Deewane Kyun …

The other day we’d invited few friends over for dinner and while we were exploring my Yamaha MM-6 synthesizer I played them the song “Karo Thoda Intezaar” which I had composed for the great Kishore Kumar on his 81st birth anniversary. After I was done playing, they asked me – “Hey, did you compose the song before laying down the track?” - And amazingly so we all said together “Well that’s what happens most of the times. Doesn’t it? ” But later that triggered something in my mind.


I started thinking could I possible pick up an existing track or pattern on the Keyboard and compose a song from it. So I picked the default Instrument Voice built in the keyboard “Power Grand” and the default pattern “SouthernRap1”. Then there is an option called “Finger”. What that does is, you can just select a key on the left half portion of the keyboard and it would automatically figure out the chord. So if you placed your finger on the Key ‘C’, then it would consider that as playing the ‘C’ chord and match it up with the other instruments such as drums, guitar, etc. And that was the starting point.

The toughest part was to figure the remaining chords while I was singing the song and later when I composed the “Antra” without matching the progression from the synthesizer it was especially tough to figure out the corresponding chords. Then I added some variations within the Pattern to switch it from pattern A to pattern B to pattern C during different portions of the song. But even now I am not totally happy with the way I placed the background score for the “Antra”.

Anyway, the idea was not to create a great composition, but rather a simple composition with just the basic features of the keyboard. Bottomline, as I had mentioned earlier the intent of this blog is not to represent just my songs but also to let others know that song composition is not totally unachievable. I couldn’t believe I could do what I am doing now just a couple years ago and now I feel fairly satisfied with the songs I am putting together. So if you happen to whistle or humm an unknown tune don’t let it slide. Pay attention, try to record it or perform it for your loved ones. They may have some inputs too as there is a musician in each one of us; Or else we wouldn’t have been able to tell a good song from a bad song, Or relate one song to another and figure out that they sound similar or that they hold the same aura.

For now enjoy this song and provide me your inputs on what variations you think should have been added to the song to make it peppier or catchy, etc, etc.

Here are the lyrics along with the guitar chords for those who might be interested in playing the song themselves. I may have got some chords wrong. So, if you think any other chords fit well, let me know.

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]

A# G# A# G#

A# G# A#
Hum huye bhala yun deewane kyun

A# G# A#
Gum hai tere khayalon mein najane kyun

F# G# A#
Geeton mein saason mein, Dil mein basi hai tu

F# G# A#
Yaad satati hai hurdum, Ab aa bhi jaa tu

[1st Antra]
G# F# A# G#
Aaye tu sab jagmagaye, Jaye to kuch bhi na bhaye

G# F# A# G#
Har waqt hum maifilon mein , Nagme tumhare hi gaye

G# A#
Ab karun kya main, Kya na karun

G# A#
Dil ki halat hai, Kya main kahun

G# A#
Ab to chain , Aaye na raat din

F# G# A#
Aur jiya lage na, Tere bin, Oh oh

[Repeat Mukhda]

Hum Huye Bhala Yun Deewane Kyun.mp3

Rahee Tha Main Awaara

I was travelling this week and didn’t carry my synthesizer with me. So I am back to my guitar strumming for this song. You may notice that the song is inspired from the famous Kishore Da song “Rahee Tha Main Awara”. And by inspired, I don’t mean copied or remixed. It’s just that the first few lines of the song are similar to the one sung by Kishore da.


These days the word “Inspired” is so commonly used for songs that are revised, remixed or copied as is.

I am not there yet and I hope not to. Just a few years ago I always wondered that all around the world over several years mankind has produced so many songs and artists. How is it that we are still continuing to evolve? How come there is no point of saturation. After all, there are just so many notes and chords and rhythms and keys. Then why is it that the human brain can still produce melodies or tunes that are unheard of.

Well, sometimes we do notice a lot of music composers (at least in our Indian Film Industry) tend to get monotonous over time or literally start copying songs from the West or other parts of the world. After I started composing, I noticed several similar instances where the music was sounding monotonous; where two songs seemed very similar to each other. As for the copying, I wonder whether that would be a nightmare for any creative artist. Do you think any music composer would be willingly conducting such activities or whether it is a matter of survival? If any professional music composer reaches a point of saturation and stops composing I can then imagine him/her to continue to create remixes or duplicate songs until they can reinvent themselves. These days since I am focusing on finishing up existing songs and not creating anything new, I get the paranoia myself about running out of tunes and melodies pretty soon.

Anyway, for now enjoy the song and ponder on this topic until we meet next Friday.

Here are the lyrics along with the guitar chords for those who might be interested in playing the song themselves. I may have gotten some chords wrong. So, if you think any other chords fit well, let me know.

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]

E D E D
Rahee tha main awara, phirta tha main mara mara,
A C

Aake zindagi mein puri kardi, tune duniya meri
A G C

Rahee tha main awara, phirta tha main mara mara,
A C

Aake zindagi mein puri kardi, tune duniya meri
A G C

[1st Antra]
Chalta raha, phirta raha har kahin akela
A C G

Tha humko haan paraya, duniya har mela
A C G

Chalta raha, phirta raha har kahin akela
A C G

Tha humko haan paraya, duniya har mela
A C G

Jo tune haat badhaya pyar ka, hum deewane huye
C A G

To jaise jannaton ke dar khule, humare liye
C A D

Jo tune haat badhaya pyar ka, hum deewane huye
C A G

To jaise jannaton ke dar khule, humare liye
C A D

Thokar le zamane ki, phirta tha main hara hara
A C

Aake zindagi mein puri kardi tune duniya meri
A G C

[Repeat Mukhda]


Rahee tha main awara.mp3

In the Spirit of Independence Day

I know I didn’t update the blog on Friday, and that’s because I wanted to wait until today - 15th August, India’s Independence Day; the day when India finally got its freedom from the British Rule.


