At a time when music has lost its recall value and a new number is in your playlist every week, with forgettable lyrics, you yearn for song that reaches your soul. Since the age of the talkies, songs have been an integral part of cinema in India. Every era saw an iconic lyricist teaming up with a certain music director, and creating numbers that were evergreen – from Sahir Ludhianvi and SD Burman in the 50s to Shailendra and Shankar-Jaikishan in the 60s. In recent times, if there is any duo that holds that power, it’s Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj.
The collaboration between the two started way back in 1996 with ‘Maachis’. The film directed by Gulzar, saw Vishal Bhardwaj creating soulful numbers like ‘Chhod Aaye Hum’ and the iconic ‘Chappa Chappa’.
The musical bond only grew stronger when Bhardwaj made his debut in 2002 with ‘Makdee’. The filmmaker then went on to give music to some of Gulzar’s finest works in later years, from ‘Saathi Re’ to ‘Beedi Jalailay’ and ‘Ishqiya’.
Bhardwaj is yet to work with any other lyricist for his directorial. The bond with Bhardwaj’s music and Gulzar’s poetic verses is deep, it’s inseparable. Their bond is similiar to the one Gulzar shared with his very good friend and mentor RD Burman in the 70s and 80s. Interestingly, for Vishal, he played a similar role in the industry – of a mentor and a guide.
Who can forget the soulful number ‘Pehli Baar’ from Kaminey…
“Yaad hai peepal ke jiske ghane saaye the, hum ne gilehri jhoothe matter khaaye the, yeh barqat unn hazrat ki hai.”
… when Gulzar wrote the verses, only Bhardwaj could’ve brought them alive with a tune so haunting, yet so subtle, that the mood and verses melt in your memory. In the same film they presented the audience with ‘Dhan Ta Nan’, an upbeat song that still beats with the generation. The diversity with which they have blessed the deteriorating hindi film music, is blissful.
The verses of Gulzar again found a home in Bhardwaj’s music recently with ‘Dhoop aane do’, a song motivating people to not lose hope amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The song is the first independent track released by the composer under his label, Vishal Bhardwaj Music.
Gulzar beautifully juxtaposes the beauty of the nature with pandemic, advising people to be patient till the time things return to normal.
“Aaftaab Uthega To Kirano Se Chhanega Wo/Gehri Zehrili Si Hawaa Mein Roshni Bhar Denga Who…Meethi Hamari Zameen Bimaar Na Ho/Hath Ke Betho Zara Hath Ke Zara Thodi Jagah To Do,”
In a time when film music is nothing more than a filler, Gulzar-Bhardwaj, are a constant reminder that there is a corner in this tone-deaf, mediocre tunes where music is still seen as a sacred soul of movies. An abode of meaningful lyrics strung together by ear pleasing music.
