A lot of music connoisseurs consider Kahkashan to be Jagjit Singh’s finest album. Kahkashan was a TV serial telecasted on Doordarshan in the early 90s and was based on the lives of famous Urdu poets including Hasrat Mohani, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Jigar Moradabadi among others. It was produced by none other than Ali Sardar Jafri and was directed by Jalal Agha. Apart from Jagjit Singh there are numbers sung by Vinod Sehgal, Chitra Singh, Ram Kumar, Asha Bhosale and Kumar Sanu. To the frustration of Urdu lovers this album is not available on the net in its complete form. Starting with this post I will try to post the entire album along with the lyrics. Here goes the first six compositions.
Each one of these songs is amazing and worth listening to. I don’t know the author of the beautiful couplet in the title music and any information regarding that will be highly appreciated. The Ghazal ab to uTh saktaa nahiiN is a window into the beautiful world of Hasrat’s poetry. The zamiin of the Ghazal is really difficult baar-e-intizaar, bahaar-e-intizaar et al but he has plucked beautiful roses from a rocky garden. I especially like this couplet and the usage of kaarobaar-e-intizaar.
unke Khat kii aarzuu hai, unkii aamad kaa Khayaal
kis qadar pailaa hu’aa hai kaarobaar-e-intizaar
Josh’s nazm ae Malihabad ke rangiiN gulsitaaN alvidaa is a hauntingly poignant nazm and has been done justice by Jagjit’s sombre rendition. Josh Malihabadi, as we all know didn’t really want to migrate to Pakistan but circumstances eventually forced him to do. He died a broken man in Pakistan. This nazm has really touched a raw nerve in me as I sit here thousands of miles away from Lucknow writing this post. Josh talks about things in Malihabad that he will miss out and most of them are unique to his homeland like the mango groves, the ground of Amani Ganj and the shade of babuul. In the end hopes to be buried in his homeland but it was not to be.
Josh’s other nazm ae vatan mere vatan is another beautiful piece of poetry representing the pain of migration which millions of people experienced after the partition. Then there are two Ghazals by Jigar Moradabadi. Personally I find Jigar’s poetry a celebration of beauty which is pristine and pure. Vinod Sehgal has sung both the Ghazals adequately.
Enough rambling. Please feel free to point out mistakes in the lyrics and in the meanings.
1.) Title Music
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hamdam yahii hai rahguzar-e-yaar-e-khushkhiraam
guzre haiN laakh baar isii kahkashaaN se ham(hamdam : companion; rahguzar-e-yaar-e-khushkhiraam : pathway of the joyous and graceful gait of the beloved; kahkashaaN : galaxy)
Lyrics: Majaz Lucknawi (Thanks Alok)
Singer: Chorus
2.) Ab To Uth Sakta Nahin
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ab to uTh saktaa nahiiN aankhoN se baar-e-intizaar
kis tarah kaaTe ko’ii lail-o-nahaar-e-intizaar(baar-e-intizaar : burden of waiting; lail-o-nahaar-e-intizaar : the night and days of waiting)
unkii ulfat kaa yaqiiN ho unke aane kii ummiid
hoN ye dono suuraten tab hai bahaar-e-intizaar(ulfat : love; suuraten : conditions; bahaar-e-intizaar : the spring of waiting)
merii aaheN naa-rasaa, merii duaaeN naa-qubuul
yaa ilaahii kyaa karuuN maiN sharmsaar-e-intizaar(aaheN : sighs; naa-rasaa : without sight; naa-qubuul : unacceptable; sharmsaar-e-intizaar : ashamed of waiting)
unke Khat kii aarzuu hai, unkii aamad kaa Khayaal
kis qadar pailaa hu’aa hai kaarobaar-e-intizaar(aarzuu : desire; aamad : arrival; kaarobaar-e-intizaar : business of waiting)
Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani
Singer: Chitra Singh
3.) Ae Malihabad Ke Rangeen Gulistan
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ae Malihabad ke rangiiN gulsitaaN alvidaa
alvidaa ae sarzamiin-e-subh-e-KhandaaN alvidaa
alvidaa ae kishvar-e-sher-o-shabistaaN alvidaa
alvidaa ae jalvaa-gaah-e-husn-e-jaanaaN alvidaa
tere ghar se aik zindaa laash uTh jaane ko hai
aa gale mil le ke aavaaz-e-jaras aane ko hai(gulsitaaN : garden; alvidaa : adieu; sarzamiin-e-subh-e-KhandaaN : land of morning laughter; kishvar-e-sher-o-shabistaaN : land of poetry and ?; jalvaa-gaah-e-husn-e-jaanaaN : house of splendour and beauty of the beloved)
