Song: Maine Poochha Chaand Se
Singer: Mohammad Rafi | Film: Abdullah (1980)
Lyricist: Anand Bakshi | Music Director: Rahul Dev Burman
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“Maine Poochha Chaand Se” is a romantic and poetic song from the 1980 film Abdullah. The song is a lyrical exploration of the protagonist’s search for someone as beautiful as their beloved. It uses celestial and natural imagery to convey the idea that the beloved’s beauty is unparalleled and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The lyrics, penned by Anand Bakshi, are rich with metaphors and poetic expressions, while the music, composed by Rahul Dev Burman (R.D. Burman), is melodious and dreamy. Mohammad Rafi’s soulful and heartfelt rendition adds depth and emotional resonance, making it a timeless classic.
The Lyrics:
The song revolves around the protagonist’s quest to find someone as beautiful as their beloved. They ask the moon, the garden, the wine, and even the poets, but all of them affirm that such beauty is unmatched and cannot be found anywhere else. The lyrics use metaphors like “chaand” (moon), “bagh” (garden), and “jaam” (wine) to symbolize different aspects of beauty and perfection. The song is a celebration of the beloved’s unique and incomparable beauty, which transcends all comparisons.
The Lyricist:
Anand Bakshi was one of the most celebrated lyricists in Hindi cinema, known for his ability to craft simple yet profound lyrics. His work often reflected a deep understanding of human emotions, particularly love and longing. In this song, he uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the protagonist’s admiration and awe for their beloved, making the lyrics relatable and impactful.
The Musical Composition:
R.D. Burman, the legendary music director, was known for his ability to create melodies that perfectly complemented the mood of the lyrics. In “Maine poochha chaand Se,” he uses a soft and romantic orchestration, with gentle strings and light percussion, to create a dreamy and emotional atmosphere. The melody is both soothing and intense, reflecting the duality of love—its beauty and its power to overwhelm.
The Singer:
Mohammad Rafi, one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema, delivers a mesmerizing performance in this song. His voice carries a blend of vulnerability and passion, perfectly capturing the protagonist’s admiration and longing. Rafi’s ability to convey subtle emotions through his singing elevates the song to a masterpiece. We will dvelve into the line-by-line analysis of the emotions expressed in the singing:
Initial Verse:
Maine poochha chaand se, ki dekha hai kahin, mere yaar sa haseen (I asked the moon, “Have you seen anyone as beautiful as my beloved?): The singer begins with soft and tender voice, conveying a sense of longing and admiration. The way he elongates “yaar sa haseen” (as beautiful as my beloved) suggests a quiet yet profound declaration of love.
Chaand ne kaha, chaandni ki kasam nahin, nahin, nahin (The moon said, “By the moonlight, no, no, no.): Rafi’s tone becomes more intense here, reflecting the moon’s affirmation of the beloved’s unmatched beauty. The way he stresses “chaandni ki kasam” (by the moonlight) conveys a sense of awe and reverence.
1st Verse:
Maine ye hijab tera dhoondha, har jagah shabab tera dhoondha (I searched for your veil, I searched for your beauty everywhere): Rafi’s voice is soft and reflective, conveying a sense of longing and desperation. The way he sings “hijab tera” (your veil) and “shabab tera” (your beauty) suggests a deep emotional connection.
Kaliyon se misal teri poochhi, phoolon mein jawab tera dhoondha (I asked the buds for a comparison to you, I searched for your answer among the flowers): Rafi’s tone becomes more intense and emotional here. The way he stresses “misal teri” (comparison to you) and “jawab tera” (your answer) conveys a sense of admiration and reverence.
Maine poochha bagh se, falak ho ya zameen, aisa phool hai kahin (I asked the garden, “In the sky or on earth, is there a flower like this?): Once again, the voice becomes soft and tender, conveying a sense of longing and admiration. The way he elongates “aisa phool” (a flower like this) suggests a quiet yet profound declaration of love.
