The Magic called “Music”

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Music is a language that binds, a therapy that heals, a sensation that overpowers. Music is what can give words to your gamut of emotions- it does not matter if you are sad, depressed, happy, joyful, in love or heart-broken – there is always a song that connects to your every sentiment. It’s astounding how a simple song can sway your mood.

Times have indeed changed and so has the face of music – it has apparently turned louder and more customised than it had ever been. While I don’t hold anything against this era of music, what it cannot be – neither match nor promise is the soul and tranquillity of golden past of Indian music. While unmatchable like Gulzar still pens some of the most enviable lines and A.R Rehman gives in his best each time but there is still a void – whenever I want to absorb myself in some emotion– old is gold for me. How often these days do we get to hear a “Chupke chupke raat din aason bahana yaad hai” - you are transformed into a complete new world – which may be oblivious to your own surroundings yet something that hits you everytime you hear – that defines the very purpose of music – to soothe to your senses and make something lingers with you will always remember and not get tired listening to – while you may enjoy an item number and dance to its tunes several times with great zeal but one goes crazy if a “Neele Neele ambar pe” or a “Roop tera mastana” is tuned into. Such was the versatility of old hindi films songs. The lyrics was expressive and the music moving. This is what comes from Gulzar at his best – “Ek baar Waqt se lamha gira kahin, wahaan dastaan mili lamha kahin nai”. Pure Genius. He is one man who still stands out with the new breed of music directors – be it a Dil toh Baccha hai ji or a Beedi - this man is a living legend and continues to surprise you even at 70.

When do I get to hear a “tujhse naraaz nai zindagi”, dil dhal jaye, Abhi na jao chod ke and kabhi kabhi these days – the music lives and grows in you. What I hear is the new age “Dum Maro Dum” which some unmentionable lyrics doing no justice to the evergreen “Dum Maro Dum” of the olden days.

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain “. Indeed music is nothing if the audience is deaf.