haaye kyaa kyaa nemateN mujhko milii thii be-bahaa
ye khamoshii ye khule maidaan ye ThanDii havaa
vaaye ye jaaNbaKsh bustaaN haaye ye rangiin fazaa
mar ke bhii inko na bhuulegaa dil-e-dard-aashnaa
mast koyal jab dakkan ki vaadiyoN meN gaayegii
ye subuk chaaNv babuloN kii bahut yaad aayegii(nemateN : blessings; be-bahaa : ?; jaaNbaKsh bustaaN : ?; dil-e-dard-aashnaa : heart acquainted with pain; dakkan : alluding to Karachi; subuk : delicate)
kal se kaun is baaGh ko rangiiN banaane aayegaa
kaun phuulon ki haNsii par muskuraane aayegaa
kaun is sabze ko sote se jagaane aayegaa
kaun in paudhoN ko siine se lagaane aayegaa
kaun jaagega qamar ke naaz uThaane ke liye
chaandni raatoN ko zaanoN par sulaane ke liye(sabzaa : plant; qamar : moon; zaanoN : on thighs)
aam ke baagoN meN jab barsaat hogi purKharosh
meri furqat meN lahuu royegii chasm-e-mai-farosh
ras kii buuNde jab uRaa deNgii gulsitaanoN ke hosh
unj-e-rangiineN pukaareNgii havaae Josh Josh
sun ke meraa naam mausam Gham-zadaa ho jaayegaa
ek mahshar saa gulsitaaN meiN bapaa ho jaayegaa(purKharosh : passionate; furqat : separation; chasm-e-mai-farosh : sight looking for wine; unj-e-rangiineN : ?; mahshar : day of judgement)
aa gale mil le Khudaa haafiz gulsitaan-e-vatan
ae Amani Ganj ke maidaan ae jaan-e-vatan
alvidaa ai laalazaar-o-sumbulistaan-e-vatan
as salaam ae sohbat-e-rangiin-e-yaaraaN-e-vatan
hashr tak rahne na denaa tum dakkan ki Khaak meN
dafn karnaa apne shaayar ko vatan kii Khaak meN(gulsitaan-e-vatan : garden of the native country; laalazaar-o-sumbulistaan-e-vatan : tulips and musks of the native country; sohbat-e-rangiin-e-yaaraaN-e-vatan : colorful company of the friends in the native country; hashr : day of judgement; dafn : bury)
Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi
Singer: Jagjit Singh
4.) Ae Watan Mere Watan
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ae vatan mere vatan ruuh-e-ravaan-e-ahraar
ae ke zarroN meN tere buu-e-chaman rang-e-bahaar
rez-e-almaas ke tere khaso-Khaashaaq meN hai
haDDiyaaN apne buzurgoN kii terii Khaak meN hai
tujhse muuNh moR ke muuNh apnaa dikhaayeNge kahaaN
ghar jo choReNge to phir chaavnii chaayeNge kahaaN
bazm-e-aGhyaar meN aaraam ye paayeNge kahaaN
tujhse ham ruTh ke jaayeNge to jaayeNge kahaaN(ruuh-e-ravaan-e-ahraar : ?; zarroN : dust particles; buu-e-chaman : smell of the garden; rang-e-bahaar : colors of the spring; rez-e-almaas : piece of diamond; khaso-Khaashaaq : ?; chaavnii : camp; bazm-e-aGhyaar : gathering of the strangers)
Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi
Singer: Jagjit Singh
5.) Agar Na Zohrajabeeno Ke
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agar na zohraa-jabiinoN ke darmiyaaN guzre
to phir ye kaise kaTe zindagii kahaaN guzre(zohraa-jabiinoN : ones with beautiful foreheads)
mujhe ye vahm rahaa muddatoN ke jurrat-e-shauq
kahiiN na khaatir-e-maasuum par giraaN guzre(vahm : doubt; jurrat-e-shauq : audacity of desire; khaatir-e-maasuum : sake of the innocence; giraaN : unpleasent)
Khataa muaaf zamaane se badgumaaN hokar
terii vafaa pe bhii kyaa kyaa hameN gumaaN guzre(badgumaaN : distrust; vafaa : fidelity; gumaaN : doubts)
mujhe tha shikvaa-e-hijraaN ke ye hu’aa mehsuus
mere qariib se hokar vo naagahaaN guzre(shikvaa-e-hijraaN : complaint of separation; naagahaaN : accidentally)
Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi
Singer: Vinod Sehgal
6.) Bangal Ki Main Sham-O-Saher
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bangaal kii maiN shaam-o-saher dekh rahaa huuN
har chand ke huuN duur magar dekh rahaa huun(bangaal : Bengal; shaam-o-saher : dawn and the dusk)
iflaas kii maarii hu’ii maKhluuk sar-e-raah
be-gor-o-kafan Khaak basar dekh rahaa huun(iflaas : poverty; maKhluuk : mankind; be-gor-o-kafan : without grave and shroud)
insaan ke hote hu’e insaan kaa ye hashr
dekhaa nahiiN jaataa hai magar dekh rahaa huuNrahmat kaa chamakne ko hai phir nayyar-e-taabaaN
hone ko hai is shab kii saher dekh rahaa huuN(nayyar-e-taabaaN : a bright Sun)
Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi
Singer: Vinod Sehgal
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Thanks for this post on Kahkashan- I have often felt that this was the last great album by Jagjit Singh, before his relapse into populism.
