Khaali Hath Shaam Aayi Hai

Pancham – Khaali Hath Shaam Aayi Hai

Awesome song. This song from Ijaazat brings to fore RD’s command on classical. The song is picturised on Rekha (Sudha) who has walked out from Naseer’s (Mahender)home as she (despite making attempts) is unable to come to terms to his past (Anuradha Patel as Maya).

Evenings are a time that a person in love looks forward to. But for a broken heart evening can be a time of suffering waiting endlessly for that someone accompanied by a sense of  being deserted. In Gulzar’s own words – 

"रात और दिन कितने खूबसूरत दो वक़्त हैं, और कितने खूबसूरत दो लफ्ज़। इन दो लफ़्ज़ों के बीच में, एक वक़फ़ा आता है, जिसे शाम का वक़्त कहते हैं। ये वो वक़्त है, जिसे न रात अपनाती है, न दिन अपने साथ लेकर जाता है। इस छोड़े हुए, या छूटे हुए लावारिस वक़्त से, शायर अक्सर कोई न कोई लम्हा चुन लेता है, और सी लेता है अपने शेरों में। लेकिन कोई-कोई शाम भी ऐसी बाँझ होती है, के कोई लम्हा देकर नहीं जाती।"

The song is set in just six lines! It brings out the emptiness of a lonely life that Sudha is leading. It is more of a soliloquy by Sudha, but being penned by Gulzar it is full of metaphors. My interpretation in English is not even 1 percent of what Gulzar has said in those six amazing lines.

The song is based in Raag Pilu and borrows the first bar of the opening line from SD Burman’s Ami Chinnu Eka Baashor Jaagaye. This song is an example of how melody and mood can be brought out by using minimal instrumentation. Pandit Ronu Mujumdar’s flute complements Asha's rendering note to note and what we get is like a Jugalbandi of her vocals and flute. The instruments used are – Flute, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Tabla, Santoor, Resso, Veena and Sitar.

The song opens with Veena in a classical style followed by a tarang on the Santoor immediately followed by Guitar and Tabla. 

Read on as you play this song,  note how the flute follows Asha in every line of the song

Only Audio version (excellent quality)
https://youtu.be/cUuhtJHur3g?t=4



Video
https://youtu.be/LysB0v2wKVY

खाली हाथ शाम आयी है, खाली हाथ जायेगी

आज भी ना आया कोई, खाली लौट जायेगी

The evenings has brought nothing (no one?) And will depart empty

My muse eludes me once again, Tonight too my love shall moan.

The Flute continues from where the vocals have left, takes its time meandering along the tune and ending just when Asha starts the first Antara. The music for the first Antara is unlike RD’s typical short interlude. The Flute supported by Tabla and complemented by guitar and Resso played subtlely in the background complete the instrumentation of the first interlude.

आज भी ना आये आँसू, आज भी ना भीगे नैना

आज भी ये कोरी रैना, कोरी लौट जायेगी

Today also, my tears do not well up, My eyes are moist no more,

Once again the long, blank night, Will turn away untouched

This is actually a metaphor to the state of the Sudha. Mahender is still carrying baggage of the relationship with Maya, leaving Sudha all alone.

In the interlude music for the second Antara Sitar is prominent and the sharp and confident tones bring out Sudha’s acceptance of the situation that she is in.

रात की सियाही कोई, आये तो मिटाये ना

आज ना मिटायी तो ये, कल भी लौट आयेगी

The night dark as an ink stain, Will not go away with someone coming

 For the darkness shall return again tomorrow, If not erased tonight

The song ends with a piece on the flute that tries to lift its own spirits once twice and then gives up.