Song Sketch

Twilight Tale – Jab Deep Jale Aana – Chitchor

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Falling in a romantic relationship. Nothing can be more thrilling and exciting than that. More so during the early stages of this romance, that constant feeling of exhilaration and pleasure throws you off the balance. It is endangering, rapturous and also exhausting at times. Your heart pounds, you go weak in the knees but at the same time you feel calm and relaxed. Keeping this excitement along with some calmness seems like a tough job. Getting to know each other, going through those twists and turns makes one full of anxiety. Spending time together, waiting anxiously for the tryst. Being alone with that person, away from others, away from the crowd, is what heart calls for. Shying away from the world, meeting your beloved in an isolation, under the covers of twilight. Beckoning her as the dusk descends.

Jab deep jale aana
Jab shaam dhale aana
Sanket milan ka
Bhool na jaana
Mera pyar na bisarana

A beautiful twilight song from Chitchor (1976). Another simple but beautiful movie from the production house of Rajshri. Their movies of simple, common man’s love stories have always fascinated us. And it is a treat if that common man happens to be Amol Palekar. He made us believe that love can be as simple and realistic our as day to day life. For majority of the people, eating dessert after meals is a habit. Sugar cravings that strike after a meal may be due to serotonin, a feel-good brain chemical that’s associated with an elevated mood. Eating a sugary dessert causes serotonin levels to rise in the brain, which can make you feel calmer and happier. Watching Amol Palekar’s movies give this feeling of desserts after the meal. Soothing, elevating and satisfying. Chitchor by Basu Chatterjee is just one of them. It is about a story of being in love with a wrong man, who wasn’t meant to be in Geeta’s (Zarina Wahab) life. Vinod (Amol Palekar) is mistaken to be the prospective son-in-law instead of Sunil (Vijayendra Ghatge). Geeta is drawn towards Vinod for his simplicity and friendly ways. Adding to it is him being adept in playing harmonium and singing. She starts taking interest in learning singing from him. And gradually but surely music helping both of them to fall in love. The innocence of their romance is the essence of this song as well as the movie.
Written and composed by Ravindra Jain, the song is one of the finest examples of Raag Yaman. The Raag which is said to have been invented by Amir Khusro, is a beginner’s delight. Raag Yaman is an evening raag, sung when the lamps are lit during sunset and is soothing and romantic in nature. An apt for the song which begins with a blend of vibraphone, sitar, tabla, flute, peppered with tinkles of the triangle. With violins perfecting the melody, Yesudas takes the song up with so many more levels of softness.

Jab deep jale aana
Jab shaam dhale aana
Sanket milan ka
Bhool na jaana
Mera pyar na bisarana

The beginning of their love relationship with this beautiful beginners raag. That love which is as soothing as the twilight, as mesmerising as the sunset. He beckons her to meet at the time where the day is merging with night. Just as them. When there’s softness in light. The anxious lover in him asks her not to forget his love, since he’ll be waiting for her.

With some enjoyable moments and subtle humour, the tale moves further with a push from sitar strings, vibraphone and tabla till the flute soothes into a romantic tone.

Main palkan dagar buharunga
Teri raah niharunga
Meri preet ka kajal
Tum apne, nainon mein maley aana

Buharunga is actually sweeping with a broom made of soft twigs – meaning he’ll be ready to meet her at the given time and place. His eyes will be set on the road which leads her to him. He’ll be eager and longing to meet her. And asks her to apply the kohl of his love in her eyes. Meaning – just as the kohl highlight the eyes, let his love be the highlight of her emotions.

The tale moves further. The lovers are getting more acquainted with each other, the innocence of their love is as cute as Deepu (Master Raju – Raju Sreshtha) who hops and skips in between.

Jahan pehli baar miley the hum
Jis jagah se sang chale the hum
Nadiya ke kinare aaj ussi
Amva ke taley aana

As their love grows deep, he wants to go back to where it all began. Beneath a mango tree by the river. Evoking the first sparks of love, rekindling the warmth of the beginning of their journey together. Raag Yaman at its best here –

Ni re ga re ga ma ga re sa sa ni
Pa pa ma re ga sa ni sa ga pa ma ga
Nit saanjh savere milte hain

Their love has been like that gentle, calm evening lamp which gives the required warmth and light. Yesudas’ voice gives that feeling of warmth and softness. But their love story now glimmers and shines when Hemlata joins in with –

Aa aa aa aa aa aa
Nit saanjh savere milte hain
Unhe dekh ke taare khilte hain
Lete hain vida ek duje se
Kehte hain chale aana

They meet every day at the time when the day meets the night. Their love sparkles like the shimmering stars above. And yet when the stars show up in the sky, they have to part their ways for the night with a promise of meeting the next day again.
Travelling together on the road which leads to love, with a streak of innocence in their romance, this twilight tale is infectious, appealing and aesthetic.

Avid music lover and Dev Anand fan

7 Comments

  1. Arun Kottur

    November 25, 2017 at 10:28 am

    I am from MSEB and use LED still like this song

  2. Madhukar

    September 26, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Superb commentary on the song. The only other thing I could think of might be to add some background on the song. E.g. has Yesudas, Hemlata or Ravindra Jain said anything about the song? Was it someone’s favourite?

  3. SBS Sharma

    January 20, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    Your translation is excellent. I would love it much more, had you interpreted line by line, rather than the overall gist of each stanza.
    Non-Hindi speakers find themselves dissatisfied, when crucial terminology is left unexplained, say for example bisraana, dagar, etc.
    Please upload your refined English version elucidating each line of every stanza to render the readers fully sated and gratified.

    Thank You.

    • Deepa

      January 27, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      Thank you so much but I think line by line interpretation spoils the beauty of the song and the feelings.

  4. OchiMa

    March 21, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    Hi Deepa, how beautifully and soulfully you have narrated this poetic song which can evoke the feelings of a romantic heart! Please do more songs from the 80s for people like me who needs English translation to relate the word meaning to the feel of music beyond language barriers.

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