Tag Archives: neeraj

Neeraj-the  poet & lyricist –who said so much with so less 

4th January 1925 – 19th July 2018

Even during my very young days, I used to be fascinated with one song that normally one may not like at that age. More so, it was in chaste Hindi and I had spent my entire childhood in Chennai and despite being unable to understand the lyrics fully at that age, I used to like that song very much. Of course one reason was that it was sung by my favourite singer – Mohammad Rafi, who had rendered with so much passion that I used to listen spell-bound. It was only much later , when I understood the meaning of the lyrics, I knew it was written by one of the great but relatively less-talked about lyricists -Gopaldas Saxena ‘ Neeraj ’.  Few lines from this song that were so innovative :

नींद भी खुली थी कि हाय धूप ढल गई ( I had not even woke up, alas, the day had passed)

पाँव जब तलक उठे कि ज़िन्दगी फिसल गई (By the time I took my steps, life had slipped away)

उम्र के चढ़ाव का उतार देखते रहे ( I kept watching the decline of rising  age)..

These extra-ordinary lines were from the song Swapn Jhare Phool Se, Meet Chube Shool Se …Carvan Guzar Gaya Gubar Dekhte Rahe written by Gopaldas Saxena -known by his nom-de-plume Neeraj.

The year  2025 happens to be  Neeraj’s  birth centenary year and this is my humble tribute to Neeraj who was  poet first and then became a lyricist for films. He had worked for very few films but most of the songs he wrote were great hits , but ironically  a majority of them were for  films that flopped commercially!

He was born on 4th January 1925 ,  in the village of Puravali, near Mahewa in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, India. He lost his father when he was just six years old. Though he passed his high school in first class , he had to take care of his family  and so could not pursue his education at that time. In 1942 he got a job as a typist in Supplies department of government  in Delhi . He also did some  odd jobs  and somehow completed his M.A degree later.  He was initially associated with a college in Meerut , teaching Hindi but later became  a Professor of Hindi Literature in Dharma Samaj College, Aligarh

In 1944 his first collection of poems “Sangharsh” was published ,  which he dedicated to the noted poet Harivanshrai Bachhan . He has said that Harivansh Rai Bachchan was his inspiration to become a poet right from the time he was studying in school. In the year 1960 there was a program in which he had recited his poems in a program in Bombay ( as Mumbai was called then) to celebrate his birthday in the presence of the then chief minister of Maharashtra  Y B Chavan. Among the audience was producer R Chandra who had produced the famous film Barsat Ki Raat. R Chandra approached Neeraj to write for his next venture Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal ( this phrase was also from Neeraj’s poem) . At that time Neeraj was not willing to write for films and instead told Chandra that he can give some of his already published poems.

The immortal song that I mentioned at the beginning of this article was for that film and  made him so famous. Apart from this there were two other songs that were taken from his poems for the same film. However since this film Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal got delayed and was released only in 1966 , the other movie that brought him great recognition , Cha Cha Cha got released in 1964 itself.  Subah Na Aayee  Shaam Na Aayee and Woh Hum Na Theh from Cha Cha Cha brought him fame.

Many of his songs were written earlier and then set to tune by music directors , but few like Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe were written for the tune by Neeraj. Neeraj’s important songs were mostly till the early 70’s and  although he wrote some  songs even in the later years , they were not having that special touch like those he wrote in his  peak .

After the change in music style in 70’s Neeraj went back to his teaching profession and continued to be active in many Kavi sammelan and breathed his last in 2018 , at the ripe age of 93. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in 2007 ; he also got the Filmfare award for best lyrics for the song Kal Ka Pahiya Ghoome Bhaiyya in 1970 for the film Chanda Aur Bijli

I heard him saying in one of his interviews that he tried to use completely different words that were usually not used by other lyricists in film songs and that really made his songs stand out. I will try to write about such usage with the very limited knowledge that I have on the Hindi and Urdu languages while listing out the songs.

I have listed out few memorable songs of Neeraj here.  Usually I organize them in chronological order , but for this blog , I am categorizing them first into three main groups. Usually Neeraj is associated with S D Burman and Shankar Jaikishan , but one would be surprised to note he had written some great songs for other composers also and so I am starting off with that category first, followed by those with S D Burman and Shankar Jaikishan.

I have mentioned the film , year , song title and singers also.

