Alleluia to the winds – Hawaon pe likh do hawaon ke naam – Do Dooni Chaar

Winds make their own music. Hear them flurrying, blustering or even roaring. Making the rustling noise, whooshing around the trees, rushing by the rivers, whistling in your ears. Do they carry messages? What is their origin or destination? From soothing, soft and gentle breeze to the rushing howling squalls, they mould messages in this music. The messengers of nature.

“Hawaon pe likh do, hawaon ke naam………” is a vivid epistle by Gulzar to these winds. It is an ode to nature and especially the wind. A song with slow soothing tempo, gentle as the breeze saying sweet nothings in your ears. It isn’t about sagas of love and romance nor does it carry any metaphorical meaning, or it doesn’t imply to any of the characters in the film. It is a simple tribute to nature and wind. As if it says, God be praised for giving us this nature, wind, water, sun, birds, trees and above all, the breeze. Alleluia to the winds.

Gulzar’s perception for nature is brimful with genius and finesse. To the wind, by the wind, “Hawaon pe likh do hawaon ke naam”, and he begins with salutations to the winds, “hum anjaan pardesiyon ka salaam”. The song is interlaced beautifully with words, music and apt visuals. Kishore Kumar hemming the fabric of nature, walking along the wilderness. Beholding the nature, praising it. And he looks so comfortable scaling the wilderness. It seems his favourite genre ( a la “Thandi hawa ye chandni suhani”). His silken voice almost takes you there with him. In between you can hear birds chirping, cooing and the words go, “ye kiske liye hai, bataa kiske naam, o panchhi tera ye sureela salaam”. One can see the trees shredding the sunlight and Gulzar describes, “shaakh par jab dhoop aayi,haath chhoone ke liye, chhaaon chham se neeche koodi, hans ke boli aayiye, yahaan subah se khela karti hai shaam”. For him, dawn and dusk play hide and seek in the nature’s grove. He further declares, “chulbula ye paani apni raah behna bhool kar, letey letey aainaa chamkaa rahaa hai phool par,ye bhole se chehre hain masoom naam”, which describes the unpretentious, unblemished and innocent face of nature which shines galore with sunbeams reflecting on the river, which otherwise is playful, becomes a serene, motionless dewdrop on the flowers and leaves.

The poetic inclination of the lyrics match perfectly with the child who shares the screen during the song ( Baby Sonia/ Neetu Singh). She represents the innocent and playful nature in the wilderness. The aural effects of the song are so pure and stark, thanks to Hemant Kumar. It makes the song dreamlike, surreal. His minimalistic music does wonders with this soft number. Though the playful sitar is there throughout the song, backing Kishore Kumar’s voice. Increasing its level in terms of melody. Making the song more classy and splendid.

A perfect blend of words, rhythm, visuals and the playback, it casts a magic spell. An impromptu expression of happiness and gratification to the serene nature with a virgin view.