Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Mirza Ghalib: Same Story, Different Eras

I wanted to do this blog since a long time now. Recently, I got in touch with the 1988 television series produced by Gulzar. I suddenly recollected watching the series and remembered how my father used to wait for this serial to be aired. Week after week.

I also happened to see the movie, Mirza Ghalib, starring Bharat Bushan. Its a different narration altogether. There are a few songs that got featured in both the versions. And the same songs have been sung in different styles. And the songs sound good in both the styles. As you listen and read by, try to see what is the similarity in the songs of 1954 Mirza Ghalib songs, and the similarity between 1988 Mirza Ghalib songs and of course, the major difference between the style of the songs in the movie and the TV series.

  1. Dil E Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai
The older version

Same song, newer version

2. Yeh Na Thi Hamari Kismat

The older version

Same song sung by Chitra Singh in the TV series

3. Aah Ko Chahiye Ek Umar

Sung by Suraiya, its a female version

In the TV series it is sung by Jagjit singh, its a male version here

4. Ishq Mujhko Na Sahi, Vehshat Hi Sahi

The Shayari narrated in a geet form by Talat Mehmood

Same shayari, but narrated by both Jagit Singh and Chitra Singh, in a Different Situation…

But to tell you the truth, the song where this newfound favourite was found is this song.

One Of My Favourites….

Btw, did u notice the major difference between the songs in the movie and the songs in the TV series. Yes, you got that right. Most of the songs in the movie are sung in “Geet” style, where later they have been sung in “Ghazal” style. Probably, because of music by Jagjit Singh. And both the versions make us say, “Hazaaron Khwahishen Aise, ke har khwaish pe dum nikle!!”

And as Ghalib says in his own words:

“Rekhte ke tum hi nahin ustad Ghalib
Kehte hain agle zamane main ek Mir bhi tha”

(You alone are not the master of language, Ghalib
In the age gone by there was Mir, they say)

I am sure to this Mir would have replied “But sir, there shall only be one Ghalib.“

This is my dedication to all the Masters of Language.

3 comments:

Vishal Kataria said...

Awesome post.

Wonderful to see the variety of music he created. Indeed a masterclass!

The music world is so much better because of artists like him.

The Devil said...

Very Impressive. Its refreshing to see that someone has put an effort into such a distinguishing blog. The songs AND ghazals attached on the blog are just the cherry on the top. I am hearing these after more than a decade , thank you for sharing.

meghna said...

Very Nicely put in those words.... Ghalib was one of my favourite too. Good to see someone has made it a point to write it down. cheers!!