Deathless Euphonies

Do classics possess certain characteristics that make them stand above the rest? What are those characteristics? Is it the lyrics? The melody? Or the entire song itself?

Classics have survived the test of time and possess the mysterious ability to touch all our hearts. They are the oases in the vast, sandy desert of life where wanderers such as us rest to find solace in their melodies.

Now another question comes to mind. Are modern classics inferior to its timeless counterparts? To be honest, a modern classic has the same potential as its predecessors, sometimes it resonates better with us for we are a part of this generation. In this era of fast-paced technology, some gems remain, cementing their place as a classic. In a way, the criticism modern songs face never touched the timeless classics making them giants within their categories. We have decided to (painfully) shortlist our absolute favourite classics. No one likes reading a wordy essay but we hope to personally make you feel the tranquillity of the ’90s and the retro-modern quality of today.

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I. Timeless Classics

a). Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi

Tujhse Naaraz Nahi Zindag (Masoom)(1983)

Singers- Anup Ghoshal, Lata Mangeshkar

Composed by- R.D. Burman

Lyricist- Gulzar

Gulzar's works are a collection of masterpieces and among them “Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi" undeniably occupies the first spot. It conveys such poetic depth that one can’t help but resonate deeply with the song. Life isn’t always a bed of roses and that idea is beautifully conveyed in the song. The poet never shies away from life itself, yet he questions if it's worth it anymore. A disillusioned soul, not defeated by the world, but in fact defeated by his own thoughts

b). Kya Hua Tera Wada

Kya Hua Tera Wada (Hum Kisise Kum Naheen)(1977)

Singers- Mohammad Rafi, Sushma Shrestha

Composed by- R.D. Burman

Lyricist- Majrooh Sultanpuri

The core of this song lies in its painful narration, putting on pretences and broken promises. The protagonist is heartbroken and wonders if money dictates the world to such an extent that his beloved can forget about all the love she holds for him. The lyrics of the song express his pain as he questions who is the deceitful one, the person who endured all sorrows for love or the one who sold it away? How is it that wealth blinded his lover to such an extent that she doesn't remember anything anymore?

c). Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisar

Kisi Ki Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisar (Anari)(1959)

Singer- Mukesh

Composed by- Shankar Jaikishan

Lyricist- Shailendra

The true essence of living a fulfilling life is being selfless and possessing the ability to make those around you grin even in the hardest of times. "Kisi ki muskurahaton pe ho nisar" so very thoughtfully communicates this idea throughout the song with its lyrics. These lines wonderfully convey how money has got nothing to do with the greatness and purity of the heart. To die for love, to burn for blooming, that is what life is. Whether people choose to trust or not, it makes no difference for this is what life is. A special mention to the acting prowess of the legendary Raj Kapoor who made the song come to life.

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II. Modern Classics

a). Luka Chuppi

Luki Chuppi (Rang De Basanti)(2006)

Singer- Lata Mangeshkar, A. R. Rahman

Composed by- A. R. Rahman

Lyricist- Javed Akhtar

If there's one song that can make even the machoest of rocks sob in agony, it’s “Luka Chuppi”. This song narrates the story of a mother and her martyred son in the form of an unspoken dialogue. The mother refuses to accept her son’s death and pleads for her son to stop hiding and come out so she can catch a glimpse of him. She asks him to come to her so she can embrace him. Unable to see his mother in deep sorrow, the son tries to console her by saying that now he is finally able to freely fly amidst the clear, blue skies.

b). Nadaan Parinde

Nadaan Parinde (Rockstar)(2011)

Singer- Mohit Chauhan

Composed by- A. R. Rahman

Lyricist- Irshad Kamil

"Nadaan Parinde" is a song that masterfully combines the themes of pain and tragic love in-depth. This gem of a song incites its listener to shed painful tears, making them feel such powerful emotions as if it belonged to them in the first place. There are only two possibilities after you listen to the song: you either feel numb or overwhelmed with emotions. The lines of the song strike such a deep chord within us. The protagonist's tragic wish to catch a glimpse of his lover even after his death along with his almost obsessive request to the scavenger crows, asking them to feed on all the flesh in his body, leaving behind his eyes that will forever await to catch a glimpse of his lover. Just like his grandfather Raj Kapoor, it was Ranbir Kapoor's intense and brilliant acting that brought this tragic song to life.

c). Jashn-E-Bahaaraa

Jashn-E-Bahaaraa (Jodhaa Akbar)(2008)

Singer- Javed Ali

Composed by- A. R. Rahman

Lyricist- Javed Akhtar

After speaking of such painful and tragic songs, we would like to speak about "Jashn-e Bahaaraa", the joy of spring, a song that automatically incites a smile to its listener’s face. The protagonist draws parallels to the weather and the feelings in his heart that have remained suppressed but are about to burst out just like the fully-bloomed flowers in Spring. The protagonist expresses how all around there is spring yet it seems the fragrance is irked with the flowers in the garden. The surroundings are quiet and there are unsaid feelings in the heart. If those words remain unsaid, it will automatically fade away into cold winter. “Jashn-e Bahaaraa” persuades its listener to let those beautiful, hidden feelings see the light of the day.

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Do you agree with our listed classics? Do you perhaps hold a different interpretation of these songs? Let us know in the comments below. We read each and every one of your comments and we are unable to express in words how grateful we are for your kind support and love. We will strive to put the best content out here for you. We hope we have provided you with a different lens with which you can view these gems.

Content writers: Bilal Khan; Needhi Singh; Shamatmika Rathore.

Editor: Adithi M. Kashyap

Graphic design and Video Editing: Alwin Joe Varghese; Khushi Sharma