Rediscovering RD Aisa Sama Na Hota

Aisa Samaa Naa Hota from Zameen Aasmaan

Singer Lata

Lyrics Anjaan

This is one of those songs that RD used to refer to as “Yeh Didi ka gaana hai”. The long high pitched notes of this song are tailor made for Lata’s unending range of vocals. I am of the view that any other singer would not have given the same treatment that Lata has given. 

The situation is typical Hindi film love duet. The young couple has recently fallen in love for the first time. They are from good decent families and have decided to go on a trip by the river somewhere near the high mountains. The song starts with  a very long piece on flute. It goes in the traditional Pahaadi territory. This itself sets the tone that the song has been picturised with sierra in the background. We keep on hearing some notes in the background on the 12 string guitar and Bass guitar and the expectation keeps building up on what to expect next. And sure enough we hear the crash of the Cymbals followed by the electric guitar and Tom Toming of the drums. The chorus starts Pa Ra Pa Pa taking us into the youthful world of romance. Point to be noted here is that the initial pickup (the tom toming at 1:00) on the drums is not balanced. Its uneven, asymmetric and therein lies the beauty as they give the momentum needed. Franco is amazing on the drums.

As soon as Lata starts on a high note Aisa Sama  Na Hota, the Madal picks up and the tabla complements it ... Dhin Dhin Taka Dhin Dhin Taka. Any other musician would have preferred to use the Dholak here. But then that would have made this song an ordinary pedestrian love song. Its the combination of Flute, Guitars, Madal that makes this song fabulous. The Madal by Ranjeet Gajmer (Kancha Bhai) and the flute by Pandit Ronu Majumdar take you directly to the base of the snowclad mountains.

The opening lyrics are in three lines and do not have the traditional Kafiya (Yamak in Marathi)!

Aisa samaa na hota,
kuch bhi yaha na hota;
Mere humrahi jo tum na hote…

Throughout the song Ramesh Aiyyers Bass guitar does not leave you for a second. Its complementary to all the sounds and also fills all the musical pauses in the song. The interesting part of RD’s bass sounds is that it can't be compared to that in rock music where it basically follows the rhythm chords. It is more like a progressive form of jazz where bass most definitely follows a different and complicated chord pattern. Its like telling a lead guitarist to play bass guitar! But despite all these technicalities it was his ability to make his music so listenable that you can enjoy songs without knowing or caring for the inherent technicalities and complexities that are behind the melody and rhythm. Yes it’s amazing the way he mixed melody with Rock! Many times I feel that the music channels on TV should educate the audience of these nuances of music. The masses would then begin to appreciate the greatness of all forms of music.

Coming back to the song, the first antara is typically short or non existent except for a small piece of flute. The real fun starts in the music of the second antara. There are three pieces of music. First the keyboards (3:22), then the Mandolins (3:32) and finally the Violin’s (3:42). Each plays a different tune in succession. These tunes themselves can form the Mukhda of three different songs!

Raahen wohi waadi wohi badla kucch naheen,
Phir bhi tere milne se hai duniya kyun haseen;
Kahin khwabon mein hum gum na hote,
Mere humrahi jo tum na hote…

Notice the line Kahin khwabonmein hum gum na hote. She's saying nothing has changed but now that I’m in love the same old world has started to look beautiful. Absolute magic! The tempo of the guitars increase as  the speed of her thoughts take to the next level.

Hum tum jo na milte to na chhata yeh nashaah,
Hota kucch bhi hota, yeh na hota jo hua;
Yahan milte na dil aise khote
Mere humrahi jo tum na hote…

She has been a happy in her own sweet world and has never known what it is to be intoxicated, but being in love she realises that she’s all tipsy. Lata pronounces Nasha as Nashah makng a playful expression of first love that the girl is experiencing trying to tell her beloved how the whole world around her has changed because of his love. This Nasha stays with us as the vocals fade out with the chorus complementing the end as it has in the beginning.

Audio (excellent quality) this amazing song here (video further below!)
https://youtu.be/uIbQcnI96WE



  Video
https://youtu.be/DKsmjyMTgBo?t=11