Song Title: 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 deeply romantic and poetic song from the 1980 film Abdullah. This lyrical masterpiece explores the protagonist’s quest to find beauty comparable to that of their beloved, using celestial and natural imagery to declare the beloved’s unmatched allure. Penned by Anand Bakshi with rich metaphors and poetic expressions, and set to a melodious, dreamy composition by Rahul Dev Burman (R.D. Burman), Mohammad Rafi’s soulful and heartfelt rendition adds profound depth, making it a timeless Bollywood classic.
Anand Bakshi’s Lyrical Homage to Beauty
The song centers on the protagonist’s ardent quest to find someone possessing beauty akin to their beloved’s. In their search, they question the moon, the garden, wine, and even seasoned poets, each confirming that such unparalleled beauty simply doesn’t exist elsewhere. The lyrics artfully employ metaphors like “chaand” (moon), “bagh” (garden), and “jaam” (wine) to symbolize various facets of beauty and perfection. Ultimately, the song serves as a profound celebration of the beloved’s unique and incomparable charm, which truly transcends all comparisons.
Anand Bakshi, one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated lyricists, was renowned for his ability to craft simple yet profoundly impactful lyrics. His work frequently showcased a deep understanding of human emotions, particularly love and longing. In this particular song, he skillfully uses vivid imagery and compelling metaphors to convey the protagonist’s deep admiration and awe for their beloved, rendering the lyrics both relatable and emotionally resonant.
R.D. Burman’s Dreamy Musical Composition
R.D. Burman, the legendary music director, possessed an uncanny ability to create melodies that perfectly complemented the mood and essence of the lyrics. In “Maine Poochha Chaand Se,” he employs a soft and romantic orchestration, featuring gentle strings and light percussion, to conjure a dreamy and deeply emotional atmosphere. The melody itself is remarkably soothing yet simultaneously intense, reflecting love’s duality—its intrinsic beauty and its powerful, overwhelming nature.
Mohammad Rafi’s Mesmerizing Vocal Rendition
Mohammad Rafi, widely regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema, delivers a truly mesmerizing performance in this song. His voice carries an exquisite blend of vulnerability and fervent passion, flawlessly capturing the protagonist’s deep admiration and profound longing. Rafi’s unparalleled ability to convey subtle emotions through his singing elevates this song to a masterpiece. We will now delve into a line-by-line analysis of the emotions expressed in his vocal artistry:
Initial Verse: The Unmatched Inquiry
- 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 a soft, tender vocalization, conveying a profound sense of longing and heartfelt admiration. His elongated delivery of “yaar sa haseen” subtly suggests a quiet yet powerful declaration of love.
- Chaand ne kaha, chaandni ki kasam nahin, nahin, nahin (The moon said, “By the moonlight, no, no, no.”): Rafi’s tone here gains intensity, reflecting the moon’s emphatic affirmation of the beloved’s unparalleled beauty. His stress on “chaandni ki kasam” conveys a deep sense of awe and reverence.
First Verse: Searching Everywhere
- 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, expressing a sense of poignant longing and persistent desperation. His phrasing of “hijab tera” and “shabab tera” suggests a profound emotional connection to the beloved’s essence.
- 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 emotionally charged. His vocal emphasis on “misal teri” and “jawab tera” communicates deep 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 more, the voice adopts a soft and tender quality, conveying a sense of longing and profound admiration. His elongated pronunciation of “aisa phool” underscores a quiet yet powerful declaration of love.
- Bagh ne kaha, har kali ki kasam nahin, nahin, nahin (The garden said, “By every bud, no, no, no.”): The tone here again becomes more intense, mirroring the garden’s emphatic affirmation of the beloved’s unique beauty. His stress on “har kali ki kasam” conveys a powerful sense of awe and reverence.
Second Verse: Poetic Descriptions
- 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 becomes soft and profoundly poetic, conveying a deep sense of beauty and admiration. His phrasing of “mauj ki ravani” and “raat ki kahani” suggests a profound, almost mystical, 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 here escalates in intensity and emotional depth. His vocal emphasis on “aaine kanwal” and “mehkdon ki rani” conveys immense 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 a soft and tender voice, the singer conveys a sense of longing and admiration. His elongated articulation of “aisi may” subtly 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 definitive affirmation of the beloved’s unparalleled beauty. His stress on “mahkashin ki kasam” conveys a strong sense of awe and reverence.
Third Verse: The Ultimate Compliment
- Khoobsurati jo toone paayi, lut gayi khuda ki bas khudai (The beauty you possess, it is a divine gift): With a soft and reverent voice, the singer conveys a profound sense of awe and admiration. His phrasing of “khuda ki bas khudai” suggests a deep, spiritual emotional connection to the divine nature of her beauty.
- Mir ki ghazal kahoon tujhe main, ya kahun Khayyam ki rubai (Should I call you Mir’s ghazal or Khayyam’s rubai?): Rafi modulates his tone, making it more intense and emotionally resonant. His vocal emphasis on “Mir ki ghazal” and “Khayyam ki rubai” conveys profound admiration and intellectual 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?”): A soft and tender voice once again conveys a sense of longing and profound admiration. His elongated pronunciation of “aisa dilnashin” subtly suggests a quiet yet powerful 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, reflecting the poets’ definitive affirmation of the beloved’s unparalleled beauty. His stress on “shayari ki kasam” conveys a powerful sense of awe and reverence.
- Maine poochha chaand se (I asked the moon): With each repetition, the singer’s voice grows more emphatic and emotionally charged. This recurring refrain serves as a powerful reminder of the protagonist’s heartfelt quest and the beloved’s truly unmatched beauty, with Rafi’s delivery conveying a compelling blend of vulnerability and ultimate triumph in his adoration.
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 harmoniously converge to create a song that deeply resonates with listeners. Rafi’s extraordinary ability to convey the protagonist’s admiration, longing, and ultimate surrender to this profound beauty establishes this song as a masterpiece. It serves as a beautiful reminder that true beauty is unique and transcends all earthly comparisons.
Our valued non-Hindi readers are advised to go through the translation for better understanding of the song.
~ Balwant S. Wadhwani