Bagh ne kaha, har kali ki kasam nahin, nahin, nahin (The garden said, “By every bud, no, no, no.): Here the tone becomes more intense here, reflecting the garden’s affirmation of the beloved’s unmatched beauty. The way he stresses “har kali ki kasam” (by every bud) conveys a sense of awe and reverence.
2nd Verse:
Ho chaal hai ki mauj ki ravani, zulf hai ki raat ki kahani (Your walk is like the flow of a wave, your tresses are like the story of the night): The singer’s voice changes to soft and poetic, conveying a sense of beauty and admiration. The way he sings “mauj ki ravani” (flow of a wave) and “raat ki kahani” (story of the night) suggests a deep emotional connection.
Honth hain ki aaine kanwal ke, aankh hai ki mehkadon ki rani (Your lips are like lotus mirrors, your eyes are like the queen of fragrances): Rafi’s tone becomes more intense and emotional here. The way he stresses “aaine kanwal” (lotus mirrors) and “mehkdon ki rani” (queen of fragrances) conveys a sense of admiration and reverence.
Maine poochha jaam se, falak ho ya zameen, aisi may bhi hai kahin (I asked the wine, “In the sky or on earth, is there wine like this?): With soft and tender voice, the singer conveys a sense of longing and admiration. The way he elongates “aisi may” (wine like this) suggests a quiet yet profound declaration of love.
Jaam ne kaha, mahkashin ki kasam nahin, nahin, nahin (The wine said, “By the fragrant one, no, no, no.): The more intense tone here reflects the wine’s affirmation of the beloved’s unmatched beauty. The way he stresses “mahkashin ki kasam” (by the fragrant one) conveys a sense of awe and reverence.
3rd Verse:
Khoobsurati jo toone paayi, lut gayi khuda ki bas khudai (The beauty you possess, it is a divine gift): With soft and reverent voice, the singer conveys a sense of awe and admiration. The way he sings “khuda ki bas khudai” (divine gift) suggests a deep emotional connection.
Mir ki ghazal kahoon tujhe main, ya kahun Khayyam ki rubai (Should I call you Mir’s ghazal or Khayyam’s rubai?): Rafi modulates tone to make it more intense and emotional here. The way he stresses “Mir ke ghazal” (Mir’s ghazal) and “Khayyam ki rubai” (Khayyam’s rubai) conveys a sense of admiration and reverence.
Maine jo poochhun shayaron se, aisa dilnashin koi sher hai kahin (When I asked the poets, “Is there a verse as captivating as this?): Soft and tender voice once again conveys a sense of longing and admiration. The way he elongates “aisa dilnashin” (as captivating as this) suggests a quiet yet profound declaration of love.
Shayar kahe, shayari ki kasam nahin, nahin, nahin (The poets said, “By poetry, no, no, no.): Rafi’s tone becomes more intense here, reflecting the poets’ affirmation of the beloved’s unmatched beauty. The way he stresses “shayari ki kasam” (by poetry) conveys a sense of awe and reverence.
Maine poochha chaand se (I asked the moon): The singer becomes more emphatic and emotional with each repetition. The refrain serves as a reminder of the protagonist’s quest and the beloved’s unmatched beauty, and Rafi’s delivery conveys a sense of both vulnerability and triumph.
In summary, “Maine Poochha Chaand Se” is a timeless ode to the incomparable beauty of the beloved. Anand Bakshi’s poetic lyrics, R.D. Burman’s melodious composition, and Mohammad Rafi’s soulful rendition come together to create a song that resonates deeply with listeners. Rafi’s ability to convey the protagonist’s admiration, longing, and ultimate surrender through his singing makes this song a masterpiece. It is a reminder that true beauty is unique and cannot be compared to anything else in the world.
Our valued non-Hindi readers are advised to go through the translation for better understanding of the song.
~ Balwant S. Wadhwani