This site has the Kahkashan mp3s for both Vol I and II
http://nrohilla.multiply.com/music/item/1
Thanks for the link, Bhupinder, but I think it doesn’t have the entire album.
I agree with your statement about Jagjit Singh on populism. I think that Jagjit Singh is Amitabh Bacchan of Ghazals. Both these men are extremely talented individuals, enjoy immense popularity but have pandered to populism. Still their contribution to their respective fields is huge.
Kahkashan is one of my fave Jagjit album at par with Marasim as is evident from my fave 25 Jagjit Ghazals I posted recently.
Thank you. Thank you Mohib!
Finally Kahkashan is online! Great job. Do post the entire album without leaving out any number!!
First of all thanks for this album, Sitting thousands of miles away from my home in this strange country, Ae Watan Mere Watan literally left me misty-eyed.
Some of the words which you have left un-translated, I will try to attempt. I am not sure if that is the correct translation but to try is not bad at all.
Ruh-e-Ravaan-e-Ahraar – Though I don’t know the exact English equivalent but, this may help Ruh (Soul) RavaaN(one which is in motion) Ahraar (Plural of movement).. A Soul which never stops
Khas-so-Khaashaq: Every small bit of land
If I am way of the mark please do excuse me.
Hi Mohib
Good work….
Just to tell you that shaayar of the couplet used as the title track of Kahkashan is Majaz Lucknowi.
This particular sher is from this ghazal
Izn-e-khiraam lete huye aasmaan se hum,
hatkar chale hain raahguzar-e-carwaan se hum…
Kyun kar huaa hai faash zamaane pe kya kahein,
wo raaz-e-dil jo keh na sakey raazdaan se hum…
ham dam yahee hae raahguzar-e-yaar-e-khush khiraam
guzre hain laakh baar ishee kahkashaan se hum…
kya kya huaa hai ham se januun main na puuchiye
uljhe kabhi zameen se kabhee aasmaan se hum…
thukra diye hain aql-o-khirad ke sanam-kadey,
ghabraa chuke hain kashma kash-e-imtehaan se hum…
bakhshi hain ham ko ishq ne wo jurratein Majaz
darte nahee siyaast-e-ahl-e-jahaan se hum….
Title music not working? Thanks for uploading.
can some one please mail me an mp3 file of ‘ae malihabad ke rangeen’
thanx
we are overwhelmed and cant explain our excitement in mere words. Thank you so much, we really appreciate your effort and time. however you didnt mention the name of the Shair in 4-5 Ghazal. if you permit us we can give you the names. we also have some ghazals which are never heard before because those were sung in concerts and noone took the pain to record them. Tell us if you want to upload them.
You are God.
Thanks a lot for explaining the meaning of one of the most difficult urdu Ghazal by Jagjit Singh, ‘Aye maleehabad ke…’
Thanks a lot for keeping up the good work of some of the great persons. I really really really love this album and especially the ghazal “ae vatan mere vatan” by Josh… These great men will always remain in our hearts.
Ahmad saab! No words can express my gratutude for such a wonderful work on kehkashan..tabeeyat in dino begane gam hoti jati hai…is ultimey cry of a fading soul from this world.WoW what poetry!”Ab mere pass tum” has touched me deep dn.
