Analysis of Song: Aaj Is Darja Pila Do
Singer: Mohammad Rafi | Film: Vaasna (1968)
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi | Music Composer: Chitragupt
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“Aaj Is Darja Pila Do …” is a profoundly melancholic and philosophical song. It explores themes of disillusionment, the futility of worldly pursuits, and the desire for oblivion. The combination of deeply poetic and thought-provoking lyrics, evocative music and soulful rendition creates a truly haunting and unforgettable listening experience.
Lyrics
The lyrics are penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, one of the greatest Urdu poets and film lyricists known for its social commentary, philosophical depth, and powerful imagery. The song expresses a deep weariness with the world and its harsh realities. The speaker has witnessed the highs and lows of life, the complexities of human relationships, and the pervasive presence of suffering and injustice. They yearn for a state of forgetfulness, a release from the burden of memory and awareness.
Musical Composition
Chitragupt Shrivastava, known mononymously as Chitragupt, was a prolific Indian film music director known for his melodious compositions and his ability to create music that resonated with the emotional core of the lyrics. Chitragupt composed the haunting melody for this song in slow, melancholic, and deeply atmospheric style, perfectly complementing the song’s theme of despair and longing.
Emotional Expressions and Singing Intricacies
Initial Stanza
Aaj is darja pila do, ki ne kuchh yaad rahe (Today, give me so much to drink that I remember nothing): Mohd. Rafi modulates his voice to fill it with a deep weariness and a yearning for escape. The emphasis on “Aaj” (today) underscores the urgency of the speaker’s desire for oblivion.
Bekhudi itni bada do, ke na kuchh yaad rahe (Increase my intoxication to such an extent that I remember nothing): Singer expresses hopelessness when urging his companion to increase intoxiated. The repetition of “ke na kuch yaad rahe” reinforces the speaker’s desperate desire to forget. Rafi’s voice is soft and pleading.
1st Stanza
Dosti kya hai, wafa kya hai, mohabbat kya hai, dil ka kya mol hai, ehsaas ki keemat kya hai (What is friendship, what is loyalty, what is love? What is the value of the heart, what is the price of feeling?): Mohd. Rafi modulates voice to expresses disillusionment and cynicism as if these concepts have lost their meaning for the speaker. His questioning tone continues, highlighting the speaker’s sense of detachment from human emotions.
Humne sab jaan liya hai, ke haqeeqat kya hai. Aaj bas itni dua do ke na kuchh yaad rahe (I have understood what reality is. Today, I only ask for this blessing that I remember nothing): Here the legendary singer demostrates a sense of resignation and acceptance as if he has come to terms with the harsh realities of life. Then with “aaj bas itni pila do …”, his pleading tone returns, conveying a deep longing for forgetfulness.
2nd Stanza
Muflisi dekhi, ameeri ki ada dekh chuke, ggam ka maahol, musarrat ki fiza dekh chuke (I have seen poverty, I have witnessed the ways of wealth. I have seen the atmosphere of sorrow, the ambiance of joy): The singer’s full of expressing a sense of world-weariness, having experienced both extremes of life. Then, the contrast between “gham” (sorrow) and “musarrat” (joy) is emphasized by subtle changes in Rafi’s tone, highlighting the fleeting nature of both.
Kaise firti hai zamaane ki hawa dekh chuke. Shamma yaadon ki bujhe do, ke na kuchh yaad rahe (I have seen how the winds of time turn. Extinguish the lamp of memories, that I remember nothing): There’s a sense of acceptance and resignation in Rafi’s voice, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of life. The imagery of extinguishing a lamp is powerfully conveyed in “Shamma yadoon ki …” by the Singer in his soft and fading voice.
3rd Stanza
Ishq bechain khayalon ke siva kuchh bhi nahin. Husn berooh ujaalon ke sive kuchh bhi nahin (Love is nothing but restless thoughts. Beauty is nothing but soulless lights.): In the first line, Mohd. Rafi expresses a profound sense of disillusionment with love while in the next, he portrays the imagery of “berooh ujale” (soulless lights) with a chilling emptiness in his voice.
