Do Naina Ek Kahani 2

The year 1983, the film Masoom, music by RD Burman, lyrics by Gulzar and sung by Aarti Mukherjee. There would be hardly anyone who does not like this song or does not agree with the feelings and sentiments expressed by Gulzar in this song. What is this song really about? 

I believe the song tells the tale of eyes. The stories that the eyes tell and hide, the emotions they express and reveal.

In the movie it’s a gloomy monsoon brought on the family by the father. The mother is singing an Angaai Geet (अंगाई गीत) or a Lori (लोरी) to her daughters. She’s hurt and insulted by her husband’s infidelity. The kid born out of wedlock staying the the same house yearns for his mother. He seeks love from his new “mother” but is wary of her reaction as well. Tentative as he is in his expressions all he can do is remember his mother who is no more.

The song is devoid of percussion in the Mukhda (मुखडा) . The only rhythm comes from Bass guitar, shakers and riff’s on the guitar. After the initial start on twelve string guitar and violins followed by pickup on bass guitar, the guitars building the rhythm so beautifully that it perfectly complements the words. And then the heavenly divine sounds of flute. There is a Tabla in the Antara (अंतरा) but only for a beat followed by bass. Those are the only percussion instruments.

Just to share some trivia - RD made excellent use of the twelve-string guitar in many songs – Jab Hum Jawan Honge (Betaab), Do Naina Ek Kahaani, Tujh Se naaraaz Nahi (with a flanged twang effect), kya Hua Ek Baat Par (Teri Kasam).

It is said Bhupender Singh (yes, the Dil Dhoondata hai singer) introduced this twelve string guitar in Hindi film music in “Lakhon Mein Ek”. He has played guitar in some iconic RD songs like “Dum Maro Dum…’, ‘Chura liya hai tumne…’, ‘Chand mera dil…’, ‘Yaadon ki baraat nikli hai…’, ‘Mehbooba, Mehbooba…’, ‘Aane waala pal…’ and many more. Bhupendra Singh who was a singer for All India Radio (AIR) was spotted by music director Madan Mohan in Delhi and invited to Mumbai. AIR’s loss became our gain!

Coming back to the main topic - The words “Naina” and “Kahaani” are expressed with an elongated “Nainaaa” (नयनाsss) and “kahaaaani” (कहाsssनी). The stretching of these words brings forth the emotion of the story that the eyes tell.

Sharp sounds of twelve string guitar are prominent in the Antara’s. These sounds act like needles in a wound. These sounds bring out the angst and pain felt by the mother, the child and the father. They all are unhappy and in pain for different reasons.

The orchestration is amazing. The sequence of the sounds in the Antara’s is sharp sounds on the twelve-string guitar followed by some soothing on flute and then normalizing to start the Stanza.
This changes in the third interlude music. The sharpness is brought in by Taar Shehnai (तार शहनाई) followed by Violins and then mellowed down tones on Twelve String guitar.
We have been blessed to experience the work of these geniuses. 

 The poetry of this song has the form of a “Triveni” (त्रिवेणी). This form has been created by Gulzar. Unlike in a “Sher” (शेर), a “Triveni” consists of three "hemistichs" (misra, मिसरा ). The first two lines complete the meaning, but the addition of the third misra gives a new dimension. Like this
इक ख़त्म हो तो दूसरी, रात आ जाती है
होठों पे फिर भूली हुई, बात आ जाती है

And then the third line

दो नैनों की है ये कहानी

Putting a rhyme to something that is symmetrical or “even” is generally done, but putting tune to three lines requires creativity. Full marks to the composer. And like Gulzar says, a good song is such that every listener should be able to interpret it ways to suit ones imagination.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4whSn_b7Vs

दो नैना और एक कहानी
थोड़ा-सा बादल, थोड़ा-सा पानी
और एक कहानी

छोटी सी दो, झीलों में वो, बहती रहती है
कोई सुने या ना सुने, कहती रहती है
कुछ लिख के और कुछ ज़ुबानी
थोड़ा सा बादल...

थोड़ी सी है जानी हुई, थोड़ी सी नयी
जहाँ रुके आँसू वहीं, पूरी हो गयी
है तो नयी फिर भी है पुरानी
थोड़ा सा बादल...

इक ख़त्म हो तो दूसरी, रात आ जाती है
होठों पे फिर भूली हुई, बात आ जाती है
दो नैनों की है ये कहानी
थोड़ा सा बादल...