This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
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The Many Colors of Love #18 – The Lovely Letters of Love
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And so wrote the scribe
likhe jo khat tujhe
wo teri yaad mein
hazaaron rang ke
nazaare ban gaye
Love has needs of words and expressions. And when the lovers are away from each other, the restless pining of the heart materialize as messages that take on many forms. There are countless episodes of these messages of love, many famous and well known, and many more multifold that are personal and undisclosed.
Time was when the paper was not yet invented and the messages were written on plant leaves and barks of trees. Probably the most innovative and wondrous messaging was using the clouds. In the hallowed poetical epic ‘Meghdoot’ (literally, ‘The Cloud Messenger’), Kaalidas describes how Yaksha sent messages to his wife Alaka with the help of Megh, the cloud. Yaksha, is the caretaker of the treasures of Kuber, the God of wealth and prosperity. Once Kuber comes to know that Yaksha is neglecting his duties. As a reprimand, he is banished from Mount Kailash, which is his abode, and sent to the mountains of Vindhyachal for a period of one year. Being separated from his wife, he is longing for her. In desperation, he takes help of Megh to carry his message to Alaka on Mount Kailash. The poem is about Yaksha describing the journey from Vindhyachal to Kailash, how will he recognize the place and how will he recognize Alaka to deliver the message. And of course the message itself – a message of longing and love, expressing desires to be together again with her. The poem has become a renowned classic around the world, appreciated for its beauty and the innovative idea of using the clouds as a messenger of love.
Then we have the Hamsa Sandesha, another literary creation that tells about how Lord Ram sent messages to Sita with help of the swan bird.
We also have the beautiful eulogy of love sent in the form of a letter by Rukmini, to Lord Krsna, through a Brahmin messenger, telling of Her love for Him, and informing that Her wedding has been arranged with King Shishupal, and that He should urgently come and rescue Her from this unseemly fate. This message is presented in detail in the epic Srimad Bhagwatam in the tenth-book and fifty-second chapter. Interested readers can read more about this here.
History also abounds with episodes of using pigeons as carriers of love messages. One of the earliest references in recorded history comes from Greece. The poet Anacreon has written a poem describing how he instructs the carrier pigeon and describes the bird’s flight as a messenger carrying a love-letter to his beloved. In our own history, there is reference of pigeons used as carriers of love messages between Shahzada Salim and Anarkali.
Then we have a mystery message that has been awaiting interpretation for over a century. This message, carved out on wood, has appeared in many inscriptions discovered in Scandinavia. The message that has been puzzling cryptologists and runologists has recently been deciphered and solved. It is a love message that includes the words ‘Kiss Me’.
And discussion on love messages cannot be complete without reference to the Great Bard. His famous comedy, ‘Twelfth Night’ features an assortment of very interesting characters, with very many confusions being caused between them, and a great variety of messages sent from one character to another—sometimes as letters and other times in the form of tokens. Such messages are used both for purposes of communication and miscommunication, that add to the humor in the story line. And there are many other plays by him, in which the device of love letters and love messages has been used in the storyline.
Love messages are a significant part of the story lines and songs in Hindi films. In fact there is a film titled ‘Prem Patra’ from 1962, starring Shashi Kapoor and Sadhna in lead roles. There are many endearing songs that have made this part of the on screen romancing, an unforgettable part of our memories. Whether it is the “Aabaad Rahe Tera Ghar Munshi, Khat Likh De Saajan Ke Naam” from film ‘Surajmukhi’ (1950) or the similar sounding “Khat Likh De Saanwariyaa Ke Naam Baabu” from ‘Aaye Din Bahaar Ke’ (1966), or “Ye Mera Prem Patra Padh Kar” from ‘Sangam’ (1964), or lovely melody of “Tera Khat Le Ke Sanam Paaon Kahin Rakhte Hain Hum” from ‘Ardhaangini’ (1958), or the iconic fame of “Phool Tumhen Bheja Hai Khat Mein” from ‘Saraswati Chandra’ (1967), or the lilting rhythm of “Haaye Haaye Ik Ladka Mujhko Khat Likhta Hai” from ‘Kachche Dhaage’ (1973), or even the melancholy of not receiving the message as in “Main Ye Soch Kar Us Ke Dar Se Uthaa Thaa” from film ‘Haqeeqat’ (1964). And what to say of the song noted at the beginning of this write up. This song from film ‘Kanyadaan’ (1971), I clearly recall that when this film came to the theatres, this song was heard on the radio in practically every program. Continuously for many weeks this song was played, at least 12 to 15 times a day, making some sort of a record.