Zindagi chand sawalon ke siva kuchh bhi nahin. Har sawal aise mita do ke na kuchh yaad rahe (Life is nothing but a few questions. Erase every question in such a way that I remember nothing): Rafi sahad delivers the first line with the tone of profound resignation and existential questioning. Then comes his plea for forgetfulness is delivered with a deep sense of despair.
4th Stanza
Mit na paaega jahaan se kabhi nafrat ka rivaaj. Ho na paaega kabhi rooh ke zakhmon ka ilaaj (The custom of hatred will never be erased from the world. The wounds of the soul will never be healed): Mohd. Rafi modulates his voice to carry a sense of bitter acceptance of the pervasive nature of hatred. His tone throughout these lines is expresses deep despair and hopelessness.
Sultanat zulm, khuda waham, musibat hai samaj. Zehan ko aise sula do ke na kuchh yaad rahe (The kingdom is oppression, God is an illusion, society is a calamity. Put my mind to sleep in such a way that I remember nothing): This line, laden with social commentary, is delivered with a powerful sense of disillusionment and anger with the empire, the god and the society. Then his voice changes into a haunting and deeply melancholic to express his final plea for oblivion.
Mohammad Rafi’s rendition of this song is a masterclass in conveying profound melancholy and philosophical weight. Here’s an analysis of the intricacies of his singing in this song:
Emotional Subtlety: The song’s strength lies in its understated emotion. Rafi doesn’t resort to overt displays of grief or despair. Instead, he employs subtle nuances in his voice to convey the deep weariness and longing for oblivion. This restraint makes the song even more poignant.
Vocal Texture and Tone: Rafi uses a soft, almost hushed vocal texture throughout much of the song. This creates an atmosphere of intimacy and vulnerability, drawing the listener into the speaker’s inner world. His tone is consistently melancholic, with a sense of resignation and acceptance.
Phrasing and Pauses: Rafi’s phrasing is impeccable, with each word and line delivered with clarity and precision. He uses pauses effectively to emphasize certain words or phrases, giving them added weight and meaning. This is particularly evident in the recurring line “ke na kuchh yaad rahe,” where the pauses create a sense of longing and desperation.
Dynamic Variation: While the song maintains a generally subdued tone, Rafi subtly varies his dynamics to emphasize certain emotions. For instance, there’s a slight increase in intensity when he sings about the harsh realities of the world (“mufilsi dekhi,” “sultanat zulm”), conveying a sense of bitterness and disillusionment.
Emphasis on Key Words: Rafi pays close attention to the lyrics, emphasizing key words and phrases to bring out their full meaning. For example, the emphasis on “aaj” (today) in the opening line underscores the urgency of the speaker’s desire for oblivion. Similarly, the way he delivers words like “bekhudi” (selflessness/oblivion) and “na kuchh yaad rahe” (that I remember nothing) conveys the depth of the speaker’s yearning.
Absence of Vibrato: Notably, Rafi largely avoids using vibrato in this song. This contributes to the sense of stillness and resignation, as if the speaker has reached a point of emotional exhaustion. The lack of vibrato also adds to the song’s haunting quality.
Connection to the Lyrics: Rafi’s singing is deeply connected to the meaning of the lyrics. He doesn’t just sing the words; he embodies the emotions they express. This is evident in the way he conveys the disillusionment with love and beauty (“ishq bechain khayalon ke siva,” “husn beruh ujalon ke siva”) and the bitter acceptance of suffering and injustice (“mit na payega jahan se kabhi nafrat ka rivaj”).
In summary, Rafi’s singing in “Aaj Is Darja Pila Do” is a masterpiece of understated emotion and vocal control. He masterfully uses subtle nuances in his voice, phrasing, and dynamics to convey the song’s profound themes of despair, disillusionment, and the yearning for oblivion. His rendition is deeply moving and unforgettable, showcasing his unparalleled ability to connect with the listener on an emotional level.
Our valued non-Hindi readers are advised to go through the translation for better understanding of the song.
~ Balwant S. Wadhwani