Chhaayaageet #268 - "I need a 'pa' sounding word."
The lyricist has delivered the lyrics of the song. The composer has composed the tune. The singer has even sung it. The song has been recorded.
Normally, at this point, the song is on its way to the filmmaker for filming to proceed.
So the lyricist is surprised to get a phone call from the composer.
“I need a female voice in this song, in between the antaras (stanzas),” the composer says from the other side.
“I need a ‘pa’ sounding word. Can you give me something?”, the composer continues.
The lyricist pauses to think. The composer pauses to let the lyricist think. They both have a deep respect for the creative process. It must not be hurried.
The composer expects the lyricist to come back to him in a day or two. He is ready to hang up the phone and get on to other things.
The pause is a little long. The composer realizes the lyricist is thinking rather deeply. He does not want to propose ending the conversation. So he continues to hold.
The lyricist takes a breath. The composer can hear it on the other side.
After a minute, which must have felt like a year, the lyricist suggests three words, all beginning with the sound ‘pa’.
“Do these words have any meaning, or are they just sounds?”, the composer asks. He is not well versed in Hindi.
The lyricist explains that the first word, which repeats as the second word, is Sanskrit and Bengali for bird. The third word suggests it is a migratory bird.
“Another interpretation might suggest that we’re talking of a bird from a foreign land that is bound to return home one day,” explains the lyricist.
The composer is overjoyed. He promptly records the words in a female voice and not only inserts it in between the antaras, but also starts off the song with them.
Gulzar wrote the lyrics for Ae Ajnabi Tu Bhi Kabhi and other songs of the film Dil Se (1998), music by AR Rehman, written and directed by Mani Ratnam. Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala play the lead roles. The song is sung by Udit Narayan and Mahalakshmi Iyer.
Gulzar gave the words “Paakhi paakhi pardesi” right there on the phone to Rahman.
Watch this song performed live in concert.
Lyrics: Gulzar
Music: AR Rahman
Singers: Udit Narayan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
*ing: Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala
Director: Mani Ratnam
Film: Dil Se (1998)