Beyond Limits

Music has no boundaries. It travels across countries, religions, cultures and tastes. It is not restricted to a language, or any cast and creed. Yet it sets the right mood, expresses the right emotions and activates the right nerve. One could be a Jazz fan, yet could right a Pop song, or could be a Hindi music composer and still create a rave in the west.

The Slumdog Millionaire song “Jai Ho” may not be the best composition by the great A. R. Rahman, but even with that he could draw the World’s attention.

Music is one art that single handedly has the power to create peace. Peace that can be everlasting. For instance, India and Pakistan; both countries have different styles of music, may it be classical or modern. Yet they both inspire each other. We’ve always seen India embracing Pakistani singers, musicians and artists; as well we’ve seen huge Pakistani fans of Bollywood movies.

And yes, it doesn’t matter if you are an Indian composing a Pakistani style song. It may still sound authentic. Pakistani music itself is a fusion of music from parts of South Asia, as well as Central Asian, Persian, Turkish, Arabic music and of course modern day Western music .

Here’s my attempt towards composing a Pakistani style song. I would like to imagine it is similar to the styles of Atif Aslam or Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the son of legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Of course I am dreaming. So you let me know what you think.

Enjoy it. See you next Friday. And don’t tell me I sound like Himmesh in the “Darde Dil” part :-)

Here are the lyrics and you can play the song from the Player at the very end of the lyrics or from the Playlist on the right hand side –

[Mukhda]
Cha rahi roshni har jagah,
Mehek uthi har kahin par hawayein
Khil rahi har kali raah mein,
Yeh nazare bhi khole hai bahein
Humko bhi zindagi mil gayi,
Jab kabhi tu chali aa rahi
Dil mein bhi hai uthi who umang,
Tere aane ki aahat jo hui

[1st Antra]
Shabnami lag rahi hai chandani,
Tere daaman se jo dekhun aasman
Chand bhi muskuraye halke se,
Dhadkanon ko mil gayi jaise zubaan

Aeh khuda, tu bata,
Darde dil ki kya dawa
Aeh khuda, tu bata,
Darde dil ki kya dawa

Oh oh oh …….

Mil gaye jaise dono jahan,
Aur zameen pe saware sitare
Dil mein aisi lagi hai agan,
Patzadon mein khili hai bahare
Humko bhi zindagi mil gayi,
Jab kabhi tu chali aa rahi
Dil mein bhi hai uthi who umang,
Tere aane ki aahat jo hui

[Repeat Mukhda]

Zindagi Mil Gayi.mp3

The Process of Song Writing

Song writing or song composition is the most beautiful art. The main reason being it’s unpredictable. You don’t plan for it. You don’t strategize. There isn’t just one concept, story or situation that forms the foundation. There are several aspects. It could be in any mood or setting. It can evolve from a simple whistle or humming tune. If you play an instrument, it might be something you encounter while practicing your notes and hit the right key, forming the right progression.


And truly I won’t be saying all this if I hadn’t discovered this wonderful hobby. Again, all what I said could only be possible if you are pursuing it as a hobby. Coz for movie music composers; there may be always a situation that the movie director expects all the songs to be based on and then of course there is the pressure of delivery. I already feel the pressure of finishing each song before updating the blog every Friday. Plus I can be vulnerable. I can make mistakes. Only then would you want to rectify them.

So back to the process of song writing. Let’s take this song for instance. I don’t quiet remember, when and how I thought of it. All I know is that, I was on the road. May be travelling, and suddenly I thought of the words ‘Phirta Rahun’ along with the tune. Then from listening to Hindi songs and with the common course of lyrics the human brain is trained to, you would think of ‘Phirta Rahun’ in conjunction with ‘Haseen Wadiyon Mein’, ‘Raston Mein’, etc. I thought of ‘Anjani Rahon Mein’. And sure enough that formed the foundation, concept and situation, all at once. Coz if you think about it; If a person is wandering around through unknown trails then he is either trying to find a way out or seeking love. I came up with seeking love and that’s how the rest of the song developed.

Hate to decipher the song like that, but just trying to explain the process.

Hope you like it. Have a great weekend. See you next Friday.

Here are the lyrics and you can play the song from the Player at the very end of the lyrics or from the Playlist on the right hand side -

[Mukhda]

Phirta rahun, anjani rahon mein

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

Phirta rahun, anjani rahon mein

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

Koi to ho, Koi to ho

Koi to ho, Koi to ho

Koi to ho, Koi to

Saathi apna



Phirta rahun, anjani rahon mein

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

[1st Antra]

Unche niche raston mein, tedi medi galiyon mein

Chalta rahun

Liye armaan kai, milne ki tamanna sanam se

Karta rahun

Milta rahun, kitne haseen chehron se

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

Phirta rahun, anjani rahon mein

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

Koi to ho, Koi to ho

Koi to ho, Koi to ho

Koi to ho, Koi to

Saathi apna


[2nd Antra]

Duniya ke melon mein, banjaronsa akayla main

Chalta rahun

Ek bhavre ki tarah, phoolon ki haseen saher sayer main

Karat rahun

Jhoomta phirun, hawaon mein fizaon mein

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

Phirta rahun, anjani rahon mein

Aur dhundu, koi ek humsafar ko

Koi to ho, Koi to ho

Koi to ho, Koi to ho

Koi to ho, Koi to

Saathi apna


[Repeat Mukhda]




Phirta Rahun.mp3

Socha Na Tha

Who knew, being in love was so difficult. We hear about it all the time from others ….. How difficult life is ever since they fell in love, how they are willing to die for someone special … et al.