In our own way we always strive to do something for our country. No matter where we are, we have a strong connection with our mother land and on this day each one of us celebrates it in our own manner.

Consider this song my celebration of India’s 63 years of freedom.

Allow me to take a moment and explain this song in detail. First of all, it has drawn inspiration from lot of other songs. You would find traces of our National Anthem, few soundtrack effects similar to the song “Haan yehi rasta tera” from the movie “Lakshya”, some lyrical inspiration from “Panchi, Nadiya, Pawan”“ from the movie “Refugee” and most importantly the spirit is from a scene from the movie “Paa”. The very first one, where the legendary Amitabh Bachchan had painted the Globe white signifying a World without boundaries, countries, religion, caste, creed or racism. That scene is buried deep down in my heart and it probably touched several other million hearts too.

This song also has its own situational significance. Let me try and create a scene for you and may be when you listen to the song you may feel it too. It is about a soldier. The war is over. They defeated the enemy and the soldier is standing alone on the battlefield. All numb, with corpses all around him. There is the moment of celebration but he is looking at the sky wondering what they really achieved from the war. His heart rate is increasing constantly and this song runs in the background. The song conveys his thoughts.

Enjoy the song and see ya next Friday. Jai Hind.

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]

Dekho yeh aasman, humein kya kehta hai
Main to hun ek par, zameen ke tukde kyun
Insaan ne kardiye hai, Apne swartha ke liye haan
Lakire hai har kahin, Darare dil mein rakhi hai haan

Dekho yeh aasman, humein kya kehta hai
Main to hun ek par, zameen ke tukde kyun

[1st Antra]
Sarhade, Banayi hai, Humne apne liye
Socho jisne, Jahan banaya, Kabhi socha kya yeh usne
Batao kya hai paya humne, ladh zaghadkar ek doosre se
Batao kyun hawayein, nadiya, Aur panchi, ek watan na chune

Hai to aasan par, sawaal gehra hai
Ek jaise hum sabhi, dharam hai itne kyun
Insaan ne kardiye hai, Apne swartha ke liye haan
Lakire hai har kahin, Darare dil mein rakhi hai haan

[2nd Antra]
Kare tamanna, ek jahan ki, jahan bhed na ho kahin
Kare tamanna, ek subah ki, jab bair na ho kahin

Jahan sabhi Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isaayi, Sang kadam badhaye
Jahan mazhab humara, Insaniyat ho, Jahan ki hum rahein ...

Dekho nai kiran, humein kya kehti hai
Hai to sadi nayi, Purane zagde kyun
Insaan ne kurede hai, Apne swartha ke liye haan
Lakire hai har kahin, Darare dil mein rakhi hai haan

[Repeat Mukhda]

Dekho Yeh Aasman.mp3

Remembering Kishore Kumar: A song composed just for him

Some of you might be surprised about an early post; on a Wednesday instead of Friday. But I couldn’t stop myself from sharing this amazing song I wrote, composed, sung and recorded for the one and only legendary Kishore Kumar on his 81st birth anniversary. This is my tribute to him.

I have worshipped two celebrities throughout my life; Amitabh and Kishore da. There is not a single occasion when I have not wished if there was some way of paying homage to these Gods of mine.

And soon after I discovered my passion for composing songs; it dawned on me that this is the only way I could truly honor them. It’s a totally different feeling. I have sung Kishore da’s songs on several occasions and have even been awarded for it. But I can’t explain the sense of achievement that I have felt after putting this song together.

I wish Kishore da was alive today. I wonder what he would have said if I had the opportunity to present this song to him. I know this dream of mine will never be fulfilled. But, imagine this song in a studio recording, with live musicians, and Kishore da actually singing it. Every time I think of it like that, I feel divine. This song may not be of his caliber, but I have written it for him from my heart.

I hope you feel the same way after listening to it. And I apologize to those who may find this offensive.

Also, thanks to my Yamaha MM6 synthesizer that my dear wifey gifted to me recently. It quickly enabled me to compose the sound track. So enjoy the song and see ya next Friday.

Please let me know what you think. I shall appreciate your inputs.

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]
Karo thoda intezaar, aate hai sanam
Karo thoda intezaar, aate hai sanam
Meri jaana, dil bekarar yeh bhi hai …
Karo thoda intezaar, aate hai sanam

[1st Antra]
Tarse nigahein, tarse yeh bahein,
Ek pal chain na aaye
Tumse humara milan ho jaye,
Bus yehi dil ab chahe

Par waqt aisa kathin hai,
Jo humein saath na laye

Karo thoda intezaar, aate hai sanam …

[2nd Antra]
Tumsehi saara jahan, Tumsehi hai dil jawan
Tumsehi saara jahan, Tumsehi hai dil jawan
Tanha yeh maan hai, tanha badan hai,
Sune sabhi raaste ..
Lagta nahi hai kahin dil mera,
Ke aeh jaaneman bin tere

Par aisa zaalim zamana,
Jo humein saath na chahe

Karo thoda intezaar, aate hai sanam …

[Repeat Mukhda]

KaroThodaIntezaar.mp3