Chand Maddham Hai Aasmaan Chup Hai....

Chand Maddham Hai- Lata Mangeshkar- Film Railway Platform 1955- Lyrics Sahir Ludhianvi- Music Madan Mohan.

Railway Platform, released in 1955, was Sunil Dutt's debut film. The lead pair of Sunil Dutt and Nalini Jaywant was supported by Johny Walker, Sheila Ramani, Manmohan Krishna, Leela Mishra etc.

This is film about a railway, stranded at a non discreet station when tracks are flooded. The train has comprehensive varieties of people on board. There is a princess Indira (Sheila Ramani), who is on the run from the vices of her kingdom Andher Nagari, to avoid an unwanted marriage, there is Ram (Sunil Dutt), an unemployed, financially poor youth travelling with his ailing mother and sister.There is a business minded Nasib Chand (Johny Walker in villainous shade), who sees business even in the event of calamity, a petty thief, (Young Jagdeep) and finally there is a Kavi (Manmohan Krishna), who sings on board philosophic songs. The world of all these people intersect with each other. The film describes the behavioral patterns of all the people stranded for 48 hours in a God forsaken , lonely station. 

All the events and consequent actions take place in a small village closest to Andher Nagari Railway Station, which is the only place for the travelers to get some food and water.

Seeing business for next 48 hours, a fellow traveler Nasib Chand, hires a hotel and adjoining well of water for 48 hours from Naina (Nalini Jaywant) and his father. When they realise that Nasib Chand is taking unnecessary advantage of stranded travelers by selling them water and food at exorbitant rates, they resist his move. In the ensuing fight, Naina falls in well. Ram promptly saves her from drowning. She falls in his love, but there is an obstacle in their love. The princess is crazy about him. Ram, who is poor and unemployed, is in need of money. He succumbs to Indira's glamour, and begins to dream about wealth and ease of life wealth brings.

Naina is devastated. She is loosing her beloved to wealth. Her virtues like innocence, honesty have no value against the money and glamour. In a state of despondency, she sings the song , calling him back to her world of affection....

चाँद मद्धम है आस्मान चुप है

नींद की गोद में जहाँ चुप है

चाँद मद्धम है ...

दूर वादी में दुखिया बादल

झुक के पर्बत को प्यार करते हैं 

दिल में नाकाम हसरतें लेकर

हम तेरा इंतेज़ार करते हैं

इन बहारों के साये में आजा

फिर मोहब्बत जवान रहे न रहे

ज़िंदगी तेरे नामुरादों पर

कल तलक महरबान रहे न रहे

रोज़ की तरह, आज भी तारे

सुबह की गर्द में न खो जाये

आ तेरे ग़म में, जागती आँखें

कम-से-कम एक रात सो जाये

चाँद मद्धम है आस्मान चुप है

(The hanging moon is clam and serene, the sky silent and the entire surrounding itself is engulfed in deep slumber of unspoken grief. The distant clouds are caressing the shrouded tops of mountains and here I am, with a flame of hope in the heart , waiting eagerly for you. Please come back early as long as the love is young and fresh. The life will not be so kind afterwords. I am praying that as usual , stars will not dim, and disappear without seeing your arrival and my sorrow filled, wide awake tearful eyes will have one night's sleep at least upon your arrival.)

Sahir brings forth the helplessness and eagerness of a ditched woman, still loyal to her earnest love towards her beloved and asking ardently for his warm and affectionate company in the intoxicating ambiance of serene surroundings. Lataji's divine, pristine voice is mesmerizing. MM's music is apt for the situation. There is minimal Orchestra , only faint violin strains and subtle beats of tabla. The melody however is so powerful and mellifluous ,that it does not require other instruments. The song starts and end silently like a bubble slowly travelling up the surface of a calm lake and breaking silently without any murmur.  The most engrossing and heart piercing song from the stables of Lata- Madan Mohan combination.

Railway Platform 1955

Star Cast : Sunil Dutt, Nalini Jaywant, Sheila Ramani, Manmohan Krishna, Johny Walker, Leela Mishra, Raj Mehra, Nishi, Jagdip, Tuntun, Nana Palshikar.

Story, Screenplay and Dialogues: Ramesh Sehgal.

Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi.

Music: Madan Mohan.

Produced by Kewal Krishna

Directed by Ramesh Sehgal.