Neeraj’s songs for Other Music Directors

Cha Cha Cha-1964-Music by Iqbal Quereshi

Neeraj’s Swapn Jhare Phool Se was the first song that was taken from his earlier poem that he had written sometime in 1954-55, but due to the delay in the release of the film Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal, the songs from Cha Cha Cha gave him his initial fame. Both these songs were composed so beautifully by Iqbal Quereshi and sung in an extra-ordinary manner that was possible only by Rafi.

  1. Woh Hum Na Theh-Mohammad Rafi

It would be a very long blog if I have to provide the lyrics of all the songs listed here , but at the same time I have to convey the uniqueness of his poetry; so I will try to briefly mention the mukhda and maybe one or two antara with their meaning , wherever possible. Only for few iconic songs I am providing the full lyrics. One has to listen to his songs many times and enjoy the lyrical beauty and the way he conveyed his thoughts with his distinctive usage of words.

2. Subah Na Aayee Sham Na Aayee-Mohammad Rafi

Neeraj starts off with these great lines

खुशी जिसने खोजी वो धन लेके लौटा, हंसी जिसने खोजी चमन लेके लौटा

मगर प्यार को खोजने जो चला वो, न तन लेके लौटा न मन लेके लौटा

सुबह ना आई, शाम ना आई, जिस दिन तेरी याद ना आई, याद ना आई

सुबह ना आई, शाम ना आई

Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal-1966-Music by Roshan

3. Carvan Guzar Gaya-Mohammad Rafi

Epic is the only word that can describe this great poetry by Neeraj—a poem written by him that was later on taken for the film. Knowing the immense power of the poetry, Roshan kept the orchestration and tune to the bare minimum and Rafi infused so much of life into each and every word. There are four stanzas with some 290 words in the entire song. This could be one of the most voluminous songs in Hindi films.

No doubt , Roshan’s immense respect for the lyrics made him compose this so brilliantly and  anyone else other than the one and only Rafi could not  have put so much emotion  into the song, but still when we listen to this song the hero of the song is definitely the lyricist-Neeraj!! This is one of the few songs where the words simply dominate  song…who can forget the last lines of each of the four antaraas:

और हम झुके झुके, मोड़ पर रुके रुके, उम्र के चढ़ाव का उतार देखते रहे।

और हम लुटे लुटे,वक्त से पिटे पिटे,साँस की शराब का खुमार देखते रहे।

और हम डरे डरे,नीर नयन में भरे,ओढ़कर कफ़न, पड़े मज़ार देखते रहे।

और हम अजानसे,दूर के मकान से,पालकी लिये हुए कहार देखते रहे।

I am providing the link to the entire lyrics of this epic song- One can say this is truly one-of-a-kind song that ever appeared in Hindi films.

https://geetmanjusha.com/lyrics/10919-karwan-guzar-gaya-gubar-dekhte-rahe

4. Aaj Ki Raat Badi Shok-Mohammad Rafi

It is really unfortunate that songs like this have remained less heard and appreciated. One of the gems rendered by Rafi in his inimitable style, with a voice dripping with romance. Neeraj’s imagination is mind-boggling. I am reproducing the full lyrics here. One has to just immerse oneself into the beauty of this poetry.

आज की रात बड़ी शोख बड़ी नटखट है, आज तो तेरे बिना नींद न आयेगी

अब तो तेरे ही यहाँ आने का ये मौसम है, अब तबीयत न ख़यालों से बहल पायेगी

देख वो छत पे उतर आयी है सावन की घटा, दे रही द्वार पे आवाज़ खड़ी पुरवाई

बिजली रह रह के पहाड़ं पे चमक उठती है, सूनी आँखों में कोई ख़्वाब ले ज्यों अंगड़ाई, कैसे समझाऊँ?, कैसे समझाऊँ कि इस वक़्त का मतलब क्या है

