अजनबी शहर है

I started with this album on the wrong foot. Just like any other new Gulzar album, I approached it from the lyrics’ point of view. And I was disappointed. In part because, like many others, I was put off by the usage of English words in lyrics where it seemed unnecessary. But mostly because the lyrics were either too ordinary to come from Gulzar or seemed forced.

But I heard it again. And I have started enjoying it. I still think that Gulzar is pedantic for the most part. But by pushing Gulzar to the background, I can enjoy a few songs from it. It’s actually Annu’s album. I would rank this among Annu’s better ones in recent times.

Also, the English usage do not bother me much now. Probably because I have found a convenient justification (of context) for their use, which I hope is true. In fact, I have started loving the refrain “meraa *fyuuchar* hai terii qasam” from “ishq maasoom hai” (which seems like written for a drama/nauTa.nkii kind of situation). They do sound contrived, but they don’t ruin the song for me.

This song “ajanabii shahar hai ajanabii shaam hai” does not contain any of those speedbreakers (’shaa.cl’ doesn’t count). There are things that I do not like about the song. It’s no great shake poetically too. But the feel and the sound of the song is amazing. Kudos to Anu for arranging and executing it so well.

P.S. I was careful while transcribing and was watching for Gulzar playing Gulzar and writing an “ajanabii *sahar* hai” somewhere in between. He didn’t.

जान-ए-मन (२००६)
गुलज़ार/अनु मलिक
सोनू निगम
====================
अजनबी शहर है
अजनबी शाम है
ज़िन्दगी अजनबी
क्या तेरा नाम है

अजीब है ये ज़िन्दगी
ये ज़िन्दगी अजीब है
ये मिलती है
बिछड़ती है
बिछड़ के फिर से मिलती है

अजनबी शहर है
अजनबी शाम है

==
आपके बग़ैर भी हमें
मीठी लगें उदासियाँ
क्या, ये आपका
आपका कमाल है
शायद आपको ख़बर नहीं
हिल रही है पाँव की ज़मीं
क्या, ये आपका
आपका ख़याल है

अजनबी शहर में
ज़िन्दगी मिल गई

अजीब है ये ज़िन्दगी
ये ज़िन्दगी अजीब है
मैं समझा था क़रीब है
ये और का नसीब है

अजनबी शहर है
अजनबी शाम है

==
बात है ये इक रात की
आप बादलों पे लेटे थे
हूँ, वो याद है
आपने बुलाया था
सर्दी लग रही थी आपको
पतली चाँदनी लपेटे थे
और, शॉल में
ख़्वाब के सुलाया था

अजनबी ही सही
साँस में सिल गई

अजीब है ये ज़िन्दगी
ये ज़िन्दगी अजीब है
मेरी नहीं ये ज़िन्दगी
रक़ीब का नसीब है