A Drop Of Life – Qatra Qatra Milti Hai – Ijaazat

Asha – Pancham – Gulzar
A combination which has allured listeners under their wizardry. The trio has always left the listeners fascinated, captivated and hypnotised.
Here’s another one from this trio which leaves you asking for more.
Ijaazat (1987) had an amazing soundtrack on the whole. All the songs rendered by Asha Bhonsle. It fetched her a National Award Best Female playback singer for Mera Kuch Saaman and to Gulzar as Best Lyricist. It is about the story of couple who are separated and who accidentally meet in a railway station waiting room and discover some truths about their lives. Mahendar (Naseeruddin Shah) is forced to marry Sudha (Rekha) when he’s already in love with Maya (Anuradha Patel). Sudha is aware of Mahendra’s love for Maya. But she handles this situation sensibly. She loves Mahendra too and wants to live her life to the fullest (as much as she can) with him. She knows Mahendra’s love is not hers completely. But she wants to enjoy life as it comes. Gulzar has given a mature treatment to the eternal love triangle.
The song begins with a flute note caressing the listeners, followed by a combination of instruments and Asha Bhonsle’s voice waiting to go along, drift along. The song relies so much on the quality of her voice. A suggestive, full throated yet sweet and surreal. One of the adhesive force for this song. Well lit up and haunting – that’s Asha for you!!
Qatra-qatra milti hai, qatra-qatra jeene do
Zindagi hai, zingadi hai, behne do, behne do
Pyaasi hoon main, pyaasi rehne do
rehne do, na
Grateful for every moment she gets to spend with Mahendra, Sudha wants to let her life flow. Those qatras of time are giving her reason to live. Doesn’t matter if she’s thirsty for some more. It can be taken care of later.

The interludes have heavy signatures of Pancham music. It is soft go along kind of music, highlighting the situation. Bass guitar showing its prominence with the rhythm finding its way in the jigsaw of words.
Kal bhi to kuchh aisa hi hua tha
Neend mein thi, tumne jab chhua tha
Girte-girte baahon mein bachi main
Sapne pe paaon pad gaya tha
Sapnon mein, behne do
His touch almost made her stumble in his arms. It was as if she was woken up from some dream. That’s how she became aware of her feelings and dreams. But then again, she doesn’t want to come out of those dreams. She wants to drift in it again and again and again.

We can also hear a violin here, some santoor there and the drum beats too.
Tumne to aakaash bichhaaya
Mere nange pairon mein zameen hai
Paa ke bhi tumhari arzoo ho
Shayad aise zindagi haseen hai
Arzoo mein, behne do
She is happy, on cloud nine with his companionship, giving her hope of their future but she’s also aware of the ground reality that he loves someone else. And hence she wants to enjoy her yearning for him more than having him entirely for herself. It added a subtle charm to her life. She wants to go drifting with her desire.

Pancham has created that voice-over-voice effect so magically. It gives you the exact feeling of drifting along, gliding on, floating and flowing.

Halke-halke kohre ke dhuen mein
Shaayad aasmaan tak aa gayi hoon
Teri do nigaahon ke sahaare
Dekho to kahaan tak aa gayi hoon
Kohre mein, behne do
Walking in this soft mist of life, she trusted him and went along with him trodding along the path to bliss. But she doesn’t want to stop there. She wants to drift along this mist more and more.

Phenomenal and perceptual is this drop of life, flow along, drift along!!