दिल की है बात, हो दिल की है बात न होंठों से कही जायेगी

आज तो तेरे बिना नींद नहीं आयेगी…

ये भटकते हुए जुगुनू ये दिये आवारा, भीगते पेड़ों पे बुझ-बुझ के चमक उठते हैं

तेरे आँचल में टके सलमें सितारे जैसे,मुझ से मिलने को बिना बात दमक उठते हैं

सारा आलम..सारा आलम है गिरफ़्तार तेरे हुस्न में जब

मुझसे ही कैसे..हो, मुझसे ही कैसे ये बरसात सही जायेगी

आज तो तेरे बिना नींद नहीं आयेगी, रात रानी की ये भीनी सी नशीली खुशबू

आ रही है के जो छन छन के घनी डालों से,

ऐसा लगता है किसी ढीठ झखोरे* से लिपट, खेल आयी है तेरे उलझे हुए बालों से

और बेज़ार..और बेज़ार न कर, मेरे तड़पते दिल को

ऐसी रंगीन..हो, ऐसी रंगीन ग़ज़ल रात न फिर गायेगी

आज तो तेरे बिना नींद नहीं आयेगी …

* ढीठ झखोरे -metaphor for obsessive longing-like a partridge for moon

5. Isko Bhi Apnaata Chal-Mohammad Rafi

If “Aaj Ki Raat badi shok”  was a lesser heard song, this one is almost unheard-I just came to know about this only while looking for all the songs of Neeraj for this blog. It is a simple tune , almost in a narrative style -once again Rafi weaves a magical rendition around the powerful words of Neeraj, with Roshan, as usual giving full importance to the lyrics and keeping the orchestration embellishment to the bare minimum.

Tu Hi Meri Zindagi-1965-Music by Rono Mukherjee

6. Maayus na ho ai mere vatan-Mohammad Rafi

I have written this in my earlier blogs but would like to keep repeating-my hunt for rare songs for my blogs have always rewarded me very richly! Who would expect that the film that had a peppy, Arabic style Jidhar Bhi Mein Dekhoon Udhar Tu Hi Tu Hai would have such a soulful song with the typical hard-hitting lyrics of Neeraj! Rono Mukherjee was the son of famous film producer Sasadhar Mukherjee and brother of Joy & Deb Mukherjee.

Sati Naari-1965-Music By Shivram

7. Tum Nacho Ras Barse-Mahendra Kapoor

One more surprise-a beautiful classical song by Mahendra Kapoor , tuned by Pt Shivram Krishna who scored mostly for mythology-based films.

8. Chal Re Chal Musafir Chal-Mukesh

When I started categorizing Neeraj’s songs music director-wise I thought at the most I would find  Iqbal Quereshi and Roshan for the two films I had listed here. It was a pleasant surprise to note many such gems for relatively lesser-known music directors like Shivram. A delightful Mukesh song.

Reshma Aur Shehra-1971-Music by Jaidev

9. Jabse Lagan Re Lagayi-Asha Bhosle

Jaidev was always known for composing intricate tunes for the poetry already written and so I was just trying to search if there was any song that Neeraj would have written for him. And once again I was surprised to know this song, though familiar to me was written by him. The other two famous songs from this film were written by relatively lesser-known lyricists Balkavi Bairagi ( Tu Chanda Mein Chandini) and Uddhav Kumar ( Ek Meethi Si Chuban) , both sung by Lata.

Majhli Didi-1967-Music by Hemant Kumar

10. Nadiyon Ki Bhari Bhari God Jahan -Sung by Hemant Kumar

    Who would have expected a Hemant Kumar song with Neeraj?! Title song of an obscure film directed by the veteran Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Majhli Didi was critically acclaimed but commercially flopped . Hemant Kumar’s voice perfectly fits the song . Neeraj uses very simple words, but describes the village life so succinctly :

    बड़ा ह्रदय है छोटा घर है, कपडे मैले साफ़ नज़र है

    सरल ज़िन्दगी कठिन सफर है, वो मेरा गाँव है

    वो मेरा गांव है वो तेरा गाव है

    Neeraj’s songs for Sachin Dev Burman

    Neeraj’s association with Sachin Dev Burman was the most successful one followed by that with Shankar Jaikishan. Dev Anand spotted Neeraj in one of the Kavi Sammelan and invited him to write for his directorial venture Prem Pujari. Though Burman da was initially a bit apprehensive, when he got Neeraj’s lyrics for Rangeela Re ( it is said Burman wanted the song to start with Rangeela , maybe his old Bengali Rongeela Rongeela Re song was very close to his heart!). Prem Pujari, Tere Mere Sapne, Gambler , Sharmeelee-all these four films had fantastic songs that need no introduction. Of course many would have enjoyed listening to these songs without knowing the lyricist behind them.

