On the 3rd of September, i.e., a few weeks back, my friend Sonal and I had a rare honour of watching Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali together. To the Ghazal connoisseur, it cannot get better. Well, so it was that evening too- a concert we will never forget.
When Jagjit sang "Hoshwalon ko", I remember thinking to myself that once Renjini moves to Delhi, we should go to a live performance of Jagjit together. That live performance again, alas, will never be.
Yesterday, the world woke up less melodious than ever (as a friend puts it). As another puts it, alcohol won't be the same, heartbreaks won't be the same.
Jagjit Singh- I got introduced to his music through a friend in KMC. Tolerance to ghazals turned into curiosity and then into admiration and at one stage, even addiction. When I heard his rendition of Ghalib's "Hazaron Khwahishein", I thought I had heard the most complete song ever- I hold on this thought even today.
The memories are many. And many of them flashed back in front of my eyes y'day when I heard of his death. When I was driving back, I heard his "Chitthi na koi sandes" on FM. I was in tears. That song has always brought tears to my eyes, but my heart was never as heavy as y'day. The tragedy was well reflected in this tweet- "zamaana bade shauk se sun raha tha.. Jagjit so gaye daastan kahte kahte!"
The ultimate heartbreak song, "Baat niklegi toh door talak jaayegi" gives me goosebumps everytime I listen to it. The last few lines of the jilted one, and I present them here-
Log Zaalim Hain Har Ek Baat Kaa Taanaa Denge
Baaton Baaton Mein Meraa Zikr Bhee Le Aayenge
Unkee Baaton Kaa Zaraa Saa Bhee Asar Mat Lenaa
Warnaa Chehre Ke Taasur Se Samajh Jaayenge
Chaahe Kuchh Bhi Ho... Sawaalaat Naa Karnaa Unse
Mere Baare Mein Koi Baat Na Karnaa Unse
Baat Nikalegii To Phir Door Talak Jaayegee
No other voice could reflect the pain as well. Same goes for the song "Mitthi da bawa", the song of the childless woman who makes a baby from sand/ soil and complains that the baby doesn't speak to her or respond to her.
Sing a "Tera chehra kitna suhaana lagta hai" to a woman and see her reaction. That Amar song, "Honthon se chho lo tum" or a "Tumko Dekha toh yeh khayaal aaya". The repository of Jagjit's love songs is a treasure-house.
That all time song that makes you drown in nostalgia- "Woh kaagaz ki kashti". Or the emotions in "Hum toh hain pardes mein, des mein nikla hoga chaand".
That naughtiness while singing "Kal chaudhvi ki raat tthi"...
The transition from one ghazal to another during live performances and then coming back to the 1st ghazal. The unwillingness to wait for the applause to end while starting to sing a new ghazal. The contemplation in "kya khoya kya paaya jag mein"...
Those conversations with friends around which of these was his best...or just around a ghazal apt to a situation...those will continue...
The voice will continue to live on... Hope you have a great next life, Jagjit Singh...
Afterglow: This appeared on the net. Somebody remarking about Steve Jobs' death followed by Jagjit- "Pehle ooparwale ke mann mein iPod ki chaah samaayi... ab woh usme ghazal sun-na chaahta hai"...
1 comment:
That sure was a beautiful evening AJ! I so miss the goo d times! And ofcourse the legendary Jagjit Singh.. never realized I would miss him so much..
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