Ik baar dekh lijiye….
The latest talk in showbiz is about Heeramandi, a TV series directed by the acclaimed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It has become a fodder for moviegoers, reel makers, parody makers, fashionistas, reviewers, music lovers, history buffs, lovers, haters and many more. Amita, my daughter was suggesting me to go to Netflix and watch it but I had no interest to watch a TV series about courtesans whatsoever. Initially I resisted and resisted but finally gave in when she kept telling me about how much she loved the songs and identified the ragas they were based on.
Many people have already shared their thoughts and critiques on social media. I had my own impressions as well. The social media has gone berserk about the acting skills, or lack thereof, of one particular actress and there is a lot of finger pointing at the director for subscribing to nepotism. Personally, after watching all eight episodes of the series, I thought this actress has done a fine job of portraying a rather soft and subdued character amongst other louder personalities. I did not expect to see histrionics from this quiet natured young lady in the story. I was however disappointed watching some of her promotional interviews later on social media. Whatever she spoke she did not make much sense. But that’s besides the point.
This post is not about the show itself, any of its actors, directorial skills, historical preciseness or extravaganza of sets or costumes. It is about its music and more specifically about the poetry. True to what Amita said the music does draw attention. It is refreshing in the present era where mostly one gets to hear loud and fast music without meaningful lyrics. The young lady in the story, who is the younger daughter of the leading courtesan, is shown as a romantic who dreams about a life of love as well as holds poetic aspirations. Several times throughout the series she recites the opening two lines of her poem addressed to the lover of her dreams:
एक बार देख लीजिएदीवाना बना दीजिए
A few days after having watched the show I was again exposed to the songs through reels on Instagram and the lyrics and voice of the singer began to get familiar and grow on me. I searched for the audio of the entire song and as I listened, it began to percolate into my brain. Not only did I begin to absorb the tune and sing along, I also began to dwell on the lyrics.
In the storyline the lyrics voice the emotions of the woman who is enchanted with a young man and is trying to seek his attention, affection and indulgence. As she makes a proclamation of her love and readiness for complete surrender, she compares her situation with a madman, a moth and an alcoholic.
As I listened over and over again, mesmerized by the sweet rendition by the singer( Kalpana Gandharva), the song drew me within the core of my being. It roused curiosity about the spiritual leanings of its real life poet A.M. Turaz as my bhakti oriented mind found relevance of the lyrics to spiritual surrender. In fact I could see close similarities between the sentiments of this song and those in many of Meerabai’s poems. Looking at the lyrics of the present song from the eyes of a devotee it reveals the same sentiment of unconditional love and total surrender, yet in a different light than what’s depicted in the TV show.
In the Bhagwad Gita Chapter 9 verse 22, ShriKrishna, who is believed to be a Divine Incarnation, refers to his ardent devotees with the qualification of single pointedness.
ananyas cintayanto mam, ye janah paryupasate
( nityabhiyuktanam, yoga-ksemam vahamy aham)
ananyah—no other; cintayantah—concentrating; mam—unto Me; ye—who; janah—persons; paryupasate—properly worship; tesam—their; nitya—always abhiyuktanam—fixed in devotion; yoga-ksemam—requirements; vahami—carry; aham—I.
“But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form
(to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have).”
Similar single pointed devotion combined with total surrender appear to be the theme underlying Turaz’s song.
Ek baar dekh lijiye Deewana bana dijiye Ek baar dekh lijiye
I long for you to take notice of me. Entice me such that I become crazy (about you). I plead to you, please grant me one good glance.Jalne ko hain taiyaar hum Parwana bana dijiye Ek baar dekh lijiye
Like the fate of a moth when it gets attracted to a lamp, I am prepared to burn in the flame if you draw me close. ( Implied in this metaphor of the lamp and moth is that in the darkness of my life, I see you as the light.)
Itni piyein ke ja na sakein Uthkar kahin bhi hum
Allow me to consume your spirit to such a point of intoxication that I am rendered incapable of moving away from you.
Aankhon ko apni aap Ek maikhana bana dijiye Ek baar dekh lijiye
Turn your glance towards me and intoxicate me with your eyes that are no less alluring than a pub serving the finest of liquor(to an alcoholic). Kuch bhi dikhai na de humein Siva aapke kahin pe
Cast a spell on me such that wherever I turn I see nothing but you.
Saare jahan se aap humko Begana bana dijiye
Steal my attention to such extent that I become estranged from rest of the world.Ek baar dekh lijiye Deewana bana dijiye Ek baar dekh lijiyeMesmerize me with your glance.
Jalne ko hain taiyaar hum Parwana bana dijiye Ek baar dekh lijiye
I am prepared to surrender my identity completely unto you like a moth immolating itself by entering a flame.
Look at me once and allow me to lose myself for good.
एक बार देख लीजिएएक बार देख लीजिएदीवाना बना दीजिएएक बार देख लीजिए
जलने को हैं तैयार हमपरवाना बना दीजिएएक बार देख लीजिए
इतनी पिएँ कि जा ना सकेंउठ कर कहीं भी हमइतनी पिएँ कि जा ना सकेंउठ कर कहीं भी हम
आँखों को अपनी आप एकमय-ख़ाना बना दीजिएएक बार देख लीजिए
कुछ भी दिखाई ना दे हमेंसिवा आप के कहीं पेकुछ भी दिखाई ना दे हमेंसिवा आप के कहीं पे
सारे जहाँ से आप हमकोबेगाना बना दीजिएएक बार देख लीजिएदीवाना बना दीजिएएक बार देख लीजिए
जलने को हैं तैयार हमपरवाना बना दीजिएएक बार देख लीजिए
In a world of distractions and temptations it is not easy to focus one’s attention, emotions and aspirations on a divine entity which is not tangible. There are faiths that do not subscribe to divinity with any kind of form. That is perhaps a direct way to contemplate on the eternal formless principle. While assuming a form for divinity makes it easier to grasp through the mental apparatus, it is often easy to forget that this assumption was made at some point for human convenience. It is a presumption from the start. That forgetfulness can prove to be a barrier in spiritual progress. At some point the understanding must crystallize that the invisible divinity that we had presumed to appear in a particular form( idol or living person) is present in all forms and is also much more than all forms combined. To love a human being with single pointed devotion is not wrong for a start. But for such devotion to yield positive results it must induce a transformation in the inner understanding that the devotion is not limited to the physical form but instead to the underlying living principle which is beyond that single person’s thinking and behavior and exists in all other beings. Great misfortune and suffering awaits if this transformation does not happen. Many people become prey to infatuation without a true understanding of what love entails and without the capacity to distinguish between a person’s ego/ physical form and the person’s divine being. The divine principle is infinite and eternal whereas ego/physical body is the exact opposite. Ego is the smallest entity in the entire natural order of creation yet it casts the biggest shadows. The divine being, despite being limitless in every way, casts no shadows Those who are fortunate to experience true love are able to step out of the shadows of the ego and experience pure light. Ironically, often it calls for internal estrangement from the physical world to experience true love for the universe. Spirituality is not for the meek or dull. It needs the conviction of a moth to pursue the flame, the abandonment of a madman to run after the intangible and the intoxication of an alcoholic to think of only that one thing that brings bliss with certainty.
Thank you A M Turaz, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Kalpana Gandharva for this beautiful and insightful song that will resound in the heart for a long time.
Comments
Post a Comment