jaan-e-wafa kahun,
hairat mein pad gaya hoon ke main tum ko kya kahun;
zamaana hai tumhaara,
zamaana hai tumhaara chaahe jiski zindagi le lo
agar mera kaha maano to aise khel na khelo;
tumhaari is sharaarat se na jaane kis ki maut aaye,
zara nazron se keh do ji.”
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“Yeh raat yeh chaandni phir kahaan,
sun jaa dil ki daastaan”:
Lovers burn in the fire of love but they want to express their deep feelings of love
at the first opportunity. The Moon and Moonlight have always enjoyed a special significance in romance. The lover uses the symbolism of night and moonlight to express his love to his beloved in a way that touches our hearts. He also cautions his ladylove that the ‘spring’ of life once gone will never return and that she should give herself in before it’s too late…
“Ek baar chal diye gar tujhe pukaarke,
lautkar na aayenge qaafilen bahaar ke;
Aaja abhi zindagi hai jawaan,
sun ja dil ki daastaan”.
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“Yaa dil kee suno duniyaawaalon
yaa mujh ko abhee choop rahane do
mai gham ko khushee kaise kah doon
jo kahate hain unko kahane do”:
This is a song that expresses pain, suffering, and neglect of a sensitive soul at the hands of his loved ones. Growing inside him, this pain bursts out like lava from a volcano, before one and all. The following verse brings out the despondence of the wronged person and the stoical realisation that it has nurtured…
“kya dard kisi ka legaa koi,
itnaa to kisi mein dard nahi,
bahate huye aansoo aur bahe,
ab ayesee tasallee rahane do”.
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Space did run out! Continued in the comments section.