    Prem Pujari-1970

    1.           Prem Ke Pujari Hum Hai- sung by S D Burman    

    Although Burman da sang a handful of songs in Hindi films, all were too good. Listen to the title song of Prem Pujari. The small alaap at the beginning of the song sounds like Rafi’s voice-if I am not mistaken.

    2.   Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaye-Kishore Kumar &  Lata Mangeshkar

      Neeraj had initially written Chandini Mein ghola Jaaye Phoolon Ka Shabab , but when Dev Anand told him the song was being picturized during the day, he changed to Shokiyon Mein.

      शोखियों में घोला जाये, फूलों का शबाब

      उसमें फिर मिलायी जाये, थोड़ी सी शराब

      होगा यूं नशा जो तैयार

      हाँ…होगा यूं नशा जो तैयार, वो प्यार है

      Listen to Neeraj himself narrating his original poem which was later tweaked for the film!

      3.    Phoolon Ke Rang Se- Kishore Kumar 

        One of the best Kishore Kumar -S D Burman songs that I like. Quite a popular song also, picturised in beautiful Switzerland. Neerja always used unusual words and imagination to describe romance:

        Saanson Ki Sargam, Dhadkan Ki Beena, Sapnon Ki Geetanjali Tum, Man Ki Gali Mein Mehke Jo Har Dam….

        4.   Rangeela Re Tere Rang Mein- Lata Mangeshkar

          A masterpiece of Neeraj , with S D Burman coming out with an outstanding composition , rendered in a manner that only Lata can, this is among the topmost songs of Hindi films. The orchestration done by Burman da was far ahead of its time.

          रंगीला रे, तेरे रँग में, यूँ रँगा है मेरा मन

          छलिया रे, न बुझे है, किसी जल से यह जलन

          ओ रंगीला रेदुःख मेरा दुल्हा है बिरहा है डोली, आँसू की सड़ी है आहों की चोली

          आग मैं पियूँ रे जैसे हो पानी, नारी दिवानी हूँ पीड़ा की रानी

          मनवा यूँ जले है, जग सारा छले है, साँस क्यों चले है पिया

          वाह रे प्यार वाह रे वाह, रँगीला रे …

          Sharmeelee-1971

          5. Khilte Hain Gul Yahan- Kishore Kumar

            All the four songs from Sharmeelee are so popular that I do not think I need to write anything about them. My favourite is Megha Chaaye Aadhi Raat and Kaise Kahen Hum Pyar Ne Humko..

            6.   O Meri Sharmilee-  Kishore Kumar      

              7.     Kaise Kahen Ham-Kishore Kumar

                8.    Megha Chhaye Aadhi Raat-          Lata Mangeshkar

                  S D Burman creates a song based on classical raag but with orchestration in western style. Sung beautifully by Lata. Neeraj , in his typical style uses Megha instead of the usual word Badal, and it is indeed rare to hear the word “ shool”…many such innovative words always embellish Neeraj’s lyrics.

                  Gambler-1971

                  9. Dil Aaj Shayar Hai-Kishore Kumar

                    Personally , I consider this song as one of the best by Kishore Kumar. Though the entire song is written so beautifully by Neeraj, lines like these  are simply out-of-the world!

                    चाहत की महफ़िल में गम तेरा लेकर  , क़िस्मत से खेला जुआ

                    दुनिया से जीते पर तुझसे हारी, यूँ खेल अपना हुआ

                    हम तो मुसाफिर है कोई सफर हो, हम तो गुज़र जाएगी ही

                    लेकिन लगाया है, जो दाव हमने, वो जित कर आएगी ही.

                    10. Choodi Nahin Mera-Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar

                    This is one more evergreen duet of Kishore & Lata, with Burman da using the accordion, saxophone, banjos so well in the orchestration. Neeraj comes out with innovative ways , comparing the fragile heart to the glass bangles and goes on to say they are more valuable than gold , silver etc and only love is their price. Simple , catchy words , that would enable us to remember the song !

                    11. Mera Man Tera Pyasa-Mohammad Rafi

                    In a film , if all songs are sung by others and Rafi gets just one , he always makes his mark and comes out with a rendition that makes the song so nice. Written almost in a conversational style, it is Rafi’s skill to make it sound so beautiful.

                    Tere Mere Sapne-1971

                    12. Hey Maine Kasam Li- Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar

                    Shot entirely with Dev Anand and Mumtaz riding a humble bicycle . One can easily detect how Kishore modulated his voice to suit Dev Anand perfectly. I find Neeraj was very fond of the word “ Madir” -used it in many songs” Saans Teri Madir-Madir”…Neeraj used very simple words in this song, but the tune and the very simplicity of the words make this so pleasant to hear again and again.

