Song Exposition: 'Mera Dil Dil Dil Dil Na Lekar Kidhar Chala..'

Mera Dil Dil Dil Dil Na Lekar Kidhar Chala.

Asha Bhosle (Apradhi Kaun - 1957)
Majrooh Sultanpuri, Salil Chaudhary

Ohlalala...this is Salilda in a very different avatar... sizzling, scintillating, sensuous, seductive, superb....absolutely groovy and unstoppable!
...and who else than Ashatai to sprinkle her endless magic on it...showing all her prowess, her unbelievable versatility and strength of her singing...

Aparadhi Kaun (1957) was a special Salil Chaudhary album tailor-made for Asha Bhosle and she fired all cylinders blazing!! Three absolute humdingers from her...showing all the various shades in that mesmerizing voice she proudly owns... be it the sexy Rock n Roll with a tinge of Waltz in 'Baat Koi Matlab Ki Hai Zaroor..' or the cute, sweet, song-next-door and adorable 'Koi Dekhe To Kahe Tujhko..' or this song in contention today...!!

This song 'Mera Dil Dil Dil Na Lekar Kidhar Chala...' is a testimony to powerhouse singing and musical extravaganza. From a genre of songs where Asha is untouchable and she shows why from the very first note itself...after the initial seconds of the Accordion, enters the voice that just lingers around...that 'La La La..' is out-of-the-world. This is 1957 and Asha is still arguably considered as the second choice...but when you hear something on the lines of this adlib, you are floored by the veracity of this voice. Just mark the oomphy western touch she gives with that oh-so-lovely lilt to the 'Lawww' at the end...Class!
...and once thats done starts the Salil Magic...which will absolutely stun you...the Guitar strums (with a small background of the ghunghroo-ish beats) and the Castanets is amazing. The actual song starts and it keeps you glued with the background Bongos and the wonderful fresh tune to the song....and Ashatai as usual puts something from her kitty with that 'Naaaaaaa' at the end. WOW!

The interludes are short but remain in memory...they have the Flute (no one has used this instrument as magnificently as this man...terrific, esp. the Piccolo), the Bongos and the Violins...all in sink with each other...all in tandem!
As Asha starts the antra, the Accordion follows in steps...a wonderful chemistry between the singer and the instrument (dont miss the very small piece in the 'kharj', maybe a Cello, when Asha is about to finish the repeat line of the antra..its a highlight for me..miniscule but a pleasant surprise)...they both keep each others company throughout and what a ear-pleasing output we get! The way she ends the antra with the emphasis on 'Dil Dil Dil' and that 'Naahaaa' is penchant Asha!

The Accordions are the USP of this song...their play in M2 supported by the Violins give the song a very light, silky, wavy feel...the song proceeds in the same structure until the third interlude where the Mandolins get an entry adding another spice to the song. This wonderful listening experience ends with a small Bongo piece which again is a cherry on the pie!

This song just absolutely goes to show that nothing was impossible for this legendary master called Salil Chaudhary....and when he teamed up with Asha (though only for some 32 songs) the output was equally magical. And who else could have wrote this song than Majrooh sa'ab with such youth and frivolousness...not to forget Lilian's on-screen ease making it a pleasant watch as well... a song not worth missing certainly! :-)