Rahen na Rahen Hum

My sketch of Suchitra Sen

How heartbreaking it is to lose a loved one…isn’t it? I mean not about losing loved one’s life, that’s a different saga altogether. What when circumstances separate a person to be physically nowhere near proximity, but far away from his/her dear celebrity? Instances like these may be common to many, but expressions of feelings are indeed unique to each. So when poor Devyani (played by Suchitra Sen) is separated from her dearie, wealthy Monish Rai (played by Ashok Kumar) who has to travel abroad for higher education, what has this gentle beauty Suchitra got to sing through her song? Must listen at (youtube link)…. while you read my take of her philosophy right here.

As you read, do listen to the song  Here

The magic of film Mamta lies in this song “Rahen na Rahen Hum” that’s backed by tingy tongy chimey tunes that ding n dong every now n then, sweetly supporting the gentle melodies of Lata singing away musings of Suchitra. The sounds of ringing during singing as if from a bell in a temple takes the listener to a plane of purity and divinity (Is this a precursor to prove future tawaif’s chastity - an attempt to tempt one to ponder… I just wonder!). Suchitra when asked to sing this song by Ashok Kumar even as he verbally vows his loyalty to her despite his decisively compelled separation, she too pledges her fealty philosophically. So deeply lost in love, she knows not about separation from unity. Come what may the weather, Spring or Summer, and the fragrance, be it like a breeze or a flower, the garden of their life, she promises to grace devotedly with colour. Lost in the realm of love, she sings that she shall sway and she shall blossom just so to remain forever his bosom. On his return, she is not sure of her presence (rahen na rahen hum – whether or not I’ll be here) yet her fond hope of him returning, one can sense when she sings “wahi pe kahin hum tumse milenge” - there somewhere we shall meet again! This line in particular is so synonymously in sync with “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna”.  Hai na bolo?

     

1/7 songs from the Film: Mamta (1966) 

Music Composer: Roshan           
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar (solo)
              Mohd Rafi & Suman Kalyanpuri (duet)

Director: Asit Sen                            
Cast: Suchitra Sen, Ashok Kumar, Dharmendra

Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri        

Movie Masala:

Suchitra Sen, born as Roma Dasgupta, refered to as “Mahanayika” in Bengali film world is one actress who with just 7 Hindi films under her belt made the shortest foray in Bollywood mainstream yet sealed her signature that lasts till date. She came (in 1951), she conquered with atleast3 unforgettable films (Gulzar’s Aandhi, Asit Sen’s Mamta and Bimal Roy’s Devdas) and walked away (in 1978) deep down only to get lost in the world of spiritualism.

Image Link:

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