Pain is all you'll find. Review on Twenty Best Hindi Tragic Songs

Well for me pain and sorrow have been constant companions in my life. Having come up in life the hard way without any support, no degree from a fancy college or an influential person to back me up, I had to fight every inch of my life to prove myself and I still do. This fight has created a sort of bitterness and cynicism in me, which is why I guess I can easily relate to a tragic song or movie more. So here are some of my favorite tragic songs.

1. A Tribute to the Unknown Soldier, Ab Tumhare Hawale Wathan Saathiyo, Haqeeqat

One of the most moving songs and a great tribute to those brave men in green who give their present for our future.? Zinda Rehne Ki Mausam Bahut Hein Magar, Jaan Dene Ki Ruth Roj Aati Nahin?. What lyrics by Kaifi Azmi and soulfully tuned by Madan Mohan. And of course Rafi Saab, investing the song with the right mixture of both pathos and exhilaration. I get a lump in my throat whenever I listen to this song, and on the innumerable occasions its shown on DD, I really have to hold back my emotions when this song is played in the background with montages of soldiers lying dead.

1. The Journey of Life, Zindagi Ka Safar, Safar

This has to be one of my all time favorite songs. I mean the lyrics by Indivar are nothing short of brilliant. Simple yet so evocative. Kishore Da gave many hit songs with Kalyanji Anandji, but this has to be one of the best.?Zindagi Ko Bahut Pyaar Humne Diya, Maut Se Mohabbat Nibhayenge Hum, Rothe Rothe Zamane Mein Aaye Hai Hum, Hanste Hanste Zamane Se Jaayenge Hum?. The protagonist who is fated to die, philosophically welcomes death here, and touches on the irony, we come into the world wailing and yet when we leave we do with a smile. Maybe all of us smile in death, as we seem to experience a sense of relief having completed a long journey.

1. All Alone in the Big Bad City, Ek Akela Is Shehar Mein, Gharonda

This song reminds me of the terrible times I faced in my past when I was all alone in Delhi, searching for a decent job and struggling. And yes those times in 2001, when I was fired from my job in Chennai and had to struggle again to find one. In fact any guy who might have spent the part of his life job hunting on the streets of any major city, and I guess many of us must have, unless we graduated from a prestigious institute or knew some one, would empathize with this. Gulzar beautifully captures the frustration in this line? Jeene Ki Wajah Koi Nahin, Marne Ka Bahana Dhoondta Hai?. The much underrated Bhupinder brings a soulful touch to this song tuned by Jaidev.

1. Some memories refuse to die, * Yaad Na Jaaye, Dil Ek Mandir

Now Rafi saab has song some real great pathos songs in his career and he can really move you to tears with his rendering. But somehow this pathos song is one of his best and for reasons unknown not one of his most popular. The song written by Shailendra and tuned by SJ, beautifully brings out the feelings of Rajendra Kumar who is unable to forget his former love Meena Kumari. Rafi saab renders it beautifully without going into a high tone and that really enhances the tragic feel of this song. The protagonist tries his best to forget the painful memories but is helpless as is evinced by the line? Jaake Na Aaye Jo Din, Dil Kyon Bulaye Unhe?.

1. Nowhere else to Go, Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahan, Mera Naam Joker

Mera Naam Joker is a real bitter sweet story about the life of a joker in the circus. Shailendra-SJ-Mukesh the trio behind many of RK?s hits, again come together to give this wonderfully poignant song about the state of the hero. Not really a tragic song in conventional sense, nevertheless it is tragic in one sense, in that it conveys the hero?s helplessness to come out of the dead end in which his life is in. He is fated to live and die in the circus as a Joker, in a sense he has reached a dead end. This song just haunts me to no end, be it the lyrics, the music by SJ, the performance by Raj Kapoor on screen and of yes who else can articulate such pathos better than Mukesh.

1. I am also human like you, Zaanewalo Zara, Dosti

How many of us have sped past the blind man trying to cross the road? Or tried to help out a lame man struggling to cross the street? Or even helped an old man or woman who is having difficulty to walk? Well this song is for all of us, to take a look at people who don?t have everything we do. The blind, the crippled, the aged, the helpless. Dosti was a wonderful movie dealing with the friendship between a blind man and a lame man. It was one of Laxmikant Pyarelal?s best efforts, and swept every award at Filmfare. This song is not tragic again in conventional sense, but there is a touch of pathos in Rafi?s voice when he says? Zaanewalo Zaro Mudke Dekho Mujhe, Ek Insaan Hoon Main Tumhari Tarah?. In this one line he speaks for millions of handicapped people all over the country to be treated as a normal human being. Is that asking for too much?

1. An Empty and Lonely Life, * Badi Sooni Sooni Hai, Mili

Again a brilliant pathos song by Kishore da, with brilliant music by S.D.Burman. Beautifully captures the pain of the protagonist, who is coming to terms with a dark past and has shut himself off from the world. He revels in his loneliness and misery. He feels a stranger in a world and he just lives an empty life. This song touches the depths of pain which a person can feel.?Kabhi Main Na Soya, Kahin Mujhse Khoya, Sukh Mera Aise?. Majrooh brilliantly sums up the feelings of the hero searching for that elusive happiness as he spends many a sleepless night.

1. A Tragic Farewell, Teri Duniya Se Hoke, Pavitra Papi

Kishore Da touches the heights of pathos in this song, which is again about being broken hearted in love. The hero unable to see his beloved wed some one else, walks away in sorrow and pain. He is helpless?Tere Duniye Se Hoke Majboor Chala?, and he pledges to go far, far away.?Aankh Bhar Aayi Magar Ashfakon Mein Pi Lunga, Aah Nikali Thi Kabhi Hoto Ko Main silunga, Tujhse Vaada Main Kiya, Is liye Mein Zee Loonga?. God can it get more painful than this. Prem Dhawan composed the music for this song.

1. All Alone in Sorrow, Dukhi Man Mere, Funtoosh

This is one of my favorite Kishore da songs for a special reason. It was with this that Kishore da proved he could do more than just yoodle yoo. S.D.Burman was one of the few music directors, who exploited Kishore da?s talent to the fullest and he gave him his first serious song. The hero expresses his frustration with a society that is deaf to his pleas and immune to his suffering. This is something which I feel quite often, in an often uncaring world. Its best summed up in this line.?Laakh Yahan Jholi Phaila Le, Kuch Nahin Denge Is Jag Waale, Patthar Ke Dil Mom Na Honge, Chhahe Kitna Neer Bahale?.

1. Life is a blank paper, Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz, Kora Kaagaz

Kishore da seemed to revel a lot in those tragic songs which are played in the backdrop. This again from Kishore-KA combo is one such brilliant song. Great lyrics by M.G.Hasmath here. Again this is one of those songs, where the protagonist(s) repent their folly after it breaks up their relationship. Another similiatr song is?Zindagi Ke Safar Mein? from Aap Ki Kasam. Here again the song expresses the sense of despair by the hero, when he says? Jo Lika Tha Aansoon Ke Sangh Beh Gaya?. And this line expresses the helplessness when he says? Na Khabar Hai