Raat Andhiyaari Hai
Film: Sajni
Year: 1956
Music: Sudhir Phadke

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY2h3cI6omY

The 1999 RMIM meet commemorative was a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar on the ocassion of her 70th birthday. One of the songs in the compilation was Sudhir Phadke's duet with Lata "kismat ka nahiin dosh baanvare" . Vish Krishnan, in his commentary mentioned the list of albums in which they partnered "Murliwala, Malti Madhav, Gokul Ka Chor, Pehli Tarikh,Ratnaghar, Sajni and Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan". Songs like "baandh preeti phuul Dore", "jaa re chandr" were being discussed on RMIM around that time. That was how my fascination for Babuji began and I started looking around for more of his songs.

A year later I found a job in Chicago . Those were the days when I had just learned driving but was a little scared to drive on the highways. Dr. Arunabha Roy had invited me over to his place, and promised to give me a tape of rare Lata songs. So I gathered a little courage and ventured onto I-90 and went to University of Chicago. Arunabha revealed that the tape he was referring to was a compilation of Suhdir Phadke songs that Dr.Mandar Bichu graciously shared it with him.

The compilation was an instant hit and I just fell in love with the melodies. I just couldn't get some of the songs out of my head and ended up posting the lyrics on RMIM.

The song selected today is among that special set.

The opening line "raat andhiyaari hai" sets the tone for this melancholy nocturne. Lata emphasies "raat" and "andhiyaari" as if the night is very long and very dark. The line is followed by a lovely piano intelude followed by "raat andhiyari hai" but it is more subtle second time around.

Its like the first "raat andhiyaari hai" is typed in bigger font in the title page and that forms the backdrop of the song. The song oozes maternal love which is epitomized by the line sukh se tuu so mere praaN, mere maan, mere rain ke vihaan. Every time praaN, maan or vihaan are rendered, the emotion is so perfectly captured that one can visualize the the love showered by the mother on her child .

The other recurring emotion in the song is sadness. In the second antara the word "andhkaar" is repeated to cascading effect taking darknessto new heights.

Pandit Narendra Sharma's lyrics are a constant with Sudhir Phadke's music and the following line takes the cake for me.

aa.Nsuuo.n ke motiyo.n kii tuu hai musakaan

The orchestration is soft, subtle and soothing. It complements the theme very well and elevates the song to a treasure that can be cherished for a lifetime.