Dil Jo Na Keh Saka
This article is written by Ms. Chandni
What could have been a better way to express the choked emotions in a love triangle than this song? The movie ‘Bheegi Raat’ (1965) had a number of very melodious songs including this ‘Dil Jo Na Kehesaka’. This is a song that has been marked as an all time Rafian hit. Sang on a rather high note with a suppressed chuckle, it suits the majestic persona of Pradeep Kumar.
Rafi, Roshan, Majrooh Sultanpuri, a trio that is synonymous with music par excellence. The song ‘Dil Jo Na Kehesaka’ has Rafi written all over it. It is so like his type of music that the charisma simply binds you in its engrossing charm. Music, words and voice all seem so perfectly weaved into a symmetric blend that it simply touches the very soul. Rafi has sung quite a number of sad songs but what sets this song apart or the puts this ahead of the list is the ability to blend different emotions into the song.
Listen to the song, or watch the video below.
Let’s talk about the song and the picturization and how Rafi’s voice gave the song the everlasting punch it required. As in any archetypal love triangle, we have misunderstanding, heartbreaks and outbursts. A situation when a person feels being cheated, a culmination of his choked emotions works him up and finally the emotional flare-up is but inevitable. This was the situation in ‘Bheegi Raat’ (starred by Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari and Pradeep Kumar) when Pradeep Kumar is expressing his emotions for an estranged Meena Kumari, through a song. The song required to be very powerfully sung as it had pain accompanied by suppressed emotions and was tainted with irony all over. Nobody but Rafi could have brought in the power it required.
Mohd Rafi with Fans
Rafi had mastered the art of putting the right note for the every song that he sang. He would get to the heart of the character himself, much like an actor, trying to get into the shoes of the character. This was the very reason why every song that he sang would have a very personalized tone and feeling. Not only Rafi Fans but anyone who listens to this song would agree on this point that it could not have been sang in better manner. The feel of the voice, the sense of being wronged, sad yet standing very strong, matches the expressions of Pradeep Kumar to the perfection.
Mohd Rafi
As the wordings go, the tone varies from one phrase to the other, the pain, the chuckle, the irony everything has been well-timed and expressed well. As the lyrics go ‘Mubarak tumhein, Kisi ki larazti si bahon mein, Rehne ki raat Aayi.’ the tone takes a sad note, with ‘Chaliye Mubarak, Jashn Dosti Ka, Daaman Tho Thama, Aapne Kisi Ka,’ it is satirical and with ‘Aaj Dil Ki Queemat, Jaam Se Bhi Ham Hai,’ it takes a certain chuckle. The many variations have their own turn in the song, with each surpassing the other. Putting life to the song, all the three of the legendary men here have done justice to each other and given each other the space to show their matchless talent.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:47 am
“Dil jo na kah saka wahi …!”. Emotionally chocked RAFI SAHAB’s voice, really a moonlight in the throat. We are in tears as RAFI SAHAB is no more with us. “Teri Jami se uthenge to aasma honge, hamarae aise log jamane mei phir kahan honge.” Long live Rafi Sahab!!!!! - Sanjaya Srivastava, IPS, Comandant, PAC Etawah.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Thanks Chandni Ji, very nice article. It gave insight to Rafi Sahabs my most lovable songs. Its a very good idea that we discuss some of his excellent songs like this. I would love any one discuss Rafis song from April Fool A Gale Lag Ja, which I believe no other singer can dare try to sing. This song has special place in my heart because in my opinion this is one of the Rafis hardest songs to sing and the ease and emotions with which this genius has sung is simply amazing. Can someone please write more on this song/
March 26th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Ms Chandni,
Thanks so much for your most *excellent* article! I really enjoyed re-reading it after the greatness of the song finally sank in! I got addicted to this Rafi song last night and I’m been listening to it all day. Your points are spot on. Most importantly, you brought attention to a SUPREME song that I was sadly not earlier aware of. Thanks again!
- Manish
March 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Thanks for a wonderful article on a wonderful song Chandniji. Keep writing on other songs so that we get an oppurtunity to discuss many things on the same. I agree that though Pradeep Kumar and Bharat Bhushan got many good songs to sing on screen of Rafi Saab, they were not able to bring the required emotions and feelings and people went to the theatres to only hear Rafi Saab. What a wonderful experience to hear the great soul in a big auditorium. It is really sad that the present generation is missing the great experience people of our generation was lucky to experience.
