Aa Jaa Ab to Aa Jaa...

Aa Jaa Ab To Aa Jaa- Lata mangeshkar- Film Anarkali 1953- Lyrics Shailendra- Music C.Ramchandra.

Not every memorial of love is a Taj Mahal.  Sometimes it is grave in some forbidden and desolate land. In film Anarkali 1953, the viewers are taken to Anarkali's grave in Agra . She fell in love with Salim taking him to be only a soldier.  She did not know the soldier was the Crown Prince of Mughal Sultanat. This is the story of royal romance between a ordinary courtesan and Shahzada of Mughal Sultanat, the resistance of Emperor Akabar and authorities, off social shackles the love has to brave, the subsequent rebellion by Salim against the Emperor, the crushing of the revolt and quiet burial of Anarkali in distant locality. All these things unfolding on the expansive backdrop of medivial Indian sub continent under Mughal occupation. This is sureshot recipe of a blockbuster movie, and Anarkali is that . The film was biggest hit of 1953. Seven year before the release of Director K.Asif's epic Mughl E Azam , this film in 1953, created a wave. All the eleven songs were chart buster. Lata Mangeshkar had seven Solos in this film....

Ye Zindgi Usiki Hai
Aa Jaa Ab To Aa Jaa
Muzse Mat Pooch Mere
Dua Kar Gham E Dil.
Mohabbat Aisi Dhadkan Hai
O Aasmaanwale Shikwa Hai Zindagi Ka
Mohabbatmein Aise Kadam Dagmagaye

Nadira (later named Anarkali) sings a love song that catches the attention of Emperor Akbar who is passing by the area.  He approaches the singer who asks him:  "Who are you?"  He explains to her that her voice drew him to her.  Nadira does not like him.  She tells him that he looks down on her as if he were an emperor.  But then a man reports to the Emperor:  "Your Majesty, we have looked everywhere for Prince Salim."  With this Nadira runs over to the Emperor and pleads for mercy.  She did not know he is the emperor.  The Emperor dismisses her worries.  He wants to hear her sing.  But she tells him that she can only sing when she is with her beloved.  The Emperor wants to know where is her loved one.  She replies:  "Do not challenge those in love, Emperor."  The Emperor says that the man must be afraid of him.  He adds:  "Lovers do not return."  So she sings a love song to plead for her lover to return to her.  Prince Salim hears her and comes back.  He hides behind some trees so the Emperor will not recognize him.  (Nadir is a gypsy and therefore a commoner.)  The Emperor is so pleased with her singing that he grants her any wish.  She only asks him for the pomegranate flower in his hand. The impressed Emperor awards her a title of Anarkali.  In order to toughen the would be Emperor of Hindustan, the Emperor sends Saleem to Kabul on harsh battlefields. He expects Saleem to display valour and courage during the battles.

Nardira sees the troops ride out on their sojourn.  She runs out to look for her soldier and  begins a never-ending search, following the separation.  She goes with a caravan in search of her beloved.  Meanwhile, the Prince is in agony, very tormented by the separation.  The caravan is attacked and Nadira is taken captive.  She is taken as a slave and has to perform for slave buyers by dancing for them.  She sings this song asking for her love to come to her, to save her.  It looks as if she is going to be sold to a stranger, but the Prince shows up and pays a very high price for her.  She does not recognize him because he wears a veil over the lower part of his face.  In camp he approaches her and she tells him to leave her alone. He  finally reveals himself.  They embrace.

आ जा अब तो आ जा मेरी क़िस्मत के ख़रीदार
नीलाम हो रही है मेरी चाहत सर-ए-बाज़ार
सब ने लगाई बोली ललचाई हर नज़र
मैं तेरी हो चुकी हूँ दुनिया है बेख़बर
ज़ालिम बड़े भोले हैं मेरे ये तलबगार
हस्रत भरी जवानी ये हुस्न ये शबाब
रँगीन दिल को महफ़िल मेरे हसीन ख़्वाब
गोया कि मेरी दुनिया लूटने को है तैयार

Shalendra's simple but profound lyrics, Lata's superbly  renders the song with tender voice, laden with pathos and agonies of separation and C.Ramchandra's  melodious music make this song memorable. Another all time classic from Lata-CR combination. Bina Rai, through her tearful and sorrow filled eyes emotes the miseries of separation on screen effectively.

                        

Anarkali 1953
Starcast: Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Manmohan Krishna, Mubarak, Kuldip Kaur, Ruby Myers
Lyricists: Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Jan Nissar Akhtar and Rajendra Krishna.
Music: Basant Prakash/ C.Ramchandra.
Screen Play: Naseer Hussain.
Produced by  Filmistan
Directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal