The Magical Melodies from Taj Mahal 1963

The Magical Melodies from Taj Mahal 1963

I first heard the song Jo Waada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega in 2003 when I was just 11 years old on my Philips Stereo. The cassette had the songs of Taj Mahal on one side and Chaudhavi Ka Chaand on the other.

Song 1. Jo Waada Kiya Wo Nibhana Padega (Happy).

The song begins with a flute like instrument and some bells and then comes the voice of Mohd Rafi. The song has been picturized on actor Pradeep Kumar who is in the role of Shehzada Khurram calling his love Anjuman Banoo played by Bina Rai.

He compels his love and says:

Jo Waada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega,
Roke Zamaana Chaahe
Roke Khudaai Tumko Aana Padega,
Jo Waada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega

There Bina Rai holding on to her Pallu shying replies,

Ye Maana Humein Jaan Se Jaana Padega,
Par Ye Samajh Lo Tumne Jab Bhi Pukaara Humko,
Aana Padega.

The happy version of the song is like a dialogue between the lovers who are longing to meet each other. 

Song 2. Jo Waada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega (Sad).

The sad version also begins with a similar tune but this time the instrument seems to be changed and the Tempo of the song also reduces to give it a gloomy feel.

The sad version of Jo Waada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega has been picturized on the older version of Shehzada Khurram. In this scene he is shown as an old person, windowed with grey hair and weaker body.

He again calls out his lover but now she doesn't belong to this world and instead descends from heaven. The video of this sad version of the song picturizes it very beautifully. Bina Rai descends from a heavenly staircase from the sky and comes to meet her love Shehzada Khurram.

Shehzada Khurram knows that the one who once departs from this world doesn't return and sings :

Sabhi Ehl-e-Duniya ye kehte hain humse,
Ke aata nahi koi, mulk-e-azam se

Anjuman Banoo appears and sings :

Hum aate rahe hain, hum aate rahenge,
Muhabbat ki rasmein nibhaate rahenge.

She explains how their lovestory is an immortal one in the next line:

Humaari Kahaani Humaara Fasaana,
Hamesha Hamesha Kahegaa Zamana.

And see how true is that. Isn't it? We still talk about the Taj Mahal and consider it a monument of love !

Song 3. Paon Chhoo Lene Do Phoolon Ko Inaayat Hogi

The song Paon Chhoo Lene Do is fit to be an anthem for men who are deeply in love. Just note the lyrics and see how the song has been picturized.

Bina Rai is shown walking (carefully) on the road full of flowers. Though she is walking but also is mindful of not stepping on the flowers and that is what makes Pradeep Kumar say:

Paon Chhoo Lene Do Phoolon Ki Inaayat Hogi, Inayat Hogi,
Warna Humko Nahin Inko Bhi Shikaayat Hogi, Shikayat Hogi.

Now Bina Rai replies:

Aap Jo Phool Bichhayein Unhein Hum Thukraayein,
Aap Jo Phool Bichhayein Unhein Hum Thukraayein,
Kya Khabar Thi Kabhi Iss Dil Ki Ye Haalat Hogi, Ye Haalat Hogi.

This song again is a beautiful exchange if dialogues between lovers. The song has been beautifully sung by Mohd Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.

One thing that I observed that makes the song so soothing is the use of Violin in the song in many parts.

Song 4. Jo Baat Tujhmein Hai Teri Tasveer Mein Nahi

Again, Shehzada Khurram who is so much in love with Anjuman Banoo makes her painting just to realise that the painting can't compete with the real beauty of Anjuman Banoo which makes him sing :

Jo Baat Tujhmein Hai Teri Tasveer Mein Nahin,
Tasveer Mein Nahin

He even has a complain as to why the painting is not as beautiful as Anjuman? He then explains the reason behind this in the other part of the Lyrics:

Rangon Mein Tera Aks Dhala, Tu Na Dhak Saki,
Saanson Ki Aanch, Jism Ki Khushboo Na Dhak Saki.

Isn't this so lovely? Oh my. What a lyrics. Hats off to Sahir Ludhianvi Saab who penned down all the songs of this legendary film Taj Mahal.

Song 5. Na Na Na Re Na Na

This is a little playful song where the woman is warning her lover not to touch her otherwise she would verbally abuse him and the lyrics say:

Na Na Na Re Na Na, Hath Na Lagaana,
Tohse Baar Baar Kahoon Mohe Na Sataana, Doongi Gaariyaan.

The song seems to be slightly using natural form of Awadhi Language too.

There are 3 more songs in the movie album i.e., Chandi Ka Badan Sone Ki Nazar which is a Qawwali and good enough to enjoy. The songs in our today's list is Jurm-E-Ulfat Pe Humein Log Sazaa Dete Hain. It is a sad song and composed on lower tempo.

Overall the film Taj Mahal has a great list of songs from Jo Waada Kiya to Jurm-E-Ulfat Pe.

Difference in Picturization between Jo Wada Kiya Happy and Sad Version

One more thing that I love about the picturization of two songs of the movie is that when the Happy version of Jo Waada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega shows up, the scene begins from a camera which is placed behind the throne of Shehzada Khurram and it gently moves to the front and captures the Shahzada and we see a young emperor who is in love and happy sitting and waiting for his lover.

Now when the Sad version of the song is shown to us, it is also picturized in the same manner and same camera angles which shift from behind the throne of the emperor to the front but this time the emperor is not the younger Shehzada but an old weaker and helpless person calling his lover from another world and expecting her to visit him for one last time before he departs from this world too.