The song that I present today is from the 1953 film ‘Firdaus’. When I heard this song for the first time, my heart told me it had to be part of this series of songs about love. The words of this song present such a unique aspect of the letters of love. I am so taken in by the idea and the concept that is the central theme of this song. Presenting an emotion of extreme longing, mixed with sadness and helplessness, it tells of the level of desperation that makes the lady write out her message of love, using the ‘kaajal’ (kohl) from her eyes. She says that her mother in law has taken away the ink and the writing pen, and she has no other way to write to her husband, her beloved. And it is an extreme measure that makes her use the ‘kaajal’ to write her letter of love.
For quite some time after listening to this song, my mind was contemplating this thought. I was trying to understand myself whether these verses are a metaphor, to simply say how strongly she misses her beau. But then it struck me. It struck me that actually she is crying. And as the tears flow, along with it flows the kaajal from the eyes. This mixture of ‘kaajal’ and tears is what makes the ink that she is using to write her message of love. When this thought struck me, was really taken in by the beauty of the words and the idea that they present – writing a love letter, and using the tears and kaajal for ink, wow.
‘Firdaus’ is a movie produced under the banner of New Premier Films and is directed by Vasant Joglekar. The star cast includes Ashok Kumar, Geeta Bali, Anoop Kumar, Rama, Om Prakash, Lalita Pawar, Jamaal Amrohi, Badri Prasad, Randhir, Pesi Patel, and Vasant Thengadi etc. The film credits indicate that there are two music directors, viz. Robin Chatterjee and Roshan, and two lyricists, viz. DN Madhok and Shailendra who share the work for creating the eight songs of this film. This song is written by DN Madhok and is composed by Robin Chatterjee. The singing voice is that of Geeta Dutt.
Personally, I just do not seem to be able to get over this song, and how the letter of love is being written. An amazing thought and an amazing song.
Listen and enjoy.
Song-Ab to chale aao baalam ke chitthhi kajre se likhi (Firdaus)(1953) Singer-Geeta Dutt, Lyrics-D N Madhok, MD-Robin Chatterji
Lyrics
kalam dawaat mori sasuwaa ne rakh di
kalam dawaat mori
kalam dawaat mori sasuwaa ne rakh di
naa jaane
kis baat ki peed thhi
naa jaane
kis baat ki peed thhi
ab to chale aao baalam
chithhi
chithhi kajre se
ke chithhi kajre se
ke chithhi kajre se likhi
ab to chale aao balmaa
ho chale aao baalam
chithhi kajre se
chithhi kajre se likhi
ke chithhi kajre se likhi
Saawan beeta
bhaadon jaaye
saawan beeta
bhaadon jaaye
likh likh haari
tum nahin aaye
tum nahin aaye
likh likh haari
tum nahin aaye
tum nahin aaye
ab to chale aao balmaa
ho chale aao baalam
chithhi
chithhi kajre se likhi
ke chithhi kajre se
chithhi kajre se likhi
tum ne to jaa ke
julam kar diya
julam kar diya
julam kar diya haaye
tum ne to jaa ke
julam kar diya hai
hum ne lifaafe mein
dil bhar diya hai
dil bhar diya hai
hum ne lifaafe mein
dil bhar diya hai
dil bhar diya hai
ab to chale aao balmaa
ho baalam
chithhi kajre se likhi
ke chithhi kajre se
chithhi kajre se likhi
ab to chale aao balmaa
ho chale aao baalam
chithhi kajre se
ke chithhi kajre se
ke chithhi kajre se likhi
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Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
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कलम दवात मोरी ससुवा ने रख दी
कलाम दवात मोरी
कलम दवात मोरी ससुवा ने रख दी
ना जाने
किस बात की पीड़ थी
ना जाने
किस बात की पीड़ थी
अब तो चले आओ बालम
चिट्ठी कजरे से
के चिट्ठी कजरे से
के चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
अब तो चले आओ बलमा
हो चले आओ बालम
चिट्ठी कजरे से
चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
के चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
सावन बीता
भादों जाये
सावन बीता
भादों जाये
लिख लिख हारी
तुम नहीं आए
तुम नहीं आए
लिख लिख हारी
तुम नहीं आए
तुम नहीं आए
अब तो चले आओ बलमा
हो चले आओ बालम
चिट्ठी
चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
के चिट्ठी कजरे से
चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
तुमने जा के
जुल्म कर दिया
जुल्म कर दिया
जुल्म कर दिया हाए
तुम ने तो जा के
जुल्म कर दिया है
हमने लिफाफे में
दिल भर दीया है
दिल भर दीया है
हमने लिफाफे में
दिल भर दीया है
दिल भर दीया है
अब तो चले आओ बलमा
हो बालम
चिट्ठी
चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
चिट्ठी कजरे
चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
अब तो चले आओ बलमा
हो चले आओ बालम
चिट्ठी कजरे से
के चिट्ठी कजरे से
के चिट्ठी कजरे से लिखी