We never pay much attention and always assume we would be prepared for it. Until it hits us; and then we are left wondering why are we longing for that special someone, what’s with the sleepless nights, what’s with not enjoying our time with friends and what’s with all the happening parties seeming incomplete without our beloved.

In continuation to my previous post, I am uploading a song which speaks about the realization of love and all the amazing things that occur which we’d never imagined before.

This one’s a typical Hindi filmy style. So don’t beat me up for it.

You can play the song from the Player at the very end of the lyrics or from the Playlist on the right hand side. You can also choose to download the song if you like. And if you like this blog, don’t forget to follow me.

I hope you enjoy the song and see you again, next week, Friday.

Here are the lyrics -

[Mukhda]
Maine, Socha nahi tha
Kabhi kabhi pyar mein
Aisa bhi hota hai
Ho.. Neend ud jaati hai, Chain kho jaata hai
Din ke ujale mein, Chand nazar aata hai
Hosh kho jaata hai
Hosh kho jaata hai

[1st Antra]
Dekhun kahin bhi, Tu hi tu dikhe
Tere khayalon mein, Hum gum rahe
Tere hi sapne sajata rahun
Tere bina ek pal jee na sakun

Shamil, Jabse hui ho
Zindagi mein sabhi
Pyarasa lagta hai
Neend ud jaati hai, Chain kho jaata hai
Din ke ujale mein, Chand nazar aata hai
Hosh kho jaata hai
Hosh kho jaata hai


[2nd Antra]
Maine kabhi pyar mein
Socha na tha
Ke jaan dunga, Kisi ke liye
Maine kabhi pyar mein
Socha na tha
Ke mar mitunga, Kisi ke liye
Ke sahunga main sare sitam
Hone dunga na pyar kabhi kam

Saamne, Aati ho jab tum
To waqt kyun bhala,
Theher sa jaata hai
Neend ud jaati hai, Chain kho jaata hai
Din ke ujale mein, Chand nazar aata hai
Hosh kho jaata hai
Hosh kho jaata hai

[Repeat Mukhda]

Maine Socha Nahi Tha.mp3

Love at first sight

It was a tough evening yesterday while composing this song. I have being humming the tune for 2 years, but never took the time to complete it. Hence everything was last minute and forgive me if you notice a hasty job.
Now let’s discuss this topic for a minute, before we move on to the song -
We all remember the days when we first fell in love; the first sight, the first touch, the first kiss ….

We can never forget the memories of when we first had the realization of love. When it happens, a ton of things go through our mind. How do we really know we are in love? We try to relate it to what we see in the movies or what others have expressed in the past or through written words like songs and poems. Bottomline, doesn’t matter what we experience we just know we are in love. And eventually, some of us, like me, get lucky that we get married with the person we’ve loved all the time.

My theory is, love only happens once; And when it happens, it should always be counted as the first sight. It is the first time when you see someone and realize you are in love.

And no, it’s not the case just for people who’ve dated before getting married or rather had a Love Marriage as is referred to in India. People who’ve being together through matrimonial sites or have had an Arranged Marriage, again a term relative to Indian marriages, also realize love at first sight.

Here is one song to remember and cherish the realization of being in love.

Now, the lyrics

[Mukhda]
Tera ehsaas hai, kitna haseen
Teri muskaan hai, kitni haseen
Tera andaaz hai, sabse juda
Teri har baat pe, main hu fida
Oh mujhe pyaar ho gaya, ho gaya, ho gaya
Ha mujhe pyar ho gaya, ho gaya, ho gaya …

[1st Antra]
Sab lage pyara, jo tu mere saath hai
Haton mein mere, tera jo haat hai
Tumsehi phoolon ki khushbu
Tumsehi har kahin jadoo
Tumsehi hai haseen rahein
Tumsehi surmayin shamein
Tumsehi kayam har dilka armaan hai (Do have a few alternatives for this particular line)
Alt. 1 [Tumsehi puri har dilki talash hai]
Alt. 2 [Tumpehi dilki har khwahish kurbaan hai]
Alt. 3 [Tumsehi jeene ki tamanna javan hai]

Tere kadmo tale, hai sara jahan
Tere daman ko bhi, thame samaan
Teri zulfo tale, hai asmaan
Tere aane se hi, badle fiza
Oh mujhe pyaar ho gaya, ho gaya, ho gaya
Ha mujhe pyar ho gaya, ho gaya, ho gaya …

[2nd Antra]
Tha main adhoora, tere bin maine na jaana
Aaane se tere, mil gaya jaise sara jahan
Hota ha kya asar, kaise karun main bayaan
Ab jeene ki mil gayi tumhise is dilko wajah
Teri meethi harkatein, pyari lage
Tere sang jeene ki, asha jage
Teri palkein uthi, to subah hui
Teri palkein zuki, to raatein bani
Oh mujhe pyaar ho gaya, ho gaya, ho gaya
Ha mujhe pyar ho gaya, ho gaya, ho gaya …

[Repeat Mukhda]


Mujhe Pyar Ho Gaya.mp3