Sama Hai Suhana

My deep and lasting love for retro songs was an acquired taste. I grew up in a household where Dad accompanied me to school while Mohammed Rafi serenaded us with his rendition of Kya Hua Tera Vada, or Mom used to hum along to Manna Dey's evergreen Coffee House bit. I used to look forwards to car trips to school everyday, so that I could hear a glimpse of Kishore Kumar dishing out absolute gems from decades ago.

When life gives you lemons, turn on the radio and wait for your favorite singers to make you a freshly made glass of chilled lemonade; that was what Grade 2 Abhinav swore by, at least. As such, one day, after a gruelling battle with maths , one where he valiantly surrendered to the complexities of carry over subtractions and multiplication tables over 12, he wanted a holiday, and what better way to visit dreamland than to ask Kishore Da to hitch you a ride. He, however was not prepared for what was about to hit him, a love so strong and lasting, one might mistake it for a war-hardened couple that stood the test of time.

The first time Abhinav met 'Sama Hai Suhana Suhana', he felt like he was in a state of limbo. Even by Kishore Da's insanely high standards, this one hit him so hard he found it difficult to be real. He rushed to his study room, and grabbed his Maths copy to scribble down some of the lyrics he could decipher, lest he forgot the lyrics once he woke up from his trance and always crave for the one love that eluded him for the rest of his life.

'Dekho ye dil ki, ajab dastaan hai

Nazar bolti hai, dil bezubaan hai'

Lyrics so ethereally beautiful, one might mistake it for a abridged Hindi edition of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Abhinav felt blessed, the cool wind kissed his cheeks and Mom's freshly made orange juice wafted through his senses. At that moment, he had his first encounter with peace; a peace so profound, he finds himself penning a heartfelt tribute, his way of saying thank you, for something that occurred thirteen years ago.

The music video, which to this day, remains the finest piece of composition ever made, adds a certain layer of depth to what is an already enchanting piece of art. Jalal Agha's movements, which remind me of a certain Elvis Presley, Rakesh Roshan and Bharti's deep, longing gazes, the chorus egging on the crowd, people dancing without a care in the world while the Moon beckons them on with a glow in its eyes; it is an experience one needs to feel to realize why music will forever be evergreen.

In a world where lyrics are often interspersed with profanities, poorly done bars and what not, I find solace in the lyrics penned down decades ago, ones written with so much care and devotion, that people might be taught valuable lessons while deciphering them.

'Sama hai Suhana Suhana, nashe me Jahan hai

Kisi ko kisi ki, khabar hi kahan hai

Har dil me dekho, mohabbat jawan hai'

In the dead of night, while the world sleeps, rekindle the love inside you. Don't let it fade away in the pitch black of darkness, dance your worries away. Light the candle, let the wax melt, and be the light in a world devoid of it.

'Jaha dil rubaan hai, dil bhi wahan hai

Jise pyaar kahiye, vahi darmiyaan hai'

Where love lies is where my heart is. Don't let life shy you away from doing the thing you love and desire, for where love is, that's where the warm embrace lies.

The 7 year-old is probably looking down at me in pure delight, knowing I did something he wanted to do since years, write a thank you letter to his God Almighty.

Thank you Kishore Da, you've changed my life in ways I thought not possible before.