On His 70th Birthday, The Best Of Hariharan

On His  70th  Birthday, The Best  Of Hariharan

1.  .Tum gaye sabb gaya(Maachis):  This  heartstopping  meditative melody   on  lost love comes in  two surreal packages, one  by  Lataji and  the  other  by Hariji. No need to  say Lataji’s interpretation   of  Gulzar’s pained poetry is  peerless . But hang on !Hariharan also  gives  the lyrics a life of their own. Every world is  enunciated in a  wounded baritone ,every accusation against  destiny is  like a  whiplash.
2. 2.RaatonKo Maange Hai Sajan Se(Ramnagari): Hariharan  sang  masterpieces  for the underrated genius of a composer Jaidev in Gaman and this film. This frisky flirtatious  folk song from an Amol Palekar film which no one has seen(not even probably the actor  himself)  is  exceptional  for tapping a lighter  folksy side of Hariharan’s amazing talent. And imagine, a Tamilian belting out a folk-based cow-belt number so convincingly! The same  film has another fun song by Hariharan Aa baith ja motorcycle pe where the multi-personality singer  does a delightful Dev Anand  impersonation to the accompaniment  of  a riff from Hum Dono(Jaidev was  the composer of that classic  soundtrack).

3.Ajeeb saneha  mujhpar  guzar gaya yaaron(Gaman):  Recalling  his experience  of singing Ajeeb saneha  Hariharan says, “It was my first Hindi film song .Jaidevji gave me the first break .I had met him a few months before at the  SUR SINGAR SAMSAD function.He was one of the judges and he had spotted me there .Muzaffar Ali was making Gaman .Jaidevji wanted to use all-new voices .He asked me to sung Ajeeb Sani ha .Luckily the producer Vilas Sawant  and lyricst Shahriyar also liked my voice.”

4.   Bharat  humko jaan se pyara hai(Roja): We  celebrate A R  Rahman’s  composition Vande mataram.But  the truth is, it would have been a far superior  piece of art if Hariharan and not Rahman had sung it. Never mind. Rahman did a neglected patriotic song  for Hariharan  in Roja.Hariharan’s rendition of   Bharat humko jaan se pyara hai  is  not overdone. There is no effort  in this sober  composition to impress us, no  desperate  attempt to win the Padma Shri by  parading his patriotism. A true  classic.
5. 5.Rang  rass barse haye  dhire dhire(Yaar Kasam):  This one is  a Holi-stic experience for  the   sheer pleasure of hearing two of the  finest male  singers  of contemporary times Yesudas and Hariharan  in a  mood for Holi revelry. Joining them is  composer-singer Usha Khanna, though she has not composed this one. The tune is credited to one Kishore Sharma.
6. 6.Mere dushman mere bhai(Border) : J P Dutta’s post-glasnost song of Indo-Pak unity, Javed Akhtar’s lyrics set to music composed by Annu Malik and sung by Hariharan, is replete with affection and anguish.This song pleaded for sanity and amity between the two countries at a time when politicians were baying for blood.”
7. 7.Chhor aaye  hum who galiyan(Maachis):  Hariharan remembers  every detail of the recording  of  Chhor aaye hum woh galiyan. “Vishal and  Rekha Bhardwaj were there. Gulzar Saab was there. KK, Suresh Wadkar and I were  at the mike. It was magical. That song became the signature tune for both  KK and I.”Not many know that  KK and Hariharan  sang another song together. “That’s right.It  was again for Vishal Bhardwaj. But  unlike Chhor aaye hum, this one  was  a comedy song for a  film that  never got released.  KK and I had so much fun singing it. We  both had very serious images . That song showed  our fun side. I wish people heard it.”
8. 8.Kabhi main kahun  kabhi tum kaho(Lamhe) Hariharan remembers  his recordings with Lataji  for Shiv-Hari. “ Kabhi main kahun in the film Lamhe was my first song with Lataji .I had rehearsed the song a couple of days before recording with Shiv-Hari.There was a  huge orchestra and about fifty chorus voices .Shivji and Hariji were very supportive .They   made me relax and I was  able to  give my best .My second duet Likha hai inn hawaon mein in  Darr  for Shiv-Hari  was a breezy song. I  enjoyed recording the song .There was a solo part of mine in the middle of the song and Lataji  complimented me for it .Those were  lovely days and I have such great  memories for me.”
9. Baahon  ke darmiyaan(Khamoshi The Musical): Without a shred  of doubt  composer  Jatin-Lalit’s career-best  composition is  a beautiful ballad bleeding togetherness into    ethereal lyrics(by the great Majrooh Sultanpuri ) which  insist that love  cannot be bound no matter how much the world  views  it with tinted glasses.  Rosy, ravishing , roomy and  resonant Baahon ke darmiyaan is that rare duet where the male  voice  won’t let our attention stray.