Chhaayaageet #24 - "Pehle qabar khodoge phir janaaza dhundoge"

There is no reason for this song. The script has no room for it. All the songs that the script demands have already been recorded. So how did this song come to be?

The composer is humming a tune to himself unaware that the filmmaker sitting next to him is paying any attention. The tune is quite soft but very melancholy. The filmmaker instantly develops a fascination and wants a song on this tune. But there is no situation. The filmmaker decides he will figure out something.

Now the tune needs words. The lyricist is asked to pen a few lines. The lyricist hates providing words to a pre-defined tune.

"Pehle qabar khodoge phir janaaza dhundoge", he complains.

He has great respect for the filmmaker. The filmmaker is the reason why the lyricist got a break in this film. All of them huddle around to find the missing words.

Lyricist comes up with one mukhda after another.

"Ye kaisa rahega?" How is this?

"Nahin, ye theek nahin." It doesn’t feel right.

Another mukhda. Same response.

The filmmaker doesn't like any of them. He finally decides to put a stop.

"Ab bas karte hain. Ye dhun kisi aur film mein le lenge." Let’s stop now. We will use this tune in another film.

The lyricist is not ready to give up. This would be admitting failure.

"Bas ek aakhri mukhda." Let me try one final time.

The lyricist comes up with the first two lines.

The composer sings the words in his tune. That’s the song.

The filmmaker is still not convinced.

The composer convinces the filmmaker.

"Ye do line hi kaafi hai aasoon laneke liye." These two lines alone can bring tears to anyone’s eyes.

The filmmaker reluctantly agrees.

Now to create the scene. The song has to bring forth the tragedy in romance and the inevitability of life in general. The director decides to shoot this song in Mehboob Studios, one of the elite studios.

The legendary cameraman combines the shadows and light beautifully on a black & white canvas to create the right kind of sorrowful situation. The hero and heroine stand apart as the song plays in the background.

There is a problem.

The filmmaker wants to have a powerful beam of natural sunlight to come from the top and land somewhere in the middle of the frame. It symbolizes the distance between the hero and heroine if they have to come together. But egos come in the way.

There are no windows that can be opened up to let a beam of sunlight in. The only option is to break the wall to throw a light beam. He will need to get permission from the studio owner. The studio owner knows the filmmaker’s mettle. Permission granted. Two giant mirrors are used to redirect the natural sunlight and create one powerful beam.

This iconic song is from India's first Cinemascope film Kaagaz Ke Phool directed by Guru Dutt. The song was sung by Geeta Dutt and picturized on Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt. The composition was created by the great SD Burman and lyrics were penned by Kaifi Azmi.

The song became an evergreen hit. Apart from the excellent composition and lyrics, it is also considered one of the best photographed songs of all time. The cinematographer, V.K. Murthy, won the Filmfare Award for Kaagaz Ke Phool.

Inspite of that, Kaagaz Ke Phool was a flop at box office. Guru Dutt was extremely disappointed and could never recover to come back to the same levels of success as before. Guru Dutt's life eventually mirrored the director character in Kagaz Ke Phool. His life and fortunes faded away swiftly with time.

SD Burman warned Guru Dutt not to make this film that mirrored his life. When Guru Dutt insisted, SD said that this would be his last film with Guru Dutt.

Kaifi Azmi recited a ghazal as tribute to Guru Dutt when he passed away.

Rehne ko sadaa dahar mein aata nahin koi

Tum jaise gaye aise bhi jaata nahin koi

Ek baar toh khud maut bhi ghabra gayi hogi

Yun maut ko seene se lagaata nahin koi

Several other singers have sung this song including Lata Mangeshkar, Jagjit Singh and Amitabh Bachchan as a tribute to the great Geeta Dutt.

The original song by Geeta Dutt

Lata Mangeshkar's tribute

Amitabh Bachchan in "102 Not Out"

Jagjit Singh's tribute

Music: SD Burman
Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
Singer: Geeta Dutt
*ing: Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman
Producer/Director: Guru Dutt
Film: Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)