The Sylph And The Mockingbird – Wo Ik Nigah Kya Mili – Half Ticket

Half Ticket (1962), one of the best crazy Kishore comedies and one of the best musical treat by Salil da. A timeless film with some superlative songs. Usually it is known for a double Kishore delight Aake seedhi lagi, but the entire soundtrack of Half Ticket is so delightful.

Wo ek nigah kya mili tabiyatein machal gayi. Best example of humour on screen, humour in lyrics (without being slapstick – thanks to Shailendra) supported by lovely use of Western music by Salil Chowdhury. Here Lata Mangeshkar is the sylph, singing some highest musical notes in the staccato pattern (detached notes) and Kishore Kumar is the mockingbird, on and off the screen (He is as if copying Lata off screen and Helen on screen). Hear the first interlude where in between Lata sings that hahahaha highest notes with such ease, you might get confused with her voice as the piccolo flute which continues later. Pure genius of Salil da, a reluctant Kishore as the mockingbird and low notes, sets a laugh riot in the same tune when the song begins…Wo mere pichhe haath dhoke padaa hai bacha le mujhe!!!

Wo ik nigah kya mili tabiyatein machal gayi
Wo ik nigah kya mili tabiyatein machal gayi
Zara wo muskura diye shamayein jaise jal gayi
Zara wo muskura diye shamayein jaise jal gayi
Wo ik nigah kaya mili tabiyatein machal gayi
Wo ik nigah kya mili tabiyatein machal gayi

Kab se dil ko iss ghadi ka intezar tha
Shaam seher mera pyar bekarar tha
Sitara wo chamak utha toh kismatein badal gayi
Sitara wo chamak utha toh kismatein badal gayi
Wo ik nigah kay mili tabiyatein machal gayi

The dance which might be a Russian/Romanian (Cossacks) folk style, has Kishore and Pran doing the Tom & Jerry show. Pran taking off the false moustaches of Kishore and he in turn replacing new ones without getting disturbed, irking Pran even more. And Helen trying to save Jerry mouse from Tom’s clutches and amidst all this Salil da has Lata Mangeshkar singing as if a choir or for opera. Can you imagine?? With Kishore warbling on stage and off it. Only a person as genius as Salil da can imagine it and make it a reality too.

Meetha meetha la-ilaz ek dard tha
Kya bataun dil ko mere kaisa marz tha
Mareez-e-ishq jee sakenge haaltein sambhal gayi
Mareez-e-ishq jee sakenge haaltein sambhal gayi
Wo ik nigah kya mili tabiyatein machal gayi

Enters Pran on stage with the Cossacks get up and we have a slight tug of war with Kishore in between Helen and Pran. Salil da inserts some beautiful Western music pieces in between which enhance the chase game between the two. While Pran is taken care off by the other dancers, Shailendra’s lyrics add more humour to the song, just see when Pran returns and the words go Tera hazar shukriya musibatein jo tal gayi

Thi virah ke yaar me kaisi bekasi
Kaise paas aaye raah sujhti na thi
Tera hazar sukhriya musibatein wo tal gayi
Tera hazar sukhriya musibatein wo tal gayi
Wo ik nigah kaya mili tabiyatein machal gayi

Watching a song, hearing a song couldn’t have been more fun than this. Another example of Best Heard Best Seen songs. You are somewhat confused whether you should hear the song or watch the petite and beautiful Helen or get involved in the deliberate actions of humorously embarrassed Pran or the delightful Kishore and his never ending pranks.
Towards the end of the song, with all the acrobats, Pran is all confused and tied up with ropes, courtesy Kishore and Helen and listeners remain tied up to the song, courtesy the sylph and the mockingbird.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYr2P9ei8PI