Song Exposition: 'Jaaneman Jaaneman Tere Do Nayan..'

Jaaneman Jaaneman Tere Do Nayan..

Asha Bhosle, Yesudas (Chotisi Baat - 1975)
Yogesh, Salil Chaudhary

Be it folk-ish in Madhumati and Do Bigha Zameen, westernized in Half Ticket, semi-classical in Parivar, contemporary HFI in Chhaya, Maya, Parakh, philosophical in Anand...just about any genre / form / style / type of music and Salilda stood tall and came out with flying colours! His music always changed with times..or rather was ahead of it...and this song is a testimony of that!

Asha teams up with Yesudas for an absolutely brilliant song from Chhotisi Baat (1975). And this song was an entirely different and refreshing change from the two other mind-blowing songs from the film....'Na Jaane Kyun..' and 'Ye Din Kya Aaye..' having there own flavours and certainly need a separate detailed post on the brilliance in music, singing and writing in each of them!

'Jaaneman Jaaneman..' is a fresh lease of air...right from the very first Mandolin piece which gives way to the instrument that Salilda made his own...the flute! The piccolo flute sounds tailor-made for this song and when the racing Violins join hands with it, its a symphony you would listen to in a loop. The prelude itself sets the tempo, the mood adding a lovely zing to the entire atmosphere! With the entry of Dharmendra (onscreen 'literally' in the song) and thereby Yesudas (who has the distinction of singing in as many as 6 languages for Salilda)..personally for me till I learnt about this song, Yesudas was always a singer meant for serious, serene songs...he breaks the mould wonderfully in this song! Enter Hema and the exuberant Asha just takes you with a storm! (Both these voices fit perfectly if you ask me on Dharam-Hema making the song a pleasant viewing as well). In all this, what makes the song groovy is the brilliant use of the Bongo's and the Conga's...they just make you tap to the rhythm wonderfully!

When Asha adds her own element with the little touch of the sur in the higher chord on 'Nayan' and that 'Haan' at the end...the interludes make a resounding entry! The Trumpet, ascending Violins (aptly depicting Amol Palekar's character's increasing anxiety), Bongos, Mandolin and the confidence shown on Amol's face with the ending Sax piece is just too good! The antras are a treat...both Asha and Yesudas showing amazing breath control singing those long sentences with aplomb! Salilda shows his mastery when he changes the meter and the placement of the words slightly when the first line of the antra repeats. Class! And when Vidya Sinha and Amol Palekar actually enter the song, the playfulness and joy in the song increases exponentially.

Even though the background beats, the interludes tend to repeat themselves..its the sheer amazement in the singing of the singers that the song doesnt sound monotonous and Asha enlivens the song with her connecting 'Jaa', 'Aa', 'Haa', her cute giggle on 'Ghabrao Nahi'. And then what makes the song get a special place in all our hearts is the overlapping 'La-La-La' of Asha and Yesudas...special! Touche!

A song that certainly brings a smile on our faces...which once again makes us laud the genius of Salilda, Ashatai, Yesudasji and not to forget Yogesh sa'ab cute lyrics! Pleasant, happy, cute and certainly adorable!!!

(pic courtesy :salilda.com )