Raat Aadhi...

If you are a Bachchan fan, and not heard it, I strongly recommend the album, Bachchan Recites Bachchan. Many compare these recitations with the dialogues of Silsila, but when you listen, you have to remember that these are not dialogues, but poetry written in chaste Hindi of Harivanshrai Bachchan.

I have several favourites in the album, but Raat Aadhi is beautiful. Though this album is produced in 1970s, Bachchan, despite the fever, weaved magic when he recited these poems under that huge dome of National Gallery of Modern Art. It was an unforgettable evening for those who witnessed it.



Raat aadhi
kheench kar meri hatheli,
ek ungli se likha tha...pyaar
tumne...


faasla tha kuch hamare bistaron mein
aur charo aur duniya so rahi thi
tareekain hee gagan ki jaanti hain
jo dasha dil kee tumhare ho rahi thi...

main tumhare paas ho kar door tumse,
main tumhare paas ho kar door tumse
adh jaga sa aur adh soya hua sa

Raat aadhi
kheench kar meri hatheli,
ek ungli se likha tha...pyaar
tumne...

ek bijli choo gayee sehsa jaga mein
ek bijli choo gayee sehsa jaga mein
krishna pakshi chand nikla tha gagan mein
is tarah karvat padi thi tum ke aansoo
beh rahe they is nayan se us nayan mein
main laga doon aag us sansar mein
hain pyaar jismein is tarah asamarth kaatar
jaanti ho kya us samay kya kar guzarne ke liye
tha kar diya tayyar tumne

Raat aadhi
kheench kar meri hatheli,
ek ungli se likha tha...pyaar
tumne...

praat hee kee aur ko hain raat chalti
praat hee kee aur ko hain raat chalti
aur ujale mein andhera doob jaata
manch hee poora badalta kaun aise
khoobiyo ke saath parde ko uthata
ek chehra sa laga tumne liya tha
aur maine tha utara ek chehra
woh nisha ka swapna mera tha kee apne par
gazab ka tha kiya adhikar tumne

Raat aadhi
kheench kar meri hatheli,
ek ungli se likha tha...pyaar
tumne...

aur utne faasle par aaj tak sau yatna karke bhi na aaye phir kabhi hum
aur utne faasle par aaj tak sau yatna karke bhi na aaye phir kabhi hum
phir na aaya waqt vaisa, phir na mauka us tarah ka, phir na lauta chaand nirmam...
aur apni vedna main kya batau?
kya nahi yeh panktiya khud bolti hain
bujh nahi paaya abhi tak
us samay rakh diya tha haath par angaar tumne...


Raat aadhi
kheench kar meri hatheli,
ek ungli se likha tha...pyaar
tumne...