A TRIBUTE TO SHRI MANNA DEY: RAGA' AHIR BHAIRAV ' AT ITS BEST IN HINDI FILM :MERI SOORAT TERI ANKHEN (1963)

Dada S.D.Burman

ASHOK  KUMAR

MANNA DEY

S.D.BAATISH

The Raga 'Aheer Bhairav' is a morning melody.Its use in the music compositions of film songs is very rare.But due to the genius of veteran music director of Hindi films,Dada S.D.Burman, we got this superb creation to enjoy for ever.Dada was a disciple of Great Ustad Faiyyaz Khan Saheb of Agra Gharana and before the recording of this song, he took his permission to present his Guru's composition in a film.The Addha Taal used on Tabla has increased the depth of the raga Aheer Bhairav in the song.The efforts of all involved in the screen presentation of this composition, is outstanding.Great actors Ashok Kumar and Kanhaiya Lal have presented the real depth and pathos of the song on the screen.In the first part when kanhaiyya Lal teaches the raga to child Ashok Kumar then S.D.Baatish and Suman Kalyanpur sing this song. In the second part Manna Dey sings the complete song for Ashok Kumar.Lyricist Shailendra has penned this unforgettable song:

"पूछो न  कैसे मैंने रैन बितायी|
 इक  पल जैसे इक  जुग बीता |
 जुग बीते मोहे नींद न आयी ।।
 उत जले दीपक इत मन मेरा,
 फिर भी न जाये मेरे घर का अँधेरा।।
 तड़पत तरसत  उमर गँवाई ।।
 पूछो ना कैसे मैंने रैन बितायी||
 ना कहीं चंदा ना कहीं तारे,
 जोत के प्यासे मेरे नैन बेचारे।
 भोर भी आस की किरन  न लायी।।
 पूछो ना कैसे मैंने रैन बितायी....।।"