Of Tears Rimmed Kohl Eyes- Kahaan Se Aaye Badra – Chashme Buddoor

Love is the most beautiful feeling in the world, and everyone wants someone in their life, who would love them unconditionally. But no relationship is perfect, and it requires constant nurturing and trusting each other. There are times when we fight and don’t talk to our loved ones over silly reasons, and our poor heart has to bear the consequences.  Kahaan se aae badra is one of those songs which reflects the dilemma of our poor heart.

The rejuvenating sound of Tanpura , and the opening aalaap in the voice of K.J.Yesudas and Haimanti Shukla , followed by the tabla playing in Keharva taal, instantly transports us into a surreal world. The song is based on Raga Megh, one of the six ragas (other being raginis) which is clearly associated with the monsoon season. The song is picturized on Deepti Naval and Vinod Nagpal her music teacher who brings in this song for practice.

Kahaan se aaye badraa
Ghultaa jaaye kajraa

Oh wherefrom have these dark clouds descended
The kohl in my eyes is getting washed away

The dark clouds are often associated with sadness and depression in the literature. In the song also, Deepti is seen to be reminiscing over the misunderstanding she had with Siddharth (Farooq Sheikh), as she sings her heart out to convey how disheartened she is by the whole incident. She wonders how the dark clouds descended over her relationship. Here, her eyes are compared to the rains , for the kohl (kaajal) she applies to her eyes is getting washed away due to her tears.

Neend piyaa ke sang sidhaari
Sapnon ki sookhi phulwaari
Amrit hothon tak aate hi
Jaise vishh mein badlaa
Kahaan se aaye badraa…

This song is supposed to be a bandish in Raga Megh, and Indu Jain’s literal presentation of the monsoon is an art in itself , it is a shame to have never heard of her before.The music is given by Raj kamal, best known for his song  “Saawan ko aane do”. Haimanti Shukla is a very well known hindustani classical singer in Bengal and has sung a numerous number of bengali tracks, Chasme buddoor being her only bollywood movie, and such a class performance.

The sleep from my eyes
Has departed along with him
And my small bouquet of dreams
Has faded away
It was as if
The nectar turned into poison
Just as my lips were about to touch it
Ah wherefrom have these dark clouds descended.

Every relationship goes through many ups and downs , and there are interludes of misunderstanding and the pangs of separation. This song is placed in such an interlude. Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh, owing to a deliberate misunderstanding created by Farooq’s roommates, are not seeing each other for sometime now. Deepti is hurt, but is also lonesome and is missing meeting her beau. The lines of the song are completely in sync with what she’s going through at that moment.
Yesudas recently awarded with the Padma Vibhushan title, is a musical genius and his effortless rendition of every song is pure bliss to the ears. This clearly is not a very easy song to sing, but the finesse with which he sings, makes us believe otherwise.

Utare megh hiyaa par chhaaye
Nirday jhonke agan badhaaye
Barse hai akhiyon se saawan
Roye mann hai paglaa
Kahaan se aaye badraa

The descending clouds
Engulf my heart
And the cruel gusts of winds
Spur on the flames (in me)
The monsoon rains from my eyes
And thus cries my imprudent heart
Ah wherefrom have these dark clouds descended

She(Deepti) is completely engrossed in her feelings here, and cannot control being paranoid. We can totally relate to the dilemma the character is facing. In a complete meltdown, with tears in her eyes the song ends, with the chocking voice of Haimanti Shukla and the taan in yesudas’s voice, and the tabla playing in the background. This song is a classic, from a really nice and simple love story( Chasme Buddoor) which beautifully shows the hope and disappointment, and the innocence of true love.