Stoking the fire, flaring the sparks – Chingari Koi Bhadke – Amar Prem

Be it the romantic “Kashmir ki Kali”, the stoic “Kati Patang”, the flashy “Great Gambler” or the poignant “Amar Prem”. Shakti Samanta is the king when it comes to using symbolism. Using symbols in the movies was his way to show audience what he really meant. Amar Prem (1972), a remake of Bengali film “Nishi Padma”, symbolises a poignant love story. It evades the usual accord of romance and its histrionics. It rather illustrates the feelings of 3 strangers…a man, a woman and a child, brought together accidently and chance upon finding love in each other. Shakti Samanta portrays the story of the people on the edge of the society without making moral judgements about them. We have Anand Babu (Rajesh Khanna), who is lonely since his wife lavishes herself to modern ways and has no time for him, Pushpa (Sharmila Tagore) a rural widow turned courtesan when she’s sold to a brothel in Kolkata and Nandu, a small lad (grown up Vinod Mehra) troubled by his step mother. The 3 find solace in each other’s company. It is fearlessly sentimental yet it maintains the pathos. Towards the end of the movie Shakti Samanta glorifies the courtesan, symbolically, as the Goddess. Nandu taking Pushpa home when people are taking Goddess Durga’s idols home.

From this eternal love story comes the rich emotional song…..”Chingari koi bhadke” sung by Kishore Kumar. With the combination of Pancham and Anand Bakshi, the song displays the similarity of flaring up a fire by stoking it. Being a wordsmith, Anand Bakshi describes the nemesis that is unavoidable, in a philosophical language. Pancham takes those soul searching words on his musical anvil and treats it with the instrumental sledge hammer. The song is based on Raag Bhairavi which itself is a morning Raag. The song thus rouses people from their sleep. Starting with stirring guitar chords, followed by flute confronting Kishore Kumar’s humming that ends in his soulful voice…..”Chingari koi bhadke”…..and a symbolical “chingari” shown on screen. With a pause again come the tabla beats and the song is set in a motion with a string of profound questions…..flaring the sparks……Saawan jo agan lagaaye, use kaun bhujaaye? Or Jo baagh bahaar mein ujde, use kaun khilaaye? Manmeet jo ghaav lagaaye, use kaun mitaaye? Madira jo pyaas lagaaye, use kaun bujhaaye? Maajhi jo naav dooboye, use kaun bachaaye?
The lyrics here are eye opener and sublime. Describing the situations we face, where we are ourselves guilty for the troubles in our life. “Madira” being symbolical for the inner thirst which we have. Pancham treats these words with a perfect combination of guitar, tabla, maadal, flute and yes that distinctive reso reso. The instruments act as the bellows. Not leaving any hurdle in the harmonious flow of the lyrical boat. Kishore Kumar’s meditative voice tranquilises the listeners, makes them turn inwards, changing the feelings from romantic to spiritual.
The song itself is picturised in a symbolical way. It indicates the subtlety and thoughtfulness of Shakti Samanta. Anand Babu senses Pushpa’s distress over the news of her mother’s death. He offers to go for a boat ride. He soothes her stress away with this deep meaning song which symbolically shows that you have to ferry along the mundane world, from this end of the world to that, with the fathomless Ganges below and an endless Howrah bridge above!!

Sharing a video of the brilliant analysis of the song by well-known music director Kaushal Inamdar.