No Mukhda No Antara – Songs With A Difference

By Deepa | March 31, 2017

Hindi film songs have always maintained a definite pattern, a structure in which the songs are made. Majority of the songs have a fixed pattern. The songs generally follow the structure as – the prelude, mukhda, interludes and the antara. A song begins with a prelude. The music which sets in the mood of the forthcoming song. By listening to the music we can generally identify whether you are going to hear a happy, sad, romantic, sentimental song. Followed by a mukhda. Mukhda which literally means face, indeed gives the introduction of the song, its subject and the mood, in words or lyrics. This mukhda keeps repeating after every antara. The antara forms the soul of the song. With some expressive words in the antara, the poets, lyricists often pour out their hearts. The interludes sets a bridge across the mukhda and the antara. So we can say, in a way the interludes connect mukhda with the antara. Thus, whole body of a song is formed. The song structure or the song body is mainly divided as – music arrangements (consists of all the instruments and how and where it should be placed), music composition (which forms the main body) and the lyrics which form the main subject or the song’s character.

Albeit, there are some songs in Hindi films which do not follow this usual antara-mukhda pattern. Though they have prelude and the interludes, there are some songs where neither the lyrics are written in this fashion nor the music is composed in that way. Yet these songs convey the feelings to the listeners, are very hummable, some are well known and some not. These songs are the results of experimentation by the music and lyrics geniuses. They don’t make such geniuses anymore.

A glance through few songs with no mukhda, no antara pattern. Hope you can add few more to the list!!

1. Phoolon Ke Rang Se – Prem Pujari (1970) – Composed by S D Burman and rendered by Kishore Kumar in his sonorous voice, these lyrics come from Neeraj’s pen.

2. Dil Aaj Shayar Hai – Gambler (1971) – Yet another Dev Anand song followed by the same team of Neeraj, S D Burman and Kishore Kumar. Beautiful lyrics and composition!!!

3. Tu Chanda Main Chandni – Reshma Aur Shera (1971) – An ethereal Lata Mangeshkar song, composed by Jaidev and lyrics by Balkavi Bairagi. A brilliantly composed and rendered song in Raag Mand!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHVEd_WhTSk

4. Mujhe Kho Jaane Do – Door Ka Raahi (1971) – A deep meaning song, it has just few lines but lets out so many feelings. A song which is sure to make your eyes well up. Music and voice of course Kishore Kumar and lyrics by Irshad.

5. Koi Ye Kaise Bataye – Arth (1982) – The song which has eternal Jagjit Singh flavour. Must be a favourite with everyone. Lyrics by Kaifi Azmi and picturised on Raj Kiran.

6. In Aankhon Ke Zeenon Se – Faasle (1985) – A beautiful duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, composed by Shiv – Hari and written by Shahryar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX0yztXI8QI

7. Raat Yun Dil Mein Teri – Janwar (1965) – A nazm by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, composed by Shankar- Jaikishen. Rendered in a poetic way by Asha Bhonsle and Mohammed Rafi.

8. Maine Dekha Hai Ki – Waqt (1965) – A sensually written song by Sahir Ludhianvi and rendered in equal sensuousness by Asha Bhonsle and Mahendra Kapoor, composed by Ravi, this song happens to get neglected from the rest of the list from this blockbuster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BlsfSs2p8A

9. Husn Pahadon Kaa – Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) – A beautiful pahadi folk song composed by Ravindra Jain and rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Suresh Wadkar. Lyrics also by Ravindra Jain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xTz9TA7L2s