Thursday, March 11, 2010

'Road' to the Past.....

Have been listening to "Sar Jo Tera Chakraye" (remix version) from the film, "Road, Movie", which released last week. Didnt get a chance to watch the movie yet but the song has been making numerous rounds of television as well as radio channels these days.
It brings back memories from the Doordarshan days of my early childhood when "Chitrahaar" was the high-point in our mundane lives, telecast twice a week, till "Rangoli" came along to brighten up our Sunday mornings. Till then, we had only two days to look forward to our television-dependent lives, Wednesday and Friday. Rest of the weekdays passed in a blur.
The song in question is picturised on that remarkable comic actor of the golden era of Hindi Film Industry, Johnny Walker, who is shown moving around with his paraphernalia of "oil-bottles" and a jumpy gait, through a city park, calling out "Maalish, Tel Maalish" to all and sundry.
I remember this song, along with many more such gems from the B&W era of films, because it takes a very mundane activity in our daily life, applying oil to our hair, and connects that to all that is good or bad in our lives, in a subtle, yet forceful manner.
Remember, this was long before the present-day high-profile advertisements of "Thanda, Thanda, Cool, Cool" came along to take the "tel maalish" to just another level....
The song is from the film "Pyaasa", which is a masterpiece from Guru Dutt and is considered to be among the classics of old Hindi Cinema.
However, this song, written by the inimitable Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by the one and only S. D. Burman, stands out on its own.
I haven't seen the Road, Movie yet, so I dnt know what role this song plays in the movie, however, even before that, it has managed to refresh some pleasant old memories for me and others of my ilk.
One of them, I cant resist sharing with my readers: early mornings, getting ready for school, dad applying oil to my brother's hair and singing this song and my brother swinging his head lightly to the music. I can never forget this scene of my life.
Thank you S. D. , Sahir Ludhianvi and Guru Dutt for that.....

8 comments:

Gaurav Parab said...

Nice!

Avoid Road, Movie completely. It is absolutely self indulgent and is art for arts sake.

My favorite Hindi song is Jaane Woh Kaise Log The... I think it is from Pyasa, isn't it?

yamini said...

Hey Gaurav,
Thanks for leaving a comment.
I will take ur advice on Road, Movie, though, I like what Abhay Deol does on screen. Can't say the same of Dev Benegal though.

Yes, the song is from Pyaasa as well.

prashant said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
prashant said...

Hi sis,

I really liked the last few lines of this article. It also reminded me of my childhood days, that i even didn't remember.

Thanks for a memory refreshing piece!

Keep up the good work!

You rock!!!!!!

yamini said...

Dear Prashant,

Thanks a lot for your encouraging remarks. You are too kind.

Luv u.

Sadaket Malik said...

These are ur extended arms...during the past u not only revolutionised Jammu Media but acted as a torch bearear for unheared voices...I fron the core of my heart congratulate and hope to come back as people need u in this otherwise trouble torn state of Jammu n kashmir.....

yamini said...

Dear Sadaket,
Those are very kind words on your part.
Thank you.

IGNOU said...

Missing your reports