Gulzar for Pancham

 

1) Musafir hoon yaaron (Parichay 1972)


Singer: Kishore Kumar


This was the first song composed for the film. The story goes that RD Burman landed up at Gulzar’s home at one o’clock in the night to make him hear the tune made for this song. Both of them sat listening to the tunes in the car the whole night and a life-long friendship got forged. The short, sweet song reminds us that we are nothing but travelers in this life’s journey and should just follow the road and enjoy the journey.

 

 2) Tere bina zindagi se koi (Aandhi 1975)


Singers: Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar


The film, directed by Gulzar himself, revolved around a politician who’s estranged from her husband. They suddenly meet one day and romance rekindles. Gulzar had to write about lost love and longing. According to film lore, he heard Pancham rehearsing a Pujo album song, Jete jete pathe holo deri and the tune got stuck in his head. He felt it was apt for the situation. Incidentally, there are lines of dialogue in the song and RD didn’t like his song being cut like that.

 

3) O manjhi re (Khushboo 1975)


Singer: Kishore Kumar


This is easily one of the best renditions by Kishore Kumar. Khushboo was incidentally third film, after Mausam and Aandhi as a director for Gulzar. RD Burman used Bengali folk form Bhatiali to compose this song which talks about the nomadic nature of life, of love. The words aptly bring out the pain internalized by the central character, played by Jeetendra. It’s said that those present at the recording had trouble keeping their eyes dry.

 

4)   Tujhse naraz nahi zindagi (Masoom 1983)


Singers: Lata Mangeshkar (female version), Anup Ghoshal (male version)


Life has a way of throwing curveballs at you. You can’t help being perplexed, and in turn exasperated when such things come your way. You are bamboozled but not angry… and you can’t help smiling, even laughing at the joke that has been played on you – fully knowing that you have to pay for the pleasure one day. RD Burman subtly changed the musical arrangements to suit the singers and the mood. You can listen to both versions all day and not get tired.

 

5)   Mera kuch saaman (Ijazat 1987)


Singer: Asha Bhosle


It’s said when Gulzar gave him the lyrics, an amused RD Burman said given the level of free verse, you’ll give me the front page of The Times OF India next to compose. Fortunately for them both, Asha Bhosle, present at the meeting, starting humming the line, Mera woh saman lauta do. RD took it as his cue and composed one of the most intricate love songs yet. Both Gulzar saab and Asha Bhosle later won the National Award for the song. It was about a former lover being sent back her love letters by the wife of the person she loved and her sending back a taunt saying send back my memories as well. Only Gulzar could dwell so well in a lover’s psyche.