Guzri Thi Raat Aadhi...

Guzri Thi Raat Aadhi- Lata Mangeshkar- Film Surang 1953- Lyrics Shewan Rizvi- Music Shivram Krishna.

At the time when eminent producer Director V.Shantaram was making film highlighting social problems plaguing  India Society, like Dahej (On dowry system), Parchhain ( Braving life with courage despite adversities), Teen Batti Char Rasta 1953 ( Unity through diversity), he produced another film Surang 1953, which offers a deep insight in the world of Stone quarry workers and the harsh conditions in which they live.

One of the workers dies in quarry. The other workers led by young worker (Chandrashekhar) approach the quarry owner for compensation and justice. However the daughter of  owner (Sheila Ramani), simply rejects their just demand ,telling that people die everyday and that is not the issue and they should continue working. The owner however promises to consider their problem on compassionate ground. The workers resume their work. Pagli, a kind of crazy girl working in quarry  (Shashikala), however is skeptic about the promises by the owner.

In the meanwhile, the owner's son (Vikas), returns from abroad. He begins to take interest in Pagli and through her comes to know about the plight of quarry workers. He learns about their life full of hardships and miseries.  Vikas falls in love with Pagli.  The story then follows the gradual change in the behavior of owner's daughter, when she begins to interact with them.

This song comes in the film when the son of owner , Vikas , during his frequent interaction with quarry workers to know about their unfortunate conditions, visits Pagli's primal hut. She gives his dry roti to eat, which for him is difficult to eat. She then through this song appraises him of their hardships and the hard conditions in which they had to live without any respite.

गुज़री थी रात आधी खामोश था ज़माना
जलते हुए दिलों का सुन ले ज़रा फ़साना
गुज़री थी रात आधी
उठी जो आह धुआँ बनके आशियानों से
सितारे झाँक के बोले ये आसमनों से
धुआँ ये कैसा है देखो लगी है आग कहीं
चलो घठाओं से कह दें कि जल रही है ज़मीं
गुज़री थी रात आधी...
ये शोर चाँद भी तारों का सुन रहा था कहीं
लगा इशारों से कहने नही ये बात नही
ज़मीन पर जो बेचारे गरीब बसते हैं
घमों कि आग मे ये दिल उन्ही के जलते हैं
गुज़री थी रात आधी..
सितारे बोले समन्दर मे क्या रवानी नही
बुझादे आग को क्या बादलों मे पानी नही
कहा ये चाँद ने जब दिल मे आग लगती है
तो बादलों से नही आँसुओं से बुझती है
गुज़री थी रात आधी..

(The gloomy night is only halfway, the darkness of miseries and agonies has engulfed the whole world ,silently suffering without any hope. The burning  hearts want to express their unfortunate stories to you....you better listen to their pains and sufferings. Seeing the fire from worker's homes, stars in the sky are asking the black clouds what is this fire on the land below?
The hanging moon, nestling among the stars, tells them that this fire and the smoke is the result of burning hearts of destitute. They are burning in their own torments. The stars then ask the clouds to extinguish the fire below. The clouds however express their inability to kill the fire. Only the sorrow filled tears of  the tortured workers can only suppress the fire and smoke. )

What a powerful lyrics by Shevan Rizvi. Every word depicts the tormented , grinding and merciless plight of the deprived people and their silent sufferings. Lata's divine voice is fully laden with angst and pours out the pains of sufferings. Shivram Krishna's music is captivating.The personification of stars and moon to convey the message(s) has been used by several poets, and has been used beautifully in this song to convey the feelings of the exploited in this fine poetry by Shewan Rizvi. And what a sublime composition (with beautiful use of instruments especially what sounds like 'ghatam', the South Indian percussion instrument) which enhanced the poetry. To add more luster to this precious pearl-like song, Lataji poured her heart into it, as she invariably did .....

                                            

Surang (1953) 
Film cast: Vinod Kumar, Sheela Ramani, Shashikala, Ulhas, Joginder, Chandra Shekhar, Vikas
Singer: Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Sulochana Kadam
Lyricist:Shewan Rizvi
Music Director:Shivram Krishna
Film Director:V Shantaram
Film Producer: V.Shantaram
Raj Kamal Production Film