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
ref post 34 by acharyashammi bhaskar sahab. sir, you have said it all for all of us in just one sentence - rafi was the god of songs. nothing more need to be said after this and this is one of the finest comments i’ve come across in recent times. short but to the point. keep it up.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
MOHD. RAFI SAHAB WILL REMAIN IN OUR MEMORY FOR END LESS TIME WE ARE SPEACH LESS AND DONT HAVE WORDS TO SAY INTHE PRAISE OF GREAT LEAGEND MOHD RAFI. NO OTHER SIGER CAN TAKE HIS PLACE IN COMING TIME NEITHE R IN THE INDIAN MUSIC NOR WESTEN MUSIC WE SHOULD FEEL PROUD THAT PERSON LIKE MOHD RAFI BORN IN OUR COUNTRY
March 21st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
UNBELIEVABLE VOICE QUALITY UNMATCHED EXTRAORDINARY WORDS FELL SHORT
RAFI WAS GOD OF SONGS
MR ACHARYA SHAMMI BHASKAR
March 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
mr anoop
my surname is korti and not kotri. anyway thanks for the response. also thanks to janab khaja aliuddinji who is right on target. but there are two more rafi songs in detective. one is the rib tickling “ankhon pe bharosa mat kar” (solo) and other a duet with geeta dutt “aaja kar le muquabila ye baazi hai pyarki”. incidentally, the film had two other songs. one a geeta solo “do chamakti ankhome, kal khaab sunehra tha jitna” and other a duet with hemant kumar “mujhko tum jo mile, ye jahan mil gaya.”
the film was directed by shakti samant and lyrics by shailendra. the composer was one non descript mukul roy. the 1958 film starred pradeep kumar, mala sinha, dhumal, johny walker and k n singh.
the heroine was not madhubala but mala sinha. i stand corrected.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
ref post 30:
mukul roy was geeta dutt’s brother. he scored music for only a few films. Here’s a relatively well-known duet (Hemant-Geeta) from detective — “mujhko tum jo mile ye jahan mil gaya”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMyTix1MRw0
March 11th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Namaste Raju Kotri Saheb
I read your response in which you have stated that Late Hemant Kumar Ji told you that Rafi Saheb was suffering from cold while recording the song from Do Dil. This is one of my favourite song and was surprised to know that Rafi saheb could sing so well in these conditions as well. Will you please write about what Late Hemant Kumar Saheb had opinion about the singing talent of Rafi Saheb.
Thanks & regards,
Anoop.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Janab Raju Korti Saheb, Adab Araz Hai,
As per my knowledge there is only one song of Rafi Saheb in the movie “Detective”. Uske bol kuch istrah hain: Chodiye ghussa huzoor, aisi naarazzi bhi kya. Lyrics by Shailender and music by Mukul Roy. I don’t know anything about MD Mukul Roy. We want to listen from you. Ek sher aapki nazar.
Muddath hui hai yar ko mehman kiye hue
Baithe rahe bazm chiraghan kiye hue
With regards to all Rafi lovers and particularly to Chandniji.
Dr. Khaja Aliuddin,
Chicago,USA
March 9th, 2008 at 12:34 am
yeah friends, rafi song many a gems for pradeep kumar. do you all recollect a film called detective? it had pradeep kumar and madhubala. it had some rafi songs. now here’s a quiz: which are these songs and who composed the music? and if you know the composer, do you know about his background?
waiting for the response from all rafi lovers
March 7th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Chandni Ji
great song, great feelings with great comments.
It is one of the best song of Rafi Saheb picturised on hero Pradeep Kumar Batliwal, Hemant Kumar Ji playback for him in his initial films like Nagin. Other best song of Rafi Saheb picturised on him were :-
1. Jo Wada Kiya Hai Nibhana Parega from Tajmahal.
2. Sau Baar Janam Lenge Sau Baar Fana Honge from Ustadoo Ke Ustad.
With best wishes to carry on this good job.
Best regards
Biman Baruah
Sivasagar, Assam
E-mail: bimanbaruah@yahoo.co.in
March 4th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Very nice song and article Asha ji. Thank you.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Dear Chandniji,
Superb article. Superb selection of song. Dil me abhi aur kuch kahnekeliye jagah nahi hai. As written by Murtiji, very few females give their views on this site. But every female is a very devoted fan of our Rafi Sahab. In this particular song, each antara supersedes the other. That’s the quality of a genius called Rafi Sahab. Keep on writing chandniji. Well done.