                    13. Jeevan Ki Bhagiya Mehkegi- Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar

                    Most would have heard the interesting story of how this song was completed with just the flute, played by Hariprasad Chaurasia, Santoor played by Shiv Kumar Sharma table by Maruti Rao. There were heavy rains and due to heavy flooding , most of the musicians couldn’t reach the studio. Burman da did a superb innovation by using three instruments. The superb lyrics by Neeraj describing the happiness of a couple who are expecting their child to come into their life are so nice to hear. One of the melodious duets of Kishore & Lata.

                    Neeraj’s songs for Shankar-Jaikishan

                    For Shankar Jaikishan, all through their career, mostly Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri wrote their songs. Though it was never openly said by them, it was generally believed that Shankar preferred working with Shailendra and Jaikishan with Hasrat Jaipuri. One major difference between SJ and the other two music director duos-Laxmikant Pyarelal and Kalyanji Anandji was that Shankar and Jaikishan independently composed the songs whereas it was mainly Laxmikant and Kalyanji who were the composers and Pyarelal and Anandji looked after the arrangement and orchestration. Their music was always grand, outstanding, catchy  and popular. Somehow many talk only about  Neeraj’s association with  S D Burman only , ignoring his work with SJ. And if at all anyone mentions his association with SJ, they talk about how after JaIkishan’s death, Neeraj did not work much with SJ. In fact in some of the interviews , Neeraj himself mentions about his working with Shankar. After the demise of Shailendra in  1966, Jaikishan might have continued to work with Hasrat till his own sudden demise in 1971. Shankar worked with  many other lyricists in his later solo innings also like Neeraj, M G Hashmat, S H Bihari, Vitthalbhai Patel, Vishweshwar Sharma etc.

                    Let us look at some of the memorable songs of Neeraj under the baton of the emperors of Hindi film music-Shankar-Jaikishan.

                    Kanyadan-1968

                    1. Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe -Mohammad Rafi

                    This is not only one of the most popular songs of Neeraj, but is considered among the top songs of Rafi and Shankar Jaikishan also. For many years I was not aware this was written by Neeraj!

                    The magnificence in SJ’s orchestration, Rafi’s ever-youthful voice and Neeraj’s words dripping with romance-all come together to create a masterpiece.

                    Chanda Aur Bijli-1969

                    2. Kal Ka Pahiya Ghoome Bhaiyya-Manna Dey

                    A superb song that conveys the story of an orphaned child that appears throughout the film , with each stanza placed at appropriate situations and is written by Neeraj with profound meaning. Unfortunately , this song is never talked about much anywhere. For me this is one great rendition by Manna Da, with SJ going all-out in composing a classic number and above all Neeraj conveying in just four stanzas, life’s philosophy with simple but very powerful  words. I have reproduced the entire lyrics here.

                    काल का पहिया घूमे भैया, लाख तरह इन्सान चले

                    ले के चले बारात कभी तो, कभी बिना सामान चले

                    राम कृष्ण हरि …

                    जनक की बेटी अवध की रानी, सीता भटके बन बन में

                    राह अकेली रात अन्धेरी, मगर रतन हैं दामन में

                    साथ न जिस के चलता कोई, उस के साथ भगवान चले

                    राम कृष्ण हरि …

                    हाय री क़िस्मत कृष्ण कन्हैया, स्वाद न जाने माखन का

                    हँसी चुराये फूलों की वो, कंस है माली उपवन का

                    भूल न पापी मगर पाप की, ज्यादा नहीं दुकान चले

                    राम कृष्ण हरि …

                    अजब है कैसी प्रभु की माया, माला से बिछुड़ा दाना

                    ढूँढे जिसे मन सामने है वो, जाये न लेकिन पहचाना

                    कैसे वो मालिक दिखे तुझे जब, साथ तेरे अभिमान चले

                    राम कृष्ण हरि …

                    कर्म अगर अच्छा है तेरा, क़िस्मत तेरी दासी है

                    दिल है तेरा साफ़ तो प्यारे, घर में मथुरा काशी है

                    सच्चाई की राह चलो रे, जब तक जीवन प्राण चले

                     राम कृष्ण हरि …

                    Mera Naam Joker-1970

                    Neeraj , somehow got the tag as the “unlucky” lyricist as most of the films that he had written for turned out to be flops even though the songs themselves were so good and if at all the film was remembered , it was only due to his songs! Mera Naam Joker had one of the best ever songs by SJ , but this was one of those rare flops for Raj Kapoor, though the film later became a cult-classic.