I rank “Aiya watan mere watan” the best patriotic pc of lyrics ever written for this nation but Alas Jagjit singh refused to sing this on 26th jan concert inspite of my repeated request in Siri fort Delhi.
I believe the CD of this great work of art is not in circulation,not avialable in no top end music stores aqnd incidetally slow version of Aiy watn is not in Tape also…can someone suggest how this entire album can become part of my I-pod collection…any format that can be dn loaded.Pleeeez
This is something not good, you have stolen lyrics from my blog http://jagjitsingh.wordpress.com
“John alea ki zameen men”
Kucha e dilbaraan ke the hi nahin
Ahl us imtehaan ke the hi nahin
Andhiyon ke amal dakhal me rahe
Hum kisi aashiyan ke the hi nahin.
Sah gaye rizq ke liye wo lafz !!
Jo hamari zabaN ke the hi nahin.
By Ghalib Ayaz
Chara gar se wo zakhm kiya bharte
Jo adoo ki senaan ke the hi nahin
Jis ka anjaam khush nateejaa ho
Hum to us dastaan ke the hi nahin.
Is tarah hum ne chhor dee duniya
Jaise pahle yahaan ke the hi nahin.
Too nahi to ajab be khyaali rahe!!
Hont saakit rahen, aankh khaali rahe
Bahr e tafrih kuchh thokaren khaayi hain
Taa ke duniya zaraa dekhee bhaali rahe
Bas teri aarzoo se jure hum magar
Teri fehrist me laa ubaali rahe !!
Aise lamhon me jaanaa mujhe chhor kar
Meri aankhon me jab khushk saali rahe
Ab to rishton me bhi payadaari kahaan!!
Ye ta’alluq bhi kab tak misaali rahe !!
Be tarah, be niyaazi, mili hai inhen
Ahl e fan kab kisi ke sawali rahe !!
(Ghalib Ayaz)
For those who are looking for the album, Here is the complete 2 CD set:
http://www.fmw11.net/browser/category/view/2368/kahkashan
I also found the 2 DVD set of the show that was shown on Doordarshan in early 90s. You can find it both on Blockbuster and Netflix’s site.
Amarjeet:
What are you talking about? Please explain.
hi mohib,
Im a great fan of jagjit singh and i love all songs of kahkashan parts can u mail me aye malihabad ke rangeen gulistaan alvida song on my hotmail id
thanks dude
Hi Mobib Ahmad,
Greate work,
I m big fan of Jagjit Singh i have all the collections in CD’s but could not find CD of Kahkashan.
If possiable can u send one copy of to me.
Will pay for the expenses.
Add: 97 Saket palli,Narhi, Lucknow-226001.India
Mob:09415063764
checked the site
Hi dear iam searching for kahkashan for many years, can u tell me how much amount would take to send me the audio (mp3)format.
Waiting for reply
bye
shukriya…..bohat bohat
my fav is “Ab To Uth Sakta Nahin”
dil ki awaaz hai….sirf unke liye…
Great Job.
I always kept my cassette safe for so many years and now I can hear these beautiful compositions right on my computer even at work.
I am thousands of miles away from my land and it was my own choice but I feel the pain that Josh felt while writing those soulful words for his motherland…..
I have listened to this countless times since the day it was aired on Television and I wish if someone could create somthing like this for Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib as well.
Great work Mohib! Thank you for sharing the lyrics and their meanings with fellow KahkashaaN lovers! Kahkashaan is indeed one of the very BEST of Jagjit’s albums, loved both the volumes.
This website is absolutely amazing, brilliant! It’s a complete treasure. Just wanted to know if there’s a way I can download these ghazals from this site. Please let me know.
And interestingly, by the way, Muzaffar Ali’s Husn e Jaana is his first of the ones you have mentioned. It was released in 1996. Raqs e Bismil and Paighaam e Mohabbat came much later.
Mere lye is Album ki ek Ghazal “Aye Malihaabad” bilkul Muhib hogaye thi, tab ek MOHIB ne ise muhib hone bachaya!!! Thanks a million…
Hi Mohib,
I am in love with this blog the like minded people are visiting it and enjoing there additions also.
today i got one old song
MERE ASHK BHI HAIN ISME, YE SHARAB UBAL NA JAYE
MERA JAM CHUNEWALE, TERA HAT JAL NA JAYE.
MUZE FUNKANE SE PEHELE, MERA DIL NIKAL LENA
KISI OR KI HAIN AMANAT, MERE SATH JAL NA JE.