Film : Khushboo 

Singer : Asha Bhonsle 

Composer : R. D. Burman 

Lyricist : Gulzar 

चौक से चलकर, मंडी से, बाज़ार से होकर

लाल गली से गुज़री है कागज़ की कश्ती 

बारिश के लावारिस पानी पर बैठी बेचारी कश्ती

शहर की आवारा गलियों से सहमी-सहमी पूछ रही हैं 

हर कश्ती का साहिल होता है तो-

मेरा भी क्या साहिल होगा?

एक मासूम-से बच्चे ने

बेमानी को मानी देकर 

रद्दी के कागज़ पर कैसा ज़ुल्म किया है. 

- Gulzar. 

Simple metaphors. Simple words! And still.. it always moves me deep inside! If mere words can move you this much then just imagine how it would feel to find yourself in this 'Kashti' like circumstances!! 

But after writing this nazm for 'Pukhraj', again comes Gulzar with an ethereal classic 'Khushboo' wherein he prepares a strong, matchless character named Kusum who refuses to accept that, 'Kaagazon ki kashtiyon ka kahin kinaara hota nahin'.! Yes! 

By the way, the story of this film was originally conceived by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and the film mostly sticks around the original novel 'Paditmoshai'. 

By crafting and nourishing Kusum's character, Gulzar depicts his very much own - soft, subtle and fragrant defination of sheer feminism. A प्रोषितभर्तृका whose ultimate truth of life is her childhood marriage. Her unsaid but intense desire of life is to merge her identity with his husband's but only at her own dignified terms! 

1975. The year when Gulzar's gulzar (garden) was blooming with all lush and blush. His 'Parichay' started with R. D. Burman in 1972 with "musafir hoon yaaron" paced with 'Aandhi' in 1975. The duo continued thier journey together and reaped some utterly beautiful fragrances in 'Khushboo'. One the most favourite movies and soundtracks of all the time. 

You keep on listening all these songs and still something will be remained unexplored for next time. You keep on writing and still something would be remained untold. Each song fills your heart with sublime and supreme layers of emotions but if you try inking it, even after pouring your heart out, you feel, just nothing has been emptied from it! Like they said in vedas "पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥" ( even after taking completeness from the completeness, what remains left is completeness!) And you know, till date I have never dared to write on my most favourite song of this film :  

Ghar jayegi.. tar jayegi.. 

It's a dream seen by open eyes. And just after the song completes in the film, the dream shatters.. it breaks like a raw glass.. 

Yes, Gulzar always compares such dreams with glass.. Kaanch ke khwaab hain... 

After so many years, Gulzar warns such daydreamers by writing.. 

Kaanch ka sapna.. gal hi j jaaye.. 

Soch samajh ke.. aanch rakhna... 

Dheere jalna.. dheere jalna... dheere jalna... 

But how?! 

As per the most accepted definition of love written by Jigar Moradabadi, 

Ek aag ka dariya hai.. 

aur doob ke jaana hai.. ! 

And if burning is inevitable then bechara dil kya kare? 

Sawan Jale... Bhaado Jale.. 

The song so beautifully starts with enchanting notes of flutes followed by two single tingles on glockenspiel and that playful bits on matka! Then flow in gushing violins and soon sitar and glockenspiel both join hand in hand in quite a pretty and peppy way just as Hema Malini and little master Raju on screen. How delightfully sitar invites here beaming voice of Ashaji matching so perfectly to the charming and winsome persona of Farida Jalal who is singing in fact the saga of her lovely yet lonesome friend - Kusum.

Bechara dil Kya kare.. 

saawan jale bhaado jale..

Do pal ki raah nahin, 

ek pal ruke ek pal chale..

In first interlude too, after violins, sitar and glockenspiel remain inseparable throughout as if representing Hema malini holding the hand of that little one. 

Now look at the metre Gulzar has given to compose and how brilliantly Pancham has crafted it! 

Gaaon gaaon mein ghoome re jogi 

rogi change kare..

Mere hi man ka taap n jaane..

Haath na dhare..

What a playful and simple yet sharp and stirring way to express all that pulsatile pain she is holding deep inside her heart all the years from her childhood! This stanza reveals what she - kusum exactly feels about Brindavan. Huge respect and love for what he is selflessly doing for the rest of world and quite an unresting grievance for what he has been doing to her by gainsaying that episode of their lives which was, for her, the foremost and ultimate truth of her entire life - their childhood marriage. 

And here comes humming by master Raju. Charming, calming and balming presence of that little child makes everything pleasant for her when he is around.

Also in second interlude, after violins sway in, Pancham keeps on infusing sitar and glockenspiel in each other like this mother (of course!) - son duo on screen. Matka bits and tweety flutes add pure rustic falvour and quite an adorable innocence to the song. Here, comes utterly beautiful lines from Gulzar's pen..

Tere vaaste laakhon raasate

tu jahaan bhi chale..

mere liye hai teri hi raahen..

tu jo saath le..

Now what's special in it?

The last word. 

Tu jo saath "le"...

It could be written saath "de". But again, and as always, this is Gulzar. The master craftsman - the wizard of words. What a huge difference he makes by choosing "le" instead of "de". 

Not just to match qaafiya. 

No! 

This single word portrays the character of Kusum. IMO one of the strongest characters Hema Malini has played in her entire career. So strong, so dignified and full of selfrespect and integrity yet so loving, so caring, utterly sensitive and soft. She never asks for anything but she offers instead. All her love, her care and concern, her companionship and a lot more throughout the path of life to both Brindavan and his cute little son who has lost his mother. Though she is capable enough to carry her life all alone on her own shoulders what she has been doing since years, but still what she waits for is just a call from him. Just a loving call to show that she has been 'accepted' and 'owned' by him by all means. 

You know, this song used to be huge favourite during early teens. This was 'Chitrahar' special in doordarshan days. At that age also I used to feel that Hema Malini looks most beautiful ever in this one and so does Farida Jalal. By every passing year, my love for this song has been deepened only. Overall effect created by Pancham-Gulzar combo always leaves my eyes watery for no reason. As I have mentioned in the beginning, Khushboo is an utter favourite film and album. I love love love all the songs of Khushboo penned by Gulzar sahab for every possible reason. But I started loving this song at the age when I had yet to get indulged with lyrics. This was all Pancham magic for me. 

So, today remembering Pancham with this lovely lilt which almost tops the list of songs that made me fall in love with his music for ever and ever in early days. 

Yes lord! (Yeh) Do pal ki raah nahin.. ek pal ruke.. ek pal chale.. 💕