                    Two songs of Neeraj stand out-Kehta Hai Joker in which he describes life from the perspective of a joker and Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo, that compares life to a circus. Just for the sake of Neeraj’s words and SJ’s outstanding music these two songs remain evergreen.

                    3. Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo-Manna Dey

                    Initially , Shankar was not able to set a tune for this song as Neeraj had written them in a conversational style. Later Raj Kapoor requested Neeraj himself to recite the poem and it is said that the way he recited gave the cue for Shankar to set the tune!

                    The full song is worth reproducing , but due to the fact that my blog is already quite lengthy , I am giving the highlight of the song-where Neeraj compares life to a three-part circus.

                    हाँ बाबू, यह सरकस है शो तीन घंटे का

                    पहला घंटा बचपन है, दूसरा जवानी है

                    तीसरा बुढ़ापा है

                    और उसके बाद – माँ नहीं, बाप नहीं

                    बेटा नहीं, बेटी नहीं, तू नहीं,

                    मैं नहीं, कुछ भी नहीं रहता है

                    रहता है जो कुछ वो – ख़ाली-ख़ाली कुर्सियाँ हैं

                    ख़ाली-ख़ाली ताम्बू है, ख़ाली-ख़ाली घेरा है

                    बिना चिड़िया का बसेरा है, न तेरा है, न मेरा है

                    4. Kehta Hai Joker Sara Zamana-Mukesh

                       Look at how in just two lines in the mukhda, Neeraj summarizes life!

                    कहता है जोकर सारा ज़माना, आधी हक़ीकत आधा फ़साना

                    चश्मा उठाओ, फिर देखो यारो, दुनिया नयी है, चेहरा पुराना

                    Lal Pathhar-1971

                    5. Re Man Sur Mein Gaa-Manna Dey & Asha Bhosle

                    The reason I wrote that it was mostly Shankar who must have worked with Neeraj  is that songs with a  pure classical base were always Shankar’s forte. Same logic applies to  the next song I have selected from the same film-Sooni Sooni Sans Ke Sitar Both these songs are inexplicably not heard much but are definitely top class. Songs from Lal Pathar , in 1971,  prove that SJ had never lost their creativity as the myth that is always spread around everywhere.

                    6. Sooni Sooni Sans ke sitar-Asha Bhosle

                    Jungle Mein Mangal-1972

                    7. Tum Kitni Khoobsurat Ho-Kishore Kumar (With Hasrat?)

                    I could not find out exactly who wrote this song as in most places , it is credited jointly to  Hasrat & Neeraj-could not understand how both of them would have contributed to this..yet I have included this just for the sheer beauty of the composition that once again proves SJ’s( rather Shankar’s!)  creative juices never dried even in 1972. The vibrato in Kishore’s voice is unique-very rarely we come across this style of singing by him. Once again strangely , even Kishore fans rarely talk about this gem!

                    Patanga-1971

                    8. Jhoom Ke Gaa Yun Aaj Mere Dil-Mohammad Rafi

                    This song is always special to me personally as I started my debut as a blog writer with this song for a blogsite dedicated to Rafi. Many years back I wrote about the use of oxymorons so effusively by Neeraj and the excellent rendition by Rafi , once again, in a superbly orchestrated song by SJ.

                    I end this article with Neeraj’s own definition of Kavita and Kavi:

                    Kavita Kya Hai, Kavi Kaun Hai?…

                    Aatma Ka Soundarya Ka Shabdroop Hai Kavya

                     ( Poetry is the beautiful expression of the soul)

                    Manav Hona Bhagya Hai, Kavi hona Sowbhagya

                    ( To be born a human is destiny but to be a poet is good fortune!)

                    Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:

                    I sincerely thank the publishers of following  Internet sources   for the information that I could gather for this article:

                    1. You Tube
                    2. Wikipedia
                    3. geetmanjusha.com
                    4. HindiLyrics4U.com

                    The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been embedded here   only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognizing the full copyrights for the same to the  original creator or the site where they were originally displayed .This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.